All right. I've avoided commenting on politics as much as possible, primarily because I know that I'm usually preaching to the choir here. I've made a pretty lousy attempt to keep from getting caught up in the daily drama in hopes of avoiding my usual election year ulcers. But I am so angry at how this whole thing has played out this week that I feel the need to vent.

First of all, no matter how cynical you may be about whether or not McCain's campaign suspension was a political strategy, can we at least agree that he has enough history behind him to make it plausible? Senator McCain is one of the most powerful guys on the Hill. Much of the major legislation coming out of there in recent years has his name right there at top billing. (Granted, I disagree with much of what he has put out there, but you can't deny that he's been successful in getting people on board to solve problems in a way that he deems to be good solutions.)

The man is easily in the top five most influential Republicans in the Senate. It is completely logical that he would have woken up on Wednesday and thought to himself, "What am I doing out here? I should be practicing instead of preaching." After all, his entire campaign mantra is "Country First." I have always been 100% sure that he believes that wholeheartedly. In fact, I fully expected him to come out at some point yesterday or today and say, "I'd rather lose the election than lose the American economy." It would fit him like a glove. I'm still hoping he says something like that tonight.

What is making me CRAZY is how Savior Obama is being glorified as a great multi-tasker because he doesn't feel the need to get involved in the grunt work of hammering out a suitable plan. Paraphrasing him, he very eloquently stated, "If you need me, call me." Why exactly would they need you, Senator? To vote present? Are they going to call on your vast wealth of experience in the Senate pushing things through and solving problems? The very idea is absurd! WHAT HAS HE EVER DONE BUT TALK?!

I'm angry with McCain for letting all of this go unresponded to. I totally get why he is doing it, and I'm actually quite impressed with him for sticking to his guns and working to try and save this mess rather than slap his face all over TV. Doesn't anyone wonder why Obama has so much time on his hands? His entire smug speech about Presidents being able to do more than one thing at a time had me railing. My very intelligent friend Kristen pointed out the other night that this is a time of crisis. We mothers know a thing or two about multi-tasking. We are usually juggling 7 or 8 things at any given moment. But in a time of crisis, such as a child breaking his arm, everything else gets dropped and we tend to the overwhelming problem at hand. This is a brilliant observation, and I think so appropriate to what we've been witnessing.

I am very glad that the debate is on. I was really worried that once Obama said he was going anyway, McCain was going to be in serious trouble if he didn't show. I'm very much looking forward to it, because I believe that McCain has an excellent opportunity to show the country why he must be elected and why we can't allow this empty, but well-groomed suit to take over the wheel. I have little doubt that he would drive us right over the nearest cliff.

Where's my Zantac?