There are examples I could give that work in favor of either sides, but we don’t have to look too far back to what happened when we voted for the guy we could have a beer with. And it definitely wasn’t Al Gore.

A new Associated Press-Ipsos poll says 55 percent of those surveyed consider honesty, integrity and other values of character the most important qualities they look for in a presidential candidate. Just one-third look first to candidates’ stances on issues; even fewer focus foremost on leadership traits, experience or intelligence.

So during my breaks at the cafe, I usually sit there reading some dumb magazine to pass by my 15/30 minutes. Today, I pulled out my phone and read the news instead. What good is internet on my phone for if not to read the news, right?

There was an op-ed on the NY Times by David Brooks, the lone conservative columnist (I think) whose pieces I don’t usually jump to read, but this one shed some light as to why I am so unbelievably peeved by McCain/Palin now and why I didn’t support Obama initially. It’s the marketing. The diversion from the policies, and especially in this election, the redirection to who/what is more novel. And I’m PISSED because McCain just got really good at this game.