Article: McCain and the "Phantom Punch"

Youtube has posted a different view of the punch that knocked Sonny Liston out in his second match with Cassius Clay (now known as Muhammad Ali) and it is a bit easier to see that there was a quick punch that caused a great deal of debate because some camera views made it impossible to see that it happen.

The first match between Liston and Clay/Ali was very highly publicized and before it took place, most discussions centered on just how long the challenger would last against World Champ Liston. Actor Hal March predicted that Liston would win before the first round started because his opponent would faint (from fear) in the dressing room, before even entering the ring.

After the election, if, as some poles predict, Senator Obama wins a decisive landslide victory, conservative talk show hosts may try to rationalize the loss by asking if, in boxing parlance, Senator McCain "took a dive" and lost the match-up on purpose.

We'll prime the pump for such debates.

Imagine, if you will, (do I sound like Rod Serling?) that Senator McCain really wanted to play the role of maverick spoiler and dispute the direction that George W. Bush was taking for the country and the Republican party.

If you were him, how would you handle the challenge?

You could become the voice of loyal dissent and propose a different program, but that would incur the automatic "traitor" label for disloyalty.

You could try to get the Republican nomination and slowly and steadily change the direction where the Bush momentum was taking things.

Last alternative would be to become so enthusiastic about continuing the Bush agenda that massive amounts of people would become offended and give the Democrats a landslide mandate of indisputable proportions.

Distortion and exaggeration are hallmarks of humor, but those qualities might not work in politics if they were so blatant as to be parodies of the real qualities.

If, Senator McCain was a maverick who was so aggravated by the past Bush tactics used in the 2000 election, and if, like many other military veterans, McCain saw the principles of democracy become nullified and disregarded, then perhaps the best way to set things right would be to make sure that the Democrats, who were aghast at the way George W. Bush had subverted the democratic process, would be handed a veto-proof majority that would begin a remedial program that would restore honor, justice, and honesty.

Republicans are known for their unquestioning allegiance and party loyalty, but some do seem to be showing some signs of losing enthusiasm for GWB's march to fascism.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if, in the future, you see a pundit comparing the McCain campaign and the "phantom punch," just remember that you read it here first.

The Republicans seem to be united most of the time and the Democrats have such a coalition of activists that discipline is sometimes a bit difficult to maintain. So many smaller factions of the Democratic party have so many diverse causes they want to promote.

When we are approached for donations to various liberal causes, we often respond by saying that rather than making a monetary contribution, we will help publicize their causes so we will take this opportunity to mention some.

While in San Francisco, we noted that a PETA group was in front of an exclusive department store (the one recently made more famous by a visit from a certain governor of Alaska, who disdains elitist Democrats) and so we will run a link so our (dozen or so) readers can learn about their fight against fur coats.
http://www.furisdead.com/history.asp

A spokesperson for Greenpeace was telling pedestrians in Berkeley about the sins of the paper industry. Naturally, she didn't have a press release on paper, but had two URL's for more information
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/
and
http://www.kleercut.net/en/

Speaking of making donations, Bill O'Reilly will be paid $10 million a year to spout stuff that he asserts is not Republican talking points. In a "David vs. Goliath" type battle, this web site is seeking donations to present the opposing point of view.

We have promised to run a plug for Jersey Bill's latest photo coverage of vintage sports car races at Watkins Glenn. (Since he voted for Bush, he'd understand if we made a "signing statement" to wiggle out of the need to keep our word, eh?) Here's where it starts at:
http://www.justabovesunset.com/wg2008/

Has the Governor of Alaska helped Heather Lende sell her book about life in small town Alaska titled: "If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska"? You'd think it would, wouldn't you?

Has any pundit trademarked the slogan: "The pundit other pundits read."? Well, since this is a copyrighted site, maybe that will be sufficient protection for using it?

Quick, while the editor isn't looking, we will sneak in a plug for our blog where the adventures in Australia will be posted if we can get access to a computer over there.
http://worldslaziestjournalist.wordpress.com/

Clay/Ali described his fighting style thus: "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

Now, the disk jockey will play Al Jolson's "Sonny Boy" and we'll duck out of here. Have a "win by a knockout" type week.