This morning's news is good here in Scranton, the center of the universe.
The Scranton Times-Tribune has endorsed Barack Obama for president
It appears that Sarah Palin has brought The Times-Tribune editorial board to this unanimous decision. As our nation suffers under a 'perfect storm of troubling issues,' The Times-Tribune came down hard on Palin, and in turn John McCain for his poor judgement in picking Palin as his running mate.
Calling McCain a great patriot, The Times-Tribune calls out the 'maverick's' sell-out to the wingnuts.
Over the course of this campaign, Mr. McCain has veered from that course in order to secure the favor of the same narrow party base against which he once rebelled. His irresponsible choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate was a cynical play to the base, a case of politics before country. Asked what her job would be as vice president, Mrs. Palin offered a reply citing a few specific tasks and revealing ignorance of the Constitution. The vice president’s real job is to be ready to be president, and Mrs. Palin does not meet that requirement. It’s one thing for her not to know it; it’s an indictment of Mr. McCain’s judgment that he has pretended not to know it.
Of course, we know that the selection of a running mate is one of the first tests of a candidate's mettle. The Times-Tribune commended Obama's pick of Joe Biden - who, as we all know by now, is a Scranton native. The Times-Tribune called Obama's choice of Biden the 'flip side' of McCain's poor choice of Palin - saying Obama sided with effective governance over politics.
Standing ovation here please....
The Times-Tribune recognizes Obama's relative inexperience, but commends the insightful, practical policies he has put forth during this long campaign.
Mr. Obama has demonstrated a keen intellect and ideal temperament. The result is a policy pragmatism, as in economic proposals that recognize the primacy of free markets while acknowledging the need for effective regulation in the public interest — a decidedly centrist approach. Mr. McCain, by contrast, says that he is uncomfortable with economic issues and primarily touts extension and expansion of the Bush-era tax cuts — policy rooted in ideology rather than the troubling facts on the ground.
And in closing, this traditionally Republican newspaper, owned by one of the most Catholic families anywhere - the Lynett family - puts its faith in Obama's plan for reducing the number of abortions instead of outlawing them.
Please hold your applause until after the newspaper finishes its message...
America’s problems call for new leadership. In that regard, Mr. Obama has the potential to be a truly transformational figure. There has been much speculation about the potential impact of race on the election and an Obama presidency. But the truer transformation in his election would lie in a different demographic. He represents a generational shift and a view definitively rooted in the future rather than the past. He will strive to heal our wounds abroad and call Americans to common purpose at home. His time is now.
It's okay to go wild now if you want.