Oinkgate is better than the alternative. The original script of the speech had Obama calling Palin a "pork-eating white devil'. They scratched it at the last minute because (and I quote an Obama spokesman speaking on condition of anonymity), "Pork is the other white meat!"

The original version also had a different approach to McCain. My source got hold of the original (again I quote), "And the pig's running mate, the less popular member of the ticket, is like some broken down old rag doll that some ratty mongrel dog named "Bush" can't stop humping!"  (at this point Barack was to gyrate his hips for about 80 seconds, miming sex, complete with miming of hair pulling and butt slapping. Then:) "McCain is broken! Look at his wacky arms and legs! Does everyone here know that he can't lift his arms above his shoulders, or bend his knees? What a stinky old retard!"
In the end, after a raucus internal debate, and much disappointment within the campaign, they decided to instead call McCain a stinky old fish.
They knew that the original version of the old political bromide just referred to a fish. By adding, "stinky and old" - the most common perjoratives leveled at McCain by Obama's top ranks - they knew they could get their bitter, brittle comtempt for the man across to the public.

Oinkgate is the just latest flub by Obama. He either
1. Showed terrible judgment in using the remark innocently, or
2. Used it purposely in hopes of getting a giggle from his base and tarnishing Palin.

Either way, he's proven once again that he's not the slickest fish in the bucket. He cannot reliably gauge the impact of his statements and actions.

Since we cannot know his motivations for certain, let's isolate the facts that can be gleaned, facts that are indelibly true, facts as hard as diamond:

1. Mr. Obama has bad judgment, period. Intended as an insult of not, it was obviously scripted, and a terrible idea.

2. Mr. O's fans are a crude and nasty lot. The crowd, at least, was sure he was talking about Palin, and they were gleeful. They could barely contain their excitement - the man child had finally fought back against Palin in a way they could relate to, "Well, she's a pig! Neener, neener, neener!". Classy guy, classy crowd. I expect more from my four year old, and when my two year old acts this crudely I'm disappointed.
These people are the dregs of society: hangers on, angry misfits, and intolerant malcontents. And the crowd is no better.

You can be certain that if the shoes were precisely on the other feet - if the same remark were made before a conservative crowd and aimed by a conservative at a liberal - there would at least have been gasps, probably murmurs, and possibly boos. Definitely not the universal glee expressed by Obama's pathetic lot.

3. Obama never does anything wrong in Obama's mind. Here he may have insulted a woman, and his reaction is not to plead innocence and apologize nonetheless, his reaction is petulance.

4. Obama is a crude and thoughtless person. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he wasn't talking about Palin. How did he react to what must have seemed like a strange reaction from the audience? He could have wondered - "That's a shopworn phrase, why are these people going nuts? Have I simply been incredibly boring up until now? Oh - maybe they think I'm talking about Palin. I'd better clarify this right now, and offer an earnest apology to her. I don't agree with her about anything, but she's a lady, and an American." He didn't think this or say anything to qualify his remark, instead he plowed on to compare McCain to a stinky old fish, and talk more about Palin. He relished the reaction, because he is small-minded. And let's admit it - he is, uh, boorish, and, uh, painfully, uh, boring.

5. Obama and his advisors are terrible strategists. I'm sitting here in my underwear, and I can think of several ways Obama could have turned this to his advantage. I mentioned one earlier, the script should have included an immediate aplogy, perhaps a scolding of the crowd, uplifing words about civility, and a call for a new start to the termperament of the campaign. Another option would be to do what he never seems capable of doing - saying he is sorry. He could have said that he didn't mean it that way, but probably should have judged by the reaction of the crowd that some would misinterpret it. An appropriate line might have been, "I think it is fair to say that Gov. Palin is a beautiful woman. She resonates, and her story resonates, with millions of American women. What presidential candidates say has to be said with due respect to their opponents; our words have to be weighed with care, and I failed to do that. That I've given obvious offense has caused me considerable worry and upset, and I want every American woman across the country to know that I am truly sorry. I will speak with greater care in the future."
Something like that would actually cause people to take a second look at the guy. Too grown up, and too late now, after his "Enough is enough" tirade.

I literally disagree with Obama about everything, and I could do a better job of running his campaign than the nitwits he has handling him now. If Obama's campaign wants to hire me, they can reach me at 1-900-OLD-FISH. After listening to the 90 minute tape*, they can leave me a message (calls will be billed on your statement as, "I'm addicted to porn.com".)
*($33,600/minute - the same as the per plate charge for attendees at the recent Obama fundraiser at Jon Bon Jovi's house).

Is it too early to caution against a pity crisis? With Biden urging the lame to walk and the O-Man making one gaffe after another, this is becoming a three-ring dog and pony show. Will they end up looking so bad that millions of morons will vote for them out of pity?

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If you haven't had enough, here are a few bad jokes:

Q: What is the difference between Obama and a giant, dry sponge?
A: 37 years of marinating in leftist drivel

Rumor has it that the combination of Obama's miraculous powers and his support for stem cell research will soon have Richard Gere strolling out of his grave.
(The original version of this 'joke' referred to Christopher Reeve. Boo! Bad taste!)

TOTA