If "Trace Phelps" has the money to be writing "six-figure" checks to charities, he should be writing those to people who need it regardless of the election.

It becomes even more hypocritical when one considers that all he ever whines about is how badly "the poor" have it and how they need more tax dollars — when, with a stroke of the pen, he could give "the poor" money WITHOUT putting additional tax burdens on working families.

But then again, that would require him spending his own money, and as he’s already bragged, he’s not doing that unless he loses a bet.

Typical.

If you have bets above $10,000 at this point in the process, you either have money to burn or you have no real regard for the value of charity. I would never place ego on such a high dollar line when there are so many good things to be done for people in need. Certainly, you can find people within your reach who can benefit from your kindness and wealth. Color me disappointed. (Donations to charity are a cheap way of staying out of the hard work of helping your fellow man. Screw your $10,000+! Just show up at the shelter and provide your help and compassion. If you want to stroke a check or two, that is even better. Fie on your bank account bastardization of the meaning of charity. Your form of charity cheapens the giver and makes a monkey of the recipient.)

I do think McCain will lose, for a variety of reasons, unless there’s a major terrorist incident.  If that happens all bets are off.

While I believe Hillary would have a better chance against McCain than her opponent, I do believe Obama can also beat McCain.  Polls don’t mean much in the spring and once we get into the fall campaign McCain will have a hard time overcoming the sinking economy, opposition to the war in Iraq and the deep disappointment many voters feel about eight years of President Bush.

(Speaking of bets:  one of my best friends, who happens to support McCain, and I have already agreed on a six-figure bet.  If McCain wins, I write hefty checks to my friend’s five favorite chaities.  If McCain loses, my friend writes hefty checks to my five favorite charities.)

He said there’s always a possibility that the drawn out nomination procees among Democrats could actually help Obama against John McCain.  His thinking is that, despite the nasty tone of the fight, there are some things Hillary simply will not, cannot say about fellow Democrat Obama.  So if the fight goes to the convention it will be almost Labor Day before voters hear these kind of charges.

(Caddell’s assumption is that while the Democrats are fighting, most voters aren’t paying much attention to  John McCain.  So, even if McCain were to make these tough charges against Obama in the spring and summer, voters won’t hear them.) 

If it’s not officially McCain vs Obama until Labor Day, when voters will start seriously paying attention to the campaigns they wage against each other, McCain wil have only two months to define Obama in the image McCain wants on the minds of the independents who will decide the election.

What really intrigues me is whether McCain will stand up for McCain-Feingold and start legal action against talk radio, the blogs and e-mail in the 60 days before the election. Until McCain takes the pledge to veto any "fairness doctrine" that crosses his desk, I count him as a great enemy of free and protected political speech.