Guardian Grinding & Leveling Guide Grinding Gears

You know what really grinds my gears?

Political distractions.

Two weeks ago, there was a great substantive discourse that was taking place between John McCain and Barack Obama. Issues such as the Iraq war, the economy and a sound energy policy were at the forefront of nearly every campaign stop for both candidates. Sure, the talking points were relatively predictable -- and there wasn't a lot of 'spice' in the campaign -- but at least there were distinctions being drawn on issues about which Americans are concerned.

But that has all changed.

Ever since Barack Obama went on his whirlwind world tour through the Middle East and Europe, the McCain campaign (much to my chagrin) has gotten increasingly negative, and decreasingly substantive in their rhetoric.

Most frustrating to me is the new McCain attack that has the media completely distracted: Celeb. The off-base ad in which McCain insinuates that Obama is unfit for the presidency because he is famous. That because he is well-known (and well-liked) around the globe, Obama is somehow a bad choice for our nation's highest office. The media is eating this advertisement (and it's connotation) up -- and ignoring real issues like war, economy, energy, education, et al.

Why isn't anyone calling this out for what it is -- a political distraction?

The McCain campaign was clearly frustrated by all of the coverage that Obama received on his big international trip. So frustrated that McCain himself started alleging that the media was Obama-biased (rrrrright - this coming from the guy who has said that the media is his base).

So, how do you turn the attention of the press back to you in such a way that they'll HAVE to listen? You compare Barack Obama to two celebrities to are famous for their (very) public downward spiral and... nothing, respectively.

Now that the media is questioning whether Obama is, in fact, a celebrity on par with the likes of these two infamous blondes. They are asking various panels of talking heads if there are racial overtones to the ad (there are not). And all the while, the McCain campaign continues to spew falsehoods and other non-substantive distractions (see: race card).

It's all a bunch of bunk.

Somebody needs to sit down with John McCain and tell him to knock it off. Somebody needs to grab him by his shoulders, shake him really good and say, "Dude, come on. You need to get back to the McCain of 2000 -- the guy that everyone liked."

That's what really grinds my gears... today.