Life without a DVR

I started using a DVR about 3 years ago, and have not watched a TV commercial since then. An hour-long show can be watched in 45 minutes; a baseball game in 2 hours; a football game in 1 hour; a soccer game in 37 seconds.

This weekend, however, I started watching a football game before it was over, and ended up having to watch the 4th quarter in "real time," including commercials. It was quite a surprise! Apparently, there is an election going on. I didn't learn a whole lot about it, because the mute button still worked, but here is what I learned.

It is truly an unprecedented election. The Democratic candidate is an African-American named Barack Obama. The Republican candidate is a woman, Sarah Palin. I didn't learn much about either one with the volume off, but I'm leaning toward that Palin woman. She seemed very nice, and very pro-family - I noticed that her grandfather is in every commercial with her! Tell the truth, if your granddaughter was running for President, wouldn't you just love it if she included you in her TV ads? The old guy really seems to be getting a kick out of being in the ads!

I am very disappointed in the Obama campaigns. As you have no doubt read in other blogs, his campaign is attempting to make political use out of that Palin woman's family. I say, family is out of bounds! But I watched as just about every Obama campaign ad has a picture of Palin's grandpa in a passionate hug with some other old guy. OK, we get it; Palin's grandpa is gay. There's nothing wrong with that, and trying to make political capital out of it is very, very wrong. Two creepy old guys loving each other may be revolting to you, but it is none of your business, so leave them alone!

The Democrats are on thin ice with the gay community with these ads. They need to be careful, especially since the Republicans have eagerly embraced a popular trans-gender political commentator. Beware, Democrats, the LGBT community may desert you! Don't say I didn't warn you.