Not a fan of Obama by any stretch, I consider him Bush II lite. But Mitt and Paul’s position on carbon dioxide as an innocuous gas is suicidal given the science on climate change. It outweighs any other benefit they might offer “job creators.” An increasingly unsuitable atmosphere is not going to be conducive to all of those “jobs jobs jobs.” It will certainly be conducive to a period of human instability not seen since well before the Christian era.

There are other issues, of course. I am somewhat gratified to observe that team Obama has finally taken the gloves off in terms of campaigning. I don’t expect scrupulous honesty from politicians any more than I do from advertisers. Given the fact that the party of the opposition has been uniformly obstructionist, brazenly anti-democratic and destructive, I applaud the progressive/liberal admakers who seek to draw their competing messages in very broad strokes. Let the Fox jaw flap. Fox has never been known for accuracy or balance. But Mitt and Paul tell lies so readily – and not just little white ones, but monstrous whoppers – that I find myself alarmed at the prospect that they will be chosen to govern.

The position of ‘vice president’ is still largely an impotent one. I am not sure I believe the rumors that Dick Cheney led the government during the Bush II administration. Perhaps he had strong opinions and ‘W” was easily manipulated. In that model, perhaps Ryan would be effective as ‘thinker in chief.’ Mitt is no “W.” The latter was much more straight up. Mitt is appallingly shallow, without soul, heart, or even direction beyond his own ambition. Ryan, the true believer, is better off in a ceremonial position. Get that man out of congress!

If it comes to that, however, we’ll be hanging by a slender thread (what’s left of the left and its ability to obstruct as the right has) above the abyss of the wrath of nature. If we release too much more carbon, we’re toast. And that’s no lie.