Some years ago, there was a bar I used to go to on occasion that was noted for it's chicken wings and comic decor. Prominently displayed near the bar was a sign with the message, "FREE BEER TOMORROW". The sign, of course, was displayed everyday and tomorrow, regrettably, was always tomorrow. Today, while reading Michael Goodwin's column After Barack Obama hype, a backlash (http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/08/19/2008-08-19_after_barack_obama_hype_a_backlash.html), the memory of that infamous sign came immediately to mind. It occurred to me that speculation this week about the Democratic VP pick by the fawning media and the "FREE BEER TOMORROW" sign have a lot in common.

Saturday evening, we all witnessed the reality of this Presidential campaign. All the campaign camp and media spin was stripped away. There were no concerts preceeding the event, no banners banned or signs handed out by staff. No telepromters or prepared speeches. What was left was only the two primary candidates for the office of President sitting down for what resembled a legitimate job interview. The result was that one candidate dominated the interview and shone better than any prior public engagement in his extensive career and the other stammered his way around each question, frantically trying to pad his thin resume and sound intellectual where he was woefully out of his depth. For the first time in this campaign, the discussion was not about job approval ratings soon to be irrelevent Presidents, who's marketing department was most adept and making someone look Presidential, nonsense internet rumors or vague suggestions of Hope or Change. It was about taking an in depth look at two people, one of who will be President. McCain unequivically demostrated that judgement is of immese importance and good judgement only comes from experience. Obama demonstrated that, while he is a talented and intelligent individual, he completely lacks the judgment that he has been waving like a banner for nearly 2 years. It is the President's job to make decisions and deal with the ineviatable consequences, good or bad; not to theorize on opposing ideas and offer no conclusion.

This clear cut distinction was disaterous the the pop culture image that the media and Obama's campaign had spent more than 24 months construction and promoting. The idea of having Hope is inspiring and uplifting; but unless it's backed up with a plan and action it amounts to nothing. Almost everyone on earth can agree that they would like to be in a better position than they are right now, our world has become a place with more questions than answers and that we have all seemed to, at best, tread water rather than swim in the grand scheme of things. The insistence that the grass is certainly greener on the other side of the fence is fundamental to human existance. Change seems the only answer, until you ask the questions: What will Change cost? What will we sacrifice in the name of Change? What is our actual plan of Change?... No one on earth would knowingly throw out a winning lottery ticket, no matter how small the sum; yet few take the time to add up how much they spend on losing tickets or realize how much interest they would have gained on that alternative sum, had they simply put that money into a savings account. "Free Beer Tomorrow" the the promise of Utopia, yet tomorrow lacks a date.

But the idea of "Free Beer" is pervasive; not easily dismissed by cold, rational logic. Once you stop believing in Santa Claus, the world is a far less Hopeful place. The reality that mom and dad stressed and saved the previous year and went into credit card debt for the next to pay for the illusion is not very heartwarming. The people who hung the "Free Beer Tomorrow" signs had an investment to protect and more importantly an image to maitain. So, rather than discuss the distinct realities that we all witnessed, those with the emotional, financial and credibility investments dealt with grief in the same way we all do- they moved on to denial. Grandma can't be dead. I just talked to her yesterday and she looks like she is sleeping in that box with all the flowers around it. I know the sign was up every day for the last month; but it clearly says, "Free Beer Tomorrow". Obama has told us that he will bring Hope, Change and Judgment for months! Surely one hour that proves the opposite is not enough to overturn all that! There is clearly something else to this story. Someone has cheated! It was an unfair set up from the beginning!

Our media friends seem to move through grief more quickly. They moved rapidly from denial to distraction. "Obama's VP to Be Announced Tomorrow". Yes, they have raise that banner each day this week. If people have doubts about the "Free Beer", perhaps we can keep this sharade going with the promise of "Free Chicken Wings Tomorrow" and people will just have to accept that they have to pay for the beer.