This presidential campaign is focused on TV performance rather than anything of substance, but the first debate between McCain and Obama reminded me of Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space. Some of you are aware this film holds the arguable distinction of worst movie ever made, and the so-called debate was such a bad performance I had to keep reminding myself it was supposed to be taken seriously.

But in addition to Wood’s film, there were several times when the scene from Mel Gibson’s film Signs came to mind where Mel and the children are just sitting there in the house staring while wearing their aluminum foil hats waiting for something to happen and I wondered if I should start shaping one for myself?

At the very least last night’s performance struck me as more than a little surreal. These two men are the best candidates either party could come up with, men whose performances bring to mind really bad acting in really bad movies or perhaps another kind of reality from some unknown dimension, or a political structure gone utterly insane! I have to be honest folks; the whole thing on the political, financial, and world front does make me wish Klaatu would suddenly appear to save us humans from ourselves because I just don’t see our species being up to the task.

There are people quick to fault and criticize those of us who believe in God and hold on to Biblical beliefs, but in all honesty does what is happening here in America because of a failed and betraying leadership seem any less farfetched? A far greater number of people have more confidence in the Bible than they do in Congress and in my opinion for very good reason.

The whole of government seems to appear a Rube Goldberg contraption of such mad complexity that threatens to come apart at any time. And rather than worrying about it, worrying about my inability to do anything to fix this machine that seems beyond any human effort to simplify because of its mad complexity never designed to solve simple tasks in the most efficient manner I’d much rather be a member in good standing of the aluminum foil hat society as some already construe me to be.

Watching what is happening right now with those in our government as the financial crisis threatening America gains world attention we are hearing some of these politicians admitting they don’t even understand just what it is they are trying to fix! I’m reminded of Robert Vaughn as the German officer about to be shot in the film The Bridge at Remagen wondering just who is the enemy?

Thoughts of tar and feathers and even worse are running through people’s minds as we are being told as though to encourage even more anger and frustration, thoughts of outright rebellion that the crooks and profiteers must be saved, the wealthy must remain wealthy and powerful in order to save America while ordinary American citizens must pay the price for a failed and betraying leadership! However, just what kind of America is being saved by rewarding the politicians and their companion crooks and profiteers? This we are not being told, but we not only have every right but also the duty as American citizens to demand an answer to that very question!