Justin and Joel bring it all back to the Iraq War and how that event is still the defining political moment of this decade.
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In this fifth video, Justin and I argue over Palin’s pick being an insult to women. I, of course, disagree and think that this attitude is why she has rallied so many within the Republican party.

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I’ve been intensely reading the news this week and struggling with my own perspective and how to present that on this forum. I’m clearly uncomfortable with the fact that Sarah Palin could be our 45th president… but I’m also uncomfortable with the attacks and some lies about her personal life and family. Her record is easy to find holes in and she’s obviously lied in public many times about it…. but while lies ABOUT a candidate are not as bad as lies BY a candidate, I’d still rather see the debate be about John McCain… because that’s who this chioce is really reflective of.

I’m realizing lately that I’m coming around on the idea that John McCain is an honorable public servant. I’ve always thought him to be a fairly moderate republican who couldn’t be worse than George Bush at running the country… but now, based on his recent campaign choices and his choice for VP, I think that he’s an extremely dangerous choice and must be defeated.

Let me explain….

John McCain, by demonstration, showed us that he really does not care about “straight talk” or putting his “Country First”, nor does he seem to put much stake in experience or foreign policy by choosing a person who has virtually no experience in politics, especially foreign policy! He has put abortion and evangelical values above keeping our nation safe, should something happen to him. He has put party politics above his new, fake message of change and it’s sickening to watch. He used to abhor torture, and for very good, personal reasons. Then he voted with Bush to condone it. I wasn’t going to vote for him anyway, but at least I respected him. Now, I’m sure he does not deserve my respect.

Andrew Sullivan is a Republican I admire and respect. He speaks as a conservative gay man and until a few days ago, supported McCain despite the Republican’s stance on his own right to marry.

Here a recent column of his at theatlantic.com, which echoes my feelings from a more conservative perspective. I hope Joel and other true conservatives will take a step back and consider this race a bit more broadly:

Yes, McCain made a decision that revealed many appalling things about him. In the end, his final concern is not national security. No one who cares about national security would pick as vice-president someone who knows nothing about it as his replacement. No one who cares about this country’s safety would gamble the security of the world on a total unknown because she polled well with the Christianist base. No person who truly believed that the surge was integral to this country’s national security would pick as his veep candidate a woman who, so far as we can tell anything, opposed it at the time.

McCain has demonstrated in the last two months that he does not have the character to be president of the United States. And that is why it is more important than ever to ensure that Barack Obama is the next president. The alternative is now unthinkable. And McCain - no one else - has proved it.

I couldn’t have said it any better myself.

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Justin and I begin to talk about the Strategic Defense Initiative and the impact that policy had in the past.Star Wars? How did we start talking about this? from Justin Bradshaw & Joel Van Brunt on Vimeo.

Democrats getting civil in their debates?  What is the world coming to?  Justin and I talk about this and Justin’s upcoming sailing trip in the Caribbean.  This show was recorded on Justin’s phone and gave Justin the false impression that I was leaning toward voting for Obama.  It would be a cold day in hell… 

Single Malt Skull Sessions’ Justin Bradshaw and Joel Van Brunt examine the presidential candidates over a bottle of whiskey….Please let us know what you think!

Iowa and New Hampshire Primaries: SMSS 1 from Justin Bradshaw and Joel Van Bru on Vimeo.

Justin Bradshaw and Joel Van Brunt are pleased to present their new collaboration: Single Malt Skull Sessions!

In this video podcast and blog you’ll see us wrangle over today’s hot topics over a bottle of a great whiskey to lubricate the lips…

We’re doing this to celebrate civil debate and encourage you to discuss these topics with your friends and loved ones. We reject the idea that politics should be taboo… in fact, they are the most important topics in our world today and we would be better off with more… not less… honest and informed discussion. With that in mind, please feel free to comment on our blog topics and/or let us know directly what you think of our humble opinions (no irony there, not at all).

 This project will be successful only when it succeeds in sparking something in you!