The Scottsdale Real Estate Files: You say potatoe, I say potato.

You say potatoe, I say potato.

This is by far the most entertaining election cycle I have ever seen.  If not for the economic quagmire and two grueling wars in which we are embroiled, I would be endlessly amused. 

Who am I kidding?  I am amused nonetheless.

We now take you semi-live to the action.

In the blue corner, weighing in at 60 pounds soaking wet, we have the challenger from Illinois, by way of Hawaii, Indonesia and Kenya.  Put your hands together for Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarack Obaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaama!

In the red corner, standing three feet, four inches tall, fighting out of the Crustaceous Era, please give a warm round of applause for John “Did I Mention I Was a P.O.W?” McccccccccccccccccccccCain!

As the bell rings, Obama immediately breaks into the Ali Shuffle.  Bobbing, weaving, floating like a butterfly. 

McCain charges across the ring and immediately decks the referee.

It’s apparent that Obama has the benefit of speed and instinct, not to mention a seventeen inch reach advantage.  McCain meanwhile wades in with ferocity and guile. 

No punches have been landed at this point as McCain seems to have trouble catching up to the speedster from Harvard, while Mr. Intellectual Elite does not seem particularly interested in mixing it up with the beer heiress’s husband.

DING!

The combatants return to their corners.

In the Blue Corner, Obama’s trainers appear to be pleading with their fighter to fight.  They are pointing across the ring at his opponent.  “He’s tired, champ!  Look at him!  His punches are wild, he’s not moving his head!  He’s wide open for chrissakes!  Let your hands go!”

Now let’s check in with the Red Corner.

“You’re killing him, champ!  You’re killing him!  Keep busting him up on the inside with that earmark pen!  You gotta get closer, though.  The ref can see the fouls when you’re on the outside trading quips!  Get in close where you can hit him with the lobbyist ties!  The judges won't be able to see yours!”

Strong words from Rick Davis, indeed.  I hear Fanny and Freddy will be holding his purse if their guy takes a dive.

DING!

The fighters emerge from the corners.  Obama is up on his toes again.  He sure seems to have the float like a butterfly part down pat.  Grace in motion he is.  His corner is screaming at him to remember the sting like a bee part.

McCain is back after him with a vengeance.  Determined to chase his foe “to the gates of Hell,” we in the booth think that means President Bush’s sensory deprivation chamber, but we can’t be sure. 

Wait … what’s this???

Some hockey mom has climbed atop the top rope!  She is coiling to leap on the young Senator.  Looks like she is wielding a gigantic side of ham!  This could be exactly what the flagging Senator from Arizona needs to finally corral his elusive foe!

Swinging the pork as she launches herself at the fighter in the blue trunks, she’s shrieking something about reaching across the aisle to smack the taste out of his mouth.  I must say that she is not hard on the eyes.  Quite a lovely shade of lipstick.  I’m being told by producers that she is an undefeated cage fighter from Alaska.  What she is doing ringside at a major venue like Madison Square Garden for the heavyweight championship of the world, I have no earthly idea.

The challenger looks stunned.  He was evidently not briefed for this departure from script.  Deftly stepping out of the way, however, the Alaskan Assassin lands only a glancing blow.  She is rooted to the canvas by that side of ham.  Looks like she has been felled by the very same pork product that had been hoped to decapitate the leftist media darling.  If we can get past her handlers, we’ll have plenty of questions for this interloper after tonight’s festivities.

DING!

Obama looks shaken.  While the assault from the top ropes was quickly evaded, McCain appears to have been emboldened by the tough talking simpleton from the north.  At least she would drown out that heckling buffoon in the fourth row.  Eat that, Biden.

The red corner is telling their guy that he looks great.  The young guy will fold.  He has no experience in the late rounds.  Get him into the deep water, and he’s ours.  Hit him with the lobbyist stuff again, says the deregulatory lobbyist.

The blue corner is slapping their guy fully across the face.  “Do you want to win, damn it?  Do you want to win?  It’s yours for the taking!  His own corner hates this guy!  All you have to do is throw your punches!  Please!  For the love of God, stop turdling and fight this guy!”

DING!

Obama is up on his toes again.  Feeling his oats, he’s starting to tentatively flick his jab out there.  He’s a good ten feet away from his target, but it’s something.

McCain, meanwhile, looks gassed.  He just cold-cocked the liberally biased ref for the fifth time.  He doesn’t know whether to drill, regulate or bomb Iran.  He looks like a caged animal.

Obama is starting to hammer away with that jab now.  He’s really peppering him with Bush references and corrections every time McCain throws that misinformation haymaker.

But wait!  McCain has finally caught up to his slick challenger!  He’s got him in a corner.  The young Congressman is holding on for dear life as Karl Rove proteges try to pin McCain’s economic voting record on the erstwhile challenger!  Vicious one-twos of “You don’t have any experience in Washington” and “You are a Washington insider crony!” 

Obama finally breaks free, and McCain trips over himself in zealous pursuit!  Upon rising, McCain trips again!  He’s completely disoriented!  He’s calling the fight game fundamentally strong and demanding the resignation of the New York State Boxing Commission in response to the last De La Hoya performance!  This is getting ugly!

What’s he doing??!!

He’s saying “No mas!”

McCain is saying “No mas!”

There is pandemonium in the ring!  Obama is dancing around the ring with his arms raised, screaming at McCain to keep fighting!  He’s suddenly throwing vicious shadow punches now that the contest has been halted!  McCain and his handlers are demanding that the judges hold onto their scorecards!  They want the fight postponed until after he flies to New York to tape a couple of interviews, before heading to the capitol the storm about Congress with no clear role. 

This is what I call being Heavyweight Champion!

Forget mucking up delicate sparring sessions when no one in the gym has seen your mug since April, it’s big boy time!  This is a nation that demands our leaders act busy. 

Quick!  Crumple a beer can against your melon and fire someone!  Anyone!

Obama is still standing in the ring!  He refuses to postpone the fight.  Oddly enough, despite vowing to stop fighting until the current crisis has been abated, McCain is hurling programs and concessions at his opponent as he leaves the arena, and appears on television seventy eight times in the next five minutes announcing his rescue efforts on behalf of the global economy. He thinks he may have also discovered Colonel Sanders' secret recipe and cured cancer along the way.

Damn, should have paid more attention in Finance 101!

Back in the ring, Obama starts fighting the hot dog vendor.

The Alaskan Assassin emerges from the Dick Cheney safe and is mercilessly attacked by the ruthless Katie Couric with such bombastic questions as, “What exact foreign policy experience do you have?”

With no resolution in place, McCain returns to MSG to resume the fight.  It is a clever ploy. Obama is cold and tight now.  His movements aren’t as crisp, and the older McCain is able to keep pace in the rhetorical pugilistics.  Now that the man in red is anxious to scrap again, Obama appears weary of the conflict.  He keeps reaching for the post-fight hug even though it is only round four.  For some reason, he is unwilling to throw the highly anticipated "Keating 5 Bolo Punch."

Looks like this one is going to go the distance folks, but we are out of time for this broadcast.  We will now return to the regularly scheduled airing of “Heidi.” 

From Wall Street to Main Street, I bid you goodnight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

Hi Paul,  Something whacked your HTML and you may want to repost.

Posted by Bill Ladewig Your FHA Guru - FHA and VA Loans Since 1970 over 3 years ago

Thanks, Bill.  That's why I normally post in draft first.  I've been getting that HTML coding on all of my posts, for whatever reason, despite posting in WYSIWYG.  Go figure.

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

I was up at the snack stand -- did somebody win?

Posted by Elaine Hanson, REALTOR® ~ Topanga, CA Real Estate Agent (Snyder Sutton Real Estate) over 3 years ago

boxingAre you ready to rummmbbbleeeee??!!  Very cute Paul!  Personally, I think the Obamarama won the fight, but I am biased!  Also, you forgot to mention the hockey mom's "guy"! 

Posted by Susan Mangigian, Chester County Homes Delaware and Chester County Offices! (RE/MAX Preferred, West Chester, PA, RS152252A) over 3 years ago

Respect human talent, respond to genius, recognize reality, admire truth and beauty, realize the meaning of the rare flower Reason.

  - Peter Nivio Zarlenga, "The Orator", "Flight", 1977

Paul, this quote reminds me of so many of your posts. 

Posted by Susan Mangigian, Chester County Homes Delaware and Chester County Offices! (RE/MAX Preferred, West Chester, PA, RS152252A) over 3 years ago

Elaine - There's a winner in all of this?

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

Susan - Comments like those make it nice to have you around my blog ;)

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

No ::sigh:: Back to my happy place lalalalala!

Posted by Elaine Hanson, REALTOR® ~ Topanga, CA Real Estate Agent (Snyder Sutton Real Estate) over 3 years ago

Paul this was highly entertaining.  Isn't that what presidential elections are supposed to be? 

I mean forget about jobs, the economy, the state of our schools...I wanna see some good soundbites to make my day...

 

Posted by Melina Tomson, M.S. Principal Broker/Owner (Tomson Burnham, llc Licensed in the State of Oregon) over 3 years ago

You really brought it all home with the return to HEIDI(nile)...I yodeled all the way back to my REAL work... LOL!!! Brilliant storytelling, well-stitched seams. I'm not qualified as any real critic...all I can say is...I read news; I read books; I read blogs & columns...and your style, perspective & content is a sheer pleasure. I think perhaps it is STORIES that can ultimately save a civilization from its wretched political fevers. Thanks for the potent dose!

Posted by Anonymous over 3 years ago

Happy place ... I think the current administration has been stuck there for eight years.  "La la la la la, I can't hear you ..."

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

You really brought it all home with the return to HEIDI(nile)...I yodeled all the way back to my REAL work... LOL!!! Brilliant storytelling, well-stitched seams. I'm not qualified as any real critic...all I can say is...I read news; I read books; I read blogs & columns...and your style, perspective & content is a sheer pleasure. I think perhaps it is STORIES that can ultimately save a civilization from its wretched political fevers. Thanks for the potent dose!

 

(back for those points, LOL!)

Posted by Mara Hawks, Inactive-2012 REALTOR®, Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL (First Realty Auburn ) over 3 years ago

Melina - You've got it.  By all means, make sure to answer all pointed questions with talking points that have been exhausted on the stump as well.  McCain and his freaking pen is going to make everyone famous.  Obama is going to protect Main Street as well as Wall Street.  Got it.  Can we move on now?

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

Thank you Paul. I have been wanting to laugh at the ridiculousness (is that really a word) for the last several weeks. Been feeling guilty about that since, you know, the end of times is here and all. You have given me the excuse I need.

Posted by Beth Forbes Your 24/7 loan officer (The mortgage help you want when you need it.) over 3 years ago

Mara - It is all grand theater, is it not?  I humbly thank you for the critique.  There is enough pointed campaigning in our midst, so it's a fun diversion to step back and consider the spectacle instead of the stakes. 

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

Beth - It is definitely the silly season for politics.  Who is being presidential.  Who is demonstrating leadership.  Who is the tri-state thumb war champion who can stare down Putin and balance the budget.  I'm wondering when we'll just settle this once and for all with a pie eating contest. 

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

There are no politics in MY happy place.  I rule -- everyone's happy. 

Posted by Elaine Hanson, REALTOR® ~ Topanga, CA Real Estate Agent (Snyder Sutton Real Estate) over 3 years ago

This was almost as much fun as the SNL skits.

Posted by Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ over 3 years ago

Pulitzer, Pulitzer.

Posted by Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland (Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate) over 3 years ago

Elaine - No politics in a benevolent dictatorship.  Good call.

Leslie - You should see my Sara Palin impression.

Lenn - LOL.  You didn't need to edit.  That would have fit in nicely with the shenanigans.

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

I vote with Lenn. Potatoe - Potato, Just a couple of Spuds to me.

Posted by Cameron Wilson:The Short Guy Blog, Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee California (Labrum Real Estate) over 3 years ago

Paul- I was just informed this morning that Obama is a heavy smoker. I wonder is he a Camel or a Marlboro man?

Posted by Lori Franks ~ Brookings, Oregon (Real Estate Consultant) over 3 years ago

Did McCain punch the ref or stab him with the pen? 

Posted by Amanda Hall * FORT WORTH TEXAS Real Estate Broker * (Hall Team Homes) over 3 years ago

I am laughing too hard to properly respond.

Posted by Melody Botting Real Estate Network over 3 years ago

I'd like to see you on CNN Paul. Or mabybe just a local news channel....I'd watch!

Posted by Mandi Perkins (AZ Big Sky Realty, Inc.) over 3 years ago

Paul, Certainly the most pleasant, well written satire presented on a political post I have read on this site or any other forthat matter. I think it funnier than the Palin skits. Thanks for the laughter.

Posted by Linda Mae Croom (928) 768-3040 over 3 years ago

LMAO - This seriously funny shit, Paul.  Screw selling houses... you need to be writing screenplays or something.

Posted by Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Specialists Jesse & Kathy Clifton 907-328-9328 (Jesse Clifton & Associates, REALTORS®) over 3 years ago

Paul - Nice "Heidi" reference.  Appropriately obscure.

Posted by Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC) over 3 years ago

Heidi is hiding in Pahrump Nevada with her little black book.

Posted by Cameron Wilson:The Short Guy Blog, Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee California (Labrum Real Estate) over 3 years ago

Not that I am trying to start trouble, but wasn't that woman in the trunk when we were at Andrew's named Heidi?  I thought she had a little black book in her hand.

Posted by Susan Mangigian, Chester County Homes Delaware and Chester County Offices! (RE/MAX Preferred, West Chester, PA, RS152252A) over 3 years ago

Paul:  This election post really captures the sideshow, circus freak aspect of what is going on.  Wish you could make this an actual cartoon.

Posted by Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA (Long & Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA) over 3 years ago

Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction.

This election could easily have been penned by Allen Drury. 

 

Posted by Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland (Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate) over 3 years ago

Cameron - Spuds ... now there is a candidate.  The super party animal.  He'd cut through this BS and be lounging poolside before your could say "Miller Lite."

Lori - I was thinking Virginia Slims, personally.

Amanda - I think he actually disemboweled him with a Swiss Army penknife. Cut the fat right off of him.

Melody - And I'm too unstable to respond so we make quite a pair.

Mandi - Something tells me my broker would have a stroke at the prospect of me taking to the airwaves.

Linda - Why thank you!  I am actually rather passionate about this election, so such breaks from the tension are as good for me as everyone else who takes him/herself too seriously.  Thanks for reading.

Jesse - Ah, thanks, buddy. For the time being, though, I'll keep selling those houses and just try to amuse my friends here. 

Jason - There is no greater segue than a young Swiss maid.

Cameron - Hiding, huh?  Sure she is.  Just because you have someone stuffed in your attic crawlspace, it does not constitute "hiding."

Susan - I know nothing.  I hear nothing.

Chris - I keep waiting for the little people to be fired out of canons.  Maybe at the VP debate.

Lenn - Or the Marx brothers.

 

Posted by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives) over 3 years ago

Obama quit smoking last year. His wife made him quit smoking before he would run for President.

Posted by C Thompson, Loss Mitigation Cases (Loan Modification) over 3 years ago

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

Mad Magazine will pay you for permission to copy this post as will the New York Times....

Posted by Chapman Realty Homes Brunswick Georgia over 3 years ago

Paul, this was good!!! Very good. Actually laughed out loud at some of the scenarios. Quite the imagination you have! I'll bet you can really tell show and tell good bedtime stories to your little ones. ;-)

Pepper

Posted by Teri Ellis at Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC over 3 years ago

Darn it, Paul... I don't know how I missed it, but by golly this was brilliant, my friend.:-) Much much needed! Apologies for the belated comment:-)

Posted by Inna Hardison- HaMedia Group Wordpress for Real Estate &Design,Print (ha media group) over 3 years ago

Hi Inna.

Posted by Amanda Hall * FORT WORTH TEXAS Real Estate Broker * (Hall Team Homes) over 3 years ago

At least Spuds will be Honest and admit " I'm just Humping Your leg" but it feels Good to Me

Posted by Cameron Wilson:The Short Guy Blog, Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee California (Labrum Real Estate) over 3 years ago

I had to come back and find out what the heck Cameron was stalking talking about.

Posted by Amanda Hall * FORT WORTH TEXAS Real Estate Broker * (Hall Team Homes) over 3 years ago

LMAO.....and yes Laurie - Obama does inhale!  Last I heard he's a nicotene patchman.  And AGAIN Paul...I enjoy your posts!   But you forgot a Leon Spinks quote...."I ain't got no money, I ain't got no....."  

I know, I know....shut up Chris

Posted by Christine Bohn, Gainesville, FL Realtor® (RE/MAX Professionals) over 3 years ago

Paul, absolutely pure genius my buddy - you have a gift!

Posted by Lisa Friedman Central New Jersey Real Estate (Alliance Realtors) over 3 years ago

I think this is my new favorite channel noooo!  can't ait to see what else you come up with Ay!

What's that you say Mr. Obama jokin Joe has left and gone away ...hey ay hey..hey ay hay!

Posted by Garren Grup, REALTOR, ABR, CDPE, GRI… Naples & Bonita Springs, FL (John R. Wood REALTORS) over 3 years ago

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