I have been in Park City, Utah, for the past three days, for meetings with our investors, and I am glad to say that I recently arrived back in the City of the Angels. Park City was terrific, but it was *snowing* there this morning. It is freaking JUNE, for Pete's sake.

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I have heard a lot from conservative friends recently that the democrats simply want to take the money from the people who earn it and restribute it to the people who don't, thereby buying votes to stay in power and ruining our country in the process.

I have some sympathy for that point of view, but I would urge the people who think this to put themselves in the shoes of someone who is making $25K per year and trying to support a family, who sees the epic giveaways to already-wealthy special interests, that were orchestrated by the republicans from 2001 to 2006, and wonders if the system isn't simply rigged to keep the money flowing to the rich and to keep the people in power who are orchestrating the giveaways.

Of course the real problem is that both parties are disgustingly guilty of this, the recent Farm Bill being Exhibit 593. "With food prices at all-time highs and farm income skyrocketing, let's shovel more money at wealthy corporate farmers who need it least...what could go wrong with that plan?" Props to McCain for not voting for this travesty of a bill.

McCain has certainly had his problems with having tainted folks in his campaign, with several departures recently. But when Obama blows it, he blows it big. I am very disappointed with Obama for his weak defense yesterday of Jim Johnson, former head of the committee vetting VP candidates for Obama. Johnson resigned today, but my disappointment with Obama has not abated..for both his defense of Johnson as well as for picking Johnson in the first place.

Johnson was one of the many pigs voraciously feeding at the Fannie Mae trough, and was secretly getting better-than-market personal residential loans from Countrywide while he was running Fannie, who was doing a lot of business with Countrywide. Talk about bad judgment. Talk about ethical lapses. Talk about sickening greed. And Obama thought that Johnson was most qualified to head the VP selection committee, to guide Obama in making one the most important decisions he will ever make?! And Obama defends Johnson after the news becomes public?!

The critics of Bush had a phrase for this, when Bush would display complete political tone deafness, defending his incompetent and corrupt appointees and cronies. People called it Bush getting bubbled, or living in a bubble. Obama needs to shape up quickly; the bubble is being blown around him without him seeing it.

The Wall Street Journal had a very interesting editorial about this today.

I still like Obama overall. But he needs to get his act together. When you campaign on changing the ways of Washington, you can't let tainted Washington insiders run your campaign and guide you on your most important decisions. This applies to McCain too.