Either you're famous for way too long or you aren't famous for more than fifteen seconds. Yes, I'm updating Warhol. Either you're overexposed and on TV 24/7 or you could run down your street naked and no one would care at all.

I'm not sure what was more important this week: Lindsey Lohan's drinkin', druggin' n' driving, Michael Vick's doggies or the crash and burn of the stock market. I know which one affected me more. But coverage of all three was over the top, considering their overall importance.

And then there was the YouTube Democratic Presidential Primary debate, which preceded the stock market crash. Hmmm...

Ten seconds or so of query from regular people who have video cameras on their computers, which, I guess, is most people (but not me). This wasn't about the people asking the questions, of course, this was about making the candidates answer questions they don't often have to really answer.

It turned out to be a pretty good idea. The way the questions were asked was kind of entertaining. It was much better than a lot of scripted debates, where it seems as if the questions were written by the PR people involved in the campaigns. Although it wasn't really much of debate. The candidates didn't really talk to each other much, except for what has turned out to be the striking difference between Clinton and Obama.

You see, Obama says he'd talk to the leaders of countries we've tarred and feathered over the last seven years or so. Clinton said she won't be bullied into making any promises she doesn't intend to keep. Or something like that. Oh yeah, spin says they both got bounce from this little spat (experts liked Clinton's answer, the regular people liked Obama's, both of 'em got more money).

And it's much tougher to say you're against gay marriage when two lesbians ask if they can get married. And Edwards certainly struggled with this one. Suddenly it's about people and not just some stump speech. Apparently Edwards' wife disagrees with him on this one--even though she thinks he's a better woman than Clinton. Maybe this is why she disagrees...

Anyway, the two hours weren't too bad. Richardson got to slam No Child Left Behind (and this got a pretty big ovation everywhere it seems), even though he didn't get to answer a question until twenty minutes in. Us here in New Mexico watch the clock on all these debates to see how long it takes for our governor to get a word in. It's kinda like rooting for the home team.

And the wacky guy from Alaska, he's a hoot. Even if he's a bit crazy eyed. I always wonder if he'll just start spitting and flailing his hands about for no reason.

I like Biden, too, but he's a little too concerned about telling everyone how screwy government and politics is (let's talk about what is actually possible, people, let's be real!) when he talks about getting out of Iraq.

Yeah, we know. We're not leaving before Bush is kicked out the back door. But we can dream can't we?

Can I say how much I don't like Kucinich--even though I agree with a lot of what he says? And it's not just because he looked like a rat with a comb-over (okay, it's a little bit because of that), but how totally uncool he is. Did anyone else find his "text peace" shit more than just a little cloying?

All in all, not too bad. And I was starting to look forward to watching the Republican version in September (scheduled a week after the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks for extra patriotism), but apparently the GOP is running for cover from the regular man.

Romney and Guliani (the two frontrunners on the GOP side) have said they have scheduling conflicts (A month and a half from now? You can't move something? Aren't you running for President? Priorities people!) and will not attend.

Methinks they don't want to answer questions the general public might want to ask GOP candidates. They might not want to have to answer for anything Bush has done. Or they might not want to look like total assholes and blurt out, "Screw you carpet munchers! Marriage is just for us STRAIGHT three-time divorcees!"

Apparently being a GOP candidate for President is a lot like being a GOP President. They don't have to answer to the public for any of their views or actions.

Matt Worley is pretty sure texting is not the reason humans developed opposable thumbs.