Hope is in short supply these days. News of foreclosures, sinking markets, and vanishing 401Ks have been beamed into American living rooms ad nauseam.  We are sick of it, but deep down we know that this economic malaise is about more than bailouts and CEO pay.  This is big.

Americans in general have been marginalized to the point of being slaves to a plastic economy and masters of denial and procrastination.  The fact that Americans will no longer be guaranteed a ticket to the American Dream is brutal and quite

sobering. For many Americans the “American Dream” was just that, a dream, often a dream deferred.

For one group the American dream was essentially a birthright.

That group is the coveted Average American White Guy.

Election 2008 has been a real head-scratcher for the Average American White guy.  Powell's endorsement aside, the Average American White Guy can still "close the deal" on election 2008.  In the beginning the question was, "Do I vote for my mother-In-Law or Affirmative Action Jackson?" Now the question is, "Do I vote for my Father-in-law or a guy who "pals around" with Osama?"

Politics is partly about symbolism.  Both parties have had strong symbolic leaders -- Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, and Clinton.  These men personified policy and change to the masses. They were vital to the progression of America and were men who dared to change the country no matter who or what got in America's way.

Obama exudes change and vitality. To many Obama is the change we need. To some he is the "magical black friend", version 2.0.  To others he is a "slick Commie", a.k.a., Mr. Socialism. Say what you will, but Obama makes his mark and he IS a symbol. But the Average American White guy would prefer that Obama wear the provided label.

In times like these, the Average American White Guy needs a symbol. The GOP has done a piss poor job in providing one.  McCain is not that symbol. He is old and old men never make good symbols for "vitality and change".

Sara Palin works for all the Average American White Gals, a.k.a., hockey-soccer, moms-moose-hunters, but her symbolism is that of a macho-earth-mother-sex kitten. That type of symbolism won't do for the Average American White Guy. SNL sideshows aside, Sarah Palin will never do for this demographic, no matter how “hot” he thinks she is. The Average American White Guy needs a "Great White Hope."  The McCain campaign hopes they found it in Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, better known now as "Joe the Plumber."

Now, I'm not going to talk about Joe's tax lien, phantom business acquisitions and plumber license, or lack there of. I'm going to remain on the surface of this phenomenon, since that is what this whole thing is really about.

We don't have to dig very deep to see and more importantly "feel" why "Joe" is McCain's "man." The Average White guy likes Joe because he's done something that they, and for that matter John McCain, could never do.  He confronted Obama face to face, Mano-a-mano.  And I'm not talking about "confront" Obama the way Palin does. No, Joe had the stones to “get in Obama's face". Joe's stones are indeed huge.

That's why the Average American White Guy loves Joe. Joe IS the "October surprise" of election 2008.  He’s raw, flawed and unapologetic.  He’s part “Dog the Bounty Hunter” with a pinch of Hannity and a spoonful of Drew Carey. Ohio indeed! 

The McCain campaign, grasping desperately for a lifeline, found it in Joe and they have no intention of letting Joe go.  To let go of Joe would be the political equivalent of flushing 2008 down the political drain. McCain knows this and has reattached himself to "God and Guns" via Joe.

Ultimately none of this is really about socialism, Barry, John, Sarah or even Joe.  It's about "race" AND "place"; more about "place".  Where is my "place" in all of this reshuffling of America. Will I, the Average American White Guy be at the head of the table?  Will I, the Average American White Guy still HAVE a place at the table?

Fear has been THE winning ticket for the GOP since Reagan rattled his saber at Iran in 1980. Fear is a strong motivating force.  Fear almost never fails to deliver its results.  That’s what’s so sad and scary about the “Joe the Plumber” phenomenon. It reeks of fear and loathing. Fear that the Average American White Guy can no long bank on an age old American truism: “Well I may be __________________, but a least I'm not Black."  Loathing that someone other than an Average American White Guy will be THE MAN.

There, I said it. Truth hurts.  The truth is raw and unapologetic, kinda’ like Joe. How tightly the Average American White Guy clings to this age old American truism is what the 2008 election will ultimately come down to. 

How many Average American White Guys would rather go down with the ship than accept a helping hand from a black man?  My friends, in five days we'll find out, you betcha'.