Well. Gwen Ifill, moderator of this Thursday's debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin, has a broken foot. Seems she fell down some stairs while studying for the debate. ( One wag said " she was carrying 20 pounds of Sarah Palin's bullshit.")
Does anybody know where Tanya Harding was last night? How long has she been working for McCain?
I can see it now: as Ifill writhes on the floor, groaning, a shadowy figure appears and in a hoarse whisper says "Let this be a little warning to youse, Ms. Ifill. We're watching youse. If youse play any 'gotcha' games with your little debate questions, youse will have to answer some questions. And we might not be so gentle next time like we wuz tonight...got it?"
Of course, it's only the merest of coincidences that one of McCain's crafty minions essentially threatened Ifill the other night if she didn't play nice with Governor Palin.
But it does make a person wonder...how desperate ARE these guys, anyway?
WHAT MCCAIN SAID ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE BAILOUT PLAN TO PASS IN CONGRESS:
"Now is not the time for blame."
WHAT MCCAIN MEANT:
" I already blamed Obama. THAT was the time for blame. Not now."
McCain, by the way, showed stellar leadership when he was able to persuade half, that is, 50%, of the Arizona delegation to support the bailout bill. Half. In his home state. The state of which he is the senior member of the delegation.
That's still a lot better than W. did. He called and strongarmed all 19 members of the Texas delegation. Got 4 votes. 4. Out of 19. Former Governor of Texas, current President of the United States, and he can't persuade HIS OWN FREAKING PEOPLE, TEXANS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, to vote for his bill.
Yep, all Pelosi and Obama's fault. Damn those anybody but America first liberals.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
McCain is Flailin', Is Palin Bailin'?
Hoo boy. McCain must be having flashbacks: " I'm hit! We're going down! NOOOOooooooo...."
His campaign is approaching terminal velocity on the way to auguring in. And now his choice of Sarah Palin as the Wing Person (no, too easy, not going to make any hardware references...) is going to be showcased on Thursday.
And her flight training is not going well. In aviator terms, she is washing out. Apparently her debate training went so poorly that a mock debate left a senior campaign staffer saying, " My God...what are we going to do?"
Given the response to Friday's debate, it is intriguing to note that with only 6 Sundays left before the election, Palin and McCain had no events scheduled yesterday. None. No talk shows, no rallies, no public appearances whatsoever.
What were they doing? What were they talking about? Were they even in the same place?
Here is my suspicion: They are planning the Hail Mary of the Week: Palin bails on the debate because of a "family issue" of some kind, or she bails on the campaign altogether, again because of family concerns.
An alternate possibility is that they are working on a plan to lower expectations so much that if she doesn't soil herself on camera, she appears to have won the debate.
One suggestion: emergency dental surgery, so that her replies to Gwen Ifill consist of "Errr...glurgh ufh ghaa sheesh Putin hufh hurfh prijj ta nohair nunh unh".
Which will make Joe Biden look like a beast for even responding with teeth in his head.
It's their only hope.
His campaign is approaching terminal velocity on the way to auguring in. And now his choice of Sarah Palin as the Wing Person (no, too easy, not going to make any hardware references...) is going to be showcased on Thursday.
And her flight training is not going well. In aviator terms, she is washing out. Apparently her debate training went so poorly that a mock debate left a senior campaign staffer saying, " My God...what are we going to do?"
Given the response to Friday's debate, it is intriguing to note that with only 6 Sundays left before the election, Palin and McCain had no events scheduled yesterday. None. No talk shows, no rallies, no public appearances whatsoever.
What were they doing? What were they talking about? Were they even in the same place?
Here is my suspicion: They are planning the Hail Mary of the Week: Palin bails on the debate because of a "family issue" of some kind, or she bails on the campaign altogether, again because of family concerns.
An alternate possibility is that they are working on a plan to lower expectations so much that if she doesn't soil herself on camera, she appears to have won the debate.
One suggestion: emergency dental surgery, so that her replies to Gwen Ifill consist of "Errr...glurgh ufh ghaa sheesh Putin hufh hurfh prijj ta nohair nunh unh".
Which will make Joe Biden look like a beast for even responding with teeth in his head.
It's their only hope.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ummm...WTF?
Now, let me get this straight: This economic crisis is so great that John McCain has to be in Washington on Friday night, and can't make it to the debate. And he wants to do a make-up debate that will occur instead of the vice-presidential debate.
A little history, Senator McCain. Abraham Lincoln ran a campaign for president during the Civil War. There were three elections during the Great Depression. There was an election during World War 2.
And this is more of a calamity than those three events?
First of all, who the hell will even be IN Washington at 9 p.m. on a Friday night? Are you kidding me? A third of the Senate is running for re-election. They will be out campaigning.
Second of all, you haven't voted on anything in 5 months. People losing their houses, you're out campaigning. People going broke trying to pay for gas, you're out campaigning. People losing their jobs, unemployment rising, you're out campaigning. A bunch of your Wall Street supporters in danger of losing a whole lot of their money, well, Katy bar the door, NOW there is a problem, and you're going to go to D.C. to solve it.
There is a word for this, Senator. I'll be polite and make it 2 words: Bovine excrement.
There is, of course, a simple solution to this dilemma. If it is absolutely imperative for you to deal with a crisis, then do what any President would do: send in the V.P. as a surrogate. After all, Sarah Palin is fully vetted, and fully qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Who better to speak on John McCain's behalf than his running mate? She doesn't have to be in Washington. In fact, there would be nothing for her to do there. So she can fill in for you, Senator McCain.
Sure she can.
Senator McCain, and all your supporters, answer me this: How is it that you can stand up to the North Vietnamese, but you can't bear to face Jim Lehrer...of PBS? How is it that Senator Obama, who you claim is inexperienced and untested, and has no accomplishments in the Senate of which to speak, is too terrifying to debate? On the subject in which you claim to have the greatest expertise? This should be a cakewalk for you, Senator, if all of what you say is true.
Unbelievable. "Elect us to lead you. We don't need to answer any questions or talk to the press."
Now on to something even more laughable: The rumor that Obama is not legally qualified to be President because he was actually born in Kenya, and his mom flew him to Hawaii right after his birth to get a fake birth certificate.
In order for that to be true, Mrs. Obama would have had to know that her son wanted to one day be President of the United States. Yeah, that was a pretty plausible supposition in 1961, when many blacks couldn't even legally vote. Barack would of course automatically be a US citizen no matter where he was born. He just wouldn't be able to run for President if he were born in Kenya.
Now, let's take a look at the logistics of travel in 1961. If Mrs' Obama had been lucky, she might have been able to fly on a Boeing 707, with a top speed of about 530 knots. if she got on a Lockheed Constellation, the speed would have been about 250 knots at best. Given the amount of travel involved in flying between Kenya and Hawaii, she would have had to fly about 12,000 miles going east. Kenya was not exactly a major jet-set route, so the number of stops and layovers would have been daunting for a healthy woman traveling by herself.
And of course, she would have just given birth...ALWAYS a fun time in 1961. She would have been traveling with an infant. There were no Pampers in 1961, so she would have been dealing with cloth diapers. On the plane. In the airport. No wet-wipes then, either.
Ever traveled with a newborn on an airplane? They cry the entire time because they can't clear their ears. Now imagine that air travel takes 50% longer for a 707, probably 100% longer for a Lockheed Constellation, than what we are used to now.
And why go 12,000 miles to the east to go to Hawaii. when New York City would be much easier to get to, faster, more cheaply, at only about 5000 miles away?
Clearly, this cockamamie idea was hatched by a guy. A woman would have known that no woman would have put herself or her baby through that ordeal, even if she somehow had been able to divine that 48 years later, her child would be the Democratic nominee for President.
It's even dumber than the idea that Obama's middle name, Hussein, has something to do with Saddam Hussein. Who the hell had heard of Saddam Hussein in 1961? Hell, he was almost totally unknown in IRAQ in 1961, let alone Kenya or the U.S.
Yet there are people who give this crap credence. They believe that humans and dinosaurs coexisted, so why couldn't this happen? Oddly, the fact that there exists no birth certificate for John McCain doesn't faze them in the least.
But the fact that there is no birth certificate leads inescapably to one, and only one, conclusion: John McCain wasn't born on this planet. He is an alien from another galaxy. Which explains a lot.
A little history, Senator McCain. Abraham Lincoln ran a campaign for president during the Civil War. There were three elections during the Great Depression. There was an election during World War 2.
And this is more of a calamity than those three events?
First of all, who the hell will even be IN Washington at 9 p.m. on a Friday night? Are you kidding me? A third of the Senate is running for re-election. They will be out campaigning.
Second of all, you haven't voted on anything in 5 months. People losing their houses, you're out campaigning. People going broke trying to pay for gas, you're out campaigning. People losing their jobs, unemployment rising, you're out campaigning. A bunch of your Wall Street supporters in danger of losing a whole lot of their money, well, Katy bar the door, NOW there is a problem, and you're going to go to D.C. to solve it.
There is a word for this, Senator. I'll be polite and make it 2 words: Bovine excrement.
There is, of course, a simple solution to this dilemma. If it is absolutely imperative for you to deal with a crisis, then do what any President would do: send in the V.P. as a surrogate. After all, Sarah Palin is fully vetted, and fully qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Who better to speak on John McCain's behalf than his running mate? She doesn't have to be in Washington. In fact, there would be nothing for her to do there. So she can fill in for you, Senator McCain.
Sure she can.
Senator McCain, and all your supporters, answer me this: How is it that you can stand up to the North Vietnamese, but you can't bear to face Jim Lehrer...of PBS? How is it that Senator Obama, who you claim is inexperienced and untested, and has no accomplishments in the Senate of which to speak, is too terrifying to debate? On the subject in which you claim to have the greatest expertise? This should be a cakewalk for you, Senator, if all of what you say is true.
Unbelievable. "Elect us to lead you. We don't need to answer any questions or talk to the press."
Now on to something even more laughable: The rumor that Obama is not legally qualified to be President because he was actually born in Kenya, and his mom flew him to Hawaii right after his birth to get a fake birth certificate.
In order for that to be true, Mrs. Obama would have had to know that her son wanted to one day be President of the United States. Yeah, that was a pretty plausible supposition in 1961, when many blacks couldn't even legally vote. Barack would of course automatically be a US citizen no matter where he was born. He just wouldn't be able to run for President if he were born in Kenya.
Now, let's take a look at the logistics of travel in 1961. If Mrs' Obama had been lucky, she might have been able to fly on a Boeing 707, with a top speed of about 530 knots. if she got on a Lockheed Constellation, the speed would have been about 250 knots at best. Given the amount of travel involved in flying between Kenya and Hawaii, she would have had to fly about 12,000 miles going east. Kenya was not exactly a major jet-set route, so the number of stops and layovers would have been daunting for a healthy woman traveling by herself.
And of course, she would have just given birth...ALWAYS a fun time in 1961. She would have been traveling with an infant. There were no Pampers in 1961, so she would have been dealing with cloth diapers. On the plane. In the airport. No wet-wipes then, either.
Ever traveled with a newborn on an airplane? They cry the entire time because they can't clear their ears. Now imagine that air travel takes 50% longer for a 707, probably 100% longer for a Lockheed Constellation, than what we are used to now.
And why go 12,000 miles to the east to go to Hawaii. when New York City would be much easier to get to, faster, more cheaply, at only about 5000 miles away?
Clearly, this cockamamie idea was hatched by a guy. A woman would have known that no woman would have put herself or her baby through that ordeal, even if she somehow had been able to divine that 48 years later, her child would be the Democratic nominee for President.
It's even dumber than the idea that Obama's middle name, Hussein, has something to do with Saddam Hussein. Who the hell had heard of Saddam Hussein in 1961? Hell, he was almost totally unknown in IRAQ in 1961, let alone Kenya or the U.S.
Yet there are people who give this crap credence. They believe that humans and dinosaurs coexisted, so why couldn't this happen? Oddly, the fact that there exists no birth certificate for John McCain doesn't faze them in the least.
But the fact that there is no birth certificate leads inescapably to one, and only one, conclusion: John McCain wasn't born on this planet. He is an alien from another galaxy. Which explains a lot.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I think I found the problem...
So, I go into a bank today to get some change for the store where I work. I ask the teller for $150 in $10 bills.
She counts them out: " 60, 70, 80, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150."
I think, maybe she counted 2 at once...so I recount the money. Sure enough, I'm $10 short.
I point this out to her, and she says, " Oh, I am sorry, I am SO bad with tens."
She works in a bank. She is bad with "tens". What, they are heavier than ones? Does she get hypnotized by the zero?
What the hell has happened to this country when a BANK TELLER HAS TROUBLE WITH TENS??!?!?
I'm thinking that's what got the country's economy so messed up. We have banking types who have trouble with 10's, with 1,000's, with freaking BILLIONS....
And am I the only one who is thinking, hmmm...did they do this on purpose so they could totally bankrupt the US government, basically to make it, in the memorable words of Neo-conservative Grover Nordquist, "small enough to drown in the bathtub."? It is, after all, the Republican Party's wet dream to totally hobble the Federal Goverment. And by giving one man, ONE MAN, the ability to write $700 billion in TAXPAYERS MONEY with absolutely no repercussions if he uses it to, say, buy back Sarah Palin's state airplane, or invest heavily in hookers and cocaine, or buy Lithuania for the hell of it. He can do so with no possibility of oversight, accountability, or even civil or criminal penalties. He can do WHATEVER THE HELL HE WANTS TO with taxpayer dollars that our GRANDCHILDREN will have to pay. And guess what? It's going to be a loan...so who gets the interest on $700 billion? BANKS!!!!!!! The ones who lobbied for the deregulation that got us into this mess.
Oh yeah, and it's the Chinese who will buy up all the paper. Smooth. And if they decide to call in the loans..we're toast.
Without them ever having to fire a shot.
AAAAARRRRGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Phil Gramm. Thank you, John McCain. Thank you, Susan Collins. Thank you, George W. Bush.
Could somebody analyze the Bush DNA and find out what it is that causes enormous government bailouts of incompetent bankers at taxpayers' expense? In Poppy's administration it was the Savings and Loan scandal. Piffle, Dad, says W. That was a paltry $85 billion or so. This Bush is going to screw the American Taxpayers to the tune of $700 billion.
If this were any other country in the world, there would be rioting in the streets.
She counts them out: " 60, 70, 80, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150."
I think, maybe she counted 2 at once...so I recount the money. Sure enough, I'm $10 short.
I point this out to her, and she says, " Oh, I am sorry, I am SO bad with tens."
She works in a bank. She is bad with "tens". What, they are heavier than ones? Does she get hypnotized by the zero?
What the hell has happened to this country when a BANK TELLER HAS TROUBLE WITH TENS??!?!?
I'm thinking that's what got the country's economy so messed up. We have banking types who have trouble with 10's, with 1,000's, with freaking BILLIONS....
And am I the only one who is thinking, hmmm...did they do this on purpose so they could totally bankrupt the US government, basically to make it, in the memorable words of Neo-conservative Grover Nordquist, "small enough to drown in the bathtub."? It is, after all, the Republican Party's wet dream to totally hobble the Federal Goverment. And by giving one man, ONE MAN, the ability to write $700 billion in TAXPAYERS MONEY with absolutely no repercussions if he uses it to, say, buy back Sarah Palin's state airplane, or invest heavily in hookers and cocaine, or buy Lithuania for the hell of it. He can do so with no possibility of oversight, accountability, or even civil or criminal penalties. He can do WHATEVER THE HELL HE WANTS TO with taxpayer dollars that our GRANDCHILDREN will have to pay. And guess what? It's going to be a loan...so who gets the interest on $700 billion? BANKS!!!!!!! The ones who lobbied for the deregulation that got us into this mess.
Oh yeah, and it's the Chinese who will buy up all the paper. Smooth. And if they decide to call in the loans..we're toast.
Without them ever having to fire a shot.
AAAAARRRRGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Phil Gramm. Thank you, John McCain. Thank you, Susan Collins. Thank you, George W. Bush.
Could somebody analyze the Bush DNA and find out what it is that causes enormous government bailouts of incompetent bankers at taxpayers' expense? In Poppy's administration it was the Savings and Loan scandal. Piffle, Dad, says W. That was a paltry $85 billion or so. This Bush is going to screw the American Taxpayers to the tune of $700 billion.
If this were any other country in the world, there would be rioting in the streets.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Lawyer Up!
McCain's campaign has sent an anti-terrorism prosecutor to Alaska to quash the investigation into Troopergate. They don't want anything to get out. Nobody is cooperating, even though Sarah Palin once filed an ethics complaint against herself in the matter, the better to get it behind her.
If she didn't do anything wrong, why the high-powered mouthpiece? Surely the whole story was thoroughly discussed in the vetting process, and finding nothing to worry about, Gov. Palin was chosen to make McCain her running mate. ( Yes, she did refer to a Palin/McCain administration in an event yesterday. Might be the first time she's told the truth since this thing started.)
Or, perhaps, just maybe, NOBODY VETTED HER WORTH A DAMN, and they just said, "Hey, nice rack"...and I am of course referring to the moose head mounted on her wall, you lipstick-less chauvinist pigs.
And at some point, she had to tell Steve Schmidt and Karl Rove, " Umm, boys? I think there may be a teeny little problem with what's out there."
Much smacking of hands against foreheads later, the lawyer was dispatched. Smooth.
At least we now know what kind of transparency to expect from a Palin/McCain administration.
OMG, FINALS ARE NEXT WEEK AND I HAVEN'T OPENED A BOOK!
President Palin has canceled numerous rallies and fundraisers for the next couple of weeks. I guess her wranglers have decided that she is not yet ready for prime time, and she needs to know a whole bunch of stuff to not look like a total idiot in the Vice-Presidential debate. Like, you know, the meaning of the Bush Doctrine...and energy policy...and, like, where the hell IS Spain, anyway? So she can cue McCain the next time.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST ( if you read it...)
Hmm, so Sarah Palin tells Sean Hannity that her ex-brother-in-law is a big, mean guy...hmmm, where have I heard that before...wait! Right here in this very blog! See August 29th post on here, "I Can Dissect That Nomination In Three Words". ("When this gets out, you can be certain that her defense will be: ' Listen, buster, I was just trying to protect my sister and her kids from a large, powerful man with a badge and a gun.' ")
Damn, I'm good. ;)
If she didn't do anything wrong, why the high-powered mouthpiece? Surely the whole story was thoroughly discussed in the vetting process, and finding nothing to worry about, Gov. Palin was chosen to make McCain her running mate. ( Yes, she did refer to a Palin/McCain administration in an event yesterday. Might be the first time she's told the truth since this thing started.)
Or, perhaps, just maybe, NOBODY VETTED HER WORTH A DAMN, and they just said, "Hey, nice rack"...and I am of course referring to the moose head mounted on her wall, you lipstick-less chauvinist pigs.
And at some point, she had to tell Steve Schmidt and Karl Rove, " Umm, boys? I think there may be a teeny little problem with what's out there."
Much smacking of hands against foreheads later, the lawyer was dispatched. Smooth.
At least we now know what kind of transparency to expect from a Palin/McCain administration.
OMG, FINALS ARE NEXT WEEK AND I HAVEN'T OPENED A BOOK!
President Palin has canceled numerous rallies and fundraisers for the next couple of weeks. I guess her wranglers have decided that she is not yet ready for prime time, and she needs to know a whole bunch of stuff to not look like a total idiot in the Vice-Presidential debate. Like, you know, the meaning of the Bush Doctrine...and energy policy...and, like, where the hell IS Spain, anyway? So she can cue McCain the next time.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST ( if you read it...)
Hmm, so Sarah Palin tells Sean Hannity that her ex-brother-in-law is a big, mean guy...hmmm, where have I heard that before...wait! Right here in this very blog! See August 29th post on here, "I Can Dissect That Nomination In Three Words". ("When this gets out, you can be certain that her defense will be: ' Listen, buster, I was just trying to protect my sister and her kids from a large, powerful man with a badge and a gun.' ")
Damn, I'm good. ;)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A Football Analogy
Apparently there is some simmering doubt and resentment over the "Spygate" scandal involving the New England Patriots' videotaping of opposing teams in inappropriate ways. Some people are even maintaining that this proves that the NFL is rigged in the Pats' favor.
In order to clean house, to bring about the change that is needed in pro football, and to shake things up, I recommend that the Patriots fire Bill Belichek. In his place, they should hire the head football coach of the Duxbury High School football team. Let's face it, a high school football coach has just as much responsibility for winning as an NFL coach. He has meaningful, valuable experience, as well as small town values. Football is football, right? And Duxbury is pretty close to Foxborough, so that obviously helps.
Of course, you can't get rid of the entire coaching staff. So the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator would have to stay, even though they and the rest of the coaching staff benefitted from the results of the taping. After all, somebody has to make sure that the new coach knows where to go, how things work, and above all, how to deal with the media. It's a high-pressure situation, dealing with Boston media, so the new coach might need a little media training.
But with the small town values, the executive experience, sufficient media training, and, you know, the guy looks pretty good in a suit...shouldn't be any problem for the Patriots OR their fans, especially the season ticket holders...right? I mean, the fans oughta LOVE the change...right?
Sure they would. If my kids' future somehow depended on the results of the Pats' season, I'd be perfectly comfortable with that situation.
Uh huh.
Face it, there would be rioting in the streets of Foxborough and Boston if that happened. Putting the Patriots' future in the hands of someone charming, attractive, with small town values, but a ridiculously small amount of experience in the things that matter, would not be accepted warmly by sports fans.
Now change the team to the Dallas Cowboys. Or the Denver Broncos. Or the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the Cleveland Browns. ( Ok, maybe it wouldn't matter with the Browns.) The BUCKEYES! What if it happened with the Buckeyes? Forget it, the people responsible in these states would be hanged in effigy.
And yet, some of these same people are enthralled by Sarah Palin, she who governed a state that is arguably the wealthiest in the nation. How wealthy? She sent every man, woman, and child a check for $1200 from the proceeds of royalties and taxes on the oil industry. That is in addition to the $3000 annually that every man, woman, and child receives in Alaska from the state, also from the oil industry revenue.
As one wag put it, she sends out checks for a total of $4200 annually to everybody in the state...and she only has an 80% approval rating??? How bad do you have to be to pull that off?
It's the American Idol-ization of politics. And the fact that it's FOX's show makes me wonder...
VOTER SUPPRESSION
If you want a quick read on the latest Republican voter suppression tactics, go to www.jackandjillpolitics.com. They are cataloging the attempts in each state. Good reading there too.
In order to clean house, to bring about the change that is needed in pro football, and to shake things up, I recommend that the Patriots fire Bill Belichek. In his place, they should hire the head football coach of the Duxbury High School football team. Let's face it, a high school football coach has just as much responsibility for winning as an NFL coach. He has meaningful, valuable experience, as well as small town values. Football is football, right? And Duxbury is pretty close to Foxborough, so that obviously helps.
Of course, you can't get rid of the entire coaching staff. So the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator would have to stay, even though they and the rest of the coaching staff benefitted from the results of the taping. After all, somebody has to make sure that the new coach knows where to go, how things work, and above all, how to deal with the media. It's a high-pressure situation, dealing with Boston media, so the new coach might need a little media training.
But with the small town values, the executive experience, sufficient media training, and, you know, the guy looks pretty good in a suit...shouldn't be any problem for the Patriots OR their fans, especially the season ticket holders...right? I mean, the fans oughta LOVE the change...right?
Sure they would. If my kids' future somehow depended on the results of the Pats' season, I'd be perfectly comfortable with that situation.
Uh huh.
Face it, there would be rioting in the streets of Foxborough and Boston if that happened. Putting the Patriots' future in the hands of someone charming, attractive, with small town values, but a ridiculously small amount of experience in the things that matter, would not be accepted warmly by sports fans.
Now change the team to the Dallas Cowboys. Or the Denver Broncos. Or the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the Cleveland Browns. ( Ok, maybe it wouldn't matter with the Browns.) The BUCKEYES! What if it happened with the Buckeyes? Forget it, the people responsible in these states would be hanged in effigy.
And yet, some of these same people are enthralled by Sarah Palin, she who governed a state that is arguably the wealthiest in the nation. How wealthy? She sent every man, woman, and child a check for $1200 from the proceeds of royalties and taxes on the oil industry. That is in addition to the $3000 annually that every man, woman, and child receives in Alaska from the state, also from the oil industry revenue.
As one wag put it, she sends out checks for a total of $4200 annually to everybody in the state...and she only has an 80% approval rating??? How bad do you have to be to pull that off?
It's the American Idol-ization of politics. And the fact that it's FOX's show makes me wonder...
VOTER SUPPRESSION
If you want a quick read on the latest Republican voter suppression tactics, go to www.jackandjillpolitics.com. They are cataloging the attempts in each state. Good reading there too.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Gotta Laugh Part 2:
Read this article about a GOP lawyer at the RNC, who thought he was going to score...and GOT scored.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_10472581?source=most_viewed
And ask yourself this question: $4000 earrings? Whose were they?
http://www.twincities.com/ci_10472581?source=most_viewed
And ask yourself this question: $4000 earrings? Whose were they?
Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh
Ok, here is a fun video, by a group calling itself "Hockey Moms Against Palin". It's actually a riff on the Swift Boat ads in 2004, produced by the parody site "News Groper".
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09/hockey_moms_against_palin.html?nav=rss_blog
So, apparently the Palin bounce has run into another of those scientific "theories"...you know, the one about gravity. Two weeks ago Palin's favorable/unfavorable ratio was + 17. Now it's down to +1.
So, looks like the bounce is over for PantsOnFire/SkirtsOnFire '08.
Geriatric/Lipstick '08?
I welcome your suggestion for other bumper sticker ideas.
McCain's Health Care Tax-
McCain's health care "plan" is to tax your health care benefits. The amount that your employer pays for your health plan will be treated as taxable income, and the tax on that taken out of your paycheck. Every paycheck.
Wonderful. Force people out of workplace plans and into private plans. Hey, I hear AIG is good insurance firm...
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09/hockey_moms_against_palin.html?nav=rss_blog
So, apparently the Palin bounce has run into another of those scientific "theories"...you know, the one about gravity. Two weeks ago Palin's favorable/unfavorable ratio was + 17. Now it's down to +1.
So, looks like the bounce is over for PantsOnFire/SkirtsOnFire '08.
Geriatric/Lipstick '08?
I welcome your suggestion for other bumper sticker ideas.
McCain's Health Care Tax-
McCain's health care "plan" is to tax your health care benefits. The amount that your employer pays for your health plan will be treated as taxable income, and the tax on that taken out of your paycheck. Every paycheck.
Wonderful. Force people out of workplace plans and into private plans. Hey, I hear AIG is good insurance firm...
Monday, September 15, 2008
Is This What October '29 Felt Like?
Wow, waking up to find out that Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch have gone belly up is more than a little boggling. Imagine all the MBA's who were counting on large paychecks and bonuses, suddenly finding themselves and their skills as much in demand as a blacksmith. Maybe less.
And gee, isn't it a shame that Bush and McCain and the Republicans weren't able to successfully privatize Social Security? Why, I am sure those nice people in the banking and financial management industry would have been able to handle Grandma's survival money MUCH better than those government bureaucrats.
And how interesting that those same people who have largely financed Republican candidates who hate big government suddenly want the government to intervene and bail them out.
This is the doing of the Republicans, with occasional assistance from some Democrats. Many of the financial safeguards left over from the FDR administration were done away with in the years since the Republican takeover of Congress in '94. Banks could sell insurance, insurance companies could become financial houses, and there was a general environment of "What business can we expand into?"
It's going to be hard for the Republican party to explain this away. It's going to be harder for them to convince people that they are the best people to get us out of this situation.
But jeez, this is scary.
And gee, isn't it a shame that Bush and McCain and the Republicans weren't able to successfully privatize Social Security? Why, I am sure those nice people in the banking and financial management industry would have been able to handle Grandma's survival money MUCH better than those government bureaucrats.
And how interesting that those same people who have largely financed Republican candidates who hate big government suddenly want the government to intervene and bail them out.
This is the doing of the Republicans, with occasional assistance from some Democrats. Many of the financial safeguards left over from the FDR administration were done away with in the years since the Republican takeover of Congress in '94. Banks could sell insurance, insurance companies could become financial houses, and there was a general environment of "What business can we expand into?"
It's going to be hard for the Republican party to explain this away. It's going to be harder for them to convince people that they are the best people to get us out of this situation.
But jeez, this is scary.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Voter Suppression, or Why Republicans Suck
This is why I hate the Republican Party:
The Republican Party in Ohio has sent out 1 million absentee ballot applications. The application looks exactly like the typical form that has been sent out in the past...except that there is a new feature, hidden near the bottom: a box to check off next to a line that says " I am eligible to vote in this election."
If you don't check off that box, you are saying you are not eligible to vote.
And therefore, you cannot be sent an absentee ballot. By the time one figures that out, it's too late to vote.
Ohio's Secretary of State is screaming mad about this, but her hands are tied. Anybody who neglects to check off that box will not be allowed to have an absentee ballot.
The ballot for the state of Mississippi is being challenged because the line for the special election to replace Trent Lott is at the bottom of a very long ballot. State law says that the line for Senate Elections has to be near the top, with other Federal offices. The line for the regularly scheduled Senate race is right where it belongs. But Governor Haley Barbour's Secretary of State has opined that because it's a special election, it can have special placement.
The latest news is a setback for Barbour and the other R's. A judge has ruled that the ballot is illegal, and that statutes make it very clear that both Senate ballot lines must be at the top of the ballot.
Barbour is appealing the ruling to a State Court, where elected judges, mostly Republican, are likely to vote in favor of the scheme. Barbour, by the way, is the former chair of the National Republican Party.
These people will lie, cheat, and steal to win. This is blatant thievery. What would happen if a similar operation happened here in Maine? Think Susan Collins would be upset if every Republican voter in Maine got a similar absentee ballot application form? Maybe we should find out.
At the very least, she needs to be asked to publicly repudiate her party's actions in MS and OH.
The Republican Party in Ohio has sent out 1 million absentee ballot applications. The application looks exactly like the typical form that has been sent out in the past...except that there is a new feature, hidden near the bottom: a box to check off next to a line that says " I am eligible to vote in this election."
If you don't check off that box, you are saying you are not eligible to vote.
And therefore, you cannot be sent an absentee ballot. By the time one figures that out, it's too late to vote.
Ohio's Secretary of State is screaming mad about this, but her hands are tied. Anybody who neglects to check off that box will not be allowed to have an absentee ballot.
The ballot for the state of Mississippi is being challenged because the line for the special election to replace Trent Lott is at the bottom of a very long ballot. State law says that the line for Senate Elections has to be near the top, with other Federal offices. The line for the regularly scheduled Senate race is right where it belongs. But Governor Haley Barbour's Secretary of State has opined that because it's a special election, it can have special placement.
The latest news is a setback for Barbour and the other R's. A judge has ruled that the ballot is illegal, and that statutes make it very clear that both Senate ballot lines must be at the top of the ballot.
Barbour is appealing the ruling to a State Court, where elected judges, mostly Republican, are likely to vote in favor of the scheme. Barbour, by the way, is the former chair of the National Republican Party.
These people will lie, cheat, and steal to win. This is blatant thievery. What would happen if a similar operation happened here in Maine? Think Susan Collins would be upset if every Republican voter in Maine got a similar absentee ballot application form? Maybe we should find out.
At the very least, she needs to be asked to publicly repudiate her party's actions in MS and OH.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Obama's Tax Cut
53% of Americans believe that Obama's tax plan will raise their taxes.
The reality is, most Americans will have their taxes cut by Obama's plan. And now there is a nifty new site, not connected to the Obama Campaign, that helps you compute your tax savings in about 30 seconds. And it's pretty amazing.
Go to ObamaTaxCut.com, and check it out. You'll be amazed.
Sarah Palin Interview-
Charlie Gibson interviewed her, lobbing softballs her way as if she were David Ortiz at batting practice.
Some highlights? Georgia joins NATO, Russia attacks Georgia, we're at war with Russia. Finally, we'll get to use those nukyoular weapons that have been sitting around gathering dust.
How does she feel about the Bush Doctrine. "The whaaa?" See the video on Talking Points Memo.
So, all you who are freaking about national polls: Chill. Work. Remember it's 50 national polls, and Obama is doing well enough to win just with the states in which he is polling ahead, let alone the states where the spread is within the margin of error. Obama's people have registered hundreds of thousands of voters in swing states, most of whom would not show up on a pollster's data base
And they have a turnout machine that is unrivaled.
Doesn't mean it will be easy. Doesn't mean it won't get wicked ugly...ok, uglier even than now, hard as it is to imagine. But at some point McCain has to explain how someone who has been part of the problem the last 8 years is going to change the game in Washington, with the sidekick who is less than plausible.
Oh yeah, and then there is the whole economy in the toilet thing. Hard for McCain to overcome that.
We'll win, if we all get out there and work for it.
The reality is, most Americans will have their taxes cut by Obama's plan. And now there is a nifty new site, not connected to the Obama Campaign, that helps you compute your tax savings in about 30 seconds. And it's pretty amazing.
Go to ObamaTaxCut.com, and check it out. You'll be amazed.
Sarah Palin Interview-
Charlie Gibson interviewed her, lobbing softballs her way as if she were David Ortiz at batting practice.
Some highlights? Georgia joins NATO, Russia attacks Georgia, we're at war with Russia. Finally, we'll get to use those nukyoular weapons that have been sitting around gathering dust.
How does she feel about the Bush Doctrine. "The whaaa?" See the video on Talking Points Memo.
So, all you who are freaking about national polls: Chill. Work. Remember it's 50 national polls, and Obama is doing well enough to win just with the states in which he is polling ahead, let alone the states where the spread is within the margin of error. Obama's people have registered hundreds of thousands of voters in swing states, most of whom would not show up on a pollster's data base
And they have a turnout machine that is unrivaled.
Doesn't mean it will be easy. Doesn't mean it won't get wicked ugly...ok, uglier even than now, hard as it is to imagine. But at some point McCain has to explain how someone who has been part of the problem the last 8 years is going to change the game in Washington, with the sidekick who is less than plausible.
Oh yeah, and then there is the whole economy in the toilet thing. Hard for McCain to overcome that.
We'll win, if we all get out there and work for it.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
If her lips are movin'...
...then you know it can be proven that she's saying a lie, saying a lie. Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah saying a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeee....
( Apologies to whoever wrote "Staying Alive")
Sooo, Sarah Palin, the maverick reformer and opponent of earmarks and the fabled Bridge to Nowhere, she who opposes government waste:
Washington Post: Governor Palin billed the state of Alaska for 317 nights travel and lodging expense...to stay in her own home. Travel expense, possibly ethical, possibly legal. Lodging expense for staying in your own damned house??? Probably neither. Jeez, did she declare that as rental income?
She also charged the state for a trip to a church, where she told the congregation to pray for an Alaskan pipeline. To Canada. Drill baby drill, so we can send the oil to countries other than the US.
AP is reporting that Sarah Palin and John McCain criticized Obama's earmarks to Illinois, yet Alaska citizens got 10 times as much per capita under Palin, as did citizens of Wasilla after she hired a lobbyist.
She "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere" according to McCain ads. But she demonstrably supported it only until it was clear Congress wasn't paying for it. Then she withdrew support.
And kept all those US taxpayer dollars ( $298 million) and used them for projects around the state. She didn't save taxpayers a dime, except perhaps Alaskan state taxpayers.
The only Straight Talk in the McCain/Palin campaign is, they lie straight to your face.
Off to 3 days of manager training. Don't know how much I'll be able to write. Jobs are pesky things, at times.
( Apologies to whoever wrote "Staying Alive")
Sooo, Sarah Palin, the maverick reformer and opponent of earmarks and the fabled Bridge to Nowhere, she who opposes government waste:
Washington Post: Governor Palin billed the state of Alaska for 317 nights travel and lodging expense...to stay in her own home. Travel expense, possibly ethical, possibly legal. Lodging expense for staying in your own damned house??? Probably neither. Jeez, did she declare that as rental income?
She also charged the state for a trip to a church, where she told the congregation to pray for an Alaskan pipeline. To Canada. Drill baby drill, so we can send the oil to countries other than the US.
AP is reporting that Sarah Palin and John McCain criticized Obama's earmarks to Illinois, yet Alaska citizens got 10 times as much per capita under Palin, as did citizens of Wasilla after she hired a lobbyist.
She "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere" according to McCain ads. But she demonstrably supported it only until it was clear Congress wasn't paying for it. Then she withdrew support.
And kept all those US taxpayer dollars ( $298 million) and used them for projects around the state. She didn't save taxpayers a dime, except perhaps Alaskan state taxpayers.
The only Straight Talk in the McCain/Palin campaign is, they lie straight to your face.
Off to 3 days of manager training. Don't know how much I'll be able to write. Jobs are pesky things, at times.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Rule Number One
Rule Number One in dealing with uncomfortable issues is: The coverup will always hurt you more than the original offense.
Rule Number Two: Politicians always forget Rule Number One.
Sarah Palin, President-In-Waiting, has an ethics issues in Troopergate, the alleged firing by Palin of Alaska's State Police Commissioner for personal reasons relating to the divorce of her sister.
She had previously vowed to cooperate with investigators from Alaska's Republican-controlled legislature. She is now stonewalling, and 7 of her employees have canceled appointment with investigators.
So much for an open and transparent government.
A bank in Arizona failed this week. McCain's adult son Andrew was on the board of directors until a month ago. Why does this sound so familiar? Oh yeah...the bank that Charles Keating was involved in that went belly-up in Arizona. Keating went to jail for influence-peddling, and among the peddlees was Sen. John McCain.
McCain's people say Sarah Palin is ready to be President, if necessary. They also say she is not quite ready for prime time in meeting with reporters and journalists, so she is going to get a 2 week training period.
Ready to deal with Putin...not ready to deal with Larry King. Okaaayyy.
Tom Friedman makes an interesting point in today's New York Times. John McCain has missed 8 chances to vote on alternative energy proposals this year. He also makes the point that Russia gets a lot of its worldwide power through oil, and American progress on alternative energy design and production would seriously threaten that.
Drill, baby, drill!
Rule Number Two: Politicians always forget Rule Number One.
Sarah Palin, President-In-Waiting, has an ethics issues in Troopergate, the alleged firing by Palin of Alaska's State Police Commissioner for personal reasons relating to the divorce of her sister.
She had previously vowed to cooperate with investigators from Alaska's Republican-controlled legislature. She is now stonewalling, and 7 of her employees have canceled appointment with investigators.
So much for an open and transparent government.
A bank in Arizona failed this week. McCain's adult son Andrew was on the board of directors until a month ago. Why does this sound so familiar? Oh yeah...the bank that Charles Keating was involved in that went belly-up in Arizona. Keating went to jail for influence-peddling, and among the peddlees was Sen. John McCain.
McCain's people say Sarah Palin is ready to be President, if necessary. They also say she is not quite ready for prime time in meeting with reporters and journalists, so she is going to get a 2 week training period.
Ready to deal with Putin...not ready to deal with Larry King. Okaaayyy.
Tom Friedman makes an interesting point in today's New York Times. John McCain has missed 8 chances to vote on alternative energy proposals this year. He also makes the point that Russia gets a lot of its worldwide power through oil, and American progress on alternative energy design and production would seriously threaten that.
Drill, baby, drill!
Friday, September 5, 2008
My God, I Had No Idea...
Did you hear this? John McCain...was a POW! In VietNam! Yeah, apparently his plane got hit by a missile and he crashed and was imprisoned for, like, 5 years. And it was really, really bad. I mean, freaking awful. Nothing like we're putting those guys in Guantanamo through, but still, wicked heinous. I mean, seriously.
And, though it was awful, and a formative experience...IT WAS 40 YEARS AGO! ENOUGH ALREADY! What are you going to actually DO for me? How are you going to get me affordable health care? How are you going to make it so I can afford to buy gas for my car and oil for my furnace THIS winter, not 10 years from now when the first oil would be flowing from Florida? How are you going to make it so I can afford to send my child to college? How are you going to make it so I can stay in my house and not lose it because of predatory lending?
How are you going to care for veterans of this and past and future wars and occupations? What are you going to do to get us out of Iraq? How are you going to make us energy independent? How will you keep all the lobbyists on your staff from making laws that will help their industries and stockholders, at the expense of taxpayers?
You didn't say a word about that, John McCain, when you had your chance. You told us you had been a POW. Jeez Louise, like we didn't %^&$*#% KNOW that already??? We know your tragic story, and how you overcame your captors to return to America, the land which you learned to love, divorce your wife because she gained weight and lost height, and start a career in politics.
John...have you ever punched a time clock? Have you ever cashed a paycheck that wasn't drawn on the U.S Treasury? That wasn't paid for by U.S. taxpayers? There isn't any dishonor in that, it's just that, well, most people don't live like that. Most people wouldn't be able to spend $300,000 on an outfit for their wives. That's a home purchase for most people, John. In some cases enough for 2 homes. That's 20 years' salary for someone making the minimum wage, John. You know, that thing you vote against every single time you have had the chance.
So, here's a question for you, John: How much money should someone make in this country, at a minimum? What's the least it would be fair to ask an employer to be required to pay an employee? And don't give me any crap about "let the market decide". Give me a number. What's the minimum a worker should expect to make?
And is this an amount that can support a decent living?
Let's hear it, John. We already know about the POW thing. Tell us what you're going to fix. Tell us how you're going to fix it. Tell us how you're going to make this a better country, not how you're going to fight fight fight.
And, keep in mind this little bon mot: Jesus Christ was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a Governor.
And, though it was awful, and a formative experience...IT WAS 40 YEARS AGO! ENOUGH ALREADY! What are you going to actually DO for me? How are you going to get me affordable health care? How are you going to make it so I can afford to buy gas for my car and oil for my furnace THIS winter, not 10 years from now when the first oil would be flowing from Florida? How are you going to make it so I can afford to send my child to college? How are you going to make it so I can stay in my house and not lose it because of predatory lending?
How are you going to care for veterans of this and past and future wars and occupations? What are you going to do to get us out of Iraq? How are you going to make us energy independent? How will you keep all the lobbyists on your staff from making laws that will help their industries and stockholders, at the expense of taxpayers?
You didn't say a word about that, John McCain, when you had your chance. You told us you had been a POW. Jeez Louise, like we didn't %^&$*#% KNOW that already??? We know your tragic story, and how you overcame your captors to return to America, the land which you learned to love, divorce your wife because she gained weight and lost height, and start a career in politics.
John...have you ever punched a time clock? Have you ever cashed a paycheck that wasn't drawn on the U.S Treasury? That wasn't paid for by U.S. taxpayers? There isn't any dishonor in that, it's just that, well, most people don't live like that. Most people wouldn't be able to spend $300,000 on an outfit for their wives. That's a home purchase for most people, John. In some cases enough for 2 homes. That's 20 years' salary for someone making the minimum wage, John. You know, that thing you vote against every single time you have had the chance.
So, here's a question for you, John: How much money should someone make in this country, at a minimum? What's the least it would be fair to ask an employer to be required to pay an employee? And don't give me any crap about "let the market decide". Give me a number. What's the minimum a worker should expect to make?
And is this an amount that can support a decent living?
Let's hear it, John. We already know about the POW thing. Tell us what you're going to fix. Tell us how you're going to fix it. Tell us how you're going to make this a better country, not how you're going to fight fight fight.
And, keep in mind this little bon mot: Jesus Christ was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a Governor.
Waiiiiit a minute...
Ok, you know how something happens, and later, maybe much later, you stop and say 'waaaiiiittt a minute..." because something was off, or you just realized there was an issue of some sort?
" You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick."
Great laugh line in Palin's speech. Anybody else kinda wonder at the comparison with a female human and a canine?
As in the term, "bitch"?
I'm just saying, struck me as odd, but it took awhile.
The Sarah Palin stuff is coming so fast and furious it's hard to keep current with it all. Jeez, some of us have jobs, you know? It's a full time job just to keep UP with all this. There is some wild talk out there, some of it pretty vile. If it is true, it's despicable. I'll wait to comment on it if it gets sourced more thoroughly. Poor woman has enough trouble, I don't want to add to it...unless it's properly sourced.
CIndy McCain's outfit on Thursday night: $300,000.
Value of McCain's houses: $10 Million ( easily!)
Sending John McCain back to Arizona to retire and Sarah Palin back to Alaska to hunt moose? Priceless.
How out of touch do you have to be to wear $300,000 of ANYTHING to a convention? How out of touch to OWN anything like that? Sheesh.
" You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick."
Great laugh line in Palin's speech. Anybody else kinda wonder at the comparison with a female human and a canine?
As in the term, "bitch"?
I'm just saying, struck me as odd, but it took awhile.
The Sarah Palin stuff is coming so fast and furious it's hard to keep current with it all. Jeez, some of us have jobs, you know? It's a full time job just to keep UP with all this. There is some wild talk out there, some of it pretty vile. If it is true, it's despicable. I'll wait to comment on it if it gets sourced more thoroughly. Poor woman has enough trouble, I don't want to add to it...unless it's properly sourced.
CIndy McCain's outfit on Thursday night: $300,000.
Value of McCain's houses: $10 Million ( easily!)
Sending John McCain back to Arizona to retire and Sarah Palin back to Alaska to hunt moose? Priceless.
How out of touch do you have to be to wear $300,000 of ANYTHING to a convention? How out of touch to OWN anything like that? Sheesh.
McCain;s Speech, The Cliff's Notes Version:
"Change Change Fight Change Fight Fight Change Fight Fight Fight Change Change Change POW Fight Change FIght FIght Fight Change God Bless America."
McCain's big speech opportunity was, according to many pundits, a blown opportunity to reach out to undecided voters. He said he would change Washington. He just didn't say what he would change, or how. I predict a 2 point bounce, at best, for McCain. in fact, I would bet an equal amount that he drops 2 points once his speech is factored in.
President Palin is doing for the Democrats what Hillary Clinton would have done for the Republicans: raise great gushing gouts of money. Remember, McCain gets to spend a total of $85 million on his campaign. The response to President Palin's speech garnered approximately $10 million just yesterday. At that rate, Obama will match McCain's money before President Palin comes back next week from Alaska for her campaign training, and to see off her son before he goes to Iraq. ( oops, I forgot, I'm supposed to ignore her family. Sorry.)
CNN and the Obama campaign discuss President Palin's problems with veracity in her speech. Go to The Jed Report for the CNN version, and the Obama Campaign report can be found here:
http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/fact-checking-the-bridge-to-no.html
According to Electoral-Vote.com, Obama is up 3 points in North Dakota. North Freaking Dakota. He is behind McCain in Indiana by 3 points, pretty much the margin of error. Bush won Indiana by 21 points in 2004, and something like 16 in 2000. If McCain has to campaign in Indiana...Peggy Noonan is right, despite her convoluted explanation that she didn't say what we heard her say: It's Over. The Adipose Diva is a long way from doing her vocal warmups, but she will indeed break forth in a swan song for the McCain-Palin ticket.
Off to work...
McCain's big speech opportunity was, according to many pundits, a blown opportunity to reach out to undecided voters. He said he would change Washington. He just didn't say what he would change, or how. I predict a 2 point bounce, at best, for McCain. in fact, I would bet an equal amount that he drops 2 points once his speech is factored in.
President Palin is doing for the Democrats what Hillary Clinton would have done for the Republicans: raise great gushing gouts of money. Remember, McCain gets to spend a total of $85 million on his campaign. The response to President Palin's speech garnered approximately $10 million just yesterday. At that rate, Obama will match McCain's money before President Palin comes back next week from Alaska for her campaign training, and to see off her son before he goes to Iraq. ( oops, I forgot, I'm supposed to ignore her family. Sorry.)
CNN and the Obama campaign discuss President Palin's problems with veracity in her speech. Go to The Jed Report for the CNN version, and the Obama Campaign report can be found here:
http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/fact-checking-the-bridge-to-no.html
According to Electoral-Vote.com, Obama is up 3 points in North Dakota. North Freaking Dakota. He is behind McCain in Indiana by 3 points, pretty much the margin of error. Bush won Indiana by 21 points in 2004, and something like 16 in 2000. If McCain has to campaign in Indiana...Peggy Noonan is right, despite her convoluted explanation that she didn't say what we heard her say: It's Over. The Adipose Diva is a long way from doing her vocal warmups, but she will indeed break forth in a swan song for the McCain-Palin ticket.
Off to work...
Thursday, September 4, 2008
GA Congressional Rep. Call Obama "Uppity"
Yes, folks, a Georgia Congressman called Senator Barack Obama "Uppity".
Could have been worse.
He could have called him "Hannity". Now THAT would have been an insult.
Uppity, as in " This Nigra doesn't know his PLACE."
Gonna get some ugly now. The season is upon us, and we are going to see fountains of flung fecal matter from the other side.
The good news is, we're still going to bury them at the ballot box.
But it's still going to be some ugly.
Could have been worse.
He could have called him "Hannity". Now THAT would have been an insult.
Uppity, as in " This Nigra doesn't know his PLACE."
Gonna get some ugly now. The season is upon us, and we are going to see fountains of flung fecal matter from the other side.
The good news is, we're still going to bury them at the ballot box.
But it's still going to be some ugly.
Live Blogging McCain's Speech
So, they showed video of 9/11. Graphic video. Broke an unwritten taboo: Don't politicize these deaths.
Let's remind people that we still haven't got the guys who DID this...
10:24 Looks like they have the teleprompter working. It wasn't earlier this evening.
10:26. he's saying "Hey, my mom is 96, I'll last through the first term."
10:28: Get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace...like the Republicans FAILED to do for the last 8 years.
10:30 Protesters carried out. "Americans want us to stop yelling at each other." All those "USA" chants are going to send McCain over out of prime time.
10:32: She's tackled energy independence??? From an Oil State? Wait, did he just say she works with her hands and nose?
10:35: I've fought corruption. ( See Keating, Charles)
10:36: Fought lobbyists? He has more lobbyists on his campaign than anybody!
10:39: Bad housing market...wonder where McCain voted on deregulation of the mortgage industry? FightFightFightFight...how about WORKING for us?
10:42: "We're all Americans". Let's see how long that lasts.
10:44 "My health care plan"...John McCain wouldn't be covered by his own health care plan.
10:45 oh forget it, I can't type fast enough to keep up with all the bovine excrement.
10:49 "Education is the Civil Rights Issue of this century". Dog whistle speak for "I will see to it that you get vouchers so you don't have to send your kids to schools that are desegregated."
10:51: We'll drill oil well now. With what, might I ask? There is a world wide shortage of drilling rigs.
10:52; Obama believes we can deal with energy by not drilling and no nuclear, but "Americans know better than that". I guess that "we're all Americans" schtick didn't last long. 10 minutes, by my count.
10:56: Oh, lordy, he is reminding us that he remembers Pearl Harbor. Not smart.
10:57: He is talking to the base, and trying to talk to the independents...not sure it's connecting.
11:09 Fight with me, fight, fight, fight...
11:10. Again with the "We're all just raising McCain" song...
11:11. Hmm. He brought it back to the Hanoi Hilton. But I don't think he fired up anybody but the base. Methinks it's their best moment, and it's pretty much downhill from here.
I noticed earlier this evening that the crawl underneath "The O'Reilly Factor" kept talking about how some Democratic candidates got bigger bounces out of conventions than Republicans, but eventually lost.
11:14 Oh dear lord, they are playing " Barricuda" by Heart, in tribute to Palin's nickname, "The Barricuda". Wonder if they got permission from Heart.
Balloons and confetti...and video of fireworks. Man, we had REAL fireworks at our convention. And, like last night, "September" by Earth Wind and Fire. Gee, wonder who the brothers in EWF are voting for??? And did the R's get permission to use that music?
Wonder what the Nielsen rating was for this? I can't see what the talking heads are saying, because I am watching a live feed thru MSNBC. But I can't imagine there is going to be a big bounce out of this campaign for McCain. All they have managed to do is piss off a bunch of Democratic women, and apparently the D's raised over $10 million just today in reponse to Palin's speech. And that was as of 6 p.m.
I can't say I had a "gulp" moment, one where I thought, oh jeez, that hurts us. For all of McCain's talk of shaking up Washington, he voted with Bush 90% of the time. Which of his votes will he repudiate? He wants us to remember 40 years ago when he was in Hanoi, he doesn't want us to remember 20 years ago when he was embroiled in the Savings and Loan debacle and the Keating Scandal.
I have to say, tepid. Not intrepid.
And now he has $85 million to spend. We raised $10 million *today*. I will predict over 300 Electoral College votes.
Providing that there is, in fact, an election on November 4th.
Let's remind people that we still haven't got the guys who DID this...
10:24 Looks like they have the teleprompter working. It wasn't earlier this evening.
10:26. he's saying "Hey, my mom is 96, I'll last through the first term."
10:28: Get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace...like the Republicans FAILED to do for the last 8 years.
10:30 Protesters carried out. "Americans want us to stop yelling at each other." All those "USA" chants are going to send McCain over out of prime time.
10:32: She's tackled energy independence??? From an Oil State? Wait, did he just say she works with her hands and nose?
10:35: I've fought corruption. ( See Keating, Charles)
10:36: Fought lobbyists? He has more lobbyists on his campaign than anybody!
10:39: Bad housing market...wonder where McCain voted on deregulation of the mortgage industry? FightFightFightFight...how about WORKING for us?
10:42: "We're all Americans". Let's see how long that lasts.
10:44 "My health care plan"...John McCain wouldn't be covered by his own health care plan.
10:45 oh forget it, I can't type fast enough to keep up with all the bovine excrement.
10:49 "Education is the Civil Rights Issue of this century". Dog whistle speak for "I will see to it that you get vouchers so you don't have to send your kids to schools that are desegregated."
10:51: We'll drill oil well now. With what, might I ask? There is a world wide shortage of drilling rigs.
10:52; Obama believes we can deal with energy by not drilling and no nuclear, but "Americans know better than that". I guess that "we're all Americans" schtick didn't last long. 10 minutes, by my count.
10:56: Oh, lordy, he is reminding us that he remembers Pearl Harbor. Not smart.
10:57: He is talking to the base, and trying to talk to the independents...not sure it's connecting.
11:09 Fight with me, fight, fight, fight...
11:10. Again with the "We're all just raising McCain" song...
11:11. Hmm. He brought it back to the Hanoi Hilton. But I don't think he fired up anybody but the base. Methinks it's their best moment, and it's pretty much downhill from here.
I noticed earlier this evening that the crawl underneath "The O'Reilly Factor" kept talking about how some Democratic candidates got bigger bounces out of conventions than Republicans, but eventually lost.
11:14 Oh dear lord, they are playing " Barricuda" by Heart, in tribute to Palin's nickname, "The Barricuda". Wonder if they got permission from Heart.
Balloons and confetti...and video of fireworks. Man, we had REAL fireworks at our convention. And, like last night, "September" by Earth Wind and Fire. Gee, wonder who the brothers in EWF are voting for??? And did the R's get permission to use that music?
Wonder what the Nielsen rating was for this? I can't see what the talking heads are saying, because I am watching a live feed thru MSNBC. But I can't imagine there is going to be a big bounce out of this campaign for McCain. All they have managed to do is piss off a bunch of Democratic women, and apparently the D's raised over $10 million just today in reponse to Palin's speech. And that was as of 6 p.m.
I can't say I had a "gulp" moment, one where I thought, oh jeez, that hurts us. For all of McCain's talk of shaking up Washington, he voted with Bush 90% of the time. Which of his votes will he repudiate? He wants us to remember 40 years ago when he was in Hanoi, he doesn't want us to remember 20 years ago when he was embroiled in the Savings and Loan debacle and the Keating Scandal.
I have to say, tepid. Not intrepid.
And now he has $85 million to spend. We raised $10 million *today*. I will predict over 300 Electoral College votes.
Providing that there is, in fact, an election on November 4th.
Excellent News...FOR MCCAIN!
Those who follow Talking Points Memo get the reference. For the rest, I'll explain. Talking Points Memo is a great blog off the Washington Post. What makes it good reading is that people who work in Washington and have access to a lot of brain power and inside knowledge contribute as readers, sometimes with remarkable information.
In threads during the primary season, someone with the handle "Idiotic" would respond to every post that reported polling numbers that favored Obama with the line "This is excellent news...FOR HILLARY!" It became a running gag, and Idiotic eventually had to disappear because of it, or got bored with the schtick.
So, Palin's speech is excellent news...for McCain! The good news? She energized the base. The bad news? Our base. Apparently, the phones are ringing off the hook at Obama headquarters across the country with women and independents calling and saying PUT ME TO WORK! WHAT CAN I DO?
And for a funny, clever look at Palin's speech, I have to recommend Gail Collins' article in the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/opinion/04collins.html
One of the Hillary Clinton delegates in the Maine delegation sent out a letter saying that because the US does such a poor job of putting women in legislative positions, she is supporting Sarah Palin. I am guessing she will vote for Susan Collins too. Turns out she was only a Democrat for 7 months, had always been an "independent" before that.
Now, she is welcome to her opinion, and she can vote anyway she wants. But it's a damned shame that she took up the space of a real Democrat for a once-in-a-lifetime shot at attending such a historic convention. I have suggested to her that when she gets her tickets to the Inaugural Ball, she should have the decency to give them away to real Democrats.
On the subject of the Maine US Senate race, we all have to get out and work for Tom Allen. Now, Tom's a nice guy. Not bold, not inspiring, and a bit of a Portland Blue Blood, but we HAVE to get rid of Susan Collins. She voted with Bush about 80% of the time, and when she didn't, it was because the Republican leadership let her because it wouldn't matter to the outcome. If you like Bush's policies, you like Susan Collins. Period.
She's a woman? Feh. She votes against women's issues most of the time, especially economic issues. She voted for the two recent Supreme Court nominees. Her gender hasn't given her any real appreciation of the needs of working women, and men, and if it has, she still voted the wrong way. Just about every time it mattered, she voted with Bush.
I have worked for women in office all my political life, from Bonnie Titcomb to Dale McCormick to Peggy Pendleton to Monica McGlocklin to Susan Longley. I am as feminist as just about any guy you'll find out there. But a woman who votes against women is no better than a man who votes against women. Just having the right plumbing doesn't do it for me.
So Tom Allen doesn't thrill you? Too bad. Hold your nose and vote for him. If the Republicans can filibuster everything that Obama tries to pass to undo the wretched excess of Bush and Co., they will prevent or water down important legislation. And the only way we can prevent that is to get to 60 in the Senate.
And the only way we can do that is to get Tom Allen elected. If you can't volunteer, give him money, any amount. Talk to your friends. Talk to your neighbors. Put on a bumper sticker or put out a sign. But find a way to help.
In threads during the primary season, someone with the handle "Idiotic" would respond to every post that reported polling numbers that favored Obama with the line "This is excellent news...FOR HILLARY!" It became a running gag, and Idiotic eventually had to disappear because of it, or got bored with the schtick.
So, Palin's speech is excellent news...for McCain! The good news? She energized the base. The bad news? Our base. Apparently, the phones are ringing off the hook at Obama headquarters across the country with women and independents calling and saying PUT ME TO WORK! WHAT CAN I DO?
And for a funny, clever look at Palin's speech, I have to recommend Gail Collins' article in the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/opinion/04collins.html
One of the Hillary Clinton delegates in the Maine delegation sent out a letter saying that because the US does such a poor job of putting women in legislative positions, she is supporting Sarah Palin. I am guessing she will vote for Susan Collins too. Turns out she was only a Democrat for 7 months, had always been an "independent" before that.
Now, she is welcome to her opinion, and she can vote anyway she wants. But it's a damned shame that she took up the space of a real Democrat for a once-in-a-lifetime shot at attending such a historic convention. I have suggested to her that when she gets her tickets to the Inaugural Ball, she should have the decency to give them away to real Democrats.
On the subject of the Maine US Senate race, we all have to get out and work for Tom Allen. Now, Tom's a nice guy. Not bold, not inspiring, and a bit of a Portland Blue Blood, but we HAVE to get rid of Susan Collins. She voted with Bush about 80% of the time, and when she didn't, it was because the Republican leadership let her because it wouldn't matter to the outcome. If you like Bush's policies, you like Susan Collins. Period.
She's a woman? Feh. She votes against women's issues most of the time, especially economic issues. She voted for the two recent Supreme Court nominees. Her gender hasn't given her any real appreciation of the needs of working women, and men, and if it has, she still voted the wrong way. Just about every time it mattered, she voted with Bush.
I have worked for women in office all my political life, from Bonnie Titcomb to Dale McCormick to Peggy Pendleton to Monica McGlocklin to Susan Longley. I am as feminist as just about any guy you'll find out there. But a woman who votes against women is no better than a man who votes against women. Just having the right plumbing doesn't do it for me.
So Tom Allen doesn't thrill you? Too bad. Hold your nose and vote for him. If the Republicans can filibuster everything that Obama tries to pass to undo the wretched excess of Bush and Co., they will prevent or water down important legislation. And the only way we can prevent that is to get to 60 in the Senate.
And the only way we can do that is to get Tom Allen elected. If you can't volunteer, give him money, any amount. Talk to your friends. Talk to your neighbors. Put on a bumper sticker or put out a sign. But find a way to help.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
That's some spunky gal.
She just gave a great speech. Gotta hand it to her, she did a great job of delivering the speech that was written for her. Then again, she has been a media type in Alaska, and she knows how to handle a teleprompter.
But she strayed into territory that will come back to haunt her. Again, it's all about the Hanoi Hilton. And her assertion that she went against earmarks is not borne out by the record.
But she did what she needed to do tonight to save her candidacy. Now McCain is joined to her. Game on.
Of course, the end of her speech wasn't in time for the 11 o'clock news. So much for Republican precision.
Ok, here we go, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy and somebody RIch. Cpwboy Troy is, I have to say it, a token African American on the stage. Sure are a lotta white folks in that hall. Hell, I had more minorities in my room at the hotel in the Democratic National Convention than most of the Republican state delegations have.
Oh lordy, they are still harping on the POW thing. That was 40 years ago, for cryin' out loud. Enough. What's he going to do in 2009?
Go back to the Senate, apparently...because he isn't likely to win.
But she strayed into territory that will come back to haunt her. Again, it's all about the Hanoi Hilton. And her assertion that she went against earmarks is not borne out by the record.
But she did what she needed to do tonight to save her candidacy. Now McCain is joined to her. Game on.
Of course, the end of her speech wasn't in time for the 11 o'clock news. So much for Republican precision.
Ok, here we go, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy and somebody RIch. Cpwboy Troy is, I have to say it, a token African American on the stage. Sure are a lotta white folks in that hall. Hell, I had more minorities in my room at the hotel in the Democratic National Convention than most of the Republican state delegations have.
Oh lordy, they are still harping on the POW thing. That was 40 years ago, for cryin' out loud. Enough. What's he going to do in 2009?
Go back to the Senate, apparently...because he isn't likely to win.
Reagan's Speechwriter, Peggy Noonan, Declares "It's Over"
Many outlets are showing 2 Republicans in their own Jesse Jackson moment. Peggy Noonan and Republican flack Mike Murphy, discussing the pick of Sarah Palin, for VP, declared "It's over." Murphy called the pick "gimmicky". Noonan said "...they went for the narrative, which is, excuse me, political bullshit..."
Now that's what I call "Straight Talk"!
So Palin is going to attack the media and " Washington elite". Perfect. The media which was McCain's biggest ally is going to be their punching bag. That will turn a lot of votes their way.
No more Palin family matters. Just the facts of her record, ma'am, just the facts. Better yet, keep the focus on McCain and his policies and judgement.
I am watching portions of the RNC online. I am struck by how empty the hall is much of the time. Contrast that with the mob scenes inside the DNC last week.
Bring it on, Sarah. Bring it on.
Now that's what I call "Straight Talk"!
So Palin is going to attack the media and " Washington elite". Perfect. The media which was McCain's biggest ally is going to be their punching bag. That will turn a lot of votes their way.
No more Palin family matters. Just the facts of her record, ma'am, just the facts. Better yet, keep the focus on McCain and his policies and judgement.
I am watching portions of the RNC online. I am struck by how empty the hall is much of the time. Contrast that with the mob scenes inside the DNC last week.
Bring it on, Sarah. Bring it on.
Straight Talk Part Deux
oops, I almost forgot...
McMinions: She was against pork, as evidenced by her opposition to the "Bridge to Nowhere" championed by Ted Stevens.
Anchorage Daily News, USAToday, Politifact.com: Bullsh*t.
ADN: Part of her platform in running for governor was "build the Bridge". She later used the money for other projects. USAToday: She backed federal funding of the bridge project, and as Mayor of Wasilla, hired one of Jack Abramoff's lobbyists to promote earmarks for Wasilla, to the tune of $8 million. Politifact: She turned it down only after the money for it had been canceled by Congress. Though she said on Friday in her introduction " If we wanted a bridge, we would have built it ourselves", she earlier had said "we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge..."
And for sheer crass entertainment value, I have to recommend the store at www.VPILF.com ( yeah, you read that right. Don't ask me to explain. It's one of those internets things.) A sample: photo of Palin with the caption "Babe-raham Lincoln!". Don't say I didn't warn you.
McMinions: She was against pork, as evidenced by her opposition to the "Bridge to Nowhere" championed by Ted Stevens.
Anchorage Daily News, USAToday, Politifact.com: Bullsh*t.
ADN: Part of her platform in running for governor was "build the Bridge". She later used the money for other projects. USAToday: She backed federal funding of the bridge project, and as Mayor of Wasilla, hired one of Jack Abramoff's lobbyists to promote earmarks for Wasilla, to the tune of $8 million. Politifact: She turned it down only after the money for it had been canceled by Congress. Though she said on Friday in her introduction " If we wanted a bridge, we would have built it ourselves", she earlier had said "we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge..."
And for sheer crass entertainment value, I have to recommend the store at www.VPILF.com ( yeah, you read that right. Don't ask me to explain. It's one of those internets things.) A sample: photo of Palin with the caption "Babe-raham Lincoln!". Don't say I didn't warn you.
So much for the Straight Talk Express
McMinions: She was vetted by the FBI.
FBI. Huh? Not us. Never happened.
McMinons: She is fully qualified to be Vice President, and a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing: issued a "certificate of involuntary dissolution" ( Translation: the State of Alaska, Sarah Palin, Governor, is shutting your car wash down, Ms., I mean Governor, Palin.) Sarah Palin started a car wash in Wasilla as part-time mayor. So she has executive experience as a businesswoman, too. Except she didn't pay fees and file paperwork, and the state of Alaska sent her that notice, with her name on the LETTERHEAD, for crying out loud. ( Source: Washington and Fitzgerald, www.alternet.com)
She can't even run a car wash. ( See? Nothing to do with family. Whew. )
McMinions: She has experience from her travels abroad
Me: See previous post.
Tune in tonight, folks. Should be a helluva speech. She can read a teleprompter well, and apparently is a good debater, too. Seriously. No snark here. I just wish I could hear Patrick Buchanan respond to this speech.
Speaking of speeches, Carol Marin of suntimes.com, reports in St. Paul that at least a half dozen times she has been asked by Republican legislators questions along the lines of "Were you there? Was it amazing?", referring to Obama's Thursday speech at INVESCO field. Speech envy.
My friends, they have only to look to this Thursday, when John McCain will blow Obama off the rhetorical playing field. Ok, THAT is snark. Just testing.
FBI. Huh? Not us. Never happened.
McMinons: She is fully qualified to be Vice President, and a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing: issued a "certificate of involuntary dissolution" ( Translation: the State of Alaska, Sarah Palin, Governor, is shutting your car wash down, Ms., I mean Governor, Palin.) Sarah Palin started a car wash in Wasilla as part-time mayor. So she has executive experience as a businesswoman, too. Except she didn't pay fees and file paperwork, and the state of Alaska sent her that notice, with her name on the LETTERHEAD, for crying out loud. ( Source: Washington and Fitzgerald, www.alternet.com)
She can't even run a car wash. ( See? Nothing to do with family. Whew. )
McMinions: She has experience from her travels abroad
Me: See previous post.
Tune in tonight, folks. Should be a helluva speech. She can read a teleprompter well, and apparently is a good debater, too. Seriously. No snark here. I just wish I could hear Patrick Buchanan respond to this speech.
Speaking of speeches, Carol Marin of suntimes.com, reports in St. Paul that at least a half dozen times she has been asked by Republican legislators questions along the lines of "Were you there? Was it amazing?", referring to Obama's Thursday speech at INVESCO field. Speech envy.
My friends, they have only to look to this Thursday, when John McCain will blow Obama off the rhetorical playing field. Ok, THAT is snark. Just testing.
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
My, my, isn't this a fascinating time in which we live? The revelations about President Palin ( think about that for a moment...then move on) just get better and better...unless you think about the actual ramifications for our country, which John McCain always puts first. Unless Karl Rove tells him to do otherwise.
So, as Governor of Alaska, President Palin slashed funding for a teenaged mothers program. Perfect. Now it appears she tried to get her daughter to get married right after the convention. Her people say the young couple planned to marry all along. So, umm, why didn't President Palin introduce her as " my engaged daughter"?
Scott Simon of NPR interviewed a Palin spokesperson over the weekend, asking about President Palin's foreign travel. The flack, whose name I can't recall, answered that she had traveled abroad and seen other countries besides Germany and Kuwait, where President Palin had visited Alaska National Guard troops. Initially evasive when pressed to say which other countries, the flack finally answered "She''s been to Ireland."
And indeed she has. In the airport. On the stopover to Germany. The sum of her overseas experience is an Irish airport, an Army base in Germany, and an Army base in Kuwait.
Hey, that's a thick enough foreign policy resume for ME...but what do *I* know?
President Palin's campaign people have said that her daughter and the young man she is going to marry, Levi Johnston, should be left alone and should have their privacy. Which is why President Palin's campaign is bringing Levi Johnston's family to the convention. To the Republican National Convention. Where there are, ohhh, I dunno, 14,853 journalists and photographers, news crews from around the world, ( even Ireland! Where President Palin has been!), and talking heads of every stripe. So they can get some privacy.
( I wonder if FOX News, they of the "fair and balanced", will refer to Bristol Palin as Levi johnston's "baby mama"? Wanna take a bet?)
My guess is, they are hoping that the media frenzy surrounding them will disgust people. Whether that will translate into votes for McCain is debateable.
But lawdy, ain't they cynical?
Now on to John McCain's family values. People Magazine has a cover story on the Palin and McCain families, with pictures of the families. Wait a second...what's wrong with this picture?
Where's Bridget?
You know, Bridget McCain, his daughter adopted from Bangladesh, the one Karl Rove and Steve Schmidt, McCain's campaign manager, called his "illegitimate black baby" in South Crolina in 2000?
Why isn't Bridget in the picture? More importantly, who made that decision to leave her out of the family portrait that would be prominently displayed in every supermarket aisle in America? Did Steve Schidt say "Senator, we can't have her in the picture. It just won't fly in middle America"? And McCain said yes? So McCain, the maverick, is getting told what to do by Steve Schmidt? Or McCain, the maverick, made the decision as a dad to leave his daughter out of the picture.
Either way, what a guy. As a father of a daughter by adoption, let me just say I am appalled.
Now, let's talk about families for a moment. Barack Obama is absolutely right that children should be off limits when we discuss the presidential race.
But as Barney Frank says today in the Boston Herald, they are the ones who brought up her family, and family values, as part of her qualifications for the Presidency. And the Republican party has for years presented themselves as the arbiter of American Family Values. Heck, even James Dobson, right wing religious fanatic, leads a group called Focus on the Family.
So, it's a conundrum. Is it legitimate to ask how effective abstinence only sex education is when the daughter of a vigorous proponent of abstinence, as in President Palin, gets pregnant out of wedlock? Is it fair to use her as an example?
Or should we leave them alone, and focus on the fact that a President McCain is likely to lead to a President Palin? And that their policies will just continue Bush's policies in education, energy, foreign policy, and tax policy?
I have to admit, it's always delicious to dish on Republican hypocrisy. But I am not sure it really gets us further down the road. So, I will attempt to avoid concentrating on the continuing President Palin Soap Opera.
But don't hate me for occasionally straying if it gets REALLY juicy. I'm only human.
So, as Governor of Alaska, President Palin slashed funding for a teenaged mothers program. Perfect. Now it appears she tried to get her daughter to get married right after the convention. Her people say the young couple planned to marry all along. So, umm, why didn't President Palin introduce her as " my engaged daughter"?
Scott Simon of NPR interviewed a Palin spokesperson over the weekend, asking about President Palin's foreign travel. The flack, whose name I can't recall, answered that she had traveled abroad and seen other countries besides Germany and Kuwait, where President Palin had visited Alaska National Guard troops. Initially evasive when pressed to say which other countries, the flack finally answered "She''s been to Ireland."
And indeed she has. In the airport. On the stopover to Germany. The sum of her overseas experience is an Irish airport, an Army base in Germany, and an Army base in Kuwait.
Hey, that's a thick enough foreign policy resume for ME...but what do *I* know?
President Palin's campaign people have said that her daughter and the young man she is going to marry, Levi Johnston, should be left alone and should have their privacy. Which is why President Palin's campaign is bringing Levi Johnston's family to the convention. To the Republican National Convention. Where there are, ohhh, I dunno, 14,853 journalists and photographers, news crews from around the world, ( even Ireland! Where President Palin has been!), and talking heads of every stripe. So they can get some privacy.
( I wonder if FOX News, they of the "fair and balanced", will refer to Bristol Palin as Levi johnston's "baby mama"? Wanna take a bet?)
My guess is, they are hoping that the media frenzy surrounding them will disgust people. Whether that will translate into votes for McCain is debateable.
But lawdy, ain't they cynical?
Now on to John McCain's family values. People Magazine has a cover story on the Palin and McCain families, with pictures of the families. Wait a second...what's wrong with this picture?
Where's Bridget?
You know, Bridget McCain, his daughter adopted from Bangladesh, the one Karl Rove and Steve Schmidt, McCain's campaign manager, called his "illegitimate black baby" in South Crolina in 2000?
Why isn't Bridget in the picture? More importantly, who made that decision to leave her out of the family portrait that would be prominently displayed in every supermarket aisle in America? Did Steve Schidt say "Senator, we can't have her in the picture. It just won't fly in middle America"? And McCain said yes? So McCain, the maverick, is getting told what to do by Steve Schmidt? Or McCain, the maverick, made the decision as a dad to leave his daughter out of the picture.
Either way, what a guy. As a father of a daughter by adoption, let me just say I am appalled.
Now, let's talk about families for a moment. Barack Obama is absolutely right that children should be off limits when we discuss the presidential race.
But as Barney Frank says today in the Boston Herald, they are the ones who brought up her family, and family values, as part of her qualifications for the Presidency. And the Republican party has for years presented themselves as the arbiter of American Family Values. Heck, even James Dobson, right wing religious fanatic, leads a group called Focus on the Family.
So, it's a conundrum. Is it legitimate to ask how effective abstinence only sex education is when the daughter of a vigorous proponent of abstinence, as in President Palin, gets pregnant out of wedlock? Is it fair to use her as an example?
Or should we leave them alone, and focus on the fact that a President McCain is likely to lead to a President Palin? And that their policies will just continue Bush's policies in education, energy, foreign policy, and tax policy?
I have to admit, it's always delicious to dish on Republican hypocrisy. But I am not sure it really gets us further down the road. So, I will attempt to avoid concentrating on the continuing President Palin Soap Opera.
But don't hate me for occasionally straying if it gets REALLY juicy. I'm only human.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Here We Go
Police in Minnesota invaded homes of suspected protesters, dressed in SWAT gear, arresting people who merely asked if they had a warrant, and bradishing automatic weapons. You can find the story on Salon.com.
This, folks, is merely practice. if they can pre-emptively raid otherwise peaceful and law abiding households, handcuff them, and take their computers and journals without showing a warrant, then they can pretty much do the same to me for writing this blog, and to you for reading it. I'll be amazed if we have an election on Nov. 4th.
Good news for New Orleans about Gustav. I'm waiting to see how Houma and environs fared.
More tonight, off to work.
This, folks, is merely practice. if they can pre-emptively raid otherwise peaceful and law abiding households, handcuff them, and take their computers and journals without showing a warrant, then they can pretty much do the same to me for writing this blog, and to you for reading it. I'll be amazed if we have an election on Nov. 4th.
Good news for New Orleans about Gustav. I'm waiting to see how Houma and environs fared.
More tonight, off to work.
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