Palin reportedly believes dinosaurs and man roamed the Earth hand in hand. Huffington Post. _____________________________
The GOP blames the failure to pass the allegedly necessary bailout bill on sticks and stones.
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Reportedly, New York Times Columnist Maureen Dowd has been banned from the McPlane for being mean to McCain/Palin. Or was that for printing the truth, such as "McCain was so aggressively erratic as he did his free-form break dance around the economy last week that it seemed the only possible explanation was that he was creating a wild diversion to distract people from Sarah Palin’s stunningly junior varsity appearance with Katie Couric."
Sen. Testy, at the debate, and today in an ad and a speech continues to argue that Obama voted to raise taxes on people making $42,000 a year. The trust, is, as usual, something different. CNN REPORTS:
"In McCain's speech, the Republican presidential candidate was referring to votes on a resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution 70) meant to outline the Senate's budget priorities through 2013, but the measure had no practical effect.
According to a CNN review of the resolution, it assumes that most of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts pushed by President Bush will expire in that time, which McCain says amounts to a tax increase. Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, voted "yes" on the resolution. McCain did not vote."
So, McCain thinks a budgetary vote with no practical effect amounts to tax increases, and, if so, McCain certainly didn't vote against the big bad "tax increase" because he didn't vote!!
Hmmm, also McCain's campaign just issued a press release claiming Democrats are at fault for the failure to pass today's bailout. Well, Senator, how about a lesson in simple math.
"The bill failed by a vote of 205 to 228, with 140 Democrats and 65 Republicans voting in favor and 95 Democrats joining 133 Republicans against."
Senator, you did a great job when you rushed back to Washington to "bring Republicans and Democrats" together on a bailout package.
Politico.com has made it's first changes to its electoral map since I started this blog. Take a look. The map know shows that if the election were held today Obama would have 286 EV's, and McCain, a mere 252 EV's. Last week, McCain was still within 8 electoral votes, or the state of Colorado. He's losing more ground than has been reported, dear readers.
I'm going to take this as significant because in reviewing a number of sites that have posted electoral vote predictions, I find the Politico site to be a fairly realistic assessment of the election and based on pretty significant polling information. It still could be wrong, of course, but I'm taking the move on the Politico map seriously.
Major difference, Politico has moved Virginia into Obama's column. That race is still within a couple of percentage points, though, so I'm not saying he should stop campaigning.
One other issue I haven't heard discussed, Obama has opened up a 10 point lead in Iowa. Last week, arguably, Iowa was still in play. What happened? Hmmm....could it be that McCain, who came out strongly against ethanol subsidies at the debate, shot himself in the cornbelt with that throw away line??
Ironically, I agree with McCain on this. Study after study has shown that ethanol production is not only energy neutral, it may actually be an energy negative (meaning the energy cost used in producing ethanol based fuels either balances out any energy saved by the use of ethanol, or, actually uses more energy than the energy saved). Ethanol is a boondoggle that has existed for years. The government spends millions, if not billions, on subsidies propping up farmers in the Midwest for little alternative energy savings. Why? Well, this is why. Obama didn't mention them at the debate, and his numbers in Iowa jumped. Perhaps more importantly, Obama has moved within the margin of error for some polls in Indiana. McCain loses Indiana over ethanol, and he's cooked, "my friend."
All the lies he's told in the campaign so far, and McCain may lose because he told the truth about ethanol.
Let's review kids. Friday, Sen. Schizophrenic calls out Sen. Obama at a debate for saying that if terrorists are in Pakistan (which they most surely are) we should go after them. (Prompting a fantastic comeback reminding us how Sen Schizo likes to sing "bomb iran" to Beach Boys tunes). The next day, his brilliant running mate basically says she agrees with Sen. Obama. (Pakistan, apparently, being a country where the leaders don't fly over her house, she was rightfully confused). Sunday, McCain goes on the Sunday morning pundit shows and, again, has to cover for his running mate. This time, stating, that you shouldn't trust overheard conversations as statements of policy.
WHAT? Again, I must ask, DO YOU THINK WE ARE STUPID?? What's more likely a genuine statement of a person's beliefs, a conversation that is unscripted or the reading off of talking points scripted, apparently, in part by Henry Kissinger, Mr. Vietnam.
Sen. McCain, because the American people are generally, well, dumb, you could win this thing. It is unthinkable that you would put Gov. Palin second in line for the presidency. Do what some of your own party is starting to beg you to do. Find a nice family emergency for her to attend to and appoint Tom Ridge to take her place. You speak about "Country First" and then you pull this crap. Do you think, maybe, if you would have asked her a few questions before anointing her you may have heard how RIDICULOUS she sounds? It's Sunday morning, and you are driving me to drink, Sir.
For what it's worth, I think McCain probably won on points--but this was supposed to be his strong suit, foreign policy and his vaunted experience--and he needed to blow Sen. Obama out of Mississippi. That just didn't happen. At times, he seemed so angry it was almost, well, unpresidential. McCain basically told Vladamir Putin he's coming for him next, which is a bit worrisome. He repeated an often discredited lie about Obama voting to raise taxes on people making $42,000 a year. He repeated too many talking points from his acceptance speech. As pointed out above, the whole "I'm not looking at you" think is kinda odd. Still, his "Senator Obama doesn't understand" line, though, may have some wings and you can't doubt the foreign policy experience.
Sen. Obama, I would have liked you to have said "John's right" maybe not sooooo much. Nothing wrong with finding points of agreement, but the purpose of debate is to outline differences. Nice job tying him back to the Bush Admin., but I would like to have seen that happen more. Also, this whole Kissinger thing...don't take Kissinger's words and try and make them your own. Instead, ask, Sen. McCain why the architect of the Vietnam War and carpet bombing of Cambodia is one of his advisors!
I didn't start this only as a Political blog, I really didn't. I have many interests: movies, TV, writings of various sorts, art, jello wrestling, naked twister. Still, these days, it's difficult to verge off this topic, and here's why: I'm tired. I'm tired of the ridiculous nature of politics. I'm tired of being talked too like I can't read. I'm tired of the Country being led down dangerous paths based on lies and half truths. I'm tired of having my patriotism questioned because I don't believe in stupid. Mostly, I'm tired of the attitude that if you have the ability to speak coherently and have half a thought, you are an elitist, and therefore somehow unfit for office...
What brought on this rant?
My favorite whipping post these days.
I rewatched some of that Katie Couric interview with Gov. Palin and here's what I learned.
1. Alaska is located between Russian and Canada.
2. When Putin comes to the U.S., he flys right over Russia, darn it.
3. The American people don't care what Obama has to say about the economy, only what McCain says, because McCain is a reformer, and Obama is a politician. (hunh?)
4. There are no specific examples available of what, exactly, McCain's reformed, but that can be given to Katie at a later date.
5. Israel, well, they have the right to nuke Iran if they want and the U.S. should stay out of it. Heck, we don't want a second Holocaust, after all. (Although I am surprised of the accidental admission that the first Holocaust happened, at this point.)
6. Let's take the fight to them. Hockey mom's are cool. Small town people are better than big city folk. I'm holier than thou.
If you are a voter and you are still on board the Palin bandwagon after this interview, then, really you are a Partisan hack with no self respect. And, if one more person says she has foreign policy experience because Alaska is next to Russia, then I will spontaneously combust.
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P.S. When I'm Being Agreed With By The National Review, Watch Out. Conservative Columnist calls for Palin to drop out, here.
Nice job, Mr. "Country First." You "suspended" your campaign to "rush" back to Washington. You have no time to debate because of the economic crisis. You were in such a rush to make it back to D.C. from New York (a one hour flight) yet you found time to stop to talk to Katie Couric, to stay overnight in a New York hotel, and to give a speech before the Clinton Global Initiative the next morning. (Hmmmm, a speech, is that campaigning?) Your rush back to D.C. took approximately 20 hours. You've injected presidential politics into a national crisis and, by most accounts, you still have yet to make it known what you even want in the economic bailout plan. By God, you're back in time for the photo op, though.
Meanwhile, while you were hanging around hoping to take credit for a deal you had no part in, Washington Mutual, the nation's largest Savings & Loan collapses. At what point should I go empty the bank, stuff everything under a mattress, and go buy a bunch of bottled water, canned goods and a shotgun? Or, should I count on the strong "fundamentals" of our economy?
While leaders of both political parties chase their collective tails around Washington, Steve Chapman in today's Trib. makes an interesting argument for why this bailout may actually not even be necessary. That argument raises another question: Is this another example of the Bush Administration, running to Congress, pressuring Congress to make an immediate decision about incurring massive debt and asking Congress to write a blank check, and using the cloud of fear passing over the Country as a means to receive this blank check? In using taxpayer money to purchase bad debt at a higher price than the banks in question could get on the open market, who really benefits? I don't know enough about economics to say, but I've read enough news over the last seven years to be suspicious any time Bush, Jr. goes on the air to beg the Country for support. Is this bailout Iraq2? Is it just another massive debt, another massive error we will be suffering for for decades to come? Is anyone in Congress, Repubs and Dems alike, even asking this question?
Today, Sen. John McCain called for a halt to the presidential campaign because he needed to immediately return to Washington to take on the financial crisis facing our Country. Of course, he won't be available to participate in the 1st presidential debate on Friday unless Congress comes to agreement on a bailout. Then, he immediately rushed onto a plane and heading straight to D.C. to get to work on...oh, actually, he stayed in New York for a sit down with Katie Couric.
Let's see...last week the "fundamentals of our economy" were strong; there was no need for a government bailout, AIG should not receive government funding, then the SEC chair should be fired, then, wait a second, I guess there is a need for the largest government corporate welfare program since the Great Depression--and we need it so fast, I've got to get back to Washington..except I don't, because I have to do this interview first...
I'm not an economist. I don't pretend to have much of a handle on what is going on in the financial markets except that by all accounts from people much smarter than me, it's bad. I can, however, see political pandering and massive flip-flopping when I see it. This isn't exactly the calm, cool leadership one might hope for in a time of crisis, Senator. __________________________
P.S. Check out the Wall Street Journal, generally considered the most conservative newspaper in the nation, calling out McCain for having deep romantic relationships with those who caused this crisis, here.
One would have to laugh...until you stop to think that the person receiving the blessing has a good chance of being next in line for leadership of the free world; and that the person asking Jesus for campaign contributions for Sarah is well known for, well, hunting witches in Kenya.
From Bishop Thomas Muthee's Wikipedia entry:
"Muthee ... came to believe that a witch known as "Mama Jane" was the cause of crime and spiritual oppression in the area.Muthee alleged that "top government and business leaders were afraid to do anything without her approval," that at least one person per month would die in a car accident in front of her "divination house" (otherwise known as Emmanuel Clinic), and that she harassed his congregation. According to Muthee, soon after his followers began to pray that God would either save or oust Mama Jane,three young people died in another apparent accident in front of Mama Jane's clinic. The angry townsfolk wanted to stone her in retaliation, and when the police entered Mama Jane's home to intervene, they were apparently startled by what they believed to be a demon and shot her pet python to death. Mama Jane was then questioned by police, after which she left town.Since then, Muthee has frequently referred to his witch-hunt as an example of successful spiritual warfare."
"Just for the record, I asked an intern to go back and double fact-check the twelve documented lies that Sarah Palin has told on the public record. These are not hyperbolic claims or rhetorical excess. They are assertions of fact that are demonstrably untrue and remain uncorrected. Every single one of the lies I documented holds up after several news cycles have had a chance to vet them even further."
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Michael Kinsley rips my fav Gov. a new one over her alleged fiscal responsiblity in Sarah Palin's Alaskanomics.
"Sarah Palin thinks she is a better American than you because she comes from a small town, and a superior human being because she isn't a journalist and has never lived in Washington and likes to watch her kids play hockey. Although Palin praised John McCain in her acceptance speech as a man who puts the good of his country ahead of partisan politics, McCain pretty much proved the opposite with his selection of a running mate whose main asset is her ability to reignite the culture wars"
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The Gov. isn't the only one to blame, of course, as Joe Klien tells us in The Lying Game.
"John McCain has raised serious questions about whether he has the character to lead the nation. He has defaced his beloved military code of honor. He has run a dirty campaign."
"WATERBURY, Vt. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, cofounders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., urging them to replace cow's milk they use in their ice cream products with human breast milk, according to a statement recently released by a PETA spokeswoman."
I flipped through a little of Sunday's Emmys. (The show itself was unworthy of the performances it was meant to honor. Note: never, never, never again with the rotating reality hosts. Professional. Comedian. Please.)
I did catch Martin Sheen's bit on the West Wing set. He had a line about how the show won Emmys for everyone involved except him. Unfortunately for Marty, he was very well deserving but ran up against a big breathy award buzz saw named James Gandolfini most years. The line was one of the few laughs on the portion of the show I watched, and it got me thinking of some tv peeps I thought got jobbed. (I have no way of knowing, of course, which episodes in a given year were submitted for consideration, but I'm going with my gut.)
Let's start off with the above mentioned Martin Sheen, The West Wing, "The Two Cathedrals" I don't know much Latin, but it's easy to understand the frustration with the almighty here...
Haec credam a deo pio, a deo justo, a deo scito? Am I to believe these things from a righteous God, a just God, a wise God?
"Cruciatus in crucem To Hell with your punishments
uus in terra servus, nuntius fui; officium perfeci I was your servant, your messenger on the earth, I did my duty.
Cruciatus in crucem (with a dismissive wave of the hand) eas in crucem The Hell with your punishments! And to Hell with you!"
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Hugh Laurie, House, Three Stories
Will someone give this man an Emmy already? In exchange for getting out of a couple hours of clinic duty, House agrees to give a lecture. It starts off rather sedately, and the lecture hall is somewhat empty...but the place starts to fill as House begins to tell the story of a third patient...one who starts off looking like Carmen Electra, but ending up revealing how the not so good Dr. got his famous limp. One of the best episodes of series TV I've seen in the last few years. Catch a clip from this ep (worked in with a buncha others) here
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Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Body"
Okay, I'm biased. I'll admit it. I love the SMG. Also, any list of my top five shows of all time would have to include Buffy even if it had ended after Season 2 (a fantastic example of arc storytelling by Joss Whedon). Also, the show was mostly about a girl who killed vampires with a stake; explaining, perhaps, the lack of Emmy love through the years. Nevertheless, in this famous episode, after years of watching people die unpredictably from supernatural causes our heroine endures watching her mother die of something much, much worse--sudden, unexpected natural causes. Everything from the shock to the acceptance rings true and SMG nails it.
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Anthony Edwards, ER, "Love's Labor Lost"
For me, ER jumped the proverbial shark when Mark Greene had his brain tumor. After that, I found it hard to care for the revolving cast of characters. It's been on the air for so long it's easy to remember just how damn good and revolutionary it was when it first aired. This episode, where Mark, Carter and the crew attempt to save a troubled delivery, is remarkable (also features a pre-West Wing Bradley Whitford). Instead of James Gandolfini, I think Anthony ran into the 90s Emmy buzzsaw of Dennis Franz. The performance is crazy good. Here's a lengthy clip, worth the time.
Robert B. Reich, Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, at Politico.com
"Never before in the history of American capitalism has so much been asked of so many for (at least in the first instance) so few.....if you are a member of Congress, you just might be in a position to demand from Wall Street certain conditions in return for the blank check....
The public doesn’t like a blank check. They think this whole bailout idea is nuts. They see fat cats on Wall Street who have raked in zillions for years, now extorting in effect $2,000 to $5,000 from every American family to make up for their own nonfeasance, malfeasance, greed, and just plain stupidity....
My five nominees:
1. The government (i.e. taxpayers) gets an equity stake in every Wall Street financial company proportional to the amount of bad debt that company shoves onto the public. So when and if Wall Street shares rise, taxpayers are rewarded for accepting so much risk.
2. Wall Street executives and directors of Wall Street firms relinquish their current stock options and this year’s other forms of compensation, and agree to future compensation linked to a rolling five-year average of firm profitability. Why should taxpayers feather their already amply-feathered nests?
3. All Wall Street executives immediately cease making campaign contributions to any candidate for public office in this election cycle or next, all Wall Street PACs be closed, and Wall Street lobbyists curtail their activities unless specifically asked for information by policymakers. Why should taxpayers finance Wall Street’s outsized political power – especially when that power is being exercised to get favorable terms from taxpayers?
4. Wall Street firms agree to comply with new regulations over disclosure, capital requirements, conflicts of interest, and market manipulation. The regulations will emerge in ninety days from a bi-partisan working group, to be convened immediately. After all, inadequate regulation and lack of oversight got us into this mess.
5. Wall Street agrees to give bankruptcy judges the authority to modify the terms of primary mortgages, so homeowners have a fighting chance to keep their homes. Why should distressed homeowners lose their homes when Wall Streeters receive taxpayer money that helps them keep their fancy ones?"
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's hometown required women to pay for their own rape examinations while she was mayor, a practice her police chief fought to keep as late as 2000.
A former Alaskan lawmaker says it seems unlikely that Gov. Sarah Palin was unaware of Wasilla's policy.
Former state Rep. Eric Croft, a Democrat, sponsored a state law requiring cities to provide the examinations free of charge to victims. He said the only ongoing resistance he met was from Wasilla, where Palin was mayor from 1996 to 2002.
"It was one of those things everyone could agree on except Wasilla," Croft told CNN. "We couldn't convince the chief of police to stop charging them." Alaska's Legislature in 2000 banned the practice of charging women for rape exam kits -- which experts said could cost up to $1,000."
"Hello, ma'am, I'm sorry you were just raped, but you are going to have to pay this here bill. Oh, also, the Mayor says if you got pregnant during the attack, you will burn in eternal damnation if you don't carry the child."
This is Jerry Angelo. Jerry Angelo is general manager of the Chicago Bears. Jerry, I hate to wish anyone ill in a bad economy where it may be difficult for one to find new gainful employment. On the other hand, you should be fired. Immediately.
First, wasting a number four draft pick on Cedric Benson and pissing away millions of your employers dollars on that worthless hump should have been enough. (Players taken after Benson in the 2005 draft: Shawn Merriman, Aaron Rodgers, Jason Campbell, Frank Gore (in the third round!!!) )
Putting aside the Benson debacle, last year you wasted a second round pick on a defensive end when the team was loaded at that position. A second round pick!! That player is no longer on the team after just one season. This team had a Super Bowl window..you made a Super Bowl, congrats. I also recall that the team did not win. Big time professional sports is a "what have you done for me lately" gig. You are doing a lousy job. If you don't believe me, let's take a look at the last too games...
You and your coaching staff are supposed to be these big defensive geniuses. Well, genius, your team should be 3-0, but your defense gave away leads of 17 to 3 and 24 to 14 in the second half of two straight games. Also, that Griese guy who lit your defense up for 400 yards--what team was he on again the last couple years..can't ..really...remember.....
Let's talk about offense. Granted, Kyle Orton didn't play too badly yesterday against the Buccs. On the other hand, you have given him a group of wide receivers that couldn't play for a top twenty college program. You lucked into Devon Hester, you drafted Rex Grossman as your qb of the future. You must pay for this. Please, resign. Thank you.
Congrats to my Cubs on clinching the NL Central with a little breathing room to get ready for the playoffs. Although I predicted a Cubs and Angels World Series early this season (and have a Vegas slip to prove it), it's still nice to have step one in the quest out of the way.
Tim McCarver, number four on my list of the worst sports analysts of all time (details to be released later) said something remarkably stupid during the Cubs/Cards broadcast of Fox, Saturday. Well, actually, he said a lot of stupid things, but the most ridiculous thing he said went something like this: Cubs fans need to drop the attitude that "the only thing that will make them happy is a World Series...that's baloney." (I paraphrase, because I find it difficult to pay attention to Tim McBlowhard.
Okay, Timmy, let's review: I've been a Cubs fan long enough to see the team get swept three straight games in San Diego when they needed just one win to make a World Series; I've seen the team come within 5 outs of a World Series appearance with their best pitcher on the mound and fall apart; I've watched last year's division winner fail to show up at all in round one and get swept by the Diamondbacks. Further, I've seen the White Sox, Boston Red Sox, and even the %#*(&$#*((# Cardinals win one in the mean time. I simply will not be satisfied until we get to a World Series. (Winning it, well, that's a different issue. The AL is tough, I won't lie.) Nevertheless, the desire is not "baloney." It's a perfectly reasonable opinion from a fan base tired of giving their emotions and their money for Summers on end only to suffer in the end. You, sir, are an idiot. Please stay out of my broadcast booth.
Good old "W" is quoted today in regard to the current economic crisis. In his infinite wisdom, he said, "The risk of doing nothing far outweighs the risk of the [bail out] package."
Ohhhhh, you mean like the nothing you did for months while the housing market collapsed? This is a COMPLETE failure of leadership on your part, Mr. Pres. Why don't you go back to the Ranch early, give us all a break.
"Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” said lawmakers were told last night 'that we’re literally maybe days away from a complete meltdown of our financial system, with all the implications, here at home and globally'...
"The solution being proposed by the Bush administration is the most expensive bailout in the nation’s history...
"Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the Banking Committee, told “Good Morning America”: 'I figure it will be at least half a trillion. But if you look at what the Fed has already done [by rescuing insurance giant AIG], and the extension of power to Treasury to deal with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, I believe we're talking about a trillion dollars.'"
George W. Bush took over the Executive Branch in 2001 with a budget surplus. He has spent billions of dollars on a War against a nation based on a lie. He has implemented tax cuts in a time of overwhelming fiscial irresponsibilty. He failed to act when a major U.S. city was washed away by natural disaster. Now, his legacy will include the largest economic disaster since the Great Depression.
Give me an argument that the Bush 2 Administration isn't among the worst in history. I'd like to see you try and make it.
Microsoft is pulling this ad campaign with Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. Apparently, it got hammered by commentators. I'm not sure why. Ever since I got a tivo I seldom watch commercials, but I stopped to watch these and they always made me laugh. Frankly, gave me a better opinion of a company that maybe needs to look less like an "evil empire."
Being in Illinois, not exactly a battleground State, we are pretty much spared the onslaught of campaign ads from the top guns this year--but thanks to ye olde u tube, can still check them out.
"Where’s George? The president, I mean. You remember him. Dubya. No. 43. Won a second term a few years ago. It was in all the papers. But where has he been lately? Where has he been during America’s worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Nowhere. AWOL. Every now and then, when the stock market takes yet another sickening plunge, a few words issue forth from the presidential lips. A very few words. Delivered with the greatest reluctance. “I will continue to closely monitor the situation in our financial markets and consult with my economic advisers,” President Bush said Thursday in a two-minute address from the Rose Garden. That’s right, two minutes. Delivered, according to the official White House transcript, from 10:15 a.m. EDT to 10:17 a.m. EDT. Maybe you missed it. Maybe you were at work.
Palin's transparency proposal already exists in D.C.
"CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (CNN) – Sarah Palin likes to tell voters around the country about how she “put the government checkbook online” in Alaska. On Thursday, Palin suggested she would take that same proposal to Washington.
“We’re going to do a few new things also,” she said at a rally in Cedar Rapids. “For instance, as Alaska’s governor, I put the government’s checkbook online so that people can see where their money’s going. We’ll bring that kind of transparency, that responsibility, and accountability back. We’re going to bring that back to D.C.”
There’s just one problem with proposing to put the federal checkbook online – somebody’s already done it. His name is Barack Obama.
In 2006 and 2007, Obama teamed up with Republican Sen. Tom Coburn to pass the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, also known as “Google for Government.” The act created a free, searchable web site – USASpending.gov — that discloses to the public all federal grants, contracts, loans and insurance payments.
In June of this year, Obama and Coburn introduced new Senate legislation to expand the information available online to include details on earmarks, competitive bidding, criminal activities, audit disputes and other government information.
Palin might also have noted that her running mate, John McCain, was an original co-sponsor of the 2006 transparency bill that became law."
Hey, Repubs and Dems are all joining together in a metaphorical singing of kumbaya to blash the Bush Admin about the AIG Bailout.
But you know what, I'm no economist, but I have to think the failure of a company of this scope may have such an adverse impact on the economy that a bailout may be a necessary evil. Now, I'm happy to bash Junior and his band of top down, economic elitism for creating this mess in the first place--but once broke, it's gotta be fixed. Both candidates are already jumping to get the best political angle on this economic crash...I still haven't heard any reasonable solutions from either side. Get crackin' people. It's getting bad out there.
It's simple, says a U of C law professor. Discrediting the media is the best way to get away with rampant lying. His argument makes a lot of sense.
"How does a democracy deal with lies? In the last several national elections, political operatives, exemplified by the Swift Boaters in 2004, have employed a deeply cynical and highly effective strategy to distort and manipulate public discourse. This strategy poses a serious threat to the very foundation of democratic self-governance.
The core of the strategy is simple: Consultants, political spokespersons and even the candidates systematically repeat a false statement about their opponent's positions, statements or actions. The very assertion of the falsehood puts the target on the defensive. If he ignores the false accusation, it gains traction. If he disputes the lie, he dignifies it, gives it greater publicity and sounds suspicious. If he calls the lie a lie, he comes across as accusatory and mean-spirited."
"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will not cooperate with a legislative investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner..."
"Allies of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin asked a judge Tuesday to halt the state Legislature's investigation into the firing of her public service commissioner.."
Hmmm, wasn't that long ago Gov. Lightweight was declaring how she would absolutely cooperate with this particular investigation. Funny how things change when you start listening to the campaign managers. Did anyone really not see this coming? What is it, Gov.? Got something to hide?
A McCain political hack, in struggling to come up with examples of what Sen. McCain had done for the U.S. economy, today advised that John McCain is responsible for the Blackberry. If so, Sen., would you tell me why my emails won't load correctly.... thanks.
"(CNN) — His campaign team may have held conference calls, released ads and sent a flurry of memos charging that Barack Obama was slurring Sarah Palin when he used the phrase “lipstick on a pig” — but John McCain apparently thinks otherwise. “Did he call her a pig?" the Republican presidential nominee was asked Monday in a briefing for reporters for the Associated Press and Florida newspapers. "No,” responded McCain"
Wait, Senator, I thought you "approved" all your messages....so which is it?
I don't really remember much about the last no-hitter pitched by a Cub. I was two. Anytime something happens in sport that hasn't happened in nearly 38 years is quite the thing. Great job Big Z. I forgive you the laousy August, but I hope you saved some for October.
You have ruined two straight national championship games by being incredibly boring. Then the hype machine revs up for you to take on USC this last weekend, and, again, you embarass the Big Ten, the entire Midwest, and the ghost of Woody Hayes with your performance. Stop being just good enough to make people think you are something, then sucking. You are pissing me off.
My five readers will tell you that you've been taking some shots on my site. For lack of a better term here's the "straight talk" about why. Sure, I'm a Democrat. I won't be disingenuous about my political viewpoint. After eight years of the "current occupant" it would take an asteroid to hit me in the head in order for me to pull a Republican lever this Fall. Nevertheless, Sen. McCain, there was a time when I thought if there was someone on the Right that I might have been willing to cross over for, it was you.
Remember those days? In 2000, when the picture above was taken, and you were giving George Bush fits because he was unqualified for the highest office in the land? (You were right about that one, Sir.) Remember when you still had your honor? When you could take a stand on meaningful issues and, even though maybe your position was different than mine, I would still listen--because you appeared to be a decent public servant of the kind sadly lacking in my lifetime.
Then came the South Carolina Primary. It's well documented how the Bush hatchet team had automated calls going out distorting your record...telling voters, in one example, that you voted against "breast cancer research" when you actually voted against a bill that contained a small amount of funding for research, and billions in unnecessary spending (or earmarks, as we've grown to know and love them). That's just one example of how you were a victim of dirty campaign tricks in the year 2000. Sure, I most likely would have still voted for Gore that year, but I have to feel that the last eight years may have been a little better if you had won the nomination of your party then, instead of now.
Eight years later. For some time you were still running a decent campaign and although thanks to George, Jr. I wasn't going to vote for a Republican, you still had my respect. Emphasis, had.
First, you stood behind a banner trumpeting "Country First" while proceeding to announce arguably the most important decision of your campaign. And you told us that you had caved to the far right wing of your Party, passed up on Fmr. Gov. Ridge (a well qualified candidate), and nominated to the second highest office in the land a person of achievement, but with little of the experience you told us for months that you value so highly. Your VP pick makes Dan Quayle seem overly qualified for the position, Senator. It disappointed me.
Worse, once you got a little momentum going after your Convention, you "approved" a few messages. Your campaign launched a series of ads well documented to be distortions of the record, misleading to the public, and, frankly, just out and out lies. Senator, you went on The View...The View for the love of God, and got your ass handed to you by the queen of softball questions, Barbara Walters. Barbara Freaking Walters, Senator!! You stood before America on the night you accepted the nomination and said you would reach across the aisle--and then you immediately launched the same partisan, destructive Bush/Rove tactics used against you in 2000. In the words of Elliott Ness (as potrayed by Kevin Costner, lol) You have become that which you condemned.
Senator, you have an admirable record of a life spent serving this Country. Before the events of the last few weeks you did not have my vote, but you had my respect. Now, Sir, you have neither. You may win this election yet, but if you do, it certainly won't be because you put "Country First."
"Gov. Palin’s administration acknowledges that it is still pursuing a project that would link Ketchikan to its airport -- with the help of as much as $73 million in federal funds earmarked by Congress for the original project.
'What the media isn't reporting is that the project isn't dead,' Roger Wetherell, spokesman for Alaska’s Department of Transportation, said."
"A photo of populist war hero presidential candidate John McCain lumbering his way onto Raffaello Follieri's yacht in Montenegro! And on the day after Follieri pleads guilty to multimillion-dollar fraud! How highly enjoyable. It was already known that McCain spent his 70th birthday, in 2006, aboard the yacht with Follieri and glamorous actress Anne Hathaway. But this is the first photo of the meeting, which drives home the unmissable point: John McCain spends his birthday on foreign yachts with criminals and Hollywood types"
Nice...show those fat cats what's up, Senator...use up their yacht fuel, drink their wine, and eat their caviar. That'll teach em.
"Wednesday the bipartisan Partnership for a Secure America, including former Sept. 11 commission honchos Lee Hamilton and Thomas Kean, issued its latest report card. They graded federal efforts to prevent a catastrophic nuclear, biological or chemical attack on U.S. soil and to battle the proliferation of such weapons abroad. The latest overall mark: a not-reassuring C. "
Chicago Tribune, September 11, 2008.
What happened to all those Bush/Chaney bumper stickers talking about "A Safer America" in 2004. They should be used as landfill at the WTC memorial site (above)
Note: I don't hate animals. I like animals. However, because of cats I have to get shots in both arms for the next, ohh, FIVE YEARS. I'm not bitter, though.
Foot tapping protected by First Amendment, Craig's lawyer says Craig's attorney said foot tapping may be protected by the First Amendment. ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) – In an effort to persuade a three-judge panel to throw out Sen. Larry Craig's guilty plea, his attorney suggested Wednesday that his foot tapping in an airport men's room may have been protected by the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
______________
Wow. Larry, it's okay. You're gay. I don't care. Stop hiding who you are. Fly...be free. Also, let's not make it harder for people with real free speech claims by using this bogus defense to your scouting out dudes in the MN airport restroom. Here's a thought...in this election year, why don't you and Mark Foley and Ted Stevens (you know, the guy from Alaska under indictment, that one woman's pal, what is her name again...) get together and go on a Republican values tour of the States. Show us godforsaken liberals how the good folks live.
Believe it or not, I don't get to vote for National League Most Valuable Player. Or American League MVP. Probably I'm in danger of losing my right to vote for elective offices, and my ability to vote for our next American Idol is endangered by the fact that I don't watch the show.
If I did have a vote for NL MVP and assuming the Cubs do finish in first (knock on something, anything, quick) then may I present an unlikely choice for the award, Mr. Mark DeRosa.
Sure, he doesn't have the Bondsian numbers we've expected from the MVP in the past, and maybe that's a good thing. His line, however, is pretty good. .288 20 Hrs 83 RBI's .483 slugging percentage. Plus, it seems like every one of those 83 RBI's have been clutch.
Most importantly, the man has five gloves. I don't know that I've seen a guy play so many positions in a year and still put up these kind of offensive numbers. He starts at 2nd, he plays 3rd, he steps up to right field (when Fukudome decides he doesn't like to hit anymore), once in awhile he shows up in left, and I vaguely remember him playing first base at least once. Last time I was at a game, I think he sold me a dog and a beer between innings.
When it comes time for postseason awards, every year we fans get to hear the same debate...is the MVP the person with the best stats or truly the most valuable. Usually, the award goes to the guy with the best stats, and often times, that person is also the most valuable. This year, by the most valuable criteria, I think there is only one real candidate, and he plays, well, all over the field for the Chicago National League Ball Club.
This particular Pitbull is not immune to attack. It can be hurt. A muzzle can be slapped on. It could be put to sleep. Apparently, however, if you step out of the great northwest to run for national office, you are immune from attack. You have free reign no matter what tremendous line of b.s you spew forth from your mouth. Feel free to insult your opponents, the press, charity work, and take a magic marker to the Constitution as as long as you are "folksy" and "small town" and believe in teaching creationism in public schools. I grew up in a small town. My parents live in that same small town (Thank you, Thank you, Pink Houses is next). Many of those smalltown people know better than to fall for your line of garbarge, Gov. Of course, many of them don't. Course, those are the same people who picked a do nothing Gov. from a large Southern State. TWICE. Ugh. I need a drink.
"The U.S. budget deficit will grow $246 billion to $407 billion, according to an updated estimate by the Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday. Last year, the budget deficit was $161 billion. The government’s budget year ends September 30.
"The CBO said it expected the deficit to exceed $400 billion — or 3 percent of gross domestic product — for each of the next two years if current policies remain in place. It also forecast several more months of “very slow” economic growth."
I almost didn't watch. I, like pretty much, well, everyone, was expecting a beating. Plus, with the Cubs and Sox limping their way into the playoffs, I'm not really into football mode yet. But, dang. How fun was that, Chicago? One game does not make a season, but daaaaaaamnnnnnn. I was expecting a major drubbing for the beloved Bear last night. Forte, are you finally a new Neal Anderson (there can be no new Walter) or is this an Anthony Thomas, one night stand sort of thing. Stay Tuned. Daaaaaammmnnnnn.
If there's one thing we don't need it is a repeat of the divisive and surreal 2000 election (esp. since my guy lost). That being said, this electoral vote map at Politico.com has me a wee bit concerned. I think it's pretty thorough. You'll notice right away they have Obama willing by eight electoral votes, 273 to 265. Then gander at Colorado. Our Rocky Mountain brethren hold 9 electoral votes, and the polling margin giving the state to the Dems is 0.4 percent. That's right---0.4 percent. Ponder that for awhile while I go get a stiff drink, no ice.
From that great "series of tubes" called the internets...
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ John McCain set a new tone for the Republican National Convention Thursday, with speakers abandoning many of the tough words aimed at Barack Obama that had characterized the previous night. But the picture they painted blurred some facts.
Some examples:MCCAIN: "We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust, when we valued our power over our principles." THE FACTS: Yes, Obama voted for a 2005 energy bill backed by Bush that included billions in subsidies for oil and natural gas production. McCain opposed the bill on grounds it included unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry. But Obama has said he supported the legislation because it provided money for renewable energy. Obama did vote for an effort to strip the legislation of the oil and gas industry tax breaks. When that failed, he voted for the overall measure.
MCCAIN: "When a public school fails to meet its obligations to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have that choice and their children will have that opportunity."THE FACTS: Despite his goal of giving parents choice in the schools their children attend, he is not proposing a federal voucher program that would provide public money for private school tuition. McCain is proposing only to expand the District of Columbia's voucher program. During his 2000 run for the presidency, he did propose a more than $5 billion school voucher plan, but he is not proposing one now. His advisers say President Bush's No Child Left Behind Law is aimed at giving parents more choice, and he would make improvements to that.
JOHN MCCAIN: "Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as president. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."THE FACTS: It is certainly true that McCain, with two decades in the Senate, has worked in a bipartisan fashion on a number of issues. Legislation that bears his name often carries the name of a Democrat as well. On campaign finance he worked with Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.; on immigration with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; on climate change with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. Obama, elected in 2004, has a much slimmer record of accomplishment. He did work with Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana to pass legislation to further curtail illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. Unlike McCain, however, Obama did not put himself at odds with his own party leaders by working with Lugar.
SEN. LINDSAY GRAHAM: "Those who predicted failure, voted to cut off funding for our troops, and played politics with our national security will be footnotes in history. There's no doubt about it, we are on the road to victory. ...While Barack Obama expresses appreciation for our troops' service, he refuses to acknowledge their success."
THE FACTS: Obama voted in April of last year for legislation that financed the military missions in Iraq and Afghanistan but included a nonbinding call to pull troops out of Iraq. President Bush vetoed it. Then in May he voted against a subsequent financing bill because the pull-out provision had been removed. The bill, however, passed overwhelmingly. Before his May vote, Obama had voted for every bill that financed the troops since he joined the Senate. On Thursday, campaigning in Lancaster, Pa., Obama conceded that the troop surge had succeeded in reducing violence "beyond our wildest dreams." But, he said the United States government still needs to decide when to "turn over responsibility to the Iraqis for their own country?"
U.S. REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN: (Referring to vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin) "We met a woman who, with the bravery that only the mother of five can summon, said 'thanks but no thanks' to the good ole' boy earmarks."
THE FACTS: Palin has cut back on pork-barrel project requests, but in her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. She did reject plans to build the notorious "Bridge to Nowhere" but only after Congress had cut off funding for it. The bridge was a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport. Palin did leave in place a $27 million federally funded project to build the approach road to the bridge. Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein, a Democrat, said Thursday that Palin first told Ketchikan officials during a campaign stop in 2006 that she supported it. When she became governor, and after the project became the subject of national ridicule, she pulled the state's portion of funding.
Seriously, you are going to stand before the Country and claim that you are the best choice to end partisanship in Washington? Were you paying attention, Wednesday night, when your party hosted the most divisive day at a Convention seen perhaps ever. Were you there when one after another, Romney, Rudy, and Gov. Ridiculous laid down a smattering of bile on about 50 percent of the electorate. Do you, also, think we are stupid? Why do I keep having to ask that question.
You may have heard, Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan and former John McCain adviser, and MSNBC guy Mike Murphy were caught on tape discussing the selection of Gov. Unknown as his Vice Presidential running mate. Take it from Jessie Jackson, peeps, you might want to check if your mic is hot... a partial transcript floating around the internets:
"CT: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too. PN: Saw Kay this morning. CT: Yeah, she's never looked comfortable about this -- MM: They're all bummed out. CT: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to? PN: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives -- CT: Yeah they went to a narrative. MM: I totally agree. PN: Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it. MM: You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical. CT: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky. MM: Yeah."
Wow. It's good to know that any policy argument you make against the McCain/Palin ticket is now based on "sexism" or "media bias against women" but sporting these buttons around St. Paul is acceptable.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.
Some examples:
PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."
PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."
THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.THE
FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.
MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.
THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States.
"THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.
FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.___Associated Press Writer Jim Drinkard in Washington contributed to this report.
"Let them know, under no certain circumstances, will I give the government control over my body and my health care decisions." Rep. Michele Backmann (R-MN, also bat shit crazy), a pro-lifer who kinda doesn't understand irony.
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