For the second time this November...

Gov. Palin stands next to a turkey being slaughtered...

Blamin' Palin

Wow. There's something odd going on here. Two days ago, McCain staffers and the jolly good folks at Fox Snooze were perfectly happy to have Gov. Palin as next in line for the Presidency--now, Fox (That's right, Fox) is reporting McCain staffers stating that Palin didn't know such things as, well, whether Africa was a continent. If you've ever read this blog...ever...you know I'm not exactly a fan of the Gov. Still, it's awfully hypocritical two days after an election to so completely toss under the bust this woman you were endlessly touting as being qualified for the Vice Presidency.

I'm not sure even I buy that she was as ridiculously uninformed as the staffers are making her out to be (FOX News not actually being, news, per say). She was a bad pick--but if she truly was as woefully unprepared as you say, then, John McCain, for the good of the country, should have dropped her from the ticket. I just heard someone say on MSNBC that the Repubs have a habit of trying to appeal to "Joe Six Pack" during elections and then pissing all over them immediately thereafter. This may be another prime example of the Repub hypocrisy machine.

I feel a bit bad for the Gov. if the 47 million or so votes her ticket got didn't make me a bit scared for what might have been.

The Math Capital of Alaska....

"The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."

If that seems familiar at all to you, it's likely because you've read the Consitution of the United States of America--specifically Article 1, Section 3.

If that seems unfamilar to you, you may well be the Governor of Alaska.

The Vice President is in no way, shape, or form in charge of the United States Senate.

From Wikipedia: "The Vice President holds a tie breaking vote in the Senate and does not usually preside over the Senate...In practice, freshman senators are traditionally assigned the role of presiding over the Senate in order to learn Senate procedure."

It's two weeks before the election, and the Republican Vice Presidental Candidate still doesn't even know what the job entails. At this point, there is no use trying to convince me Sarah Palin is qualified to be Vice President--it appears she's not qualified for the job she currently holds.

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And for more on what qualifies the Gov to be Vice President, here's a look at the duties of the Mayor of Wasilla....thanks again, Daily Show, for keeping me sane.

Ain't nobody driving the bus...

Roger Simon, at Politico:

"John McCain’s campaign is pretty much a shambles right now.

If you don’t believe me, just listen to John McCain. His chief goal these days is calming down his crowds, not firing them up.

And that is an honorable thing to do. It may not be a winning thing to do. But it is honorable.

Sarah Palin, once seen as a huge plus to the ticket, is now increasingly emerging as a liability.

Forget that an independent legislative panel found Friday that she had abused her power and violated ethics laws as governor of Alaska. Forget that with the possibility of Palin being a heartbeat away from the presidency, McCain gives up the argument that his ticket represents experience and a steady hand on the tiller.

The real problem for McCain is that Palin is running a separate — and scary — campaign that does not seem to be under anybody’s control."

Keep going, here.
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Meanwhile... Columnist and Iraq War Hawk Christopher Hitchens blasts Palin on October 13...


"The most insulting thing that a politician can do is to compel you to ask yourself: "What does he take me for?" Precisely this question is provoked by the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin. I wrote not long ago that it was not right to condescend to her just because of her provincial roots or her piety, let alone her slight flirtatiousness, but really her conduct since then has been a national disgrace. It turns out that none of her early claims to political courage was founded in fact, and it further turns out that some of the untested rumors about her -- her vindictiveness in local quarrels, her bizarre religious and political affiliations -- were very well-founded, indeed..."
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And well known conservative Bill Kristol, is apparently "in the tank" for Obama according to Fox "News". Why?

For writing this:

"[McCain's] campaign is totally overmatched by Obama’s. The Obama team is well organized, flush with resources, and the candidate and the campaign are in sync. The McCain campaign, once merely problematic, is now close to being out-and-out dysfunctional. Its combination of strategic incoherence and operational incompetence has become toxic. If the race continues over the next three weeks to be a conventional one, McCain is doomed."

And more like it, in the NYT.
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And another rat jumping ship--Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, passed over to be McCain's running mate in favor of Gov. YouBetcha, decided to skip a McCain Rally over the weekend to go to...Disney World. It was reported: ''When I have time to help, I'll try to do that,'' Crist said. Think Crist would have made time if he were the running mate? Check out the Miami Herald.
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Why am I posting all this...mostly because it amuses me to no end. I know three weeks is a long time in an election...but things look pretty good from where we lefties sit right now. Still, we can't coast. The state by state polls are still close in some areas, and voter turnout (and eliminating as much voter suppression as possible) will still be a key. Keep up the good work, Team O, but keep the pressure on.

Prosecutor to McCain/Palin: You're Full of Crap

Bill Ayers, Bill Ayers, Bill Ayers. The economy continues to tumble into oblivion despite the bailout, and McCain and Palin want to focus instead on a man who, rightfully prosecuted in the 70s, redeemed himself to the point that he won Chicago's Citizen of the Year award in 1997 for his work on education.

The lead prosecutor on the Ayers case, William Ibershof, doesn't buy it, he said in a statement.

"I am amazed and outraged that Senator Barack Obama is being linked to William Ayers’s terrorist activities 40 years ago when Mr. Obama was, as he has noted, just a child.

Although I dearly wanted to obtain convictions against all the Weathermen, including Bill Ayers, I am very pleased to learn that he has become a responsible citizen.

Because Senator Obama recently served on a board of a charitable organization with Mr. Ayers cannot possibly link the senator to acts perpetrated by Mr. Ayers so many years ago....


I do take issue with [reports] that the Weathermen indictment was dismissed because of “prosecutorial misconduct.” It was dismissed because of illegal activities, including wiretaps, break-ins and mail interceptions, initiated by John N. Mitchell, attorney general at that time, and W. Mark Felt, an F.B.I. assistant director."

Perfect, as Usual

You Betcha

Palin probably won the debate. Why? Because she didn't fall over drooling, spin around on stage, and spit pea soup out of her mouth. The expectations were so low for her (rightfully so) that merely forming sentences instead of staring blankly into space has to be somewhat of a victory.

But some thoughts:

--These "folksy" sayings of yours are just super. Especially when the economy is failing and people are worried about feeding their families. It's nice to know every problem can be brushed off with a "gosh, golly."

--You said the financial sectors need "massive regulation." Ummm, you're a Republican. Did you check with your potential future boss on that, cuz, he's never voted for that before this Wednesday, and is unlikely to support it in the future.

--You want the VP to have more power??? Chaney has run the country for eight years from his top secret fortress of solitude buried deep in the Earth. How much more power do you need?

--Hey, moderator...you sucked. If someone is not answering your questions, then freaking ask them again until you get an answer. Even Katie Couric knows how to do that, for the love of God.

--More important than the debate, and buried in the news cycle, McCain has pulled all ads and resources out of Michigan. That's a pretty good bunch of electoral votes you've given up on in a state that was pissed at the Democrats over the whole delegate fiasco. It's panic time for Sen. Experience.
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On a related note, here's Palin blaming Katie Couric for her stupendously bad answers in last weeks interviews. The source, Fox News, of course:

“I did feel there were a lot of things she was missing in terms of an opportunity to ask what a VP candidate stands for, what the values are that are represented in our ticket," Palin said. "I guess I have to apologize for being a bit annoyed, but that’s also an indication about being outside that Washington elite, outside that media elite also, and just wanting to talk to Americans without the filter and let them know what we stand for."

Ahhh. You were annoyed, eh? So you said a bunch of stupid stuff. That's good to know. I'm sure there are no annoying foreign leaders out there.

Stories I wish were from the Onion

Palin reportedly believes dinosaurs and man roamed the Earth hand in hand. Huffington Post.
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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."

Open Mouth, Insert Pump

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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.

I can't help myself.

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.

Come on, Katie, the Russkies fly over me!!!

I suggest you pray to what ever diety you believe in that this does not come to pass.

Finally, A Vice President Who is Against Witches

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."

The Great Series of Tubes

Twelve Palin Lies. Andrew Sullivan, The Atlantic.

"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."

Palin continues to boggle the mind

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."

Maybe you should know the laws that currently exist before you promise new ones, Gov.

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."

Some Reformer

Today's News:

"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?

News Flash Politician Admits to Lie (But says it okay anyway)

"(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?

Hmmm...wasn't a what or a what for a short period of time??

What is the difference between this and a hockey mom?

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.

Let's go to the tape...

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."