Scratchy throat and headache. That's it for me today. More tomorrow.
30 September 2008
Open Thread
Read this entire post by Jeffery Goldberg and tell me what you think.
Couric asked, "What happens if the goal of democracy doesn't produce the desired outcome? In Gaza, the U.S. pushed hard for elections and Hamas won."
Palin's answer, in full, was this: "Yeah, well especially in that region, though, we have to protect those who do seek democracy and support those who seek protections for the people who live there. What we're seeing in the last couple of days here in New York is a President of Iran, Ahmadinejad, who would come on our soil and express such disdain for one of our closest allies and friends, Israel ... and we're hearing the evil that he speaks and if hearing him doesn't allow Americans to commit more solidly to protecting the friends and allies that we need, especially there in the Mideast, then nothing will."
The issue here is not that Palin didn't know the answer. There are many possible answers to this question, some of which are right and some of which are wrong. The issue here is that she didn't know the question. Because she was apparently ignorant of the subject, she endorsed Hamas' victory, and, in essence, called for the U.S. to "protect" Islamists who seek to use democratic elections to lever themselves into power.
Poll Smoking
Three-day-tracking polls taken since the debate on Friday.
Gallup: Obama 49%, McCain 43%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Rasmussen: Obama 51%, McCain 45%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Hotline/Diageo: Obama 47%, McCain 41%, with a ±3.2% margin of error.
Research 2000: Obama 51%, McCain 41%, with a ±3% margin of error.
Gallup: Obama 49%, McCain 43%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Rasmussen: Obama 51%, McCain 45%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Hotline/Diageo: Obama 47%, McCain 41%, with a ±3.2% margin of error.
Research 2000: Obama 51%, McCain 41%, with a ±3% margin of error.
Hugo Chavez, In The Middle East?
Gaffe. A simple mistake to be sure -- but when you line it up with his others (al Qaeda in Iran, the prime minister of Spain flub, and the 'how to kill Iranians' comment, just to name a few), it gets a little scary.
Isn't foreign policy supposed to be McCain's forte?
Isn't foreign policy supposed to be McCain's forte?
'We'll Stand Down'
When the Iraqis stand up... in their 650-foot Ferris wheel with air-conditioned cars.
F**k that. I want my money back.
Head nod: Ben Smith
F**k that. I want my money back.
Head nod: Ben Smith
No, Joe
Oh Joe, Joe, Joe. No Joe.
You can't be pulling this kind of crap on Thursday night (or the rest of the campaign for that matter).
Diddy, I'm surprised that I beat you to this one. :)
So, how's that 'liberal media' treating you now? Oh, right -- this was on Fox News' website...
You can't be pulling this kind of crap on Thursday night (or the rest of the campaign for that matter).
Diddy, I'm surprised that I beat you to this one. :)
So, how's that 'liberal media' treating you now? Oh, right -- this was on Fox News' website...
'Gotcha Journalism'
Ugh. give me a break.
It sounds like B-Diddy is continuing the regurgitation of McCain camp talking points: "it's media bias".
It was a person in the crowd wearing a Temple University t-shirt... hardly a member of the media elite (although I'm sure we'll hear an argument that it was some 'liberal college student'). Gotcha indeed. I 'gotcha' between doing Jell-O shots and hits from my beer bong.
MEDIA BIAS?
Apparently, there is no media bias against Sarah Palin.
From the CNN webpages comes this picture...and I am to believe there is no bias?!
PJ - Can you find me the last unflattering picture of Joe Biden on CNN from this election cycle?
When you do...I will eat my words.
Riiiiight
(CNN) – Sarah Palin may just be the next Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton — two previous governors underestimated by the national media who went on to win the White House, John McCain said Monday.
I've been blank staring at the computer monitor for a good minute after reading this one. Wow, I just realized how much disdain I have for Governor Palin.
Obama's Judgment to Act
The Washington Post: In 2006, John McCain Pushed For Fannie And Freddie Regulation "While Mr. Obama Was Notably Silent." "In 2006, he pushed for stronger regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- while Mr. Obama was notably silent. 'If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole,' Mr. McCain warned at the time." (The Washington Post, 9/19/08)
Even President Clinton agrees.
Former President Bill Clinton: "I think the responsibility that the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress, or by me when I was President, to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 9/25/08)
Ah, Racial Sensitivity
I think political correctness sometimes goes too far -- but not in this case:
We don't want (Hispanics) to become the new African-American community. And that's what the Democratic Party is going to do to them, create more programs and give them handouts, food stamps and checks for this and checks for that. We don't want that. I'm very much afraid that the Democratic Party is going to do the same thing that they did with the African-American culture and make them all dependent on the government and we don't want that.That's Didi Lima, the Clark County, Nevada GOP communications director. She'll be here all weekend. Tip your waitresses and bartenders.
Chuckolytes Unite!
NBC News is considering Chuck Todd to fill the seemingly unfillable shoes of Tim Russert on the only Sunday morning talker worth watching, Meet The Press:
Sometime between Election Day and early December, NBC News will make a final decision about who will replace Tim Russert and his interim successor, Tom Brokaw, at the helm of “Meet the Press,” Steve Capus, the president of NBC News, said in an interview.Chuck Todd would be an excellent choice. David Gregory wouldn't be too bad either. Give me some more Chuck!
Mr. Capus refused to characterize the network’s intentions. But it is leaning toward an ensemble of hosts that would be led by Chuck Todd, NBC’s political director, and include David Gregory, a correspondent and MSNBC anchor, according to a person who had been briefed on the proposal but was not authorized to comment, partly because the plans were not set.
Obama's New Economic Ad
Nice. Straightforward. Upbeat. Does not attack McCain's character, yet draws sharp contrasts with his plan.
Workout Math
I discovered some strange mathematics this morning:
I woke up this morning and felt pretty good (which is a rarity these days). Dropped the Boy off at school and hit the gym again. I picked up the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly from the stand (the one with the somewhat controversial cover) and took it to an elliptical to read while I... elipticized (?).
I'm reading the extremely interesting interview with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and as I finished that article, I decided to look at the machine to see just how long I had been elipticizing (I figured that I had been going for five to seven minutes or so). You can imagine my shock when I see that I've been going for 20 minutes. In addition, I felt very little fatigue.
Hence my math. The more you exercise, the more energy you have. in turn, you can exercise more -- which also gives you more energy.
Tomorrow there will be a quiz...
Ex=Ex+En=Exn ∞Where En is energy, Ex is exercise and Exn is more energy.
I woke up this morning and felt pretty good (which is a rarity these days). Dropped the Boy off at school and hit the gym again. I picked up the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly from the stand (the one with the somewhat controversial cover) and took it to an elliptical to read while I... elipticized (?).
I'm reading the extremely interesting interview with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and as I finished that article, I decided to look at the machine to see just how long I had been elipticizing (I figured that I had been going for five to seven minutes or so). You can imagine my shock when I see that I've been going for 20 minutes. In addition, I felt very little fatigue.
Hence my math. The more you exercise, the more energy you have. in turn, you can exercise more -- which also gives you more energy.
Tomorrow there will be a quiz...
29 September 2008
McCain Wants Credit
Unreal.
Give that man a slice of humble pie.
UPDATE: Ambinder asks, "So if McCain wanted credit for passage, should he share some of the blame for its defeat?"
Good question.
Sen. John McCain and his top aides took credit for building a winning bailout coalition – hours before the vote failed and stocks tanked.Open mouth. Insert foot.
Shortly before the vote, McCain had bragged about his involvement and mocked Sen. Barack Obama for staying on the sidelines.
“I've never been afraid of stepping in to solve problems for the American people, and I'm not going to stop now,” McCain told a rally in Columbus, Ohio. “Sen. Obama took a very different approach to the crisis our country faced. At first he didn't want to get involved. Then he was monitoring the situation.”
McCain, grinning, flashed a sarcastic thumbs up.
Give that man a slice of humble pie.
UPDATE: Ambinder asks, "So if McCain wanted credit for passage, should he share some of the blame for its defeat?"
Good question.
This picture says it all!
It has not been a good day for the Peloster!This face reads "man I suck at my job" doesnt it?!
The Sarah Palin Press Count
And the press count rolls on...
31.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
31.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
31.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
31.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
Bad News For John McCain
From Rasmussen: "Obama Gets Post-Debate Boost in Voter Trust on All Issues".
Obama is now trusted more on all 10 major issues in new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys Saturday and Sunday nights. He even has a statistically insignificant one-point lead over McCain in trust on the handling of the war in Iraq. Just two weeks ago, the Republican had an eight-point lead on this issue.
Schumer disses McCain..errr...Pelosi!?
Remember the other day when Chuck Schumer blasted McCain with "When you inject presidential politics into some of the most difficult negotiations under normal circumstances, it is fraught with difficulty.
Presidential Politics eh?! You mean like what Nancy Pelosi said today!? Pelosi had said that Congress needed to pass the bill, even though it was an outgrowth of the "failed Bush economic policies" of the last eight years.
Chucky my pal...looks like you were right. Pelosi injnected some of those politics into her speech...and the bill just failed.
Just call Chuck Miss Cleo...cause he predicts the future!
BREAKING: Bailout Bill Rejected
Ouch.
The U.S. House today rejected an historic $700 billion bailout of Wall Street despite legislative leaders’ appeals to rank-and-file members that the bill was needed to save the U.S. economy from possible catastrophe.
The Dow immediately plunged as investors watched the dramatic House vote on television, but recovered a bit after the stunning developments.
After more than three hours of debate, the legislation was rejected by a 228-205 final vote.
Are You Threatening Me?
"I think the moderator will have some questions to answer themselves if they do go so heavily foreign policy." Really? Some 'questions to answer'? I'm sure that Gwen Ifill is shaking in her boots.
Remember folks: it's always the media's fault when a candidate performs poorly.
Although, as Diddy posited in another thread:
Since the McCain and Obama debate was a "tie" but that means "Obama won" according to the drive-by media (thank you Rush!)...does that mean if the Biden and Palin debate is a "tie" than Palin technically won because Biden is supposed to be the expert.Indeed that will be the case. I will concede that if it appears to be a 'draw' between the two veep candidates, it will come across as a win for Palin. I doubt, however, that Biden will tie, much less be bested by Palin.
Open Thread: Confederate Flag
My buddy Matt from Florida brought this story to my attention.
The gigantic Confederate flag flying at an Interstate 75 approach to Tampa will stay up indefinitely, the property owner says.What do you think?
...
Hillsborough County Commission members tried to persuade Lambert and other members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to take the flag down in the name of racial harmony.
The Confederate battle flag is seen by many blacks as a symbol of slavery and racism.
Palin's Intervew: More To Come?
WaPo's Howard Kurtz on the Couric/Palin interview:
And the worst may be yet to come for Palin; sources say CBS has two more responses on tape that will likely prove embarrassing.More fodder for Tina Fey to use I suppose. The question now becomes, why hasn't it aired?
Romney: 'Set Palin Free'
Ahem.
Holding Sarah Palin to just three interviews and microscopically focusing on each interview I think has been a mistake. I think [the McCain campaign would] be a lot wiser to let Sarah Palin be Sarah Palin. Let her talk to the media, let her talk to people.Hmmm... this type of rhetoric sounds awfully familiar...
------
Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP
A Different Plan For The Bailout
Diddy e-mailed this forward to me. Does any of the uber-intelligent readers of this blog know whether or not this would even be feasible? I'm interested to hear thoughts...
I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up... So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.An interesting thought, to say the least.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads.
Put away money for college – it'll be there.
Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car – create jobs.
Invest in the market – capital drives growth.
Pay for your parent's medical insurance – health care improves.
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else.
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG – liquidate it . Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.
And remember, this plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Out Of Context
When did it become evil to actually agree on something with a political rival? I agree with John McCain that the government has gotten too big, spending needs to be cut and that we need to cut our dependence on foreign oil and combat global warming. But, I'm voting for Barack Obama in November.
I disagree with B-Diddy on a lot of stuff, but we do have some common ground on issues like spending an the environment. You can agree with a rival on some things and not others, right Diddy?
This ad makes absolutely no sense to me.
Obama's Team: Counting Chickens
Don't count your chickens before they hatch gang. There is still a looooong time until November 4th.
The time between now and the election is essentially an eternity in the world of politics. A lot can happen...
The time between now and the election is essentially an eternity in the world of politics. A lot can happen...
PLANE PLANE GO AWAY
This sounds familiar! Uncle Eddie is a copycat.
GOV. RENDELL SAYS STATE PLANE SOLD FOR NEARLY $1.4 MILLION; PROCEEDS RETURNED TO STATE ACCOUNT
HARRISBURG – Citing his continued efforts to cut costs and make state government operate more efficiently, Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that the commonwealth has sold its 1981 Beech King Air 200 for $1.375 million. “By selling this state-owned plane, Pennsylvania taxpayers benefit by getting a return of $1.375 million for the sale of an asset that we no longer needed,” Governor Rendell said. Midwest Underground Inc., of East Moline, Ill., purchased the plane, which had appraised for $1.367 million. The state purchased the seven-seat, twin-engine turboprop in 1992 for $1.05 million. The Department of General Services, which handled the negotiations and final agreement for the sale, placed the executive transport plane for sale on the open market in early April. Proceeds from the sale were deposited into PennDOT’s Aviation Restricted account, which is used to provide funding for airport projects statewide.
GOV. RENDELL SAYS STATE PLANE SOLD FOR NEARLY $1.4 MILLION; PROCEEDS RETURNED TO STATE ACCOUNT
HARRISBURG – Citing his continued efforts to cut costs and make state government operate more efficiently, Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that the commonwealth has sold its 1981 Beech King Air 200 for $1.375 million. “By selling this state-owned plane, Pennsylvania taxpayers benefit by getting a return of $1.375 million for the sale of an asset that we no longer needed,” Governor Rendell said. Midwest Underground Inc., of East Moline, Ill., purchased the plane, which had appraised for $1.367 million. The state purchased the seven-seat, twin-engine turboprop in 1992 for $1.05 million. The Department of General Services, which handled the negotiations and final agreement for the sale, placed the executive transport plane for sale on the open market in early April. Proceeds from the sale were deposited into PennDOT’s Aviation Restricted account, which is used to provide funding for airport projects statewide.
It's The Economy
An interesting chart via Blake Hounsell at Foreign Policy:
McCain seems not to understand that earmarks are just a tiny piece of the fiscal picture. As Barack Obama pointed out during the debate, earmarks represent just $18 billion out of a much larger pie. Compare that to the projected 2009 deficit (not counting the bailout) of roughly $500 billion. Or compare it to the total federal budget of about $3 trillion.While I feel that earmarks and 'pork' spending are problematic, I agree with Senator Obama that fixing that issue will not solve the financial crisis that we are facing in this country. It's not a fiscal problem, it's an overall financial problem.
Head nod: Sullivan
THE COMEBACK KID
Get ready for perhaps the wildest 10 days of the campaign. I cannot see into the future...but I can say with certainty the McCain campaign will be looking to shake things up this week.
Whenever JSM has been counted out in this race, he has found a way back. His campaign was virtually over last summer/fall and he is now the Republican candidate. The wrong track and GWB's disapproval ratings are high...and McCain is anywhere from 3-10 points behind in polls.
Sarah Palin will make or break this election for McCain on Thursday night. If she can perform well against Joe Biden...she will swing people in the favor of McCain who have "doubts" about her credibility. If she can't answer a direct question...Obama will wrap up this election on Thursday night.
Obama fans can take a breath as BHO has gained in the polls over the last week...but if there's one thing you must know is you cannot count out JSM and his comeback potential. And what about these October surprises...the McCain camp better start digging deep or let Jeremiah Wright have an uncensored microphone throughout the month of October.
Whenever JSM has been counted out in this race, he has found a way back. His campaign was virtually over last summer/fall and he is now the Republican candidate. The wrong track and GWB's disapproval ratings are high...and McCain is anywhere from 3-10 points behind in polls.
Sarah Palin will make or break this election for McCain on Thursday night. If she can perform well against Joe Biden...she will swing people in the favor of McCain who have "doubts" about her credibility. If she can't answer a direct question...Obama will wrap up this election on Thursday night.
Obama fans can take a breath as BHO has gained in the polls over the last week...but if there's one thing you must know is you cannot count out JSM and his comeback potential. And what about these October surprises...the McCain camp better start digging deep or let Jeremiah Wright have an uncensored microphone throughout the month of October.
Gym-tastic
My ass is out of shape (and so is the rest of me).
Bearing that in mind, I have decided to make a dramatic change in my lifestyle. Every morning, after dropping the Boy off at school, I'm hitting the gym. While lifting weights is the stereotypically 'manly' thing to do, I will be primarily focusing my tired body on a cardio-targeted workout.
Today was the first day of this new challenge. I guess that I should also mention that I abhor exercise. I loathe it. In fact, I actually lost sleep last night because I was laying awake thinking about how much I hated the idea of working out this morning.
That said, I'm done with my first routine (which wasn't much -- I have to start out small) and I feel like absolute junk. I wish I could fast-forward to two weeks from now where things are starting to actually feel good.
I'll pop in once per week (or so) and give you updates on my progress. At least, I hope there will be progress...
Happy Monday morning to you.
Bearing that in mind, I have decided to make a dramatic change in my lifestyle. Every morning, after dropping the Boy off at school, I'm hitting the gym. While lifting weights is the stereotypically 'manly' thing to do, I will be primarily focusing my tired body on a cardio-targeted workout.
Today was the first day of this new challenge. I guess that I should also mention that I abhor exercise. I loathe it. In fact, I actually lost sleep last night because I was laying awake thinking about how much I hated the idea of working out this morning.
That said, I'm done with my first routine (which wasn't much -- I have to start out small) and I feel like absolute junk. I wish I could fast-forward to two weeks from now where things are starting to actually feel good.
I'll pop in once per week (or so) and give you updates on my progress. At least, I hope there will be progress...
Happy Monday morning to you.
28 September 2008
Tina Fey As Sarah Palin, Part Deux
Just in case you missed it on Saturday night...
Fey's impression is dead on. Nothing more to say about it. However my favorite sketch was the one about the quasi-stained, somewhat used wedding dress basement store. Keenan Thompson had me laughing oh-so-heartily. Unfortunately, the video is not on the SNL website or YouTube. Maybe they will post it later.
Fey's impression is dead on. Nothing more to say about it. However my favorite sketch was the one about the quasi-stained, somewhat used wedding dress basement store. Keenan Thompson had me laughing oh-so-heartily. Unfortunately, the video is not on the SNL website or YouTube. Maybe they will post it later.
Sarah Palin: Head of Skate
There's not a whole lot of things I can say about this at the moment. I haven't calmed down from laughing yet. When I do, I may leave a comment or two.
Poll Smoking
Via Pollster here are today's dailies (9/25 - 9/27):
Research 2000 - Obama 50, McCain 43
Diageo / Hotline - Obama 47, McCain 42
Gallup - Obama 50, McCain 42
Rasmussen - Obama 50, McCain 44
Research 2000 - Obama 50, McCain 43
Diageo / Hotline - Obama 47, McCain 42
Gallup - Obama 50, McCain 42
Rasmussen - Obama 50, McCain 44
The Sarah Palin Press Count
Need I remind you? Yes.
30.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
30.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
One whole month.
30.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
30.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
One whole month.
Fortune Cookie
The road to success is always under construction.... and it's covered with potholes too.
Dammit! The restaurant got my order wrong. I wanted pork-fried rice with my chicken, not white rice.
Yeah, I'm a rice-racist.
Surfer, Dude
Matthew McConaughey in the role he was friggin'' born to play:
Hey, I didn't say that it was good, I just said that he was born to play this role. Dude.
Hey, I didn't say that it was good, I just said that he was born to play this role. Dude.
'Huckabee'
How did I miss this? Mike Huckabee has his own show now? Really?
I caught the last five minutes of his debut show (being re-run from it's original time last night). Roundabout 6:30 this morning, I was pouring some cream into my coffee and flipping through the channels on my TV when I saw Huckabee's head talking on Fox News. Normally, I wouldn't rest my remote on Fox News, but since it was Huckabee, I decided to see what he was saying. As it turns out, he's got a show. A talk show:
Now, I think that it's great that the Huckster has found a new outlet for his talents. However, I think that Fox is greatly underestimating his skills. I mean, a talkshow? Really? Now Huckabee is no better than Oprah or Ellen. If it were me, I would use Mike Huckabee to replace some blowhard like Sean Hannity. Give him a show to highlight his political chops -- not to interview Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Ugh. [side note: the Rev. Wright thing really pissed me off. I certainly hope that Huckabee doesn't become another right-wing hack like some of the other hosts on Fox. I've always looked at him as being above all that.]
Then again, Hannity attracts ratings -- a fact that I wil never understand...
I caught the last five minutes of his debut show (being re-run from it's original time last night). Roundabout 6:30 this morning, I was pouring some cream into my coffee and flipping through the channels on my TV when I saw Huckabee's head talking on Fox News. Normally, I wouldn't rest my remote on Fox News, but since it was Huckabee, I decided to see what he was saying. As it turns out, he's got a show. A talk show:
Now, I think that it's great that the Huckster has found a new outlet for his talents. However, I think that Fox is greatly underestimating his skills. I mean, a talkshow? Really? Now Huckabee is no better than Oprah or Ellen. If it were me, I would use Mike Huckabee to replace some blowhard like Sean Hannity. Give him a show to highlight his political chops -- not to interview Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Ugh. [side note: the Rev. Wright thing really pissed me off. I certainly hope that Huckabee doesn't become another right-wing hack like some of the other hosts on Fox. I've always looked at him as being above all that.]
Then again, Hannity attracts ratings -- a fact that I wil never understand...
27 September 2008
Master-Debaters: Foreign Policy
And awaaaaaay we go!
Okay, first I'll start by telling you that this debate was basically a draw -- which means that Barack Obama won. Confused? I'll get to all of that later...
I'm going to try to break it down by candidate. Check out Fury's assessment here
John McCain
Poor Johnny. Senator McCain was coming off of a... how do I put this... ghastly week. His poll numbers are sliding, his running-mate gave an oft-criticized interview, David Letterman has been ripping into him for skipping an appearance, he flip-flopped on whether or not he was attending the debate at Ole Miss, etc... I must say that, despite my bias towards Senator Obama, I really did feel bad for McCain going into this debate.
All of the pre-debate baggage aside, I thought that Senator McCain was just okay. He didn't make any major gaffes (save for getting stuck on the pronunciation of the name of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and also getting the president of Pakistan's name wrong) but he also wasn't stellar. The main thing that bothered me about McCain's performance was his attitude. He seemed stand-offish. I think that I could count on two fingers the number of times that McCain actually looked at Senator Obama. Seriously, check out the picture above... he wouldn't even look at Obama when they were shaking hands. I think that the area where McCain's advisers will hound him is that of his demeanor. Throughout the entire debate, McCain generally seemed pissed off. Angry. Like at any moment he was going to sneer at Obama and shout, "Get off of my lawn you punk kid!"
That said, it's clear that McCain knows his shit. He's been around international politics for a long time (a fact that he alluded to several times). His knowledge of foreign affairs is indeed impressive, and I doubt that there is anyone who would suggest that he doesn't have a strong grasp of world affairs.
However, I think that it's notable (and surely the Obama camp will note, if they haven't already) that McCain not ONCE mentioned the 'middle-class'. Here's the transcript of the whole debate. For a guy whose been sounding more and more populist in his rhetoric, that fact sticks out like a sore thumb.
McCain's continual references to "Senator Obama doesn't get it" or "I'm afraid that Senator Obama just doesn't understand..." -- or even a mention of Obama's naivete -- got old (no pun intended) pretty quick. McCain seemed to beat the Inexperience Drum with every opportunity that he had. The problem is that Senator Obama proved that he does understand what is going on in the world. Simply by showing up, going toe-to-toe and holding his own, Obama made it clear that -- whether you agree with his positions on foreign policy issues -- he knows what he's talking about.
My prediction for the next presidential debate: McCain will be much more friendly, easygoing and humorous. If he doesn't fix that image it could really hurt him with how people see his candidacy.
Barack Obama
Obama came into this debate with a leg-up on his competition. The whole financial 'bailout' story -- combined with the fact that John McCain wanted to play a bizarre form of Chicken -- really worked to Obama's political advantage, particularly in the polls.
As I said earlier, I thought that Obama held his own against McCain very well. Given the idea that foreign policy is McCain's forte, Obama did very well at showing that he was knowledgable about foreign policy issues. Obama proved that could debate someone whose career has essentially been shaped around an expertise in foreign affairs.
Obama's good line was his strong reference to McCain's positions on the Iraq war ("You said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were. You were wrong. You said that we were going to be greeted as liberators. You were wrong. You said that there was no history of violence between Shia and Sunni. And you were wrong.").
Overall, I think he could definitely have been more forceful. While Obama did a great job at showing a mastery of the issues, I felt that he fell short when McCain would get 'tough'. Now, some in the commentariat are saying that this may have played in Obama's favor with voters. By not getting too riled up, Obama showed a coolness under pressure. For the next debate, I think that we may see a more aggressive Obama, taking McCain to task for voting with Bush so many times.
In the end, I think that the debate was essentially a tie. Neither McCain or Obama had any 'game-changing' moments. However, since foreign policy is John McCain's bread-and-butter -- and Obama held his own so well on that topic -- Barack Obama will get the bump in the polls coming out of this debate. Hell, look at what CBS found after the debate.
I don't think that very many undecided voters will have had their minds changed by the debate. Ttherein lies the challenge that both candidates face for the next presidential debate: making up the minds of those who are on the proverbial fence.
Now... bring on the veeps!
------
Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times
The Sarah Palin Press Count
Not that it will happen on a weekend... but...
29.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
29.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
Maybe we'll see her on Monday? Nah, that's just wishful thinking on my part. Probably won't see her before the veep debate on Thursday... if at all.
29.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
29.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
Maybe we'll see her on Monday? Nah, that's just wishful thinking on my part. Probably won't see her before the veep debate on Thursday... if at all.
Even Fox Was Favorable
It seems like the more reactions that I read, the more that people are saying that Obama came out on top.
Paul Newman, 1925-2008
By all accounts, a great all-around guy. An actor who essentially personified 'cool'.
I know that my son will miss the voice of Doc Hudson on Cars...
I know that my son will miss the voice of Doc Hudson on Cars...
The Tweakend
Hey all.
My thoughts on the debate are forthcoming. However, I had a project that I needed to address first. After many complaints of "who is the author of each post?", I worked at tweaking the HTML/CSS code in the blog. I think that I've come up with a reasonable solution.
As you can see, there is an icon at the top-left of each post. This will hopefully assist the reader in determining the author of the post. Each author has a different icon...
The Pajama Pundit =
B-Diddy =
Fury Pundit (a.k.a. The Omnipotent Blogger) =
Hopefully, this will help with all of the confusion. Thanks to all those who wrote in with suggestions, and thanks to Amanda for her tips and tricks.
Oh, and I should note that B-Diddy didn't pick his icon. I just threw a GOP logo in there for him. I'm guessing that it will be changing as soon as he tells me what he'd like to use. I was tempted to put a small photo of P-Diddy in there... but realized that it would have been a gross misrepresentation. Also, I didn't want to offend ________. (insert either P-Diddy or B-Diddy -- whichever you like)
My thoughts on the debate are forthcoming. However, I had a project that I needed to address first. After many complaints of "who is the author of each post?", I worked at tweaking the HTML/CSS code in the blog. I think that I've come up with a reasonable solution.
As you can see, there is an icon at the top-left of each post. This will hopefully assist the reader in determining the author of the post. Each author has a different icon...
The Pajama Pundit =
B-Diddy =
Fury Pundit (a.k.a. The Omnipotent Blogger) =
Hopefully, this will help with all of the confusion. Thanks to all those who wrote in with suggestions, and thanks to Amanda for her tips and tricks.
Oh, and I should note that B-Diddy didn't pick his icon. I just threw a GOP logo in there for him. I'm guessing that it will be changing as soon as he tells me what he'd like to use. I was tempted to put a small photo of P-Diddy in there... but realized that it would have been a gross misrepresentation. Also, I didn't want to offend ________. (insert either P-Diddy or B-Diddy -- whichever you like)
Who Made The Grade?
Time Magazine came out with a grading scale after the debate and graded each candidate in the areas of substance, style, offense, defense and overall.
Before I get into that, my personal takes on the debate, and I'll keep them short. I'll start with John McCain because I rarely do since I'm so against him becoming President.
I really enjoyed John McCain's little joke about not having the Presidential seal yet. An obvious poke at Barack Obama's campaign seal. John McCain went for the little jokes and personally I liked him for that. I enjoy the serious candidate who can make a few people smile.
Overall, I think McCain did "alright". I do think that he could have done much better than he did. He was obviously not as prepared as Obama and it showed. This was his opportunity to shine, his area of expertise, losing is not an option, and he failed.
Now for Obama, I really enjoyed him linking McCain to President Bush. I'm very disappointed in the Bush Administration and although the line may be overused I think it's important to reinforce that point, especially in the first televised debate between the two. McCain should have been in his element here but Obama did a great job at keeping him on the defense. McCain seemed testy throughout the debate and it didn't help him.
I especially loved Obama's spin on the mother who gave McCain a wristband in memory of her son and asked him to not let her son die in vain with a mother and a wristband story of his own. Also a great spin on his liberal voting stance of being so against the Bush Administration. Someone who is trying to distance himself from the Bush Administration as a campaign technique did very well.
Overall I think Obama is the clear winner here and I look forward to a VP debate and the next Presidential debate.
Now to the Time article. A quick synopsis.
Substance:
McCain: B-
Obama: B+
Style:
McCain: C-
Obama: A
Offense:
McCain: C+
Obama: B
Defense:
McCain: B-
Obama: A-
Overall:
McCain: B-
Obama: A-
McCain needed a huge boost with a flawless debate. Especially after him being slammed left and right with his recent campaign suspension to concentrate on the economy. This writer feels that it would take a monumental mess up by Barack Obama to lose this election. The polls are tilting more left than right and it's only getting worse.
I'm really looking forward to Bdiddy's take on the debate.
Before I get into that, my personal takes on the debate, and I'll keep them short. I'll start with John McCain because I rarely do since I'm so against him becoming President.
I really enjoyed John McCain's little joke about not having the Presidential seal yet. An obvious poke at Barack Obama's campaign seal. John McCain went for the little jokes and personally I liked him for that. I enjoy the serious candidate who can make a few people smile.
Overall, I think McCain did "alright". I do think that he could have done much better than he did. He was obviously not as prepared as Obama and it showed. This was his opportunity to shine, his area of expertise, losing is not an option, and he failed.
Now for Obama, I really enjoyed him linking McCain to President Bush. I'm very disappointed in the Bush Administration and although the line may be overused I think it's important to reinforce that point, especially in the first televised debate between the two. McCain should have been in his element here but Obama did a great job at keeping him on the defense. McCain seemed testy throughout the debate and it didn't help him.
I especially loved Obama's spin on the mother who gave McCain a wristband in memory of her son and asked him to not let her son die in vain with a mother and a wristband story of his own. Also a great spin on his liberal voting stance of being so against the Bush Administration. Someone who is trying to distance himself from the Bush Administration as a campaign technique did very well.
Overall I think Obama is the clear winner here and I look forward to a VP debate and the next Presidential debate.
Now to the Time article. A quick synopsis.
Substance:
McCain: B-
Obama: B+
Style:
McCain: C-
Obama: A
Offense:
McCain: C+
Obama: B
Defense:
McCain: B-
Obama: A-
Overall:
McCain: B-
Obama: A-
McCain needed a huge boost with a flawless debate. Especially after him being slammed left and right with his recent campaign suspension to concentrate on the economy. This writer feels that it would take a monumental mess up by Barack Obama to lose this election. The polls are tilting more left than right and it's only getting worse.
I'm really looking forward to Bdiddy's take on the debate.
26 September 2008
Sleep On It
I'm tired -- and to be honest kind of cranky -- so I'm going to bed. I have a TON of thoughts swirling around in my noggin about what I just watched. I'll have to jot a few notes to myself so that I don't forget.
More tomorrow -- or perhaps Monday -- but likely tomorrow.
More tomorrow -- or perhaps Monday -- but likely tomorrow.
The Sarah Palin Press Count
Lest you forget...
28.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
28.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
I continue to wonder: When will she face the gathered press to answer questions?
28.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
28.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
I continue to wonder: When will she face the gathered press to answer questions?
Zapped!
For the past 90 minutes, my house has been without power. I'm not sure if it was a freak lightning strike or some malfunction at the Electric Company (heeeeey you guuuuuys!).
I Just finished doing some diagnostic testing and apparently there's no damage to my cpu or network connection. Fortunately, it's nothing like what happened last time. Yuck.
I Just finished doing some diagnostic testing and apparently there's no damage to my cpu or network connection. Fortunately, it's nothing like what happened last time. Yuck.
John McCain: 'Governed By Tactics'
"It just proves his campaign is governed by tactics and not ideology. In the end, he blinked and Obama did not. The 'steady hand in a storm' argument looks now to more favor Obama, not McCain." -Craig Shirley, Republican consultant and former McCain campaign adviser.
Ouch.
Ouch.
Bizarro World
Does anyone else think that it's a bit strange that McCain confirmed his attendance at tonight's debate?
There was no deal passed or final agreement to do so in regard to the 'bailout' proceedings. Wasn't that the pre-requisite that needed to happen for McCain to attend tonight's debate? Didn't he say, 'no debate unless there's a bailout agreement by Friday'?
Yeah. He did.
I just find that a little bit strange.
There was no deal passed or final agreement to do so in regard to the 'bailout' proceedings. Wasn't that the pre-requisite that needed to happen for McCain to attend tonight's debate? Didn't he say, 'no debate unless there's a bailout agreement by Friday'?
Yeah. He did.
I just find that a little bit strange.
Palin's Painful Truth
More intelligent assessment from a conservative columnist:
It was fun while it lasted.
Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.
No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.
Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there. Here’s but one example of many from her interview with Hannity: “Well, there is a danger in allowing some obsessive partisanship to get into the issue that we’re talking about today. And that’s something that John McCain, too, his track record, proving that he can work both sides of the aisle, he can surpass the partisanship that must be surpassed to deal with an issue like this.”Oh, there's more. You can read the rest here. To say that it's painfully true is an understatement.
When Couric pointed to polls showing that the financial crisis had boosted Obama’s numbers, Palin blustered wordily: “I’m not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who’s more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who’s actually done it?”
If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.
If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.
The Republican Do-Over
A conservative exodus from the S.S. Palin. Did someone jump up and yell "Abandon ship!" while I wasn't paying attention?
I am a Republican, I am ticked off and I want to Do Over. I have gotten spoiled over the last 28 years of my party putting together a strong national ticket of competent leaders who are able to win elections.
...
Our nominee has made one tactical blunder after another. The latest being the flip-flop on the debate. This has got to be the worst week ever for Republican presidential politics. In one day, we had a terrible V.P. interview on national television, followed closely by ticking off the most popular late night host on television, who happens to work for the same company in the same building. Did McCain think that Letterman was not going to find out that he was in the same building…taping an interview for the same network? We don’t want our leaders to lie to us but sometimes they do. However, this is a lie of a different sort – either it is sheer arrogance (thinking that people are idiots) or someone who does not have a sense of reality. Either way sets a dangerous precedent for someone who wants to be President of the United States.
Poll Smoking
The gap continues to widen.
Gallup: Obama 48%, McCain 45%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Rasmussen: Obama 50%, McCain 45%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Hotline/Diageo: Obama 49%, McCain 42%, with a ±3.2% margin of error.
Research 2000: Obama 48%, McCain 43%, with a ±3% margin of error.
Gallup: Obama 48%, McCain 45%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Rasmussen: Obama 50%, McCain 45%, with a ±2% margin of error.
Hotline/Diageo: Obama 49%, McCain 42%, with a ±3.2% margin of error.
Research 2000: Obama 48%, McCain 43%, with a ±3% margin of error.
Just Reprehensible
Apparently, it is up to Chuck Schumer to tell people when to come to work or not!? I was unaware. I thought as a Senator, and when you're invited by the President, you are supposed to attend meeting and hearings when a crisis like our current financial one is happening.Schumer says that President Bush "respectfully tell Sen. McCain to get out of town. He is not helping, he is harming. Before Sen. McCain made his announcement, we were making progress.” This is partisan politics at its worst. Have you ever before seen a fellow Senator tell another Senator to get out of town and stop offering his input on a bill?
Visitors
I want nothing more than to be blogging my head off today -- but alas I have visitors. The Pajama Parents came to visit for the debate tonight.
I am going to try to get some thoughts up this afternoon when my kids take a nap. I have some pre-debate thoughts that need to be aired prior to the Main Event.
Also, I'd like to bring everyone's attention to a conversation that has been taking place here. I'm honored that so many people are involved, and choose to debate their views on my blog. This is why I do this thing.
Get your chips and warm up the dip -- it's debatin' time!
I am going to try to get some thoughts up this afternoon when my kids take a nap. I have some pre-debate thoughts that need to be aired prior to the Main Event.
Also, I'd like to bring everyone's attention to a conversation that has been taking place here. I'm honored that so many people are involved, and choose to debate their views on my blog. This is why I do this thing.
Get your chips and warm up the dip -- it's debatin' time!
The Smear Campaign Continues...
Just despicable!
“If Sarah Palin isn’t enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention,” Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida said at a panel about the shared agenda of Jewish and African-American Democrats Wednesday. Hastings, who is African-American, was explaining what he intended to tell his Jewish constituents about the presidential race. “Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through,” Hastings added as the room erupted in laughter and applause.
“If Sarah Palin isn’t enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention,” Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida said at a panel about the shared agenda of Jewish and African-American Democrats Wednesday. Hastings, who is African-American, was explaining what he intended to tell his Jewish constituents about the presidential race. “Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through,” Hastings added as the room erupted in laughter and applause.
Poll shows bad sign for McCain
A poll was conducted which shows an increase from registered voters who hold the economy as their number one concern. Six out of ten voters now feel this way, which is up from 35% back in January.
Polls also show that voters feel that Barack Obama is better suited to handle the economy.
Also, the poll shows that Iraq is down from 25% to 10% as the number one concern for American voters. This area is a strong point for John McCain.
After the Palin Hype has died down, we've seen a steady increase for Barack Obama in recent polls and this writer feels that you'll only see those numbers continuing to increase.
At this point, so close to election day, it will take a monumental screw up from Barack Obama to lose this election. Expect the ads to get meaner and dirtier as Republicans act like the puffed up cat who was backed into the corner, going into sharp-clawed defense mode.
source: CNN
Polls also show that voters feel that Barack Obama is better suited to handle the economy.
Also, the poll shows that Iraq is down from 25% to 10% as the number one concern for American voters. This area is a strong point for John McCain.
The poll was conducted September 19-21, entirely after the crisis on Wall Street unfolded. It surveyed 909 registered voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
After the Palin Hype has died down, we've seen a steady increase for Barack Obama in recent polls and this writer feels that you'll only see those numbers continuing to increase.
At this point, so close to election day, it will take a monumental screw up from Barack Obama to lose this election. Expect the ads to get meaner and dirtier as Republicans act like the puffed up cat who was backed into the corner, going into sharp-clawed defense mode.
source: CNN
25 September 2008
PETA's Milk Turns Sour
From the What The F**k File:
Read more idiocy here.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [PETA] 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.Maybe Ben & Jerry should start with Pamela Anderson...
Read more idiocy here.
Still 'Suspended'
Everything is still 'up in the air' as far as the McCain camp is concerned. Not so with just about everyone else involved:
At a news conference, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, said he expected the presidential debate to go ahead, though he said he had no inside information. "This is going to be a great debate tomorrow night. We're excited about it," Barbour said.
Television networks, too, were moving forward. "We're proceeding as if it's on and will until someone tells us that it's not," ABC spokeswoman Cathie Levine said.
McCain's Campaign 'Suspension', Ctd.
And the 'suspension' rolls on...
Jonathan Martin
Ben Smith
I'm sorry folks, but McCain said he was suspending his friggin' campaign. I'll cut him some slack on the campaign ads that have been showing up nearly 24 hours later (because of the technical hoo-ha that is involved in pulling advertising) but this is simply lame.
McCain has surrogates on television stumping for him. He addressed the Clinton Global Initiative (really, he did), and he did an interview with Katie Couric... just to name a few. Is there anything 'suspending' about all of this? Really?
------
Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The Sarah Palin Press Count
27.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
27.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
I will give her half-credit for taking a 'handful of questions' earlier today. But, I ask again: When will she hold an actual press conference and answer questions?
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
27.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
I will give her half-credit for taking a 'handful of questions' earlier today. But, I ask again: When will she hold an actual press conference and answer questions?
Meet Sarah Palin's Jeremiah Wright
Wow.
[Pastor Thomas] Muthee’s mounting stardom took him to Wasilla Assembly of God in May, 2005, where he prayed over Palin and called upon Jesus to propel her into the governor’s mansion — and beyond. Muthee also implored Jesus to protect Palin from “the spirit of witchcraft.” The video archive of that startling sermon was scrubbed from Wasilla Assembly of God’s website, but now it has reappeared.Other sources: AP. The Times. More information continues to come out, This is only one of the reasons that Palin needs to face a press pool. There are lots of questions that need to be answered.
...
On the first night of services, Muthee implored his audience to wage “spiritual warfare” against “the enemy.” As I filmed, a nervous church staffer approached from behind and told me to put my camera away. I acceded to his demand, but as Muthee urged the church to crush “the python spirit” of the unbeliever enemies by stomping on their necks, I pulled out a smaller camera and filmed from a more discreet position. Now, church members were in deep prayer, speaking in tongues and raising their hands. Muthee exclaimed, “We come against the spirit of witchcraft! We come against the python spirits!” Then, a local pastor took the mic from Muthee and added, “We stomp on the heads of the enemy!”
The Great Schlep
I loved her when she was f**kin' Matt Damon. This is good too. Not quite as graphic though...
Worst. Campaign. Move. Ever.
That's what James Fallows thinks:
The senator with (understandably) one of the lowest actual-attendance rates at the Capitol in the last two years, and who has played little role in crafting legislation recently, suddenly needs to be nowhere but Washington -- exactly now?Whatever your thoughts on the whole ordeal, you have to admit that it makes McCain look pretty foolish.
...
The candidate whose strongest claim to office is his experience, mastery, and understanding of foreign policy, cannot handle a debate on that topic, against a rookie, when he has other things on his mind?
...
The candidate whose first response to the financial crisis was to propose firing the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and whose second response was to run ads linking his opponent (hazily) to former Fannie Mae officials (before news came out that his own campaign manager was still on the Freddie Mac payroll), now wants us to believe that statesmanship and love of country govern his every move on this issue?
...
The most famously stoic candidate of recent times is willing to have it look as if he's running away from a confrontation while he's behind.
Open Thread: The 'Suspension'
What are everyone's thoughts on the McCain campaign's 'suspension'?
I saw a McCain ad last night while watching TV. Granted, it would take some time for affiliate stations to pull the ads already 'in the pipeline', but Andrew Sullivan is reporting other instances of ads on the air as late as this morning.
Comment freely.
I saw a McCain ad last night while watching TV. Granted, it would take some time for affiliate stations to pull the ads already 'in the pipeline', but Andrew Sullivan is reporting other instances of ads on the air as late as this morning.
Comment freely.
24 September 2008
McCain's Campaign 'Suspension'
Despite the rhetoric to the contrary, I just saw a John McCain-approved message on my television.
The Pajama Wife and I were watching the season premiere of Criminal Minds on CBS. Roundabout 9:50 post-meridiem we saw a McCain ad bashing Barack Obama's stance on the economy.
By my estimation, the campaign is far from 'suspended'.
Oh well, I guess the affiliate stations didn't get that memo...
The Pajama Wife and I were watching the season premiere of Criminal Minds on CBS. Roundabout 9:50 post-meridiem we saw a McCain ad bashing Barack Obama's stance on the economy.
By my estimation, the campaign is far from 'suspended'.
Oh well, I guess the affiliate stations didn't get that memo...
Letterman Hits McCain Hard
Diddy will abso-smurfly LOVE this. Via Drudge:
David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.Say it with me now... OUCH.
Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"
Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."
"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sarah Palin. Where is she?"
"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"
Postpone The Veep Debate
Geez.
If McCain were elected president (Diddy just got wood), and the economy went into the crapper, he would not suspend all foreign policy activity. He would not suspend all military activity. Etcetera. When you have a tough day you suck it up and get to work. Suspending your campaign does not solve the economic woes that our nation is facing right now.
McCain has actually proposed that the debate be postponed until October 2nd when, you guessed, Sarah Palin was supposed to debate Joe Biden. McCain wants the VP debate to be rescheduled at a date “yet determined.” Hmmm. McCain wouldn’t be doing this to get Palin out of EVER debating, would he?A legitimate question. I'm sorry, no matter how you spin this, it looks bad for McCain. There is absolutely no reason to suspend your campaign.
If McCain were elected president (Diddy just got wood), and the economy went into the crapper, he would not suspend all foreign policy activity. He would not suspend all military activity. Etcetera. When you have a tough day you suck it up and get to work. Suspending your campaign does not solve the economic woes that our nation is facing right now.
Lies?
Honestly -- all politics aside -- something really doesn't smell right to me. In sum:
Well, from the McCain campaign's public record:What are the odds that we will see some really strange announcement from the McCain campaign in the next 24 to 48 hours? I'm telling you, something is amiss...Senator McCain was meeting with economic advisers and talking to leaders in Congress throughout the day prior to calling Senator Obama.And this from the Politico:The McCain campaign's new urgency about the financial crisis didn't entirely clear his schedule this morning. My colleague Amie Parnes reports that he made it to his scheduled morning meeting with Lady Lynn de Rothschild, a Clinton backer who recently came out in support of him.If the Politico is correct, then the McCain campaign just put out a bald-faced lie.
Sarah Palin: Speed Dater
So sayeth The Dowd:
Sarah speed-dated diplomacy on Tuesday. She had her very first national security briefing from the director of national intelligence and then went to a meeting with the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai. He thanked her for the help of the Alaskan National Guard in Afghanistan and told her about his young son, Mirwais, which means “the Light of the House.” Then she met with President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia.I'd love to see a reporter ask her what her thoughts are on meeting with so many influential figures... oh, that's right.
Finally, Sarah huddled with Henry in his Park Avenue office, next to pictures of Ford and Reagan. The two made an odd couple: the last impure Rockefeller Republican and the first pure Rovian Republican, grown totally in the petri dish of cultural crusaderism.
MORE BREAKING: Obama: 'It's On!'
...to the break of dawn:
From a top Obama source -- He will appear soon to say debate should go on .. perhaps the subject matter can be augmented to include discussion of the economy, but a president should be able to multi-task.
This source says the only thing that has changed is McCain's standing in the polls.
It's clear from speaking to Obama advisers they consider this a ploy by McCain to try to assert that he's putting country first. One adviser said, the time to do that was long before a few days before a debate.
James Carville Vs. Mary Matalin
At my alma mater.
And I just got me some tickets! Awesome.
I'll get to make fun of both of them -- if I can find a babysitter.
And I just got me some tickets! Awesome.
I'll get to make fun of both of them -- if I can find a babysitter.
Fun With Feedburner
As I was checking my Feedburner stats, I got a chuckle from the feed screen:
Who else knows what this means?
Who else knows what this means?
DEBATE!
Debate anyway!
Don't you back down... EITHER of you. Debate anyway. Debate TODAY! This is Rome and you are my gladiators. I have already bought the Velveeta and Rotel tomatoes to make some kick-ass queso dip. The Pajama Parents are going to come into town to watch the debate with me and the Pajama Wife.
DAMMIT!
Also on this topic, Ben Smith raises a good question:
Don't you back down... EITHER of you. Debate anyway. Debate TODAY! This is Rome and you are my gladiators. I have already bought the Velveeta and Rotel tomatoes to make some kick-ass queso dip. The Pajama Parents are going to come into town to watch the debate with me and the Pajama Wife.
DAMMIT!
Also on this topic, Ben Smith raises a good question:
Does [Obama] go along with McCain, for fear of being trapped inside McCain's argument that the Republican puts country first while the Democrat puts himself first?A tough one indeed.
Or does he denounce this as a political stunt, and ignore it?
BREAKING: McCain Suspends Campaign
What... WHAT?!
Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.How will this play out? What's about the debate?
I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.
We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.
The Sarah Palin Press Count
26.
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
26.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
When will she stand before a gathered press pool and answer questions?
The number of days it has been since Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
26.
The number of days that Sarah Palin has gone without a press conference.
When will she stand before a gathered press pool and answer questions?
More Palin Press Woes
Via Jonathan Martin at the Politico:
From the pool report account of what happened after McCain and Palin's meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvilli and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko:... and the McCain campaign continues to stoke the fire.McCain then looked around the room and gestured as if to welcome questions. The AP reporter shouted a question at Gov. Palin (“Governor, what have you learned from your meetings?”) but McCain aide Brooke Buchanan intervened and shepherded everybody out of the room.
Palin looked surprised, leaned over to McCain and asked him a question, to which your pooler thinks he shook his head as if to say “No.”
GhostWriter
No, not a chopper-riding, chain-whip wielding anti-hero from Marvel Comics...
Rather, a jaw-dropping story of deception from inside the McCain campaign (and who knows how many other politicians?).
Head-nod: Nevin
Rather, a jaw-dropping story of deception from inside the McCain campaign (and who knows how many other politicians?).
The assignment is simple: We are going to write letters to the editor and we are allowed to make up whatever we want -- as long as it adds to the campaign. After today we are supposed to use our free moments at home to create a flow of fictional fan mail for McCain. "Your letters," says Phil Tuchman, "will be sent to our campaign offices in battle states. Ohio. Pennsylvania. Virginia. New Hampshire. There we'll place them in local newspapers."Read the whole story here. It's mind-boggling.
Place them? I may be wrong, but I thought that in the USA only a newspaper's editors decided that.
Head-nod: Nevin
Crossing the line of partisan politics?
For those who "believe in" Barack Obama's hope to work across party lines to "change" Washington...here is some factual proof. Where is McCain on this topic?!
Last year, for example, the average Senator voted with his own party 84 percent of the time; Obama voted with his party 96 percent of the time. In the prior two years, his number was 95 percent, making him the fourth most partisan member of the Senate. And not just partisan, but also highly ideological. In 2007, according to the National Journal, Obama’s voting record made him “the most liberal Senator.” Throughout his Senate career, according to Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), the dean of liberal advocacy groups, Obama voted “right” 90 percent of the time. Actually this is misleading, since ADA counts an absence as if it were a vote on the “wrong” side. If we discount his absences, Obama voted to ADA’s approval more than 98 percent of the time.https://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/special-preview-br--obama-s-leftism-12961?page=all
The Palin Bubble
Campbell Brown calls out the McCain campaign as sexist.
But Polimom raises a good point as well:
But Polimom raises a good point as well:
So... is it sexism when the perceived victim deliberately colludes with the villains?
The Bridge to Nowhere
I think it's only fair to point out that recent attacks by Senator Biden against his counterpart, Sarah Palin, have been somewhat...hypocritical.
Senator Biden talks about wasteful spending by Republicans, but the State of Delaware has requested 116 earmarks through Biden, which will cost the taxpayers roughly $342 million. Whether or not he thinks he can justify the whole $342 million is moot in my opinion. Palin supported a wasteful project, Biden supported wasteful spending. It's rare to find a politician that's frugal with taxpayer money, on both sides of the party divide line and to use that as your main line of attack is, as I said, hypocritical.
Source: CNN
Both Biden and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama voted to kill a Senate amendment that would have diverted federal funding for the bridge to repair a Louisiana span badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina, Senate records show.
Senator Biden talks about wasteful spending by Republicans, but the State of Delaware has requested 116 earmarks through Biden, which will cost the taxpayers roughly $342 million. Whether or not he thinks he can justify the whole $342 million is moot in my opinion. Palin supported a wasteful project, Biden supported wasteful spending. It's rare to find a politician that's frugal with taxpayer money, on both sides of the party divide line and to use that as your main line of attack is, as I said, hypocritical.
Source: CNN
McCain Vs. Michigan
I'm not buying it.
I've criticized Obama ads before, and today is no different.
This is populist garbage, in my humble opinion. I currently own an American made car -- a Chrysler -- but in the past have owned a Dodge, Scion (Toyota), Honda, Volkswagen and another Dodge. The reason that I owned each of these vehicles was not as much a result of each one's country of manufacture, i owned each one because that is the friggin' car I wanted and I could afford said car at the time.
Now, I'm not an assembly line worker in Detroit -- so I suppose that I see things a little bit differently than someone who is. And while I think that people should buy American when they are able, the market will decide what companies are successful. If GM could (would?) make an electric car (or hybrid) that is cheaper than anything coming out of Japan -- or the U.S. -- I would buy that shit up. But they aren't. Hell, they are barely even trying.
It is not the government's job to bail out failing businesses (like we are seeing RIGHT NOW). Nor is it the American people's job to buy a car (or anything else) SIMPLY because it is American made. I don't know about the rest of the country, but my goal in buying a car is getting an automobile that will transport me from point A to point B while saving as much money as possible (both in the purchase of said vehicle and in filling it up with fuel). I'm not going to go out to a Chrysler, GM or Ford dealer and buy a piece-of-shit car simply because it is made in the good ole U.S. of A. I will buy it because it fulfills my two key points in a vehicle: transportation and economics.
I think the biggest point made in Obama's ad should NOT be 'McCain doesn't buy American' but rather 'McCain owns THIRTEEN vehicles'. That's right up there with the seven (or more?) homes that he owns.
Oh, and because Diddy will want to know, by comparison the Obamas own ONE vehicle.
I've criticized Obama ads before, and today is no different.
This is populist garbage, in my humble opinion. I currently own an American made car -- a Chrysler -- but in the past have owned a Dodge, Scion (Toyota), Honda, Volkswagen and another Dodge. The reason that I owned each of these vehicles was not as much a result of each one's country of manufacture, i owned each one because that is the friggin' car I wanted and I could afford said car at the time.
Now, I'm not an assembly line worker in Detroit -- so I suppose that I see things a little bit differently than someone who is. And while I think that people should buy American when they are able, the market will decide what companies are successful. If GM could (would?) make an electric car (or hybrid) that is cheaper than anything coming out of Japan -- or the U.S. -- I would buy that shit up. But they aren't. Hell, they are barely even trying.
It is not the government's job to bail out failing businesses (like we are seeing RIGHT NOW). Nor is it the American people's job to buy a car (or anything else) SIMPLY because it is American made. I don't know about the rest of the country, but my goal in buying a car is getting an automobile that will transport me from point A to point B while saving as much money as possible (both in the purchase of said vehicle and in filling it up with fuel). I'm not going to go out to a Chrysler, GM or Ford dealer and buy a piece-of-shit car simply because it is made in the good ole U.S. of A. I will buy it because it fulfills my two key points in a vehicle: transportation and economics.
I think the biggest point made in Obama's ad should NOT be 'McCain doesn't buy American' but rather 'McCain owns THIRTEEN vehicles'. That's right up there with the seven (or more?) homes that he owns.
Oh, and because Diddy will want to know, by comparison the Obamas own ONE vehicle.
Role Models
'Red band' trailer. You have to submit your age for verification -- and then turn the f**kin' volume down if you are at work.
Other than that, enjoy the funny!
Other than that, enjoy the funny!
The Palin Bump
Yeah... it's gone.
Admittedly, it's an outlier poll as none of the other major polls have the distance between Obama and McCain as wide. However, I think that we're seeing an overall trend with the polls in the last seven to 10 days. Governor Palin may have energized the base of the GOP, but she has done more damage to the independents and swing voters -- whom McCain so badly needs in his column.
More voters trust Obama to deal with the economy, and he currently has a big edge as the candidate who is more in tune with the economic problems Americans now face. He also has a double-digit advantage on handling the current problems on Wall Street, and as a result, there has been a rise in his overall support. The poll found that, among likely voters, Obama now leads McCain by 52 percent to 43 percent. Two weeks ago, in the days immediately following the Republican National Convention, the race was essentially even, with McCain at 49 percent and Obama at 47 percent.Nine points. Wow.
Admittedly, it's an outlier poll as none of the other major polls have the distance between Obama and McCain as wide. However, I think that we're seeing an overall trend with the polls in the last seven to 10 days. Governor Palin may have energized the base of the GOP, but she has done more damage to the independents and swing voters -- whom McCain so badly needs in his column.
