The Right America, Volume 4

This is my fourth column in 'The Right America' series. So... what shall I talk about? Ted Kennedy? Nah. Everyone has been dwelling on that this week. Sarah Palin? Nah. Did that last week. MSNBC's low ratings? Nah. Too obvious and not worth my time. Oh I KNOW! I should give advice to the Obama administration on how to stage a comeback and not become a one-term President (though I must say the parallels to Jimmy Carter are quite astounding).

Ok President O, listen to me. First thing, drop this public health care plan proposal you have going. You can see by the reactions of the American people and your approval ratings over this summer that WE DO NOT WANT IT! Your liberal cronies up on Capitol Hill might want it -- but WE, THE PEOPLE, do not. There is not one poll out there that says a majority of the American people want a government takeover of our healthcare plan. And while your plan might just be to "compete" with private plans, we all know that it is the first step in forcing private insurance plans out of business so the government will be left to save us all.

Secondly President O, you campaigned on fundamentally changing Washington yet there is nothing new about it except the Democrats abuse of power. Pushing through bills that Senators don't even have time to read and the American people don't even have time to debate about it the farthest thing from being a transparent government of change. You said "Change has come to America", but I don't see that change yet. I see you claiming the Republicans are the party of no ideas when Speaker Pelosi won't even bring them to the table. [PS - Being transparent does not mean coming on TV every other week in a "press conference", it means telling the American people the truth.]

Lastly President O, give us some accomplishment. You have yet to close Gitmo Bay because you have no plan for where the prisoners should go. You will be increasing the forces in the middle east (which I am in agreement with) instead of decreasing them as you campaigned on. You passed a "stimulus plan" which is bringing unemployment to about 10% instead of the 8% you promised if the American people burdened themselves with $787 billion of debt. Your liberal ideology is coming to the forefront even though the American bought into your "bipartisan middle of the road change change change" approach to government (had the majority actually checked your voting record maybe they would've seen it). Your AG wants to make members of the CIA criminals. Your Press Secretary is a bumbling idiot.

So, do these three things and you'll get back over 50%. Keep on this left-wing path of non-capitalistic approache to fixing the economy and socially liberal ideology, you'll stay below 50% and we'll have a 1994 Republican takeover replay in the 2010 elections. Thanks to you Republicans like myself are excited for Virginia and New Jersey Governors this year and with Arlen Specter's approval ratings in the 30's, a Republican Senate Victory by Pat Toomey in the great state of PA in 2010.

Wait, so if Obama stays on his self destructive path it should ensure Republican victories in 2010? On second thought President BHO, "stay the course" and keep up the "good work"! :)

------
Illustration: Alex Ross

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More HR 3200 Myths

A couple of weeks ago I posted my take on a few of the myths about HR 3200 that have been floating around. Fact Check recently posted a similar debunking of a chain email that has been floating around that is full of lies about health care reform. Here are a couple of good ones...

Claim: Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!

False: This section says nothing whatsoever about “rationing” or anything of the sort. Actually, it’s favorable to families and individuals, placing an annual cap on what they could pay out of pocket if covered by a basic, “essential benefits package.” The limits would be $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for a family.

Claim: Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.

False. This section aims to simplify electronic payments for health services, the same sort of electronic payments that already are common for such things as utility bills or mortgage payments. The bill calls for the secretary of Health and Human Services to set standards for electronic administrative transactions that would "enable electronic funds transfers, in order to allow automated reconciliation with the related health care payment and remittance advice." There is no mention of "individual bank accounts" nor of any new government authority over them. Also, the section does not say that electronic payments from consumers is required.

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Back To School

-Mike Lane | Politicalcartoons.com | Email this Cartoon

So, today is back-to-school day for our district. The Pajama Boy does not actually start school until Wednesday (because he's in kindergarten and they do a 'relaxed' start), but TPW and I have to go and 'meet the teacher' today. Posting will likely be sporadic at best.

In the meantime, you can always hit up the store... good stuff there. =)

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Saturday Morning Cartoon

... a little bit late, I know...

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Stop Yer Staring And Get Out Yer Wallet!

Get it now! Get it on! Get it while there are still some supplies!

That's right folks, The Pajama Pundit has sold out -- AGAIN!

Nearly a year ago, I was kicking around some ideas for apparel and other crap that you -- my faithful, loyal and, dare I say good looking? -- readers might be able to purchase and wear/tote with pride. Well, one thing after another got shoved in line in front of this project idea and it never really manifested (short of some lame screen-grabs).

All of that changes TODAY. I present to you ThePajamaPundit.com Store!

I've already got 40 different items posted. I'm still working on some of my own stuff (because I have to pay a commission for other people's designs -- which in turn drives up the price of the item). I think that there are already some creative and/or funny things at the store, but then again I am supremely biased.

[note the 'trusty blue sweatshirt'... tee hee hee]

So, there you have it. Drop me a line and tell me what you think. Tell me what you like. Tell me what you don't like. Let me know if you have ideas for other funny or topical merch. The sky is the limit and you are readers that are full of wit and mirth.

Look it up.

As always, thanks for reading and following along.

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Announcement Coming Soon

... from Yours Truly. Big news for this site. Stay tuned...

[postscript: this is the 5001st post on ThePajamaPundit.com -- not too shabby]

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Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat

Mitt Romney doesn't want it...

So, who will replace Kennedy? Michael Dukakis? Andrew Card? Barney Frank?

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Calling All Cougars...

*roar*

Step-up for the first-ever-annual Cougar Convention:

Single cougars from all over America will converge on the Silicon Valley, the ONLY major metropolitan area in America with a SURPLUS of single men, many of whom are young, educated, attractive, and prosperous, but lacking in experience with women.

7:30pm - Complimentary appetizers from Trader Vic's, as long as they last.

8pm – Entertaining Keynote Address with author Francesca Gentille and Tahil Gesyuk, her romantic partner, who is 14 years younger.

9pm-Midnight - The Cougar Ball, featuring dancing to your favorite hits. At approximately 11pm, one cougar at the Convention will be crowned MISS COUGAR AMERICA and receive prizes, including her choice of the upcoming Singles Halloween Cruise or the Spring Baja Cruise, courtesy of The Singles Travel Company, plus a Cougar Kit from Cardeaux Cosmetics, valued at over $100. To be eligible to win, the lucky Cougar must be present at the convention, legally single and at least 40 years of age.

Ummm... wow.

Head nod: Pam101

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Andrew Breitbart: Stepping Over The Line

All of the above are tweets from Andrew Breitbart's Twitter feed.

Here's the deal: you don't speak ill of the dead, especially when the body is still warm.

Now, before any of the conservatives in the audience get all pissy with me, you should know that I did not always agree with Ted Kennedy (and still don't). I thought that the way that he treated Clarence Thomas during his Supreme Court Justice hearings was shameful. I think that Chappaquiddick was a supremely shady incident (at best). I think that the idea that Ted Kennedy made his way up the political ladder, and got out of some, err, sticky situations simply because of his surname is downright shameful.

However, unlike other bad people in this world, Ted Kennedy turned himself around and tried to make the world a better place. There's a great piece over at Politico that talks about that very subject. Money:

He was elected to the Senate 47 years ago this autumn, when nearly 65 percent of Americans now alive were not yet born. And it turns out longevity creates its own kind of charisma and myth-making power.

Forty-seven years was long enough to transform him in popular vocabulary
from Teddy to Ted.

It was long enough for him to bleach and in many eyes redeem the most garish stains on his public image. Twenty years ago Kennedy’s name tended to be invoked first in the context of personal excess and scandal, and only secondarily in the context of public service. In later years this order was emphatically reversed.

"From 1980 to this day, I know of no one who has transformed themselves – not overnight, just steady, year by year, bill by bill, problem by problem – to, what do they say - 'lion of the Senate,'" said former Sen. Harris Wofford (D-Pa.)

After the deaths of his brothers and his own disgrace in the 1969 incident at Chappaquiddick, Wofford said, Kennedy turned his attention to a sustained, deliberate effort to rebuild his reputation.

"He set about being a very diligent, good senator. A powerful one, rapidly, because people liked him," said Wofford, who served as an aide to John Kennedy. "He was in his own world and he was not under the shadow of either brother. Neither of them was really comfortable in the Senate. He fit in."

Now, you may not see it that way. Because Kennedy was unabashedly liberal, many conservatives decried that he was 'destroying our country'. But here's the thing: anytime you are serving the public as an elected official, you are trying to make our country better. Albeit in your own way, but better nonetheless. Not everyone will agree with you, but that's what happens when you don't get 100% of the votes (and who does that?).

For example, I have been very clear that I think Michele Bachmann is out-of-her-mind when it comes to issues like the U.S. Census (truth here). But, I will admit that she is trying to make our country a better place. If (Heaven forbid) she were to get hit by a truck and die today, I would never say thing like Breitbart is saying (tweeting).

After all, you just don't speak ill of the dead. It's too soon.

UPDATE::: Sadly, Breitbart is not alone.

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Companies Continue To Leave Glenn Beck

The grand-total now stands at 36:

The new companies distancing themselves from Beck include Airware Inc. (makers of Brez anti-snoring aids), Ancestry.com, AT&T, Blaine Labs Inc., Campbell Soup Company, Clorox, Ditech, The Elations Company, Experian (creator of FreeCreditReport.com), Farmers Insurance Group, Johnson & Johnson (makers of Tylenol), Lowe's, NutriSystem, Sprint, The UPS Store and Verizon Wireless.

I must say that I didn't really think that the boycott would go this far. Bearing that in mind, I got to thinking... why would a company leave Glenn Beck's program? The first and arguably most obvious answer is that the guy doesn't deserve a companies' advertising dollars because of some of the things that he says/claims that he makes.

But what about other reasons?

This boycott has really picked up some steam. It's all over the blogs (both liberal and conservative) and it seems to be gathering momentum in more mainstream media circles as well.

Could it be, and this is just a thought, that some advertisers feel that they might get more (or free) coverage or word-of-mouth by being part of this boycott? Thoughts?

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Michele Bachmann's Town Hall Meeting

I'm glad to see that the raucous town hall meetings are not only in Democratic congressional districts...

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DNC Raising More Money To Fight The Fighters

Nancy Pelosi: I need $100,000 to fight the bad guys on health care.

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Department Of Frightening Mental Images

"If we need to save our penises from anybody, it's Obama" -Rush Limbaugh.

Yeah. He said that. On the air.

So now it appears that the far-right-wing of conservatism is becoming more interested in penises -- both Obama's, and everyone else's...

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Where Did 'Death Panels' Come From?

Puppy rape. Now that is scary as hell.

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Quote Of The Day

"The facade has changed but policies remain the same. Integrity in our movement means we have to do same for Obama as we did for Bush. ... We're here to make the wars unpopular again. Because if we were right to oppose it under Bush, we're right to oppose it under Obama. ... While the Obamas are here on vacation, people are still dying. There's no vacation from body bags. And the families of dead soldiers will never be able to truly enjoy a vacation again. ... Just because he's better than Bush doesn't sell me, because practically everybody in the world is better than Bush." -anti-war crusader Cindy Sheehan, speaking at a press conference from The Oak Bluffs School on Martha's Vinyard -- where the Obama's are vacationing this week.

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Ford Adds Shifts

Ford has issued a press release that they are adding shifts to plants in Kansas City and Dearborn.

Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich., will resume as a three-crew operation in September, to meet demand for F-150 pickups in the U.S. and Canada. The move will result in full-time employment for 2,800 employees who had been working on a two-weeks-on and one-week-off rotating basis since April

Ford is moving to a three-crew operation from a two-shift operating pattern at Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo., in October to maximize the plant's efficiency and help to better meet demand for fuel-efficient Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner utilities

In August, Ford is on track to post its highest monthly F-Series and Escape sales of 2009 following strong sales for both vehicles in July

These added shifts will restore full time employment to 2800 people who have been working on a rotating cycle of 2 weeks on and 1 week off since April.

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Sick Kid

My little girl is on the couch watching The Muppet Show. She's got a high fever and is shivering.

I'll post today as her health warrants. Have a swell Thursday.

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Death Panels Are Real

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Quote Of The Day

"Many of his fellow senators, Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, will note today that Ted was sincerely intent on finding enough common ground among us to make progress on the issues of our day, and toward that end he would work as hard and as modestly as any staffer. Many will recall his convivial nature, his humor, his thoughtfulness. We will praise as his greatest strength the integrity of his word. When he made a promise to you, he kept it, no matter what.

What is harder for us to express is the emptiness we will feel in the Senate in his absence. Even when we are all crowded in the chamber for a vote, engaged in dozens of separate conversations, it will seem a quiet and less interesting place, in the knowledge that his booming voice, fueled by his passion for his convictions, will never encourage or assail or impress us again.

I will miss him very much." -Senator John McCain on Ted Kennedy's passing.

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Sign Of The Times (In Pennsylvania)

-John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune

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Tax Cuts

Some like to complain that Obama hasn't had any accomplishments in the few months that he has been in office. They complain that they haven't seen any change in the way Washington works, as if there is some magic light switch somewhere that you can flip and make everything better overnight. Change takes time, it's takes cooperation, and it takes putting the interests of others above the interest of trying to put your party back into the majority.

Nate Silver, however, over at 538.com does talk about something Obama has accomplished from his list of promises.

A recent Rasmussen poll found that just 15 percent of likely voters believed that "President Obama cut taxes for 95% of Americans". Technically, they're wrong -- Obama has not cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans. But he has done so for in excess of 98 percent of "working" tax households.

Nate goes into the usual detail he has become known for to show where he comes up with the 98.6% of Americans who have seen a tax cut since Obama took office. While it may not seem significant, and frankly the extra 13 bucks I see a week in my paychecks seems laughable, but I do see that Obama is truly and honestly working to try and make life better for those Americans that make up the beating heart of the nation. The lower income and middle income working people of this country, and frankly that is more than I can say for some on both sides of congress.

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Garden State Update

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President Obama: Show Us Your Penis!

Jesus' General finds some really desperate Birthers at FreeRepublic:

hoosiermama:
The only other thing that hit me was that Sinclair said BO was not circumcised. When my son was born in a hospital that was done as a matter of routine without even consulting us. Would the same be for Hawaii? OTOH People born at home or in some other cultures are not circumcised.

thecodont:
A relative of mine was born (in a hospital) a couple of years after BO's alleged birth date. He was circumcised also (as a matter of routine, not according to any family request).

afraidfortherepublic:
My son was born in June of 1961 in a hospital in CA, and the nurses released us because of miscommunication in a day and a half before the circumcision was done. We had to go back to the doctor’s office to have it done a week later, and the doctor was NOT HAPPY. My second son was born in the same hospital 4 years later. I don’t remember them asking me about it. Routine procedure for little boys.

hoosiermama:
Wish we had someone to make a phone call to the hospitols in HI and ask if they routinely do circumcism and when that practice started.

MHGinTN:
You might want to make that call to a Canadian hospital ...

MHGinTN:
No...it would have been in Kenya....not Canada.

Natural Born 54
I am having a vision of a court room scene. The judge turns to O sitting in the witness chair to his left and says “I am sorry, Mr. President, but I am going to have to ask you to stand and drop trou .....”

hoosiermama:
More than likely an exam from a court appointed DR. :~)
Humiliating either way....caught by his own private parts....er something like that.

Um... wow.

What exactly is the line of thought here? "Okay guy, so, the birth certificate stuff didn't work. What should we do now?"

"Hey, I've got it! Let's question whether or not the so-called-president is circumsized!"

Moronic.

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On Reconciliation

From Wikipedia:

Reconciliation is a legislative process of the United States Senate intended to allow a contentious budget bill to be considered without being subject to filibuster. Reconciliation also applies in the United States House of Representatives, but since the House regularly passes rules that constrain debate and amendment, the reconciliation process represented less of a change in that body.

[snip]

Congress used reconciliation to enact President Bill Clinton's 1993 budget. President Clinton wanted to use reconciliation to pass his health care plan, but Senator Robert Byrd insisted that the health care plan was out of bounds for a process that is theoretically about budgets. However, on August 25, 2009, Sen Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), one of the members of the "Gang of Six" bipartisan group to work on a health care reform bill in the Senate has said that reconciliation may be used, is an acceptable option, and that he can support it.

This is what McCain (and others) are upset about? Shep Smith is dead-on: the GOP used the same tactics during the Bush administration to pass tax cuts -- and now that the 'permanent Republican majority' is no more they are whining about Democrats possibly using the same strategy? Puh-leeze.

Justin Gardner:

Majority rules in everything, especially elections. Why not here? Why do we have to get to 60 votes in order to pass anything without giving the other side the option to block it indefinitely with procedural stall tactics?

Long story short, Republicans set themselves up for this during Bush and if Dems decide to go the reconciliation route, well, tough.

For the record, I'm not all for reconciliation either. If health care is going to pass, I think that it should be done like most every other piece of legislation. But, if Democrats do decide to use reconciliation Republicans have lost the privilege of complaining after eight years of George W. Bush.

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Health Care Reality Check

52%. A new low. There is little doubt in my mind that the health care debate -- good or bad -- is hurting the President's approval numbers. And check this out; health care reform coverage in the news accounts for more than double that of the economy:


I thought that the most pressing issue facing our country right now was the economy, no? I'm composing a rant on this very subject right now...

Head nod: Michael Calderone

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A Communist In The White House!

Heavens to Mergatroid! Did you see how scary that guy sounds with the creepy piano music in the background? I'm so scared of Communists!

Grasping. At. Straws.

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The Right America, Volume 3

I am back! Back from vacation and ready to roll towards Republican victories in November in New Jersey and Virginia and for a 2010 Congressional takeover by Republicans! BUT... before Americans vote correctly in '09 and '10... we need to diagnose this crazy derangement syndrome taking over the liberal nation.

Forget H1N1... Palin Derangement Syndrome is sweeping the liberal masses. Now, I know, Mrs. Palin is one controversial figure. After all, this is the woman who decided that she should be a woman who can have a career and a family. This is the woman who decided that an average ordinary citizen from a humble background should challenge the establishment and win for the sake of the people of her home state of Alaska. This is a woman who stands up for conservative values... which according to liberals if you are a woman who is pro-life and not pro-abortion you're not a real woman who wants equality for women.

In all seriousness though, here is the list of good reasons I can think of why people hate Sarah Palin: _________________

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Edward Kennedy, 1932 - 2009

The Liberal Lion has passed:

His career spanned almost a half-century of American history, and covering Kennedy was like a relay race, in which those who knew him best in the early years have long ago retired.

Education and healthcare initiatives will always be associated with his name, and the enactment this year of legislation authorizing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco is a Kennedy legacy. But this was also a senator who played a major role in airline deregulation, criminal code revisions and battles over the Supreme Court. Conservatives still resent him for his wholesale assault on Robert Bork’s nomination in 1987, and Kennedy is one of the few senators in history to see a former aide, Stephen Breyer, move up to the high bench.

Kennedy’s power base rested on three major committees: Judiciary; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and Armed Services, the first two of which he chaired at different points in his career. And he never lost an old-school style of politics, which set him apart in the increasingly impersonal Senate.

His booming voice filled the chamber when he spoke from his desk, always in the back row on the Democratic side and a gathering point over the years for younger members.

I know that there are many conservatives who still cite the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident anytime that Kennedy's name is brought up -- and I get that. However, I think that Ted Kennedy's legacy will not be controversial things like Chappaquiddick but rather things like children's health care, his support for Barack Obama's candidacy for president, and the Senate committees on which he sat.

The man was truly a larger-than-life character and I'm sure that the halls of the Senate will be a very different place when Congress returns from it's recess.

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Double-O-Bama

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Average SAT Score Drops

I first saw this in an AP story... so here is USA Today's version:

Average national SAT scores for the high school class of 2009 dropped two points compared with last year, a report out Tuesday says. And while the population of test takers was the most diverse ever, average scores vary widely by race and ethnicity.

On one end, students who identified themselves as Asian, Asian-American or Pacific Islander posted a 13-point gain. On the other end, students who identified themselves as Puerto Rican posted a 9-point drop in average scores.

Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, et al) are outdated and completely unnecessary. Check out FairTest.org... tons of colleges and universities are going the 'test optional' route for admissions.

Also notable: if available, have your high school students take any honors, advanced placement or international baccalaureate coursework, as well as the PSAT:

The report's analysis notes that students who had completed a core curriculum, taken their school's most rigorous courses and familiarized themselves with the test were among the strongest performers.

For example, students who took an Advanced Placement or honors math course scored on average 79 points above the national average math score. And students who had previously taken the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scored 121 points higher on average than those who did not take the test.

My emphasis.

Take if from me, until every institution of higher education goes 'test optional', high school students need to be as prepared as possible.

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Quote Of The Day II

"There's a real question at stake now. Is President Obama creating a civil war in our own country?

"We are witnessing a slow, steady takeover of our true freedoms. We are becoming a socialist nation, and whoever can't see this is probably hoping it isn't true. If we permit Mr. Obama to take over all our industries, if we permit him to raise our taxes to support unconstitutional causes, then we will be in default. This great America will become a paralyzed nation.

"Do not let the Obama administration fool you with all their cunning Alinsky methods. And if you don't know what that method is, I implore you to get the book 'Rules for Radicals,' by Saul Alinsky. Mr. Obama is very well trained in these methods.

"The real truth is that the Obama administration is professional at bullying, as we have witnessed with ACORN at work during the presidential campaign. It seems to me they are sending down their bullies to create fist fights among average American citizens who don't want a government-run health care plan forced upon them. So I ask again. Is President Obama creating a civil war in our own country?" -actor Jon Voight. Who says Hollywood is comprised only of liberals?

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Lego Arcade

Awesome.

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Detainee Overload

Glenn Greenwald has a must-read post over at Salon.com dissecting the CIA Inspector General's report. To much to comment on -- I'm still digesting much of what I'm reading...

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Joe Lierberman: Moderate Republican

Or so says Alec Baldwin:

A day after Connecticut Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman welcomed a possible 2012 challenge from actor Alec Baldwin, a representative for Baldwin tells CNN that "it's great to see the excitement" about the possibility of Baldwin seeking political office but the actor has no plans to run against Lieberman.

In a statement provided to CNN, the actor also took a stab at Lieberman, who has sometimes allied himself with Republicans, particularly on the Iraq war and Middle East policy.

"Part of me would hate to see Lieberman go," Baldwin said in the statement, "because there are so few moderate Republicans left in the Senate today."

Hardy har har...

Seriously though, that would have been a great campaign to watch. Speaking of campaigns to watch, what ever became of Val Kilmer's potential run for the governorship of New Mexico?

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SC GOP Considering Sanford Impeachment

Ouch.

House Republicans will discuss whether to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford when they meet in Myrtle Beach this weekend.

Lawmakers, once reluctant to discuss removing Sanford, will weigh what it would take to force the Republican governor out and how the process would work.

Republicans expect the meeting — an annual gathering to discuss agenda, issues and politics, and to play golf — will be dominated by discussion of Sanford’s future — and what role the House will play in it.

[snip]

“There’s been a lot of silence. There’s been a lack of direction,” said state Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee that would likely handle impeachment. Delleney said he would vote for a bill to impeach Sanford.

“He left the state without anyone knowing where he was,” Delleney said, adding that is “serious misconduct.”

“That was a dereliction of duty as far as I was concerned.”

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Tweet Of The Day

"GOP: Haha, look at Obama stomping on the flaming pile of poop we left on his doorstep." -pourmecoffee

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

We have a quasi-birther in Congress! While Representative Trent Franks (R-Tx Az, thanks AZBlueGirl!) believes that President Obama was born in Hawaii...

...he also believes it's ridiculous for the President of the United States, who ran on a platform of transparency and accountability, to dismiss so glibly the concerns of literally millions of Americans, and allow such a ridiculous debate to continue when it could so easily be settled once and for all. It should not be too much to ask for the leader of the free world to allay the concerns of a large number of the people he represents by producing his long-form birth certificate, which is the definitive, inarguable way that he can put people's concerns about his national identity to rest for good.

Paging Orly Taitz...

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Governor Rudy Giuliani?

Sometime soon perhaps:

ALBANY — Nineteen months after ending his disastrous run for the presidency, Rudolph W. Giuliani is clearing a path for a possible race for governor in 2010, believing public anger at an ineffectual Albany and unease over the economy could create ideal conditions for a Republican to reclaim the governor’s mansion.

Mr. Giuliani has told associates that he will decide on a candidacy within 30 to 60 days, as he weighs whether he can be elected statewide and what impact another campaign would have on his business interests.

He is already laying the groundwork. On Friday he traveled to Long Island to encourage the state Republican Party chairman, Joseph N. Mondello, to step aside, a maneuver that party insiders viewed as the former mayor’s most concrete step yet toward a run.

A candidate for president? Not so much. A candidate for governor of New York? Definitely.

I think that Giuliani has a really good shot at winning a race for governor. With the current climate in the Empire State, coupled with Giuliani's popularity there, I have no doubt that he would be a strong candidate.

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Michael Jackson's Death Ruled Homicide

In case you missed it yesterday (as I did):

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, a finding that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died on June 25.

A designation of homicide means that Jackson died at the hands of another, but does not necessarily mean a crime was committed.

Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol acted together with at least two sedatives to cause Jackson’s death June 25 in his rented Los Angeles mansion, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released.

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New Jersey Governor's Race Heating Up

B-Diddy bait:

A new poll of New Jersey from conservative strategist Rick Shaftan finds that the New Jersey gubernatorial race, where Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie has held a strong lead over Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in most surveys, could now actually be a dead heat.

While most polls have shown Christie with roughly a ten point lead, the new poll shows he takes 39% support to Corzine's 36%, plus independent candidate Chris Daggett at 6%, with a margin of error of ±5.49%. A key finding is that both major candidates have negative net favorable ratings -- Corzine is at 23% favorable to 46% unfavorable, but Christie is also at only 20% favorable to 27% unfavorable.

It seems to me that Corzine's unfavorables are still a fairly big problem for him. However, Christie seems to be losing the public relations battle. With every passing week there appears to be a new allegation of ethics violations or inappropriate behavior.

If Chris Christie keeps adding adding fuel to the proverbial fire, this will surely continue to be an interesting race.

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Revelations From The CIA Report

From Michael Scherer's piece in Time Magazine:

The initial harsh interrogation program, begun in 2002, was poorly managed, some interrogators were poorly trained and informed, and they used techniques that were substantially harsher than what had been approved by the White House and the Justice Department. “[T]he Agency—especially in the early months of the Program—failed to provide adequate staffing, guidance, and support to those involved with the detention and interrogation of detainees,” the report states. There were a number of episodes when people working for the CIA behaved outside of approved techniques. Perhaps the most serious case involved an Afghan citizen, who had been implicated in rocket attacks on U.S. military bases. Once captured, in June of 2003, the suspect was held at a military base. “During the four days the individual was detained, an Agency independent contractor, who was a paramilitary officer, is alleged to have severely beaten the detainee with a large metal flashlight and kicked him during interrogation sessions.” The detainee died in custody. The contractor, who had not been trained or authorized to conduct interrogations, received a relatively light punishment. He did not have his contract renewed by the CIA.

Read the other four revelations here. Eye opening.

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Deather Watch, Ctd.

We've all heard the 'death panel' lies... now we must endure the 'death book'. Ugh.

The worst part? The claims target the VA and American veterans.

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Quote Of The Day

"The documents released Monday clearly demonstrate that the individuals subjected to Enhanced Interrogation Techniques provided the bulk of intelligence we gained about al Qaeda. This intelligence saved lives and prevented terrorist attacks. These detainees also, according to the documents, played a role in nearly every capture of al Qaeda members and associates since 2002. The activities of the CIA in carrying out the policies of the Bush Administration were directly responsible for defeating all efforts by al Qaeda to launch further mass casualty attacks against the United States. The people involved deserve our gratitude. They do not deserve to be the targets of political investigations or prosecutions. President Obama’s decision to allow the Justice Department to investigate and possibly prosecute CIA personnel, and his decision to remove authority for interrogation from the CIA to the White House, serves as a reminder, if any were needed, of why so many Americans have doubts about this Administration’s ability to be responsible for our nation’s security." -former vice president Dick Cheney, defending enhanced interrogation techniques in the face of the document dump yesterday.

Patrick Appel analyzes Cheney:

The documents released yesterday prove nothing about torture's effectiveness, but Cheney is claiming victory. I guess after "death panels" reality is whatever you make it.

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Photo: Ron Edmunds/AP

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Mental Health Day

I'm taking the day off from the blog. We've had a long weekend in the Pajama Household (and not in a good way). TPW has been working 12-15 hours-a-day for the past several days, and we've both been losing a lot of sleep (there seems to be some restlessness going back-and-forth between our kids). So, I'm pretty tired -- and the kids still need my attention.

One quick Tweekend note though: as you may recall, some time ago I was working on a new featured content area to replace the slider at the top of the page. The plans that I had never really came to fruition (read: I couldn't get the code to work properly and look right in Firefox, IE, Safari and Chrome). So I gave up.


Now, I've found a new (and BETTER!) featured content display, and it looks great in all of the various browsers, but I'm still working on the itty-bitty details. Needless to say, I'm excited about the prospect of a featured content area YOU are able to control...

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on my progress, and you have a great Monday.

Oh, and Stan at TYWKIWDBI has a great post on health care rationing that is definitely worth a read (and discussion). Check it out here.

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Saturday Morning Cartoon

Silly Rabbit -- Trix are for kids! It's cartoon time!



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Done, And A Goodbye

I'm done for the day. My daughter isn't feeling well -- plus it's Friday.


Oh, and in case you haven't heard, Paul at Viva Chuck Todd is hanging up his spurs. The Chuckolyte Nation will indeed miss the hijinks at VCT. I wish Paul all the best (the dude is extremely talented). Check out Cerebral Itch to see his talents in action. They've got some hilarious e-cards (which I've featured before) and they have just started making apps for your iPhone. Get downloading already.

Have a great weekend.

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Barack Obama: One Term President?

Interesting.

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New Super Mario Bros. Wii

New game. Classic feel.

Head nod: Jason Kottke

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Tweet Of The Day

"Looking for some investment opportunities. The more evil the better. Hit me up." -JabbaTheHut

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Bill O'Reilly Fights Back

..
...when Jon Stewart calls Fox News 'liberal'.

All in good fun, I suppose.

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Starbucks Makeover

The cup, at least. [not-safe-for-kids?]

Head nod: @poniewozik

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Health Care Ad Wars

Okay, there not really a war going on here - but I thought that these are a couple of interesting spots that are now playing and they come from opposing viewpoints on the issue of health care.

First, Conservatives for Patients Rights (CPR):



Then, Americans United for Change (AUC):



Thoughts?

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Bush Officials Dismiss Tom Ridge's Claims

Shocker:

Top officials from the George W. Bush White House are disputing claims in former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge’s coming book that they pressured him to adjust the terror threat level for political gain.

“We went over backwards repeatedly and with great discipline to make sure politics did not influence any national security and homeland security decisions,” former White House chief of staff Andy Card told POLITICO. “The clear instructions were to make sure politics never influenced anything.”

“I’m a little mystified,” former homeland security adviser Fran Townsend added in an interview. “Never in my experience did I see any political influence exerted on the cabinet secretary.”

As Dave Weigel tweeted earlier today: "BREAKING: 'We didn't lie,' claim well-known liars."

Indeed.

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Attack Of The 'Dumbikazes'

Craig Crawford thinks that the left needs to get all-up-in the government's face in the same manner as the right has:

Now it's the liberals' turn to start yelling.

The "dumbikazes" on the right, as a blog pal of mine calls them, seemed to have spooked Capitol Hill with their high profile ranting at town hall meetings. The result is dwindling support, even at the White House, for offering a government-run public option to those who can't get or afford private insurance.

Unless supporters of a public option go dumbikaze whatever comes to be called "health reform" will be incremental at best.

As, well, dumb as it sounds, I would not be surprised if we start to see the left responding in a similar manner...

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2012: Barack Obama Versus... Mike Huckabee?

Some interesting polling numbers from PPP via Pollster.com:

Favorable / Unfavorable
Newt Gingrich: 33 / 42
Mike Huckabee: 45 / 28
Sarah Palin: 40 / 49
Mitt Romney: 37 / 34

2012 President
Obama 49%, Gingrich 41%
Obama 47%, Huckabee 44%
Obama 52%, Palin 38%
Obama 47%, Romney 40%

What is most notable to me is the 2012 presidential match-ups. Mike Huckabee is the favorite right now -- over Gingrich or Romney. What's that all about?

It seems that most hardcore conservatives that I know or read claim that they loathe the Huckster (and the Club For Growth certainly has a disdain for him). Most seem to favor either Gingrich or Romney. Heck, B-Diddy and I even had a conversation wherein he described a Romney/Gingrich "dream ticket" for 2012. I'm not sure about that idea, but what I do know is that Huckabee has some kind of traction for 2012 already -- especially since Sarah Palin continues to embarrass herself and other Republicans.

So the question remains; are Republicans going to warm to Mike Huckabee?

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No Bill Without The Public Option

The debate continues, and Nancy Pelosi appears to be drawing lines in the sand:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a clear message Thursday to congressional negotiators on the health-care bill — dropping the public option would destroy any chance for comprehensive reform.

"There is no way I can pass a bill in the House of Representatives without a public option," she told an audience at her home district in San
Francisco, California.

The speaker said she agreed with President Barack Obama that a public option is "the best way to keep the insurance companies honest (and) that it would be the best way to increase competition so that we can lower cost, improve quality of care, retain choice, and expand coverage."

I would also argue that, due to Republicans and Blue-Dogs, there is likely no way that a bill with a public option will pass through the House. Thoughts?

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Quote Of The Day

"I've noticed that President Obama frequently forgoes the necktie -- lately, even in public appearances. That reminded me -- I have no idea why -- that the Iranian regime has shunned the necktie ever since Khomeini pronounced it a symbol of Western decadence." -Andy McCarthy, writing at National Review

I'm sure McCarthy has 'no idea why'. Could he be a little bit more transparent? Honestly...

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Photo: Ngan/Getty Images

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Do You Wanna Date My Avatar

Vast bait.

Great video, definitely worth checking out their webisodes on either youtube or their website.


This post was cross-posted at The Fury Blogger

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

A woman named Beth Straley stands proudly with her poster during President Obama's trip to Phoenix, Arizona.

I can't quite make it out, but I'm pretty sure that is a black baby with a ribbon on it's head. Some have alleged that there are 'blackface lips' on the baby, but it sure looks like a pacifier to me. Exit question: what is the significance of the baby on the poster? I get all of the other Birther bumperstickers ('where's the birth certificate?', 'Kenya called...', et al), but the baby with the bow has me confused...

Head nod: Dave Weigel

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(No) Cash For Clunkers, Ctd.

In my inbox via Politico:

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that the cash-for clunkers program will end on Monday, August 24th.

Well, I guess that is that...

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Meeting Of The Minds

See Cartoons by Pat Bagley - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this

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They Were For It, Before They Were Against It

Trillion-dollar pending, that is:

Democrats will have to be both the liberals and the conservatives on health care. They must have been rolling in the aisles this week when Sen. Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, announced, "There is no way Republicans are going to support a trillion-dollar-plus bill."

Republicans already have. In 2006, their Medicare drug benefit legislation was projected to cost $1.08 trillion over 10 years. (This was just one benefit serving one slice of the population.) Last year, the estimate was reduced to a tad under $1 trillion, and Republicans rejoiced over the great deal they had struck.

There was nothing traditionally conservative about the Medicare drug benefit. Republicans were simply shoveling taxpayer dollars to their friends in the insurance and drug industry. This was crony capitalism, Chinese-style.

And the drug benefit was certainly not fiscally conservative. The Bush administration and Congress had absolutely no thought of paying for the thing -- other than borrowing the money and passing the bill onto future generations.

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Tweet Of The Day

"The only thing worse than missing the subway is being on it." -jackgraycnn

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Mitt Romney On Health Care

...and what sounds like posturing for a 2012 presidential run:

A growing sense in the Republican Party that health care reform of any kind is the enemy, and attacks on the Massachusetts plan from Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, appear to have prompted Mitt Romney to launch a defense of his legacy in that state, which now insures far more of its residents than any other.

Romney defended his plan on the Early Show this morning, and also called into Sean Hannity's radio show (.m4a) yesterday to differentiate his plan from Obama's (and offer some praise for the beauty of ... New Hampshire.)

I can almost hear Pawlenty and Huckabee throwing 'Massachusetts liberal' barbs at Mitt Romney now...

And what is that bit about the 'beauty of New Hampshire'? Come on Mitt, it's only mid-2009 -- you gotta pace yourself!

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

Seriously folks, what is going on here?

A new Public Policy Polling survey [.pdf] finds that "only 62% of respondents reported believing that President Obama was born in the United States. 10% thought he was born in Indonesia, 7% thought he was born in Kenya, 1% thought he was born in the Philippines, and 20% weren't sure. Among Republicans 44% think he was not born here while just 36% believe that he was."

The numbers are confusing because of "people who correctly believe that Obama was born in Hawaii, but who don't consider Hawaii to be part of the United States. You read that right -- 6% of poll respondents think that Hawaii is not part of the country and 4% are unsure."

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John McCain: 'A Mean, Petty, Bitter, Angry Man'

John Cole does not mince words when it comes to Mr. Maverick:

I highly recommend that everyone read his excellent book McCain: The Myth of a Maverick. You’ll learn that despite the fact that he serves up a mean barbecue, he is a mean and vindictive man with an explosive temper and has been for years. That he is leading the charge against Obama is not a return to his conservative principles, but just additional evidence that he is a small man who takes everything personally and the country is far better off without him in the White House.

I've heard of the temper before, but I think that it is likely caricaturish. I don't see evidence that McCain is 'leading the charge' against President Obama. If I were to give any Republican the title of Supreme Leader Against Obama (SLAO), it would have to be Michele Bachmann. Or John Boehner. Or Eric Cantor. Or Rush Limbaugh. Or Sean Hannity.

You get the idea.

I don't doubt that McCain was upset that he lost last year -- who wouldn't be? But, I have not seen an adequate amount of sour grapes from him to claim that he is leading any conservative charge against the President.

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Tom Ridge Tells All

About the infighting between the Department of Homeland Security and, well, everyone else:

Ridge was never invited to sit in on National Security Council meetings; was "blindsided" by the FBI in morning Oval Office meetings because the agency withheld critical information from him; found his urgings to block Michael Brown from being named head of the emergency agency blamed for the Hurricane Katrina disaster ignored; and was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over.

Marc Ambinder says we should have seen this coming:

Journalists, including myself, were very skeptical when anti-Bush liberals insisted that what Ridge now says is true, was true. We were wrong. [...] But journalists should have been even more skeptical about the administration's pronouncements. And yet -- we, too, weren't privy to the intelligence. Information asymmetry is always going to exist, and, living as we do in a Democratic system, most journalists are going to give the government the benefit of some doubt, even having learned lessons about giving the government that benefit.

Tom Ridge is a politician that I've usually held in high regard. He's a moderate Republican who, as far as I can tell, makes sound decisions. So, when he was tapped to be the first head of the DHS -- and they came up with all of the lame color-coded 'threat levels', I was supremely disappointed. His book will definitely make my list.

Oh, and Karl Rove and Dick Cheney will likely start firing venomous rhetoric at Tom Ridge any second now...

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