ThinkFast: September 10, 2008
ThinkFast: September 10, 2008
A new intelligence report being “prepared for the next president on future global risks envisions a steady decline in U.S. dominance in the coming decades, as the world is reshaped by globalization, battered by climate change, and destabilized by regional upheavals over shortages of food, water and energy.”
“The Coalition of the Willing appears to be going out of business.” In a speech yesterday announcing his plan to withdraw 8,000 troops from Iraq, President Bush also “announced that most of the countries that have been partnering with the United States in Iraq over the past five years will be pulling their troops out as well.” Read ThinkProgress’ report on the Coalition of the Defeated here.
Congressional budget analysts said yesterday that the federal budget deficit will reach “a near-record [of] $407 billion when the budget year ends later this month, and the next president is likely to face a shortfall in January of well over $500 billion.” Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) economic plan, if he is elected president, would sharply increase yearly deficits well beyond the projected $500 billion.
Three years ago, an Alaska judge warned Sarah Palin to stop harassing her brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Michael Wooten, comparing her attacks to “child abuse.” The judge presided over Wooten’s divorce trial, during which an official of the Alaska State Troopers’ union testified that Wooten was being “harassed” by Palin and other family members. Wooten is at the center of the “Troopergate” controversy.
On the trail today: John McCain and Sarah Palin will appear at a campaign rally at Van Dyck Park on Old Lee Highway in Fairfax City, VA. Barack Obama discusses education in Norfolk, VA, and appears on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman.”
Responding to Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) education ad yesterday, McCain adviser Lisa Graham Keegan remarked, “Education is obviously not the issue Senator McCain spends the most time on,” adding that his “plan’s limited scope should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment to education and school reform.”
“I have believed from day one that Iraq was going to change the face of the Middle East. I’ve never stopped believing that,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in May 2008, according to Bob Woodward. “There’s nothing that I’m prouder of than the liberation of Iraq,” she said “without hesitation.”
“The rate of suicides among-active duty soldiers is on pace to surpass both last year’s numbers and the rate of suicide in the general U.S. population for the first time since the Vietnam war, according to U.S. Army officials.” Officials attribute the rise to “the increased pace of combat operations, the number of deployments and financial and family troubles connected with deployments.”
House Democratic leaders “are considering a $25-billion rescue package for the auto industry as part of an effort to bolster the sagging U.S. economy.” The proposal, “with its clear political implications for key battleground states, is likely to be put on a legislative fast track, possibly clearing Congress in a matter of weeks.”
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) said yesterday that he “won’t actively support a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, casting doubt on whether the issue will pack a political punch this fall.” “I’ll support it, I’ll vote for it, move on,” he explained. “It’s not top-tier for me, put it that way.”
And finally: Olympian Michael Phelps is “everywhere these days” — even in the minds of federal lawmakers. Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) has sponsored legislation to congratulate all U.S. athletes who competed in the Beijing Olympics this summer, while “while another authored by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) calls out Baltimore native Phelps in particular for his wins this summer and for ‘becoming one of the most highly decorated athletes in Olympic history.’
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The McMommy and Me campaign
September 10th, 2008 at 9:00 amMcMommy does not appear in public unless with his Mommy.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:01 am“Education is obviously not the issue Senator McCain spends the most time on,”
No sh!t, Sherlock! Beginning with his own.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:01 amGood News First…..
$100 billion could yield two million “green” jobs
A $100 billion U.S. government investment over two years could create two million “green” jobs in such industrial sectors as steel and construction, environmental and labor groups said on Tuesday.
“From the point of view of the steelworkers union, the view is quite simple, that a energy efficient green economy creates jobs and it can create jobs in America,” said Leo Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers.
He said the U.S. move toward wind power has already prompted the reopening of two struggling steel mills, now making steel plate for use in new windmills.
Beyond that, the retrofitting of old, energy-inefficient buildings would create jobs for steelworkers, glassmakers and those who manufacture heating and cooling systems, Gerard said in a telephone briefing. Gerard and others cited a report commissioned by the Center for American Progress think tank, assessing the benefits of the $100 billion investment plan.
John Podesta, president of the think tank and a former Clinton administration official, said $50 billion of the investment would be tax credits to help private businesses and homeowners pay to make their buildings more energy efficient; $46 billion would be in the form of direct government spending on retrofitting buildings, expanding mass transit and freight rail, making “smart” electrical grids and new investment in renewable energy; and $4 billion in federal loan guarantees.
To put the amount in perspective, Podesta said the April 2008 stimulus program cost $168 billion. Many of the new jobs would be in construction, where some 800,000 jobs have been lost in the last two years, according to Robert Pollin of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
A report prepared by the institute and the think tank said this kind of rapid public and private investment would jump-start a U.S. economy with less emissions of carbon dioxide, a climate-warming greenhouse gas.
Pollin said the plan would create four times more jobs per dollar spent than spending the equivalent amount of money within the oil industry, and 20 percent more jobs than increasing spending on household consumption — the main target of the April 2008 stimulus package.
Reuters
Remember back when Bush took office in 2001; he stated his opposition to the Kyoto Protocol, citing that the treaty exempted 80 percent of the world’s population and would have cost tens of billions of dollars per year.
That sounds exactly like what we are paying for the War in Iraq. This would create jobs, boost our economy, the taxes they collect from the influx of new workers would help pay for part of our debt, and if we start now we would be on the cutting edge instead of playing catch-up later. This is a great program that congress needs to start working on fast, to save more workers from ending up on unemployment.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:02 amNew McCain Ad: Obama Favors Sex-Ed For Kindergartners
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/09/politics/horserace/entry4433099.shtml
A new low for McSame. These people are slime.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:04 am“Education is obviously not the issue Senator McCain spends the most time on,” adding that his “plan’s limited scope should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment to education and school reform.”-
Living in Arizona, I can say this for certain: McCain is not, in any way, concerned about education, unless he or some of his friends, personally profit from it.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:04 amGood morning, campers. Happy Humpday.
What did we miss?
On the CBS & NBC evening news, both took Sara Palin to task about her claims about opposing the “Bridge to Nowhere”. I don’t know about ABC, if they did, I missed it.
Perhaps the MSM will finally do its job.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:08 amTucson’s John Brakey ‘Frog Marched’ Out of Counting Room After Noticing Ballot Bags With Missing Security Seals.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:08 amenvisions a steady decline in U.S. dominance in the coming decades
How could this be?
What with the ever-expanding debt and deficit, with the middle class becoming lower class, with “hands-off” Repuke’s “no-bid” contracts for cronies, with our mortgage crisis, healthcare crisis and Social Security failing, with our over-stretched military, I simply fail to see how our dominance could decline.
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
September 10th, 2008 at 9:08 amTucson’s John Brakey ‘Frog Marched’ Out of Counting Room After Noticing Ballot Bags With Missing Security Seals.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:09 amAlaskans aren’t afraid to tell the truth about Palin’s “bridge to nowhere” lie.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:11 amHmmm, I seem to be having problems in the linking department this morning. LOL. Not enough coffee I suppose.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:12 amAlaskans aren’t afraid to tell the truth about Palin’s “bridge to nowhere” lie.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:13 am**Good morning FR! ;-) Last week, on one of the progressive talk shows, I heard a guest say that whoever can really get the “green” technology going could become a global leader. I have alway thought that “green” technology could be the New Deal of the 21st century. This could be very exciting!
September 10th, 2008 at 9:14 amI actually was surprised to see this article in Time magazine. I had to e-mail it to everyone I knew because I think it’s both the most honest a corporate-owned media outlet has been during this campaign, and it brilliantly supports Obama’s energy policy on wind-fall taxers:
September 10th, 2008 at 9:15 am
In a speech yesterday announcing his plan to withdraw 8,000 troops from Iraq, President Bush also “announced that most of the countries that have been partnering with the United States in Iraq over the past five years will be pulling their troops out as well.”
Thank God that Shrub has never used the military as political capital.
Nope, not to get re-elected in 2004 nor not now to help McIIIrd.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:15 amTenWays the McCain/Palin GOP is Now Stealing the Ohio Vote
The McCain/Palin GOP is already in the process of stealing the Ohio vote, as was done in 2004. Among those at the center of the GOP strategy is Bush Family computer operative Michael Connell, who programmed the key vote counting mechanisms that were used to give George W. Bush his second term.
Much has now changed in Ohio, including the transition from a Republican governor (Robert Taft) and secretary of state (J. Kenneth Blackwell) to Democrats Ted Strickland and Jennifer Brunner. Brunner has made strong public commitments to conducting a fair registration process, an orderly election and a reliable vote count this fall. She is being pushed by the King-Lincoln-Bronzeville federal civil rights lawsuit, filed originally against Blackwell.
To help guarantee an election that truly reflects the will of the voters, Freepress.org will convene a conference on election protection procedures webcast from Columbus this September 26-28. It will reinforce the positive steps Brunner has taken, and will help train poll workers and judges to safeguard the vote in Ohio and around the nation.
Here are some of the key factors that still endanger the vote in Ohio and around the nation:
1) Illegal Destruction of Evidence Surrounding the Vote Count:
But in August of 2007, Ohio Attorney-General Mark Dann informed the King-Lincoln attorneys that 56 of the 88 county Boards of Elections had illegally destroyed all or some of their records and ballots from 2004.
2) Massive Residual Elimination of Registered Voters:
In the run-up to the 2004 elections, GOP-controlled Boards of Elections in Ohio eliminated some 308,000 registered voters from the rolls used at the polls to determine whether or not citizens are eligible to vote.
3) Renewed Attempts to Eliminate Additional Registered Voters:
Throughout Ohio’s 88 counties, GOP-controlled Boards of Elections have continued “caging” registered voters by sending them notices requiring that the post office return those that cannot be delivered.
4-5) Resisting Universal Access to Absentee Ballots While Re-Introducing Chaos:
Brunner and voting rights advocates want the Boards of Elections in all 88 Ohio counties to mail absentee ballots to all voters. Previous restrictions on casting such ballots have been lifted.
6) Resisting Same-Day Registration and Voting:
A loophole in a recently passed Ohio election law allows voters to register to vote and then cast an absentee ballot at the same time by coming in person to their Board of Elections between September 30 and October 6.
7) The Persistent Spread of Electronic Voting Machines:
In addition to mass elimination of Democratic voters, a principle method of stealing the 2004 election in Ohio was through the manipulation of electronic voting machines.
8) Residual Chaos From Precinct Elimination and Manipulation:
In the lead-up to Ohio 2004, Blackwell eliminated numerous precincts where voters had cast their ballots for decades. Consolidation was uneven. Some 321 precincts have been shifted in Franklin County alone.
9) Data Mining:
Early indications are that the Republicans are heavily involved in data mining. Registered voters are already reporting strange letters from undisclosed senders or unidentified nonprofit organizations “welcoming” voters to the system.
10) Expanded Voter Identification Requirements:
A US Supreme Court decision has upheld an Indiana law, drafted and passed by the GOP, requiring photographic identification for voter registration.
TruthOut
Brunner is taking great steps to ensure that the damage that Blackwell did in 2004 in getting rectified. Plus with the added training and trained election protection activists that will come to the polls this year, it may prove impossible for the 2008 election to be stolen. This gives me more hope for Ohio.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:16 amMcCain adviser Lisa Graham Keegan remarked, “Education is obviously not the issue Senator McCain spends the most time on,”
McCain finished 894th out of 899 at the Naval Academy.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:16 amCancelling a vote on children’s health insurance and fast tracking a bill to save America’s auto manufacturers?
More corporate welfare…
September 10th, 2008 at 9:16 amFreedom Rebel Says: A report prepared by the institute and the think tank said this kind of rapid public and private investment would jump-start a U.S. economy with less emissions of carbon dioxide, a climate-warming greenhouse gas.
I’m convinced that the Fascists in charge want to keep the middle class broke and destitute, since we are the ones who provoke peaceful revolutions. And, alternative energy IS a revolution.
The problem with their aspiration to keep us impoverished is that when people have nothing left to lose, they are willing to instigate a violent revolution (France, Bolsheviks, our own…)
They better be careful what they wish for. I think, better to be a millionaire with freedom than a billionaire who has to travel and live in armored vehicles and houses.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:22 amAmerica’s tampering in Iraq changed the face of the world. Never mind its skin is scarred by violence. The greedy side mouthed grin knows kajillions in oil money will come Western oil companies’ way. The dark eyes have no tears left. They’re depleted from the loss of loved ones. But they seeth with desire for revenge.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:23 amThree years ago, an Alaska judge warned Sarah Palin to stop harassing her brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Michael Wooten, comparing her attacks to “child abuse.”
I’d take this as a fair warning. This person as veep would represent the drama kings & queens (lowest common denominator)
of America. Bluntly, she would harass the living shit out of United States, and there would be few judges this time around willing to stop her.
If you care for a fusion of reality TV and a resurgence of the the Moral Majority, vote Palin!
September 10th, 2008 at 9:24 amUncle Ho Says: Perhaps the MSM will finally do its job.
I really think we’ve been under-estimating the power we have in here to inform people when the MSM does not.
They are going to become irrelevent as the older generations die off and the younger, tech-savvy generations discard their entertainment-style bullsh!t for YouTube style free-information systems.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:25 amFirst of all, were the U.S. striving to be a republic and not an empire, military global dominance wouldn’t matter. Second, Russia already accentuated U.S. impotence with its response to Georgia’s invasion of S Ossetia, a message to its neighboring former Soviet States. Third, let’s not let anyone forget that eight years ago our budget was in surplus with projections showing increasing surpluses to pay down our horrific national debt and move into the realm of fiscal responsibility. We’re now, with the takeover of Fannie and Freddie, not only militarily impotent but fiscally demonstrably under the thumb of our creditors – foreign central banks.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:26 amSarah Palin = Pat Roberts in a skirt
PTSD / PTA – ‘08
September 10th, 2008 at 9:28 am#14 And the beat goes on Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
——————————————————————————–
Good News First…..
$100 billion could yield two million “green” jobs
A $100 billion U.S. government investment over two years could create two million “green” jobs in such industrial sectors as steel and construction, environmental and labor groups said on Tuesday.
**Good morning FR! ;-) Last week, on one of the progressive talk shows, I heard a guest say that whoever can really get the “green” technology going could become a global leader. I have alway thought that “green” technology could be the New Deal of the 21st century. This could be very exciting!
Good Morning And the beat goes on :) I’m very excited about this too. It would be great if Obama jumped on this band wagon, so to speak. What a boost to the economy. Plus it would get so many people that are on unemployment back to work. I really hope this gets serious attention by Obama and debate in Congress..
September 10th, 2008 at 9:29 amObama’s efforts to help protect kids from sexual predators got spun by McCon/Pullin as teaching sex ed.
Is the electorate that stupid to believe their lies and distortions?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:29 amWasn’t Mark Foley in charge of our kids’ sex education?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:30 amResponding to Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) education ad yesterday, McCain adviser Lisa Graham Keegan remarked, “Education is obviously not the issue Senator McCain spends the most time on
I’ll pass on McCain’s education plan. Pressuring him to try his hand on the issue could turn out more kids like his 23-year-old daughter.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:30 amCavjam, we took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to shore up our foreign creditors’ holdings.
It might even help The Carlyle Group as it rolls up the failed, Carlyle Capital Corp.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:33 amstateofthedivision Says:
Obama’s efforts to help protect kids from sexual predators got spun by McCon/Pullin as teaching sex ed.
Is the electorate that stupid to believe their lies and distortions?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:29 am
At least 1/3 of the American Public will blindly accept whatever Republicans say.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:33 amMornin FR, Un..
September 10th, 2008 at 9:33 amThat was the Michael Kinsley Time article you found Un. A good piece of journalism…!
Why McCain is ‘ahead’ in the polls:
Poll Madness: McCain Takes Lead Even As Democrats Out-Register Republicans?
This week’s mainstream coverage of the presidential horse-race has been dominated by a series of polls showing the McCain-Palin ticket with its first stable lead over Obama and Biden. Gallup’s tracking poll, USA Today and CBS News all show the Republicans with some kind of lead over the Democratic ticket. But, interestingly, all three polls were also conducted using a higher sampling of Republican voters than in July, raising a question of methodology.
In a year in which Democrats have a lead of 11 million registered voters over Republicans, and have been adding to that advantage through a robust field operation, are pollsters over-sampling Republicans?
Despite a raft of advantages in the electorate for Democrats, in September’s first Gallup tracking poll, an equal number of Republicans and Democrats were surveyed (including “leaners”) from Sept. 3-5, compared to a 10-point Democratic identification advantage two weeks ago. That partisan makeup of the polling pool resulted in a 5-point lead for McCain in Sept. 5 tracking poll. Meanwhile, the new CBS poll features a 6-point swing in partisan composition toward Republicans, which plays some role in the poll’s two-point lead for McCain. Finally, the latest USA Today poll, which claims a four-point edge for McCain, was arrived at after a 10-point swing in partisan makeup toward GOP respondents.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/09/poll-madness-mccain-takes_n_125158.html
September 10th, 2008 at 9:33 amSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in May 2008, according to Bob Woodward. “There’s nothing that I’m prouder of than the liberation of Iraq,” she said “without hesitation.”
Good, then she shouldn’t have a problem being permanently assigned to help in a hospital in downtown Baghdad for the next eight years to make amends for the damage she helped cause.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:34 amUn, the pollster believe their polls will be more ‘accurate’ when they artificially ‘balance’ them out.
And they continue with the ridiculous claims that IF they were including cell phone only households that wouldn’t make any difference.
Look at the demographics of cell phone only homes. Better educated, younger crowd…
September 10th, 2008 at 9:37 amOn the trail today: John McCain and Sarah Palin will appear at a campaign rally at Van Dyck Park on Old Lee Highway in Fairfax City, VA.
I thought Sarah Barracuda was going back to Alaska today. Is McBush afraid to let her go since he knows the big crowds will go with her.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:37 am**Calibleu emailed me the Time article and I almost fell out of my chair at the coverage. While I still think it is too early to think corporate media might actually cover the truth, this was an excellent start. Thanks for the post!
September 10th, 2008 at 9:37 am#20 unbelievable Says:
The problem with their aspiration to keep us impoverished is that when people have nothing left to lose, they are willing to instigate a violent revolution (France, Bolsheviks, our own…)
They better be careful what they wish for. I think, better to be a millionaire with freedom than a billionaire who has to travel and live in armored vehicles and houses.
Good Morning unbelievable :) Exactly, not much of a life. They are so hated at this point, that after they all leave office life is going to drastically change. People are not going to ever forget what this administration has done to them and many have had their lives destroyed. We can only hope they will be held accountable for this… And that the new Congress will do a much better job than this current one. What a huge disappointment they turned out to be..
September 10th, 2008 at 9:39 amRUCerious Says: That was the Michael Kinsley Time article you found Un. A good piece of journalism…!
Hi there!
I was stunned while reading it last night that it was actually a Time article. Definitely one of the best pieces of journalism I’ve seen. Still can’t believe his corporate masters let him publish it.
Also, the WSJ published an hoenst piece on Palin’s lies about the Bridge to Nowhere. And a Republican I know emailed it to his Conservative family in Alabama (I’m not naive enough to think they will vote for Obama now, but I do remind them that Bob Barr is a viable Libertarian alternative to voting for McSame :)
September 10th, 2008 at 9:40 amAnd while we’re on the subject of polls,
Poll………………..date..McIIIrd…Obama
American Research Group 9/6-8 46 …….47
NBC/Wall Street Journal 9/6-8 46 …….47
So much for McIIIrd’s convention bounce…
September 10th, 2008 at 9:41 amunbelievable Says:
Why McCain is ‘ahead’ in the polls:
In other words, if one adjusts the poll results for the sampling error, Obama is leading by around 10%.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:41 amRUCerious Says: Un, the pollster believe their polls will be more ‘accurate’ when they artificially ‘balance’ them out.
How nice of them…
Though, I do think that making it a ‘close race’ is keeping Obama supporters from becoming passive.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:42 amI am so upset about what is happening with our polls. Before the Republican convention Gallup polled 10% more Democrats than Republicans because there are way more registered Democrats than Republicans. But after the convention they started polling an equal number. That would explain the huge McCain bump. It is also manipulating us and trying to influence the election. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that other polling outfits are doing the same thing.
So now we have the MSM AND the polling companies trying to influence the election. Unless we can get the Democrats out to vote in massive numbers, we may be screwed.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:45 amGallup three day rolling average had McIIIrd ahead 49/44 for two days in a row on the 7th and 8th. Am waiting for yesterday’s number to come out, betting McIIIrd’s lead is no more than two or three at best
September 10th, 2008 at 9:47 am“There’s nothing that I’m prouder of than the liberation of Iraq,” she said “without hesitation.”
And she must also be proud of the millions of Iraqis we have “liberated” from their lives and their homes.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:47 amMcWars Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Congressional budget ana lysts said yesterday that the federal budget deficit will reach “a near-record [of] $407 billion
I can hear the water running — Grover Norquist is upstairs filling up the bathtub for the special occasion.
What’s also nagging besides the deficit figures is the fact that nobody seems to care. But the failed CEO of HP gleefully bragged at the convention about McCain’s “plan” to post audit results of government agencies on the Internet. OMG, how innovative. Never mind that an agency called the GAO already takes care of that business. I suppose people like Carly Fiorina prefer an audit system having the paupers report to the prince.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:47 am**I just don’t trust the polls and the media. I believe that corporate mrdia chose our Dem candidates by covering more Clinton and Obama campaign news than the other candidates combined (don’t have any actual links for proof.) I also BELIEVE that they created “conflict” between Clinton and Obama. And now they are creating conflict between the repuke and Dem campaigns. If someone would actually count up the total time spent on “conflict” comments (particularly with Obama) versus “attack” comments I think it would be a low ratio (again, lower for Dems) Corporate media WANTS the negative news for viewership.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:47 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Before the Republican convention Gallup polled 10% more Democrats than Republicans because there are way more registered Democrats than Republicans. But after the convention they started polling an equal number.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:45 am
_______
This is the first time I’ve heard about this – where did you see it?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:48 amHouse Democratic leaders “are considering a $25-billion rescue package for the auto industry as part of an effort to bolster the sagging U.S. economy.”
Ok House Democrats, how about a rescue for the struggling homeowners?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:48 amBilbo, I have a lot of confidence that the newly registered voters perceive the inequity and results of the last eight years of political and economic oppression under Reprobate rule. They’ll turn out in droves…
September 10th, 2008 at 9:48 am**And still trying for their oil!
September 10th, 2008 at 9:49 amGood Morning RUC :) I’m glad to see that my state is taking steps to ensure that we will have a more accurate count of the ballots.
Too much is at stake this election, and the corruption in my state is legendary. I just hope the FBI is planning to arrest more county officials before the election…
I just want an even playing field this year, I don’t think I’m asking for too much.
Have a good day RUC :)
September 10th, 2008 at 9:49 amIolair Says: In other words, if one adjusts the poll results for the sampling error, Obama is leading by around 10%.
At least. They also refuse to factor in cell phone only households, or newly registered voters.
Plus, if you look at CNN’s electorate map, which they are all ignoring in the MSM, of course, Obama is about 27 electorates away from the jackpot, while McCain is about 90. People seem to be forgetting that this is not a national race.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:49 ambeat~ It does make for good political reality show drama, doesn’t it?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:49 amWill do, FR, just running scripts today, lots of free time on my hands…(Don’t tell the boss)..heh
September 10th, 2008 at 9:50 am8 is enough.
Sarahcudda may bite, but she also lies. Alaska is the biggest corporate welfare State in the Nation. Handouts & pork are expected.
Hmmm, earmarks are pork. Sarah likes her pork. Sarah likes lipstick.
Well, there you have it…we DO have a pig wearing lipstick.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:50 amccokz Says: Obama said sth like “a pig is still a pig, even if u put lipstick on it.”
Priceless!
September 10th, 2008 at 9:50 amIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
Tucson’s John Brakey ‘Frog Marched’ Out of Counting Room After Noticing Ballot Bags With Missing Security Seals.
He wasn’t just frog marched, he was arrested. I can’t seem to find out what they charged him with. If our election observers are arrested when they object to something we will be truly screwed in November. I agree that Obama should be taking time to register new voters, but he also needs to be putting together a strike team of lawyers and election observers to stop them from trying to steal another election.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:52 amFritz Says
September 10th, 2008 at 9:04 am
New McCain Ad: Obama Favors Sex-Ed For Kindergartners
http://www.cbsnews.com/ blogs/ 2008/ 09/ 09/ politics/ horserace/ entry4433099.shtml
A new low for McSame. These people are slime.
__________________________________________________________
It’s also a lie. According to the linked article, the ad claims that Obama wants “comprehensive sex ed” for kindergarteners. All Obama favors is teaching young children about what kind of touching is appropriate and what’s inappropriate, to protect them from sexual predators — a concept that has bipartisan support (is their really any thinking person who would be against such a thing?). This isn’t “comprehensive sex ed” in any way, shape, or form.
The Republicans are getting bolder and more flagrant with their lies. I know a desperate, wounded animal can be dangerous, but this is getting ridiculous.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:53 amAnd the beat goes on Says:
I heard a guest say that whoever can really get the “green” technology going could become a global leader. I have alway thought that “green” technology could be the New Deal of the 21st century. This could be very exciting!
This idea was a major theme of Al Gore’s 1993 book Earth In The Balance
At the time, everybody laughed.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Earth_in_the_Balance.htm
September 10th, 2008 at 9:53 amHere’s an excellent piece (pardon the length) from pollster.com on the skewing of the Survey USA poll in NC showing McIIIrd ahead by 20%…
The latest Survey USA poll out of North Carolina (showing a 20 point McCain advantage) has already generated some disbelief among Pollster.com readers. There may be good reason for some skepticism. After all, less than one month ago, Survey USA showed just a four point lead for McCain. Is this newest poll evidence of a huge Palin bump? An outlier? Evidence of the “shy Tory factor?” Or have Republicans suddenly become much more likely to vote?
I’m not sure we can answer this question definitively yet, but we can lend some context to this poll. At about the same time as Survey USA was releasing the North Carolina result, they were also releasing surveys from Virginia and Washington, neither showing as dramatic a swing. In Washington, Survey USA showed a 7% lead for Obama in early August and now shows him up 4%. In Virginia, McCain held a 1% advantage in early August compared to 2% now. The Virginia result is particularly important since it comes from a state that neighbors North Carolina and shares some demographic similarities. If there was a Palin bounce in North Carolina, presumably we would’ve seen more of a bump in Virginia as well.
An examination of the cross tabs goes a long way in helping us to understand the North Carolina result. Fortunately, Survey USA provides us with the composition of their sample among various measures. Of particular interest here is their party break down. In early August, 46% of the Survey USA sample was made up of Democrats and just 33% were Republicans. In the most recent poll, the margin was essentially even–40% were Democrats and 41% were Republicans. In other words, in a survey conducted less than a month later, Democrats made up 6% less of the sample and Republican representation increased by 8%.
Everything we know about partisanship suggests that such massive shifts over such a short period are highly unlikely. In other words, it is not very plausible that North Carolinians became 6% less Democratic and 8% more Republican in less than a month. So, what are the other potential explanations? One is the “shy Tory factor” outlined by Nate Silver. According to this theory, it could be that Republicans simply weren’t answering surveys at a representative rate a month ago because they lacked enthusiasm, but now they are excited to do so because of the Palin selection. Thus, the increased representation of Republicans in the more recent Survey USA poll may be the result of more Republicans agreeing to be interviewed. But if the “shy Tory factor” is in play, it seems like we’d see a similar increase in Republicans in other surveys. A related theory is that the Palin selection made a lot of Republicans in North Carolina more likely to vote, and since Survey USA presents results from likely voters, they are picking up this change by having more Republicans in their “likely voter” group.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:53 amFreedom Reb: “and if we start now we would be on the cutting edge instead of playing catch-up later.”
Actually the US has to play catch-up now. It is years behind many other countries in energy efficiency, alternate energy research, expertise and implementation.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:54 amCoalition of the Willing
I still don’t get it. The GOP bides its time by creating slogans during times of national crises, major challenges that require detail-oriented responses with no time to waste, and they’ve had the gall all this time to criticize to democrats as being “soft on terror” ????
September 10th, 2008 at 9:56 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says
September 10th, 2008 at 9:45 am
So now we have the MSM AND the polling companies trying to influence the election. Unless we can get the Democrats out to vote in massive numbers, we may be screwed.
___________________________________________________________
Actually, we might be screwed even more if the reverse were true. If the polls showed Obama stomping all over McCain by large double digits, many Obama supporters would just relax and stay home. Keeping it close keeps them galvanized. Not just for voting, but also for volunteering and donating.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:58 am5th Estate Says:
Actually the US has to play catch-up now. It is years behind many other countries in energy efficiency, alternate energy research, expertise and implementation.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:54 am
______
Truth – even upstart polluters like China and India are becoming huge incubators of green technology, out of necessity if nothing else.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:58 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
——————————————————————————–
IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
Tucson’s John Brakey ‘Frog Marched’ Out of Counting Room After Noticing Ballot Bags With Missing Security Seals.
He wasn’t just frog marched, he was arrested. I can’t seem to find out what they charged him with. If our election observers are arrested when they object to something we will be truly screwed in November. I agree that Obama should be taking time to register new voters, but he also needs to be putting together a strike team of lawyers and election observers to stop them from trying to steal another election.
I can’t find anything anywhere saying that he was charged with anything. They just wanted him out of there and didn’t want him to observe a damn thing.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:59 amUncle Ho Says: Perhaps the MSM will finally do its job.
I really think we’ve been under-estimating the power we have in here to inform people when the MSM does not.
They are going to become irrelevent as the older generations die off and the younger, tech-savvy generations discard their entertainment-style bullsh!t for YouTube style free-information systems.
I think the MSM is already seeing this happen. Perhaps they are realizing that if they want to continue to be relevant and have a paying audience, they are going to have to step up to the plate and start doing their jobs once again.
We can only hope.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:01 amToasty, you bet they are. And a McIIIrd administration will continue to keep our collective head buried in the proverbial sand (think oil, desert nations…) whilst the rest of the world leaves us in the dust in the race to produce clean energy.
That said, I really don’t have a problem with “a steady decline in U.S. dominance “.
Dominance is highly overrated.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:02 amRock group Heart set to use funds from the GOP’s usage of their song Barracuda (assuming they’ll pay the proper licensing fees) to help fund Obama’s campaign.
in an e-mail to EW.com, the Wilson sisters said that “Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. … While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”
The Republican Party did in fact obtain the necessary license to use the song, which can be played when a venue pays a blanket fee to ASCAP, the organization that protects music copyrights.
While the Wilsons are clearly upset, “Barracuda” co-writer and former Heart guitarist Roger Fisher (Nancy’s ex) has a different outlook. He’s happy to receive the publicity, he told Reuters last week, and he pledged to give part of the royalties from the song’s use to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s campaign.
LINK
September 10th, 2008 at 10:02 amWarned by the Court
A judge repeatedly told Palin and family not to badmouth her sister’s ex
Mark Hosenball
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Updated: 7:36 PM ET Sep 9, 2008
An Anchorage judge three years ago warned Sarah Palin and members of her family to stop “disparaging” the reputation of Alaska State Trooper Michael Wooten, who at the time was undergoing a bitter separation and divorce from Palin’s sister Molly.
Allegations that Palin, her husband Todd, and at least one top gubernatorial aide continued to vilify Wooten—after Palin became Alaska’s governor and pressured state police officials to take action against him—are at the center of “Troopergate,” a political and ethical controversy which has embroiled Palin’s administration and is currently the subject of an official inquiry by a special investigator hired by the state legislature.
Court records obtained by NEWSWEEK show that during the course of divorce hearings three years ago, Judge John Suddock heard testimony from an official of the Alaska State Troopers’ union about how Sarah Palin—then a private citizen—and members of her family, including her father and daughter, lodged up to a dozen complaints against Wooten with the state police. The union official told the judge that he had never before been asked to appear as a divorce-case witness, that the union believed family complaints against Wooten were “not job-related,” and that Wooten was being “harassed” by Palin and other family members.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/158140
**More hope on the horizon? While some might that MSNBC is a bastion of liberalism, their recent removal of Olbermann and Mathews as election anchors proved that wrong. Keep these stories coming!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:02 amDNFP ~ BWAHAHAHA!!! Karma is sweet, just like brown sugar!~!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:03 amQuestions for Palin
There’s no polite way to say it: Sarah Palin has been hiding out from hard questions. It took 10 days from when John McCain announced his pick until the McCain campaign agreed to schedule Palin an unscripted interview with a serious journalist.
McCain’s camp has handled their vice-presidential pick like some celebrity who will only deign to give an interview if conditions are favorable. McCain campaign manager Rick Davis told Fox News Sunday, Palin would take questions “when we think it’s time and when she feels comfortable doing it.”
Palin has accused Barack Obama of being a me-first celebrity candidate for president. At least he has been facing media questions for the past 18 months.
Here are some of the questions Palin should be answering, for Alaskans and the rest of the country:
more at:
September 10th, 2008 at 10:04 amhttp://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/520272.html
misshusseinmolly Says:
The Republicans are getting bolder and more flagrant with their lies. I know a desperate, wounded animal can be dangerous, but this is getting ridiculous.
I’m hoping that it will come back to bite them. No reasonable adult, even if they are Republican, would think that Obama was for teaching kindergartens “comprehensive sex education”. The more outlandish their lies, the more the public is going to doubt them. They may just “cry wolf” one too many times.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:06 amUn, since we’re posting some good stuff today, I’m going to take the liberty of posting E. J. Dionne’s article which appeared in yesterday’s Seattle Times…Those of you who don’t want to read, please skip with my apologies for the length…
Palin’s telling Sunday absence
John McCain’s campaign acknowledged this weekend that Sarah Palin is unprepared to be vice president or president of the United States. Of course, McCain’s people said…
Syndicated Columnist
WASHINGTON — John McCain’s campaign acknowledged this weekend that Sarah Palin is unprepared to be vice president or president of the United States.
Of course, McCain’s people said no such thing. But their actions told you all you needed to know.
McCain, Barack Obama and Joe Biden all subjected themselves to tough questioning on the regular Sunday news programs. Palin was the only no-show. And it’s not just the Sunday interviews. She has not opened herself to any serious questioning since McCain picked her to be next in line for the presidency.
McCain’s advisers clearly don’t trust Palin to answer questions about policy, and don’t want her to answer many of the questions that have been raised about her tenure as governor of Alaska.
Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, gave the game away when he said on “Fox News Sunday” that she would not meet with reporters until they showed a willingness to treat her “with some level of respect and deference.”
Deference? That’s a word used in monarchies or aristocracies. Democracies don’t give “deference” to politicians. When have McCain, Obama, Biden or, for that matter, Hillary Clinton asked for deference?
A few hours later came the announcement that Palin would grant an interview to ABC News’ Charlie Gibson. Recall that Gibson was the co-host of an ABC News debate last April during which Obama faced a relentless pounding. Here’s hoping that a sense of fairness will lead Gibson to be comparably tough on Palin this week. If he treats her more deferentially than he did Obama, we will know that McCain’s war on the media is working.
From the moment Palin was picked, reporters immediately began to ask questions, a lot of them. Because she was so little known outside Alaska, her views on many issues, particularly foreign policy, are a mystery. Voters also need to know how McCain went about reaching the most important decision he will make between now and Election Day.
A week ago, Elisabeth Bumiller of The New York Times cited McCain sources questioning “how thoroughly Mr. McCain had examined her background before putting her on the Republican presidential ticket.” She reported that Palin had been selected “with more haste than McCain advisers initially described.” (She also mistakenly reported that Palin belonged to the Alaskan Independence Party. It was her husband Todd who had been a member.)
McCain’s people trashed Bumiller, saying she had opted to “make up her own version of events.” Steve Schmidt, McCain’s chief strategist, said the Times had written “an absolute work of fiction” about the vetting process while Karl Rove told his Fox News viewers that the Times “got it wrong.”
It turned out that the McCain side misled journalists. Bumiller was right about the vetting. The lesson is that McCain’s counselors are not interested in fair treatment, and they are certainly not interested in the truth.
If the media cave to McCain’s pressure, it will be the third time this decade that conservative attacks led reporters to tilt to the right.
During the 2000 battle over Florida, Al Gore’s perfectly defensible efforts to win a hand recount ran into a buzz saw of criticism from nonpartisan commentators, many of whom urged Gore to withdraw “gracefully.” In the buildup to the Iraq War, the Bush administration and its supporters savaged the patriotism of many who raised questions about its strategy and its plans. Now, McCain hopes Palin will skate through the next two months without any real scrutiny or questioning.
It is hugely unfortunate that the first big story about Palin — other than questions raised about whether she fired the head of the Alaska state police for refusing to dismiss her former brother-in-law — concerned her 17-year-old daughter’s pregnancy. It’s not just that Bristol Palin should be left alone, but also that the intense interest in this story gave McCain’s bullies an excuse to push aside legitimate questions about Palin’s record and knowledge.
Of course Palin’s handlers are being hypocritical: They want to focus on her family life and her identity as a hockey mom when doing so helps them, and push aside any story that mars this perfect picture. Conservatives are always against identity politics until they are for it.
Nonetheless, what matters is not Palin’s personal life, but whether she is prepared to assume the presidency if called upon. The actions of McCain’s lieutenants suggest that they know the answer. And they are doing everything they can to keep the media from finding it.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:09 amI hope you’re right, but I fear that the same people that make country music, SUVs, and American Idol popular are not smart enough to know when they are being lied to. And we know they are overwhelmingly Republican, due to their cowardice and lack of critical thinking skills.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:09 am#63 5th Estate Says:
Freedom Reb: “and if we start now we would be on the cutting edge instead of playing catch-up later.”
Actually the US has to play catch-up now. It is years behind many other countries in energy efficiency, alternate energy research, expertise and implementation.
Good Morning 5th Estate ;) I’ve missed you. I agree we are behind but, with all the new technology out there now we could effectively close “part of that gap” we lost by not implementing some of this back in 2000. I say that because it always takes so much time to implement any great change with lawmakers that seem to drag their feet with a new piece of legislation. Plus, the technology has improved greatly during that time. But you are probably right maybe cutting edge was pushing it alittle.
I was thinking of all the new technology that is coming out in ‘09 with new turbines & improvements in geothermal, that is when some of the projects are slated to be finished.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:10 amWasilla charged rape victims for their own forensic exams under Mayor Sarah Palin?
From the Frontiersman:
http://www.americablog.com/2008/09/wasilla-charged-rape-victims-for-their.html
September 10th, 2008 at 10:10 amUn, so it’s true that Mayor Palin was a cost cutter!!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:12 amThe proposed auto industry bailout is mighty interesting. For 2009 Ford is going to import some of its European models previously unavailable in the US because they are more efficient than the US versions. However because of the weak dollar the US will still miss out on the most fuel efficient cars as they can’t be sold at a profit.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:14 am50% of European cars are diesel, but in the US it’s about 1o%. Diesel is more expensive at the pump than gasoline in large part due to taxes.
Ford’s new diesel Fiesta gets 60 mpg–but the US can’t afford it whilst the Europeans obviously can.
Here is the link to the comments about the “green” revolution. It was Thomas Friedman talking about his new book. He was on MTP this last Sunday. An excellent interview! Here is the transcript:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26590488/page/5/
September 10th, 2008 at 10:16 am“If you were a fully qualified vice-presidential candidate from the get-go, why did you wait more than 10 days to face reporters?”
____________
Because she was busy reciting “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain” over and over and over again…
By Jove! I think she’s got it!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:17 amI believe the current Electoral-vote.com map has the worst-case scenario. The tied states — WA, NV, CO, ND, SD, FL, IN, PA, OH, NH, VA — Obama could lose except WA, NV, CO and PA, and still take the election. I don’t even seen some of those states – particularly WA and PA – as tied.
Obama has recently shifted his campaign strategy away from states like Georgia, where he increasingly had hope out of increasing voter registrations, and is now refocusing on Ohio. But I’m constantly puzzled about Ohio.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:17 amRUCerious Says: Nonetheless, what matters is not Palin’s personal life, but whether she is prepared to assume the presidency if called upon. The actions of McCain’s lieutenants suggest that they know the answer. And they are doing everything they can to keep the media from finding it.
Even the Republicans are starting to questiom her seclusion. After all, they want their politicians to be able to face the “Axis of Evil”, and prevail… Not hide in some corner of the closet and whimper.
Great article!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:17 amRUCerious Says:
Everything we know about partisanship suggests that such massive shifts over such a short period are highly unlikely. In other words, it is not very plausible that North Carolinians became 6% less Democratic and 8% more Republican in less than a month. So, what are the other potential explanations? One is the “shy Tory factor” outlined by Nate Silver. According to this theory, it could be that Republicans simply weren’t answering surveys at a representative rate a month ago because they lacked enthusiasm, but now they are excited to do so because of the Palin selection. Thus, the increased representation of Republicans in the more recent Survey USA poll may be the result of more Republicans agreeing to be interviewed. But if the “shy Tory factor” is in play, it seems like we’d see a similar increase in Republicans in other surveys. A related theory is that the Palin selection made a lot of Republicans in North Carolina more likely to vote, and since Survey USA presents results from likely voters, they are picking up this change by having more Republicans in their “likely voter” group.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:53 am
_______
This strikes me as a very plausible explanation for the changing poll results. The key deciding factor in elections for the last few cycles hasn’t been how many undecided voters you bring to your candidate’s side, but how many of your opponent’s potential voters you disaffect (and increasingly, disenfranchise). It’s very possible that the selection of one of their own as VP has fired up those in the Evangelunatic fringe of the Republican party who’d been planning to sit this one out. If this is the case, we should take these poll results very seriously.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:19 amSeptember 10th, 2008 at 10:19 am
the same people that make country music, SUVs, and American Idol popular are not smart enough to know when they are being lied to.
A good percentage of Americans have a Reader’s Digest/National Enquirer mentality. They don’t engage in issues, they want someone to spoon feed them the answer in a short, black and white and titillating way. And a whole industry is in place to jam the information tube in some orifice for them and stuff them full of shit. Faux News, CNN, hate radio.. and the MSM is following suit.
Call me elitist. Maybe so, I have no respect for this uneducated trash.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:19 amRUCerious Says: Un, so it’s true that Mayor Palin was a cost cutter!!
Only using Republican math :)
She also wants them to bear and raise any child that is a product of that rape.
She’s disgusting.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:20 amFritz and misshusseinmolly beat me to it, but
McCain is not concerned with education, unless he can utilize it with lies to attack his opponent.
The legislation was to teach children about appropriate touching compared to inappropriate, as well as learning about sexual predators.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:20 amOnly a sick fck from the right would say that was bad for families. Only a deranged mental midget would mislead the public about ways of preventing abuse to unacceptable education.
I would expect Obama and the media to crucify this ad. I won’t hold my breath, however.
BTW, I have no problem teaching my children about the mechanics of “where they came from” in an appropriate manner, when they ask.
So far, they kinda shrug their shoulder, go “huh”, and move on to the next interest, usually involving video games or outdoor activities.
Obama says:
John McCain says he’s about change too, and so I guess his whole angle is, ‘Watch out George Bush — except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics — we’re really going to shake things up in Washington,’” he said.
“That’s not change. That’s just calling something the same thing something different. You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. You know you can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, it’s still going to stink after eight years. We’ve had enough of the same old thing.”
Subject = John McCain says he’s about change too
How in the hell do you get a personal reference to McPiggy, er McPalin out of this context?
You lie your republican ass off.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:20 amnanlichi Says:
Call me elitist. Maybe so, I have no respect for this uneducated trash.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:19 am
______
It’s only elitist if you were drinking an arugula latte whilst typing it onto your Mac.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:22 amMcWars, Ohio is a puzzle, yes.
Very Christian. But they’ve been hammered by the rust belt and industrial jobs being shipped overseas.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:23 amThey’ll have to be persuaded that Obama isn’t Saladin in Xian clothing to avoid voting against their self interest.
Chantrelle, spinach and swiss cheese omelette whilst typing on my Blackberry.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:24 amsatirev, yeah, spot on.
He’s diverted attention away from the paucity of ideas he has about getting the nation back on course, and substituted shiny stuff for us to gawk at.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:26 amPosted this on another thread earlier, sorry for the lack of originality, but this a meme that I think could gain some traction:
I heard a great statement today, something like… My grandfather would not have voted for a black man, my father probably not, but my kids would not take a person’s color as a reason to or not to vote. This election is about the future, not the past, vote for your kids.
And it’s true, racism is slowly dying out in this country, or at least is on a decline and this meme captures that thought.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:28 amCristal and beluga caviar for breakfast? Not for this guy, it’s Wednesday and I have to work. Maybe Saturday satirev, after the polo match.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:29 amnanlichi Says:
Cristal and beluga caviar for breakfast? Not for this guy, it’s Wednesday and I have to work. Maybe Saturday satirev, after the polo match.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:29 am
_______
Work? How quaint…
September 10th, 2008 at 10:32 amRUCerious Says:
McWars, Ohio is a puzzle, yes.
Very Christian. But they’ve been hammered by the rust belt and industrial jobs being shipped overseas.
They’ll have to be persuaded that Obama isn’t Saladin in Xian clothing to avoid voting against their self interest.
Great points, RU. Speaking of economic interests, think of all those green manufacturing jobs that can be brought to the state if they could simply wise up. (Thanks for the post, Freb!) As beholden to wedge issues one may be, that doesn’t sustain a livelihood.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:33 amTruth be told, satirev, I am spending the next two weeks camped out in the woods playing redneck. I am taking a case of 1994 Penfold Grange along, so I don’t lose touch with my elitist roots.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:36 amsatirev Says:
… to which she replied: “I don’t even know what the Vice President does”???
much like PORTER GOSS:
“I couldn’t get a job with CIA today. I am not qualified.”
PERFECT! you’re hired as the new CIA DIRECTOR!
and that’s what it’s all about:
September 10th, 2008 at 10:41 am“government is bad, and we can prove it!”
satirev, it really did strike me as a great way to frame the issue. In my family at least it is very true, my grandfather (and to some extent my father) would use the n word with abandon, and was overtly racist. My two sons would throw rocks at me if I used a term like “n – flipper” to describe a slingshot. If we can get people to see that racism is on the decline and that this vote is for the future of our kids, it could sway some of the undecideds.
Whoever the hell they are. How can a person be undecided at this point?
September 10th, 2008 at 10:41 amsatirev Says:
Hi Mcwars! Indeed, this contest will ultimately come down to our lifestyles and how they’ve been adversely affected by the failed policies of Bush, supported 95% by McCain.
Hey, satirev! Indeed, but you have to define ‘lifestyle’ for the average American, or else they’ll think demlibs are in it to knock American Idol off the air, and vote for McCain.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:47 amBeware, fellow libs. Palin may use any remaining earmark funds to build concentration camps for dissenters.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:53 amThe lesson is that McCain’s counselors are not interested in fair treatment, and they are certainly not interested in the truth. Mavericks? Hardly…
Lying Sacks ‘08
September 10th, 2008 at 10:56 amMcCon-Pullin
# 77 Freedom Rebel Says:
Good morning to you , Freb.
Sorry for my somewhat grumpy tone. Of course framing the problem as an opportunity will add to the motivation and assist in a more successful implementation.
It’s just that the talk of the US becoming a “world leader” in green tech sounds like exactly the kind of exceptionalism that often gets the US into trouble.
The US does need to approach the energy situation as an “Apollo” program of sorts but it also needs to get with the global program and realize that it doesn’t all have to be “made in America”.
If the US for example wants to build some new nuclear power stations as part of a more diversified energy system it might want to look to the French (who are the world leaders in that field) first for some immediate help.
Ford has finally decided to import some its European models intact instead of re-engineering them for the US as it did with the Escort, making it less efficient AND less competitive with Japanese cars in the process.
The US can mitigate some of its energy problems immediately with expertise and technology from abroad and by introducing such solutions “early to market” the immediate tangible effects will sell the concept as well or better than rah-rah rhetoric.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:02 amDid you catch McCain’s despicable “Education” campaign ad? I debunked every single statement made in that ad.
Let’s hope that any of the talking heads take the time to do so, too.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:15 amHouse Democratic leaders “are considering a $25-billion rescue package for the auto industry as part of an effort to bolster the sagging U.S. economy.” The proposal, “with its clear political implications for key battleground states, is likely to be put on a legislative fast track, possibly clearing Congress in a matter of weeks.”
My friend and I were just discussing the auto industry’s resistance to change and make more fuel efficient, smaller vehicles. I cynically said:
The more cynical I become, the more I think I’m seeing the light. Nice. Thanks again, megacorps, for making me think less of our country.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:17 amReally! Would you like shaved truffles on you omelet?
September 10th, 2008 at 11:18 amMcCain’s post convention bounce is a dead cat bounce.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:28 amShayne, I believe that pigs are used to find truffles.
ARE YOU CALLING ME A SEXIST?
See Johnny boy, we Democrats can do non sequiters too.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:35 amnan & Shayne, should the pigs then shave their snouts? My head is reeling…
September 10th, 2008 at 11:41 amI think McCain is making a big deal about teaching kindergarteners appropriate and inappropriate touch because it will cut down on the number of children the Repukes with “high” morals can molest!
September 10th, 2008 at 11:48 amRUCerious, when this certain lipstick stained sow goes belly-up in two months, at least McSame can make two silk purses for Cindy.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:52 amAll I know is if the McCain campaign thinks Sarah is a pig in lipstick who am I to disagree.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:58 amWhat I find hilarious is that the McSame campaign feigns faux outrage at the pig on lipstick statement, but remains silent about the “stink of old fish” for 8 years.
Ha!
September 10th, 2008 at 11:58 amMSNBC had a clip of McCain using the same exact phrase. Of course the because of his dementia the old coot probably doesn’t remember.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:00 pm______
Ms_Joanne Says:
Did you catch McCain’s despicable “Education” campaign ad? I debunked every single statement made in that ad.
Let’s hope that any of the talking heads take the time to do so, too.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:15 am
______
McCain wouldn’t be able to use this had the phrase “age appropriate sex education” not been used in regard to kindergartners. Parents have a right to be concerned about any legislation approving such language. Teaching children about inappropriate contact is not the same as teaching teens the facts about being sexually active and the two should not be labeled the same.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pmOnly an idiot like you would make that assumption, diwnright_wrong.
Give it up. That lie won’t fly.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:29 pm______
Leftside Annie Says:
Only an idiot like you would make that assumption, diwnright_wrong.
Give it up. That lie won’t fly.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
September 10th, 2008 at 1:46 pm______
Annie! How’ve you been? I totally understand your opposition, not coming from the point of view a parent wanting to limit the ability of school personnel to teach kindergartners about sexual activity. You must understand that some people distrust govt entities and are reluctant to give them free rein regarding the innocence of their children.
I totally understand your opposition, not coming from the point of view a parent wanting to limit the ability of school personnel to teach kindergartners about sexual activity.
Mention “sex” and GOPers either run for a men’s room stall, or they begin looking at anything sexual as “gay”.
What a tiny little world they live in, full of fear and loathing.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:59 pm______
DieNowForPeace Says:
I totally understand your opposition, not coming from the point of view a parent wanting to limit the ability of school personnel to teach kindergartners about sexual activity.
Mention “sex” and GOPers either run for a men’s room stall, or they begin looking at anything sexual as “gay”.
What a tiny little world they live in, full of fear and loathing.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
______
C’mon, die, the subject wasn’t gay sex. Who was it that you said has the problem with that, now? Get your mind out of the gutter. Surely, even you can see the problem with ambiguous language concerning “age appropriate sex education for k-12″. Or maybe not. By the way, I’m voting for Obama. Not everyone who supports the same candidate as you agrees with you.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pmupright left Says
September 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
McCain wouldn’t be able to use this had the phrase “age appropriate sex education” not been used in regard to kindergartners. Parents have a right to be concerned about any legislation approving such language. Teaching children about inappropriate contact is not the same as teaching teens the facts about being sexually active and the two should not be labeled the same.
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So lemme get this straight — you’re defending McCain’s ad on the basis that Obama should have insisted that the wording be changed on the legislation before voting for it? That argument is so weak as to be positively laughable.
McCain’s ad claimed that Obama supported “comprehensive sex education” for kindergarteners, and he supported no such thing. It seems the party that most needs to change their wording is the McCain campaign.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:04 pmMCCAIN USED “LIPSTICK ON A PIG” PHRASE 11 MONTH’S AGO WHEN REFERRING TO THEN DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HILLARY CLINTON’S HEALTHCARE PLAN:
LINK
FCUKING HYPOCRITICAL REPUKES, GODDAMN ANTI-AMERICAN TRAITORS.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:09 pmeven you can see the problem with ambiguous language concerning “age appropriate sex education for k-12?.
Why would anyone with a developed brain stem have a problem with it, unless you think arguing over semantics is a valuable use of time.
WHAT THE FCUK PART OF “AGE APPROPRIATE” DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?
Got stupid?
September 10th, 2008 at 3:11 pm______
misshusseinmolly Says:
upright left Says
September 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
McCain wouldn’t be able to use this had the phrase “age appropriate sex education” not been used in regard to kindergartners. Parents have a right to be concerned about any legislation approving such language. Teaching children about inappropriate contact is not the same as teaching teens the facts about being sexually active and the two should not be labeled the same.
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So lemme get this straight — you’re defending McCain’s ad on the basis that Obama should have insisted that the wording be changed on the legislation before voting for it? That argument is so weak as to be positively laughable.
McCain’s ad claimed that Obama supported “comprehensive sex education” for kindergarteners, and he supported no such thing. It seems the party that most needs to change their wording is the McCain campaign.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
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That’s not what I’m saying at all. The ad is wrong and I don’t believe Obama wants sex education for kindergartners. However, judging from the casual views of sex and the unusual views that some people have about children these days, passing legislation with that ambiguous wording could be detrimental to children. Obama should have realized that when he supported the legislation and pointing that out now would go further in blunting the effect of the ad.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:16 pm______
DieNowForPeace Says:
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even you can see the problem with ambiguous language concerning “age appropriate sex education for k-12?.
Why would anyone with a developed brain stem have a problem with it, unless you think arguing over semantics is a valuable use of time.
WHAT THE FCUK PART OF “AGE APPROPRIATE” DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?
Got stupid?
September 10th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
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What I understand is that k-4 should not be included in any sex education legislation because those who choose the definition of “age appropriate” could include people like you.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pmuptightierightie says:
What I understand is that k-4 should not be included in any sex education legislation because those who choose the definition of “age appropriate” could include people like you.
So, you’ve just proven you don’t understand much of anything, let alone sex education.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:33 pmBut, I give you props for defending the indefensible. A project of futility, yes, but hey, what the heck, it’s your hole you’ve dug.
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DRxJ Says:
uptightierightie says:
What I understand is that k-4 should not be included in any sex education legislation because those who choose the definition of “age appropriate” could include people like you.
So, you’ve just proven you don’t understand much of anything, let alone sex education.
But, I give you props for defending the indefensible. A project of futility, yes, but hey, what the heck, it’s your hole you’ve dug.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
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Sorry to disappoint you, but most parents want their children’s innocence protected as long as possible. Poll non-far left parents and see how many of them think there is such a thing as “age appropriate sex education” for kindergartners? See how many of them define sex education as teaching small children to avoid becoming victims. Had Obama been more careful about the wording of legislation he supported, McCain wouldn’t have been able to exploit this. Legislation regarding children deserves careful consideration.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:45 pmSo, uptightyrighty approves of not educating our children about appropriate and non appropriate touches.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:50 pmNice.
Hey, I wonder if Palin’s children were sex educated?
By the way, protecting the innocence of children, and discussing the mechanics of “Where did I come from?” in an appropriate manner are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!
September 10th, 2008 at 3:53 pmWay to move the goal posts.
Bravo.
Bravo.
Bravo.
Teaching about the body and it’s function IS NOT the same as desires and outcomes.
You’ve applied the SEX label.
It appears YOU have the problem.
You’re a sick, sick SICK individual.
I suggest therapy, immediately.
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DRxJ Says:
So, uptightyrighty approves of not educating our children about appropriate and non appropriate touches.
Nice.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
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You won’t might pointing out where you got that bit of misinformation, I’m sure.
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DRxJ Says:
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By the way, protecting the innocence of children, and discussing the mechanics of “Where did I come from?” in an appropriate manner are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!
Way to move the goal posts.
Bravo.
Bravo.
Bravo.
Teaching about the body and it’s function IS NOT the same as desires and outcomes.
You’ve applied the SEX label.
It appears YOU have the problem.
You’re a sick, sick SICK individual.
I suggest therapy, immediately.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
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You really flip out when people try to protect children, eh bud? That’s an odd little quirk you have there. And you wonder why people are careful about who they want talking to their children about certain topics?
September 10th, 2008 at 4:26 pmYet uptightyrighty couldn’t counter my argument of teaching the mechanics compared with the act for pleasure.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pmYes, uptighty, though you like to paint me with a broad brush, I’m a proud father of four, who will protect and teach his children, wisely.
And if I felt that the material was inappropriate for them, I would opt them out, just like the legislation suggested.
But then again, I have no problem discussing with my children that “fluid from a man combined with a females egg may eventually create a baby”.
You obviously do.
I distinctly feel that YOU may not be age appropriate.
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DRxJ Says:
Yet uptightyrighty couldn’t counter my argument of teaching the mechanics compared with the act for pleasure.
Yes, uptighty, though you like to paint me with a broad brush, I’m a proud father of four, who will protect and teach his children, wisely.
And if I felt that the material was inappropriate for them, I would opt them out, just like the legislation suggested.
But then again, I have no problem discussing with my children that “fluid from a man combined with a females egg may eventually create a baby”.
You obviously do.
I distinctly feel that YOU may not be age appropriate.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
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I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt and NOT assume that you were suggesting that it’s ok to teach kindergartners the mechanics and/or the pleasures of adult sexual activity. I see I was being too generous. As I said, the problem with such legislation is the people who might be involved in choosing what is “age appropriate sex education” for kindergartners. I dare say you are in the minority. There doesn’t seem to be a big push to start sex ed in kindergarten. So rather than make the majority opt out, those of you who wish to give your children more information than they need can do so at home.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pmGood touch/bad touch teaching is appropriate for any child even before the kindergarten level. That is not sex ed, that’s just good common sense. A child should know that where his or her undergarments are are off limits to anyone else and those who don’t agree are probably perverts. Republicans should stop twisting the facts and saying it’s sex ed, which by the way, is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. You have to sign a permission slip where I come from before your child is allowed to attend a sex ed class-which is at the high school level, not the elementary level, dummies! Go home school your kids so they can be as ignorant as you are and they can get knocked up at 17, too.
September 11th, 2008 at 2:22 amGod Bless those who have suffered from the distress of 9/11, the anniversary date of this posting. May you have peace in your hearts and heartfelt thoughts of goodwill to uplift you-regardless of your political or religious beliefs.
September 11th, 2008 at 2:40 am_______
the Lone Voice of Reason Says:
Good touch/bad touch teaching is appropriate for any child even before the kindergarten level. That is not sex ed, that’s just good common sense. A child should know that where his or her undergarments are are off limits to anyone else and those who don’t agree are probably perverts. Republicans should stop twisting the facts and saying it’s sex ed, which by the way, is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. You have to sign a permission slip where I come from before your child is allowed to attend a sex ed class-which is at the high school level, not the elementary level, dummies! Go home school your kids so they can be as ignorant as you are and they can get knocked up at 17, too.
September 11th, 2008 at 2:22 am
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Republicans are guilty of twisting the meaning of Obama’s support for the bill, but not the facts of the bill. The bill did include teaching children about inappropriate contact in “age appropriate sex education.” As I stated in my original post #135 and you repeated, that is not sex education as most people define it. Hopefully, that was part of the reason the bill never became law.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:15 am