ThinkFast: October 28, 2008
ThinkFast: October 28, 2008
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is returning to Alaska tomorrow to resume his re-election campaign, “despite being convicted of felonies that carry the potential of years in prison.” “It’s not over yet!” Stevens said yesterday. “You’ve got that right,” said his wife, Catherine Stevens.
Gov. Sarah Palin spent over $51,000 in taxpayer dollars to “remodel the governor’s Anchorage office suite and spruce up her mansion and office in Juneau,” the Boston Herald reports. Palin spent $5,380 of the funds on a “72-inch wooden display case” that houses sports memorabilia, “native artwork, and “a Klondike Trail mug.”
According to senior Bush administration officials, the U.S. is “actively considering talks with elements of the Taliban” — “a major policy shift that would have been unthinkable a few months ago.” The officials said that “the recommendation calls for the talks to be led by the Afghan central government, but with the active participation of the U.S.”
“Nine of 10 American workers are losing sleep over financial worries,” according to a survey released yesterday by ComPsych Corporation. In addition, thirty percent of those surveyed “reported worrying about the cost of living while 29 percent cited credit-card debt.”
One week to go: Barack Obama will hold rallies in Chester, PA, and then travel to Harrisonburg, VA and Norfolk, VA. Joe Biden holds events in Ocala and Melbourne, FL. John McCain and Sarah Palin will attend rallies together in Hershey and Quakertown, PA.
Politico reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) “is quietly preparing to ease 90-year-old Sen. Robert C. Byrd from his perch as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.” Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), the committee’s second-ranking Democrat, would assume the chairmanship. Byrd, who suffers from health ailments, would become chairman emeritus.
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said yesterday that “the number of reports of nuclear or radioactive material stolen around the world last year was ‘disturbingly high.’” “Equally troubling is the fact that much of this material is not subsequently recovered,” ElBaradei said. Experts noted that “[i]f all the stolen material were lumped together, it would not be enough to build even one nuclear device.”
15 percent: The share of female veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan who “report being a victim of sexual assault or harassment during military duty,” according to a new study released today. The study, which examined more than 125,000 women who received VA care from October 2001 to October 2007, found that more than half of the female veterans who reported sexual assault have post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Bank of England (BoE) today estimated that the global financial crisis will likely cost the world $2.8 trillion. “The instability of the global financial system in recent weeks has been the most severe in living memory,” said BoE Deputy Governor John Gieve.
And finally: The “pardoned” White House turkeys: Where are they now? Many of these birds capitalized on their 15 minutes of fame and are now living the good life. Marshmallow and Yam, who were in the pardoning class of 2005, went to Disneyland. May and Flower (class of 2007) went to Disney World in Florida, “where they were flown by a United Airlines flight that was renamed ‘Turkey One’ for the occasion.” This year’s turkeys will also be going to Disneyland, “where you will be able to visit them at Big Thunder Mountain Ranch.”
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Gov. Sarah Palin spent over $51,000 in taxpayer dollars to “remodel the governor’s Anchorage office suite and spruce up her mansion and office in Juneau”
But, but . . . it doesn’t belong to her. She’s just using it!
October 28th, 2008 at 9:03 amWEALTH RE-DISTRIBUTING WHORE-B*TCH.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:11 am“According to senior Bush administration officials, the U.S. is ‘actively considering talks with elements of the Taliban…’”
Will someone call Sarah and ask her what the pre-conditions ought to be?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:12 am… Byrd, who suffers from health ailments is the understatement of all time. That old coot hasn’t had a rational thought in fifty years.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:13 amJohn Sydney McCain III: Depends you can change in to…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:14 amWhy would the Taliban want to open talks with the lamest ducks in the world?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:20 amGov. Sarah Palin spent over $51,000 in taxpayer dollars to “remodel the governor’s Anchorage office suite and spruce up her mansion and office in Juneau”…
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I think we’ve all had a great deal of fun reporting on examples of Sarah Palin spending Alaskan taxpayer money like she’s at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but this kind of stuff really isn’t all that relevant.
Since Palin has been named to the ticket, I have realized that I have known very little about how politics works in Alaska, and that what may alarm us down here in the lower 48 may be accepted practice up there.
We need to ask if it’s customary for an incoming governor to spend money redecorating. How does Palin’s redecorating bill compare to that of other incoming governors? Are Alaskan prices so high that a price tag of $5,380 for a display cabinet is considered reasonable? One could get a very nice cabinet custom hand-made down here for less than half that, for example.
Even if Palin’s spending spree exceeds normal practice, it’s really a matter for the Alaskans to judge, not the rest of us. If Alaskans are OK with this, who are we to snipe about it? There are many legitimate reasons to be concerned about Palin being a heartbeat away from the presidency, but this really isn’t one of them.
Now, all that being said — my biggest question about the matter is why did she spend all that money on her mansion and office in Juneau when she’s never there?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:22 amHere’s an interesting scenario concerning the Ted Stevens Senate seat.
What is the probability that Stevens is reelected anyway, then expelled from the Senate in January, and then the governor of Alaska (Failin’ Palin) replaces him with an ambitious young politician with national ambitions, for example, herself?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:22 amSen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is returning to Alaska tomorrow to resume his re-election campaign, “despite being convicted of felonies that carry the potential of years in prison.”
Because he knows Bush will pardon him. There is definitely a much, much lower standard for people with money power.
The only hope is that the Alaskan people will vote against him.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:26 amAccording to senior Bush administration officials, the U.S. is “actively considering talks with elements of the Taliban”. Worried about prosecution by an Obama Justice Department, senior Bush administration officials are reportedly asking the Taliban for safe haven in Waziristan.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:27 amPalin spent $5,380 of the funds on a “72-inch wooden display case” that houses sports memorabilia, “native artwork, and “a Klondike Trail mug.”
I am beyond ready for this woman to just go away…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:27 amNow, will harry reid really throw joe LIE out of the caucus, and ease himself into Senate Majority Leader emeritus?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:28 amThousands of flagged voters can vote, court rules
(CNN) — Georgia must allow thousands of people whose citizenship was questioned by the state’s new voter verification system to vote in the upcoming election, a panel of federal judges ruled Monday.
The court ruling will affect about 4,500 people in Georgia who had been “flagged” by the new voter verification system and faced being denied a chance to vote Nov. 4 because their citizenship was questioned.
It could also affect more than 50,000 other registered Georgia voters also flagged by the new system because of mismatches in their personal identification information, such as discrepancies in addresses.
The three-judge panel also ordered Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (a Repuke) to inform all the flagged voters that they can vote.
“We are very pleased that the court agreed with our legal position that the state violated the Voting Rights Act,” said Elise Shore, a lawyer with one of the civil right groups who brought the lawsuit.
LINK
October 28th, 2008 at 9:29 amThe “pardoned” White House turkeys: Where are they now?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:29 amI thought Scooter Libby’s sentence was commuted, not pardoned…..
Worried about prosecution by an Obama Justice Department, senior Bush administration officials are reportedly asking the Taliban for safe haven in Waziristan.
Really rub it in next year, with a real push to get bin Laden.
Just imagine the headlines:
“Obama catches Osama!”
October 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am15 percent: The share of female veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan who “report being a victim of sexual assault or harassment during military duty,” according to a new study released today.
As long as Consrvatives remain anti-woman, this will continue.
In all other countries where women are seen as equal to men, certain crimes, like sexual assault, are virtually non-existent.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am15 percent: The share of female veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan who “report being a victim of sexual assault or harassment during military duty”…
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This is shameful. And I would be willing to bet these are not assaults committed by “the enemy”, but by people on the same team. People they need to be able to trust if the unit is to be efficient and effective.
I served in the armed forces 35 years ago. Women made up about 7% of the military in those days, and even though most of the men we served with were honorable people who treated us as comrades-in-arms, there were enough men who regarded us as a sexual smorgasbord provided for their pleasure that it created that kind of climate — especially when it was tolerated and even winked at by the higher-ups.
I see not that much has changed. And it won’t change until the culture in our military does.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:31 amtom Says:
Here’s an interesting scenario concerning the Ted Stevens Senate seat.
What is the probability that Stevens is reelected anyway, then expelled from the Senate in January, and then the governor of Alaska (Failin’ Palin) replaces him with an ambitious young politician with national ambitions, for example, herself?
As Bilbo pointed out yesterday, chances are zero because an election has to be called. The previous governor appointed his daughter to his own vacated Senate seat and that was too much even in Alaska.
Not that she couldn’t run in that election, of course.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:32 amHow on earth can Chimpy McFlightsuit be talking with the Taliban (although they both look the same). I thought Chimpy was tough on turists and didn’t negotiate with them? Or was that just grist for the mill in the 2004 theft of the White House? It gets so confusing trying to figure out what Chimpy means to say.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:32 amCould Bush be debating himself on the Taliban deal? Maybe Bush is mass-debating himself..who knows?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:35 amSteven’s, those pissy looking photos of you tell of a deeper, more sinister persona.
What a total fcuking jerk… good riddance, piece of shit.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:36 ammisshusseinmolly Says: Even if Palin’s spending spree exceeds normal practice, it’s really a matter for the Alaskans to judge, not the rest of us. If Alaskans are OK with this, who are we to snipe about it?
Well considering Alaska gets more Federal money than it gives, about 40% of that bill is paid by non-Alaskans in the lower 48…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:36 amDieNowForPeace Says: Thousands of flagged voters can vote, court rules
Here in Georgia, a lot of people are worried that their vote won’t be counted, or counted properly – including me. I’m glad to see the justice system here still works. There is a slim shot that Obama could win this state.
Local news reports show long lines at early voting centers, and even in conservatively white counties like Gwinnett, there are a high number of brown skinned people – and young people.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:43 amunbelievable Says
October 28th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Well considering Alaska gets more Federal money than it gives, about 40% of that bill is paid by non-Alaskans in the lower 48…
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Ah — good point. Which brings up another question — why are we sending all this federal money up there when they are supposedly drowning in oil money? But I suppose that’s another thread…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:43 amunbelievable Says:
Well considering Alaska gets more Federal money than it gives, about 40% of that bill is paid by non-Alaskans in the lower 48…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:36 am
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And yet those Alaska Independence Party whackos like Todd Palin are always complaining about how much they hate the lower 48 and wanna secede.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:47 amStevens verdict likely to inch Dems closer to ‘magic 60?
(CNN) – Ted Steven’s guilty verdict Monday afternoon could mean the end of the Alaska lawmaker’s 40-year tenure in the Senate and serve to inch the already emboldened Democratic Party closer to 60 seats in the Senate, recent polls of the Alaska race suggest.
But Steven’s reelection hopes now appear increasingly slim in what is a boost to Democrats seeking to reach the filibuster-proof 60 seat majority. It’s also too late for the GOP to replace Stevens on the ballot with a different candidate — that deadline passed more than six weeks ago and the ballots have already been printed.
“This race was a dead heat before Stevens was convicted,” said CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib. “The Democrats are now most likely one step closer to a filibuster-proof majority of 60 Senate seats next January.”
LINK
October 28th, 2008 at 9:48 amBearCountry Says:
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Now, will harry reid really throw joe LIE out of the caucus, and ease himself into Senate Majority Leader emeritus?
**If the Dems come up with 59 seats, Ol’ Joe the Liar will be the hottest commodity in the Senate. They will ALL pander to his reigh-wing support of the repukes and forget his behavior over the past couple of years. I think I would rather take our chances with 59 – my bet is there would be more than 1 repuke ready to vote with us than hoeing ourselves for Ol’ Joe.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:50 amAmerican taxpayers should not support a Detroit bailout. Period.
This is an industry that had it’s head firmly planted up it’s corporate ass for decades. Instead of manufacturing Hummers, it should have been designing 100 mpg hybrids years ago.
In fact, Detroit has been a big part of the problem with global fuel consumption that lead us to $4 / gal fuel prices.
Now we learn that our tax dollars infused into financial entities are being used to buy up their competition, not providing loans as suggested.
Do you want your hard earned tax dollars subsidizing golden parachutes for Lehmans, Bear Stearns, et al? I don’t.
Instead, let’s use the interest gained from our ownership in banks go toward the Social Security fund. We can keep that viable and still derive some benefit from the bailout.
Remember Hank Paulson’s chicken little act? We have to do this now! We have to do it by Friday! Well, it’s 30 days later…have you seen any gains or turnarounds yet? He’s managed to get Goldman Sachs $5 Billion of our money, but the market continues to nose dive.
This so called financial bailout is the biggest bait & switch ever pulled on Americans. It’s also a nice diversion for the NeoCons, who are scrambling like cockroaches to grab theirs by the end of the year.
/gets off soapbox
October 28th, 2008 at 9:50 ammisshusseinmolly Says: why are we sending all this federal money up there when they are supposedly drowning in oil money? But I suppose that’s another thread…
Good question!
Just a guess: They don’t pay state taxes or something like that, but instead get a $3200 per person stipend (wind fall profits tax on oil companies), and I think it shows them as ‘need’ in theory only. Usual Republican manipulation of the numbers to make themselves look like they need help when they don’t.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:51 amhussein toasterhead Says: And yet those Alaska Independence Party whackos like Todd Palin are always complaining about how much they hate the lower 48 and wanna secede.
Ironic, isn’t it? I posted a list yesterday in the Think Fast that showed how most of the McCain states get more than they give – but complain about ‘welfare’, an are supporting a candidate who is promising to cut their funds…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:54 amDieNowForPeace Says: Stevens verdict likely to inch Dems closer to ‘magic 60?
We need to keep in mind that following every Revolution of independence, there is almost always a civil war that ensues. We should expect infighting amoung the Democrats if they do win a plurality…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:57 amCongratulations to the NRA for bagging themselves another kid:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/28/headlines
October 28th, 2008 at 9:57 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
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Ah — good point. Which brings up another question — why are we sending all this federal money up there when they are supposedly drowning in oil money? But I suppose that’s another thread…
Because Alaskans keep electing the same corrupt Republicans to Congress year after year. They gain power in Washington and become masters of obtaining earmarks for Alaska. Republican Representitive Don Young has been happily porking in the House since 1973, when Democrat Nick Begich mysteriously died in a plane crash, just before the election.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:00 amtoasterhead,
As those who frequently post here, I’ve made my stance clear regarding gun control. As in more!!!
It’s ridiculous that an 8 year old child (only a year and a half older than my own son) was allowed to even handle the weapon, let alone discharge it.
That being said, I grieve for the family. The father, I’m sure, had good intentions, but to what purpose, I just can’t comprehend.
How many more accidental deaths of children must we absorb?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:08 amSorry.
Guns DO kill people. Period!
hussein toasterhead Says:
Congratulations to the NRA for bagging themselves another kid:
October 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I saw that yesterday. It’s just sickening. I wonder if the father thought it was worth it, after watching his son lose control of that weapon and shoot himself in the head?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:08 amSkinhead plot news sweeps suspect’s Tenn. hometown
Fascism is alive and well in the USA… I guess Socialism isn’t the main problem of the USA, but rampant Nazism.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:09 am#33 toasterhead
October 28th, 2008 at 10:12 amI was extremely saddened to also read that news story today. Apparently the boy was unable to control the recoil — the father was mindless to allow it, but he will have to live with that for the rest of his life. The gun show operator was equally mindless in permitting it, knowing the power of the uzi.
Finally, why are uzis even sold at gun shows, much less loaded? Why are automatic weapons claimd to be protected by the Constitution?
hussein toasterhead Says: Congratulations to the NRA for bagging themselves another kid:
If was a gun show, then why was it loaded? Wouldn’t that be, uh, stupid?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:12 amhussein toasterhead Says:
Congratulations to the NRA for bagging themselves another kid:
The different reactions deserve commenting:
“It’s easy to lose control of a weapon like that … they are used on a battleground for a very good reason,” said Jerry Belair, a spokesman for Stop Handgun Violence, based in Newton, Mass. “It’s to shoot as many times as you possibly can without having to reload at an enemy that’s approaching. It’s not a toy. It’s not something to play with.”
The only reasonable person speaking…
Christopher, a third-grader, was attending the show with his father and sixth-grade brother, Colin. Christopher had fired handguns and rifles before, but Sunday was his first time firing an automatic weapon, said his father, Charles Bizilj.
Bizilj told the Boston Globe he was about 10 feet behind his son and reaching for his camera when the weapon fired. He said his family avoided the larger weapons, but he let his son try the Uzi because it’s a small weapon with little recoil.
So, the father left a full loaded Uzi in the hands of his son without helping him control the recoil in case it was too much, and without being at his side to quickly prevent accidents.
“This accident was truly a mystery to me,” said Bizilj, director of emergency medicine at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, Conn. “This is a horrible event, a horrible travesty, and I really don’t know why it happened.”
Well, you left a loaded automatic weapon in the hands of a kid.
Police are calling the shooting an accident but are investigating whether everyone connected with the incident had proper weapons permits. Massachusetts requires licenses to own firearms, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issues different licenses to possess machine guns.
The machine gun shoot drew hundreds of people from as far away as Maine and Virginia. An advertisement said it would include machine gun demonstrations and rentals and free handgun lessons.
“It’s all legal & fun — No permits or licenses required!!!!” reads the ad, posted on the club’s Web site.
“You will be accompanied to the firing line with a Certified Instructor to guide you. But You Are In Control — “FULL AUTO ROCK & ROLL,” the ad said.
ROCK & ROLL, indeed.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:16 amEvil Spaniard Says: Fascism is alive and well in the USA… I guess Socialism isn’t the main problem of the USA, but rampant Nazism.
The Cons are all afraid of Socialism. Not that they understand that Socialism simply means ‘owned by the state’, which seems to be just fine for the world’s most powerful military… They think it means totalitarian dictatorship run by evil tyrants who believe in social Darwinism, and as a result, ignore the fact that that’s the actual definition for Nazism.
Fortunately, these folks are usually undeucated and get caught before they can do any real damage.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:17 amDRxJ Says:
That being said, I grieve for the family. The father, I’m sure, had good intentions, but to what purpose, I just can’t comprehend.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:08 am
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I know I should feel sorry for them, but I’m having trouble doing so. There’s something very Darwin Awards about the whole incident. There’s really no possible good intention that justifies putting an Uzi in the hands of an eight-year old kid.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:17 amhussein toasterhead Says
October 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
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This story has been reported a number of different ways — to the point where we’re really not sure where the truth is. I have read a number of stories where the child “shot himself in the head”, another story where the recoil of the weapon kicked him in the head, and another story where the recoil of the weapon caused the child to lose control of it while it was still firing (supposedly spraying bullets randomly).
It’s a tragedy regardless of what happened and how it happened, and I can’t imagine why ANYBODY would think that a weapon with that kind of kick would EVER belong in the hands of a child for any reason (would this child be allowed to drive a formula one racecar?). Yet, I’m sure that if anybody were to enact some common-sense safety guideline concerning children and high-powered guns, there will be a swarm of second amendment zealots claiming that the rights of eight-year-olds are being taken away from them.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:19 amSenator Inouye to take the helm of the Senate Appropriations Committe?
As a former constituent and resident of Hawai’i, I should point out that such a move is roughly equivalent to placing his longtime pal Senator Stevens in charge. Seriously! This is one of the downsides to seniority and the absence of term limits at the Federal level, of which—by the way—I am no fan.
Given the manner in which the Senate operates there is likely no other choice, but this is a terrible move for taxpayers. If Senator Byrd served no other purpose, he did keep Senator Inouye’s fingers out of the cash box to some degree. Expect the Treasury to be plundered to a degree not matched even by Senator Byrd during his long tenure…
October 28th, 2008 at 10:22 amEvil Spaniard Says:
“This accident was truly a mystery to me,” said Bizilj, director of emergency medicine at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, Conn. “This is a horrible event, a horrible travesty, and I really don’t know why it happened.”
October 28th, 2008 at 10:16 am
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Okay, that’s a detail I didn’t know. This isn’t just some uneducated moron – he’s a doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine. Someone who should be well aware of exactly what firearms do to the human body. That little detail changes this from an act of pure stupidity to criminally negligent homicide.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:24 amGov. Sarah Palin spent over $51,000 in taxpayer dollars to “remodel the governor’s Anchorage office suite and spruce up her mansion and office in Juneau,” the Boston Herald reports.
So why is this just now hitting the MSM? I read about this almost a month ago over at Mudflats. Isn’t it interesting that up until now, when they have figured out that they are going to lose, the Conservative MSM had refused to report on items like this. Now that they are going to need an excuse for why they lost, I believe they have declared “open season” on Ms. Palin.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:27 amZimzone, at #29, Social Security is viable at its present rate for the next 40 years or so, provided the economy is not used as an excuse to cut it. After 2050 or so, without any changes to the funding, SS will still be viable at about 75% of current value. Some slight tweaks could be done that would fix the value back to current. Medicare has some problems that could also be fixed. What I do worry about is a Chicken Little approach to our economy and throwing more money at the financial institutions who are using the current help to pay for bonuses and buying out competitors.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:27 amJohn McCain and Sarah Palin will attend rallies together in Hershey and Quakertown, PA.
So, they are back to campaigning together. I guess their “Diva” and “whack job” needs to be brought back under control, so she probably won’t be going solo much.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:29 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
Yet, I’m sure that if anybody were to enact some common-sense safety guideline concerning children and high-powered guns, there will be a swarm of second amendment zealots claiming that the rights of eight-year-olds are being taken away from them.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:19 am
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To date, the best gun control policy I’ve ever heard of comes from Chris Rock – keep guns legal and available, but tax the shit out of the bullets. If bullets cost $5000 each, random shootings would be a thing of the past.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:29 amThat 8 year old didn’t have to die. Instead of a camera, Dad should have had his hand over the hand holding the barrel or front stock. No excuses; it didn’t have to happen.
We’re preparing for Deer season up here. Even though both my Sons are in their 20’s & one is a veteran with sniper training, we go through all the safety routines every year, regardless.
We don’t carry loaded weapons. In fact, a round is never in the chamber unless a target is in sight. More people are killed hunting around their vehicles or camps than out in the field. Sloppy firearms practices are deadly.
Of course, these folks weren’t hunters. They’re gun show enthusiasts who get some kind of thrill by firing automatic weapons at a rapid rate of fire, & pass this on to their kids.
8 years old is way too young to be shooting machine guns.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:33 amOff topic, but this IS an open thread…
One of the disadvantages of living in a battleground state (NC) is enduring all the political commercials (thank heavens for TiVo!).
In addition to the presidential contest, we have been having a very close race for the U.S. Senate, with incumbent Elizabeth Dole being challenged by Kay Hagan. Both candidates have been receiving tons of money from outside the state — the GOP desperately wants Dole to hang onto her seat — while the Democrats are looking to get their 60.
As you might expect, the advertising from both sides is negative and ugly. But I saw an ad from the Dole side last night that almost caused me to fall off the couch. The gist of the ad was, “Who’s Kay Hagan? She’s nobody. The Democrats just want her in to get control of the entire government. We can’t allow the liberals to run everything. Vote for Elizabeth Dole.” Yes, I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea.
The only acceptable scenario for the GOP is if THEY are running everything, as they did from 2001 through 2006. Even when the Democrats secured a technical majority in both houses of Congress (but not wide enough to be an effective one), they have been blamed for everything from high gas prices to the economic meltdown to our failures in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now it looks like we will have a Democratic president. It looks like we will have larger Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate. And it looks like our next appointee to the Supreme Court won’t be in the Scalia-Thomas mold.
But this was the first advertisement I saw where the Republicans were basically admitting how scared and desperate they are at the prospect of the shoe being on the other foot.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:36 am47, BearCountry,
Thanks, I agree with your take, as well.
I just don’t want to ever see Social Security in Wall St Whacko’s hands. Ever.
and McBombs would do just that…
October 28th, 2008 at 10:37 am#tom Says:
Here’s an interesting scenario concerning the Ted Stevens Senate seat.
What is the probability that Stevens is reelected anyway, then expelled from the Senate in January, and then the governor of Alaska (Failin’ Palin) replaces him with an ambitious young politician with national ambitions, for example, herself?
It can’t happen because of Alaska law requiring a special election. But, it would be the desired outcome for the Republicans because they could then run a strong Republican in the special election.
But, I think the Democrat is going to win so it will probably end up being a moot question.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:38 amya know what made me craziest about that 6yr old shooting himself? this, in an abc article:
[...] his father, Dr. Charles Bizilj, who is the director of emergency medicine at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs, Conn. [...]
evidently, i’m guessing, dr. bizilj was never a practicing doctor in the ER ward… or, he somehow thought he and his were immune…
so much sadness… all over.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:38 amWhat are the preconditions for Bush’s Taliban talks–total surrender? Reduced #’s of virgins? What?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:53 amDoctors in America are largly republicans(this NRA nut obviously is) who got into medicine for the money and nothing more. They like us having to beg for medical care as it allows them to be a part of a hostage situation with life and death as the condition.
Doctors could have changed this by themselves if they wanted to and were dedicated to the field they got their degrees in. They don’t want it changed as they are making lots of money and not having to work very hard at all.
I recently went on a quest to find a doctor that was not a republican……it was the first question asked and I offended several people but I don’t care.
I finally found a list of democratic doctors from my democratic headquarters…..I don’t know if it was above board or not but I got a list of democratic doctors and have found one on the list that is a truly dedicated doctor.
There is no comparison on the care.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:03 amEight-Year-Old Shoots Himself Dead With Uzi at Gun Show
Looks like we have a “Darwinism” award winner here, although the child was innocent, he died by his fathers own stupidity, thereby earning them both, the “Darwin” award for helping prove the theory of evolution…
October 28th, 2008 at 11:08 amAs mentioned above, us entering into talks with the Taliban is a rather severe step – especially since the repug line that you can’t even talk to Iran.
Assuming that we do talk with the Taliban, we need someone who can recognize that the Taliban isn’t a monolithic government in the western style. Someone who can step out of our preconceptions. And someone who can deal with the strong tension that will be there between our supposed friend Pakistan and the various Taliban governments.
Anyone want to clain that McSam can deail with that nuance ?
October 28th, 2008 at 11:17 amAccording to senior Bush administration officials, the U.S. is “actively considering talks with elements of the Taliban” — “a major policy shift that would have been unthinkable a few months ago.”
With or without “preconditions”. Curious minds want to know.
Cheers,
October 28th, 2008 at 11:56 amDon’t they have IKEA in Alaska?
Glad I was sitting down when I read this. This is encouraging. It also shoots holes in McSame’s argument that only his opponent would talk with our enemies.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm“Thousands of flagged voters can vote, court rules”
Think Bush will sick the DoJ on these folks too Like Ohio?
October 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pmThat poor 8 year old child. Hand(all) guns were made for killin’. They ain’t no good for nothin else! for some of you southern rockers out there.
I would like to hear folks like the NRA tell me how it was noble and right for this poor child to die for THEIR UNRESTRICTED RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS!
October 28th, 2008 at 2:58 pmCeltic Cynic, I would point out that Byrd at least was one of the few – and certainly the most vocal – opponents of the AUMF and, I believe, the Patriot Act.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm