John McCain's Wandering Eyes

I saw someone else's post of segments of this video, but this one is a lot funnier, with the song and the close-ups of McCain thinking about ditching his wedding ring.

McCain's Cabinet

We know what kind of great judgment John McCain used in picking Sarah Palin to be his vice president.

And that brings up the interesting guessing game as to who he might pick for his cabinet.

Someone at Daily Kos suggested he could just select from all the Miss America contestants, and I suppose there would be some well-qualified cabinet members there. We know they're all idealistic, wanting to find ways of bringing peace to all mankind. We might find one in that heady group, though, who's a scrapper and put her in as Secretary of Defense. Definitely Miss Michigan would be good as Secretary of Transportation, because Michigan makes so many cars.

Since anything goes when it comes to McCain, Cindy would probably be an excellent Secretary of State. I know she's already been to Georgia for a photo op, err, as a diplomatic envoy. For Secretary of the Treasury, you want someone who knows how to count money. It wouldn't be hard to find someone, like a bank teller or cashier somewhere.

As for the rest of the cabinet, some of those kids on "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" seem pretty brainy. They'd probably do just fine.

"Water Breakgate"

This is an interesting story, whatever the actual truth may be.

Hilarious! Sarah Palin on Pledge of Allegiance

I saw this at Daily Kos, a recommended diary by JLFinch.

On a 2006 gubernatorial candidate questionnaire, the topic of the Pledge of Allegiance came up, and Sarah Palin had an interesting answer.

11. Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

SP: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

"If it was good enough for the founding fathers..." would be the key phrase there. Assuming she meant by "founding fathers" what we usually mean -- those guys in the late 1700s around the time of the American revolution and the founding of the United States -- that's a bit early for the Pledge.

Since, according to Wikipedia, the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister and Christian Socialist. The phrase "under God" was added in the 1950s, some time after the founding fathers' passing.

Republican Convention: "Angry Man Yells At Cloud"

The Republicans have a real opportunity with Gustav bearing down on the Gulf coast. It's reported that John McCain may be giving his speech directly from the hurricane path.

This gives them the perfect convention theme, "Angry Man Yells at Cloud." He'll be right there on the scene where all the clouds live, and, for all of us, he can give them a piece of our mind!

Gustav

Here's "hoping" that Hurricane Gustav doesn't affect populated areas or cause great devastation, loss of life and property. But we all ought to realize that what we "hope for" doesn't appear to affect storms and weather patterns.

It seems like a big deal, even though it shouldn't, whenever someone suggests that a hurricane has some discernible cause relating to current events. Such as "God is angry with New Orleans for having a gay rights parade," or "God is angry with the Democrats," or "God is angry with the Republicans." All of that ought to be seen as hogwash. When Focus on the Family prayed that God would send a torrential downpour and rain out Obama's speech, and it didn't happen, that's something to mock. Even if there had been a torrential downpour, it would have been a real stretch to give Dobson credit for it. It'd still be something to ridicule, to think God is simply man's puppet to be worked for partisan dirty tricks!

When people say such things, of course they can be serious. When you hear John Hagee say such things, you know he's serious, because that's the kind of outlook he has. But when you hear someone like Michael Moore say it, you know he's joking, because his true outlook is nothing like that. So it's a matter of fake outrage when the right-wingers try to spin comments someone like Moore makes as something that makes any difference to the situation. It's just trying to score points with potential victims, which is disgusting.

None of this is to suggest that humans have nothing to do with the severity of hurricanes. I don't know much about climate change as it relates to humanity. But it would be hard to believe we could just endlessly pollute the environment and not expect some bad effects. The thing is, though, it doesn't have to do with humanity's actions this week or next week or whether a parade is held.

I'm hoping, hoping, hoping that nothing bad happens. For all the good that hoping, hoping, hoping is likely to do!

McCain's "Soul-Mate"

I don't see the entire quote and I didn't hear it, but this is a stunner:

McCain calls Palin his political "soul-mate."

LOL. A "soul-mate" he met once a few months ago, then called her to Arizona and offered her the job. On the other hand, he knows his soul better than I, and the sort of "mate" it would want. So, skip it, never mind.

Palin's Bridge to Nowhere

We all heard Sarah Palin the other day say, "In fact, I told Congress — I told Congress, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said we’d build it ourselves."

That's a great claim to make, if it's true. But it appears to be false. Check out this article from Think Progress.

Palin had other things to say about the bridge to nowhere back before she had any idea she'd be McCain's VP pick.

The Anchorage Daily News asked her about it in 2006, whether she was still in favor of state funding for it. She said, "Yes. I would like to see Alaska’s infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now–while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist. "

The Kind of President McCain Would Be

John McCain is telling us exactly the kind of president he would be. Unpredictable, reckless, risky.

He's shown over and over that his judgment is poor. He's not serious about being a good president; he just wants to be president. The way he inflamed things over Georgia ought to be enough to disqualify him from consideration. We didn't live through the Cold War just to be picking stupid fights with Russia now. His foolishness about Iraq is a unending indictment on his judgment. He was ready to invade Iraq a couple days after 9/11. He declared the war ended in 2003 (we won), but still insists that if we leave now we've lost. He's been brash, trigger-happy with his remarks (100 years in Iraq; bomb, bomb, bomb Iran).

Now we have his pick for VP in Sarah Palin, so transparently bad it's ridiculous. Global responsibility can't just be handed blithely to the first warm body who shows up -- male or female. The fact that McCain felt backed into a corner -- by the demands of the right wing fringe of his party and by a poor field to pick from among Republicans -- is reflected in his choice. In other words, he picked Palin from a position of weakness, not strength. He picked her for a moment of short term gain, which doesn't sound to me like the judgment of someone who puts "Country First." That's like a cornered dog clawing, growling, snapping, and biting his way to freedom. A cornered dog puts "Cornered Dog First."

So, what kind of presidential judgment, mulling over the choice, did McCain use in vetting Palin? According to Politico, before the big day they met once and talked on the phone once. Does that really count as a good basis for a 72-year-old cancer survivor to put someone a heartbeat from the presidency?

John McCain on Friday announced a running mate whom he met only six months ago and with whom he spoke just once on the phone about the position before offering it in person earlier this week.

Unbelievable.

And some of the other words in that article tell us pretty much what we need to know about John McCain:

By picking somebody he and most Americans barely know — an out-of-the-blue decision that sent shock waves of disbelief through the political world and still has jaws agape — McCain has taken a considerable gamble.

The choice is historic, yes. Palin becomes only the second woman to run on a major-party ticket and the first Republican woman to do so. But it’s also fraught with risks.

Out-of-the-blue decisions, considerable gambling, fraught with risks. Just the kind of guy we want negotiating with our friends and enemies. Just the kind of guy we want with his finger on the button. Roll the dice and hope it comes up with our number!

John McCain does not have the judgment, temperament, or even the common sense it takes to be president.

Save Bullwinkle! Vote Obama!

I heard on one of the news programs that she loves Moose Stew.

Palin Calls Hillary a Whiner

It was interesting to hear Palin shouting out to Hillary today, and now to have this Newsweek article in which Palin said Hillary was whining. That's "whining," as in Phil Gramm language.

Alaska: Foreign, Exotic

How much different is Alaska from Hawaii? As far as being foreign and exotic?

I don't know if I want to trust a vice president whose next door neighbor is Russia. When you go borrow a cup of sugar from the Russians what kind of quid pro quo do they expect?

So, Alaska. I'm going to have to agree with Cokie Roberts on this one. That's not America!

Governor Palin's Son in Iraq

I believe she said he would be going to Iraq on Sept. 11. But if you're the son of a president or vice president (or the nominee), wouldn't that complicate his deployment?

I'm wondering what the Secret Service situation would be. It reminds me of Prince Harry, when it was reported he was in Afghanistan.

Suddenly Experience Doesn't Matter

To me, Sarah Palin seems like a disaster for McCain. One of his biggest arguments has been on experience. But what's she, the governor of Alaska for two years? That's it!

I would be concerned about that, kind of like we were concerned when Quayle was the veep for Bush the First. That whole "one heartbeat away from the presidency" thing is not just an academic issue. It's happened several times. And think about John McCain. We've had an awful lot of springs pass since he's been a spring chicken!

But it appears he needed a "game changer." Except the game isn't Tiddly Winks. The biggest downer for Palin would have to be that she knows she's not McCain's first choice. He obviously would've preferred Lieberman, was dying to pick Lieberman or Ridge. Or someone else who could shore up the whole argument he's been making. Palin was way down the dance list. Face it, the Republicans don't have decent people to choose from.

So McCain came at this choice from a position of weakness. He was forced into it by the socially conservative base. This is a victory for Dobson and the whole Looney Right crowd.

Happy Birthday, John McCain

We wish the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, a great, happy birthday.

Follow That, McCain

Give it your best shot.

Where Was All The Rain, Dobson?

Dobson and his phony cronies prayed fervently for rain to wash out Obama's speech.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The prayer of Dobson availeth nothing.

Wow!

The Democratic convention is really something. This is exciting, compelling stuff.

I've had the pundits turned off most of the night, watching on C-SPAN. But I just flipped over to MSNBC for a few moments and heard Keith and Chris talking about Obama's speech. They have an advance copy. It sounded like gold.

Plus, I love the stagecraft, the great speeches we've had, the great images, the admirals, generals, common folks, the vice presidential nominee, Al Gore, Susan Eisenhower, the King family, and so many others.

If the Republicans hoped the country would tune in to see some 'ridiculous Greek temple' kind of thing, they better hope the country tunes out real fast! There's nothing ridiculous about this. This is excellent in every way. And I love it.

Prickly McCain -- The Angry Old Man

Guess who's losing his bearings? He can't even get along with Time magazine, imagine his diplomacy in the future if we're unfortunate enough to have him as president. John McCain is presenting himself as the prickly, angry old man he is.

Wouldn't you think it would be an honor to be an elder statesmen and wax philosophical about such high flown concepts as "What is honor?" Not for McCain!

From an article called, "McCain's Prickly TIME Interview":

There's a theme that recurs in your books and your speeches, both about putting country first but also about honor. I wonder if you could define honor for us?
Read it in my books.

I've read your books.
No, I'm not going to define it.

But honor in politics?
I defined it in five books. Read my books.

Read it in my books? That's your final answer? Would you like to use one of your lifelines, such as Lieberman or Graham?

That really is prickly!

Lieberman Must Go!

There's a good article on Joe Lieberman at The Hill, about some in Connecticut who think Lieberman ought to pay a price for being a traitor to the Democratic party.

Well, you don't have to be from Connecticut to feel that way, but it's nice to know that those who know him best clearly see the truth. The guy's a skunk.

If the Democratic party (when the Democratic party) picks up seats in the Senate, Joe Lieberman at that point is dead wood. He must, must, must, must pay a price for being a traitor. He must be set on the sidelines.

This paragraph is quite beside the point:

But Lieberman’s colleagues have been much more charitable, noting his financial support of the DSCC and his agreement with the party on many domestic issues.

Whatever his financial support is, it's negligible. There's no way this guy should be allowed to hang around no matter how much money he contributes. And whatever his "agreement" is on many domestic issues, his betrayal is a far more grievous matter. Out with the creep!

McCain: Ludicrous Stuff

It's ludicrous to make fun of the set where Obama will make his speech. There's nothing intrinsically ridiculous about a nice set for a major convention speech. This is a realm that ought to be far beneath us. In fact, I don't believe I've ever heard of it before. You expect political conventions to go all out, to have nice surroundings, to have good stagecraft to lend something to their presentation and message.

If you're making fun of columns and pillars -- it's totally crazy. Look at the architecture of our public buildings, Washington, D.C. Notice anything about it? Greek designs? By now it's the American way. Plus, if you're making fun of stuff like this, you're logically cutting yourself off from the heritage we've had for the last 230+ years. Is it really worth it for the buzzing little short term political gain to exclude basic design from your life forever? Obviously not.

The real truth is that if McCain is reduced to making fun of stagecraft and design, then he really is bankrupt when it comes to things to say. If he has no more of a positive agenda than that, then consider him down the count, count him out, haul him off, and let's all move on.

I've seen the photos of columns and things at the Republican convention, behind other Republican speakers, behind McCain himself. Whether you have columns or not is clearly not the issue. It's simply this short-term political hogwash that's being spilled everywhere. And it's foolish, again, beneath the dignity of America.

McCain is powerful enough, right? to get a handle on his campaign. The man needs to raise his sights a bit, but this kind of hogwash is laughable, yet sad.

My Story on Joe Biden's Mother

My big story of the day is Joe Biden's mother. Here's the direct link to my article on her. (Here's the general link to my Grandma Slump blog.)

Also at Grandma Slump, "Other Democratic Convention News."

And, what it means that my Grandma Slump/grandson character is "An Intrepid Reporter."

Brian Schweitzer and Hillary

Brian Schweitzer did a pretty good job in his speech. Following Mark Warner, if he simply stayed awake he had to be an improvement. But he excelled, especially as it went along. Finally, when he had everyone standing and yelling, it was a great moment. It was also nice to see someone at the podium who was so animated.

One tweak: I prefer a little more passion -- not just animation and facial gestures -- a little more edge, with the frustration we have about Bush and McCain being real and deep. I don't want lines that sound rehearsed or forced, I was it straight from the gut, that kind of connection that says we take this very very personally and we will not tolerate four more years of the same.


Hillary

She doesn't have the greatest speaking voice, face it. A lot of her tone has a very artificial feel to it, unpleasant like chewing on aluminum foil. (I supported her in the primaries; I just don't like to hear her speak.) But she capped off the night with the best speech of the night, and obviously the most necessary speech. She needed to put aside all this baloney about a divided party. Obviously, there is nothing about John McCain that by nature should appeal to her voters. A vote for McCain instead of Obama would just be sour grapes and a self-destructive act. It was great that Hillary laid it out and made that crystal clear. She seemed pretty sincere about how bad McCain would be, even though I would have left out the line about being his friend and how great and courageous he is.

Mark Warner

So that was the great Mark Warner? His speech sucked, and he sucked. Such an anemic presentation, just a lot of kum bah ya pabulum.

What happened to great oratory, something rousing? I'm watching some of the speeches at the Democratic convention, and it sounds like ninth grade speech class. They're so glassy-eyed, trained on the teleprompter, with no sense of the audience, no sense of building up and blowing off some good Democratic steam. I thought we as Democrats were hyper-frustrated with George W. Bush and John McCain; I know I am. This kind of namby-pamby Tiptoe Through The Tulips la-la-la tone they're taking is not getting the job done.

Then we have our keynote speaker. And I'm getting dirty looks from my significant other by loudly proclaiming it anemic and sucking. Finally I went and got a pillow and blanket and said, Look I'm laying down and maybe I'll fall asleep. You don't fall asleep during the keynote address at the Democratic convention. Not in a year like this. But that was a speech that was a true snoozer.

John McCain doesn't have a mark on him. He doesn't even have to play Rope-A-Dope because the Democrats are floundering in the corner, maybe boxing shadows, certainly not going after McCain. It's disgusting.

Here's hoping Hillary Clinton does something better. She can't do worse.

PUMA, MA!

It is absurd, insane for any Democrat to support John McCain.

There are absurd and insane people out there, of course. We hope they are getting good care in a health facility. But we hope there aren't people out there who are simply pretending to be absurd and insane, that is, Democrats who were for Hillary Clinton and now are for McCain.

I was for Hillary, especially early on, then through the primaries until just about the time when it was obvious she could never win. This isn't a matter of being for a particular person, but for a Democrat to replace the corrupt Republicans.

For anyone who might have lingering bitterness over the primaries, the time has come to get over it. It's absurd. We need a Democratic president. We have a great nominee. He deserves our full support.

John McCain is terrible. There's no good reason to vote for the guy.

How Good Michelle Was

Michelle Obama did great, fantastic, in her speech. At my place, we were amazed not just at the speech as a speech but with the life story she has. There would be a hundred places in her life where it might have all broken down, but somehow, with great character, parents, all that, she came out on top.

One thing about this, if Obama wins, and maybe if he doesn't, they'll be an inspiration to millions of kids. Preferably he wins!

On the other hand, think of the "inspiration" the McCains would be to millions of kids -- let me rephrase that, probably hundreds of kids. Right-wingers whose whole mission in life is to lord it over others, leaving the rest of the world in the dirt.

Daddy, can I too grow up to be an heiress and do a few acts of compassion for show? Mommy, can I too cheat on my wife, be a temperamental old fool, use my biography to show myself a professional victim, and thereby become a big success?

It's not even close. The McCains may be worth a lot, but essentially they're worthless. Michelle showed the true worth, what results from a life of integrity.

O Goody, Cindy McCain Going to Georgia

Here's something they'll have footage of at the Republican convention to exploit. The sweet, caring, concerned heiress, Cindy McCain, in Georgia, no doubt giving a bottle of hot water to a thirsting baby.

SACRAMENTO -- Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain, is headed to the Republic of Georgia, where tensions between the government and Russia have sparked international concern and have become an issue on the presidential campaign trail.

It's impossible not to be cynical about John McCain, whose hotheadedness inflamed international tensions a couple weeks ago. Now he's sending Cindy -- through nothing but compassion, of course -- to tenderly minister to the suffering Georgians.

McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker confirmed Cindy McCain is enroute to the nation and said she is visiting as part of the World Food Program. She said she will meet with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and visit with wounded Georgian soldiers.

We can assume the TV cameras will be rolling, humming along. And that there'll be a lot of expert stagecraft: Make sure you get her good side as she shakes the hand of Wounded Georgian Soldier #1 and, over there, #2. Hopefully one of them will shed a tear, we'll get it on tape, put a little soft music to it, run it in slow mo, and that'll be a great film for the convention. Not a dry eye in the place.

Fight

I've seen it cited numerous times that Obama said he intended to bring a gun to a knifefight. And today I see in Krugman's column that some were concerned that he intended to bring a knife to a gunfight.

I hope it's the first way around, a gun to a knifefight. Actually -- and I'm usually opposed to nuclear weapons, but this metaphorical -- I hope he brings nukes to a knifefight. My big hope is that Obama wins. But I'd love to see him win big and not just by 500 votes in an election so close that it takes a month of court proceedings to resolve it, like 2000.

All along the way, then, I'm hoping for the worst devastation that McCain can imagine. I'd love to see him and the Republicans completely decimated, an apocalypse now kind of scenario. Where they're in this bleak, post-apocalyptic, orange/hazy atmosphere, poking with sticks in piles of smoking rubble looking for electoral survivors.

My opinion, the Republicans have not shown themselves to have the best interests of our country and the world at heart. Why this is precisely, I can't figure out. Because I know they have children and grandchildren -- you'd think they'd want the best. But clearly they do not. This form of government by corruption is absolutely intolerable.

I have confidence in Obama that he knows what he's doing. So whatever he brings (knives, guns, tanks, bombs, nukes) to the fight, I'm sure he'll get it right. I do love the idea of a fight settled with shock and awe. Do it brutally, do it quickly, and get it done.

Bush Under the Radar

It's starting to look like Bush is trying to fly under the radar, keep out of the public eye, and maybe we'll forget him.

I haven't heard much out of him lately. I know it's August, and that means brush-clearing time down in Texas, but still it seems like there'd be an occasional peep.

It's nice to see him popping up against in the Obama ad against McCain, the "Wonderful World" song. We'd hate for anyone to forget the guy who really crumbed up the country and the clone who hopes to succeed him.

Wonderful World

McCain Thinks Biden Is Right

McCain's campaign has been making hay out of the fact that when Biden was running for president he took a few negative jabs at Obama. Of course that's the way it goes when you're going for the nomination. But now McCain -- putting aside the way it goes and taking all this very literally -- is citing Biden's words as proof that Obama isn't ready for president.

But that old knife cuts both ways. If Biden's words against Obama are credible, then Biden's words against McCain need to be taken as credible. And Biden has some pretty sharp things to say about McCain.

McCain needs to watch it. Because if he's looking to Biden for attacks on Obama to be taken seriously, face it, it's the same mouth now. When Biden jabs McCain, McCain has no right to suddenly say Biden's wrong.

This is a "live by the sword, die by the sword" thing. But of course he'll pull back after these initial jabs, because that will no doubt be pointed out.

China's Lying

Link. China today acknowledged the confusion about the ages of its Olympic gymnasts. China's deputy sports minister blamed paperwork problems.

It's obvious China's lying. Somebody needs to watch these liars more closely.

Yea, Biden

I'll be the last to toss in my 2 cents about Joe Biden. I'm glad for the great reception he's getting. He seems to definitely be the right guy for the job.

Biden's been a fun one to watch on TV over the years. Because of what's always said about him, that he has the gift of gab. But he has the gift also for making sense, and of speaking his mind. You see him on Hardball or one of the other shows and he makes pointed statements, with a real good understanding of things and not always strictly partisan. In fact, he's one I normally associate with being very honest and direct.

So, remember one of Obama's desires was for a VP to tell him his true opinion, not be a yes man. Well, if Biden is so honest and direct in public, imagine how he'd be in the Oval Office. Or in negotiations and talks with friends and enemies!

Now I'm kind of kicking myself, because I had an opportunity to go hear Biden, like at an event in someone's home, pretty much a close thing, and I didn't go. Now he's likely to be vice president. But, anyway. These things happen.

McCain Goes to Buy Coffee

The man likes to live high on the hog.

Yesterday we found out that ultrarich John McCain has a home in every state and most foreign countries -- still working on a little villa in Georgia -- and today we hear that it takes a nine car motorcade for him to go to Starbucks! That last point is serious. When he goes out for coffee, he really goes out for coffee!

McCain, who huddled with advisors at his desert compound in Sedona, Ariz., said nothing in public. A nine-car motorcade took him to a nearby Starbucks early in the morning, where he ordered a large cappuccino. McCain otherwise avoided reporters.

So what would that be, like a $5,000 cup of coffee? A better way might be just stay wherever you presently are -- no doubt at one of your homes -- and send someone out for coffee. Then your cost is brought down to whatever a cappuccino costs at Starbucks, under 10 bucks.

Obama's Middle Class

John McCain is so far out of touch, you throw him a lifeline and he'll never catch it.

McCain spokesman, Brian Rogers, never one to be fair, said about Obama: "Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses?"

More than $4 million is doubtless less than $5 million or they would've said that. So, according to McCain definition of rich as making $5 million a year, Obama's strictly middle class.

And, ewwww, vacation in Hawaii. That's really out of reach for the average Senator. About the convicted felon bit, if Obama is so well-to-do, obviously he wouldn't need any help buying a house, in actual truth.

McCain is definitely sleazy and out of touch. We need to send this guy packing, back to whichever of his mansions he chooses to go.

Hallmark Making Same-Sex Marriage Cards

Link. I'm giving Hallmark about a week before they buckle to the inevitable pressure not to have these.

McCain Doesn't Know How Many Houses He Owns

How rich is John McCain? So rich he can't even say!

In the faith forum the other night he was so out of touch he thought middle class incomes were in the $2 million range, since he defined "rich" as having a $5 million income.

But houses? Is he so filthy rich and above us that he can't even remember how many houses he owns? That would be a tough thing to forget, unless your place is so far above everyone else that nothing really matters. But that's what he says:

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Wednesday that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own.

"I think - I'll have my staff get to you," McCain told us in Las Cruces, N.M. "It's condominiums where - I'll have them get to you."

The correct answer is at least four, located in Arizona, California and Virginia, according to his staff. Newsweek estimated this summer that the couple owns at least seven properties.

It's time to arrange a personal tour for McCain, of his own homes! And keep him out of the White House, which to him would just be one more.

The Polls

The polls vary a little bit everyday. Today there was one, Zogby, if I'm no mistaken, that shows McCain ahead by a few points.

It's going to fluctuate and it's no big deal. It's not like I take any great comfort when Obama is ahead by five points. Because obviously a lot still is going to happen between now and November. And it's like in a basketball game -- it goes back and forth.

It's definitely not a time to panic. It's a time to trust the candidate who is our nominee. If we think he's a good nominee, then he's a good nominee for many reasons. One reason is because we thought (and still think) he can get the job done. I'm still convinced he not only can get the job done but he'll do it convincingly.

McCain is a crap candidate in many ways. He's struggling just to hold on. We can have confidence!

Obama's Ads Go on Attack

Obama is doing it like this, more positive, visionary ads nationwide, more ads attacking McCain locally.

Good article, NY Times, and a great comment from Steve McMahon, a Democratic advertising strategist, the same guy we know from TV, I'm assuming: “It’s ‘game on, the money’s in the bank, we’re going to have a huge financial advantage, let the McCain campaign chase us around the country, if they can find us.’ ”

John Lewis a Wise Man Indeed

One of John McCain's three "Wisest Persons In The World" (read that with Keith O's voice), Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights legend, seems amazed that McCain picked him as someone he would consult with often.

He's wise, all right, there's no doubt about that. But he says, "Sen. McCain and I are colleagues in the US Congress, not confidantes. He does not consult me. And I do not consult him."

Hmm, OK, wise guy, why do you think McCain is exploiting Lewis' good name? Since Lewis is a Democrat and supports Barack Obama for president?

AP Calls Lieberman a Prick

Link to the article I saw, although there are plenty of others.

His top contenders are said to include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Less traditional choices mentioned include former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, an abortion-rights supporter, and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential prick in 2000 who now is an independent.

It looks like the AP's political news is getting more and more accurate all the time! A tip of the hat to the AP for pulling no punches and calling it as it is.

Obama's Veep

According to Drudge the announcement is likely Tuesday morning. According to common sense, it about has to be at least midweek. Since it's not a scandal or something dirty it won't be Friday.

Who is it? I've seen so many diaries on everyone, whoever it is I know someone's not going to like it. When it comes to pro's and con's everyone's got them.

My own sense of the thing is this, that Obama needs to pick whoever he wants. And the rest of us ought to fall in line and celebrate the pro's. We don't need a lot of negativity now, especially as it can feed into the GOP's likely response. No matter how much the candidate is vetted, and whoever it is, the GOP will have nothing but bad to say.

We have a nominee. We're going to have a veep. Once the veep candidate is announced there's no going back to whoever someone else's favorite was. The person he picks is the person we must support.

Eye-Opening Stuff on McCain from Vietnam Veterans

The Cone of Silence

When I heard Pastor Rick Warren say that McCain was backstage somewhere in a cone of silence, I figured he was joking about the "cone," and that what he was really saying was that he was in a room removed from the proceedings, not able to hear what was going on.

Now we find out that he wasn't backstage at all and not even in the building, much less in an actual cone of silence. He was at his hotel and/or on his way to the church. In this technological age, no one can tell me that McCain couldn't have had access to the forum. Computer. TV. Whatever.

Let's assume that he would cheat if given the opportunity. It's been the Republican way for most of the time we can remember. The fact that he was a POW, despite his campaign's lame retort, has nothing to do with whether he would cheat. Ask his first wife. Ask his second wife, since she was there! He would cheat.

So, given the opportunity in this case, as he was, the assumption is he went in with some idea of the questions and Obama's responses.

That would explain one big moment, when they were talking about teachers and education, and McCain spouted off his answers before the questions were even asked, something like, "Yes, yes, yes, no, maybe." He may be fast on his feet, but he'd have to be a mindreader to do that! Unless...

The biggest disappointment for me is not that McCain cheated, but that Rick Warren appeared to have gone right along with it. Why tell us he's backstage if he isn't? Very disappointing.

Is This Real? Saakashvili Chewing His Tie

In the Saddle at Saddleback

It was a study in contrasts with Obama and McCain at the Saddleback forum.

Obama came across as thoughtful and as one who seeks common ground. McCain was right at home in a forum that welcomed enthusiastically a right wing perspective. Sensing that, McCain shifted into full wingnut mode to show that he was one of them, leaving no cliche answer unturned.

Who does this help? Not McCain. McCain already had the votes of those who would be impressed with declaring himself an ultra-conservative. And as far as his moldy oldie stories, those can play pretty well across the board, but they're going to resonate best with his base.

Obama had the upper hand ultimately for this reason, because he was able to come across as kind, rational, and thoughtful. He addressed the moderator in a very respectful way, "Pastor Rick." He was searching for actual answers to the questions, not spouting talking points as McCain did.

I would say McCain held his own, but Obama picked up some votes. Net gain, Obama.

Our Startling Diatribe on China

Click here for our startling, eye-opening diatribe on the nation of China. Long considered an above average nation, we've come to a completely different conclusion: China is a nation of fools.

We will brook no dissent in our efforts to expose China. We will leave no unturned stone unturned until we see what's under it. We will slice and dice the facts as they present themselves.

China could not be worse than it is. Or, if so, we don't know how.

It's the First International Crisis -- Ever!

How this for overstating things?

My friends, we have reached a crisis, the first probably serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War. This is an act of aggression.

That's John McCain on the Georgia/Russia trouble.

I have to agree with him. I can't think of any other serious crises internationally. Not the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda's activities, nothing. I'm just drawing a blank.

I think John McCain needs to simply go for broke. This is the first international crisis we've ever had. Because it's so big it redefines the term.

(Hey, look, he got his trademark "My friends" in there!)

McCain Broke His Sacred Vows

It's starting to become less of a secret now -- thanks to John Edwards -- that John McCain also had an adulterous affair -- one that we know of for sure -- and broke his marriage vows.

It happened after he came back from Vietnam. He cheated on his first wife with Cindy, his present wife, for months. Cindy and he then got their marriage license before he was divorced.

They were dear friends with Ronald and Nancy Reagan. The Reagans wouldn't speak to McCain after this because they were so disappointed.

Something like this shows something about John McCain's character and whether we could trust him as president.

Now Pastor Rick Warren agrees. In an interview with Jake Tapper, we see this:

TAPPER: Would you have compunctions about voting for someone who had cheated on his wife?

WARREN: Absolutely I would. Absolutely I would. Because if you can’t keep your faith to your most sacred vow – "’til death do us part" -- how in the world can I trust you to lead my family? My government? My nation?...Absolutely I would.

McCain at the Beach

Only Celebrities Take Their Shirt Off at the Beach

Link, TPM.

The McCain campaign "blasted" this report to the media:

You know you may just be a global celebrity when you get this headline in Reuters, "Obama Takes Shirt Off Again, Goes Body Surfing In Hawaii."

You're on vacation. You're at a beach. You're a guy. You take your shirt off. That's really not news. But the fact that it somehow upsets McCain, that's frightening.

Now, McCain at the beach with his shirt off, that would be something to see!

McCain's Interference in Georgia Crisis

It has been stunning, the last few days, with John McCain playacting as President. Obama merely gave a speech in Germany and he was considered presumptuous (that was their phony spin). But McCain has literally thrust himself between the president we already have and an international crisis! He's planning to send his own emissaries! If this isn't presumptuous -- let me end the sentence differently -- it is precisely that.

Even well-meaning supporters of McCain ought to step back, take stock and think about this. This man has gone way beyond a candidate's proper place, to actual interference between warring parties! His bluster may only serve to make matters worse. In his talks 'several times a day' with the president of Georgia, who knows what kind of signals he's sending that would conflict with our country's official stance? It's bizarre.

WaPo: "We talk about how there's only one president at a time, so the idea that you would send your own emissaries and really interfere with the process is remarkable," said Lawrence Korb, a Reagan Defense Department official who now acts as an informal adviser to the Obama campaign. "It's very risky and can send mixed messages to foreign governments. . . . They accused Obama of being presumptuous, but he didn't do anything close to this."

There's a confluence of concerns, including some of McCain's statements in the past about wars that he says are upcoming, about his strident support of wars (Iraq; "Bomb, bomb Iran"), and the general sense that he's simply a shoot-first, ask-questions-later kind of guy. He's already signaled a hard line stance against Russia, which is unwelcome after all we went through in the Cold War years.

It is definitely worth stepping back and asking, Is this really what we want for the next four years? War without end.

McCain: "We Have Just Found Out"

I find this McCain quote interesting:

"It's very clear that the overriding issue is the economy. Americans are hurting very badly...but I also think that national security is an underlying issue because we have just found out in the last few days that we live in a very dangerous world and there are situations which can arise which were not readily foreseen, certainly not by average citizens...that require experience, knowledge, and judgment." [My emphasis]

He "just found out in the last few days that we live in a very dangerous world"? Where's he been all his life?

John McCain, "Keep Your Hands Off Social Security"

Smokey the Bear's Gas Station

Is there really 40 barrels of oil in each tree?

This paragraph from this site: Congressman Sali informed us that a solution to the high price of gasoline was to make petroleum from "all those trees in our forests." Stunned by the comment, I suffered a momentary regret for not taking that high school chemistry class those many years ago. He continued by saying there '"could be up to 40 barrels of oil " in a single tree.

That would be Congressman Bill Sali (R-ID).

McCain's Inept: "Nations Don't Invade Other Nations"

Iraq Never Happened

John McCain, quoted from CNN:

"I want the US to maintain good relations with Russia, but in the 21st century nations don't invade other nations."

Maybe Iraq wasn't a nation? America's a nation, right?

Citizens of Georgia?

A few weeks ago the rightwing squawk machine was cranking out the usual noise, slightly louder and more distorted, when Barack Obama addressed the folks in Germany as fellow "citizens of the world." According to them it's only appropriate to be citizens of the United States. Others out there, they don't count. You can't be a "citizen" of the world, they said.

Now, all of a sudden, John McCain has not just declared himself a Georgian, he has spoken for all of us (!) to say "We're all Georgians." Shouldn't it be like it was a few weeks ago? That we're all Americans? Or are we now all ex-Americans?

It seems like a nice sentiment that McCain was trying to make, although you have to figure it's about 99% politics and 1% sincerity, if that. You got invaded by the Russians; that's not a good thing; we're here with a casserole if you need it.

Now that we're all Georgians, though, maybe the president of Georgia will draft us and we'll be fighting with our fellow Georgians, I don't know. If we've been stripped of American citizenship just like that by our presumptous new president, I'm not too sure what to do!

Have You Seen This Movie Before?

Now that John McCain has assumed (presumed) the office of the presidency, speaking for all of us in his stirring pronouncement -- "We're All Georgians" -- the Georgians want action, not just talk. What will the new Commander in Chief do first? Bomb the Russians, invade with ground forces, maybe launch a nuke? Don't the Russians have weapons of mass destruction? In this case, the answer is obviously yes.

Are you looking for another four years (maybe eight) of battles and warmongers? Then McCain is your man. If we have him for president, we won't all just be Georgians, we'll be Halliburtons.

More Republicans for Obama

Diary by Populista is worth looking at.

It seems there's a rare breed of thinking, intelligent Republicans -- of course I knew they were out there, and more power to them.

Especially when they see the qualities that Barack Obama brings to the table.

Including former Iowa congressman, Jim Leach, a long-time representative in Congress.

Representative Leach is quoted by Populista's diary as saying, "It's been a very difficult thing for me because I've never endorsed a Democrat before...but sometimes in life you come to a juncture where it's very clear the national interest trumps party discipline."

Populista also has a video of Susan Eisenhower, which I didn't look at. Who she is precisely, I don't know, but presumably some relation of Dwight Eisenhower.

Hey, on the subject of Ike, if you're ever in Abilene, KS, they have a nice museum there for him. And one time I and another person were alone in the tomb there of President and Mrs. Eisenhower. That's an interesting feeling. You expect a big crowd to be around but they weren't there that day!

Mr. Unstable Takes Bath at Burger King

Basically this is a funny story, not funny for Burger King Corp., no doubt.

An employee takes a bath in the sink, then when it all becomes known they sanitize the sink and throw away the utensils.

This might explain something that happened the other day. I found a rubber ducky on my Whopper.

But it's a happy ending. In the end he came clean.

The guy called himself Mr. Unstable.

Well, He's Hotheaded, Check It and See

Picture is from a comment by "logsol" at this diary.

How do you like how blustery and belligerent John McCain's been lately, with this trouble with Russia? I really think he'd love to go to war as the first option. With his whole military persona and history, he sounds exactly like the kind of guy who'd bomb first, negotiate later.

After eight years of a self-declared "war president" who couldn't be bothered with diplomacy, I hope the American people have moved on, and are looking for a president who is more even-tempered. How many more of our people (and others) have to die for these guys' egos?

To paraphrase John Kerry: "How would you like to be the last guy to die for John McCain's ego?"

McCain Copies from Wikipedia

It looks like John McCain's internet lessons are paying off. He's found a never-ending source of information at Wikipedia, simply a matter of cut and paste. At least that's what it looks like, with some great examples at that link from the Wikipedia entry on Georgia and what are supposedly John McCain's own thoughts.

You know who I'm talking about when I say John McCain, right? In case you don't, I have some original research, written in my own words that will introduce him:

John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is the senior United States Senator from Arizona and presumptive Republican Party nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 election.

McCain graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 and became a naval aviator, flying ground-attack aircraft from aircraft carriers. During the Vietnam War, he nearly lost his life in the 1967 USS Forrestal fire. Later that year while on a bombing mission over North Vietnam, he was shot down, badly injured, and captured as a prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese. He was held from 1967 to 1973, experiencing episodes of torture and refusing an out-of-sequence early repatriation offer; his war wounds would leave him with lifelong physical limitations.

I'm a pretty good writer, aren't I?

Looking Into Putin's Soul

Remember how George W. Bush supposedly had an excellent ability to discern people's qualities? How he was able to look into the soul of Vladimir Putin and say he was a pretty good guy?

Well, I'm looking at the same pictures as you, and the soul I'm seeing tells a different story. I put these two pictures side by side and I defy you to pick the true Putin the first time. I actually ran this test by a few of Frank Luntz's focus groups and, even though the odds by simply guessing are obviously 50-50, no one got it right.

Next, I showed it to the original cast of "12 Angry Men," because I knew that if they looked at it, there'd have to be that one who would be contrary and choose the opposite. But even they were unanimous in getting it wrong.

Which is the true Putin? Nope, it's the other.

Invisibility

I'm a little nervous about this invention to achieve invisibility. I'm hoping it's so expensive and so rare that it doesn't filter down to my level, the block I live on.

Probably like you, I like the idea of being able to see people coming. The ability to depend on my senses. It's bad enough, for example, if you have the air conditioner on, or you're listening to music with earbuds, to have someone come up behind you and touch your shoulder. Or for someone to suddenly appear some other way unannounced. The idea that they could be standing in the room with you all along, for as long as they choose, unnoticed, is unnerving.

And yet what kid hasn't fantasized about being invisible? The fantasy of being able to sneak around unnoticed, whether past your teacher or parents, has to be a common one, especially since we saw the Invisible Man movies all those years ago. You figure though, like in the movies, that you essentially have to be walking around naked, because if they put bandages on you or a hat those things are hovering in the air. That would be a drawback, especially if there were some faults in the process, such as if you suddenly become visible.

There's an old serial starring Bela Lugosi where he has an invisibility belt, and in his case it included his clothes, which would be good. But with that movie, "The Phantom Creeps," you could still occasionally see his shadow moving about. When he became invisible he was able to exploit it to the hilt, until everything started pointing to the fact that his character was invisible, then they were on to him.

But fantasy and reality are two different things. The reality that someone could be invisible -- the light rays being diverted or bent around the person or object -- is not a welcome thing.

McCain the Celebrity

It's good to hit back at this hypocrite. McCain doesn't accept it that he's been the biggest celebrity in Washington? Look at the man's film credits and TV appearances. Didn't they even make a movie about his life one time?

Campaign Restricts McCain's Cellphone Use

The campaign thinks Johnny McCain has been a very bad candidate. So they're clamping down on the old boy with some extra disciplinary measures. Phone privileges cut, spending time with friends cut.

NY Times: Mr. Schmidt has sought to cut down on Mr. McCain’s use of his cellphone and limit the people who have regular access to Mr. McCain in an effort to keep him more focused, advisers said.

Senator John McCain is so quick to pick up his gold-colored cellphone to solicit advice — from senators, campaign consultants, even the stray former deputy press secretary — that aides, concerned about his tendency to adopt the last opinion he has heard, have tried to cut back on the time he has to make calls.

He's only running for President of the United States. But they're letting him know who's boss and making him mind.

Do Alley Cats Vote?

Do I Make You Proud?

How proud did it make you feel to see President George W. Bush at the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics?

After eight looonnnng years of this loser, the biggest positive thought I could come up with was that this is a year of lasts for him. We're winding down, and it's the last time he'll do a lot of things: the last time he'll pardon the Thanksgiving turkey, and whatever his other jobs are.

Seeing him come in I was looking at him, thinking, such a guy, what would it be like to know the thoughts between those two ears? As to what he thinks of his enemies, his scandals, his misadventures in government. He's glad-handing the people around.

He's been such a terrible president, it's a shame we have someone so extremely bad representing us on the world stage. He's been speaking up for human rights in China, you know. That's a joke in several ways, the most obvious way being that he doesn't care about human rights. This is the first president I know of who we can legitimately call "The Torture President." So, maybe this will be the last time he'll have to go through the motions on the subject of human rights.

I'd love to see him have to address the subject of human rights one more time, such as if they could arrange an international trial for him somewhere. We truly have a real specimen in George Bush, of exactly what we'd hate to say.

Obama to Hit McCain Hard in Ohio

Obama's got something that looks pretty sour for McCain in Ohio.

TPM: The Obama campaign signaled today that they'll be making a major issue of job losses in the big swing state of Ohio -- and aggressively tying John McCain and his campaign manager Rick Davis directly to the problems hurting voters there.

Good. Hit McCain hard -- and when you get done, hit him again. The story's got McCain's own involvement, and has to do with Davis being a lobbyist and the fruit of his efforts being 8,000 Ohio jobs on the chopping block. McCain used his influence in the Senate to get this accomplished!

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said, "By November 4 in the Cincinnati and Dayton markets this is something that is going to be known by every voter in this area."

In a follow-up story at TPM, it sounds like McCain is trying some kind of hex to keep Obama from talking about this issue. Something about 'talking about problems with losing jobs is humiliating to those who are unemployed.' Could something as transparently stupid as that actually work? I hope not.

McCain screwed himself on this deal, and no hexing is going to cover the truth.

John Edwards

Scuzbaggery strikes again!

ABC: John Edwards repeatedly lied during his Presidential campaign about an extramarital affair with a novice filmmaker, the former Senator admitted to ABC News today.

The National Enquirer was right after all, maybe not about every little detail, but who knows? Edwards says the baby isn't his, but his word is worth exactly what? Squat. It's kind of weird that he would be at her room with the young'un just a few weeks ago if the affair ended in 2006.

It's crap that he ran for president knowing this secret was out there. Talk about personal ambition getting the best of a guy. We're lucky he didn't make it, not that he really had a chance. Obama was too much for him for one. And if Obama hadn't been there Clinton would've rolled over him for sure. But just think, he put himself forward to be our nominee. A time bomb on board and we would've been his fellow passengers.

As far as believing the National Enquirer, I saw a lot of very angry handwringing over it as a source. And a lot of damnation for anyone who dared to believe anything they would print, despite the fact that they've been right numerous times in the past. Blind faith in a guy, not usually a good virtue.

My own personal opinion through all that was what I believe about most things: Where there's smoke there's fire. Sometimes it doesn't turn out to be fire, but you know what I mean. It usually has a way of being fire if it's persistently smoky.

As far as John Edwards goes, I never thought he was especially good in the first place. I didn't support him for president in 2004 or 2008. To me he seemed all ambition, no abiding principles. This shows exactly how true that is.

Non-Fiction?

Wasn't Hal Lindsey raptured out in the '70s? Apparently not. He's still with us, writing, and now very much against Obama, with "ancient prophecies" as his weapon of choice. Who knew the old prophets -- with their emphasis on social justice and responsibility -- were Republicans? That definitely seems like a contradiction in terms.

Hal's blurb says

Hal Lindsey is the best-selling non-fiction writer alive today. Among his 20 books are "Late Great Planet Earth," his follow-up on that explosive best seller, "Planet Earth: The Final Chapter" ...

I think there was a time when the term "non-fiction" meant something very different.

The Party of Stupid

Paul Krugman:

What I mean, instead, is that know-nothingism — the insistence that there are simple, brute-force, instant-gratification answers to every problem, and that there’s something effeminate and weak about anyone who suggests otherwise — has become the core of Republican policy and political strategy. The party’s de facto slogan has become: “Real men don’t think things through.”

That's it. It's been obvious ever since Bush took power, the guy you wanted to have a beer with. 9/11 was then the watershed moment. National insanity as response and policy was suddenly valid and easy to exploit.

Nothing's worked since. But it didn't matter to them. As long as you can kick the can down the road and live today like a crazy person, go for it. All power's worth having just to muck things up for everyone else. How precisely this translates into a happier life for themselves is not crystal clear, since you have to guess there are children and grandchildren even in their families.

But we've had faked science, doctored reports, the Constitution in the shredder, zero accountability, justice perverted, torture, us against the world, a government of stunts, the politics of personal destruction, secrecy, record deficits, a war of choice pushed, fought, and spun by ideology, and the blame game. It's quite a record. It's shameful.

And now we have John McCain running for four more years of the same thing, with many of the same tactics: trivializing, demonizing; in short, all he has to offer is more stupidity. It's really like one giant prolonged Twilight Zone episode! It's time to get a grip.

Joe Lieberman Frosted After Cake Gets Him

The other day when McCain's bus wrecked, Joe Lieberman was on board, and, as with many of his other activities in life, there was a mess to clean up afterwards.

It seems there was a staffer's birthday cake on the bus that shifted in the incident and got all over the senator.

To keep me from paraphrasing a story second- or third-hand that I don't really know anything about, I'll let him help me out:

"At the moment of impact I was sitting in a booth ... right in front of counter right where the cake was. The cake went all over me. That was the end of my suit. I always wondered whether sometime a political protester would hit me with a pie in the face. I never thought a friendly birthday cake would attack me from the rear."

It's interesting to hear that he thinks about such things, getting a pie in the face from a protester. But as he explains it here, this time it was friendly fire.

Almost everything Joe does "takes the cake," but this time he outdid himself!

McCain Scuzbaggery

You have to be a real scuzbag to use kind words people say about you and disguise that as endorsing you for president! That's what John McCain is doing in his latest ad, his seemingly unending journey down the low road.

In the ad he has people like John Kerry, Howard Dean, and even Barack Obama praising him. By the end it's pretty clear, the only people who don't want McCain for president would be his Republican base! All the Democrats are on board, that's for sure.

That's the way it would appear, until you give it a second's thought. We all know these people support Obama for president, so what's the deal? Well, as it turns out -- who knew? -- over the years, in normal human relationships, we say nice things about others! We're even friends and so we're friendly. We aren't walking around with a cloud over our heads, snarling at one another.

In the Senate, for example, it's "My Distinguished Colleague from Arizona," "My Good Friend from Massachusetts," "The Honorable Gentleman from Iowa," etc. It doesn't mean you would presume upon these ceremonial kindnesses and actual friendships to claim an endorsement where none exists.

But that's what "The Distinguished Scuzbag from Arizona" did. String together enough of these pleasantries, and, guess what, everyone loves you!

That's an interesting way to exploit your friends.

Yabba-Dabba Do!

How old is John McCain? He's a page right out of history!

Straight Talk Express Literally Wrecks

It happened in Florida. John McCain wasn't on board, but Joe Lieberman was. From the picture it appears they were making a hard turn right and it didn't work out so well.

As was reported earlier in the day, Daily Kos, I believe, there was an Obama bumper sticker on the rear of the bus.

"I Love Losing"

The all-celebrity cast of "I Love Lucy" get together to celebrate their Emmy win. We all love Lucy, then there's Desi, Vivian, and of course grumpy old William Frawley.

The Low Road Express

Maureen Dowd:

Now John McCain is pea-green with envy. That’s the only explanation for why a man who prides himself on honor, a man who vowed not to take the low road in the campaign, having been mugged by W. and Rove in South Carolina in 2000, is engaging in a festival of juvenilia.

The low road. The low road seems lower if your tires are flat!

Doh! McCain Lets Air Out of Campaign Talking Point

McCain had us going there for a while, ridiculing the idea of keeping tires inflated. Of course it's common sense. Of course it's easily demonstrated that proper maintenance yields positive benefits. But he didn't think so. He thought it was some kind of liberal fantasy that reality had cooked up just to flummox conservatives.

O! how much effort his campaign put into this crazy business, that flat tires are just as good as inflated ones. Their points of course were well-taken: 1) It's only flat on one side; and, 2) It saves air for future generations.

But cruising along the road, McCain had a blowout, that is, he's blown the issue. Now he agrees with Obama. See, that wasn't so hard. Obama speaks the truth, McCain believes otherwise, then somehow, perhaps through the occasional serendipity that confusion gives, he changes his mind.

Now we can all rest easily, having believed all these years that air in tires wasn't a bad idea. We can repump them with a clear conscience and once again go on our merry way!

So what did the former maverick say?

"And could I mention that Senator Obama a couple of days ago said that we ought to all inflate our tires, and I don’t disagree with that. The American Automobile Association strongly recommends it."

Notice there's nothing about the experience we've all had for years with inflating tires and assuming it was of value. He heard it from the AAA -- it took their expertise in these matters finally to convince McCain. The word has come down, yes, that air in tires is actually a good thing. Whatever it took for him to arrive at this earthshaking knowledge, we all can rejoice!

Excellent Video on Republican Ignorance

Shouldn't CONSERVAtives want to CONSERVE?

I know labels don't necessarily mean anything. A turd by any other name would smell as rank. But I think it's true that the word "conservative" originally had a connotation of preserving, conserving, being frugal, being self-reliant (which would exclude wastefulness), and so on.

So we're having another round of the periodic Energy Crisis. And what is the solution, the only solution? Drill more! But what is left out and ridiculed? The fairly obvious, common sense idea that we CONSERVE what we have. You know, as in CONSERVative?

Time magazine looks at some of the Republicans' moronic ridicule of the idea of keeping your tires properly inflated:

But who's really out of touch? The Bush Administration estimates that expanded offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 bbl. per day by 2030. We use about 20 million bbl. per day, so that would meet about 1% of our demand two decades from now. Meanwhile, efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%. Many drivers already follow their advice, but if everyone did, we could immediately reduce demand several percentage points. In other words: Obama is right.

You can improve gas mileage by 7%. And if it's only half true, that's still significant.

In your wildest dreams you never ever imagined that something as fundamentally true as the benefits of proper maintenance would become a partisan issue. It's like debating whether what goes up must come down or whether circles are different from triangles.

Silly season, indeed. Stupid season, on the part of these so-called CONSERVatives.

White House Denials

Ron Suskind's new book, "The Way of the World," claims that the White House ordered the CIA to forge a letter from Iraqi intelligence to Saddam Hussein, to make a link between Hussein and al Qaeda and 9/11. It would help justify the war.

This report is from Politico:

The White House flatly denied Suskind’s account. Tony Fratto, deputy White House press secretary, told Politico: “The allegation that the White House directed anyone to forge a document from Habbush to Saddam is just absurd.”

Absurd. Flatly denied. Even if Suskind's claim isn't true, who at this point would believe the Bush White House? Their record has been one of nothing but lying. Certainly there's nothing "absurd" about the charge. But if it is false, the denial needs to come from a slightly more credible source than Bush.

Bottom line: Their denials mean absolutely nothing.

Clueless: What They're Saying About McCain

Grumpy old man, out of it, being handled, not knowing what's going on. Hey, when even your own mother calls it "kind of stupid," maybe it's time to wake up and see what your campaign's doing!

Big Oil Contributions to McCain

Hmmm, sounds suspicious. You be the judge.

Would you be about to send McCain $28,500 just like that?

McCain in Pocket of Big Oil

McCain Drives on Flat Tires

Tires. OK, Stupid, you think air in tires is a bad idea? Let all the air out of the tires on your bus and drive. You've stated the principles you want to live by, then live by them.

McCain Part of the Problem

When it comes to effective energy policy, where has McCain been all this time? Right at the heart of the problem. We've had nothing to value in the eight years of the Bush administration, supported by John McCain.

Obama: "What Senator McCain neglected to mention was that during those thirty years, he was in Washington for twenty-six of them. And in all that time, he did little to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. He voted against increased fuel efficiency standards and opposed legislation that included tax credits for more efficient cars. He voted against renewable sources of energy. Against clean biofuels. Against solar power. Against wind power. Against an energy bill that -- while far from perfect -- represented the largest investment in renewable sources of energy in the history of this country. So when Senator McCain talks about the failure of politicians in Washington to do anything about our energy crisis, it's important to remember that he's been a part of that failure."

McCain waiting till an election year to get serious about energy policy is like a deathbed conversion, a little too convenient. Also too little, too late Looking at all the things he's been against, why would we trust him to do the right thing now? We wouldn't.

Seriously?

The Republicans actually don't know there's a relationship between car maintenance (including tires) and gas consumption?

Are they really that stupid? If they're that stupid, please let them step aside. We've already tried stupid. It didn't work.

McCain's "Divine" Ad Is a Disaster

I'm putting a McCain ad here! Because I think it is a disaster...for McCain.

Anyone who's trying to appeal to a conservative, religious base should not be mocking religion, using religious symbolism and suggestions to make a humorous, nasty political point.

As anyone knows, as from the Huckabee ad, if you're using religious themes, make sure you're doing it in a reverent way. To me, this is a very boneheaded move on McCain's part. He's using religious themes to belittle someone!

Obama actually doesn't come across half bad in the ad, which is remarkable in itself. The place where he's talking about 'lights coming down' was obviously in jest, as you can see the people around laughing and, as I recall, it was some self-deprecating moment.

If you took it at literal face value -- that Obama is chosen by God to be president -- it makes the point at the end rather facile. If he is "the one," then whether he can "lead" or not should not be in dispute. (By the way, why did McCain support Bush in two elections? He was a completely failure.)

What do you think of this, Dobson? Your Republican candidate thinks religious is just a big joke, something in which he can attribute messianic imagery to his opponent in order to mock him and, in the process, mock the very idea that God could ever be trying to help us.

John McCain mocks religion.

Anthrax and ABC News

This is a major "Whoa!" moment, with responsibility for the anthrax attacks apparently determined. Check out this article (Glenn Greenwald) for some of the information that's still not quite tidied up. Including the connection between the anthrax attacks and the run-up to the Iraq war.

Just as it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you, if the conspiracies are actually real, maybe we should all stock up on tinfoil! Our normal assumption is that existence and society are fairly benign. But motive and means suggest that something more could be going on.