Where were they when we needed them?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/28/dan-rather-cbs-lawsuit-bush

This is an interesting piece about Dan Rather and his lawsuit against CBS and their firing of him post 2004 election. Good for him. Although he was the king of hyperbole, he is a decent guy who got severely shafted. As he points out, no one has disputed the facts of the Dauphin and his weaseling out of service in Viet Nam, and what is to me, the most significant point, is how supine the press has been during the Bush administration. The list of people that they proposed to "investigate" the 60 Minutes story was riddled with right wing ideologues. Ann Coulter? please. This is a woman who thought it was a terrific idea to send white powder to the NYT as a joke. The press has never really talked about their abject failure to examine the so called evidence leading up to the war in Iraq. As David Gregory said, it wouldn't have been polite. No doubt, now that a Democrat is in the White House, they will find their so called spines.

So what?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/22/AR2008122201852.html

This is a good column by Eugene Robinson. It contains an astounding quote from Bush. Just when you thought you were suffering from outrage fatigue, the Doltish Dauphin ups the ante. Apparently, in an interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC, Bush took credit for defeating al-Qaeda in Iraq. When Raddatz pointed out that al-Qaeda had not been in Iraq before we invaded, he answered, "So what?" So what? So what? Ask the parents of the 4,000+ dead Americans, ask the parents of the horribly injured Americans, ask the Iraqis whose country we have decimated, ask the Americans who have seen billions of reconstruction dollars poured down a rat hole in Iraq with no positive outcome (unless you count obscene Haliburton profits), ask the Americans who care about our image in the world, the list could go on and on. Honestly, the man apparently could care less. As he once famously said, "Who care what you think?"

House of Shame

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/21admin.html?hp

This is a long and depressing article in the NYT detailing some of the intense crony capitalism that went on in the Bush administration, and his blind faith in unregulated markets. The extent to the damage that the Bush administration has done is unthinkable. I lay the entire Wall Street debacle at his lumbering feet. So much for the CEO presidency. The rampant stupidity and disregard for warnings about the house of cards that was sure to collapse is astounding. Was it willful ignorance or did they ignore every warning because they were getting rich. This bone ignorance brought the world Bernie Madoff who used his connections at his Fifth Avenue synagogue to find victims for his ponzi scheme.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21rich.html?ref=opinion
Frank Rich's column details the absolute rampant crookishness and the different worthy charities, universities, pension funds, and people of Madoff. What on earth could he have been thinking? He reminded me of that horrible pharmacist in the mid-west who watered down chemotherapy drugs, so he could be a big cheese at his church. How can these people live with themselves.

Trying to make my peace

I am still not over Pastor Rick, who looks strangely like a bizzaro world Chuck Todd. A friend of mine thinks that Obama is basically a-religious and paid no attention to Rev. Wright as he was blathering on. Another possibility is that he has spent a great deal of time in many churches and realized that priests/ministers/rabbis/etc. say wacky things all the time, and assumes no one really listens because he tunes out. A friend who is married to a non wacky rabbi, told me that she has drunk so much Kool Aid that she has accepted the Pastor R choice. I have sure drunk a lot of Kool Aid, but am not there yet.

Snake oil

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/17/rick-warren-obama-invocat_n_151877.html

I know I vowed never to criticize Barack Obama, but I have to say two words - Pastor Rick? Not only is he an anti choice, anti stem cell, raging homophobe who equates being gay with being a pedophile or being incestuous, the guy is a rather creepy self promoting marketing marvel. Apparently, you can get Pastor R's deep thoughts if you have deep pockets and are willing to pony up. He was down right rude at the so called Saddleback Forum, constantly interrupting Barack, but letting McCain skate. He also didn't call McCain out on his initial lying about being in a cone of silence. Despite all outreach, most evangelicals will never be stalwarts of the Democratic party. There are many decent religious leaders, why pick such a turkey who puts his thumb in the eye of his staunchest supporters? It is one thing to be inclusive, but Pastor R is a hideously divisive figure

Mass Exodus

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-interior16-2008dec16,0,1401718.story

People seem to be fleeing the Senate - Ken Salazar is the latest refugee. I thought the Senate was an august body that was aspired too, and that once entered, one never left. It seems that some doddering Senators have been there forever, and no matter how horrible they linger on, witness Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, etc. But I guess since the only thing that seems to go on in the Senate these days is a big nothing, it must be a discouraging place to be. Harry Reid seems incapable of holding the repugs feet to the fire. I don't think that most of the public know that all the Republicans do is obstruct, obstruct, obstruct. I think the Repugs would cool their jets if they actually had to filibuster everything bill they want to stop. I think the emphasis on the sixty seat super majority in some way has given the Republicans in the Senate liscence to do whatever they want. Why should it take sixty senators to get anything done?

The holiday spirit - pink slips for all, and for all a good night

http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/12/1713569.aspx

The Republicans are up to their usual ways of destroying the country in order to score cheap political points. The read polls and decide it is really good idea to sink the struggling auto industry and eliminate millions of jobs just so they can union bust. GM has already announced that they have to temporarily close many plants. I saw Gettlefinger on one of the talking heads shows, and he said accurately I think, that no matter what the UAW agreed to, the Repugs were going to sink any bailout. Best line so far, hat tip to TPM, was one union official in Louisiana who said, Vitter can pay for prostitutes, but not the American worker.

The edumacation president strikes again

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laland/2008/12/photo-of-the-we.html

So the Obama's can't stay in Blair House, in order for their children to be able to start school right after the break. How creepy is that. I thought Bush cared so much about education. Oh, but I forgot - the Doltish Dauphin is orchestrating a WONDERFUL transition, except for his final f--- you to the environment and the American people. And as he and his acolytes attempt to rewrite history, with the DD saying, outrageously and plaintively, I sure wish I had gotten better intelligence about Iraq. As he prepares for riding off into the sunset to spend time at his beloved ranch - I'm sorry, as he swans off to a swank neighborhood in Dallas. But what will happen to all that brush?

They're back

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/12/12/obama/

This is a very good piece by Joe Conason, who wrote that wonderful but scary book, The Hunting of the President, which was about the vast right wing conspiracy to undermine Clinton's presidency. The loonies are back. First the whole birth certificate issue. Now the fact that Obama is from Illinois, he has met Blago, so therefore he must be guilty of something. They seek to de-legitimize the duly elected president, by inuendo and by repeating falsehoods, so that if repeated enough, people will think they are true. I remember in the 2004 election, after the Swift Boaters had been pushing their poison for a few months, the Viagra pushing, Brittany Spears lusting Bob Dole, said something to the effect of, Well there must be something to it, because all these people are saying it. Now the suddenly sanctimonious Arlen Specter is trying to delay hearings on Holder. Given that the Dems let just about every Republican turkey sail through confirmation hearings, I think it is an outrage. I sure he would say, Just because the Dems are spineless doesn't mean we won't try to be as big obstructionists as possible. I think the pardon of Rich was stupid, but it doesn't hold a candle to subverting the constitution and lying about intelligence, which has led to a disastrous war.

The Stupidest Politician Contest

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/us/politics/10Illinois.html?pagewanted=2

There is little good news in the Blago story, except that he clearly hated Barack, and that it lets Spitzer and Bill Clinton off the hook as the stupidest politicians in the world. If you know they are investigating you, why on earth would you give them the amno? And what amno it is - the whole story makes me ill, and I found I could not watch the chirpy Rachel Maddow last night. It is not an amusing little story, it is in fact, a story which might make it hard for Barack to govern. If that is the case, we are all screwed. I soured on Rachel on election night, because she was such a doom sayer for most of the evening, saying He hasn't carried a Red State. Josh Michah Marshall said the only thing that made me laugh - Blago should go for the insanity defense because he thought of running for President in 2012.

Speaking of Bad Ideas

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/08/AR2008120803297.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

This is a good piece by Eugene Robinson about the so called Blackwater trial. He basically calls it a whitewash and a show trial, comparing it to the Abu Graib trial, in that policy was never questioned, and the corporate higher ups are not investigated. I remember when the story of the shootings by Blackwater first broke, I thought who knew that visitors and State Department people were protected by the sinister Blackwater? I didn't. On what planet is it a good idea for our diplomats to be protected by mercenaries?

Into the light

I saw Obama on the Meet the Press, and he was swell. Tom Brokaw wasn't as annoying as he usually is, but I can't believe that they turned over the venerable MTP to that bore David Gregory. Obama was very relaxed, and talked about many things, including that the White House is the peoples house, foriegn affairs, the economy, and that science and culture will make a comeback. It seemed so strange to think that he is actually going to be President, I still can't believe it. In my lifetime there has been such a history of electing idiots and psychos that it almost seems unimaginable that there is going to be someone in the White House with a brain. Yes, I know Clinton was extraordinarily smart, but in many ways his flaws crippled his Presidency. And I guess, too that Poppy Bush was not as horrible as Junior, and in fact, even though he had sold his soul, seemed a step up from Reagan. So there wasn't that feeling of coming out of the darkness. There also seems to be some feeling among the gas bags that politics is not sport, that it has real consequences, the times are too horrible to focus on the usual innanities, and that they want Obama to succeed. I heard Kathleen Parker on the Chris Matthews show and she almost gushed over Obama.

Do they really think they can steal this one too? Or Stop in the Name of Love

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/12/obama-birth-cer.html

O.K. I think of myself as a pretty cynical and gloomy person. But I have to admit to being stunned when I got home and my husband told me that the Supreme Court actually agreed to hear a case brought from some wacko in NJ about Barack not being born in the USA. The silent Clarence Thomas agreed to hear the case. Strangely, there was no noise about this on the msm, not even on Hardball. I know the case is ludicrous, but that has never stoped them in the past. But after 2000, nothing would surprise me about the Supremes.

Strange bedfellows...

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/35382149.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7PaP3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Now "The Pendulum Swings to Franken" is a nice headline. To me it is an outrage that the curiously repellent Norm Coleman holds the Senate seat formerly held by Paul Wellstone, who was truly a liberal/progressive voice in the Senate. There is definitely something weird about Coleman, and it is not just because his ancient dad was arrested having sex with a woman outside a pizzeria, or because his wife has shady dealings, or that he has strange sleeping arrangements in D.C., or his teeth are strangely large and fake looking. I am surprised that the voters of Minnesota don't assert their good, clean mid-western values and send him packing, back to Minnesota.

A Great Victory?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHW-ZJ03DLcUGUM9z9p2nkbRAG-QD94R4DTO0

The horrible Saxy Chambliss won reelection. Not a surprise, after all this is Georgia, but disappointing none the less. Weren't the voters appalled at his using an ad where he sexually assaults his granddaughter by grabbing her boob? I guess not. I just heard a clip of him on NPR saying how he was the defender of the second amendment, he would make sure there would be no universal health care, etc. The repugs are of course, claiming this as a great victory, creating a fire wall between America and socialism.

Just what was he prepared for?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/01/bush-i-was-unprepared-for_n_147405.html

I couldn't bring myself to watch the Bush interview with Gibson, since Gibson destroyed all credibility during his questioning of HRC and Obama during their debate in the primary. He tried for redemption during his interview with Palin, but I may be aged, but my memory is not that short. And Bush, well, he is unwatchable. In the interview he talks about being unprepared for war, sorry that he destroyed the economy, and sorry that he accepts responsibility for the steep decline the Republican party. That is the only positive part of his ruinous presidency; however, at what a cost. And being sorry about the economy doesn't quite cut it. At no point during his disastrous presidency did he ever give any indication of having a clue as how the other 99.9% (can't really say half any more) of the country lived.

Poisoning the People

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/washington/30labor.html?th&emc=th

I am so sick of hearing the gas bags go on and on about what a marvelous transition it has been, and how gracious and presidential the Doltish Dauphin has been. In my book, presidential and the DD should not be mentioned in the same sentence. What the gas bags ignore it the push to "burrow" the incompetent Bushies, and the rush to push through regulations to pollute the environment and poison the American people.

The Spirit of Brownie lives on

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/29/AR2008112901776.html?hpid=topnews

The Bush administration knows no shame, but we knew that didn't we. What with their last minute regulations that favor oil companies, I guess it shouldn't surprise me that they think it is a swell idea to install incompetents in high level civil service posts. So the lingering effects of the Bushies will linger on. I am sure that each person "burrowed" into a government job is either longing to destroy the agency they work for, or they are so incompetent that they will do so, just by attempting to do their job. For people who hate government, they sure do like to cling to it.

More Fine Republican Family Values

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_3T6q88QF4 (hat tip Wonkette)

This is a must watch video of the Chambliss families Holiday Greeting. It is beyond creepy. Who calls the grandfather Big Daddy? And why is he groping his own granddaughter's boob? I thought Chambliss said that Jim Martin didn't protect children. Protect children from whom?

Irritating People

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2008/11/lieberman_contributed_to_gop_s.html

I hate to beat a dead horse, but frankly I can't help myself - Lieberman is just that irritating. I wonder just how difficult is was to find out just how much money had Lieberman had contributed to Republican Senators and Congressmen. Lieberman had been outspoken about how disastrous a Democratic sixty seat majority would be, so would it be such a leap to think that he had made contributions to try to ensure that wouldn't happen? I wonder how those senators feel now that they have made peace with the odious troll and let him keep his plum committee assignment. Even the fine people of CT can't stand him.

A turkey with a turkey

How about this for a study in contrasts? You have Barack with his totally adorable daughters at a homeless shelter about to serve food. And then you have the doltish Dauphin pardoning a turkey, making a face that makes him look more gormless than usual. I guess his daughters are somewhere sleeping off their excesses of the night before.

Some Redemption for Elizabeth Drew

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22170
This is a good piece by Elizabeth Drew. As I recall she wrote a puff book about McCain, but she too, joined the vast legion of disappointed McCain lovers. Among other things in the article, she refutes the notion that without the financial crisis Obama would not have won, and I agree. She points out that even though McCain had a bounce from his convention and pulled ahead in polling in the popular vote, Obama was never behind on the electoral map. I know someone who worked on the Obama campaign for a long time, and she said they never paid attention to the polling of the popular vote, but solely concentrated on the state by state polls. The conventional wisdom that states that the financial collapse caused the victory, takes away from what caused McCain to loose - empty policies, erratic behavior, irresponsible vp pick, etc. the list is long. It makes it seem that poor old John was at the mercy of events that he had no control over, which is far from true. He ran a horrible race and it is all his responsibility. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

What's the Matter with Georgia

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/
(hat tip to mydd.com)

These are disturbing poll numbers. What is wrong with the people of Georgia? When Cleland lost his Senate race, there were rumors of funny business - pre election polling not matching up with the end results, exit polls not quite in sync, but the polls seem to favor Chambliss. How bad does a Republican have to be to loose in some of these states. Look at the AK race, or the repulsive crookish Coleman who might hang on to his seat, and now Chambliss who accuses Martin of not defending children. Aside from running a horrible campaign, he is a fool and a crook.
http://www.savannahnow.com/node/542481 His dealings in the wrongful death case against Imperial Sugar are very questionable, especially since he received a nice little donation from that very company. Saxby is hoping that lots of "his folks" will turn out on the day of the runoff. Here is hoping they do not.
Wake up, Georgia.

New Lows

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/national_gop_groups_accuse_cri.php

I honestly didn't think Saxby Chambliss could go any lower, when he attacked Max Cleland, a decorated Army veteran who lost several limbs during the Vietnam War, for not defending the Constitution. Chambliss hadn't served in Vietnam because of his "bad knee." Now, I have no criticism for those who didn't serve who opposed the war, but the health problems of those who were just dying to go is pretty remarkable. My personal favorite being Rush Limbaugh couldn't serve because of a giant cyst on his behind. Now there is illness as metaphor. After the '02 election I read a piece, I think it was in Salon about how devastating the loss was for Cleland, and how he went into a severe depression. No one deserves that kind of treatment during a campaign. But in the Republican race to the bottom Saxby isn't disappointing this time around. He is attacking Jim Martin of being soft on crimes against children. Mind you, Jim Martin's daughter was a kidnap victim, and although she was returned safely, I don't doubt for an instant that this was a life changing event for everyone in the Martin family. I keep wondering what new lows Chambliss can reach, but even with my vivid imagination, I can't think.

Feeling good yet, Jimbo?

I have just watched James Baker and William Daley on MTP. Jim Baker seemed desperate for Obama and Bush to meet and formulate a short term plan for the economy. Daley was less than enthused. It is quite a spectacle to see Baker, the mastermind of the Florida recount, advocating for the Idiot Prince to abdicate. Feeling good about your role, Jimbo? "They've counted them once, they've counted them twice..." I hope he is haunted by those words, as he tosses and turns at night. Now let me think, you have one candidate who won the popular vote, and if all ballots had been counted, would have won Florida, who after his loss, dedicates his life to solving environmental problems. Then you have the candidate you installed, with the help of the Supremes, who has dedicated his life to screwing up the environment and everything else, whose popularity is in the toilet, for good reason. How can these people live with themselves?

Most Insufferable

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112102649.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

There is an editorial in the Wapo by Sally Quinn, who is clearly in a neck and neck contest with Cokie Roberts for the title of Ms Insufferable. Honestly, I can't decide who is more annoying, but currently Sally Quinn is in the lead, most likely because I just read her editorial. However, it is possible when I hear Cokie's dulcet tones emanating from my radio, I might change my mind. Sally is pontificating about which church the Obama's should attend. Her choice is the National Cathedral for reasons I won't go into. And even though I am sure it is a swell church, because I am petty and childish, I hope they go elsewhere. But then again maybe the poisonous Quinn will then turn on them and write horrible untrue things about them, like she did with the Clintons. I don't remember the exact quote, but during the impeachment hearings, she wrote that Ken "The Pornographer" Starr was much more her kind of people because his children went to the right schools and his wife knew other DC power wives. Enough said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/quinn110298.htm

Ahhh Google is a wonderful thing. Out of curiosity I googled Quinn + Starr and found this article written in '98 about Bill Clinton. Read it if you have a strong stomach. The outrage! The disappointment! The scandal! Even at the time it was pretty unbelievable reading, but now after enduring eight years of the Bush Criminal Cartel, it is even more startling. OK the guy lied about sex, but he didn't lie about going to WAR!!! for god's sake. Some of the same ghastly names - Lieberman, Andrea Mitchell, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and even Cokie is quoted. It would be a quaint period piece, in the realm of wasn't that interesting that the Beltway crowd was so obsessed, but given what the Bush administration has done to the country, you wonder where was the outrage about the ruination of America at home and abroad.

Bless her heart...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/20/sarah-palin-holds-news-co_n_145375.html

This is a link to a pretty unbelievable video. It shows Sarah P. pardoning a turkey. Now I have a bit of problem with the whole notion of pardoning a turkey. I don't like anthropomorphizing of food, so the notion of a turkey being some sort of criminal in need of a pardon is somewhat disturbing. The video first shows Sarah P being too squeamish to touch the lucky bird. Then she proceeds to give an interview with turkeys being slaughtered in the background. Speaking of having a tin ear. The CNN crawl said something along the lines of Palin oblivious to the slaughter behind her...It seemed to me that the man who was doing the slaughtering was gawping and leering at the camera as he beheaded bird after bird, while Ms P pontificates. This is maybe her Mitt Romney moment (Mitt strapped the family pooch on top of the car to go on a family vacation,) where she will argue that the bird actually likes being beheaded.

The Vetting Process

There is a sweet story about when Michelle Obama brought Barack home to meet the family. Apparently, the Robinson family vetted suitors by having Michelle's brother Craig play basketball with the young man. Obama clearly passed the test.

This brings me to Devendorf of Syracuse University. When I read the story of his arrest for assault on a young woman and her car, I was not surprise. He is a singularly unprepossessing player, and any child of mine brought him home as a possible beau, I would be horrified. Now I must confess that my children attend or attended Syracuse's arch rival and are all fearsome fans, so I read this story with some degree of grim satisfaction. And maybe if I were an alum of Syracuse, I would find him a thing of beauty, but if that were so, I am sure my son in law would find that another black mark against the Orange.

Good news and bad news

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/us/politics/19cong.html?_r=1&hp

I was happy to see that Ted Stevens lost his Senate seat, on his 85th birthday no less. His present from the repugs in the Senate - they didn't boot him out, but instead waited for the election results, touching, no? Things I will miss - Jon Stewart doing a montage of Stevens repeatedly bellowing, "No, No No," on the floor of the Senate. Things I won't miss - Stevens being allowed to bellow, "No, No, No," on the Senate floor. The extra bonus is that no doubt Sarah P is gnashing her teeth up in AK. I am sure she was already scooping out luxe housing in DC and planning a killer wardrobe. I guess God is showing her the door... It is nice to see that not all the people of AK think it is a fine idea to return a convicted felon to the Senate.

The bad news in the Times article is the failure to bounce the odious Joe from his committee chair. There are so many reasons that this is horrible, I don't know where to start. I think one of the most petulant comments from Joe was how hurt his feelings were when colleagues didn't campaign for him. Boo hoo. Well, Joe, guess who did? Much to my disappointment, Barack did. Joe Lieberman has no loyalty to anyone other than to Joe Lieberman. The only positive, and it isn't much, is that hopefully he knows he owes his post to Obama, but frankly, I don't think it will make a difference in how he behaves. What the Senators who voted for him to keep his chair, fail to understand is that this isn't about payback, he was a crap chairman, showing the morals and wisdom of snake. It also makes the Dems look spineless and pathetic. The so called 60 seat filibuster proof majority is meaningless if you don't have party loyalty. Does anyone really imagine that Lieberman will vote with the Dems if his buddies across the aisle lure to have one of his notorious attacks of his so called conscience? I don't think so.

Republican Family values, again

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081116/ap_on_el_ge/giuliani;_ylt=Any5HZH5JjMvNijvuo3S04Cs0NUE

Now here is some disturbing news - Rudy is contemplating running for Governor of New York. I think all David Patterson will have to do for advertising is replay endlessly Rudy's truly terrifying speech at Hate Fest '08 (aka the Republican Convention.) What Rudy forgets is that sometimes a politician's time has passed, and his has passed big time. Joe Biden put the knife in beautifully - A noun, a verb and 9/11. He is a not an appealing candidate and a really horrible human being. I mean, who dumps his wife of many years, the mother of his children on live TV? Oh wait, maybe that is the loop to play endlessly.

Bitter

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/16/dorgan-lieberman/

I was happy to see that Byron Dorgan finds Lieberman's actions unacceptable. I know that Leahy and Sanders called for Lieberman to loose his committee chair, but that not very surprising. I called Dodd's office on Friday to rant, saying I was a CT resident and had been a big fan of Chris Dodd (all true, by the way,) but was appalled that he was supporting Lieberman as chair for various reasons, including that Lieberman was useless and investigated nothing, and showed the terrible judgement of supporting McCain who was clearly a deranged candidate, and that Lieberman clearly did not represent CT voters. I held back and did not say things like, he is an odious little toad who deserves NOTHING but CONTEMPT!!! The person I spoke to was very polite, and said that she would pass on my remarks to the Senator - fat chance, she didn't take my name or address and clearly thought I was a crank, which I guess I am. I read somewhere that Evan Bayh said Lieberman should keep the chair otherwise he would become bitter. I have news for you - Lieberman is the personification of bitter. I read that it is going to be a secret ballot, so maybe the spineless dems will annonomously stab Joe in the back - as Rahm would say, Dead, Dead, Dead!

Doris, not all rivals are capable of being on a team

The other night I went to a talk given by Doris Kearns Goodwin about her book A Team of Rivals. She was quite an entertaining speaker, and she mentioned that Barack had called her after reading her book. Having seen DKG on one of the gasbag shows, I knew she had the lunatic idea that Obama should offer McCain a post in his cabinet. I have to say I think this is a horrible idea, and my auntie wanted me to harangue her about the suggestion. I mean after all, why on earth would you have someone in your cabinet whose every idea is horrible? I chickened out, even though the audience was pretty elderly, they were so worshipful I would have feared for my safety. It is a nice story about Barack calling her, though. It will be strange having a president who actually reads and thinks.

Our Dear Laura

You may wonder why I have all these fine photos of Laura Bush. It is a long story and in fact, this post is a tribute to my sister who used to read and post on the Our Dear Laura (ODL) site on Salon. But please be prepared, this is a really superficial and mean post. I know I should be charitable because she has the misfortune to be married into that dreadful family. Imagine having that terrible old tartar Barbara Bush as your mother in law? But ODL bears some responsibility. When the Doltish Dauphin concocted the scheme of running for president, why didn't she schedule an intervention? She of all people should have known what a bad idea it was to install her booze/cocaine addled husband as president. Anyway, I was struck by many things when looking at the photograph of the Obama's with the Bushies. Not just how elegant and fabulous the Obama's looked, but by the strange position of ODL's breasts. They seemed to me to be almost at waist level. Now I know she is a woman of a certain age, and so I should be charitable not being a spring chicken myself, but it seems to me that if I were married to the most powerful man on the planet even if he is a dunce, I would seek out some remedies for this condition. Surely there are some high end undies she could purchase, or failing that, NASA is filled with clever engineers or the Army Corps of Engineers, oh wait, they designed the levee system in New Orleans, forget them.

Premature measuring

Alaska is much in the news, what with Ms Palin flouncing about. For a while, it looked likely that she would grace the Senate with her presence, due to a convicted felon being re-elected. Stevens because he lives in an alternate universe, clearly not the reality based community, said he wasn't really a convicted felon and continued to run his campaign. I worried that if re-elected and then booted out of the senate, Ms P would appoint herself, not wanting to go back to real American up there in Alaska. Miracle of miracles, it appears that Begich has pulled ahead. According to an article in http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/begich_pulls_ahead_of_stevens.php
he has actually pulled ahead by over 800 votes, and they are still counting absentee ballots. So speaking of measuring the drapes, Sarah P may have to spend her time in Alaska. Eventually the MSM will tire of going up there, after all they have very short attention spans, and I am sure it is bloody cold up there, and a snowmobile ride might not seem so glam in sub zero weather. Hopefully she will fade, because I personally am sick of hearing her honking voice coming over the airwaves.

The fat lady has sung

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/11/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving.html

It must be a pretty slow news day if the msm is still obsessing over Sarah P. I can't believe the networks think there is so little news that they can send their intrepid reporters up to AK to eat moose chili. Gee, what happened to the financial crisis? Oh I forgot, no good visuals. But honestly, the vapid, grotesque, self aggrandizing Sarah P? As Josh Michah Marshall over at http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/ said, Can someone tell Sarah Palin the election is over? And the inauguration hasn't happened yet. I must admit I don't remember talk of the next election before a new president is even sworn in, but maybe I wouldn't know, because after so many elections, I have been in bed curled in a foetal position, refusing to read or look at anything, enforcing a news blackout.

Bill, Bill what are you thinking?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1108/Obama_Bill_Clinton_hoping_Lieberman_will_stay_a_Democrat.html

I have to say, Bill Clinton has a very strange notion of loyalty. During the campaign, he was kind to John McCain who made the incredibly cruel and tasteless joke about his daughter - "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father?" And now he is making phone calls for the odious toad, Joe Lieberman. Joe infamously stood on the floor of the Senate trashing Clinton for his relationship with Monica. This act opened the flood gates of the impeachment circus. If Joe, former friend and current moralist, could denounce him, well then let the blood letting begin. Now we have the spectacle of various dems defending Lieberman after he went against the will of democrats in Connecticut and ran for senate as a party of one, went back on his word and actively campaigned against Obama. But even Chris Dodd is actively saying he should keep his committees chair. My husband wants me to ask Dodd for tickets for the inauguration. But gee, do you think it would be a good move if I called Dodd's office and harangue him about Lieberman and then ask for tickets?

Politicians to avoid

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/11/08/2008-11-08_jersey_city_councilman_steven_lipski_is_.html

For some reason, my husband is quite amused/horrified by this story and keeps giving me tips about the latest revelation. What kind of a place is Jersey City when it seems to drive their fine politicians to drunken foolishness? Frankly, I think an assault charge is too lenient. Just the thought of having the misfortune of attending a Grateful Dead tribute band concert makes me ill, but the thought of being peed on by a drunken pol would make me rethink my stance on the death penalty. There is a really fine bit of reporting at the end of the article on a pol who was found nude and drunk on a stoop before he was elected mayor of Jersey City. Just so you know I am really bipartisan, Lipski is a dem.

Who's your daddy now?

Barack is going to the White House today to meet with the doltish Dauphin. I can't imagine what that meeting will be like, and not just because both campaigns were basically trashing all the policies of the Bush administration, but also because of the stark contrast in their personal histories. And what a study in contrast - Bush had every advantage thrust upon him and earned nothing on his own, except perhaps the title of The Least Popular President in Modern History, but now that I think of it, he had some help with that too. His education - prep school, legacy admit to Yale, Harvard B school, did he get into any of these places his own merit? All of his business misadventures were all with the help of his daddy's cronies. Even the presidency was awarded to him by his daddy's cronies. Sure Barack went to elite schools, but he earned his admissions and took advantage of every opportunity that came his way. When he finished Harvard Law, instead of going corporate, he dedicated himself to public service. )It is sort of delicious that the Repugs so mocked him for having been a community organizer, and it was those very skills that helped propel him into the White House.) You have one person who is proud of his ignorance and limited thinking, and the other who is deliberative, thoughtful and intellectual. The list of differences goes on and on. McCain is in fact, not all that different from Bush. He too, had an amazingly privileged life and relied on his daddy's and grandaddy's connections to make his way through the world. People seem to think that he sprung from a ranch in Arizona, but he, like Bush, was a born Washington insider. Well, it is really nice to think that both Bush and McCain are OUT!

Avoiding group think

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/opinion/09rich.html?ref=opinion

Frank Rich has a wonderful column in the NYT today about how most of the conventional wisdom about the election was wrong. I think another strength for Obama was his tuning out the gasbags, and their endless supply of group think. Maybe not having been inside the Beltway for a long time and being grounded by family and friends in Chicago, made it easier to think clearly. There was one moment in the campaign when McCain suspended his campaign to deal with the financial crisis. I worried that Obama would fall into a reactive trap, but he didn't and wisely said, A president should be able to do more than one thing at a time. He kept on talking about policy instead of getting tangled up in the minutiae of attack ads, tempting though it might have been. Can you imagine looking at the 'celebrity' ads and not succumbing to, What are you talking about - you have been THE most frequent political guest on ALL the late night shows, and you were the one that called the press your base. But he was right not to - this time the American people were not bamboozled into voting for the fear and smear candidate.

Broder speaks, but is anyone listening?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110703146.html
What planet is David Broder on? This Sunday, instead of writing about Obama's election, The Dean of Conventional WIsdom writes about hopeful signs for the GOP, citing the election of several republican governors, including one in Vermont (Vermont???? what happened?) Granted, the election results were not all good, but is hopeful signs for the GOP on peoples minds right now? What a tool.

Up to their old tricks

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/11/06/young-voters-powered-obamas-victory-while-shrugging-off-slacker-image.htmlAlready the knives are out and the repugs are trying to spin the election. I was out and my visiting auntie was watching tv. I came back and she was in a gloomy mood - she had been watching C-span and had seen some show with Charlie Cook and some other stooge was on. I had seen an article by Charlie Cook that I decided to avoid, the title of which was something like, Obama had limited coat tails. Now given that the dems picked up quite a few seats, I thought that this was a ridiculous headline and most annoying. So when I heard that she had been depressed by Charlie Cook saying that this was an ordinary election, the youth vote as usual had punked out and not voted - in other words, same old, same old. Well guess what, I have been following elections for a long time, and I don't remember ANY election where there were shots of people all over the world dancing in the streets when one candidate went over the top. Did anyone see someone weeping when W was elected? (Oh yeah, that was me, but I sure wasn't weeping for joy,and I didn't even know what a horrible pres W would turn put to be.) The internet is a wonderful thing, as I quickly found articles to comfort my auntie - the youth vote turned out in record numbers, but so did everyone else, so one can twist the stats and say there wasn't a higher percentage of the youth vote, but that is quite disingenuous. This election is a BIG deal in many, many ways and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I'm taking my marbles...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15401.html

According to Lieberman's aide, he is threatening Reid that he will bolt the party if his committee chair is taken away from him. He wants to take his marbles else where. He said the most outrageous things during the campaign about Obama and the Democratic party, even saying, Heaven help us if the Democrats win sixty seats. Now is that being a loyal party member? Let him go, he is worthless, and I can't wait to see his reception in the Party of Yahoo's (aka Republicans.) Don't tell me they don't despise him, and as everyone knows, they are not the most tolerant bunch.

Twisting in the wind

http://blogs.courant.com/stan_simpson/2008/11/easy-call-on-lieberman-joe-got.html

We are all witnessing the disgusting spectacle of Joseph Lieberman attempting to slither back into the good graces of the Democratic Party. I can't say I wish him luck, even with heavy sarcasm. The man is an embarrassment, even when he is trying to crawl. I saw a clip of him after his press conference, and believe it or not, he is still his sanctimonious old self. He stressed he supported McCain for the good of his country, and he said that basically he should skate, in the interest of being bipartisan. How he could support McCain and his disgusting campaign is beyond me. Many republicans jumped ship because they couldn't stand the nasty, vapid campaign that McCain was running - Colin Powell, Jim Leach, the list is long. I am sure he was convinced that McCain would win, and that he would be rewarded with a plum cabinet position, as he clearly has no future in Connecticut politics (speaking of buyers remorse - it is hard to meet anyone who will confess to voting for the man in the last election.) It is kind of fun to watch Joe twist in the wind as Harry Reid considers his options.

Pinch me

It is still hard to believe the election results. Often that sentence is followed by a How could this have happened? and What is wrong with the American people? It is amazing to be happy about an election result. So far, the press has not started trying to put the knife in Barack's back - even MoDo has a positive column. I think the gasbags on the tube are actually giddy, even the slimy Joe Scarborough. Yesterday, he was taunting European countries, saying When will you elect a black presidents, you snotty superior people? or words to that effect

Those law and order Repugs

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/us-election/joe-the-plumber-escapes-speeding-ticket-due-to-negative-repercussions-14035388.html

I know this is kind of kicking a sick puppy and in the really old news department but... I think it sort of funny that ole Joe the Plumber weaseled out of a speeding ticket due to his undeserved celebrity. The fact that McCain could base so much of his campaign on the wit and wisdom of the fine intellect Joe the (fake) Pluming tax cheat is indicative of his complete idiocy.
Wait a minute ----The west coast is called. It is official. BARACK!!!

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

Howard Fineman just reported that Mark Salter (0ne of McCain's best buds) looks like he has been run over by a bus. Honestly, it couldn't happen to a more deserving campaign. It was perhaps one of the most cynical, shallow campaigns, and given the dire straights of the country, the most tone deaf that I can remember. They deserve to feel run over by a bus.

Revenge is sweet

Yeaaaaaaahhhhhhh. Chris Shays is tooooooooast!!! My very own mavricky Congressman is out on his sad little behind. Aside from being a source of my greatest shame, he is such a dick. My husband and I went to a debate in a previous race and was asked about cancer rates in CT. He spent approximately 2 seconds on the question and launched into his campaign speil. I went to the Bennett Cancer Walk and who turns up? but the loathsome whiny Shays meeting and greeting and then fleeing when the walk began. Ha Ha! he is gone.

I am too hyper to link but I love Josh Micah Michael. He has the best posts and I love his F--Ya Ohio. That about says it all. I now have friends who are beginning to get sick of the chirpy Rachel M. Why does she keep saying that things don't look good yet for Barack? Yah!!! Jack Reed (yeah I know, no surprise) won reelection, but sadly, they didn't have his pix under the fine banner of the K- ittens.

Still fretting

Jeepers, I am getting sick of the gloomy Rachel Maddow (I know, I know everyone loves her.) I want a red state wahhhhh. It is bizarre when I take comfort from repugs like Mike Murphy. I was really happy to hear that PA went so quickly for Obama. Yeah!!! ABC just called Ohio for Obama. But this is killing me.

Fretting...

I am glued to the tube watching basically nothing. Some returns from Indiana, but basically, meaningless. I have no time to link, but search for Barack's Manassas speech which is funny and wonderful. For me, the key state is VA - if it goes quickly for Barack then the rest is gravy; however, I will be in despair if PA goes for McCain. Eugene Robinson is a must read in the Wapo, talking about just what this election means to him as an African American and how, for the first time, he is proud to be an American. Good for him. I must say, as I was driving to PA this past weekend, I turned to the woman I was going to GOTV with and said those very words. She was dumbstruck because she said she felt exactly the same thing. I know Michelle took a lot of heat for her remarks, but we have been in the wilderness for such a long time. I lived in England during much of the Nixon years and my god I had a heap a lot of explaining to do. And Reagan, please, I know he is a sacred cow these days, but what a horrible president. An ignorant fool and damn proud of it. Bush One - sold his soul to Satan and never recuperated. And Bush Two - the idiot prince continues to wreak havoc on the world.

Decent people

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gugBpfv2Z-qzsewN3AkWpIZdNk6w

This is an incredibly sweet article about the death of Barack's grandmother. There is never a good time for a loved one to die, but it is incredibly poignant to read this article on the eve of what should be an historic day and a wonderful day for the country and Barack Obama. I was very touched by Barack's remarks describing her as one of the quiet people who sacrifice for their children and grandchildren. There have been other articles talking about the courage and decency it must have taken for his grandparents to love him, raise him and sacrifice so much for him.

Hope

It is hard to believe it is election eve. I know that many people have already voted, and although I think that any way to get more people to vote is a good thing, the traditionalist in me likes trouping off to the polls on election day. One of the most surprising and horrible thing about the 2000 election, aside of course having the doltish dauphin thrust upon us by his daddies cronies, was that during the Florida debacle, so called voting experts said, each election millions of ballots are never counted. Huh? In other words, your vote may or may not count. Who knew. It is really appalling that in this day and age that the integrity of voting is not guaranteed. I thought voting was the bedrock of democracy, but apparently not. What is astounding is that so little has been done since 2000 to make voting easier, safer and more democratic. The fact that state governments indicate think it is OK that people may have to stand in line for hours to cast their votes, is shameful. But then I guess in many areas (rich, white areas) do not, so I guess that is supposed to make it OK. Well it's not. Keep the faith, keep your fingers crossed, knock on wood, and don't agonize - organize. Let us hope for a better tomorrow.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/us/politics/03penn.html

McCain finds some hope in Philadelphia...gee, what an unpleasant headline to wake up to, although I can understand why he might. I went to Philadelphia to GOTV on Saturday, and the identified Obama supporters were few and far between in northeast Philadelphia. It was sort of depressing to walk by many houses, realizing that self identified McCain supporters lived there, even though they are registered Dems. The first house we went to was supposedly an Obama supporter. We rang the bell and a huge hound came barking and leaping at the door. The man of the house opened the door, and we gave our spiel in our nicest smiley middle aged non threatening way. The man looked at us and said a big, "NO!!!" and slammed the door. We put him down as a McCain supporter, and tempted though we were to go back and ask about his wife, we resisted. I just hope there are enough latte drinking socialist dems in the burbs to counteract these defections

My new image

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/13/the-coming-thugocracy/print/
Gee, according to Michael Barone in the Washington Times, the Obama volunteers are studenty thugs. Well, as a proud Obama volunteer I must say I am pretty far from a youthful thug. None of my friends who volunteer mind being called youthful, but as my moniker the Hag might indicate, I am far from young. Now thug... but I must admit being a teacher of young children I find the thug a bit hard to take, and it is a pretty silly label for the other people I saw at Obama headquarters - teachers, lawyers, architects, nurses, women's advocates, and although there were quite a few young people they looked pretty tame to me, you name it, this was a very mixed group. But who knows, maybe I will warm to my new tough image.

I do wonder what I will do with myself when the election is over. My daughter had one word for me DEEEEFENSE. I never understood why the Washington elites were so dismissive of and horrible about the Clintons. I remember the Cokie's and the Sally Quinn's dripping with their disdain and contempt about everything Clinton. Just read the Hunting of the President by the wonderful Joe Conason and you will see that the knives were out day even before day one. The Republicans believed that that Bill Clinton was not a legitimate president. Geez, I wish the dems had been that fierce about Bush, the ultimate illegitimate president.

John McCain's excellent judgement

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122539083988384919.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

This editorial in the WSJ talks about McCain's unusual choice in heading up his transition team, citing Lehman's ethics problems regarding his time as Navy secretary. The editorial pointed out what great friends McCain and Lehman are. I wouldn't call this so unusual, but I would use a much overused phrase, isn't this "just politics as usual?" I know McCain has given air quotes a very bad name, but I can't help myself... I mean who does this sound like, friendship over competence, cronyism rules all. Why doesn't it sound just like GWB? Another incredibly seamy side not mentioned in the WSJ is his involvement in the Tailhook scandal. Mother Jones has an exceptionally lurid description of this fine upstanding Naval officer.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/10/10403_mccain_lehman_transition_tailhook.html
But I guess in McCain's world, boys will be boys.

Another, plum, juicy rat

Who has stuck another knife in the back? Why my very own congressman - the so called mavericky Chris Shays. This is definitely a case of a strong desire to not go down with the sinking ship. He says he is disappointed with McCain not staying true to his core beliefs. What core beliefs, other than going to war with just about everyone, including inner cities (he supported a "surge" to deal with inner city crime)? Other than that, McCain is an empty vessel, bereft of any idea other than Republican orthodoxy. It is also quite sweet that Shays is the head of the McCain campaign in CT. But the sanctimonious tone of his backpedaling is although delicious, somewhat nauseating. Who does Shays think he is, Joe Lieberman?

Payback's a bitch

Hat tip - americablog.com
Much to my surprise, Charlie Christ extended the early voting hours in Florida. I hate to impugn base motives for everything that any Republican does, but what the hell. This will go in the category of the Revenge of the Former Suitors. Charlie has put the boot in big time, the Mittster has expressed himself, and even Tom Ridge in a tv interview implied that McCain would be winning in PA if he had been chosen VP. Lieberman is readying his bus, but as far as I know, Tim Pawlenty has yet to cave. So much for loyalty. I can't imagine what it would be like for them to see that ghastly woman on the campaign trail, readying her knives for the post election blood bath.

Mystery solved

I woke up this morning to monsoon like rain, and started worrying about election day weather. Ihave been going to fivethirtyeight for polling info (Pollster got way to gloomy for me a few weeks ago, while Nate Silver still was optimistic.) Nate Silver must of read my mind because I clicked to fivethirtyeight and found that he had posted weather forecasts for battleground states - scattered showers for the most part. I have seen Nate Silver a few times on TV, spouting numbers and statistics, and looking slightly strange and furtive. I don't remember fivethirtyeight from four years ago wondered where he sprung from. The mystery is solved. He is a SPORTS GEEK! I should have known because all of his stats are so extensive and convoluted, I never understand what he talking or writing about when he does analysis, but believe him totally.

Watch your back, John

Apparently, Hendrik Hertberg of the New Yorker can't stand Lieberman either. It is really creepy to see him read the writing on the wall and try to edge back toward the Democratic party. Joe is all about Joe, so McCain not only has to worry about Ms P, but about Joe trying to save his own sorry behind. I am waiting for Mr Sanctimonious to start blaming McCain for supposed moral failing. Hertberg wrote that Joe dumped his first wife because he claimed she wasn't pious enough. I wonder what moral failing he will accuse McCain of. And my god, wouldn't it be sweet if the dems get to 60 in the Senate.

My own personal shame

Much to my sorrow, the NYT endorsed Chris Shays for Congress. Shays is the so called mavricky congressman from my district in Connecticut. He is notorious for taking a noisy and mavricky stand on one issue, and then for the rest of his votes is a loyal foot soldier for the republicans. I admit, I was once fooled. During his first term in Congress, he voted against aid to the Contras, despite tremendous pressure from the Reagan administration. Although I had not voted to elect him, in the next election, because of that vote, for the first and most likely last time in my life I pulled and R lever. I am deeply ashamed, and I once confessed to my Auntie my sordid secret. She won't let me forget it, and says that she is going to insist that my tombstone will read, "She once voted for a Republican."

What to do with Beauty Pageant Contestants...

http://www.jedreport.com/

Where do they get these people from. I was casually watching the CBS local news from NEW YORK. There were two reporters talking about the election. I was busy reading various columns in the NYT, so I admit I was not paying full attention, but something caught my ear. One of the reporters cited an AP poll that showed that Obama was one point ahead. The other, I kid you not, said, "Maybe this has to do with Obama wants to redistribute the wealth." Huh? Since when did an anchor in NEW YORK start spouting McCain talking points. The jedreport video shows Biden having the most insane interview with a "reporter" (I put reporter in quotes - she is a former Miss Vermont - I know I shouldn't be snooty about beauty contestants, but frankly the dominatrix from Alaska has given pageant contestants a bad name) from Tampa. She even quotes Karl Marx. Jed Lewison calls this a funny interview, but I must admit to be appalled. Do people really think that calling for a more equitable tax structure is socialism or a redistribution of wealth? If a reporter in New York can say that, God knows what idiocy is being spouted in the rest of the country. PS Of course I was panicked by the AP poll mentioned, so I franticly went on line to track it down. I couldn't find a new one, so I began to wonder if it was the one that Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight wrote about. It was the only poll in the universe that showed McCain crushing Obama in the youth vote. And I read somewhere else that one of the questions went along the lines of What do you think of Obama's socialist policies?
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/10/whats-wrong-with-this-picture-aka-nate.html

The New Lieeeeberman

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14929.html

There are lots of delicious stories floating around about Sarah Palin and her tensions with the campaign. Supposedly she feels she has been mishandled. Hmmmm.... I think she knows she is on a loosing ticket and is blaming McCain for not being negative enough, being old, etc. He of course, realizes he has been saddled with an albatross. However, she has big dreams of being the next big thing in the Republican party. In fact she reminds me of Lieeeeeberman. Who knows, she might even jump ship. Both Gore and McCain made reactive choices for VP. Gore because of wanting to distance himself from Clinton's mess, McCain reacting out of petulance because his choice was vetoed by his handlers, and he had some misguided notion that all HRC supporters would immediately flock to McCain. I think Palin will get the same rude shock that Lieberman got if she attempts to run in 2012, after she goes down in flaming defeat. Already in polling the preference is Romney. Now you know you are a looser if your polling numbers are worse than the puppy abusing Romney. Lieberman was a disaster as a candidate and had a veritable love fest with Cheney during his one debate, where his only task was to eviscerate Cheney. He even let slide Cheney's absurd claim that his Haliburton wealth was a result work in the private sector and had nothing to do with the government. But Lieeeberman thought that he had discovered the secret, not realizing that Gore had done all the heavy lifting. When he ran he was stunned that he did so poorly, and that is why he has turned into the bitter old troll that he is.

I do have a heart, really I do

Now I am not a Patriots fan and I am certainly not a fan of Tom "Dog Meat" Brady; however, this article about his knee surgery made me ill. I did wonder why on earth would he go to LA to have complicated knee surgery done by a shoulder and elbow specialist? When looking for a surgeon I always want to find someone who finds the surgery so routine that it almost boring. I did click on a link that showed a picture of the smooth looking doc with his fab wife. They looked like a couple from Nip and Tuck. It turns out that he did surgery on Nicole Kidman's knee. Now there is a recommendation, no offense to Ms Kidman, but her lively hood doesn't depend on her knees (I first wrote that Ms Kidman didn't make her living on her knees, but boy that sure didn't sound right).

Yes, I am REALLY superficial

//www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/22/america/palin.php
I have to weigh in about the clothing crisis the fair Sarah must have had post vp nomination. How on earth could the staff have spent so much money? Was it the $90 onesie bought for Trig? Was it the suit bought for Sex on Skates (aka the fiancé)? Was it the fab Valentino jacket for the acceptance speech? The truth be known, she doesn't need to have all that much spent on a makeover. She is tall and thin and could probably wear reasonably priced stuff and look allright. OK, OK anyone who knows anything about me knows I am no fan of Mistress Mary (aka Sarah Palin, the neo cons porn star fantasy woman) but I think all this points to her basically greedy grifter nature. She bills the Alaska govt for housing when she is home, she goes to events and bills for her stage props (aka her kiddies.) This is a woman on the take, BIG TIME. Can you imagine what she would do with the scope of being VP? One shudders...

leaving the Titanic

More delicious, plump juicy rats jumping ship these days - Arne, lil' Scotty, Colin, Christopher Buckley,William Weld, and now Charles Fried who was actually an adviser to the McCain campaign. It is pretty wonderful. I think these people had a very different notion of who McCain is and their disappointment is vast. Even Jon Stewart seems genuinely pissed off about all the "real" America talk. I do have a bit of a beef with Stewart and Letterman - they helped create the myth of the so called maverick Mcnut. Both of them had him on under very friendly circumstances, and frankly, his politics have always been quite horrible, although now they are extremely horrible, and having him on their shows gave him credibility he didn't deserve. Even though I am generally unforgiving, I have forgiven Jon Stewart.

I go on line and what do I find, but an interview with a former, although I have to admit anonymous, who also said that McCain was happy to mudsling, unless he was caught at it, so this horrible campaign is ultimately not only his responsibility, but in his loathsome nature.

Polls, polls, polls

I continue to fret about polling and find it hard to believe the good numbers that Obama gets in states like PA. A few weeks ago, I canvassed in NE Philadelphia, and it was an eye opening experience for several reasons. People actually opened their doors, which amazed me. I am always so frightened that anyone ringing my doorbell is a Jehovah's Witness, that I open the door to no one. In the days when I did, I was too polite to say I had no interest. After all, what do you say to someone who asks, Do you worry about the end of the world? Since that is something I worry about incessantly, I could never bring myself to say, NO! and slam the door. Consequently, I have a fine collection of pamphlets advising me about what to do when doomsday occurs. The other thing that surprised me was that many people were undecided, even registered Democrats were unsure of who they were going to vote for. NE Philadelphia is a lower middle class neighborhood and there were many more McCain signs than Obama signs. Another thing that surprised me was that people were generally friendly, even those that disagreed or were undecided. The other night I got a call from the Obama headquarters in NE Philadelphia asking for my help, saying McCain was making a push in the very neighborhood where I had been. I was not surprised.

Mood Swings

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14800.html

Another article about Democratic feelings of doom in Politico. My mood swings back and forth. I read Roger Simon and I get a feeling of dread. I then read an article in Salon (I don't know if I can link - every time I try to navigate away, I lose my post; I need my tech support people, aka my excellent children, to help me figure it out) which lists all the dirty tricks the Repugs are already up to, and my sense of impending doom increases. I then read an article about early voting in the NYT, which says that Dems are voting early more than Repugs, and my spirits brighten. As the inestimable Bette Davis said, Dahling, we are in for a bumpy ride.

Columns I don't need to read

Columns I don't need to read aka Let the Sliming Begin!

Novakula has a column in the Wapo today titled, Powell Never was a Real Republican. Now one shudders to think what a real Republican is, according to the totally discredited Novak. Which brings me to another point - why on earth do some ghastly pundits manage to linger on? Why is the yapping Pat Buchanan still on the air? Does anybody really take him seriously? After listening to him for a while, I thank god for the mute button, because I don't even have to listen to know what partisan drivel will come out of his mouth. Why does the Wapo give Novak any space for his column? One would think after the Plame affair they would have the good sense to get rid of him (I know, I know he has health problems, but he was horrible before and poor health is no excuse for his hateful columns.)

Real Plumbers

Paul Krugman had his usual good column yesterday, this one about the "real plumbers of Ohio." My son has some experience with the real plumbers. As part of the College Dems, he was part of a group that went to Columbus to canvas for Obama. The Ohio State Dems had promised them a place to sleep, but that fell through. My son's college Dem's called the Obama campaign. No problem, they were all housed at the plumber union's hall. The Real Plumbers back Obama, big time. (It is funny how the word plumbers has many connotations for those of us of the Watergate generation.) The Obama campaign constantly dazzle with their orginazation.

Family Reunions

I saw this on Buzzflash (in blog speak should I say hat tip? Remember, I am a novice.) I liked seeing the picture of Joe McCain in the middle. I like too, that not only does John McCain not show up for these reunions, he denies the existence of these relatives as well as his slave owning family history.

Psycho Attack Dogs

David Corn has a good piece in Mother Jones about the false and disgusting attacks on Obama, starting with trying to de-legitimize the election if he wins, to all of the smear/fear tactics used by the Repugs. He ends his article with noting that this psycho style attack will be what Obama will face if he actually elected president. Repugs believe that if a Dem is elected, the election must be illegitimate. Just ask Bill Clinton.

Paranoia and how I am sick of the Bradley Effect

I keep hearing about the so called Bradley effect (I feel sorry for Tom Bradley who it seems is now only remembered for the elections he lost to the idiot Dukmejian (sp?), instead of all the elections he did win.) In my pre-election anxiety ridden paranoiac state, I brood that the Repug will manage to steal this election, just like so many before, by their usual tactics of fear, smear, robo calls, phone jamming, lying fliers, and voter suppression, and perhaps some computer fiddling. And even if the exit polls are good, but Obama loses through their criminal acts, they repugs and pundits will say, Oh no! It was the Bradley effect.

Powell's Redemption, sort of

I saw Powell's the press conference after he was on MTP. His contempt for the McCain campaign was palpable. He talked about how horribly we are viewed in the world when people see the exchange between that woman at a McCain rally and McCain about being a Muslim. McCain's answer was "...No, he's a family man." Powell said, Obama is a Christian, but shouldn't matter if he was Muslim, he's an American. He went on about the campaign and how the superficial negative attacks on Obama and the obvious unsuitability of Palin as a VP candidate were a contributing factor in his endorsement. I then watched MTP where he said many of the same things, as well as talking about Obama as being a transformational candidate. During his MTP appearance he talked quite movingly about seeing a grieving mother at Arlington and that there was no cross or Star of David on his tombstone, but the Mulism holy symbol. The conventional wisdom is that endorsements don't matter; however, I think this one does. Partly because of the pain that the endorsement was causing Powell, but mainly because of his blistering indictment of the McCain campaign and the Republican party. He was ballistic about McCain going on about Ayers when we were involved in two wars and the economy is in the toilet. He said things that most politicians are afraid to say, ie What is wrong with being a Muslim? But the depth of he distress about the direction his party has taken and their empty policies was a quite an indictment. The other thing about the Powell endorsement was that even thought he was critical of the McCain campaign, he was extremely positive about Obama. He described him as a transformational candidate who was the right candidate for the time. (I labeled the post redemption, sort of because of Powell's unwillingness to dissociate himself from the Bush administration until now, not to mention he was party to getting us involved in the disastrous WAR in Iraq. Redemption takes more than one act, but his endorsement has set him on the righteous path.)

Those fiends

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/17/AR2008101703360.html?hpid=topnews

In Gail Collins' Saturday column she writes about how terrified Democrats are about the election. It is no wonder, we actually do have memories. Remember Florida 2000? Remember Ohio 2004? And guess what, to no ones surprise the Republicans are at it again. After reading Collins' column I turned to the Wapo, and what do I read, but a fairly lengthy article about voter suppression and the inappropriate elimination of voters from the voting rolls. Along with the Republican effort to once again, to use their still politicized Justice Department to target Acorn and other voter registration groups. My son reminded me the other day of my first time voting. I went merrily to the polling place and presented my ID. The man at one of the tables told me I couldn't vote. I asked him why, and he said that I was improperly registered. I didn't know what to do and slunk out of the polling place and went home. My mother, a fierce life long Democrat (for example, when she died, we said in lieu of flowers please contribute to the DNC) called Democratic headquarters. They told me to come on over. They had vans full of people denied the right to vote going to court. I went, and the judge gave a court order allowing me to vote. I went back and voted. Not everyone has a fierce mother and not everyone has the luxury of being able to take the time to go to court. When my son was canvassing in Ohio, he told Obama supporters that if they were given grief, call Democratic headquarters. Voting shouldn't be hard, it shouldn't be humiliating, it shouldn't be something that anyone should be anxious about. So when Gail Collins' writes as though we Dems. are faint of heart, we have good reason. The Repugs stop at nothing.

I am no fan of McCain, but it does actually surprise me that he has run such a lousy campaign. I think people mistakenly compare elections and in this case the McCain campaign took the wrong lesson. McCain based his campaign on having been a POW and having foreign policy experience. He had tremendous support in the press, and thought he could keep that support no matter what. He failed to adapt to changing events, in part no doubt, because of his self confessed ignorance of the economy, most likely due to lack of interest. McCain and his advisers had one tactic - attack, attack, because basically they are bereft of ideas about how to deal with the economic crisis. His ideas - tax cuts for the rich, less government, and less regulation. Where have we heard this lame brain ideas? Yeah, aren't those the same brilliant ideas that brought us to the precipice? This is not the replay of the 2000 or 2004. This election is different because change is actually possible, unless of course the repugs manage to steal this one.

more debate thoughts

I have always been puzzled why the press seemed to love McCain so much - I have always found high on the creepster scale. But I have seen him schmooze with the press, but I failed to see the charm. His colleagues have always said he has a horrible temper, but the press always failed to take much credence in these reports. After all, they knew better than people who actually had to to WORK with him (note heavy sarcasm.) Even though in general the press still tries to bend over backwards to say nice things about him, a few commentators have fallen out of love. It is like the mask has slipped in front of their eyes, and what they see is a bitter, angry man. He is eight years older than he was in 2000, and the years have not treated him kindly. Several times he seemed deranged last night. He would start on one line of attack and then begin some other rant. He looked like he couldn't believe that he was loosing and wasn't going to be awarded the presidency, after all he had sold his soul to the devil, surely he should be rewarded. But eafter the debate several people, including Andrea Greenspan nee Mitchell said he won the debate. What debate were they watching? They did quickly cool their rhetoric when they got feedback from the viewers.

strange sounds and visuals

Watching the debate was a little strange - great white hands kept emerging from the side of the screen, turning pages. I kept hearing weird sounds - like sniggers and snorts. Could that have been McCain?

Crypt Keeper

Gee, I hope I never have to listen to that unpleasant man ever again. He was awful. I kept thinking that he was going to blow. He did look at Barack, but death rays. And that awful smile... I keep coming back to the brilliant Rude Pundit, who said, "Wait till the public gets a look at Denzel vs the Crypt Keeper. I could barely watch McCain. Now I am really testing my metal by listening to the gas bags. The are bickering about the score. Score the debate? Do they really think that they can score a debate on points? This is not a speaking union or debate society, what people are listening is what it would mean if one of these candidates is elected president, and the specter of McCain being president is terrifying. When he seemed like he was going to blow his stack when talking about choice and not allowing a late term abortion even when the woman's life is at stake. Actually, being anti-choice is one issue that McCain has been consistent about. Horrible man.

The Ramen investment

I didn't blog this morning - I actually have a day job, which given the state of the economy I will be working for a long, long time, if I am lucky enough to keep my job. More grim news from Wall Street. I know I don't understand the financial world all that well, but is the fact that consumer spending was down a surprise? I guess so. My brother in law suggested that we all invest heavily in Ramen Noodle Soup because that will be the only thing that we will able to afford to eat.

There is much talk in the msm about the upcoming debate. I came home to the dulcet tones of Tweety (aka Chris Mathews) hectoring someone about what McCain had to do during the debate. Who care what he does, even if he waxes lyrical, his ideas about everything are horrible, and he been acting so notional these days, who could trust him to be dog catcher, let alone president.

McCain the moral beacon (hah)

http://www.politico.com/rogersimon/index_Page2.html

Roger Simon of Politico wrote a post today which a little too forgiving and wrote that McCain is not comfortable with being negative. Hmmmm... it is after all his campaign, he didn't disavow the repug head of the GOP in VA for telling his canvassers to compare Obama to Osama, he didn't back off his claim that Obama was pushing sex education for kindergartners, and in fact got real snippy with the Des Moines Register editors, doesn't try to control Palin's hate speech, etc. Just what does he object to? Right now he is fulminating about Barack's not distancing himself from what his hero, John Lewis said about the dangers of hate speech. I think Simon is off base. John McCain is just so pissed that he is the head of a ridiculous campaign, with horrible people running it, but after all, if he could hire the very people who savaged his family, what can he expect.

The Dean

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/13/AR2008101302170.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

David Border has a column in the Wapo today which I could actually read. Usually I find him so insufferable I never make it to the end of his columns (imagine if you will, a love child of Cokie and the so called Dean - he/she first sentence would be saying something trite and horrible about the Democrats.) Today though, he writes about how McCain is toast in PA. He has many quotes about how terrified people are of dear Sarah Palin. How wonderful it would be, if McCain's deeply cynical and irresponsible pick for VP sunk him in the general election. The more I see of her, the more frightening she becomes. How McCain could have picked her is beyond belief. Aside from little experience, she had a big ethics problem, which wasn't exactly a surprise to anyone who reads the sublime Josh Michah Marshall at Talkingpointsmemo.com. Oh I forgot, although McCain invented the Blackberry, he relies on the fair Cindy to all his internet work. I guess reading TPM escaped her. Gee, what a surprise.

Long memory

I alluded to having a long and unforgiving memory when writing about Paul Krugman. My daughter asked me the other day how I felt about Frank Rich. I said that although I rise early every Sunday to read his column, I still hadn't quite gotten over his meanness about Al Gore. Of course just about everybody in the msm dripped and oozed contempt for Gore, the dreaded conventional wisdom being that he was a terrible bore, and that it didn't matter all that much who was elected president. Hah! I bet they are singing a different tune these days. It seems that everything Bush touches turns to ashes. I wake with fear and trepidation to see what new horror the Bush administration has wrought. Let me put it this way - I am counting the days (and crossing my fingers, holding my breath, and whatever else I can think of that will bring luck.)

Fox and the lunatic fringe

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html?bl&ex=1224129600&en=4b6a0b6f9f1b411c&ei=5087%0A

I had read in other sources what a lunatic Andy Martin is, but how nice to see it the NYT. It is a detailed article about all his bizarre lawsuits, his antisemitic rants, and a nice juicy bit about why he was not admitted to the bar - psychiatric issues about having a personality disorder. How Fox can call itself a legitimate news organization is hard to believe. What a joke.

Congratulations, Paul!!!

Wow! It just came over the wires that Paul Krugman won the Nobel Prize for economics. How wonderful, even though he has said a few pithy things about Barack, he is on the side of the angels (see, I do sometimes forgive people for disagreeing with me...) He is such a clear writer that his columns make economic issues understandable, unlike Alan Greenspan who seems to speak in gibberish most of the time.

idiot prince

"Krugman: This is not just about McCain and what he did. The fact of the matter is, for a long time we have had a substantial fraction of the Republican base that just does not regard the idea of Democrats governing as legitimate. Remember the Clinton years. It was craziness, right? They were murderers, they were drug smugglers, and the imminent prospect of what looks like a big Democratic victory would drive a lot of these people crazy even if Sarah Palin wasn't saying these inflammatory things. It's going to be very ugly after the election.

Roberts: On both sides that's true. I think that you've also had a huge number of Democrats who think that the Republicans are illegitimate, and that was particularly true after the 2000 election, and to some degree after 2004. And so you really do have at the core of each party people who are not ready to accept the verdict of the election.

Krugman: I reject the equivalence."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

My god, Cokie is insufferable. What an idiot and god bless Krugman. I am so glad that he rejected the equivalence. Clinton was elected, Bush was not in 2000 and although I may be accused of being a tin hat conspiracy nut, it is hard to argue that if everyone who wanted to vote in Ohio was able to, Kerry would have won the election. But count on ole' Cookie with her supposed fount of conventional wisdom to compare the slurs and fabrications of the elected Clinton, to the rage and disappointment of democratic voters about the installed idiot prince by his daddy's appointees. Hey, I guess I am not over it, am I? Of course Cokie is the genius that declared that Hawaii is an "exotic" vacation destination.

More rats, god bless 'em

The difficulties of the McCain campaign have led some Republican leaders to express concern that he could end up dragging other Republican candidates down to defeat. “If Obama is able to run up big numbers around the country,” said Mr. Anuzis, the Michigan party chairman, “the potential for hurting down-ballot Republicans is very big.”

One sign of that has emerged in Nebraska, where Representative Lee Terry, a Republican, ran a newspaper advertisement featuring words of support for him from a woman identified as an “Obama-Terry voter.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/politics/12strategy.html

Nice piece in the nyt. I like a rough week for McCain (but it sure doesn't compare to my rough week - my husband entertains himself by watching our retirement savings evaporate. Retirement? what retirement) I love that Lee Terry is from Nebraska, when people flee from a Republican presidential candidate in Nebraska, he's got real problems. More rats please.

Rats

I can't help myself from looking at polling data. I have gone from being deeply critical of the dreaded msm focus on the horse race election reporting, to being all about the horse race. I can now look at the polls with both eyes, instead of looking at them from a distance with my hands over my face. Of course as we all know polls can be wrong, but they are sure looking better than they did a few weeks ago. But really, how awful does a repug have to be to lose an election. I keep wondering what bizarre stunt is McCain dreaming up now. I keep hoping that the rest of the republican party will start to look after their self interest and flee. There is some movement in that direction - William Milliken, Christopher Buckley, to name a few. I want more rats. Of course, fool that I am, in 2004 I expected that at least some republicans would put aside party loyalty, and endorse Kerry. I know that people are down on Kerry and he may have made mistakes during the '04 campaign, but running against an incumbent is tough, even if the incumbent is a nitwit.

Fanning the flames

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/10/AR2008101002456.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

There is a good piece in the Wapo today by Hosseini about the nasty turn in the McCain campaign in their fanning the fires of xenophobia and racism. There are clips on the web of a woman in Minnesota who says to McCain that Obama is an Arab. He supposedly corrects her saying, "...No M'am, he is a family man..." This is a somewhat bizarre response - as my husband pointed out, an Arab can't be a family man? There is some debate as to whether the woman said Arab terrorist. She might have when she was interviewed later, but I don't think she did when she was talking to McCain. Now I have heard various people write that McCain is no racist, but I am not so sure. He sure doesn't have a stellar record for civil rights, and anybody who didn't harbor some sort of racial feelings wouldn't have such a tin ear and demonstrate such a lack a sensitivity for things racial, witness his condescending manor to Oliver Clark, his lack of support of MLK holiday, his embrace of the Confederate flag, until it was convenient to disavow the flag, etc.

My dear boy, What were you thinking???

I was shocked, shocked to hear that Brady Quinn was out campaigning for McNut. I knew I never liked him - gave my people a bad name. My son in law is watching the Notre Dame vs UNC on tv, and I just turned to look to see a strange little man in a bizarre hat leaping up and down. I don't know how I would feel as a parent if I sent my son at great expense to ND to see him become a leprechaun. My son in law takes his sports SERIOUSLY and despises any other team he doesn't support. He is to put it bluntly, no fan of the Fighting Irish, but then he and my daughter went to ND's arch rival. They took great satisfaction in finding out that their suspicions were confirmed about the odious Brady Quinn.

Heck of a job

I was asking my family if they thought that it was possible that GWB could possibly think that he was doing a good job. The man just keeps on giving...

WASHINGTON — George W. Bush began his presidency with the worst terrorist attack on American soil and he is ending it with the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. In between, he confronted a hurricane that nearly wiped New Orleans off the map as his administration showed ineptitude in its response.

Now, as he spends his last months in office trying to avert a global economic collapse, Mr. Bush has been telling people privately that it’s a good thing he’s in charge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/business/11bush.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

My precious

Gail Collins can sometimes be too snarky and annoying, but today she is spot on. I am disappointed in myself that I failed to see the startling resemblance between McNut and Gollum...








http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/opinion/11collins.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

Remember how we used to joke about John McCain looking like an old guy yelling at kids to get off his lawn? It’s only in retrospect that we can see that the keep-off-the-grass period was the McCain campaign’s golden era. Now, he’s beginning to act like one of those movie characters who steals the wrong ring and turns into a troll.

During that last debate, while he was wandering around the stage, you almost expected to hear him start muttering: “We wants it. We needs it. Must have the precious.”

Jack Reed

I am up on Block Island for the weekend, a strange and wonderful place. The only place I know of where there are signs near the ferry that read, "...extreme drunkenness is a threat to National Security..." Jack Reed and Jim Langevin were on the island to promote the Democratic party. The held their meeting at the Yellow Kittens which a a notable island hot spot. The last time my daughter was at the Kittens, there was some reveler dancing about with a flashlight in his pants. Unexplained antlers on men's heads have also been sighted there. Strange but frankly, strange behavior is not that unusual at the Kittens. At the Jack Reed event everyone looked very respectable, and I saw more suits and ties than I expected. Jack Reed was fine and made a push for pulling the big D lever (what a shame there is no such thing any more, or at least not where I vote.) Langevin was quite funny. He said that he was the poor bastard that had to speak following Barack's speech in 2004, or words to that effect. He said it more delicately.