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