Chuck The Clueless

Chuck Norris :: Townhall.com :: Clandestine Conservatives in Hollywood

"... In a so-called age of tolerance, it amazes me just how intolerant some people are of those who stand for traditional values. For example, if I stand against California's memorializing of Harvey Milk Day or stand for California's Proposition 8, which would create an amendment to the California Constitution to safeguard heterosexual purity in marriage (which I do support and encourage Gov. Schwarzenegger and all Californians to do the same), I'm considered by many to be intolerant and a bigot. But if another actor takes just the opposite positions on those measures, he is considered to be compassionate and a liberator. Or when a liberal candidate, such as Hillary Clinton, runs for president, her candidacy is considered a fulfillment of civil rights and women's suffrage. But when a conservative candidate, such as Sarah Palin, runs for vice president, she's considered a radical right-wing extremist who could usurp the Capitol by toting rifles at her side..."

Hillary Clinton a liberal? Her candidacy a fulfillment? Someone sure doesn't know what has been going on in the so-called Democratic Party.

Debits and Credits

Can You Balance Your Checkbook? : NO QUARTER: "...Let’s resign ourselves to these facts–the United States government helped expand the mortgage market to people who should not have had a mortgage in the first place. Government and private companies piled on to this feeding trough and reaped benefits–politicians got re-elected and tossed some money to their buddies and the so-called private enterprises made a killing. Now the party is over.

Going forward, if you have too much debt, you’re not likely to get a loan. You need to figure out a way to pay off your debt. Some may go bankrupt. Sorry, but who put a gun to your head and told you to go on a spending spree.? Will this negatively affect the economy? Probably. Unemployment will go up and there will be some retrenchment.

But that beats the alternative–i.e., printing money and just giving it to people and companies in hopes that they’ll keep on spending. That will produce an inflationary spike that would ultimately destroy the wealth of Americans.

There is not a painless way out of this. That is the hard truth. Better we come to grips with that reality and suck it up rather than continue to delude ourselves that giving the Federal Government a blank check to print money and give it to select buddies will ultimately make us all better off. It won’t."

The Daily Uh-Oh

“Obama is Indonesian” « td blog

Memo To Congress

The Confluence: "House Bailout Does Not Pass GO"

"To My Reps in Congress:

I do not support the current bailout package for several reasons: 1)hundreds of economists who reject it are not being listened to; 2) no judicial review; 3) doesn’t help main street or homeowners; 4) doesn’t put in place adequate oversight; 5) doesn’t provide jobs to the American people; 6) doesn’t cut Wall St. compensation packages to greedy CEOs.

I’m not against a bailout, just this one. Is there no other plan? This fear-laden, panicked rush to save our country is too reminiscent of how we got into the Iraq war.

Where were Barney Frank et al when everything was melting down over the last 7 years? Why were the largest Wall St. contributions taken by Dodd, Obama, and Kerry? Why didn’t Congress heed Bush’s warnings to curb Wall St. excesses and failings for years?

I’m a lifelong Democrat and ashamed of my Party, especially Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd, Obama. To blame it all on Bush is a joke. Where were the Dems who promised to turn things around? Why didn’t Pelosi and all stop the war, which is how they won in 2006? She’s now pontificating against the Repubs, and her hypocrisy makes me ill. Where was she? Where was the fight
of the Dems till now?..."

Who Was On First

Since there was quite a bit of history rewriting talking place on the Sunday bobble-head shows:

Debra J. Saunders :: Townhall.com :: The Sheriff and the Professor: "...And while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid derided McCain's appearance Friday, on Wednesday Reid declared a need for 'the Republicans to start producing some votes for us. We need the Republican nominee for president to let us know where he stands and what we should do.'

The alleged deal that had been cut before McCain landed in Washington Thursday did not exist. House Republicans had not signed on. Without them, Democrats would not sign on. On Friday, Reid falsely claimed there was a deal 'and then guess who came into town.'

And: 'The insertion of presidential politics has not been helpful. It's been harmful.' No lie, but it's Reid and company who appeared ready to scuttle any settlement lest McCain get the credit.

The campaign suspension did serve to add drama to a campaign season that has been provided a rush of roller-coaster moments -- making Friday's debate all that much more a high-stakes affair..."

Bedfellas

Cannonfire: 'Nancy and Dubya, sittin' in a tree...'

"...The world has gone topsy turvy.

The Republicans are being slammed for doing what the Democrats should do, and should have been doing for the past two years: Holding Bush in check. Yes, the Republicans are doing so for reasons of their own. Yes, a lot of them demand ultra-Libertarian solutions which will only make the disaster worse. But that fact doesn't change the team rosters: It's Dubya and the Dems versus the Republicans ..."

"... Remember how Bush's slimey confederates turned the Katrina clean-up to their advantage? That's what's happening with this bail-out. Just like the Bush administration, the Dems are enabling the chiselers who hope to profit from a crisis. In partnership with the Bush administration, the Dems are striving to combat any regulations that might keep thieves from thieving..."

Spanish Language Change-Up

Back Channels: Obama's lowball attacks | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/28/2008: "Back Channels: Obama's lowball attacks Suggesting that McCain is a bigot runs afoul of the high- minded 'unity' tripe.

By Kevin Ferris

Inquirer Columnist
What exactly is the change we're supposed to believe in this election year?

That Barack Obama represents a new kind of politics? Or is change tied to hope, as in we hope he re-morphs from typical negative-ad-slinging pol back to magical new Obamassiah once he's safely elected president?

Does Obama even know?

In his ad 'Plan for Change,' Obama decries the 'petty attacks and distractions' of the campaign. 'Bitter partisan fights' won't solve our problems, he says. What will?

'A new spirit of unity and shared responsibility.'

That ad is in English.

In Spanish, he has a very different message, one much closer to sleazy race-baiting than the spirit of la unidad..."

Praying For A Bust

Sermon on the stump: Pastors to violate IRS law: "Would Jesus Christ sport a 'Yes We Can' Obama '08 button on his tunic? Or would the Prince of Peace prefer a 'Country First' McCain T-shirt?

Your pastor might tell you at church today, shortly before he lets you know which political candidates deserve your vote.

Then, if their prayers are answered, the right politicians will be elected and the reverends will get busted by federal agents..."

Maybe this is what it takes to end the tax-exempt scam.

J'accuse!

State of Missouri-Governor's Press Announcements - 2008: "JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.

“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign..."

Lest We Forget: HRC Edition

Anglachel's Journal: "...The grown-up was forcibly shoved out of the way by some decidedly juvenile power brokers who were so sure that a Democrat could not lose this year that they could nominate their favorite suck up and win. And now we are stuck with a contest between the His Petulance, The Precious and Old Grandpa Creepy, with Gaffaholic Joe and Soundbite Sarah bouncing along in their surly and shallow wake..."

Debate 1, Post 1

Smooth sailing for Obama until debate arrived in Iran -- chicagotribune.com

"For most of the debate Friday night, Sen. Barack Obama was the one who presented himself as presidential and strong. And Sen. John McCain appeared to be the guy who was wavering.

Then came Iran.

That's when Obama's mouth dried up, and he appeared to be standing alone at that terrible border between presenting yourself as presidential and dealing with that knock on the door in the middle of the night, with the aide outside saying, "Mr. President, the planes are in the air."

I'm not saying Obama failed, or that McCain won. If you're an Obama supporter, your guy won. If you're a McCain supporter, your guy won. We're stubborn Americans now..."

Not Feeling It

Political Memo - In a Time of Crisis, Is Obama Too Cool? - NYTimes.com: "...However forceful and passionate Mr. Obama can be, his speeches and public appearances this week have underscored how he is sometimes out of sync with the visceral anger of Americans who are losing their jobs and homes. He often talks about growing up on food stamps and about having paid off his student loans only recently, yet his tone and volume, body language, facial expressions and words convey a certain distance from the ache that many voters feel..."

Yep. And there are good reasons for that distance.

What Sen.Clinton Said

A quote from Sen. Clinton via Anglachel's Journal: "...This is not just a financial crisis; it's an economic crisis. Therefore, the solutions we pursue cannot simply stabilize the markets. We must also deal with the interconnected economic challenges that set the stage for this crisis -- and reverse the failed policies that allowed a potential crisis to become a real one..."

Boo-Hoo Letterman

Letterman keeps up McCain tirade - CNN.com: "NEW YORK (AP) -- David Letterman kept up his verbal assault on John McCain, commiserating with Paris Hilton and saying he felt like an 'ugly date' because the GOP presidential candidate backed out of an appearance on the 'Late Show...'"

Get over yourself, David. You are a comedian. Comedian. You are not the Prince of New York. Would you be throwing a fit if Obama had canceled? I doubt it. You'd be explaining how Obama was doing the work of the people over there with Katie and so on and so on. And with Paris Hilton... please. What's next? Bill Maher complaining to Lindsay Lohan about John McCain's driving? Or maybe his emailing?

Sick and Sicker

For the latest in disgusting Obama attack ads go here: Dean’s brother Pac attack McCain’s health - graphic images « Not Your Sweetie.

I never thought my party would sink this low. The GOP, yes. Us. No. I am officially depressed.

Nader Natters Negatively

"Wall Street Bailout"

Upton Sinclair Hint

If you get the hint, then the answer's obvious.

42 Year old VP and former Governor becomes President

"Who Am I?

* I am under 45 years old,
* I love the outdoors,
* I hunt,
* I am a Republican reformer,
* I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,
* I have many children,
* I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor’s office..."

I did not form the Dead Moose Party... (answer)

The Daily Uh-Oh

Foreign Edition
U.S. says Pakistan shot at U.S. copters in Afghanistan | Reuters
Domestic Edition
Prosecution says Alaska senator thumbed his nose at public

Rant Of The Day

Logistics Monster: "...Also, David Axelrod as a “political genius” for beating the Clinton machine is completely laughable. The reason Hillary was “beaten” was due to caucus fraud, superdelegate payoffs, disenfranchisement of two huge states that would have put Hillary ahead in the delegate count, and the sham roll call vote in Denver. Let’s be honest, I think all of that really probably belongs to the “political genius” of Donna Brazile and her email buddy, Karl Rove..."

About That ABC Poll

Go here for an interesting analysis: Oversampling the AAs (WaPo/ABC poll) « Not Your Sweetie

Reid Flip Flopping On McCain

Last Time, Reid Ripped McCain For Missing Votes, By Martin Kady II - CBS News: "(The Politico) Does Harry Reid want it both ways when it comes to John McCain showing up for Senate votes?

This afternoon, Reid dismissed McCain's sudden move to parachute in on Washington and help solve the economic crisis..."

No Go On Email Hack

No Indictment in Palin Email Hack - News and Analysis by PC Magazine: "A federal grand jury in Chattanooga ended its session Tuesday without indicting David Kernell, a University of Tennessee student, who is being investigated in the hack of Gov. Sarah Palin's email account..."

Hmmm. Wonder why? Is this an example of "getting in their face"?

Patriotism

"Sullivan Ballou's letter home"

It matters not whether he was North or South. What matters is honor, courage, and love of country.

Thanks to No Quarter for posting this video.

Not Even Mom Can Sway A Vote

Sugar N Spice: "...I'm not knocking on a damned thing but wood everytime the thought crosses my mind that even hints that Obama has a 50/50 chance of winning the election. Arggggghhhh! I heard talk radio hosts discussing the Boot Biden, Make Hillary VP rumor earlier today and I can only speak for myself, but I wouldn't vote for Barack Hussein Obama if my mama was his running mate. Hillary may as well save herself the trouble because I suspect there are a whole lot more voters like me out there. --SUGAR"

It's About Time

Congress Approves Mental Health Bill - washingtonpost.com: "Congress approved legislation yesterday that would require private insurers to provide the same level of benefits for mental illness as they do for physical maladies, a change lauded by advocates as a great shift in the nation's understanding of mental health..."

The way things are going, we're gonna need it.

Good News

If you read the link, it gives much of the credit to a lower teen pregnancy rate-- thanks to !gasp! sex education. U.S. Abortion Rate at 30-Year Low - US News and World Report

From The No Kidding Department

Barack Obama says bailout would put his spending plans on hold - Los Angeles Times

K-5 First Amendment Rights?

Fifth Grader Suspended For Wearing Anti-Obama Shirt - America’s Election HQ: "An 11-year-old boy in Colorado was suspended from school after he refused to take off a shirt that read, “Obama is a terrorist’s best friend.” His father says that the school is violating his son’s First Amendment rights..."

Normally, I'd be opposed to such things, but then his shirt might actually be a disruption in school soooooo...
it still bothers me to be on the side of school administration, though.

Troopergate Redux

From the Department of Bogus Facts Rebuttal:

Amanda Carpenter :: Townhall.com :: Violent Men at Center of "Troopergate": "The more we find about “Troopergate” the more justified Sarah Palin seems in firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

The increased media attention to the controversy has revealed both men at the center of the inquiry have disturbing records of physical abuse against their family members..."

It's simple, people. Any man who abuses a woman or a child should not be trusted to carry a gun and enforce the law. Period. Exclamation point. Don't send me more threatening emails-- I don't care how much you hate Palin or McCain or whatever. You are wrong to condemn someone for trying to do that right thing-- even if he or she might have screwed-up the process. Disguising the "right thing" when it is for your personal benefit is entirely another matter (see Ted Stevens and Oliver North for inspiration).

Sen. Clinton Speaks On Money Matters

"Hillary Talks About the Economy on CNBC"

Follow The Money, Again

Native American’s Against Obama Weblog: "...Senator Obama’s pulling down almost $300,000 a year from Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Countrywide Financial, and Washington Mutual? He has not even completed his fourth year in the Senate and received a total of $1,093,329.00 from these eight companies and their employees. (all data from OpenSecrets.org). John McCain’s numbers, according to OpenSecrets.org for the period 1990-2008 (i.e., 18 years worth of data) only collected $549,584.00. In other words, Barack is receiving $273,582.25 (and 2008 is not over) per year while McCain raised a paltry $30,532.44.

Ever wonder just why, they are all giving Obama cash? It seems as though everyone wants to blame the Wall Street mess on Republicans. But the real truth is that the real estate market and the big players on Wall Street have been a Democratic game..."

Seen On A Septic Pumper

Comment of the Day, Fear Edition

The Politics of Fear? « The Confluence: "xax, on September 21st, 2008 at 7:16 pm Said:

My best buddy just said the same thing to me today. I told them I don’t understand this irrational fear that people poeple have of these candidates.

They quoted every thing you talked about. They somehow believe that she has some invisible power to control things because they have seen the Bush administration’s effort to control. And my firm belief is that government only has as much power as you give them. Even though Bush tried some things like making DOMA an amendment, he didn’t succeed. the people would not allow it.

And honestly, I don’t think Palin is likely to abuse her power. She’s had opportunity to do so in the past, but she didn’t. (Please don’t try that Troopergate thing. I already know what went down.) She could have banned benefits for same sex partners in AL, but she didn’t. She vetoed it despite her own opposition to benefits. That takes principle.

Obama on the other hand… I feel as though if he wins he will be beholden to MANY PEOPLE. And that I don’t trust."

About The (Alleged) Financial Crisis

As always Anglachel makes a detailed and persuasive argument-- one that leads to this bottom line (read the post if you don't understand what the crisis is all about-- it is written clearly):

Anglachel's Journal: "...This really is little more than a scam to make the taxpayers provide the money to cover the losses for all the bad debt issued by the financial industry. What the Democrats have to do is refuse to get on board and put forward their own legislation that actually addresses the problem, send that to Bush and dare the bastard to veto it. Hang this around Bush's neck and stop letting the High Broderists shame the Dems into backing down. Barney Frank and Hillary are showing them how it's done.

Yes, Harry & Nancy, it IS class warfare, there is no 'bipartisan' option, and you have a world historic moment in which to redefine both your party and your nation for the better.

Do you stand with Hoover or with FDR?"

Positive Rape

Follow the link and can discover how gang rape is a positive experience-- if you have the stomach.

Gang Raped?

"OK - I have more than had it from liberal women attacking Gov. Palin. Again, I hasten to add that I was always one clinging to the far LEFT corner of the Democratic Party, so no centrist or Republican am I. First it was Gloria Steinem, then it was Eve Ensler (and don’t let her current diatribe against Governor Palin fool you - she was always for Obama. If you haven’t read Ani’s EXCELLENT piece at NoQuarter, “Ladies, If You Didn’t Vote For Hillary..Why Are You Screaming About Your Rights Now??“, I urge you to do so.). But - this has gone too, too FAR, courtesy of Sandra Bernhard. What she said is so reprehensible, it makes me ill to even write about it. So, I won’t. Instead, I’ll let Tim Graham describe it for me:..."

NOW Selling Out?

Charlotte Front and Center: New Agenda Responds to Now

"The New Agenda has issued a press release expressing concern about NOW's recent endorsement of the Obama/Biden. This precedent-setting move marks the first time in NOW's 42-year history that it has endorsed an all-male ticket.

The Washington Post picked up the press release and wrote about us on their blog. Within hours, the piece was moved to the front page of the Washington Post and received over 1000 comments..."

More Race Carding

Howling Latina: Support Obama or You're a Racist: "If poor blameless Obama loses in November, it's all those low-information, inbred racist Hillary supporters that will have cost him the race.

That's right; it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Obama has thugs for pals, an oversized ego, the flimsiest of resume, no moral authority, a racist for a preacher and a myriad of other deficiencies such as his meaningless blather about hope and change without any specificity attached to his words; nope, it's not Obama's fault if he loses..."

Self-Loathing Examined

Reclusive Leftist» feminism, politics, and random pedantry with your host, Dr. Violet Socks

"One of my favorite Onion headlines from recent years was, “Women now empowered by everything a woman does.”

A similar headline could be written as the summary (and, I hope, the epitaph) of the Third Wave: “Feminism is anything a woman says, thinks, or feels.”

I hate to break it to the Third Wavers out there, and really this topic deserves a post or twenty of its own, but for me, as an Old Bat, the most stunning thing about the Third Wave of feminism has always been how unfeminist it is. There are some wonderful feminists in the Third Wave, but they are the exceptions. For the most part, it’s been a return to the pre-feminist, patriarchal snakepit: women tear each other down, accuse each other of being jealous schemers, stab each other in the back. It’s more like the 1950s than the 1970s. Young women of the backlash — and that’s what the Third Wave is, basically — have internalized the misogyny of the age. Other women aren’t sisters to be embraced, but threats to be feared and despised.

But because they know they’re supposed to be feminists, they tie themselves in knots trying to justify their misogyny as political enlightenment.

Over at Jezebel, a young feminist is explaining why she wants to kill Sarah Palin:..."

If you buy the argument by "young feminist," then anyone who has accomplished anything in life must be exterminated. I guess Obama is safe.

Winning My Vote

After all we're a bunch of lo-fi-info voters and are dumb as rocks and easily manipulated-- that's why we're not fervently supporting the Obamanation: This piece actually originated (the quote) over at Huff'n'Puff but NAAOW can use the traffic if you want to look at the whole piece. It's all about how to manipulate a Clinton supporter. I don't know about you but this would definitely work with me. /snark (If I put "snark" in angle brackets, Blogger goes all weird. Go figure. When did "snark" enter Javascript?)

Native American’s Against Obama Weblog:

"...If you’ve been an outspoken Obama supporter from the beginning, it’s time to make amends with Hillary supporters you know. Arguing with, or browbeating them to get on board is counterproductive, but showing you’ve come around to respecting Hillary may ease their hurt enough to do the trick. (Even if you don’t mean it. This is politics.)

Here’s what you can do:

Eat crow. To get started, memorize this phrase, take a deep breath and say: “Now that I see how unqualified Sarah Palin is, I realize how I misjudged Hillary Clinton. Even Biden said she would have made a great vice president.” Saying you wish she were the presidential nominee may go too far, and you may not be able to get it out. But if the Hillaryite brings it up, don’t argue, and see below.

Let the HRC voter vent. You may have to draw on every bit of patience you have. You may have to hear once again how unfair it is that the Repubs chose Palin, and the Dems ignored Hillary, and that the party would assuredly be ahead if she were anywhere on the ticket. You may have to hear old-news complaints about sexism and Jack Cafferty’s curmudgeonly comments, David Shuster’s pimping Chelsea insult, the Monica mentions, the tougher debate questions for Hillary.

Do not look like you want to run and soak your head in vodka, even if you do. Do not talk unless asked. Listening without argument is the major way to keep this potential voter attainable. Act empathic. Nod your head in agreement when the subject of Palin or Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann’s Hillary-bashing commentary is mentioned. Learn these phrases and use them every so often: “I imagine it must be hard.” “It must seem unfair.” “I know, you wanted to see an accomplished woman as president in your lifetime.” “I can understand your being hurt (sad, mad, furious, despondent, livid, resentful, apoplectic, intransigent, inconsolable, red-faced, nauseous, wretched, shit-faced”). Again, do not argue. Just listen. Do not praise Obama. I know, this seems ridiculous, but now is not the time in this chain of events. Also, do not praise Michelle or their daughters. If the HRC supporter praises, agree and move on. This is not so much about Obama as it is the closure about Hillary’s run, which remains a wound to some. Take a breath, and move to the next step, which may be the hardest..."

Psych 080 and counselorspeak-- for all you idiot Clinton supporters. Wheeeee. There's much more. Does this answer the election-old question of why O'Supporters are so insufferable?

Comment of the Day: W&M Edition

...that would be "Wingnut" and "Moonbat."
Crooks and Liars » First Dude Todd Palin refuses to testify despite subpoena:
"Abbybwood @ 66:

Sangemon @ 19:

If you ask me, Todd and Sarah Palin are planning John McCain’s demise.

Sarah Palin is on a “mission” from God. She thinks because some right-wing wacko witch hunter in Kenya “touched” her she won the Governorship.

She “slipped” a few days ago and said, “in the Palin-McCain” administration.

Her husband is known in Alaska as “the shadow Governor”. She copies him on all official business. Now he’s giving the “middle finger salute” to the Alaska legislature with his refusal to respect a subpoena!!

Here’s the link to her kooky religious beliefs about the “end times” and the Kenyan “witchhunter” nut:

http://timesonline.typepad.com.....ed-el.html

This woman and her husband (obviously negligent and highly ambitious “parents”..their oldest son a juvenile deliquent who was arrested numerous times and their teenage daughter a pot-smoking tramp (no offense to pot!) who got herself knocked up by a “f-ing redneck”) should be sent back to the tundra where they belong. Imagine, a woman who is pregnant with a baby who would need immediate neo-natal intensive care flying for TEN hours after her water broke??!! This is the kind of idiotic thinking we need to be a heartbeat away from being COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ENTIRE U.S. MILITARY ARSENAL???!!

The secession of Alaska from the United States looks better and better to me every day.

And to think that Sarah Palin and Mr. Sarah Palin are a mere forty-something DAYS away from potentially being a heartbeat away from having the nuclear codes.

This is all reading like a VERY bad Stephen King novel. Truth is stranger than fiction, right???! RIGHT???

Precisely. Fiction must be plausible. Reality is under no such limit."

O'Miss The Boat

"Howard Kurtz - In Search of Fighting Words - washingtonpost.com: "The last three days have been like a gift from heaven for Barack Obama. If he can't use this Wall Street meltdown as a springboard to put John McCain, lifelong deregulator, on the defensive, then he probably can't win the election.

Yet it still seems to me that Obama is talking about 'transparency' and a '21st century regulatory framework,' while McCain is vowing to crack down on Wall Street 'greed' and 'corruption...'"

The Sameness of the Center

Ripping Obama: Gilmore's Last Hope Against Warner? - Raw Fisher: "If you could get out of the way of all the mud being slung at yesterday's U.S. Senate debate in Virginia, you'd have seen a remarkable and almost discomfiting degree of agreement between longtime adversaries Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner.

Democrat and Republican alike agree that the national economy is in big trouble and that the answer is more oversight, more regulation. (Yes, Republican Gilmore said that too.) Both candidates bashed Wall Street executives for unbridled greed. Gilmore, who made a career of criticizing government regulation, emphasized the need for 'proper regulations,' 'ethical lending practices,' and 'more oversight...'"

In Case You Care...

BBC NEWS | Technology | Palin e-mail hack details emerge: "Details of how an e-mail account of US Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was hacked have emerged."

O'Attack The Grannies

Helping the GOP, Again: Obama mocks McCain in Nevada stops: "...In Elko, Obama tried to anticipate his critics and called on the crowd of about 1,500 to sharpen their elbows, too.

'I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face,' he said..."

That will sure win my vote over.

Media Bias

God, I hope my hair doesn't catch on fire for linking to this site: Power Line: The Washington Post -- never more than a headline away from a Democratic talking point.

If you wash good, you'll be all right after reading.

Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler

Ok, so I just went to iTunes and downloaded the song. I'd forgotten about it until actor212 reminded me. Seems somehow apropos for today,eh?

Rant of The Day

From Kiss My Grits Department of Feminist Fire Bombing:
Israel does it again - Mazel Tov to Tzipi Livni! Plus another O-reporter meltdown « The Confluence: "...WIlliam dear, “Some Americans” came to the conclusion Obama can’t figure his way out of a sentence, let alone figure out how to convincingly address major problems that affect our country without somebody whispering the answers in his ear. “Some Americans” discovered that the current DNC is a sack of Rove-wannabe-ing, blue-tinted Reagan worshipping zealots who threw Democracy out the window in exchange for a possible Obama cabinet post. “Some Americans” feel that they will not be bullied into submission by their own party by using sexism and the Roe v Wade card, amongst many heinous acts against liberalism and equality.

That’s not racism or xenophobia, William, it’s that “Some Americans” will not support Obama for all the reasons you are giving Obama advice on in your very article. My advice to you: shut up and do your job as a journalist. You successfully touched on every single point why Obama is failing, and his ethnicity has nothing to do with it.

¡Que viva los PUMAs!"

Amen! What She Said

Welcome To The Underside Of The Bus

FOXNews.com - Pop Tarts: Lindsay Lohan's Dad Slams Obama Over Reported Dis - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment: "LOS ANGELES — Lindsay Lohan's efforts to stump for Barack Obama were reportedly thrown back in her face by the Democratic candidate's campaign ... and her father is none too happy about it.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, LiLo wanted to promote Obama but was turned away by his camp due to her wild ways. Now daddy Michael Lohan is biting back.

'For Barack Obama to condemn my daughter for past indiscretions when he admitted to the exact same himself is indicative of what kind of president he would be,' Michael Lohan told Pop Tarts via e-mail on Wednesday night..."

Jack-Knife Rattling

Rice: Russia becoming isolated, irrelevant - CNN.com: "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Russia's policies are putting it on a path to isolation and irrelevance, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday..."

O'Iraq Delay Tale Suspicioned

Cannon smells a rat; so do I, but I also know that rats live with other rats so... anywhoooo... look here:
Cannonfire

Comment of the Day: Geritol Edition

Elderblunder: Another DNC Clanger : NO QUARTER: "Comment by Z K Loggins | 2008-09-18 10:17:54

I am happy to see your comment. I am a Senior too. Another fact not realized in that seniors have plenty of time to do political things.

I have downloaded free signs from the internet and distributed them to the seniors who live in my 132 unit senior complex and who bowl with me in my senior league. I have helped others understand and get absentee voting ballots for the election.

I wrote letters outlining and protesting the Obama campaign ads mocking McCain’s war-related injuries and age to the VFW State Commanders in the close race states of NY, NJ, MN, OR, PA, NV, VA, OH, FL, MO, CO and asked them to support the candidate who respects veterans. My Dad was disabled in WWII and my Aunt and Uncle were veterans too. I included their pictures with my letter.

There is a Democratic Headquarters near our senior complex and I went there, in person, and express my outrage about how Hillary was treated and my disgust for the Democratic party! I guess little old ladies can get away with appearances little that!!! They were doublly shocked since I am a little old black lady with dreadlocked hair!

I vote in my local and every national election and I work the polls in my community. My first vote was for John Kennedy"

And don't email me demanding to know if this person is real or not. I have other things to do rather than sleuth the intertoobs looking for villains. I blog items that interest me, not necessarily things I agree or disagree with.

Prof Assigns Paper Ridiculing Palin

This assignment would get me (rightfully) fired (and I work in Obot land). Thou shalt not assign work based on favorite candidates, favorite religions, or abortion-- unless you are really, really into self-flagellation.

About That Depression Comin' Down The Tracks

Anglachel's Journal: "...Of course, way back in March, we did have a candidate who could see what was barreling down at us and who was proposing exactly the things Volker et. al. are saying today in the WSJ:

Hillary Clinton said she fears the U.S. is slipping into a Japanese-style economic malaise that will overwhelm the Federal Reserve's considerable powers..."

Can I have some Clinton on the top of the ticket? Please. (whimper, whimper...)

ECON 090

Carl hits another homer with this post for the econ literacy impaired. Clear. Straight-forward.

Simply Left Behind: Greed Is God: The Non-Rapturist's Guide To The Galaxy: Greed Is God

"Much of this week, hell, much of this year, has been about the coming economic disaster, which appears is now arriving on Track 13.

It got me to thinking a little about the capitalist system and its built-in, inherent flaw. Hell, it's such an obvious flaw that it boggles the mind that a rational people would choose it for their economy. Even Adam Smith saw it coming and warned against it.

Laissez-faire capitalism can loosely be defined as each person acting in his own interest contributes to the benefit of society at large.

For the large part, this system works pretty well: it's simple, easy to implement, and eventually, all people can benefit from truly free markets.

The one flaw in the ointment, the thing that ultimately Smith warned us on, is, well, greed. I mean, it's right there in the first part of that equation: A person's self-interest...."

Post of the Day

Anglachel has created quite the analysis of the stumbling, crumbling, bumbling bevy of bunglers known as the Democratic Party (and yes I are one). Get an extra cup of coffee and go read it: "Where The Shadows Lie."

Campaign 2080

Something different: The Caterpillar Causation: An Election Year Time-Travel Parable « docweaselblog

Johnson on Palin

Sarah Palin, Hillary Like not Hillary Lite : NO QUARTER

"I judge a politician by what they do not what they say. The words are important, but actions that back up the words are more important. The most outstanding thing about Sarah Palin is how she took on both the Republican party establishment and the oil industry in Alaska. You cannot show me one instance where Barack Obama or Joe Biden put their careers at risk over principle. Not one. Palin did it twice. And she did not have her eye on running for President. She did what she thought was right and did it with no hope of personally profiting from the effort. That is character.

I do not worry whether or not she has glad handed a bevy of global leaders. That can be learned. The bottomline for me is does she have the character to do the right thing even if it puts her political future at stake? I believe the answer to that question is yes..."

Helping The GOP

FOXNews.com - Chevy Chase Wants Tina Fey to 'Decimate' Sarah Palin - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment: "Chevy Chase said Monday he wants Tina Fey to go 'even harder' on Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin than she did in her 'Saturday Night Live' skit this past weekend ... and that he wants Fey to 'decimate' her.

'I thought it was extraordinary how well she played her and much she looked like her. I'd just like her — personally I felt we didn't need the Hillary stuff — I'd like her to go even harder,' the former 'SNL' star told MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' show.

'I want her to decimate this woman. This woman is, I can't believe there hasn't been more about it. ... It's just unbelievable to me this woman is actually running for vice president,' he continued..."

R.I.P.

Remembering Pink Floyd's Richard Wright | PopWatch Blog | EW.com

My favorite band of all time. The post above mentions Pink Floyd's better know works but neglects my favorite, Meddle, and one of the most distinctive cuts ever waxed: "Echoes."


You know what they say: there's a helluva band in Rock 'n Roll Heaven.

Pawning The Troops

OBAMA TRIED TO STALL GIS' IRAQ WITHDRAWAL - New York Post
" WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence...."

Compare to Reagan and the Iranian Hostages: here and here.

Closure Opening

President Bush, Barack Obama, John McCain: The same foreign policy? | Countdown to Crawford | Los Angeles Times: "Some say that U.S. foreign policy under President Bush in his second term has evolved to the point that it looks much like the foreign policy put forward by Barack Obama.

Others argue that Obama has moved closer to John McCain.

Whichever it is, there may be evolving a convergence on the subject of ... convergence.

News media outlets as diverse as the Washington Post, the Weekly Standard and the U.S.-German website Across the Pond are all taking note..."

The Gibson Question List

No Apologist :

"If you think that there is no double standard in the media, just compare the questions Obama was asked by Gibson to the ones Gibson asked Palin, courtesy of Nancy Kallitechnis:

Obama interview:

How does it feel to break a glass ceiling?
How does it feel to “win”?
How does your family feel about your “winning” breaking a glass ceiling?
Who will be your VP?
Should you choose Hillary Clinton as VP?
Will you accept public finance?
What issues is your campaign about?
Will you visit Iraq?
Will you debate McCain at a town hall?
What did you think of your competitor’s [Clinton] speech?

Palin interview:

Do you have enough qualifications for the job you’re seeking? Specifically have you visited foreign countries and met foreign leaders?
Aren’t you conceited to be seeking this high level job?
Questions about foreign policy
-territorial integrity of Georgia
-allowing Georgia and Ukraine to be members of NATO
-NATO treaty
-Iranian nuclear threat
-what to do if Israel attacks Iran
-Al Qaeda motivations
-the Bush Doctrine
-attacking terrorists harbored by Pakistan
Is America fighting a holy war? [misquoted Palin]

I’d say those are pretty striking differences. Gee, he didn’t ask PALIN about breaking any glass ceilings ..."

Oily Good News

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "Oil Falls to Six-Month Low as Refineries Escape Major Damage. By Mark Shenk

Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell to a six-month low in New York and gasoline tumbled amid signs that refineries along the Gulf of Mexico coast will soon resume operations after escaping major damage from Hurricane Ike..."

Gasoline jumped over a dollar a gallon in my local area. Hmmm.

O'Cash Explosion

Obama hauls in the cash with $66 million in August | csmonitor.com: "The Obama campaign is also touting the number of new donors — about 500,000 have joined the ranks to support the Democrat’s candidacy. No doubt the campaign will hit these new donors up again as most haven’t hit the $2,300 limit.

“John McCain says that he’ll take on the special interests and lobbyists, but McCain can’t fix a problem he’s been part of for three decades. The 500,000 new donors to the Obama campaign demonstrate just how strongly the American people are looking to kick the special interests out and change Washington,” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe..."

Ol. You got plenty dough to spend on $6 million set decorations so quit calling me.

The Trojan Horse Act

No Child Left Undamaged « The Confluence

Excellent post. Check it out.

"I spent several years working as a high school teacher. I had always wanted to be a teacher and enjoyed it very much. I was going to make it my lifelong career. NCLB ended all that. After George W Bush was appointed president by the SCOTUS in 2001, he was under some pressure to extend an olive branch to the Democrats. Instead, with the help of Ted Kennedy, he offered them a Trojan horse called The No Child Left Behind Act:..."

Bad John Campaign

Obama aide: McCain campaign 'sleaziest' in modern history - CNN.com: "MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama's spokesman on Saturday accused Sen. John McCain of 'cynically running the sleaziest and least honorable campaign in modern presidential campaign history...'"

Now that's funny. Talk about yer pots 'n kettles.

No Politics Inside VA!

Partisan politics disguised as voter registration has no place inside VA facilities.

Veteran’s Affairs Chief Crumbles Under Pressure From Congressional Democrats

"At Yahoo, in The Crypt there was a little noticed report that just “jacks my jaws.” It seems that Veterans Affairs Secretary Peake can’t hold his own against Congressional Democrats. They put so “much pressure” on him that he reversed his own decision and will now let groups like ACORN and MoveOn.org invade the VA facilities with voter registrants..."

Publish Post

The Daily Uh-Oh, Bad Polls Edition

McCain, Obama: Ohio Poll favors GOP: The Swamp: "...And the word today from one of the nation's most respected state polls - the Ohio Poll conducted by the University of Cincinnati - shows a narrow advantage for McCain in a state that both candidates hope to claim: With 48 percent of Ohioans surveyed supporting McCain, 44 Obama..."

On The Palin Interview

Howard Kurtz - The ABCs of Sarah Palin - washingtonpost.com: "Anyone who said that Charlie Gibson might go easy on Sarah Palin might want to quickly delete those comments.

What the ABC newsman conducted yesterday was a serious, professional interview that went right at the heart of what we want and need to know about the governor: Could she be president? Does she understand the nuances of international affairs? Does she have a world view?..."

Help!Help!Help!

Obama Meets with Former President Clinton « FOX Embeds « FOXNews.com: "NEW YORK - Following a brutal bought for the Democratic nomination, after a summer filled with whispers about an Obama/Clinton feud, and more than three months after Hillary Clinton suspended her presidential ambitions, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton finally met face to face..."

White Trash Alert

Pelalusa: Heather Mallick: Liberal Elitist Trash

'...Sarah Palin ... fit of pique ... the white trash vote ... sexual inadequates ... she isn't even female really ... Alaska hillbilly ... "white trash" ... trailer trash ... rural, loud, proudly unlettered ... toned-down version of the porn actress ... overtreated hair, puffy lips ... "pramface" ... roughneck fuckin' redneck ... prodding his daughter ... ratboy ... fizzing with rage and revenge ... vicious and profoundly dishonest ... good fast listing... nervous wreck with deeply strange hair ... the hick vote ... ordinary hillbilly ... racism? ... racism ... "rectal fissure" ... tense no-hoper ladies ... white female marginals ...

And all of this from one Heather Mallick, who would tell you with great conviction that she is an objective journalist and classy woman. Clearly neither is true. She's the postergirl for what one might term as a "blueneck".'

"Blueneck?" I kinda like that, though it feels more like an adjective, as in "blueneck twit."

Who Cares?

FOXNews.com - Matt Damon: Sarah Palin Presidency Would Be Like a 'Really Bad Disney Movie' - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment: "Actor Matt Damon said a Sarah Palin presidency would be like 'a really bad Disney movie...'" If Sen. Clinton can't convince to vote a certain way, the man who plays Jason Bourne has the chance of a snowball in Hell, which is several magnitudes of odds better than Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.

Surprise! Surprise! Another Scandal

Wide-Ranging Ethics Scandal Emerges at Interior Dept. - NYTimes.com

"WASHINGTON — As Congress prepares to debate expansion of drilling in taxpayer-owned coastal waters, the Interior Department agency that collects oil and gas royalties has been caught up in a wide-ranging ethics scandal — including allegations of financial self-dealing, accepting gifts from energy companies, cocaine use and sexual misconduct..."

Much Ado About Lips 'n Pigs

Pigs and lipstick? The campaign gets really weird | csmonitor.com: "As Barack Obama said a few days ago, “You can’t make this stuff up.” And that’s true. But this time the campaign went from weird to weirder yesterday due to something else Obama said.

What’s the big hoo-haa? The old saying about putting lipstick on a pig changed the conversation from pork (as in earmarks) to the actual farmyard animal. Specifically whether the Democratic nominee called Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin a pig..."

I think not, but when you're on-fire, every spark is a fireball.

Mike Gravel Interviewed on Sarah Palin

On Bigotry

Cannonfire: "...Many pundits will blame racism. The R word is already being heard throughout progland. But...wait a minute! Was not Barack Obama ahead for a while? I guess people were less racist then. At some point during the past week, the earth must have drifted into a cosmic cloud of bigotry. Similarly, I was considered a non-racist when I supported Obama in the primary and when I voted for Jackson in '88. I became 'racist' only when I turned against the Lightbringer..."

As I've said before, I voted for Shirley Chisholm way back when. So what does that me? ("Idiot" is not the answer.)

Pictures From Over There, 3

Not all of "Over There" is Iraq.

The Daily Uh-Oh, Bad Bucks Edition

BBC NEWS | Africa | Nigeria seizes money 'for Obama': "Nigerian anti-graft investigators have seized money raised by the head of the Nigerian Stock Exchange to support US presidential candidate Barack Obama..."

Palin Rumor Debunker Central

Update and Bump: Rev. Amy has a post up at No Quarter complaining about and updating the MoveOn smear letter.

I got a forwarded email from MoveOn yesterday charging Palin with having hideous ideas and having a crappy resume. Most of these can be found here: Charlotte Front and Center: Smearing Sarah....7 Myths Hitting Internet.

The one I remember that is not addressed here is the global warming issue. I read a couple of days ago Palin's remarks about global warming and what she said was that she didn't think that humanity was the sole cause of global warming. She did say, as I recall, that it was occurring. A quick look at the USGS and the global temperatures over the past billion years or so confirms her comment. Terra has had many warming and cooling cycles long before man was cruising about in cars, so, yeah, we're speeding it along but the majority of the global warming is probably natural.

Warming beats cooling (see the Little Ice Age for encouragement).

P.S. I'm in hurry. You do know how to use The Google, don't you?

Update: Howling Latina via Corrente brings us the ultimate Palin link.

Ahnold Knocked

"I'll Be Back," intoned the Guvanator. "Not so fast," says a union representing prison guards. California prison guards seek Schwarzenegger recall | U.S. | Reuters

Comment of the Day

11 Points in a Week. How’s that for an convention bounce?! : NO QUARTER: "Comment by Perry Logan | 2008-09-08 07:13:28

The trouble is, right-wingers ALWAYS say any Democrat running for President is a commie, a Marxist, etc. They have done this with every Democrat running for President since FDR. They called FDR a commie; they called JFK a commie, before he was killed; they called Clinton a commie; they called Kerry a commie, etc., etc.

Anyone see a pattern here? The right wing exhibit a repetitiveness of behavior bordering on insanity..."

All the above is quite true, and it reminds me of those old saws about crying wolf, broken clocks, and paranoids.

The Daily Uh-Oh, Endorsement Edition

New York Post: "THE Post today enthusiastically urges the election of Sen. John S. McCain as the 44th president of the United States..."

Yeah, it is The Post. Still...

Power Posts

Be sure and visit The Confluence for two very interesting and relevant posts concerning the pitiful plight of KO and Tweety, and shenanigans among and against the delegates on the convention floor by the DNC et. al.

Saving The Rich, Again

Detroit's Blackmail Attempt Is Beyond Shameless - WSJ.com: "It was only a matter of time, unfortunately. And now that Michigan is an election-year swing state and Detroit's auto makers are posting sales declines topping 20% each month, the time has arrived. The issue of a government bailout for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler is moving to center stage.

Barack Obama has said yes to this proposal early on, and last week John McCain climbed on board. So much for change and fighting pork-barrel spending. We're moving beyond moral hazard here, folks, and into a moral quagmire. At least the Chrysler bailout of 1980 was structured so that taxpayers could reap a reward for taking a financial risk on the company's future. That's not what's happening now..."

Nasty Nasty

This post contains some really vicious fiction (Quoted from other sources). UPDATE: LA Progressive: Palin "Racist" | Black & Right

Not One

The boys and girls of This Week's Roundtable have once again described former Clinton supporters as Regan Democrats and women. I loathed Raygun, almost as much as my disdain for Bush The Lesser. The neocons are my antithesis. Yet, there they go again. While many people who do not support Obama fall into that category, there are quite a few of us who are not supporting him but not supporting McCain either; many of us are simply pro-democracy, America-firsters. Neither the GOP nor Barack Obama have show an overarching love of one-man-one vote democracy.

And there we are-- betwixt a rock and a hard place.

Short Bandwagon

Palin floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee: "...As for Palin herself, she is going to be very, very effective on the campaign trail, especially if McCain's people can figure out how to gently keep her from getting into confrontations with the press.

If she can answer questions like she handled herself at the convention, Palin will turn out to be the most interesting person in all of politics, and the press will treat her like they treated Obama when he was first discovered.

And remember, the Palin bandwagon needs to roll for only two months."

From The Book of Barack: "...and lo it came to pass that in the autumn of His Ascendancy, a new star rose in the North and soon many ships were navigating the cold, dark night by its steadfast light..."

Update: Anglachel has a thorough analysis of Willie Brown's column at her place. Click here.

The Kicker To The Card

Personality emerges as tight race's pivot point -- baltimoresun.com: "...At a Scranton, Pa., stop on Friday, Obama said, 'When they say this isn't about issues, it's about personalities, what they're really saying is, 'We're going to try to scare people about Barack. So we're going to say that, you know, maybe he's got Muslim connections, or we're going to say that, you know, he hangs out with radicals, or he's not patriotic.''

Davis, in a statement yesterday, called Obama's remark 'a cynical attempt to play the victim' and an example of the old-style politics the Democrat claims to eschew.

'The McCain campaign understands that its candidate has a better chance of winning a contest over character than over issues,' William Galston of the liberal Brookings Institution wrote in a post-convention analysis. McCain is presenting himself as 'a safe choice for uncertain times.'

'Obama's challenge,' he added, 'is to make Americans comfortable with the idea of him as president so that the forces underlying this year's contest come to the fore. ... It is a testament to McCain's personal appeal - and to the uncertainty Obama has not yet dispelled - that the race remains as close as it is...'"

The Daily Uh-Oh, Media Edition

UPDATE 2-John McCain speech draws record TV ratings | Markets | Markets News | Reuters: "LOS ANGELES, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain beat Democratic rival Barack Obama in the crucial battle to attract U.S. television viewers during their race to the White House, according to figures released on Friday.

Nielsen Media Research said a record 38.9 million TV viewers watched McCain accept the Republican nomination on Thursday, slightly more than the 38.3 million people who tuned in for Obama's speech last week..."

Nobody got any ratings from me.

Machine Gunner Sheriffs

S.C. Sheriff's Department Armored Vehicle with Belt-Fed Machine Gun | Corrente: "The Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department has acquired an armored personnel carrier complete with a turret-mounted .50-caliber belt-fed machine gun for its Special Response Team..."

Uh-huh. What's next? Blackhawks at the PD? Warthogs patrolling the school crossings? I worried years ago about the creation of military style SWAT teams and snipers and so on (and don't bother flogging me with that old chestnut about calling a hippy instead of a cop or the SWAT team-- where I live you better plan on defending yourself because you'll be long dead if you're waiting on a response when the nearest cop is probably 30 minutes away.) If law enforcement turns into armed camps of standing armies, then you know what's next.

The problem with standing armies is no one likes them standing. Everyone wants them doing something, so who or what is available for them to do something to? Just us. You and me and the dog next door.

Why We Lose

Anglachel's Journal: "...Let’s repeat what Fiorina said: “The Republican Party will not stand by while Gov. Palin is subjected to sexist attacks.” Remove the limiting term there–“sexist.” Thus adjusted, Fiorina’s statement explains our electoral politics over the past twenty years..."

Update: Anglachel, always a class act, left a comment noting, "Just a quick note that the post is just a long excerpt from Bob Somerby, and he deserves the credit and the link."

Palin Reviews

USNews.com: Political Bulletin: Thursday, September 4, 2008

"After two days of unrelenting negative coverage, media analysts last night and this morning almost universally lavished praise on Gov. Sarah Palin's convention speech. Immediate reaction by the broadcast punditry was positive. On NBC, Tom Brokaw said a few moments after Palin concluded, "Tonight makes a very auspicious debut as the vice presidential candidate before this hall and a national television audience. She could not have been more winning or engaging." On CBS, Bob Schieffer said after the speech, "I think she passed the first test. The people in this hall absolutely loved this speech. ... Now we'll see how it plays with the rest of the country." On ABC, George Stephanopoulos said, "There were a lot beautiful and effective lines in this speech." On ABC's Nightline, Stephanopoulos added, "She definitely gets an A. ... It was appealing and funny and warn at times. Very, very tough at times as well. And she really did have an ability to bring these things down to earth, bring it down to earth..."

Happy Jack Not Bad

Abramoff: 'I Am Not A Bad Man' - Washington Post Investigations

"Jack Abramoff, the now-disgraced lobbyist behind a corruption scandal that ensnared several prominent lawmakers and Washington power brokers a few years ago, pleaded with a federal judge to reduce his sentence in a letter sent yesterday, apologizing for his "blundering" but saying he is not a "bad man."

"I am not a bad man (although to read all the news articles one would think I was Osama Bin Laden), but I did many bad things," he wrote. "I lied to clients, even while working to get them the results they expected. I cheated my law firm and took advantage of public officials. And, while I gave millions of dollars to charities, I thought I could then skirt the rules in paying the right amount of money to the government in taxes..."

Sorry, dude, but all that does make you a bad man. A repentant man may one day become a good man so keep working on it.

Pictures From Over There, 2

Just A Teeny, Tiny Error

Re: Palin and the AK Confederacy: New York Times corrects one lie, ABC gloats over trash « Not Your Sweetie

Sticking To The Issues

Don’t Underestimate Sarah Palin | Hillary or Bust: "...Look, if you are a woman on the left who doesn’t like Palin’s pro-life stance, fine. But stick to the issues. Insulting her basic competency based on the fact that she’s attractive is extremely harmful to all woman. It smacks of sexism and does nothing to help women get taken more seriously.

I have had problems in my life due to being attractive, where people did not take me seriously because I was “pretty.” It really pisses me off to see women like Taylor Marsh who through luck or blow jobs (apparently, since we’re questioning women’s ability to get ahead on their own merits) get journalistic positions where they can spew hate towards women like Palin to a national audience..."

On Class Bias

Anglachel's Journal: Taking Out the Trash: "...I have written about this before, pointing out the deep revulsion the political and cultural elite feels towards things working class and especially things working-class, white and Southern. The original sin of Bill Clinton was to be a hick from Arkansas who didn't disavow his roots. The greater sin of Hillary Rodham Clinton was to marry that hick and stick with him even when he acted like a Bubba. Lower class white females are treated with even greater contempt than their male counterparts, reduced to Dolly Parton boobs, Daisy Duke butts, and Britney Spears midriffs. Above all, a lurid fascination with their alleged propensity for beastiality and incest, with accusations of the latter making an appearance in the current assaults. After all, "we" nice clean college educated denizens of Whole Foods Nation know about "those" kind of people. What do we know about them?..."

The Dark Side of Life Slicing

Politics don't get dirtier than smearing pregnant girl -- chicagotribune.com

Alaskan Slice of Life

In Wasilla, Pregnancy Was No Secret - TIME

Pictures From Over There, 1

I received an email from a friend with several pictures from the war zone. Two points: 1) the pictures are intended to be humorous 2) neither me nor my crack staff of exactly zero has gone to any lengths whatsoever to vet the veracity of these pictures. This is a blog, not ABC News or the New York Times. Some of us have to work, a lot, for a living so eating Cheetos in mom's basement and trolling the Intertubes 24/7 is not option. With that said, here is the first one. I'll post a couple a week.

Upset People

Cannonfire: "When will the progressives learn that their newfound love of smear tactics have only hurt the party? I may have had severe disagreements with Larry Johnson and the No Quarter crew, but I can certainly agree with Johnson's anger over the latest lies and rumors surrounding Sarah Palin..."

Who's The Rumor-Monger?

Obama Tells Press to "Back Off" on Palin | The Trail | washingtonpost.com: "Obama Tells Press to 'Back Off' on Palin

By Shailagh Murray
MONROE, Mich. -- Sen. Barack Obama told reporters to 'back off' Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her family, following the GOP vice presidential candidate's disclosure that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

'I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits,' Obama declared after attending a Labor Day picnic here. 'People's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. So I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories...'"

Gee. I wonder who might be spreading tales? It couldn't be Blogger Boyz, could it?

Being Fair To Evil

Why It Matters : In Georgia, Cheney Has Some Explaining to Do: "The last time Dick Cheney visited the former Soviet Union in May 2006, he spoke as the victor of the cold war–and extended an invitation to Russia to become a partner of the West, on the West’s terms. In Vilnius, Lithuania, he told an audience of the leaders of nine former Soviet republics or Warsaw Pact satellites that Russia was not 'fated to be an enemy' and that it 'can be a strategic partner and a trusted friend.' But he urged that Russia follow the course embraced by its former subjects in the Soviet bloc. 'Russia has a choice to make,' he said.

In the aftermath of Georgia, it looks like Moscow has made its choice. But it was hardly the one Cheney proposed–rather than partnership, Russia has chosen head-on confrontation to reassert its authority over its former empire..."

Ok. Deadeye Darth Vader Cheney is a key part of the worst regime in U.S. and may be the AntiChrist, but I don't see how he is responsible for bad decisions made by the Russian regime. (Well, other than endlessly demonstrating that America is managed by incompetent idiots.)