September 26th, 2008
383.
No, I am not making predictions (now that McCain is participating), it’s an online ad running on the Wall Street Journal site… already. From the Washington Post:
Although the fate of tonight’s presidential debate in Mississippi remains very much up in the air, John McCain has apparently already won it — if you believe an Internet ad an astute reader spotted next to this piece in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal this morning.
“McCain Wins Debate!” declares the ad which features a headshot of a smiling McCain with an American flag background. Another ad spotted by our eagle-eyed observer featured a quote from McCain campaign manager Rick Davis declaring: “McCain won the debate– hands down.”
Mission Accomplished for McCain?!
Speaking of debates, also came across this quote from radio-host Ed Schultz on the Indecision 2008 blog:
Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin. The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as “disastrous.”
One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, “What are we going to do?”
The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is “clueless.”
(which has become blatantly obvious, btw)
Nice selection, McCain! You’ve really been showing off your wise, thoughtful leadership skills lately, haven’t you?
Tags: debate, election, mccain, mcsame, palin, Politics
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September 25th, 2008
375.
If McCain wins, I’m scared. Palin is the most unqualified VP candidate ever. She can’t believe the stuff that comes out of her mouth, can she? I think a 5th grader could see through her statements.
<embed src=’http://www.cbs.com/thunder/swf30can10cbsnews/rcpHolderCbs-3-4×3.swf’ FlashVars=’link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecbsnews%2Ecom%2Fvideo%2Fwatch%2F%3Fid%3D4478156n&partner=cbssports&vert=News&autoPlayVid=false&releaseURL=http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=hdkxamTi8l_uCAJ2ORKSzF3marEPn7Ul&name=cbsPlayer&allowScriptAccess=always&wmode=transparent&embedded=y&scale=noscale&rv=n&salign=tl’ allowFullScreen=’true’ width=’425′ height=’324′ type=’application/x-shockwave-flash’ pluginspage=’http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer’></embed><br/><a href=’http://www.cbs.com’>Watch CBS Videos Online</a>
McCain Rearin’ Heads ad from Boing Boing
Tags: election, interview, mccain, mcsame, palin, Politics, putin
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September 16th, 2008
369.
Some links from around the web:
- The Sarah Palin baby name generator. My name: Rifle Panzer Palin
- An amazing site that tracks the daily press mentions for Obama and McCain. Make sure to click on each day for more detail. Infographics galore!
- One thing McCain has proved to me so far this election is he’s willing to do anything to win, including lie, distort and run an ugly campaign. The McCainpedia is tracking the lies – now at 54. It’s sad to see a once honorable man be driven to such low standards by the same people who destroyed him in the 2000 election.
- With all this negative campaigning coming out of the McCain camp, can’t help but agree with Jeffrey Zeldman’s modest proposal:
It is illegal to make false claims in a TV or radio commercial unless you are running for political office.
If you’re selling toothpaste, your claims must be vetted by legal and medical professionals. But not if you’re selling a candidate.
If you’re selling a candidate, not only can you lie about his record, but more to the point, you can lie about his opponent.
My biggest pet peeve so far this election season has been the media’s tactic of asking questions, listening to the answer and leaving it at that – regardless of what the answer is AND even if it is a boldface lie or distortion. I hate how most interviewers just move right on to the next question like they weren’t even listening.
And don’t even get me started on those news reports that cover McCain ads as if they are fact or show clips of him responding to criticism and cutting the clip right after he responds ‘no, that isn’t correct.’ Our local news showed a clip of McCain on The View when he was challenged on Palin’s record of earmarks (highest per capita in the nation, by the way) and they cut it right after he said something to the effect of ‘she never asked for earmarks as governor’ and left it at that… no reporting of the facts or any criticism of his answer. It boggles my mind.
Tags: election, mccain, mcsame, obama, Politics
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September 15th, 2008
367.
Maybe McCain thinks so:
McCAIN: Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. …. And we all know that energy is a critical and vital national security issue.
So I am sure Palin thinks so, but the facts might think otherwise. She certainly doesn’t know how much energy Alaska contributes to the United States.
PALIN: Let me speak specifically about a credential that I do bring to this table, Charlie, and that’s with the energy independence that I’ve been working on for these years as the governor of this state that produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy, that I worked on as chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing the oil and gas development in our state to produce more for the United States.
Unfortunately, according to FactCheck.org, it’s more like 3.5% of our domestic energy production. Think Progress points out she would have been closer if she said oil production (14.3%), but even then she would have been exaggerating, rather that just lying.
Seems like the Repubs are sticking with the “tell a lie enough times and it becomes true” strategy that helped the Bushies so often. After all, Palin still thinks Iraq planned and executed the 9/11 attacks.
Tags: election, lies, mccain, palin
Noted in Politics | Permanent link
September 5th, 2008
358.
From Time Magazine’s Swampland blog: No Questions, Please. We’ll Tell You What You Need To Know.
According to Nicole Wallace of the McCain campaign, the American people don’t care whether Sarah Palin can answer specific questions about foreign and domestic policy. According to Wallace — in an appearance I did with her this morning on Joe Scarborough’s show — the American people will learn all they need to know (and all they deserve to know) from Palin’s scripted speeches and choreographed appearances on the campaign trail and in campaign ads.
How can one campaign show so much contempt for the American people?
[Hat tip to Firedoglake for the image.]
Update:
It appears that Palin will ‘hole up in Alaska’ and take time off the campaign trail to begin her education. (Referred to as training.) Seriously? There are less than 60 days to the election. Can they really say she is ready? Much less the whole ‘no interviews/questions for you!’ thing…
It really seems like the McCain camp is saying STFU to the press and the American people.
Tags: election, mccain, mcsame, palin, Politics
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September 5th, 2008
356.
Tom Ridge’s Freudian slip, when talking about McCain’s platform:
TOM BROKAW: But the fact is, governor, that you have had eight years of a Bush administration and a lot of Republicans in Congress for the last eight years, so why wouldn’t the American people say, look they had their shot we’re going to change?
TOM RIDGE: Because John Bush – because John McCain is very much his own man…
Priceless.
Tags: election, mccain, mcsame, Politics
Noted in Politics | Permanent link
September 4th, 2008
353.
From VP experience, to teenage pregnancy and sexist criticism of female candidates:
Love it.
Tags: daily show, election, hypocrisy, Politics, republicans, video
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September 4th, 2008
351.
Today’s links… fact-checking the speeches from last night’s RNC festivities!
I’m still thinking my resume for the VP spot will stand the test of time. And no need to fact check! 
Tags: convention, election, facts, mccain, obama, palin, Politics, RNC
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September 4th, 2008
345.
In case McCain decides to dump Palin in the future, I thought it would be beneficial to lay out my case for the VP slot. I would surely consider taking over for her and think I can match her experience note for note.
Here we go:
- I currently live 15 minutes from the Canadian border and have for more than 25 years, which means I have extensive foreign policy experience. I’ve even been to Canada – many times! (even the other end – Vancouver!)
- I was a patrol leader (and later SENIOR patrol leader) in Boy Scouts (I led 10 boys!). Some highlights:
- I’ve been to many leadership camps and learned real leadership skills
- On one extended camping trip, one of our scouts (not in my patrol) went bat-shit crazy and wielded a knife. (a terrorist!) I made an executive decision to lead my patrol to safety by whisking them away from the danger by ship (canoe) to another island. So I have experience dealing with terrorists, executive experience AND naval experience.)
- I led my patrol (sans adult supervision) on a week long trip in Washington, DC at age 12. So I have experience dealing with Washington AND imagine how much better I’d be at it after 20 years!
- I am a devout family man, with three girls under 2. McCain, that will for sure win the women vote. I mean women LOVE seeing a dad with three little girls – especially when he loves and cares for them so much. It’s SO cute. AND from my experience, people definitely think that having 3 kids under 2 is a LOT of work, so everyone will know I can handle the VP job.
- Unlike your current partner, I’ve NEVER accepted earmark money. NEVER raised taxes, either.
- At my acceptance speech, I can be condescending, sarcastic and overtly mean in my criticism of our opponents, so you’ll lose nothing there. It will certainly rally the base!
- I was an altar boy for like a bazillion years, so you know I have my values in place.
- I was an honor student for my entire school life. Was a part of Honor Society AND the Gifted and Talented program. So you know I can hang with those smart, elitist libruls.
- Unlike yourself or really even your current VP, I am as blue collar as they come. Never been rich (and probably never will be) or even made over $100k in a year. I own only one house and have experience creating and managing strict budgets.
- I was a world class bocce player in 6th grade. I won the championship at my elementary school. I took first place in numerous events on the JV track team. Athletic too? Yup, I’m for real.
- No scandals. Nope, never fired an in-law. Daughters aren’t pregnant and won’t be for our ENTIRE 12 year run (4 for you and 8 more for me.) Never tried to ban books in the local library (even worked at a library!) Didn’t leave my hometown riddled with debt after I left. Never thought about trying to get New York (yes, I live in NY – imagine if you could turn NY red? I can help!) to secede from the U.S.. And like selecting your current partner, there is no need to go through an extensive vetting process. I am even less known than your current partner AND you’ll find no news stories tucked away in The Google.
- My wife is a great teacher. How heart warming is that? I mean she has passed up the chance to make the big bucks in the private sector to serve the public AND our children. Not to mention she once was a DIRECTOR at the Boys and Girls Club. That means leadership, executive skills and being a role model. She’d certainly be an asset to our administration. AND like your current, temporary choice, my significant other is on leave from work. Sacrificing for our family.
- I wrote this all myself. No speechwriters needed and you don’t need to spell words like nuclear just like they sound, when it’s time for me to read them off a teleprompter.
- And finally, I am a MAVERICK. Ask anyone at my current employer. I’m not afraid to take an unpopular position or say what needs to be said. I pull NO punches!
McCain, hear me out! I think I can do it and I could probably find a few dozen people to back me up when you select me. I can learn on the job (from the master!) and surely be ready on Day One. I’m sure you’d agree, this is an impressive resume.
America first!
Tags: 2008, election, humor, mccain, VP
Noted in Politics | Permanent link
September 3rd, 2008
341.
So the current meme on the right is complaining how unfairly Palin is being treated because she is a woman. I’d like to remind Palin et al what she said about Hilary after HRC complained about unfair treatment/sexism/increased criticism and focus:
“She does herself a disservice to even mention it, really,” Palin said. “When I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism, or maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think, ‘Man, that doesn’t do us any good, women in politics, or women in general, trying to progress this country,’” Palin said. “I don’t think it bodes well for her.”
[Politico.com]
Update:
And Joe Klein touches on the McCain camp bullying the press over the treatment of Palin:
Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair–sexist (you gotta love it)–personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the fact the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media–about the substance of Palin’s record as mayor and governor. …There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is “a task from God.” The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.
(emphasis mine)
As Crooks and Liars said, That’s straight talk, the clear-quill real deal.
Tags: 2008, criticism, election, palin
Noted in Politics | Permanent link
