Saturday, October 25, 2008
McCain Today.
He's not going to be the test-ee, he's going to be the test-or. And that's better how...?
And so much for regulation:
McCain calls for "less government regulation" of small businesses.
And so much for regulation:
McCain calls for "less government regulation" of small businesses.
Wow.
Right now, Obama is solid blue in Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Virginia. (Iowa, per fivethirtyeight.com, is 100% Obama 0% chance for McCain).
If McCain wins ALL of these: FLORIDA, OHIO, INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, MISSOURI and NORTH CAROLINA; it's 270 Obama to 268 McCain. www.270towin.com has Obama at 277 now, giving him Pennsylvania, not even calling that a swing state. So to flip that to McCain, and give him FL, OH, IN, MO and NC still isn't enough, he'd need Nevada also. Wow.
If McCain wins ALL of these: FLORIDA, OHIO, INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, MISSOURI and NORTH CAROLINA; it's 270 Obama to 268 McCain. www.270towin.com has Obama at 277 now, giving him Pennsylvania, not even calling that a swing state. So to flip that to McCain, and give him FL, OH, IN, MO and NC still isn't enough, he'd need Nevada also. Wow.
An Appaling Comparison
Daniel Larison:
One response to the ridiculous cover of the latest issue of The Weekly Standard should be digust for the shameless adaptation of an iconic image from the Tiananmen Square massacre for the purposes of shilling for an awful candidate in a democratic election, but it seems to me that this might take TWS‘ democracy-promoting ideology and its alleged support for democratic dissidents far more seriously than they deserve. Of course it should go without saying that it is ludicrous and obnoxious to portray the frontrunner in a reasonably free and open election in the role of the Chinese military squashing the democracy activists of 1989, but then I expect that there is a nontrivial percentage of McCain supporters who think that the comparison is quite apt.
McCain is not standing alone in the path of a tank; he is not a valiant martyr to the rights of conscience and political expression. He is likely to be the runner-up in a large-scale contest for supreme power, and he will lose because most people in this country do not trust him or any other member of his party with that kind of power any longer. The perversity of comparing a man of his wealth and power, who seeks even more power, to a lone dissident engaged in futile resistance against overwhelming force is amazing. This certainly says something about that magazine’s respect for real dissidents in systems where contested and competitive elections essentially free of political violence are not possible. An example of real political dissent and courage is appropriated here for McCain to provide some lustre to the fading reputation of a dangerous and misguided politician.
More Palin
Seriously. HOW can anyone allow this woman to be voted in to office. Vice Presidents rarely have much control (the last 8 years excluded). In less than two months, she is already looking out for herself (why is she in Iowa this weekend? We are a BLUE blue state, and she's appearing multiple times. This is a crucial weekend; and she is "wasting" it on Iowa's 7 electoral votes?
This should scare most of you:
Religious leaders in Alaska, including Mr. Donelson, (a pastor and Palin appointee, who helped found the "spiritual warfare" ministry) declined interviews, with several saying they had been told by the McCain-Palin campaign not to talk to members of the news media.
What is known, however, is that Ms. Palin has had long associations with religious leaders who practice a particularly assertive and urgent brand of Pentecostalism known as “spiritual warfare. ”Its adherents believe that demonic forces can colonize specific geographic areas and individuals, and that “spiritual warriors” must “battle” them to assert God’s control, using prayer and evangelism. The movement’s fixation on demons, its aggressiveness and its leaders’ claims to exalted spiritual authority have troubled even some Pentecostal Christians.
Bruce Wilson, a researcher for Talk2Action, a Web site that tracks religious groups, said: “One of the imperatives of the movement is to achieve worldly power, including political control. Then you can more effectively drive out the demons. The ultimate goal is to purify the earth.”
The full New York Times story.
Here is a link to "Spiritual Warfare & Deliverance Ministries".
And, so much for getting all "mavericky" on "reform".
This should scare most of you:
Religious leaders in Alaska, including Mr. Donelson, (a pastor and Palin appointee, who helped found the "spiritual warfare" ministry) declined interviews, with several saying they had been told by the McCain-Palin campaign not to talk to members of the news media.
What is known, however, is that Ms. Palin has had long associations with religious leaders who practice a particularly assertive and urgent brand of Pentecostalism known as “spiritual warfare. ”Its adherents believe that demonic forces can colonize specific geographic areas and individuals, and that “spiritual warriors” must “battle” them to assert God’s control, using prayer and evangelism. The movement’s fixation on demons, its aggressiveness and its leaders’ claims to exalted spiritual authority have troubled even some Pentecostal Christians.
Bruce Wilson, a researcher for Talk2Action, a Web site that tracks religious groups, said: “One of the imperatives of the movement is to achieve worldly power, including political control. Then you can more effectively drive out the demons. The ultimate goal is to purify the earth.”
The full New York Times story.
Here is a link to "Spiritual Warfare & Deliverance Ministries".
And, so much for getting all "mavericky" on "reform".
McCain Adviser on Palin: She's "Going Rogue"
They say she is looking out more for herself than the McCain campaign.
"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," said this McCain adviser. "She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."
Click here for full story.
"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," said this McCain adviser. "She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."
Click here for full story.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Is It the Speechwriters? The Science Experts? Are there experts?
Sarah Palin, in her first policy speech, disparaged the fruit fly research in "Paris, France", saying, "I kid you not." Unfortunately, fruit fly research has discovered data about nerve connections which may lead to advances in understanding autism, a disorder which her nephew suffers from. While the fruit fly "earmark" Palin referred to was likely one on olive fruit flies which seems more geared to controlling population, discounting, as she did today, "money for fruit flies" is sadly close-minded.
"Thank God she's not going to have to be president from Day One. McCain's going to be alive and well."
10/24/08: Joe Lieberman, answering Connecticut reporters as to whether Sarah Palin is ready to be president right when elected.
10/24/08: Joe Lieberman, answering Connecticut reporters as to whether Sarah Palin is ready to be president right when elected.
OBAMA IS NOT A SOCIALIST (From a conservative. really).
I posted this the other day but apparently did not have a strong enough title. I have more points on this; votes McCain has made, actual video and audio of him saying, basically, "spread the wealth" as in, that's the right thing to do. Send me an email or comment if you want me to post them, but check this out by Daniel Larison; (a conservative) who parses the issue for us.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A Wonderful Collection of Campaign Photos
Make sure click "Show More Images" at the bottom of each page. One from Des Moines, one from Burlington IA!
This Is A Post From Ta-Nehisi Coates Today: What $150k Could Have Purchased
Coates: You know what, this isn't about the wardrobe. It's about incompetence. It's about a poorly executed campaign. McCain's response to all this? She needed clothes. I bullshit you not.
What if the Tables Were Turned???
Thanks to Bev Vrooman for this insightful email. Click my comment, below, for full text.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Alamo chairwoman writes letter stating Obama is a Muslim socialist
Yeah, the Democrats are doing the same thing. Like calling John McCain a fascist, homophobic dictator. Really???????????????????????????? No wait.....THEY'RE NOT.
The Empress's New Clothes
Michelle Malkin (yes, her) has something to say (of course). (But Lorne Michaels is quoted, too).
Larison: Redistribution of Wealth
....."As I noted before, labeling Obama as the wealth-spreading candidate is not only politically stupid, but philosophically misguided as well. It used to be that conservatives believed and could articulate the belief that market economies were on the whole better at allocating resources and equitably distributing wealth than economies subject to a great deal of state intervention. The time was when broad and even distribution of wealth was a Jeffersonian and conservative goal to provide for a broad class of property-holders as the basis for social and political stability. It was not a description of a left-wing or welfarist plot. So much for that....." Click HERE for full post.
Michelle Bachmann...... Go Elwyn Tinklenberg! (Tied to the GOP? Go Aubrey Immelman!)
The Minnesota Congresswoman's recent statements led to her Democratic challenger raising over $750,000 for his campaign in a little over 2 days. But now, Bachmann's GOP challenger is back in the race as a write in candidate, too. (Hooray for unique names! Elwyn, Aubrey, Tinklenberg!)
On Hardball, Michelle Bachmann recommended that Senator Obama be investigated for his anti-American views. Actually, all the Democrats in Congress should be investigated, she further said. Then, she denies it. Note to self: If someone is filming you saying something, then you can't deny later that you said it. Really.
On Hardball, Michelle Bachmann recommended that Senator Obama be investigated for his anti-American views. Actually, all the Democrats in Congress should be investigated, she further said. Then, she denies it. Note to self: If someone is filming you saying something, then you can't deny later that you said it. Really.
Another Pic
Don in my office thought the adult WAS Barack at first glance. Another photo of Barack Obama with his grandfather, Stanley Dunham. Amazing. 
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Stanley & Madelyn DunhamBarack Obama's grandparents. The people he was raised by in Hawaii. Madelyn started as a bank teller in Honolulu, and in the 1970's became one of the first female bank vice presidents.
A Daily Dish reader wrote in to say how she saw a striking resemblance between Barack and his maternal grandfather. (The tilt of the head, ears, face shape, etc).
David Sedaris
If there is one person that always makes me laugh, it is David Sedaris. Andrew Sullivan posted a quote from his essay in the upcoming New Yorker (click title for the whole story) I'm posting a different one...
I didn’t vote again until 1976, when I was nineteen and legally registered. Because I was at college out of state, I sent my ballot through the mail. The choice that year was between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. Most of my friends were going for Carter, but, as an art major, I identified myself as a maverick. “That means an original,” I told my roommate. “Someone who lets the chips fall where they may.” Because I made my own rules and didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought of them, I decided to write in the name of Jerry Brown, who, it was rumored, liked to smoke pot. This was an issue very close to my heart—too close, obviously, as it amounted to a complete waste. Still, though, it taught me a valuable lesson: calling yourself a maverick is a sure sign that you’re not one.
I didn’t vote again until 1976, when I was nineteen and legally registered. Because I was at college out of state, I sent my ballot through the mail. The choice that year was between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. Most of my friends were going for Carter, but, as an art major, I identified myself as a maverick. “That means an original,” I told my roommate. “Someone who lets the chips fall where they may.” Because I made my own rules and didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought of them, I decided to write in the name of Jerry Brown, who, it was rumored, liked to smoke pot. This was an issue very close to my heart—too close, obviously, as it amounted to a complete waste. Still, though, it taught me a valuable lesson: calling yourself a maverick is a sure sign that you’re not one.
Monday, October 20, 2008
McCain Seems To Be Giving Up On Colorado
CNN's John King reports that the Republican team is "making tough decisions" as it sees Colorado as well as New Mexico and Iowa drift away.
Says the campaign's "risky strategy" is counting on Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and a comeback in Pennsylvania.
Obama To Suspend Campaign This Week
Barack Obama's grandmother has taken a turn for the worse, and he will be suspending his campaigning this Thursday and Friday to fly to Hawaii to be with her.
THREE PINOCHIOS
It is unclear whether either presidential candidate will actually keep their many promises on taxes. But the McCain claim his rival's current plan will force "folks like Joe" to subsidize welfare checks to non-tax-payers does not stand up to serious scrutiny. The McCain campaign has erected a bogus straw man argument with its claim that Obama has promised "to cut income taxes for 95 percent of Americans."
Obama's Misleading Ad on Medicare
NEITHER candidate should be lying. NEITHER.
UPDATE: 9:44pm, I just saw a revised ad this evening from Obama; now citing (and showing the article from) The New York Times, saying that McCain will cut Medicare benefits. Still, this has been disproven for the most part; so there has to be a better (and more honest) way to get the point across.
UPDATE: 9:44pm, I just saw a revised ad this evening from Obama; now citing (and showing the article from) The New York Times, saying that McCain will cut Medicare benefits. Still, this has been disproven for the most part; so there has to be a better (and more honest) way to get the point across.
Daniel Drezner on Palin and McCain's Own VP Pick
“He was furious. He was pissed. It wasn’t what he wanted.” Another friend disputed this, characterizing McCain’s mood as one of “understanding resignation.”
The Odd Lies of Sarah Palin II
Make of this what you will; I am not giving an opinion, rather passing along something that might be interesting. I think most everyone has wondered/marveled/been impressed/shocked/etc. at the circumstances surrounding "Trig". I'm not pushing a conspiracy theory; but since so many are, it makes fascinating reading, in my opinion.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
A FiveThirtyEight.com reader comments on the Powell news
"Nate,
I have to say that I've had zero respect for Powell ever since the Iraq invasion and his role in it and his equivocating, unsubstantial commentary on that and everything else since then. However, I'm not easily emotional but had tears running down my face today when he spoke of the mother at her son's grave in Arlington. What a shame the Republican party is to demonize and denigrate one's faith. What Powell said today about that would have been enough for me to say he has redeemed himself. He said that and a lot more of course and I'm sure HE is glad that Obama came along to allow him an opportunity to redeem himself in they eyes of many Americans."
REMEMBER THE WARNINGS. IT'S NOT OVER, AND THERE ARE CARDS LEFT TO PLAY.
With McCain refusing to denounce the Robocalls designed to scare voters into believing Senator Obama is a terrorist; and with the "Bradley effect" commentary refusing to die; be prepared for radical attacks that with so little time left in the campaign; will have very little chance for rebuttal. I do believe that the Obama campaign has something big up it's sleeve, still... Obama said a couple of weeks ago; "We don't throw the first punch, but we'll throw the last". I am sure the McCain campaign realizes that they had gone too far; and the ominous tones of the rallies were showing that, clearly. While they've dramatically backed off; the fact that McCain allowed and is now supporting the Robocalls, to the rebuke of Colin Powell this morning. He also spoke eloquently about the Muslim issue specifically.
I want to mention something else, which I will cover more in the coming week. HAVING A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN CONGRESS AND PRESIDENCY is no where near as one sided as the fact that the next President could possibly be replacing two moderate/liberal Supreme Court Justices. The average tenure of a SCOTUS judge has been 16 years in the 1970',s but has grown to 26.1 years. That is a staggering figure. The Supreme Court needs to be balanced, and right now; we have 4 conservatives, 3 liberals, one Bush Sr. appointee (Souter, 1990) that has been fairly moderate-liberal; and one swing voter: Kennedy.
Conservatives will argue against a balance; but that's not something they likely will campaign on; because it can bring the imbalance to the Democrat's attention. The two justices likely to retire soon; Ruth Bader-Ginsberg and John Paul Stevens are 75 and 88, respectively. I know this has been mentioned, but Colin Powell brought it up today with his endorsement, and while "justice is blind", we know Justices, aren't.
UPDATE: HERE IS THE SPEECH OUTSIDE TO THE PRESS; IN SOME WAYS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE ENDORSEMENT ITSELF ON MEET THE PRESS.
I have to say that I've had zero respect for Powell ever since the Iraq invasion and his role in it and his equivocating, unsubstantial commentary on that and everything else since then. However, I'm not easily emotional but had tears running down my face today when he spoke of the mother at her son's grave in Arlington. What a shame the Republican party is to demonize and denigrate one's faith. What Powell said today about that would have been enough for me to say he has redeemed himself. He said that and a lot more of course and I'm sure HE is glad that Obama came along to allow him an opportunity to redeem himself in they eyes of many Americans."
REMEMBER THE WARNINGS. IT'S NOT OVER, AND THERE ARE CARDS LEFT TO PLAY.
With McCain refusing to denounce the Robocalls designed to scare voters into believing Senator Obama is a terrorist; and with the "Bradley effect" commentary refusing to die; be prepared for radical attacks that with so little time left in the campaign; will have very little chance for rebuttal. I do believe that the Obama campaign has something big up it's sleeve, still... Obama said a couple of weeks ago; "We don't throw the first punch, but we'll throw the last". I am sure the McCain campaign realizes that they had gone too far; and the ominous tones of the rallies were showing that, clearly. While they've dramatically backed off; the fact that McCain allowed and is now supporting the Robocalls, to the rebuke of Colin Powell this morning. He also spoke eloquently about the Muslim issue specifically.
I want to mention something else, which I will cover more in the coming week. HAVING A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN CONGRESS AND PRESIDENCY is no where near as one sided as the fact that the next President could possibly be replacing two moderate/liberal Supreme Court Justices. The average tenure of a SCOTUS judge has been 16 years in the 1970',s but has grown to 26.1 years. That is a staggering figure. The Supreme Court needs to be balanced, and right now; we have 4 conservatives, 3 liberals, one Bush Sr. appointee (Souter, 1990) that has been fairly moderate-liberal; and one swing voter: Kennedy.
Conservatives will argue against a balance; but that's not something they likely will campaign on; because it can bring the imbalance to the Democrat's attention. The two justices likely to retire soon; Ruth Bader-Ginsberg and John Paul Stevens are 75 and 88, respectively. I know this has been mentioned, but Colin Powell brought it up today with his endorsement, and while "justice is blind", we know Justices, aren't.
UPDATE: HERE IS THE SPEECH OUTSIDE TO THE PRESS; IN SOME WAYS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE ENDORSEMENT ITSELF ON MEET THE PRESS.
Does The McCain Campaign Believe It's Supporters Are Sexist?
Today, the New York Times reports on the “heavily male” crowds at rallies for Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), where her “stoutest defenders are often the Joe Sixpacks in her crowds.” A few of the men interviewed noted Palin’s physical appeal:
– “Mr. McLain wore a ‘Proud to be voting for a hot chick’ button[.]”
– “Yes, some men come to ogle the candidate, too. ‘She’s beautiful,’ said a man wearing a John Deere T-shirt in Weirs Beach. ‘I came here to look at her,’ he said, and his admiration for Ms. Palin’s appearance became more and more animated. Sheepish over his ogling, he declined to give his real name (’Just call me “John Deere” ‘).”
In September, a McCain campaign ad argued that complimenting Palin on her appearance was “sexist.” Does the McCain campaign believe that these supporters — who are echoing other prominent conservatives — are sexist too?
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