Family Ties, Alaska Style

Faye Palin, Sarah "Who?" Palin's mother-in-law, says in an article in the New York Daily News that she's not certain who she'll vote for, and that she doesn't know what her daughter-in-law "brings to the ticket," or why St. John McAncient selected her as his running mate, other than "she's a woman and a conservative." Ouch!

UPDATE: It looks like the Palin's 17 year-old unmarried daughter Bristol is several months pregnant; wishing her and her baby well, but is that Rethug values?)

(photo: potentially a heartbeat away from being President)

Quotes of the Day

"She's not prepared to be Governor. How can she be prepared to be Vice President or President?" -- Sen. Lyda Green, President of Alaska's State Senate, and a Republican, speaking about Sarah "Who?" Palin.

"She's old enough. She's a U.S. citizen." -- Rep. John Harris, Speaker of Alaska's House of Representatives, and a Republican, when asked about Palin's qualifications.

The Rethug Ticket

Just issued by the McAncient campaign. McAncient better get a pre-nup.

(h/t Rising Hegemon)

Just Wondering. . .

. . .when will McAncient's barbeque mainstream media begin asking Romney, Pawlenty and Giuliani supporters whether they're "bitter" about their candidate not being selected?

WARNING: Holding your breath could be dangerous.

"Putting Country Last"

The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan has a blog item that everyone should read in the aftermath of John McAncient's pick of Sarah "Who?" Palin as VP nominee. Think about McAncient's judgement in selecting someone who was mayor of a town of 8,400 people just 2 years ago to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. The list goes on, but points to one conclusion about McAncient: he's "Putting Country Last."

Also, did the McAncient campaign fail to vet Palin's "Troopergate" scandal? What does that say about his judgement?

(photo: "Thanks, grandpa. Remember to take your medications today. I'm not quite ready for the top job")

AP photo/Sato

Quote of the Week

"We need a president who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney." - - Indiana resident, and former Republican, Barney Smith addressing the DNC crowd Thursday night. As Think Progress notes, the investment firm of Smith Barney raised finances for Enron, and is Gov. Sarah "Who?" Palin's investment advisor.

Sarah Who?

The networks are announcing that Sen. St. John McSame has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah (Who?) Palin as his VP running mate. Clearly, the old guy wants America's women to think he's on their side with this pick, despite the fact that McSame is opposed to equal pay for equal work and so many other issues affecting women. Thinking that he'll pick up disaffected Hillary voters with his anti-women record is strange, and an insult to women who are paying attention to the issues.

Palin's been governor of Alaska since December 2006, and before that she was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 8,400). So McBombbombbomb thinks she's ready to be President? Strange that he "passed over" more highly qualified women, such as Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, or Sen. Elizabeth Dole. It's not clear how Who? is uniquely qualified as VP, or worst case, as President. She also has said she wasn't sure what the VP did and that the VP job isn't "productive" (see Al Gore). Great preparation!

The media will be busy trying to find some substance on Who? over the next few days, and we're sure they'll do their best to be "fair and balanced" by pointing out that McSame picked a woman, and Obama didn't.

The Speech

What a historic moment. So many memorable phrases, such vivid images and, above all, a winning attitude from Sen. Obama that got the 84,000 people gathered at Invesco Field up on their feet and cheering. He laid into McSame ("He doesn't get it. . . .I'm not ready to take a 10% chance on change") but also laid out his program in more detail, and made clear that middle class Americans can identify with his background and can trust him to champion their interests. Some Rethug operatives were stunned and worried; one of them text messaged to an on-air pundit, "Houston, we've got a problem." Many were downplaying next week's St. Paul convention, realizing that its chances of equalling the Democratic Convention were slim to none.

"Let's not make a big election about small things" was the way Sen. Obama capsulized where he wants to take his campaign. Last night was big.

(photo: Time Magazine)

"Dr. King's Dream Is Now A Reality"

The Onion has the story on why Sen. Barack Obama being called an "elitist" and a "snob" is a step forward for African-Americans.

Bonus: check out Bill Maher's ad at the end of the video clip.

Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

The wingnut Wurlitzer has been tooting out a little song in the past day or so about the use of Greek columns in the background at tonight's Obama acceptance speech at Denver's Invesco Field. You know, the elitist, presumptuous Sen. Obama song. They're holding their tiny hands to their mouths and snickering.

Well, it looks like Dumbya beat Obama to the punch, when he had his own Acropolis going for him at his 2004 convention. Take a look. You know the saying, "People who live in glass mansions that they can't count shouldn't throw turds," and all that.

Don't be surprised if McIwasapow goes with a reconstruction of the "Hanoi Hilton" as his backdrop.

Temper, Temper!

Read this interview of St. John McNasty by Time Magazine. Either he's off his meds, or he's one angry old guy. Silence on some questions. Brusque replies (or non replies) on many others.

He has a reputation in the Senate for having a nasty, quick temper (ask Rethug Senators Charles Grassley, whom he shoved one time, and Thad Cochran, who said McNasty "scares me."). We're betting before the campaign is over, there will be a big "anger incident" that, if the mainstream media chooses to stop protecting their barbeque buddy, we'll all get to see.

Night #3

Speeches by President Clinton, Sen. John Kerry, and VP candidate Joe Biden capped an exciting day that saw Sen. Hillary Clinton step to the microphone and call for the nomination of Barack Obama by acclamation to thunderous cheers. That was a truly riveting moment that should stop the "Obama - Clinton rift" story line in the mainstream media. . . for an hour or so. Other nice touches were the video tributes to the Armed Forces and the poignant, heartfelt introduction given for Sen. Biden by his son, who is about to ship off to Iraq.

All of the speeches did a good job of spotlighting St. John McHowmanyhomes' positions that would ensure another 4 years of Dumbya's disastrous economic, social and foreign policy direction. Voting 90 percent of the time with the Chimpster doesn't make you a "maverick" (as Sen. Casey said Tuesday) it makes you a "sidekick."

Rethugs Muffle Far-Right Platform

As one might expect from a collection of frauds, hypocrites and liars, the Republican platform committee is feverishly tamping down the radical right provisions some in the party wanted included in the 2008 RNC platform. Cynics with an eye toward fooling, er, attracting moderate swing voters to St. John McMaverick succeeded in eliminating proposals that would have called for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and another that would have denied citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. The flat-earthers still prevailed in getting language removed that linked global warming to carbon emissions (nice work, geniuses!).

(Photo: some of the fine "planks" being squeezed out of the RNC platform committee; don't forget to flush!)

Quotes of the Week - Denver Edition

"A woman voting for John McCain would be like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders." Cecile Richards (daughter of Ann), President of Planned Parenthood.

And in a related quote:

"Oh, it's the Hillary dumbasses. I'd best get out of here before I get to fighting." Anonymous woman upon seeing a clutch of "PUMAs" (Party Unity My Ass) approach her bench outside the convention hall (h/t to Balloon Juice).

Showing McSame Some Love

No fewer than nine Rethug Senators are skipping McSame's convention in St. Paul next week. Some of the nine are retiring, and the others are up for reelection and don't want their names associated with McSame and the Bushit Assministration apparently.

Now, if the mainstream media was looking for a "rift" in the Rethug ranks, there seems to be a big one among McSame's own Senate colleagues who don't want to be seen with him.

McSame's VP Roll Out

We saw this item in Politico noting John McMoneybags plans to roll out his vice presidential pick in three events later this week. The first event is at a Dayton, Ohio basketball arena, the second at a minor league ballpark southwest of Pittsburgh, and the third a another minor league ballpark in O'Fallon, Missouri.

Wow, all those minor league venues. Must be planning a minor league pick for VP.

Does Everyone Know. . .

. . .that St. John McBush was a prisoner of war? We hadn't heard, since he's apparently so reluctant to talk about it.

"No Way, No How, No McCain"

Sen. Clinton's speech before the Democratic National Convention was everything Sen. Obama could have hoped for, and maybe more. It was a stirring and genuine call to unite behind the Obama/Biden ticket, and for her supporters to think about what another 4 years of a Rethug White House would mean to their causes. At one point, she asked, "were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible." Well said.

St. John McManymansions came in for some well-deserved smacks from Sen. Clinton, who said at one point "it makes sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities, because these days they're awfully hard to tell apart." Of course, that hasn't stopped the McSame folks from shedding crocodile tears over "Hillary being passed over for VP" and other whoppers from the Rethug crowd that hates her guts but wants her supporters.

Sen. Clinton's speech was certainly the high point of the past two days. Mark Warner's keynote address wasn't particularly inspiring, but then he knew the night belonged to Clinton. The speaker who surprised the crowd was Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who spoke about energy issues, and whose bouncy enthusiasm and Rodney Dangerfield naturalness charmed the delegates, who gave Schweitzer a standing ovation (unlike Warner). He had a line about if you drilled for oil in all of McSame's backyards, even the ones he doesn't know about, you still wouldn't have energy independence. Heh heh heh, the crowd loved it.

(photo: Getty Images)

Keeping Up With The McBushes

We can't let our favorite mega-millionaires, the humble (P.O.W.!) McBushes get lost during the Democratic Convention, now can we?! On the "Tonight Show" last night, St. John (P.O.W.!) was asked by Leno "For $1 million, how many houses do you have?" St. John (P.O.W.!) immediately went to the noun - verb- P.O.W.- riff for the gazillionth time. The expiration date on trading on your P.O.W.! experience to cover any and all embarrassments is now officially past.

Meanwhile, suds heiress wife Cindy is on her way to Georgia -- yes, the country, not the state -- to meet with President Saakashvili. Presumptuous? Not the (P.O.W.!) McBushes! She's probably looking for another house.

Possible Assassination Plot Foiled

Police in the Denver suburb of Aurora yesterday made a routine traffic stop, and discovered a sniper rifle and methamphetamine in the car. They also found that the driver and his associates wanted to shoot Sen. Obama during the convention, according to a statment that one of them made.

The alleged conspirators, looking like extras from Deliverance, had some Nazi and white supremacist literature (which they may be unable to read). Federal and state authorities are continuing to investigate. Right wing hate radio fuels this insanity, as do parents who pass along their bigotry to their children.

(photo: Products of excessive in-breeding)

First Night

Last night at the Democratic National Convention, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama were up to bat, and both hit home runs. Kennedy provided the emotional charge for the evening, who continues to pass the Kennedy mantle to Obama: "The work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on." (Shakesville has all the videos, if you're so inclined.)

What can you say about Michelle Obama, the Obama children and the interplay with their dad? By all measures, her speech was a smash, honest and personal, portraying the real person rather than the caricature the wingnuts and their media handmaidens have tried to paint.

Speaking of which, as usual, the numbnut cable tools were trying to generate buzz about the Obama- Clinton dynamic. Cooler heads like NBC/ MSNBC's Chuck Todd were cautioning that in a week or so, he doubted anyone would think that was "the story" coming out of the convention. That wouldn't stop the Fux Folks, Fux-Lite (CNN's Wolfie Blitzer and the "Best Team of Hacks on Teevee") from energetically pushing the meme. We wonder if they will be equally interested when the Rethug convention rolls around next week. As Daily Kos notes today, the Rethugs have issues of their own.

Why Do We Love Paul Krugman?

If you read nothing else during the election season, read this masterful summary, then you'll know why we love Paul Krugman.

Here's Your Hat, What's Your Hurry?

Despite the attempts by neocon supporters of the Bushit Assministration to keep changing the terminology, the Iraqi government clearly means a date-certain for U.S. troop withdrawal by the end of 2011, not a "aspirational" goal or whatever the latest weasel wording the Bushies use. For Prime Minister Maliki, "out" means "out."

Now watch for the phrase "conditions on the ground" to be the new mantra that is repeated endlessly by McSame and the neocon world to try to fudge the pull out terms. They've had the rug pulled out from under them, after suggesting that people supporting a timetable for withdrawal were "appeasers," and now they're tap dancing to avoid looking like morons.

Too late.

McBush, Still A Prisoner

It's pretty obvious that the McBush campaign thinks they've latched on to a "magic bullet" to stifle any and all criticism of their candidate. It involves invoking the fact that McBush was a prisoner of war, and it's being used with increasing frequency in the most self-righteous and blatant way. It's becoming "noun, verb, POW" in every McBush argument or response, much like Rudi Tooty used 9/11 in every sentence during his awesome campaign. At some point very soon, people will begin to roll their eyes and ask themselves, "what gives McBush the idea that he gets a permanent pass on everything because he was a POW?" Arrogance, maybe?

"Griff" Jenkins, Ace Fox News Reporter

Wonkette has this priceless moment in Fux News history, featuring ace reporter "Griff"(you can't make this stuff up... oh, wait, it's Fux, so yes you can!) Jenkins. "Griff," who's apparently SHOCKED to find out the protesters outside the Denver convention hall aren't Obama supporters, gets to hear some chanting that includes words he hasn't heard since his college days at his frat house, Tappa Kegga Beer.

Wanker of the Week

We stumbled onto George Steponaflagpinopolous' teevee gig today to see how the punditz would assess the Obama-Biden ticket, and other stuff. First of all, aside from Donna Brazile, has there ever been such a collection of mutts in one place? You had the Georgies (Prissy & Teeny), Obama vacation adviser Okie Dokey Cokie, and finally, our Wanker of the Week, Mark Halperin. Balloon Juice beat us to the punch in awarding Halperin their own special award, and for capturing how Halperin just can't hide his love of all things McBush (P.O.W.!), including his four/ seven/ ten (but who's counting) homes. Move aside, Matt Drudge! Now it's McBush (P.O.W.!) who rules Mark's world!

Obama-Biden

So it's Obama-Biden in 2008. Sen. Biden seemed to be the consensus VP candidate for the past week or so, and he's a solid choice. Foreign policy expertise, working class background, Catholic, tough debater. All of which should help Sen. Obama, particularly among blue collar ethnic voters in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Keeping our fingers crossed.

The next shoe to drop is how Sen. Clinton's supporters react during and after next week's convention in Denver. Some diehard nutballs (and possible Rethug infiltrators - - remember Limpballs' "Operation Chaos") will be out in force in Denver, jumping in front of every news camera and shouting "we wuz robbed." But that was almost inevitable. Bill Clinton's post-White House financial dealings, in addition to the image of a Clinton restoration in a "change" election, was rumored to be the deal breaker for Hillary's place on the ticket. Plus the miles of video tape of her putting Obama down during the primaries wouldn't have helped matters.

Same You Can Believe In

Great Tom Toles cartoon in yesterday's WaPo (one of the few reasons for reading it anymore).

Timetables? Oh Yeah, Those Timetables

The NY Times reports that a draft agreement has been reached that would remove our troops from Iraqi cities by June 2009 and from the rest of Iraq by 2011. Just recently, the Bushit Assministration and McSame were saying that setting a timetable for withdrawal was tantamount to calling for "defeat." That was before Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki broke ranks and said Sen. Obama's timetable of 16 months was about right. Then, McSame questioned Sen. Obama's loyalty by saying that he'd rather win a campaign than "victory" in Iraq. So while it looks like this game is up for McSame, undoubtedly he'll keep yammering about the surge and how wise he was. But how wise was he to approve a diversion of our forces to invade Iraq on a wild goose chase when the job against al Qaeda remains unfinished in an increasingly dangerous Afghanistan?

I'm Doing Just Fine

Via a mention in Eschaton, it's worth noting that the McMoneybags pay $270,000 for housekeeping on their multiple million dollar plus homes. That should get the attention of every middle class voter having a problem meeting their mortgage payments. Not only have they accumulated lots of homes (4 of which are "residences"), but they can't manage to keep the homes tidy without lots of help. We're sure the average family in Missouri, etc. can relate to that. Extravagant? Elitist? Out of touch? Of course not, his handlers say. And how dare you suggest it, because St. John McMoneybags (wait for it). . . .was a POW!

Polling Demographics

Looking at the recent polls have given at least one Hackwhacker the "freakies". However, our Tokyo Bureau Chief Brian has some additional polling demographics that it behooves us to study.

Feeling A Draft?

As noted on Think Progress and on MSNBC's Countdown last night, during a campaign appearance in New Mexico, St. John McBombbombbomb responded to an audience member's statement that we can't keep recycling our military forces without reinstating the draft. McBombbombbomb's response? "I don't disagree with anything you said."

Well now.

Reinstating the draft. Let's see how fast the mainstream media and talking heads on cable pick up that little bombshell. (UPDATE: It looks like our broken press will bury this story, too.) We suppose it's in keeping with McBombbombbomb's philosophy of endless war that we'll need generation after generation to fight in Iraq, Iran, Russia, Syria, Lebanon, and 78 other countries that right wing neocons perceive as a "threat." As to following bin Laden "to the gates of hell", McBombbombbomb rarely focuses on Afghanistan, and criticized Obama for endorsing strikes in Pakistan against bin Laden if we have actionable intelligence. "Gates of Hell" means in this case wherever McBombbombbomb and his neocons want to push some Muslims around.

McBush Has Too Many Homes To Count

Politico is reporting St. John has lost count of how many homes he and wife #2 suds heiress Cindy have. It's tough being a mega-millionaire these days!

(Photo: McBush contemplating his $520 Ferragamo loafers and the unfairness of only having 8 (or is it 10?) homes. It's that darn elitist Obama's fault!)

The Ticket: Obama/ ?

W. Hackwhacker is pleased to announce his waaaay- out- on- a- limb, contrary- to- Village- Think pick for Obama's running mate: Joe Biden... no. Evan Bayh... no. Tim Kaine... no. Wesley Clark... maybe, but no. Kathleen Sebelius... getting warmer, but no. W. Hackwhacker (the younger, smarter and more attractive Hackwhacker, by the way) says... Hillary.

You saw it here first. Unless it's someone else, and then, as with the post immediately following, this will automatically self-destruct.

UPDATE: The estimable fivethirtyeight says what we're thinking.

Hit By GOP Stupid Stick, Public Responds

(This post will self-destruct in the event of an Obama rebound in the polls.)

Well, it looks like the smear campaign waged all summer by St. John McBush, combined with a Kerryesque refusal to respond in kind, has led to Sen. Obama falling behind in the polls. Buttressing this, Reuters/Zogby has a poll showing McBush leading nationally by 5%. Robert Arena over at Americablog has a fine analysis.

Here's my abbreviated "analysis": Although the Obama campaign has been saying all summer they would not let McBush's campaign define their candidate in the same way Turdblossom and the (not-so) Swift Boaters defined President Kerry in 2004, they've let it happen anyway. To them, it's been all about running a "different kind of campaign" that appeals to the intelligence and desire for change in the American public. Well, after 2 months of "celebrity- Britney- Paris- presumptuous- elitist- tax- unpatriotic- he's a secret Muslim" nonsense, the same American public that's just started tuning into the campaign has absorbed what the Rethugs wanted them to absorb (with a major assist by the "mainstream media"). Meanwhile, Adlai... er Barack's high-toned, front-runner campaign has responded all-too-late, and still not at the emotional, personal level it will take to bring this phony plutocrat and his hypocritical party down.

Come on!! We need a gut-fighter to take on these SOBs, for God's sake! Give us one!


(Image: Average low-information voter Cletus Spuckler, siding with a man the teevee ads say he can relate to: that would be mega-millionaire, tax breaks for Big Oil, 4 more years of economic war on the middle class, etc., McBush!!)

The "Smear Gap"

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter has a rundown of the McSame smear campaign, and how the phony claims made in McSame's dishonest campaign ads and their smears on Sen. Obama's character and patriotism are starting to add up. Not the "respectful" campaign McSame talked about conducting a couple of months ago. Desperation and being behind in the polls does that, along with hiring proteges of Turdblossom Rove (Steve "Herr" Schmidt) to run your campaign.

Alter makes the point that mainstream media won't point out that McSame is running a much dirtier campaign than Obama because they live in absolute fear of being accused of "bias." So with every 10 misrepresentations (and smears) that McSame is caught on, the media finds one misrepresentation from Obama and says both campaigns are "going negative." That's the game they're playing.

Some Good News

Good news that Rachel Maddow is getting her own hour on MSNBC, starting September 8. Maddow takes over the time slot from Dan Abrams, who's not bad, and will hopefully get another gig (wish Abrams would bump the smirking David "May I Have This Dance" Gregory, who would be more at home working for a tabloid).

Just Like Bush

CNN's Jack Cafferty, one of the few reasons to tune in CNN, has some thoughts on Dumbya and McSame in his web blog that are worth reading. He's come to the conclusion that those two are more alike in more ways than one.

Quote of the Day

"Less traditional choices mentioned include. . .Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential prick in 2000 who is now an independent." - - AP wire story by Nedra Pickler about McSame's VP choices (boldface added). Via Atrios.

Finally AP gets one right, if only by typo.

McBush Saddleback Roundup

Crooks and Liars has a good roundup of this weekend's "cone of silence" kerfuffle at Rick Warren's Brokeback -- er, wrong apse -- Saddleback Church event featuring separate, but supposedly equal, questioning of Sen. Obama and St. John Cross in the Sand. What really puts the cherry on this is Chinless Wonder Rick Davis (McBush's campaign manager and mega-lobbyist) putting the heat on NBC for daring to suggest the old fart wasn't in the "cone of silence" during Obama's questioning - thereby giving McBush a preview of the questions he'd be asked. Why that would be cheating, and we all know Rethugs don't cheat!

(Photo: visual proof that St. John Cross in the Sand was in the "cone of silence.")

Michael Phelps

Highest kudos to Olympic multi-gold winner Michael Phelps!! In addition to winning his historic eighth gold in this Olympics, Phelps set new world records in seven of those eight events. We have to give a lot of credit to Michael, of course, his mother and sisters, but would like to note he's from the Baltimore area and briefly attended (and trained at) the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!). With all that going for you, how could you not win?!

McSame's "Gut"

Interesting article in today's New York Times which illustrates how a Preznit McSame might react in future crises. His reaction in the days and weeks following 9/11? Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb. . .uh Iraq, Syria, and Iran. His "gut" instinct was to take the fight far beyond the attackers - - al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. McSame lashed out before determining whether they had any responsibility for 9/11, and without planning for the repercussions after dropping bombs all over the Muslim world.

In the most recent conflict between Russia and Georgia, McSame was more bellicose than Dumbya and the Pentagon, whose forces are stretched beyond the limit. And some people want this guy with his finger on the nuclear trigger for the next four years?

The Smear Machine

Extreme right-wing crackpot Jerome "Not So Swift Boat" Corsi has hit the bookstands with his noxious, evil screed "Obama Nation." Mary Matalin's group in Simon & Schuster published it to their everlasting discredit, and it catapulted to the top of the NYT bestseller list, albeit with a "dagger" indicating the sales were essentially bulk orders from wingnut organizations intent on distributing it (we'll take a copy - for the outhouse). The WaPo editorializes that it's "rife with inaccuracies and innuendo." Eugene Robinson calls it what it is: "a volume of vitriol." We'd be less polite: it's vile shit.

Needless to say, the wingnut world is flogging it to death (Obergruppenfuhrer Sean Hannity has had the turd on both his radio and teevee shows, for example). We wonder if these fellow travelers know Corsi has called Pope John Paul II "senile" and said pedophilia is "OK with the Pope as long as it isn't reported by the liberal press."

Republicans and independents, take note. This is who and what the Republican Party is made up of these days.

(Photo: Not So Swift Boat Corsi, wingnut hero and scourge of Obama and the Pope.)

Look Who's Being Presumptuous

Sen. John McSame has announced that he's "sending" Sens. Joe Lieberloser (Likud-CT) and Lindsey "Cracker" Graham (Rethug-SC) to Georgia on a "fact-finding mission." It appears that McSame thinks he has his own State Department and foreign policy. He apparently, at least until recently, spoke to Georgian President Saakashvili daily (OK, McSame's policy advisor, lobbyist for Georgia Randy Scheunemann was probably paid by Georgia to put the calls through). How about one disastrous Preznit at a time?

After weeks of mindless Beltway pundits wondering if Sen. Obama was being "presumptuous" during his trip to the Middle East and Europe, the question is would Sen. Obama be getting the same pass from the mainstream media as McSame is if he had dispatched his lieutenants to Georgia in the middle of tense negotiations? Of course not. He'd be labeled as "presumptuous" and probably worse.

News Item

U.S. troops stationed abroad are contributing to Sen. Obama's campaign in a ratio of 6 to 1 over Sen. John McMorewar's campaign - - $60,642 vs. $10,665. If McMorewar gets elected, they'll also have the opportunity of serving in future wars involving Iran and Russia.

Quote of the Day

"In the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." - - Sen. St. John McBombbombbomb, commenting on the Russian invasion of Georgia. Hey, maybe he doesn't think Iraq was a nation.

Attracted To Sucking Something Other Than Cigars?

Far right radio blowhard Rush "Pills" Limpballs is not known for his decency. The other day he started a riff about John "Hair" Edwards' affair. Fine. Hair is fair game. Then, as he almost always does, Limpballs ventured into the sick world that his show regularly occupies. He said Elizabeth Edwards was considered to be the smarter of the two, and that she must have been giving him policy advice throughout his campaign. Then Limpballs said, "Edwards might be attracted to a woman whose mouth did something other than talk." Har har. So it's largely Elizabeth's fault, according to thrice-married Limpballs. One can grasp that the right wing is concerned that her voice for universal health care and poverty issues not be allowed to continue, but to hear this depraved creep talk crap about her is nauseating.

Limpballs, of course, was busted a few years ago for illegally possessing Oxycontin, to which he was addicted. He was also detained returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic (which is a major "sex tour" destination for pervs seeking underage girls and boys) for possessing a bottle of Viagra which was not prescribed to him. So sex for Limpballs requires pesos and pills. Must frustrate the little pig.

Gunman Kills Arkansas Democratic Chairman

Bill Gwatney, chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party, was shot dead today by a gunman at the party headquarters in Little Rock. We hope it isn't one of these again. Our condolences to his family and friends.

McBush's Georgia Troubles

The recent conflict between Russia and Georgia opened the door for St. John McBush to show strong, moral leadership on foreign policy and national security... or so he thought. Seems McBush's armchair saber-rattling was noticed by Georgian President Saakashvili, who immediately called McBush's bluff.

Responding to McBush's "We're all Georgians today" puffery, Saakashvili said, "Well, very nice, you know, very cheering for us to hear that, but OK, it's time to pass from this. From words to deeds." This is an understandable response to a cynical politician attempting to grandstand a tragic situation for his own limited purposes. In fact, an even more direct, appropriate response might have been, "Sen. McBush, unless you're parachuting in with the 101st Fightin' Keyboarders, STFU!"

What is also complicating the issue for Generalissimo McBush is the fact that his top foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, has been getting paid by the government of Georgia to lobby on its behalf (Herr Scheunemann: "Psst, Sen. McBush... It would be really a good idea for you to talk tough to the Russians! Don't worry, no one will call our bluff!").

These are the national security "geniuses" that the media has built up, and a large segment of the population has bought into, as better able to lead American foreign policy!

Department of Hypocrisy

". . .one candidate, John McCain, who has always put country first. . .and one candidate who has not." - - Joe Lieberloser (Likud-CT), speaking at a McSame event, saying that Sen. Obama has not always put his country first. This from a guy whose foreign policy outlook is identical to Israel's Likud Party, and who never misses an opportunity to vigorously push Israel's interests.

Rethugs Mount Voter Suppression Operation

We're shocked! Shocked! Rethug officials and McBush campaign operatives are launching an effort to combat voting...no, they mean, uh, voter fraud in the upcoming election. Otherwise known as "voter suppression," the Rethug efforts are a cyclical (and cynical) event every 4 years. Now, they're particularly worried about the surge in Democratic registration in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Virginia. (Rethugs: Be worried. Be very worried.)

Olympic Gold

"Ahm OK, I jes had a few more *hic* drinks than I shoulda"



"Hey, look I peed in mah pants *hic*. Ahm feelin' gooooood!"

Making us proud on the international scene.

David Gregory, Turdblossom's BFF

Why is it that whenever we see NBC/MSNBC's David Gregory, we picture him running around the track at Pimlico and then chowing down to some oats? Hmmm. Anyway, on Friday, Seabiscuit -er, Gregory - tried his best to link Obama and Democrats to the John Edwards affair. Media Matters has the evidence.

That's one more reason why every time we see him on teevee, Gregory is someone we "struggle to overcome."

(Photo: AFP/Getty Images - David "Giddyup" Gregory, at left, gettin' down with his buddy DJ Karl "Turdlossom" Rove)

"The Caucasian Card"

Newsweek's Anna Quindlen has an article on the "race card" issue that's well worth reading. Without summarizing it here, the term "playing the race card" has been used as a perjorative to indicate that an African American is using his or her race to obtain an advantage in an argument, etc. The "Caucasian Card," which is what Quindlen says McSame and his handlers have been playing, is the flip side. It's a perceptive article.

"He Must Have Been Letting Lieberman Drive Again"

Last Wednesday, the campaign bus of St. John McBush (aka "Mavericky"), ironically named the "Straight Talk Express," hit a van (thankfully, there were no injuries). Our pals at The Onion had public reaction to the incident.

(h/t to Tokyo Bureau Chief Brian)

Monday Media Hangover

It ususally takes us a day to recover from Sunday's gab fests in which our esteemed Beltway punditocracy expound on what they think are major issues (Edwards' affair, is Obama "arrogant," are Bill and Hillary still mad, McSame's a great guy, etc. etc.). They typically frame these discussions as "what Americans are talking about" when it's really all about what fellow Villagers - - media elite in DC - - spend their time gossiping about. The credit and housing crises and gasoline prices don't touch their lives or huge incomes.

Take for example Cokie "Okie Dokie" Roberts. She's Village royalty, having both a political (father was former Louisiana congressman Hale Boggs) and a media pedigree. In her appearance on ABC's This Week, she said that Sen. Obama shouldn't have picked Hawaii as his vacation spot (despite the fact that his grandmother is there, and he lived there for some time): "too exotic" she thinks. Better that he go to Myrtle Beach, SC, according to her. Actually, Okie Dokie should leave her Village bubble and journey to Kansas, or Georgia, or Connecticut and talk to real people with real problems, and not worry so much about where Obama goes on vacation. Her appearances on Sunday talk shows might improve, but don't bet on it.

(photo: Okie Dokie discussing Village chatter about John Edwards' "endowment")

Dumbya's Great Adventure

With the mounting conflict threatening to break into all out war between Russia and Georgia, it's good to know that Dumbya is enjoying "mixing" with the women's beach volleyball team in Beijing. Not that his involvement would be welcomed by the international community. They'd prefer that he stay where he is.

(photo: Bush: "Oh, OK Vladimir. I understand now. I thought you invaded our Georgia. I gotta go meet our women's volleyball team")

Barack/Rick Rolling Along

Every so often, a blog site will link to an article, etc., and when the person clicks on the link, up comes a video of Rick Astley, '80s pop singer, instead of the article. When that happens, you've been "Rickrolled," a bait and switch game popular on the internet tubes.

Here's a cute video that combines that concept with footage of Obama and Astley (seriously).

Sen. McBush, You Have A Package From Abdullah

Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic asks whether the press would ignore it if Sen. Obama had received campaign contributions through an alleged war profiteer in Jordan from a family named Abdullah. Well, McBush did. And what is our esteemed media doing? Digging into the source of the contribution? No, they're busy psychoanalyzing John Edwards' affair and sniffing for further evidence of illicit semen.

Were the contributions given to Sen. Obama, you can be sure that the mainstream media would be in high gear, the wingnut blogosphere would be up in arms, and Fux News would be having round the clock coverage with helicoptors hovering over Obama. But since it's media favorite McMaverick, well: let's move on, nothing to see here.

(photo: "Just put the package over by my Ferragamo shoes")

Bernie Mac, RIP

This is off our usual topics, but it's sad to see that comedian Bernie Mac passed away from complications from pneumonia at the age of 50. A funny, edgy guy.

Buh-Bye

What a deep disappointment this is. John "Hair" Edwards finally admitted to having an affair with film maker Rielle Hunter after months of lying about it to the public. His wife Elizabeth had to deal with that in addition to fighting off cancer. Well done, Hair. Now go.

Cheney Attending Rethug Convention

This should be good. His approval ratings are in the teens. Maybe they'll put him on in the 2 a.m. slot, right before Senators Larry "The Tapper" Craig and Ted "The Crook" Stevens. Hope we see Dead Eye in prime time with his arm around McBush.

A Random Thought. . .

With all of the election focus on energy issues and foreign policy, it's odd that one name hasn't cropped up on the Democratic VP "short list" that the TV bobbleheads are endlessly yakking about: Gov. Bill Richardson, former Energy Secretary, UN Ambassador, congressman, and popular Hispanic governor of a western state. Yes, the Clinton camp despises him for his "treason" during the primaries (but they'll dislike almost anyone other than Hillary for VP), and the Governor allegedly has a eye for the ladies. But the fact that he's not being mentioned is, again, odd considering the issues surfacing.

Inflation Woes

McBush was against it before he was for it. Yeah, that backfired on McBush, when everyone scratched their heads and wondered why McBush was mocking what everyone knows to be true.

The gaffes continue almost daily, but the mainstream media isn't really playing as long as St. John McBush makes them. They're also giving McBush a pass when it comes to his campaign's negative ads ("he must not know what his campaign is doing"), which is a great recommendation for the job of President.

(photo: the tires on the "Straight Talk Express" have sprung a leak)

"Whiplash"

"Daily Kos" reflects today on a recent Pew (P.U.?) poll showing about 48% of Americans feel they're hearing too much about Sen. Obama. (The poll, of course, doesn't break this down as to if people are tired of hearing the negative attacks on Obama vs. general information overload). Hackwhackers wonders, too, how this comports with the earlier thirst (perhaps media-driven) to find out more about "Sen. Obama, Man of Mystery." Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

(Photo: One of the Pew Poll's sample voters.)

An Infamous Anniversary

As Think Progress notes, it was seven years ago today that Preznit Dumbya received the "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." briefing memorandum while on vacation at his fake Crawford, TX ranch. A little more than a month later, al Qaeda struck the U.S.

Since then, it's been revealed (Richard Clarke, Scot McClellan, Bob Woodward, etc.) that Dumbya and Dead Eye Dick had Iraq on their minds - - and in their sights - - since shortly after Dumbya's inauguration in January 2001. Little wonder that this threat was ignored, when they were so busy focusing on bringing down Saddam Hussein, the guy that "tried to kill my dad" as Dumbya put it in 2002.

(photo: Dumbya showing his respect for the flag and 9-11 victims)

The Newest Candidate

This video has been getting a lot of air time on cable TV news, so why not share it here, too? It's a funny rejoinder to McSame's use of her image in the anti-Obama ad.

We love her reference to the "wrinkly white-haired dude."

News Item

Gasoline prices have fallen for 20 straight days.

Must be that new offshore drilling.

Bombshell Book

There's been a lot of cable TV coverage today for Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ron Suskind's new book, "The Way of the World." In it, Suskind says that CIA officials told him that Bushit ordered the CIA to forge a letter from Saddam Hussein's head of intelligence to Hussein that indicated Iraq's links to al Qaeda. Moreover, the book reveals that Bushit was told that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction before the invasion, but wanted to go ahead.

We can't wait to see if the mainstream media treats these revelations as just a two-day story. It's incredible that, with the documentation in this and earlier accounts, the outright lies in the lead-up to the Iraq war haven't blown the top off of this Assministration.

How True

Sen. Barack Obama today on Republicans:

"They're very good at negative campaigning. They're not so good at governing."

Of course, with the ever-willing "main stream media" available to keep its thumb on the scale for the Rethugs.

Ridin' Dirty

A guest speaker at yesterday's Buffalo Chip motorcycle rally and skank fest in Sturgis, SD was none other than Sen. John McEasyrider. The annual rally has more beer bellies, grease and tatooed girls in one place than anywhere else in the country (prisons excluded). The low hanging clouds were later identified as smoke from marijuana joints. McEasyrider must have been there to discuss his generous tax policy for upper income families.

No word on whether McEasyrider was wearing his Italian loafers while avoiding the buffalo chips.

BONUS: Who knew McEasyrider was so generous with his wife?

Dem Registration Up, Rethugs... Not So Much

Karl "Turdblossom" Rove's grand dream (nightmare?) of a permanent Rethug majority is slipping away fast. According to recent statistics, Democratic registration is up nationwide, and Rethug registration is down significantly. Now, if we can just get those new Democrats to the polls in November...

Milbank KO'd from MSNBC

WaPo columnist Dana "Snark" Milbank has moved over to a principle-free zone (CNN/Fox Lite) from MSNBC. Milbank, whose jaded views are solidly in line with the Rethug and mainstream media ethos, had been kept off the air on MSNBC (where he appeared regularly on "Countdown") after he refused to clarify a recent column in which he cropped an Obama quotation in order to make it adhere to the Rethug meme that Obama is an egomaniac with messianic tendencies. (Come on! We all know Milbank's the only one who's allowed to be that!)

On "Countdown" last night, Keith Olbermann referenced this episode and announced Milbank was moving on. As regular readers of the WaPo know, Milbank is neither a progressive nor a conservative, but merely a self-absorbed twit. Now he can play with all the other self-absorbed twits on CNN/Fox Lite. Good riddance.

Hah! and Heh

Sen. Obama unveiled a detailed energy plan today in Michigan. (Go Blue!) If you're not inclined to read it all, The Carpetbagger Report has a red meat excerpt that, hopefully, is the start of an offensive against the issue-free zone that is the McBush campaign (another example, if one is needed: the McBushies have taken to handing out tire pressure gauges at Obama rallies - get it? That's supposed to be the Obama energy policy, making sure your tires are fully inflated! Heh!)

Well, if we're going the puerile route, might we suggest a hand-out for McBush rallies? A check from U.S. Taxpayer made out to Big Oil in the amount of $4 billion for tax breaks, signed John McCain. That's his energy policy!

Say, Aren't Those $520 Ferragamo Shoes?

Why yes, they are! They're $520 Italian Ferragamo "Pregiato moccasins", to be exact.

Since non-elitist, man-of-the-people, straight-talking, barbeque-cookin' John McMoneybags wears them, you should, too!

(h/t to Huffingtonpost)

Quote of the Day

"Republicans are staying in Washington to argue that Big Oil deserves more taxpayer lands. Republicans must think Big Oil is paying them by the hour." - - Drew Hammell, press spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, commenting on the House Republicans' stunt to remain in town beyond last Friday's August recess to stage phony sessions on "gas prices."

UPDATE: John Cole wonders if anyone in our stellar media will notice that in the first four months of the year 1.6 million barrels of oil per day were being exported by U.S. oil companies. *crickets chirping*

In Big Oil's Pocket

The Obama campaign unveiled a new ad pointing to the $2 million in contributions that McBush has received from Big Oil. It also reminds people that there would be little or no difference between a McBush presidency and a third Bushit term.

Some of the talking heads on last weekend's gab fests indicated that the Obama campaign would start hitting back hard at McBush after his negative ads last week. The sooner and the harder the better.

McBush's "Dick Move of the Week"

"The Daily Show" had a wonderful riposte a few days ago to the recent asinine McBush ads and the notion McBush and his "base" (the media) want to insinuate in the public's mind": that Obama is the dreamy, ungrounded one. They awarded McBush "Dick Move of the Week." You'll see some of our "favorite" Media McBushies in the clips. If only the Obama campaign could buy this and run it nationally for a month...

(h/t to Crooks and Liars)

"No Barbeque For You!"

Eugene Robinson has a great op-ed piece in the WaPo this morning. It skewers St. John McSame for his negative, desperate turn in the campaign. Now Robinson won't be invited to McSame's next media barbeque party.

As we've seen courtesy of free media coverage, McSame's latest weird ad mixes shots of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton with shots of Sen. Obama's appearance in Berlin. Message: Obama's just a "celebrity," not a leader. Like McSame . . .who will lead us into a third war, without finishing the two we're already in. Sing it, St. John: "Bomb, bomb, bomb. . .bomb, bomb Iran"

Serious leadership: McSame.

Figures

A convergence of bad economic figures over the past 24 hours:

1. GM loses $15.5 billion in the past quarter, as consumers turn away from gas-guzzlers.

2. The unemployment rate hits 5.7%, the highest in 4 years, as employers trim jobs for the seventh consecutive month.

Well, it's not bad everywhere:

Exxon posts a record $11.7 billion in profits in the past quarter.

And St. John McBush's take? Open up millions of new acres offshore (beyond the 68 million acres on U.S. soil that have been leased for oil drilling, but are not being used) because the oil "bidness" needs help in lowering our gasoline prices.