"Only Bush and Rove Can Attack McCain's Military Record"

We missed "Face the Nation" this weekend, on which Gen. Wesley Clark made this mild and quite accurate statement concerning St. John McBush: "I don't think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president." One doesn't get executive experience either from the sensation of bailing out of a fighter or spending time in a North Vietnamese prison. It would qualify you as a patriot and hero, but not necessarily pass muster as commander-in-chief material. That's all Gen. Clark was saying.

You would think he'd called St. John a "mooslim" who wanted to bring all his relatives from Africa over here illegally, given the immediate move to Defcon 4 in the McBush campaign, wingnut media and their willing handmaiden, the "main stream media." NBC/MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell has been breaking out, anew, and clutching her pearls all day. CNN's Rick "The Prick" Sanchez, for example, asked, "Did Wesley Clark pull a Swift Boat on John McCain today?" Uh, no 'tard, he didn't. We know who was Swift Boated, and by whom. By the way, we also know that McBush has brought on Bud Day, one of the Swift Boaters, to help with his "truth" squad - we see a huge contradiction there, St. John.

But, thanks to Firedoglake, we can return to yesteryear and see who's allowed to question St. John's military record. Swift Boat that, Rick!

Fighting Teh Stoopid

Today's WaPo gives us this depressing piece by Eli Saslow, "In Flag City USA, False Obama Rumors Are Flying." Jim Peterman, of Findlay, Ohio, is wondering for whom to cast his vote. He's seen the Obama ads, but he's also heard from his neighbors, like Leroy "Missing Link" Pollard who tells him Obama is a radical Muslim from Africa who's going to "bring his family over here, illegally." So, Mr. Peterman wonders about Obama:

"I haven't read his books or studied up more than a little bit. But it's hard to ignore what you hear when everybody you know is saying it. These are good people, smart people, so can they really all be wrong?"

Um, duh, lemme take my shoes off here so I can count my...oh, I guess I don't need to do that to give you an answer: YES! YES! THEY'RE ALL WRONG. And, by the way, THEY'RE NOT SMART PEOPLE (and probably not as good people as you think, either)!!!

For God's sake, is this the state of the American electorate, or is it just that all the simpletons have moved to Findlay, Ohio?

(Image: Your average (?) voter in Findlay, Ohio.)

Am I A "Hep Cat" Now?

MTV announced the other day that, for the first time in its history, it would accept political advertisements.

In that spirit, we suggest this video for McBush to use on MTV. Now strike a pose, Johnny! Vogue!

A Good Deed

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, head of the largest Methodist congregaton in the country, is pushing back at American Taliban leader James Dobson, the self-anointed Bible expert who recently questioned Obama's Christian beliefs. Caldwell launched a website called James Dobson Doesn't Speak For Me, and encourages visitors to sign a statement saying that Dobson doesn't represent them. Caldwell heads the 14,000 member Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, and participates in a weekly Friday prayer call with Obama's staff and other Christian ministers.

As an added treat, Caldwell introduced Dumbya at the 2000 Republican National Convention and officiated at Jenna Bush's wedding in May, but now supports Obama.

Quote of the Day

"Anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke." California Governor Schwarznegger, on John "Smokey" McBush's proposal for increased off-shore drilling.

One Duke University scholar said that the small amount of oil to be recovered off-shore wouldn't be seen at the gas pumps for at least 5 years, and that it was like expecting to lose weight by walking an extra 20 feet a day.

More On (Moron?) the Brain-Dead Media

Daily Kos has an edifying piece today, focusing largely on three numbnuts who happen to write for the increasingly horrific Washington Post: Richard Cohen, David Broder and Ruth Marcus. But the piece extends to media coverage of the election so far, which, to no one's surprise is seen by Democrat, Independent and Republican alike as poor.

(Photo: Cohen, Broder and Marcus, interchangeable concern monkeys)

Please Crawl Back Under Your Rock

Every four years, like the cycle of a destructive pest, Ralph "Nadir" Nader reemerges from under his rock. In 2000, Nader votes in Florida totaled over 97,000, effectively giving Bush the election when Florida's votes were "counted." Polls say that he siphoned those votes primarily from people who, given the choice only between Gore and Bush, would have broken for Gore by a wide margin. He ran again in 2004, but received barely one-third of one percent of the total vote cast.

Today, in an interview with the Rocky Mountain News, Nader accused Sen. Obama of talking "white" to appeal to "white guilt," and of not addressing issues important in "the ghettos." Aside from the factual errors in his remarks, "Nadir" reveals a condescending, racist attitude that African Americans should be talking like African Americans, not like him. He thinks Obama should be more focused on "black" issues, and leave the "white" issues to white folks. He's a sad, narcissistic buffoon, who has a habit of leveling regular assaults against Democrats but seems shy about taking on the Republican candidates. Maybe if John McSame tried to "talk black" he'd get "Nadir's" attention, too.

(Village Voice photo of the incredibly shrinking "Nadir")

"Think" Tanks

Just to remind ourselves that "deep thinkers" don't have all the answers (in the case of the neo-con think tanks, make that none of the answers), take a look at this timeless piece by Bill Maher. "Nostradamus" Kristol. Hmmm, I like it!

(h/t to Tokyo bureau chief Brian)

Quote of the Day

"I am reminded of the great talents of the, of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House" - - Preznit Bushit, addressing Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, referring to the White House chef.

He makes you proud, doesn't he? All that practice in dealing with the help at the country clubs paid off. (By the way, the Chimpster's approval rating is now at 23%).

(Psst. . .C'mon al Qaeda, We Dare Ya!)

McSame senior political advisor Charlie "Foot In Mouth" Black had some 'splainin' to do after he said that a terrorist attack on the U.S. would help McSame politically. While F.I.M. apologized, the damage to McSame's hidden agenda was done. The Rethugs know that playing on fears and then acting like the tough guy wins some voters over; it's just that they don't want to be caught secretly hoping for another terrorist attack.

We suppose F.I.M. could have said "bring 'em on." That would have really been Mission Accomplished for the Dems.

Turdblossom's Tin Ear

Former architect of the former permanent Republican majority Karl "Turdblossom" Rove was reported recently to have made the following remark about Sen. Obama at a breakfast for Rethug "insiders":

"He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."

"Country club?" "Martini?" Please, Turdblossom, only those well-heeled members of your audience would be able to relate to your imagery. In fact, the guy you portray sounds a lot more like the smirking dimbulb of a Preznit who gave you your snide nickname and who you helped inflict on America, not like a guy who was raised by a single mom on the southside of Chicago. But it does highlight that your tin-eared reality, and that of the "insiders" you were sharing this ridiculous view with, is defined by the country club, the martini, and the "hot" date. Rethug values exposed again!

Wee Willie Kristol, Too Proud To Serve

Salon's Alex Koppelman points out the hypocrisy of neocon chickenhawk William "Wee Willie" Kristol, who devotes his column in today's New York Times to the anti-McSame ad depicting a mother who won't let her child serve in Iraq in the future. Self awareness didn't stand in the way of Wee Willie when he wrote his piece. The fact is that Wee Willie thought that he had better things to do than serve in the military (like 5 Deferment Dick Cheney), and was a leading cheerleader to send other peoples' family members off to Iraq. The smarmy little creep hasn't sacrificed anything, and never will, but he'll see to it that you do the sacrificing for him. That's the neocon chickenhawk credo.

The Tanned and Lovely Gov. Crist

Pandagon has this piece on possible McBush running mate Gov. Charlie "Eat Your Heart Out, Man-Tan Boehner!" Crist. As the piece notes, rumors have been flying for some time about Crist (but then, so have rumors about Rethug Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. Patrick McHenry, etc., etc.). Hackwhackers, being non-judgemental about matters of personal sexuality, hasten to add: "Not that there's anything wrong with it!"

What is wrong is the hypocrisy, not to mention the notion that it would be more to his credit for Crist to be noodling with a married woman than to be gay. What a sewer these people live in!

George Carlin, R.I.P.

It was sad to see that comedian George Carlin died yesterday in Santa Monica, CA of heart failure at age 71. Carlin pushed the envelope in his humor, but was never cruel or nasty. Carlin hosted the first Saturday Night Live, won 4 Grammys, was nominated for 5 Emmys, and was due to receive the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Award next November.

Bumper Sticker of the Month