Saturday, October 18, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
GOP Starts Using "Anti-American" As A Synonym For Liberal!
Sarah Palin today made mention that she loves being in parts of our country that are "pro-America'. By implication she is stating that there are areas of the country that are "anti-American". Meanwhile on Chris Mathews Hardball on MSNBC, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) ranted about Obama and his associations with Bill Ayers. Then, if this tired lie wasn't enough, she went on to imply that liberals were not "pro-American".
There was the key phrase that says this is a talking point item from the RNC. Sarah Palin gracelessly injected the term in her speech and Bachmann drummed away at it on Hardball. That is not a coincidence.
I suspect that the RNC sent out a new talking point memo that suggests Republican operatives pepper their speeches with "pro-American" and "anti-American" as opposed to conservative and liberal. It's a blatant attempt to reframe the left as traitors and terrorists. It is not subtle nor is it ethical, but neither of those attributes factor in the Republican play book these days.
Watch for more and more of the GOP faithful to begin using these terms interchangeably with "right" and "left" as well. They have studied Frank Luntz in detail and they are amping up the rhetoric to whip up their base. It is a dangerous game of brinkmanship that could have tragic consequences. This is not the way democracy is run, but the Republicans abandoned democracy years ago in favor of vote stealing and legalistic trickery. It is a sad day for America.
Another Trader Commits Suicide - Shades of 1929
The man, Joseph Anthony Luizzi, 44, of Oak Brook was a 20 year veteran of trading. He was found dead of self inflicted gunshot wounds in front of a fire station near his second home in Berwyn, Illinois.
Mr. Luizzi’s death came hours after a plunge in the stock market. The S&P 500 posted its biggest gain since the 1930s on Monday before plunging the most since the crash of 1987 on Wednesday.
There have been several other such deaths reported both in England and in the US. Similar events occurred after the 1929 crash but not as an immediate result of it. Stories of stock brokers leaping from windows were mostly urban legends. Unfortunately, today that seems not to be the case.
The Washington Post Endorses Obama!
Chicago Tribune Endorses First Democrat In 161 Years
I suspect it is a combination of Obama being so good and McCain being so bad.
LA Times Endorses Obama!
Here is an excerpt:
We need a leader who demonstrates thoughtful calm and grace under pressure, one not prone to volatile gesture or capricious pronouncement. We need a leader well-grounded in the intellectual and legal foundations of American freedom. Yet we ask that the same person also possess the spark and passion to inspire the best within us: creativity, generosity and a fierce defense of justice and liberty.
The Times without hesitation endorses Barack Obama for president.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
McCain & RNC Starts Robo-Call Tsunami - More Ayers Lies
The calls also may violate some state laws since many come without caller IDs and do not say who is playing for the call. More importantly the really big lie came from McCain when he bristled at Obama's assertion that McCain had gone 100% negative in his campaign. What is more negative than flogging this silly and false rumor?
The RNC is playing the only card they have left, fear! If they can't win with a good candidtate and good platform then they will try to scare voters into pulling the Republican leaver. The good news is that many who are getting the calls are not very happy with them. I suspect this "hail Mary" trick will backfire just like all McCain's other have.
Maybe he will suspecnd his campaign again? If only we could see that!
Wild New Ride - Dow Jones Supercoaster!
Today the Dow closed up over 400 points after dropping more than 300 during the day. Crazy? You betcha! Again I am glad I don't have anything in my portfolio but moths.
Obama Stays Cool - McCain Twitches & Jitters
McCain got a nice zinger in saying"I am not President Bush," but that was no game changer. And if I hear one more story about Joe the plumber, I will puke. Nice story about a guy who is trying to buy his business, but dang that plumber must make some serious dough to buy the biz!
Aside from that McCain looked like an angry old man who was ready to explode at any moment. I suspect the over abundance of make up was to hide his reddened face.
Obama clearly stayed on his economic message and that won the night. He answered the Ayer's question clearly and directly and took any remaining wind out of McCain's sails on that issue and then there was abortion. McCain tried to tar him with a swipe at his objection to banning late term abortions and he really misfired. McCain seemed to belittle the health of the mother argument by framing it in "air quotes" and that will not play well with women who are already running from the GOP in droves.
His other big problem was his misunderstanding of Obama's health insurance proposal. He returned to good old Joe the Plumber and said Obama would fine him if he didn't provide insurance. Obama countered with a statement that Joe would have to pay "zero" in fines since small businesses like Joe's were specifically excluded in his plan. McCain just stared and repeated, "zero"? It was like an ad for Obama.
Overall, McCain was not as bad as he could have been. Obama looked every bit the president as he calmly worked through the questions and according to opinion polls won the debate. Independents interviewed on CNN said they were swayed toward Obama!
My hope is that that trend continues right up until election day.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Top Florida GOP Figure Jokes About Killing Obama
Of course once the press got hold of the email., Austin now claims he just forwarded it and never read it. Yea right! You can't even mention a joke about that in public, it's akin to joking about a bomb in an airport. You don't do it!
So if anyone knows the Secret Service, please forward this link to them.
Verizon & AT&T Provide Cell Towers At McCain Ranch For Free! Illegal Corporate Contributions?
Here is some of the story from the Washington Post:
Early in 2007, just as her husband launched his presidential bid, Cindy McCain decided to resolve an old problem -- the lack of cellular telephone coverage on her remote 15-acre ranch near Sedona, nestled deep in a tree-lined canyon called Hidden Valley.
By the time Sen. John McCain's presidential bid was in full swing this summer, the ranch had wireless coverage from the two cellular companies most often used by campaign staff -- Verizon Wireless and AT&T.
Verizon delivered a portable tower know as a "cell site on wheels" -- free of charge -- to Cindy McCain's property in June in response to an online request from Cindy McCain's staff early last year. Such devices are usually reserved for restoring service when cell coverage is knocked out during emergencies, such as hurricanes.
In July, AT&T followed suit, wheeling in a portable tower for free to match Verizon's offer. "This is an unusual situation," said AT&T spokeswoman Claudia B. Jones. "You can't have a presidential nominee in an area where there is not cell coverage."
Furthermore, the story has the following little chestnut:
Ethics lawyers said Cindy McCain's dealings with the wireless companies stand out because Sen. John McCain is a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the Federal Communications Commission and the telecommunications industry. He has been a leading advocate for industry-backed legislation, fighting regulations and taxes on telecommunications services.If this little peccadillo doesn't come up in the debate tonight,. perhaps it should appear in the letters to the editor pages of every major newspaper? Start writing!
Palin Is Delusional!
Some Voters DIslike Obama but Will Vote for Him Anyway!
He noted that they got the message of the ad, but their reactions were astounding. Here is part of the email.
The two most unreal moments of my professional life of watching focus groups:
54 year-old white male, voted Kerry '04, Bush '00, Dole '96, hunter, NASCAR fan...hard for Obama said: "I'm gonna hate him the minute I vote for him. He's gonna be a bad president. But I won't ever vote for another god-damn Republican. I want the government to take over all of Wall Street and bankers and the car companies and Wal-Mart run this county like we used to when Reagan was President."
The next was a woman, late 50s, Democrat but strongly pro-life. Loved B. and H. Clinton, loved Bush in 2000. "Well, I don't know much about this terrorist group Barack used to be in with that Weather guy but I'm sick of paying for health insurance at work and that's why I'm supporting Barack."
I felt like I was taking crazy pills. I sat on the other side of the glass and realized...this really is the Apocalypse. The Seventh Seal is broken and its time for eight years of pure, delicious crazy....
South Philly Obama Office Evacuated!
The offices were evacuated for a short time while hazardous materials specialists cleared the premises.
Though this was a hoax, it is not hard to imagine someone doing something far more real. This is what happens when you whip a bunch of right wing bigots into a frenzy, they do crazy things.
McCain seems unable or unwilling to control his VP pick and her inflammatory style. It's time for this to stop and it's time for the Secret Service to have a long talk with him and Sarah Palin.
Bottled Water Has Undisclosed Pollutants
In a recent study done by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, results from samples of leading bottled waters found lots of things you might have thought you were avoiding.
Of over 38 chemicals and contaminates found here are some of the more interesting:
- bacteria
- caffeine
- the pain reliever acetaminophen
- fertilizer
- industrial solvents
- plastic-making chemicals
- the radioactive element strontium
From an article in the Associated Press:
"In some cases, it appears bottled water is no less polluted than tap water and, at 1,900 times the cost, consumers should expect better," said Jane Houlihan, an environmental engineer who co-authored the study.We in America have some of the best drinking water in the world. Our public water supplies with a few exceptions are not only safe but remarkably safe. So why keep adding to the landfill with plastic bottles when we can use a nice washable glass and turn on the tap to get clean drinkable water? Guess all that advertising works!
Bush White House Endorsed Waterboarding In Secret Memos
After all the times Bush appeared on TV and specifically said "the US doesn't torture" we find he was lying like a rug! The CIA also requested the memos to cover their ass yet some people in the intelligence community worried that these memos could cause a significant scandal and backlash if they became public. Guess what: They would have! They should still except for the fact that this info is being dumped when the press and the public are focused on the presidential race.
Obviously the CIA realized they were on shaky ground and they repeatedly requested such memos to give them a paper trail should all this come back to bite them. A Lawyer for the CIA, A. John Radsan, was even quoted in the Washington Post as saying, “The question was whether we had enough 'top cover’” in regard to the memos. Top cover?
So these guys were willing to break international law as long as they had a memo from the White House? Amazing, and yet the public will probably not hear or care about this outrage.
Unfortunately we Americans have an attention deficit and cannot concentrate on two issues at a time. You can see this reflected in the press as they move from one shiny object to another. If a story takes more than a few seconds to grasp, we have no interest in it.
That said, here's the story: Bush endorsed torture while lying to the American public and the world!
That in itself would have gotten a Democratic president impeached in a heartbeat. Why has nothing been done about the criminal we have in office? Well have you seen him lately? He understands that we are all afflicted with ADD and he is staying out of sight. Bush has become the Invisible President, emerging from the White House only to make banal statements and wave to photographers.
When was the last time you saw Dick Cheney? Same thing, hide and they will forget you, besides he has far too many documents to shred to be bothered with public appearances.
And so the crime, and it is a crime of international importance, will probably go unpunished and in fact unnoticed. So I stand here shouting for nobody to hear, and besides what's that sparkling over there? Oohh, it's so shiny!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Obama Opens 14 Point Lead in National Poll
Christopher Buckley Leaves National Review After Endorsing Obama
Buckley writes in The Daily Beast blog:
Within hours of my endorsement appearing in The Daily Beast it became clear that National Review had a serious problem on its hands. So the next morning, I thought the only decent thing to do would be to offer to resign my column there. This offer was accepted--rather briskly!--by Rich Lowry, NR's editor, and its publisher, the superb and able and fine Jack Fowler. I retain the fondest feelings for the magazine that my father founded, but I will admit to a certain sadness that an act of publishing a reasoned argument for the opposition should result in acrimony and disavowal.
McCain's Health Plan? Unbelievable!
McCain Hires Former Saddam Hussein Lobbyist For Transition Team
Yup, William Timmons in 1992 worked closely with the two lobbyists, Samir Vincent and Tongsun Park who later either pleaded guilty to or were convicted of federal criminal charges that they had acted as unregistered agents of Saddam Hussein's government.
So John Sidney McCain worries about Obama having met William Ayers but has no problem with his transition team lead working on behalf of a sworn enemy Saddam Hussein. This guy is amazing in his lack of ethics and judgement.
First he picks an inexperienced incapable VP and then he hires a lobbyist who worked for Saddam Hussein. That's the kind of thing I would expect from....well nobody!
More Assassination Threats From Palin Supporters!
12:15 p.m.
The line outside Riverfront Sports has dwindled to a a few hundred. Reporters at the scene said it appears that everyone who wants to attend the Palin rally will be able to get in.
One man walked the length of the line shouting out "reminders" to those waiting that " loaded firearms are not allowed inside."
1:25 p.m.
Chris Hackett addressed the increasingly feisty crowd as they await the arrival of Gov. Palin.
Each time the Republican candidate for the seat in the 10th Congressional District mentioned Barack Obama the crowd booed loudly.
One man screamed "kill him!"
Supporters have been noted shouting “kill him,” “terrorist,” “off with his head” and other equally incendiary terms about Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Others have directly suggested Mr. Obama is a Muslim, which he is not, or a traitor. Some comments even drew rebuke from Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Anchorage Daily News - Palin's Response is "Orwellian"
From The Anchorage Daily News:
Sarah Palin's reaction to the Legislature's Troopergate report is an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation.
She claims the report "vindicates" her. She said that the investigation found "no unlawful or unethical activity on my part."
Her response is either astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian.
Page 8, Finding Number One of the report says: "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."
In plain English, she did something "unlawful." She broke the state ethics law.
Perhaps Gov. Palin has been too busy to actually read the Troopergate report. Perhaps she is relying on briefings from McCain campaign spinmeisters.
That's the charitable interpretation.
Monday, October 13, 2008
McCain Was For ACORN Before He Was Against It
BOING! Dow Bounces Back A Bit
At the close it was up 936 points, the single biggest rise in history. I caution my friends against irrational exuberance, I expect it to fall a bit before stabilizing so hang on it's going to be a bumpy ride!
Man Behind Those Crazy Emails - "Secret Muslim, etc."
Well I get tired of answering them but finally I have the definitive answer from the New York Times about the man who started it all, Andy Martin. Here's a sample from the piece that details his history and his other writings.
An examination of legal documents and election filings, along with interviews with his acquaintances, revealed Mr. Martin, 62, to be a man with a history of scintillating if not always factual claims. He has left a trail of animosity — some of it provoked by anti-Jewish comments — among political leaders, lawyers and judges in three states over more than 30 years.So read the article and tell your friends to stop circulating his crap. It's a pack of baseless lies and it needs to stop. Muslims are not the problem, there are Muslim Americans as well as Christian, Jewish and Hindu Americans. Religion is not a problem, but lies are.
17 Newspapers Endorse Obama - 2 Endorse McCain
Backing Obama: In Ohio, The Blade in Toledo and the Dayton Daily News; the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Tennessean of Nashville, the Wisconsin State Journal. the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times, and in California the Fresno Bee, Sacramento Bee, Bay Area News Group-East Bay dalies (about 11 papers such as Contra Costa Times), The Herald of Monterey, The Santa Cruz Journal and The Sun of San Bernardino (which had picked Bush over Kerry), plus the New Bedford Standrd-Times in Massachusetts.
Joining the Obama team in battleground states were the Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle, the Lehigh Valley (Pa.) Express-Times and Springfield (Ohio) News.
McCain registered two pick-ups: The Wheeling News-Register in West Virginia and the Napa Valley Register in California.
Et Tu Marueen?
Read her entire column, it's great stuff, but the Latin portion is a scream. AmericaBlog found a semi-translation here.
Manes Julii Caesaris paucis diebus aderant — “O, most bloody sight!” — cum Ioannes McCainus, mavericus et veteranus captivusque Belli Francoindosinini, et Sara Palina, barracuda borealis, qui sneerare amant Baracum Obamam causa oratorii, pillorant ut demagogi veri, Africanum-Americanum senatorem Terrae Lincolni, ad Republicanas rallias.
Rabidi subcanes candidati, pretendant “no orator as Brutis is,” ut “stir men’s blood” et disturbant mentes populi ad “a sudden flood of mutiny,” ut Wilhelmus Shakespearus scripsit.
Cum Quirites Americani ad rallias Republicanas audiunt nomen Baraci Husseini Obamae, clamant “Mortem!” “Amator terroris!” “Socialiste!” “Bomba Obamam!” “Obama est Arabus!” “Caput excidi!” tempus sit rabble-rouseribus desistere “Smear Talk Express,” ut Stephanus Colbertus dixit. Obama demonatus est tamquam Musulmanus-Manchurianus candidatus — civis “collo-cerviciliaris” ad ralliam Floridianam Palinae exhabet mascum Obamae ut Luciferis.
Obama non queretur high-tech lynching. Sed secreto-serventes agentes nervosissmi sunt.
Vix quisque audivit nomen “Palinae” ante lunibus paucis. Surgivit ex suo tanning bed ad silvas in Terram Eskimorum, rogans quis sit traitorosus, ominosus, scurrilosus, periculosus amator LXs terroris criminalisque Chicagoani? Tu betchus!
“Caeca ambitio Obamana,” novum rumorem Palina McCainusque dixit. “Cum utilis, Obama laborat cum amatore terroris Wilhelmo Ayro. Cum putatus, perjuravit.” McCainianus bossus maximus Francus Keatinx vocat Obamam, “plebeium,” et ut iuvenum snifferendum cocaini minimi (“a little blow.”)
Cum Primus Dudus, spousus Palinanus, culpari attemptaret “Centurionem-Gate,” judices Terrae Santae Elvorumque castigat gubernatricem Palinam de abusu auctoritatis per familiam revengendum.
Tamen Sara et Ioannes bury Obama, not praise him. Maverici, ut capiunt auxilium de friga-domina, hench-femina, Cynthia McCaina Birrabaronessa, (quae culpat Obamam periculandi suum filum in Babylonia), brazen-iter distractant mentes populares de minimissimis IV 0 I K.ibus, deminutione “Motorum Omnium,” et Depressione Magna II.0. Omnes de Georgio Busio Secundo colossale goofballo. “V” (because there’s no W. in Latin) etiam duxit per disastrum ad gymnasium.
Gubernatrix (prope Russia) Palina, spectans candidaciam MMXII, post multam educationem cum Kissingro et post multam parodiam de Sabbatis Nocte Vivo atque de Tina Feia, ferociter vituperat Obamam, ut supralupocidit (aerial shooting of wolves) in Hyperborea.
Vilmingtoni, in Ohionem, McCain’s Mean Girl (Ferox Puella) defendit se gladiatricem politicam esse: “Pauci dicant, O Jupiter, te negativam esse. Non, negativa non sum, sed verissima.” Talk about lipsticka in porcam! Quasi Leeus Atwater de oppugnatione Busii Primi ad Dukakem: “non negativus, sed comparativus.”
Palin Heckles Her Own Supporters!
From the Associated Press:
Many on the outer periphery, more than 100 yards from the stage, couldn't hear.
They started chanting, "Louder! Louder!" Palin thought they were protesters, looked toward them and said, "I hope those protesters have the courage and honor to give veterans thanks for their right to protest."
McCain Campaign Claims Conservative Columnist Bill Kristol Is "Buying Obama Campaign Line"
McCain's people are so scattered they can't figure up from down and that is why Kristol made the remark that McCain is running "a pathetic campaign" on FOX News Sunday. He went even further this morning in the New York Times when he said McCain should"fire his campaign" and start over. Apparently the truth hurts too much for the McCain folks to accept it and that is why they will lose and lose big!
Sarah Palin Lies About Her Guilt In Ethics Violations
The ruling begins with this sentence:
"I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act ... Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional..."
The problem is she wasn't cleared, she was found guilty. ABC News notes the lie and gives the facts.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
12 Major Newspapers Now Back Obama
Acording to Editor & Publisher:
In Ohio, The Blade in Toledo and the Dayton Daily News; the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Tennessean of Nashville, the Wisconsin State Journal. the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times, and in California the Fresno Bee, Sacramento Bee, Contra Costa Times, The Herald of Monterrey, and The Sun of San Bernardino (which had picked Bush over Kerry).
Sarah Palin Limericks - A New Art Form!
As debates go, it was quite a flat one,
each answer most likely a pat one.
Though a night with no drama
is a win for Obama
the same can’t be said for Mc “That One.”