All the news unfit to print for Thursday, November 6, 2008
Important: This year's turnout was only slightly higher than 2004
Urban legends will abound about this year's voter turnout.. but for the record, turnout was only slightly higher than it was in 2004.. As a matter of fact, lesser Republican numbers led to a smaller number in turnout than what was expected.. In 2004, 122 million Americans voted in the general election. This year, according to the American University's Center for the Study of the American Electorate, this year's turnout rose about 1%...
The McCain attack dogs are looking for blood.. the McCainiacs are blaming the Palin pick for their loss--and blaming Bill Kristol for giving advice to Sarah Palin..
All the news unfit to print for Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Inside Pennsylvania..
REUTERS But according to the exit polls, most of the Clinton Democrats went with Obama. Among the 17 percent of the Democrats who supported Clinton, Obama won 81-19.
McCain was banking on his Palin pick being able to sway the Hillary supporters his way. It apparently didn't work in the coal fields of Pennsylvania, or the cities East and West. McCain may even be struggle in parts of the infamous "T" that makes up the mid-state area..
So far John McCain has not lost any red states.. South Carolina went to McCain.. But NBC news has called Pennsylvania for Obama..
NOTE: ABC and NBC have called it, no precincts are in yet, other networks are waiting..
..being reporting by the Huffington Post unfiltered and other websites.. They should be filtered--and may not be able to be trusted..
Florida looks blue.. Iowa looks blue.. Missouri may be blue.. North Carolina blue.. Nevada blue.. Pennsylvania blue.. Ohio blue.. New Mexico blue.. Michigan hugely blue.. Minnesota blue.. McCain red in Georgia..and West Virginia..
Americans feeling blue.. in more ways than one in 2008..
ZOGBY poll concludes that McCain is tracking upwards in the past hours..FiveThirtyEight.com on that interesting Zogby poll being touted by the Drudge Report: "Zogby polls are generally a lagging rather than a leading indicator. This is because he splits his interviewing period over two days; most of the interviews that were conducted in this sample took place on Thursday night, with a few this afternoon"
Other polls still give Obama a massive lead over the McCain campaign.. most electoral college watchers paint little chance for McCain to overtake Obama in electoral votes..
**
More on the polls: The AP reporting that Obama voters are happy and McCain voters aren't. But the McCain camp is "jazzed up" about the latest polls. No word on whether literally Jazzy Jets are involved..
Not happy today: Obama's aunt, who is in the country illegally according to the AP.
Nooo!!! Really!? Study confirms that media has been pro-Obama in 2008.. Just ask Hillary Clinton.. you didn't need a study to confirm the obvious. Oh, by the way the sun is bright during the daytime hours, study confirms.
Maybe he won't be the best of luck, Barack? Al Gore visits Florida in effort to help out Obama campaign..
Also maybe not the best way to get votes in the last hours, Barack: Obama attacks people that don't want higher taxes as being "selfish"..
McCain: "He measuring the drapes.. and this week he settled on a chief of staff.. "we're coming back strong"..
Candidates in overdrive. Close your ears! They won't stop talking!
NASCAR, WAL-MART, and Central Pennsylvania: McCainiancs come home
The Keystone State of Pennsylvania is interesting. John McCain has been tirelessly campaigning in the state while Democrats stand and scratch their heads with confusion as to why..
McCain has been hoping that his upset victory in 2008 starts with Pennsylvania.. He's been talking non-stop to residents in PA via call, mail, and personal visits. He's been spending a lot of time in places like Pottsville, PA, small towns in Central Pennsylvania, crowds in Hershey PA.. And now the Keystone State has become the Woodstock of the McCain camp.. According to reporting from the Washington POST, people from other states are traveling to Pennsylvania to support their candidate John McCain. McCain is hoping that the same Democrats that led Hillary Clinton to a late spring Pennsylvania win votes for him. PA doesn't have early voting--so he's hoping his supposed 'comeback' helps in the last 48 hours in Pennsylvania..
But I truly doubt it will come down to Pennsylvania. Think of this: PA has 67 counties.. in 2002, Ed Rendell won the state with only the few counties in the extreme Southeast and he dashed any hopes for an African American Republican in PA with a landslide victory over Lynn Swann in 2006. And look at this: County by county in 2004 in Pennsylvania. John Kerry won a mere 13 counties of 67. And he won the state's 21 electoral votes because the counties he won has the biggest population in the state..
For McCain to win PA on Tuesday and score this dramatic upset, the stars may have to align. If get out the vote campaigns are successful in Southeast PA, it would be incomprehensible to think that the midstate or Central PA area can come up with enough votes to surpass Philadelphia and other suburbs of the city.. When Philadelphia votes, so goes the state..
A victory for McCain in Pennsylvania would not only be an upset, but a miracle. Miracles happen..I guess.
But rarely. Expect 2008's PA to go for Obama, even if he only wins 19% of the real estate--it's the population in the 19% that matters..
"Vanessa Niekamp said that when she was asked to run a child-support check on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher on Oct. 16, she thought it routine. A supervisor told her the man had contacted the state agency about his case.
Niekamp didn't know she just had checked on "Joe the Plumber," who was elevated the night before to presidential politics prominence as Republican John McCain's example in a debate of an average American.
The senior manager would not learn about "Joe" for another week, when she said her boss informed her and directed her to write an e-mail stating her computer check was a legitimate inquiry.
The reason Niekamp said she was given for checking if there was a child-support case on Wurzelbacher does not match the reason given by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
With three days left (and a LOT of talk about Joe the Plumber to the point that we're all sick of Joe's plumbing) expect to hear a lot more about the interesting tale of whatever occurred in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services..
All the news unfit to print for Friday, October 31, 2008
McCain on SNL; Affleck to play Olbermann
The POLITICO and Drudge playing up a skit tomorrow night on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE that leaked its way across the net today: Keith Olbermann played by Ben Affleck, mocked as a deranged man that lives with his mother.
Olbermann was happy he was portrayed on SNL finally after all these years. McCain's presence tomorrow shows just how important the show has become to the political process--after all, it's the only lone satirical show played nationwide in the United States. McCain is set for his cameo
While this may be a huge deal for Republicans anxious for a bounce a week before the Super-est of Tuesdays, it's worth remembering: 2004's likely voters are not 2008's likely voters.. A bigger base of people coming out this year means these numbers could be skewed too much towards the old 20th century..
All the news unfit to print for Saturday, October 25, 2008
Within the McCain camp: The Palin insurgency!
Mike Segar/Reuters She's gonna make it after all!
The POLITICO's Ben Smith reporting that increasingly tense campaign stops have greeted Sarah Palin and her aides.. Former Bush aides tasked to handle and control Palin have reported to the POLITICO that she increasingly is on her own, often blaming the handlers for her tarnished public image. One senior Republican aide told Smith for his report that Palin intends to go "rogue" and get even more "rogue" at campaign events.
And what if John McCain would have chosen Tom Ridge? Perhaps things would be a lot closer in Pennsylvania..
And speaking of the Keystone State, MSNBC's FIRST READ reporting that the Obama team feels PA is theirs to lose..
""John McCain is an honorable man who has served his country well. But he will not get my vote. For the first time since registering as a Republican 28 years ago, I’m voting for a Democrat for president.
"I may have been an appointee in the George H.W. Bush administration, and master of ceremonies for George W. Bush in 2004, but last Saturday I stood amidst the crowd at an Obama event in North Philadelphia," says the Republican."
"The choice is made easy in part by Mr. McCain's disappointing campaign, above all his irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president. It is made easy in larger part, though, because of our admiration for Mr. Obama and the impressive qualities he has shown during this long race. Yes, we have reservations and concerns, almost inevitably, given Mr. Obama's relatively brief experience in national politics. But we also have enormous hopes.
...
IT GIVES US no pleasure to oppose Mr. McCain. Over the years, he has been a force for principle and bipartisanship. He fought to recognize Vietnam, though some of his fellow ex-POWs vilified him for it. He stood up for humane immigration reform, though he knew Republican primary voters would punish him for it. He opposed torture and promoted campaign finance reform, a cause that Mr. Obama injured when he broke his promise to accept public financing in the general election campaign. Mr. McCain staked his career on finding a strategy for success in Iraq when just about everyone else in Washington was ready to give up. We think that he, too, might make a pretty good president.
But the stress of a campaign can reveal some essential truths, and the picture of Mr. McCain that emerged this year is far from reassuring. To pass his party's tax-cut litmus test, he jettisoned his commitment to balanced budgets. He hasn't come up with a coherent agenda, and at times he has seemed rash and impulsive. And we find no way to square his professed passion for America's national security with his choice of a running mate who, no matter what her other strengths, is not prepared to be commander in chief. ...
The POST concludes:
"But Mr. Obama's temperament is unlike anything we've seen on the national stage in many years. He is deliberate but not indecisive; eloquent but a master of substance and detail; preternaturally confident but eager to hear opposing points of view. He has inspired millions of voters of diverse ages and races, no small thing in our often divided and cynical country. We think he is the right man for a perilous moment."
Joe the blunder! Thanks for nothing! Joe the plumber's fortunes turn
He has no plumber's license even though the county he lives in requires plumbers to have them .. and the Ohio Department of Taxation placed a lien against Joe because $1,183 in personal property taxes had not been paid. Oh, and Joe's 2006 income was $40,000, which would qualify him for the Obama tax increase.
McCain forced Joe into our lives. I bet Joe wishes he could quickly escape.....
All the news unfit to print for Sunday, October 12, 2008
Feeling blue: 23 and counting.. my election predictions
The election is nasty.. Hateful for some..
But I am going to make my election prediction. Things are changing by the day. But I am predicting an Obama win--actually an Obama landslide, one like we have not seen in several election cycles.
With 270 electoral votes needed for victory, I am predicting Obama easily wins the overall popular vote. I also feel he will handily gain the electoral college, which as we all know is the only way to win.
My map shows McCain with 201 electoral votes and Obama with 337..
The map:
As you can see, I am predicting McCain loses and Obama wins in the following swing states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri.. I also predict an Obama win in North Carolina .. McCain will keep the deep South--but with smaller margins of victory than Bush in 2000 and 2008. McCain will end of losing New Mexico.. Minnesota .. and Indiana.
The next debate is coming up this week .. I don't feel that 2008 will be as divided as previous election, I also do not feel there is any way the electoral college will be tied. Further, there will be no reason for networks to wait late into the night without knowing for sure who won this November's election.
Congress will be controlled by Democrats.. as will the Senate.
It's been a long eight years.. Democrats will gain this year in huge numbers due to the newer younger voters (that will actually vote this year) .. and from two wars, and the sudden impact of the economic crisis. McCain's last minute campaign tactics have been foolish looking. He's all over the proverbial map, issuing policy plans at his own whims during debates and suspending his campaign as a stunt.
It all failed for one simple reason: Campaign officials didn't let John McCain be himself. Instead, they reinvented him as George W. Bush .. That's not why people liked him in 2000. Barack Obama ran one of the greatest campaigns in history, trouncing the likely nominee Hillary Clinton, and dominating TVs, internet, radio, and other forms of media. And he got a lot of free help from major media officials, who often let their own biases outweigh their good sense for reporting. Legs were quivering with excitement all over American newsrooms the night Obama accepted his party's nomination. And they haven't stopped yet.
The tingling, quivering, and excitement will be at record highs on election night. McCain, once a media darling, was crumbled up and thrown into a trash heap like any other piece of paper.
And then what? Politics as usual. Party fighting party. But the victory Obama gets this year will give him a mandate for change.. But McCain's ultimate failure is that all year, he never did anything to tell Americans why he felt Obama's change was wrong for America.. Instead, his aimless twists and turns have led his campaign events into angry give and take sessions with people frightened of Barack Obama..
How sad it got.
We'll check back in a 24 days to see how well I did.
But I strongly believe that this election will not be close..
While I didn't put up my official election prediction yet (that's coming later today), it's clear that if McCain loses this year, it may be due to the overall self-destructive nature of him, Palin, and his own base of supporters.. This week, man at a Palin rally displayed a monkey donning an Obama sticker..CBS offers an interesting account,
"After Palin finished her remarks this morning, the man holding the stuffed monkey seemed to notice that a video camera was pointed at him, at which point he removed the Obama sticker from the doll's head and crumpling it up in his hand. He then handed the doll to a young boy who was watching the rally from his father's shoulders. The boy's parents later told CBS News that they weren't acquainted with the man who gave their son the stuffed monkey"
But the question is this: Is it right for CBS news to display the video it does on its site of this man slowly hiding the monkey.. John McCain has *finally* spoken out against the more vile of anger against Obama.. Or is CBS further inflaming race relations..?
All the news unfit to print for Saturday, October 11, 2008
O U T - O F
CONTROL!
MCCAIN FIGHTS BACK AGAINST HIS OWN CROWDS AT RALLIES
Tries to quell flames of Obama hatred at his public events..
Appears to be getting angry at his own fans as they grow in hatred and fear of Barack Obama
All the news unfit to print for Tuesday, October 7, 2008
"That one" .. and with that, did McCain lose the election?
The debate was so boring, you may have missed the most important moment of the entire election thus far...
And with that, is it over for the McCain camp?
OR just beginning...?
"Mr. McCain has solid leads in states with 160 electoral votes and is well positioned in states with another 40 electoral votes, according to the Times tally, for a total of 200. Just six states representing 78 electoral votes — Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia — are tossups.
Mr. Obama appears to have significantly more options to reach the 270 threshold, particularly if Mr. McCain fails to win any states that Democrats won in 2004, like Pennsylvania, where the Republican ticket has been competing especially vigorously
The next month will obviously make or break the campaigns. The perpetual stories on the "October surprise" which .. maybe won't happen this year, who knows? But on the pure level of momentum, the Obama campaign has it. Regardless of your opinion on his candidacy, his marketing campaign has been brilliant. He even has his own coding for iPhones. McCain's team is lagging far behind--just as Obama makes history by advertising on satellite TV.
"Of the four Democratic states where Mr. McCain is competing, his aides said he viewed Pennsylvania — the biggest of them — as offering him the best chance. Mr. Obama lost the Democratic primary there to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton."
I just don't see that. I'm from Pennsylvania, too, but I think Obama is safe for Obama..
"That is not a fanciful battle: There are plausible outcomes that would leave the two men with a 269-269 electoral vote tie, forcing the election into the House of Representatives"
As someone who watches too much news on TV, I hope for the 269 to 269 vote. Living history. It would be fun..
AFP/Stan Honda
"But McCain is in as bad or worse shape in other battleground states. Barring a dramatic change, he is on course to lose Iowa and New Mexico, both states barely won by President Bush four years ago in his narrow victory over Democrat John F. Kerry. And he and the Republican National Committee this week began pouring money into Indiana and North Carolina, reliably Republican states where the Obama campaign has made strong advances and polls indicate the candidates are roughly tied"
All the news unfit to print for Friday, October 3, 2008
There's no place like Wasilla
Reaction to the Biden Palin debate has been fully aired on TV, radio, and Internet all day--plus on factory floors and around office water coolers across America.
Judging from ratings of the event, lots of people got the chance to talk about the debate today.
Record setting. The overall rating of BidenPalin: 45.0, which means 45% of all TV households in the country tuned in.
The Neilsons off the charts; 69,989,000 viewers. The most viewed since the PerotBushClinton debate in 1992. The biggest vice presidential debate--of all time. And higher ratings than Obama vs McCain..
Today, the Barracuda from Wasilla has taken the fight against the media--perhaps McCain's last best hope to energize the base .. a base smaller this year as target markets have been registered to vote in record masses by the Obama campaign..
All the news unfit to print for Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thirsty Thursday Thrilla: The Barricuda's Re-do
Grab some popcorn, pick your network, grab a beer, and get ready for what may be one of the most highly rated events on TV: Sarah Palin goes head to head with Joe Biden in a vice presidential grudge match..
Polls have slumped for McCain--some even have Obama with a 10 to 15 point advantage in some swing states.
The McCain campaign has pulled millions of dollars of campaign cash from Michigan.. Some advisors apparently not considering the state lost to Barack Obama.
Can Palin change it all tonight? Can women fall back in love with her stilettos, her miniskirt, her glasses, her hair? Can "Joe Sixpack" (God I hate when people use this term) fall back in love with her for her concern for his well being?
Can Biden tread his fine line between anger and comedy?
Can MSNBC, FOX NEWS, and CNN start acting unbiased?
Answers to at least some of these questions coming tonight..
All the news unfit to print for Friday, September 26, 2008
THAT'S A WRAP: FIRST DEBATE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES
The 20th Century Boy scores some punches against newbie Barack.. The race is here: An old man saying he knows more than a young man.. A young man shaky on some issues that the old man seems to be purposely acting more knowledgeable about.
This is the opposition year like 1980. Did Obama pass the threshold that Reagan passed in 1980? Will America notice that McCain got the name of the leader of Pakistan wrong?
Will America appreciate the sarcastic humor of McCain, or feel bad for Obama, as my parents clearly do. They told me.
The wrap:
Repeatedly, Obama said he agreed with Senator McCain..
"At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.
Among other details: Camp Obama wanted the economics debate to come last, being that they believe it's Obama's best issue.. However, the foreign policy debate will be last--presumably McCain's best suit.
The TIMES also reporting: "Obama aides also agreed to use lecterns at the first event, which Mr. McCain preferred; at the third debate, the two men will be seated at a round table, in the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions, with the moderator at 6 o’clock."..
Even more: The scar..
McCain aides said that they were conscious of the fact that Mr. McCain has a prominent scar on one side of his face, and that they could not predict how prominent it would appear with the camera angles, lighting and make-up.
Few people may realize the amount of debate goes into forming the real debate. Arguments between candidates about the setup and stage occur every four years--often times arguments just for the sake of one side threatening to pull out.
But each year, we see our candidates on stage about three times.. For better or worse, we make our choice on how they act. Gore's sighs in 2000 led him to lose, while Kerry's grandiose verbiage caused yawns.. We vote on looks. Kennedy in 1960 looked a lot better than a sweaty Nixon.. Reagan made people laugh in 1984. Clinton bested Dole by looking young.. And now in 2008, Obama vs McCain: The 20th century vs the 21st, on our TV sets of the 20th century, blogged on the net of the 21st, and watched by people of both centuries. A wild election so far, getting wilder and meaner, ready to be in living rooms across America in only days...
All the news unfit to print for Tuesday, September 16, 2008
If the election was held today..
It's not being held today.. you didn't miss anything. But I got polled again tonight, asking me "if the election was held today who would you vote for." Just for fun, I said "Ron Paul!" .. I was hung up on.
But if the election was indeed held today, Electoral-Vote.com says it would be Obama 247 McCain 257
"Perhaps more troubling for the Obama campaign than the overall head-to-head numbers, however, is the dramatic hardening of McCain's support suggested in the poll. In July, only 39 percent of McCain voters said they supported McCain strongly. By contrast, 71 percent now say they strongly support the Republican nominee. Obama, meanwhile, has seen support increase from his voters, as well, but far less dramatically—67 percent now say they support him strongly, compared to 61 percent in July. Enthusiastic support will prove crucial to both parties in a close election, as voters are more likely to turn out for, give money to and volunteer on behalf of candidates they firmly back"
Team McCain--until the pick of Palin--was fond of those big forums where no questions were off topic.. Nothing was out of bounds.. But John McCain's second string now with Sarah Palin as the pick for VP.. and he's quickly adapting to Palin country and how to win in it..
Obama said today that he's not worried about today's news of Palin's popularity.. A Gallup survey showed McCain leading over Obama among independents, and Republicans more strongly backing the McCain Palin ticket..
But while America shifted this week a little towards McCain, the world we live in continues to support Barack Obama in huge numbers.. It's too bad the world doesn't bring any electoral votes to the table...
All the news unfit to print for Thursday, September 4, 2008
Ap photo "FIGHT WITH ME" MCCAIN MAKES HIS CASE
"Fight for what's right for our country.
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children's future.
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.
Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history."..
All the news unfit to print for Tuesday, September 2, 2008
VETTING SARAH PALIN: MCCAIN PUSHES BACK AGAINST ATTACKS
The strange saga of Sarah Palin continues.. since she was chosen days ago by Senator John McCain to join the Grand Old Party ticket, blogs have slammed her, news coverage has lampooned her, and politicians have taken part in a whisper campaign against her..
The world seems to be piling up on Sarah.
John McCain can only hope the pileon will end up helping..
John McCain said today, "My vetting process was completely thorough." ..Reports state that Palin turned over several years of tax returns, submitted written answers to over 70 questions, and she was once fined for a fishing license violation.. Palin disclosed her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy in a private conversation..
Palin hired lobbyists when she was a mayor in a small Alaska town.. John McCain said today that America is 'excited' over his choice of Palin..
The Republican party's grass roots seems to be fired up over Palin as VP .. they got even more so when nasty rumors abounded on blogs that Palin's youngest son with downs syndrome was really her daughter's first son... And even more fired up when it was revealed that her daughter is pregnant..
Opponents, however, keep piling on.. Prediction markets bet that Palin will withdraw, news today that she belonged to a Secessionist Party, and today Obama hit 50% in a Gallup poll for the first time since the campaign began..
With all that said, Pat Buchanan writes today that Palin is paying off for McCain, "big-time."
Paying off with conservatives, big-time, yes.. But with all of America? Can't tell yet.
But the world is watching.. And viewing a once obscure Alaskan Governor--and her family--through the lens of a media circus..
Palin addresses the Republican convention Wednedsay..
All the news unfit to print for Monday, September 1, 2008
WE'RE THE WIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP
Move over Jerry Lewis!
The would-be Republican convention has turned into a telethon.. Laura Bush and Cindy McCain lead the appeal for donations after Hurricane Gustav.. They appeared Monday night at an abridged version of opening night of the Republican Convention for the fundraising effort.. Delegates are also putting together comfort packages filled with supplies for hurricane victims..
REUTERS/Matt Sullivan/Files Other womanly-presidential news.. America's would be VPILF Sarah Palin embroiled in controversy already.. Rumors persisted online for days that her most recent child was actually her 17-year-old daughter's child.. The rumor got national attention after appearing on left leaning Daily Kos, republished by the Drudge Report..
Today, Palin acknowledged that her 17-year-old daughter was currently pregnant .. "Life happens," said McCain adviser Steve Schmidt, talking about the pregnancy story..
As for that ugly rumor about Palin's child with down syndrome? Obama said publicly today that if he finds out anyone in his campaign is spreading the rumors they would be fired...
Hockey moms and soccer moms unite? The possibilities of Palin
AP Photo/Heath Family
Now that America is getting to know Sarah Palin--and quite possibly John McCain is getting to know her, too--questions are arising along with a certain pop-cultural "VPILF" pile-on online..
McCain seems to have chosen Palin on a gut instinct.. Not knowing her, he had to rely on what he knew about her, or at least what he was told about her..
I envision a sort of awkward meeting.. perhaps he's not too sure what to think of this strange-accented Northern gun-toating snowmobiling 'hot' Governor-ess from a state very few people even think about when the speak of "America." It's a huge gamble..
Did she get vetted? The PEOPLE magazine cover this week on the new McCain/Palin team looked strange .. McCain seems able to 'strange up' any situation he's in, though. He looked like a proud grandfather at a baptism for his grandchild.. Palin the happy mom of 5.. The risky gamble..
State politicians up in the North are stunned at the Palin choice, too.. State Senate President Lyda Green said she thought it was a joke when someone called her at 6 a.m. to give her the news.. "She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president? Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"
And Lyda Green is a Republican!And a reader of Andrew Sullivan notes a fact: The pop cultural appeal of Palin is already ongoing.. I wrote of that the day of her pick..
I also read one story in which the author mentioned that McCain "fingered" the Alaska governor for his VP choice.. .. perhaps now that we have a female Vice President it may be necessary to watch the verbs we choose? Be careful, editors...
HAVOC AT THE GOP CONVENTION: WHO WILL ATTEND, WHO WILL CANCEL? McCAIN/PALIN TO GO TO MISSISSIPPI
The Republican party is set to start its convention Monday--just as Hurricane Gustav (and then Hanna) make major headlines in the Gulf of Mexico..
Tonight, as Governor Bobby Jindal says Gustav could be worse than Katrina and Mayor Ray Nagin is telling New Orleans residents to be 'very scared' of Gustav, questions persist as to who will be speaking at GOP convention.. The POLITICO details a scrambled mess .. President George W. Bush, officials say, will most likely not be at the convention.. There are even plans that John McCain may deliver his acceptance speech via satellite..
According to the POLITICO report tonight, McCain was scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech Thursday but now may do so from the devastation zone if the storm hits the U.S. coast with the ferocity feared by forecasters..
All the news unfit to print for Saturday, August 30, 2008
POLITICO SLAMS MCCAIN: HE'S DESPERATE
PEOPLE magazine placing the McCains and Palins on the cover.. the new happy family of politics.. Maybe.. but I noticed watching the talking heads that, for even those that really dislike VPILF candidate Sarah Palin, they are having lots of trouble being critical. Being very careful..
Besides Keith Olbermann..
The POLITICO this morning issues a hit on McCain's motives, calling the once declared maverick 'desperate'..
Authors Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris explain the six things that the Palin pick says about McCain: He's desperate; he's willing to gamble — bigtime; he's worried about the political implications of his age; he's not worried about the actuarial implications of the age issue, he's worried about his conservative base; and at the end of the day, "McCain is still McCain," marching to his own beat..
But on the heels of Obama's convention address, the most amazing political speech since Lincoln addressed Gettysburg during war, McCain needed some good press. Sure, he only met Palin once or twice, and sure, maybe her husband is not even a Republican, and sure, maybe she wasn't quite sure what a Vice President did.. And for a candidate that just turned 72 trying to distance himself from George W. Bush, what could be better than a PEOPLE magazine cover with his new attractive young Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin?
All the news unfit to print for Friday, August 29, 2008
They tried that union angle..
Palin's husband is a member of the Steelworkers union, but tonight the union has issued a press release from USW International President Leo W. Gerard on the Palin choice takes away some of those union hugs.. We'll see how long the McCain camp uses the union line..
REUTERS PHOTO
Until today, Alasksa Governor Sarah Palin was unknown in the lower 48 states..
The Obama campaign wanted today to be all about Barack.. the speech, the 75,000+ in attendance at Invesco, and the 40 million record viewers watching on television around the world..
But instead of typing and talking about the monumental speech last night given by Obama, the media quickly turned its attention to the world's best kept secret until about 10:50am today: John McCain's vice presidential pick..
The 'hockey mom' and tough governor often took on her own party.. she opposed the bridge to nowhere.. (however, she is until scrutiny in her state now after firing someone that did not fire a state trooper..) .. she also hid her pregnancy from the public until about 8 months.. she opposes abortion--tested by her youngest child, born with down syndrome. She wanted to keep her baby.. Her oldest son enlisted in the military and is headed to Iraq..
Rumors today that John McCain really didn't know Palin.. perhaps it's a surgical strike against the Democrats, a hopeful play in the year everyone wants change.. And the year everyone is talking about that glass ceiling..
Revealed tonight on Hardball, Palin and her husband was a fan of Pat Buchanan back in 1996..
She's a lifelong NRA member.. She was a runner up for beauty queen.. Her husband works in oil. She likes basketball and hockey..
And the world is reacting.. A sampling:
Comedy Central: Superhot Alaska Governor Palin picked for VP ..
Palin is 44..
AP: "McCain 'taps' Alaska governor"Andrea Mitchell reporting that McCain has only met Palin once!TIME mag: Unclear what her foreign policy beliefs are..Palin gets PEOPLE magazine treatment..
All the news unfit to print for Thursday, August 28, 2008
RAINING ON OBAMA'S PARTHENON
Republican candidate John McCain doing his best to try to take the spotlight away from the Obama acceptance speech tonight at Invesco field, Denver..
Rumors have circulated all day of who may be his choice for Vice President.. But the news may not be nearly as exciting as Obama's speech before 80,000 screaming fans..
Tonight, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has abruptly canceled numerous public appearances..
Palenty's stock has been rising within the McCain camp this week.. McCain himself, reports claim, has narrowed his search down to Leiberman, the unlikely, Romney, the conversatives' creepy friend, and Tim Pawlenty, who seems to be angering no one but also exciting anyone..
The McCain camp has also planned an ad blitz tonight--during Obama's speech.. In the ad, the McCain team said, the Republican will 'speak directly' to Obama..
ALREADY: MANY MOCKING OBAMA'S SET CHOICE FOR TONIGHT'S SPEECH
It was bound to happen.. I asked yesterday what was the Obama team thinking?
Rumors circulated Wednesday that the stage set for the Obama acceptance speech tonight at Invesco Field gave the impression of an ancient Greek temple.. The Parthenon.. Mt Olympus..
One story in the Rocky Mountain News said the "stars were aligned" for the speech tonight..
The McCain camp was quick to mock the choice, New York tabloids piled on.. Murdoch's NY POST began their story this morning, "Democrats will kneel before the "Temple of Obama" tonight. As if a Rocky Mountain coronation were not lofty enough, Barack Obama will aim for Mount Olympus when he accepts his party's nomination atop an enormous, Greek-columned stage - built by the same cheesy set team that put together Britney Spears' last tour. "
Stevie Wonder and Cheryl Crow are going to take part in the festival.. Also expect to see John Legend
While the set looks Greek, at night it may give off the impression that Obama is standing in front of the White House..
And predictably, according to the Politico, senior Democrats are nervous about the Obama approach to his acceptance speech. Nervous about 80,000 cheering fans, the weather, the stage design, and about the chance that the McCain campaign could use images of the rock star appearance to slam Obama as.. a rock star (like they did a few weeks back)..
While the world may be watching tonight, each part of that world will form their own opinion .. And it's not going to be a toga party for everyone..
John McCain was tortured in Vietnam with little to no medical care for over 5 years.. He has trouble lifting his arms towards his head.. He often comes off as awkward. Again, because of more than 5 years of constant torture..
Perhaps a large suit or coat is the least of McCain's concerns..
All the news unfit to print for Monday, July 21, 2008
McCain to reveal VP this week?
Bob Novak issues report late today .. reporting that McCain, trying to take spotlight away from gargantuan Obama tour to the East, will reveal his vice presidential pick this week..
Speculation has abounded for weeks that America may have to get re-adjusted to Mitt Romney, all over again..
schmuck -shmuhk- a noun Slang. an obnoxious or contemptible person.
Origin:
1890-95; Yiddish shmok (vulgar) lit., penis of uncert. orig.
MUCKRAKER: A muckraker seeks to expose corruption of businesses or government to the public
Origin:
Theodore Roosevelt used the term muckrake in a 1906 speech in which he agreed with the
accusations of muckrakers, but questioned their methods
Schmuckraker: A website dedicated to expanding knowledge of readers by muckraking and
focusing on schmucks of society Origin: 1998 school newspaper
in Northeastern Pennsylvania
A NEW DAY? 
HIS LAST CHANCE..NOW THE COMEBACK?
REUTERS/Jim Bourg (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008
(USA)
The debate's over .. Joe the Plumber .. a new character as popular as Bob the Builder? Maybe not. But Joe the Plumber is 
Reaction to the Biden Palin debate has been fully aired on TV, radio, and Internet all day--plus on factory floors and around office water coolers across America.
Judging from ratings of the event, lots of people got the chance to talk about the debate today.
Grab some popcorn, pick your network, grab a beer, and get ready for what may be one of the most highly rated events on TV: Sarah Palin goes head to head with Joe Biden in a vice presidential grudge match..
Polls have slumped for McCain--some even have Obama with a 10 to 15 point advantage in some swing states.
The McCain campaign has pulled millions of dollars of campaign cash from Michigan.. Some advisors apparently not considering the state lost to Barack Obama.
Can Palin change it all tonight? Can women fall back in love with her stilettos, her miniskirt, her glasses, her hair? Can "Joe Sixpack" (God I hate when people use this term) fall back in love with her for her concern for his well being?
Can Biden tread his fine line between anger and comedy?
Can MSNBC, FOX NEWS, and CNN start acting unbiased?
Answers to at least some of these questions coming tonight..
The 20th Century Boy scores some punches against newbie Barack.. The race is here: An old man saying he knows more than a young man.. A young man shaky on some issues that the old man seems to be purposely acting more knowledgeable about.
This is the opposition year like 1980. Did Obama pass the threshold that Reagan passed in 1980? Will America notice that McCain got the name of the leader of Pakistan wrong?
Will America appreciate the sarcastic humor of McCain, or feel bad for Obama, as my parents clearly do. They told me.
The wrap:
Probably not.. But there has been a lot of debate lately over whether or not McCain can use the Internet. .
The amazing race: 
The world was rocked about 10:10 pm EDT last night..
Sarah Palin spoke.. and the 
The Republican party is set to start its convention Monday--just as Hurricane Gustav (and then Hanna) make major headlines in the Gulf of Mexico..
Tonight, as Governor Bobby Jindal says Gustav could be worse than Katrina and Mayor Ray Nagin is telling New Orleans residents to be 'very scared' of Gustav, questions persist as to who will be speaking at GOP convention.. 
PEOPLE magazine placing the McCains and Palins on the cover.. the new happy family of politics.. Maybe.. but I noticed watching the talking heads that, for even those that really dislike VPILF candidate Sarah Palin, they are having lots of trouble being critical. Being very careful..
Besides Keith Olbermann..
The 
REUTERS PHOTO
Until today, Alasksa Governor Sarah Palin was unknown in the lower 48 states..
The Obama campaign wanted today to be all about Barack.. the speech, the 75,000+ in attendance at Invesco, and the 40 million record viewers watching on television around the world..
But instead of typing and talking about the monumental speech last night given by Obama, the media quickly turned its attention to the world's best kept secret until about 10:50am today: John McCain's vice presidential pick..
The 'hockey mom' and tough governor often took on her own party.. she opposed the bridge to nowhere.. (however, she is until scrutiny in her state now after 
Republican candidate John McCain doing his best to try to take the spotlight away from the Obama acceptance speech tonight at Invesco field, Denver..
Rumors have circulated all day of who may be his choice for Vice President.. But the news may not be nearly as exciting as Obama's speech before 80,000 screaming fans..
Tonight, 
