All the News Unfit Print for Tuesday, November 25, 2008
INTRIGUE OVER BUSH PHOTO: PRESIDENT DOWNING A PISCO SOUR COCKTAIL
Bush back on the sauce? One of the rules of someone that gives up liquor is that one drink can send you back on the road to perdition..
A Pisco Sour is a cocktail containing Pisco (a Peruvian brandy), lemon juice, egg whites, simple syrup, and regional bitters, and according to Andina online's coverage of the 2008 APEC summit, Bush was drinking the Peruvian cocktail during a meeting on Saturday...
No sip goes unnoticed: The HUFFINGTON POST gave national attention to the overseas cocktail on its website today..
For years since Iraq and Katrina, the NATIONAL ENQUIRER has reported to supermarket shoppers (and other interested parties that decline to admit they read it weekly) that Bush was drinking on a regular basis ..
The photograph of Bush's senior years will raise already curious eyebrows around the globe.. The cameras are always on..
This go around, it's not Mark Rich, but instead: 14 individuals and two others commuted .. misdeeds ranging from drug offenses to tax evasion, from wildlife violations to bank embezzlement..
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%...
No, really: I think I did well with predictions.. Check out my map I came up with back in October and compare it to the result .. not bad, if I say so myself. My wife now owes me dinner, she didn't think I would predict the election this well .. Still thinking about where she should take me.
My next prediction---And I am not being sarcastic--is that FOX NEWS will become very, very friendly to Barack Obama. Really, I believe they will *at least for now.
I think history is the best judge of a president---LONG after it's all over and done with. We don't know what secrets lurk until years later, we don't know what secret classified documents will one day be revealed. After all, we're still learning about some presidents that served long ago even today..
While I don't believe there will be historians that forgive Bush for mismanagement of the Iraq war or Katrina, I believe they will be kind in their view of 9/11, especially in the sense that terrorism in America didn't occur again. However, equally, he may be maligned in history textbooks for civil liberties issues (*unless of course the Obama Administration continues down the same path, which it appears he may*)
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..
The Star Spangled Banner .. Proudly played at Harvard
The video is interesting.. a new generation proud of America?? The youth of America.. all alright? They actually know the words of the Star Spangled Banner.. That alone is a reason to hope
Proposition 8 success: California state constitution can now be amended to ban gay marriage
Voters in California went for Barack Obama by 61%--but the same turnout of African Americans hugely supported Prop 8 by about 70%..
With the passage of Proposition 8, the state constitution in California can now be amended to put an official ban on gay marriage. It would be law--and thus take away the ability for courts to continue to allow gay marriages..
Protests in Los Angelas as police say they are prepared for whatever happens..
The California state Attorney General says that gays that already married in California are valid--but of course this now heads to court.
Andrew Sullivan on the story..
The NEW YORK TIMES was ready: They printed 35% more than the usual number of newspapers when Barack Obama was put on the front page as the victor.. But did they envision their paper being sold on Craigslist and eBay for more than $200!?
I'd imagine not.
Newspapers across the country sold out instantly in many places--even local papers saw sales go up. A sudden demand for the old media in a time where the new media led a new generation to vote? Fascinating. There's something about holding that black and white page in front of you in the morning.. something about seeing the news in front of you in your hands when something big in the world happens, or when the world as we know it changes.
You can save websites, but it's not the same as newspapers. They still have a place--even with sales in general are down in big numbers..
According to reporting today on FOX NEWS by Carl Cameron, Sarah Palin didn't know that Africa was a country.. she also didn't know what countries were in NAFTA. If this information would have been reported during the duration of the campaign, the race would have been an even bigger landslide than it was..
Was she vetted? NEWSWEEK reporting that Palin was announced on a Friday--two days after McCain was still talking about choosing Lieberman for VP.. NEWSWEEK detailing more stories of spending sprees and embarrassing notes from the 2008 campaign--reporting in essence that the McCain campaign was a mess..
McCain aides speaking aloud now .. rumors that swirled in inner circles of the media during the campaign now being made public .. I still don't think for a second that this is the last time we hear about or see Governor Palin.. Rumors up in Alaska go this way: Senator Stevens steps down, and Palin gets the chance to go for the seat herself.. Just keep her away from any committees that deal with the ... country Continent of Africa...
Obama wins Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin
McCain wins Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming, Utah.
Joe Biden has also won a reelection campaign for Senate in Delaware.. just a backup plan in case a miracle happens and California goes red...
From the PATRIOT NEWS: "For Dominic Colardo, 27, of Harrisburg, who works in sales, a beer on a Tuesday night isn't typical, but he sat at a bar at The Quarter on Second Street, across the street from Obama's Harrisburg headquarters, to celebrate. He and other volunteers for Obama's campaign gathered there to wait for election results.
"Hope won," Colardo declared. "People caught on with the message of hope. It's very exciting and encouraging. It was something we should all be proud of." "
They would have most likely been drunk in Ireland anyway, but Andrew Sullivan running a photo tonight from Ireland of the good ole' Irish celebrating the victory of Barack Obama in America..
See, it's a small world after all..
Lou Barletta in a close race with Paul Kanjorski .. And it's down to Murtha.. Republicans hoping it's the one final slap at Democrats in a blue state that appears to be safely blue in 2008..
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..
Exit polls are coming in .. Obama winning big over McCain in exit polls, according to reporting on various websites that got a hold of the numbers.. Senate shows a majority of 58 seats for Democrats possible.. Exit polls in Pennsylvania, according to the Drudge Report, show Obama winning by 15% ..
In 2004, the numbers were the same--it ended up being much closer than what was expected..
According to reporting from Howard Fineman, huge turnout occurred not only in Philadelphia but also other areas in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre with high African-American turnout, and Pittsburgh. .Wilkinsburg has many African Americans.. Obama has hoped for the black turnout to be huge .. and it appears that it is. The Pennsylvania state Republican party put a last minute ad on about Jeremiah Wright.. perhaps working to the advantage of Obama... Developing in the Keystone state..
Long lines.. some bad weather.. All to get that "I Voted" sticker and do your civic duties ... countries across the world fight and die to get a system like we have in America. We took it for granted for years--apparently not in 2008
The vote is on.. reporting from throughout the country show a busier than normal election day--and election day rally on Wall Street giving a triple digit gain to moneymen and women worried about the future.. Voting across America not without issue: Philadelphia troubles as police confront 'security patrol' at Philly polling place..
The first polls will close in less than two hours now.. Kentucky blue grass and Indiana crossroads here we come. That perfect beginning to a night of election returns that, either way, will change America/// Developing..
Drenched Obama: "You notice what happened when I started talking about Dick Cheney! Now – that's all right. We’ve been through an 8-year storm but a new day is dawning."
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..
The November surprise: Show Aunt Zeituni the way to go home
Obama's aunt has been living in the United States illegally .. in 2004 she was denied asylum. Barack Obama today said he didn't know it.
This may have absolutely positively no effect on the campaign, but it's interesting how these little tiny events pop up to get in a candidates way on the road to the coronation White House.
The Associated Press reporting that Obama said he didn't know Aunt Zeituni was living in the United States illegally. Onyango has not been publicly spoken about by Obama in events like other members of his family were..
Reminiscent a little of that Bush DUI charge that came out only hours before the election in 2000? Yea. The October surprise came late.. And it's probably--like the Bush DUI issue--insignificant.
"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 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
Random rakings
No shockers here: The newsweeklies placing 44 on the cover.. 
According to reporting today on FOX NEWS by Carl Cameron, Sarah Palin didn't know that Africa was a country.. she also didn't know what countries were in NAFTA. If this information would have been reported during the duration of the campaign, the race would have been an even bigger landslide than it was..
Was she vetted? NEWSWEEK reporting that Palin was announced on a Friday--two days after McCain was still talking about choosing Lieberman for VP.. 
V O T E ! !
IGNORE THE POLLS
IGNORE THE PUNDITS
IT'S YOUR TURN
A NEW DAY? 
HIS LAST CHANCE..NOW THE COMEBACK?
