By GottaLaff
It's quiet today, so here's a summer rerun to keep you busy while I put together another one of these:
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Encore! John Sidney McCain's Fake Talk Express: The Video
Quote-O'-The-Day: Obama playing which card?
By GottaLaff
"Playing the race card? Have you seen all those guys on our currency? He was playing the powdered wig card!"How dare he.
Poll-itics: Buh-bye Senator Stevens
By GottaLaff
Teddy was a ba-a-ad boy. And ba-a-ad boys are losers:
A new Ivan Moore Research poll in Alaska shows Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) leading Sen. Ted Stevens, 56% to 35%.I guess Republicans admire indicted candidates enough to want them to stay in office. The Values Party in action.
However, even though Stevens faces six opponents in the Aug. 26 Republican primary, he still holds a huge lead over chief rival Dave Cuddy (R), 59% to 19%.
Meanwhile, a new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Begich leading Stevens, 50% to 37%.
Obama In South Bend (IN) Tuesday
Hmm, the guys are wondering if it vp related, but I don't see it. If there were a vp coming out of a South Bend vibe, it'd be Tim Roemer. Makes you think...
On the Veepwatch front, nothing's on Obama's schedule yet, but the traveling press registration e-mail has us flying to South Bend at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and not leaving until 3:25 p.m. the next day.
It seems seems like an awfully long time to be in one place. (Where exactly is Evan Bayh?)
Bayh's home town is near Terre Haute, Ind. -- about four-hour drive from South Bend. But South Bend is a nice geographical point between Illinois and Ohio, and just south of the Michigan line
Obama communications stretegist Robert Gibbs says all that shoudl be taken from it is that "Indiana is competitive and winnable for us," he said.
Apparently he's been mentioned before.
Obama agrees to 3 debates with McCain
Hmmm, so what it boils down to is the McCain wants 10 "townhalls", Obama offered 2 and McCain won't compromise. Wish I could remember who said that basically McCain just wants to tie Obama up timewise so he has less time to campaign, because it's looking more and more like that is exactly what is going on.WASHINGTON (AP)
— Democratic candidate Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from rival John McCain's challenge for a series of joint appearances before the political conventions, agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.
In May, when a McCain adviser proposed a series of pre-convention appearances at town hall meetings, Obama said, "I think that's a great idea." In summer stumping on the campaign trail, McCain has often noted that Obama had not followed through and joined him in any events.
On Saturday, in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the short period between the last political convention and the first proposed debate made it likely that the commission-sponsored debates would be the only ones in the fall.
"We've committed to the three debates on the table," campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Saturday in an interview. "It's likely they will be the three appearances by the candidates this fall."
Asked by The Associated Press if that meant Obama would not agree to any other debates, Psaki said, "We're not saying that." She said the McCain campaign had rejected Obama's proposal for two joint town hall meetings.
McCain security ousts (African American) reporter
Nothing to see here....
Tallahassee Democrat senior writer Stephen Price on Friday was singled out and asked to leave a media area at the Panama City rally of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.
Price was among at least three other reporters, and the only black reporter, surrounding McCain's campaign bus — Gov. Charlie Crist and his fiancee, Carole Rome, were already aboard — when a member of the Arizona senator's security detail asked the reporter to identify himself. Price had shown his media credentials to enter the area.
Price showed his employee identification as well as his credentials for the Friday event.
"I explained I was with the state press, but the Secret Service man said that didn't matter and that I would have to go," Price said.
More at the link here, some analysis of John McCain and his history with African Americans here.
Afternoon Distraction
Finally saw "Shut Up And Sing" all the way through. Didn't think I could get that mad all over again.
BREAKING! CNN's bus is mega!!!
By GottaLaff
CNN has its own.....
....
....
news bus. For the election. A MegaBus.
It has a captain's chair. And a steering wheel. And tables. And people. And lights. And a TeeVee Machine. And buttons. And a coffee maker. And a microwave. And a refrigerator. And food. And a bathroom. And a wall.... And a horn.
More details as they come in. This is GottaLaff in Westlake Village, California. Back to you, Wolf.
Obama's responds to offshore drilling plans
By GottaLaff
I refused to use CNN's headline (Obama defends offshore oil drilling policy change) since it implies it was not only a policy change, but morphed right into the ever-popular, biased "flip flop".
Sen. Barack Obama responded Saturday to criticism that he flip-flopped on his position opposing offshore oil drilling.See? There it is. Flip-flop. CNN made sure to include that in their neutral, unbiased post. Note the absence of the words "compromise", "reaching across the aisle", and "listening to Americans". But "flip-flopping" is prominently featured in their lead sentence. Obama:
Of course, the McDrilling camp claimed that Obama softened because of McDrilling's leadership.But on Saturday morning, Obama said this "wasn't really a new position."
"I made a general point about the fact that we need to provide the American people some relief and that there has been constructive conversations between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on this issue so I applaud them on that but I am not ready to sign off on any particular approach or proposal because I think these are very important issues," he said during a press conference in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Obama added: "What I will not do, and this has always been my position is to support a plan that suggests this drilling is the answer to our energy problems. If we've got a plan on the table that I think meets the goals that America has to set and there are some things in there that I don't like then obviously that's something that you know I would consider because that's the nature of how we govern in a democracy." [...]
But Friday, Obama admitted that something is better than nothing and praised a bipartisan energy plan from the Senate that combines alternative energy innovation, financial, nuclear energy and drilling proposals. He noted he is still skeptical about drilling's potential to lower gas prices or reduce dependence on foreign oil.
"The Republicans and the oil companies have been really beating the drums on drilling," Obama said in the interview with the Florida paper, "and so we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done."
I haven't seen anything mentioned about McDrilling's campaign being based entirely on flip-flops, have you?
Dana Milbank Is A
Pick your pejorative. Gotta doesn't let me cuss.
Summary: In an online discussion, Dana Milbank dismissed participants' criticisms of his July 30 column -- a "sketch" of Sen. Barack Obama's "premature presidency" -- as "whines." Milbank began the discussion by acknowledging that "some of you have some thoughts you'd like to share about yesterday's Sketch on the premature presidency of Barack Obama," and before taking questions, wrote: "I've decided to approach today's chat as a wine writer would. ... Today, I am inaugurating the Whine Enthusiast, in which I will rate your whines."
Stuff You Should Read
Obama calls McCain 'cynical,' not racist
Fine for Obama, but I'm not going to mince words. The McCain camp is running a racist, elitist, homophobic campaign. Plus any other ists that I missed. That is the plan of the Rovites- throw every damn thing at Obama and just wait to see what sticks.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told reporters in Titusville, Fla., on Saturday that he is at “peace” with a McCain campaign ad seeking to portray him as an airhead celebrity in the mold of Britney Spears or Paris Hilton.
“Let me be clear,” Obama said in response to a question about the injection of race into the campaign.
“In no way do I think that John McCain's campaign was being racist, I think they're cynical, and I think they want to distract people from talking about the real issues.
“And so I’m at … peace with the Britney and Paris Web ad. Or [the campaign’s charge that] somehow I wouldn't go visit the troops unless I had reporters with me — which every reporter who was on the trip knows is absolutely not true. …
McCain Or Britney?
Britney Spears (CNN, 10/30/03):
CARLSON: A lot of entertainers have come out against the war in Iraq. Have you?
SPEARS: Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes and we should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens.
CARLSON: Do you trust this president?
SPEARS: Yes, I do.
John McCain (The Mike Gallgher Show, March 2008)
"No one has supported President Bush on Iraq more than I have."
John McCain (MSNBC, 8/20/06):
GREGORY: Do you have confidence in the President and his national security team to lead the war at this stage?
MCCAIN: I do. I do. I have confidence in the President, and I believe that he is well aware of the severity of the situation.
I told you so
Go read this so you know what we're up against. I'm not going to even comment on it because it's so out there, but you really need to know about it. It's very important that you read that- really.
Sitemeter Takes Down The Internet
In one fell swoop.Thanks to Gimmeabreak for emailing and letting me know about the problem so I wasn't wandering the intertubes ignorant. Info on what happened here. Hope they get it fixed soon since Gotta and I are both sitemeter junkies.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Bad press = good money for Obama
By GottaLaff
A reader writes:
Hey Marc,After making my third $25 contribution earlier this week (I told myself I was done until after the convention but then Paris-gate hit), Plouffe sent fellow contributors a campaign update. Here are the numbers:-- 200,000 contributions in the past week, including 100,000 yesterday. One third of contributors are new.
Shallow Thoughts: Anthrax edition
By GottaLaff
Answers in anthrax case may have died with suicideWasn't that exactly what BushCo wanted?
Friday Night Distraction
Dedicated to John McCain, inspired by FDL. Any other appropriate suggestions?
No. Nonono. No offshore drilling, Obama
By GottaLaff
The Palm Beach Post reports, "U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said today he would be willing to open Florida's coast for more oil drilling if it meant winning approval for broad energy changes. 'My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices,' Obama said...""'If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage - I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done,' Obama said."
More: "[H]e told the Post he would be open to expanding the current drilling boundaries if it meant winning approval for more fuel-efficient cars, developing alternative energy sources and making the country more 'energy independent.'"
Doesn't one cancel out the other? Drilling cannot be done without causing enviromental damage sooner or later. And it will do nothing to make the country more energy independent.
"'I think it's important for the American people to understand we're not going to drill our way out of this problem,' he said. 'It's also important to recognize if you start drilling now you won't see a drop of oil for ten years, which means its not going to have a significant impact on short-term prices. Every expert agrees on that.'"In that case, why do it? Why compromise his own standards and our environment to make a meaningless compromise with the other side? While it's true that a majority of Americans support offshore drilling, will this really win Obama a substantial number of votes?
John Sidney McDelusional
By GottaLaff
On whether the campaign's general tone has been negative, McCain said, "I don’t think our campaign is negative in the slightest. I’m, we think it’s got a lot of humor in it and we’re having fun and enjoying it..."What is up with that very odd "enjoying it" phrase?
..."And that is what campaigns are going to be like, that’s what every campaign that I have been involved in…I am going to enjoy it ..."
There it is again.
..."and I’m the underdog. And we will continue to fight and scrap all the way till November the fourth."
And what does the Obama campaign have to say about that?
The Obama campaign has called McCain's new ads, including the TV ad that likens Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, as "juvenile antics" that have helped them raise money.Who could have imagined that the seasoned, mossy, wizened 72-year-old would act less mature than the inexperienced, presumptuous, fledgling 47-year-old?
Pets banned in public in Riyadh
By GottaLaff
Religious police in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, banned the sale of dogs and cats as pets and prohibited walking them in public.Doggone it, I have a real bone to pick with the "religious police". Someone needs to nip this in the bud. This certainly gives one, ahem, paws. I, for one, would never roll over. I'd hound them to death until they overturned the ban. Those dirty dogs, "curs" them all.
An official of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice said the ban was because of "the rising phenomenon of men using cats and dogs to make passes at women and pester families," as well as "violate proper behavior in public."
Previous bans in Mecca and Jidda have been ignored and failed to stop pet sales. The commission official said pets would be confiscated if found outside with their owners.
The skinny on Obama and Lincoln
By GottaLaff
This is so beyond ludicrous that I had to re-emphasize the obvious comparison:
(Quote source; click image to enlarge)
H/t: Commenter Chris for reminding me of the Lincoln comparison
No, he doesn't look like the faces on the money John
As you so helpfully pointed out for us a couple months ago.
Via.
The story that wouldn't go away: Hillary off the v.p. list, again
By GottaLaff
A source close to the New York senator confirmed she won't file a formal request to the convention asking to be nominated along with Barack Obama, who eked out the victory in their fierce primary slugfest.But TPM adds another wrinkle:
"She is not going to submit the signed request," the insider told the Daily News. "People are still circulating petitions on her behalf, but this is a done deal."
Party rules stipulate that Clinton must ask in writing to be nominated herself and also submit a petition signed by 300 to 600 delegates. Without her signed request, petitions of support are meaningless.
But according to Hillary spokesperson Kathleen Strand, in truth Hillary is actually not making this decision on her own -- she's making it in concert with both the DNC and the Obama campaign.I'll continue to wait for the next report that swears she's off the list, for new and different and more provocative reasons.
"While no decisions have been made at this time, they will be made collaboratively with Senator Clinton and her staff, the DNC and Senator Obama's campaign and released at the appropriate time," Strand emails me. Curiously, according to Strand, this quote was also provided to the Daily News but didn't make it into its story.
In truth, the decision isn't quite as straightforward as it looks.
It's unclear whether her pulling her name out of contention could provoke some of her more passionate delegates to create other problems. The Obama campaign, too, will have a major say over what's finally decided and will have its own considerations.
John Sidney McKneeSlapper's just trying to "have a little fun"... at Obama's expense
By GottaLaff
I keep missing the beginning of J Sid's press conference coverage, but I caught this much from Kelly O'Donnell's MSNBC Phone convo with David Shuster:
They're "just trying to have some fun, inject a little humor"! Aren't they fun? So authentic and beer-partnery!
Now that Obama has said he doesn't think the McCain camp has played the race card, McCain says they're "ready to move on". Of course they are. They've done as much damage to Obama and themselves as they can.
Has he been amplifying the race issue? Nah. He's "ready to move on". He wouldn't back off, but he didn't want to "inflame it any further" either. Wow, he has ethics coming out of his moral little sunscreened ears, doesn't he?
Oh, and they're hoping this video will become viral. You know, because the "Charlton Heston film clip makes it a little fun". See how fun you think it is:
UPDATE: I just heard McCain say this, in a clip from the presser-- "They were clearly playing the race card, but his campaign retracted those remarks, so let's move on."
That seems a far cry from what Kelly O'Donnell said, although I did come in late on her reporting.
It's worse. A lot worse. What a "straightforward guy" he is.
"Is Obama off his game?" Oh no! Is he??? .... No.
By GottaLaff
First Obama "plays the race card", and now he's "off his game"! What a disaster! Land sakes alive! He isn't qualified to even think about running for president! This is a deal breaker!!
Yes, I watched this morning as MSNBC aired Obama at a town hall meeting at which he got "heckled". Three African American audience members held up a sign that read, "What About the Black Community, Obama?" and interrupted Obama to ask him pointed questions. Obama tried to calm them down, and proceeded to answer the questions. He didn't have them removed, they stayed until the end, and the audience members who took the banner from them returned it later.
News Anchorette was visibly aquiver, hoping against hope that she had a Real Story on her hands!! She even mentioned how "beautifully" McCain has handled his own hecklers. And lucky her! There was a reporter right there at the event itself! She breathlessly asked for his version, via MSNBC Phone. Know what he said?
Paraphrasing: Nothing.
This was handled calmly and well by Obama, Phone Guy said, it was low key, and there was nothing to report. End of story.
News Anchorette said that, well, since that was it, then she wouldn't make more out of it than was warranted. End of story again. Oh, and News Anchorette never uttered a word about how "beautifully" Obama handled the situation.
That was at about 8 a.m. my time. Fast forward to 1 pm, and what does the chyron on MSNBC say every 5 seconds?
"OBAMA OFF HIS GAME?" and "ON MESSAGE?"They've had talking head after talking head vulturize, and vulgarize, what is a non-story. Their own reporter said it was a non-story, News Anchorette reluctantly admitted as much, and as a viewer, I can confirm that it is, indeed, a non-story.
Not any more.
Now, is anyone asking, "Is McCain Off His Game???" No, because as everyone now knows, he handles these things "beautifully".
A month after 9/11, John Sidney McCain said anthrax attack was from Iraq
By GottaLaff
As Atrios recalls, shortly after 9/11, conservatives were pinning the blame for the anthrax attacks on Iraq, laying the groundwork for a subsequent invasion. John McCain was part of this fearmongering effort. On October 18, 2001, McCain appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. When asked how the war in Afghanistan was progressing, McCain volunteered that the invasion of Iraq would be the “second phase” of the War on Terror. He preyed on the public’s fear at the time by claiming that the anthrax “may have come from Iraq.”Oh, and looky here! More McTasteless attempts at humor!
Isn't he hilarious? People want to vote for him. That's not as funny.In the interview McCain tastelessly joked, in reference to the House adjourning until the Capitol could be cleared of the anthrax threat, that Congress members should “bring out their dead!” Less than a week later, two US Postal Service employees working in a facility that sorted mail destined for the Capitol would be dead.
McCain opened the interview by asking Letterman, “What is Osama bin Laden going to be for Halloween?” “Dead!” McCain said, delivering the punchline to his joke. Nearly seven Halloweens later, Osama bin Laden remains alive and free.
Poll-itics: John Sidney McSlipping in Home State
By GottaLaff
How slippy of him:
A new Rocky Mountain Poll in Arizona finds Sen. John McCain's lead "which was a comfortable 15 to 17 points for most of last and this year, has shrunk significantly."
McCain's lead is now just five points, 43% to 38%.
Key findings: "McCain's narrowing lead traces not to any sudden up-swelling in support for Obama, whose support has hovered around 38 percent for the past year and remains at that level today. Rather, it traces to a decline in support of McCain, especially among men, registered Independents and Latinos. Simultaneously, the proportion of voters who are uncommitted rose to 16 percent from only nine this May and Ralph Nader drew a small but important three percent, mostly from McCain."
Nader drew from McSlippy? Now that is news.
GOPer once again uses Obama in ad
By GottaLaff
Not that there's anything wrong with that. Gordon Smith is distancing himself from McDesperate and his Conjoined Twin in Chief... again:
Now the Illinois senator’s name is making another appearance in a new GOP spot this week — the second ad from Oregon Senator Gordon Smith that stresses his own working relationship with the presumptive Democratic nominee, and with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry."Times are tough. Rising prices on gas, food, health care. Families need help. That's why I choose to reach across the aisle,” says Smith in the new spot. “With John Kerry to protect homeowners from foreclosure, with Barack Obama for better gas mileage. And when President Bush tried to cut Medicaid, the Oregon health plan, I said no. What matters is helping people, not who gets the credit.”
And is Smith getting any help?
Smith may be highlighting his ties to Obama — but he can’t boast a nod from his Senate colleague, who supports Democratic opponent Jeff Merkley.But keep pushing Obama, Gordy. He won't mind.
House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking
I'm with Kagro- It's a sit in!!!
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.
At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones have been turned on as well.
But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.
Damn hippies.
John McCain at the Urban League Today
Aw man, where's the streaming vid of this? Go ahead John, you just explain to those guys how Obama is playing the race card and you aren't- I want to see how it's done.
At the most racially charged moment of the general election, John McCain is headed to Orlando to address one of the nation's premier African-American groups.
His 11 a.m. speech, expected to be preceded by a meeting with Urban League president Marc Morial, will likely offer him a pretty skeptical audience for his charge that Obama played the race card. The venue -- Obama speaks there tomorrow -- also makes it that much less likely that the question of race will fade from the foreground.
Huh, funny that. I'm looking at the McCain site to see if there is any streaming of this event and it's not even on his events calendar. Hmmmmm. But look!!! His fundraiser with the guy from Big & Rich is on there!! If anyone can find it let me know.
Here's a link for highlight videos.
McCain Beats Obama on Ad Prices
Don't quite understand it, but it seems underhanded.
"According to data from the Google AdWords website, advertisements targeted to users searching for 'John McCain' on the Internet cost nearly twice as much as those targeting users searching for 'Barack Obama,'" Politico reports.
"What's more, Google predicts that the term 'Barack Obama' will generate 153 to 191 clicks per day on related advertisements. But 'John McCain' does much better as advertiser bait: Google estimates that those ads get 213 to 266 clicks per day."
The most likely reason: The McCain campaign is bidding up the price by trying to direct more traffic to their campaign website.
Pew Research: Obama Leads Nationally by 5 Points
I'm sticking by my prediction- Obama will win by 5% or more.
A new Pew Research poll show Sen. Barack Obama leading Sen. John McCain nationally in the presidential race, 47% to 42%.
Key findings center on the economy: "Just 10% say the economy is in good shape, while 72% say the economy is either in a recession (54%) or a depression (18%). On a personal level, concerns about rising prices have surged. Beyond widespread anxiety about energy costs, a growing number of Americans say it is difficult for them to afford food."
About That Anthrax Scientist
He may or may not have been guilty, I don't know. But there is something that is almost more important and it involves Brian Ross of ABC's part in the whole scare. Glenn has covered this over and over, so go read.
Brian Ross segment starts at 12:30.
Kerry VS Lieberman On "Meet The Press" This Sunday
Clear the calendar, stock up on blood pressure meds and cue up the DVR's. This is true must see tv. Hope they're in the same studio 'cause I wanna see Kerry go all menacing on Lieberman's punk ass.
Obama Too Fit to Be President?
Okay, I may have to go lay down after this pile of steaming bullcrap. And this from a media that takes every opportunity to blather on about GW's constant bike riding and brush clearing?
Speaking to donors at a San Diego fund-raiser last month, Barack Obama reassured the crowd that he wouldn't give in to Republican tactics to throw his candidacy off track.
"Listen, I'm skinny but I'm tough," Sen. Obama said.
But in a nation in which 66% of the voting-age population is overweight and 32% is obese, could Sen. Obama's skinniness be a liability? Despite his visits to waffle houses, ice-cream parlors and greasy-spoon diners around the country, his slim physique just might have some Americans wondering whether he is truly like them.
The candidate has been criticized by opponents for appearing elitist or out of touch with average Americans. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted in July shows Sen. Obama still lags behind Republican John McCain among white men and suburban women who say they can't relate to his background or perceived values.
"He's too new ... and he needs to put some meat on his bones," says Diana Koenig, 42, a housewife in Corpus Christi, Texas, who says she voted for Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.
Hey Murdoch Journal, these women wouldn't vote for Obama if he shat peace and prosperity- any excuse will do and if it gets them out of their guilt over their own size 12 Lane Bryant granny panties, even better.
Friday Links For Thee
Shorter Morning Joe today- "How dare Obama barely mention the fact that he's brown?!"
World watches total sun eclipse
Anthrax scientist commits suicide as FBI closes in
Washington Post: McCain's Ad Formula Employs Lowest Common Denominator
In a celebrity-driven culture that has left little space for John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate has decided to go tabloid.
U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops: report
Flatulence joke is world's oldest
Politico: GOP hopes to skirt Minn. bridge issue
It’s a year today since the Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people, but don’t expect Gov. Tim Pawlenty to showcase the reconstruction.
Designer vagina procedure blacklisted
Poll: Country's mood at historic low
CNN: Brian Todd’s Analysis: GOP's tough year gets tougher
Even before news broke of Alaskan Sen. Ted Stevens' indictment on corruption charges, analysts were saying that Republicans in Congress haven't been this vulnerable in decades.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Obama camp campaigns at pumps
Brilliant, what can I say. There is soooo much going on behind the scenes in this campaign. I'm sticking with my landslide prediction.
MISHAWAKA — Volunteers from Democratic Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign held voter registration drives outside seven gas stations across Indiana on Thursday, just hours after oil company Exxon Mobil announced an $11.7 billion profit.
That included the Veldman’s Marathon station at 3811 Grape Road in Mishawaka, where a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline cost $3.79 on Thursday.
Volunteers with clipboards asked people if they were registered to vote and handed out sheets of paper detailing part of Obama’s energy platform.
So, here recently I've noted that the Obama campaign plans to do a phone bank from the Invesco Field during the convention and that they have had voter registration drives at the Batman premiere and at the Berlin rally and now this. Smartest. Campaign. EVER.
Lieberman: "Relax and enjoy it"
By GottaLaff
Joe defends the new McCain attack ad: "To some extent the appearance of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears -- people complain about it -- they should just relax and enjoy it."Kinda reminds you of a joke McTasteless once told, doesn't it?
Go get 'em! Obama launches a "Low Road Express site
By GottaLaff
A day after the Obama campaign released an advertisement entitled “Low Road,” the presumptive Democratic nominee’s camp is following up with the Web site “Low Road Express.”The RNC has a couple of sites of their own:The new site collects media coverage – editorials, fact check articles, and video clips — about the strategies and tactics of Sen. John McCain’s campaign in recent weeks.
The Republican National Committee recently launched two Web sites focused on Obama. On Wednesday, the RNC rolled out “Audacity Watch,” a Web site that collects together video clips of media coverage about Obama and an RSS feed of information from GOP.com. Earlier this week, the RNC also launched “BarackBook,” a site that parodies Facebook, a popular social networking Web site where Obama has amassed more than a million supporters.
That BarackBook went well, didn't it?
UPDATE: McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement about the Obama campaign's "Low Road Express" Web site: “Barack Obama’s campaign created his global celebrity status — we are celebrating it and informing voters of his inexperience. If there’s a low road in this campaign, Obama’s campaign paved it when they launched the first negative attack ad in this election.”Do they have any idea how infantile they sound? Maybe if they'd stop whining and crying about how popular Obama is, they could address the issues.
Never mind. They have nothing else. What was I thinking?
Obama slams McCain over oil company tax breaks
About time. Because if there was ever a day to do this, today is it.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama seized on a record oil company profit to argue that rival John McCain offers only tax breaks for Big Oil and "short-term gimmicks" to consumers struggling with soaring gasoline prices.
The Illinois senator quickly incorporated news of Exxon Mobil's nearly $12 billion quarterly profit into his remarks at a town hall meeting here.
"No U.S. corporation ever made that much in a quarter," Obama said. "But while Big Oil is making record profits, you are paying record prices at the pump and our economy is leaving working people behind."
McCain's response, Obama said, is to propose a corporate tax plan that would give "$4 billion each year to the oil companies, including $1.2 billion for Exxon Mobil alone" and a gas tax holiday that Obama said would only "pad oil company profits and save you - at best - half a tank of gas" over an entire summer.
PS- Did you know that McCain Received $881,450 From Big Oil Since He Announced Support For Offshore Drilling?
Deep Thought
Am I the only one that wants John Kerry to just haul off and deck one of the smug, smarmy Republicans that enabled the horrid Swift Boat attacks? Man, I'd pay good money for that (if I had any).
BTW, Kerry rocked just now against Kyl** on RFTWH- that's what brought this thought on.
**Oops, sorry Kyle, and corrected.
MSNBC Censoring Rachel Maddow
I was desperate to get this yesterday, even trying to get Gotta to try and figure out how to record backwards in her DVR. No go, but John found it. So, why wasn't (isn't) this available on the MSNBC site?
Cheney willing to shoot at Navy Seals to start Iran war
By GottaLaff
Cheney's itching desperate for another war. Think Progress has the story:
Speaking at the Campus Progress journalism conference earlier this month, Seymour Hersh — a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist for The New Yorker — revealed that Bush administration officials held a meeting recently in the Vice President’s office to discuss ways to provoke a war with Iran.
Scared yet?
Hersh explained that, during the meeting in Cheney’s office, an idea was considered to dress up Navy Seals as Iranians, put them on fake Iranian speedboats, and shoot at them. This idea, intended to provoke an Iran war, was ultimately rejected:Nancy Pelosi? Are you hearing this? Is anyone?HERSH: There was a dozen ideas proffered about how to trigger a war. The one that interested me the most was why don’t we build — we in our shipyard — build four or five boats that look like Iranian PT boats. Put Navy seals on them with a lot of arms. And next time one of our boats goes to the Straits of Hormuz, start a shoot-up.
Might cost some lives. And it was rejected because you can’t have Americans killing Americans. That’s the kind of — that’s the level of stuff we’re talking about. Provocation. But that was rejected.
Hersh argued that one of the things the Bush administration learned during the encounter in the Strait of Hormuz was that, “if you get the right incident, the American public will support” it.Hopefully the American public won't be that gullible again, even if they try to create another incident, and proceed to lie about it, try to kill even more people, and destroy more countries... which tragically, includes our own.
McCain's Campaign Manager Has A Meltdown
Dude is crazy. As BBC says, "It's pretty hard for a Republican to lose Andrea Mitchell." Also note how jealous he sounds.
Judge #2 rules against White House
Tuesday, after concluding that some White House e-mails have not been properly preserved on back-up tapes, U.S. District Court Judge John M. Facciola ordered the Bush administration to locate the missing communications on portable devices and individual workstations.
Quote-O'-The-Day: McBritney edition
By GottaLaff
"We want to have a serious debate. But so far, we've been hearing about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. I do have to ask my opponent: is that the best you can come up with? Is that really what the election is about?"Outdated pop culture is serving us well, says McDesperate:
-- Sen. Barack Obama, during a speech in Cedar Rapids, IA
"All I can say is that we are proud of that commercial," he answered. "We think Americans need to know that I believe that we should base this campaign on what we can do for Americans here at home and how we can make America safe and prosperous. And that is the theme of our campaign."Full context here.
Jack Cafferty Rips McCain's Jealousy
Seems Mr Cafferty sees it the way I do. Note the hesitation after "piece of...". Totally stolen from Al Rodgers, but that gives me an excuse to tell you to go over there and look at the glorious pictures he's accumulated of all things Obama. Don't worry, I'll be using some of those pics soon.
CAFFERTY: I'd be willing to make you a bet. If you added up all of the people who have attended every political event John McCain has held since the campaign started, the number would not get to 200,000, which is the number of people that watched Barack Obama speak in Berlin.
That ad that he put out is nothing more than the same jealousy he displayed last week when Obama was on this tour.
McCain went to Canada, Mexico and Colombia. And the only thing I remember about any of those three trips or visits was some hostages got released one day while he was in Colombia. It had nothing to do with McCain being there.
So, you know, Obama is getting a lot of attention and McCain doesn't like it. It's jealousy.
But at the beginning of the campaign he said -- this is the guy who rides around on something called the Straight Talk Express -- this will not be that kind of a campaign. We're going to keep it on the high road. We're going to talk about the issues. And he's come out with one snarky, low rent piece of television after another.
Now, that being said, McCain's running on short money.
So how do you compensate?
You put out these goofy commercials with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton in them and then people like us run them over and over and over again for free.
Big Oil sets records. Umemployment highest in 5 years
By GottaLaff
Exxon has record profit again on soaring oil prices 31 Jul 2008 Exxon Mobil Corp said on Thursday soaring oil prices pushed its second-quarter earnings up 14 percent, again breaking its own record for the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company. Net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share, from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, last year. Exxon -- the world's largest publicly traded company -- previously set the high-water mark for quarterly earnings in the fourth quarter of last year, when it brought in $11.66 billion.
Royal Dutch Shell reports 33% rise in profit -- Shell's earnings surpass $11.5 billion 31 Jul 2008 Royal Dutch Shell became the second oil explorer to top the $10 billion mark for earnings in a single quarter, with its second-quarter profit rising 33% to $11.56 billion. Royal Dutch Shell, Europe's largest oil company, reported a 33 percent increase in second-quarter profit Thursday, helped by a higher oil price even as production declined.
...coupled with this picture:
July 31 (Bloomberg) -- The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, reaching the highest level in more than five years.
Initial jobless claims increased by 44,000 to 448,000 in the week ended July 26, from a revised 404,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said today in Washington. Economists in a Bloomberg survey had forecast a drop in claims. The total number of people on benefit rolls rose to the most since December 2003.
But that's not important now. What is important is comparing Barack Obama to Britney Spears.
Judge Rules White House Aides Can Be Subpoenaed
By GottaLaff
President Bush's top advisers are not immune from congressional subpoenas, a federal judge ruled Thursday in an unprecedented dispute between the two political branches.BushCo will drag this out as long as they can.House Democrats called the ruling a ringing endorsement of the principle that nobody is above the law. They swiftly announced that the Bush officials who have defied their subpoenas, including Bush's former top adviser Karl Rove, must appear as part of a probe of whether the White House directed the firings of nine federal prosecutors. Democrats announced plans to open hearings at the height of election season.
The Bush administration was expected to appeal. [...]
The ruling is a blow to the Bush administration's efforts to bolster the power of the executive branch at the expense of the legislative branch. Disputes over congressional subpoenas are normally resolved through political compromise, not through the court system. Had Bush prevailed, it would have dramatically weakened congressional authority in oversight investigations. [...]
Bates, who was appointed to the bench by Bush, issued a 93-page opinion that strongly rejected the administration's legal arguments. He noted that the executive branch could not point to a single case in which courts held that White House aides were immune from congressional subpoenas.
''That simple yet critical fact bears repeating: the asserted absolute immunity claim here is entirely unsupported by existing case law,'' Bates wrote.
Clinton for vice president boosters--"Vote Both"--fold shop
By GottaLaff
The "Vote Both" drive--staffed by loyal former Clinton staffers--folds, realizing that booking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) to be a keynote speaker at the Democratic convention means she is not on the list to be Obama's running mate.
from "Vote Both"
Because of your work, Senator Obama asked Hillary to be his keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention! We hope you are as pleased as we are that he has tapped Senator Clinton to deliver one of the most important messages of that crucial week--the very role that Barack Obama had four years ago.Regretfully, this means that Senator Hillary Clinton is no longer under consideration as Senator Obama's running mate.
Full email here. There were at least 40,000 "dream ticket" supporters.
McCain camp: Obama "played the race card"
By GottaLaff
No pun: 
John McCain's campaign accused Barack Obama on Thursday of playing racial politics a day after the Democratic candidate predicted Republicans would try to scare voters by pointing out "he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."My head just exploded. At first, the Obama team dismissed it ( "We're not in the habit of reacting every time they put out a statement," spokesman Robert Gibbs said.). More:
Obama "played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck," McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said in a statement. He called Obama's remarks "divisive, negative, shameful and wrong."
“This is a potentially risky comment to make for a campaign already under increasing criticism for some of the claims it’s made over the past week,” said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. “Talk about ‘the race card’ and injection of it into the debate can result in a negative backlash. You can ask the Clinton campaign about that.”Yeah, that worked out well for them, didn't it?
On Thursday, Gibbs said the senator was not referring to race.But McDesperate will make it about race, just as they twist everything into despicable little knots of lies.
"What Barack Obama was talking about was that he didn't get here after spending decades in Washington," Gibbs said. "There is nothing more to this than the fact that he was describing that he was new to the political scene. He was referring to the fact that he didn't come into the race with the history of others. It is not about race."
John Sidney McAlienating
By GottaLaff
Todd Purdum, who has been traveling with Sen. John McCain, says the Arizona's senator's once warm relationship with the press has cooled considerably as his aides force him to stay on message.So the Fake Talk Express has finally made it into the consciousness of the press:
"It's a far cry from when I last spent quality airtime with McCain, in the fall of 2006, as we logged thousands of miles over several days in small planes, often with no traveling companions but each other. No topic was off-limits, and virtually no answer was off the record."
Purdum also reports that McCain is struggling "at having to rein in his natural instincts, in no small part because he well knows that it was his close relationship with the media that kept him alive a year ago when so much of the smart money -- and so many of the big mouths -- in his party had left him for dead."And then there's this from Business Week about McDesperate:
Business Week's marketing and advertising correspondent David Kiley notes that Sen. John McCain's recent ad asserting that Sen. Barack Obama wouldn't visit wounded troops in Germany unless cameras were allowed "is a lie. It's a blatant lie."Note to Obama's campaign: They're handing you material for an ad on a silver platter. Take it. Use it. Win with it.
"What the McCain campaign doesn't want people to know, according to one GOP strategist I spoke with over the weekend, is that they had an ad script ready to go if Obama had visited the wounded troops saying that Obama was...wait for it...using wounded troops as campaign props. So, no matter which way Obama turned, McCain had an Obama bashing ad ready to launch. I guess that's political hardball. But another word for it is the one word that most politicians are loathe to use about their opponents -- a lie."
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