Cut and dry, no quibbles. Oh, and life begins at conception so watch those miscarriages.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
McCain Says No To Choice: 'I Will Be A Pro-Life President'
John McCain and the POW church riot
What the HELL is this? The man has been in public office for almost 30 years, wrote books and had a FREAKING LIFETIME MOVIE MADE OF HIS STORY, and NOW we hear about this, two days before a "Faith Forum"?
HARRISBURG, Pa. — They called it the church riot.
Sen. John McCain, who is known for his reticence and even discomfort invoking faith on the campaign trail, was once dubbed a "Hell's Angel" for rioting against his captors in Vietnam in order to hold Sunday church services.
It is a story unknown by a public still getting to know McCain and searching for shared values with the candidates. This Saturday, McCain and Sen. Barack Obama will separately answer questions from evangelical leader Rick Warren at his Saddleback Church in Southern California.
h/t Adrienne, even though my bp just spiked.
Religious Forum Open Thread
My eyes couldn't take the font on gabbley. I'm doing some homework on what's the easiest chat platform to set up and for my crappy eyes to deal with. If you have suggestions, speak up for next time.
Obama may have edge with disabled voters
This is a hugely important topic, not only for disabled care but also elderly. Not that McCain will ever have to worry about his care under those circumstances.
The Democratic National Committee is hoping to drive a rift between John McCain and voters with disabilities.
It’s a group whose size is difficult to quantify, but one that both candidates have deemed important enough to devote time to courting.
While McCain and Barack Obama both support the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and a current bill in Congress that would strengthen its implementation, a key selling point for advocates for the disabled, they disagree on the Community Choice Act.
That bill, proposed by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and co-sponsored by Obama, would expand government funds presently available for institutional care to also cover home-based services.
McCain opposes the bill, and on July 25 the DNC quickly pulled together a conference call with reporters to attack McCain on the issue.
McCain Returns Gay Sex Site Owner's Money, Owner Gives It To Obama
Hahahaha. Via Pam.
McCain’s camp seemed just as eager to distance themselves from the brief alliance. McCain spokesman Jeff Grappone didn’t return multiple phone calls on the subject, and Crutchley has apparently been informed that his $2,300 will be returned.
“He said, ‘If John is too good for my money, I’ll give it to (presumptive Democratic nominee) Barack (Obama),’ ” Basile said yesterday.
MSNBC "Hardball" and "RTTWH" Specials On Tonight
Mrs Greenspan on now for Hardball, the Race To The White House, a new Hardball and then the churchy thing.
UPDATE- Chuck Todd said that the townhall ends before Mike Phelps swims tonight. FWIW.
Wes Clark "Not Going" To DNC
Can't comment, all there are is cuss words.
General Wesley Clark is not attending the Democratic National Convention. I was told by General Clark's personal office in Little Rock that he would not be attending.
Clark was informed by Barack Obama's people that there was no reason to come.
General Clark has been given no role of any kind at the convention.
Oh wait, Matt found some words-
Clearly, we'd rather hear about how to handle this delicate military tussle from Evan Bayh and Ken Salazar. I do want to point out how deeply we respect John McCain's service to his country, though of course, Wes Clark's 34 years in the military and near fatal wounds in Vietnam are kind of yawners.
UPDATE- Clark's son (yes, it's verified that it's his son- he's been posting at Kos for a while) has some additional comments here.
Changed title from "Disinvite" to reflect more of what is being said in the above diary.
Irish folk singer Ronnie Drew dies at 73
One of my mom's favorites.
Ronnie Drew, the legendary Irish folk singer and musician, has died at the age of 73, his family has announced.
Drew, the founder of The Dubliners, had been battling ill health for some time.
In a brief statement, his family confirmed he passed away at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Dublin at 1400 BST on Saturday.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Drew will be remembered in Ireland and across the globe for his music.
"Ronnie Drew was an iconic figure in Irish music over the last five decades," he said.
"I met him and admired his music, his unique singing voice was loved by so many people.
"Ronnie, whether as part of The Dubliners or during his solo career, will also be remembered for his promotion of Irish music both at home and around the world."
When is our side going to stop kneecapping our side?
Really, are these people just so damn enamored of their own voices they can't just stfu and stay away from the freaking media?
As Senator Barack Obama prepares to accept the Democratic presidential nomination next week, party leaders in battleground states say the fight ahead against Senator John McCain looks tougher than they imagined, with Mr. Obama vulnerable on multiple fronts despite weeks of cross-country and overseas campaigning.
These Democrats — 15 governors, members of Congress and state party leaders — say Mr. Obama has yet to convert his popularity among many Americans into solutions to crucial electoral challenges: showing ownership of an issue, like economic stewardship or national security; winning over supporters of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton; and minimizing his race and experience level as concerns for voters.
(snip)
“I particularly hope he strengthens his economic message — even Senator Obama can speak more clearly and specifically about the kitchen-table, bread-and-butter issues like high energy costs,” said Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio. “It’s fine to tell people about hope and change, but you have to have plenty of concrete, pragmatic ideas that bring hope and change to life.”
Or, in the blunter words of Gov. Phil Bredesen, Democrat of Tennessee: “Instead of giving big speeches at big stadiums, he needs to give straight-up 10-word answers to people at Wal-Mart about how he would improve their lives.”
Ya know, I'm just a crazy woman in Indiana with no ties to great political information, but I can point to about a TRAZILLION instances of clear and concise language on issues from Obama, and they are ALL on his freaking website.
Oh, and these shitbirds need to go too-
Obama Nearly Doubles McCain's July Money Contributions
Hahahaha!!! Ha!! Snort, hewee ha giggle!!! Told ya. BFCE.
(CNN) – Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential bid added more than 65,000 new donors and raised more than $51 million in the month of July, the Obama campaign said in a statement released Saturday.
“The 65,000 new donors to the Obama campaign demonstrate just how strongly the American people are looking to fundamentally change business as usual in Washington,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said in the statement.
The campaign of Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, announced Friday that it raised $27 million in July. The Republican National Committee also announced Friday that it raised $26 million in the same timeframe and has received donations from more than a million donors during this election cycle.
The Obama campaign recently announced that it has surpassed the 2-million-donor mark and said Saturday that it currently has $65.8 million in cash on hand.
Chair Of Gay Sex Site Forced To Resign After Giving $ To McCain
This is too rich. John has covered this up to now.
The executives of a gay sex site are apparently more concerned about the perception that they're associated with John McCain than McCain is about the association with them.
The chairman of the board of Manhunt, the Cambrige-based hook-up site, was forced to resign after reports that he gave $2,300 to McCain.
Manhunt co-founder Larry Basile emailed the blog Towleroad:
It should be known that Jonathan Crutchley's donation to McCain left the entire Board in disbelief. I am disappointed that we have lost some customers, and I understand the anger. It is too bad for the web site if we lose customers, but PLEASE never refer to me as a Republican. I consider it an offense.
Earlier today, at the request of the Board, Jonathan has stepped down as Chairman.McCain's campaign hasn't responded to question about the $2,300 contribution.
Obama's visit far from exotic
The first time I heard the wingers screeching about the Obamas not giving the girls birthday or Christmas presents I thought, "Makes sense to me!" I've got friends with kids that are just deluged with crap every holiday and birthday- things that lay ignored or unused, things they don't like but "had" to have. That's just the nature of kids. It's not like the girls won't get presents, they just get a measured, non-hysterical consumer amount. That is what stands out in this article to me- the Obama family knows it's not the "stuff" that counts. I'm sure the wingers will screech about where they stayed, but really, what Presidential candidate stays at the Econolodge**? More info at the link.
Take away the Secret Service, the 10-bedroom home rental, the staff and the $2,300-a-plate fundraiser, and Barack Obama's vacation in Hawai'i included a lot of what anyone can do in paradise for surprisingly little money.
**Some presidential candidates don't stay in "other" peoples homes, they just buy a spare one when they need it.
Weekend Housekeeping
Lady Gottalaff is traveling this weekend to spend time with her offspring, so it's gonna be 99% me for a couple days. Please prepare yourself for multiple LOL McCains, toe-tapping retro videos accompanied with embarrassing personal anecdotes and the occasional news item as they occur.
If you really want to get back at Jerome Corsi, one of the best ways, if not the best is to buy progressive writers' books. You could start with "The Real McCain" and then pre-order FOB Bob Cesca's new one that is due out soon. Remember, every time you order anything (just click the book links and do some shopping) from Amazon thru one of our links we get a couple pennies. As usual, anytime you have a few pennies to spare and feel like it, you can make a donation thru the PayPal button to the right.
Howard Dean Calls The Republican Party "The White Party"
And tool John Feehery thinks it's a faux pas. In my neck of the woods we call that "the truth".
This is what Howard Dean had to say on NPR today: “If you look at folks of color, even women, they’re more successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the white, uh, excuse me, in the Republican Party …”
Dean has a long history of saying stupid things.
Fox gets punk'd by 12 year old Ossetian girl
Gosh, the facts on the ground didn't fit in with Fox's frame? Hard to imagine. Via.
Jerome Corsi On C-Span 1 Right Now
Ugh. Just woke up. He's on now (830a), Paul Waldman from Media Matters to follow. If I don't post again it's because Jeff has had to take me to the hospital suffering from extreme douchebagitis.
Friday, August 15, 2008
McCain will run ads during network DNC coverage
Yeah, you just set yourself up there pal.
Sen. John McCain has so much spare cash on hand -- he collected a record $27 million in July -- that the Republican candidate plans to run campaign ads during the networks' coverage of the Democratic National Convention later this month.
Because Mr. McCain has agreed to accept $84 million in public financing for the general election, the presumptive presidential nominee has only until Sept. 4, when he accepts his party's nomination, to spend the more than $21 million he has on hand.
(snip)
Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh said the McCain campaign's strategy illustrates just how much presidential campaigns have changed. In past contests, one candidate went quiet while the other had his convention, and the strategist said she can't remember a candidate ever airing ads during the other's party convention.
"The ads are less an effort to get votes than make a point and get it covered by the national media while Obama has the attention of the nation," she said. "No doubt the Obama campaign will do the same now."
Jerome "I'm being Swiftboated" Corsi on Fox and Friends: The Death Threats Video
By GottaLaff
Here is the video that goes with the post below. Enjoy the delusional mental derangement.
Bacevich on the Crises Threatening Our Democracy
By GottaLaff
Andrew J. Bacevich is a retired Army Colonel and International Relations expert who's become one of the most insightful critics of contemporary American militarism.
By most historical standards Bacevich is a conservative. But his criticism of America's post-Cold War military posture, particularly the Iraq War, have made him an ally of many on the left. And in a tragic turn of events his son, First Lieutentant Andrew J. Bacevich, was killed last year in Iraq -- a war his father had been making the case against for half a decade.Bill Moyers is interviewing Bacevich tonight at 9 PM on PBS in about the Imperial Presidency, American militarism and their challenge to American democracy. We got some advanced excerpts of the show, which we're going to be posting shortly.
Poor Jerome Corsi. He's being Swiftboated.
By GottaLaff
[Laffy Note: I had a great video for this one, but it, too, refused to upload.] Video added.
Those mean ol' Democrats. They've gone and hurted Jerome Corsi's wittle feelings! He appeared on Fox and Friends and his best friend Steve Doocy cuddled him as he wa-a-ahed and blubbered his way through the interview. He was responding to charges made against him and his piece of -- book.
"Essentially it calls you a liar and a bigot," suggested Fox's Steve Doocy.
"I think some juvenile leftists have taken over the Obama campaign and gotten a hold of Photoshop," Corsi replied. "Now I'm getting death threats and hate mail from Obama supporters."
Gosh, I sure as heck hope he's the forgiving type. I just couldn't handle the guilt if he weren't."You're getting these death threats because you wrote a book," Doocy agreed, "and in fact there's a website, Daily Kos, that's published your home address."
RAW STORY has been unable to find Corsi's home address at Daily Kos -- only his email and the address and phone number of one of his employers -- but it is possible that it was posted and then removed by site moderators. [...]
"A lot of people have suggested," continued Doocy, "well, the Obama campaign is not going to allow their candidate to get swiftboated once again by this guy. Do you feel almost as if you yourself are being swiftboated?"
"In a way, but I also think the Obama campaign is making the identical mistakes of the Kerry campaign," Corsi replied. "They started now calling me names and trying to get the New York Times to introduce me as a gadfly. ... They're quibbling about details."
Bill Would End Ban on Photos of Returning Military Dead
By GottaLaff
It's about time. No more covering up the deadly results of a fraudulent, unnecessary war/occupation. And check out who introduced the bill. Yes, that Walter Jones:
The Department of Defense would be required to grant journalists access to ceremonies honoring fallen military personnel under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The legislation is significant because it would, for the first time since Vietnam, let photojournalists capture the powerful images of flag-draped caskets arriving on American soil during wartime.I love it when they sneak over to our side once in awhile.
This week the bill won the endorsement of the National Press Photographers Association.
The Fallen Hero Commemoration Act, or H.R. 6662, was introduced July 30 by Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.), a member of the House Committee on Armed Services.
Jones voted to authorize the Iraq war, but he later supported a timetable to withdrawal troops and opposed the troop surge in 2007. Jones has spoken frequently in support of veterans' interests and displays a poster outside his office showing the photos of fallen service members from the Marine base in his district, according to his Web site.Honor the dead, but hide them first. Hopefully that will come to an end now.
His bill has six co-sponsors: Rep Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas), Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas), Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) and Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.). [...]
In the five years of the Iraq war, during which more than 4,100 U.S. troops have died, photos of military caskets have leaked out on at least three occasions.
Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell 'cuffed, frisked, busted
By GottaLaff
K-E-Y-- Y? Because you're busted!*
M-O-U-S-E.... **
Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.The arrest of the 32 protesters, many of whom wore costumes representing famous Disney characters, came at the end of an hour-long march to Disneyland's gates from one of three Disney-owned hotels at the center of a labor dispute.
The Associated Press has more here.
I once wrote a song parody of "The Telephone Hour" from Bye Bye Birdie, called "Toon Tune", in which all the Disney characters were desolate and out of work, pushed aside by the casts of the Simpsons and South Park. They had to take menial jobs not fit for Toon megastars, and poor Lady resorted to using her sharp dog ears to eavesdrop on Hillary Clinton.
Looks like I was prescient.
*And exercising your rights, which we will not tolerate, no matter how ludicrous it is to arrest Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.
**I've been trying to upload a video, but it won't load. If I have any luck, I'll put it up.
Obama Camp Unveils "Buy American, Vote Obama" Campaign
I'm actually getting tired of crowing how smart this campaign is, so I'm debuting a new acronym- BFCE.
The Obama camp is pushing a new theme in Pennsylvania tomorrow -- it's called the "Buy American, Vote Obama" campaign.According to an Obama aide, the new effort dovetails with a renewed push by the Obama team in Pennsylvania to poke fun at John McCain's recent claim that he would rather hear the roar of "50,000 Harleys" than the cheering of 200,000 Berliners.
As the Obama camp was quick to point out, McCain opposed legislation that would have forced the U.S. government to buy American-made motorcycles.
The Obama camp's push on the issue includes running this recent ad, which was running in the York market and mocks McCain's Harley quote while pointing out McCain's position on American-made bikes, in two new markets in Pennsylvania beginning tomorrow -- the Pittsburgh and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre markets.
Obama's Pennsylvania campaign, the aide says, will be hitting the ground this weekend in around five towns around the state with stickers and flyers bearing the above "Buy American, Vote Obama" logo.
Lawsuit Filed Against Gonzales & DOJ Officials
By GottaLaff
Six attorneys rejected from civil service positions at the Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and three other top officials for allegedly violating their rights by taking politics into consideration in the hiring process.The suit is an attempt to hold top officials accountable for the hiring scandal that ultimately led to Gonzales' resignation last year, said Daniel Metcalfe, the attorney for the plaintiffs who is also executive director of its Collaboration on Government Secrecy at American University's Washington College of Law.
"My clients wish that they hadn't had to bring this lawsuit -- they would have greatly preferred to be working inside the Justice Department, where by all rights they deserved to be, defending the government in court rather than standing as victimized examples of government wrongdoing," said Metcalfe, a former longtime Justice Department official. [...]
Today's amended complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, broadens the suit to include Gonzales; Monica Goodling, former White House Liaison; Michael Elston, former chief of staff to then-Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty; and Esther McDonald, former counsel to Gonzales.
In it, the attorneys allege that top officials violated the applicants' privacy and due process through the politicized hiring process in the Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program.
The suit alleges that in vetting candidates' political affiliations -- in part by Googling their names in connection with any political activity -- the officials violated privacy rules requiring that applicants' files maintain no additional information about the individuals' political activity. The department's failure to fully address this "reveal defendant Department of Justice's utterly unredeemable obliviousness to its legal obligations, and its remarkably recidivistic failures to meet them, in the first place," the complaint states.
The suit also argues that a wholesale shift in taking political ideology into account in hiring for the civil service positions violated the applicants' constitutional rights. [...]
Lawsuits seeking to hold top officials civilly liable for acts done during their tenure in government often face difficultly in court, such as the recent case seeking to hold top military officials including former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accountable for the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. But if successful, the lawsuit may be the only legal consequences these officials face.
Every time I hear Jonathan Turley discuss this (and similar issues) on Countdown, it's so excruciating that I tear up. Look what our system of justice has turned into. Heartbreaking.
Poll-itics: Who watches what
By GottaLaff
I don't read at all. I let Paddy read to me... after she sings to me.From Pew's latest survey:
Fox viewers identify themselves as: 39% Republican, 33% Democratic, 22% independent
CNN: 18% Republican, 51% Democratic, 23% independent (more Democratic than in 2006)
MSNBC: 18% Republican, 45% Democratic, 27% independent (slightly less Democratic than in 2006...really... I know...even with Keith...)
Other fun nuggets:
** The Daily Show claims the largest percentage of indpenedents in the survey -- 45%.
** Only 34% of the sample said they read a newspaper the day before the survey, down from 40% in 2006. 37% of the public gets their news online. A lot more Americans get their news from a variety of sources. Local TV news appears to be the biggest. Younger folks use social networking sites for news.
** Rush Limbaugh's audience is 72% male; the audience for religious radio is 69% female. Sunday morning talk shows are split 50-50.
** Search engines are used for news; Yahoo is the top news site.
**[R]eadership rates for major national magazines have held steady: "Readership rates for news magazines, national news publications and magazines such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic and Harper's Magazine have remained relatively steady in recent years, as newspaper readership has dipped."
Trailer for anti-Michael Moore movie "American Carol"
Oy. h/t Cesca. I've been playing the Hollywood Stock Exchange for about 10 years now, so I just checked the price of this movie's stock. $6.00 a share. That's up there with obscure Slovakian documentaries on toenail growing. "Expelled" didn't do so good either.
David Zucker is trying to see how badly he can make us miss "Airplane" with his new movie "American Carol," in which Chris Farley's brother shows how badly he can make us miss Chris Farley. Bill O'Reilly featured the trailer on the "Factor" because (shudder) he's got a cameo in it!
Senator Ted's in trouble again; & will Sarah Palin be on the ticket? I dunno, but Alaska
By GottaLaff
Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens (R) failed to declare an interest-free $31,000 loan that allowed him to turn a quick profit of more than $100,000 from a Florida real estate deal, federal prosecutors alleged in court documents filed Thursday.Meanwhile, in a less tubey part of Alaska:
Gov. Sarah Palin (R), whose name has been floated as a potential running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), said she has submitted some paperwork to national Republicans, but added she thinks it is unlikely she will be tapped to be McCain's vice presidential pick.Alaska's been busy these days.
McCain Suggests Corsi Smears Funny, Aides Backpedal
A reporter tried to ask McCain about a new anti-Obama book, to which McCain responded cryptically "gotta keep your sense of humor."[Laffy Note: Now they're saying he didn't hear the question.]
McCain staffer Brooke Buchanan then stretched her arms in front of her boss, saying “we’re not doing that,” and escorted reporters to the door.
Chris Matthews Recovering From Pneumonia
I wondered what happened to him after Monday.
MSNBC's Chris Matthews has been off Hardball this week as he recovers from a bout of pneumonia. Matthews was felling sick last weekend but went to work Monday. He later went to the doctor and was diagnosed with pneumonia. David Shuster has been filling in this week and a special edition of Hardball tomorrow night will be anchored by Andrea Mitchell. We're told he's following doctor's orders and resting up so he'll be ready for the conventions.
Jenna Bush Wedding Pastor Rips McCain
By GottaLaff
I couldn't resist getting this post up. Just a copy and paste, since I'm working, but ohhh, do I wish I had time for some snark:
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto report: The pastor who officiated Jenna Bush's wedding ripped into Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Friday for jokingly volunteering his wife last week for a beauty pageant that often features contestants topless.
"Well, I don't know a lot about John McCain's family history, I do know, however, that as recently as last week I think it was, the Senator made a comment in South Dakota regarding his wife entering some Buffalo Chips contest which is this topless deal and if she were to enter she would probably win it and my personal opinion and based on my understanding of the Christian faith, that's not not, N-O-T, not the type of expression that a presidential candidate, or anyone for that matter who is a follower of the Christian faith, ought to make," said the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell. "I don't know if that is a perfect case in point, but it surely does help to juxtapose the DNA of Senator Obama, if you would, versus the DNA of Senator McCain." [...]
Caldwell then invoked comments that Rick Warren made about adultery in a Thursday interview with ABC News' Jake Tapper to raise additional questions about McCain.
"His marital history has been duly recorded," said Caldwell, referring to McCain, "and as recently as yesterday I think it is, our pastor from Saddleback, Rick Warren indicated that he would not feel comfortable voting for an adulterer and I don't know exactly to whom he was referring but I think the data speaks for itself, and again, at the end of the day, and I really appreciate you raising this because, at the end of the day again I think the American public deserves full revelation of the candidate's character and competency. Character and competency. So, whatever questions that should be asked that would give the voting public an indication as to who they are and what they've done should be fair game."
Asked by ABC's Tapper in the context of John Edwards if he would have compunctions about voting for someone who had cheated on his wife, Warren said, "Absolutely I would. Absolutely I would. Because if you can’t keep your faith to your most sacred vow – '’til death do us part' -- how in the world can I trust you to lead my family? My government? My nation? . . . Absolutely I would. I think people first need to ask forgiveness and then earn trust back over time Can trust be re-earned? Absolutely but it takes time."
For McCain's reaction, go here.
Saturday alert: Faith Forum with Obama and McCain
By GottaLaff
If you'd like to watch this, here's the info. I'm off to work for awhile:
Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain "make back-to-back appearances Saturday at an evangelical conference aimed at getting the presidential hopefuls' views on issues dealing with leadership and compassion," USA Today reports.Oh, please do ask about McCain's... marriages? Or affairs? Either way, by all means, ask.
Rick Warren, the pastor of the 22,000-member Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life, "will interview each candidate separately for about an hour on the presidency and Constitution, the role of the United States in the world, global poverty and, possibly, abortion."
However, in an interview with David Brody, Warren suggests he'll also ask both candidates about personal issues each has had to deal with. Expect questions on McCain's marriages and Obama's past drug use.
Top CEOs give 10 times more to McCain than to Obama ; Obama pounces
By GottaLaff
Seize, Obama, seize!The top executives of America’s biggest companies are more willing to open their wallets for John McCain than his Democratic rival, donating 10 times as much to the Arizona senator’s campaign as to Barack Obama’s.
Obama’s campaign seized on the findings of The Hill’s review of campaign finance records to suggest that the gap was due to “special favors” McCain has given corporations.
The presumptive GOP nominee has received $208,200 from the chief executive officers of the 100 biggest Fortune 500 corporations, according to a review of campaign finance reports. Obama has taken in $20,400 from the same group of people.“It is not surprising that a Washington celebrity like John McCain would be able to collect contributions based on 26 years of special favors provided to individual businesses,” said Jason Furman, Obama’s economic policy director.
I seize your Big Biz donors and raise you a special interest.
Obama is shattering fundraising records and has significantly outraised McCain. Federal Election Commission records show that through June the Illinois senator raised more money from donations of less than $200 than his rival has raised in total.
You can read about the breakdown of the donors to both candidates and a lot more if you follow the link.
Russian general threatens nuclear strike on Poland as Bush demands Moscow withdraws from Georgia
By GottaLaff
H/t to Ace Reporter Jack for finding me this comforting little tidbit:
That Bush! He's such a combative little scamp! He just loves provoking other countries into scary, threatening, doomsday behavior. Gosh, but he's decisive and tough! Wait... wait just a darn minute. Those words, "decisive and tough"... who else is trying to create that image? ::Buzzzz! Times up!::Russia reacted furiously today to an announcement that Poland is to host an American global anti-missile shield.
General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said that by accepting the missile defence battery Poland "is exposing itself to a strike".
"By hosting these, Poland is making itself a target. This is 100 percent certain," Russia's Interfax news agency quoted General Anatoly Nogovitsyn as saying.
"It becomes a target for attack. Such targets are destroyed as a first priority."
This guy.
Referring to the missile shield, General Nogovitsyn said that Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them," Interfax said."Do unto others" suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.
You know the drill
By GottaLaff
To step up domestic drilling now when we wouldn't see the results until 2030 would be like investing in steamboats after the invention of the nuclear submarine.Now let's take a peek at what those crazy-ass Republicans are up to this election season:
The real reason is that oil drilling has become an important wedge issue in the November election, and they want to keep it that way.Duh? Heck no! Duh Ultra!
"The West behaved in ways that invited the invasion"
By GottaLaff
Saakashvili said that, as quoted by Thom Hartmann. Just thought I'd throw that out there while I prep my next post.
Campaign Scrubbing Cindy McCain's Bio?
This is weirdness. Why would they take this of all things out?
Tweaking Cindy's bioA reader notes that Mother Teresa's personal role in Cindy McCain's life seems to have been edited out of her online biography, according to the useful site Versionista, which tracks changes to websites.
Matthew 25 Releases Pro-Obama TV Ad
I'm seething. I understand, but this shouldn't be necessary. More about the organization here.
McCain Has Big Fundraising Month
Whatever. Soon to be made irrelevant by the announcement of Obama's July numbers.
Sen. John McCain raised $27 million in July, "his largest one-month fundraising haul since clinching the Republican presidential nomination," the AP reports.
McCain also had $21.4 million available to spend -- a sum he must spend before he accepts the Republican nomination during the first week of September since he accepted public financing for the general election.
Oops. McCain Off By $1.25 On Aspen Gas Prices
Oh that silly non-elitist John!!!
ASPEN, Colo. -- Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain attended an economic forum in Aspen Thursday where he chastised Congress for going on recess "while people are paying $3.75 a gallon for gas."
The audience of 800 began hooting and laughing and yelled that in Aspen they're paying nearly $5 a gallon. McCain recovered with a well-received crack about plans to "soak the rich.**"
The Arizona senator made the comments at the Aspen Institute after a noon fund-raiser.
**Great, you can start with your wife.
David Shuster vs. Hillary Dead Enders
Shuster did a great job. I dare anyone to watch this and not think "delusional".
**If you want more fun with PUMA, read this. Hysterical.
Georgia Conflict Cheney Plot To Make McCain Pres?
That's what the Russian media wants their people to believe. Check it out. h/t Matt.
The line came on the main news of Vesti FM, a state radio station that — like the Government and much of Russia's media — has reverted to the old habits of Soviet years, in which a sinister American hand was held to lie behind every conflict, especially those embarrassing to Moscow. Modern Russia may be plugged into the internet and the global marketplace but in the battle for world opinion the Kremlin is replaying the old black-and-white movie.
The Obama angle is getting wide play. It was aired on Wednesday by Sergei Markov, a senior political scientist who is close to Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister and power behind President Medvedev.
“George Bush's Administration is promoting interests of candidate John McCain,” said Dr Markov. “Defeated by Barak Obama on all fronts, McCain has one last card to play yet - the creation of a virtual Cold War with Russia . . . Bush himself did not want a war in South Ossetia but his Republican Party did not leave him any choice.” The Americans were now engineering an armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Dr Markov added.
Bill-O Calls MSNBC "Fifth Column" in USA For Putin
Soon to be "Worst Person In The World"!!! (again) I'm just shaking my head.
Friday Linkage
Eye issues this morning, please forgive the slowness.
Russia: Poland Risks Attack Because of US Missiles
'Ethnic minority' children at Olympics ceremony were fake: report(somebody better check the gold content of those medals)
Washington Post: McCain's Focus on Georgia Raises Question of Propriety
Standing behind a lectern in Michigan this week, with two trusted senators ready to do his bidding, John McCain seemed to forget for a moment that he was only running for president.
Cinderella, others arrested in Disneyland
Clancy Candy, Bucky Bon Bons.
Washington Post: GOP Loyalty Not a Given For Young Evangelicals
Jonathan Merritt is a Baptist preacher's son with a pristine evangelical lineage. It was his dad, the Rev. James Merritt, who reportedly brought President Bush to tears in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks when he called the president "God's man for this hour." The Rev. Jerry Falwell was like a grandfather.
Ancient Cemetery Found In Sahara
Traffic deaths drop to lowest since 1994
WSJ: McCain's Son Sat on Troubled Bank's Board
Sen. John McCain's son served until last month on the board audit committee of a Nevada bank that is struggling to survive amid mounting losses and regulatory scrutiny. Andrew K. McCain, 46, was on the board of Silver State Bancorp for five months before he resigned on July 25 for unspecified "personal reasons," according to a news release issued by the bank at the time.
Obama catches some waves at Sandys on Hawaii vacation
Adrienne, do me a favor and get your momma out of the room before you watch this please? They bruise so easily as they get older....
Late night/early morning body surfing eye candy: Obama edition
By GottaLaff
I'm sure Jerome Corsi would try his scummy best to morph these pictures from ts-s-s-s-s! to pffft! Not possible. They're strictly ts-s-s-s!
It would be an insurmountable challenge, even for a Swiftboat liar like Corsi, to convince anyone that J Sid could compete with zero body fat and body surfing eye candy like this:
Mahalo, and aloha until tomorrow.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
By all means, let's keep drilling
By GottaLaff
The oceans are dying, so let's play Dr. Kevorkian and help them along. Drill more, spill oil, destroy precious life:
In the latest sign of trouble in the planet's chemistry, the number of oxygen-starved "dead zones" in coastal waters around the world has roughly doubled every decade since the 1960s, killing fish, crabs and massive amounts of marine life at the base of the food chain, according to a study released yesterday. [...]Oil is more important than life. Please remember that.
Low oxygen, known as hypoxia, is in significant measure a downstream effect of chemical fertilizers used in agriculture. Air pollution, including smog from automobiles, is another factor. The nitrogen from the fertilizer and the pollution feeds the growth of algae in coastal waters, particularly during summer. [...]
"We have utterly failed to appreciate the magnitude of the problem," Jackson said yesterday. "The oceans are out of sight and out of mind."
McCain strategist: Virginia no longer GOP stronghold
By GottaLaff
A top strategist for Sen. John McCain's campaign said Thursday that the presidential contest in Virginia will "undoubtedly be close" this fall and acknowledged that the state should no longer be considered a Republican stronghold.Make 'em work, Obama. Then beat 'em.The comments by Mike DuHaime, McCain's political director, represent a significant shift in the GOP's thinking and are the latest signal that Virginia is emerging as a state that could make or break McCain's chances to defeat Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Obama airplane incident much more serious than reported
By GottaLaff
This is scary, but thankfully, there was a happy ending:
The incident involving Sen. Barack Obama's campaign plane last month was much more serious than the airline or the Federal Aviation Administration said, according to FAA control tower tapes obtained by ABC News.
At the time, an FAA spokesperson said the pilot did not declare an emergency and the airline owner, Midwest Airlines, said safety "was never an issue."
The tapes, to be broadcast tonight on ABC News' World News with Charles Gibson, show otherwise.
Just 41 seconds after discovering he no longer had full control of the plane's up and down movements, the pilot told an FAA air traffic controller "at this time we would like to declare an emergency and also have CFR [crash equipment] standing by in St. Louis."
An FAA spokesperson acknowledged today that its statements at the time of "no emergency" were wrong, based, the spokesperson said, on erroneous reports from FAA air traffic managers.
"We later learned there was an emergency declared," FAA spokesperson Elizabeth Cory said. The FAA had not publicly corrected the record until today, after being contacted by ABC News.
As the jet landed safely in St. Louis, Sen. Obama called his wife and, apparently unaware of the drama in the cockpit, tried to laugh it off. [...]
The Obama campaign had chartered the MD-81 from Midwest while its current campaign plane, a Boeing 757 chartered from North American Airlines, was being reconfigured. It was put into use on July 20.
Wow. (click here to listen to an edited version of the audio)
Obama's aggressive response to Corsi smear "book"
By GottaLaff
Obama campaign response (Barack Obama's campaign is aggressively contesting it in a 41-page memo):
"Jerome Corsi is a discredited liar who is peddling another piece of garbage in order to continue the Bush-Cheney politics he helped perpetuate four years ago," said Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor. "His is one of what will likely be many lie-filled books rushed to print this election cycle that are cobbled together from debunked internet sources to make money and advance a partisan agenda. We will forcefully respond to these smears with all means at our disposal."Pow! Biff! Sock-o!
You can find the report on its "Fight the Smears" website.
Quote-O'-The-Moment: John Sidney McLobbyPants edition
By GottaLaff
David Nather: "One of the biggest mysteries about John McCain, the man who claims to be the enemy of powerful lobbyists and special interests, is why he has surrounded himself with lobbyists and former lobbyists on his campaign team."Hypocrite:
- Main Entry:
- hyp·o·crite
- Pronunciation:
- \ˈhi-pə-ˌkrit\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Middle English ypocrite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritēs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai
- Date:
- 13th century
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion 2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
— hypocrite adjective
Relaxed Obama moment
By GottaLaff
Barack Obama in the exotic land of Hawaii, which is that elitist vacation spot that is no longer part of the United States of America, but the destination of presumptuous, uppity Muslim terrorists.
Deep Thought Of The Day
When does Saakashvili have time to fix the situation in his country if he's on CNN every hour chatting with Suzanne Malveaux?
"Left Behind" Authors: Obama Not Antichrist
Really, really sad that it's come to this, but how much do you want to bet that it won't be enough for some? There is actually a very important thing that LaHaye does say. See if you can spot it.
This may be a first for a presidential campaign: A debate about whether one of the candidates is the Antichrist.The latest round began with the McCain campaign Web ad released earlier this month called "The One." The spot includes clips of Obama seeming to imply he is God's choice, shots of Charlton Heston, stairs in the clouds (to heaven?) and images that some say are meant to mimic those in the wildly popular "Left Behind" book series about the end of the world that feature the Antichrist.
Some Obama supporters pounced on the ad, which was released in early August, saying it deliberately was meant to stoke a debate that's been going on among some Christians for months: Whether Obama is the Antichrist.
(snip)The debate over the debate has gotten so intense that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, the authors of the "Left Behind" series, issued a statement clarifying that Obama is likely not the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation. "I've gotten a lot of questions the last few weeks asking if Obama is the Antichrist," Jenkins told Christian Newswire. "I tell everyone that I don't think the Antichrist will come out of politics, especially American politics."
LaHaye has said he recognized echoes of his books in the McCain ad.
**Killer graphic via.
Pictures Of The "Cages" Set Up In Denver For Protesters
Go look. Reminds me of that movie "The Siege".
Senseless Veep Speculation of the Day
Hey, everyone else was linking to it...
Obama camp said to be leaning towards Biden for vice president.
I'm just passing on the latest I'm hearing--that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is moving up on the list of potential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). While Obama's heart may go towards Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine--his head takes him to a more experienced pick, a Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) or Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
I'm brain boggled today, remind me why we don't like Biden? And no, the bad plugs don't count. Chris Bowers likes him better than Bayh or Kaine.
Afternoon Distraction
Holee crap. Guess Ernie won't be doing Viagra commercials any time soon. On Fox no less.
Attention TV News bookers: Ernest Borgnine will share all, if you ask him.
Chickaboomer has the story and video from this morning's Fox & Friends when Steve Doocy asked the 90-something actor what's the secret to looking so young.
Bill Kristol stands by his story: Colin Powell will endorse Obama
By GottaLaff
"The Obama campaign expects a Powell endorsement."
He stands by this story the way Tammy Wynette stood by her man.
"I'm sure he's telling the truth," he opines, in regard to Powell's statement that he wouldn't be attending the Democratic convention.
I guess that's his way of saying he's positive that Powell's not a fullblown liar. I bet Colin appreciates that ringing endorsement of his forthrightitudedness. Well, okay, Powell wasn't exactly honest when he presented "evidence" at the U.N. that there were WMD in Iraq, so I suppose Kristol is right not to trust him 100%.
And we're right not to trust Kristol, even if he turns out to be right on this one.
He stands by this story the way Tammy Wynette stood by her man.
"I'm sure he's telling the truth," he opines, in regard to Powell's statement that he wouldn't be attending the Democratic convention.
I guess that's his way of saying he's positive that Powell's not a fullblown liar. I bet Colin appreciates that ringing endorsement of his forthrightitudedness. Well, okay, Powell wasn't exactly honest when he presented "evidence" at the U.N. that there were WMD in Iraq, so I suppose Kristol is right not to trust him 100%.
And we're right not to trust Kristol, even if he turns out to be right on this one.
GOP North Carolina Rep. Jones is a big fan of ‘The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder.’
By GottaLaff
The Washington Post reports that a “southern conservative congressman” is a big fan of Vincent Bugliosi’s best-selling book “The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder,” which makes the case that Bush should be held “criminally responsible” for the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq. A “source close to the author” told the Post that the lawmaker is Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), who famously coined the term “freedom fries,” but later became a critic of the Bush administration’s handling of the Iraq war. Jones told Bugliosi that he wants to lay low until the election, but afterward, would be “standing there by your side.”"Lay low until the election." See, Walter, that's the problem. We won't consider impeachment, or an inquiry, or, well, anything until... well, maybe never. If Bush has committed war crimes, why wait? Would Rep. Freedom Fries wait if someone murdered his son or daughter?
Oh, I forgot, sometimes breaking the law is not a crime... but in this case, it's only until after the elections are over.
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