Tea Party movement attempts to unite?

I predict much hilarity.

(CNN) – The Tea Party activists characterize their movement as grassroots, energetic and growing in size, but organized or unified? Those are not words used very often to discuss a movement divided among national and local chapters across the country.

But Thursday a broad coalition of national and regional Tea Party groups are announcing the formation of the National Tea Party Federation (NTPF). According to a statement from the Tea Party Express, one of the groups participating, the federation is being "established to create a unified message and media response amongst key leadership and their affiliates."

Tea Party leaders say the federation will also serve as a clearinghouse and will be used to promote the movement's objectives, which they say are "fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets.

November 3rd 2008, Manassas, Virginia

Huge h/t. You can't make this stuff up.

Reinforcing that "unity" message

By GottaLaff

Someone named Anonymous in Comments took offense at the snarky, satirical "Catharsis" video I posted:

You're just proving their point - and giving the PUMAs justification.

"Unity" implies cooperation from both halves of the democratic party - so embrace the Change and aim the barbs as McCain!

I feel just terrible. I don't do enough of those J Sid barbs, do I? I apologize. I'll be sure to devote more time to that in the future.

In the meantime, maybe Hillary's people might want to "cooperate" on that whole "Unity" issue and "embrace the Change" themselves:

A number of Sen. Hillary Clinton's top advisers will not be staying in Denver long enough to hear Barack Obama accept the nomination for president, according to sources familiar with their schedules.

Clinton will deliver her speech Tuesday night. She will hold a private meeting with her top financial supporters Wednesday at noon, and will thank her delegates at an event that afternoon. Former president Bill Clinton will speak that night. Several of Hillary Clinton's supporters are then planning to leave town. Among them, Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's campaign chairman, and longtime supporters Steve Rattner and Maureen White. Another of Clinton's top New York fundraisers, Alan Patricof, did not make the trip to Denver.

Boyoboy. That's showing J Sid, alright, alright. Unity '08!

"I am Hillary Clinton and I do not approve this message"

By GottaLaff

This should be repeated by every talking head, instead of giving free air time to McCain's desperate, content-free campaign ads. But sadly, it's more important to create controversy (read: ratings):

In what could be a preview of her Tuesday night address, Hillary Clinton defiantly dismissed John McCain's new television commercials that encourage her former supporters to support his campaign.

"I'm Hillary Clinton and I do not approve this message," Clinton said of the ads to loud cheers at the New York Democratic Party's delegation breakfast this morning at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Denver.

"Let there be no mistake about it. We are united. We are united for change. We are, after all Democrats, so it may take awhile. We're not the fall in line party. We're diverse. Many voices. But make no mistake, we are united.

"I ask each and every one of you to work as hard for Barack and Joe Biden as you worked for me," she said to her fellow delegates, some of whom waved "Hillary Made History" placards. [...]

"I don't appreciate having my name or my words or for that matter Sen. Biden's words used. There's nothing I can do about it, except speak out against it, and hope people won't give it any credence."

"If you voted for me, you have much more in common with Senator Obama on every issue I campaigned on, on every cause that I have stood for, than you do with Senator McCain," she said when asked what she thought of her former supporters considering a McCain vote.

That last part makes the most relevant point. Voting for McCain makes no sense unless you weren't behind the Democratic platform from the start. And if you supported Hillary, you must have supported the Democratic platform, at least for the most part. So what's the problem, again?

Obama: "She rocks"

By GottaLaff

You'll have to sit through a commercial before you get to the clips:

When it was Obama's turn to pile on the plaudits, another voice in the crowd yelled, "She rocks." Obama answered, "She rocks, she rocks. That's the point I'm trying to make."

But really, none of this is important. What really matters is that they wore matching outfits.

Unity blue: Game, set, matching outfits

By GottaLaff

Paddy posted this down thread:

I’m on the Obama campaign plane right now. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, just got on. They match. He’s wearing a white shirt and baby blue tie, her pantsuit is the same color.

I hadn't read that yet when I was watching CNN or MSNBC (I wasn't paying attention) and heard them say the very same thing, over and over again. Yes, Corporate News, that's what's important. That's exactly how two major political figures, former rivals, have consciously decided to emphasize their unity. Not by agreeing on policy, not by highlighting mutual goals, not by playing up harmony, both personal and political, but by collaborating on their outfits. They're smart. They recognize a priority when they see it:

::ring ring::

Obama: Hello?

Hillary: Oh em gee, Barack? I am, like, so-o-o-o excited about our Unity unity!

Obama: It's gonna be awesome, Hill. No, seriously. Awesome.

Hill: What are you gonna wear?

Obama: Suit, tie, the usual. Are you wearing the blue pantsuit or the yellow one? Or the green one? Or the gray one? Or the black one? Or the mauve one? Or the taupe one?

Hill: The blue one.

Obama: The baby blue one or the royal blue one or the navy blue one or the prussian blue one?

Hill: Baby blue. Ba-RACK, you know how I love that one! You know how I love to match my eye shadow to it! Omg, did you forget?

Obama: Nononono, I totally remember! Omg, let's be twins! I'll wear a matching baby blue tie!

Hill: Rad!! Like, it'll totally show we're bffs! Omg, and let's so-o-o sit together on the plane! 'K?

Obama: 'K.

Hill: 'K?

Obama: 'K.

Hill: 'K?

Obama: That's enough, Hillary. I gave you $2,300. That came with the caveat that you'd stop doing the 'K thing.

Hill: 'K. Tsk.

Obama: Cool. Ttyl!

Hill: Byes!