The Angry Skink

Whatever you think

2008-08-29T02:13:00.001-05:00

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones had a beautiful smile. And a lot of times, that made me smile with her.

btw

2008-08-29T00:33:00.001-05:00

I just loved seeing Barack Obama's Black Wife, half-Indonesia sister, Chinese brother-in-law and white relatives. How awesome was that?

The Saints...

2008-08-29T00:18:00.001-05:00

I'm really happy that I didn't watch the Saints tonight. *sigh* They always start with a winning record, at least.

Never.

2008-08-29T00:04:00.002-05:00

Never have I heard a Presidential candidate have such respect for gay rights. Yes we can!

Whoa

2008-08-28T13:11:00.001-05:00

Looks like not only is Cindy McCain's half sister a Democrat, the sister also hates Cindy... That's some bad blood.

Hmm

2008-08-28T11:41:00.000-05:00

Am I the only one who thinks that any ad that features John McCain speaking directly to the camera is by definition not exciting?

I agree

2008-08-28T10:06:00.003-05:00

John Cole states:

And the best thing is what is to come- the train wreck that will be the GOP convention, and that can not be understated. It is going to be a disaster. The Democratic convention was forward looking, positive, hopeful, and constructive. For all the talks of disunity, this party is unified and ready for battle. Contrast that with what we can expect to see next week.

First, we know for a fact that the GOP, unlike the Democrats, will not be able to control themselves. They will launch attack after attack at Obama, and try to destroy him. It will fail, and they will get savaged in the media, who were all present at the DNC. The best thing about the babble all through the Democratic convention is that they will feel duty bound to do the same during the RNC, and they will be shocked and taken aback by the viciousness of the GOP. Bank on it. Either the gild will come off the McCain maverick/respectful lily, or we will have to realize that McCain wants to be President but can not even control his own convention. I will take either narrative for 1000, Alex.

I'm glad someone else agrees with me. All this hand wringing about the Democratic Convention will look absolutely silly when we see the shit show that is the Republican Party. Think they'll be loving on the Vice Presidential nominee? Think they'll have interesting speakers? Think they'll look like anything else but thugs? I don't.

Black idealism

2008-08-28T09:33:00.002-05:00

Black people are the last idealists in this country:

Nearly two-thirds of black voters in the new poll said they could see one of their children becoming president, up 11 percentage points from the fall of 1992. At 47 percent, whites are about where they were back then on the question.

Charlie Payne!

2008-08-27T20:54:00.002-05:00

I loved the Kerry shout out to him! He's my favorite Barack relative. :)

Word

2008-08-27T19:44:00.002-05:00

Noam Scheiber:

Don't get me wrong, Barack Obama was going to win the floor vote just now to suspend the rest of the roll call and proclaim him the nominee. (It was positively electric in here when Hillary made the motion.) But surely there were a couple dissenters in the house. Nancy Pelosi pulled the trigger on that gavel before she'd even finished pronouncing the word "nay."

It made me laugh, because she didn't even pause for a second. I love Speaker Pelosi!

Ray Nagin

2008-08-27T18:12:00.000-05:00

He also talks up the 311 number.

Ray Nagin is on CNN

2008-08-27T18:08:00.003-05:00

He thought Sen. Obama couldn't win. You would think that he would be in NOLA, but he "had to be here." Jackass says he is "cautiously optimistic" that the levees will hold. I'm "cautiously optimistic" that I'll be able to save some of my things.

Seriously

2008-08-27T14:58:00.002-05:00

Ben Smith points out:

There was, Obama advisors point out, no low-key way to do the nomination -- you can't do it in a diner. And the Republican attacks don't depend on the reality. Still, as I wrote today, his advisors have long known, big speeches can cut both ways. That's why, at one point on the campaign, they were banished to the evenings, so that he would appear in the evening news in more intimate settings.

That's why you do it BIG and embrace it. It's going to be powerful, awesome political theater. I'm sure Sen. Obama is going to have lots of flags on the stage. Republicans are just haters.

Del Martin dies

2008-08-27T14:37:00.002-05:00

At least she lived long enough to get married.

Bill Clinton

2008-08-27T14:24:00.001-05:00

Genuinely loves his wife:

“I never expect to be moved again like I was last night at a convention.”

I was proud of her too.

Funniest video ever

2008-08-25T10:53:00.001-05:00

Faux News attacks Denver protesters, protesters respond:

Joe Biden

2008-08-23T04:38:00.001-05:00

hehe, I agree with John Cole about this:

BTW- The pick is probably gonna be Biden according to the media, who I rate as the person most likely of all the VP possibles to call Mitt Romney an asshole. Others are hoping for a casual “m____ f_____.” Either way, I call that a win.

Here's hoping for that Vice Presidential debate.

Politico..

2008-08-23T03:08:00.001-05:00

I'm so happy that they have decided to just publish Republican oppo articles. That's classy.

wtf Barack

2008-08-23T02:39:00.000-05:00

You make me wait forever and then you pick Biden at 2:40 am... thanks... whatever, I'm cool with it.

I'm lame too

2008-08-22T20:40:00.001-05:00

Like Jonathan Cohn, I have nothing better to do on a Friday night than wait expectantly by my cell phone... (Although I am hanging out with friends, I'm just letting them talk amongst themselves while I sit at my computer...)

I agree

2008-08-22T17:54:00.001-05:00

With Marc, the Obama/Bayh bumper stickers look fake.

Something is in the water

2008-08-22T16:21:00.001-05:00

This is the third heartwarming story about Sen. Obama that I have read today. It's about Seamus Ahern, the Marine Sen. Obama mentioned in his 2004 Keynote Address. It's so powerful.

This man could be our next President

2008-08-22T15:38:00.002-05:00

Read this:

In late January, on his campaign plane as we flew from Kansas after the El Dorado visit, I asked the senator about the wanderlust in his family that he had chosen to reject. ‘Part of me settling in Chicago and marrying Michelle was a conscious decision to root myself,’ he told me. ‘There’s a glamour, there’s a romance to that kind of life and there’s a part of that still in me. But there’s a curse to it as well. You need a frame for the canvas, because too much freedom’s not freedom.’ He laughed and added, ‘I’m waxing too poetic here.’

When was the last time we had a President with that much self-awareness?

Barry Manilow!

2008-08-22T14:26:00.002-05:00

Barry Manilow (among others) for Obama!

Seriously, though, what is up with Forrest Whitaker rubbing his head? It almost parodies itself. Also, Margaret Cho is in it!!! I love her!

Wow!

2008-08-22T13:59:00.001-05:00

This picture of the Democratic National Convention podium looks AWESOME! I'm super excited now for it.

Read it

2008-08-22T13:40:00.002-05:00

This article about Sen. Obama's upbringing was incredibly moving. It's a must read.

Finally

2008-08-22T11:38:00.001-05:00

An AP article I agree with, but only because it is appropriately worshiping Michelle Obama

Democratic National Convention

2008-08-22T11:17:00.003-05:00

As we approach the Convention, I think back to my time four years ago. I cared almost nothing about politics, and the thoughts I had post-Convention were:

1) Barack Obama is awesome
2) John Kerry is kind of creepy

Although I was solidly anti-Bush, I really didn't pay any attention. I often think back to that in order to give myself strength. There was a time when I didn't know any poll numbers, didn't know any gaffes, and had limited grasp of anyone's positions - that is where most Americans still are, so don't sweat the small stuff.

Chet Edwards

2008-08-22T11:02:00.001-05:00

Would be a bizarre pick for Vice President. I like him, but it would be weird. Although, Nancy Pelosi would be happy.

More Brian Schweitzer love

2008-08-22T10:38:00.002-05:00

Jay Newton-Small of Time states that Gov. Schweitzer is his favorite. I have a history of love for Gov. Schweitzer.

What I hate about the traditional media

2008-08-22T09:53:00.003-05:00

Taegan Goodard writes:

Sen. John McCain's inability to tell a reporter how many home he owns became a major issue in the campaign last night, with segments on all three network news programs.

Chris Cilli za nails why it matters: "In politics, there is nothing worse than appearing out of touch."

In my perfect world, John McCain actually being out of touch, say with a ridiculous tax plan, would be what really mattered.

Obama's VP

2008-08-22T09:27:00.001-05:00

How funny would it be if this were actually true?

Get out of Gaffe Free

2008-08-22T09:16:00.002-05:00

Someone found McCain's "Get out of Gaffe Free" Card:

Dumb

2008-08-21T15:59:00.003-05:00

John McCain's latest response to his forgetting how many houses he owns strikes me of desperation:

Though McCain is widely perceived to to drawn first blood by attacking Obama's character, the official said that the difference between Obama's mocking McCain for his wealth and his shaky answer on the number of homes he owns was that McCain's charge "reflects an existential reality," where Obama's charges "attack Cindy. She owns the homes. I thought he said the wives were off-limits."

Damn you Barack Obama!!

2008-08-21T15:07:00.002-05:00

Every time I get a text message, I freak out and think it's you announcing your Vice Presidential pick! Now you are absolutely sure who it is, but won't reveal when you'll announce! Argh! I bet you picked this afternoon, but are enjoying hitting Sen. McCain over the head with his house gaffe! DAMN YOU!

Looking at Obama's Travel Schedule

2008-08-21T14:11:00.002-05:00

Maybe there is still some hope for a Vice President Schweitzer...

Scary

2008-08-21T13:26:00.001-05:00

The Secret Service needs to do a better job of protecting Sen. Obama from random crazy people.

Reid and Lieberman talk

2008-08-21T11:22:00.002-05:00

During the phone call, I wish that Harry Reid said something about throwing Lieberman out of our Party, but it appears he kept it civil:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., defended Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman on Wednesday after the former Democratic vice presidential nominee accepted a speaking slot at next month's Republican convention in Minnesota.

"He has a close personal relationship with John McCain. I don't fully understand why he does," said Reid, who said Lieberman called Tuesday from the Republic of Georgia to alert him to the move.
I told him last night, 'You know, Joe, I can't stand John McCain.' He said, 'I know you feel that way,' " Reid said.

But Reid said he would continue to resist calls from the Democratic Party's base to strip Lieberman, now an independent, of his Senate positions for his disloyalty.

Why I dislike Hillary

2008-08-21T09:42:00.001-05:00

Mark Halperin writes:

February 9, 2008: Obama wins contests in Louisiana, the Virgin Islands, Nebraska, and Washington state, beginning a month-long winning streak that effectively locks up the nomination.

And she knew it too, but chose to spend another 100 million trying to destroy Sen. Obama. Thanks.

I wish

2008-08-21T07:50:00.001-05:00

I had no idea how many houses I owned.

MYBO

2008-08-19T09:27:00.001-05:00

I love the new improvements to the MYBO website. It makes it so much easier to navigate.

Joe Biden pt. 2

2008-08-19T09:17:00.002-05:00

Hmm... he's apparently more prone to racist statements than I was originally aware of. Not anything "too bad," (because it's okay to be "a little" racist, right?) but still it would be an interesting three months with Biden as VP nominee.

Joe Biden

2008-08-19T08:21:00.004-05:00

Consider this my obligatory Joe Biden as VP post, as Mark Halperin seems to be hinting very strongly that it's Biden. He wouldn't be my first pick, or even my second, but I think he's solid. He has a good heart, smart as a whip, and seems very competent. Also, would be great on the attack, which Sen. Obama is clearly not doing so well at.

Racist drivel

2008-08-18T17:24:00.002-05:00

This article is extremely racist, and clearly written by a disgruntled Hillary supporter. I especially hate this section:

3. Most successful black candidates have undergone a "hazing"--military service, an impoverished upbringing, etc.--which makes them acceptable to whites. Tolerating Hillary could be that hazing.

That's right. Black candidates need to be "hazed" to get elected - why don't we just send him out to the field and let Massa whip him for a while? This is terrible and I don't know how it gets published in something like the HuffPo.

Word

2008-08-18T15:57:00.001-05:00

I agree with everything Andrew Sullivan says. He says reporters need to ask these questions of McCain:

Why did you not mention this transcendent story in 1973? Why, in discussing three Christmases in captivity in Vietnam, was this story - far more powerful than any of the other anecdotes - omitted? How was it possible for the gun guard of May 1969 to be present at Christmas that year when McCain had been transferred to another camp? Is it possible that McCain's memory has faded with time and that he has simply fused his own memories with other stories - as Clinton did with Bosnia sniper fire and as Kerry did in remembering another Christmas he could not have actually witnessed where he said he did?

To me, the most damning thing is that he wrote a book chapter on his Christmas experiences and neglected to mention this cross story. I mean, that's really just unthinkable.

Great picture

2008-08-18T11:26:00.001-05:00

This picture is probably not something the DNC wants published all over:

Most obvious article ever

2008-08-18T10:06:00.002-05:00

From the Politico, an article entitled: "Obama likely to announce VP this week." Really?? Considering the Convention is next week when else would he announce it? Thankfully the article elaborates:

Barack Obama is expected to choose his running mate this week in a key decision about the direction and narrative of his bid for the White House.

A person familiar with the campaign's planning noted that Obama's schedule at the end of this week is open, but said the announcement could come "as late as the weekend."

That's right. If it doesn't come this week, then it's going to come.... this weekend.

Wow

2008-08-17T14:55:00.003-05:00

I had totally forgotten that the House Republican were still protesting. But, apparently they are still there. The best part of the article:

There have been some unusual and politically awkward moments over the last two weeks.

Take, for example, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who in front of a group of tourists, praised Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) for blowing the whistle on the House bank scandal in the 1990s.

“He was one of the courageous seven [members] who said, ‘You may ruin my career, but this is not right,’” Gohmert explained to the audience, who gave Doolittle a standing ovation.

In 2007, Doolittle's Virginia home was raided by the FBI, which is investigating his ties to ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Following that raid, Doolittle announced he would not run for reelection.

Song of the Day

2008-08-17T13:29:00.003-05:00

Beijing huan ying ni!

8 GOLD MEDALS!!!!

2008-08-16T22:15:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it!!! WE ARE AWESOME!!! GO MICHAEL PHELPS!!!

As a side note

2008-08-16T15:11:00.001-05:00

Fred Tuttle remains the greatest guy to ever run for public office.

Hot damn

2008-08-16T11:24:00.002-05:00

Sen. Obama raised 51 million dollars in July. And he has 2,000,000 donors. SUCK ON THIS!

Rep. Loretta Sanchez is full of it

2008-08-16T09:19:00.004-05:00

This woman pisses me off:

Rep. Loretta Sanchez says she’s happy for the chance to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Democratic National Convention—and she predicts that as many as half of the Democrats in the House could join her.

No, they won't. Hillary didn't even have that level of support to begin with, I don't know why she would have it now. Rep. Sanchez is the total idiot who refused to attend the Congressional Hispanic Caucus meeting with Sen. Obama and instead demanded that Sen. Obama come to her office and talk to her. She's full of herself and is a bitter deadender.

Sense from David Broder

2008-08-16T08:57:00.003-05:00

There's a great article by David Broder in the WaPo about Sen. Obama's "well-oiled machine." Very worth reading, but this struck me:

I had just come from listening to George McGovern lament the lack of discipline that wrecked his 1972 nominating convention and, perhaps, his chance of challenging Richard Nixon. "My acceptance speech was the best speech I ever gave," he said, "and it went on at 3 a.m. Eastern time, so nobody saw it."
It is unlikely to happen to Obama. Now that he and Clinton have agreed -- sensibly -- on giving her the roll-call vote her ardent supporters demanded, no contentious issues of policy or procedure remain to be ironed out.

I am shocked by how many people have argued that Sen. Obama "caved into" Sen. Clinton's demands on the roll-call vote. She got almost as many votes as he did, and I'm not a Clinton supporter, but as I argued in the past, this was the only way to go.

Nostalgia

2008-08-15T15:37:00.001-05:00

I am feeling rather sad reading over this old thread describing the hope we all felt when John Kerry picked John Edwards as his running mate... How things change.

Howard Dean speaks the truth

2008-08-15T15:23:00.000-05:00

The Democratic party is the party of minority groups. The GOP is the party of rich people and people with "racial resentment."

Song of the Day

2008-08-15T14:29:00.003-05:00

Interesting combination of "It came upon a Midnight Clear" and "One Tin Soldier" sung by Cher (with a Sonny cameo):

Preach on

2008-08-15T13:51:00.002-05:00

It's about time someone brought up McCain's lack of character, especially with regard to his treatment of women:

"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."

The Rev. Caldwell then goes on to refer to McCain's documented history of adultery. I think leaving your crippled wife for a younger heiress does say a little something about your character.

I would be okay with this

2008-08-15T13:39:00.002-05:00

The AP:

Ryan Lochte tried to pull off a daunting double, going against Phelps just 29 minutes after winning the 200 backstroke. He couldn't keep up, though he did hold on for bronze. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary picked up his third silver of the games - all of them trailing Phelps.

"It's not a shame," Cseh said, "to be beaten by a better one."

I would tell my grandchildren about it with pride. "I was second only to the greatest Olympian!"

David Shuster sizzles

2008-08-15T10:58:00.002-05:00

Via Rumproast, David Shuster lays the smack down on the PUMA crowd:

It's a delicious 11 minutes of pure awesomeness.

Great headline

2008-08-15T10:43:00.001-05:00

A great headline from Jake Tapper (who is basically my favorite traditional media blogger):

President McCain Sends Secretary of State Lieberman and Defense Secretary Graham to Tbilisi

Veterans are not a McCain group

2008-08-15T09:42:00.003-05:00

The Chicago Tribune editorializes about the upcoming speeches of Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain before war veterans:

The last Orlando assembly, Obama's crowd. This one may be more McCain's.

No, it's still Sen. Obama's crowd, because he supported the new GI Bill, increased funding for the VA and well, the troops just like him better.

Economic Disaster

2008-08-15T09:23:00.002-05:00

Isn't that exactly what we are already facing due to George W. Bush's failed policies? I think the new attack ad from John McCain misses the big picture that people are already hurting.

John McCain

2008-08-15T08:23:00.001-05:00

A noun, a verb, a POW story:

Speaking to Walter Isaacson at the Aspen Institute in Colorado on Thursday, McCain found himself explaining a recent interview with Blender Magazine in which he selected ABBA’s 1976 track “Dancing Queen” as his favorite song.

“What were you thinking?,” Isaacson asked him, looking incredulous.

“If there is anything I am lacking in, I’ve got to tell you, it is taste in music and art and other great things in life,” McCain joked. “I’ve got to say that a lot of my taste in music stopped about the time I impacted a surface-to-air missile with my own airplane and never caught up again.”

Thank you Sen. Biden.

Bob Johnson

2008-08-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

You can try to buy forgiveness with your money, I'll never forget this gem:

And to me, as an African-American, I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues since Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood – and I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in the book – when they have been involved.

Nation of Whiners!

2008-08-14T18:13:00.002-05:00

I guess John McCain can't go more than a month without his "economic brain" Phil Gramm.

This is scary

2008-08-14T17:21:00.000-05:00

I see via Mark Halperin that the FAA covered up the full-extent of Sen. Obama's emergency plane landing. Thank you God for allowing Sen. Obama's plane to land safely.

Awesome

2008-08-14T16:54:00.001-05:00

A 41-page denunciation of all the falsehoods in the Corsi book. I love our nominee! We will not be Swift Boated is reality!

Wingnuts are not society

2008-08-14T16:35:00.002-05:00

Even liberals fall into the trap of labeling extreme right-wing views as mainstream. Case in point is Harold Pollack blogging at Ezra Klein's blog:

I won’t bother with the fine points here. Nobody is really arguing about military readiness, any more than the battle about women soldiers concerned cost-benefit analysis of building extra latrines. Kicking out gay Arabic interpreters and the like makes no sense. Almost everyone knows it. This really is about two things: Do we believe that our LBGT brethren are entitled to the rights and obligations of American citizenship? Will we allow a particular socially conservative subculture to repel civilian control over our military?

I don’t see much reason to give ground on either front. And I don't know why our society is so crazy about this subject. [emphasis mine]

Our society isn't crazy. That's why 75% of the country supports openly gay people serving in our military. Wingnuts are crazy.

WTF!

2008-08-14T16:09:00.002-05:00

Ahhhhhh! It's killing me! Who's going to be Sen. Obama's VP? Mark Halperin is reporting that Senators Bayh and Biden are speaking on Wednesday (VP day) along with Gov. Richardson. I need more details!

More willfull ignorance

2008-08-14T15:32:00.003-05:00

The GOP finds oil in trees. Too bad there isn't any wildlife in ANWR. To quote Sen. Obama: "It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant."

Thank you Sen. Clinton

2008-08-14T15:20:00.003-05:00

For engaging in character attacks when you knew you couldn't win. Thank you for enraging your supporters and making them think that John McCain had passed the "Commander-in-Chief threshold" and Sen. Obama hadn't.

From Slate:

When I ask what Obama would have to do to win her over, what she says first is that he'd have to adopt Hillary's health care plan. But by the end of the conversation, we get to the real bottom line, which is that she just doesn't like Obama, sees him as a total poser and nothing-burger who swooped in from nowhere and stole the thing, and all the health care reform in the world is not going to change that. At this point, she's thinking seriously about staying home on Election Day. She is not going to wake up the morning after Hillary's name is placed in nomination and have a whole new lease on Obama. And my guess is, Hillary knows that.

It's just a reminder of all we have to thank Sen. Clinton for when we are discussing the roll call vote.

Fairness Doctrine

2008-08-14T14:55:00.001-05:00

This datum from the new Rasmussen poll stuck out to me:

Only 45% of Americans say they are following recent news stories about the Fairness Doctrine even somewhat closely, while 15% say they are not following the story at all.

Um, that's a fairly high percentage for a random legal issue. I guess it's because the conservative talk radio market is screaming to high hell about it.

More on the roll call vote

2008-08-14T14:02:00.001-05:00

According to the NY Times, Sen. Clinton will use her superdelegate vote to vote for Sen. Obama. If I were him, I would return the favor. Nothing says unity like that.

Further prediction: I think this will be an incredibly well choreographed event and will end up being a saccharine sweet unity love fest.

Anti-Swift-Boating

2008-08-14T13:47:00.004-05:00

TPM is reporting that Sen. Obama is going actually discredit the lying Swift-Boater crowd:

Obama advisers say that whenever they hear that Corsi has been booked for an appearance on a network program, they are quickly contacting the program's producers to rebut the book's charges in phone conversations and giving them a whole run-down of past Corsi quotes that are controversial.
Obama aides also vow to insist that the producers allow them to have on a campaign surrogate to attack the charges, and are expecting to recruit more campaign surrogates, well plied with talking points, to push back against the book.

The question is, why didn't Sen. Kerry do this same thing last election cycle? I mean, it just doesn't make sense to allow scurrilous accusations by deranged liars to go unanswered. The traditional media will repeat anything even bald-faced lies, so you have to get to them early before the lies become "common knowledge."

Word

2008-08-14T13:39:00.002-05:00

From One Drop at Too Sense:

You want to know the real reason I get so pissed off about gangsta rap?

Suburban white kids.

They're the largest segment of the commercial audience for Hip Hop. As much as people talk about Hip Hop being of, for, and by the black community, you wouldn't see multi-platinum albums without those suburban white kids flocking to the music. Like any other business, the music industry responds to the tastes of its customers. And those suburban white kids, they love the image of the black gangsta. So the industry gives them more gangstas, takes artists that really come from middle-class upbringings and portrays them as the hardest ghetto rats in the world. And white suburbanites gobble that shit up and ask for more.

The whole thing reminds me of Bamboozled, which was fiction right?

A thinking President

2008-08-14T13:10:00.001-05:00

This sums up my thoughts on Sen. Obama:

Peggy Noonan compared this approach to that of the Kennedy administration. “JFK and his people came into the White House,” she said in an e-mail, “with a faith they could be practical, pragmatic, worldly, that with these attributes they could manage what came over history’s transom. I see Obama as like this: things will come over the transom and he’ll approach them as a thoughtful sophisticate. He’ll think.”

For better and worse, if Obama wins, a thinking president is what we’ll have.

I am unsure if Sen. Obama will be able to live up to the enormous expectations an Obama Presidency would entail, but I am also sure that we have no other choice but to put our faith in him.

Obama and debates

2008-08-14T12:25:00.004-05:00

Via Jake Tapper, James Fallow asks a good question why was Sen. Obama so much weaker in the debates against Sen. Clinton than against Alan Keyes?

I honestly think the problem was that he felt constrained by the Democrat on Democrat action and truly did not want to attack someone whose positions were so close to his. Also, Hillary Clinton was so sharp, that he couldn't let his guard down. I think Sen. Obama has a history of being deferential to smart, strong women. Plus, Alan Keyes is so comically stupid...

Also, he manages to bring up what's wrong with the traditional media

We don’t watch debates to learn what someone thinks about Social Security. We watch to see how the contenders look next to their opponents, how they react when challenged, how well or poorly they come up with the words we later see in print.

"We" here meaning elite beltway types, who already "know" what the candidates think and are more concerned with "looks," "image," and "expectations."

Why I stopped reading The Note

2008-08-14T11:54:00.003-05:00

When I first starting getting serious about politics, I used to read ABC's The Note religiously. I stopped reading it a while ago, and started wondering why. It quickly became clear.

Here is the third paragraph:

(And the poll we've all been waiting for has arrived -- the one that declares the race just about even.)

It links to the Pew Poll showing Barack Obama winning 46%-43%, with a 2% margin of error. Is that even to you? No, it means that Barack is leading... by 3 points. But, like I've said previously, everything is Good News For John McCain!

Not worth the effort

2008-08-14T11:48:00.003-05:00

If someone wants to spend $1,000 to see Sen. Obama accept the nomination, I think the Obama campaign should let them. Although, I understand that they want to control who gets in (security, security, security), I'm sure that the metal detectors will work perfectly.

Troops like Obama?

2008-08-14T11:14:00.002-05:00

I thought they realized that Obama hates the troops! Why are they giving him so much money?

More dispatches

2008-08-14T11:07:00.003-05:00

From the futile "War on Drugs." Read the whole thing.

At my university, if you brought a friend to the Student Health Center, you were guaranteed not to be arrested (no matter what). I think that's a good policy. What's more important - saving someone's life, or convicting a drug dealer? America currently thinks the later is a higher priority.

Song of the Day

2008-08-14T10:30:00.003-05:00

Here's Walt Disney's favorite song:

Duh!

2008-08-14T09:38:00.005-05:00

Of course Sen. Clinton's name is going to be placed in nomination. I could have told you this months ago. Marc Ambinder reports:

In negotiations this summer with Obama's campaign, Clinton's team did not ask for Clinton's name to be submitted.

But within the past week, Clinton advisers informed the Obama team that many of Clinton's staunchest supporters felt strongly that something had to be done, and that Clinton had concluded that, in part for the sake of unity, their wishes ought to be respected. They heard back immediately: the Obama campaign had always been open to having her name placed in nomination alongside his.

DUH! Seriously, I always knew that the deadenders were not truly representative of Sen. Clinton's feeling. I mean, she already lost, why do you want to take a vote that commemorates your lose? However, certain people are under the illusion that she can win, so they are forcing this. Whatever. I knew the Obama campaign would be okay with this. Why not? They get to win all over again.

Sen. Clinton has shown a lot more class in losing that I would have expected. Marc goes on:

Clinton aides also confirmed, and Obama aides did not dispute, that it was Clinton who informed the Obama campaign that she did not [want] to give the keynote address to the convention. It is not clear whether the Obama camp would have offered the honorific, but they did not, sources said, deliberately deny it to Clinton.

It's nice that she's getting this out there. Not that the deadenders will believe her.

But he's white, Jesse!

2008-08-14T09:19:00.002-05:00

Jesse Taylor of Pandagon writes:

Could it be any more obvious that McCain would have leapt on any conflict anywhere in the world to play make-believe George W. Bush circa September 2001? Shadow ambassadors, asinine and utterly contradictory assertions - John McCain is so hungry to appear presidential that he’s willing to give himself a blank slate on which to project his vision of foreign policy, reality and history be damned.
One might almost call it...presumptuous. If one were into using words to describe things.

Sadly, Jesse forgets that when you get where you are based on who your parents are, that's fair, but when you get where you are based on your own merits, that's affirmative action.

Ben Smith: hack

2008-08-14T09:07:00.002-05:00

On his blog about Sen. Obama and the Democrats, Ben Smith finds time to write about Cindy McCain's sprained wrist, but not the fact that Sen. Obama reached 2,000,000 donors.

Note to John McCain

2008-08-13T17:32:00.001-05:00

John McCain: I do believe that he’s hell-bent on the restoration of Russia as a major power in the world.

Note to John McCain: Russia is a major power in the world.

On a lighter note

2008-08-13T17:18:00.001-05:00

Via Ben Smith: The Obama-Rama sounds like a very tasty drink.

Bill Gwatney died

2008-08-13T16:37:00.001-05:00

R.I.P. Bill Gwatney

You will be missed.

I agree with Al Giordano

2008-08-13T15:50:00.003-05:00

That's hardly a surprise, as I go to The Field when I find myself thinking Chicken Little thoughts, but this is especially perceptive:

Since he became the presumptive nominee, Obama's campaign has been hitting hard at McCain and he has been hitting back at his rival's attacks. And his punches have been connecting in ways that soften McCain up for harder punches come autumn, while also giving McCain enough rope to behave in such a way that drives up the Republican's own negatives.

I read that statement earlier today, but it didn't really sink in until I read this post by Joe Klein:

But there is no excuse for what the McCain campaign is doing on the "putting America first" front. There is no way to balance it, or explain it other than as evidence of a severe character defect on the part of the candidate who allows it to be used. There is a straight up argument to be had in this election: Mcain has a vastly different view from Obama about foreign policy, taxation, health care, government action...you name it. He has lots of experience; it is always shocking to remember that this time four years ago, Barack Obama was still in the Illinois State Legislature. Apparently, though, McCain isn't confident that conservative policies and personal experience can win, given the ruinous state of the nation after eight years of Bush. So he has made a fateful decision: he has personally impugned Obama's patriotism and allows his surrogates to continue to do that. By doing so, he has allied himself with those who smeared him, his wife, his daughter Bridget, in 2000. Those tactics won George Bush a primary--and a nomination. But they proved a form of slow-acting spiritual poison, rotting the core of the Bush presidency. We'll see if the public decides to acquiesce in sleaze in 2008, and what sort of presidency--what sort of country--that will produce.

I mean, when you've lost the Joe Kleins/Thomas Friedmans of the world, who do you alienate next, Mark Halperin?

A little sadness

2008-08-13T15:37:00.003-05:00

I'm sad to see that Gov. Brian Schweitzer will be speaking on Tuesday. There go my secret hopes for an Arabic-speaking Vice Presidential nominee. Oh well, there's still hope for someone fluent in Spanish.

Legal?

2008-08-13T15:14:00.001-05:00

This doesn't sound legal to me:

One of the more unusual schemes to raise money for Barack Obama comes from Dr. Emil Chynn, of the Park Avenue Laser Vision Center who describes himself as an “avid” Obama supporter.

In a press release, Dr. Chynn is making the following pitch: He is proposing a fund-raising raffle to support Mr. Obama in which Dr. Chynn will perform a “no cut, no flap LASEK” procedure to “one lucky winner” of the raffle. He plans to sell 111 of the tickets, which will be priced at $20 each to the “visually challenged.” That will raise $2,220, which Dr. Chynn said he will donate to the Obama campaign.

Although, I could use the surgery...

Worst picture of McCain?

2008-08-13T14:15:00.002-05:00

I don't know if this is the picture I want to go out publicizing my daughter's book about me:

How creepy is that?

More good news for John McCain

2008-08-13T14:00:00.001-05:00

Barack Obama still leads 46-43. Seriously, I wish I were making this stuff up, but it seems that everything is good news for John McCain.

Meghan McCain's new book about her father's life

2008-08-13T13:11:00.002-05:00

This is an interesting fact about the book:

Cindy McCain, along with Meghan's siblings Jack, Jimmy and Bridget, are described fondly in the book — but the children from McCain’s first marriage are left unmentioned.

We wouldn't want any children to know that daddy likes to run around on crippled mommy with a younger blonde, now would we?

Sen. Bob Casey

2008-08-13T12:30:00.003-05:00

I'm happy to see that Sen. Casey will be speaking at the Democratic Convention. I'm less happy to see that the lie promulgated that his father wasn't allowed to speak in 1992 because the elder Robert Casey was "anti-abortion." No, Gov. Casey refused to endorse Bill Clinton.

Hillary Clinton losing does not equal Chinese Oppression

2008-08-13T11:34:00.003-05:00

I wrote a while ago about how Hillary Clinton losing doesn't equal rape, and here is it's follow up guide to how Hillary Clinton losing doesn't equal Chinese political oppression.

From the NY Observer:

“Hi everybody. I hope that the Denver convention will be turned into the American equivalent of Tiananmen Square,” wrote a commenter named “johninca” on a Web site announcing PUMA’s 2008 “convention” in Washington.

What happened in Tiananmen Square:

In Beijing, the resulting military response to the protesters by the PRC government left many civilians dead or injured. The reported tolls ranged from 200–300 (PRC government figures), to 300–800 (The New York Times), and to 2,000–3,000 (Chinese student associations and Chinese Red Cross).

Hillary Clinton supporters are protesting this:

Hillary Clinton lost a primary Election

Participants in Tiananmen Sqaure protested this:

The PRC is known for its intolerance of organized dissent towards the government. Dissident groups are routinely arrested and imprisoned, often for long periods of time and without trial. One of the most famous dissidents is Zhang Zhixin, who is known for standing up against the ultra-left.^[31] Incidents of torture, forced confessions and forced labour are widely reported. Freedom of assembly and association is extremely limited.

Oh so similar.

New Obama Ad

2008-08-13T11:22:00.001-05:00

Loves it. It does the following

Highlights link between McCain and Dubya
Highlights link between the Iraq War and our economy
Highlights Iraq's surplus due to high oil costs
Highlights Sen. Obama's positive message

This is the definition of a contrast ad. It's not negative, it's not false - it presents a contrast between the failed Bush/McCain economic policies and the promise of better Obama policies.

MoDo too

2008-08-13T10:17:00.002-05:00

It seems that today I agree with those who normally I can't even read. MoDo sums up my feelings about Hillary Clinton with this:

Obama also allowed Hillary supporters to insert an absurd statement into the platform suggesting that media sexism spurred her loss and that “demeaning portrayals of women ... dampen the dreams of our daughters.” This, even though postmortems, including the new raft of campaign memos leaked by Clintonistas to The Atlantic — another move that undercuts Obama — finger Hillary’s horrendous management skills.
Besides the crashing egos and screeching factions working at cross purposes, Joshua Green writes in the magazine, Hillary’s “hesitancy and habit of avoiding hard choices exacted a price that eventually sank her chances at the presidency.”
It would have been better to put this language in the platform: “A woman who wildly mismanages and bankrupts a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar campaign operation, and then blames sexism in society, will dampen the dreams of our daughters.”

Otherness and Sen. Obama

2008-08-13T10:08:00.003-05:00

For once, I absolutely agree with Michael Crowley:

Peter Beinart argues that race is holding Obama back in the polls, and urges him to take a high-profile stand against race-based--and in favor of class-based--affirmative action to assuage white fears.
That might be a good start. But it doesn't do much about myths that he's a Muslim and a foreigner who doesn't love the flag, etc., and I suspect those things are tied up with the race question in a way that such an affirmative action gambit wouldn't remedy.

I have always thought that the "otherness" problem for Sen. Obama is a problem that candidate would face. He's just happens to be tied into "Muslim." No Black candidate would be considered sufficiently patriotic aka grateful for America.