Michael Moore on Why Democrats are Nice to McCain

I like what Michael Moore has to say here. I don't always agree with him, and think the right wing assigns him far too much power, but this is pretty dead on. On a side note, I'm convinced that Moore is trying to become Bruce Vilanch.

New Barack Obama Ad: McCain Don't Know Much

Catchy, and true. The only way I like "attack ads" is true. So I approve this message too!

Are Hillary Clinton's Supporters Really a Big Deal?

Image from HipHappy

This morning, one of the very first stories I saw was one alleging a huge divide at the Democratic National Convention. According to the blaring headlines, Hillary Clinton's supporters are still balking at a Barack Obama candidacy, and ready for some kind of fight.

While I'll admit to having a gnawing fear in the back of my mind at some kind of surprise coup, I've thought for some time that the fear was overblown. And-if the voices I heard from the convention floor via radio are any indication--the story was overblown in the media this morning. Sure, there are PUMAs out there (some undoubtedly not Democrats anyway, and possibly even Rush Limbaugh kool aid drinkers), but I just don't think they're as big a force as they've been made out to be. I guess we'll all get to see soon enough how it will all play out.

[Excerpt]

Clinton asks her delegates to back Obama for the country's sake

Hillary Clinton made an impassioned appeal Monday for supporters to put aside disappointment over her failed presidential bid and unite behind Barack Obama, a move aimed at avoiding lasting divisions that could damage both the Democratic nominee and the New York senator's own political future. . .

Read more at: Canada.com

Democratic National Convention Finally Here

Photo from source, AFP

After a seemingly endless primary campaign, and now general election, one of the two "big events" (before the debates, of course) is finally here. Conventions can be boring, they can be exciting, they can be game changers. It remains to be seen what the Democratic National Convention will do for Barack Obama, and what next week's Republican one will do for John McCain.

It's unfortunate that the Republican Convention follows so immediately, because any "bounce" Obama might get will be difficult to measure. But, I'm confident that this week's festivities will be a little more exciting than McCain's bound-to-be more somber affair.

The big event tonight is Michelle Obama's speech. After getting a relentless thrashing from the right wing for months, it will be nice to hear from her. I hope she gets to thrash back. . .in a classy way, of course.

[Excerpt]

Obama will be 'extraordinary president,' his wife vows

Michelle Obama pledged to Americans and the world Monday that her husband Barack Obama would be an "extraordinary president" who would give all children the chance to realize their dreams. . .

Read more at: AFP

Top 10 Conservative Idiots: August 25, 2008

Yayyy! After a week off, Democratic Underground's weekly Top 10 Conservative Idiots is back! It just doesn't feel like Monday without it. And they're back in fighting form, too. Read on. . .

[Excerpt]

The Top 10 Conservative Idiots, No. 349
August 25, 2008
McMansion Edition

Before we begin this week, I should first say congratulations to Sen. Joe Biden, who was selected by Barack Obama to be the Democratic candidate for vice president. Change, experience, judgment, backbone... I think we may have a winning ticket here!

Now, this week's list is a little different - I was away last week, and a giant backlog of McCain gaffes and blunders appears to have built up since then. So this week it's all McCain (although I was able to find some room at the end for the Best of the Rest). . .

Read the list at: Democratic Underground

What Republicans Think of John McCain

The string of John McCain's negative ads on Barack Obama have been catalogued exhaustively here and elsewhere, I know. The reason I've been focusing on them has been to show the desperation inherent in these mostly dishonest, and wildly scatter-shot attacks.

The most recent line of attack is to show comments made by running mate Joe Biden and former competitor, Hillary Clinton. As everyone knows, primary fights get muddy, and it isn't unusual for former competitors to join forces for the general election. In each of those cases, there are things that were said in the heat of battle that must be tempered or disavowed. Anyone remember "voodoo economics" from George H.W. Bush to Ronald Reagan?

McCain faces a bruising ad war if he continues this tack. As this video shows, many Republicans have had an unkind word or two to say about McCain, and not always in the context of a primary fight. Take a look.



Found at: NewsCorpse

Hillary Clinton to Release Her Delegates on Wednesday

Photo from source, Huffington Post

The cynic in me has been expecting Hillary Clinton to pull an about-face on her support for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention this week. I know it probably won't happen, but I'll still be on guard. Most likely, all will go as planned, and the fever dreams of the PUMAs will not come to pass.

Historically, when things are going poorly in the country, and when a party has an epically unpopular President, the other side wins handily. But in this case, we're talking about a Machiavellian, entrenched Republican Party, versus a "let's play nice" Democratic Party that is known for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. So a big, attention-grabbing attempted coup at the convention makes me nervous. I guess it will make watching the convention a little more interesting if I'm jumpy.

[Excerpt]

Clinton expected to release delegates Wednesday

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, hoping to unite the Democratic Party and cement her future in it, will gather her hard-won primary delegates Wednesday at a reception where she is expected to formally release them to Barack Obama. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

John McCain in Feud with. . .Madonna?

So far this campaign season, there have been invocations of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. So, why not Madonna? Maybe it has something to do with this video?



[Excerpt]

McCain Campaign Calls Madonna Show ‘Divisive’

John McCain’s campaign engaged in somewhat of a celebrity feud with Madonna Sunday, after the material girl compared the Arizona senator with Adolf Hitler and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe during her world tour. . .

Read more at: FOX "News"

McCain's Dishonest Mud Slinging & Poo Flinging

Here's my take on how the "negative" campaigning is going so far this Presidential election year. Barack Obama has gotten a few digs in, but not very many. As far as I can tell, Obama's ads are fairly straight forward and honest. I'm sure there's a little political flair there, but I don't see any flagrant truth-twisting or lying in the ads.

John McCain, on the other hand, has fired off one negative ad after the other. The targets are wide, and the truth is thin. He's attacked Obama for being "too popular," has compared him to celebutards, blamed the price of gas on Obama, and now is hitting him with a claim of corruption. That corruption has to do with a shady guy named Tony Rezko, and Obama may have had some dealings with the guy. But I question how much impropriety could have been involved if McCain has to gin up the story to sell it.

And this was in response to Obama's "McCain forgets how many houses he has" gaffe, no less. The only connection in the two stories is the word "house." Weak.



[Excerpt]

Rezko Reality: McCain misfires as he attacks Obama's home purchase

The ad says Chicago power broker Tony Rezko got "political favors" including "$14 million from taxpayers." But there's no evidence of any connection to the Obama home purchase. The $14 million was to build apartments for low-income seniors. Obama wrote a letter supporting the "worthy" project, but both men say Rezko didn't ask for the letter.

It says Rezko "purchased part of the property [Obama] couldn't afford." Rezko's wife did buy an adjoining tract but later sold the land at a profit. Obama paid market price for his home. . .

Read more at: Newsweek

Featured Blog: Fail Blog

This really appeals to my inner child. OK, I'm sort of an outer child, but we can't help our senses of humor right? So, Mom, quit bringing up how my brother and sister and I all had the giggles at Grandma's funeral. . .

This blog has a pretty simple concept: ironic or stupid photographs with the word fail. Some are both ironic and stupid. You'll laugh until your inner child throws up.

Source: Fail Blog

FOX "News" Doofus Gets Shouted Down

I have only watched a snippet of FOX "News" this weekend (unless you count FOX "News" Sunday), but somehow, I caught this funny moment. A doofus reporter, "Griff Jenkins," tries to interview a parade.

And not just any parade, but one FOX deems "radical leftists." I'm a liberal, but I think most of these people are nut jobs (with extra nuts). But this goofy guy is hopelessly unprofessional, desperately pushing the FOX line to a bunch of people that don't want to hear it. Look for some flipped birds, and a chant of--if I'm hearing it correctly--"F**k FOX 'News!'"



Unbelievably, the video was posted by Johnny Dollar, a sycophantic "FOX Fan." He must think this makes FOX "News" look good or something. . .

John McCain, Infallible Because He was a POW?

This clever, "it's funny 'cause it's true" video, a Nineteen Eighty-four parody, shows us the new defense for any John McCain gaffe: he was a prisoner of war.

Now, I can't imagine what it would have been like to go through something like that. It is a truly unfortunate thing that happened to McCain, and I doubt any Democrat would belittle the experience with anything akin to purple band-aids. But increasingly, McCain's POW experience is being trotted out as an answer to any gaffe he makes. From cheating on his first wife to forgetting how many houses he has, we're met with, "but, he was a POW!"

I don't think having been a POW automatically makes you ready to be President, and I don't think it explains adultery or being out of touch. What do you think?




Found at: AmericaBlog

John McCain's Ad Praising Hillary Clinton?

I don't know if this kind of ad actually works for anybody. Does anybody out there actually believe that John McCain feels sorry for Hillary Clinton? To me, the ad plays almost as parody, with the annoying, cloying, "concerned" voice-over. It's like a Saturday Night Live political ad, without the punchline.

People keep saying that McCain's ad campaign is working. Who are the morons it's working on?

What CAN We Americans Do Right These Days?

Guest posted by NevadaJoe

What can we Americans do right these days?

Many things, but a lot less than we did in the past. Sounds like I hate my country doesn't it? I'm a liberal, union member, and I don't own a gun. I guess I could also be an atheist and or a communist to really sully my reputation. But regardless of all of the above I am a middle-aged American who has no idea if he will still have a job by this time next year. And from what I am reading I am a member a fast growing fraternity.

We all know that jobs come and go, as do industries. Know a barrel maker or carriage manufacturer? "The only constant is change." Blah blah blah.

Yeah I get it, but we should be able to manufacture cars that everyone wants. . .to operate airlines that aren't second-rate in comparison to most of the international carriers. . .to have moderately priced health care. . .to have an air traffic control system that doesn't tell you your flight is number 52 to depart JFK. . .a financial/banking system that doesn't have to be bailed out because the CEOs are not the brilliant strategists they purport to be (and demand compensation for that brilliance). . .drug companies that don't charge Americans more for the drugs than consumers in other countries. . .a legal system that isn't just the best that money can buy (OJ, Robert Blake). . .and a group of lawyers willing to sue anyone for anything with no shame.

OK, I am rambling, but come on. Do we ever take the bull by the horns as a people and demand change? Hell, I know things are complicated and nuanced. But we need leadership that says we have to invest in our basic infrastructure again. We need unions and manufacturers to face the music and work together before industries die completely.

Joe Biden IS Barack Obama's VP Pick!

Image from Wikimedia

UPDATE: It's confirmed, and all over the news. Joe Biden is Barack Obama's Vice Presidential pick.

Original post:

Nothing definite yet, though you may already know by the time you read this, but it looks like Senator Joe Biden of Delaware is to be Barack Obama's choice for a Vice Presidential running mate. I can't say I'm excited about the choice, but it isn't a bad one. I like some things about Biden and dislike others, which would be true no matter who he picked.

I'm still not 100% sold. I'm thinking there might be some sort of change-up, something that surprises everybody. Hillary Rodham Clinton, anybody? It's just a hunch, and we'll know soon enough.

Let the games begin.

[Excerpt]

U.S. Secret Service on Way to Biden's House; Kaine and Bayh Told Nope on Veep

The United States Secret Service has dispatched a protective detail to assume the immediate protection of Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., a source tells ABC News, indicating in all likelihood that Biden has been officially notified that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, has selected him to be his running mate. . .

Read more at: ABC News

CBS's Racy Swingtown to Move to Cable?

Photo from source, TV Squad

I was disappointed to see that CBS's Swingtown wasn't on tonight. Then I remembered that last week's preview said, "in two weeks." So, I'm glad they aren't depriving us of what could possibly be the last episode. CBS has elected to dump the show onto Friday nights, which--especially in the middle of summer--doesn't tend to draw many viewers.

That's too bad, because this show shouldn't just be a hit, it should be a monster, break-out hit. It's got all the stuff nighttime soap fans would want, plus it has fantastic 70s nostalgia, great acting, good writing, and some sexy sizzle to boot. The show would be a great fit for Showtime or HBO, where they could really explore the sexier side of the show (which makes up only about 20% or so of the story). I'm crossing my fingers.

[Excerpt]

Could Swingtown move to cable?

Attention fans of Swingtown: your ratings-challenged show might actually have a chance to see a second season.

Even though the 70s-set drama isn't getting a ton of viewers (in its current time slot Friday at 10 or in its old Thursday at 10 time slot), there are execs behind the scenes at the network who like the show and would like to see it continue. The network is shopping the show around to cable networks to see if one of them will pick it up. . .

Read more at: TV Squad

Greenlee Gazette Office Gets Makeover

I intended to flood the blog with posts today, since yesterday consisted of one solitary post. But starting somewhere around 12:30 pm, I decided to clean my office. While I'm glad it is over now, it took me nearly all day to complete.

Chief among my tasks was to do something about our DVD collection, which has gotten out of control. We had three slide-out tubs that have served us for a few years, but they'd spilled to over-flowing. A make-shift small bookshelf, and some space on my main bookshelves have served a (dusty) duty for quite a while, but I've been very unhappy with them for a long time.

So, I enlisted the aid of my friend (and reluctant blogger) Lesto, to build me some half-shelves for my big book cases. Those cases have stored many and sundry items from my bygone eBay days, but were too deep for DVDs. Les' ingenious notion was to build these tiers, to allow two rows of DVDs on the same shelf. So, thanks to Lesto (and my willingness to divest myself of many of those quirky bookshelf items), I now have order for the first time in a long time.

Now, back to blogging.

Rove: Attack on McCain's Elitism Really on Cindy McCain?

OK, while I'm beating this horse (McCain's many houses gaffe), I might as well post something from the other side, namely from the Turdblossom himself, Karl Rove. The sultan of sleaze, the soulless "architect" of the disastrous last eight years, is whining that calls of elitism on McCain are actually an attack on poor (ha!) Cindy McCain.

The irony is thick. John McCain, "straight talker" and "the maverick" used to be above sleazy politics. But this time around--McCain's last chance at bat--he has enlisted Rove to help him win. And Rove continues to be a commentator on the GOP propaganda outlet, FOX "News," undisclosed as a McCain operative. Rove is helping McCain tar and feather Obama with sleazy, misleading attacks, and then complains when the sleaze--truthful this time--comes back.

Olbermann on McCain's Elitism and the "POW Card"

Another video found on AmericaBlog may be one too many posts on this blog about McCain's "how many houses" gaffe. But hey, when have I been afraid to belabor a point in the past? And besides, I missed Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night, so I can watch along with you.

The Fabulous Life of John McCain!

Every week (or even, every few days) there is a new line of attack from John McCain on Barack Obama. Many of them are silly, misleading, and often times lies. But the stupidest kind of attack--to my way of thinking--is to attack your opponent on an issue that applies more to you than it does to him.

Case in point the "elitist, out-of-touch" meme that McCain and other conservatives have tried to pin onto Obama. He's different, not like us. He can't relate to the common man. Well finally, with the "I don't remember how many houses I have" gaffe, McCain may actually have to drop this line of attack. Curiously, he's still pushing the "Obama as celebrity" angle, which is only slightly different. Check out this scathing video, to see why he shouldn't.



Found at: AmericaBlog