Earth Observation

Equality Under the Law

2010-11-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

40 Years Gone

2010-09-18T00:01:00.002-06:00

I know you are but what am I

2010-01-21T22:23:00.002-07:00

Steve Douchebag is the stupidest man on TV, and that's saying quite a lot. Does he not realize that while one side of this war may be Muslim, the other side is not Christian, it's American, and that's DIFFERENT.

Expel. Lieberman. From. The. Caucus. NOW.

2009-10-27T12:44:00.002-06:00

"I told Senator Reid that I'm strongly inclined -- I haven't totally decided, but I'm strongly inclined -- to vote to proceed to the health care debate, even though I don't support the bill that he's bringing together because it's important that we start the debate on health care reform because I want to vote for health care reform this year. But I also told him that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore I will try to stop the passage of the bill."

- Senator Joe Lieberman

Actually, he's saying he will tryto stop a vote on the bill.

Harry Reid should have never let Lieberman back in the Democratic caucus after he spoke at the Republican Convention and campaigned for McCain. It gives Lieberman credibility and a voice in how the Democrats shape their legislative process. He does not deserve either.

It's fine to let independents into your caucus, but not when they have spoken at the opposing party's convention and campaigned against your party's presidential candidate!

Reid's action was a craven attempt to get to 60 votes and guess what? It ain't going to work.

Lieberman's strings are pulled by the Connecticut insurance industry (yes, Connecticut, is a leader in insurance and gun manufacturing), so of course he will try to keep any bill that the industry is against from getting a vote.

So now, expel him from the caucus and spend the next three years on a strategy to get a Democrat elected in Connecticut.

Unpublished Letter to the Editor

2009-10-21T17:42:00.000-06:00

To the Editor, New York Times:

Christine Flowers writes (letters, October 2, 2009) that Federally subsidized health insurance which permits abortion would force her to pay for something she considers an immoral act.

Does Ms Flowers presume that anything the government undertakes which many believe to be immoral should be banned?

Ms. Flowers writes, “My wallet, my choice.”

I agree, to the extent that her choice is expressed at the voting booth.

Mininum Pricing for Books

2009-10-19T09:12:00.004-06:00

Background:

Once upon a time in America, manufacturers could set a minimum price for their products. Most states passed "fair trade" laws making that practice illegal. Many manufacturers responded with Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policies. While they couldn't control what their products were sold for, they could keep prices lower than MAP from being promoted. This became particularly important with the advent of the web. A Supreme Court ruling in 2007 restored to some degree the ability of manufacturers to set actual minimum sales prices.

Even in the days of fair trade, there was a gray market. I remember going with my father in the 1960s to a warehouse in the Bronx to buy a TV at less than fair trade price. It hadn't "fallen off a truck." Instead, a distributor had sold products to an under-the-radar dealer. There was no sign on the building. Word of mouth was their sole sales agent. The internet will make it even more difficult to police minimum pricing for some categories of products.

The problem with books:

It has been the practice of book chains, wholesale clubs and internet stores (most notably Amazon) for some years to heavily discount best-selling books. Books are one of the few products that actually have suggested retail prices printed right on the product, so it's easy to communicate the value proposition.

Although Amazon now realizes less than 50% of its revenue from books, it is still very much associated with books in the consumer's mind. WalMart is, with good reason, very concerned about Amazon and has decided to launch a price war using books. They are now selling a limited number of bestsellers for $8.99 -- more than a 60% discount -- and Amazon has responded by matching that price.

If you're a publisher, you might view this as a good thing. You'll sell a bunch more books. Here's the problem. This heavy discounting will eventually have the effect of resetting the perceived value of a hardcover book. Even if the publishers continue to make profits on these bestsellers, they can't survive on those alone. Anyhow, eventually John Grisham and Stephen King will stop producing new products. The publishers need to develop new voices to become the next bestsellers, as well as having a deep product line today.

This is not a concern to WalMart. They only carry bestsellers, and if books eventually fade away, there will be some other product category to exploit. Amazon does care about books, but has to date responded to competitive challenges by not being undersold no matter what.

Independent bookstores have had a hard time surviving (and hundreds have not) since Barnes & Noble and Borders expanded in the '90s. Amazon and other internet sellers just added to their pain. However, publishers count on independents to discover and hand-sell new authors, some of whom eventually make the big leagues. Already, many have given up making any money on bestsellers -- either they discount them to match the online stores, or they just don't sell many copies. Selling at a 40% discount, an independent store at least breaks even. They can't go much farther without losing money and unlike Amazon and WalMart they don't have other key product categories to make up for loss leaders.

It is in the publishers' interest to begin setting minimum prices, or at least minimum advertised prices, for books, at least for those by current bestselling authors. The unintended consequence of extreme discounting may bite them hard if they don't.

Fox News - Crazy Like a...You Know

2009-10-18T16:05:00.003-06:00

Here is Fox News' response to being dissed by the Obama administration:

Surprisingly, the White House continues to declare war on a news organization instead of focusing on the critical issues that Americans are concerned about like jobs, health care and two wars.

This proves they are in the tank for the opposition -- actually are the opposition -- and know it. If that wasn't the case, they wouldn't respond with an attack, but would instead wonder why the White House was being mean to them.

Blue Cross, I'm Calling You Out Again

2009-10-16T21:13:00.002-06:00

Blue Cross would rather I got the flu and had to go to the doctor or the emergency room than to pay for a flu shot.

Blue Cross, I'm Calling You Out!

2009-10-16T17:14:00.003-06:00

I'm one of those millions who have been laid off and have continued health insurance via COBRA. It's kinda ironic that the unemployed have the opportunity to pay the full price of their insurance...with what? Fortunately for some of us, the stimulus bill included a temporary subsidy. I'm frankly not sure how this helps stimulate the economy, but I sure am grateful for it. When that subsidy runs out in April, I will have to pay $1,100 a month (with what?) to keep my "gold-plated" insurance if I'm not employed with benefits.

So what evidently happens is the day you get laid off, the employer tells the insurance company to cancel your policy. Then you sign up for COBRA and the policy is reinstated. In my case, I did this as soon as the opportunity was presented, and while some doctor bills have been paid by Blue Cross, they have at same time on several occasions now told a provider that our insurance was terminated.

How can they be paying bills (sorry, we've had a bunch recently) with one hand and with the other telling people our insurance was canceled? You'd think with this process happening to millions of people they might have a system. Yes, it's just an annoyance, but it's really one we don't need when we're sick and unemployed.

Polanski is ‘tired and depressed’

2009-10-13T14:57:00.001-06:00

London, Oct 13 (ANI): Troubled filmmaker Roman Polanski is ‘tired and depressed’ in jail as he battles extradition to the US, his lawyer has said.
“I found him to be tired and depressed… Roman Polanski, who is 76, seemed very dejected when I visited him. Polanski was in an unsettled state of mind,” the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

Awww. Maybe he'd feel better if someone drugged and raped him. You busy Woody Allen?

Michael Steele - I'm Calling You Out!

2009-10-10T23:50:00.002-06:00

Writes the head of the Republican party:

"The Democrats and their international leftist allies want America made subservient to the agenda of global redistribution and control...And truly patriotic Americans like you and our Republican Party are the only thing standing in their way."

I happen to be a Democrat. You can disagree with my positions on issues and who I vote for, but you have a lot of nerve impugning my loyalty to this country, my patriotism.

You are the poster boy for what's wrong in this country -- not because you're a Republican, not because I disagree with your positions, but because your call to action is based on the assumption your opponents do not want what's best for the United States.

How dare you.

emailed to Chairman@gop.com

On the Constitution

2009-10-10T16:59:00.000-06:00

Seems to me that most of the folks on the right I've seen quoted or on TV that talk about the Constitution haven't actually read it, and those that talk about what the Founders would have thought haven't read a history book, much less watched an historical mini-series on PBS.

Let's ask Whoopi if it was "rape rape"

2009-10-07T18:33:00.005-06:00

I don't need to ever hear another word out of Whoopi Goldberg's trap. Her "fact" that Polanki was initially charged with rape and later pled to a lesser charge does not mean it was not rape. It means the justice system, as it often does, choose to accept a lesser charge rather than go to trial.

She should have a love child by Jeff Sessions.

Vote for Failed Republican Businesswomen!

2009-09-25T12:07:00.004-06:00

As much as anyone, I'd like to see more women in high political offices. However, two who are running in California make me queasy, and not just because they are Republicans. The only platform they have is that they were CEOs of major corporations.

Carly Fiorina, running for Senate, was the failed CEO of HP, engineered the near-disastrous acquisition of Compaq and was eventually fired.

Meg Whitman, running for Governor, although she left eBay a at a time of her choosing, presided over a period where eBay went from star to moribund, and acquired Skype, one of the worst business deals (for the buyer) in history -- not only did she pay billions for a company with no business model, there was no synergy with eBay, and she didn't acquire the underlying technology, which had to be licensed back from the sellers.

I don't know if Anne Mulcahy, recently resigned from Xerox, has political ambitions, but she could certainly stand on a platform as being one of the most successful CEOs in recent historyg, male or female.

Blowin' in the Wind

2009-09-16T23:10:00.002-06:00

Thank you, Mary.

I think everyone now should have to prove their citizenship

2009-08-03T08:08:00.002-06:00

Notwithstanding the fake Kenyan birth certificate, issues by a "republic" before it was a republic, signed by a brand of soap...IT DOESN'T MATTER.

One does not need to be born in the US to be a citizen:

Birth Abroad to One Citizen and One Alien Parent in Wedlock:
A child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301(g) INA provided the citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child's birth. (For birth on or after November 14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two after the age of fourteen is required. For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, a period of ten years, five after the age of fourteen are required for physical presence in the U.S. to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child.

To those who say such a birth makes one not "natural born," there is no agreement on the intention of that phrase, but from Wikipedia:

One possible source of the clause can be traced to a July 25, 1787 letter from John Jay to George Washington, presiding officer of the Convention. Jay wrote:

“

Permit me to hint, whether it would be wise and seasonable to provide a strong check to the admission of Foreigners into the administration of our national Government; and to declare expressly that the Commander in Chief of the American army shall not be given to nor devolve on, any but a natural born Citizen.

”

Another possible source, worded differently, comes from Alexander Hamilton, a delegate to the Convention. On June 18, 1787, Hamilton submitted to the Convention a sketch of a plan of government. Article IX, section 1 of Hamilton's plan provided:

“	No person shall be eligible to the office of President of the United States unless he be now a Citizen of one of the States, or hereafter be born a Citizen of the United States.

Thus it's reasonable to say that "natural born" refers to someone who is a citizen at birth.

In case you hadn't noticed, we already have single payer government run health care

2009-07-29T07:43:00.006-06:00

Or at least these people do:

Seniors
U.S. servicepeople
Injured veterans
Poor families
Low-income children
Congresspeople

(thanks to Political Animal)

As Bill Kristol said on the Daily Show this week, servicepeople deserve the best health care and they have it. Oh, then he tried to backpedal. Oops. I guess government can run a huge program reasonably well.

And that bullcrap about not wanting a government bureaucrat between me and my doctor? I'll take him over the profit-motivated insurance company stooge I have now.

If she looks like a lame duck and quacks like a lame duck, she's a lame duck

2009-07-26T23:14:00.004-06:00

Next time Palin runs for office, I'm hoping some reporter will ask her whether she believes all "lame ducks" should resign 18 months early.

It was forty years ago today...

2009-07-18T00:03:00.002-06:00

Janis even made a BeeGees song sound great...

Yes. He Said It

2009-05-31T07:56:00.001-06:00

It would be easy to dismiss G. Gordon Liddy if the only place he had to say these things were a street corner. Listen to the whole thing, but pay special attention to 33 seconds in:

On Sotomayor

2009-05-30T06:36:00.002-06:00

I'm among those who have a problem with Sotomayor's statement about making better decisions that a white judge, a statement she has now backed away from. But the real point comes from Hilzoy:

I honestly don't know why so many people focus so much attention on their somewhat overwrought interpretations of one line in a speech and so little attention on ascertaining what kind of judge Sonia Sotomayor has been. Her decisions are not classified documents. They are public, and anyone can read them. Moreover, they plainly provide the best evidence of the kind of judge she will be.

What did the President know, and when did he know it?

2009-05-10T22:28:00.003-06:00

Sound familiar? Can't wait for a repeat of that question in a Senate hearing room!

From today's Face the Nation:

SCHIEFFER: How much did President Bush know specifically about the methods that were being used? We know that you– and you have said– that you approved this…

CHENEY: Right.

SCHIEFFER: … somewhere down the line. Did President Bush know everything you knew?

CHENEY: I certainly, yes, have every reason to believe he knew — he knew a great deal about the program. He basically authorized it. I mean, this was a presidential-level decision. And the decision went to the president. He signed off on it.

Oh man, nothing has pulled back the curtain on the wizard better than this one. What does this mean: "He basically authorized it." ? If anyone doubted Dick was running the show for about seven of the eight years...

You don't need to be an economist to understand this!

2009-05-02T22:57:00.000-06:00

Unfuckingbelievable!

2009-04-30T22:43:00.001-06:00

Washingtonpost.com needs pop music re-education

2009-04-27T12:19:00.001-06:00

It wasn't the Beach Boys -- it was Ronny & The Daytonas.

Palling Around With Dictators

2009-04-23T22:32:00.007-06:00

Compare and Contrast

2009-04-17T23:36:00.000-06:00

Hit the reset button again Hillary!

2009-04-01T22:33:00.002-06:00

I can't believe the White House is still referring to "reset" with Russia after Clinton's botched gag(me) gift of a red reset button whose Russian was misspelled.

I still don't get how they could have fucked that up. Do we not have any qualified Russian translators?

Dissembling on Dope

2009-03-31T23:21:00.003-06:00

Advice for the Prez: Don't try to be funny. You're not. At least when you're not scripted. The crack about marijuana during his virtual town hall masked what was a serious question about more than whether legalization would be a good economic move.

The truth: he doesn't want to deal with the politics of supporting legalization. This in the same week that Sec. Clinton told truth that the American market for drugs is behind the violence in Mexico. But that's only for one reason: The drugs are illegal.

It's time for the hypocrisy to stop and for some real conservatives to support an end to this government intrusion in our private lives.

Here's press sec Gibbs once again making a joke out of a serious question from Mark Knoller:

Building Bridges in Virginia?

2009-03-14T18:19:00.001-06:00

Not exactly...

The Hebrew Mamita

2009-03-13T23:27:00.003-06:00

I've never been into def poetry, but Katie Schwartz turned me on to Vanessa Hidary and I was hooked...

Pinatas Never Had it This Bad

2009-03-13T23:02:00.004-06:00

Hed is someone's blog comment on this:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 1

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 2

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 3

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

I would say this was painful to watch, but not as painful as losing half of my net wealth in the past five months.

The Best Jon Stewart Segment Ever: The CNBC Take-Down

2009-03-05T22:33:00.003-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

"You can't use taxpayer money to pay out $18-billion in bonuses... What planet are these people on?"

2009-01-30T22:52:00.003-07:00

Thank you Senator McCaskill. Hey, I'm in sales. I like to make a good living and I like to get incentive compensation based on my results. I'm sure a lot of folks in finance and banking do too.

Let's just say that if those bonuses were earned, they were obviously based on the wrong metrics. I heard that last year had the 6th highest payouts in history. Can't convince me it was the 6th highest profitable year for that industry, so something is fucked up for sure. Perhaps the sales types did what they were told and produced. They should get paid. But the executives who set up those programs should be out on their asses rather than getting overrides and bonuses themselves as their firms drown because of their bad judgment.

These are public companies. Who are the directors? Who are the compensation committees? How do people make such bad judgments and then get millions. I just don't get it.

I love McCaskill's bill to cap executive salaries at taxpayer assisted firms at $400k, same as the President earns. These Wall Street types say they need to big payouts to attract the best talent. And that may have been true when profits were high and there were more jobs than people.

I'd like to see Wall Street and baseball, to name a couple, cap earnings at $400k. Prove to me you won't have talented players still wanting to work.

George Mitchell's Listening Tour

2009-01-28T21:53:00.001-07:00

Senator Mitchell just needs to ask three questions of the Middle East leaders he is visiting:

1. What do you want to happen?

2. What are you doing about it?

3. How's that working for ya?

Operation: Idiocy

2009-01-22T23:12:00.002-07:00

Yes, it was hard to believe that Justice Roberts screwed up the oath of office, but let someone INTELLIGENT read the Constitution and argue that it matters. Yes, it directs the President to take this oath before he does anything.

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

It does not say that he isn't President until he does or even imply that an errant word delegitimizes his standing. There is no hint of what would happen should he not say those words, given that the 20th Amendment states "The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January."

What if the prior President's term ends and no-one has taken an oath? Do we not have a president? Jesus H, can't we all grow up?

"Well, again, we're wondering here whether or not Barack Obama in fact is the president of the United States," Chris Wallace told Fox News viewers, well over an hour after Obama had taken the oath of office today.

"It's just conceivable that this will end up going to the courts," Wallace speculated.

What a tool. Is he really Mike Wallace's kid?

And now there is a flap because Obama didn't employ a Bible when taking the oath again. Refer to the earlier quote from the Constitution. Does it say there needs to be a Bible? It actually doesn't even say who needs to administer the oath or that the oath needs to be administered. The new President could -- and in this case would have been better off if he had -- just recite it without help from the Chief Justice, his Dad (Calvin Coolidge) or anyone else. Don't need no Bible, don't need to raise your right hand, just need to say it. The rest is ceremony.

Well it all makes sense now because as we know OBAMA IS A SECRET MUSLIM WHO IS NOT A LEGITIMATE U.S. CITIZEN HAVING BEEN BORN IN INDONESIA.

What A Difference A Day Makes!

2009-01-21T21:19:00.002-07:00

whitehouse.gov 10:45am EST January 20, 2009

whitehouse.gov 4:45pm EST January 20, 2009

I Miss You Mom

2009-01-21T03:00:00.001-07:00

What I've been listening to this afternoon

2009-01-02T14:51:00.008-07:00

Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto:

Linda Ronstadt:

Frankie:

Julie London:

The Angels:

Ukelele Madness!

2009-01-02T10:09:00.002-07:00

Shaft:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:

You Don't Bring Me Flowers:

Smells Like Teen Spirit:

While My Guitar Gently Weeps:

George Harrison was a great fan of the Ukelele.

Hey Ya:

Ukelele Lady:

Boxing Day Wake-up Call

2008-12-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas with Kathie Lee's Bizarro PeeWee's Playhouse Knockoff

2008-12-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

And you'll get Chinese food and a movie

2008-12-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

Tribute To An Iraqi Journalist

2008-12-14T21:28:00.003-07:00

"Killer of Iraqis, killer of children."
- Muntathar al Zaidi

"This is a goodbye kiss, you dog!"
- Muntathar al Zaidi

Pointing the soles of one's shoes at someone, or striking them with shoes, is a serious insult in the Arab world.

Bailing Detroit

2008-11-15T06:28:00.002-07:00

Of late I've found myself in agreement with conservatives such as David Brooks regarding a bailout for the US auto industry.

Brooks writes:

Not so long ago, corporate giants with names like PanAm, ITT and Montgomery Ward roamed the earth. They faded and were replaced by new companies with names like Microsoft, Southwest Airlines and Target. The U.S. became famous for this pattern of decay and new growth.

Granting immortality to Detroit’s Big Three does not enhance creative destruction. It retards it. It crosses a line, a bright line. It is not about saving a system; there will still be cars made and sold in America. It is about saving politically powerful corporations. A Detroit bailout would set a precedent for every single politically connected corporation in America. There already is a long line of lobbyists bidding for federal money. If Detroit gets money, then everyone would have a case. After all, are the employees of Circuit City or the newspaper industry inferior to the employees of Chrysler?

As a business person, I believe that companies succeed and fail for a variety of reasons, some due to good or bad management, and some due to factors out of their control. And still there are reasons due to technological progress. Buggy manufacturers didn't realize they were in the transportation business and lost out to automobile companies a hundred years ago. More recently, traditional map publishers are suffering because they were too late to the electronic mapping transition (internet and GPS). The leading mapping data company, Navteq, was just bought by Nokia for $8 billion, probably 100 times what Rand McNally is worth today. (And Rand McNally now gets much of its data from Navteq.) When companies fail, employees and vendors are hurt. But eventually new companies grow and create new opportunities. Government should stay out.

I do not agree with Brooks' comparison to other industries however. The main reason being that there are many more players in each. The demise of any one or two companies will not bring an entire industry to its knees and have as wide-ranging an effect on other businesses that serve the failed company or its employees.

I did find this piece a compelling counter-argument to Brooks:

One reason for the casual support for letting GM fail is the assumption that bankruptcy would be no big deal: As USA Today editorialized recently, "Bankruptcy need not mean that the company disappears." But, while it's worked out that way for the airlines, among others, it's unlikely a GM business failure would play out in the same fashion. In order to seek so-called Chapter 11 status, a distressed company must find some way to operate while the bankruptcy court keeps creditors at bay. But GM can't build cars without parts, and it can't get parts without credit. Chapter 11 companies typically get that sort of credit from something called Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) loans. But the same Wall Street meltdown that has dragged down the economy and GM sales has also dried up the DIP money GM would need to operate.

That's why many analysts and scholars believe GM would likely end up in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would entail total liquidation. The company would close its doors, immediately throwing more than 100,000 people out of work. And, according to experts, the damage would spread quickly. Automobile parts suppliers in the United States rely disproportionately on GM's business to stay afloat. If GM shut down, many if not all of the suppliers would soon follow. Without parts, Chrysler, Ford, and eventually foreign-owned factories in the United States would have to cease operations. From Toledo to Tuscaloosa, the nation's?assembly lines could go silent, sending a chill through their local economies as the idled workers stopped spending money.

I do agree it would be tragic for our economy if GM actually closed its doors and this explains why a bankruptcy filing might have that result. Yes, eventually foreign car companies would buy those plants and create new workforces, but it would take years.

I'm certain that if not sooner than January 20th, the Obama administration and Congress will put together a bailout for GM and if necessary, Ford. I would just hope that stringest measures would indeed be part of the package, such as:

Government can fire/hire top executives

Government gets stock warrants it can sell when the stock price recovers

(see Chrysler bailout)

Government owns the assets if the company does eventually fail

At the same time, I agree with taking steps to equalize the opportunities for import/export. If our exports are facing tariff or other limitations that we do not impose on imports, or inequalities due to environmental regulations etc., we should take steps to create fairness as well as incentives for more foreign-owned car companies to build plants here.

Rahm-bo

2008-11-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm...Norah O'Donnell

2008-11-03T19:47:00.005-07:00

I just watched Chris Matthews' Sunday show on NBC and I couldn't keep my eyes off Norah O'Donnell. Do I remember what she said? No. Just the right hint of cleavage and breast form in a red dress, not to mention a nice bit of leg. Well, who can pay attention to Joe Klein with that going on next to him?

One More Day

2008-11-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

He's No Goode

2008-11-02T10:02:00.005-07:00

When not flitting about the Fifth Dimension, I used to live in Charlottesville, Virginia, a very Democratic college town surrounding by Republican counties. The representative in Congress there is Virgil Goode. His name is pronounced like GOO with a d at the end and his charming old-Virginia accent sometimes sounds a bit more like Forrest Gump. If Charlottesville controlled the vote, he'd have been out a long time ago, being aconservative Dem who switched to the Republican party. But his district goes down to southside Virginia, a Republican stronghold that has been hit hard economically over recent years.

Not focused on such unimportant matters as the economy, Goode has concentrated his efforts on being a true Christian American. Here's an oldie but a Goode-ie:

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-4605

Dec. 7, 2006
Mr. John Cruickshank
7— S— Dr.
Earlysville, VA 22936
Dear Mr. Cruickshank:

Thank you for your recent communication. When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran. We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.

The Ten Commandments and "In God We Trust" are on the wall in my office. A Muslim student came by the office and asked why I did not have anything on my wall about the Koran. My response was clear, "As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, The Koran is not going to be on the wall of my office." Thank you again for your email and thoughts.

Sincerely yours,
Virgil H. Goode, Jr.
70 East Court Street
Suite 215
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151

Too Freakin' Surreal!

2008-11-01T23:42:00.000-06:00

Palin Doesn't Understand the First Amendment

2008-10-31T17:01:00.005-06:00

"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations, then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."
- Sarah Palin

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
- U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1

Please explain, Ms. Palin, how the media's opinion or filter affects your rights under the first amendment. Is there a proposed bill to put tape over your mouth if what you say will be interpreted by the media in a way you disagree with?

The point is that you cannot be protected from attacks or misrepresentations of your comments any more than your adversaries can be protected from your attacks and misrepresentations unless they are slanderous or libelous to a degree provable in court.

I think it would be an awfully good idea for you to read the freaking Constitution before you put your hand on a bible and swear to uphold it.

Rick Sanchez is My Hero

2008-10-31T13:33:00.003-06:00

I've always viewed Rick Sanchez of CNN as just another TV talking head. In the last two days he has practiced something sorely missing on television these days - journalism.

This relates to this tape. The McCainiacs are everywhere claiming that Obama "pals around" with anti-Semites. It should be noted that the "anti-Semite" in question is a Palestinian, i.e. a Semite. What they really mean is that he's against the Jews. The fact is that he is against Israeli policy. Not the same thing.

So here's the end of one of these segments:

The McCain campaign has made a decision not to speak the name of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but Sanchez confirmed today that unnamed sources in the McCain campaign confirmed that's who Goldfarb was referring to.

Sanchez then nailed a conservative talk show host appearing on CNN with the same journalistic technique, trying to make him give facts or specifics to support the vague attacks. He couldn't. Hopefully that will show up on youtube as well.

It's time for the "press" to press these surrogates to defend their attacks with specifics, and to stop reporting such charges without comment when they can be proven false.

Fox News Announces McCain Campaign Is Over

2008-10-24T23:11:00.004-06:00

This was posted yesterday, and since then Moody's story has been proven false. Emphasis is mine:

Less than two weeks before we vote for a new president, a white woman says a black man attacked her, then scarred her face, and says there was a political motive for it.

Ashley Todd, a 20-year-old white volunteer for John McCain’s presidential campaign, says she was mugged at an ATM machine in Pittsburgh (my hometown) by a big black man. She further says he threw her down, then disfigured her by carving the letter “B” into her face with a sharp implement when he saw that she supported McCain, not Barack Obama.

Part of the appeal of, and the unspoken tension behind, Senator Obama’s campaign is his transformational status as the first African-American to win a major party’s presidential nomination.

That does not mean that he has erased the mutual distrust between black and white Americans, and this incident could become a watershed event in the 11 days before the election.

If Ms. Todd’s allegations are proven accurate, some voters may revisit their support for Senator Obama, not because they are racists (with due respect to Rep. John Murtha), but because they suddenly feel they do not know enough about the Democratic nominee.

If the incident turns out to be a hoax, Senator McCain’s quest for the presidency is over, forever linked to race-baiting.

- John Moody, Executive VP, Fox News

And the reason why McCain's campaign is linked to this race-baiting is their communications director in PA was pushing this story before the facts were known.

Waiting for McCain to apologize and fire him.

Additional Proof that Palin is Not Well-Informed

2008-10-21T15:33:00.003-06:00

I guess Palin read that the Vice President is President of the Senate. But I don't think she's actually read the Constitution or read any civics books to know what the means. The role of the President of the Senate is to preside over the Senate (i.e. bang the gavel) and cast tie-breaking votes. Not exactly "in charge." Especially when the other party has a (filibuster-proof?) majority.

Daily Show on Real America

2008-10-21T15:13:00.003-06:00

Let's have some MSM follow-up with Wasilla's current Mayor! Why is it that we only get real insights from the "fake" news shows on Comedy Central?

And on Colbert last night, he mocked Colin Powell's reference to Obama as a "transformational candidate" saying (I may be paraphrasing) that McCain is one: "The campaign has transformed him into everything he's ever hated."

I Voted Today!

2008-10-20T18:37:00.002-06:00

And it felt so good!

I really like turning out on election day and had resisted getting a mail ballot, although more than half the registered voters in my state have done so.

But I found myself available in mid-afternoon and so went down to one of the early voting places that opened today. It was busy, but only a short line.

That's one for Obama. And according to CNN, McCain may be giving up on my swing state as I write this.

2008-10-19T22:28:00.001-06:00

General Powell's Moving Endorsement

2008-10-19T11:19:00.001-06:00

"...It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way."

And after:

War Room

2008-10-18T23:24:00.003-06:00

Sundance Channel was running "The War Room" this afternoon, the documentary about the Clinton campaign in 1992 where James Carville invented the concept of a campaign war room and rapid response. I thought it an interesting point in history to watch it.

It's been well documented that there was a sign that said "The Economy, Stupid." But what I didn't know was above that line it said "Change vs. More of the Same."

David Axelrod knows that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Pallin' With Palin

2008-10-18T23:16:00.004-06:00

So there's Sarah Palin pallin' around with the SNL crew. Why, they're making a joke about how she hasn't given any press conferences, and she's right in on it! How cool is that?

Actually, it's disgusting. Unforgiveable. Unacceptable. Not funny.

OK, but the Amy Poehler rap was pretty good.

Getting Real

2008-10-18T19:19:00.003-06:00

Two years ago, Senator George Allen may have lost his re-election bid due to a remark that welcomed an American who didn't look American enough to him to "the real world of Virginia."

Republicans evidently did not learn a lesson from that and as per Palin's comments the other day, continue to use language attempting to divide us.

Here's the latest reference to the "real Virginia" followed by a reprise of George Allen:

You Tell 'Em Joe-the-Senator!

2008-10-18T19:12:00.000-06:00

The Anti-Bradley Effect

2008-10-18T19:04:00.004-06:00

I'm thinking -- or perhaps hoping -- there's an Anti-Bradley Effect going on.

The Bradley Effect is when in an election with a black candidate facing a white candidate, a percentage of white voters will tell pollsters they are voting for the black guy because they don't want to admit they're actually voting against him because he's black. It's been a concern this might be the case in this year's presidential race.

But I'm wondering if the opposite might be happening: White folks in Appalachia who are not necessarily racists but still uncomfortable about African-Americans, who don't want to admit they are desperate enough to actually vote for the black guy.

Joe McCarthy in a Skirt

2008-10-17T20:48:00.000-06:00

Palin's Real America

2008-10-17T18:35:00.007-06:00

"We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans. Those who are running our factories and teaching our kids and growing our food and are fighting our wars for us. Those who are protecting us in uniform. Those who are protecting the virtues of freedom."

- Sarah Palin

So, Sarah, please tell us exactly what parts of the United States are not "the real America." What are the areas where people are not "hard-working, patriotic, pro-America?"

Do you mean all the cities, perhaps? Or just Cambridge, MA and Hollywood, CA? Are you saying there is not kindness on the south side of Chicago, people protecting in uniform in the Bronx, soldiers from Compton?

Please explain what you meant by this statement.

Which parts of America do you wish to be Vice President of?

Which Americans do you plan to represent in office?

Let me tell you who is un-American, madam. You are. You who seek to value only those who agree with you, and to devalue those who disagree. You who wish to divide us by where we live, how we live, and what we believe. You who will say just about anything to win an election. You represent some of the worst this country has to offer.

I do agree with the phrase that was hurled at me as an epithet when I protested the Viet Nam war:

America, love it or leave it.

Loving America means living your life according to your values. It means standing up for what you believe, and like anything or anyone you truly love, being able to say when it is doing something wrong and trying to change it.

So Sarah, we who live in cities, we who work in offices, veterans who live on the streets having been abandoned by your party, we are patriotic, we are pro-America, we believe in the American ideal. Do you?

MESILLA, NM -- Joe Biden today accused his Republican counterpart of engaging in the same kind of divisive politics seen in the Bush Administration, saying he has yet to find a part of the country that is not “pro-America.”
“Folks, it doesn’t matter where you live, we all love this country,” he said. “One of the reasons why Barack and I are running is that we know how damaging the politics of division that continues to be practiced by the McCain campaign, how damaging this policy of division has been for Americans over the last decade or more.”

Palin, please tell us which areas of the country are NOT "pro-America"

2008-10-17T16:12:00.001-06:00

Palin also made a point of mentioning that she loved to visit the "pro-America" areas of the country, of which North Carolina is one.

- Washington Post

2008-10-17T08:46:00.000-06:00

Joe the plumber has held more press conferences than V.P. candidate Sarah Palin.

Brought to you by the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated

2008-10-16T21:29:00.002-06:00

Now before you get all offended, I'm convinced the foods pictured weren't meant to reflect on Obama as an African-American. No, even if he was white they would have shown those foods as indicative of what minorities who use food stamps buy with them. Now isn't that better?

Spreading the Wealth Around

2008-10-16T17:46:00.003-06:00

How can you be a capitalist and a socialist at the same time?

Welcome to the United States of America.

The point is there is no pure economic system that works perfectly. Thus, take a basic direction and moderate it to meet reality and changing needs. That's what we do.

So, when Obama talks about spreading the wealth around some folks go crazy. They think he's gonna take all the profits from businesses (large or small) and then they won't have any incentive to grow and add jobs.

Actually, that's not what Barack had in mind. He's talking about letting the top marginal tax rate return to 39% from the current 36%. So for people making more than $250k, the amount in excess of $250k would be taxed at a 3% higher rate than it is today, just as it was in the nineties. Agree or disagree, I don't see how that will discourage people from wanting to make more money.

Although I am not in that bracket, I do well enough that each new dollar I earn has a significant tax burden. Tell my boss -- I still want that raise.

Brought to You By the Virginia Republican Party

2008-10-16T12:50:00.001-06:00

It probably does not need to be said that none of the actual examples of evil men noted inside the flier are black. I'm sure the Party would say this image represents an American looking at evil, but the truth is clearly it is meant to represent evil, and whether the subject is actually Obama or just someone who looks like him, we know, Virginia Republican Party, this this is racist trash.

I'm waiting for John McCain to repudiate it. After all, he says he always does.

Details here.

Meet Joe the Plumber

2008-10-16T09:27:00.003-06:00

Here's the actual discussion between Obama and "Joe the plumber" referred to in last night's debate.

Obama did make the political error of saying he would "spread the wealth around." Of course, it is the truth. It is also the basis of our progressive income tax system from its inception.

Can you imagine McCain making as thorough, detailed and thoughtful a response to such a question?

Rope a Dope

2008-10-16T08:29:00.003-06:00

Some Obama supporters have worried that he allowed himself to be on the defensive in the debates, particularly the first and third ones. I disagree.

It's true that McCain was on the attack, never moreso than last night. How'd that work for him?

Obama was able to absorb nearly every punch with a calm, reasoned response. And then once in a while, he delivered a well-timed, well-placed counter-punch that was damaging because it was so unexpected.

Muhammed Ali called this technique Rope-a-Dope.

Ronald Reagan used to say that the most frightening nine words in the English language were "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." That is no longer true. This year, the most frightening eight words are "I'm John McCain and I approved this message."

- Joe Klein

So Proud!

2008-10-16T08:14:00.003-06:00

“Let me just say categorically I'm proud of the people that come to our rallies. Whenever you get a large rally of 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 people, you're going to have some fringe peoples. You know that. And I've -- and we've always said that that's not appropriate.”

- John McCain, at last night's debate

McCain may say it's not appropriate to shout threats and epithets about Obama, but Palin hasn't commented when this happens at her own rallies.

I know an Obama worker who has been to a number of Obama rallies, and he has not witnessed any negativity, period. The most he could come up with was seeing buttons saying "How many houses do you own." His point is that Obama speeches and rallies are positive.

I feel a bit sad for McCain because I believe at heart he's a decent man who has allowed operatives to throw his principles overboard in order to win. Then, when the negativity gets out of hand -- in his presence -- he'll try to close Pandora's box by saying things like (paraphrasing) "Obama isn't an Arab, ma'am, he's a decent family man," as if those were opposites.

McCain: What is this "health" you women speak of?

2008-10-16T00:29:00.005-06:00

"Senator John McCain’s health plan would drastically restructure America’s health care system, with especially devastating effects on women."

- Worse for Women report

Tonight, McCain betlittled concerns about protecting the health of the mother when considering a late term abortion. He even put air quotes around the word "health" twice, and said that pro-abortion forces are trying to stretch the word health to mean "just about anything."

The "just about anything" the Republican base knows he meant was that the mental health of the mother doesn't count.

It's also interesting that immediately after Obama said no-one is pro-abortion, McCain referred to the "pro-abortion movement."

Seen at Powell's Bookstore

2008-10-15T08:55:00.000-06:00

Advances in Bathroom Technology

2008-10-14T22:37:00.003-06:00

Seen at the PDX men's room:

As I pondered the above sign whilst relaxing on the can (there was another copy of the sign on the door facing the stall occupant) I wondered for the first time who decided which excretion was Number 1 and which was Number 2.

Officers Don't Get PTSD

2008-10-10T22:36:00.002-06:00

Marie Claire Magazine: But no cold sweats in the middle of the night?

Cindy McCain: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. My husband, he’d be the first one to tell you that he was trained to do what he was doing. The guys who had the trouble were the 18-year-olds who were drafted. He was trained, he went to the Naval Academy, he was a trained United States naval officer, and so he knew what he was doing.

Tell that to those veterans you care so much about. Oh, I think they've heard about this. Thanks Fox News!

The Stock Market is Bullshit

2008-10-09T23:19:00.004-06:00

I had this realization more than a year ago and regret I didn't do anything about it. Like many Americans, most of my retirement fund is in stocks. I bought into the myth that the market always goes up over time and it's the only way to build your nest egg.

I understand business, but I don't really understand stocks, because I am not a good gambler. Buying stocks is gambling, simple and pure. So, I depended on a broker and most of my money is in mutual funds.

But while stocks represent ownership in companies and to some degree do better or worse based on the performance of the company, they are also subject to emotional trading, and they are in themselves a commodity.

As America transitioned from company pensions to 401ks, a lot of new money entered the market. Thus there was greater demand for the available stock, and that makes prices go up. So the 401k effect in itself was a bubble. Add that to the realities of today's economy and you have a crash.

While the market may continue to drop, at this point I don't feel like I have any real choice but to leave my accounts alone and hope they rebound before retirement. But when the S&P returns to about 1,500 (probably 5-7 years), I'm out. I doubt I'll actually be retired then, but if I do invest, it will be in something I understand, and something not likely to rise or fall on emotion.

No more gambling for me.

Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein Hussein

2008-10-09T23:14:00.003-06:00

Do you recognize this man? He was a friend of the United States. He made peace with Israel. He was a king.

His name was Hussein.

It wasn't Sidney.

Barack on Bill Ayres

2008-10-09T22:58:00.002-06:00

I think Obama has handled the Ayres thing pretty poorly. Saying that Ayres did bad things when Obama was eight doesn't hold water. And saying Ayres is just a guy he knows in the neighborhood, same thing. It just provides more fodder for his opponents.

The fact is that Ayres was responsible for bombings, and I do consider him to have been a domestic terrorist. And he has never clearly apologized for those actions, which to me is the crux of the matter. The fact that no-one died in his bombings is hardly material.

Yes, in years since he has become a respected member of the education community. Obama must have known about Ayres' past and made a decision to have this limited association with him -- serving on a board and letting Ayres have a house party when Obama first ran for political office.

Obama could simply have said that while he abhors Ayres' youthful actions and wishes that Ayres would repudiate them, that Ayres has in years since contributed much to society and on balance, Obama was willing to have a very limited association with Ayres; that Obama understands some will disagree with that decision.

It wouldn't stop the vitriol from the McCain camp, but it would impress some people who may be on the fence.

Hey McCain, Stop Hiding Behind Your Wife's Skirt

2008-10-09T22:48:00.005-06:00

So Cindy McCain has to knock Obama for voting to end funding for her son in Iraq. Of course, most folks don't realize that's the only way Congress can end a war it once authorized. They also don't seem to know McCain has voted against funding the troops when that funding bill included stuff he didn't like.

So McCain is hiding behind his wife's skirt. Letting her say stuff he won't. Same thing with Palin. Another skirt.

Hey, didn't McCain just see Obama in person? Funny, he didn't say anything about this, or about Bill Ayres, etc.

As Joe Biden said today, "In my neighborhood, when you’ve got something to say to a guy, you look him in the eye and you say it to him."

As we've seen, McCain can't seem to look Obama in the eye. At both debates, Obama turned to McCain and said what he meant.

Hey Mr. Brave Ex-Prisoner, you scared to say it yourself, much less to Obama in person?

Shameful.

When Will McCain Disavow This?

2008-10-05T22:07:00.005-06:00

Click on image of article to see it larger.

Bobby Lee May is Treasurer of the Republican Party in Buchanan County, Virginia and is the county's representative on McCain's Virginia leadership team.

And a one-a and a two-a...

2008-10-04T22:47:00.001-06:00

Justice, Finally

2008-10-03T23:03:00.004-06:00

Palin Uber Alles

2008-10-03T22:32:00.004-06:00

You know, we might be bleeding our authority over to the Legislative or Judicial branch to do our job in the Executive branch as administers.

- Sarah Palin

What is this flexibility Palin keeps talking about regarding the position if Vice President? Now she says she means the President can assign work to the Vice. Reasonable, although no reference to that in the Constitution.

As regards the role in the Senate, I'd say that if she prefers to spend her time over there a lot, she's welcome, according to the Constitution, to bang the gavel a lot in addition to castings votes in case of a tie. But what is this "bleeding authority" over to the Judicial branch?????!!!!!

The best job of the VP is to supervise the counting of electoral votes and announce the winner. That was freaking bitter for Nixon on 1960 and Gore in 2000. Can't wait for Cheney to open the envelope!

The 8-minute Commercial Some 527 Should Run in the Appalachians

2008-10-03T10:58:00.002-06:00

Filters

2008-10-02T22:58:00.006-06:00

I thought Palin did a great job tonight.

That's if you don't count actual answers to actual questions that were asked.

Near the end she said she was glad to talk directly to the American People without the filter of the mainstream media.

Instead, she spoke through her own filter by filtering out all those bothersome questions Gwen Ifill had. At least Palin was honest. Early on she said she wouldn't be answering those darn questions, at least not the way Ifill and Biden would have liked.

And now she is free to continue not answering questions. Think you'll see any more interviews by the "mainstream media," much less a press conference, before November 4th? Not a chance. Doggonit.

The Obfuscation Express

2008-10-01T23:17:00.004-06:00

Twice, Steve Inskeep of NPR asks McCain about Palin's foreign policy cred and twice McCain describes her qualifications to be Secretary of Energy in response:

MR. INSKEEP: We’re talking with Senator John McCain. And Senator, as you know, the vice presidential debate comes on Thursday — your running mate, Governor Sarah Palin against Joe Biden. Governor Palin has been asked about her foreign policy qualifications, and cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as one reason she’s qualified. I’d like to ask you, Senator, what specifically do you believe that Alaska’s proximity to Russia adds to Palin’s foreign policy qualifications?

SEN. MCCAIN: Well, I think the fact that they have had certain relationships, but that’s not the major she has stated, and you know that. The major reason she has stated is because she has the knowledge and background on a broad variety of issues, including probably the major challenge of America, and that’s energy independence. And she has been responsible, taken on the oil companies, and we now are going to have a $40 billion dollar natural gas pipeline. She has oversighted the natural gas and oil and natural resources of the state of Alaska and, by the way, quit when she saw corruption there. She has the world view that I have. She is very highly qualified and very knowledgeable.

MR. INSKEEP: Given what you’ve said, Senator, is there an occasion where you could imagine turning to Governor Palin for advice in a foreign policy crisis?

SEN. MCCAIN: I’ve turned to her advice many times in the past. I can’t imagine turning to Senator Obama or Senator Biden because they’ve been wrong. They were wrong about Iraq, they were wrong about Russia. Senator Biden wanted to divide Iraq into three different countries. He voted against the first Gulf War. Senator Obama has no experience whatsoever and has been wrong in the issues that he’s been involved in –

MR. INSKEEP: But would you turn to Governor Palin –

SEN. MCCAIN: — I certainly wouldn’t turn to them, and I’ve already have turned to Governor Palin, particularly on energy issues, and I’ve appreciated her background and knowlege on that and many other issues.

500 Words

2008-09-30T22:42:00.002-06:00

Read my entry in Katie Schwartz's contest -- an essay on the election with various takes on a naughty word. Yes, it's a rant, but one reader described it as poetic (!).

Vote for me by making a comment.

The truth: She didn't read anything

2008-09-30T22:39:00.002-06:00

Here's a nice debating trick. When you have no answer for a question, attack the questioner for insulting you by implying you don't do what you, in fact, don't do:

L'Shanah Tova

2008-09-30T22:35:00.000-06:00

McCain: Don't Listen to Anything Palin Says, Unless It's Scripted For Her

2008-09-28T14:35:00.003-06:00

Saturday night, while on a stop for cheesesteaks in South Philadelphia, Sarah Palin was asked by a Temple graduate student about whether the U.S. should cross the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan.

"If that's what we have to do stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should," Palin said.

"She would not…she understands and has stated repeatedly that we're not going to do anything except in America's national security interest," McCain told ABC's George Stephanopoulos of Palin. "In all due respect, people going around and… sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that's—that's a person's position… This is a free country, but I don't think most Americans think that that's a definitve policy statement made by Governor Palin."

Excerpted from CNN report

"It was like watching Gidget address the Reichstag"

2008-09-28T14:16:00.002-06:00

Must-read Matt Taibbi's Rooling Stone article about Palin.

There's a lot of great ranting in the piece, but here's the sober "money quote":

Democracy doesn't require a whole lot of work of its citizens, but it requires some: It requires taking a good look outside once in a while, and considering the bad news and what it might mean, and making the occasional tough choice, and soberly taking stock of what your real interests are.

Obama Wasn't Just Making Stuff Up

2008-09-27T19:15:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I'm sure that's all he said!

2008-09-26T22:18:00.002-06:00

"I'm John McCain and I approve this message even though it's being put on You Tube while I'm still on stage. I guess those SNL guys had a point."

Don't Know Much About...

2008-09-26T22:09:00.000-06:00

Where's Your Flag Pin, Senator McCain?

2008-09-26T21:44:00.002-06:00

Oh, that's right. Only the black guy with the funny name needs one to prove he loves his country.

"If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself."

2008-09-26T21:39:00.000-06:00

By conservative columnist Kathleen Parker.

Must Read: Palin on Russia Proximity providing Foreign Policy Cred

2008-09-25T23:17:00.001-06:00

Couric: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

Sarah Palin: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and, on our other side, the land-boundary that we have with Canada. It's funny that a comment like that was kinda made to … I don't know, you know … reporters.

Couric: Mocked?

Palin: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.

Couric: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign-policy credentials.

Palin: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there…

Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state.

Confused, alright!

2008-09-20T20:20:00.003-06:00

I don't know who authored this. I'm about the millionth person to post it, but in case you haven't seen it...

--------------------------

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people,

then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America 's.

If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.