Ok, so the video below is amazing. You should watch it, then you should send it to your grandparents, your siblings, your rabbi, your 3rd grade teacher, the guy who works at your local gas station, anybody you care about. Betty White is beloved to so many Americans and the only downside of her is that she makes me sad thinking of Bea Arthur, god bless her soul. Anyway, Betty White has some choice words about her friend John McCain and his friends.
Many thanks to Tyler for posting this on Facebook. You rock.
Friday, October 10, 2008
J Mac Attack
From the title, you might think this is just the latest The Best Way post about recent attacks in the campaign for the presidency... and maybe to a certain degree you would be right. But this attack didn't come from McCain, Palin, Cindy, Obama, Biden or any of their surrogates. It came from Vanity Fair. VF punched out a clever little fake news bit this week, publishing a mock-up cover for Out-of-Touch Weekly. Check it out:
Hat Tip: HuffPo, check out full story here.
Don't Just Stand There, Let's Get To It
Thomas Friedman wrote an op ed for the NYT recently that a friend, Deb, posted on Facebook. I'm glad she posted it, because it's a good read. In an even-handed piece advocating for a return to America making things, mixed with some independence from foreign influence ideas, but not the over simplistic ones you're used to hearing on the campaign trail, Friedman makes the case that we should push our economy green with a buildup to accompany the bailout:
Our No. 1 resource is our people. Let’s put people back to work — retrofitting and repowering America. ... You can’t base a national economy on credit cards. But you can base it on solar panels, wind turbines, smart biofuels and a massive program to weatherize every building and home in America.
Slip? No big deal? or um... something worth talking about?
How many slips make this kind of stuff worth asking questions about? How does having a running mate who most Americans think is unqualified for the Presidency (and also I think more than 50% of Americans even agree that she's not qualified for the VP slot) impact whether or not this is a question we should all be talking about.
What went wrong, when and how?
What went wrong(s?) along the way? I'd love to hear peoples' thoughts, but i think this video does a good job of capturing the phenomena that swirls around John McCain's clear disdain for Barack Obama. Perhaps I'm wrong, but let me know what you think.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
My Other Favorite Race
I haven't blogged about it much, and I hope this comes across the way I mean it to, but my favorite political race to casually watch right now is Al Franken's race for Norm Coleman's seat out in Minnesota. I like Franken, and I like the sort of daring choices involved in him getting this far. I also feel like somehow I link him with fellow Midwest comedian poet Garrison Keillor. Regardless of the why behind my finding this race so compelling, frankly it just is.
Background for anyone unfamiliar is that Coleman took over for Paul Wellstone, a wildly popular progressive two-term Senator from Minnesota who died tragically and unexpectedly in a plane crash. When Wellstone passed away his seat in the Senate was somehow passed along ot Coleman, someone who has been labled by some as a moderate Republican.
Coleman is, however, a man who has acted in many ways as a yes man for the Bush administration, and someone who rode to a second term based on his links to an administration that was popular 5+ years ago. Now Coleman is locked in a tight race with Al Franken for his seat, and Franken has overcome quite a few obstacles to get this far, and the race is tight and getting tighter. A recent development involves recent discovery of Coleman stretching ethics rules around gifts. Here's a clip from a press conference today where Coleman's press guy makes um... an ass of himself (I think that's the technical term for what you'll see below).
Background for anyone unfamiliar is that Coleman took over for Paul Wellstone, a wildly popular progressive two-term Senator from Minnesota who died tragically and unexpectedly in a plane crash. When Wellstone passed away his seat in the Senate was somehow passed along ot Coleman, someone who has been labled by some as a moderate Republican.
Coleman is, however, a man who has acted in many ways as a yes man for the Bush administration, and someone who rode to a second term based on his links to an administration that was popular 5+ years ago. Now Coleman is locked in a tight race with Al Franken for his seat, and Franken has overcome quite a few obstacles to get this far, and the race is tight and getting tighter. A recent development involves recent discovery of Coleman stretching ethics rules around gifts. Here's a clip from a press conference today where Coleman's press guy makes um... an ass of himself (I think that's the technical term for what you'll see below).
West Virginia in play?
We've all gotten used to the idea that Virginia is a swing state this election, but there is an even greater surprise regarding the group of states ending with "-irginia." A new poll out today shows Obama comfortably ahead in WEST Virginia. This is probably just a fluke, but if the poll is even remotely accurate this is awfully chilling news for the McCain camp.
Rabinowitz on Obama and the Media
Although I am a now a bonafide Obama supporter, I remain somewhat troubled by the treatment Obama receives in many journalistic circles. I think this has less to do with ideology than with narrative appeal. Obama is a fascinating subject: supremely charismatic, fresh, multiracial. His running for president is almost something out of a movie. My guess is magazine covers with his face sell much better than those featuring an old grumpy-gus like McCain. Whatever the cause, however, I do feel that many journalists and news outlets have made it clear that they have a horse in the race: essentially, they have become to Obama a classier version of what Fox News was to Bush.
In this light, I enjoyed reading Ms. Rabinowitz's editorial in the Wall Street Journal, a publication which is not exactly known for a politically neutral agenda. The key point:
The single constant in the eternal election remains the media, whose activist role no one will seriously dispute. To point out the prevailing (with honorable exceptions) double standard of reporting so favorable to Mr. Obama by now feels superfluous -- much like talking about the weather. The same holds true for all those reports pointing to Mr. Obama's heroic status outside the United States -- not to mention the cascade of press analyses warning that if he fails to win election, the cause will surely be racism.
I think the editorial is worth reading, although it is at times somewhat meandering and unfair. Rabbinowitz seems convinced that "liberals" spend all their time chatting with Europeans about the moral failings of the United States, while "conservatives" unfailingly love their country. However, a self-styled right-winger who can maintain a lucid thought for more than two paragraphs is a rarity, and so we should judge the article by the standards of its peers.
In this light, I enjoyed reading Ms. Rabinowitz's editorial in the Wall Street Journal, a publication which is not exactly known for a politically neutral agenda. The key point:
The single constant in the eternal election remains the media, whose activist role no one will seriously dispute. To point out the prevailing (with honorable exceptions) double standard of reporting so favorable to Mr. Obama by now feels superfluous -- much like talking about the weather. The same holds true for all those reports pointing to Mr. Obama's heroic status outside the United States -- not to mention the cascade of press analyses warning that if he fails to win election, the cause will surely be racism.
I think the editorial is worth reading, although it is at times somewhat meandering and unfair. Rabbinowitz seems convinced that "liberals" spend all their time chatting with Europeans about the moral failings of the United States, while "conservatives" unfailingly love their country. However, a self-styled right-winger who can maintain a lucid thought for more than two paragraphs is a rarity, and so we should judge the article by the standards of its peers.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The Hockey Mother of All Bad Ideas
Perhaps Wonkette doesn't quite imagine this future event correctly, but I do think that somebody in the McCain campaign miscalculated badly when they signed Palin up to drop the puck for the Flyers opener. She'll be lucky if my fellow Philadelphians simply boo her off of the ice but the prospect of what will really happen made me giggle out loud as I read the story. Who wants to start a list of things most likely to end up thrown on the ice?
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Summing it up
Nice piece of summary from Will Wilkinson, caught by Andrew Sullivan:
Gut read. Obama owned it. This election’s over unless he murders and eats the flesh of a child on live television.
Appologies if this freaks you out!
Ok... so before the intro for this bizarre and scary picture, let me just say that live blogging was yet again a ton of fun tonight... I hope everybody else enjoyed it. I think Matt did a great job, and I think you all agree, based on the fact that we had some nice comments all along the way. Meanwhile, the debate was strange, dynamic and sporadic. Overall, I agree with Matt that perhaps one of the few revelations of the evening is the clear fact that McCain basically despises Obama... funny to see that in one candidate's eyes, while his opponent is cool, calm and collected.
Anyway, meanwhile, out here in CT, I was playing softball earlier this evening, and while I planned a calm return home from my 6pm game to watch the debate and blog, instead I was hit square on the chin by a fly ball (yup... it simply missed my glove) and spent a couple hours in the ER getting 4 stitches in my chin... hence the picture you see below, where I look like a complete psychopath. Kim snapped this one while she was sitting next to me just prior to the stitching. All in all, it was a very eventful evening!
Anyway, meanwhile, out here in CT, I was playing softball earlier this evening, and while I planned a calm return home from my 6pm game to watch the debate and blog, instead I was hit square on the chin by a fly ball (yup... it simply missed my glove) and spent a couple hours in the ER getting 4 stitches in my chin... hence the picture you see below, where I look like a complete psychopath. Kim snapped this one while she was sitting next to me just prior to the stitching. All in all, it was a very eventful evening!
Live Bloggage
A quick update on the live-blog situation. Our regular host, the legendary John, is currently on the Disabled List, having suffered what is known in medical circles as gettin'-smacked-by-a-softball. As he is recovering, I will do my best to fill in. Mostly I just want to open the thread to the insightful and witty comments that we all enjoyed last time. I will also add my own thoughts as well. Let's all begin by wishing John a speedy and complete recovery. Hooray for baseball! Hooray for debates! Hooray for live-blogging!
9:02 McCain's tie is red and Obama's is blue. Did they plan this?
9:05 I'm not sure how much of this financial mess is really Bush's fault, but what an effective line of attack!
9:10 Ebay versus Warren Buffet: would either of these people actually take the job? For Warren that is certainly a demotion!
9:15 This is the problem ofr McCain. He does have a long history of fighting for deregulation. Whatever one thinks about the economic argument, the fact is that people are not receptive to this message right now. In fact, they're downright terrified of it. Hence, his efforts to remake himself.
9:18 I would like to extend a warm welcome to a 3rd Matt, who will be posting comments tonight! Well come! May the Giant Bee be with you.
9:20 Obama is very effective in talking about the middle class. That's probably the single greatest asset you could have in this election.
9:23 Earmarks and pork-barrel spending are still the only economic issues that get McCain excited. Unfortunately for him, I don't think those are all that high on anyone's list.
9:25 And Welcome back to John Four-Stiches!
9:27 Obama actually talks about cutting earmarks as effectively as McCain. But is that really a game-changer for anyone right now?
9:29 I'm actually watching this on a local network without benefit of the CNN Happy Line graph thingy. I feel left out. Time to switch.
9:32 It's notable that the energy Policy Obama is talking about would have been considered very left wing not long ago. Now, the lines seem to love it! (yes, I went back to CNN)
9:34 "High on the hog?" Sure you aren't talking about lipstick on a pig? Obama you sexist bastard!
9:36 From the Comments: Matt says:
Here's something I've been noticing on CNN throughout all the debates: nobody really likes John McCain when he gets negative. It's really striking. Everybody likes the positive stuff though.
9:38 Talking about Social Security has to be one of the hardest tasks in modern American politics. Talking about cutting taxes is much easier. I would have liked a more serious answer on this, but I can't say I'm surprised.
9:41 McCain does have a point there. He does have a much longer record of working across party lines than Obama. McCain has fought with people in his own party before. I'm not sure if Obama has. But now that Mccain has cozied up with the far-right, can he still do this effectively? Also, did he seriously say that fixing Social Security would be easy?
9:44 McCain should have just picked Lieberman as his running mate. They love each other. It's touching actually. If Joe were a Republican, he might actually be pretty popular.
9:46 Obama is effective in pointing out that McCain has been in Washington for about 3 decades and hasn't worked towards some of the things he claims to care about. It was always absurd for him to run as an agent of change.
9:48 Wow, they just both got chewed out by Tom! I liked his scolding, very professorial.
9:49 Typewriters baby typewriters (Hat Tip: Alabama Matt)
9:51 "Shoot, a cat on my lap is making posting hard." Let's keep this clean folks, okay? There might be kids reading this.
9:52 John says: "I was on Navy ships that had nuclear power," so it must be clean??? Not sure I follow that line of reasoning.
Me neither. I bet a fair amount of stuff went on in the Navy that is not exactly clean, or safe.
9:54 Is the hair-plugs thing a crack about Biden?
9:55 The lines like Obama on healthcare. And so do I.
9:58 Nice effort at tying banking in with heathcare! And women especially LOVE Obama on health care. But they apparently don't like McCain's question about the size of the fine.
10:01 You can tell McCain is relieved to be talking about foreign policy again. If this were still 2004, he would probably win.
10:02 But if you want proof that it is NOT still 2004, just look at the Lines reaction to Obama's comments about the war. I am not sure this would have been a very crowd pleasing vignette back then.
10:03 I love America times infinity.
10:06 Perhaps the most vital issue of the night: "Kim's concern, however, is that Brokaw's tie is telling of media bias. She believes that Brokaw is in the tank for Johnny Mac."
10:08 Corinne says: "delaware has loose laws. hilarious." Sounds like song. I'm going down to Delaware to get some fresh crabs and loose laws.
Is that even true anymore? I don't know that Delaware is actually any looser than anywhere else, but I can't claim to know much about it.
10:11 Dude, is McCain seriously claiming that Obama is responsible for anti-Americanism in Pakistan? The flak that Obama has taken for his stance about Pakistance is absurd. I feel like McCain would have said the same thing and now he doesn't just to be able to call Obama "naive." Also, the happy lines don't seem impressed.
10:14 Matt says "If McCain gets elected, the new special word will be "Tolleebahn"" I like the way he says it. Hey Mr. Tolleebahn, tollee me banana..."
10:16 Did McCain just use the word "Telegraph?" he's really up on the latest technology. His aides help him. Originally the line was " I won't Pony Express my punches." That's right. I went there.
10:19 Matt says "Yes Venice, that's exactly the song I was singing in my head!" Excellent! Great minds and all that.
10:21 McCain is vastly more effective on Russia than he is on domestic policy. So far he seems to be getting a better reaction on the subject than Obama. But I think in this cycle, at least, domestic issues will be paramount which gives the edge to Obama. I don't know, BTW, if us buying less Russian oil will matter much. I suspect China will be more than happy to pick up the slack.
10:26 Much as I care about this subject, I expect the responses to be very cookie-cutter. Could anyone seriously running for president say that he would wait for UN approval to defend Israel?
10:29 The Happy Lines like Obama on this subject more than I would have expected. BTW which is better: The Community of Nations or the League of Democracies?
10:30 NO! The last question is from my neighborhood and it's totally stupid! It sounds like something from a cheap self-help book.
10:34 John: "I think somebody needs to make a game pitting the League of Extraordinary Democracies vs. the Community of Nations or whatever the hell they are called... it would kick butt." The Community of Nations have more hit points but the League has a lower armour class and better spells.
10:35 I think Obama was much stronger tonight but neither hit it out of the park. Since Obama is way ahead, I think he should be counted as the decided winner tonight. On another note, I feel like McCain really despises Obama.
10:38 John: ""What I don't know is what the unexpected will be" says McCain? Not sure either one of them could do well with this final bizarro world question... but that line struck me as particularly um... awkward." You took the words out of my mouth, or off my keyboard. Basically, he said he didn't know what he didn't know. But what should he have said? stupid New Hampshire.
10:41 Once again, this was loads of fun! Thanks to everyone who contributed. John, we're all glad that you've made it through your injuries and are back on the roster!
9:02 McCain's tie is red and Obama's is blue. Did they plan this?
9:05 I'm not sure how much of this financial mess is really Bush's fault, but what an effective line of attack!
9:10 Ebay versus Warren Buffet: would either of these people actually take the job? For Warren that is certainly a demotion!
9:15 This is the problem ofr McCain. He does have a long history of fighting for deregulation. Whatever one thinks about the economic argument, the fact is that people are not receptive to this message right now. In fact, they're downright terrified of it. Hence, his efforts to remake himself.
9:18 I would like to extend a warm welcome to a 3rd Matt, who will be posting comments tonight! Well come! May the Giant Bee be with you.
9:20 Obama is very effective in talking about the middle class. That's probably the single greatest asset you could have in this election.
9:23 Earmarks and pork-barrel spending are still the only economic issues that get McCain excited. Unfortunately for him, I don't think those are all that high on anyone's list.
9:25 And Welcome back to John Four-Stiches!
9:27 Obama actually talks about cutting earmarks as effectively as McCain. But is that really a game-changer for anyone right now?
9:29 I'm actually watching this on a local network without benefit of the CNN Happy Line graph thingy. I feel left out. Time to switch.
9:32 It's notable that the energy Policy Obama is talking about would have been considered very left wing not long ago. Now, the lines seem to love it! (yes, I went back to CNN)
9:34 "High on the hog?" Sure you aren't talking about lipstick on a pig? Obama you sexist bastard!
9:36 From the Comments: Matt says:
Here's something I've been noticing on CNN throughout all the debates: nobody really likes John McCain when he gets negative. It's really striking. Everybody likes the positive stuff though.
9:38 Talking about Social Security has to be one of the hardest tasks in modern American politics. Talking about cutting taxes is much easier. I would have liked a more serious answer on this, but I can't say I'm surprised.
9:41 McCain does have a point there. He does have a much longer record of working across party lines than Obama. McCain has fought with people in his own party before. I'm not sure if Obama has. But now that Mccain has cozied up with the far-right, can he still do this effectively? Also, did he seriously say that fixing Social Security would be easy?
9:44 McCain should have just picked Lieberman as his running mate. They love each other. It's touching actually. If Joe were a Republican, he might actually be pretty popular.
9:46 Obama is effective in pointing out that McCain has been in Washington for about 3 decades and hasn't worked towards some of the things he claims to care about. It was always absurd for him to run as an agent of change.
9:48 Wow, they just both got chewed out by Tom! I liked his scolding, very professorial.
9:49 Typewriters baby typewriters (Hat Tip: Alabama Matt)
9:51 "Shoot, a cat on my lap is making posting hard." Let's keep this clean folks, okay? There might be kids reading this.
9:52 John says: "I was on Navy ships that had nuclear power," so it must be clean??? Not sure I follow that line of reasoning.
Me neither. I bet a fair amount of stuff went on in the Navy that is not exactly clean, or safe.
9:54 Is the hair-plugs thing a crack about Biden?
9:55 The lines like Obama on healthcare. And so do I.
9:58 Nice effort at tying banking in with heathcare! And women especially LOVE Obama on health care. But they apparently don't like McCain's question about the size of the fine.
10:01 You can tell McCain is relieved to be talking about foreign policy again. If this were still 2004, he would probably win.
10:02 But if you want proof that it is NOT still 2004, just look at the Lines reaction to Obama's comments about the war. I am not sure this would have been a very crowd pleasing vignette back then.
10:03 I love America times infinity.
10:06 Perhaps the most vital issue of the night: "Kim's concern, however, is that Brokaw's tie is telling of media bias. She believes that Brokaw is in the tank for Johnny Mac."
10:08 Corinne says: "delaware has loose laws. hilarious." Sounds like song. I'm going down to Delaware to get some fresh crabs and loose laws.
Is that even true anymore? I don't know that Delaware is actually any looser than anywhere else, but I can't claim to know much about it.
10:11 Dude, is McCain seriously claiming that Obama is responsible for anti-Americanism in Pakistan? The flak that Obama has taken for his stance about Pakistance is absurd. I feel like McCain would have said the same thing and now he doesn't just to be able to call Obama "naive." Also, the happy lines don't seem impressed.
10:14 Matt says "If McCain gets elected, the new special word will be "Tolleebahn"" I like the way he says it. Hey Mr. Tolleebahn, tollee me banana..."
10:16 Did McCain just use the word "Telegraph?" he's really up on the latest technology. His aides help him. Originally the line was " I won't Pony Express my punches." That's right. I went there.
10:19 Matt says "Yes Venice, that's exactly the song I was singing in my head!" Excellent! Great minds and all that.
10:21 McCain is vastly more effective on Russia than he is on domestic policy. So far he seems to be getting a better reaction on the subject than Obama. But I think in this cycle, at least, domestic issues will be paramount which gives the edge to Obama. I don't know, BTW, if us buying less Russian oil will matter much. I suspect China will be more than happy to pick up the slack.
10:26 Much as I care about this subject, I expect the responses to be very cookie-cutter. Could anyone seriously running for president say that he would wait for UN approval to defend Israel?
10:29 The Happy Lines like Obama on this subject more than I would have expected. BTW which is better: The Community of Nations or the League of Democracies?
10:30 NO! The last question is from my neighborhood and it's totally stupid! It sounds like something from a cheap self-help book.
10:34 John: "I think somebody needs to make a game pitting the League of Extraordinary Democracies vs. the Community of Nations or whatever the hell they are called... it would kick butt." The Community of Nations have more hit points but the League has a lower armour class and better spells.
10:35 I think Obama was much stronger tonight but neither hit it out of the park. Since Obama is way ahead, I think he should be counted as the decided winner tonight. On another note, I feel like McCain really despises Obama.
10:38 John: ""What I don't know is what the unexpected will be" says McCain? Not sure either one of them could do well with this final bizarro world question... but that line struck me as particularly um... awkward." You took the words out of my mouth, or off my keyboard. Basically, he said he didn't know what he didn't know. But what should he have said? stupid New Hampshire.
10:41 Once again, this was loads of fun! Thanks to everyone who contributed. John, we're all glad that you've made it through your injuries and are back on the roster!
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