What? No Lapel Pin?

TPM: "How can I vote for a president who won't wear a flag pin?" Mrs. [Nash] McCabe, a [52 year old] recently unemployed clerk typist, said in a booth at the Valley Dairy luncheonette in this quiet, small city in western Pennsylvania.

Mr. Obama has said patriotism is about ideas, not flag pins.

"I watch him on TV," Mrs. McCabe said. "I keep looking for that lapel pin."

And there you have it, folks, the lowest common denominator. When you are too stupid to understand the issues, or too apathetic to care, when you can't tell the difference between something important and something trivial, you tend to try to make your life simpler by making decisions based on whether someone wears a lapel pin, if you think they'd be fun to have a drink with, or what their bowling average may be, or even worse, their gender or the color of their skin.

I mean, hell, how can you trust someone who doesn't wear his or her feelings on their sleeve in the form of a flag pin or a $3.99 "Support The Troops" yellow ribbon magnet on the back of their SUV? But as my friend Armadillo Joe says, "Just make sure its a magnet, not an actual sticker - you wouldn't want to hurt the resale value of your car." Patriotism does have its limits.

But what's going to happen to the Nash McCabes of the country when they get a load of this?










Their poor little raisinbrains are going to explode. How can we trust someone who doesn't wear a lapel flag pin? What is this country coming to? ...Eh, at least he's an old, white man. That's something they can "cling" to.



(H/T Mustang Bobby and SFDB)

Clinton's Pastor Defends Rev. Wright

I received this in a chain/spam email and thought it might be a fake. But who knows? Although, come to think of it, this is the first time I get an email that is pro-Obama.

Star Tribune.com - Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN:

Letter of the day: Clinton, her pastor disagree about Wright

Hillary Clinton attends the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington. So does Bill Clinton. Hillary suggests she would not have the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's controversial former minister, as her pastor.

But the senior pastor of her church has a very different take on how Americans should react to Wright. The Rev. Dean Snyder wrote, "The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism, and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream.

"To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African-American church, which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear.

"Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize. This is a critical time in America's history as we seek to repent of our racism. No matter which candidates prevail, let us use this time to listen again to one another and not to distort one another's truth. "

JACK BEAIRD, GOLDEN VALLEY

Again, I don't know if it's a real letter or not (seems legit on the website) but you can't argue with the logic. And if it is real, then it would seem Hillary's got some egg on her face.

T Minus 276/275 Days

"Laura and I really don't realize how bright our children is sometimes until we get an objective analysis."

- CNBC, April 2000

I think he meant to say "how bright our children be...", and I really wonder about that "objective analysis" comment. Do you think Dubya's ever gotten an objective analysis? Ever?

Rachel Maddow Is My Hero

For far too long, there has been a double standard in Punditland between right wingers and liberals. It always seems to me that the blowhard, in-your-face, conservative pundits never care to actually have a debate and listen to the other side. Rather, their typical "debating" or interviewing style is to ask a question or make a point, and not let the other speaker get a word in edgewise.

Joe Scarborough is the quintessential talking head hack. He'll go on and on with his diatribes and then ask a convoluted question, and as a response to his question is given, he'll interrupt and try to make another inane, fact-starved point. He just looooves to hear himself speak. You can tune in anytime or check out any video online... he always does it.

Last night's David Gregory's Race For The White House was no exception, but Rachel Maddow gave The Scar the once over. And it wasn't the first time that poor Joe got his pee-pee slapped by Maddow, as when they were debating a couple of weeks ago about how much of a maverick John McCain is. Watch.



Now on to last night. This Gregory show has only been on for the last few weeks, but in that short time, Rachel Maddow has learned that you can't let Scar walk all over you. You can't let him talk over you and monopolize your limited debate time on these "make your point in a 15 second sound bite" shows. You can't be polite, because he never is.

Rachel gets about one sentence into her point when Scarborough interrupts in disagreement, to which Maddow responds, "Joe, let me make my point and then you can dismiss me."

GASP! The nerve of this liberal, lesbian bitch to speak to the almighty Joe Scarborough that way! Who the fuck does she think she is? The nerve of these producers to put on these goddamn progressives on MSM shows. Don't they know that they have to conform to the corporate agenda? Has the world gone topsy-turvy?!

So Joe just sits there, like a scolded schoolboy and decides to respond to Rachel on a completely different segment of the show... AND THEN WALKS OFF THE SET! Watch the exchange and then listen closely to the 2:47 mark when Joe (off camera) takes off his microphone. When they go back to the talking head in boxes look, Joe's box is gone. The show continues sans Joe.



Poor little Joe Scarborough. He doesn't like the rules, so he took his ball and went home. Maybe mommy will make him some sammiches. ...Douchebag.

UPDATE: From TRex -

Scarborough is being a complete bastard in this clip. I went back to watch it again and his preening, tight-lipped imitation of a puckered butthole would be hilarious if it wasn’t so extraordinarily revealing. At that moment, all of Scarborough’s cards are on the table. You can tell exactly what he’s thinking, something along the lines of, “Listen, you little dyke bitch, I used to be a Congressman and don’t you ever forget that you are here at our sufferance and you will not cut me off when I’m interrupting you.”

Asshole.

Peter Coyote On Air America

I was driving around today and listening to an increasingly awful Air America (what else am I going to listen to, endless sports drivel from two guys I can't stand?) and Richard Belzer... yeah, he's subbing as a guest host in the old Randi Rhodes slot - is interviewing actor Peter Coyote. Coyote is writing a new book, the name of which escapes me at the moment... something about twelve things you should know are myths... and he came up with the following statistic while doing research which I found amazing. Ready?

"The top 447 richest people in the world own more than the poorest 20% of the world's population... that poorest 20% amounts to 2.5 BILLION people."

...I know, right?

T Minus 277 Days

"I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Donald Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense."

- Washington, DC, April 18 ,2006

Seven months later, and one day after the 2006 midterm elections that saw heavy Republican losses, Rumsfeld resigned.

Bush later admitted that Rumsfeld's resignation had been in the works for a period of time, but he held off any announcement until the day after the elections because he "didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days" of the election campaign. Nice going, peabrain.

Who Lost Debate? Looks Like ABC Did

I was working last night and absentmindedly forgot to record the Democratic debate in Philadelphia. Apparently, it's a good thing because judging by the responses I've read so far, my blood pressure would have soared and I might not be feeling so hot this morning.

It looks like neither Obama nor Clinton won last night, but ABC definitely lost. There's even video posted of moderators Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous being heckled as they broke for commercial. It's pretty impressive when the audience members see what's going on. I suppose the razzing Hillary received when she tried to push the Obama "bitter" comment last week during a speech didn't click with the producers or the moderators at ABC. And the ABC website had some wonderful commentary by visitors to the site after watching.

"...I haven't watched ABC "news" in a few years. I see I haven't been missing much! MORE THAN half the debate turned over to Bittergate, Rev Wright, the Weathermen, Tuzla, FLAG LAPEL PINS? Most of the televised debates I've seen this campaign season have been lame, but this one takes the prize. Either you guys are morons or you think that we are. Either way, I'm glad to have seen the last of you. Really, really bad. No winners in this debate, but a definite loser: ABC "NEWS""

"...Are you kidding me? "We don't have much time left. Let's have a MINUTE to talk about gas?" Charlie and George, you need a crash course on the distinction between "issues" and an "agendas." Hint: The candidates have the former; you have the latter."

"...Has ABC News noticed that your so called "debate" has been universally panned? Charles Gibson is a pandering person more fit for the National Enquirer than a responsible news program. Stephanopoulis is barely better. I am so disappointed but not surprised."

After 15 months of campaigning, you'd think that the media would finally get around to talking about substantive issues. Unfortunately, it's has become all O.J. all the time. Why speak about something silly like the Iraq occupation when you can ask the world where Natalie Holloway is? Why worry viewers with trivial things like the foreclosure crisis or the high prices of oil and gas, when you can focus on "real" journalism like Heath Ledger's or Anna Nicole Smith's death?

Congratulations ABC. You turned a pivotal Democratic debate into nothing more than a slap fight, devoid of substance and important issues that the American people really care about.

It looks like Fox News has competition.

T Minus 278 Days

"And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."

- to Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Washington, D.C., March 3, 2008

There's no place like Rome... There's no place like Rome...

Pope Benedict XVI, bedazzled in his ruby red slippers, is greeted by the Scarecrow, the Tin Lady and the Cowardly Lion.

T Minus 279 Days

"You're free. And freedom is beautiful. And, you know, it will take time to restore chaos out of order - order out of chaos. But we will."

- Washington, DC, April 2003

Mr. Straight Talk on The Economy

NY TIMES: VILLANOVA, Pa. — Senator John McCain offered the broadest look yet at his economic policies in a speech on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, outlining a series of tax reductions and backing away from his pledge to balance the budget by the end of his first term.

...There was a dash of populism, as Mr. McCain criticized executive pay and corporate wrongdoing. There was a strong supply-side bent, with Mr. McCain focusing on cutting corporate taxes and making permanent the Bush tax cuts that he once opposed.

...Mr. McCain — who said in February in Wisconsin that he would balance the budget by the end of his first term as president — seemed to reconsider that on Tuesday, saying at a news conference later in Villanova that “economic conditions are reversed” and that he would have a balanced budget within eight years.

Why not 12? Why not 100?

Jackie Robinson Day

Today was the 61st anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. My wife and I enjoyed our game at Shea as the Mets beat the Nationals 6-0.

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
- Jackie Robinson

Obama On Trade: We Can't Afford More Of The Same

Barack Obama spoke to the Alliance for Ameican Manufacturing in Pittsburgh, and spoke to them like adults, not children. He spoke the truth.

Not every job that has left is coming back. And not every job lost is due to trade –automation has made plants more efficient so they can make the same amount of steel with few workers. These are the realities.

I also don't oppose all trade deals. I voted for two of them because they have the worker and environmental agreements I believe in. Some of you disagreed with me on this but I did what I thought was right.

That's the truth. But let me tell you what else I believe in:

For America to win, American workers have to win, too. If CEO pay keeps rising, while the standard of living for their workers continues to decline, that's not a win for America.

That's why I opposed NAFTA, it's why I opposed CAFTA, and it's why I said any trade agreement I would support had to contain real, enforceable standards for workers.

That's why I believe the Permanent Normalized Trade agreement with China didn't do enough to ensure fairness and compliance.

Now, you can have a debate about whether my position is right or wrong. But here's what you can't do. You can't spend the better part of two decades campaigning for NAFTA and PNTR for China, and then come here to Pennsylvania, and tell the steelworkers you've been with them all along. You can't say you are opposed to the Columbia Trade deal, while your key strategist is working for the Columbian government to get the deal passed.

That's not respect. That's just more of the same old Washington politics. And we can't afford more of the same.

Read more here.

T Minus 280 Days

"We must have the attitude that every child in America - regardless of where they're raised or how they're born - can learn."

- New Britian, CT, April 2001

Obama the Elitist

Obama's Slam Continues!

Obama: Now it may be that I chose my words badly. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. But when I hear my opponents, both of whom have spent decades in Washington, saying I'm out of touch, it's time to cut through their rhetoric and look at the reality.

After all, you've heard this kind of rhetoric before. Around election time, the candidates can't do enough for you. They'll promise you anything, give you a long list of proposals and even come around, with TV crews in tow, to throw back a shot and a beer.

But if those same candidates are taking millions of dollars in contributions from the PACs and lobbyists, ask yourself, who are they going to be toasting once the election is over?

CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!





Read Obama's full speech here.

UPDATE: Clinton Heckled, Obama Cheered Over "Bitter" Remarks

Obama Responds: "I'm Out Of Touch?!"

I really wanted him to say, "I'm out of touch?!?! Nigga please!"

Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain criticized Barack Obama over the weekend for his comments that working class families are bitter and angry because they feel ingored by their supposed representatives, so they turn and vote on issues that they care about, like guns, religion and immigration. They called him, "elistist" and "out of touch" while taking his comments out of context and misrepresenting what he said.

It's funny that the Clinton campaign jumped so hard on this, trying to draw attention away from the last couple few days of the Bosnia fabrication rehashed by Bill Clinton. Only the problem is that Hillary went too far. Instead of just sticking to trashing Obama by her continued misrepresentation of what he actually said, Hillary became a gun-toting, Second Amendment rights panderer - including her fond memories of hunting as a child. And now instead of pointing the finger at Obama, she's whipped it back around and started another controversy.

"You know, my dad took me out behind the cottage that my grandfather built on a little lake called Lake Winola outside of Scranton and taught be how to shoot when I was a little girl," she said.
"You know, some people now continue to teach their children and their grandchildren. It's part of culture. It's part of a way of life. People enjoy hunting and shooting because it's an important part of who they are. Not because they are bitter."

One of Clinton's staunchest supporters, Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., acknowledged there was some truth in Obama's remarks. But he said Republicans would use them against him anyway. Just like Clinton is doing. So why not just do their job for them, right Hillary? Even though it's a Rethuglican tactic, that didn't stop Hillary from handing out bumper stickers and pins that read, "We're Not Bitter."

Well, as we've all seen by now - and maybe the Clinton campaign hasn't realized it - Barack Obama is not John Kerry. Obama doesn't sit around while being swiftboated hoping it'll all go away and then responding too late like Kerry did. Obama had a few choice words for Clinton.

"Shame on her," Obama said, echoing one of Clinton's own attacks on him. "Shame on her, she knows better."

Obama said he was disappointed with her for her response and then launched into a new criticism of Clinton over her recent admission of being a hunter, and compared her sarcastically to Annie Oakley.

"She’s running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment, she's talking like she's Annie Oakley! Hillary Clinton's out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday, she's packin' a six shooter! C'mon! She knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton. I want to see that picture of her out there in the duck blinds."

Of course the Clinton campaign is sticking with the misinterpreted remarks because they have nothing else. Check out lost video of Hillary Clinton's childhood experiences as a duck hunter here.

T Minus 281 Days

"I'm going to spend a lot of time on Social Security. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking on the issue. I guess, it's the mother in me."

- Washington, DC, April 14, 2006