Shia's Flick Is Just A Little Slow Off The Mark

I knew that this seemed rather "out-of-date".

From IGN

September 25, 2008 - If Eagle Eye were released in the early 1990s, it might now qualify as a classic. A film about the potential dangers of our plugged-in, hooked-up culture, it would have stood up beautifully against computer-based thrillers of that time like The Net or Hackers, not to mention the spate of technophobic Michael Crichton adaptations (Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure) that excited and terrified audiences during the dawn of the Internet era.

Shia Le Beouf (Transformers) plays Jerry Shaw, a "copy associate" at a low-rent Kinko's knockoff who returns home from his twin brother's funeral to discover his bank account full of cash and his apartment full of terrorist paraphernalia. Despite a call from an unknown person advising him to flee, Jerry is soon apprehended by the authorities and interrogated by Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton), an agent for a state-run terrorist task force. Before he (or they) can make sense of what's happening, Jerry is mysteriously freed from capture and sent to find a getaway car driven by Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan), a single mother who anxiously awaits information from the same unknown person about her kidnapped son. Before long, Jerry and Rachel discover that they have been recruited as operatives in a mysterious conspiracy where not only do they not know what they're doing, but whether or not they will survive if they succeed

In many ways, this is kind of reminiscent of the Tony Scott film Enemy Of The State.

Even the posters look virtually identicle -

I'm Going To Tell On You!!!!

Elizabeth Hasselbeck loves to cast herself in the role of "victim"

Elisabeth Hasselbeck is ''really upset'' with her "View" co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar about the presidential election, a longtime staff member of the show reportedly told the Chicago Sun-Times.

source

She loves to get into heated debates with Behar and Goldberg and pretend to be this powerful voice for the conservative movement. But, when she is backed into a corner with and can't defend the statments she is claiming to hold dear, she turns on the tears. She's quite the actor in that respect.

When that isn't enough, she runs to her safety zone, Fox"News".

She doesn't come off as a great example of a strong, conservative woman. What she is effective in perpetrating in the image of the "victim", a role that she is happy to play whenever she can.

Direct Answers To Voters Don't Count (?)

One would think that we, the American voting public, have reached a point where we can easily discern a "gotcha" question from a valid one.

However, for conservative Republicans, it's easier to deflect attention away from an answer that one of them has given and point to another source as the "real" problem.

John McCain recently held Sarah Palin by the hand and attempted to convince Katie Couric that Palin was the victim of "gotcha" journalism.

The only problem with that, is that Palin was answering a direct question from a voter, not a member of the media.



You can easily see Couric's shock when McCain says that her asking Palin about her answer to a direct question form a voter.

She is rightfully shocked.

This, amongst many others, is further proof that Palin really isn't in touch with the Republican party ( in general ) and McCain's plan for America ( in specific ). Actually, I don't think she's been overtly specific about anything she was asked.

It wouldn't suprise me to start seeing posts from conservative Republicans that there are "covert crowd members" where Palin and/or McCain are giving speeches with the express intent of asking these types of questions.

It's happened before.

Don't Make Excuses For Her

I used to somewhat admire Wolf Blitzer.

Perhaps it was his name, his reporting from the first Gulf War, his passion that he seemed to have, and the wealth of knowledge that he appeared to stand firm on.

Maybe it was the fact that I was just 17 and did really know any better.

Now, Blizter comes of as a drab, almost Thorazine-infused, automaton.

But Jack Cafferty, that's another story.



I don't always agree with what Cafferty says. Sometimes, his "home-spun-lore" delivery and his furrowed brow echo that curmudgeon that sits in the local diner every morning that talks about how life was so grand before ( insert topic of the moment ).

That Jack Cafferty isn't in this video.

He has been replaced with an unscripted honesty that is buried within our media or labeled as "smears" by those that are attempt to usurp power form the ones that know how to weild it effectively.

What Will They Think Of The Enquirer Now?

Conservatives were all abuzz just a few short months ago when The National Enquirer broke the story that John Edwards had had an affair.

Now, that same grocery-store staple all across America has a new story for page one:

SARAH PALIN'S OTHER MAN REVEALED

According to the Enquirer, the identity of Palin's extramarital lover was confirmed by "no less than three members of the man's family including one by sworn affidavit."

One Hanson family insider, Jim Burdett, passed a "rigorous polygraph test," and went on the record telling the Enquirer, "I've known about Brad having had an affair for a long time, but it wasn't until just recently that I learned his affair was with Sarah Palin."

Another insider, who preferred to remain anonymous but provided the Enquirer with a sworn affidavit attesting to the affair, said, "Todd was away on business a lot and Sarah felt lonely. Brad was a good listener, and Sarah talked to him at length. Eventually, she real­ized she was falling in love with him."

The Enquirer is also boasting that it was their investigation that prompted the Palin family to announce that their daughter, Bristol, was pregnant.

It's almost a certainty that conservative Republicans, the bloggers that adore them, and the pundits and media-members that follow are all sitting in silent contemplation.

"How do we approach this without coming off like hypocrites?"

Chances are they will largely ignore it. But, that poses a problem from the start. They have legitamized a publication that - for as long as I can remember - has been seen as largely gossip, nothing more.

But, with the Edwards affair validated, fact checked, and with apparent photographic proof, those that wish to make this story "go away" have a rather daunting task ahead of them.

And, if you think The Enquirer will face the furry of the McCain campaign, they don't seem to be too afraid of that:

Rumors of Palin’s alleged secret booty call have been circulating the ‘net. Coincidentally, Hanson has reportedly filed a motion to have his divorce records sealed in Alaska.

In attempt to stop the reports, John McCain’s people threatened legal action against The NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

Palin has been avoiding the press. McCain's campaign is effectively running Alaska at this point. Questions aren't being answered or the right questions just aren't being asked.

This could either be what derails Palin's candidacy for VP or this will be when we start hearing conservatives validating adulterous behavior.

Now, we wait.

Where Republicans Go When They Don't Win - Fox

This could be comedy gold:

Former Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee announced on his Web site that he has a new show debuting 8 p.m. EDT Saturday and Sunday on the Fox News Channel.

The show is simply titled "Huckabee," he said.

"I'm sure the name will make it easy for all of you to find it," Huckabee wrote on his political action committee's blog.

Fox News Channel spokesman Richard White said that Huckabee's new show would air on the channel but referred all questions about the show to Huckabee's agent.

Sarah Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor's daughter and head of his political action committee, said the same show will air both nights. She said his guest on the show will be Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the conservative co-host of ABC's "The View."

source

Not entirely sure what to expect from this show.

Perhaps some good, homespun, Arkansas humor?

Who knows.

Fox"News" loves to swoop up rabidly partisan Republican politicians who, for one reason or another, don't have anything better to do.

Elizabeth Hasselbeck is an interesting choice as a first guest. She really doesn't do much of anything but complain about how much she hates the guests on The View. It should be point out that she never has the sand enough to talk about it on her own show, she's got her buddies at Fox to help her out with that.

Of Strategy And The Financial "Bail-Out"

John McCain has got to find a way to make it appear as if he is mindful of the economy and has at least even a rudimentary plan for the future of the country.

Considering the first debate will likely have a few questions regarding the current financial crisis within Wall Street, it would appear that this was close to the front of McCain's mind.

Is McCain going to vote for the "bail-out" and then claim credit if it works?

When you take a look at the fact that it was, in point of fact, other members of Congress that did all the proverbial "heavy-lifting", I wouldn't put it past McCain or any of his staff to boast that his involvement played a key roll. He's also likely to claim that he "forced" the meeting between Bush, Obama, and him.

However, all this will only work if the "bail-out" goes through before tomorrow night's debate.

Something else of note, John McCain has not introduced a single banking or housing bill in this, the 110th, congress.

Obama has introduced 5

Obama has introduced 130 measures during this Congress. Five of Obama’s standalone bills fall within the Banking Committee's jurisdiction.

Obama’s legislation calls for bolstering housing assistance for veterans, amending the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation, halting mortgage transactions that promote fraud, authorizing local and state governments to crack down on companies that invest in Iran's energy sector and authorizing a pilot program to prevent at-risk veterans from becoming homeless.

Celebrating The Mediocre And Predictable

Ed Morrissey @ HotAir has a write-up of a brief interaction that Sarah Palin had with "the press" in NYC at ground-zero.

While Morrissey easily recognizes the simplistic nature of the questions asked of her, he then takes a massive leap in associating what Ronald Reagan did with regards to press coverage and what Palin is doing and what she should continue doing.

Some say that Reagan took a different approach in bypassing the media to talk to the American voters directly. That’s true, but Reagan actually used the media to accomplish that. He talked to everyone, tangled with reporters at pressers, and skillfully used those opportunities to lift his voice past the media. He didn’t sequester himself from the media during any part of his remarkable political career, but mastered them instead.

Let Palin be Palin. Since Biden insists on setting the bar ever lower, she can hardly fail, and she may turn into quite a good communicator herself.

So, according to Morrissey, Palin doesn't have to use the media. She can be as unwilling to communicate as she wants, or she can field all the easy questions her little heart desires. He is framing this as if the onus in on Biden to step up his ability to effectively use the press.

Palin, if you're looking for the truth, is nothing more than a "yes-woman".

Morrissey doesn't seem to understand that being a "yes" person doesn't help America, at all.

Biden's job is to challenge Obama, to make him think on multiple levels.

Palin's job is to just look cute and tell everyone that McCain can do no wrong.

Why You Bringing-Up Old Shit?

Oh, Steve Doocy. He tries so hard to fit in at Fox"News"

Apparently, he's trying his hand at what O'Reilly and Hannity do - shout-down your guest when they say something you don't like




From The Raw Story.

Appearing Thursday morning on Fox & Friends, radio host Mike Papatino tried to remind viewers about McCain's intervention with federal regulators on behalf of real estate mogul Charles Keating, who was trying to avoid regulations of a savings and loan he owned during the S&L crisis of the 1980s.

F&F's Steve Doocy told Papatonio to "pipe down," called him "rude" and demanded he "cut it out." A show producer could be overheard saying "cut his mike."

As Papatonio tries one last time to explain the details of the Keating Five scandal, Doocy again cuts him off.

"This is not the History Channel," he says.

Well, how convenient.

The bright side to this is that Doocy's remarks can be used against him. So, the next time you hear him or anyone at Fox"News" start up on Obama and Ayres, just tell them "this isn't the History Channel".

I'm No Economist, But.....

Yeah, this is the guy that I want to talk to about the economy.

Interest rates at zero?!?!?!

Granted, you can't expect your personal preference in presidential candidate to know, literally, everything. But, what you can ask of them is if they have a plan and that they be able to articulate that plan.

Obama's Economic Ad Pt II

If the video doesn't load properlyhere the link.

Country First - Well, When He Gets Around To It

So, McCain has "suspended" is Presidential campaign.

While some that I have been speaking with are calling this a "bold move" and that America demands "action", it should be pointed out that John McCain has missed around 80% of the votes in the Senate since the 4th quarter of 2007.

source

While some will surely fall back on the line of "he's got a campaign to run", this doesn't excuse them from doing the job they were elected to do.

To provide proper context to this point, Obama's record clearly shows his absence record. However, even during the campaign, Obama has made time to "return to work". Also, his absences are decreasing while McCain's have skyrocketed since March.

Ready To Lead, Just Not Ready To Talk? About Anything?

Katie Couric has just become the next punching-bag for the conservative-right.

Here is an excerpt from her interview with Sarah Palin.



Sean Hannity's verbal hand-job not-withstanding, Palin is effectively 0 for 2 when it comes to one-on-one interviews.

Each time I watch a clip of Palin talking with Charles Gibson or Couric, I keep hearing the voices of those same conservatives saying that Palin is "ready", that she's "experienced", that she's "strong".

Certainly, one can't expect every political figure to handle an interview with grace and poise, with no stumbling points at all. But, conservatives are casting Palin in dual roles here. It's so blatant and unrepentant that this goes beyond political spin, this is hypocrisy in it's purest form.

She's the hard-charging conservative ready to take charge and lead this nation should that time present itself. She's also the delicate little flower that no one has to right to pose direct questions to.

He Even Samples Old TV Show Ideas

Kanye West has apparently decided he wants to be executive producer for a show that's pretty much a mirror image of the classic Muppet Show:

Comedy Central has teamed with Kanye West for a project described as hip-hop meets the Muppets.

A half-hour pilot has been shot for the project, tentatively titled "Alligator Boots." It's from Jackhole Prods., the production company founded by Jimmy Kimmel, Daniel Kellison and Adam Carolla that also was behind Comedy Central's puppet-centric "Crank Yankers."

The project, which is under consideration for 2009, would feature music produced and performed by West and fellow rapper Rhymefest, both of whom are serving as executive producers on the pilot alongside Kellison. West also hosts the pilot; the idea is to have a different celebrity guest host for every episode, similar to the setup on the original "Muppet Show."

Kimmel's brother Jon ("South Park") is co-exec producer on the pilot.

WMA brokered the deal for West, who was in attendance at Comedy Central's Emmy party at STK on Sunday; Matthew Middleton and Darrell Miller brokered the deal for Rhymefest.

source

One of two things are going to happen.

Either the show doesn't make it past the pilot stage and Kanye whines like a little girl with a skinned knee for 4 months, or the show makes it past the pilot and Kanye whines because it's not as popular as he thinks it should be.

Regardless of the show's outcome, rest assured that Kanye will be complaining furiously at some point that not enough attention is being paid to him.

Daddy Got The Attention He Wanted

Yesterday, I blogged about the Colorado 5th grader that wore the "Obama - Terrorist" shirt to school.

Make no mistake about it, this kid's father convinced him to do it.

Various conservative sites talked about it without addressing the issue at hand - indoctrination of children with the intent of disrupting an educational environment.

While some have claimed that the boy's right to free-speech was violated, I am finding it increasingly more shocking that so many in the conservative realm are willing to force-feed ideology to their children rather than having them develop their own, original, opinions.

It was with little shock that I watched Zack Dalton and his father talk with Martha MacCallum and Trace Gallagher on Fox"News" about the incident.

Click here for the video.

Zack, for lack of a more appropriate phrase, is scared shitless.

His father, Dan, attempts to frame the story as if it was Zack's idea to create and wear the t-shirt. I find this a rather difficult pill to swallow. No in-so-much as an 11-year-old isn't capable of formulating an opinion on people, but that he would make a t-shirt that falls directly in-line with conservative talking-points that Fox"News" has been rehashing for months.

While i'm sure that Zach's home is filled with Dan's seething right-wing rage on a daily basis, the video is pretty clear in revealing to the audience that this wasn't something that Zack was passionate about and that he was coached - possibly forced - into creating and wearing the t-shirt. If this had been his idea, one would think that a person of such conviction would be willing to talk about it. It's also interesting to point out that not even Dan was comfortable talking about it. It's easier for him to act out his agressions by forcing his son to do things he doesn't want to do.

Now that he has succeeded in getting his son suspended, Dan is planning on suing that school. I hope the judge throws the book at this pathetic excuse for a father.

To Be Seen And Not Heard : McCain Campaign Denies Press Coverage

John McCain's campaign knows that Sarah Palin is nothing but a "pretty-face" designed to bring in votes for him.

He, and all of his staff, have to recognize this.

What makes me so sure?

NEW YORK - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who has not held a press conference in nearly four weeks of campaigning, on Tuesday banned reporters from her first meetings with world leaders, allowing access only to photographers and a television crew.

CNN, which was providing the television coverage for news organizations, decided to pull its TV crew, effectively denying Palin the high visibility she had sought.

The campaign told the TV producer, print and wire reporters in the press pool that follows the Alaska governor that they would not be admitted with the photographers and camera crew taken in to photograph the meetings. At least two news organizations, including The Associated Press, objected and were told that the decision was not subject to discussion.

From the AP.

That's right, the McCain crew pretty much said that Palin should only be seen and not heard. That's when CNN gave John and his boys a big "well, fuck you then".

SouthSideDem at DailyKos has a great diary up and gives updates on what the limited press allowed actually saw and heard:

This was the only exchange that was heard:

"What is his name?," Palin asked.

"Mirwais," Karzai responded. "Mirwais, which means, ‘The Light of the House.’"

"Oh nice," Palin responded.

"He is the only one we have," remarked Karzai.

At this point, the pool was hustled out the room and down to the hotel lobby. Pool was in the room for a grand total of 29 seconds.

Sarah Palin - no press conferences, only scripted appearances.

If you still think this woman is ready to be VP, then you must be crazy.

Of Parents, Their Children, And T-Shirts Worn To School

Leave it to Michelle Malkin and her band of drooling compatriots to blame the public school system for any and everything.

The latest example is of an 11-year-old that wore this t-shirt to school:



The story, as reported by MyFOXColorado.com, reads as such:

An 11-year-old in Aurora says his first amendment rights are being trampled after he was suspended for wearing a homemade shirt that reads “Obama is a terrorist’s best friend.”

The fifth grader at Aurora Frontier K-8 School wore it on a day when students were asked to wear red, white and blue to show their patriotism.

The boy’s father Dann Dalton describes himself as a “proud conservative” who has taken part in some controversial anti-abortion protests. Dalton says the school made a major mistake by suspending his son for wearing the shirt.

“It’s the public school system,” Dalton says. “Let’s be honest, it’s full of liberal loons.”

…Aurora Public Schools would not talk about the case but said the district “Respects a student’s right to free speech, such as the right to wear specific clothing,” but administrators say they review any situation that interrupts the learning environment.

Paperwork submitted by the school district says Daxx Dalton was not suspended for wearing the shirt, but for willful disobedience and defiance.

So, the question is - does a student have the right to wear whatever they want to school. No.

There have always been dress-code rules in schools. Some very stringent, some lax.

By throwing out the "I'm exercising my free speech" line, you should be able to recognize that another student or school official has the right to express there's. From the school official standpoint, they are required to enforce the dress-code if it has been violated.

The Malkinites jumped at this with there oh-so-predictable "If it had been an anti-McCain shirt" drivel.

For more reasons that I can explain at this point, conservatives feel the need to operate in an alternate reality from the one that is presented to them.

Most of the commentors on Malkin's site are not even addressing the fact that an 11-year-old child is being indoctrinated by his father to associate Barack Obama with "terrorist".

to rationalize this, they are attempting to convince anyone that reads the posting that their own children - some as young as 8 - are "well-versed" in politics.

On September 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 am, TxSkirt said:
My kidlets are 10 and 8 and are both well versed on the differences in the candidates in this race. I want to raise conservative adults. I am not of the “let the kids decide for themselves” school of thought. I also don’t allow them that all sugar diet they’ve been asking about. I’m all mean like that.

My kids have been to the republican headquarters and watched the convention. Of course, we home school so I don’t have to worry about a dress code. But if they were in public school, I would work extra hard to make sure they have the critical thinking skills it takes to question this tripe and not swallow it whole.

Some even went so far as to say that they were politically active at 11

On September 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am, bansharia said:
disclosure: I was rabid GOP kid at 11. lived in Nixon’s home town and RR was gov hm I would have prob gotten expelled for kicking “shins” of any teacher that had a problem with shirt.
that said my class mates were not as
passionate nor are some of my neighbors as an adult!!
we just don’t know enuff on this issue
MM posted.. see ya will stop back and yammer later perhaps. enjoy this day He has created

For the reactionary masses that make up the neo-conservatives that flock to Malkin's site, there is no need for facts, no need for addressing the reality of the situation. Simply divert attention away from the problem by claiming the problem lies within another source. If that doesn't work, just make stuff up.

Of all the comments posted, only a few actually addressed the issue at hand while the remainder seem to favor indoctrination of children.

Just plain sad.

A Tale Of Two Florida Groups

As consumers, we are often tricked by the "gimmick", the product-placement stylings, the "cool" factor.

Such is, and will be until the election, the case with Sarah Palin.

Allahpundit at HotAir is proof of the "consumerist" nature of Republican voters in this election.

He writes about a rally in Florida where Republican VP pick Sarah Palin was appearing under the heading of:

Palinmania: 60,000 turn out for event in Florida?

He attempts to rationalize, in the special ham-fisted way that only neo-conservatives are capable of, the crowd numbers and then relates them to Biden and current "president" George W.

He quotes a write-up on the event:

The Villages, a vast, upscale planned community north of Orlando, has about 70,000 mostly adult residents — many of them military retirees — who vote reliably Republican in statewide races. Tens of thousands inched along roads into the picturesque town square of the complex, where they stood in sweltering heat for about four hours as local GOP officials and a country band revved up the crowd.

emphasis via Allahpundit

Impressive.

People standing outside in the "sweltering" heat of Florida for hours. As if this common act - that other large groups of people in Florida have done - has somehow instilled within them a power, an ethereal glow if you will, that demands us to show our undying adoration.

Give me a break.

It is interesting to note that The Villages - touted in advertisements as "Florida's friendliest home town" - is a retirement community populated almost entirely by Republicans. So, to claim that Palin has accomplished some fantastic feat, that the mere presence of 60,000 people ( that number is still in question ) in what is nothing more than a conservative "compound" is something to be amazed at is to really be reaching for something to cheer about.

The warm reception that Palin received at The Villages is comparable to what would happen should a favored sports-caster appear at a baseball stadium in New York.


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


The other group that met in Florida several weeks ago were also there in reference to Palin, just not in the same way:

From The St. Petersburg Times

Five weeks ago, the St. Petersburg Times convened a group of Tampa Bay voters who were undecided about the presidential election. Their strong distrust of Barack Obama suggested it was a group ripe for John McCain to win over.

Not anymore. The group has swung dramatically, if unenthusiastically, toward Democrat Obama. Most of them this week cited the same reason: Sarah Palin.

"The one thing that frightens me more than anything else are the ideologues. We've seen too many," said 80-year-old Air Force veteran Donn Spegal, a lifelong Republican from St. Petersburg, who sees McCain's new running mate as the kind of "wedge issue" social conservative that has made him disenchanted with his party.

This small focus group, containing only 11 people, was labeled as such by the esteemed HotAir employee as:

that anti-Palin focus group in Florida the ’sphere was buzzing about yesterday.

Whereas the focus-group seems to see Palin for what she is - a gimmick - Allahpundit and so many commentors at HotAir are approaching each story that is even peripheral to Palin as if she is the one running for President.

Neither group is representative of the whole of the American voting public. However, it is the later group that favor discussing issues rather than jumping up-and-down in the Florida heat over a woman is nothing more than a shiney, new toy.

Are You Certain That You Want To Use That Term?

Have you ever noticed that conservatives - be they moderate, centrist, or balls-out-lunatic-fringers - love to use words that they apparently don't know the meaning of or are hoping that you don't know the meaning of?

I'm continually reminded of this line from Rob Reiner's film The Princess Bride:



Whether it be the word "Nazi" or "Fascist" - two words which have clear definitions - conservatives will use words or phrases in relation to a person, place, or thing simply because they don't like it. Definition of the word be-damned, they are only trying to make you equate one "thing" with something completely unrelated.

Our latest example is the word "elitist".

It has been used multiple times in relation to Barack Obama.

Everything about the man is placed against that word. From his education to the fact that he eats Arugula, this makes the man "elitist".

Since when does making sure that you have the best education you can have make you an elitist? Since when does eating healthy foods make you an elitist?

Just "google" the word Elitist and you'll find several pieces about either Obama or Democrats.

Let's take a look at two people that more closely fit into the definition of the word - John and Cindy McCain.

They own 8 properties.

They own 13 vehicles.

Cindy is the textbook definition of "trophy-wife".

Cindy inherited her wealth - John just married in to it.

Simply because a person - or a couple - own multiple acres of real-estate in various states and more vehicles than 5 average families, this alone does not make them
"elitists".

How many homes do the Obama's own?

One.

How many vehicles?

One.

Interesting fact about Obama's car:

Obama’s lone vehicle also is a green machine, a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. He bought it last year to replace the family’s Chrysler 300C, a Hemi-powered sedan. Obama ditched the 300C, once 50 Cent’s preferred ride, after taking heat for driving a guzzler while haranguing Detroit about building more fuel-efficient cars.

source

While all this is pure nonsense anyway, it should be pointed out that the "elitist" meme is part of the massive whisper-campaign against Obama.

"He just thinks he's so smart."

That's quite a common statement that people in my community have to say when asked what they think of Barack Obama.

But, like so many other words, "elitist" is a term that is more accurately used in reference to John McCain - and his wife - than Obama.

Worst In The World v 3.3 & 3.4

Rupert Murdock

Bill O'Reilly

Rush Limbaugh




Bill O'Reilly

The Virginia Republican Party

Lynn Forester

Friday Afternoon Jams with Led Zeppelin

Kashmir - from Knebworth Festival 1979

Is Sarah Palin Going To Drop-Out?

Considering the blogging community and several press outlets are the ones that actually vetted Sarah Palin, it is no suprise that we are learning info that the McCain campaign may be wanting to keep a lid on. That, or we are learning just enough to make us all quite curious - and rightfully so.

That being said, there is also a vast array of useless speculation. I'm speaking of the "Is Trig her son or Bristol's son" type of nonsense.

As conservatives are falling over one another to have their chance to talk about Palin, her detractors, and those that may helpe or harm her, there is an element to Palin's VP status that doesn't seem to be quite "right".

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was to star at two major California fundraisers and an Orange County rally for 15,000 next week, has canceled her two-day swing through the Golden State, campaign sources said.

Two California Appearances Cancelled

The change is a shocker, because Palin's presence had electrified the GOP base in California. Party insiders were distributing 15,000 tickets to her Sept. 26 rally in Orange County -- and fundraisers reported an almost instantaneous sell-out of her two $1,000-a-head Sept. 25 fundraising events in Orange County and Santa Clara.

source

Washington Appearance Cancelled

Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin had to cancel her plan to come to Washington next week for a fundraiser and campaign rally, The Olympian is reporting.

Former Secretary of State Ralph Munro called the newspaper shortly after the event was announced to notify them of the change of plans. He said the campaign was hoping to replace Palin with Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy, and that they were hoping to bring Palin to the state some other time before the election, as well as the nominee himself.

Yet despite recent polls showing the presidential race tightening here in Washington, Munro was only cautiously optimistic about the chances for a successful reschedule.

"We're working hard on that. We've always been realistic about it," Munro told The Olympian. "We're not Ohio. We're not Indiana. We're not Florida."

source


Today's Fundraiser In Va. Beach Cancelled

Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, has cancelled a scheduled trip to Virginia Beach next week.

“We’re very disappointed,” Kenny Golden, the GOP chairman in Virginia Beach, said Wednesday. Golden said the national campaign informed him “she’s changed her schedule.”

Palin, the governor of Alaska, was slated to appear at a private fundraiser in the resort city on Sept. 18. Golden said he was trying to arrange for her to also appear at public rally.

“We still hope to get her down here sometime, but we don’t have a commitment on any date,” Golden said.

source


Wyoming - Cancelled

Miami - Cancelled due to "weather issues" even though there's only a 30% chance of rain.

Tampa - Cancelled for a second time

Now, Palin has beendisinvited from the Anti-iran rally.

Some in the conservative realm are making hay out of that last one. But, when anyone says anything that might even be remotely in relation to Palin, blood-pressures are sure to rise.

Perhaps I'm reading more into this than I should. But, let's put some further context to the recent cancellations.

Todd Palin is refusing to testify about "Troopergate".

Palin has yet to release her tax returns. We have over 10 years of Bidens up for examination.

There is still the issue of her "experience" that she and McCain are intentionally spinning or ignoring all together.

And, her rhetoric ( reform, earmarks, experience, et al ) just doesn't match up with what she has actually done.

Something is brewing on the horizon.

What it is, I can't be sure of. But, one thing is for sure, it's going to be big.

A Pinch Of Hackers - A Dash Of Campaign Fever - And A Cup Of Limbaugh = Republican Red Meat Stew

First of, Palin is not a unique example of someone having their personal - and possibly private - information appropriated.

If you'll recall, Clinton, Obama, and McCain had their passport information leaked.

By it's very nature - and keep in mind this is just an opinion from someone who is not necessarily as tech-savvy as they should be - hacking is something that can either be a harmless prank or a life-destroying act of maliciousness.

I haven't seen the alleged Palin emails ( yet ) but I have read more than a few conservative blogs that are treating this like it's something that has never happened before.

Enter Rush Limbaugh.

He takes it in the direction that only a man like him could take it.



That's right, it was the Obama campaign that did this

*cue dramatic music*

Here's something interesting to chew on this morning.

Why was Governor Palin using a public email account to conduct government business?

Why was she, much like the Bush administration, unwilling to cooperate and release emails in relation to the "Troopergate" investigation?

Could there be a connection there? Possibly.

Regardless of who did it or why it was done, it is something that should not be "snorted at" in the least.

Even though some are saying that it is Sarah Palin's fault that her emails were compromised, this isn't so. It isn't so much fault as it was poor judgement on her part to not use a secure, government, email system.

While I am not agreeing with what the hacker(s) have allegedly done, I am not about to accuse the McCain campaign of this. That's more the Republican's style of doing things.

Thursday Afternoon Musical Selections with Radiohead

Karma Police

The McCain / Palin Townhall That Practically Wasn't

Crooks and Liars has some video up of Palin taking a question regarding "foreign policy experience"



Unscripted and allegedly "in here element" and, if you believe what she's saying, she's ready and has that foreign policy experience.

So, what was her answer?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Governor Palin, there has been quite a bit of discussion about your perceived lack of foreign policy experience. And I want to give you your chance. If you could please respond to that criticism and give us specific skills that you think you have to bring to the White House to rebut that or mitigate that concern.

PALIN: Well, I think because I’m a Washington outsider that opponents are going to be looking for a whole lot of things that they can criticize and they can kind of try to beat the candidates here, who chose me as his partner, to kind of tear down the ticket. But as for foreign policy, you know, I think that I am prepared and I know that on January 20th, if we are so blessed as to be sworn into office as your president and vice president, certainly we’ll be ready. I’ll be ready. I have that confidence. I have that readiness.

And if you want specifics with specific policy or countries, go ahead and you can ask me. You can even play stump the candidate if you want to. But we are ready to serve.

She can't even give a specific example.

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

One would think that McCain and Palin would have felt more "at home" since this was a ticketed event.

FNC’S Jake Gibson reports:

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — McCain town hall style meetings are generally open to the public where anyone may wait in line on the day of the event and come in without an advanced invitation.

However, at tonight’s 3,500 person townhall in Grand Rapids, Michigan–the first time Palin is taking questions from the public– only ticketholders are allowed in.

The McCain campaign confirms that tonight’s event was advertised on the McCain/Palin Web site and local newspapers. People had to pick up their tickets at local GOP offices after RSVPing for the event.

The Kent County GOP headquarters gave out about two thousand tickets.

The rest came from GOP offices in Ottowa and Kalamazoo.

UPDATE–McCain campaign officials insist that none of the questions are being pre-screened.

Radio Iowa has a brief, but telling, report of what went down.

It appears that many of the "ticket-holding" audience members were only there to see Sarah:

I look up, about five minutes into McCain's address and see a steady stream of people walking out of the rally. They just came to see Palin apparently.

Also, check out this video clip from that same "townhall".



Did she just say 'Palin/McCain'?

Yeah, probably just a Freudian-slip, but it does echo the fact that the bulk of the conservative-Republicans that are so charged-up about the ticket now are more interested in the opening-act rather than the feature presentation.

Hannity and Palin's Friendly Game Of T-Ball

The "softball" imagry should never be used in a situation such as this one between Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin and lunatic-fringe sychophant Sean Hannity. A more appropriate and accurate vision that one should have before them is of two kids playing "t-ball"

While Hannity is more than happy to frame his questions in such a manner so that his guest really doesn't have to answer - if they are a Republican - and doesn't let others answer multi-level question, often laid-out in the vaguest of terms - if they are Democrat.

Sean Hannity hypes all his interviews with leading Republicans hard-hitting journalism, they are - in reality - nothing more than him setting the ball on the "t" and jesturing to his guest to just walk up and "touch the ball with the bat". The ball never goes far, but - just like in the t-ball games for our children - Hannity and his audience cheer with all their might as their little-batter ( in this instance Palin ) musters all the dexterity their little legs can muster as they wobble and stumble their way around the bases to home-plate.

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

Think Progress has highlighted the clip below to show Palin's rhetoric around the Fannie Mae / Freddy Mac bailout. Whereas Hannity's question seemed to be framed in reference to McCain's statements about campaign contributions, Palin seems to think that "lobbyists" are to blame. Interesting, since McCain and Palin's campaign boasts several fundraisers that have worked as "lobbyists" for Fannie and Freddy. The most notable of whom is Rick Davis, their campaign manager.



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

Part I of the interview was nothing more than a rambling "let's keep up the talking points that are probably working" back-and-forth. Hannity asked "what was it like being chosen?" like he was asking the members of Led Zeppelin what it was like writing Stairway To Heaven. Palin seemed very comfortable - unlike the disaster that was her interview with Charles Gibson. Palin didn't have a "in what respect Sean-y" moment at all.

She stuck to what was comfortable.

She talked about reform - a lot - without giving any examples. She talked about McCain's bi-partisan track record without noting how it has helped. She did a lot of talking and at one point stated that 'talking about it isn't enough'.

In all, the interview served little to no purpose at all. It wasn't designed to sway voters one way or another. This was a piece designed to tell Republican voters things they already knew.

God Bless Goth

While a recent article in The New York Times somewhat chronicles the writers viewpoint of Gothic fashion - for some reason the writer seems to think Coutrney Love was a post-Goth trendsetter - it makes one point abundantly clear - the Goth sub-culture has been seriously co-opted.

It was a college thing.

My girlfriend at the time and I were one of those couples that really dug Type-O Negative, loved black finger-nail polish, and went to this tiny hole-in-the-ground club ( it was literally underground and tiny ) in Nashville that would play old Thrill Kill Kult, pre-pop Siouxie, and just enough Alien Sex Fiend to make you go "wow, this is great".


I even hosted a "Goth Rock" show on Western Kentucky University's radio station, 91.7 WWHR, for over 3 years. It was a very tongue-in-cheek show where I would play a vast array of bands that even remotely touched the genre of music that was pioneered by more bands than you and I have probably ever heard of. One particular show, sticks out in my mind as clearly today as it ever did, I interviewed a "vampire band" that got some press on a local Nashville television station.

The lead singer was "manic depressive" - as was the prerequisite for any Goth band - and fascinated with horror movies and music. The guitarist was a long-time friend of our group who had "mysteriously disappeared". The band made an appearance on my show and we stalked-around Bowling Green later that night and laughed at the shocked gazes that were tossed our way from the "ordinary" people.

The Goth mystique wore off after some time and I traded in my boots, black nail polish, and torn-mesh-shirts for something new.

While the music stuck with me, the fashion - to what should have been blatantly obvious to me - was never really something that worked well for me. I couldn't pull off the "look".



They aren't really called "goth-kids" anymore. It's "emo".

They have gone from a counter-culture steeped in dark history, menacing music, poetry, classic vampire and horror films, and books by Anne Rice and Poppy Z. Brite to little consumers - cookie-cutter versions of the same boy or girl, or both. They shop at Hot Topic and listen to predictably drab and formulaic pop music. They carefully apply their high-dollar eye liner and take care not to rip their mesh tights. It's all fashion and no substance.

We idolozed The Electric Hellfire Club and the characters from the novel Lost Souls. Now, it's Kat Von D and Angel from Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

We drank Chartreuse and dark red wine. Now, it's Grey Goose and Red Bull for $10 a cup.

Our Goth wasn't pretty. It was raw, often dirty and out-of-shape. Now, it's photoshopped, toned, and doesn't even eat red-meat.



But, such is the way of any subculture.

Sooner or later, it's going to be appropriated by someone else in order to make money off of it.

Does McCain Even Know How To Answer Questions Of Diplomacy?

In a recent interview with a Spanish news outlet, John McCain made some rather odd remarks in response to a question about diplomacy that should have been easy to someone in his position.

Late Wednesday night, news made its way from the other side of the Atlantic that John McCain, in an interview with a Spanish outlet, had made a series of bizarre responses to a question regarding that country's prime minister.

"Would you be willing to meet with the head of our government, Mr. Zapatero?" the questioner asked, in an exchange now being reported by several Spanish outlets.

McCain proceeded to launch into what appeared to be a boilerplate declaration about Mexico and Latin America -- but not Spain -- pressing the need to stand up to world leaders who want to harm America.

"I will meet with those leaders who are our friends and who want to work with us cooperatively," according to one translation. The reporter repeated the question two more times, apparently trying to clarify, but McCain referred again to Latin America.

When the reporter realized that McCain was either intentionally not answering the question or simply didn't feel comfortable with how the question was phased, the reporter asked it again:

Finally, the questioner said, "Okay, but I'm talking about Europe - the president of Spain, would you meet with him?" The Senator offered only a slight variance to his initial comment. "I will reunite with any leader that has the same principles and philosophy that we do: human rights, democracy, and liberty. And I will confront those that don't [have them]."

Was McCain so confused about what leader goes with what country that he had an automatic reaction to Zapatero's name and linked him with Latin America? Does McCain know who Zapatero is?

One would at least assume, and rightly so, that McCain or his team of handlers would have done some research considering they were speaking with a member of the foreign press.

More here at The Huffington Post.

Time has a write-up as well:

You gotta feel for José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Here the Spanish prime minister is only four months from an end to his government's strained relations with that of President George W. Bush and blam! — along comes John McCain to suggest the next four years might not be any better. During an interview in Miami earlier this week with Spanish-language station Union Radio, a reporter asked McCain whether, if elected, he would receive Zapatero in the White House. McCain answered, "Honestly, I have to analyze our relationships, situations, and priorities, but I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to harm the United States."


Ouch. The question about Zapatero, clearly framed by the reporter as a question about Spain, came after inquiries on Venezuela, Bolivia, and Cuba. As a result, much of the Spanish press has decided that the Republican candidate, who hails himself as the experienced foreign policy choice in this election, confused Spain — a NATO member and key ally in the fight against terrorism — with one of those troublesome Latin American states. That was certainly the interviewer's impression, for she followed up with a gentle reminder that Spain was a country in Europe. As Spanish newspaper El País put it, "In the best-case scenario, [his answer] demonstrates his ignorance with respect to Zapatero."

One can see where conservative bloggers will go with this one.

Since there were questions regarding Venezuela and Cuba prior to the one about Cuba, the interviewer must have been wanting to intentionally confuse McCain.

Still, the question was clear and McCain's response was just as stumbling - if not more so - as Palin's response to Gibson's "Bush Doctrine" question.

Is The Bush Administration Advocating "Sex Ed For Kindergartners"?

Yes, They are.

( ht to ChiGuy @ DailyKos for this one )


In a previous blog, I talked about how Michelle Malkin and Byron York had their knickers in a twist over legislation - supported by Barack Obama - that advocated teaching comprehensive, age appropriate, sex education to children in grades K - 12.

Well, it appears that this is not a new concept.

The "sex ed for kindergartners" policy for which McCain has been bashing Obama is in fact a policy currently funded by the Bush administration and is a policy that has been recommended by state boards of education in conservative states such as Tennessee and Wyoming.

If you take a look at the CDCs funding of The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), you'll find this:

Providing HIV-related information and guidance to state boards of
education and other education stakeholders on policies that promote
effective HIV prevention for kindergarten through 12th grade students in
schools across the nation.

This is also not a new practice. It's been going on since 2003 in Tennessee.

A press release, dated February of this year reads in part:

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has
made grants to three state boards of education to promote more
effective instruction to K-12 students about HIV prevention. The
$13,000 grants are being made to the North Carolina, Oregon, and
Tennessee State Boards of Education.

...

The grants are part of NASBE's HIV Prevention Policy and Program
Improvement Initiative, a facet of the Center for Safe and Healthy
Schools, which is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health (CDC-DASH).

Even Wyoming has had this policy in place - for 10 years.

Be sure and read ChiGuys diary for the rest of the info.

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

If there was any remaining question in the minds of voters ( likely or not ) as to whether McCain and his campaign have been honest with the American public, you've got your answer now.

Apparently, Mitt Romney was continuing this lie and did so on morning Joe today:

Wost In The World v3.1 and 3.2

Sean Hannity

Bill O'Reilly

Rupert Murdock




G. Gordon Liddy

Eddie Burke of KBYR Radio

Kevin D. Williamson of NRO

Obama's Address To America

Be sure to check out his plan:

BarackObama.com/plan

Limbaugh Bends Over - Again - For The Republicans

I'll tell you what this Troopergate's all about. I'm going to tell you exactly what it's all about. It's about the good ol' boys of Alaska being upset that a woman had upset the apple cart, got rid of [former Gov. Frank] Murkowski, got rid of the other Republican opponent in the primary. This is all about the good ol' boys of Alaska saying, 'We're not going to sit here and be run by a damn woman. We're going to take care of it. We're going to take this woman -- ' That's all this is."

This is too funny.

Granted, it's a given that Limbaugh is going to pop and oxycotin, bend-over, and tell the Republican party they can have their way with him. He's done it for 20 years and made a great living at it.

But seriously, this "troopergate = sexism" schtick is just even more predictable than that.




Did Limbaugh cry sexism when Hillary Clinton was investigated over the Whitewater incident?

No.

Did Limbaugh rush to Hillary's defense when Dick "Hell Yeah, I Suck Toes" Morris put together his mockumentary about Hillary Clinton?

No.

Does Limbaugh verbally lash-out at his little-love-bug Sean Hannity everytime he says anything about Hillary Clinton?

No.


Limbaugh is a prime example of the conservative-right's blatant hypocrisy. Hypocrisy in that THEY are the ones who play the "gender-card". THEY are the ones who are more apt to fall prey to "racist" tirades. THEY are the ones who will completely invalidate their previously stated position in order to "win"

Rush, and all like him, don't seem to have any real convictions. They just seem to want to be as relevant as American is willing to let them be, even if it means never having the courage of conviction.

Proof That Michelle Malkin And Byron York Can't Understand Written English

Michelle Malkin has a blog up on her page today about the "sex education" ( SB0099 ) and Barack Obama.

Both the Obama campaign and many media commentators claim that McCain’s recent sex-education ad is a sleazy, dishonorable, blatant, clear-cut lie.

Do these critics have a point?

First, read the bill, especially line 14, and judge for yourself.

OK.

Let's take Mrs. Malkin's challenge.

As Malkin's party is the party of "context" lets look at the entire
section, even though the line that Malkin points out we should start with is clear enough:

6 (105 ILCS 5/27-9.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-9.1)
7 Sec. 27-9.1. Sex Education.
8 (a) No pupil shall be required to take or participate in
9 any class or course in comprehensive sex education if the
10 pupil's his parent or guardian submits written objection
11 thereto, and refusal to take or participate in such course or
12 program shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of
13 such pupil. Each class or course in comprehensive sex
14 education offered in any of grades K 6 through 12 shall
15 include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted
16 infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread
17 of HIV AIDS. Nothing in this Section prohibits instruction in
18 sanitation, hygiene or traditional courses in biology.
19 (b) All public elementary, junior high, and senior high
20 school classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual
21 activity or behavior intercourse shall emphasize that
22 abstinence is an effective method of preventing unintended is
23 the expected norm in that abstinence from sexual intercourse
24 is the only protection that is 100% effective against
25 unwanted teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases,
26 and HIV acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) when
27 transmitted sexually.
28 (c) In this subsection (c):
29 "Factual information" includes without limitation
30 medical, psychiatric, psychological, empirical, and
31 statistical statements.

It should be noted that nowhere within the text does it state that ANY sex ed ( comprehensive or otherwise ) HAS to be taught in Kindergarden. The text clearly states that schools that already teach sex-ed will do so in a comprehensive fashion that is "age appropriate.

But, what is "age appropriate" to one won't be to another. Here, we see another instance where Malkin's droogies are more thinking that "the government" is going to tell them what to teach their children.

This is patently ridiculous.

The party that is more than willing to give up many of their individual rights all in the name of "national security" is suddenly affraid that the government - that they helped create - is going to tell them what your children are or aren't going to know.

No one is suggesting that children in Kindergarden be taught about sexually transmitted diseases, reproductions, and safe sex. It is easy to read a bill, filled with beauracratic legalese, and spin it's intended meaning in order to have it fit neatly against your poorly constructed theories.

Byron York, of the NRO, had this to say:

[T]he bill’s intention was to mandate sex education, especially concerning contraception and the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases, for children before the sixth grade and as early as kindergarten. Obama’s defenders may howl, but the bill is what it is.

The bill, had York actually read it without already having the preconcieved notions as to what it said, is designed to education children and not indoctrinate them. It is a comprehensive form of teaching that is intended to provide balance against "abstenence-only" programs.


The bill goes on to state that no child HAS to take part, as their parents have the option to remove them from the program should they disagree with any portion of it.

If you scan through the comments section on Malkin's site, you'll see that this is simply tossed-aside. Their reasoning for this, is that children will "make fun of" the kids that don't take part in sex-ed. This doesn't give the children of today much credit. Sure, there are some bad seeds at school, but kids have come a long way since York and Malkin were young. Perhaps they teach their kids that divisiveness is acceptable. I wouldn't put it past them.


Malkin and York, as educated as they likes to pretend they are, should be able to not only read the written word but comprehend it.

What's More Difficult To Run - A Major Company Or An Entire Country?

Carly Fiorina, how could you say something so sexist?



Naturally, it doesn't take a great deal of intellegence to know that no "one" person runs an entire company. It takes hundreds, thousands even.

The same is true for "running" an entire country.

However, the CEO of a corporation has to have more than just rudimentary knowledge of what your company does.

You're not going to be the president of McDonalds just because you know what the BigMac is and that it's kind of tasty.

Fiorina then went on MSNBC and tried to spin her comments by saying that none of the candidates on the tickets could run a company - not even McCain:

Days Of Palin's Past : A Conservative Blog History Lesson

I love the internet.

It lets you go back and see all the great things that people have posted.

Some days, in between trying to get my work done, keeping my house in order, and trying to get at least 5 hours of sleep, I'll go back through the archives on conservative blogs to see just how much their positions have changed on certain issues and what they think of people now versus the past.

Today, that search is for thoughts on Sarah Palin.

A popular blogger @ Townhall.com called Killroy did a little bit of satire revolving around Sarah Palin's "Bridge To Nowhere" in relation to the deadly bridge collapse in Minnesota last year.

Another blog hosted by Townhall.com is entitled:

The Conservative Case to Vote Democrat for President

This was posted by user Crescen7(Regis Matejcik) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 1:38:20 PM.

In it, the user outlined each reason that he saw fit that ALL conservatives should vote Democrat in the upcoming election. But, low and behold, all changed once Palin was in the picture:

Update - 8/31/08

Based on the continued exposure of Barak Obama as an extreme and potentially dangerous threat to our individual liberties, and economic liberties - this above position must be reconsidered. Additionally in light of Senator McCain's brilliant selection of Sarah Palin as VP, it is obvious that all conservatives, yea, all Americans that cherish liberty and indivdual freedom - must unite to stop the dangerous policies of Barak Obama.

So, now this person is quite alright with McCain's positions? What explicit examples do they offer about Obama rather generalizations that are continually parroted by the conservative-right as "facts"?

Nothing.

Chealse Thompson's blog on Townhall.com entitled Diaries Of A Young Conservative has this to say about Palin:

Let’s be real, though, what does a 44-year old woman who has served little over a year in the non-continental United States have to offer to the McCain ticket other than a pretty face and three electoral votes?

Then, there are other blogs that don't think to highly of McCain such as this one.

There are, however, other blogs that mention Palin prior to her pick ( but not before mentioning Jindal's name first ) in relation to polar bears, ANWR, and her child.

True, her name was mentioned as a possible pick. But up until McCain actually did the unthinkable and chose her, she was just a name - and not a name that everyone was comforatble with

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

In searching other blogs, Palin wasn't even mentioned by the Grande Mistress of neo-conservative drivel - Michelle Malkin - and her wildly sychophantic followers at HotAir until the day of her pick.

Then, it was all wine-and-roses.

Funny, Malkin seemed to be pushing REALLY hard for a Jindal pick. She was following this even lesser-known Governor as if to say that he was the future of the GOP. But, like so many before him, he was quickly marginalized in favor of a pretty face and fresh talking-points.

The bloggers @ HotAir covered Jindal too.

It was interesting to note that many of the aspects that were lauded as positives for Palin were also positives for Jindal. So, why was he left in the dust? I'll give you three guesses.


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



The same predictable fare can be seen on other prominent conservative blogs from Powerline, to Redstate. FreeRepublic had a couple of mentions of Palin as a potential VP choice as far back as February of this year, but that stemmed more from the fact that a TON of GOP possibilities were being named for people that were still in the race at that time - including Thompson.

The earliest mention of Palin at National Review Online was her standing the in the race for what would ultimately be her win as Governor of Alaska in 2006. This was no mean feat, as this is standard coverage for any and all election year publications.

The site Real Clear Politics actually had what might be considered a rather detailed rationale of why Palin would be a great pic.

But, the only site that actually went in-depth and vetted the candidate better than the McCain campain did ( did they even ) was the website PalinForVP.com.

All this attention - or lack therof - leads me to believe that the conservative movement in America, the media that they control, and the pundits, bloggers, and prattle-heads that follow them were far more suprised than the opposition they claim are "afraid". They are having to grasp at any and everything they can in the vein attempt to convince the rest of the country that this purely theatrical pick, this gimmick of a VP candidate, actually has the credibility, the tenacity, the "sand" enough to be the Vice Presdient.

Saturday Night Live : Disrespectful And Sexist

You'll have to excuse Carly Fiorina, she's just trying to get all the Republican-Conservatives to cry foul at a show that has been poking fun at political figures since before I was born.



The interview with Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC goes in-part:

MITCHELL: You are the first person from the McCain campaign I can ask, what did you think of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin?

FIORINA: Well, I think that she looked a bit like her. I think that, of course, the portrait was very dismissive of the substance of Sarah Palin, and so in that sense, they were defining Hillary Clinton as very substantive, and Sarah Palin as totally superficial. I think that continues the line of argument that is disrespectful in the extreme, and yes, I would say, sexist in the sense that just because Sarah Palin has different views than Hillary Clinton does not mean that she lacks substance. She has a lot of substance.

It's called a caricature.


Most people with even a half-functioning brainstem can tell satire from a blatantly sexist remark.

The Huffington Post has video and more.

But, let's get back to Fiorina's handling of what even Sarah Palin allegedly thought was quite humorous.

Here is a woman who is a representative of a party that has done far worse things to Hillary Clinton, and she is screaming "sexism"?!?!

It was obvious at points that the Obama camp came dangerously close to - and on a couple of occassions could have been accused of - stepping over that same line and crying "racism" when it clearly wasn't.

Granted, there have also been times that Obama has rightfully pointed out that he will be targeted because of his heritage, his name, and his personal history. That, in-and-of-itself, is NOT playing the so-called "race-card" but pointing out the obvious within certain segments of the American public.

But, in terms of what Fiorina is doing, this is a classic tactic of the Right: make issue where there isn't one.

Monday Afternoon Music feat Pink Floyd : RIP Richard Wright

The musical world has lost a true visionary.

Richard Wright has lost his battle with cancer, he was 65.

From LIVE @ POMPEII

Echoes










From The Jackson Sun:

LONDON (AP) -- Richard Wright, a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died Monday. He was 65.

Pink Floyd's spokesman Doug Wright, who is not related to the artist, said Wright died after a battle with cancer at his home in Britain. He says the band member's family did not want to give more details about his death.

Wright met Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college and joined their early band, Sigma 6. Along with the late Syd Barrett, the four formed Pink Floyd in 1965.

The group's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced multimedia "happenings" made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene, and their 1967 album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," was a hit.

In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright, along with Barrett, was seen as the group's dominant musical force. The London-born musician and son of a biochemist wrote songs and sang

'Hounddog' Will Make It To Theatres

Anyone remember the righteous indignation that people like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly leveled at filmmakers when this was featured at Sundance?

Anyone recall that not a single one of them had seen the movie?

What about Bill Donohue - The Catholic League - wanting a federal investigation of the film.

The reactions by the conservative/religious right is not limited to films such as this.

The New York Times has the story

Few movies recover from such a hostile reception, especially a low-budget Southern-gothic tale set in 1959 about a 12-year-old motherless girl obsessed with Elvis Presley who seductively sings for a teenager in exchange for tickets to a concert of the King’s. But thanks to a radically different cut of the movie and the coffers of a new independent film company listed on the Nasdaq’s over-the-counter market, “Hounddog” will finally make its way into 22 theaters across the country on Sept. 19.

more here.




While many films are controversial in their own right, the issue of rape is very real. It's interesting to note that those that have decried Hounddog aren't so willing to accept that rape is a real issue that is to be addressed. The films detractors seem more bent on making the filmmakers ( and Hollywood in general ) out to be people that care nothing about the safety of children.

From my personal perspective, I think that it takes a lot of courage for a young woman like Dakota Fanning to be able to help tell this type of story. Granted, some may see this not so much as courage, but her being exploited by the filmmakers and possibly her parents ( Dakota's mother was with her on set when the rape-scene was filmed ) but that does nothing to address the issues contained within the film.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have not seen the film either. But, I am not about to give out glowing praise of pure reactionary drivel like Donohue, O'Reilly, or Hannity. They have their own personal ideologies to consider before admitting that a film such as this could be important on some level.

While small markets will more than likely not show Hounddog, it will surely be a powerful film that is well worth viewing.

The War Wound And Email

A great deal has been said about John McCain's inability to use email and his general "ignorance" to the internet.

While some in the conservative blogging community - see HotAir for starters - are touting John Trapper's blog at ABC.com as the final word on McCain's "difficulties", it's important to note that they are, in essence, still continuing that same line of reasoning that says "he was a POW, you know".

When you click the HotAir link, you'll notice that they state that they AREN'T using his POW status as an excuse, so what are they saying?

The theme that so many in the conservative-right are spreading here - possibly without knowing it - is that it is perfectly alright to use your disabilities as an excuse.

As a society, we teach our children that they should never let their limitations be an obsticle to them. As a society, we are taught that we should never see others with disabilities as less of a person.

So, let me see if I have this right.

It is perfectly alright for John McCain, the Republican candidate for President, to use his difficulty to type at extended length as an excuse for his complete inability to send an email or use a computer at all?

Wow.

That's quite the example to set.

Palin Due To Get That Soothing Fox"News" Treatment

It appears that Sean Hannity has landed the second interview with Republican VP Nominee Sarah Palin.



One has to wonder what went through the minds of Fox executives, producers, and show hosts when it was revealed that no one at their network got the coveted first interview.

Perhaps the McCain campaign - and those that were attempting to re-program Mrs. Palin in order for her to stay on-message with the remainder of the campaign and all the speaking engagements remaining until election day - thought that Charlie Gibson and ABC would give a fairly even-handed chance to her.

Well, it appears that Gibson didn't do what the McCain crew wanted. As evidenced in a previous blog here, there are quite a few diappointed conservative pundits and bloggers.

But, now Sean Hannity's on the case.



Hannity's already voiced his displeasure with the Gibson/ABC interview. Most notably, he seems to have a problem with someone who is claiming hold firm to conservative, Republican views ( foreign policy, social issues, religion, etc ). Sean didn't like the fact that she was asked if she agreed with the "Bush Doctrine"
He called the reporting of Mrs. Palin's obvious ignorance to the "Doctrine" and her skirting of her "God's plan in Iraq" statements "totally misconstrued" and - you guessed it - "out of context"

I'm thinking about writing a book on conservatives and calling it "Out Of Context".

Wonder what Hannity is going to talk to her about?

According to Fox, “an array of topics will be discussed in the interview including being the vice presidential nominee, her role in the McCain campaign, Iraq and foreign policy, amongst others.”

When O'Reilly interviewed Obama, he came off as nothing more than an overbearing, pompus, prick - but Obama held his own.

When travelling into the loving confines of Fox"News" a Republican will find no question too difficult, no setting to obtuse, no situation uncomfortable. Sarah Palin is in for a fantastic ego massage as Hannity is sure to provide as much predictable suplication as her little heart desires.

The only people that will see this as an actual interview are the people that are going to vote Republican no matter who is on the ticket.

But, just to keep this all in perspective, here's some of Charlie Gibson's interview with Palin:





It will be interesting to see Hannity's interview side-by-side with Gibson's.

Worst In The World v 2.9 and 3.0

Bill O'Reilly and ratings

Felix Gillete of the New York Observer

Republican Congressional Candidate From Georgia - Rick Goddard



Stephen ( ? ) from the National Review

Jereome Corsi

Sean Hannity

Of Alternate Titles And Dark Stories Of American Life

Alan Ball is quite possibly one of the greatest writer/directors of his generation.

I can still recall, time after time, working what seemed like endless hours in a local video-store while in college and asking people if they had seen American Beauty.

Believe it or not, one of the most frequent answers I got was, "I've been told not to watch that."

Now, these statements weren't coming from some 15-year-old who was referencing a warning from his/her parents; this was from adults in their early 40s.

Who would tell them to not watch a movie? I'll bet you can guess without me even hinting.

That being said, Ball's latest film - who's title was originally Nothing Is Private and now it's Towelhead - is going to tackle some material that some people might not be ready to accept happens in American society.

Towelhead follows the dark, bold and shockingly funny life of Jasira, a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and her own sexual awakening.

When Jasira's mother sends her to Houston to live with her strict Lebanese father, she quickly learns that her new neighbors find her and her father a curiosity. Worse, her budding womanhood makes her traditional and hot-tempered father uncomfortable. Lonely in this new environment, Jasira seeks friendship and acceptance from her neighbors Mr. Vuoso, an Army reservist, and Melina, a meddling but caring expectant mother.

Thrown into an unfamiliar suburban world, Jasira must confront racism and hypocrisy at home and at school - and at the same time struggle to make sense of her raging hormones and newfound sexuality. Her boyfriend, Thomas, though a few years older, provides some comfort - but even that relationship causes problems when her father discovers that Thomas is black. Surrounded by adults who are just as lost as she is, Jasira yearns for understanding, even amidst often brutal acts.

While the subject-matter of the film mirrors what we have seen from Alan Ball in the past, the title itself carries a bit of uneasy weight itself.

Taking that fact into consideration, Ball is going to film a discussion with the Council On American Islamic Relations:

Towelhead director Alan Ball has agreed to videotape a discussion with members of the Council of American Islamic Relations, who have opposed the title of his new film, and release it as a DVD extra.

Council officials urged Ball and executives at Warner Bros. to rename the film because they felt 'Towelhead' was derogatory and "offensive and exploitative".

But the moviemaker has stood firm, insisting the title - which echoes the crass nickname his heroine is given - will remain, even though he accepts it's "offensive hate language".

Ball hopes to explain his decision to Islamic leaders at an upcoming roundtable meeting, which he has agreed to film for the movie's DVD release.

He says, "We have gone out of our way to allow the Council of American Islamic Relations to post their response on our website and my roundtable discussion with them will be videotaped... I think, ultimately, what's really important is the dialogue."

Don't look for this to play in anywhere other than your larger theatre markets. The DVD is a must-have for anyone looking to gain a glimps into the darker portions of life for some in America.

Here's some video clips:





More here at IMDB.

Conservatives And The Word "Context"

Most conservatives can't stand to have their own words, their own language, thrown back at them. They hate it.

They hate having to face the fact that they may have said something wrong, something stupid, or even something they don't really believe in but said just to look good.

Enter Sarah Palin, again......

Enter part of her cheerleading crew, the folks at Michelle Malkin's website.

According to their own particular brand of logic, Charlie Gibson "blew it".

I will freely and readily admit that I had - and still kind of do have - my reservations reguarding the remainder of the interview, as I have only seen a few select clips - and it's divided into three parts over three different shows for maximum demographic exposure.

Aw, Michelle Malkin, poor little lamb. She's so upset that Charlie could be so mean:

Charlie Gibson had a chance to show that he could be fair, balanced, and P.D.S.-free with Sarah Palin’s first major MSM interview.

Looks like he blew it.

For those operating in this stream of reality, P.D.S. stands for "Palin Derangement Syndrome". It really doesn't mean anything at all. It's just a pseudo-clever title that Malkin has used in relation to George W. Bush and would have used with whomever McCain had chosen for his VP selection.

Sarah Palin is the conservative flavor-of-the-moment, so Malkin is all in and ready to show her hand.

But, the fun continues when she uses the old-stand-by of conservative weapons, the word "context", as it relates to Palin's statements at her old church:

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, “Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.” Are we fighting a holy war?

PALIN: You know, I don’t know if that was my exact quote.

GIBSON: Exact words.

PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln’s words when he said — first, he suggested never presume to know what God’s will is, and I would never presume to know God’s will or to speak God’s words.

But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that’s a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God’s side.

That’s what that comment was all about, Charlie.

GIBSON: I take your point about Lincoln’s words, but you went on and said, “There is a plan and it is God’s plan.”

Then, Michelle goes on:

What she actually said:

Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she exhorted the congregants. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan

Just for a little backgroud, so everyone will know what the word means, here is the dictionary definition of "context":

–noun 1. the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect: You have misinterpreted my remark because you took it out of context.

2. the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc.

It's pretty easy to see that, using the definition of "context", Palin thinks that God's plan was/is sending our military to Iraq.

Here's the video in question: