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Computer spam = WMDs? GROOOOAAAAN!

Badtux does the linky thang to a Wired piece about the civilization-destroying threat posed by...computer malware and spam. Don't look at me. It's the right-wing Hoover Institution sounding the alarm over what their distinguished fellows (suppresses chuckle) call eWMDs. That's short for electronic weapons of mass destruction. In other words, malware programs, viruses, and those annoying FREE MEDS e-mails are somehow as dangerous as nukes and biological weapons. And the US should enlist the National Guard to track down these idiots--er, I mean, terrorist masterminds. Sounds like someone at Hoover got carried away after deleting the junk mail from his e-mail inbox. Another group, calling itself the Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency, has suggest sanctions for countries that harbor cybercriminals. File this one under Ideas that Sound Badass But Are Totally Unworkable. Why do I have a feeling these cybersecurity "experts" aren't very fami

Good Gawd, now I've seen everything

Hey kids! It's the Clean Coal Carolers ! A new energy policy can't come soon enough...

What? No political cronies?

The Wall Street Journal notes that Obama "appears to be moving left with some of his new choices" for cabinet posts. Specifically, he's an energy czar and an EPA head who are actually serious about reducing greenhouse gases. He has also hired a Nobel Prize-winning physicist for Secretary of Energy. In other words, he's hired competent people who are serious about their jobs. I am, needless to say, somewhat optimistic about this new administration. (Via The Great Beyond .)

Speaking of black metal...

This has got to be the most ridiculous idea since grunge fashion. If Abbath Doom Occulta starts appearing at runway shows, you'll know civilization has truly gone to hell in a handbasket. Via The Daily Swarm .

What's the matter with Scandinavia?

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Seriously, that part of the world has produced one of the silliest musical movements in recent memory. No, I'm not talking about Roxette or Ace of Base. The movement in question is black metal , one of those fringe genres consisting of super-serious corpse-painted wannabe-demonic metal acts trying to convince the world how eeeeeeeeeeevil they truly are. To be fair, a handful were involved in church burnings during the 1990s. Black metal even has its own Charles Manson in the person of Varg Vikernes , who's now doing time for murder. All in all, however, black metal tends to outdo even Marilyn Manson in terms of unintentional humor. The dudes in the picture above are Horgh and Abbath Doom Occulta of the band Immortal. You can see how black! metal! they really are, can't you? I guess posing for pictures with your fly open is also really black! metal! Right, Abbath? Both pictures are taken from this list . It's NSFW, but definitely funny. If you're hankerin

And now a music break

Here is Ladyhawke's video for "Paris Is Burning." She gets extra points for the Snoopy shirt.

My thoughts on Free Republic

I checked out the infamous Freeperland right after the election. Man, that is one ugly, poorly designed Web site. Can't they get some nice rich right-winger to give them money to, I dunno, hire a professional Web designer? I mean, it's bad enough that the Freepi are a bunch of whiny paste-eaters. Can't they make that site look good?

Of elephants and clogged arteries

Latest post-election spin is that the South's political influence is waning. Along with that is the spin that the GOP remains entrenched in the Deep South while the rest of the nation floats leftward. Note the NYT graphics for more details. Arkansas, in particular, looks positively crimson in places. Yup, that Southern strategy sure worked, as the ghost of Nixon could attest. However, there is a down side to said strategy . Louisiana has displaced Mississippi as the unhealthiest U.S. state and other Southern states were close rivals due to high obesity and smoking rates in new rankings that deemed Vermont the healthiest.... Many Southern states were clustered near the bottom of the rankings. The region has some of the highest rates of obesity, which contributes to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer, as well as high rates of smoking, which causes cancer, lung disease, heart disease and other problems. One in five Louisianians lacked health insurance, while

We need a new rule here

I call it Noonan's Rule, in honor of Peggy "Palin Pick Is Bullshit" Noonan. The rule is this: If you're anywhere near a microphone, assume it's live. No ifs, ands, or buts. And don't say anything around a microphone that would embarrass you if it were broadcast in Times Square. The latest to violate Noonan's rule is Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, who said that Janet Napolitano would be a great head of Homeland Security because she has "no life" and "no family." Campbell Brown, needless to say, has some words for Governor Rendell. As she and Jack Cafferty noted, Napolitano's predecessors were both married and had kids. Rendell, Brown, and Cafferty all miss one small fact: Napolitano may be unmarried, but she does, in fact, have a family. She has a dad, a grandmother, siblings, nieces, and nephews. There are pictures of them a family album on the governor's Web site. You don't think she might enjoy taking a bre

John Cleese on Palin

Guess WHICH Palin?

Some people never fucking learn, Part Deux

Against my better judgment, I checked out Freeperland in the aftermath of 11/4/08. Gawd, is it just me, or is Freeperland one ugly, poorly designed Web site? Anyhow, one of the Freepi (TM Badtux) reposts some helpful advice from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , a.k.a., The Richard Mellon Scaife Money-Losing Wingnut Daily . Scaife and company are trying to lick their wounds following the election and offer some helpful advice for their fellow Freepi, Scaife stooges, and wingnuts. The top of the list? Thin the RINO Herd . Big question: WHAT RINO herd? Even before Chris Shays lost his re-election bid, you can count on one hand the number of so-called RINOs left on Capitol Hill: Specter from PA, Snowe and Collins from Maine. Never fear, the author has concluded that the GOP is overrun with RINOs and has abandoned Reagan-style conservatism. The GOP has become an unprincipled, undisciplined, ineffective shell of its former self. It has a party structure controlled by lobbyists and spec

This is really puzzling

All this talk about firsts in black history and black leaders, yet no mention of Thurgood Marshall. NAACP lawyer in the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. One of the guys who helped end Jim Crow laws. First black Supreme Court Justice. And the media ignores him. HELLO? What's going on here?

This is way funny

Courtesy of The Root, some advice for whites and blacks following the election.

Some people never fucking learn

For all the blather over San Francisco as a supposed liberal paradise, the place sure does attract some reactionary freaks. I mean, Michael Savage is based in the Bay Area. Michael. Savage. And now this moron compares Obama's election to...get ready for this... O.J. Simpson's murder trial . I am not making this up. Of course, the guy hasn't signed his name, which makes me wonder if The Shock Jock Formerly Known as Michael Weiner hasn't taken to posting anonymously online. Nah, probably not. There really are people stupid enough to write shit like this: Obama is President, good. I can't wait for all the black people to want their free cheese. The truth of the matter is he being part black will not help you. Get off your asses and solidify YOUR LIVES. Millions of black men will not be freed from prison. Ebonics will not be taught in our schools and basketball will not replace Math as a standard of national education. And oh goody, another idiot has followed u

THIS is just too funny

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A humble request for the Precious Princess: Via Accordion Guy .

Another Senate switcheroo

The projected winner in the Oregon Senate race is Jeff Merkley over Gordon Smith . It's a little sad that Smith lost. His cousins Mark and Tom Udall were just elected and the next Congress could've been a big ol' family reunion. Almost, anyway. Except that Smith's a Republican, while the Udalls are Democrats. Thus far, Georgia, Alaska, and Minnesota are still in vote-counting limbo.

From the Department of Jokes that Write Themselves

Elizabeth Dole's concession speech: "I urge you also to join me in praying for God to guide and support Kay Hagan." Gee, Liddy, I thought you said she didn't believe in God. Just think: this lady could've been America's First Lady at some point. Makes you shudder, doesn't it?

"The end of the monster years."

That's what 2008's Economics Nobel laureate calls it. Last night wasn’t just a victory for tolerance; it wasn’t just a mandate for progressive change; it was also, I hope, the end of the monster years. What I mean by that is that for the past 14 years America’s political life has been largely dominated by, well, monsters. Monsters like Tom DeLay, who suggested that the shootings at Columbine happened because schools teach students the theory of evolution. Monsters like Karl Rove, who declared that liberals wanted to offer “therapy and understanding” to terrorists. Monsters like Dick Cheney, who saw 9/11 as an opportunity to start torturing people. And in our national discourse, we pretended that these monsters were reasonable, respectable people. To point out that the monsters were, in fact, monsters, was “shrill.” Four years ago it seemed as if the monsters would dominate American politics for a long time to come. But for now, at least, they’ve been banished to the wilderness.

Something else I'll miss

The snark. Ah well...a handful of GOP cretins got re-elected: Boehner, Mean Jean, the execrable Michele Bachmann. Poor Michelle Malkin is fuming over the GOP; Ann Coulter is promising to go after the Republicans who supported McCain. Let the right-wing circular firing squad get down to business. And pass the popcorn!

Okay, one thing I WILL miss about the election season

Ann Telnaes does the best Palin caricature I've ever seen.

YES!

More from Huffpo. Virgil Goode and Marilyn Musgrave have been voted out. Good riddance.

Barack Obama: President-elect

CNN calls it for Obama. I've waited four years for this day.

A music break

The late, great Curtis Mayfield, with the Impressions, performing "This Is My Country."

More pickups for Obama

New Mexico and Iowa have gone for Obama. If/when he wins California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington, he's got it in the bag. No wonder McCain's headquarters looks like a funeral.

Bye bye Chris Shays

No more GOP New Englanders in the House.

Quote of the night

From a celebrity/pop culture discussion board: Didn't Palin say she prayed over the election? Well I guess God didn't want her in the White House!!

Checked out Faux News...

The guy on the screen looked really glum. Awwwwwwww....

New Mexico for Obama

WHEEEEEEEEEEEE! My favorite discussion boards are hoppin' tonight, as is Facebook. So far, Obama has 200 electoral votes to McCain's 124.

Meanwhile, on Team McCain

On CNN, they're reporting from McCain's Ohio campaign office. It's seriously glum. Meanwhile, outside CNN's office, it's like Christmas has come early. Me, I'm happy to be following the news on TV with Le Sweetie.

The icing on the cake...

...would be if Mean Jean Schmidt, Michele Bachmann, and Marilyn Musgrave got tossed out of office this year.

OBAMA TAKES OHIO!!!

OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO! OBAMA TAKES OHIO!

Mike Murphy on McCain

"There's no prize for second." Someone actually has a clue.

Another Senate pickup

Tom Udall is projected to win the Senate seat in New Mexico, replacing Pete Domenici. That's four Democratic Senate pickups so far. The GOP gave up on New Mexico a while ago, making things much easier for Udall. I have to say, I'm fine with Susan Collins winning in Maine.

Dear Liddy Dole

You just lost a Senate seat formerly held by Jesse Helms. Jesse. HELMS. You might not want to bring that up in future Viagra commercials. You are planning on more quality time with Bob, aren't you? PS: YIKES! What the hell is Tom DeLay doing on MSNBC? Tweety, quit inviting that prick onto your show. He's icky and nobody likes him! EW! EW! EW!

More news

Jay Nixon wins the governorship of Missouri. So that's another Dem governorship. Note to Karl Rove: How does that permanent GOP majority look, dude?

To answer the unasked question

Why, YES I voted. This morning. For Obama. I didn't need to mention that, did I?

A few thoughts

The crowd at Team McCain in Phoenix looks like a gathering of Depressives Anonymous. If Florida goes for Obama (and he is leading thus far in that state) it would be perfect payback for 2000. To Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris: Suck on it, assholes. Liddy Dole probably sank her campaign with her sleazy little ad against Kay Hagan. Note for future politicians: Don't run attack ads painting Sunday school teachers as God-hatin' atheists. It could backfire. Enjoy your retirement, Liddy.

Election night liveblog

The suspense is killing me. Thus far, Obama leads in electoral votes. He's projected to win New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. In a word, OW for McCain. On CNN, they are reporting from Chicago and Phoenix, AZ. The gathered Democrats are all happy and enthusiastic and they are waving flags left and right. The Republicans in Phoenix are pretty somber. They have a boys' choir performing. Can't they get Charlie Daniels, at the very least. Le Sweetie is very happy that McCain lost Pennsylvania. "He busted his ass there and he got his butt kicked!" Hagan won North Carolina, which means soon-to-be former Senator Liddy Dole will have time to appear in Viagra commercials with Bob. John Sununu lost in New Hampshire; Jean Shaheen is the new senator. Mark Warner won in Virginia. That's 3 Senate seats for Democrats.

Can you say "nail in the coffin"?

McCain probably wishes he'd suspended his godforsaken campaign for good last month. Barry Goldwater's granddaughter has endorsed Obama. She speaks for her siblings and some cousins as well. Ow. OW! Even McCain campaign chairs are saying he's toast. William Weld, ex-governor of Massachusetts, backs Obama. (Yes, I know what the Freepers will say: "Weld's a RINO, anyway. Who needs him?") Another, erm, RINO for Obama is...drum roll please... Julie Nixon Eisenhower . Julie. NIXON. EISENHOWER. Former Republican Senators Charles Mathias and Larry Pressler also back Obama. So does former Minnesota governor Arne Carlson . Wow. A lot of old-school, long-time Republicans there. It sounds like a lot of them are really, really unhappy with their party. For many of them, this could be their first ever vote for a Democrat. Before the Freepers laugh them off, let's let Larry Pressler have the last word: "We have to be a moderate party. We can't be f

Sadly, this isn't surprising

More details emerge on the horrible murders of Jennifer Hudson's mom, brother, and nephew. From (groan) TMZ : We've obtained arrest reports and other docs in connection with a sting operation in Chicago. On March 4, 2002, Chicago cops targeted Jason Hudson, Jennifer's murdered brother, and Gregory King, the father of Julian, the murdered 7-year-old boy. Both men allegedly sold crack cocaine to a registered informant. Cops then raided the very home where Jason was murdered last week. According to documents, Jason, Gregory and Julia (Jennifer's sister) were all arrested. Julia was never charged with a crime. Jason was charged with cocaine trafficking, but the main count was dismissed in 2004 because the judge ruled police conducted an illegal search. During that hearing, Jennifer's mom had to choose whether to go to Hollywood to watch her daughter on "American Idol" or be in court...she chose the latter. Gregory was convicted. Jason agreed to enroll in a dr

I wish I could vote for THIS Palin...

From a campaign Web site that Mr. Palin probably doesn't even know about. And to top it all off, Mr. Palin, having hosted a travel show, knows foreign affairs like the back of his hand. While he can't see Russia from his house, maybe he can see Continental Europe.

Uh-oh!

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In the midst of the electoral tomfoolery, I've had trouble keeping up, which is one reason I've been light on the posting. The other reason is that I have had a freelance project and done some volunteering for Team Obama, which has cut into my free time. But no longer. Someone needs to alert the wingnutosphere! Terrorist fist gestures have found their way into America's pastime ! Someone call Faux News! Michelle Bachmann! John McCain's campaign! Someone! Anyone! Even all-American white dudes are doing it now...

One Jewish mother for Obama

I found this video made by Janette Hillis-Jaffe, an Orthodox Jewish mother of two, explaining while she'll be voting for Obama. More on Hillis-Jaffe here .

Levi Stubbs: 1936-2008

Just learned that Mr. Stubbs, the Four Tops' lead singer, died at the age of 72. I was stunned to learn he was, well, that old. First Isaac Hayes and now Levi. As a lover of all things old-school soul, I'm seriously saddened. In honor of Mr. Stubbs, here are a couple of clips of the Tops at their commercial height. RIP Levi. You've earned it.

Another music break

Blondie rules. Enough said.

More crybaby conservatives!

Via Newshoggers we find Jules Crittenden in meltdown mode over Paul Krugman's Nobel Prize. I wouldn’t want to suggest Krugman excuses terrorism or hates America. It is likely, however, that his extensive Bush-bashing, Saddam-dismissing, GWOT-mocking absurdism was a heavy thumb on the Nobel scale. Curious that an economist whose work on patterns and locations is Nobel-worthy couldn’t do the math to figure out that a sociopathic mass-murdering megalomaniac with a pattern of supporting terrorism, seeking WMD and invading neighbors, located on some of the most strategically important real estate on Earth, with whom much of Europe was eager to trade again, is someone who could no longer be tolerated.... Memo to Bushitler regime: Is there a reason Krugman is not yet locked up in the hated Crusader gulag of al-Guantanomiyah with the traitors Moore and Cronkite? Say, isn't Jules Crittenden the same whiner who published John Cole's home address when Cole became a Democrat? Why y

Say WHA? Or: More right-wing dishonesty

Okay, it's really interesting that Buckley's kid is voting for Obama . Here's the stand-out quote from Buckley fils: Dear Pup once said to me sighfully after a right-winger who fancied himself a WFB protégé had said something transcendently and provocatively cretinous, “You know, I’ve spent my entire life time separating the Right from the kooks.” Well, the dear man did his best. First of all: Pup? Chris Buckley calls his dad PUP? Second of all: WHEN did William F. Buckley lift a finger to weed out the nutcases in his movement? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Ann Coulter write for his little magazine at one point? Oh sure, she was finally shit-canned for suggesting that the US should--what was that again?--"invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity." But Buckley et al. probably knew how unhinged Trash Can Ann really was when they hired her. Even after the National Review sacked Annie, it continued to employ lik

Life's little "AWWWWWW!" moments

Via Andrew Sullivan , a really sweet vid of an Iraq war veteran returning home to be greeted by his pooches. Just watch it and tell me you don't get a little sniffly.

Just an idle question

Should I bother to watch the final presidential debate or will it just not be worth the bother? I mean, I kinda know what to expect at this point.

First Al Gore and now Mr. "Conscience of a Liberal"

Here's a concept even scarier to the wingers than "President Barack Hussein Obama": Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman. Yes, he now received the same economics previously won by Milton Friedman. Somewhere, Rupert Murdoch is crying in his beer--or, in his case, expensive cognac. At some point, reality overload will set in amongst the movement conservatives. I'm not sure I want to be in the room when it happens.

A thought for Senator McCain

If you want to sound inspiring, try talking about hockey moms and Joe Sixpack. Oh, wait...never mind.

Senator McCain, give it up

"Obama will cut taxes and small businesses will have to fire people OMG OMG OMG!!!1!1!" Of course, Brokaw doesn't let Obama respond. So Obama has to wait for another question and then tie it into the tax claim.

From the Department of Memes that Don't Work

"Obama hasn't taken on the leaders of his party on a single issue." Uh...Senator McCain? Obama's party wasn't in the White House. They weren't the ones who ran the country into the ground. That was YOUR party. YOU only made a handful of token gestures in opposition to the Stupid-in-Chief. And quit whining about earmarks. Don't tell me Arizona hasn't gotten earmarks.

All things considered...

I'm not comfortable with the caricature of McCain as a mean grump. I think McCain is afflicted with the Bob Dole syndrome. Dole let himself be cast as a cranky old man. After he lost, he showed that he actually had a sense of humor! Dude appeared on Cartoon Network talking about Bugs Bunny. He did a Pepsi commercial with Britney Spears. For an old fogey failed presidential candidate, Dole is actually kind of a funny guy. I wonder why he didn't follow Fred Thompson into acting. I'm hoping McCain loses so that maybe he can take up a second post-Senate career as a standup comedian. Or maybe a nightclub act with Cindy. Admit it--you've always wanted to see Cindy McCain in a sequined dress, standing next to John McCain as he sings "Big Spender."

Oh, HELL no

McCain reminds everyone of how he suspended his campaign in a display of political grandstanding serious effort to aid with the bailout. Uh, Senator? That was basically a PR disaster for you. Someone bring up Phil Gramm. Please. McCain is trying his whole faux maverick schtick. Sure, it's about as authentic as Naugahyde. He's calling Fannie and Freddie "the match that started this forest fire." Which automatically reminds me of a lame Billy Joel song. "I've got to correct a little of McCain's history, not surprisingly." MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Once again, it's up to the grown ups (Obama and Biden) to let everyone know that just because Little Johnny and Little Precious Princess Palin pretend they're mavericks, this doesn't mean that they really are mavericks. Some people should stick to playing house, ya know what I'm saying?

Yes, I'm watching another debate

Thus far, it can be boiled down to: Obama: "People in America are struggling and really need help." McCain: "People need help and I'll really try to sound inspiring. Can't you tell how inspiring I am?"

I love this election season

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Let me repeat myself. I love love love LOVE this election season. This is the year that 2004's usual gang of idiots are watching their slimy tactics come back to bite them on the ass. Case in point: Jerome Corsi, who was booted out of Kenya for lacking a work permit. Dear oh dear.

Dear Governor Palin:

Fidel and Raul Castro are not "dangerous dictators." Yes, they're dictators, but they haven't been dangerous for...well...several years. They're dinosaurs. Please bone up on your foreign affairs.

Shorter VP Debate

Palin: "I'm gonna look right at the cameras and try to be telegenic as I say things that people told me to say." Biden: "Excuse me. She just said a lot of stuff that's bullshit, and I can explain very clearly why it's bullshit." PS: Oh great. Did she just say "white flag of surrender"? Someone who prepped her hasn't gotten the memo that this cliche is discredited. PPS: She's saying "nukuler" and not "nuclear."

Wait till they come to foreign affairs

It'll go like this: Joe Biden: Knowledgeable discussion of Iraq, Russia, Iran, and other countries. Precious Princess: "I'm right next to Russia!"

And another note

Palin has rehearsed very nicely, but she sounds really vapid. Joe Sixpack. Hockey moms. Is there a string in her back you can pull to make her spout this stuff? Biden maybe needs to sound more populist. Or even state more of his own views. But he's pointing out where McCain has gotten the economy wrong. Whoops! Biden relates a conversation with a guy whom he met at a gas station. Palin keeps saying "darn." Her eyes are weirdly vacant. Why does Biden keep lowering his gaze. Of course, Biden calls her on the lie that Obama voted to raise taxes. From Daily Kos: "TALK TO THE EFFIN' CAMERA, BIDEN!" Uh oh! Ifill points out that taxing health benefits is a bad idea! Bad liberal media mean lady Ifill! Baaaaaaaaaaad Ifill! Biden talks about fairness and points out that most Americans will not see a tax increase. He's really got the patience of a saint to debate this twit. She's channeling St. Ronnie Reagan. Except probably not.

A note about the VP debate

Can Palin be any more cliched? I mean, really, she repeated that "mavericks" line again. The Precious Princess is not sounding convincing.

Racist Mouthbreathers for Obama!

Well, this is very interesting news. Even a raving bigot has decided to vote for Obama. Specifically, he referred to Obama using the word that rhymes with "bigger." (Via Badtux .)

Poor Precious Princess

The liberal media is so, so mean to her.

Attn: Senator Claire McCaskill

You're on Olbermann, saying you think Palin will do well in the debate and is a good speaker. Senator, there's a damn "D" after your name. Will you and everyone else in your party stop flattering vapid wingers? I know you've mostly stopped doing this, but really...STOP IT!!!!

And now for a music break

The lady's name is Toyah Wilcox and she was a punk star in the UK during the early 1980s. Nobody in the US knows who she is, except for a handful of King Crimson fans, who know she's married to Robert Fripp. This clip is from "Urgh! A Music War" and it's a really striking song. Early 1980s synthy dance rock at its best.

Meanwhile, over in Michigan...

Team McCain seems to be throwing in the towel and sending campaigners to states like...Maine. Reliably Dem-leaning, true-blue Maine. What else can they do to bungle this campaign? How about having Sarah Palin do another in-depth interview? With Keith Olbermann?

More pre-emptive right-wing whining

Gwen Ifill has written a book called The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama . The book hasn't been published yet. In fact, the book won't hit the shelves until January. However, since she has written a book with "Obama" in the title, the wingnutosphere is convinced that she won't be a fair moderator for tonight's VP debate. I know the righties are unusually protective of the Precious Princess. But throwing a snit fit over a book none of these yahoos have read yet? This is really, really reaching. WorldNutDaily has decided it's a pro-Obama book, because...uh...because why, really? Actually, it's likely that "Obama" is included in the book's title because, well, he's the best-known African-American in politics today. Nobody knows if this book will really the puff portrayal that Joe Scarborough, Michelle Malkin, et al. are pretending it is. Actually, here is the description on Amazon . Ifill argues that the Bla

It had to happen

A wingnut compares young Obama supporters to Hitler Youth. Can we reinstate Godwin's law? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzeee?

An idle theory of mine

Rumor has it that McLame really wanted Joe Lieberman for his VP pick but was prodded into picking the Precious Princess. Lieberman was subsequently put in charge of giving her a crash course in foreign affairs. This seems to have consisted mainly of Lieberman unrolling a map of the world and telling her, "Now, Alaska is here , and Russia is here ! You and Putin are practically next door neighbors! Isn't that great!" But I wonder if Lieberman is, like Yosemite Mitt and Pawlenty, secretly mad at McCain for passing him over. It would explain some of the Precious Princess' gaffes. Joe Lieberman has purposely done a crappy job of prepping her for the national stage to revenge himself on McLame. Thus, instead of being able to explain the Bush doctrine, the Precious Princess gives Charles Gibson a deer-in-headlights look. My boyfriend says I'm giving Lieberman too much credit, and I probably am. But it's still a fun theory, yes?

Speaking of the Precious Princess...

A few misguided feminists like Rebecca Walker are trying to wrap their brains around the concept of a conservative Republican female VP candidate by...claiming she somehow is a feminist with a different concept of feminism. (Click the linky and you'll find the Walker babbling about "feminist think tanks." What feminist think tanks?) To anyone who babbles about Palin's supposed feminism, here is a nasty fact: When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, rape victims had to pay for their rape kits. Yes, that's right, the victim herself had to foot the cost of providing evidence to arrest and prosecute her rapist. The logic was that the victim could charge her insurance company the cost of the rape kit. Of course, if she didn't have health insurance, she had to pay for the rape kit out of her own pocket. And what if she's poor and has no insurance and can't pay for the rape kit? Well, gee, just because some of Palin's government policies were harmfu

The crybaby conservatism continues!

Bet you didn't know the Precious Princess' parents have taken up a post-retirement career as rat killers . Gee, her family sounds like a tough-as-nails bunch. But even Momsy and Popsy are protesting the media's supposedly shabby treatment of their little princess. Methinks they doth protest too much. For one thing, CBS still hasn't aired one potentially damning segment. Basically the Precious Princess only knows about one Supreme Court case: Roe vs. Wade. Did she study American history? If so, did she pay attention in class or just cheat off the other students during exams?

'Tis the season of crybaby conservatism

Republicans in Washington have been unusually lachrymose during the past month. And I don't think it's just the public self-immolation of Sarah Palin. Or even the inevitable election losses in November. No, it's mean, awful Nancy Pelosi who said some horrible things that hurt their feelings. In fact, some House Republicans were so hurt that they voted against the bailout. Oh, boo fucking hoo. If Democrats could suffer through twelve years of GOP fucktards like Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, Tom DeLay, and Dennis Hastert treating them like subhumans worth only of ridicule, then Republicans should be thick-skinned enough to withstand a few "hurtful" comments by one of those wimpy San Francisco liberals they hate so much. From TAPPED : Clearly, Boehner couldn't deliver the votes and he's trying to blame someone else for being ineffectual. But his excuse doesn't make the House GOP look better, it makes them look worse. Boehner is saying that his Party is

McCain probably wishes he'd stayed home

Obama tells McCain what everyone already knows, and McCain is probably thinking, "I wonder if it's too late to go back to Arizona and sit out the rest of this godforsaken campaign."

I'm sorry I missed the debate--NOT

Spent the night at a show with Le Sweetie. Meat Puppets, followed by Dinosaur, Jr., followed by Built to Spill. Verdict? Show was awesome. Didn't miss the debates. But man, J. Mascis has gone graaaaaaaaaay. He's well on his way to being one of those aging hipsters who haven't changed their appearance since they were 16 or so. He's got long, long gray hair and all he needs is a tie-dye shirt now. I have to catch on footage of all the debate jabs, punditry, and Palinesque interview gaffes I've missed. Especially Palin's gaffes. Like this one from her chat with Couric. She's explaining why she didn't get a passport until last year or so: I’m not one of those who maybe came from a background of, you know, kids who perhaps graduate college and their parents give them a passport and give them a backpack and say go off and travel the world. No, I’ve worked all my life. In fact, I usually had two jobs all my life until I had kids. I was not a part of, I g

Why McCain should do Friday's debate

He needs to remind the American people that he was a POW.

George W. Bush: Now 100% underwhelming

I didn't even bother to watch or liveblog his dumb bailout speech. He has become utterly predictable with his incompetence. Four more months of this crap and then it'll be all over. Yay.

McCain spends 5K on a makeup artist

Once again, wingnuts' ridicule has come back to bite them on the ass. Is this money coming from campaign funds? Or is Cindy loaning him the money? So, John McCain has reportedly paid more than $5,500 to Tifanie White, the makeup artist who works on "American Idol," for similar cosmetic services. It is yet another incident of a politician -- regardless of ideological stripe -- coughing up a lot of money for the sake of good looks. Earlier this cycle, one may recall, former Sen. John Edwards was subjected to days of ridicule over the fact that he had made two separate payments of $400 for two haircuts. Leading the charge was the media -- keen on pointing out that a self-professed man of the people was spending the equivalent of a months rent, in some places, on personal grooming. Maybe he wants to upstage the Precious Princess.

A modest theory on women and politics

Perhaps one reason we still don't have a woman president is that in America, women politicians are not thought of simply as politicians . Before a woman--any woman--can clear that particular hurdle, she is subject to endless examination of her family, her fashion sense, her personal habits, and her general life choices. Team McCain, in their efforts to protect the Precious Princess, conveniently ignores this fact. They would like the public to accept the Precious Princess as a rootin'-tootin', moose shootin' ball-buster, while whining about the media meanies who just totally have it in for her. ( Cambell Brown , meanwhile, has called them on their general dishonesty. Somehow, I don't remember the Clinton White House insisting on similar kid-glove treatment of La Hill.) Meanwhile, Tzipi Livni has could become Israel's first female prime minister since Golda Meir. And weirdly enough, the Israeli press isn't the least bit interested in Livni's non-

This is just SO surprising

Clay Aiken reveals he's gay. Who didn't see this coming?

Crybaby conservative alert!

Precious Princess Palin: "Waaaaaaaaaah! Mean Democrats are bein' mean! WAAAAAAAAH!"

So much for the party of personal responsibility

Tweety takes on a GOP congresscritter. The congresscritter squirms, big time.

Somewhere, Rove is crying in his beer

A CNN poll finds that the GOP is taking most of the blame for this recent Wall Street meltdown. In the new survey, released Monday afternoon, 47 percent of registered voters questioned say Republicans are more responsible for the problems currently facing financial institutions and the stock market, with 24 percent saying Democrats are more responsible. One in five of those polled blame both parties equally, and 8 percent say neither party is to blame. The poll also indicates that more Americans think Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, would do a better job handling an economic crisis than McCain, the Republican presidential nominee. Forty-nine percent of those questioned say Obama would display good judgment in an economic crisis, 6 points higher than the number who said the same about McCain. And Obama has a 10 point lead over McCain on the question of who would better handle the economy overall. P.S. The first presidential debate is this Friday. Supposedly, John McCain is

Enough of the culture wars already

McCain was really hoping to culture-war his way into the White House with his pick of Precious Princess Palin (a.k.a. She Who Must Not Be Exposed to the Mean Media). What could be a better strategy than picking a wingnut to make the base all quivery with excitement? Why, picking a female wingnut, of course! It really was comical, how blatant Team McCain was in their strategy: screw issues. We're going to talk about personalities and hockey moms and lipstick. Because...well, the culture war worked before, so why not now? What a difference a week and half can make. Precious Princess Palin's interview with Charles Gibson was a bust, and assorted controversies keep emerging from Alaska. For such a popular, charismatic GOP rising star, she sure has a lot of enemies. The Precious Princess's pick was not about merit, of course (see this list of more qualified GOP women). It was about rallying the 28 percenters. And also about giving wingnuts a chance to pretend that they

More recommended readings

Al Giordano counts all the times Obama was declared toast by the blogosphere . Like, way back in 2007. Meanwhile, it seems to me that with Lipstick-on-a-Pig-Gate, McSame is doing his best impression of the Fonz in a leather jacket and swim trunks.

Recommended reading:

From Charles Kozierok: Top 10 Reasons to Chill: Obama Will Be Fine . Yeah, I'm pretty jittery about the great GOP "bounce." Some quotes from nice strangers: Obama's bounce got him to 310 projected EVs/almost 70% win percentage. McCain's bounce got him even. The best McCain can do is get even, so Obama is in good shape. Yeah, McCain is starting to remind me of Kerry in 2004. How many people are really that enthusiastic about the guy without Palin? And a lot of dirt is coming out about Palin. More: No jitters. The Obama campaign is supposedly coming out swinging for the fences tomorrow. Our guy is smart. McCainPalin: tic tac toe :: Obama/Biden: Chess. Count me in Team Cautiously Optimistic.

Remember Ron Paul?

He's still on the ballot. In Montana. On the Constitution Party ballot. Nate Silver has more.

John McCain Gets Barack Roll'd

My prediction

Tonight, John McCain will remind everyone that he was once a POW.

Another reason why vetting is good

Otherwise, you could end up with a VP candidate who helps bring in money for your Democratic rival . Obama's coffers have been filling since Sarah Palin attacked him repeatedly in St. Paul last night. An Obama aide confirms Drudge's report that Obama has raised about $8 million from more than 130,000 donors and is on pace to raise $10 million by the time McCain reaches the stage tonight. Note to John McCain: why didn't you just hire Ann frackin' Coulter as your running mate if you wanted to energize the liberal base?

Another talking point the GOP can't use anymore

When McCain picked Sarah Palin, he lost the right to use the "lack of experience" talking point. Now, with the 30 percenters in breathless rapture over a speech written for Palin by George W. Bush's team, they've automatically forfeited the right to sneer at liberals who like Obama's speeches. "All he does is give a bunch of speeches, stoopid libs!" All Sarah Palin's done so far is give a speech, wingnuts. You act as if she's the GOP's Next Big Thing. Even Peggy Noonan doesn't agree with you on that.

A new theory of mine

There's a special GOP 1.0 software package that automatically generates these boring speeches. Just type in a few keywords and phrases--"Islamic terror," "liberal," "political correctness," "Obama," "higher taxes," "extreme left," "Democrat party"--and POOF! Instant GOP convention speech!

Mitt, give it up, willya?

Yosemite Mitt's giving a laundry list of right-wing cliches to a somewhat uninspired crowd. Of course, he jokes about Al Gore's private jet in a speech on energy. Hey Yosemite. How much gas does your private jet cost?

The train wreck's a-comin'

HuffPo has excerpts from Sarah Palin's speech. On the bright side, it'll probably be better than Fred Thompson's. Then again, Governor Palin's special-needs kid could probably deliver a better speech than Fred did. Uh, Governor Palin? I wouldn't go here if I were you: And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities." Because community organizers spend their work time flirting with co-workers and surfing the Web, right? Whoever wrote this is clearly not Palin's friend.

Garrison Keillor on McCain

Hee! And it's an amazing country where an Arizona multimillionaire can attack a Chicago South Sider as an elitist and hope to make it stick. The Chicagoan was brought up by a single mom who had big ambitions for him, and he got scholarshipped into Harvard Law and was made president of the law review, all of it on his own hook, whereas the Arizonan is the son of an admiral and was ushered into Annapolis though an indifferent student, much like the Current Occupant, both of them men who are very lucky that their fathers were born before they were. The Chicagoan, who grew up without a father, wrote a book on his own, using a computer. The Arizonan hired people to write his for him. But because the Chicagoan can say what he thinks and make sense and the Arizonan cannot do that for more than 30 seconds at a time, the old guy is hoping to portray the skinny guy as arrogant. Good luck with that, sir.

This is more interesting than the convention

TNT is airing a lot of "Law and Order" reruns starring Uncle Fred. Is this intentional?

GOP stooges on the election: "It's over"

Karl Rove lookalike Mike Murphy and longtime GOP kiss-ass commentator Peggy Noonan on Governor Sarah Palin and the election--when they don't realize the mike is still on. Ben Smith points to Noonan's WSJ column in which she really, really tries to put a positive spin on the debacle. After 2008, Noonan and Murphy will probably quit with the cheerleading and try to reposition themselves as mavericks who've been "liberated" from careers as professional GOP stooges. Kinda like Rush Limbaugh after he helped the Democrats gain control of Congress. PS: This is all over the internet now. The Two Stooges are going to have a hard time living it down.

Oh my

Changed the channel after rolling my eyes at Uncle Fred's speech to watch a L&O rerun. And whose mug is on the screen in said rerun? Uncle Fred's. I bet they're airing the episode to coincide with his gripping RNC speech. I like L&O: SVU better anyway.

The mother of all crybaby conservative alerts!

John McCain is mad at CNN. So mad that he canceled an appearance on Larry King.

Oh, yay. It's Fred Thompson

He's sounding like one of those bloviating relatives whom people tolerate at the holidays and otherwise try to avoid. And of course, he reminds everyone that McCain was a crappy student at the naval academy and couldn't stay out of trouble. They canceled Rudy for this? PS: Fred, we know McCain was a POW. You don't need to repeat it.

GROOOOOAAAAAN

Dear President Bush: Quit with the "angry left" boogeyman. These days, the "angry left" consists of most Americans. Man, I can't wait until he talks about the "Democrat" party.

An observation regarding the president

George W. Bush is without a doubt one of the most wooden speakers this side of Pinnochio.

My theories regarding this convention

1. The real reason so many GOP politicians aren't attending is because they don't want to be bored to tears. 2. All this info about Sarah Palin is being leaked by lackeys of Tim Pawlenty and Yosemite Mitt, in revenge for not getting the nomination. 3. Dubya is giving his speech via satellite because he's afraid to be in the same convention center as his parents. He knows Poppy Bush is seriously mad at him.

Oh, barf

Laura Bush sounds really sincere when talking about all the wimmin in Dubya's cabinet. Except not. She's now calling her husband "a man of character." Note she didn't say good character. Her intro is a case of the joke writing itself.

Shallow observation of the night

Ever since the DNC convention last week, Tweety's hair has looked plain awful. Has that man misplaced his comb? Or is he using Pat Buchanan's spittle as a substitute for hair gel?

Tim Pawlenty tries to avoid swearing loudly

Tweety was interviewing Pawlenty, and I gotta say that Pawlenty did a great job of hiding how pissed off he was at being passed over for the female version of an empty suit. Somewhere, however, Yosemite Mitt is probably screaming, "JOHN MCCAIN CAN GO TO H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS!!!!"

Quote of the night

From someone on MSNBC: "If Jeb Bush had been Jeb Smith, there would've been no Sarah Palin." Did someone just admit that the Bush family name is now political poison?

Crybaby conservative alert!

"Waaaaaah! Liberal meanies are picking on Sarah Palin! They're mean! An' they suck! Waaaaaah!" P.S. In my opinion, Palin's hypocrisy is the real issue here. While she went hog-wild with the GOP family values/anti-abortion/religious fundamentalist hooey, her underage daughter was having sex with a self-proclaimed redneck kid who liked to use the word "fuckin'." At the risk of sounding like a liberal meanie, I think it would be really funny if one of her kids came out as gay 10 years from now. In the meantime, a lot of homeless teenage moms in Alaska are going to have a hard time finding a place to live because Palin cut the funding that could've helped them . Admit it. You're really shocked by this.

A break from the schadenfreude

UK rawkers Slade, performing "Coz I Love You." Note to the US radio programmers who refused to play this band: You suck.

Why vetting candidates is a good idea

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For one thing, you're generally spared embarrassments like this: (Via Atrios .)

A brave soul at the GOP convention

I'm talking about Steve Bell of the Guardian . That sketch of Tweedledee and Tweedledum--I mean, Laura Bush and Cindy McCain--is just too chilling for words. These are two subjects even Gallery of the Absurd would be frightened to touch.

Aw, poor Rudy

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The GOP has dropped Rudy Giuliani as a convention speaker , replacing him with the more engaging...uh, I mean, more energizing...no, scratch that...more...oh, let's just say that Rudy's been replaced with other people. Ladies and gentlemen, instead of Rudy, they'll have Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman. "Please, George, not at the convention. We don't want to frighten away what's left of our fundie base, do we?" It could've been worse, of course. Rudy could be in the VP slot for this disaster of a campaign, facing Joe Biden in veep debates. This, of course, would remind everyone once again of Biden's remark: "There's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, and a verb and 9/11."

Pop-pop-pop goes the popcorn

Forget the great Sarah Palin implosion. This? Is the most bestest, wonderfulest, most special part of the GOP convention so far. And I do mean special . As in, you'd have to be truly "special" to want to show your face at a fundraiser for Tom "I Retreated, Then Surrendered" DeLay. WTF was Smash Mouth doing there, anyhow? "He's the man, he's the man," said one guest leaving the party. "I've always liked him, he's a good solid conservative," said one delegate standing in line for entrance to the party, Corey Stewart, chairman of the Board of Supervisors in Prince William County, Virginia. If "conservative" is a synonym for "corrupt, oily douchebag," then Corey Stewart may be right. Other attendees--well, they tried to avoid making stupid remarks, doing other things to make themselves look stupid instead: Asked his reaction to DeLay's appearance in Minneapolis, Cong. John Mica (R-FL) declined to answe

Aaaaand I'm outta here

Off to Rhode Island for Labor Day Weekend. It's gonna be great! Wheeeeeee!

A weird thing has happened

I've actually found it easier to listen to Joe Biden in recent months. I want McCain to pick Rudy Giuliani as his running mate so Biden can do the ol' "noun-verb-9/11" thang. That would be a fun debate.

Yes, this is an unpopular opinion...

...but Bill Clinton's speech is going to be anticlimatic, no? Update: I take it back. His speech was actually quite good.

Someone please...

...give James Carville the hook. Please.

La Hill hits it out of the ballpark

Quote of the night: It makes a lot of sense that next week John McCain and George Bush will be together in the Twin Cities, because these days they're awfully hard to tell apart.

Best quote so far

From Bob Casey: "Four more years? How about four more months?" The convention crowd like it. DNC, you have your new campaign slogan.

Another observation on MSNBC's coverage

Chris Matthews really needs to comb his hair.

Note to Ted Stevens and Susan Collins

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See what you're missing by skipping the convention? From the Twin Cities: Via Crooks and Liars .

Pat Buchanan: Tool

After listening to Buchanan's bellowing, I'm convinced that he's the Bill Kristol of MSNBC. And Bill Kristol is the Alan Colmes of The New York Times . So, with that logic, Buchanan is the Alan Colmes of MSNBC. Meanwhile, Eugene Robinson and Rachel Maddow are laughing their asses off.

A plea for the DNC convention

After Hillary's convention speech, will the PUMAs go the fuck away? Please?

Admit it. This is just shocking.

While I'm waiting for La Hill's convention speech, here's a break from it all for something of true importance: proof , as if you ever needed it, that Britney Spears can't sing.

Jim Leach, ex-GOP congresscritter, speaks!

He's endorsing Obama. Good for him, but he kinda sounds like Marvin the Martian.

More liveblogging

Enter Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, to the song "Sweet Caroline." Please let her be more inspiring than Nancy Pelosi. She's here to pay tribute to Obama and her Uncle Ted. It's weird that she isn't running for political office. She's calm. Reassuring, when she says, "We are all in this together." Really, the world could use more talk like this. And she draws parallels between her dad and Obama. And she speaks of Ted Kennedy's achievements. Caroline is the Kennedy I like best. Going off-topic, I really like this ad . Caroline goes back to the subject of Obama and says he'll have "no stronger partner" than her Uncle Ted. Okay, the tribute to Uncle Ted with the seaside footage it getting a bit maudlin for me.

Look on the bright side, Senator McCain

You've got at least one Latino voter. ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: While making an appearance on Monday at the high school alma mater of his wife Cindy, John McCain received the endorsement of Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee. Daddy Yankee, whose real name is Ramon Ayala, is a Latin Grammy winner. He is known mostly for his song "Gasolina," which, according to several translations of the Spanish lyrics and interpretations of the Spanish slang, is not particularly family-friendly, and has absolutely nothing to do with energy independence.... "I'm here endorsing Senator McCain because I believe in his ideals and his proposals to lead this nation, you know?" Daddy Yankee said at Phoenix's Central High School. Via Atrios , the words to Daddy Yankee's big, big hit.

Oh, good grief

Still liveblogging convention coverage. Hillary Clinton this. Hillary Clinton that. Enough already. Every single Democrat is reminding the nice network anchors that Obama would be a much, MUCH better president for women than McCain. Kathleen Sebelius is reminding Brokaw that Obama's family comes from Kansas. Boy, is that an upbeat convention crowd. They look happy and upbeat.

Thoughts on MSNBC's coverage

What is Pat Buchanan doing there, anyway? Why don't they send him to a P-Funk concert while they're at it? He'd be just as out of place. Eugene Robinson, meanwhile, also talks sense. Michelle Obama's convention speech can't come soon enough. I always liked her.

A thought regarding DNC convention coverage

People make too much of some immature Hillary supporters and PUMAs. Rachel Maddow tells it like it is, as always. Speaking of Rachel, she has her own show! Yaaaaaaaaaayyy! Can't wait!

More music blogging

It's the Move, performing "When Alice Comes Back to the Farm."

"One banana, two banana, three banana, four..."

It's a happy day for music! The Banana Splits are returning to TV on Cartoon Network! Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky are to star in new comedy shorts and music videos on the Cartoon Network in the US, and its website, from September. A series of DVDs, live concerts, music CDs, and online games from the anarchic crew are expected to follow. Wow, I may actually watch Cartoon Network religiously again. Wonder if they still air Ed, Edd, and Eddy . Meanwhile, I do hope the Banana Splits keep the opening theme:

From the Department of Funny Typos

Amidst the pontificating on McCain and Obama's running mates comes this goodie from the AP: [McCain's] top contenders are said to include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Less traditional choices mentioned include former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, an abortion-rights supporter, and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential prick in 2000 who now is an independent. Emphasis mine.

Crybaby conservative alert!

Professional swiftboater Jeromi Corsi can dish it but he can't take it. "I think some juvenile leftists have taken over the Obama campaign and gotten a hold of Photoshop," Corsi replied. "Now I'm getting death threats and hate mail from Obama supporters." Wow. You mean people are sick of these little smear campaigns you and your mouth-breathing buddies trot out every election year? Color me shocked.

Team McCain is seriously desperate

I mean, using "Running on Empty" in a TV commercial? Could he have picked a duller song? Actually, yes, he could: He could've used something by the Eagles or James Taylor or Sting. Of course, he would've still been told to quit using their songs, because these guys all appear to be (limousine) liberals. Maybe McCain should stick with Toby Keith.

Speaking of hand gestures

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There's one I can totally get behind: the L7 symbol formed when you take the index finger and thumb and each hand and hold them up to spell the band's name. Man, I loved L7 lots. Here's one of their best-known songs, "Pretend We're Dead."

Conservatives is silly

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From the Department of Manufactured Outrage and Nonsensical Controversies comes the latest right-wing fit over...an "O" salute. It's the brainchild of an LA ad agency unconnected with the Obama campaign. The agency is hoping it'll catch on. Think what you will of this idea. Dave Neiwert thinks it looks dorky. I have no opinion of it either way. But the rightie blogosphere is making a big deal about it. I guess John McCain really is boring to write about. Or perhaps they just squirm a lot when they think of the guy. Anyway, at least one poster makes me seriously believe that perhaps Godwin's law should be reinstated. As US News and World Report notes, it's not unlike George W. Bush's supporters holding up three fingers to form a "W." Which happened a lot in 2000. I know, I know...IOKIYAR...

Question

Why does anyone care if Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama? Do we really want a Bush enabler back in the public eye? (Yes, I used to like Powell, but he threw his credibility out the window with that ridiculous UN presentation.)

The stupid! It BUUUURRRRNNNS!!!

How does Michele Bachmann keep getting elected when she's got the intellectual capacity of a beer bottle? She thinks the US should drill in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge because there isn't any wildlife there . The TPM link takes you to Bachmann's National Review article, which shows aerial photographs of ANWR. As in pictures taken from the air . As in, you can't tell if there's any wildlife because you're in a plane and you're too high above the ground to see anything. Here is a list of ANWR's wildlife, in case anyone's interested. If you click it, you'll find some photographs of wolves and caribou and tundra swans and dall sheep and all sorts of animals that Bachmann pretends don't exist. It gets better. She also thinks that we don't need to worry about the environment because Jesus saved the world 2,000 years ago . How do her constituents justify voting for her, anyway?

The Cokie kerfluffle continued

William K. Wolfrum weighs in at World of Golf : Yes, Obama can’t help but look like a high-flying elitist by spending his vacation in Hawaii, regardless of the fact that he was born there and that his grandmother lives there. And the fact that, you know, Hawaii is one of the 50 states. When real Americans take vacations, they go to Myrtle Beach. That’s why we’d like to let the Obama Campaign know about MyrtleBeachGolf.com. There they can find amazing deals throughout the Grand Strand that combine luxurious (but not elite) lodging, as well as opportunities to play golf on some of the most impressive golf courses in the non-elite Continental U.S. And while they are making arrangements to send Sen. Obama to Myrtle Beach, they need to get him to switch sports. Basketball is for elites, after all. Real Americans, and real American Presidents play golf. In Myrtle Beach. Via some foreign newspaper (okay, it's the Honolulu Advertiser .)

We're gonna go Hawaaaaiiiiiaaaan!!!!

Cokie Roberts says stupid crap about Obama's Hawaii vacation: I know his grandmother lives in Hawaii and I know Hawaii is a state, but it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place. He should be in Myrtle Beach, and, you know, if he's going to take a vacation at this time. Cokie, his grandmother doesn't live in Myrtle Beach. She lives in Hawaii. Don't you want Obama to spend time with his grandmother? Rest assured, Cokie: you don't need a passport to go to Hawaii and it really isn't so "foreign" given that it's a state.

Isaac Hayes, RIP

Here's the late, great Mr. Hayes himself, performing "Theme from Shaft" in the film Wattstax . Yes, that's Jesse Jackson with an Afro and a dashiki. We're going to miss you, Mr. Hayes. Say hi to Dave Prater, Otis Redding, and the Bar-Kays when you get to heaven.

Another one of life's little "whuh?" moments

Can anyone make sense of this? I can't. Sen. Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic presidential nominee if John Edwards had been caught in his lie about an extramarital affair and forced out of the race last year, insists a top Clinton campaign aide, making a charge that could exacerbate previously existing tensions between the camps of Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama. "I believe we would have won Iowa, and Clinton today would therefore have been the nominee," former Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson told ABCNews.com. Given that Obama kept beating back La Hill even after Edwards withdrew from the race, Wolfson's comment makes about as much sense as David Gregory's speculation that Edwards' philandering would affect the Obama campaign. Dear Senator Clinton: Next time you run for any elected office, hire better people for your campaign staff. Please.