The Truffle

I told you the GOP slurs were getting stupid, didn't I? Now John "Maverick? That must've been someone else" McCain has stooped to attacking Yosemite Mitt the old-fashioned way: gay baiting . "Mitt Romney thinks he can fool us. He supported abortion on demand, even allowed a law mandating taxpayer-funding for abortion. He says he changed his mind, but he still hasn't changed the law. He told gay organizers in Massachusetts he would be a stronger advocate for special rights than even Ted Kennedy. Now, it's something different." McCain's voting record on gay rights mirrors that of every other Republican: basically, he's against gay marriage, gays in the military, hate crimes legislation, you name it. Note to the Log Cabin Republicans--if you even think of endorsing this guy, you've got a worse case of battered spouse syndrome than previously thought. Meanwhile, wingnut talk show hosts still hate the guy, for reasons nobody can understand...

And the answer is a big fat no.

The Repub formerly known as Senator Macaca is endorsing Fred Thompson for president. Thompson has the right philosophy, is articulate, has a record and is "the best voice in America," Allen, a Virginia Republican, told a lecture series audience yesterday. He likened Thompson's voice to that of a "modern-day Rex Allen," drawing a reference to a now-deceased cowboy actor. What is this thing that GOP wannabe "rugged individualists" have for cowboys? Between "Brokeback Mountain" and the growing Democratic presence in the Rocky Mountain states, you'd think they'd be looking for a new manly archetype. Tattooed sailors, perhaps? As No More Mister Nice Blog put it: Perfect: One phony good old boy who's actually made most of his money in Hollywood and Washington being endorsed by another phony good old boy whose father made most of his football-coaching money in L.A. and Washington.

McCain would appoint a Dem to a cabinet post. Someone other than Joe Lieberman. Then again, Lieberman isn't a Democrat. Hunter offers more "secure the border" rhetoric. He's competing with Tancredo for the Minutemen vote. McCain believes in evolution but also thinks the hand of God is in the Grand Canyon. Giuliani has some idea of the difference between Sunnis and Shias. Gilmore explains why he's a "consistent conservative." And mentions Reagan. Does Ron Paul trust the mainstream media? "Some of them. But I trust the internet a lot more." He opposes regulating the internet. No argument there. Brownback gives a stock answer to whether his religious beliefs affect his foreign policy decisions. "Everyone's beliefs affects their decisions!" What's Giuliani's greatest weakness? He doesn't answer. No matter; a lot of former New Yorkers could answer that question for him. Brownback blathers about "big ideas...

First, we learned that Rudy's estranged from his son. So estranged that the kid won't be campaigning for his dad. Now the evangelicals have reservations of their own. Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention, told The Associated Press that evangelicals believe the former New York City mayor showed a lack of character during his divorce from his second wife, television personality Donna Hanover. "I mean, this is divorce on steroids," Land said. "To publicly humiliate your wife in that way, and your children. That's rough. I think that's going to be an awfully hard sell, even if he weren't pro-choice and pro-gun control." As a New York City resident, I remember the distinctively un-classy way Rudy handled his divorce from Donna Hanover, with his lawyer saying he'd make her "squeal like a stuck pig." And I knew that disgusting episode would come back to haunt the guy. And it has. Land noted that Repub...

The funniest thing about the fallout from Coulter's blathering is the hand-wringing and moaning that followed it from the right wing. Yes, the Reich Wing is shocked, shocked , that their favorite pundit would use a homophobic slur during a lecture. They were willing to let her get away with calling Middle Easterners "ragheads" at last year's CPAC gathering. And years before, they happily basked in her radioactive presence as she suggested that John Walker Lindh be killed "in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too." But now, things have changed. The left wing is now--help!-- laughing . At their favorite pinup. At a squirming Mitt Romney, who now has to denounce the same person he happily introduced to CPAC's eager audience. At dismayed right-wing bloggers, who're signing petitions telling CPAC not to invite Crazy Annie anymore. Because now the avatar of today's conservative movement ha...