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You are here: Home / z-Retired Categories / Previous Site Maintenance / Hiatus

Hiatus

by John Cole|  April 21, 200810:23 am| 186 Comments

This post is in: Previous Site Maintenance

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The last couple of days with no news was a bit refreshing, and I think I am gonna take a few more days off, as I am just sick of the political scene. I tried to get back into things this morning, and the first thing I read was Bill Kristol attempting to determine political world views by analyzing campaign Passover statements. Seriously. Up next, Red State attempts to figure out the candidate’s tax policy by examining past Hallmark Mother’s Day cards they have sent.

Maybe I should have started my day with something other than Kristol, but maybe I just need a longer break. Besides, it isn’t like anything interesting is happening. The Democratic primary isn’t going to end for another 6 months, anyway. I will be back in a few days, but I will try to throw up some open threads every now and then so you can keep us all up to date with the stupid.

*** Update ***

Apparently Red State will not be examining Hallmark cards, as they are too busy sniffing out godless communists at google. In all seriousness, this Red State piece has to be considered an early frontrunner to sweep the 2008 Golden Wingnut Awards. If you really want to sample the hilarity of that post, go deep into the comments where we are informed that Diana Ross is a gay icon and blah blah blah:

But the video itself featuring Jesus singing and dancing to a *WELL KNOWN* gay bar/nightclub anthem (Diana Ross is still a gay icon) and then getting hit by a bus is probably the most offensive thing I’ve ever seen him do. Of course, this kind of stuff is how Larry Lessig became a rockstar in the first place.

One problem- Gloria Gaynor sang I Will Survive, the song in the video that offended Red State. They are so offended, they don’t even know what they are offended about. I await their deep thoughts on Julie Newmar and Ethel Merman.

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Reader Interactions

186Comments

  1. 1.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 10:38 am

    but I will try to throw up some open threads every now and then so you can keep us all up to date with the stupid.

    We won’t let you down!

  2. 2.

    Incertus

    April 21, 2008 at 10:38 am

    I try to take time away from the internet, but my only other option is grading student essays. Given a choice between those and Kristol, well, I’ll take the essays, but it’s closer than you might imagine.

  3. 3.

    cleek

    April 21, 2008 at 10:39 am

    here’s some stupid:

    H Clinton: Be Afraid!
    B Clinton: Don’t Vote For People Who Try To Scare You!

  4. 4.

    jake

    April 21, 2008 at 10:40 am

    When in doubt, cat blog.

  5. 5.

    nightjar

    April 21, 2008 at 10:40 am

    so you can keep us all up to date with the stupid.

    The stupid, it rules. I think I’ll fit the extra bedroom with some artistic rubber wall padding, for the next 6 months of the stupid.

  6. 6.

    TheFountainHead

    April 21, 2008 at 10:45 am

    Hehe, good thing he ducked out just before Hillary released her Osama ad. I think that might have caused some serious teeth gnashing on John’s part, perhaps even a new Huck Fillary thread.

  7. 7.

    vwcat

    April 21, 2008 at 10:51 am

    John just has spring fever and wants to go out and play in the sun.
    That’s okay. I have my garden just warming up and sprouting and this is the first full week of real spring here.

  8. 8.

    nightjar

    April 21, 2008 at 10:54 am

    “Jesusgate” the next fingergate or preachergate and six months worth of stupid.

  9. 9.

    shera

    April 21, 2008 at 11:00 am

    I hope you’re taking this time to catch up on BSG, because this season has been amazing so far (especially the most recent episode).

  10. 10.

    yet another jeff

    April 21, 2008 at 11:03 am

    Maybe you should put Kristol on a list of Assholes that Tim Reads So I Don’t Have To. No day should begin with Kristol..

  11. 11.

    Cain

    April 21, 2008 at 11:09 am

    Excellent, I have test to study for now. I wont’ get distracted by teh stupid. Thanks John.

    cain

  12. 12.

    Zifnab

    April 21, 2008 at 11:17 am

    Maybe I should have started my day with something other than Kristol, but maybe I just need a longer break.

    I don’t know about the latter, but I assumed the former was a no-brainer. Try starting with Sullivan and working your way into the GOP-levels of stupid from there. Reading Kristol first thing in the morning is like diving head first into a frozen swimming pool. Only the truly hardcore or stupid need apply.

  13. 13.

    General Disorder

    April 21, 2008 at 11:24 am

    It’s the land of stupid. Tea leaf reading, anyone? How about divining the political future in the bloody entrails of chickens, or in squished animals on the highway?

  14. 14.

    KB2000

    April 21, 2008 at 11:25 am

    “The Official Village Voice Election-Season Guide to the Right-Wing Blogosphere”

    http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0816,right-wing-blogosphere,411897,1.html/full

  15. 15.

    JR

    April 21, 2008 at 11:25 am

    I miss your writing, Cole, and the ass-kicking you routinely hand out to the feckless wingers. Your perspective is unique and refreshing. How about reading and writing about something other than the frickin’ presidential primaries, which have been going on interminably since Kos shortened his blogroll and shifted the Dem activist base into primary overdrive … in January of 2007? No time for reflection was given; or wanted apparently. How about doing some of that now?

    Of COURSE you are sick and disgusted, Mr. Cole: you are stuck in the endless Consy-loop of hatred against Hillary. You’ve relapsed into righty redness. Yes Hillary is acting horribly, but the hatred has always been there for the Righties regardless of justification. You just got sucked back in. Yes Hillary is a politician; Yes politicians are horrible people — which is why so many sensible Americans were shocked when “movement Conservatives” suddenly broke into worshipful boasting about their “Party” and it’s morals and other blind claptrap.

    How about writing about that?

    I think it was Spitzer that jammed your blog-fingers. It was disheartening to see how effortlessly good people were turned from insightful rational-thinkers into a pack of neck-craning biddies crowding around the underwear drawer. So the high finance goons got their Justice Dept./NSA enabled hit and will proceed to their next looting, with the watchdogs cowed by again seeing that “progressive” Americans simply will not stand up to fight for those fighting for them.

    How about writing about that? Why not talk about how American it is to make snap judgements about other peoples lives to issue blanket condemnation as part of a mob mentality? If Spitzer had personal arrangements with his wife which were not counter-top inspection approved then OFF WITH THAT NOSE TO SPITE THE FACE!

    Or writing about how even an Imperialist must be dismayed and disgusted by the quality of military leadership in Iraq. Or about how the Isreali lobby works, or what’s up with the Moonies stuff, or how the “think tanks” play into the constant dumbing down of public discourse and the injection of disreputable and disproven authoritarian ideas into our national conversation?

    Why not defend Carter, who was obviously green-lighted by State and Isreal but is now being lambasted for his peace efforts?

    Or hell, how about kicking around the idea that those involved in the last international convulsion of right-wing Conservative ideology which was defeated in World War II were not expunged from America at all?

    If it can’t be about Hillary, are you just not interested right now? Sounds like a rightie disease, and if you’ve come down with a case I hope you are feeling better very soon.

  16. 16.

    Incertus

    April 21, 2008 at 11:27 am

    “Jesusgate” the next fingergate or preachergate and six months worth of stupid.

    Okay, my students’ essays are really looking tempting now. Thanks for that.

  17. 17.

    zzyzx

    April 21, 2008 at 11:27 am

    Tomorrow might cheer most of us up. I really feel like it’ll be a 6-8 point Clinton win, which will mark the end approaching.

  18. 18.

    cleek

    April 21, 2008 at 11:44 am

    it will never end. a Clinton win of any kind will be taken as a clear signal that she has broad, strong support and that she needs to take the race all the way to the back room.

  19. 19.

    The Moar You Know

    April 21, 2008 at 11:46 am

    I’ve been on hiatus, it’s done me a world of good.

    I’ve reduced posting on my site down to about once every three weeks now. Readership is going down the tubes, but boy shit howdy do I no longer care. I’ve never linked to it here, don’t see the point – if I no longer care about it why would anyone else?

    (Plus I see little point in trying to gin up interest in guitar construction/repair techniques on a political blog)

    The internet is increasingly resembling a vast, bottomless pit that the connected online masses are busy filling with as much shit as quickly as they can churn it out. It’s already broken as a tool for distributing media, advertising, music and any other intellectual (I use the term very loosely) content. About the only thing left that the intar-web has going for it is online shopping and free porn.

    And I never thought I’d ever say this, but I’m burned out on porn. Don’t care any more. Seen it all.

    It’s going to be interesting to see what replaces it. Top-down (commonly known as MSM) media is so borked and worthless that it is literally a dead man walking – advertisers are funding it purely out of reflex as they have no other options.

    The internet is only about a year out from becoming as fundamentally worthless as the MSM; there’s great stuff like Balloon Juice, but the good is stuff getting harder and harder to find. Soon it will be impossible.

    I’m interested in seeing what replaces it. So far, in my life, nice spring days here in San Diego and work remodeling my condo beat the shit out of staring at the screen. I do enough of that at work anyway.

    RE: “Jesusgate”; fuck Erick and RedState with a chainsaw.

    Thank you and good night.

  20. 20.

    John Cole

    April 21, 2008 at 11:48 am

    it will never end. a Clinton win of any kind will be taken as a clear signal that she has broad, strong support and that she needs to take the race all the way to the back room.

    This.

    It will never end. Not to mention, I think she takes PA by 6-12 points, and screw all the metrics that were set up prior to the election to determine the nominee. We will be told that despite winning the most states, the popular vote, following the rules and whipping up enormous enthusiasm, Obama does not win the states that count and thus, should not be the nominee.

    I am so sick of all the bullshit.

  21. 21.

    zzyzx

    April 21, 2008 at 11:50 am

    We will be told that despite winning the most states, the popular vote, following the rules and whipping up enormous enthusiasm, Obama does not win the states that count and thus, should not be the nominee.

    …by the Clinton camp. However, their appeal is getting smaller and smaller. IMO many of the SDs were just waiting for an actual election to make sure that Wright didn’t kill Obama. If Obama does well tomorrow and cuts the gap to 2-3, Clinton won’t make it to NC.

  22. 22.

    myiq2xu

    April 21, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    However, their appeal is getting smaller and smaller. IMO many of the SDs were just waiting for an actual election to make sure that Wright didn’t kill Obama. If Obama does well tomorrow and cuts the gap to 2-3, Clinton won’t make it to NC.

    Obama spends a gazillion dollars in Pennsylvania, has weeks to work his “magic,” gets fluffed by the media and protected from his own gaffes and missteps, Hillary gets relentlessly negative coverage, is outspent 4-1 or 5-1, and he still loses to her by double-digits.

    Pull the plug, he’s flatlined.

  23. 23.

    cleek

    April 21, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    i hope, for all our sakes, that zzyzx is right.

  24. 24.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    If Obama does well tomorrow and cuts the gap to 2-3, Clinton won’t make it to NC.

    I hope she does make it to North Carolina – not just so she can have her ass handed to her again, but so we can finally find out who Edwards is supporting.

    He will obviously be voting in the primary, and people are going to want to know who he voted for. It will be hard for him to refrain from answering that question.

  25. 25.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 12:04 pm

    Team Hillary has set the benchmark for tomorrow.

    11 points. That’s what Team Hillary leaked to Drudge this morning. That she is going to win the state by 11 points.

    So it’s pretty fair to say if she wins by 11 points or more, it’s a win. Anything less than that, shows Obama having done damage to Hillary.

    Booman has some internals from quinnipac and one other poll, that show a tighter race that is going to be totally about turnout.

  26. 26.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    John S – Edwards will be endorsing Mike Gravel tomorrow. I guarantee it. ;-)

  27. 27.

    Zifnab

    April 21, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    In addition to happily showing off blasphemous images of Christ, Lessig is also known as a digital communist

    In Soviet Russia, internet surfs you!

  28. 28.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    John Cole Says:

    It will never end. Not to mention, I think she takes PA by 6-12 points, and screw all the metrics that were set up prior to the election to determine the nominee. We will be told that despite winning the most states, the popular vote, following the rules and whipping up enormous enthusiasm, Obama does not win the states that count and thus, should not be the nominee.

    I am so sick of all the bullshit.

    GTFO

  29. 29.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Obama spends a gazillion dollars in Pennsylvania, has weeks to work his “magic,” gets fluffed by the media and protected from his own gaffes and missteps, Hillary gets relentlessly negative coverage, is outspent 4-1 or 5-1, and he still loses to her by double-digits.

    Bwahahahaha! The musings of a Hillbot – almost as amusing as they are stupid.

    Obama outspends Hillary in PA by 2-1 (gazillions which are really 5-1) and gets attacked by the media (that’s what we call fluffing vetting) while they spew Hillary talking points (which is unfriendly to her).

    And best of all, she already won the primary by double digits – even though it hasn’t happened yet!

    That’s some awesome spoofing.

  30. 30.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 12:10 pm

    John S – Edwards will be endorsing Mike Gravel tomorrow.

    Gravelmentum!

  31. 31.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    Do not question whether Diana Ross is a gay icon. The commentors at redstate are subject matter experts.

  32. 32.

    Evinfuilt

    April 21, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    This.

    It will never end. Not to mention, I think she takes PA by 6-12 points, and screw all the metrics that were set up prior to the election to determine the nominee. We will be told that despite winning the most states, the popular vote, following the rules and whipping up enormous enthusiasm, Obama does not win the states that count and thus, should not be the nominee.

    I am so sick of all the bullshit.

    but but but..

    She won more states that begin with Vowels, and that’s all that matters (except when it doesn’t.)

    Now listen to Bill Clinton Endorse Obama.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZW0m2nWB_M

  33. 33.

    chopper

    April 21, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    gets fluffed by the media and protected from his own gaffes and missteps,

    yeah, i totally didn’t hear anything about wright or ‘bittergate’ from the media. it was a veritable blackout.

  34. 34.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    The circle is now complete.

  35. 35.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    Pull the plug, he’s flatlined.

    Baghdad Bob, is that you?

  36. 36.

    Cain

    April 21, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    In Soviet Russia, internet surfs you!

    Unless you don’t got no internet. Then you gotta go californy-ways ta get sum. But dey only get a wee amount, so no internet porn fer you zuc you only have 40s each.

    cain

  37. 37.

    chiggins

    April 21, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    Ya know, from time to time I lead myself down a path that leaves me believing that this stuff if important.

    Then I read (or watch) anything by James Kunstler. That usually takes care of it.

  38. 38.

    Cain

    April 21, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    BTW, dailykos’s front page has a good round up on the polls and their differences. Interesting read.

    cain

  39. 39.

    dj spellchecka

    April 21, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    john, john, john…. your correction of redstate’s “facts” is irrelevant. everybody knows that Gloria Gaynor is a gay icon and I Will Survive a gay anthem. surely you understand how even alluding to teh gay is objectionable.

  40. 40.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    Doesn’t anyone want to fight the Culture Wars anymore?

    The film made $1.2 million on Friday in 1,052 theaters. By comparison, Michael Moore’s ‘Sicko’ raken in $23.9 million its opening weekend from just 441 theaters, and Fahrenheit 9/11 did $23.9 million from only 868 slots.

  41. 41.

    jake

    April 21, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    One problem- Gloria Gaynor sang I Will Survive, the song in the video that offended Red State.

    Expecting a ReichStadter to tell African-American women apart is like expecting a RSer to explain his in-depth knowledge of gay icons and anthems.

    I also wonder how the totally upright, Christian and not at all deviant with livestock members of RS even knew about the video. And why do they think he’s wearing a diaper? Looks like he’s sporting a modern day interpretation of 0 AD tighty-whiteys to me, but then I don’t look at adults and think of diapers. Maybe if I went to church more.

  42. 42.

    Zifnab

    April 21, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    Doesn’t anyone want to fight the Culture Wars anymore?

    Are you unemployed? Are you struggling to make drastically inflated mortgage payments? Can you still afford to fill up your gas tank?

    Well, if you’re not going anywhere or doing anything, what better way to spend the day?

  43. 43.

    chopper

    April 21, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Baghdad Bob, is that you?

    the MUPpets are committing suicide by the thousands outside the gates of philadelphia!

  44. 44.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    Are you unemployed? Are you struggling to make drastically inflated mortgage payments? Can you still afford to fill up your gas tank?

    Well, if you’re not going anywhere or doing anything, what better way to spend the day?

    So the answer to the now-classic question, “What’s wrong with Kansas?” is they just hadn’t suffered enough yet?

  45. 45.

    Face

    April 21, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    If Obama does well tomorrow and cuts the gap to 2-3, Clinton won’t make it to NC.

    She’s not quitting. Ever. For any reason. Until the convention, in which she’ll pull enough strings to win.

    Mark this post. It’s prescient.

  46. 46.

    Bubblegum Tate

    April 21, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    Wow, that RedState post is so stupid, not even the commentariat are buying it.

  47. 47.

    Rick Taylor

    April 21, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    Has everyone here already seen the alien version of “I will survive?” Good for a laugh.

  48. 48.

    Rick Taylor

    April 21, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Obama spends a gazillion dollars in Pennsylvania, has weeks to work his “magic,” gets fluffed by the media and protected from his own gaffes and missteps, Hillary gets relentlessly negative coverage, is outspent 4-1 or 5-1, and he still loses to her by double-digits.

    Pull the plug, he’s flatlined.

    Yup, because as we all know, the more money you spend on a campaign, the less it counts if you win and the more it counts if you loose. So by out-raising Hillary Clinton by 2-1, Obama’s actually loosing the primaries. Why he’ll have to win Pennsylvania by double digits himself with that sort of cash advantage to avoid loosing. The super-delegates will not be impressed with a candidate who raises and spends huge amounts of money.

  49. 49.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Not a lot of love for Erick in that thread.

    Worth pointing out that anyone who has spent any time in Hollywood wouldn’t much notice a gay Jesus in a diaper. Pretty standard fare, to be honest.

  50. 50.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    is outspent 4-1 or 5-1,

    So why didn’t she spend more?

  51. 51.

    jake

    April 21, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    Has everyone here already seen the alien version of “I will survive?” Good for a laugh.

    They’re making landing strips for gay Martians!

  52. 52.

    cleek

    April 21, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    So why didn’t she spend more?

    she’s a strict fiscal conservative… ?

  53. 53.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    They were talking about the history of payoffs in Philly, how people involved with the party expected some money from the campaigns.

    Obama apparently refused to play the game.

    Clinton did too, but it was because she didn’t have any money to give out… not because of any moral or ethical concerns.

  54. 54.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    So why didn’t she spend more?

    Damn campaign finance laws that prevent millionaires from giving more than $2300.

    apparently she’s now about $10 million in debt as it is.

  55. 55.

    Ned Raggett

    April 21, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    I’ve taken most of the month off from tracking the usual suspects and it’s been very refreshing…

  56. 56.

    Rick Taylor

    April 21, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    So why didn’t she spend more?

    She’s being crafty! At least, on the pro-Clinton sites I’ve looked at, winning counts less and loosing counts more when you’re outspending your opponent. They keep saying how Obama is in real trouble if he looses Pennsylvania by this or that percentage, after outspending Clinton so much. You see, a few delegates one way or another isn’t going to make the difference now; it’s all about impressing the super-delegates. And they’ll be much more impressed by Clinton winning Pennsylvania if she’s outspent 4:1 or 5:1. So she’s not spending more because she wants to impress the super-delegates with how she’s able to win big with such a thrifty campaign. That and of course because she’s run out of money.

  57. 57.

    p.a.

    April 21, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    John, should your readers find it disconcerting that you knew Gloria Gaynor sang ‘I Will Survive’, and not Diana Ross?

  58. 58.

    Dulcie

    April 21, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    John, should your readers find it disconcerting that you knew Gloria Gaynor sang ‘I Will Survive’, and not Diana Ross?

    At Red State, all black women look alike.

  59. 59.

    Rick Taylor

    April 21, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    More youtube entertainment, a grass roots campaign video for Ron Paul (via Atrios).

  60. 60.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    Is Ron Paul still running for something? With an ad like this, I’m almost tempted to vote for him.

    (Just kidding, I’m voting for Obamarama Bop Bop Perona tomorrow as soon as the polls open. But I do like Ron Paul’s ad, yes I do.)

  61. 61.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    Damn you Rick Taylor!

  62. 62.

    Cyrus

    April 21, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    Now comes word that Larry Lessig and Google really could care less that so many of us revere Jesus. This time the Lord is not in a jar of urine, but …

    “The Lord is not in a jar of urine?” If it were written by someone with more capacity for independent thought, I’d call this an example of idolatry.

  63. 63.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    So after the MI/FL spin, the which states should count spin and so on, will the latest spin from the Clinton campaign be the ROI spin?

    For each dollar Clinton spends she gets more votes than Obama, so clearly she should be nomninated. Just imagine what she could do when she will get all that Obamacash(tm) too!

    —

    Also, Gallup’s national tracking poll, Obama 49, Clinton 42. Seems like the dip was because of some bad data… Nothing to be bitter about…

  64. 64.

    Rick Taylor

    April 21, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    Via Talk Left, and excellent article on what Clinton would have to do to win the popular vote (Talk Left calls it shoddy because it says of course the super delegates are not going to count the results in Florida and Michigan).

    After more than 40 Democratic primaries and caucuses, Obama, the Illinois senator, leads Clinton by more than 800,000 votes. Even if the New York senator wins by more than 20 percentage points tomorrow — a landslide few experts expect — she would still have a hard time catching him.

    Clinton needs “blowout numbers,” says Peter Fenn, a Democratic consultant who isn’t affiliated with either campaign. “The wheels would have to come off the Obama bus, and the engine would have to blow.”

  65. 65.

    Dennis - SGMM

    April 21, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    Historical parallels.
    Who is it that:
    Started out with high approval numbers and then pissed them away?
    Came up with a bulletproof plan for victory and then stuck with it long after it started failing?
    Moves the goalposts, blames away defeats and makes losing the reason for staying in?
    Is always the victim of a hostile press?
    Took a surplus, spent it and is now running at a deficit?
    Shouldn’t be president?

  66. 66.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    April 21, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    Face Says:

    If Obama does well tomorrow and cuts the gap to 2-3, Clinton won’t make it to NC.

    She’s not quitting. Ever. For any reason. Until the convention, in which she’ll pull enough strings to win.

    Mark this post. It’s prescient.

    I’ll take a chance on predicting a happier ending:

    HRC wins PA by 12, IN by 3
    Obama wins NC by 18

    Supers start coming out for Obama in large numbers after NC and the media endlessly debates, should-she or shouldn’t-she continue to run, sucking all the oxygen (and money) out of her campaign. Expect more stories about unpaid campaign debts.

    Obama wins OR by 20+, and HRC folds in the week following, giving a tough love speech declaring Obama vetted and justifying it all in the name of greater Democratic victory in November (Bill will have to be heavily sedated for the occasion).

    Also, Webb will get the VP nod, to shore up Obama’s image with the guns-n-bitter demographic and add military experience cred to the ticket. Casey is the other obvious choice on electoral map grounds, but I think he needs the PA primary to come at under +5 for HRC in order to make that a reality, and I don’t expect that to happen.

  67. 67.

    cleek

    April 21, 2008 at 2:21 pm

    “The Lord is not in a jar of urine?” If it were written by someone with more capacity for independent thought, I’d call this an example of idolatry.

    because RS blocks me from reading, i have to take alternative measures…

    i wanted to see what the fuss was all about today so i used Google’s page translation service as a proxy. (i chose to have it translate RS to German, for the fun of seeing it “in the original German”!) after the page is translated, you can hover over the translated text and it will pop-up the original text for you.

    so i got to that part of the text, hovered over it and saw that sentence… it was so absurd that i thought for a second that Google had translated the English to German then back to English, thereby turning standard wingnut into Engrish.

    nope! turns out that the combination of bad writing and bad thinking only looks like Engrish.

  68. 68.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    April 21, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    Historical parallels.
    Who is it that:
    Started out with high approval numbers and then pissed them away?
    Came up with a bulletproof plan for victory and then stuck with it long after it started failing?
    Moves the goalposts, blames away defeats and makes losing the reason for staying in?
    Is always the victim of a hostile press?
    Took a surplus, spent it and is now running at a deficit?
    Shouldn’t be president?

    Jefferson Davis (CSA)?

    George Steinbrenner?

    Krispy Kreme Donuts?

    Who?

    Don’t be such a tease!

  69. 69.

    mrmobi

    April 21, 2008 at 2:25 pm

    Sully has a video of Ed Rendell making nice with Minister Farakhan and the Nation of Islam, at their temple, no less.
    I don’t know when it’s from, but will Clinton supporters now demand that their candidate “reject and denounce” Rendell? I’m sure they will, because she is the experienced candidate and would never associate with people who might cause her to lose in November. She’s just too smart.

    LowIQ? PLuk? Come on, let’s hear you guys call out this “despicable” behavior by Rendell.

    (crickets)

  70. 70.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    Slight changes to ThatLeftTurnInABQ’s predictions:

    HRC wins PA by 3, IN by 1
    Obama wins NC by 20

    Supers start coming out for Obama in large numbers after NC, but John Edwards comes out for Hillary adding fuel to her fire. She continues to run on vapors. Expect more of the same from her campaign.

    Obama wins OR by 30, but HRC hangs in there until after Guam and Puerto Rico vote so as not to enrage p.lukasiak, giving a tough love speech declaring that she did it all for Obama’s sake.

    Webb will get the VP nod, to shore up Obama’s image with the guns-n-bitter demographic and add military experience cred to the ticket.

    That sounds about right.

  71. 71.

    Dennis - SGMM

    April 21, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    Obama wins OR by 20+, and HRC folds in the week following, giving a tough love speech declaring Obama vetted and justifying it all in the name of greater Democratic victory in November (Bill will have to be heavily sedated for the occasion).

    Hillary and Bill then drop out of sight until the end of November to “recover from campaigning.” Obama will announce his VP choice, who will not be Clinton, and Talk Left will trumpet that as sour grapes and proof that he is unelectable. TL will spend the remainder of the campaign critiquing Obama and explaining how Clinton would have handled it better.

  72. 72.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    “The Lord is not in a jar of urine?”

    I believe he’s referencing “Piss Christ.” The piece of “art” that cause a ruckus in…was it the early 80s?

    Yeah, the memory of an elephant or something…

  73. 73.

    mrmobi

    April 21, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    Also, Webb will get the VP nod, to shore up Obama’s image with the guns-n-bitter demographic and add military experience cred to the ticket.

    I’ve heard this speculation before, and I like it. MUP does have an “experience” problem, in my view, so Webb would be an excellent choice.

  74. 74.

    John Cole

    April 21, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    John, should your readers find it disconcerting that you knew Gloria Gaynor sang ‘I Will Survive’, and not Diana Ross?

    You don’t have to be assless chaps deep into the gay culture to know the difference between Diana Ross and Gloria Gaynor.

  75. 75.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    HRC wins PA by 12,

    I doubt it. Even Drudge is saying 11 (and who knows if those are real or not). SUSA is now at +6 for Clinton. PPP is at +3 for Obama. PPP is definitely Obama’s upper bound, and Clinton can do better than SUSA in spite of the rend. It’s going to come down to ground game. PA probably has Clinton’s best ground game going so I won’t bet against her, but 12 looks as likely as Obama winning at this point.

    She’s winning over 50, women, and non-college educated. He’s winning pretty much everything else. And don’t fall for the other moving target: Obama 11 points ahead of Clinton with liberals according to SUSA. I’ve been hearing a lot about how Clinton is winning ‘real’ Democrats. I don’t know what that means, exactly, but I think ‘real’ Democrats are now being defined as non-liberal.

    We’ll see what the dueling TV appearances do tonight. Clinton on Countdown sounds pretty dangerous. Neither Olbermann nor Maddow are giving her any open room. The new ad won’t fare well with them. Larry King is a full hour which could be good or bad, but it’ll be hers to control. King isn’t about to pull the rug from under her. Obama on Daily Show is a good move.

  76. 76.

    jake

    April 21, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Clinton needs “blowout numbers,’’ says Peter Fenn, a Democratic consultant who isn’t affiliated with either campaign. “The wheels would have to come off the Obama bus, and the engine would have to blow.’’

    Clearly all the references to blowing are a dastardly way of bringing up Clenis-Gate! Someone fetch me that traitorous Obamanationbot’s head.

    And my smelling salts.

  77. 77.

    Fledermaus

    April 21, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    They’re making landing strips for gay Martians!

    You know what, Jake? I like you, you’re not like the rest of the people here, in the trailer park.

  78. 78.

    Krista

    April 21, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    You don’t have to be assless chaps deep into the gay culture to know the difference between Diana Ross and Gloria Gaynor.

    Assless chaps: wrong, or really, really wrong? Discuss.

  79. 79.

    Calouste

    April 21, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    An article on [URL=”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9737.html”]Politico[/URL] states that McCain has adapted public financing for his campaign and has already started refunding donations he has received for the general election. Considering Obama has outraised him more than 3:1, staying in the normal financing system was not going to help old John.

    Of course we will see large amounts of money being spend by Republican oriented organizations that are not limited by the same campaign financing rules as McCain himself will be. So much for straight talk, eh?

  80. 80.

    nightjar

    April 21, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    From Katy Williams, First Clown always.

    Update: Yep, a friendly, smiley, new kind of politics. No cracking, here:

    As Sen. Hillary Clinton was preparing to campaign here today, Sen. Barack Obama was meeting with voters at a diner and apparently pretty hungry.

    “Why can’t I just eat my waffle?” he said, when asked a foreign policy question by a reporter at the Glider Diner.

    Wafflegate?

  81. 81.

    Calouste

    April 21, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    Now with correct URL:

    An article on Politico states that McCain has adapted public financing for his campaign and has already started refunding donations he has received for the general election. Considering Obama has outraised him more than 3:1, staying in the normal financing system was not going to help old John.

    Of course we will see large amounts of money being spend by Republican oriented organizations that are not limited by the same campaign financing rules as McCain himself will be. So much for straight talk, eh?

  82. 82.

    nightjar

    April 21, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Make that Katy Ham.

  83. 83.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    April 21, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Oh noes! Not the gay icons! The country really is going to hell in a handbasket. What next? I shudder to think.

    /snark

  84. 84.

    Dennis - SGMM

    April 21, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Wafflegate?

    Campaigning in Pensylvania today, Clinton told reporters, “Senator Obama’s preference for elitist waffles is a slap in the face to pancake-loving Americans everywhere. When I was a little girl, my grandma taught me how to make pancakes and I’ve been making them ever since. Apparently, pancakes are good enough for average Americans but not good enough for Osama – I mean Obama.”

  85. 85.

    protected static

    April 21, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    Assless chaps: wrong, or really, really wrong? Discuss.

    Now there’s an opening…

    Wait. Let me start again.

  86. 86.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    April 21, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    I doubt it. Even Drudge is saying 11 (and who knows if those are real or not). SUSA is now at +6 for Clinton. PPP is at +3 for Obama. PPP is definitely Obama’s upper bound, and Clinton can do better than SUSA in spite of the rend. It’s going to come down to ground game. PA probably has Clinton’s best ground game going so I won’t bet against her, but 12 looks as likely as Obama winning at this point.

    I’m guessing HRC +12 in PA based on Poblano’s number crunching and guesstimating over at http://www.fivethirtyeight.com, which over the weekend was pointing at +12 both on demographic/regional grounds and using a regression against the trendline of polls plotted vs the percent of undecided voters and assuming the latter will break heavily for HRC in the last few days.

    OTOH, today he show a much cloudier picture (Magic 8-ball says: “situation unclear, tune in tomorrow night”), so I’m picking with my head rather than my heart and assuming a worse outcome than what I’d like to see.

  87. 87.

    Rick Taylor

    April 21, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Michael Moore can’t take it anymore and endorses Obama.

    I haven’t spoken publicly ’til now as to who I would vote for, primarily for two reasons: 1) Who cares?; and 2) I (and most people I know) don’t give a rat’s ass whose name is on the ballot in November, as long as there’s a picture of JFK and FDR riding a donkey at the top of the ballot, and the word “Democratic” next to the candidate’s name.

    Seriously, I know so many people who don’t care if the name under the Big “D” is Dancer, Prancer, Clinton or Blitzen. It can be Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Barry Obama or the Dalai Lama.

    Well, that sounded good last year, but over the past two months, the actions and words of Hillary Clinton have gone from being merely disappointing to downright disgusting. I guess the debate last week was the final straw. I’ve watched Senator Clinton and her husband play this game of appealing to the worst side of white people, but last Wednesday, when she hurled the name “Farrakhan” out of nowhere, well that’s when the silly season came to an early end for me. She said the “F” word to scare white people, pure and simple. Of course, Obama has no connection to Farrakhan. But, according to Senator Clinton, Obama’s pastor does — AND the “church bulletin” once included a Los Angeles Times op-ed from some guy with Hamas! No, not the church bulletin!

  88. 88.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    Camp Hillary is saying +11 through their Drudge connection. Granted, that’s probably based on Mark Penn polling, but based on myiq’s predictions it sounds in tune with what the Clintonites expect.

    I think larger than +11 will be a good day for hillary, but less than +11 will cause people to have considerable doubts about the viability of her campaign. Remember she was up +20 just a month ago.

  89. 89.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    Burrow Owl.

  90. 90.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    but less than +11 will cause people to have considerable doubts about the viability of her campaign.

    Oh, FFS. Who – with a half-decent grip on reality – hasn’t given up on her campaign? Anyone who can count knows this was over after Texas.

  91. 91.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    I can’t see it, because work blocks youtube. But is it true that Hillary is using Osama bin Laden in a new video ad in PA?

    That’s likely to backfire on her.

  92. 92.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Oh, FFS. Who – with a half-decent grip on reality – hasn’t given up on her campaign? Anyone who can count knows this was over after Texas.

    Montana and South Dakota are hillary’s firewall states.

    She may not win any others, but if she wins there, then it’s proof the superdelegates all have to endorse her.

  93. 93.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    Man, this has gotta suck

    Redstate wasn’t even mentioned, in the Guide to right-wing nutosphere.

    Even Ann Althouse got mentioned! Ace of Spades! But no Erick the Red!

  94. 94.

    Timb

    April 21, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Why are you going “Goldstein” on us? Are you learning to needlepoint? Taking up an obscure violent hobby?

    At any rate, I am still confused about what the Right wants me to think about Obama. First, he was a scary Muslim, then he was a dangerous black Christian Radical and way too religious, and now he’s not religious enough?! Because someone who likes him made a video they don’t like?

    Help, righties, we don’t know why to hate him. Someone get Sean Hannity’s production team on this….PRONTO

  95. 95.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    I think Webb is a non-winner on VP. I have nothing against the experience thing, but Webb is complicated and has a weird relationship with the Dem base. He’s got some votes that Dems don’t like – most recently and notably this:

    Yesterday I supported two measures to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. These measures were considered against the backdrop of heightened concerns from our nation’s intelligence community abut the threat of international terrorism. The ramifications of the two amendments before us last night were not political. Instead they related to the urgent demands of national security. I chose to heed those warnings. We now have six months to work in earnest to bring full accountability to the process.
    This distinction and the threats to national security were stated clearly by Admiral McConnell as well as four of the eight Democratic members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. These members, Senators Feinstein, Mikulski, Bayh, and Bill Nelson, have extensive experience on intelligence matters and are respected champions of civil rights and liberties. They chose to give significant weight and deference to the intelligence community on FISA reform, and so did I.

    There is near uniform, bipartisan agreement on the need to reform FISA to reflect modern telecommunications and information technology. We must do so in a way that safeguards basic civil and constitutional rights. But we must also remember that the terrorist threat to the nation is extremely serious. I remain fully committed to bringing accountability to this process, and to protecting the privacy rights of all Americans.

    I appreciate the military cred, but I don’t think running an election on GOP terms is a wise move. McCain will win the military vote. The Dems need to focus on the economy and households and other issues and negate rather than balance the CinC discussion.

    Sebelius is the name I hear most often – and I like that choice. Midwest governor, good positions, and while it’ll be played as a pandering move, it’d unify the party again. She’s got a great approval rating, 64/32 and is +12 with Republicans. She and Obama would make the GOP have to fight hard for the midwest. Schweitzer would also be a good choice, but brings a completely different dynamic.

    Pulling in a 2nd senator is a bad move, IMO. I’d prefer a governor balancing things out since it strengthens what Dems should be running on.

  96. 96.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    I’ve been hearing a lot about how Clinton is winning ‘real’ Democrats. I don’t know what that means, exactly, but I think ‘real’ Democrats are now being defined as non-liberal.

    A ‘real’ Democrat is a democrat that votes for Clinton. All others are fake and don’t count.

    SA2SQ

  97. 97.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    I think Webb is a non-winner on VP. I have nothing against the experience thing, but Webb is complicated and has a weird relationship with the Dem base. He’s got some votes that Dems don’t like – most recently and notably this:

    What about Hagel or Bloomberg? Those names have been tossed out, as sort of a Magical Unity ticket. Both have their share of problems too.

    I think Bill Richardson is most likely though when all is said and done. We’ll see.

  98. 98.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    April 21, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    The Other Steve Says:

    I can’t see it, because work blocks youtube. But is it true that Hillary is using Osama bin Laden in a new video ad in PA?

    Sad but true. TPMElectionCentral has multiple stories on it.

    If HRC actually loses PA, expect Wolfson to blame the debacle on “unknown unknowns”.

    Also, the NC Debate has been…

    wait for it…

    wait for it…

    cancelled, due to MSM douchebaggery logistical and scheduling difficulties.

  99. 99.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    But is it true that Hillary is using Osama bin Laden in a new video ad in PA?

    Osama Bin Laden, market crash of ’29, the great depression, pearl harbor, FDR, JFK, katrina, cuban missile crisis, red scare, 1970s gas crisis, gulf war, Berlin wall, economic crisis, two wars … all in 30 seconds.

    Oh I wish I were kidding.

  100. 100.

    Rick Taylor

    April 21, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    I can’t see it, because work blocks youtube. But is it true that Hillary is using Osama bin Laden in a new video ad in PA?

    That’s likely to backfire on her.

    It’s true, but I don’t see what the big deal is. The add starts with a narrator saying the Presidency is a tough job, and features a montage of crises from the past going into the present, Pearl Harbor, the 70’s oil crises, Katrina, and a brief shot of Osama bin Laden. It then uses Truman’s line, “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” And asking “Who do you think has what it takes?” It seemed to me to be a dig at Obama, similar to when Clinton was arguing he was complaining too much after the last debate. It was similar to the red phone in spirit. Really, I didn’t find it persuasive, but I don’t see what the fuss is.

  101. 101.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    But is it true that Hillary is using Osama bin Laden in a new video ad in PA?

    Yes, but it’s part of a montage.

    It opens with a bunch of war footage and then lingers for a moment on Osama before showing other ‘scary’ stuff, while the narration says “You need to be ready for anything” – because of the perilous times. Then it shows a quote by Truman of “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” and asks “Who do you think has what it takes?” before closing with a shot of Hillary.

  102. 102.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    What about Hagel or Bloomberg? Those names have been tossed out, as sort of a Magical Unity ticket. Both have their share of problems too.

    Like starting with the fact that they’re republicans. Republicans who did very very very little to stop the Madness of King George.

    I don’t think we need any more republicans in the white house for a while, thankewverrrymuch.

  103. 103.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Really, I didn’t find it persuasive, but I don’t see what the fuss is.

    Part of the fuss is that it’s a cherry on top of Hillary’s bullshit and hypocrisy sundae – particularly when once upon a time Bill Clinton said this:

    “Now one of Clinton’s Laws of Politics is this: If one candidate’s trying to scare you and the other one’s trying to get you to think; if one candidate’s appealing to your fears and the other one’s appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope. That’s the best.”

    Ironically, this sounds like Bill would have clearly endorsed Obama were it not his wife he was running against.

  104. 104.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Ironically, this sounds like Bill would have clearly endorsed Obama were it not his wife he was running against.

    Sometimes I think Bill IS running against his wife.

    snerk.

  105. 105.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    RE: VP, is John Edwards chopped liver now? I mean, I assume someone who can’t even be bothered to endorse the MUP won’t get asked, but it’s odd just how out-of-view Edwards has fallen.

  106. 106.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 3:37 pm

    Ironically, this sounds like Bill would have clearly endorsed Obama were it not his wife he was running against.

    Ironically, Obama the candidate is very similar to Bill the candidate from 1992. Hillary is in an entirely different category.

  107. 107.

    chiggins

    April 21, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    Assless chaps: wrong, or really, really wrong? Discuss.

    Without getting into the morality of chaps, is there any other kind than assless? I mean, isn’t that the point, that they cover your pants?

  108. 108.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    April 21, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    On the VP side, you can pick to shore up the base, or to take a bite out of the middle, and in several different ways: policy, demographics, or electoral vote map.

    Before the Texas/Ohio kitchen sink strategy, when Obama was polling ahead of McCain, I would have said Richardson would be a good pick for building up Democratic credentials in the SW, but the election has tightened up a good deal since then, so I think the VP pick may come down to going after a few battleground states instead.

    Obama still looks strong in the Western US even without Richardson. CA,OR,WA and CO look solidly blue under Obama, and NV and NM are very makeable. This pushes the battleground back to the midwest and rust belt: WI,MI,OH,PA, which are the states where Hillary has been less than helpful in setting things up for Nov.

    From an electoral co. standpoint, I think Obama may have to give priority to improving his chances in at least a couple of those states, through some combination of policy, demographics and regional favorite. There are a variety of way to go with this, but I think Webb’s tough guy image might help the most. Casey comes across on TV as a bit too “slick” and I like Sebelius a lot but her speech during the Democratic response to the State-of-the-Union address was gawdawful boring, so I don’t know how well she would pull them in on the campaign trail or in debates.

    The advantage of Webb as a VP is that he can go after McCain where he is supposedly strongest (image wise anyway), on national security issues. The GOP keeps attacking us at our strongest (or so we thought) point in these elections, it is about time we returned the favor.

  109. 109.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    It’s true, but I don’t see what the big deal is. The add starts with a narrator saying the Presidency is a tough job, and features a montage of crises from the past going into the present, Pearl Harbor, the 70’s oil crises, Katrina, and a brief shot of Osama bin Laden.

    All, not quite the scarey ad we’re used to from Republicans.

    Fascinating though, how she appeals to our fears.

  110. 110.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    RE: VP, is John Edwards chopped liver now?

    He popped up on The Colbert Report last week and was pretty amusing, but politically he has made himself irrelevant.

    He could have been a voice of reason throughout this ugly primary season, but he sat back and preferred to watch. I think he will come out for Hillary after the NC primary which will only prolong the ugliness. As far as being a VP, I think it may be a possibility with Hillary – but she’s not going to win the nomination, so it’s a fairly moot point.

    I could be wrong, though.

  111. 111.

    tofubo

    April 21, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    and yet, today of all days, william the bloody doesn’t even mention patriots day

    why does bill hate america ??

  112. 112.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    VP, is John Edwards chopped liver now? I mean, I assume someone who can’t even be bothered to endorse the MUP won’t get asked, but it’s odd just how out-of-view Edwards has fallen.

    It’s only odd if you haven’t been paying attention.

  113. 113.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    What about Hagel or Bloomberg? Those names have been tossed out, as sort of a Magical Unity ticket. Both have their share of problems too.

    Running right doesn’t work. The problem isn’t that the Dems aren’t adopting enough successful GOP issues, it’s that there are no successful GOP issues. And the voters understand that, that’s why there are more registered Dems than Republicans by about 25% or so right now.

    The Dems are best off convincing the independents that the GOP has shitty policies that don’t work and that a proper Dem ticket is the right way to go. Polling suggests that’s the right move as well. It’s not 2002 any more folks.

    And the reason that I don’t think a military person is the right move is that the GOP knows how to deal with someone running on their past as we saw with Kerry. You have to run on where people are now and what they have done recently. It’s too easy to tear people down over what they did 20 years ago. If we had an Iraq vet for the VP slot, I might have a different view, but Reagan’s Sec of Navy and a guy that John Warner personally tried to have court-martialed certainly would make for some interesting ads.

  114. 114.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    April 21, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    Osama Bin Laden, market crash of ‘29, the great depression, pearl harbor, FDR, JFK, katrina, cuban missile crisis, red scare, 1970s gas crisis, gulf war, Berlin wall, economic crisis, two wars … all in 30 seconds.

    Oh I wish I were kidding.

    What, no little girls with daisies morphing into Atomic Bomb blasts? Or is that just too 1964 for this campaign?

    Also, why no 1918 Spanish Influenza? Or 14th century bubonic plague? Doesn’t bioterra count for anything anymore?

  115. 115.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    It’s only odd if you haven’t been paying attention.

    Care to explain? I find it odd, and I am paying attention.

  116. 116.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    The advantage of Webb as a VP is that he can go after McCain where he is supposedly strongest (image wise anyway), on national security issues. The GOP keeps attacking us at our strongest (or so we thought) point in these elections, it is about time we returned the favor.

    Anthony Zinni is the name tossed around most in that regard.

    It would not be a bad choice, if we assume the VP role is to get things done, and not groom a future candidate. ala the Cheney model.

  117. 117.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    Also, why no 1918 Spanish Influenza? Or 14th century bubonic plague? Doesn’t bioterra count for anything anymore?

    In fairness, there were a LOT of images flashing by, so I probably just missed those two.

  118. 118.

    The Other Steve

    April 21, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    And the reason that I don’t think a military person is the right move is that the GOP knows how to deal with someone running on their past as we saw with Kerry.

    Good points, all around. Just wanted to highlight this one.

    Iraq war vets aren’t really old enough for the Pres/VP slot. They’re just starting to enter into congress and such.

  119. 119.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    The ad is bad because it offers nothing. It’s just more association for viewers that the person willing to make the world look scarier is better able to address that. She doesn’t suggest how she would be better. It’s pure pavlovian campaigning. And this line:

    “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”

    Would have caused half the blogosphere to scream ‘SEXISM!!!!!’ like bloody murder if Obama had stated it. According to myiq and p.luc Hillary is now one of those self-hating women.

    But the biggest reason why it’s stupid is that it is so easy to refute with Bill’s fear/hope speech. I mean, if you know that’s out there, why even risk it?

    It’s not a dirty ad or anything like that, it’s just the kind of shit that Dems almost universally hate which is odd that they chose to use it.

    Care to explain? I find it odd, and I am paying attention.

    Among other reasons, Edwards hasn’t endorsed and he’s also on record as saying he doesn’t want the VP slot. No point bringing him up then.

  120. 120.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    Casey comes across on TV as a bit too “slick”

    Slick ? If by that you mean he’s got the personality of a snail, I suppose you’re right.

    I gotta give a guy who has the oratorical skills of a wet washcloth props, though, for campaigning with Obama. I got to see him up close and personal on the whistlestop tour in the Philly burbs on Saturday — the comparison between the two is, how shall we say, not flattering to Casey and I’m sure he knows it.

  121. 121.

    Zifnab

    April 21, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    He could have been a voice of reason throughout this ugly primary season, but he sat back and preferred to watch. I think he will come out for Hillary after the NC primary which will only prolong the ugliness.

    I don’t get why. Hillary is clearly a sinking ship. The only reason Edwards would try to prop her up now would be if he could get a political favor out of her in the future – perhaps campaigning with him to retake a Senate seat. If he really wanted her to win, he wouldn’t have dropped out before Super Tuesday. Edwards was splitting a respectable amount of would-be Obama voters (myself included) off from the herd.

    Aside from giving Hillary another round of false support, he wouldn’t really add any steam to her campaign so late into the year. I doubt he’ll endorse ahead of the herd.

  122. 122.

    abrxas

    April 21, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    John,

    I think your problem is not that you’re reading, but what you’re reading. I mean, Kristol? Red State? That’s where you’re going wrong. Regardless, enjoy the days off. We’ll miss you.

  123. 123.

    4tehlulz

    April 21, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    There is a God.

    We regret to inform you that the proposed Democratic Presidential Debate scheduled for April 27 has been cancelled due to time constraints and logistical issues associated with such a large, national event.

  124. 124.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    I doubt he’ll endorse ahead of the herd.

    I don’t think he will endorse anyone per se.

    But after the NC primary, he will be asked “Who did you vote for?” And I’m not sure he will be able to dodge the question.

  125. 125.

    myiq2xu

    April 21, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    We regret to inform you that the proposed Democratic Presidential Debate scheduled for April 27 has been cancelled due to time constraints and logistical issues associated with such a large, national event.

    IOW – Obama wussied out.

  126. 126.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    Alex Trebek: 1918 Spanish Influenza

    Contestant 1: What’s something that actually is older than McCain?

    —

    Perhaps Clinton got all the videos from McCain’s personal collection? That would explain the lack of video from the Spanish Influenza.

  127. 127.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    IOW – Obama wussied out.

    The NC democrats didn’t want to pay for it since they weren’t sure enough if Clinton would still be in the race by then.

    And they really don’t want to waste money on her, considering she’s in the red…

  128. 128.

    Josh E.

    April 21, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    IOW – Obama wussied out.

    IOW – No reason to give Hillabee an excuse to hang around if she doesn’t get the 20-point victory she needs tomorrow.

  129. 129.

    myiq2xu

    April 21, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    The NC democrats didn’t want to pay for it since they weren’t sure enough if Clinton would still be in the race by then.

    And they really don’t want to waste money on her, considering she’s in the red…

    And the check is in the mail, those jeans don’t make your butt look big, and I won’t come in your mouth.

  130. 130.

    Billy K

    April 21, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    abrxas Says:
    John,

    enjoy the days off. We’ll miss you.

    Suck-up.

    IOW – Obama wussied out.

    IOW – he’s sick of answering the same questions over and over again. If a voter in NC is still “undecided,” they’re just stupid or attention-whoring.

  131. 131.

    Punchy

    April 21, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    I need Soriano off the DL post-haste. And Glavine, too.

  132. 132.

    4tehlulz

    April 21, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    IOW – Clinton wussied out.

    Fixed

  133. 133.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    On the VP side, you can pick to shore up the base, or to take a bite out of the middle, and in several different ways: policy, demographics, or electoral vote map.

    The thing this is also commonly overlooked is energizing the base. I don’t think Obama has a problem with shoring them up other than the fringe of feminist voters that Sojourner seems too concerned with.

    With a woman on the ticket, Obama probably doesn’t pick up many votes but he probably gets a decent boost in fundraising, volunteering, and so on. McCain’s problem isn’t that Republicans won’t vote for him, it’s that they won’t give him money, won’t walk districts, won’t phone bank. GOP voters are loyal, but not excited. He needs a VP that will get people excited about November.

    In the Democratic party, it’s somewhat a fight now between the loyal voters and the excited ones. Both will ultimately step up for the other candidate, but I wouldn’t count on Hillary’s excited voters to do jack shit for Obama past that, or Obama’s excited voters to do shit for Clinton either. That’s the problem that needs fixing. Bringing out a Biden or Dodd or Richardson would probably work too, but I actually think promoting a new name to the national ticket works for Obama. Sebelius works well all around. Others do too. There’s a bunch of good choices here.

    Not sure what the GOP has to work with. Pawlenty comes up a lot. I can see plenty of broken bridge to the future ads run out of Dem 527s but the drown government in a bathtub set would be thrilled. Crist would be bold, but would probably backfire horribly with the base. I can’t even pretend what would excite the GOP these days. Maybe Kiefer Sutherland or Pol Pot.

  134. 134.

    jake

    April 21, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    Assless chaps: wrong, or really, really wrong? Discuss.

    It depends on the answer to the rest of the 4Ws: Who, where, & why.

    If we’re talking John McCane at a petting farm for purposes to horrid to contemplate then we’ve rocketed past really, really, really wrong and are headed deep into universe-ending wrong.

  135. 135.

    Breschau

    April 21, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    In honor of the candidates appearing on Monday Night Raw tonight (no, seriously), somebody put together the entrances for Obama and Clinton.

    Pretty funny stuff

  136. 136.

    NR

    April 21, 2008 at 4:38 pm

    We’ve had over 20 Democratic debates already. We don’t need any more, especially since the media (and Hillary) are now just using them to push Republican talking points nonstop.

    There’s no reason to give Hillary another excuse to stay in the race.

  137. 137.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 4:39 pm

    IOW – Obama wussied out.

    Actually I say fair enough.

    I take it more that nobody, Obama included, thinks she should still be in the race by the 27th. Why give her an added excuse? But if you want to think that Obama ducked out, that’s fine too.

    Besides, financial attrition has to be a part of the strategy at this point. Why give her the free air time?

  138. 138.

    Zifnab

    April 21, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    And the check is in the mail, those jeans don’t make your butt look big, and I won’t come in your mouth.

    Someone’s feeling misogynistic today. Hillary frowns on that kind of language, myiq, just FYI.

  139. 139.

    John S.

    April 21, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    And the check is in the mail, those jeans don’t make your butt look big, and I won’t come in your mouth.

    Is this what happens when you fall too far into the tank for Hillary? You become obsessed with bukkake and semen?

    How strange.

  140. 140.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Monday Night Raw tonight (no, seriously)

    As a former resident of PA, I’m almost positive they’ll get more viewers there than their appearances on Daily Show and Larry King – combined.

    Seriously.

  141. 141.

    D-Chance.

    April 21, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Tonight the “Politics = Pro Wrestling” cycle is complete.

    Hillary, Obama, AND McCain are all slated to make televised appearances tonight on the same show… WWE Raw.

    And whatcha gonna do when John McCain and all his McCainiacs run wild on ya?

  142. 142.

    Dreggas

    April 21, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    My take on the appearance of the candidates on WWE

    can be found here.

  143. 143.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    We’ve had over 20 Democratic debates already.

    It’s not about the number of debates. Clinton needs free air time. Ads are expensive, and she’s in the red.

    —

    About myiq2xu and his obsession, sex is a part of SEXism.

  144. 144.

    Dreggas

    April 21, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    Martin Says:

    Monday Night Raw tonight (no, seriously)

    As a former resident of PA, I’m almost positive they’ll get more viewers there than their appearances on Daily Show and Larry King – combined.

    Seriously.

    As a Cappucino drinkin’, bus takin, mohawk wearin’, kinkified liberal from California I watch Wrestling and the Daily Show as well as KO. I really wish people would quit it with the “only red necks and hicks” watch wrestling. I happen to find it highly entertaining.

  145. 145.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 5:15 pm

    As a Cappucino drinkin’, bus takin, mohawk wearin’, kinkified liberal from California I watch Wrestling and the Daily Show as well as KO.

    There’s no hicks in liberal CAppuchinoland. Only Elitists.

    I think the troll said too much…

    ;)

  146. 146.

    Dreggas

    April 21, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    PeterJ Says:

    As a Cappucino drinkin’, bus takin, mohawk wearin’, kinkified liberal from California I watch Wrestling and the Daily Show as well as KO.

    There’s no hicks in liberal CAppuchinoland. Only Elitists.

    I think the troll said too much…

    ;)

    By the elitist logic I should like wrestlers like JBL and all the other efete ones who think they’re better than anyone else. Oddly enough I hate those guys and like The Undertaker the most.

  147. 147.

    Dreggas

    April 21, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    Oh and don’t forget “Ultimate Fighting Jesus”

  148. 148.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    I really wish people would quit it with the “only red necks and hicks” watch wrestling. I happen to find it highly entertaining.

    Did I say that?

  149. 149.

    slag

    April 21, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    You can’t blame Kristol and RedState. ABC forced them to up the absurdity ante. This election is now an inanity arms race as far as they’re concerned.

  150. 150.

    Dreggas

    April 21, 2008 at 5:30 pm

    Got any “Moose Knuckles” or “Muffin Tops”?

    from a comment on that diary:

    Moose Knuckles
    in yiddish this means a man that has his pants hiked up too far and has split the difference in his bean bag leaving one nut on either side of the crotch seam causing the individual nuts (you’ll have to sit this one out hitler, sorry) to hang low and give that ‘sad puppy dog eyes’ appearance to the nutsack. most often associated with older men in slacks with belts.

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/…

    muffin-tops
    When a girl wears pants that are too small and she has ungodly child bearing hips and gigantic sides that flow over her pants.

    Yo Shandra look at the massive muffin-tops on that bitch, how i would like to put some I can’t believe its not butter on those bad boys and take a bite. Damn she fine.

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/…

  151. 151.

    Dreggas

    April 21, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    Martin Says:

    I really wish people would quit it with the “only red necks and hicks” watch wrestling. I happen to find it highly entertaining.

    Did I say that?

    given references comparing PA to Alabama forgive my knee-jerk reaction.

  152. 152.

    Dreggas

    April 21, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    oh and it’s highly amusing that my post regarding the conference call was awaiting approval, I am guessing given the animal part euphamism’s. Made it even funnier.

  153. 153.

    Liberal Masochist

    April 21, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    But say McCain comes out wrapped in an American flag and Hillary picks up a metal folding chair just coldcocks him and she tags in Obama and he climbs to the top rope and Super Fly Snuka’s him with Mean Gene Okerlund doing the whole “Nooo, this is monstrous!!!” announcer routine? How much would you pay to see that? $1000? $10,000? A year’s pay?

  154. 154.

    Cyrus

    April 21, 2008 at 5:46 pm

    I believe he’s referencing “Piss Christ.” The piece of “art” that cause a ruckus in…was it the early 80s?

    Oh, I realize that. I’m remarking on the phrasing more than anything else. I read it as saying, at least somewhat seriously, that the writer worships the thing in the piss, not just what it’s meant to be a depiction of.

    Anthony Zinni is the name tossed around most in that regard.

    It would not be a bad choice, if we assume the VP role is to get things done, and not groom a future candidate. ala the Cheney model.

    In other words, it would be a bad choice. Because that assumption is incorrect. A potential future president is exactly what the vice president is supposed to be, and while there’s no reason he can’t get things done within the limits of that role, that’s been one part of the problem with the current administration. It’s not the biggest problem, of course, but informally delegating power and authority to an office that doesn’t naturally have it is just a way to diffuse responsibility. It would be at least a little bit bad for the country no matter who’s in the office.

  155. 155.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    given references comparing PA to Alabama forgive my knee-jerk reaction.

    There are parts of PA that are like Alabama, but my general observation was that far more of the state was caught in some kind of odd time/culture warp. They seemed to always be about a decade behind the time. I imagine that a sizable chunk of the state is only now accepting that TDS isn’t some radical new thing. I suspect Full House is still one of the top-rated shows there.

  156. 156.

    Zifnab

    April 21, 2008 at 5:54 pm

    Crist would be bold, but would probably backfire horribly with the base.

    After McCain ascended to the nomination amidst a giant whiny cacophony of wingnut screeching, then watched them obediently get in line two months latter, I imagine his fear of the base has been significantly dulled. The wingnut base is loud but easily pliable. McCain will chase after whatever gets him the most resources – be it money or TV airtime or vespian gas or whatever it is he’s going after – and the base will line up behind him like obedient little puppets. So if Crist can score him an edge over the competition, he’ll take it.

    I still think McCain will be horribly tempted to take Romney, if only because the man is a walking pile of free money.

  157. 157.

    Flux

    April 21, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    Unclear if anyone cares, or if it would matter to the Red Staters, but the singing jesus in the video is clearly an homage to Alien Song, one of the earliest,funniest, and most famous CG movies ever produced.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybXrrTX3LuI

  158. 158.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    I still think McCain will be horribly tempted to take Romney, if only because the man is a walking pile of free money.

    Since McCain is going to accept the goverment to pay for his campaign, Romney’s cash won’t be any good. Also Tag1, Tag2, Tag3, Tag4, and Tag5 all want their father’s money when he dies and would prefer him not to fund someone else’s failed campaign, it was enough funding his own failed campaign.

  159. 159.

    NR

    April 21, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    Romney’s only worth about $40 million, isn’t he? Obama can raise that much in, what, two months?

  160. 160.

    Zifnab

    April 21, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    Romney’s only worth about $40 million, isn’t he? Obama can raise that much in, what, two months?

    I think it’s closer to $150 million. But, again, he’s probably not able to tap all that even if he wants to. Still, if he’s got $20 million laying around in a broom closet somewhere, that’s still more money than McCain could raise in a couple of months.

    I mean, I guess this’ll be duked out by the 527s (and – by extension – the courts) anyway. Freedom’s Watch is still sitting on its $250 million in Republican not-really-campaign-but-still-totally-usable campaign contributions. That’s more money than McCain, Hillary, and Obama have raised since January combined. And MoveOn will be quick to retaliate with its own $50 million (?) stash. Still, there are things McCain can get from the right VP – air transport, private face time with the right lobbyists, dirty tricks in GOP states, etc, etc – that are worth more than flat cash.

    O/T: So… how’s that campaign finance reform working out anyway.

  161. 161.

    Cain

    April 21, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    Obama should respond by having a montage of The Terminator, Aliens, Decepticons, Godzilla, Barney, and then a flash of Hillary at the very end and then Obama 2008 in Flaming letters with the caption, “Don’t let them scare you.”

    cain

  162. 162.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    The wingnut base is loud but easily pliable.

    Don’t treat the wingnuts as a monolith. I’ve said this a few times and will say it a few more – the non-authoritarian religious right is a big problem this cycle for McCain. It’s not a small population and Obama is a hugely attractive candidate to them. While he won’t deliver on things like RvW, his personal values are immensely stronger than McCain, he’s been the victim of a religious smear which they will identify with (these people will know what UCC represents), and he’s offering a policy vision that most of them will understand if not necessarily agree with. McCain offers none of that, and has attacked them in the past.

    I use my anecdotal barometers here. Two private Christian colleges I occassionally visit were almost exclusively Bush supporters in 2004 and are almost exclusively Obama supporters now. One is more moderate than the other and had a noticeable Kerry fringe in 2004. The other is more conservative and had none. I’ve seen no McCain presence but there was some Huck presence for a spell and a few Paul stickers here and there.

    Wright will be on Moyers this Friday. There is a big coming together in the theological community around Wright. It’ll trickle back into community churches. In the end, I suspect that Hannity will have created more Obama voters by doing what he did.

  163. 163.

    NR

    April 21, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    Does Freedom Watch really have $250 million? I thought that was just hype.

  164. 164.

    Dennis - SGMM

    April 21, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    I still think McCain will be horribly tempted to take Romney, if only because the man is a walking pile of free money.

    Naw, he’ll take Clinton. Think of the ads:

    McCain/Clinton: 133 years of experience for America!

  165. 165.

    PeterJ

    April 21, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    I don’t think that Freedom’s Watch got $250 million, the guy that was going to give them all that money doesn’t want to and they are having problems finding other people that will give them huge sums of money…

    And they got other problems too.

  166. 166.

    w vincentz

    April 21, 2008 at 6:39 pm

    This is an interesting thread! Grand-daddy and I were sittin’ in the duck blind this mornin’ discussin’ some of the same things after bowlin’ last night and doin’ shots of Crown with beer chasers.
    Shucks, we were both so hungover! Then out of nowhere, Grand-daddy looks me right in the eye and says, “You know what we should do?”
    As I’m lookin’ around for incoming sniper fire, I reply, “No”.
    Well, Grand-daddy breaks his 12 ga. double and unloads the shells and then says, “I think we should just go home and fix us up some breakfast.”
    So, we go back to the pickup and the fuel gauge is on empty.
    “Hey, Grand-daddy, didn’t gas go up 12 cents a gallon this week?” I ask.
    “Yup”, he says, “and I predict it will close today at $117.48 a barrel.”
    “Do you have any cash on you?”, he inquires.
    “Nope”, I respond.
    So, we both walked home. Left the pickup down by the marsh.
    By now he’s so pissed off, he’s not thinkin’ about cookin’ that breakfast, so I tried.
    I’m not sure what happened, whether it was the bacon, or the grease, but whatever it was, that kitchen sure got goin’
    in a flash.
    “Holy SHIT Grand-daddy! Let’s get outta here”, I yelled.
    He just sat there. Lookin’ stupid.
    Then he turned and stared straight at me as the flames came lickin’ toward him and in his best imitation of Hillary said, “Ifin’ ya cain’t stand the heat, get outta da kitchen.”
    I called the fire department from the neighbor’s place. Sure hope they find the old fool so we have somethin’ to bury, though I doubt it, as all the alcohol makes for a hotter fire. The funeral will probably on Friday.
    Anyway, he was correct about the price of oil. I’ll think of ya Grand-daddy next time I fill up.
    Quack quack.

  167. 167.

    Conservatively Liberal

    April 21, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    Plus I see little point in trying to gin up interest in guitar construction/repair techniques on a political blog

    Speak for yourself! If they can cat blog and beer blog here, there is room for guitars. ;) I recently decided to try my hand at inlay work, and I really had fun with it. I pulled the MOTO (Mother of Toilet Seat) sharkfin inlays out of my Jackson Rhoads RR3 neck and replaced them with South Pacific MOP (Mother of Pearl) inlays that I hand cut and shaped. It was actually fun to do, I learned something new and the results were worth it.

    I did a full writeup with pictures and posted it over at the JCF (Jackson-Charvel Forums), one of my hobby forums. I don’t know if anyone would be as crazy as I was and try it, but at least there is something online for them to refer to now!

    Ok, enough ‘stringing’ everyone around. ;)

    I am sitting here listening to Olbermann with Hillary on his show and he is not holding back on his questions. He is being polite to no end, but he is hitting her with some good ones. Hillary is wandering all over on the questions that she does not want to answer directly, and he is letting her talk until she is done.

  168. 168.

    Conservatively Liberal

    April 21, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president we will attack Iran, …”

    Who said this? Could it be McCain? Hillary? Obama? This person will be on ABC’s Good Morning America tomorrow. Tune in.

    Or go here and find the answer.

  169. 169.

    myiq2xu

    April 21, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    I’ll think of ya Grand-daddy next time I fill up.

    What a sad story. It reminds me of my grandma.

    She got run over by a reindeer, walking back from our house Christmas Eve.

  170. 170.

    Soylent Green

    April 21, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    On Countdown, did you catch what Hillary did when KO asked her about Richard Mellon Scaithe?

    That 10 seconds of big phony grin and cackling laughter?

    God that was creepy.

  171. 171.

    Soylent Green

    April 21, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    appreciate the military cred, but I don’t think running an election on GOP terms is a wise move. McCain will win the military vote.

    I like Wesley Clark as Obama’s VP pick, although I understand he’s backing Clinton.

    McCain getting the military vote is not a fait accompli. Clark could make a big dent in it and give a big boost to Obama’s natural security standing overall.

    Can’t say what else he would bring to the ticket.

  172. 172.

    gypsy howell

    April 21, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    McCain getting the military vote is not a fait accompli.

    Anyone in the military who votes for McCain deserves to spend a few tours in Iraq. They’ll get no sympathy from me.

  173. 173.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president we will attack Iran, …”

    A little out of context there…

  174. 174.

    garyb50

    April 21, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    Y’all done now?

    Great rant,JR.

    And so right on.

    And not a peep from the peeps.

    hmmmmm

  175. 175.

    nightjar

    April 21, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Conservatively Liberal Says:

    “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president we will attack Iran, …”

    Who said this? Could it be McCain? Hillary? Obama? This person will be on ABC’s Good Morning America tomorrow. Tune in.

    Could it have been this person?

  176. 176.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    McCain getting the military vote is not a fait accompli. Clark could make a big dent in it and give a big boost to Obama’s natural security standing overall.

    McCain will be running on natl defense. That’s his strength and it’d be damn hard to overcome that, though Wes Clark would be the guy to do it. (Just to be clear, I don’t agree that McCain has any real strength on the issue, but that’s the perception.)

    But you don’t win by playing to the opponent’s strength – especially if it’s an issue that voters buy into. You win by making it a non issue. You go out there and make the case that Iraq is crippling to our national security. The public is receptive to getting out of Iraq, so you just need to make the tie to natl security. Obama did this with Hillary’s best issue by making the case that his healthcare plan was sufficiently similar to hers as to make it a point not worth using to discriminate between them.

    If Obama can undermine McCains case on national security and put the debate on economy, health care, mortgage, economy, etc. then he’s better off with a VP that adds support in those areas.

  177. 177.

    Conservatively Liberal

    April 21, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    A little out of context there…

    Just a bit, yes. ;) But it was deliberate on my part, just for the snarkiness of it. It is something that the Clinton camp specializes in, so I thought I would have a little fun with it here. I figure that most of the regulars here would be smart enough to to see that although I parsed what Hillary said, I provided a link to the whole quote and another discussion on it. If you notice, I did not provide any commentary on it and I added Obama to the possibilities.

    I would say that although I gave the phrase the ‘Clinton Makeover’, I did not go whole hog like they do. So there! ;)

  178. 178.

    Conservatively Liberal

    April 21, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    Could it have been this person?

    We have a winnah! Your prize? You get to vote for whoever the hell you want to in November. Don’t spend it all in one place!

  179. 179.

    Chris Johnson

    April 21, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president we will attack Iran, …”

    Ye fucking gods. Is it too much to ask to leave the DEMENTED SABER RATTLING THAT ACTUALLY WORSENS THE SITUATION to actual Republicans? And that’s being waaay too generous when really we need ALL sides to chill the hell out and abandon the notion of diplomacy through WWF posturing…

    I’d just like to take a moment to point out for those who have been slowly adjusting like a frog in gradually boiling water, that one of the Democratic candidates for President has openly stated her intention to “obliterate”, unquote, Iran without even requiring as a condition that they’d have to attack the USA. She’s going to obliterate Iran as a FAVOR.

    John has a good idea about taking a break- I’ve been working on my car, myself, doing all kinds of stuff with it- but to tune out for a few days and then get hit with something like this makes me really want to punch somebody.

    Can this officially be the ‘you fucking blew it’ moment for Hil, please? Can we live in a world where we will never, ever have to choose for President between two people BOTH of whom are determined to do an encore to our unprovoked trashing of Iraq by trashing Iran- not for practical reasons, because we’d be in very serious trouble if we tried that- but as an emotional appeal to the mob that existed back in the days of 9/11 when the president was God, a mob that no longer exists yet still they try to invoke it???

    HORRIBLE.

  180. 180.

    nightjar

    April 21, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    Actually the outrageous aspect of what she said was to include various, mostly Sunni countries, under the US nuclear umbrella. Our so called friends Saudi Arabia the UAE and other various and assorted Middle East dictatorships.

  181. 181.

    Martin

    April 21, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    Not to mention that the last thing the populace in Iran needs is another excuse to run back to the religious class. Threatening to obliterate them from the planet can’t be helping them work toward a rational governance.

    And let’s not overlook that Iran has been talking with Russia about defense pacts as well. As it is, Israel provides an adequate deterrent to Iran. By us threatening to nuke Iran, Iran would almost certainly run to Russia to secure a comparable arrangement. I don’t know that they’d get it, but this isn’t the kind of ratcheting up that helps anyone.

    but were they to become so [a nuclear power], their use of nuclear weapons against Israel would provoke a nuclear response from the United States, which personally I believe would prevent it from happening, and that we would try to help the other countries that might be intimidated and bullied into submission by Iran because they were a nuclear power, avoid that fate by creating this new security umbrella.

  182. 182.

    Conservatively Liberal

    April 21, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    A lot of people are thinking that Obama is not playing the ‘expectations’ game very well in PA. He is saying that it is going to be close (3 points or so), and some of his supporters are saying that he should be setting the spread higher, like 10 points or so. This is so that if he pulls off a 3 pointer, it makes it look like a surge in his favor. I think Obama is playing a different game this time.

    He can afford to say that it will be close because even if it is not, as long as it is under the upper limit Hillary had coming in (20 points) then he performed well and she lost traction. I am trying to put this in the right words, but the best way to say it is that he knows Hillary needs a knockout punch NOW and he knows that is not going to happen. So rather than set the expected point spread high, he is instead pushing a close race to show that he is aggressively pursuing votes in PA and he is positive that it will pay off.

    Another effect is that Hillary supporters at various sites are expressing a lot of concern that ‘Obama knows something that they don’t’, that he ‘should not be this confident unless he knows he is right’ and that ‘his confidence may be a result of all of the money he spent, the amount on hand and the fact that Hillary is in debt’. These concerns are being expressed all over, and it is interesting to see the usual bluster and arrogance of her supporters melting in to puddles like this.

    This may be a tactical move by Obama, and since he has been so unconventional in this campaign then this just might have whatever effect he is going for. I know his campaign is going to be studied endlessly after this is over, and it ought to be fascinating to read about.

  183. 183.

    Soylent Green

    April 21, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    Hillary’s heroic charge to the nomination may be influenced slightly by a small detail:

    Sen. Obama reported to the Federal Election Commission Sunday that he had $42 million available at the end of March to spend on the primaries. Sen. Clinton’s filing showed she had only $8 million in the bank and debts of $10.3 million to outside vendors.

  184. 184.

    4jkb4ia

    April 21, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    Internet breaks are very important for sanity purposes.

    All day, I wanted to write my Dad’s comments on southeastern Ohio last night. He said,
    a) Southeastern Ohio is the evangelical part of the state. Even if they hold their noses and vote for McCain, it will not be with the enthusiasm with which they supported Bush.
    b) The Bush campaign outorganized the Kerry campaign in Ohio. They had more people and were in there sooner. The implication is obvious.
    c) Seven months out from the election Nobody Knows Anything. “There may be an international crisis between now and then”. Not a war in Iran necessarily.

    Don’t mention it.

    I am so relieved that the NYT retired generals story was not blogged here because I did not read it with seder preparations and all. But I read all of Arts and Leisure.

  185. 185.

    TenguPhule

    April 22, 2008 at 3:58 am

    Obama should respond by having a montage of The Terminator, Aliens, Decepticons, Godzilla, Barney, and then a flash of Hillary at the very end and then Obama 2008 in Flaming letters with the caption, “Don’t let them scare you.”

    Barney scares anyone with good taste.

  186. 186.

    Thursday

    April 22, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    This is a test of the Internal Coherence System. Which sentence does not belong with the others:

    In fact, Lessig hosts the policy on his website.

    Likewise, in his endorsement of Obama, Lessig admits they are friends and former colleagues. Lessig has also been on the campaign trail speaking on behalf of Barack Obama.

    Barack Obama’s campaign has regularly cited Lessig as a key supporter on technology issues (see here too) and made sure Lessig was quoted when listing Obama’s technology endorsers.

    Obama’s campaign has also used Lessig to reach out to journalists writing about Obama’s tech positions.

    It’s no secret that the Obama campaign does not want to be tied too directly to Lessig.

    If you guessed that the last sentence contradicts the others, you’re right! Congratulations on having less cognitive dissonance than the writers at Red State.

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