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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2008 / Preakness Open Thread

Preakness Open Thread

by John Cole|  May 17, 20084:15 pm| 100 Comments

This post is in: Election 2008, Site Maintenance, Sports

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Have at it.

BTW- apparently Tom Harkin made some remarks about McCain filtering everything through his military experiences:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s family background as the son and grandson of admirals has given him a worldview shaped by the military, “and he has a hard time thinking beyond that,” Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., said Friday.

“I think he’s trapped in that,” Harkin said in a conference call with Iowa reporters. “Everything is looked at from his life experiences, from always having been in the military, and I think that can be pretty dangerous.”

Ruh roh. You know what that means. Off to the fainting couches for the keyboard commandoes. Assrocket calls it an outrageous attack, Gateway Pundit claims Harkin “blasted” McCain. Captain Ed weighed in, but I have to be honest, I didn’t read it. Powerline and the Gateway Pundit were enough stupid for me.

Is there a bigger bunch of pansies than right wing bloggers? They can spend years hammering the opposition, lying about them and calling them traitors, and someone makes a fairly harmless remark and they just go insane. Well, more insane.

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Reader Interactions

100Comments

  1. 1.

    Octavian

    May 17, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    Harkin is correct.

  2. 2.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    May 17, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    Is there a bigger bunch of pansies than right wing bloggers?

    Yes.

    Said bloggers’ fathers, who never committed to dragging their zit-faced, model-painting, bb-gun polishing sons outside and teaching them the ways of being real men. One lead pipe blow to the head at a time.

  3. 3.

    Keith

    May 17, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    Welcome to hystericism.

  4. 4.

    r€nato

    May 17, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    Harkin’s remark is almost as outrageous as the supporters of a military deserter, defaming the service of a decorated Vietnam veteran who volunteered for combat, and mocking his Purple Heart awards with a band-aid. What kind of America-hating cowards would do that?

    Oh, right… nevermind.

  5. 5.

    The Moar You Know

    May 17, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    Outrage fatigue.

    I has it.

    Let the pansies rant. I just hope their mommies were prepared enough to put rubber sheets on their beds and towels on top of their computer chairs. Fuck, I am so sick of these people. So tired of their bullshit. I’ve gone past wanting bad shit to happen to them to wanting them to just go away and leave the decent folks alone.

  6. 6.

    cleek

    May 17, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    fuck em. i hope they enjoy their 8 years in exile

  7. 7.

    r€nato

    May 17, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    I wish it were as simple as mommy giving them their binky.

  8. 8.

    Delia

    May 17, 2008 at 4:34 pm

    Harkin was right. We are cursed with two extremes here. The chickenhawk toy soldiers from Bush-Cheney on down to the Keyboard Kommandoes on one hand, and someone like McCain, who has never set foot outside the military mentality and seems to have decided to fall in line with the neocon idiots.

  9. 9.

    dmsilev

    May 17, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    “Derby open thread”? Wasn’t the Derby two weeks ago? Methinks you mean “Preakness Open Thread”.

    -dms

  10. 10.

    Ned R.

    May 17, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    This actually might be the weirdest McCain related thing currently out there. Because who in their right mind would title an article “A Theme for McCain’s Pudding”?

    McCain’s PUDDING?

  11. 11.

    PeterJ

    May 17, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Any horse starting that might be a bit too old for the race? If so, I predict that that horse will go down in the middle of the race due to exhaustion.

  12. 12.

    cleek

    May 17, 2008 at 5:06 pm

    “A Theme for McCain’s Pudding”?

    this pudding has no theme

    i guess it’s a Churchill thing – just like everything else in the glory-of-war conservative movement.

  13. 13.

    Rick Taylor

    May 17, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Idolizing the military is all they have left. When George Bush wanted to sustain the occupation, his entire argument was, hey, I’m just doing what the generals on the ground want.

  14. 14.

    Dreggas

    May 17, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    first and this has probably been asked before…do any of those ‘tards have military experience?

    Second these are the same fucks who supported bush whose surrogates called McCain a Manchurian candidate during ’00 and claimed his service and subsequent status as a POW made him f’ing crazy to boot. Why do these bloggers hat george bush and ‘merikka so much?

  15. 15.

    TR

    May 17, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    The right-wing bloggers will valiantly defend the worldview of their wet dreams. It’s all they have.

  16. 16.

    Mary

    May 17, 2008 at 5:15 pm

    Horsies!

    I’m going to do my best to ignore the nitwits for, say, 1:54 3/5.

  17. 17.

    Raenelle

    May 17, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    I’ll go beyond that. To his prison experience. What do you learn as a prisoner? Well, in a situation where you don’t have to give up something, and you’re in someone else’s power, is it smarter to be nice, friendly, give the illusion of intimacy and openness, or to be a confrontational asshole? Of course, though your emotions may for a time give the advantage to the latter, eventually simple behaviorism teaches you to adopt the former. So, whenever possible, you’re nice, open, friendly, warm, accessible–but always on a purely tactical basis, on the basis of a simple cost-benefit analysis. What they can’t get to, what you can harbor and hide, is your deep resentment, your desire to shiv them. Of course, always holding in your anger like that makes you something of a pressure cooker–likely to explode at times.

    IMO, it’s not just his geopolitics that derive from his wartime experiences. His whole personality was wounded by the NVN communists–layer on layer of defensive survival tactics, all hardened around a molten core of inexhaustible anger and hatred.

  18. 18.

    SnarkyShark

    May 17, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    John, by saying the right wing bloggers have lost their “bearings” as well as their marbles, you are offending their delicate sensibility s! We should try to be more understanding!

    OK…I lied.

    Kick em in da junk!

  19. 19.

    cleek

    May 17, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    do any of those ‘tards have military experience?

    i think some of them have the 40th Anniversary edition of Risk. and a few of them have finished Cally Of Duty 4 on the medium-high skill level.

    why do you ask? are you an Islamofascist trying to take down our country’s toughest cyberbloggerwarriors ?

  20. 20.

    Mary

    May 17, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    1:54 4/5. I was close.

  21. 21.

    Dreggas

    May 17, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    why do you ask? are you an Islamofascist trying to take down our country’s toughest cyberbloggerwarriors ?

    Shit that’s too easy, just deny them their cheeto’s.

  22. 22.

    KRK

    May 17, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    I vaguely recall our host speaking out in defense of Cheetos recently, as in, why do we malign a perfectly delightful cheese-ish snack by tying it to the likes of those? I agree. (And if my recollection is wrong, well, he should have.)

    Wouldn’t pork rinds be a good alternative? While they don’t conjure images of orange-stained keyboards, a snarker favorite, there is a satisfying element of metaphorical cannibalism.

  23. 23.

    Dennis - SGMM

    May 17, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    You regulars know that I’ve commented about my family’s tradition of service to this country that dating back to April 19, 1775 (Concord Bridge) and that I served in Vietnam. Serving in the military does not imbue me, or any candidate for the presidency for that matter, with a special insight about the use of military power. We know how it was where and when we served, we understand how it was to be an enlisted man or an officer. We know, if we experienced combat, the advantages and limitations of our weapons. Anything else is transformed through the lens of our preconceptions or, if you’re a politician, our later ambitions.
    I don’t denigrate McCain’s service. I was an Airframes Cat Checker for too many A-4 Skyhawks to do that. I know the courage/optimism/denial that it takes to take off and land from a carrier. I do suggest that his military service, noble as it was in the prison camp, doesn’t give him any advantage in understanding the application of military force.

  24. 24.

    Dennis - SGMM

    May 17, 2008 at 5:54 pm

    “that dating back”????
    Make it, “that dates back”

  25. 25.

    Thom

    May 17, 2008 at 5:54 pm

    Further comment from Harkin:

    “But now McCain is running for a higher office. He’s running for commander in chief, and our Constitution says that should be a civilian,” Harkin said. “And in some ways, I think it would be nice if that commander in chief had some military background, but I don’t know if they need a whole lot.”

    It was a dumb fish to throw into the barking seals pool, but that at least adds a little sense to it.

  26. 26.

    nightjar

    May 17, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    I do suggest that his military service, noble as it was in the prison camp, doesn’t give him any advantage in understanding the application of military force.

    Agreed. Unfortunately, enlightening the average wingnut mind on your insightful discourse would be like handing the average Chimpanzee a copy of War and Peace and asking for a book report.

    If any furry primates were offended by my remark, I wholeheartedly apologize.

  27. 27.

    Soylent Green

    May 17, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    What Dennis said. McCain’s military service should be off the table.

    But we still have to counter the narrative that he is an expert on military affairs and defense policy.

    It’s not as though he was paying attention at the Naval Academy, finishing 894 out of 899. In that sense, he is another Bush, a privileged son from a powerful family who could attend good schools without actually bothering to learn anything.

  28. 28.

    J. Michael Neal

    May 17, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    I vaguely recall our host speaking out in defense of Cheetos recently, as in, why do we malign a perfectly delightful cheese-ish snack by tying it to the likes of those? I agree. (And if my recollection is wrong, well, he should have.)

    The Cheetos don’t make the man; the man makes the Cheetos.

  29. 29.

    Conservatively Liberal

    May 17, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    i think some of them have the 40th Anniversary edition of Risk. and a few of them have finished Cally Of Duty 4 on the medium-high skill level, of course using ‘god’ mode and ‘give all weapons’.

    ”’

    Fixed.

    I love Cheetos (a bit too much at times), but pork rinds would be a good choice. We can point out that their faces, fingers and keyboards are covered in hot sauce, bits of rind and spittle.

    How do the Keyboard Commandos control their bladders at the latest outrage?

    Depends.

  30. 30.

    incontrolados

    May 17, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    Jen aside, can we please make pw a mock site?

    Wrong thread. Sorry.

    I know I’m personanongrata.

    Jeff and his friends are on the fringes.

    Ok, I’m not friendly with the in crowd. What can I say?

  31. 31.

    J. Michael Neal

    May 17, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    The problem isn’t that McCain is completely dominated by a military mindset. The problem is that he’s dominated by a fighter pilot’s mindset. There are a lot of admirable skills that go into being a fighter pilot. Sitting back and taking the time to think about a problem rationally isn’t one of them.

    McCain still behaves as if making any decision right now is better than making the right decision in five seconds. That was true in his original job, but it isn’t any longer.

    When he was in the Army, my father spent a year teaching at the Air Force Academy. (Long, funny story, but it’s how he spent his time during the Vietnam War.) Between that and a year in the Pentagon, he came away with the opinion that the Air Force has, by far, the lowest quality of senior officers, because the path to promotion, unlike commanding a battalion or an aircraft carrier, builds the wrong skills for high command. McCain is a walking example of why the Navy doesn’t let flying be a path to the high echelons.

  32. 32.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    May 17, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    I’m sure all the complaints about Obama’s patriotism would fade away if he would just wear the flag lapel pin. Andrew Sullivan has this blog post to provide proof for my thesis.

    BTW: Jim Webb will be on Meet the Press tomorrow.

  33. 33.

    w vincentz

    May 17, 2008 at 6:33 pm

    Thanks for this thread. What a beautiful race!
    Big Brown cruised. Belmont bound!
    Kent D rode him perfectly, unlike Real Quiet in the Belmont, and Fu Peg in the Preakness.
    I hope to be at Belmont when Big Brown runs. I just might get to see a triple crown winner! I was there for Real Quiet and Smarty Jones. Gosh I love to see a beautiful thoroughbred run!
    I know this site is mostly about politics, beer, and other interesting topics, but as a thoroughbred owner and breeder, I’m so greatful that you put up this thread, John.
    I’m thrilled that all the horses ran a clean race and came home safely. We’ve had too many tragedies in horse racing, but today gives some people a taste of the thrill that all of us in the thoroughbred industry hope for, when a beautiful horse, with a jockey wearing your silks, enters the winners’ circle.
    It’s only comparable to the thrill I’ll feel when Barack puts his hand on the Bible and takes the oath of office.
    I LOVE WINNERS!

  34. 34.

    JackieBinAZ

    May 17, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    McCain’s PUDDING?

    It spices up the bland diet of oatmeal and prunes.

  35. 35.

    HRA

    May 17, 2008 at 6:49 pm

    ” do suggest that his military service, noble as it was in the prison camp, doesn’t give him any advantage in understanding the application of military force.”

    I agree.

    Personally, I would also agree that my cousin who spent 20 years in the Navy as a fighter pilot does not have the qualifications to be president based on his military career.

    Tom Harkin is right.

  36. 36.

    calipygian

    May 17, 2008 at 6:54 pm

    Hmmm…where do I start?

    I spent 20 years in the Navy. I enlisted three days after my 17th birthday. I have not known anything else except for what I did in the Navy. For the last 20 years, I have been told where to live, what time to get up, what to where and where to go. It is almost impossible for me to process anything without refering to the context of my service. When I left the States in 1990, there was no World Wide Web, no cell phones that weren’t the size of wheelbarrows and I don’t recall seeing an ATM machine. When I returned to the States in 2001, I didn’t know what the fuck Walmart was (no, for real). To say that anybody who has spent a siginificant chunk of their adult life in the military DOESN’T filter everything through their experiences is kidding themselves. Much to my dismay and chagrin, I have found that I have a much different approach to problem solving and decision making than non-military people (lets put it this way – I’m no Hamlet) and it annoys the shit out of me to see some people’s approach to problem solving and decision making. My daily life is full of wanting to choke the shit out of people for being dumb or not properly thinking things through or making obviously stupid decisions because their process is faulty (in my view) and all of that is due to my world view and is something that I am working on (judging people for what I perceive is their weaknesses, not my own processes).

    To say that someone, a retired Navy Captain, the son and grandson of Hero-Admirals and someone who didn’t even wait to retire before he went into Congress (he was a Congressional liaison IIRC) is shaped by his 63 years Navy-Government service and drawing a government paycheck and may have trouble thinking outside that box is….DUH!

  37. 37.

    Doonhamer

    May 17, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Preakness: As an unapologetic animal welfare activist with regard to events such as racing and rodeos, I will cheerfully agree* to disagree with those who support these events.

    Military experience: I spent almost one-fifth of my life, nine years, in the Navy, operating and maintaining the electrical equipment on a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine.

    Do I have military experience? Yes.

    Does my military experience qualify me to lead this country? You decide**.

    *through clenched teeth
    **not offended if you decide What are you, stupid or something?

  38. 38.

    calipygian

    May 17, 2008 at 7:02 pm

    Military experience: I spent almost one-fifth of my life, nine years, in the Navy, operating and maintaining the electrical equipment cleaning the same 20 foot stretch of main passageway four hours a day on a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine.

    Fixed. :-)

    Now commence field day!

  39. 39.

    reid

    May 17, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    John McLaughlin is getting more and more irritating with every passing week. Every question to his panel either promotes Hillary or bashes Obama. And someone has been putting tacks on Monica Crowley’s chair, too; she’s getting cranky. Oooo, I’m so mad I may just fire off an e-mail, oh! Don’t make me!

  40. 40.

    Doonhamer

    May 17, 2008 at 7:22 pm

    calipygian Says:

    Military experience: I spent almost one-fifth of my life, nine years, in the Navy, operating and maintaining the electrical equipment cleaning the same 20 foot stretch of main passageway four hours a day on a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine.

    Fixed.

    Now commence field day!

    Aye aye, Mr. Calipygian!

    (Petty Officer Doonhamer proceeds to pretend to clean with standard Navy issue green abrasive pad and Lighthouse for the Blind brand cleaning fluid for four hours while actually shooting the shit with shipmates).

    So can I be preznit now? Geez…

  41. 41.

    w vincentz

    May 17, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    Doonhamer,
    I disagree with you about your take on horse racing. All of us in the horse racing industry care deeply about our horses. The Jockey Club started the Safety Committee two years ago. There will be modifications in all aspects of our sport to insure the welfare of our animals, as they come first.
    I support these events. If you don’t, oh well.
    Thoroughbred racing has gone through some difficult times lately, but Big Brown has many in this country buzzing. It’s great for our industry. It will draw crowds, inspire new owners, and just might give you a chane to see a triple crown winner in your lifetime.
    A horse like Big Brown doesn’t come along often.
    Last time was a horse named Affirmed. The battles throughout the TC with Alydar are the last in 30 years.
    Oh, I’ll mention that two that I’ve bred are linebred 3X3 to Alydar. One is a 3 yo filly that will be on the track soon. And yes, I was there when she first stood up on her wet wobbly legs on a cold March night. Everything since has been pure joy…never abuse.

  42. 42.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    May 17, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    This is how you handle telemarketers.

  43. 43.

    Doonhamer

    May 17, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    w vincentz Says:

    Doonhamer,
    I disagree with you about your take on horse racing…

    That would fall under the “agreeing to disagree” portion of my post.

  44. 44.

    w vincentz

    May 17, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    OK…I “cheerfully disagree” then.

  45. 45.

    Doonhamer

    May 17, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    w vincentz Says:

    OK…I “cheerfully disagree” then.

    That is your right and your prerogative, and, if you form your opinion after considering the conclusions drawn from your own research and experience in the subject, I will certainly respect it while perhaps disagreeing with it. As you will no doubt respect mine, based upon the consideration I’ve given to the conclusions drawn from my own research and experience.

    I must say that doing so cheerfully is but a bonus! :)

    Enjoy your Saturday evening.

  46. 46.

    ed

    May 17, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Yeah, stop hating on Songbird McCain. If there’s anyone who doesn’t deserve that sort of attack, it’s our Songbird.

  47. 47.

    w vincentz

    May 17, 2008 at 7:49 pm

    Likewise.

  48. 48.

    Mary

    May 17, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    Why am I suddenly craving straight cut fries?

  49. 49.

    D-Chance.

    May 17, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    dmsilev Says:

    “Derby open thread”? Wasn’t the Derby two weeks ago? Methinks you mean “Preakness Open Thread”.

    The Preakness IS a derby. So is the Belmont.

  50. 50.

    Krista

    May 17, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Mary Says:

    Why am I suddenly craving straight cut fries?

    You’re doing better than me. I’ve been craving cake.

  51. 51.

    t jasper parnell

    May 17, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    Huckleberry’s apology.

    During my speech at the NRA a loud noise backstage, that sounded like a chair falling, distracted the crowd and interrupted my speech. I made an off hand remark that was in no way intended to offend or disparage Sen. Obama.I apologize that my comments were offensive, that was never my intention.

    This is weak.

  52. 52.

    Nicole

    May 17, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Three years ago, I, an anti-Bush voting, Battlestar Galactica viewing, horse racing fan find this site and appreciated getting another point of view from my own… and now, I find I have found the enemy and it is myself… I can’t believe I missed this thread (because I was busy watching the Preakness)!

    As bad as I want to see a Triple Crown, I’m going out on a limb and saying Casino Drive is going to beat Big Brown in the Belmont… I will happily eat crow if I’m wrong, but (WARNING: Useless Trivia ahead) Casino Drive has a cool angle- his dam, Better than Honour, was the dam of not only last year’s Belmont winner (Rags to Riches, go filly power!), but also the winner of the Belmont the year before that (Jazil… um… well, he paid good odds). Superhorse versus Son of Supermomhorse.

  53. 53.

    r€nato

    May 17, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) — President Bush said Saturday that the Saudis’ modest increase in oil production “doesn’t solve our problem,” and that the United States must act itself to help bring down soaring gas prices.

    “We’ve got to do more at home,” the president said on the lush lawn of a resort overlooking the Red Sea in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt.

    Golly, if only we had someone in charge – you know, a “nation-czar” – who could lead the way by encouraging Americans to conserve fuel, demand greater fuel economy from car manufacturers, promote research into alternative energy sources…

    Instead we have this putz.

  54. 54.

    w vincentz

    May 17, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    D-Chance,
    The Derby is a mile and a quarter. The Preakness is a mile and three-eighths. The Belmont is a mile and a half.
    Three entirely different distances, and different fields.
    All three Grade 1 Stakes.
    The third jewel in the triple crown is the hardest, that’s why we don’t see one achieve it too often.
    For many, it’s the thrill of their life times.
    Nice to see you’re interested, but the three races are very different.

  55. 55.

    Mary

    May 17, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Damn it, Krista! I used to eat that cake straight from the freezer when I was a kid. Now I have cravings and the grocery store is closed.

    I’ll see you the cake and raise you a straight talking Pizza Pockets commercial.

  56. 56.

    w vincentz

    May 17, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    Nicole!!!!
    I remember you from Steve’s Derby Trail. So good to see you! Maybe I’ll meet you at Saratoga. I’ll be at Belmont at Jimmy J’s barn.

  57. 57.

    Krista

    May 17, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Damn it, Krista! I used to eat that cake straight from the freezer when I was a kid. Now I have cravings and the grocery store is closed.

    Bwah-ha! Yeah, that cake is awesome. We still buy it every once in awhile. The chocolate cream pie was a good time too.

  58. 58.

    cbear

    May 17, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Larry Johnson Agent Flowbee is at it again:
    Who Wants to Be the Next Millionaire?

    Here’s the news short and sweet–if you have a copy of the Michelle Obama video, in which she is lambasting white people (four different sources say she uses “whitey” as an epithet) at Jeremiah Wright’s church, then there is an ultra conservative Republican billionaire who wants to pay your $1 million dollars for the tape. Why? He hates John McCain.

    This is seriously funny shit.
    Johnson is now claiming that Karl Rove has the tape and is using it to raise money, but that the “conservative Republican billionaire” is trying to thwart Karl’s evil plans because he hates Mcain (for putting gonorrhea in his samwiches, or something) and wants Hillary to be the next Prez….and it only gets better from there.
    The comments are priceless.

    Everyday I tell myself I won’t go over to NoQuarter today, but it’s like picking a scab—I can’t stop.

  59. 59.

    SamFromUtah

    May 17, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    there is an ultra conservative Republican billionaire who wants to pay your $1 million dollars for the tape.

    Do you think he’d be fooled by a home video of me wearing a wig, ranting in front of a crepe-paper stained glass window?

    I’m male and white, but I know some of these guys aren’t too sharp.

  60. 60.

    Dreggas

    May 17, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    Here’s the news short and sweet–if you have a copy of the Michelle Obama video, in which she is lambasting white people (four different sources say she uses “whitey” as an epithet) at Jeremiah Wright’s church, then there is an ultra conservative Republican billionaire who wants to pay your $1 million dollars for the tape. Why? He hates John McCain.

    Wait I thought they already had the video and were going to release it come October?

  61. 61.

    SamFromUtah

    May 17, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    Wait I thought they already had the video and were going to release it come October?

    I thought so too – but on re-reading Johnson’s claptrap excerpt a few threads ago, he just says four different people have told him that it exists.

    Wotta maroon. They’re going to have to go with the artist’s conception and blurry satellite shots like I said before.

  62. 62.

    Doug H. (Fausto no more)

    May 17, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    Wait I thought they already had the video and were going to release it come October?

    Agent Flowbee’s just covering his ass. “There was a tape, but the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy – inconjunction with the Bavarian Illuminati and the Gnomes of Zurich – don’t want you to see it!”

  63. 63.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    May 17, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    This is Obama’s own fault for marrying an uppity black woman. If he’d married a thieving drug-addict like McCain did or an influence-pedding serial philanderer and adulterer like HRC did there would be no fucking problems. WTF was Obama thinking?

  64. 64.

    KRK

    May 17, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    there is an ultra conservative Republican billionaire who wants to pay your $1 million dollars for the tape

    Something tells me this billionaire is the son/wife/colleague of a Nigerian exile.

  65. 65.

    Rick Taylor

    May 17, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    Wait I thought they already had the video and were going to release it come October?

    Rove has it and won’t use it until October, so McCain will win in November. The disgruntled Republican who hates McCain wants to buy it and release it now so that the super-delegates will come to their senses and support Hillary before it’s too late. Yes, it’s silly, but I think that’s what he’s saying. I’d be tempted to ask if he thinks he’s living in some bad spy novel, except given who we’re talking about. . .

  66. 66.

    Jon H

    May 17, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    Agent Flowbee is still participating in the CIA LSD trials.

  67. 67.

    bago

    May 17, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!
    THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!
    THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!

  68. 68.

    Darkness

    May 17, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Our mission in Iraq will be a success; it will spread peace and democracy sectarian in-fighting throughout the Middle East.

    Fixed. And Mission Accomplished:

    Hezbollah’s Actions Ignite Sectarian Fuse in Lebanon

  69. 69.

    Mary

    May 17, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    This was a triumph.
    I’m making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.

    And so the circle is complete. (And did you know Coulton supports Obama?)

  70. 70.

    Darkness

    May 17, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    I just reread what I posted and in case anyone thinks the previous was tongue-in-cheek… I really believe that’s what the neocons really wanted when they invaded Iraq. In the 70s and 80s infighting kept oil cheap. Unfortunately, they missed the Peak Oil memo that made the previous endless warfare cheap oil technique null and void.

    Unless… breeding infighting was intended to raise the price of oil, given that they are oilmen. Well, I don’t give them that much credit for sly intelligence, just basic-evil intelligence.

  71. 71.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    May 17, 2008 at 10:16 pm

    My daily life is full of wanting to choke the shit out of people for being dumb

    Me too! And I was never even in the Navy.

    It’s not as though he was paying attention at the Naval Academy, finishing 894 out of 899.

    See, that’s why I disagree (respectfully) with people who say that McCain’s service or anything that happened therein have affected his personality. From all reports he was a jerk before ‘Nam, and he was a jerk after too.

  72. 72.

    Kevin

    May 17, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    Something tells me this billionaire is the son/wife/colleague of a Nigerian exile.

    That comment is full of win.

  73. 73.

    daryljhusseinfontaine

    May 17, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    SNL is on the plus side of amusing tonight; Japanese “Office” and the “There Can Only Be One” commercial are comedy gold. Even Grampy McSame’s appearance wasn’t half-bad; he was slightly less stiff in his reading than some of their guests.

    My friend, I’ve fought waste in government my entire career, and during more than 20 years of representing Arizona in both the House and Senate, I have not once sought to bring pork barrel spending back to my state — not even highway funds. When I entered the Senate in 1987, Arizona had 47,000 miles of paved roadway. Today, it’s less than 900.

    I’ve also opposed Federal water projects, even when they’ve benefited my state. That’s why, thanks to me, 15% of Arizona citizens must get their drinking water from cactus.

  74. 74.

    Delia

    May 17, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    there is an ultra conservative Republican billionaire who wants to pay your $1 million dollars for the tape.

    Do you think he’d be fooled by a home video of me wearing a wig, ranting in front of a crepe-paper stained glass window?

    I’m male and white, but I know some of these guys aren’t too sharp.

    Hey, at least I’m female. I could maybe fool him better. Wait, my sister’s a better actor than I am and she can do accents. Sure, she’s a redhead, but we can get her a good wig and some make-up. She doesn’t like the internets, but I do. We can post it on Youtube. Oh wait, then Larry won’t pay us our millions.

  75. 75.

    Conservatively Liberal

    May 17, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    Golly, if only we had someone in charge – you know, a “nation-czar” – who could lead the way by encouraging Americans to conserve fuel, demand greater fuel economy from car manufacturers, promote research into alternative energy sources…

    Instead we have this putz.

    But the Hillary supporters say that she will DEMAND that the Saudi government give us oil at prices we want!

  76. 76.

    Fulcanelli

    May 18, 2008 at 12:09 am

    Lots of interesting video and reading here: Vietnam veterans Against John McCain.
    This fucking guy is toasted and shouldn’t be allowed metal tableware never mind the command of the US military arsenal.

    Another magnificent underachiever. Fourth from the bottom of his class. He’s so much like Bush it’s eerie. I think the GOP breeds them somewhere offshore, like veal or Department of Motor Vehicles employees.

    I hope to tap-dancing Christ that Obama can survive the gauntlet in front of him, between the Hystrionic Gender Voters, Hillary’s flying CIA and Lawyer monkeys and the GOP Mujahadeen and pull this off in November. My offering to Pezuzu should give him a boost right through the primary, although the smell is starting to attract neighborhood attention and my wife’s family keeps asking about my Mother-In-Law.

    The pure drivel in the MSM gives me Grand Mal seizures and I bit off a chunk of my tongue, and teh blogs, well, I have to take about every third day off or I start to shit blood.

    My wife complains about the mess and says this isn’t healthy. Give it a rest. Then I catch her firing one off at some ignorant fuck at one of her online haunts or howling like at the TV like a banshee and she’s breathing green fire for the rest of the day.

    This is normal right?

    Damn, I’d give anything for a thumb-sized spliff of humboldt county indica or hydroponic skunk, a few Valium 10’s and about a pint of Gold 68 Absinthe. Righteous.

    Heh. Bring it the fuck on, McBush.

  77. 77.

    eglenn

    May 18, 2008 at 12:14 am

    And here’s the “Still Alive” Coulton as a ringtone.

    Probably gonna take a little Audacity to make it a ringtone on my phone (max 30 sec clip)…

  78. 78.

    Dreggas

    May 18, 2008 at 12:29 am

    Fulcanelli Says:

    ….

    That entire post deserves an award or somethin’

  79. 79.

    Dreggas

    May 18, 2008 at 12:42 am

    O.M.F.G. CLASSIC!

  80. 80.

    cbear

    May 18, 2008 at 12:58 am

    dreggas–

    er, which of the 10 videos is omfg?

  81. 81.

    Studly Pantload

    May 18, 2008 at 1:14 am

    I see Ignatius at the WaPo is calling for Obama to select a veep from across the great divide, and mentions Hagel by name.

    A) No, I don’t want even a moderate Republican w/in a heartbeat of the presidency after this next election, thankyewverramuch, and B) making certain the Dems are unified as all get out after this nasty primary season is Job One, an idea for which that I’ve heard and liked is for Obama to name someone from the Clinton camp as his RM.

    I’m liking the sound of Obama/Clark ’08, myself…

    (BTB, there’s currently no preview available, so if I fooked up the linky-dink, my apologies.)

  82. 82.

    Dreggas

    May 18, 2008 at 1:21 am

    cbear Says:

    dreggas—
    er, which of the 10 videos is omfg?

    D’OH The ducktales one.

  83. 83.

    Dreggas

    May 18, 2008 at 1:24 am

    This one

    I screwed up the link before.

  84. 84.

    Jon H

    May 18, 2008 at 1:42 am

    ” From all reports he was a jerk before ‘Nam, and he was a jerk after too.”

    Which is to say, McCain was a Naval Aviator.

    Q.E.D.

  85. 85.

    cbear

    May 18, 2008 at 2:01 am

    The ducktales one.

    Jeebus dreg, I don’t know whether you smoking it or snorting it, but I want some.

  86. 86.

    Conservatively Liberal

    May 18, 2008 at 2:06 am

    Portal is a great game, and I hear that there will be a Portal 2 coming out from Valve. Instead of cake, maybe next time the pie is a lie. ;)

    If I had a Portal gun, I would fly to some remote area in Siberia and find an old, well used outhouse. I would place a portal on the floor, then head back to the US and start filling the Siberian outhouse with Rove, Bush, Rumsfeld and the rest of the neo-con assholes. Maybe visit a few sewage treatment plants and portal the contents to the Siberian outhouse just to put icing on the ‘cake’.

    One can dream.

    Regarding the fun that is the House of Mirrors (or the Chamber of Echos), AKA RedState, in a discussion (bawling circlejerk?) about Peggy Noonan’s latest observations on the lack of a pulse in the Republican party (compared to the born-anew Democratic party with Obama), Gamecock has a solution:

    For us, we can do some things up to and including one of those periodic blood fertilizations of the ground of liberty that Jefferson spoke of should marx’s utopia get too near.

    If he is looking for Grade A fertilizer, he should just recycle his compositions (but beware of the methane buildup). I bet this guy keeps a pistol in his lap while surfing the web so he has something in his lap that feels hard.

    Their ‘discussion’ centers around the diarist calling for the old fogeys to get out of the way and let the young Republicans take over the show like the ‘Democrats are doing’. That the young Repubs are honest, hardworking people who don’t have a corrupt bone in their bodies, and those old farts have screwed everything up so bad that it will take the young’uns to put it right.

    Thinking about where the Republicans were a few years ago, and comparing it to now sure makes me happy. Lets bury these assholes this fall.

  87. 87.

    D-Chance.

    May 18, 2008 at 6:03 am

    w vincentz Says:

    D-Chance,
    The Derby is a mile and a quarter. The Preakness is a mile and three-eighths. The Belmont is a mile and a half.
    Three entirely different distances, and different fields.
    All three Grade 1 Stakes.
    The third jewel in the triple crown is the hardest, that’s why we don’t see one achieve it too often.
    For many, it’s the thrill of their life times.
    Nice to see you’re interested, but the three races are very different.

    Well, that’s all nice and dandy, but both the Preakness and Belmont are still ‘derbies’ by definition… all races restricted to 3-yr-olds are, although by tradition only the major stakes races are considered as such. 2-year-olds run in futurities, 3-yr-olds in derbies, 4-yr-olds and older run in classics.

  88. 88.

    Cassidy

    May 18, 2008 at 8:40 am

    I do suggest that his military service, noble as it was in the prison camp, doesn’t give him any advantage in understanding the application of military force.

    I think you’re making the wrong argument.

    1) Military service does give an individual better insight into the application of military force. It may not make you smarter or better, but it does give you the personal knowledge of the military’s capabilities. I would even go further and say that to really have that insight, you need to have been Combat Arms.

    2)This bag was opened when we ran Kerry, a “genuine war hero” against Bush.

    3) Personally, I’d like to see more people use military “problem solving”.

    4) McCain’s service does give him more insight into using military force, but that isn’t the argument. The argu,ment is whether his military sevice has imbued him with the qualities to make a good Commander in Chief. Big difference.

  89. 89.

    Dennis - SGMM

    May 18, 2008 at 9:18 am

    4) McCain’s service does give him more insight into using military force, but that isn’t the argument. The argu,ment is whether his military sevice has imbued him with the qualities to make a good Commander in Chief. Big difference.

    Good points all and your last one is on the money. You can go through any amount of military service and gain some insight into the use of military force or you can gain none. If military service is a valid criterion for selecting a president then, by extension, we need only take the highest-ranking officer and nominate him or her. Not an appetizing prospect.

  90. 90.

    Nicole

    May 18, 2008 at 9:28 am

    Nicole!
    I remember you from Steve’s Derby Trail. So good to see you! Maybe I’ll meet you at Saratoga. I’ll be at Belmont at Jimmy J’s barn.

    Holy cow, hi, w vincentz! How are you? I’m hoping for a Triple Crown, but already regretting not forking out the $$ for reserved seats at the Belmont- I did general admission for Smarty Jones’ Belmont and it warn’t pretty… ah well. Definitely planning on taking the trip to Saratoga this year and looking forward to your filly’s career!

    D Chance- minor correction, but the Triple Crown races are also considered classics. I think the term “classic” may have more to do with the length of the race (sprints versus classic distances) and tradition, though I’m not sure. Derbies are limited to three-year-olds, that’s true. Handicap is the term for many stakes-level races for older horses, I think, where the weight each horse carries will vary according to the track handicapper’s estimate of his or her chances to win.

    I’m curious as to whom will get the mount on Casino Drive, since Desormeaux obviously is not going to take him over Big Brown. And I think Denis of Cork is coming back for the Belmont. Should be a fun race.

  91. 91.

    w vincentz

    May 18, 2008 at 10:07 am

    Nicole,
    Thanks for ‘splainin’ to D-Chance. For many that are new to racing, when someone says the derby, it means the Kentucky Derby. Wordwise, DC is correct.
    One of the fillies I bred raced in the 7th at Penn National on Thurs, May 16 (against olders in a maiden claimer). She held first through six furlongs but couldn’t hold. I hope that next out, they shorten her up.
    As far as who will get the mount on Casino Drive, I haven’t heard. All I was saying before is that Big Brown is a huge boost to our sport. As you know, he’s off to Three Chimneys
    after Belmont, so it might be a rare chance to see a TC winner.
    Nicole, if backstretch passes weren’t so hard to get on big days, I’d try to get you a couple, but they are tough to acquire lately. If you still have my phone number or email address, get in touch. Saratoga is much easier to get you into the barns.
    Now it’s back to the polo ponies. We wintered the string from a big Long Island club and they all need prep before we ship em out next week.
    Regards.

  92. 92.

    Dave_Violence

    May 18, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    Is there a bigger bunch of pansies than right wing bloggers?

    Left wing bloggers?

  93. 93.

    calipygian

    May 18, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Dave_Violence Says:

    Is there a bigger bunch of pansies than right wing bloggers?

    How about people who are so insecure about their cock size that they feel it necessary to put the word “violence” in their screen name?

    Thats pretty pansified.

  94. 94.

    Stephen1947

    May 18, 2008 at 1:18 pm

    Can I just say that you should apologize to pansies for comparing them to keyboard kommandos? That’s really a low blow!

  95. 95.

    The Other Steve

    May 18, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    The proper response to this style of outrage is…

    “Is he wrong?”

  96. 96.

    liberal

    May 18, 2008 at 10:16 pm

    Studly Pantload wrote, No, I don’t want even a moderate Republican…

    Actually, Hagel is overall pretty conservative.

  97. 97.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    May 19, 2008 at 9:39 am

    jasper parnell Says:

    Huckleberry’s apology.

    <snip>
    This is weak.

    Weak apology for a weak joke.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Waterbeds for cows « The Mississippifarian says:
    May 18, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    […] McCain: protected by poofs (who tend to be short on proof) […]

  2. John McCain’s secret history — John Cole does not go far enough « The Inverse Square Blog says:
    May 18, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    […] But I was taking in my morning Balloon-Juice, I came across this post.  In it, Cole points to the hornet’s nest of stupid Senator Tom Harkin has provoked by noting that John McCain is “trapped” in a worldview created not just by his career as professional military man, but through the immersion in military habits of thought that comes with being the son and grandson of career guys, and admirals too boot. […]

  3. AMERICAN NONSENSE » Midday open thread says:
    May 19, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    […] Harkin: […]

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