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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

How stupid are these people?

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

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Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

One way or another, he’s a liar.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

Mediocre white men think RFK Jr’s pathetic midlife crisis is inspirational. The bar is set so low for them, it’s subterranean.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

When I was faster i was always behind.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

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So many bastards, so little time.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

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You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2008 / Paging Dr. Faustus, Maverick on Line Five

Paging Dr. Faustus, Maverick on Line Five

by John Cole|  September 1, 20089:38 pm| 162 Comments

This post is in: Election 2008, Did You Know John McCain Was A POW?

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The circle is complete:

Former officials of Sen. John McCain’s 2000 campaign expressed shock and disbelief Monday to learn than the GOP presidential nominee had hired South Carolina political consultant Tucker Eskew.

Eskew, along with Warren Tompkins and Neal Rhodes, were key members of then-Gov. George W. Bush’s South Carolina team during the 2000 primaries. McCain and his team long held Bush, Tompkins, Rhodes and Eskew responsible for the various smears against McCain and his family in the Palmetto state during that contentious contest.

***

McCain ally Lindsey Graham – then a South Carolina GOP congressman, now a senator – decried the tactics Eskew defended, holding a press conference along with two local Republican officials to denounce the phone calls.

“What happened last weekend is the great minds apparently went to Austin, Texas and all they could think of for a game plan was trash out John McCain,” Graham said. “That’s not where I want my party to go.”

Clearly, Lindsey, it is where McCain wants to go in 2008. Just like any number of things, it appears that John McCain was against vicious smears before he was for them.

*** Update ***

WTF- The Daily Show is off? Jesus. If ever there was a need for the Daily Show, it is now.

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Previous Post: « Campbell Brown Just Wrecked Tucker Bounds
Next Post: An Honest Question »

Reader Interactions

162Comments

  1. 1.

    kid bitzer

    September 1, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    clearly, john mccain would rather lose his soul than lose an election.

  2. 2.

    DougJ

    September 1, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    Turns out she’s an earmark queen too:

    Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog.

    [….]

    In her years as mayor of Wasilla, however, Palin oversaw the hiring of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, an Anchorage-based law firm with close ties to Alaska’s most senior Republicans: Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted in July for allegedly accepting illegal gifts. The Wasilla account was handled by the former chief of staff to Stevens, Steven W. Silver, who is a partner in the firm.

  3. 3.

    DougJ

    September 1, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    Repeat after me: for five and a half years, John McCain was in place that wasn’t eligible for federal earmarks.

  4. 4.

    wasabi gasp

    September 1, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    McCain’s bucket list is killing him.

  5. 5.

    Jeffro

    September 1, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    More popcorn, please!

    (Could I have an extra bag for my right wing brother, who thinks Palin alone has put the election away for McCain?)

  6. 6.

    Stuck in the Fun House (nj)

    September 1, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Anyone who wants to be president that bad scares the hell out of me.

  7. 7.

    r€nato

    September 1, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    another GOP non-elitist named Tucker.

  8. 8.

    JR

    September 1, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    How many assholes named “Tucker” are there?

  9. 9.

    Tom65

    September 1, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.

  10. 10.

    PeterJ

    September 1, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    Liz “Sprinkled Donuts” Sidoti has a new piece for AP/McCain on the Palin vetting.

    And I got a bridge to nowhere to sell…

  11. 11.

    Tom65

    September 1, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    How many assholes named “Tucker” are there?

    all of them

  12. 12.

    Dreggas

    September 1, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    Well on the bright side they can’t accuse obama of having a black child…

  13. 13.

    Incertus

    September 1, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    Why wouldn’t he hire the person who smeared him and his family back in 2008? He hugged the fucker who ordered it back in 2004.

    The worst thing to ever happen to John McCain was winning New Hampshire in 2000. It made him realize that he actually had a shot at being president, and he’s sold out every ounce of soul he ever had, which probably wasn’t a lot to begin with.

  14. 14.

    KRK

    September 1, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    Even though she’s bankrolling the guy, I guess Cindy McCain doesn’t get to draw any lines in the sand. Or maybe she’s as empty inside as he is. Reports certainly were that she was equal parts weeping and enraged after the South Carolina smears in ’00.

  15. 15.

    Max Power

    September 1, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    Breaking News: McCain campaign hires ex-Viet Cong military prison guards as political advisors… “I got to know them over five and a half years” says Republican candidate…

  16. 16.

    Dreggas

    September 1, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    Hookers and Blow…

  17. 17.

    KRK

    September 1, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    I’m sure it makes daughter Bridget feel all warm and fuzzy.

  18. 18.

    Dreggas

    September 1, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    The quiet Storm

  19. 19.

    Incertus

    September 1, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    Liz “Sprinkled Donuts” Sidoti has a new piece for AP/McCain on the Palin vetting.

    Well, that means that McCain owns all of Palin’s problems then. Works either way for me–either he did a shitty job of vetting her, or he made the worst VP choice since McGovern in ’72.

  20. 20.

    zzyzx

    September 1, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    If it makes you feel better, there will be a daily show on Friday.

    Secessionist movement, pregnant kid, lied about the bridge to nowhere, where will John start?

    Oh wait, Daily Show – pregnant kid.

  21. 21.

    dewberry

    September 1, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    When you’re that far into the mudpit, what’s a little more?

    Just one more example of how McCain’s putting country first and creating jobs. He’s got the sleazeball union locked down.

  22. 22.

    SGEW

    September 1, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    O/T (can’t stop thinking about the protests)

    Watch it and weep:

    Woman holding out flower to riot police.

    She is swiftly pepper sprayed.

    Ah, America!

  23. 23.

    bud

    September 1, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    i think the daily show is airing T-F for their convention coverage. that was their schedule last week.

  24. 24.

    SmilingPolitely

    September 1, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    A 20th century player for a 21st century game. I fart in his general direction!

    Sounds like a dumb Clintonian move.

  25. 25.

    Breschau

    September 1, 2008 at 10:09 pm

    Re: The Daily Show

    They are expecting that they had an RNC Convention to cover, so they’re running plausibly “live” on Tuesday-Friday this week (keep in mind that they tape the show around 6pm each day, and they run it at 11pm).

    So, trust me, they’ll have fun with it – now, they just have an extra 24 hours to go with The Excellent Adventures of John and Sarah.

  26. 26.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    O/T (can’t stop thinking about the protests)

    Watch it and weep:

    Has Obama called for a different kind of police response yet or will that allow the Republicans and MSM to tie the carnage to him?

  27. 27.

    TenguPhule

    September 1, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    The circle is complete

    Where before he was the student, now he is the master.

    Only a Master of Evil.

  28. 28.

    Incertus

    September 1, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    Woman holding out flower to riot police.

    She is swiftly pepper sprayed.

    That flower could have had anthrax on it! You don’t know!
    /wingnut.

  29. 29.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    Only a Master of Evil.

    How long before he’s introduced at town halls to BOC’s Career of Evil?

  30. 30.

    Narcissus

    September 1, 2008 at 10:26 pm

    They’ve kept Bridget McCain crammed in a closet somewhere for most of this campaign anyway. It’s like she doesn’t even exist. Or perhaps she’ll have no part of it.

  31. 31.

    mark

    September 1, 2008 at 10:26 pm

    OT (but raised in a recent thread) John has explained why he’s stayed with Pajamas Media, but the PJTV sidebars are a whole new level of weirdness – a rouges gallery of people regularly mocked here. Matter and antimatter in adjacent columns. Core breach imminent …

  32. 32.

    Stuck in the Fun House (nj)

    September 1, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    The quiet Storm

    Man that is poetic. The guy is always at least 3 steps ahead in the broad thinking department.

  33. 33.

    Kevin

    September 1, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    How long before he’s introduced at town halls to BOC’s Career of Evil?

    How about Cagey Cretins? Or maybe ME 262?

  34. 34.

    Joshua Norton

    September 1, 2008 at 10:31 pm

    PJTV sidebars are a whole new level of weirdness

    Hmm. I have Firefox and with ad blocker and can’t see any of that. The hosting companies insert frames in your website and you pretty have to show what ever paid ads they pump into them.

  35. 35.

    SGEW

    September 1, 2008 at 10:31 pm

    More on topic, here:

    I’ve mentioned this before, but this whole campaign cycle has had some serious Shakespearean/Greek Tragedy implications to it. No?

    – A political dynasty (i.e., the Clintons) in its last throes.

    – The idealistic young man (a “Moor,” I suppose), who shines through the political wreckage with charm and grace and honesty.

    – An aging war hero, once honorable, who sells his soul to gain power.

    Seeing as how our politics are now controlled by the Laws Of Narrative, I’m rather worried about upcoming murder through ear-poisoning, suicide-by-sword, incestuous relationships (this is why I was intrigued by the Palin-Baby thing), self-mutilation, and a catastrophic battle during the denouement.

    Here’s hoping it stays in the safer reality-tv/Lifetime movie category: happy endings for everyone!

  36. 36.

    Joshua Norton

    September 1, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    PJTV sidebars are a whole new level of weirdness

    Hmm. I have Firefox and with ad blocker and can’t see any of that. The hosting companies insert frames in your website and you pretty have to show what ever paid ads they pump into them.

  37. 37.

    Joshua Norton

    September 1, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    OK who’s the smart ass who posted my comment 3 times?

  38. 38.

    Joshua Norton

    September 1, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    OK, this site is haunted. 2 of my posts have disappeared and one appeared 3 times. (cue Twilight Zone music).

  39. 39.

    Brian

    September 1, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    I don’t normally watched “TDS,” even though I like it a lot, but I flipped to CC tonight to see if it was on. Instead, I ended up watching the roast of Bob Saget. What a hoot. These things are always hysterical. Let me say that while I was not alive for the high point of Cloris Leachman’s career, I can see why she was successful. She’s now 82, but she’s up there, tossing out the profanities and talking about sex like she’s the same age as everyone else on stage. It seems like she understands how funny something like that can be, but more than that, she’d be funny on her own.

  40. 40.

    mark

    September 1, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    Hookers and Blow…

    An outbreak of MSM journalism??? What went wrong?

  41. 41.

    Xenos

    September 1, 2008 at 10:41 pm

    A self-congratulating technical post that is triple posted?

    There must be something in the stars, that generates this week such unprecedented fail.

  42. 42.

    Kevin

    September 1, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    Pajamas TV featuring Michelle Malkin. Will she be wearing that cheerleader uniform?

  43. 43.

    Stuck in the Fun House (nj)

    September 1, 2008 at 10:51 pm

    OT Free Amy Goodman

  44. 44.

    r€nato

    September 1, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    Funny, I thought the Saget roast was SHIT but Cloris Leachman was outstanding. Who knew she still had it in her? And I thought she pulled off the sex humor relatively well, considering that I’d otherwise rather not hear about 82 year olds having sex.

    Or maybe she’s as empty inside as he is.

    That’s why she resorted to stealing pills from her charity and then hung out to dry, the doctor she coerced into providing the ‘scrips.

  45. 45.

    SGEW

    September 1, 2008 at 10:55 pm

    OT Free Amy Goodman

    As is being discussed in this other thread, Amy’s already been released, though we’re still waiting to hear about the two producers (Washington Post says they could be held up to 36 hours).

  46. 46.

    CharlesF

    September 1, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    This is a strange place.

    I have only been reading the comments for a few days, and it is making my head hurt. Something is just off-kilter, but I’m not sure what it is. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

    It seems that everyone here including me is pulling for Obama to run the Orcs out of Washington. Except for Phil, who seems trapped in some brainwashing loop, angry at us instead of his incompetent programmers.

    And yet there is non-stop discord. Over what? Looks like the wild-ass free-speech free-thinkers vs the stay on party message,let’s win this thing majority, with backing of John.

    So it gets messy. But John has the admirable policy of not kicking anyone out. But when people go over his line, he tries to shame them back to where he wants them. For example the ‘panty-sniffers’ abuse. Doesn’t seem to get him anywhere, except setting off more abuse, camp vs camp.

    OK, so that’s some good theater. Energetic conversation. But what the hell? As I have wondered aloud in last couple of days, is the blog an extension of Obama campaign? Do we really harm him by speculation of the seamier side of things? After all, who doesn’t like a juicy, steamy Washington pot-boiler? Why should some things be off limits? Who does it hurt? Obama? Really? John seems to think so, fervently. Is this his overblown ego talking? Or is he right?

    I looked at the Alexa numbers, and he has fair traffic, but enough for the Repugs to take notice of all the crazy things said here? Why would anyone care what wild path we take? So are we supposed to censor ourselves now for the good of our country? Doesn’t that seem really, really strange to anyone else? Especially considering that the ratfuckers aren’t going to stop fucking rats no matter what we do.

  47. 47.

    Stuck in the Fun House (nj)

    September 1, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    Amy’s already been released, t

    Good. They claimed she was inciting a riot. What a bunch of Jackboot liars. The word Pig trickled onto my tongue for the first time in many moons.

  48. 48.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 11:07 pm

    But what the hell?

    Shut up is what.

  49. 49.

    gbear

    September 1, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    Is this his overblown ego talking? Or is he right?

    People who go by the name Charles shouldn’t worry about anyone elses ego.

  50. 50.

    SGEW

    September 1, 2008 at 11:12 pm

    They claimed she was inciting a riot.

    Hell, I was once charged with “conspiracy to incite a riot” (a felony). How’s that for doublethink?

  51. 51.

    srv

    September 1, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    Doesn’t that seem really, really strange to anyone else? Especially considering that the ratfuckers aren’t going to stop fucking rats no matter what we do.

    Serious trolls have nothing else to do but maintain the illusion of a moral high ground. As the season runs on, and no amount of McSame sympathetic detonation causes any media consternation, see their moral irrelativism prevail.

  52. 52.

    KRK

    September 1, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    And yet there is non-stop discord. Over what?

    Folks here are suffering from the absence of that calming elixir known as WordPress Error. No more speed bumps, no more having to type it all a second (or third, or fourth) time, no more taking a couple hours off and trying later – comment, comment, comment!!

  53. 53.

    Louise

    September 1, 2008 at 11:18 pm

    With McCain screwing up big time on this VP pick, a commenter in the last thread said he was worried that all that campaign will have left is the lowest, most vile tactics. I’m sure that’s right.

    But I’m worried that if someone virulently anti-Obama feels that McCain is sure to lose, that assassination attempts will be the result. I’d rather suffer the high BP of following a supposedly 50/50 race just to keep the total nutjobs from feeling they have to settle things permanently.

  54. 54.

    SGEW

    September 1, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    Hey, that’s right! What happened to everyone’s favorite political website “WordPress-Error”? I had it bookmarked and everything.

    Actually, it was a calming influence, now that you mention it. Zen-like, even.

    (Just joking, Mr. Cole!)

  55. 55.

    Kevin

    September 1, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    Especially considering that the ratfuckers aren’t going to stop fucking rats no matter what we do.

    There are some people around here who apparently want to make the ratfuckers’ jobs easier. Why force them to make shit up when you can give them their garbage for free?

  56. 56.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    But I’m worried that if someone virulently anti-Obama feels that McCain is sure to lose, that assassination attempts will be the result.

    I’m never been a big Biden fan but even I can see he’d make an excellent President.

  57. 57.

    SGEW

    September 1, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    But I’m worried that if someone virulently anti-Obama feels that McCain is sure to lose, that [unnamable action] will be the result.

    I’ve been worried about that since day one. Which, for me, was back in 2005. Whenever I see him live, in real-time, I start to freak out a little. I keep on expecting the shot.

    Every other person of color I’ve talked to about it says the same thing.

    As I’ve said before (and I’ll say again), ah, America.

  58. 58.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    Every other person of color I’ve talked to about it says the same thing.

    Yep.

  59. 59.

    CharlesF

    September 1, 2008 at 11:32 pm

    gbear Says:

    Is this his overblown ego talking? Or is he right?

    People who go by the name Charles shouldn’t worry about anyone elses ego.

    Please, it’s CharlesF to you.

  60. 60.

    Will Hunting

    September 1, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    Can we please stop saying the rats won’t fuck themselves? The republican party over the last week proves that they are in fact doing just that! Anyone upthread got some leftover popcorn?

    I think what we are seeing, and perhaps we will look back in hindsight a year or two from now and this will be obvious, is that this is the logical conclusion to the Republican run over the past few decades. You had movement conservative “intellectuals” that slowly laid the groundwork for seizure of power pushing a philosophy that there is no such thing as good governance. Their less gifted ideological children get to power and do their best to prove that this was true. Meanwhile, their own political party structure becomes subject to the same corrupt and incompetent forces that they unleashed on the general populace. Looking at the Murderer’s Row they put up during primary season and now seeing the McCain campaign redefine parody on almost an hourly basis, it strikes me that there is no one left over there with any game at all. It took a while, but the bankrupt ideology finally populated the party with enough incompetent boobs that implosion was the only possible outcome.

  61. 61.

    gbear

    September 1, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    In tomorrow’s New York Times:

    Up until midweek last week, some 48 to 72 hours before Mr. McCain introduced Ms. Palin at a Friday rally in Dayton, Ohio, Mr. McCain was still holding out the hope that he could choose a good friend, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, a Republican close to the campaign said. Mr. McCain had also been interested in another favorite, former Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.

    But both men favor abortion rights, anathema to the Christian conservatives who make up a crucial base of the Republican Party. As word leaked out that Mr. McCain was seriously considering the men, the campaign was bombarded by outrage from influential conservatives who predicted an explosive floor fight at the convention and vowed rejection of Mr. Ridge or Mr. Lieberman by the delegates.

    Perhaps more important, several Republicans said, Mr. McCain was getting advice that if he did not do something to shake up the race, his campaign would be stuck on a potentially losing trajectory.

    With time running out — and as Mr. McCain discarded two safer choices, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, as too predictable — he turned to Ms. Palin. He had his first face-to-face interview with her on Thursday and offered her the job moments later. Advisers to Mr. Pawlenty and another of the finalists on Mr. McCain’s list described an intensive vetting process for those candidates that lasted one to two months.

    “They didn’t seriously consider her until four or five days from the time she was picked, before she was asked, maybe the Thursday or Friday before,” said a Republican close to the campaign. “This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didn’t get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe or Ridge.”

    In the final stages, two Republicans familiar with the process said, Mr. McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, emerged as a key advocate for Ms. Palin.

  62. 62.

    gbear

    September 1, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    well I sure goofed up that link. My aim was as bad as Cheney’s.

  63. 63.

    CharlesF

    September 1, 2008 at 11:38 pm

    Kevin Says:
    There are some people around here who apparently want to make the ratfuckers’ jobs easier. Why force them to make shit up when you can give them their garbage for free?

    Kevin, that is my question. If we say something stupid or trivial or talk about naughty bits, are we actually helping McCain? How’d we get to be so damn important? Or is that really just weakness talking? So now we have to be proper and civilized and non-controversial or else we make their job easier? Why isn’t this the definition of the Stockholm Syndrome?

  64. 64.

    The Moar You Know

    September 1, 2008 at 11:38 pm

    CharlesF Says:

    This is a strange place.

    And that’s really all you need to know. It generally stays just one level below an open shooting war here.

    That is, when we’re all not getting drunk, high, pilled up or all three at once, staring at a “WordPress – Error” screen and weeping over the emptiness of our lives at that moment, making MyIQ’s life a living hell, or skullfucking kittens.

    It’s like the bar everyone tells you not to go into. Best spot on the interwebs.

  65. 65.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 11:38 pm

    CharlesF, you can blockquote by clicking the little >> button over top the window you type a comment in. The button is called B-Quote and it will put out a tag that will render anything you type after it as blockquoted material. Don’t forget to close out the material to be blockquoted with another blockquote tag, only this time with a slash in front of it. You’ll see the B-Quote button change to the close blockquote button once you click it.

  66. 66.

    CharlesF

    September 1, 2008 at 11:39 pm

    Or maybe I mean abused wife syndrome.

    I wish someone would tell me how to get those pretty shaded quote boxes.

  67. 67.

    The Moar You Know

    September 1, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    Why isn’t this the definition of the Stockholm Syndrome?

    It is. I addressed this in a long post yesterday which apparently about three people read all the way through. The rest all just assumed I was being a panty-sniffing asshole, which they probably have some good reason to do.

  68. 68.

    CharlesF

    September 1, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    Just Some Fuckhead Says:

    CharlesF, you can blockquote by clicking the little >> button over top the window you type a comment in.

    Thanks.

  69. 69.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 11:43 pm

    I wish someone would tell me how to get those pretty shaded quote boxes.

    We anticipate your needs here.

  70. 70.

    CharlesF

    September 1, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    The Moar You Know Says:

    Why isn’t this the definition of the Stockholm Syndrome?

    It is. I addressed this in a long post yesterday which apparently about three people read all the way through.

    What thread was it?

  71. 71.

    gbear

    September 1, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    Video of the Carville smackdown of Michele Bachmann on Larry King!

  72. 72.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 1, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    I addressed this in a long post yesterday which apparently about three people read all the way through.

    Actually, I read it three times. Sorry.

  73. 73.

    wasabi gasp

    September 1, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    McCain’s hiring the Black Baby Guys because if anybody had an elixir for some true-for-real fucked up McCain baby shit it just might be them.

  74. 74.

    PC

    September 1, 2008 at 11:51 pm

    It’s like the bar everyone tells you not to go into. Best spot on the interwebs.

    With all the talk of Palin’s foreign policy experience from being next to Canada (and Russia, bitches!), I’m surprised Zombie Santa Claus hasn’t shown up.

  75. 75.

    LiberalTarian

    September 1, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    is the blog an extension of Obama campaign?

    Of course not. When you walk into a bar, even if it is reputed people who are Dem/Rep hang out there, do you assume everyone feels the same way?

    And you might want to note the theme of the site … what exactly does “Balloon Juice” mean to you? I mean, it says, “hot air and ill informed blather” in the logo, but you thought there was more there??

    One thing John Cole does is let people speak their mind, then he lets other people tell them they are dumb fucks and occasionally he actually agrees that they are dumb fucks and they ought to shut up.

    But, that is as far as it goes. If you want better behaved comments, there are a number of liberal sites that moderate more stringently (and have many fewer server issues). This blog well pre-dates Obama. In fact, if you look through the archives, you’ll see that John is one of those folks who really liked being Republican, but eventually had to kick them to the curb. Someday, if and when they find their conservative soul and stop acting like a bunch of … well, whatever fetid seamy belly swarm they have become … he would probably cheerfully go back.

    There? Understand? I’ve worn out my fingers, you can start looking through the archives if you are really interested in finding out.

  76. 76.

    Brachiator

    September 1, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    Former officials of Sen. John McCain’s 2000 campaign expressed shock and disbelief Monday to learn than the GOP presidential nominee had hired South Carolina political consultant Tucker Eskew.

    On the CBS Convention coverage, McCain Senior staffer Nicolle Wallace told Katie Couric that it was the liberal blogosphere’s reckless speculation about Palin’s daughter that forced Palin to make the formal statement about her daughter sooner than she wanted. Later, Wallace amended “liberal blogosphere” to “Democratic blogs,” and declared flat out that the Democratic Party was responsible for anything negative that is posted on these blogs, implying to the uninformed and the Republican faithful that anything that is not a conservative blog is an official house organ of the Democratic Party.

    Couric did nothing to correct any of Wallace’s statements and seemed to be caught up in dealing with a technical glitch interrupting communication between the two (Couric was in New Orleans, and Wallace at the RNC Convention).

    Shades of the Clinton campaign trying to hold Obama and the Democratic Party leadership responsible for any sexist remark written or uttered by anyone anywhere.

    Karl Rove was an amoral smear doctor. Tucker Eskew is old school evil.

    Things are going to get very ugly soon.

  77. 77.

    vaux-rien

    September 1, 2008 at 11:54 pm

    How long before he’s introduced at town halls to BOC’s Career of Evil?

    How about Cagey Cretins? Or maybe ME 262?

    With that red and black color scheme they could go for a Blue Öyster Cult themed convention.

    Career of Evil is great (although “I’d like to do it to your daughter on a dirt road” is a bit on-the-nose), Hot Rails to Hell would make a good theme for the whole event and Mistress of the Salmon Salt is somewhat apt for Palin but who gets Joan Crawford? Laura Bush? I don’t expect Cheney will speak but Don’t Fear the Reaper would be perfect.

  78. 78.

    KRK

    September 1, 2008 at 11:55 pm

    gbear Says:

    Video of the Carville smackdown of Michele Bachmann on Larry King!

    Yikes! I knew Bachman had to be insane due to her inability to avoid inappropriate physical contact with GWB, but what is with those eyeballs? Does the woman EVER blink?

  79. 79.

    SGEW

    September 1, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    Video of the Carville smackdown . . . .

    Mrmph! Ha ha ha!

    And fishbowl has it tagged as “humor”!

    Bwa ha ha ha ha!

    (Woo, thanks! I needed the laugh.)

  80. 80.

    Joshua Norton

    September 1, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    reckless speculation about Palin’s daughter that forced Palin to make the formal statement about her daughter sooner than she wanted

    “Reckless speculation” – is that dogwhistle-speak for “knocked up”?

  81. 81.

    grumpy realist

    September 1, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    *ahem* (getting back on topic)…am sort of surprised that Cindy McCain is on board with this hiring. All the stories I read indicated she was even more upset at their tactics than her husband.

    So….does this mean that Cindy McCain is even more interested in getting into the White House than her husband? And has Forgiven All?

    Guess I just don’t have the political mindset. If anyone went after *my* daughter that way I certainly wouldn’t be hiring him 8 years down the road.

  82. 82.

    The Moar You Know

    September 1, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    CharlesF:

    Here’s where I stroke out.

    This one gets the pearl clutchers somewhat upset.

    It’s all tl;dr but hell, you’ve got nothing better to do, right?

    This isn’t previewing right so I hope it works.

  83. 83.

    r€nato

    September 2, 2008 at 12:01 am

    As word leaked out that Mr. McCain was seriously considering the men, the campaign was bombarded by outrage from influential conservatives who predicted an explosive floor fight at the convention and vowed rejection of Mr. Ridge or Mr. Lieberman by the delegates.

    Perhaps more important, several Republicans said, Mr. McCain was getting advice that if he did not do something to shake up the race, his campaign would be stuck on a potentially losing trajectory.

    With time running out — and as Mr. McCain discarded two safer choices, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, as too predictable — he turned to Ms. Palin.

    OK peeps, here are your marching orders for this week: you are to ask at least six McCain supporters or on-the-fencers, ‘is this the kind of guy we want in the White House making critical decisions when the heat is on?’

    If we can’t win this one then we deserve 8 years of McCain. Or Palin in case St. Johnny hits his expiration date…

  84. 84.

    Sasha

    September 2, 2008 at 12:01 am

    Well, the pick had its intended effect.

  85. 85.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 12:02 am

    LiberalTarian Says: If you want better behaved comments

    Thought I was asking why half the people were aghast that the other half weren’t better behaved. And in the name of not giving the ratfuckers some awkward quotes to bash our guy with. Just want some bearings here, seems like a nutso premise for a blog.

  86. 86.

    Will Hunting

    September 2, 2008 at 12:03 am

    Just read gbear’s times link and my question is this: What would it take to launch a floor flight at the GOP convention? Is it possible for someone like Romney to even try?

    I think I would have to call in sick to watch this all unfold if that happened.

  87. 87.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 12:05 am

    CharlesF, you can blockquote by clicking the little >> button over top the window you type a comment in. The button is called B-Quote and it will put out a tag that will render anything you type after it as blockquoted material. Don’t forget to close out the material to be blockquoted with another blockquote tag, only this time with a slash in front of it. You’ll see the B-Quote button change to the close blockquote button once you click it.

    For faster results, just type in (or paste) your text, highlight it and clink the B-Quote button and it will place the starting and ending blockquote tags for you.

    Much easier!

  88. 88.

    gbear

    September 2, 2008 at 12:08 am

    Yikes! I knew Bachman had to be insane due to her inability to avoid inappropriate physical contact with GWB, but what is with those eyeballs? Does the woman EVER blink?

    She’s still on an adrenalin high from watching armies of cops bust heads at the convention today. She got a shiver of pleasure everytime she moved thru a security checkpoint.

  89. 89.

    cain

    September 2, 2008 at 12:08 am

    Video of the Carville smackdown of Michele Bachmann on Larry King!

    Nice. It’s good to have Carville back on the same team. He sort of sucked as a Clinton surrogate though. He’s much better here.

    I suspect that McCain has screwed the pooch. He might get a bump because of Dobson but it’s not going to be enough. We should see some record gas prices in the midwest thanks to the shutdown of those oil rigs. It’ll be fun for them. Republicans are going to be in for a rough couple of weeks.

    cain

  90. 90.

    KRK

    September 2, 2008 at 12:09 am

    My (completely uninformed) opinion is that by choosing Palin McCain has lost a lot of country-club Republicans, perhaps some national security Republicans, and some beltway Republicans. But they’re not the ones at the convention, at least not as delegates. The delegates are the fundies who’re thrilled with Palin and who were prepared to wage a coup over the nomination of a pro-choice VP.

  91. 91.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 12:09 am

    Sasha Says:

    Well, the pick had its intended effect.

    Another poll today has Obama up 8 pts. And there’s another at about 2 pts up I think. They average out to 4.5 up. And Palin’s numbers stink. There’s a post about it somewhere.

  92. 92.

    cain

    September 2, 2008 at 12:10 am

    BTW I find it funny to see Malkin’s name and then underneath “Hot Air” in the side ad.

    cain

  93. 93.

    r€nato

    September 2, 2008 at 12:11 am

    The delegates are the fundies who’re thrilled with Palin and who were prepared to wage a coup over the nomination of a pro-choice VP.

    Good. Let the crazies try to elect a president all on their own. It will hasten GOP’s descent into a permanent minority party.

  94. 94.

    LiberalTarian

    September 2, 2008 at 12:11 am

    nutso premise for a blog.

    It’s where people have a conversation in the comments. JC runs the blog, with Tim F. and Michael D. posting.

    I don’t think it makes sense to hold JC accountable for what random posters have to say.

    If you are looking for definition, go to http://www.dictionary.com.

    Blogs are personal explorations, yes? If it doesn’t make sense to you, well, got organize your own blog.

    But, again, I only speak for myself. If anyone else has an opinion, great. Don’t get too hung up on it. And, besides, like holding JC accountable for his commentors, for heaven sake’s don’t do a modern day version of reading tea leaves and assign greater value to comments that somehow reflect on some candidate or other. Read, observe, go to other blogs and see how they function. I like Eshaton, Crooks and Liars, TBogg, skippy and Empty Wheel. When I am bored I’ll look around at their blogrolls.

    Ok, time for bed. Ciao!

  95. 95.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 12:11 am

    Conservatively Liberal

    Thanks, seems to work.

  96. 96.

    cain

    September 2, 2008 at 12:12 am

    You know it occurs to me that Palin seems to have made a lot of enemies in Alaska. They seem to be taking a lot of glee in helping weigh in on Palin. All Republicans… This should be good. When republicans fight, hilarity starts.

    cain

  97. 97.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 2, 2008 at 12:16 am

    Just want some bearings here, seems like a nutso premise for a blog.

    John is a mensch. There are about three factors going into this current brouhaha.

    Kids, feels like the Graeme Frost got a bums rush from Republicans, doesn’t want to think he’s acting that way or encouraging it.

    Paternalism, doesn’t like to look like he’s picking on women. Only does it when he gets pissed off. He went back and forth on the Hillary attacks in the primary between being against them to leading the charge.

    Stubborness, digs in when he’s confronted with an argument that doesn’t conform to a) or b).

    The “this will doom Obama” shit is completely out of character for him. I’m guessing weekend methbender or he maxed out to the Obama campaign and is scared for his investment.

  98. 98.

    PC

    September 2, 2008 at 12:17 am

    And in the name of not giving the ratfuckers some awkward quotes to bash our guy with.

    If the rat fuckers don’t find some juicy quotes they’ll just make shit up. They are rat fuckers, it’s what they do. So instead of waiting for the inevitable some of us have decided to have some fun with it.

    Did John McCain beat his wife and that’s why she has a cast on her arm? It would be irresponsible not to speculate!

  99. 99.

    wasabi gasp

    September 2, 2008 at 12:22 am

    When I am bored I’ll look around at their blogrolls.

    Yeah, but you won’t find a better gay political blog than Balloon Juice.

  100. 100.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 2, 2008 at 12:25 am

    If the rat fuckers don’t find some juicy quotes they’ll just make shit up

    The first person to bring it up in the comments on BJ was some unknown user with a two letter handle, maybe ZG? I forget. Anyway, it’s just plain stupid to try to insinuate that basically unmoderated random internet commenters are working for one side or the other and one group or another is automatically responsible for something bad one of these entities said. You all need to be reading CharlesF’s cool observations as an offer of mental help.

    Even the people I “know” could be ratfuckers or deep-cover nazis or something.

    Hell, I could be sitting here right now gnawing on the thigh bone of the missing paperboy.

    *burpppppp*

  101. 101.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 12:25 am

    LiberalTarian Says:

    nutso premise for a blog.

    It’s where people have a conversation in the comments. JC runs the blog, with Tim F. and Michael D. posting.

    I don’t think it makes sense to hold JC accountable for what random posters have to say.

    Yes, I meant nutso premise for commenting on the blog. It seems that John backs up the self-censoring now and then with insults thrown at the wild ones, the gist being ‘You panty-sniffers are throwing the election. Idiots!”

    How would I know if he is right or not. If he is, seems like he should kick the wild ones out of here, to save our country. But he doesn’t, so it just seems like a crazy game he’s playing. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that I could slip up and mention the unmentionables here, and boom, twilight zone, McCainiac and Moosegirl are rulers of the universe.

  102. 102.

    SGEW

    September 2, 2008 at 12:30 am

    Woop! Amy’s out, and gives an interview to SFGate (via the always reliable Glenzilla): link (under “Update VII”: couldn’t find a more direct link).

    Apparently, the two producers have also been released.

  103. 103.

    Vincent

    September 2, 2008 at 12:31 am

    It’s very simple. John’s concern about delving into certain topics is not motivated by fear that McCain’s team will use some comments as evidence of ‘liberal hatred.’ I don’t think he’s that egotistic. His concern is motivated by wanting to believe that the party he joined is more civilized and less prone to absurd countertop inspections and secret Muslim birth certificate conspiracies than the party he left.

    And I agree with him on this. If we aren’t better than the other side then what’s the fucking point?

  104. 104.

    PanAmerican

    September 2, 2008 at 12:43 am

    If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

    The highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy’s plans.
    – Sun Tzu

  105. 105.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 12:43 am

    Vincent Says: If we aren’t better than the other side then what’s the fucking point?

    To be absurdly funny while we kick their ass?

  106. 106.

    Optimus Prime

    September 2, 2008 at 12:45 am

    If we aren’t better than the other side then what’s the fucking point?

    Because no one will vote for you – that’s why. Eeesh. Spoken like a true spineless goody-goody who is doomed to loser status for the rest of their pathetic lives – and trying to keep the rest of us down there with him.

  107. 107.

    cain

    September 2, 2008 at 12:47 am

    How would I know if he is right or not. If he is, seems like he should kick the wild ones out of here, to save our country. But he doesn’t, so it just seems like a crazy game he’s playing. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that I could slip up and mention the unmentionables here, and boom, twilight zone, McCainiac and Moosegirl are rulers of the universe.

    Most of us follow John’s dictates because we respect that this is his blog and tend to self censor when he asks us to. I don’t think he’s ever censored everyone for the 1.5 years I’ve been here. (has it been that long? longer for others though..)

    cain

  108. 108.

    The Moar You Know

    September 2, 2008 at 12:48 am

    How would I know if he is right or not. If he is, seems like he should kick the wild ones out of here, to save our country. But he doesn’t, so it just seems like a crazy game he’s playing.

    He takes freedom of speech pretty fucking seriously and he backs it up with his actions – which I appreciate no end, especially when I, or others, are in disagreement with him. In my time here I’ve not known him to ban anyone, even those who have been here for no other reason save to troll.

    It’s not a crazy game – it is the very core of democracy.

  109. 109.

    vaux-rien

    September 2, 2008 at 12:49 am

    Anyway, it’s just plain stupid to try to insinuate that basically unmoderated random internet commenters are working for one side or the other and one group or another is automatically responsible for something bad one of these entities said.

    That’s a good point. Let me say that what pissed me off is not anyone’s “behavior” but being called a pearl-clutching quisling for questioning the likely result of pushing what smelled a lot like an urban legend. Not the speculation here but the (inferred solely by me perhaps) suggestion that someone with real portfolio should be doing it.

    I absolutely do not believe that the fact that the media is mentioning “blogs” means we have to watch what we say. I guarantee you that right now someone on HuffPo is saying it’s John McCain’s baby and a dozen other people are saying shit 1000x as crazy I can’t even imagine. That stuff is a given and not worth worrying about.

    I wouldn’t read or post here if I didn’t enjoy pissed-off screeds. I could stick to ObWi and pandagon if I wanted to be certain that these issues would be handled tastefully but I think this place is fun.

    Also I’m looking forward to seeing the New York Post tomorrow, I think they might have “Baby Daddy a ‘F—in’ Redneck'” on the front page. I figured I could count on their Page Six impulses to overwhelm their party loyalty.

  110. 110.

    Martin

    September 2, 2008 at 12:49 am

    This is a strange place.

    No it’s not. This is one of the few blogs out there where everyone is an asshole. Even Cole is an asshole (Voted Bush x 2). He reminds us now and then that we’re assholes, and like assholes we either pretend to ignore him or just mock him.

    What you need to understand is that except for Phil and myiq and a few others, we’re all perfectly normal nice people everywhere but here. This is where we vent our inner asshole.

    When things are dull, we just shit on each other for fun.

    JSF said it precisely right, but without all the blowhard meta shit like I just did.

  111. 111.

    r€nato

    September 2, 2008 at 12:56 am

    If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

    The highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy’s plans. – Sun Tzu

    The highest form of generalship is blowin’ shit up. Yahoooooo!!!! Sun Tzu was a pussy! – George W. Bush

  112. 112.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 12:58 am

    Martin Says:

    This is a strange place.

    No it’s not. This is one of the few blogs out there where everyone is an asshole. Even Cole is an asshole (Voted Bush x 2). He reminds us now and then that we’re assholes, and like assholes we either pretend to ignore him or just mock him.

    Ahhhh. Assholes, I can understand. Suddenly the fog lifts. Thanks.

  113. 113.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 1:01 am

    How would I know if he is right or not. If he is, seems like he should kick the wild ones out of here, to save our country. But he doesn’t, so it just seems like a crazy game he’s playing. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that I could slip up and mention the unmentionables here, and boom, twilight zone, McCainiac and Moosegirl are rulers of the universe.

    John pretty much allows anything to be said here, but when topics head into what could be sensitive areas he adds his cautionary words if he feels the need to. BJ is pretty much self-moderating, and I think John likes it that way. The problem is when the ones who usually moderate head off into a tangent that he thinks may be harmful to whatever issue is at hand, then he will come out and lay it down. Sometimes people agree and listen, and at other times they argue and snipe away regardless of what John says.

    Maybe John feels the need to do this because of the mess of a party he abandoned, that spreading shit around is their modus operandi and maybe he thought the Democrats were not like this. They are, but to a much smaller degree and they tend to stick to shit that is at least plausible in most cases, though the left has their share of batshit crazy people too. Contrast that with the right, where anything that can be exploited will, and if there is nothing to exploit then they will just make it up.

    His cautions are fine with me, it is his blog and he lets everyone generally have a free hand. If you are here long enough, you get a feel for the give and take and it is pretty easy to stay within what few ghostly guidelines that there are.

    If you have what you believe is a valid rebuttal of a point John takes, state it clearly, succinctly and don’t go overboard. John loves a good argument with a good discussion about anything but he does not suffer fools and people prone to histrionics.

    I like this place because of the free exchange of thoughts and opinions from people who can actually think and relate those thoughts, and I enjoy the sports gallery of idiots like the EEELs, Darrells, myiq2xus GoatBoys, Corner Stones, emptys and the like who we can take potshots at when they insert their heads into their asses.

    Which is pretty much all of the time.

  114. 114.

    Andrew

    September 2, 2008 at 1:04 am

    We may be assholes(+5) now, but in the morning we’ll be regular old assholes and you’ll still be an idiot.

  115. 115.

    JackieBinAZ

    September 2, 2008 at 1:07 am

    John seems to push back when things offend his fundamental sense of decency, which makes me wonder how he ever supported Bush in the first place.

  116. 116.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 1:08 am

    Andrew Says:

    We may be assholes(+5) now, but in the morning we’ll be regular old assholes and you’ll still be an idiot.

    Of course, we also get people who walk in, look in the mirror and then talk to themselves. ;)

  117. 117.

    Vincent

    September 2, 2008 at 1:10 am

    CharlesF, is it your position that if John isn’t banning people left and right then he shouldn’t be expressing his preferences on what are appropriate topics at all? Because that’s the only way I can make sense of your statement that John’s playing some bizarre game by not kicking the wild ones out.

    As there apparently isn’t a banning policy here, you still retain your right to bring up any Palin shit you want. And John maintains the right to call people who do that dumb fucks. The commenters who are self-censoring are doing so either because they agree with him or out of respect. But there’s certainly no requirement to do so. Just keep blathering and take the risk that you might get called out on it. That’s life.

    What’s so hard to understand about that?

  118. 118.

    zuzu's petals

    September 2, 2008 at 1:11 am

    SGEW Says:

    O/T (can’t stop thinking about the protests)

    Watch it and weep:

    Woman holding out flower to riot police.

    She is swiftly pepper sprayed.

    Ah, America!

    Oh God, they are spraying her as she is WALKING AWAY. Unbelievable.

    I hope that legal observer got the guy’s badge number.

  119. 119.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 1:12 am

    Palin’s bizarre and dangerous journey to give birth in Alaska would suddenly make sense–if she wants her offspring to be a native-born Alaskan, in case the independence scenario takes off.

  120. 120.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 1:16 am

    Vincent Says:

    CharlesF, is it your position that if John isn’t banning people left and right then he shouldn’t be expressing his preferences on what are appropriate topics at all? Because that’s the only way I can make sense of your statement that John’s playing some bizarre game by not kicking the wild ones out.

    As there apparently isn’t a banning policy here, you still retain your right to bring up any Palin shit you want. And John maintains the right to call people who do that dumb fucks. The commenters who are self-censoring are doing so either because they agree with him or out of respect. But there’s certainly no requirement to do so. Just keep blathering and take the risk that you might get called out on it. That’s life.

    What’s so hard to understand about that?

    Sorry you had to type all that Vincent, because the situation has already been explained to me: you are an asshole.

  121. 121.

    wasabi gasp

    September 2, 2008 at 1:18 am

    With that long link, CharlesF, you just maxed out your inner asshole.

  122. 122.

    grumpy realist

    September 2, 2008 at 1:19 am

    Also have noticed that on some of the threads when a particular financial, technical, or economic issue gets posted, it can get pretty wonky here. (There was one about the Fair Tax which basically analyzed the concept to death and then ripped it to shreds.)

    Otherwise, think of Balloon Juice as a place to let loose your Inner Snark.

  123. 123.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 1:19 am

    Linking lesson for CharlesF:

    Write your post as you want, then copy your URL. Highlight the section of text you would like to use for the URL link, then click on the Link button, paste the URL into the window that opens, click OK and your URL is embedded into the text!

    Keeps John happy and keeps long URLs from breaking the page.

    Note: Using more than one URL embed in a post will result in all but the first embed being invisible in the post preview. Go ahead and post and the embeds after the first one will show up properly once posted.

  124. 124.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 2, 2008 at 1:21 am

    Sorry you had to type all that Vincent, because the situation has already been explained to me: you are an asshole.

    lolz*

    Welcome to Balloon-Juice, CharlesF. Now you just need to find a suitable nomme de jure.

    *Actually, Vincent appears to be a dick.

  125. 125.

    Brachiator

    September 2, 2008 at 1:25 am

    Joshua Norton Says:

    the formal statement about her daughter sooner than she wantedreckless speculation about Palin’s daughter that forced Palin to make

    “Reckless speculation” – is that dogwhistle-speak for “knocked up”?

    No. The McCain spokesperson’s words are irrelevant. It’s the the tactic that should be closely observed.

    The Rovian move is to always attack Obama and the Democratic Party, no matter what question is asked, no matter what. If Obama criticizes, say he is going negative. If he says a kind word, as he did about respecting Palin’s family, then suggest that he is being disingenuous in keeping the subject in front of the public.

    And although McCain doesn’t know how to use teh InterTubes and his campaign has been inept at exploiting the potential of the web, they can at least read blogs.

    And although it is total bullshit for the McCain spokes-hole to suggest that the Democrats can be held accountable for what is posted on a blog, the ease with with the Republicans use this phony line of attack is almost fun to watch, apart from its breathtaking cynicism.

    With Eskew on board, the McCain has upped the ante on vile partisan attacks.

    PanAmerican Says:

    If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

    Interesting quote. I suspect that the GOP Smear machine will attempt to use a deeply personal attack to anger Obama, to make him lose his cool and look bad in public so that they can then attack his temperament. This is important to do because the Republicans don’t really have the experience argument to use anymore.

    The Democrats need to beat the Republicans to the punch and pile on McCain hard and often. And they need a surrogate not closely connected to the campaign to make Palin cry.

  126. 126.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 1:25 am

    *Actually, Vincent appears to be a dick.

    Well, if we are all assholes then it is reasonable to assume that there will be genitals wandering in and out.

    Wait a minute…

  127. 127.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 1:27 am

    Palin’s bizarre and dangerous journey to give birth in Alaska would suddenly make sense–if she wants her offspring to be a native-born Alaskan, in case the independence scenario takes off.

  128. 128.

    zuzu's petals

    September 2, 2008 at 1:28 am

    Well, to be fair/accurate, I don’t think it was Eskew’s group doing the pushpolling in SC that insinuated McCain had an illegitmate black child, etc. That was an unknown group, though there’s little doubt GWB’s guys were behind it.

    Eskew’s group was always identified, and from what I understand their questions were limited to McCain’s role in the S&L scandal.

    Still a smear, and his hiring is still inexplicable.

  129. 129.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 2, 2008 at 1:28 am

    lolz. Yer fucking killing me, CharlesF.

  130. 130.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 1:30 am

    You only need to highlight a word, two or three for the link embed if you want CharlesF, but at least if won’t break the page if you do the whole post!

    ;)

  131. 131.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 1:31 am

    Welcome to Balloon-Juice, CharlesF. Now you just need to find a suitable nomme de jure.

    Thanks. Yours is at a level I can only aspire to.

  132. 132.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 1:35 am

    I’m thinking Palin won’t make it to the nomination in 2 days.

  133. 133.

    KRK

    September 2, 2008 at 1:38 am

    “I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.”

    Via hilzoy, a quote from the founder of the Alaskan Independence Party, featured on the party’s intro page. The AIP’s primary platform issue is a demandfor a vote on independence from the US.

    The Palins were members of the AIP in the 1990s, and it appears that Sarah Palin was a party officer. Even as Republican governor of Alaska, Palin addressed the AIP convention, pointing out shared goals and her desire for a “self-sufficient” Alaska. Jed has the video.

    Anyone think all those folks so concerned about Obama’s 20 years in an “America-hating” church will chime in with their thoughts about the AIP?

    The AIP’s emphasis on being a “legal Alaskan citizen” together with Palin’s determination to have her most recent baby in Alaska and nowhere else suggests that the Palins haven’t exactly abandoned AIP ideology even if she switched parties when she got into politics.

  134. 134.

    Sleeper

    September 2, 2008 at 1:38 am

    Kinda sorta OT, but has anyone been watching the weird meltdown over at TalkLeft? Something about Sarah Palin’s VP candidacy has really set off Jeralyn and she’s gone all-out anti-McCain-Palin, pro-Obama-Biden, with every post. And just a couple weeks ago she was saying that an Obama-Biden ticket was a “dealbreaker” for her. She even posted a pool for guessing when Palin will drop off the ticket, and her remaining Clintonite deadender readership seems shocked that she actually seems to have moved past the primaries and wants a Democrat to win. Not them, though. These attacks on Palin are clearly just more of the same sexism that undid Clinton, no doubt about it. And she’s a plucky and inspiring reformer who adds a lot to the ticket. One of them actually said, and I’m not kidding, that it’s Biden who’s going to be dropped from the ticket any day now, so that they can beg Clinton to come aboard, to deal with the “Palin problem.” But she shouldn’t do it, because hasn’t she done enough? Oh and don’t try to blackmail them with reality, because they own their vote. Snap.

    BTD is of course clucking with concern and “disassociating himself from her remarks,” mainly to curry favor with these losers. But remember, he’s for Obama, because he says he is.

  135. 135.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 1:39 am

    To be clear, I am thinking she won’t still be the nominee in 2 days. Way too much baggage already.

  136. 136.

    KT

    September 2, 2008 at 1:41 am

    Brachiator: I suspect that the GOP Smear machine will attempt to use a deeply personal attack to anger Obama, to make him lose his cool and look bad in public so that they can then attack his temperament.

    Obama could just Judo them with something alongs the lines of:

    “As these smears indicate so clearly, Senator McCain has no control over own party and I think the American people are smart enough to recognize that a President who can’t even persuade his allies to behave decently, has no hope of governing effectively.”

  137. 137.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 1:42 am

    The AIP founder and his wife are buried in Canada because he refused to be buried in Alaska while it is a part of the United States.

    Yup, the AIP luvs them some America! Not.

  138. 138.

    btchakir

    September 2, 2008 at 1:43 am

    The Daily Show is on a Tues-Fri schedule this week.

  139. 139.

    KRK

    September 2, 2008 at 1:44 am

    I noticed the change at TalkLeft, too. Though I would say it like this:

    Something about Sarah Palin’s VP candidacy has really set off woken up Jeralyn and she’s gone all-out anti-McCain-Palin, pro-Obama-Biden, with every post.

    I was there earlier today (why do I do this?) and given all the non-BTD posts I half thought that BTD had taken his toys and moved on, but no such luck.

  140. 140.

    Martin

    September 2, 2008 at 1:47 am

    will attempt to use a deeply personal attack to anger Obama, to make him lose his cool and look bad in public so that they can then attack his temperament.

    I think it’s apparent that Obama simply doesn’t lose his cool. I’ve got a coworker like him. She’s black as well. She’s been through so much shit being a black woman in this country that it all just rolls right off of her. She might torture puppies in the privacy of her basement for all I know, but in public she’s unflappable.

    Let the GOP try.

  141. 141.

    KRK

    September 2, 2008 at 1:47 am

    it appears that Sarah Palin was a party officer

    I got this bit wrong. I misread a quote by a party officer about Palin.

  142. 142.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 2, 2008 at 1:49 am

    “I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.”

    Republican Rebuttal: “America proved they aren’t interested in this guilt by association thing when they ambraced Obama and rejected the Clinton’s tactics of bringing up Jeremiah Wright. We feel confident that Jeremiah Wright, negro, commie, Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright Hates America, black separatist, angry negro, angry negro, angry negro, Rezko, boom!, what’s that behind you, a terrorist!, code red terror alert, Jeremiah Wright has a bomb! And when John McCain was in that boz for five and a half years, he didn’t have any use for these deplorable campaign tactics.”

  143. 143.

    Phoebe

    September 2, 2008 at 1:51 am

    McCain is just getting more and more animal farmy.

    Daily show at least was on Friday to make up for the monday it took off. Hopefully they do that this week too.

  144. 144.

    CharlesF

    September 2, 2008 at 2:03 am

    Lawyers Guns and Money is on the story too.

    Sarah Palin: The Non-American Vice President that America Has Been Waiting For

  145. 145.

    SteveT

    September 2, 2008 at 2:11 am

    Hey guys… I’m almost scared to post in these comments. I traditionally seem to lean to the right (libertarians!) but during these last few years I’ve found myself hopping aboard the Obama love train. Or hopping off the McCain Low Road Express.

    Anyhoo, I have a request to ask. I’ve heard that the nickname for Mccain/Palin is
    Pale and Palin which, frankly, is awesome.

    Can anyone find/make a mock Poster like the one at http://www.slate.com/id/2198984/ but with Pale/Palin on it?

    Because that’d be even more amazing.

  146. 146.

    Brendan

    September 2, 2008 at 2:15 am

    TPM has posted the video on YouTube:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYYiw_y2qDI

  147. 147.

    Brendan

    September 2, 2008 at 2:18 am

    Sorry. My last comment should have been placed under a different comment. Clicked the wrong link in my feed reader.

  148. 148.

    KRK

    September 2, 2008 at 2:41 am

    McCain jokes (and laughs at his own joke) about people dying after Katrina.

    Note that Chris Matthews didn’t (at least in this clip) mention anyone dying, he just asks if McCain would appoint the head of the Arabian Horse Association as head of FEMA. McCain is the one who gets the giggles and says “at least” no horses died.

    I continue to be amazed at the extent to which McCain is able to make me loathe him even more than I do GWB.

  149. 149.

    TenguPhule

    September 2, 2008 at 2:51 am

    To be clear, I am thinking she won’t still be the nominee in 2 days. Way too much baggage already.

    Hell, at this rate Fuckstain McCain won’t even be the nominee anymore in two weeks.

  150. 150.

    tavella

    September 2, 2008 at 2:56 am

    KRK Says:
    I’m sure it makes daughter Bridget feel all warm and fuzzy.

    Speaking of that, where is Bridget McClain? I can’t say I’m paying close attention to McCain photo ops, but I couldn’t help but notice that all the shots from the big VP announcement seemed to feature the blond daughter and no sign of anyone else.

  151. 151.

    Soylent Green

    September 2, 2008 at 6:29 am

    Hell, at this rate Fuckstain McCain won’t even be the nominee anymore in two weeks

    I know it’s fun to gloat while the blood is oozing from the bullet hole in McCain’s foot, but he may yet win this election. The MSM will work assiduously to keep it close, or their ratings will suffer. The GOP slime machine isn’t yet running at full throttle, and they use those methods because they work. Saddam planned 9/11, Obama is a Muslim, whatever they make up, many dumbshits will believe. There are also millions of American voters who will never let Obama off the hook for Campaigning While Black. I think half of them never tell anyone what their real views are about other races.

    We can gloat when this is over.

  152. 152.

    bwaage

    September 2, 2008 at 7:25 am

    The AIP’s emphasis on being a “legal Alaskan citizen” together with Palin’s determination to have her most recent baby in Alaska and nowhere else suggests that the Palins haven’t exactly abandoned AIP ideology even if she switched parties when she got into politics.

    Her recent interview with Anchorage Daily certainly didn’t help to refute this mindset:

    Q. Are you ready to be President Palin if necessary?

    A. I am … I am up to the task of course. Of focusing on the challenges that face America and I am very pleased with the situation that I am in, when, when you consider the situation now that Alaska will be in.

    And that is Alaska, and Alaskans will be allowed to contribute more to our great country and they’ll be allowed to do that because I — if we’re elected — will be in a position of opening the eyes of the country to what it is that Alaska is all about and what Alaska has to offer.

  153. 153.

    Heshe

    September 2, 2008 at 7:35 am

    My mother had a dog named Tucker. He was a cute little thing.

  154. 154.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    September 2, 2008 at 7:36 am

    If it makes you feel better, there will be a daily show on Friday.

    Secessionist movement, pregnant kid, lied about the bridge to nowhere, where will John start?

    I wouldn’t be too surprised if the answer is “nowhere”. How many times has he had McCain on his show? 6? 8?

  155. 155.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    September 2, 2008 at 7:42 am

    Whenever I see him live, in real-time, I start to freak out a little. I keep on expecting the shot. Every other person of color I’ve talked to about it says the same thing.

    It’s not only paleness-challenged people who feel that way.

  156. 156.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 2, 2008 at 7:45 am

    Oh I expect that it is going to get nasty, I mean real nasty, real soon. Obama is essentially running the clock out now because the right has been reeling since the end of the Democratic convention and he has been free to drum away at his messages with few distractions. With most of the MSM focus on the hurricane, there has been little time for them to report on things other than the ‘scaled-down’ Republican convention and the McCain/Palin judgment debacle.

    The rabid right-wing junkyard dog is cornered, and a cornered animal will do desperate things. I really hope that Obama’s SS detail are on top of things, and I hope that nobody gets hurt, because desperate people will do desperate things. Other than the nuts, the Republican party and pols are going to get just as desperate but in the political sense. I am expecting real shit to be flung by the right, and I expect that it will get more blatant the clearer it becomes to them that they are going to get their asses handed to them this fall.

    The right has to be in a panic now. The clock is running out, the deadline for the VP nomination and vote is coming up, more and more revelations are coming out about Palin, Obama and the Democrats kicked ass at the convention and 38 million homes tuned in to Obama, and that is not counting all other alternate media that was utilized to rebroadcast the speech. For once things are looking good for us and not so good for them. More bad news for them is that Chimpy is coming to speechify at the convention! Now if we can only get Cheney to precede Palin and it will be a real winner! What a contrast that would be for the right wingers who are not SoCons! Talk about shitting your pants.

    I was watching Washington Journal on C-SPAN this am for the first half-hour during their call-in segment. The topic?

    Was Governor Palin properly vetted?

    It made my day, as did the majority of the responses. The first caller, a Republican woman who went off on a rant about how Palin’s misfortunes are Romney’s fault. Yes, that is right, Romney! She claims that he (and his evil Mormon minions)and his former campaign people are stirring up problems for Palin to get back at McCain for selecting her.

    Another Republican caller, male, went off on how McCain is not a Republican and that his kind are driving people like him away from the party. He then went on a rant about how McCain wants to give rides across the Mexican border to illegal aliens (ok, that was an exaggeration but not by much). It was music to my ears!

    What?! Republican party infighting? I’ll take it. ;)

    Other than a couple of callers (I think two at most), the rest of the calls were all against Palin (right, left and independent). The call-in demographic for WJ are older people with some younger ones, so I would say that this will not make the McCain people happy.

    Nor the Republican party elite. I’ll take it! :D

  157. 157.

    KRK

    September 2, 2008 at 7:48 am

    Notorious P.A.T. Says:

    If it makes you feel better, there will be a daily show on Friday.

    Secessionist movement, pregnant kid, lied about the bridge to nowhere, where will John start?

    I wouldn’t be too surprised if the answer is “nowhere”. How many times has he had McCain on his show? 6? 8?

    Try 13. Yep 13. More than any other guest of any category.

    And, as much as I love Jon Stewart, I think it’s obvious that he’s holding back on McCain.

  158. 158.

    oh really

    September 2, 2008 at 8:55 am

    My question: Who the hell was in charge of vetting John McCain?

    Why didn’t anyone discover he was an idiot before he became Presumptive President?

    McCain has “watched her record . . . for many, many years?”

    Who in Dan Quayles’ name is he kidding? Watching him lie is no more entertaining than watching Bush lie.

    I find any criticism of Sarah Palin’s readiness to be vice president to be deeply troubling and an insult to all women everywhere, especially those who have to be shot from a “nookyulur” cannon to come within a mile of the glass ceiling.

    “People familiar with the process said Ms. Palin had responded to a standard form with more than 70 questions.”

    Sample questions:

    –General knowledge–

    1) Are you aware that John McCain was a POW? 2) Are you aware that John McCain is a maverick? 3) Are you aware that America has never before had a presidential candidate who was both a former POW and “the original maverick?

    –Candidate’s background–

    4) Do you consider yourself a maverick? 5) Do you consider yourself a former POW?

    –Church/State–

    6) Do you think it would be a violation of the separation of Church and State if John McCain were officially designated a saint while he’s in office?

    –Working compatibility–

    7) If John McCain asked you to get coffee, would you consider it an honor because a) he is so much older than you, b) he is a former POW, c) he is a maverick who wouldn’t ask you to get coffee if it weren’t in the nation’s best interests, d) as you understand it that’s what a VP does, or e) all of the above?

    –GWOT–

    8) Who do you think is a greater threat to the United States? a) Barack Obama, b) Osama bin Laden, 3)Democrats in general, d) All are equally dangerous.

    –Ethics and Morals–

    9) If you are accused of any ethical or moral violations, as John McCain’s running mate are you willing to lie to the world about your behavior?

    –Military Experience–

    10) As CIC of Alaska’s national guard, what would you say was your single most important victory over Global Terrorism in the past eighteen months?

    –Science–

    11) Do you believe the Earth is round? 12) Using creation science can you explain how Noah got all those animals on the Ark?

    –Education–

    13) Are you willing to tirelessly work to undermine America’s public schools in the hope that ultimately all rich children will be educated in private schools, while all poor children will be home-schooled?

    –Taxes–

    14) Can you think of any circumstance in which cutting taxes would not be in the national interest? a) no b) of course not c) are you kidding? d) is this a trick question?

    –Supreme Court–

    15) Which of the following is “judicial activism?”
    a) when liberal judges make decisions we don’t like b) when any judge makes a decision we don’t like c) when Justice Clarence Thomas asks a question d) all of the above

  159. 159.

    r€nato

    September 2, 2008 at 9:22 am

    It made my day, as did the majority of the responses. The first caller, a Republican woman who went off on a rant about how Palin’s misfortunes are Romney’s fault. Yes, that is right, Romney! She claims that he (and his evil Mormon minions)and his former campaign people are stirring up problems for Palin to get back at McCain for selecting her.

    I do not know if that is literally true or not, but I sure don’t doubt that there are many knives out for Palin in the GOP. McCain did indeed jerk around Romney and his former BFF Lieberman before choosing Palin. There are certainly GOP insiders who see Palin as an awful pick which may have lost them the election before the campaign begins in earnest this week, and they might want to derail her nomination as soon as possible.

    McCain won few votes with this choice. He may have ‘energized’ the Republican Qaeda but they would have sucked it up and voted for him anyway. The few independents who aren’t aware that McCain is no maverick, sure weren’t won over by his pick of Palin.

  160. 160.

    Rome Again

    September 2, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    bwaage, As much as the AIP angle is important this first part is the most disturbing to me:

    Q. Are you ready to be President Palin if necessary?

    A. I am … I am up to the task of course.

    Ummm, lady, NO, you’re not!

  161. 161.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    September 2, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    Conservatively Liberal Says:

    CharlesF, you can blockquote by clicking the little >> button over top the window you type a comment in. The button is called B-Quote and it will put out a tag that will render anything you type after it as blockquoted material. Don’t forget to close out the material to be blockquoted with another blockquote tag, only this time with a slash in front of it. You’ll see the B-Quote button change to the close blockquote button once you click it.

    For faster results, just type in (or paste) your text, highlight it and clink the B-Quote button and it will place the starting and ending blockquote tags for you.

    Much easier!

    For me, it’s easiest to just add the blockquote tags manually:

    the text I want to quote

    Just be sure there aren’t any spaces between the brackets and the tag text. I also prefer to manually embed links:

    short text

    Again, just remove the spaces around the brackets. And remember that the preview lies: stuff that looks good in preview (such as lists) will not render properly after it’s submitted.

    Regarding Palin and the collective freak-out — I still maintain that the GOP is taking a dive this year. They don’t want to clean up the shitpile left by Commander Decider Guy and his merry band of miscreants. They know they’re on the losing side of history this time, but they don’t want to destroy the career of someone young and promising by setting them up for failure.

    McCain is this year’s Bob Dole. He’s at the tail end of his career (maybe one more Senate term, if that) so it doesn’t really matter if he loses. Palin was pretty much a nobody before Thursday. It would have been sweeter if he’d picked Lieberman (two birds with one stone and all that), but at least they’re not going to destroy the career of anyone important.

    It’s a token effort. No doubt McCain himself really wants to win, as do the people working for him, but you can tell that the party at large is not really supporting him, and that the Republicans with real influence aren’t going to stick their necks out to get him elected. They’re going to rely on “the base” to do their duty, but that’s it.

    Better to sit on the bench and throw spitballs at the Democrats this time around.

  162. 162.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    September 2, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    Goddammit, the preview fucks me again. Gah!

    Can’t escape HTML, can’t use whitespace to prevent it rendering, so it’s impossible to demonstrate things. Argh!

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