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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2008 / A Juxtaposition

A Juxtaposition

by John Cole|  September 3, 200810:12 pm| 253 Comments

This post is in: Election 2008, Did You Know John McCain Was A POW?, Republican Crime Syndicate - aka the Bush Admin.

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While the Republicans are re-igniting the culture wars in St. Paul while begging for four more years, Jack Abramoff is in a courtroom begging for mercy:

Jack Abramoff, once a top Republican lobbyist on K Street, is asking a federal judge to show mercy when she sentences him Thursday in an epic corruption case that continues to rock Capitol Hill and the GOP establishment.

Abramoff, who is already serving a 70-month sentence stemming from his fraudulent purchase of a Florida casino-cruise ship company, will go before District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle to be sentenced in a scandal that resulted in a prison term for one former member of Congress, a dozen other guilty pleas by former Republican aides and officials, and new ethics legislation enacted at the start of the 110th Congress.

Barack Obama worked on that ethics legislation. Sarah Palin worked with an Abramoff lobbyist.

Discuss (and no, I did not watch the speeches tonight. Was reading Nixonland and watching BSG).

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Reader Interactions

253Comments

  1. 1.

    Bostondreams

    September 3, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    You missed nothing. Except that apparently Palin has huge balls, because she repeated that ‘bridge to nowhere’ crap that has ALREADY been proven to be false the FIRST time she said it.
    They really are going to make this all about the culture wars and the evil media, aren’t they?

  2. 2.

    flavortext

    September 3, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    It appears that Palin is unfazed by facts. She repeated the “I was against the bridge to nowhere” crap and claimed that Obama did not work on a single piece of major legislation, something you just refuted without even trying. She flat out lied several times and took a below-the-belt jab against Obama (He’s only trying to become President to advance his career? Good lord…) but since she did it with a smile and a happy voice the media are declaring this a win.

  3. 3.

    Stuck in the Fun House

    September 3, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    It was a great speech in it’s delivery as I kind of expected. She has a certain charm that some will latch onto, disregarding actual facts about her nutbaggery. It came thru clear to me this is one ruthless and tough woman who shouldn’t be taken lightly. There is a whininess about her voice though, that would work wonders as an alternative to waterboarding, IMHO.

  4. 4.

    gbear

    September 3, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    I blame Obama. and your server.

  5. 5.

    Wini

    September 3, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    and no, I did not watch the speeches tonight

    Lucky

  6. 6.

    zzyzx

    September 3, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    Be glad you didn’t. I would mind the praise if she were competent. As it was it was just depressing.

  7. 7.

    cain

    September 3, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    The way cindy McCain was beaming and shaking her head so proudly, you’d think they had won the election and that all was right in the world.

    Tomorrow begins the scandals and more domination of the VP pick. Peggy Noonan is recanting, the whole party is on the retreat with a big waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!!

    cain

  8. 8.

    rob!

    September 3, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    Was reading Nixonland and watching BSG

    symbols of Republicanism past and Republicanism future.

  9. 9.

    Martin

    September 3, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    If anyone talks to you about the importance of experience, never forget one thing: The most experienced person to be president, by a landslide, is Dick Cheney.

    8 years as VP.
    Secretary of Defense.
    WH Chief of Staff.
    Minority Whip in the House.

    Cheney should trump anyone if experience mattered. Even half of the 28%ers would disagree with Cheney in the top slot. Experience means fuck-all after you’ve gotten to know the candidate.

  10. 10.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    and no, I did not watch the speeches tonight

    I watched a rerun of Good Eats (Beer!), am watching Jeopardy, and am recording Bones.

    Oh yeah, and I listened to The Kinks.

  11. 11.

    Gold Star for Robot Boy

    September 3, 2008 at 10:41 pm

    I blame Obama. and your server.

    DAMN YOU, SCOTT BEAUCHAMP!!!

  12. 12.

    Tsulagi

    September 3, 2008 at 10:42 pm

    and no, I did not watch the speeches tonight.

    Didn’t miss much. I only watched for the Palin speech. Like her speech, pretty sure the patriots have already prepared the script she knocked it out of the park.

    She had one or two good lines, but most of it was a speech by the numbers. I started paying more attention to the floor audience wondering how all those albinos escaped from their nursing homes or fat farms.

    Hope RedState’s intrepid flag counter was on duty to give us the patriot count because other than the graphic one on the podium screen, I didn’t see any. But then I guess they’d be optional for Repubs as by definition they set the bar for patriotism no one else meets.

  13. 13.

    dmsilev

    September 3, 2008 at 10:42 pm

    I’m just waiting for the next GOP mouthpiece to scream “sexism” whenever someone questions whether living several hundred miles away from Russia counts as foreign policy experience.

    She gave a very aggressive, very partisan speech. Which is fine, but that means that her views and positions, such as they are, are now thoroughly fair game.

    -dms

  14. 14.

    Dug Jay

    September 3, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    Barack Obama worked on that ethics legislation

    Suuurrreee he did. And he got on the job training in the field while making his bones as a working member of the Daley Chicago political machine when he wasn’t busy with his close personal friend, newly indicted felon, Tony “Ducks” Rezko.

  15. 15.

    Ned R.

    September 3, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    Me, I was mostly bumming out over the fact that Bill Melendez died. (And you know his work even if you don’t know the name, trust me.)

  16. 16.

    Joshua Norton

    September 3, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    We should definitely thank the good Governor for reminding us all that she is just a pit bull with lipstick . . . I knew she reminded me of something! :)

    Tina Fey will have lots of work on SNL thru November. Lorne Michaels must be jumping for joy.

  17. 17.

    Seanly

    September 3, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    I didn’t watch it either. The lies & hypocrisy piss me off. I was watching Daily Show & wanted to throw a brick at that cocksucker Newt Gingrich.

  18. 18.

    Incertus

    September 3, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    Fuck the speeches. Watch the Daily Show. It’s like this is everything that Jon Stewart has been waiting for for the last five years. He’s on fire.

  19. 19.

    cain

    September 3, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    arrrgh.. firefox identifies BJ as “Network Error” these days :(

    cain

  20. 20.

    Bostondreams

    September 3, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    Dug Jay Says:

    Barack Obama worked on that ethics legislation

    Suuurrreee he did. And he got on the job training in the field while making his bones as a working member of the Daley Chicago political machine when he wasn’t busy with his close personal friend, newly indicted felon, Tony “Ducks” Rezko.

    Good point, DJ. Though of course, after being a POW, John McCain got HIS on the job training in ethics through the help of his VERY close personal friend, Charles Keating.
    Try again.

  21. 21.

    Texas Dem

    September 3, 2008 at 10:55 pm

    It was a very effective speech. Frighteningly effective. It’s clear from tonight’s torch light parade that the GOP is going to match the Dem’s focus on economic populism with cultural populism. And it just might work. As an aside, I’ll note that Palin is going to make one hell of an attack dog. She’s smart, attractive, and ruthless as hell. And anyone who questions her qualifications can now expect to be labeled a sexist.

  22. 22.

    r€nato

    September 3, 2008 at 10:55 pm

    Watch the Daily Show. It’s like this is everything that Jon Stewart has been waiting for for the last five years. He’s on fire.

    that was one of the best TDS’s I’ve seen in a while. You can tell they’ve been honing that bathroom sketch for MONTHS. Classic.

  23. 23.

    blogreeder

    September 3, 2008 at 10:55 pm

    I did not watch the speeches tonight.

    Afraid you’d revert back to a decent human being?

  24. 24.

    reid

    September 3, 2008 at 10:55 pm

    Just watched Andrea Mitchell interview Giuliani on MSNBC. He was being his usual snake self. I think (wishful thinking, maybe) Mitchell was actually a little digusted by it.

    It’s sad how so many people can outright lie so easily.

  25. 25.

    Will Hunting

    September 3, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    O/T – why the f*ck are we giving $1 billion to Georgia???

    Note: I realize this is insignificant relative to the sum down the Iraq rathole…

  26. 26.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    Dug Jay Says:

    SQUAWK!

    The parrot is heard from, yet again.

  27. 27.

    Spencer

    September 3, 2008 at 10:58 pm

    Nixonland, huh? So do you think tonight will be the last time railing against Franklins works, or are we in for a permanent Orthogoniam majority?

  28. 28.

    Ned R.

    September 3, 2008 at 10:58 pm

    It’s clear from tonight’s torch light parade that the GOP is going to match the Dem’s focus on economic populism with cultural populism.

    If it’s down to money versus self-martyrdom, I think I’ll go with the money.

  29. 29.

    cain

    September 3, 2008 at 10:59 pm

    It was a very effective speech. Frighteningly effective. It’s clear from tonight’s torch light parade that the GOP is going to match the Dem’s focus on economic populism with cultural populism. And it just might work. As an aside, I’ll note that Palin is going to make one hell of an attack dog. She’s smart, attractive, and ruthless as hell. And anyone who questions her qualifications can now expect to be labeled a sexist.

    It was full of lies. Her timing was a bit odd and there were some parts were the crowd weren’t sure if they were supposed to clap or not. She delivered it “ok”. Probably better at talking than McCain is.

    I didn’t really see a lot of enthusiasm in the crowd. Maybe that’s just me? Anyways, McCain is toast as the scandals continue. She’ll be too busy defending that than attacking Obama.

    cain

  30. 30.

    tomjones

    September 3, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    Poor Dug Jay. Trying to impress us, and can’t even get it right that Rezko is a newly convicted felon, not indicted.

  31. 31.

    tBone

    September 3, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    Afraid you’d revert back to a decent human being?

    Good one! With stinging, sarcastic wit like that, you should be writing speeches for Sarah Palin or something.

  32. 32.

    Fern

    September 3, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    I’m not sure most of the audience bought the speech. I noticed in the crowd shots – a lot of people looking at each other with expressions that said “we are so fucked”

  33. 33.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 3, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    I am hearing the counting from the TV in the other room, and it sounds like ten people are cheering at a time.

  34. 34.

    zuzu's petals

    September 3, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    I just found out my brother is at the convention.

    I shouldn’t be surprised, he held a fundraiser in 2000 and is on his state finance committee, but still…

    Eccchhh.

  35. 35.

    Joshua Norton

    September 3, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    Brian Williams read off the litany of the lies. Lied about raising taxes, the bridge to nowhere, all the places where everyone else cringed. She gave them permission to open a ginormous can of whoop-ass on her as a politician – because she proved that’s exactly what she is.

    Wow. McCain must have really pissed off his true base, the media.

  36. 36.

    4jkb4ia

    September 3, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    I am glad that Venus and Serena kept playing so that I could listen to all of the Nadal match without stopping for the speech. Yes, they brought them out at 11:30. The speech showed that Palin can fulfill the VP candidate functions of attacking the opposing candidate and reminding us that McCain was a POW. She delivered it formidably.

    I finished “The Lost”. I am now ready for Elul. I think.

  37. 37.

    Will Hunting

    September 3, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    When does McCain speak tomorrow night? How is he going to compete with this?

    7AM Eastern kickoff. Super Bowl Champs. The 20 second part starting at about 19 seconds in just puts a spring in my step.

  38. 38.

    FLILF Hunter

    September 3, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    Me, I was mostly bumming out over the fact that Bill Melendez died. (And you know his work even if you don’t know the name, trust me.)

    Oh, man. Best Christmas show ever.

  39. 39.

    Jim

    September 3, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    Can we have the contribution button again please. My credit card is out and I’m itching to contribute some more money to Obama.

  40. 40.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:18 pm

    I am hearing the counting from the TV in the other room, and it sounds like ten people are cheering at a time.

    I have it on now with the sound off, and my god, I used to joke about people who look like Republicans, but HOLY SHIT!

    Hey, I just thought I saw that PUMA tool Will Bower in the background of one of the states’ delegations.

  41. 41.

    4jkb4ia

    September 3, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    I forgot to say that McCain may have dissipated any good will he got for insisting that Lieberman come out there and give a relatively classy speech.

  42. 42.

    AkaDad

    September 3, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    Did Anne Coulter write Palin’s speech?

  43. 43.

    Martin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:24 pm

    And anyone who questions her qualifications can now expect to be labeled a sexist.

    Good luck with that. With the war against the media, they’ll help with the charge that any question of Obama’s qualifications can be labeled as racist. What goes around comes around, and the racist label will stick. The sexist label won’t.

    Palin can give speeches, I never doubted that. Let’s see what happens when someone asks her about Pakistan or health care.

  44. 44.

    pseudonymous in nc

    September 3, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    John, if Obama’s elected, I’ll cheer when you re-register as a Republican and start kicking at him from the right. That’s healthy.

    If not, you’re not going to re-register for a while. These people are crazy.

    that was one of the best TDS’s I’ve seen in a while. You can tell they’ve been honing that bathroom sketch for MONTHS.

    I heard John Oliver talking on the podcast he does for the UK TImes, and he sounded like he was going to enjoy the RNC much more than the DNC.

  45. 45.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 3, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    I hope the media don’t fall for the questioning her qualifications equals sexism or misogyny trap. With all of the hyperventilating from the Hillary camp and crowd, you can bet the Republicans are going to flog that horse to death.

    I think it will have a limited effect if people are as sick and tired of hearing it as I am.

    Touchy question for McCain? POW! ! !

    Touchy question for Palin? Sexism! ! !

    I think it will wear thin quickly.

    7AM Eastern kickoff. Super Bowl Champs. The 20 second part starting at about 19 seconds in just puts a spring in my step.

    7AM? Boy, there are going to be some early drunks tomorrow morning! ;)

    I bet the righties will say they Tivo’d it but do you think they would really take the time to watch it?

  46. 46.

    PC

    September 3, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    Is Wolf Blitzer really saying “the liberal elite mainstream news media?” Wolf Blitzer?

  47. 47.

    reid

    September 3, 2008 at 11:28 pm

    Floor interview: Kelly Randall, a moderate, pro-choice Repub from California, had her doubts about Palin, but after this speech, she’s convinced. She’s more concerned about safety and security these days than pro-choice. She’s a mom, she gets it.

  48. 48.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 3, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    Can we have the contribution button again please.

    Here is John’s ActBlue/Obama link.

  49. 49.

    grumpy realist

    September 3, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    No surprise that Palin was able to read a script off a teleprompter well. Journalism major, etc.

    Smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors.

  50. 50.

    FLILF Hunter

    September 3, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    Touchy question for McCain? POW! ! !

    Yup. I’m up to fucking HERE with the POW crap.

    From now on, touchy response: The last time John McCain faced off against one our country’s enemies, they shot his ass down and took him prisoner.

  51. 51.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 3, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    I turned it off when they brought a huge black cowboy out that they had captured. Sorry, I draw the line at exploitation.

  52. 52.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    Floor interview: Kelly Randall, a moderate, pro-choice Repub from California, had her doubts about Palin, but after this speech, she’s convinced. She’s more concerned about safety and security these days than pro-choice. She’s a mom, she gets it.

    Are they pumping laughing gas into the XCel?

  53. 53.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 3, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    She’s a mom, she gets it.

    Those who are willing to give up freedom for security…

    No, she doesn’t get it. Not even close.

  54. 54.

    PC

    September 3, 2008 at 11:32 pm

    The last time John McCain faced off against one our country’s enemies, they shot his ass down and took him prisoner.

    Holy Shit! So now that McCain is facing another of America’s enemies, Barack HUSSEIN Obama, he’s going to get his ass shot down again?

  55. 55.

    AkaDad

    September 3, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    Some people don’t appreciate it when you mock community organizers.

  56. 56.

    Walker

    September 3, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    Floor interview: Kelly Randall, a moderate, pro-choice Repub from California

    There is no such thing. The Overton Window just means that a moderate Republican is someone who does not believe we should execute Democrats for the treason they are supposed to have committed.

  57. 57.

    PC

    September 3, 2008 at 11:39 pm

    I just had someone tell me she sounded like the Cindy Sheehan of the far right.

  58. 58.

    reid

    September 3, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    Hm, turns out you can’t use less-than/greater-than symbols here…. It filtered out my ending colorful vomity effect. In any case, I was unclear; Kelly proclaimed that Palin, as a mom, “gets it”. The Repubs will protect us from all those nasty brown people! Cripes I can’t stand people that are so cowardly and fearful about every little thing that might affect their precious children. Kelly probably has 12 “baby on board” stickers on her minivan….

  59. 59.

    jaime

    September 3, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    My father is a community organizer.

    I am insulted and furious.

    f.u.r.i.o.u.s.

  60. 60.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    Hm, turns out you can’t use less-than/greater-than symbols here

    John has that shit clamped down like a <vise>

  61. 61.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 3, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    Although I think the media is just going to cower in the face of attacks, there is a small, small mote of hope.

  62. 62.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    John has that shit clamped down like a

    heh, as you can see. Cross-site scripting attack and all that, or something.

  63. 63.

    AkaDad

    September 3, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    I can’t believe Palin mocked Jesus, the most famous community organizer.

  64. 64.

    Ned R.

    September 3, 2008 at 11:47 pm

    You know, I was wondering what Halcro would say…

    (It’s all about the final line in context.)

  65. 65.

    r€nato

    September 3, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    Noun, verb, 9/11 = Guliani sentence
    Noun, verb, POW = McCain sentence
    Noun, verb, Hockey mom = Sarah Palin Sentence

    I MISSED MY PERIOD!! = Bristol Palin sentence

  66. 66.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 3, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    John, could you post the connection string to the datebase? I got the tables, field names and query strings already. I want to build my own frontend.

  67. 67.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:51 pm

    John, could you post the connection string to the datebase? I got the tables, field names and query strings already. I want to build my own frontend.

    LOL!

  68. 68.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 3, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    Mitt Romney came in a very distant third to Ron Paul. Does this mean Ron Paul is next in line, 2012?

  69. 69.

    r€nato

    September 3, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    How many jobs did Jesus create?

    All he wanted to do was redistribute income and reward the poor for being lazy and shiftless.

  70. 70.

    john b

    September 3, 2008 at 11:54 pm

    am i the only one who’s really troubled by the implication that we not read rights to suspected terrorists?

    isn’t this about as unamerican as you can get?

  71. 71.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:55 pm

    How many jobs did Jesus create?

    13, I believe.

  72. 72.

    anne

    September 3, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    This could go two ways. One everyone just is in awe about how “tough” she is, or two it opens up the flood gates of really tearing her apart. How in the world can they say Biden should have to go easy on her now? The woman is nasty and mean. I think we should not underestimate her now, not to be a concern troll. But seriously, I saw a dark soul there.

  73. 73.

    Kevin

    September 3, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    am i the only one who’s really troubled by the implication that we not read rights to suspected terrorists?

    No.

    isn’t this about as unamerican as you can get?

    Yes.

  74. 74.

    DougJ

    September 3, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    Not such a great speech: more sarcasm than an Elvis Costello album.

  75. 75.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 3, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    I heard Brian Williams read this bit from JoKe Line on the air awhile ago:

    There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is “a task from God.” The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.

    I agree, wholeheartedly. Open the floodgates and let’er rip.

  76. 76.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 12:00 am

    The woman is nasty and mean reads her lines well.

    Fixed. Inside she really shines with the love of Jesus. You just couldn’t see it because of all the convention lighting.

  77. 77.

    Joshua Norton

    September 4, 2008 at 12:02 am

    13, I believe.

    Those were unpaid internships.

  78. 78.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 12:03 am

    Good one! With stinging, sarcastic wit like that, you should be writing speeches for Sarah Palin or something.

    Wish I could. Who wrote Obama’s speech?

  79. 79.

    Mike P

    September 4, 2008 at 12:04 am

    John,
    If you were reading “Nixonland” tonight, then you basically got everything that came out of Rudy and Palin’s speeches.

    It’s going to be and ugly 8 weeks.

  80. 80.

    gbear

    September 4, 2008 at 12:04 am

    How many jobs did Jesus create?

    13, I believe.

    He really needed 15 but then he would have had to provide health insurance benefits.

  81. 81.

    Brian J

    September 4, 2008 at 12:05 am

    I didn’t see the speeches tonight, but I recorded them. I got home after midnight and turned on cable news and watched three Democratic women with Larry King talking about Palin’s speech. A clip of Rudy! speaking was presented, and if I recall, he was shouting in a ridiculously overwrought tone, “How dare they? HOW DARE THEY?” Apparently Rudy!, whose own children don’t seem to care for him, is now at the forefront of the debate on families.

    But what struck me the most from the clips and the discussion of the speech was how much they tried to portray themselves as the victims of an unfair media frenzy. Several bloggers have said that this was part of an intentional strategy. That comment looks more and more accurate each day.

  82. 82.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 12:06 am

    John, are we still fighting because I totally ripped up a colored pencil drawing I did of what I inagine you must look like and now I feel bad and want to scotch tape it back together but not if you’re gonna still be mean to be because I have my dignity, ya know.

  83. 83.

    J. Michael Neal

    September 4, 2008 at 12:06 am

    Mitt Romney attacking East Coast elitists makes me laugh. Sarah Palin makes me angry. She went on and on about small town values, and implying that that’s the source of Real Americanism.

    Well, fuck you, Sarah Palin. I’m from big cities. As a kid, I could see the John Hancock building in downtown Boston from my front yard. I went to high school in a town where the only real industry was a major university, and the businesses that it incubated. For the last twelve years, I’ve been able to see the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis from my doorway. (There’s a tree in the way if I try to see it from the yard.)

    You know what? I am a real American. I am every bit as much a real American as Sarah Palin is. The community organizers she, and the whole GOP crowd openly mocked are real Americans. Of course, they try to help people who live in big cities, so you think they deserve ridicule. You want to make a big deal out of the fact that Barack Obama said that small town Americans are often bitter? Again, fuck you. You lost whatever standing you had to make that an issue when you decided to attack everyone in the cities, without even doing so as an expression of sympathy, as Obama did.

    Apparently, the Republicans think they can only win this election by denigrating large numbers of Americans. It makes me angry. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that it is disproportionately brown people you’re making fun of.

  84. 84.

    Kevin

    September 4, 2008 at 12:08 am

    Those were unpaid internships.

    By the Republicans, they count as “employed”.

  85. 85.

    Mary

    September 4, 2008 at 12:10 am

    Holy fuck. AP still has journalists who fact-check?

    Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention
    By JIM KUHNHENN

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.

    Some examples:

    PALIN: “I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending … and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress ‘thanks but no thanks’ for that Bridge to Nowhere.”

    THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a “bridge to nowhere.”

    PALIN: “There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate.”

    THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

    PALIN: “The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars.”

    THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama’s plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain’s plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

    Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

    He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

    MCCAIN: “She’s been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America’s energy supply … She’s responsible for 20 percent of the nation’s energy supply. I’m entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America,” he said in an interview with ABC News’ Charles Gibson.

    THE FACTS: McCain’s phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she’s no more “responsible” for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.

    MCCAIN: “She’s the commander of the Alaska National Guard. … She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities,” he said on ABC.

    THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under “federal status,” which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska’s national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.

    FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin “got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States.”

    THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor’s election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

    FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: “We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

    THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

  86. 86.

    Teak111

    September 4, 2008 at 12:10 am

    Tried to have an open mind, but three minutes in I was toast, gag me with a spoon. That down home, Jesus is my savior sheet was too rich for my blood. Man, what a train wreck this is.

  87. 87.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 12:10 am

    So when they’re doing exit polling after an electiom, do they really have to ask old fat white people in giant cowboy hats and matching outfits who they voted for?

  88. 88.

    Kevin

    September 4, 2008 at 12:12 am

    Sarah Palin makes me angry. She went on and on about small town values, and implying that that’s the source of Real Americanism.

    Sarah Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho (aka Home of the Aryan Nations), and moved to Wasilla (aka Government Giveway), Alaska, before really hopping on the Gravy Train in Juneau, Alaska.

  89. 89.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 12:13 am

    I did not watch the speeches tonight

    And another thing. This site has been non-stop Palin since last week. You might as well change the name to Palin-juice.
    And yet, you don’t bother to listen to her? You’d rather get your opinion from others. You’re just a mouthpiece, John. A lot like your criticism of Palin. You don’t write your own stuff either.

  90. 90.

    Kevin

    September 4, 2008 at 12:15 am

    You’re just a mouthpiece, John.

    Oh, the irony. How many McCain points did you get for that?

  91. 91.

    Brian J

    September 4, 2008 at 12:16 am

    My comments are waiting for moderation? Is this something new, or just something I hadn’t noticed before?

  92. 92.

    Jeff

    September 4, 2008 at 12:16 am

    Looks like canceling that interview was a great move by McCain. The media smell blood and want someone’s head on a platter.

  93. 93.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 12:17 am

    A “Democrat” just called in to CSPAN and said she’s totally voting for McCain-Palin because Sarah Palin seems like a very real person. We’re at the point now where good animatronics can decide an election?

  94. 94.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 12:17 am

    How many McCain points did you get for that?

    I can get points??!!

  95. 95.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 12:17 am

    blogreeder:

    If someone wants to IM me when whatshername reads the speech they wrote for her, that would be great. Otherwise, I will just catch it on youtube.

    Reeding comprehension ftw.

  96. 96.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 12:20 am

    My comments are waiting for moderation?

    You might have forgotten to fill in your e-mail address or something.

  97. 97.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 12:20 am

    Wish I could. Who wrote Obama’s speech?

    Yer kiddin’ right?

  98. 98.

    Kevin

    September 4, 2008 at 12:21 am

    I can get points??!!

    You’re doing it for free? Uh, okay.

  99. 99.

    J. Michael Neal

    September 4, 2008 at 12:21 am

    Also, I’m now being bombarded by advertisements from The Israel Project asking what I would think if the city of St. Paul started launching missiles into my Minneapolis front yard.

    Jesus Christ, they’re from St. Paul. The missiles would get lost trying to leave the launchers.

  100. 100.

    Jeff

    September 4, 2008 at 12:24 am

    Also, I’m now being bombarded by advertisements from The Israel Project asking what I would think if the city of St. Paul started launching missiles into my Minneapolis front yard.

    Jesus Christ, they’re from St. Paul. The missiles would get lost trying to leave the launchers.

    So you do know how most Israeli’s feel.

  101. 101.

    Kevin

    September 4, 2008 at 12:24 am

    Also, I’m now being bombarded by advertisements from The Israel Project asking what I would think if the city of St. Paul started launching missiles into my Minneapolis front yard.

    Jesus Christ, they’re from St. Paul. The missiles would get lost trying to leave the launchers.

    LOL, what?

  102. 102.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 12:34 am

    I can get points??!!

    Yes! And with those points, you can get your hands on McCain’s balls! That ought to get you really excited.

    And another thing. This site has been non-stop Palin since last week. You might as well change the name to Palin-juice.
    And yet, you don’t bother to listen to her? You’d rather get your opinion from others. You’re just a mouthpiece, John. A lot like your criticism of Palin. You don’t write your own stuff either.

    This place is a sum of its posts, and yours is one voice among many who are not being silenced or oppressed here. I know you fRighties are scared shitless when people can actually express themselves without threat of rendition (or post deletion) if they don’t spout the wingnut talking points but hopefully you people will grow a pair and actually listen to what people have to say without freaking out.

    I cruise the wingnut blogs and when anyone posts anything that offends their tender sensibilities they cry and whine until the blogfather comes along and smites the impertinent American who dared to voice an opinion contrary to conventional right-wingnut theology. Not this place. John lets us talk and people like you just can’t handle the conversation. Too bad bub.

    Get over yourself already. The world does not revolve around you and your kind, and if you can’t take listening to free expression then get some cheese to go with your whine. Us elitists luvs us some good cheese to compliment a fine right wing whine. Good for the soul and digestion, but watch out for the cheese farts.

    We generally aim them to the right.

  103. 103.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 12:34 am

    I loved the crowd shots. I can only hope this is the last gasp of the resentful, sneering, fat, white Christo-Nationalists, and not the last gasp of democracy.

  104. 104.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 12:38 am

    Shoot. Better prepared comment eaten by John’s Hellmouth server. :(

    Alicublog made a great observation:

    The theme of Palin’s speech was, in its own way, change, but it was mostly a change of costume.

    Yup, package looks different, but McCain/Palin are all about the same failed policies as GW Bush.

  105. 105.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 12:39 am

    Reeding comprehension ftw

    I didn’t catch that in John’s post. Was it written in a liberal font I don’t have? MS sans sense?

  106. 106.

    michelle

    September 4, 2008 at 12:39 am

    JKFS

    baby

  107. 107.

    Chuck Butcher

    September 4, 2008 at 12:41 am

    I thought I’d watch SP, but after Mittens and Huckleberry I’d had all I could take and went back to work. Work was more satisfying and more fun from the descriptions of RNC. To understand that reference you’d have to be on your 12th hour of construction work standing on an 8′ step ladder wedged into a 21″ x 47″ hole 48″ tall trying to paint the sky light tunnel you installed the day before. The 8 hr portion of the day involved trying to put back together the eves on an 80 yr old house the power line had ripped off and make it strong enough to let the power company re-attach the power. That and mud-in the sky light tunnel and texture it. All that beat the hell out of being lied to a watching old white people/cretins get pandered to.

    Cripes all winter, spring, and early summer I couldn’t buy a job, now everybody wants something yesterday – I’m a week behind after a month of 7/week & long hours.

  108. 108.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 12:48 am

    John lets us talk and people like you just can’t handle the conversation. Too bad bub.

    I wouldn’t call a lot that goes on here a conversation. It’s more like blather. The only time that conversation goes on is when someone disagrees with the group think. Don’t you agree?

  109. 109.

    KRK

    September 4, 2008 at 12:49 am

    Meanwhile, over at TalkLeft, Jeralyn is reaping what she sowed. How shocking that her commenters would rather chuckle over the digs that Palin took at Obama than engage with Jeralyn’s concerns about the attacks on Miranda?

    No one could have expected…

  110. 110.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 12:49 am

    Sarah Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho

    No kidding. So was I. Turns out she is 3 months older than me–I bet we were born in the same hospital. My mom came from 90 miles away over the border to go to the nearest hospital.

    (aka Home of the Aryan Nations)

    Horseshit. Those people formed somewhere else and moved to Idaho, a lot like the Freemen and the ever infamous Unabomber who moved to Montana. Those folks are from the midwest. Sandpoint is a fine artsy-fartsy town. Butler and his group were in Hayden Lake, and finally got run out of town when they shot at a mom and her kid because her car backfired.

    And members of Charles Manson’s family lived near where my dad’s family was raised–doesn’t make everyone from Heron a serial killer.

    Sheez. I gotta go get some solvent and get the tar from your wide brush off me. Goofball.

  111. 111.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 12:53 am

    Shorter Blogreeder: I deserve your pity, not your scorn.

  112. 112.

    Martin

    September 4, 2008 at 12:53 am

    Wish I could. Who wrote Obama’s speech?

    Obama wrote Obama’s speech. What’s more, Obama knew who was actually going to give the speech when he wrote it.

    And don’t lose sight of the shitting on ‘community organizers’ in the GOP speeches. MLK was a community organizer. This is going to be racism/sexism jujitsu for the next 2 months by the GOP.

    Time to turn Biden loose. The GOP crossed a few lines tonight, in my view.

  113. 113.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 12:56 am

    And members of Charles Manson’s family lived near where my dad’s family was raised—doesn’t make everyone from Heron a serial killer.

    Ummm.

  114. 114.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 12:57 am

    Obama wrote Obama’s speech

    Prove it.

  115. 115.

    NonWonderDog

    September 4, 2008 at 12:58 am

    Hm, turns out you can’t use less-than/greater-than symbols here

    <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
    <><><>            Really?           <><><>
    <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
    <Hmmm… The preview window is kind of weird>

  116. 116.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 12:59 am

    … the GOP makes snow look diverse by comparison.

    Heh. Oliver Willis.

  117. 117.

    NonWonderDog

    September 4, 2008 at 1:00 am

    (satisfied, post-evacuatory grin.)

  118. 118.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 1:02 am

    blogreeder Says:

    Obama wrote Obama’s speech

    Prove it.

    Wow. This troll is so much more lucid, and incisive, and, well, just more entertaining than most, eh?

    Here sweetheart, have a cookie. That’s a good baby. Now, you just go run along, and say hello to your mama for me.

  119. 119.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:02 am

    Prove it.

    lolz

    This from the earth is flat, 6000 years old and ruled by an invisible spirit clowns.

  120. 120.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 1:04 am

    Was it written in a liberal font I don’t have?

    It was written in what the liberals call the ‘previous post’. Liberals came up with this liberal concept when they were liberally inventing the blog. I guess you are new at the internets.

    Also, liberal.

  121. 121.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:05 am

    (satisfied, post-evacuatory grin.)

    Your “Hmm… the preview window is kinda weird” didn’t show up, so I call FAIL.

  122. 122.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 1:06 am

    I wouldn’t call a lot that goes on here a conversation. It’s more like blather. The only time that conversation goes on is when someone disagrees with the group think. Don’t you agree?

    What are we having? Fuck you are dense.

    Prove it.

    You stupid fucks will gladly shew and swallow any right wing shit as factual, without question or pause, but if anyone says anything that disrupts your little world you demand proof because you are too intellectually dishonest to go find out for yourself. Then when someone quotes a source, you ridicule it as a lefty source and as such you can easily dismiss it.

    Fuck you are dense and stupid.

    Shorter Blogreeder: I deserve your pity, not your scorn.

    No pity for shit eaters. Nope, not here. Scorn? Oh yeah, no problem at all.

  123. 123.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:06 am

    Psst. Martin look here.

  124. 124.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 1:08 am

    shew = chew

    Unless I am coining a new term for how republicans like chewing on the shit they are fed.

    Then ‘shew’ works. ;)

  125. 125.

    NonWonderDog

    September 4, 2008 at 1:10 am

    Your “Hmm… the preview window is kinda weird” didn’t show up, so I call FAIL.

    …or WAS it? Obviously, it showed in the preview window, only serving to showcase the weirdness of the preview window!

  126. 126.

    San

    September 4, 2008 at 1:13 am

    Just went to Act Blue Balloon page and donated.

  127. 127.

    NonWonderDog

    September 4, 2008 at 1:15 am

    Or the ampersand codes for less-than and greater-than are interpreted before the post is published, therefore proving me to be an ass. One of the two.

  128. 128.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 1:17 am

    blogreeder, why did you link an 8-month old article favorable to Obama? Whose second sentence says that Obama himself “[wrote] the 2004 speech that catapulted him onto the national stage”, among others, and hired this guy to help him edit?

    You’re supposed to make this difficult for us.

  129. 129.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:17 am

    What are we having?

    C.L., that’s my point. Unless I disagree, all I’m doing is adding to the group jerk that usually goes on here.

    I thought Palin delivered the speech very well. In fact, great. She turned to the McCain side. Quickly. Strong in the force. You know, I always thought Bill Clinton gave great speeches as well. Great delivery, timing. Obama does too but I liked Clinton’s better. Maybe because Clinton had executive experience before going to the White House.

  130. 130.

    Jeffrey

    September 4, 2008 at 1:19 am

    Psst. Martin look here.

    Did you even read the article?

  131. 131.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 1:19 am

    Maybe Romney has liberal Tourette’s.

  132. 132.

    Martin

    September 4, 2008 at 1:19 am

    Wow. This troll is so much more lucid, and incisive, and, well, just more entertaining than most, eh?

    It’s staggering.

    (Just to finish the previous thought – Obama writes most of his major speeches. His regular speechwriter is Jon Favreau (no, not that Jon Favreau) who certainly would have helped with this one, but these are the speeches that Obama takes time out to do himself. Compare this speech to his 04 Convention speech which he wrote before he hired Favreau.)

    Now I think it is incumbent on blogreeder to prove that he doesn’t blow goats. Turnabout, and all that.

  133. 133.

    Chuck Butcher

    September 4, 2008 at 1:20 am

    People have talked endlessly about a Hillary problem, this has been about the McCain problem – the mouth foamers have been short of rancid meat and not pleased. This addresses their concerns that McPOW might be a reasonable human (sorta). You know that McPOW can’t go to the mat, he’s stuck with “jokey” snarky stuff – no demonstrations of temper allowed, so Ms Palin gets the job.

    Running against the media may be a mistake, they’ve been McPOW’s best friends up until now, lots of kid gloves when he’s been stupid. These folks figure they’re professionals and mocking them when they’ve been nice could provoke a reaction.

    Where’d we inherit Frogbreeder from? The quality of trolls is declining, that’s just plain mediocre. DugJay has the redeeming factor of endearing stupid going, at least.

  134. 134.

    PC

    September 4, 2008 at 1:22 am

    I think I figured out why McCain picked Palin. They have the same jaw line.

    /yeah, I went there.

  135. 135.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:23 am

    thought Palin delivered the speech very well. In fact, great.

    Dumbass, please note my earlier comment on Palin. I said she read her lines well. So you agree with me which means you are helping to jerk me off. Make sure your thumb rubs my peehole each stroke. I like that.

  136. 136.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:24 am

    blogreeder, why did you link an 8-month old article favorable to Obama?

    Sometimes you people as so dense. Really. Now I’ll explain is slowly. I asked Martin to prove it. All he had to do was a short google to come up with that. Notice I said “Psst.” You know, like I was whispering? Only in text? Like a hint? Geez.
    You people are so dense. I thought the liberal font was MS sans sense, It’s more like MS Dense.

  137. 137.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 1:26 am

    Rubbing the peehole burns.

    Now if you want to post a useful article about speechwriters, you could start here.

  138. 138.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:26 am

    Dumbass, please note my earlier comment on Palin. I said she read her lines well.

    Not the same. Reading is not delivering. Good is not Great.

  139. 139.

    Richard Bottoms

    September 4, 2008 at 1:27 am

    So, are you ready to decimate these fuckers? Or are going to listen to two months of bellyaching about reaching across the aisle and not seeming to be mean or anything?

    You want to reach across aisle? Make sure you’re reaching across with a rhetorical sledgehammer.

    Fuck the politics of hope, how about the politics of kick their asses?

  140. 140.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:28 am

    Not the same. Reading is not delivering. Good is not Great.

    Just shut yer pie hole and jack it, bitch.

  141. 141.

    Ned R.

    September 4, 2008 at 1:28 am

    No, I think the book was called God Is Not Great…oh.

  142. 142.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 1:28 am

    Martin–here you go.

  143. 143.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 1:28 am

    Roger Simon is vexed.

    God dammit, this is why I should not argue on the internets. I have to get up in 4 hours.

  144. 144.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:30 am

    God dammit, this is why I should not argue on the internets. I have to get up in 4 hours.

    Yeah, me too. Why does someone always have to be so wrong so late?

  145. 145.

    YellowJournalism

    September 4, 2008 at 1:30 am

    Anyone notice the way her husband practically threw the baby at the younger daughter when Palin started talking about what a wonderful husband he was? I was watching that sleeping baby’s head bob around in the little girl’s arms, and wondered if anyone took the time to fill his ears with cotton to deaden the sound of the huge crowd of cheering people. As the mother of a little guy, it really bothers me when I see parents forgetting about a baby’s sensitive ears, and that goes for people who bring babies to loud rallies, concerts, and wedding receptions.

    I also loved how bored the boyfriend/fiance looked during Palin’s speech. He kept looking out of the corner of his eye as if he were checking to see if the camera was on the couple. He looked very nervous. Poor guy.

  146. 146.

    Mary

    September 4, 2008 at 1:31 am

    I think this is the start of some ass-kicking from the Obama campaign: Palin versus Reality.

    It’s a data dump that the media may or may not pick up on, but I am damn impressed this came across the transom so quickly. Let’s hope it gets broken down into talking points, commercials, and debate zingers soon.

  147. 147.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:33 am

    Roger Simon is vexed.

    Hooboy, I dunno BBQ is gonna fix this. McCain may have to send Omaha steaks this time.

  148. 148.

    PC

    September 4, 2008 at 1:35 am

    Roger Simon is vexed.

    Holy fuck. The establishment media is snarking? What the hell is going on?

  149. 149.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:35 am

    He looked very nervous. Poor guy.

    He did seem very nervous. Prolly the trait that caused the little accident in the first pl- uhh, ah. Thanks blogreeder, you can go.

  150. 150.

    drag0n

    September 4, 2008 at 1:36 am

    Who The FUCK are you to judge us Palin?

  151. 151.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:38 am

    L. Ron, that wasn’t so hard. Good link but the only thing I found about Obama was.

    When was the last time you saw or heard a writer credited at the end of a speech by John McCain or Barack Obama?

    Nor can the difference be that political audiences are already aware that politicians employ speechwriters. Granted, it can be easy to determine when President Bush is reciting from someone else’s script and when he is ad libbing in his own fractured English. But how can we know whether a line, or an entire speech, comes from the brains of McCain or Obama, or from hired staffers?

    This doesn’t prove that Obama writes his speeches. If it did then it proves that McCain does too. And I know you wouldn’t want that.

  152. 152.

    PC

    September 4, 2008 at 1:38 am

    I also loved how bored the boyfriend/fiance looked during Palin’s speech. He kept looking out of the corner of his eye as if he were checking to see if the camera was on the couple. He looked very nervous. Poor guy.

    STOP TRYING TO USE THE PALIN FAMILY FOR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE!

  153. 153.

    handy

    September 4, 2008 at 1:41 am

    LOL blogreeder is TEH AWESOME. Man, keep it up. This place could use a few trolls after all the Hillbots (well, most of them–hi myiq /wave) took the group jump off the pier.

  154. 154.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 1:41 am

    Mary Says:

    I think this is the start of some ass-kicking from the Obama campaign: Palin versus Reality.

    Like the man said–same shit, different costume.

  155. 155.

    ThymeZone

    September 4, 2008 at 1:42 am

    Obama wrote his own speech.

    Prove it.

    Okay.

    For the speech he’ll give Thursday to accept the Democratic nomination for president, Obama wrote in a hotel room in his home city — Chicago — because there were no distractions and because that’s where he drafted the wildly successful 2004 convention speech that catapulted him into national politics.

    “Superstition,” he told his staff.

    Introspective, inspirational, by turns pointed or biblical, and always tailored to the political moment, Obama’s speeches have been a defining feature of his historic ascent. This week, with the eyes of millions upon him, the Illinois senator says he won’t attempt a reprise of his exhilarating debut four years ago.

    “I don’t think you can duplicate that kind of moment,” Obama said this week.

    Besides, he said, he’s no longer part of a supporting cast for another standard-bearer. Now he needs to lay out exactly who he is and how an Obama presidency would differ from an administration headed by Republican John McCain.

    Thursday is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech and Obama, the nation’s first black major-party nominee, says he will be making note of how far the nation has come. But nuts and bolts are his top priority.

    “I’m not aiming for a lot of high rhetoric,” Obama said. “I’m much more concerned with communicating how I intend to help middle-class families live their lives. I want people to come away saying, “Whether I’m voting for the guy or against the guy, I know what he stands for. I know what he believes.’ ”

    Obama’s lofty language has been an irresistible target for his rivals, from Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton’s charge during the primaries that he’s “just words” to McCain’s attempts to cast his opponent’s oratory as a sign that Obama is a vacuous celebrity and/or an arrogant messiah wannabe.

    Obama’s defenders scoff at the notion that giving a good speech is a weakness.

    “Did Ronald Reagan seem less down to earth because he was inspiring in his speeches? Was John Kennedy less down to earth because he asked us to put our country ahead of ourselves?” asks Robert Gibbs, a senior strategist for Obama.

    Emphasizing “personal input’

    As Obama prepared for Thursday night, spokeswoman Linda Douglass said, he reviewed acceptance speeches by more than a half-dozen presidents — from Republicans Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush to Democrats Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John Kerry. He wrote his own in pencil on a legal pad, typing his words onto a computer and revising it, then sent his work to two top aides to review.

    Obama, the author of two best-selling memoirs, is a rarity among national political figures in that he has long been intimately involved in preparing the precise words to be used in his speeches.

  156. 156.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:43 am

    Compare:

    This place is a sum of its posts, and yours is one voice among many who are not being silenced or oppressed here

    Contrast:

    Just shut yer pie hole and jack it, bitch.

    Lovely.

  157. 157.

    LiberalTarian

    September 4, 2008 at 1:45 am

    g’night.

  158. 158.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:45 am

    Lovely.

    Not the same. We’re on the same side, remember?

  159. 159.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:46 am

    Great job Thymezone! Exactly what I wanted. I’ve got some McCain points I could give you.

  160. 160.

    ThymeZone

    September 4, 2008 at 1:48 am

    This doesn’t prove that Obama writes his speeches

    Better and less obvious dumbass trolls, please.

  161. 161.

    ThymeZone

    September 4, 2008 at 1:51 am

    By the way, it took me exactly two minutes to find the article describing how Obama wrote his speech.

    Don’t waste any more of our time, asshole. STFU.

  162. 162.

    PC

    September 4, 2008 at 1:52 am

    Better and less obvious dumbass trolls, please.

    Just because you LIEberals disagree with us doesn’t mean you need to be insulting.

  163. 163.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:53 am

    Don’t waste any more of our time, asshole. STFU.

    Yer kidding, right? Someone on the interwebs did as he commanded. He’s prolly shadowboxing the wall right now.

  164. 164.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 1:54 am

    God, I hope for his sake that McCain doesn’t write his own boring speeches. I just thought that was an interesting article which points out a fact that the media is conveniently glossing over in re the Palin speech.

    Also, Helvetica.

  165. 165.

    rawshark

    September 4, 2008 at 1:55 am

    As a kid, I could see the John Hancock building in downtown Boston from my front yard.

    I could see the old Hancock building from my front yard, that’s how close I was. :)

  166. 166.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 1:55 am

    Better and less obvious dumbass trolls, please.

    I’ve got no more McCain points to give you but that comment was on the link to which I was referring.
    Not your link.

  167. 167.

    handy

    September 4, 2008 at 1:55 am

    Just because you LIEberals disagree with us doesn’t mean you need to be insulting.

    Yeah! And how dare you criticize John McCain! Don’t you know he was a P.O. effing double U?! Dontcha?

  168. 168.

    rawshark

    September 4, 2008 at 1:56 am

    As a kid, I could see the John Hancock building in downtown Boston from my front yard.

    I could see the old Hancock building from my front yard, that’s how close I was. :)

    blogreeder Says:

    Great job Thymezone! Exactly what I wanted. I’ve got some McCain points I could give you.

    You do not have McCain points that you could give to him. You just don’t so drop it.

  169. 169.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 1:56 am

    You know, this ridiculous collection of speeches has prompted me to go donate again. And what better time than 3am?

  170. 170.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 1:56 am

    God, I hope for his sake that McCain doesn’t write his own boring speeches.

    I hope he talks about his time as a POW because I heard he never talks about it and I bet he has some stories to tell, if he’d ever open up.

  171. 171.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 1:57 am

    The piggies were squealing their approval, but does America really want a creationist who thinks the Iraq war is God’s mission? Can things have devolved that badly?

  172. 172.

    Martin

    September 4, 2008 at 1:57 am

    Martin—here you go.

    Wait, why are we doing research for the troll? Where am I and what’s happened to Cole’s blog?

    Democrat Barack Obama spent long hours crafting the speech in which he will make history by formally accepting his party’s presidential nomination.

    This doesn’t prove that Obama writes his speeches

    Oh, look, he’s trolling more. Someone, do more research for him, quick – because that will make him stop.

  173. 173.

    disappointedGOPer

    September 4, 2008 at 1:59 am

    Palin looked pathetic today.

    Moderates are abandoning this train before it wrecks.

  174. 174.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:00 am

    If there is a troll here, just shut the fuck up.

  175. 175.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:02 am

    Let me be clearer, all trolls, shut up, you have nothing worth listening to.

  176. 176.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:02 am

    Don’t waste any more of our time, asshole. STFU.

    I’m hurt. Even after giving up my McCain points. Did you ever think maybe I wanted you guys to do some work too? There’s a lack of thinking that goes on here. It’s just one hateful comment after another. So here, I got you people conversing, I think it’s a great first step.
    There’s probably 11 more steps to go.

  177. 177.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:03 am

    The piggies were squealing their approval, but does America really want a creationist who thinks the Iraq war is God’s mission? Can things have devolved that badly?

    Prolly not but when the alternative is a negro commie muslim terrorist ivory-tower elitist bastard product of miscegnation wealthy drug-dealing kid from a broken home, whats good white folks to do??

  178. 178.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:05 am

    This place could use a few trolls after all the Hillbots

    Thanks, Handy. What’s a hillbot?

  179. 179.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:06 am

    Prolly not but when the alternative is a negro commie muslim terrorist ivory-tower elitist bastard product of miscegnation wealthy drug-dealing kid from a broken home, whats good white folks to do??

    You make some good points there. Blugfeeder, go research that for us and report back.

  180. 180.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 2:06 am

    It’s just one hateful comment after another.

    It’s one scornful comment after another. Hate, you have to earn.

  181. 181.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:07 am

    Did you ever think maybe I wanted you guys to do some work too?

    I totally called that one. Me from earlier:

    Yer kidding, right? Someone on the interwebs did as he commanded. He’s prolly shadowboxing the wall right now.

    I could totally be making some coin right now trolling for McPowlin.

  182. 182.

    PC

    September 4, 2008 at 2:08 am

    If there is a troll here, just shut the fuck up.

    This place is a breeding ground for trolls. :sigh: How quickly we have fallen.

  183. 183.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:10 am

    Hate, you have to earn.

    Maybe myiq will show up and take him under his right wing.

  184. 184.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:10 am

    I think yet again McCain made a tactical mistake and let Palin go pig-doggish, instead of sweet and sexy moosegirl. Now she’s fair game, and it will be pretty easy to take her apart and hand her over to the late night comedians to finish off.

  185. 185.

    Gary Ruppert

    September 4, 2008 at 2:11 am

    The fact is, your blog and all the hot air cannot deal with criticism of any kind of your Obamessiah who wants to reintroduce shania law in America.

    We in the Heartland are not fulled, and we will gladly pull the level for Palin and McCain because they are true USA patriots who understand freedom.

  186. 186.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:11 am

    It’s one scornful comment after another. Hate, you have to earn.

    You’re right. Scornful is a better word.

  187. 187.

    handy

    September 4, 2008 at 2:13 am

    Now there’s a troll I can believe in.

  188. 188.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:15 am

    I think yet again McCain made a tactical mistake and let Palin go pig-doggish,

    No, I think you’re wrong. The pit-bull image is exactly what he was going for. That’s why he picked her. Saracuda. Did you see her snarl during her speech?

  189. 189.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:15 am

    You’re right. Scornful is a better word.

    Keep at it. You don’t just go out and incite hate. You have to build to it.

  190. 190.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:15 am

    Don’t hate the troll, hate their ability to type.

  191. 191.

    Martin

    September 4, 2008 at 2:18 am

    The piggies were squealing their approval, but does America really want a creationist who thinks the Iraq war is God’s mission? Can things have devolved that badly?

    They don’t give a fuck about America. They just want to win. These are the cheerleaders. The folks in the Pepsi center really aren’t that different, to be honest. And what the pundits say matters for nothing – they’re pundits. They’re paid to agree.

    Talk to your neighbors and start to watch the polls. America doesn’t want this and the more they see what’s going on, the worse it’ll get. A month ago, I would have thought the public wouldn’t have a chance to see it, but the media seems to be cluing in that the GOP isn’t running against the Democrats now – they’re running against the media. I don’t think the media will give McCain the cover he wants.

  192. 192.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 2:19 am

    Holy fuck. The establishment media is snarking? What the hell is going on?

    I know. For some reason common sense and snark are breaking out in the media. Maybe the powers that be in the media and the world of big business are a bit afraid of what McCain and Palin would do to the country/world if they win? I am hearing more and more commentary that is taking McCain to task for his stupidity and calling Republicans on their lying bullshit.

    Maybe McCain is confused because he can’t figure out why the media aren’t licking his balls like they did for Bu$h. It probably pisses him off that Chimpy was able to use the media as ballwashers for all the years he has, but now that it is McCain’s turn the ballwashers are out of order.

    Literally.

    More please. Much more!

    Lovely.

    And if you take his suggestion seriously, you only have yourself to blame. Thick skin is required when you engage in open discourse.

    Especially when you are engaging someone who thinks that you are a moran.

  193. 193.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:19 am

    Did you see her snarl during her speech?

    Prove it.

  194. 194.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:20 am

    Keep at it.

    With that recommendation, I certainly will.

  195. 195.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:20 am

    Yes, bugfeeler, I saw the barracuda’s teeth. Think that’s attractive in a self-trumpeting Christian? Not having cognitive dissonance? As Murphy and Noonan said today, McCain just pissed away his image as non-hypocrite with this bitched-up ‘gimmick’.

  196. 196.

    handy

    September 4, 2008 at 2:22 am

    “That luxury jet…I put it on e-Bay!” Oh yes, and of course you won’t be using this “private” jet if you’re elected.

  197. 197.

    L. Ron Obama

    September 4, 2008 at 2:22 am

    Well, we should know by this weekend if there is a convention bump. But do not underestimate the Republicans’ ability to work the refs. It worked pretty well for Clinton (the press went somewhat overboard on Obama after that “why you always gotta call on me first” stuff in the debates); but on the other hand, Hillary never lobbed nuclear artillery at the media like the McCain campaign appears to be suddenly doing.

    I have to assume their internals looked really bad and now we will see if their scorched earth strategy works.

  198. 198.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:22 am

    borgreefer, go research that murphy/noonan interview for me.

  199. 199.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:25 am

    “That luxury jet…I put it on e-Bay!”

    Yeah, I’m still puzzling that one. Sarah Palin sells her state jet through McCain’s national co-chair Meg Whitman’s company and somehow that makes her, uh, what?

  200. 200.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 2:25 am

    Thanks, Handy. What’s a hillbot?

    Shorter blogreeder: duuuuuh… /drool

  201. 201.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:27 am

    Did you see her snarl during her speech?

    Prove it.

    (I don’t think I did that embedded quote right)
    Sure, I can prove it. If you watched, you saw. Q.E.D.

  202. 202.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:27 am

    I have to assume their internals looked really bad and now we will see if their scorched earth strategy works.

    I dunno, I think America is going to prefer ’em over the guys they’re running against, the Republicans.

  203. 203.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:30 am

    I am hearing more and more commentary that is taking McCain to task for his stupidity and calling Republicans on their lying bullshit.

    McCain is out of control now, a bull with ptss in a china shop. He’s making enemies left and right, even now his base the media whores. He’s jumped the barracuda this last week.

  204. 204.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:31 am

    Hillary never lobbed nuclear artillery at the media like the McCain campaign appears to be suddenly doing.

    What do you mean?

  205. 205.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:31 am

    (I don’t think I did that embedded quote right)
    Sure, I can prove it. If you watched, you saw. Q.E.D.

    FAIL

  206. 206.

    MsIndependent

    September 4, 2008 at 2:32 am

    i was turned on to political blogs a few years ago. One of mu lefty friends mentioned that I should check Balloon-Juice out.

    Wow,I thought Daily Kos was bad, but this place is an inferno of hate. Women are only ok, if you they agree with you? Apparently so, as I’ve been reading for a month or so and have never seen such vile comments about a female candidate in my life.

    Tou disgust me.

  207. 207.

    Jeffrey

    September 4, 2008 at 2:33 am

    Off-topic: Protest at the RNC, and you get charged with terrorism. Conspire to assassinate Barack Obama, and you’re off the hook.

    I’m at a loss for words.

  208. 208.

    PC

    September 4, 2008 at 2:33 am

    Maybe McCain is confused because he can’t figure out why the media aren’t licking his balls like they did for Bu$h.

    My best guestimate is the media were apoplectic when McMaverick chose an unknown and totally fucked any sort of chance they had at responding. While that’s all good and mavericky, even the fucking GOP had no idea how to respond. Tie that in with the subsequent shit storm as the media tries to do its job (like background) and all of a sudden McLecher has an adverse media when they start asking questions about his fucking running mate.

    Given the deluge of info, rumors or otherwise, that have come down on a cursory review of Palin in the last five days…well fuck. Even the heads of the media companies have to be wondering what the fuck he is thinking. Sure, the GOP pays a lot of lip service to far right wing dominionist wing of the party, but no one really believed there may be someone that drinks that kool-aid a half heartbeat away from the presidency.

    clust. er. fuck.

  209. 209.

    CharlesF

    September 4, 2008 at 2:34 am

    bugbreeder, go research hillbot. and we need to see your footnotes.

  210. 210.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:47 am

    Did you see the way Palin recoiled from McCain when he tried to hug her? He smells like death, they say.

  211. 211.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 2:50 am

    borgreefer

    That might explain why he is so fucked up. Borgreefer sounds like pot laced with PCP or something.

    Smoke this, it’ll turn you into a borg!

    He’s jumped the barracuda this last week.

    No, he has wanted to jump the barracuda since last week but Cindy kinda has his nuts in a vice with that pre-nup. If he makes her his veep though, maybe he can send Cindy overseas on some junket and have a Bill Clinton Oval Office cigar moment in her absence. You know, pull out the trouser worm and go fishing for barracuda. ;)

    I’m at a loss for words.

    Just another day in Republican led Amerika! We have become what we have always feared, and our fellow citizens have led the way. The right is the party of hate and intolerance, and they wallow in it like the pigs they are. They look down on the rest of America and they don’t think of what they can do for the country but rather what they can get out of it for themselves.

    Lets hope that the idiots who voted them in have tired of this shit and are ready to join us and end the nightmare.

  212. 212.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 2:52 am

    bugbreeder, go research hillbot. and we need to see your footnotes.

    Boy, you are so clever. Ha Ha. Show us your FOOTNOTES! Ha ha ha ha. Whew. He said Footnote!. Ha. Whew.

    Now. Getting my breath back. Hillbots are usually Hillary Clinton supporters. But that would mean you had infighting.. Here?… Between Obama supporters and… I don’t get it.

  213. 213.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 2:54 am

    So I hear Bristol Palin has a little eskimo in her…

  214. 214.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 2:58 am

    So I hear Bristol Palin has a little eskimo in her…

    In more ways than one?

  215. 215.

    Rome Again

    September 4, 2008 at 3:00 am

    Actually Jesus employed many more than 13 (Judas’ replacement was chosen from the extras that traveled with Jesus and his 12 disciples, there were others); and while they didn’t receive an actual wage, they received kickbacks in the way of fish, bread, wine and other daily subsistence. I think they even sat down to eat these meals.

    Considering the size of Nazareth, that’s a pretty good accomplishment for a community organizer. ;)

  216. 216.

    Blue Raven

    September 4, 2008 at 3:03 am

    Thanks, Handy. What’s a hillbot?

    1/10.

    I’ve seen better trolling from the statue under the Aurora Bridge in Seattle.

  217. 217.

    blogreeder

    September 4, 2008 at 3:03 am

    In more ways than one?

    Yes, that’s the joke. “Just Some F*head” can’t follow a simple Obama instruction. Some supporter. People like that are going to make Obama lose. It’ll be a shame.

  218. 218.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 3:16 am

    Maybe Palin flew back to Alaska to have the baby just for the simple reason of plain old greed?

    The Alaska dividend checks only go out to natives. Five kids equals $10,000.00 a year.

    I think that may have been the reason, so he would be considered a ‘native’ born Alaskan and not miss out on the cash.

    Yes, that’s the joke. “Just Some F*head” can’t follow a simple Obama instruction. Some supporter. People like that are going to make Obama lose. It’ll be a shame.

    I know that you are used to getting your daily marching orders from the GOP, so you may have problems understanding this fine point. We support Obama, and we listen to what he says. If we agree, we agree. If we disagree, we disagree. We don’t walk in lockstep like you righties like to. We march to the beat of our own drum.

    If we wanted to be mindless morons, we would be on your ‘side’.

    Palin is clearly exploiting the children, and bringing Levi to the convention was nothing more than more exploitation. The campaign announced the pregnancy and tried to blame it on the left when it was the Enquirer who was breathing down their necks. How convenient.

    Amy Carter was shredded by the right, as was Chelsea Clinton. They were kids and the right did not leave them alone or respect their privacy. McCain even cracked a sick joke at Chelsea’s expense (and for his gain, as usual).

    No what was this about the kids being left out of it? What a quaint notion!

  219. 219.

    zuzu's petals

    September 4, 2008 at 3:22 am

    I’m watching the streaming video, and have to say I’m unimpressed.

    I really thought she’d be better. But she’s flat, not great articulation, and misplaced inflection. She’s reading the thing.

    Not a speaker. But I wonder if she’s wearing peekaboo shoes tonight too.

  220. 220.

    Rome Again

    September 4, 2008 at 3:53 am

    I know that you are used to getting your daily marching orders from the GOP, so you may have problems understanding this fine point. We support Obama, and we listen to what he says. If we agree, we agree. If we disagree, we disagree. We don’t walk in lockstep like you righties like to. We march to the beat of our own drum.

    Pay no attention to blogreeder, he gave up freedom for security. Poor thing.

  221. 221.

    Rome Again

    September 4, 2008 at 3:59 am

    Palin is clearly exploiting the children, and bringing Levi to the convention was nothing more than more exploitation. The campaign announced the pregnancy and tried to blame it on the left when it was the Enquirer who was breathing down their necks. How convenient.

    You know I really have to feel sorry for Levi. They say there is nothing new under the sun, but I wonder, how many times did a young studly teen screw his girlfriend, get her pregnant and then have to be paraded out before the Republican National Convention (and the entire country on tv) while his new to-be mother-in-law shows off her perfect little family. OMG! How terrifying. And he said he didn’t want to have kids, I wonder if he regrets it now.

  222. 222.

    Rome Again

    September 4, 2008 at 4:08 am

    Now. Getting my breath back. Hillbots are usually Hillary Clinton supporters. But that would mean you had infighting.. Here?… Between Obama supporters and… I don’t get it.

    Your party is split too, don’t think it’s not. Our party has mended most of it’s fences, with only those who would vote for a woman simply because she’s a woman (and because she’s not a black man) refusing to come back to the fold. We’re better off without those few who choose to vote for “McCain and a Woman” (and a woman , I might add, who doesn’t agree at all with Hillary’s political stance).

    You can have them, we are receiving many more votes from your party then you are receiving from ours. Keep tissues handy on election day, you’re going to need them. ;)

  223. 223.

    Rome Again

    September 4, 2008 at 4:35 am

    Holy fuck. AP still has journalists who fact-check?

    Interesting how media is finally beginning to do its job, but, at the same time, the AP is running scared because several papers are dropping their service because of their heavy handedness and bias, and if they don’t shape up, within two years (that’s how long of a notice of intent to drop service is for the AP) they will lose their livelihood. They are only doing this to enrich themselves.

  224. 224.

    Marshall

    September 4, 2008 at 5:00 am

    I saw (well, mostly heard) Sarah Palin’s speech, and thought I was listening to Legally Blonde III. All sound bites, no substance.

  225. 225.

    Marshall

    September 4, 2008 at 5:16 am

    Holy fuck. The establishment media is snarking? What the hell is going on?

    Look, the establishment (media and otherwise) will put up with a lot of things, but they are very classist. They didn’t like Jimmy Carter, for pete’s sake, because they thought he was a cracker. They had a visceral dislike of Bill Clinton for basically the same reason. Remember when the Monica scandal exploded and all of those pundits said things like “It’s our place, and he is trashing it ?” It confirmed all of their prejudices about him being a low class Southern hillbilly.

    The establishment thinks Sarah Palin is white trash, and she can expect no mercy, as being low class is one sin they cannot forgive.

  226. 226.

    Rome Again

    September 4, 2008 at 5:32 am

    One interesting point to make:

    If the right thought the media was liberal before, their heads must be exploding now. ;)

  227. 227.

    AnneLaurie

    September 4, 2008 at 6:04 am

    Palin reminded me of the nasty little third-grader who makes the special-ed kids cry by telling them there’s no Santa Claus. And when she’s called on her bad behavior, her thuggish parents try to get her teacher fired for “disrespecting Little Sarah’s deep religious convictions.” She started at Roseanne Rosannadanna and drilled back thru pop-cult history to Dennis-the-Menace’s bitchy sidekick Margaret, whose personality was so universally loathed that Pixar recycled her in LILO & STITCH.

    If President Obama really wants a grand gesture of reconciliation, he can start by offering young Bristol and Levi spots in the federal witness protection program… probably in different states.

  228. 228.

    4tehlulz

    September 4, 2008 at 6:23 am

    The Church Lady with nuclear weapons.

    Enjoy the apocalypse.

  229. 229.

    Xenos

    September 4, 2008 at 6:26 am

    The idea of bringing Levi to the stage just boggles the mind. The kid lacks legal competency to sign a contract, but he is brought in to show… what? That Bristol is really a good girl? Like she would not be a good girl if her boyfriend’s parents protected him from this whole circus?

    They don’t even go through the whole fundie process of confessing outrageous sins and getting forgiven. It is just a matter of parents dominating their teens, forcing them to fit into normative roles. And now we get the whole Levi Johnston celebrity industry as we get reminded about every bar brawl, adultery, marriages and divorces and half-baked businesses and marketing schemes from the joker for the next forty years.

  230. 230.

    grandpajohn

    September 4, 2008 at 6:44 am

    I just thought that was an interesting article which points out a fact that the media is conveniently glossing over in re the Palin speech.

    and especially that the major part of the speech other than the personal stuff was written before the speechgiver was even selected

  231. 231.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    September 4, 2008 at 6:54 am

    I didn’t watch Joe Biden’s speech. Why would I watch the Republican speech?

    I am acquainted with several people who vote strictly on the issue of abortion. They are convinced that Palin their god’s response to fervent prayer. What I don’t understand is why Gustav wasn’t also a sign that Jesus is pissed and taking anymore Republican bullshit. I guess its all in the reading of the signs, eh?

    BTW Bourdain’s No Reservation rocks. He visited that crazy wingnut Ted Nugent out at his ranch in Waco. It was hysterically funny. Nugent may be crazy but he is very entertaining if only a mediocre musician.

  232. 232.

    jake

    September 4, 2008 at 6:56 am

    Wow. McCain must have really pissed off his true base, the media.

    Her speech included that little zinger about not caring if she had the approval of the reporters and the commentators.

    Like most GOP speech writer cleverosity it was very, very, dumb. Sure it got Das Base excited but she (to be fair, the speech writer) assumed that the press would be just as eager to suck her dick as it is to blow Bush.

    She ain’t Bush. She ain’t Cheney. She ain’t even Huckabee.

    Prepare to hear a lot of screaming about sexism in the near future, followed by decreased media access followed by them media types talking about McPalintine amongst themselves while the cameras roll.

  233. 233.

    harlana pepper

    September 4, 2008 at 7:06 am

    Soooo many delectible repube-morality-gone-awry tidbits in this story. But, for some reason, because we are Dems and they are repubes, we are not allowed to delve even toe deep into the Palin family waters. The delicious thing about it is, we don’t have to.

  234. 234.

    DougJ

    September 4, 2008 at 7:16 am

    I hope Halperin had at least one wetsuit on last night for his journey into the tank:

    Sarah Palin: A+ (Mother, fighter, small town girl, patriot, reformer, energy expert, hockey mom, McCain attack dog, America’s political sweetheart — she did everything she had to do, and more.)

    Rudy Giuliani: A- (“He poked some sly fun at his own presidential aspirations, but then openly laughed at Barack Obama, whose resume he related with withering spin.”)

    Mitt Romney: B- (“No doubt he would have preferred Wednesday’s keynote slot (or Thursday’s main address), but he did his duty with stolid good humor.”)

  235. 235.

    Georgette Orwell

    September 4, 2008 at 7:21 am

    The past, the past, the past. What he did (or didn’t do) forty years ago, though they skip the Keating era. What she did all her life, not one bit of which (even the rare true parts) is relevant.

    And I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win.

  236. 236.

    Carthaginian

    September 4, 2008 at 7:33 am

    Wolfslayer Barbie

    Anything Wolfslayer Barbie wants is God’s plan. Wolfslayer Barbie knows what God wants.

    God wants brave mighty hunters to chase wolves with airplanes until they drop from exhaustion.

    Then God wants brave mighty hunters to shoot the adult wolves.

    Then God wants mighty brave mighty hunters to leave the wolf puppies to die of exposure, God doesn’t want brave mighty hunters to waste ammunition.

    Wolfslayer Barbie knows God’s mind.

    God loves Wolfslayer Barbie.

    Wolfslayer Barbie makes the Baby Jesus smile.

  237. 237.

    John S.

    September 4, 2008 at 8:05 am

    Wow. McCain must have really pissed off his true base, the media.

    Nope.

    As of this morning, they are right back to playing the complicit lapdog. Watching CNN for a few minutes this morning I learned:

    – Palin is a fiscal consevative because she fired the butler and sold a plane on eBay

    – Palin is a reformer because she does things differently

    – The children just want to be left alone, if only the press would let them (as they show gratuitous footage of them being paraded around by the campaign)

    These fucking clowns. This is going to be the election where they finally prove to the public that they are irrelevant and full of shit.

  238. 238.

    chopper

    September 4, 2008 at 8:26 am

    a solid speech to the base. real red meat, real negative. contrasts quite a bit with the more positive dem convention, but then again mccain has officially given up on running on actual issues and has decided to take the advice of the hard right and go with yet another ‘culture war’ campaign.

    problem is, the whole ‘culture war’ thing only barely squeaks out a victory and only when the dem is a blah candidate, and only when the media is fully complicit.

    i do like all her talk about how obama’s past as a community activist is worthless, yet at the same time saying he has no ‘small-town experience’. that was a funny one. i also imagined her, at the VP debates, asking aloud ‘name one community activist that ever accomplished anything’ and biden going ‘outside of martin luther king and most of the civil rights movement? nothing, nothing at all’.

  239. 239.

    harlana pepper

    September 4, 2008 at 8:31 am

    Given her choices and behavior, I feel pretty confident in saying that Palin sucks as a mom and will probably blow severely as a grand-mom. Plus, she is a vindictive, petty bitch and the facts support that.

  240. 240.

    Conservatively Liberal

    September 4, 2008 at 8:35 am

    I liked the fact that Rudy loved the sound of his voice so much that they couldn’t play the introduction video clip about Palin, they just went from Rudy straight to Palin.

    Thank you Rudy!

    Noonan and Murphy blew a couple of holes in the bottom of the S.S. McCain and the old wreck is taking on water fast. Palin is balin’ but the ship is swamping and may go under soon. I wonder when the rats will start deserting the sinking ship? Rats are smart, they find a way to survive, and these rats are no different. They know that the S.S. McCain is heading for the bottom and you can tell that they are nervous.

    Good.

    These fucking clowns. This is going to be the election where they finally prove to the public that they are irrelevant and full of shit.

    There is too much shit out there about Palin and they may be backing off for a moment to not look like they are piling on. But the media are like dogs fighting over a bone and they are not going to let this pass. This stuff brings in viewers, which means better advertising sales and income for them.

    If they can be the one with the big steaming pile hot and in their hands then they are going to rush out to show it off, no doubt about it. But if they piss McCain or the right off too much they would probably lose (what they consider) valuable contacts. I think they should run with whatever is the truth and leave it at that but I am realistic enough to know that the world ain’t that simple though I wish it was.

    Regardless, Palin is a non-stop train wreck and the press loves a train wreck, the bloodier the better. Things have been favoring Obama for the last week, and I am damn happy about that.

    More will come, of that I am sure.

  241. 241.

    ksmiami

    September 4, 2008 at 8:45 am

    Who the FUCK does she think she is? I want her eviscerated and McLame too. They are unfit to lead our country, period.

  242. 242.

    gil mann

    September 4, 2008 at 9:10 am

    harlana pepper Says:

    Given her choices and behavior, I feel pretty confident in saying that Palin sucks as a mom and will probably blow severely as a grand-mom. Plus, she is a vindictive, petty bitch and the facts support that.

    Hey, y’know what prefix and suffix go along nicely with the word “help?”

    “un-” and “-ful.”

    No, really, it’s cool, let’s keep talking about her personal choices and using the word bitch. I’d much rather spend all my time from now until November concern-trolling my own side than helping Obama get elected.

  243. 243.

    Stuck in the Fun House

    September 4, 2008 at 9:20 am

    Next up. Palin fires MCcain because she wants to and because it’s fun.

  244. 244.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    September 4, 2008 at 9:39 am

    I’d much rather spend all my time from now until November concern-trolling my own side than helping Obama get elected.

    At least you understand what you’re doing and that it isn’t helping. Lots of trolls aren’t that far along.

  245. 245.

    chopper

    September 4, 2008 at 10:05 am

    man, if al gore was a serial liar then this woman is like the green river killer of liars.

  246. 246.

    cain

    September 4, 2008 at 10:12 am

    I am acquainted with several people who vote strictly on the issue of abortion. They are convinced that Palin their god’s response to fervent prayer. What I don’t understand is why Gustav wasn’t also a sign that Jesus is pissed and taking anymore Republican bullshit. I guess its all in the reading of the signs, eh?

    How odd? Are they retirees or something? I would think that the economy the on-going war would be of a concern to them? If America goes to hell in a handbasket, guaranteed abortion is not going to be one of hte priorities. I guess none of this things have personally affected them. [shrug]

    cain

  247. 247.

    handy

    September 4, 2008 at 10:55 am

    BTW Bourdain’s No Reservation rocks.

    Meh, the guy’s a snob. I prefer Zimmern myself.

  248. 248.

    Gus

    September 4, 2008 at 10:56 am

    Can things have devolved that badly?

    Where have you been for the last 30 years?

  249. 249.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    September 4, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Gary Ruppert Says:

    The fact is, your blog and all the hot air cannot deal with criticism of any kind of your Obamessiah who wants to reintroduce shania law in America.

    We in the Heartland are not fulled, and we will gladly pull the level for Palin and McCain because they are true USA patriots who understand freedom.

    See, now this is how you spoof.

    We have the silly spelling errors like “fulled” and “shania” (unless you think Obama’s going to force everyone to listen to Shania Twain), we have the appeal to patriotism and freedom, the obligatory “Obamessiah” reference.

    I give it a 9.2. Bit of a wobble on the dismount, but otherwise a good imitation of a right-wing nutbar.

  250. 250.

    DonnaInMichigan

    September 4, 2008 at 1:10 pm

    I can picture it now…

    Palin first day on the job as VP…

    YARD SALE signs on the front lawn of the White House, will read:

    Auction at 10 am.

    Everything must go! The remainder’s will be sold on ebay.

    2 private Jets
    2 private helicopters
    Antique Furniture
    Lincoln Bedroom Set
    Fine Art/Sculptures
    China
    Silverware

    Cash or Credit cards only!!
    No early sales!

  251. 251.

    ThymeZone

    September 4, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    We in the Heartland are not fulled

    No, sorry, the faux misspelling is a reveal. 6.0 is all I can give on this sorry troll display.

    That’s one of the worst fake misspellings I have ever seen. “Shania” law was funny though, a witty wink to the other trolls out there. But, style points only.

  252. 252.

    Brachiator

    September 4, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    cain Says:

    I am acquainted with several people who vote strictly on the issue of abortion. They are convinced that Palin their god’s response to fervent prayer. What I don’t understand is why Gustav wasn’t also a sign that Jesus is pissed and taking anymore Republican bullshit. I guess its all in the reading of the signs, eh?

    How odd? Are they retirees or something?

    Oddly enough, yes (Retirees, industries back McCain with their wallets)

    Retirees are shoveling campaign donations to 72-year-old Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who in recent months has also scored major contributions from real estate, insurance, energy and financial industries, according to an analysis released on Wednesday. …

    According to the data compiled by CRP, McCain led Obama by almost two-to-one in collecting funds from retirees during June and July. The Arizona Republican received $8.1 million, while the 47-year-old Obama, an Illinois senator, got $4.5 million….

    The Center for Responsible Politics, using data from the federal government, also said that McCain has received at least $50,000 from a law firm founded by Charles Keating, who was involved in a 1980s savings and loan scandal that ensnared McCain.

    A common theme of many of the speeches at the Republican Convention is that if you’ve got your pile, then everything is all right with America. And it is relatively easy for retirees to be pro-war: they aren’t going, and for the most part, neither are their grandkids.

    The irony is that the Republicans successfully use an irrational fear of free-spending, tax raising Democrats to get many middle class retirees to vote against their own interests. So while Dubya throws billions at financial markets to rescue them from their own greed and folly, people don’t connect the dots and see this for what it is –a taxpayer funded subsidy for corporate pigs.

  253. 253.

    Benjamin Wright

    September 5, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    John: E-mail records were central to the investigation of Jack Abramoff. Electronic records are profoundly changing our society. They combat all manner of corruption and abuse of authority or privilege. –Ben http://hack-igations.blogspot.com/2007/12/people-in-authority-sometimes-abuse.html

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