Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

The willow is too close to the house.

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

“But what about the lurkers?”

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

People are weird.

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2008 / Dear FactCheck

Dear FactCheck

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While you may think they are merely misrepresenting your work, the McCain campaign is actually engaging in the proud Republican tradition of DWTFTW.

I am sorry you all had to get caught up in it, but I will point out that we are all moose now.

*** Update ***

And CBS has to stop the McCain campaign from lying.

Maybe this is the new strategy. Occupy the media with so many lies that they can not catch you on the important ones.

Reader Interactions

58Comments

  8. 8.

    Rommie

    This is just one more example of what someone pointed out on Sadly No! – that the Republicans are acting like Soccer players who, while in the penalty area, fall to the ground if any opposing player is near them, let alone make contact with them. (Think pass interference in the end zone if American Football is your preferred game)

    AAAAAH MY LEG HE BROKE IT HE BROKE IT OH THE PAIN THE PAIN howling to get the ref to believe it, and then hopping up uninjured soon after. And then, 3 minutes later, putting their spikes into the back of someone’s shin and taking them to task for “faking” their rolling around in agony.

    Everyone decries the diving, but it only has to work once to swing a close game in your favor. I have a fear that political diving will produce the same result – we won, cry all you want loooosers! Bleh.

  9. 9.

    Tax Analyst

    SpotWeld Says:

    I’m pretty sure it’s Palin that’s the moose and McCain just a flying squirrel.

    OK, but then who is Boris Badenov? And Natasha Nogoodnik?

  10. 10.

    JD

    There’s a reason why McCain keeps giving speeches in front of green screens. It allows them to fill in the background with whatever they like.

  11. 11.

    demimondian

    then who is Boris Badenov? And Natasha Nogoodnik?

    I would suggest McCain as Badenov, Palin as Nogoodnik, Obama as Moose, and Biden as Rocket J. Squiirel.

    And Karl Rove as Fearless Leader.

  12. 12.

    Blue Buddha

    I think the McCain campaign continuously making up complete bullshit, and bashing the media for “bias” is going to do him in. In the past, the media has often been more supportive of the GOP, but I think they’re getting so sick of McCain’s antics that they’re starting to give up on him.

  13. 13.

    SpotWeld

    Tax Analyst Says:
    OK, but then who is Boris Badenov? And Natasha Nogoodnik?

    Natasha Fatale I think you mean.

    Off the top of my head I would say Jack Abramoff (with the hat) and Paris Hilton?

  16. 16.

    pillsy

    So what’s the chance that if McCain keeps this up, he’ll get caught up in the same sort of “serial prevaricator” narrative that tangled up Al Gore back in 2000?

    A couple weeks ago, I would have been sure the answer was, “None,” but I’m actually pretty shocked by how blatant and cynical the McCain camp is being.

  17. 17.

    Brachiator

    Incertus Says:

    My sister was bit by a moose once.

    Moose bites can be nasty, I hear.

    Moose bites … another term for oil industry hickey?

    Gov’t officials investigated for sex, gifts

    By DINA CAPPIELLO, Associated Press Writer
    13 minutes ago

    WASHINGTON – Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties partied, had sex with and accepted golf and ski outings from employees of energy companies they were dealing with, federal investigators said Wednesday.

    The alleged transgressions involve 13 former and current Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Their alleged improprieties include rigging contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants, and having sexual relationships with — and accepting golf and ski trips and dinners from — oil company employees, according to three reports released Wednesday by the Interior Department’s inspector general….

    “During the course of our investigation, we learned that some RIK employees frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and gas company representatives,” the report said. Two government employees who had to spend the night after a daytime industry function because they were too intoxicated to drive home were commonly referred to by energy traders as the “MMS Chicks.”

    Between 2002 and 2006, nearly a third of the 55-person staff in the Denver office received gifts and gratuities from oil and gas companies, including Chevron Corp., Shell, Hess Corp. and Denver-based Gary-Williams Energy Corp., the investigators found. Two oil marketers received gifts and gratuities on at least 135 occasions. One admitted having a one-night-stand with a Shell employee.

  18. 18.

    Joshau Norton

    Jeez. Even old Jello-spine & right wing ass-kisser extraordinaire Mark Halperin thinks this is a low point for McCain and a waste of time for everyone.

  20. 20.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    OMG – Chris Matthews is tearing into this lipstick thing right now, he is about to climb over the desk and smack the ever loving treacle of the McCain hack to is claiming that it was a Palin insult. He has a bundle of uses of the term and is about spitting venom at this. It is so much fun to watch.

  21. 21.

    tomboy

    I’m starting to wish Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his VP, which would have pissed me off at the time. Bill and Hillary wouldn’t be so bogged down by these stupid negative attacks. They would just laugh at the press and start punching back.

    I know we are trying to change things, but we’ve got to win first.

  23. 23.

    carsick

    John McCain’s campaign is now claiming that the old fish wrapped in new newspaper line Obama used is also an allusion to Palin.
    John McCain either has no control over his own campaign two months before the election which means he doesn’t deserve to get the most powerful position in our country, or he is a whinny ass old man who has decided his reputation of having honor and his former service to our country has no value.
    I predicted when he chose Palin that it would get ugly but he just looks pathetic now. He’s more than an embarrassment.
    Any thoughts I had about him being an honorable man are out the window and down the storm drain. He’s drunk now on the celebrity he always showed he craved and with his polls rising clearly he knows America would rather be drunk than rational (I guess I’m going to have to stop getting drunk now because he’s given it too bad a name.).

  24. 24.

    Joe Max

    And this week the wingnut “base’s” Paper of Record, the National Enquirer, continues it’s hard-hitting journalism on Alaska’s First Family.

    What is the Right going to do about it? After all, they praised the Enquirer for accuracy when it went after John Edwards.

    Well good for the Enquirer. These rats aren’t going to fuck themselves, you know.

  25. 25.

    Joe Max

    Litlebritdifrnt Says:

    OMG – Chris Matthews is tearing into this lipstick thing right now, he is about to climb over the desk and smack the ever loving treacle of the McCain hack to is claiming that it was a Palin insult. He has a bundle of uses of the term and is about spitting venom at this. It is so much fun to watch.

    I know – what has Tweety been smoking lately? Whatever it is, pass it around! I’m almost ready to revise my opinion of him as a 1st class media douchebag.

  26. 26.

    Joshau Norton

    I’m starting to wish Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his VP

    Biden isn’t doing a very good job as attack dog. He should be out there tossing grenades, not mush-mouthing how much he likes McCain and what a good speech Palin gave.

    He’s going to get his ass kicked during the debates if he lets Palin brag about shooting moose and sissyfy Biden. If he gives long cerebral answers he’s freaking toast.

  27. 27.

    Laura W

    carsick says:
    (I guess I’m going to have to stop getting drunk now because he’s given it too bad a name.)

    Now now…let’s not cut off our ketel one to spite our face.
    Or throw the fetus out with the beer bathwater.
    Or such.

    tomboy Says:

    I’m starting to wish Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his VP, which would have pissed me off at the time. Bill and Hillary wouldn’t be so bogged down by these stupid negative attacks. They would just laugh at the press and start punching back.

    Me too.
    Did I just say that out loud?
    Yesterday I heard some talking head say that Hillary was saying: “I told you so” and I actually had a moment of, er, sickness, I guess. I’m feeling more disheartened today than I have in months. I suck today.
    I need to keep the faith.
    I need a hug.
    I need another adult beverage.
    Maybe KO will talk me down. (I said that even BEFORE Rachel stole it from me for her segment.)

    Speaking of MSNBC shows, ya think the recent gossip about the pissing wars over there led to not only the Tweety and KO issue but also the changes in Gregory’s maniacal, hyperactive format? THE PANEL THAT COMES TO PLAY ALL THE TIME ALL THE WAY NON-STOP ACTION POW ZAP THUD ZONK!!!
    There is a very sedate and, dare-I-say, more refined and thoughtful tone and format. AND NO JOE BLOW OR PAT B* for a while. Who says drunk dialing network brass does not work, given enough dedication and repetition?

    *Yes, of course I emailed [email protected] as soon as her first show ended to congrats and also say: PLEASE DON’T EVER HAVE PAT B BACK ON!!!!!!

    Chatty Cathy going now…

  28. 28.

    Joshau Norton

    PLEASE DON’T EVER HAVE PAT B BACK ON

    Oh she will. Her and Pat and Tucker Carlson go way back as talking heads that worked together. She calls him Uncle Pat. Not through any great affection, I’m sure, but he’ll be back more often than we’d like.

  29. 29.

    oh really

    Damn, I keep trying to play WordPress Error and all I get is this damn blog.

    Will someone please fix this thing?

  30. 30.

    PeterJ

    I’m starting to wish Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his VP, which would have pissed me off at the time. Bill and Hillary wouldn’t be so bogged down by these stupid negative attacks. They would just laugh at the press and start punching back.

    You don’t pick your VP for the election. Then you’ll risk ending up with a pick like Palin.

    While Clinton might have been better for this phase, I’m pretty sure Obama picking them would have been bad for the governing. I highly doubt that either of the Clintons would have been ok with playing second fiddle.

  31. 31.

    Rome Again

    I’m starting to wish Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his VP, which would have pissed me off at the time. Bill and Hillary wouldn’t be so bogged down by these stupid negative attacks. They would just laugh at the press and start punching back.

    I know we are trying to change things, but we’ve got to win first.

    Personally I think it’s the GOP that will be suffering from Buyer’s Remorse.

  32. 32.

    pillsy

    While Clinton might have been better for this phase, I’m pretty sure Obama picking them would have been bad for the governing.

    Clinton as VP would have been a bad choice for the campaign, too. The Clintons have a very specific management style that works for them (kinda) but would cause all sorts of drama if they tried to fit in with Obama’s organization.

  33. 33.

    Blue Buddha

    Joe Max Says:

    I know – what has Tweety been smoking lately? Whatever it is, pass it around! I’m almost ready to revise my opinion of him as a 1st class media douchebag.

    September 10th, 2008 at 6:26 pm

    Tweety’s head exploded within the past year or so. He’s been bouncing between trashing the GOP and kissing their asses more often than a pingpong tournament. But I think McCain’s fuck ups lately have been making him stick to bashing the GOP.

  34. 34.

    Brett

    Apparently the McCain campaign is using the OJ Simpson Defense, which is to shotgun any interrogators with so much crap that they can’t sort through it all – and you attack them when they can’t.

  35. 35.

    The Other Steve

    Personally I think it’s the GOP that will be suffering from Buyer’s Remorse.

    It appears that the more serious side of the GOP already is.

  36. 36.

    Blue Buddha

    Joshau Norton Says:

    PLEASE DON’T EVER HAVE PAT B BACK ON

    Oh she will. Her and Pat and Tucker Carlson go way back as talking heads that worked together. She calls him Uncle Pat. Not through any great affection, I’m sure, but he’ll be back more often than we’d like.

    September 10th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

    I’m thinking that she likes to have him there to smack around. Sort of like why Hannity has Colmes around.

  37. 37.

    Tax Analyst

    As I said on another thread yesterday, people need to get over this “he should have picked Clinton” stuff. For one thing, hindsight second-guessing is pointless. Obama didn’t pick Clinton and that is that, understand? The ticket is Barack Obama/Joe Biden, and it’s a solid ticket that I have no hesitancy in fully supporting and contributing to, and no problem whatsoever with these people representing and leading our nation. Considering the opposition I fervently hope this comes to be.

  38. 38.

    Tax Analyst

    Natasha Fatale I think you mean.

    No, I’m referring to the cartoon show from the early 60’s, “Rocky The Flying Squirrel”, aka “Rocky & Bullwinkle”, and I believe that Boris Badenov’s female cohort was Natasha Nogoodnik. Perhaps “Natale Fatale” was the character in the execreble movie attempt at recreating the cartoon characters. I don’t know, I had no interest in it and never saw it.

  39. 39.

    hwickline

    Man, I just read this post, and the linked Fact Check piece, and then received an email from McCain-Palin touting the Fact Check quotes that I just read Fact Check debunking.

    Oooh, they make me so mad.

    Which is at least half the point, of course, but still. (!)

  40. 40.

    SpotWeld

    No, I’m referring to the cartoon show from the early 60’s, “Rocky The Flying Squirrel”, aka “Rocky & Bullwinkle”, and I believe that Boris Badenov’s female cohort was Natasha Nogoodnik.

    I beg to differ.

  42. 42.

    Kevin

    No, I’m referring to the cartoon show from the early 60’s, “Rocky The Flying Squirrel”, aka “Rocky & Bullwinkle”, and I believe that Boris Badenov’s female cohort was Natasha Nogoodnik. Perhaps “Natale Fatale” was the character in the execreble movie attempt at recreating the cartoon characters. I don’t know, I had no interest in it and never saw it.

    Sorry, dude, but You’re Wrong

  43. 43.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    I’m starting to wish Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his VP

    Biden isn’t doing a very good job as attack dog.

    Like Hillary would be better! “Oh John McCain is so qualified to be commander-in-chief! Oh John, your gas tax holiday is such a good idea!”

  44. 44.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    Hillary defended Obama from the GOP lipstick brigade at a D.C. news conference today, saying that Obama’s comment was “in no way meant as an affront”

    But Hillary, apparently, refused to attack or criticize Palin. Asked about Palin and her candidacy, Clinton responded only that the campaign should be about the issues.

    Link

    What a fighter!! !

  45. 45.

    Brachiator

    tomboy Says:
    I’m starting to wish Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his VP, which would have pissed me off at the time. Bill and Hillary wouldn’t be so bogged down by these stupid negative attacks. They would just laugh at the press and start punching back.

    It wouldn’t matter much. The GOP would have set the Smear Machine to Max no matter who Obama chose to be VP. They will go negative no matter what, and if Hillary was the choice, the Republicans would play something else besides the gender card.

    McCain has tossed aside all honor and principle because the presidency is his last chance at glory. When he loses — and he will — the only thing he will have left is the wretchedly weak wail that he used to be a POW.

    On the other hand, there are news reports that the Big Dog may soon be unleashed.

    Senator Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton plan to meet for lunch on Thursday at Mr. Clinton’s offices in Harlem, their first extended face-to-face encounter after more than a year of tense relations, aides said Sunday.

    The current plan is for Mr. Obama and Mr. Clinton to have lunch at the Clinton Foundation headquarters on West 125th Street in Harlem with one close aide each. There have been discussions about the men possibly then doing a walking tour of the neighborhood, but that has not been settled.

    Any still secretly reluctant Democrat now has to decide whether they want to sulk or win. And Palin’s youth and impact on the GOP base also shatters the last fantasy that the Clintons might be gambling on the chance of another try at the White House in 2012. The GOP is clearly showing that there is nothing they won’t do to retain power.

    Tax Analyst Says:

    Natasha Fatale I think you mean.

    No, I’m referring to the cartoon show from the early 60’s, “Rocky The Flying Squirrel”, aka “Rocky & Bullwinkle”, and I believe that Boris Badenov’s female cohort was Natasha Nogoodnik. Perhaps “Natale Fatale” was the character in the execreble movie attempt at recreating the cartoon characters. I don’t know, I had no interest in it and never saw it.

    Nope. Here’s the skinny, courtesy of one of the numerous Rocky and Bullwinkle tribute sites:

    ~ Boris Badenov’s name is a play on an operatic character, Boris Godenov.

    ~ Boris’ curse, “Rapskalikov” is a reference to the protagonist, Rapskailkov in Dovstoyevsky’s nove “Crime and Punishment.”

    ~ Natasha’s last name is and always was Fatale. Some bios get confused by saying her last name was once Nogoodnik. They are not true, but “Nogoodnik” is a term used by the narrator to describe them.

    Natasha’s surname is an easy play on femme fatale.

  46. 46.

    Tax Analyst

    Actually – I decided to do more than just work from memory and found that BOTH “Nogoodnik” & “Fatale” are correct. Per AWN’s Animation Trivia Quiz, a quiz designed by one Ray Porter, a veteran of 34 years in the animation field (and which I hope actually shows up as a link after I post this) the character was ORIGINALLY “Natasha Nogoodnik” and then LATER changed to “Nastasha Fatale”.

    AWN’s Animation Trivia Quiz

    Brachiator, I thought you would surely remember the Jimmy Soul/U.S. Bonds discussion re: “If You Want To Be Happy”.

  47. 47.

    Tax Analyst

    Well, I don’t know why that link doesn’t work (probably because I still don’t know how to do them correctly), but I found it by typing in “Natasha Nogoodnik” and the AWN Quiz was about the 3rd choice on the first page of a Yahoo search.

    Anyway, folks can believe what they want (they always do) but that is the straight-skinny on this and it’s not too hard to find.

  48. 48.

    Tax Analyst

    Oh BTW, I still maintain they should have cast Wendie Malick as Natasha in the movie version. She’s an absolute dead-ringer.

  50. 50.

    blogreeder

    Maybe this is the new strategy. Occupy the media with so many lies that they can not catch you on the important ones.

    This is a old Democrat strategy. It was used quite extensively during 2004. This is politics, you know. Did any body catch this from Biden?
    Funny stuff.

  51. 51.

    blogreeder

    Actually – I decided to do more than just work from memory

    That’s what’s great about the internet. It makes everyone smart. Really. If you were talking to someone on the street and asked about Boris and Natashia and he/she said

    the character was ORIGINALLY “Natasha Nogoodnik” and then LATER changed to “Nastasha Fatale”.

    You might say “Boy that guy/gal sure is smart, he/she knows his/her cartoons!”. On the internet, facts are just for the taking. Kinda… Now back to the blather.

  53. 53.

    scarshapedstar

    Maybe this is the new strategy. Occupy the media with so many lies scandals that they can not catch you on the important ones.

    Just pointing out that Cheney/Rove figured out “scandal fatigue” a loooong time ago and it totally works. McCain’s “lie fatigue” is similar but pretty small potatoes when you think about it. But it’s pretty obvious that he can’t wait to start putting together his own Enron-Abu Ghraib-Plame-Gonzogate combo, systematically destroying any of our remaining hope or dignity like a rogue with a stunlock build.

  54. 54.

    justme

    Maybe this is the new strategy. Occupy the media with so many lies that they can not catch you on the important ones.

    New?

    That has been the overarching strategy for the last seven years. Overload the country with so many lies and so much criminality that as they try to focus on any one thing, the next comes and broadsides them. Outrage turns to fatigue turns to simple, slackjawed amazement.

    Hell, it has been working fabulously for them. Why stop now?

  56. 56.

    Brachiator

    Tax Analyst Says:
    Actually – I decided to do more than just work from memory and found that BOTH “Nogoodnik” & “Fatale” are correct. Per AWN’s Animation Trivia Quiz, a quiz designed by one Ray Porter, a veteran of 34 years in the animation field (and which I hope actually shows up as a link after I post this) the character was ORIGINALLY “Natasha Nogoodnik” and then LATER changed to “Nastasha Fatale”.

    Unlikely. They sometimes referred to each other as nogoodniks, which may have led some to believe that this was Natasha’s last name. The Wiki biography for Boris notes this little tidbit:

    Separately from the television series, a commercial for the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show featuring Boris established that he was an active member of Local 12 of the Villains, Thieves, and Scoundrels Union. During this commercial, Badenov also claims to be “the world’s greatest no-goodnik.

    By the way, an early Jay Ward cartoon featured a Sherlock Holmes character called “Hamhock Jones.” The plot of the cartoon centered on the search for the villain who made Votain Gas, which could turn Democrats into Republicans.

    These days, of course, the Republicans are all hot air. Who knew?

  58. 58.

    Xenos

    That has been the overarching strategy for the last seven years. Overload the country with so many lies and so much criminality that as they try to focus on any one thing, the next comes and broadsides them. Outrage turns to fatigue turns to simple, slackjawed amazement.

    One problem is that this has been working for so long that many of their crimes are aging out of the statutes of limitations. Look for them to try anything to get another four years of protection from a corrupt DOJ.

    (humming ‘Guns of Brixton’ to self)

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