Go read Frank Rich. Of course, what he says doesn’t count because he is a hater.
The McCain Story
A pretty reasoned response to the McCain NY Times story:
I chose not to run the New York Times story on John McCain in Thursday’s P-I, even though it was available to us on the New York Times News Service. I thought I’d take a shot at explaining why
***Admitting that Keller was in a better position to vet the sourcing and facts than I am as, basically, a reader, let’s assume that every source is solid and every fact attributed in the story to an anonymous source is true. You’re still dealing with a possible appearance of impropriety, eight years ago, that is certainly unproven and probably unprovable. Where is the solid evidence of this lobbyist improperly influencing (or bedding) McCain? I didn’t see it in the half-dozen times I read the story. In paragraphs fifty-eight through sixty-one of the sixty-five-paragraph story, the Times points out two matters in which McCain took actions favorable to the lobbyist’s clients — that were also clearly consistent with his previously stated positions.
That’s pretty thin beer.
***This story seems to me not to pass the smell test. It makes the innuendo of impropriety, even corruption, without backing it up. I was taught that before you run something in the newspaper that could ruin somebody’s reputation, you’d better have your facts very straight indeed.
I tend to agree with his reason to not run the story in the Seattle PI- were I Bill Keller, I would not have run it. Maybe some evidence will appear in the following weeks that backs up all the claims in the original piece. I don’t know, but right now this looks like a pretty clear case of shoddy journalism.
Big Win In Wisconsin
Obama by double digits.
New meme alert: The timing of Obama’s speech was rude (it interrupted her Highness during her non-concession concession speech).
Open Thread
Now is the time on sprockets when we slow dance.
***Update***
Why Not McCain
Jon Henke has a interesting piece up about the freak-out over McCain, and points out exactly what has confused me the last couple of weeks:
So, why is the Right so angry about McCain? I understand the vehemence of the disagreements, but the anger – including my own, in the past – is disproportionate.
For instance, McCain is perceived as an almost wholly unacceptable Republican (primarily) for his positions on immigration and campaign finance reform, with additional anger directed at him over a few other issues. Yet, President Bush presided over/supported, e.g., No Child Left Behind, the immigration reform bill, McCain-Feingold, the Medicare Drug Bill, a massive expansion of federal spending, egregious agriculture and energy bills, a badly conceived and conducted war in Iraq, and myriad other anti-limited government positions. And he did most of that with a Republican Congress.
Bush is worse in almost every respect – having actively introduced and supported outrageous violations of the putative ideals of the Right – but he is not regarded with the same anger. Why?
Years from now, when people look back at this administration, Bush will have turned out to be less conservative than Bill Clinton in almost every regard, yet he gets a pass. Not only that, his most ardent supporters, people who absolutely refuse to say a bad word about Bush are the same folks who reject McCain.
Go read the whole thing.
WV Gives Romney the Middle Finger
Look, I am not proud that the Republican party in WV decided to support Huckabee, but I am sure tickled pink that we may be the first state to start the end of the Romney campaign:
Republican Mike Huckabee scored the first Super Tuesday victory, winning all 18 delegates at stake in West Virginia.
The former Arkansas governor won with the support of 52 percent of the state’s GOP convention delegates on the second round of balloting. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in second with 47 percent of the vote, and Sen. John McCain was backed by 1 percent of the delegates.
Romney was ahead in the first round of voting in Charleston but failed to get the majority needed to win.
A couple quick things:
1.) I have said it before, I will say it again, Mitt Romney is the Manchurian Candidate for the Oligarchy. The same folks who have backed the Bush disaster to this very day are pushing this guy down your throats. Check the poll numbers. I, for one, have had enough of the Bush years.
2.) It is not surprising that Huckabee has a broad base of support here- we are, sadly enough, a lot like Arkansas in many ways. Additionally, West Virginians love charismatic leaders. You might want to check out this post on a legend in West Virginia, A. James Manchin.
3.) I am in a list making mood today.
California Week
I just spent a week in California for work. I stayed away from TV. newspapers, and the Intertrons. Best week I’ve had in a long time. I suggest you all take a break. It does a mind good. Irvine, CA is a great place to run. All flat.