That Kerry fella…

…is still serving it up rare.

...John McCain has proven that he's not a maverick, he's erratic.

Old, too.

Hat tip to Digby.

And now...

The review is in…

…from Where It Stands.



Yep.

There's always something to learn…

…about Sarah Palin, it seems. The ringing endorsement from her long-time political ally, indicted Senator Ted Stevens, is no surprise, unless you think that Senator McSame's a "maverick," too. This, though, was new to me...

Palin also has ties to VECO. When she ran for lieutenant governor in 2002, “she gathered $5,000 — or about 10 percent of her campaign fund — from Veco officials or their wives,” including $500 from CEO Bill Allen. Allen gave Stevens expensive gifts over the years, including “a new Viking gas grill and a new tool shed full of tools.”

It's not the VECO ties. Well, it's that, too, but that's not what really caught my eye. It's the 2002 run for Lt. Governor. I didn't know about that.

The "hockey mom," the breath of fresh air from small town Alaska, is turning out to be, well, a garden variety career politician, casting about for one higher office after another for nearly a decade and a half. She's pretty good at it, too, but it's not the story she's trying to sell, and it's not the change we need.

Welfare state conservatism.

Via PSOTD...

In 2005, $4.81 in federal funds came to Alaska for every $1.00 paid by Alaskans.

I don't begrudge them the bucks, really. They doubtless need, and arguably deserve all the help we can give. Just don't give me any tales of rugged individualism and frontier entrepreneurs, though. Alaska might best be described as, well, as a massive scheme for the one of the greatest transfers of wealth in history. Transferred, mostly, from us to them.

I wonder, too, if Governor Palin favors a federal excess profits tax on big oil like the one she collects at home?

Peace and stability report

"It's a peaceful and stable country now."

John McCain

*Sgt. Jose E. Ulloa, 23, of New York, NY died Aug. 9 in Sadr City, Iraq.
*Sgt. Kenneth B. Gibson, 25, of Christiansburg, Va., died Aug. 10 in Tarmiyah, Iraq.
*Sgt. Michael H. Ferschke Jr., 22, of Maryville, TN died Aug. 10 in Salah ad Din province, Iraq.
*Cpl. James M. Hale, 23, of Naperville, IL died Aug. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq.
*Pfc. Daniel A. C. McGuire, 19, of Mashpee, MA died Aug. 14 in Anbar province, Iraq.
*Pvt. Janelle F. King, 23, of Merced, CA died Aug. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq.
*Lance Cpl. Travis M. Stottlemyer, 20, of Hatfield, PA died Aug. 17 Manama, Bahrain.
*Sgt. Nickolas Lee Hopper, 27, of Montrose, IL died Sept. 8, 2007 from wounds received in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 20, 2005.
*Sgt. 1st Class George Stanciel, 40, of Greenwood, MS died Aug. 19 at Forward Operating Base Gary Owen, Iraq.
*Sgt. David K. Cooper, 25, of Williamsburg, KY died Aug. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq.
*Spc. Michael L. Gonzalez, 20, of Spotswood, NJ died Aug. 28 in Baghdad, Iraq.

Hat tip to Chad Shue.

We say "Yes way

...to the random ten.

Elvis Costello - Ship Of Fools>Must Have Been The Roses
Guy Clark - Good Hearted Woman
Rod Stewart - Handbags & Gladrags
Martin Craig - Rockin' At The Ace Café
Bonnie Raitt - Thing Called Love
Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers
Greenbriar Boys - Stewball
Crosby, Stills & Nash - 49 Bye-Byes
Steve Earle - Guitar Town
Austin Lounge Lizards - Forty Years And I'm Livin' In My Mom's Garage

Friday Mars blogging.

Sunrise.

Alaska Fun Fact...

…via Matt Yglesias.

John McCain is 23 years older than the state of Alaska.

They'll take the high road…

Our ticket on their ticket…

“We send our congratulations to Governor Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the republican nominee for Vice President. It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."

Those generous sentiments aren't universal. Blogtopia (™ Skippy) responds...


jnfr

Clearly in choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain has successfully rounded up the WTF? vote.

Goldy

I think McCain would have been better off picking Michael Palin.

Trapper John

Sarah Palin is the most unqualified VP nominee in modern history, with the possible exception of Admiral Stockdale.

Kevin Drum

This is ridiculous.

One thing seems clear to me. Republican women who can't pass an extremist litmus test applied by theological zealots continue to face a formidable glass ceiling. It's abundantly clear that Sarah Palin isn't the best they've got, merely the best they can get away with.

Debates. I want debates.

God bless Barney Smith.

That is all.

Liar or looney?

You pick 'em. McCain on Iraq…

It's a peaceful and stable country now.

Peace and stability. The kind with tanks and bombs and stuff.

Jeebus.

No way. No how. No McCain.

From the "Since you asked" file.

John Mercurio...

Is McCain winning the week?

Since you asked, no.

Not bragging, really…

…because most everyone gets one, but my Obama Tax Cut is $980.92

What's yours?

(Fun fact: John McCain would tax me $900.33 MORE than Barack Obama.)

It's working.

Gallup tracking poll, via CA Pol Junkie...

August 27: O 54 M 38

Bouncin' like flubber, and there's a big show yet to come.

That Kerry fella…

…blood rare for the red meat lovers among us
.

Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral. Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain's own climate change bill. Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote. Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you're against it.

Let me tell you, before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself.

Be afraid.

Gordon...

There's six chances that MCain would be either a less-than-one-term president or that he would be at the helm for a full-bore reef run for our country and the world. And not remember it the next day.

It only takes ONE of those. It's not the odds, which seem pretty good, that one or more may happen, it's the stakes.

No way, no how, no McCain.

Yep.

Ask the man who's been one.

“Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. Barack Obama is ready to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States.”

Woof!

Shorter Hillary…

…by The Rude Pundit.

"Don't be stupid."

Yep.

Yeah, Brian, you might have…

Via David Postman…

Congressman Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, says that since he came out in favor of the Iraq surge no one wants to talk to him about the war. He says, according to Danny Westneat’s piece this morning, that’s because he was right and most Democrats were wrong.

"After all that extraordinary outrage directed at me, not one person has called me up and said 'Hey, Brian, it looks like you might have had a point after all,' " said Baird, in Denver for his party's national convention this week.

…but truth is, you didn't. I'll let brother Yglesias school ya'.

…it’s still true that the stated purpose of the surge was to create a window of opportunity in which various Iraqi factions could achieve the sort of political reconciliation that would provide the basis for lasting peace in Iraq. And it’s also still true that that hasn’t happened.

Maybe people won't talk to you about Iraq because they think it's unseemly to pick at a scab in public.

You might take a lesson from them, too.

Convention button of the day.

Via Oliver...

"No way, no how, no McCain...

...Barack Obama is my candidate!"

All those gods bless her, too. And goddesses.

Red meat…

…from OH Governor Ted Strickland…

"...George W. Bush came into office on third base, and then he stole second."

Heh™.

Quote of the day.

My own personal former Congressman, Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA)...

"It is going to be Democrats who someday restore New Orleans, who restore education, who get universal health care. I believe that is what we are going to do. I believe that is our destiny."

Hat tip to Bryan Bissell at PolitickerWA.

"Not merely victory for our Party...

...but renewal for our nation."

He's still the one. God (every and any god) bless him.

Heh™

Hat tip to Gordon.

Perspective…

…on the polls, via Tremayne.

Pollster.com lists 112 polls between the two since Obama captured the Democratic nomination in early June. It breaks down like this:

Obama ahead: 101
McCain ahead: 6
Ties: 5

And those McCain leads? Old polls. Younger than McCain, though.

Good question.

Unnamed (presumably Clinton) delegate, via Goldy.

“Why is it disunity for us to do our job voting for the candidate we were sent here to vote for?”

Of course, it isn't. In '92, when my mission was to whip Brown delegates from the upper left through the first ballot the mantra was "Unity doesn't mean uniformity." I was successful beyond my hopes that year when an uncommitted delegate joined our ranks at the last minute and we actually cast more votes for Governor Mayor Attorney General Brown than we'd arrived in New York with. On the other hand, within a week of my return I accepted an invitation to join the state Clinton/Gore steering committee and gave my all to the November effort.

Did we lose the efforts of some of the Brown stalwarts? Certainly. Did we even lose a few of their votes? Probably. As a self-proclaimed insurgent campaign, we pulled a lot of support from quarters with at best tangential relationships with the Democratic Party. The Democrats among us, though, came together with our fellows quickly enough, and completely enough, to render the unity question moot in the fall. T'was ever thus, and I expect it shall be thus again.

And now...

Sunday funny.

Roger Ailes...

The McCain campaign keeps emphasizing that McCain was a prisoner in Vietnam, as proof of his qualification for the Presidency.

Well, so was Gary Glitter, and I'm not voting for him either.

Heh™

Random?

Oh yes.

Correo Aereo - Fiesta Llanera
Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
Natalie McMaster - A Blast
The Limelighters - Generic Up Tempo Folk Song
Neshema Carlebach - Ani Shelach
Roger Creager - Guitar Town
Randy Newman - Rednecks
Emily Lord - Hey Joe
Garth Brooks - Friends In Low Places
They Might Be Giants - Boss Of Me

Sounds good...

...looks great.



Hat tip to Oliver.

Obama-Biden '08.

So sez CNN, AP and the NYT.

Could be a head fake, I suppose. After all, I still haven't received a not-me call.

I'm thinking it's Joe, though, and I'm pretty good with that.

Me, me, me!?!

David Kurtz says maybe him…

I can confirm that Sen. Obama has not called to tell me that I am not going to be his running mate. I can read the tea leaves as well as anyone, and I think this is pretty conclusive proof that I am not yet out of the running.

…but I haven't received a not-me call yet either. Maybe Barack doesn't have my cell #. That's OK, though. I'll be at the perfect tavern all evening and it's listed.

Friday Mars blogging.

Morning frost on the Martian surface.

(Bigger pic behind a click.)

From his lips…

…to the aural appendage of (insert diety here). Former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey, stumping for Democratic candidate George Fearing in WA-4...

“There isn’t a race in America today where a Republican incumbent can’t be defeated by a decent Democrat.”

Bonus quote, regarding Fearing's opponent "Doc" Hastings…

“They put him as chair of the ethics committee for a purpose. They knew he wouldn’t allow any investigation of Republicans.”

Heh™.

Sir Charles...

Nothin' says man o' the people like a cover story in Architectural Digest.

Me too.

smintheus...

I'd love for voters to ask McCain at townhalls this summer and fall whether he still thinks nobody's willing to work for as little as $50/hour.

They call it a crime.

I call it a gold medal performance.

BEIJING — In their latest confrontation with pro-Tibetan protesters during the Olympics, Chinese authorities arrested five Americans on Tuesday after they spelled out “Free Tibet” with blue L.E.D. lights near the National Stadium. Three other people, including a New York artist who fashions giant displays with lasers on buildings, were detained for a separate protest.

Hat tip to Jeff Dinelli.

Truth.

From John McCain's Annapolis classmate and fellow POW Commander Phillip Butler, USN (Retired)…

John was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart for heroism and wounds in combat. This heroism has been played up in the press and in his various political campaigns. But it should be known that there were approximately 600 military POW's in Vietnam. Among all of us, decorations awarded have recently been totaled to the following: Medals of Honor - 8, Service Crosses - 42, Silver Stars - 590, Bronze Stars - 958 and Purple Hearts - 1,249. John certainly performed courageously and well. But it must be remembered that he was one hero among many - not uniquely so as his campaigns would have people believe.

He puts Wes Clark in some pretty authoritative company, too

I furthermore believe that having been a POW is no special qualification for being President of the United States. The two jobs are not the same, and POW experience is not, in my opinion, something I would look for in a presidential candidate.

The whole piece at military.com is a remarkable bit of McCain myth-busting by a source with unimpeachable credentials.

Hat tip to dday.

Don't forget...

There's a primary election in the upper left right this very minute, and for a few hours more. Even if you're confident, as I am, that all your favorite Democrats will make it to the November ballot, you can boost their confidence, and possibly their prospects, by casting a ballot for them today. Our incumbent Supremc Court justices could use your help, too, and if you're in King County there's Initiative 26 to kill (the Republicans are pretending to be above partisanship again.)

Run right down to your polling place (or your mailbox, if you simply must) and make your voice heard.

The GuardianUK...

...explains it all, via Gordon...

John McCain is a liar and flip-flopper and panderer and bully and whiner.

Yep.

One of these things is not like the other.

Steve Benen reports…

On Saturday night, at the forum at Saddleback Church, the Rev. Rick Warren asked John McCain to name “the three wisest people that you know that you would rely on heavily in an administration.” McCain listed three people: Gen. David Petraeus, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), and eBay CEO Meg Whitman.

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), for the record…

“Sen. McCain and I are colleagues in the US Congress, not confidantes. He does not consult me. And I do not consult him.”

Yes…

McClatchy headline...

Some wonder if McCain's too old and wrinkly to be president

…and some are sure.

Yep.

Anonymous Liberal…

As with all situations in which someone disregards the rules, the presumption goes against the violator. It's ridiculous for the McCain campaign to cry foul when they violated the rules. If you don't want to be accused of cheating, don't cheat.

And if you've got to cheat (it's all they've got, I suppose), don't whine when you get caught.

John McCain is a liar...

...and a Republican. But I repeat myself. Hubris Sonic...

John POW© McCain likes to tell this story about how one of his captors in the POW camp once drew a cross in the dirt in front of him in a show of Christian solidarity with his torture victim. A story he only started telling in 1999. It's a touching story, but I prefer the original version by Alexander Solzhenitsyn...

Why does anyone believe any of his war stories? Or anything he says, really.

(Apoligies to Mr. Clemens)

And now...

Not precisely random…

…this week's list is assembled from the first ten love songs to pop up (a somewhat scarce commodity in my playlist, actually.) It's a nod to the Elder Daughter of Upper Left and her Perpetually Pleasing Partner, who will be exchanging their commitment vows this evening.

Em and Shaylee, this list's for you...

Peter Cincotti - You Stepped Out Of A Dream
Ricky Nelson - Never Be Anyone Else But You
Ilona Knopfler - Some Kind Of Wonderful
The Weavers - Kisses Sweeter Than Wine
Elvin Bishop - Fooled Around And Fell In Love
The Turtles - Happy Together
Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt - Don't Know Much
Jimmy Buffet - Come Monday
Fleetwood Mac - Over My Head
Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine

Friday Mars blogging.

Northern exposure...


Click to enlarge.

She's up, she's down…

…she's out, she's in.

Although Clinton had resisted pressure from donors, allies and supporters to accept demands to allow her name placed in nomination, she and aides to Obama seemed to realize independently that doing so would be the best way to incorporate and welcome Clinton's supporters into Obama's general election campaign, both symbolically and practically.

The resistance was, apparently, out of concern about how many of her 1896.5 elected delegates will, in fact, cast a Clinton vote for a roll call. I don't have any problem with her being nominated. When the '92 Clinton campaign tried to block Jerry Brown from nomination, declaring that he could not address the convention unless he withdrew his name and endorsed Bill before the balloting, I was among the delegates crowding the floor in protest. Our battle cry at the time was "Unity doesn't demand uniformity." In fact, the drive to achieve uniformity through unanimity in that contest was the most divisive element of the '92 convention. This will be better than that.

While the extended "will she, won't she" charade has been more irritating than amusing, now we know she will, and that's fine. I'm unconcerned, too, about the amount of time that will be devoted to all things Clintonian in the run-up to the ballot. I think there's sufficient political acumen between them for Bill and Hillary to understand that the only way to improve the damage done to the family brand during the primaries is to demonstrate uncompromising zeal for the nominee and a Democratic victory while on the conventions stage.

On with the show.

Good question…

…from Ed Kilgore.

How many wars, cold or hot, regional or global, are Americans really ready to undertake?

I'm guessing at least one less than John McCain wants to start.

(And I'm wondering, what if there were no rhetorical questions?)

The Obama camp hits back…

…and the L word is in play.

"Jerome Corsi is a discredited liar who is peddling another piece of garbage in order to continue the Bush-Cheney politics he helped perpetuate four years ago," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "His is one of what will likely be many lie-filled books rushed to print this election cycle that are cobbled together from debunked internet sources to make money and advance a partisan agenda. We will forcefully respond to these smears with all means at our disposal."

There's a natural reluctance to use the L word in campaigns and journalism. Words matter, and calling a lie a lie and a liar a liar is powerful stuff. It's a sad fact that most folks expect a lot of negativity from political campaigns. The know that some (and they suspect that all) politicians will twist an opponent's record beyond recognition, base wholesale attacks on a fragmentary bit of a quotation, attack an opponent's character. It's part of the game, and there's no denying that attacks have been part of many successful election strategies.

Lying is something else again. Most attack strategies are specific to the campaign world, and most are employed in shades of gray. After all, that truncated quotation is part of an actual, if somewhat less damning, fuller quotation. Voting records? There are a lot of things that can be read into, or left out of, a voting record. Lying isn't like that. It's not part of their world, it’s part of ours.

We understand, of course, that not every lie is the same, and that lying isn't always wrong. Some truths are better not told, for instance (though sometimes those that hurt the most must be.) As every schoolboy knows, however, lying maliciously, just for the sake of causing inury is always wrong. That's not politics, it's playground morality. Don't hit. Don't steal. Don't lie.

It's time to drop the political euphemisms. No more talk of distortions and misquotes. Jerome Corsi is a liar. So is Mary Matalin. So is John McCain.

It's good to see the campaign begin to say so. It'll be better when the candidate picks up the beat.

And we can all join in the chorus.

One of these things is not like the other.

Mary Matalin, who published Jerome Corsi's latest bundle of lies assures us that the book…

“...was not designed to be, and does not set out to be, a political book,” calling it, rather, “a piece of scholarship, and a good one at that.”

Jerome Corsi begs to differ...

“The goal is to defeat Obama,” Mr. Corsi said in a telephone interview. “I don’t want Obama to be in office.”

Liars and the lying liars who publish them.

Jeebus.

Tuesday night tunes…

…at the perfect tavern. Just me, my 12 string and my faithful doo-wop chorus.

Pancho And Lefty
Jamaica Farewell
Crossing Muddy Waters
Love The One You're With>4+20>LTOYW
Love Is A Rose
Christmastime In Washington

Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms>Curly Headed Baby>Hard Ain't It Hard>Rollin'
Guitars Cadillacs
Down To Seeds And Stems
You Really Got A Hold On Me
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Save The Last Dance For Me
Poor Little Fool
Bye Bye Love

Political Science
Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Come Go With Me
Night Rider's Lament
Good Day For The Blues
Silver
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Porch Song

Obamacans...

Or Obamacan'ts? Can Jim Leach deliver Iowa?

According to a source in the Obama campaign, former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach -- a Republican -- will be endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama this morning.

Is Jim Whitaker the bump Obama needs in Alaska?

Republican Mayor Jim Whitaker [of Fairbanks, Alaska] has said he is endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

I dunno. Endorsements like these can't hurt, though, as nominal Republicans on the verge of a switch look around for the encouragement from friendly sources. Makes the "Obama's a commie" line a pretty tough sell, too.

I don't really know anything abou Mayor Whitaker's politics, but Leach is often described as a "moderate" Republican. Jim Leach wasn't always wrong about everything, but his record was moderate only by the standards of a dogmatic movement conservative. Jim Leach is a conservative on matters both social and economic, but he strays from the contemporary expression of the faith because one of the things his brand of conservativism seeks to conserve is constitutional governance. That should be common ground for all Americans, and endorsements like these should expand the territory.

Since you asked…

jnfr at Fierce Planet...

Is McCain incoherent, or does he really have no idea what reality is?

Since you asked, yes.

Yep…

…pretty much. Gordon...

It's time to round up neocons, declare them enemy combatants, and jail them for life.

Quote of the day.

The Preznit…

First of all, I don’t see America having problems.

The blind leading. Literally, apparently.

Another normal day…

"The people of Iraq, and I've been there, are now leading normal lives."

Baghdad:

Two Iraqis (two soldiers and two civilians) were injured by a roadside bomb that targeted a patrol of the Iraqi army in Zayuna neighborhood in east Baghdad around 7:30 a.m.

Two civilians were killed and ten others were injured by a roadside bomb near al Kamaliya mosque in Kamaliyah neighborhood in east Baghdad around 8:00 a.m.

Three Iraqi soldiers were injured by a roadside bomb that targeted a joint convoy of Iraqi army and US army near Salahuddin intersection in Kadhemiyah neighborhood in north Baghdad around 9:00 a.m.

Two security members working for an Iraqi private security company and two other civilians were injured by a roadside bomb that targeted one of the cars of the security company in Amil neighborhood in west Baghdad around 10:00 a.m.
An Iraqi soldier was killed and five others were injured by a parked car bomb in Mada’in town in south Baghdad around 11:00 a.m.

Three people (1 Iraqi soldier and 2 civilians) were killed and ten other people (4 Iraqi soldiers and 6 civilians) were injured by a roadside bomb that targeted a patrol of the Iraqi army near al Tahreer intersection in downtown Baghdad around 11:00 a.m.

Ten people (6 civilians, 3 Sahwa members and an American soldier) were killed and twenty other people (13 civilians, 4 Sahwa members and 3 US soldiers)were wounded a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest detonated himself in Tarmiyah north of Baghdad around 2:00 p.m. US military confirmed the incident saying that one US soldier was killed and two others wounded.

Police found three unidentified bodies in Baghdad including a female body. The bodies were found in Ni’ariyah (the female body), Palestine Street and Shoala.

That GI? Number 4138.

Damn.

A soul man...

...maybe the soul man.



Isaac Hayes
1942-2008
R.I.P.

And now...

And then...

,,,the random ten.

Peter Green - Dust My Broom
Shlomo Carlebach - Vehashev
Woody Guthrie = Better World A Comin'
Josh White - St. James Infirmary
Peter Cincotti - The Fool On The Hill/Nature Boy
Sheryl Crow = Leaving Las Vegas
Ray Wylie Hubbard - Without Love (We're Just Wasting Time)
Tom Paxton - All Night Long
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Mr. P.C.
The Chords - Sh Boom

My man John?

I am, of course, dismayed on several counts, but really, there's only one opinion that matters.

Et tu, Dan Brendan?

Dan Savage Brendan Kiley parenthetically observes…

(I confess, I can't get over the story about POW-era McCain refusing to be released as a Viet Cong publicity stunt, insisting he wouldn't go unless every man captured before him was released first. You cannot deny it: That is hard core.)

Of course, I can deny it. McCain's conduct as a POW was hard core only if meeting the minimal acceptable standard of honorable service is hard core.

Assuming the story of McCain's famous refusal is true in its general outline, the conclusion that he did something exceptionally heroic simply isn't. The order of return for American prisoners - first in, first out, essentially - was not a matter of personal prerogative or honor. It was a matter of standing orders from superior military authority. In other words, had McCain accepted an early release, he would have returned to face the jeopardy of a court martial for violating the orders of a superior officer.

The military may have been willing to overlook McCain's well documented collaboration with the enemy as a means to avoid further torture, but accepting a favor of this kind, leaving his comrades behind to face the hazards of imprisonment? Perhaps he could have escaped prosecution, but he would certainly have faced the end of his military career in a state of disgrace that would likely have precluded a successful political career.

He did, though, follow orders. That he did so is unexceptional. It was his job, and his sworn duty.

Honorable, perhaps, but hardly hard core.

(Edited with apologies to brother Savage.)

Duh headline of the day.

MCCAIN'S NEW AD CONTAINS DUBIOUS CLAIMS

Duh.

Now that's impressive.

Via David Postman…

Rep. Dave Reichert, the two-term Republican incumbent, raised $115,474 during July, compiling $929,113 in cash on hand.

Democratic challenger Darcy Burner raised more — $350,837– during July, and reported having almost $1.5 million in the bank...

Money isn't everything, of course, but there's no denying it's an important something in a political fight. Darcy has apparently dumped a chunk of that 1.5 on a media buy, but the point is that she can do that and still retain a financial advantage over Brand W Dave.

...Reichert relied on PAC money to make up over 55% of his anemic July total, whereas Burner only raised 5% from PACs. That kind of disparity tells you a lot about both candidate’s work ethic, and their allegiances.

Over 300k from individual donors? In the middle of summer?

Amazing, and encouraging.

Aw shucks.

A good idea gone awry…

Team Obama Wednesday announced to great fanfare it would stream ads ripping John McCain on screens at dozens of filling stations around the Sunshine State - only to have Gas Station TV pull the plug at the last minute. "We avoid politics in general," Gas Station TV CEO David Leider said.

There's still good news going forward, though. First, it was a good idea, novel and relevant. The team that came up with it is likely to come up with more novel and relevant good ideas. Second, the campaign hierarchy was willing to commit some resources to the idea, and they were able to. People throughout the campaign should be encouraged to know that good creative ideas will be heard and may well be supported.

And that "ripping John McCain" thing? I like that, too.

Good questions.

The Exxon-McCain '08 quiz...

· Question 1: Which of the following oil companies would reap hundreds of millions in new tax breaks under John McCain?

1. ExxonMobil
2. Chevron
3. ConocoPhillips
4. Valero Energy
5. Marathon
6. All of the Above

· Question 2: Which of the following ideas to promote alternative and renewable energy sources has John McCain opposed?

1. Ethanol production
2. Tax incentives for renewable energy
3. Renewable fuel mandates
4. All of the above

· Question 3: Which of the following strategies to expand domestic oil supply does John McCain oppose?

1. Force oil companies to explore and develop land already under lease
2. Bipartisan compromise to expand production, invest in alternative energy
3. All of the above

· Question 4: Which of the following strategies to expand domestic oil supply do the oil companies oppose?

1. Force oil companies to explore and develop land already under lease
2. Bipartisan compromise to expand production, invest in alternative energy
3. All of the above

You don't really need the answer key, do you?

"He's the oldest celebrity in the world…"

I'm a dial-up fossil, so I usually take a pass on these things, but this was worth the download time.

Well, there's that…

…I'm sure. Steve Soto...

Sure, my fellow bloggers will say that it is only July August, and these polls don’t matter yet. And they would be wrong.

Some will doubtless say just that, and they will, indeed, be wrong. These polls don't matter yet.

They don't matter ever, actually.

Can we stop, already, with the hand wringing over the ups and downs of national polls that are busy tracking the opinions of an imaginary electorate? Is there an electoral college projection anywhere (my favorite is here) that doesn't show an formidable, if not insurmountable, advantage for Obama? Like it or don't, that's how presidents are chosen.

There's a lot of campaign to go, of course, but things have actually gone very well up to this point, recent blips and slips notwithstanding.

Breathe deeply and keep working.

Truth...

…from Thomas Frank...

Yes, today's conservatives have disgraced themselves, but they have not strayed from the teaching of their forefathers or the great ideas of their movement...They have not done these awful things because they are bad conservatives; they have done them because they are good conservatives, because these unsavory deeds follow naturally from the core doctrines of the conservative tradition.

High time we learned to say "conservative" with a sneer.

Hat tip to Gordon.

Yeah…

Bill Clinton...

"You could argue that no one's ever ready to be president."

...you could. And you'd probably win.

And this...

…from mcjoan.

There's one and only one response to the Villagers' vapors: "General Clark has never denigrated John McCain's military service, and neither has anyone who speaks for Senator Obama. As Max Cleland and John Kerry can tell you, only Republicans do that."

Speaking of that Kerry fella, he's taking some heat for not having Wes Clark's back on MTP. While Kerry may believe he disagrees with Clark's comments about the relevancy of McCain's POW experience to the presidency, he's really reacting to the spin. It's disappointing, but unsurprising, especially given the setup = in his question, Brokaw told Kerry that Clark had used the words "untested and untried," as if Clark actually had denigrated the character McCain's service, which he pointedly had not done.

Should John Kerry have been fully briefed and informed on Clark's actual statement in context? Perhaps, but he really does have other matters to attend to. It happens. It happened, for instance, with Obama's reaction to Rev. Wright's National Press Club appearance. As his response made clear, he didn't actually understand why Wright was at the NPC, or what he said, or what the actual source and cause of controversy was. Most folks didn't, and don't. He reacted to the conroversy - a word whose etymological link to "contrived" has rarely been more relevant - or, if you will, to the spin, just as Kerry has in this instance.

Tough one to solve, but the adoption and widespread dissemination of mcjoan's formulation would be a big step forward. The next step would to be to inculcate the notion that pretty much any anti-Democratic spin can be presumed to be one more part of the big Republican lie.

One hand giveth…

Iraq combat tours shortened

...one hand taketh away.

Marines get longer Afghanistan tours

Me too.

Steve Benen...

...my guess is House Republicans look at drilling as a life-preserver. They don’t actually believe any of their own rhetoric here; they’re just latching on in the hopes that they’ll have something compelling to lie to voters about before Election Day.

Which leaves us the task of making drilling as our salvation less compelling. It shouldn't be hard, but it won't be easy.

Never mind.

Predictably, the Obama campaign has moved to avoid a meaningless credentials fight over delegates from Florida and Michigan, proposing to seat them with full voting rights. Since Hillary has announced that she won't be nominated on the floor in Denver, restoring the delegations without contest has absolutely no consequence in terms of the nomination.

There's some rumbling about the implications of this move on the future of the nominating calendar and process. I wouldn't place too much stake in those prospects. While I support seating the delegations at full strength now, it's not because I think they were right then. It's because it just doesn't matter anymore and we're a big tent party. It's time to get over it - until next time, anyway.

As far as next time goes, there will continue to be internal tussles about rules and calendars, caucuses and primaries. I wouldn't count on wholesale changes coming out of this convention, though. After all, the process in question is the one that Obama won. The convention will be, in a sense, a celebration of that process. Obama loyalists will control the convention and its committees, and they're likely to be pretty satisfied with the way things turned out this time around.

Of course, at some point the delegates will, in some pro-forma bit of business, pass the ball to the National Committee for continuing refinement and supervision of the rules for 2012. Whatever's done in Denver, it won't be over. There will be plenty of opportunity for the intramural squabbling that our Party is renowned for, but the convention won't show much evidence of that. We're convening to celebrate Barack. We can fight later.

Since you asked...

The Littlest Gator…

John McCain; Lazier than Bush? Or Just Old?

Since you asked, yes.

And now...

Today's ten…

…selected randomly for your amusement.

Taj Mahal - My Creole Bell
Dan Bern - One Thing Real
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - 007
Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Handful Of Lovin' - Stand Strugglin'
Linda Ronstadt - Love Is A Rose
Shelby Lynne - Iced Tea
Sam Cooke - Shake
Michael Franks - Popsicle Toes
Merle Haggard - I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am

Somewhat belatedly…

…Tuesday night tunes at the perfect tavern. Two sets, solo…

Front Porch Song
Night Rider's Lament
Pancho And Lefty
The Alamo
Brokedown Palace
Down To Seeds And Stems
Younger Generation
Silver
Just A Little
Love's Gonna Live Here>Good Hearted Woman
Black Diamond Strings
It's A Big Old Goofy World

Christmastime In Washington
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Grandpa Was A Carpenter
Guitars, Cadillacs
Heartaches By The Number
Poor Little Fool
Ripple
Jamaica Farewell
One Too Many Mornings
This Land Is Your Land

Friday Mars blogging.

Home sweet landing site...


This view combines more than 400 images taken during the
first several weeks after NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander
arrived on an arctic plain at 62.22 degrees north latitude,
234.25 degrees east longitude on Mars.

A chink in the armor?

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Provocative hecklers associated with an international African socialist collective interrupted Obama's opening remarks here...

So, why can't Obama close the deal with the international African socialist collective vote?