While the Democratic party is working overtime to brand prospective GOP presidential nominee John McCain as a corrupt Washington insider in bed with lobbyists, who wants our troops in Iraq for one hundred years and who can’t even follow the campaign law with his own name on it, Democratic governors need to think fast when Dan Balz calls. He’s the lead political writer for the Washington forking Post. When a Democratic governor says nice things about John McCain, it’s gonna end up in the forking paper.
Please get with the program, Democratic Governors, in order to avoid future headlines like today’s gem: "Democratic Governors See McCain As Formidable." The only possible headlines we want from interviews with you are "Democratic Governors See McCain As Dangerous" and "Democratic Governors See McCain As Corrupt" and "Democratic Governors See McCain As Out Of Touch With American Values."
When Balz calls for a quote about Senator Straight-Talk, please avoid using the word APPEAL. Otherwise, we get quotes like these in the neo-con Potomac Pravda:
"He is appealing in Michigan," said Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who supports Clinton. "He does appeal to independent thinkers, at least he did in the past, and we have a lot of those in Michigan…."
… and…
"I think John McCain could have an appeal to a lot of Ohioans," said Gov. Ted Strickland, a Clinton supporter.
When Balz calls for a quote, please avoid using the word IDEAL. Otherwise, we get quotes like this:
"In some ways," said Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, a state that is considered a must-win for any Democratic nominee, "he’s the ideal [Republican] candidate for Pennsylvania."
Finally, do not tell the biographical story of John McCain as John McCain wants it told. Don’t talk about the war hero who spent five years in the Hanoi Hilton as a prisoner of war. Otherwise, you’ll end up with quotes like this:
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Clinton supporter, said McCain’s biography — which includes more than five years in a North Vietnamese prison camp — makes him "a formidable challenge" in the fall campaign.
The John McCain biography Democrats want to focus on is the candidate whose campaign is infested with lobbyists. The candidate whose Straight Talk is really just more Double Talk. The candidate who wants to send every American’s grandkids’ grandkids to Iraq. The candidate who can’t follow the campaign finance law with his own forking name on it. The candidate who guarantees America Four More Years of BushCheneyCo corruption and cronyism.
Not "appealing." Not "formidable." Not "ideal." None of these words should escape your lips when discussing John McCain. Ever. Especially when Balz calls. Because it will end up in the Washington Post. Which it did.
This is non-complex, Democratic governors. Please make it your job not to be quoted this way again. Thank you.
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ZED!
hiya Lou
Teddy! Love this post.
As the Dem Govs are challenged for McCain superlatives, how ’bout:
highly sexually compulsive
wholly lacking in integrity
avidly betrays his spouses
extremely labile emotions
famously poor impulse control
mad, bad, and dangerous to know
These governors are going to hedge their bets in case he wins.
Get with the program, Guv’s… Sheesh…!
What the fork are they thinking??? Oh — sorry — I forgot. They’re Democrats so when talking to a reporter “thinking” seems to fly out the window. Jeez…
I’ve been voting the Democratic ticket for 39 years. But there have been times, and there are times, when my party is inducive in promoting to make me furious.
The Dem governors wouldn’t get anything from McCain if he became prez I don’t think. Ahnuld is stamping his feet today about wanting out National Guard equipment back from Iraq – we need it for emergencies and I guarantee we won’t get it. Prez doesn’t care.
Get plenty or rain today?
It got dark around 2 or 3 and briefly poured, and then the sun came out again. Heavy rain, but short. You?
It cranked here for several hours but the main part didn’t hit Lanier.
The National Governors Conference was in DeeCee lately, so these governors probably ran into Balz at a party, or something. Presumably, he cherry-picked their comments, but they should know better, shouldn’t they? I mean, they are in politics. They do have reporters in Pennsylvania and Maryland and Michigan, don’t they? Or are they accustomed to an entirely complacent press corps?
Perhaps they feel betrayed by Balz.
Not surprising coming from my governor (Rendell). He’s a machine Democrat who forced Bob Casey on us as the candidate to take down man-on-dog Santorum. With a progressive Governor, we could have taken down the wounded Santorum with a much better candidate.
You would think that a guy who’s writing a piece on what Dem Governors think of McCain would consult the Dem Governor of the state that he represents, wouldn’t you? Well, wouldn’t you? Yet Janet Napolitano’s name is conspicuously missing from the quotes. Do you suppose it could be because she didn’t say anything that sounded the least bit complimentary of McCain, so he didn’t see fit to print it, or anything that didn’t sound really good for McCain? It’s possible he called every Dem Governor and only the ones you quoted here were foolish enough to say anything that could be taken out of context and made to sound complimentary!
Check out this pix of the vog that’s has us gasping and wheezing… You can cut it with a knife…
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
OT: Comcast took MSNBC off extended basic here in Nov so I’m trying to find a streaming live broadcast of tonight’s debate. The MSNBC site says they have it but I’ll be damned if I can find it on their site. Anyone with a clue?
Time for us to eat supper while watching Olbermann. And then the debate. In this home we will not divert our eyes from the prize. The Democratic presidency come this next November. ;0)
Speaking of MSNBC, Rachel will be on with KO, prior to the debate, to talk about McCain’s lobbyist ties…!
Hiya TSF, thanks for highlighting this. Just goes to show there are RINOs at every level. Mark these GOVs with a big red “RGJ” (LIEberman).
Excellent post, Teddy. Thank you for saying this.
Actually, Napolitano had this to say, which wasn’t really great either but wasn’t bad enough to include in my piece:
[snip]
She’s more with the program, but could do better as well. Nothing good said about McCain is the goal.
“…the lobbyists go marching two by two hoooo-rah hooooooo-rah“
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23349901/
MSNBC will telecast a debate between Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama Tuesday, Feb. 26, live from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, 9-10:30 p.m. ET. NBC’s Brian Williams will moderate and be joined by “Meet the Press” moderator and NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert. It will be streamed live on msnbc.com.
The only reason I can see for the Democratic governors saying nice things about McCain is they hope it will make him bomb them last?!?!?
I saw Rendell and Pawlenty on C-span earlier, and, I was disappointed to see Ed concurring with much of what Tim had to say… I found it rather nauseating…!
Big Dog relating 9/11 and Iraq! KO on the case!
Thanks Raven. Still can only find videos there, instead of the live streaming link.
More Democratic Party dysfunction!
Hillary defeated herself, now these clown governors open their twisted mouths only to undermine the hard work and wishes of those of us who are still trying to believe this party is viable.
nice post.
I’m sure it’ll pop closer to tipoff.
Thanks, jogger. It’s frustrating, ain’t it? We’re working hard to brand St John, and these governors say nice things about him to a reporter. Makes our work that much harder.
Maybe Dr Dean will give them a call.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23349901/
check here
Ed Rendell is a fat, smelly lubricious Republicrat dipshit. First cousin politically to the Lieberman running dogs and no respecter of black Democrats. Fuck you, Fat Eddy, get your punk as off fucking stage. Asshole.
The wingnuts are going to be down with a lot less dignity than Sen. Clinton.
They are collectively popping nuts and gaskets and I am enjoying it immensely.
The louder they shriek the more childish, spoiled and cowardly they look.
-G
How do you really feel?
Speaking for myself only. Bill Clinton: I voted for you twice. That said. Shutup.
I’m not a fan of slanting stuff just for the sake or political impact. Ten years ago there might have been an excuse for some of this lazy minded guff. But, reality-wise, what is moderate, or appealing or sensible, or ideal, or independent thinking, or maverick about McCain now? Can you name one thing? One good aspect of McCain that McCain himself has not betrayed over the last eight years? Where have these governors been for the last eight years?
In the old days, when talking with well-meaning McCain supporters, I would find myself saying, once in awhile “yes, but…” or “you have a point, but…”
No longer. McCain has totally emptied himself out. No credibility, no independence, no moderation, no sense left. Not one bit. So why say what is not true?
Need to send them some video clips of McCain shredding and sh*tting all over whatever slim claim he ever had to maverick, or moderate, or sensible or anything poltically respectable.
Or send them an annotated copy of the Brooks McCain hagiography column from this week. Note how McCain has betrayed every good thing Brooks mentions. Funny that Brooks left all of that out. (And note, another completely tendentious, dishonest piece of hackery by Brooks.)
Don’t hold back!
I hope Obama will choose Hill as his VP. I don’t know anymore.
Hi Teddy!
In foreign policy Mr. McCain and Loe Joe Lieberman ‘grok’.
In other words, anyone who says much good about McCain now, is at best, poltically inattentive. Why are these governors so politically inattentive, it’s their gig, right?
Hiya Teddy!
You should send Dean a copy of this post. And if you don’t, I will.
What is wrong with these people.
Aaack! Bill Cunningham. Let’s hope that one crawls back under his rock.
I don’t know if a President Obama would want to put up with Large Dog Bill. Speaking for myself, I’d rather see Obama appoint HRC to the SCOTUS.
Inattentive is a generous cast to put on it. And, yes, this is their business.
Clever Balz.
She deserves to have to sit next to Clarence Thomas.
Rachel is skwering McCain over the Abramoff emails.
Rachel is trying McCain to Abramoff.
I thought Dodd was right today, while endorsing Obama, ‘we need her to continue serving in the Senate, I look forward to working with her…’ ;-)
KO to Rachel: “It looks like we’re gonna get a new McCain/lobbyist story every 2.3 days.”
Strickland, Granholm and Rendell all support Hillary and are trying to make the case that Obama is a risky choice because he might lose their states to McCain in the general election. They’re saying both are fighting for the Independents and shaky Republicans and McCain might get them. So, they argue, to be more sure of winning the general election you’d better nominate Hillary. Of course, they also ignore that Hillary supported the war in Iraq sufficiently to make her look like a pale Republican in the shadow of the real thing…McCain ‘war hero’!
It’s an awful general election matchup in either case. We might’ve done better with a clean distinction between McCain and a real anti-war candidate. But, Dems didn’t put up an anti-war candidate who was less dependent on Independents to win. Of course, Obama might unite the party to get all the votes he needs. Perhaps he think getting the Independents and straying Republicans is just icing on the cake.
To me, getting Reagan Democrats and some Libertarian-leaning Republicans is more of a long-term strategy to realign those folks with a Democratic party which really can serve their needs better.
Before I would want to respond to that I would need to know the actual meaning. ;0)
Keith: John McCain failed in allowing Cunningham on stage.
They also need to tie him to the bankruptcy and foreclosure crisis (which is going to be very big in the west). McCain and his wifes’ whole association with the S&L Crisis in the early 1990’s are EXACTLY analogous to the current fiasco. If they can find a new relationship with lobbyists and companies that were involved in this misadventure, or in bailing them out…that will show that he is simply a store-front facade of ethical forthrightness.
After all, wasn’t McCain 1/5th of the Keating 5…? ;-)
I don’t like either one of them.
“…your dog is one of a kind…like no other…”
“…I’m proud of what we’re doing down here in Garyville, Louisiana…”
Fork!
OMG, now there is an image.
I don’t know how she’d do on the court, but I think her political views (Repub-Lite) wouldn’t necessarily relate. You’d have to look at her legal work to get a good view of her legal position. I suspect, as usual, she would be very studious and hard working and very good at it.
The thing that baffles is that President GWB used his connections to get out of serving in ‘Nam. McCain did not. In light of this fact, how in the world could Mr. McCain be such a Bush suck-up?
Hi Loo Hoo.
Do you have a recommendation?
Because he’s a typical Republican lying sack of shite.
Not that I can put here.
Ding.
I do not believe a like comparision between HRC and Clarence Thomas holds water.
I made no such comparison, I just don’t like them so I was being funny and said they deserve each other.
I think I understand what you are saying, my friend. ;0)
I wonder if BushCheneyCo had the goods on McCain’s Vicki, and has kept him in line and sucking up because of her.
Understood.
KO just did a great take-down of Bond and Hoekstra over their FISA lies. He said they are shills unfit to continue in office.
Gosh, it’s fun to watch Keith in action.
Really good question.
I think the sucking up was just for this shot at the office.
Because the Vietnam War is over, just ask him.
If we can thrown some of the Republican scoundrels out of the Senate that might allow a President Obama to appoint some Senators (and former Senators) to either the Cabinet or Supremes. I wouldn’t want to lose a Dodd in Congress only to get a Republican Governor to replace him with a Conservative. All this depends on State rules, requirements for new elections, etc. But having some latitude for the President is something we have to work towards.
I’d also prefer long-lived appointments to the Supremes. Dodd, Clinton and Edwards all look healthy or maybe the judge in the Libby case? Any other good jurists out there…does Richardson have a strong legal background (not that it is essential).
Hmmm…sounds like Clinton is gonna try to go nuclear on Obama..uh, oh.
If Hillary Clinton is the nominee, my lady and I will vote for her next November. The same holds for Obama.
Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey blasted Vice President Dick Cheney as “the lead chicken hawk” against Sen. John Kerry and criticized other Republicans for questioning the Democratic presidential contender’s military credentials.
Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a decorated Vietnam veteran who spent more than four years as a prisoner of war, scolded Lautenberg for attacking the Bush administration during the Iraq conflict and said it was time to “declare that the Vietnam War is over.”
Wednesday’s exchange was the latest development in an increasingly harsh spat between the Kerry and Bush campaigns over military service and national defense.
Doughy Pantload is a dickwad.
-G
The Vietnam war will never be over for McCain. I think it’s pretty sad.
Want to really piss the GOP off? Put Senator Clinton on the Supreme Court. Plus, and more importantly, I think she’d do a good job there.
This “kitchen sink fusillade” of the Hillary Clinton campaign is sexist. Are they insinuating that Barack doesn’t do the dishes in the Obama household — because he is a man?
Yup. I guess if she really has something substantial on him, today’s the day she’s going to throw it at him, and if it something valid…well, then better we know now. I hope it’s just a lot of hot air…I want honesty not lies and rumor.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
-G
I really hate that one.
Oh quit!
Wanna make their heads explode? Put Hillary AND Bill on SCOTUS.
“everything but the kitchen sink”…I don’t think it was meant as a sexist remark. But, I don’t react too much to that stuff, unless it’s really blatant. Just me.
That’s insulting to dickwads.
I hope this debate tonight revolves around issues. Not invective. I want to see our candidates do us proud.
Funny!!!
And I can’t understand for the life of me why Cindy Hensley McCain, daughter of a beer distribution magnate, would have to get a “loan” from Charles Keating to buy a strip
clubmall. Was Daddy unavailable at the time? Sounds like a sweetheart deal to me.You just made my head explode but I like it! LOL OMG, the neocons would all drink the purple koolaid and die together if Hill & Bill were put on the SCOTUS.
This would be the perfect night for the candidates to name cabinet members and other cool info.
The most civil candidate deserves to win. I can’t stand the Rovian dirty tactics.
Loo Hoo, that would be nice. We need more insight, don’t we? These debates are getting soooooooo boring and predictable.
They should come out and announce that they will pick each other for VP no matter who wins…that’d fix ‘em.
Why didn’t I think of that, my friend? I really like it. ;0)
dark, dark shadenfreude.
That’s good. ;0)
OT but it looks like the Feingold-Reid measure to de-fund the war is progressing. The reThugs gave up on a filibuster so the Dem’s could vote on it. Article here.
Are you saying she was hittin on a stripper?
Defund the OCCUPATION
Clinton supporters should stop working for the common enemy and realize that it’s over. On March 5 or better yet, today. We have a nominee. Concede and we can all unite to trash the repugs instead of praise them.
ok. the debate starts in 6 minutes and i still don’t see anything on msnbc.com that will enable me to livestream. anyone?
P.S. My first choice for nominee had that sense today.
Mr. President, would you please go out and campaign with senator McCain? There are a lot of undecided voters out there still that need help from the “decider.”
Chuck Todd has conjunctivitis in his right eye.
My cousin emailed me and said that Michelle Obama is on the Board of the Council on Foreign Relations…I have no idea if that is true. If it is, it is verrry interrresting….
debate page
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23349901/
The C-Span front page has a link to a live audio stream.
or, if you don’t want to hit the link
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21…..1#23356941
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21…..1#22886841
Is that why he’s been wearing his glasses lately instead of (I presume) contacts?
i’m on that page, raven, but i don’t see anything that will enable me to livestream.
Yeah, his right eye is practically swollen shut.
My lady has made an inquiry of me. She asks if proper consideration has been given to sitting on the couch with Swiss Miss floats? That is… hot chocolate in tall mugs with one scoop of vanilla and one scoop of chocolate ice cream, while we’re looking at the debate. My response? Of course. Kiddo to the kitchen.
I’d love that the mostest!
Chuck Todd sez Obama needs to be “more Ronald Reagan”
Probably better to have her on the Board of CFR than say….Dick Cheney or Joe Lieberman.
looks to me like it’s up
thanks, raven. that link took me there.
Meet me in Ohio.
the only part of the last debate I watched was Hillary’s closing statement, which was quite good. I sensed that it had finally sunk in that the nomination would not be hers, and that she was prepared to go gracefully into the night. At this point, the “kitchen sink” negativity will only serve to tarnish her legacy.
It always scares me when Keith sez, ‘I’ll rejoin you at 10:30.” I think, “this debate goes for four and a half hours??”
Hill and Bill on the Supreme Court? Sounds good to me.
I was thinking last night, that if McCain had not been such a lackey, had retained what slight integrity he ever had, and gone independent, he would have a better chance of being president next term. He certainly would have a better chance at maintaining his reformer reputation. It would still probably be a bogus reformer reputation, but had he left the GOP and said a few sorrowful words about how he fell to temptation during the S&L crisis, he would have a better chance now. I think he has ruined himself by staying in the GOP and betraying just about anything good he ever believed in or did.
McCain has wrecked himself. Man, I would never support a campaign reform measure from that dude again, even if Feingold signed on. I would just figure Feingold had gone nuts.
For me a sign of the edn was when he just outright lied about his ‘dunno much about economics” comments during the last debate. He’s either lost it, or thinks that some special magic will keep the GOP white-dignity-man media force-field protecting him no matter what he says.
But then if he had had the vision and insight to go independent, he would be a different person, not the real McCain. Just like poor aimless Arnold out in CA. Why he stays in the cesspool greedhead nutso world of the CA GOP is beyond me, unless he is a fraud, or deluded, or just does not have the guts. These guys cannot do anything that they say they want to do in the GOP, so why stay? If they shred themselves in the the wingnut dominated mind-grinder of GOP primaries, they seriously damage their electability. What is the point? Sorry that fate dealt them such a difficult political hand, but facts is facts, and life isn’t always fair. And guys like McCain and Arnold can’t face the facts. So they chicken out, or sell out, or just gradually reveal themselves to be frauds.
Let’s wait. Hopefully it won’t be kitchen sink. What a horrible term.
I hope you’re right.
Untrue! CFR Board
Uh, Teddy – I think y’all are on different coasts.
;~P
Ted Strickland should’ve been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in that clip.