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That was quite the parade of charisma last night. Note to CNN, this is most decidedly NOT what HDTV was invented for!
Michael Schaeffer said it best:
…thus far it seems the overwhelming tone of the Republican Convention is nostalgia. Shot after shot of a room full of white people cheering shout-outs to Theodore Roosevelt, applauding commemorations of aging Medal of Honor winners, misting up at video footage of Ronald Reagan. Every image up on that giant screen painted in sepia. And the grouchy tone–here’s somnolent Fred Thompson lambasting the "Georgetown cocktail party circuit"–evokes Abe Simpson more than Abe Lincoln.
The most telling sign of a party stuck somewhere in the past was likely unintentional. During the Reagan tribute, the familiar litany of the 40th president’s triumps concluded with a remark that Reagan had "saved our century." Indeed. But what about this century?
The line up tonight was particularly inspired…if you were at the Elks Club.
One old guy who wouldn’t be up there speaking unless he was a celebrity.
Another REALLY popular guy via videotape which had the solid production values of a typical "You Tube" from "Funny or Die".
And finally, a guy so popular, he cannot even appear at his own Party’s convention and decides to crash the other one.
If nothing else, people much like John McCain came forward to remind us of the importance of regularity and annual prostate exams. Hope you got insurance for that.
I guess my second favorite line of the evening from Fred Thompson, reminding people he is still alive, so alive you could smell the Old Spice through the television when he uttered this line:
"She is from a small town, with small-town values, but apparently that’s not good enough for those folks who are out there attacking her and her family," he said.
Apparently, now for the "Party of Lincoln" small-town values equals belonging to or hanging out with those who want to secede from the United States…well, that’s a new one.
But the best line goes to Lieberman, of course, who actually was allowed to say:
"What you can expect from John McCain as President is precisely what he has done this week"
Yeah, uh-huh, I do not think that is as much of an endorsement as you think it is.
But, oh-boy, tonight we get to hear from Tracy Flick so it will be all-good.
(top pic from ghbrett)
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Newz flash: John McInsane replaces campaign manager with Rod Serling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVRKmre856E
Small town values?
Banning books, personnel vendettas and shot gun weddings?
FWIW: There is nary a sign in BBC, Timesonline, The Guardian, or The Independent of protest at the St. Paul convention other than this sort of generic offering this morning. Looks like the US Disinformation Hyping Service has blocked the borders for yesterdays dissent to escape the country. Just like the crushing of Hungary-56.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..s.protests
Hey Attaturk. Thompson also said at some point, Gov. Palin is a “breath of fresh air.” Yeah, like Gustav was a breath of fresh air.
But the Repubs are good at conjuring indignation, pseudo-defense as offense. Well, maybe Obama will get some serious viewer competition for SP’s speech on Wednesday night, still? Thinking maybe she and Huckabee can start their own tv show if this gig doesn’t pan out. My brother claims the wheels are FINALLY coming off the Repub. party. How can we trust the hope of sane future governance? Sydney Blumenthal reminded in some interview of the Dems’ capacity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But I am praying and praying and praying.
T-Bear… how sad that Guardian is not clued in to oppression by police in St. Paul and Minn. Security fascism.
Bonkers…. Rod Serling replaces campaign manager.. a good one!
Like having unprotected sex. Like lying.
Mornin’, pups -
Half dozen FDL posts and comments still to catch up on but, based on reading assorted NYT editorial/opinions, it would appear that publication ain’t none too impressed with the moose lady’s qualifications; modo inserted a few more ice pick observations. According to the blogs, more shoes dropped overnight……..palin has a nutso minister of her own and the husband’s extended membership in the AIP, an organization whose beliefs become increasingly bizarre.
Daymn! Other than a hurricane heading in my direction, it has been a passing fair week indeed. *g*
The poor “amigo” without a party.
Heard Chris Shays on radio. Thinks SP more prepared than Obama for presidency. Sorry, Chris, not sure this kool-aid is gonna sell this time.
Morning W -
So nicely put. When she is good she is really good/bad (modo). The queen of shaudenfreud. I bet there will be a serious audience tonight for Gov. P.
Sorry to hear about a hurricane aimed your way. How close, how serious?
Gotta go. Good luck with it all, pups.
Even Mornin Joe is laughing it up about last nights speeches.
O Befezzed One — some (really, really old) progressives like Old Spice, too.
attaturk, I don’t know which one of your observations is the funniest. I kept laughing harder as I read along.
Hey, ll -
Yeah, talk about a split personality, that woman’s got one. Pat buchanan (scar) is playing down expectations for palin’s speech tonight (paraphrased: it was a generic masculine speech that they’re having to adapt to her so she’s gonna have trouble with teleprompters and being herself). Dog! Talk about your lame ass excuses.
mccain’s crew has her buried, tried to cram a few facts into a no-knowledge head. If they keep that up for two more months, I don’t think it’s gonna play too well with tradmed.
Agree on the audience interest; am not gonna be able to resist meself. Will be *real* interesting to see how she responds to the pressure……after all the media comments wrt to Obama having to deliver a knock-out speech.
Three-day cone (as of this a.m.) still has it coming in about half-way between the southern/northern borders of South Carolina. I’m on the SE coast of NC so it depends on how wide the cone becomes with us getting hit by the right side of the storm which often brings the most damage. Lots of prep work to do outside and inside – get everything under cover/tied down plus pulling possessions together in event of decision to evacuate the island.
Apparently the Washington Post and the rest of the MSM can still pursue the Bristol Palin matter, but we should be expected not to?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..03144.html
The story has now morphed into one whereby McCain, the MSM darling, is no longer in charge of the medium. He canceled an appearance on Larry King in direct retaliation for tough questions asked of Tucker Bounds? What a moron.
McCain had the 100% complicity of the MSM – total benefit of the doubt, and now he is attacking them.
If there is any more clear example of why this man should not be the President of the United States, I’ve yet to see it. If you can’t handle THIS amount of pressure, and use the soap box available to you to turn things to your advantage, you just don’t have the skills necessary to command the country.
Blaming the media for your own failures (selecting the wrong candidate) is as counter-productive as anything I can think of.
John: You’re done.
Good morning, pups. It’s MoDo and Friedman this morning. MoDo says Sarah Palin is the “Life of Her Party,” and that unable to stop the onslaught of wild soap opera story lines erupting from the Palin family, the McCain campaign offered a new mantra: “Life happens.” Mr. Friedman says “And Then There Was One,” and that with his choice of Sarah Palin, John McCain has completed his makeover from the greenest Republican to run for president to just another representative of big oil.
http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/
The coffee and tea are ready, and I’ve got bagels with cream cheese today. My supplies of Phenergan (to suppress nausea), rolled up socks (to throw at the TV) and beer held up last night, but I’ll probably have to restock before this evening. That humming sound you hear in the background? That’s Teddy Roosevelt spinning in his grave after those people who are doing everything in their power to gut the National Park system wrapped themselves in his legacy last night. Have a great day.
What he has done this week is damn near disappear, covered by the cloak of palin. If taking the heat off the old guy was the plan then it has succeeded all too well.
What a drag for you there, Waccamaw! Here where I am we have tornadoes to keep us distracted.
I hope for the best, or at least the not worst outcome for you and yours.
Good Morning, Marion!
See, our great minds think alike–again. I am enjoying bagels, lox, cream cheese, and raw onions with some of my home roasted coffee as I read of your bagels etc. there.
Best regards.
~c
I think it’s great that the most religious zealots in the United States have adopted a new motto to blunt all discussion of “L’Affaire de Palin.”
“Life Happens” …fashioned after the popular “Shit Happens!” bumper sticker.
Who does their spin strategy?
Karl, did you really want to invoke the “Shit Happens” message and attach it to McCain like, well, shit – for the rest of his political life?
Mission Accomplished!
Can you say effin moronic?
Good morning! We do seem to be on a similar wavelength pretty often, don’t we?!
Mornin’ -
Did you get my note sometime yesterday about palin going to be briefed on highest security matters…..with NO security clearance, like the other three candidates. GAK!
Ye go with the weather ya get, not the weather ya want. :-( Others in the country whine that people shouldn’t be allowed to live in hurricane country (or at least be deprived of property insurance if they do) but if everyone in the country couldn’t live where there is potential damaging weather, dog knows where we’d put them all.
As far as I can tell it is the oil candidacy vs the banking and insurance industry candidacy and whichever one wins we lose. When the hell are we ever going to get a “peoples candidate”?
Hi, Waccamaw. We’re keeping an eye on Hanna here too. Mercifully, for now at least, she’s been downgraded to a tropical storm, but there’s always the chance that she’ll strengthen again. Make sure you get all your hatches well battened down, ‘kay?
Hi, Marion -
Do you get the general impression modo doesn’t think too highly of palin? *g* Doin’ any hurricane prep?
aHAHAHA Attaturk, Amway Convention
The best pundit line of the night goes to David Brooks re John McCain on his choice of Sarah Palin
“He sees himself in her”
Battening the hatches is definitely NOT fun. Bought hurricane shutters that I can install myself but can’t be done in excess of 40+ mph (think human sail) and much lower wind speed for my strength/stamina. Means making decision about installation multiple days in advance so I can spread the task out over several days. And you know us garden people…..all the plants/tools/equipment that you normally have sitting out have to be stowed.
Yes, thanks. I am all-but certain that I thanked you for it on one of Tuesday’s threads. Thanks again.
There is no “Hurricane” Hanna:
Either the National Weather Service is stuck on stupid, or they are fear mongering.
“Hurricane” Hanna sure doesn’t look like it wants to do what they claim it will do. I’ve been watching a river of cool/dry air dive down into it from the north for the past two days – and it’s driving it south and knocking it apart – as I’ve expected. Take a look:
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/HURRLOOPS/huwvloop.html
It’s clearly been blown south of the Dominican Republic, yet on their maps, they show it North of the DR and heading north. At least they downgraded it to a Tropical Storm, but I don’t see this northern track being a possibility:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refres…..y#contents
It even appears that Ike’s westward movement will be blocked or carried north.
A party of dirty old men with a bimbo to distract them. It keeps MSM tittilated and obviates the need to report on anything of substance.
Of McCain:
Quote by David Brooks
Roll tape:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RN5xbWtNSU
Sarah palin is the Roseann of the republican party!
Working class trailer trash.. does she get to bring her pick up to Washington too
I’ve got to take in flower pots, the outside umbrella, etc. If the winds are strong enough to carry away the wrought iron table and chairs they’ll probably take the roof too… MoDo actually had glimmers this morning of the columnist she used to be. It was refreshing.
It most certainly was a hurricane yesterday, and may strengthen again today. Thank you for your concern.
My history teacher once told me when a party doesn’t have a good candidate they trot out an old war horse,because everyone loves a war hero
thanks plunger!
Remember, Amway’s grand poobah is Rich DeVos, big-time GOP contributor. His son-in-law? Eric Prince. grand poobah of Blackwater. The Amway convention analogy is quite correct.
Thank you!
but at least Rosanne deliberately generated laughs.
Good Morning, Waccamaw good luck with the preparations. Marion, what is Savannah doing to prepare for the storm? I had a great night’s sleep after watching the US OPEN. Why punish myself by putting on the whine and cheese show.
It looks like I’m going to get hit, at least somewhat depending. The fact that it’s “only” a tropical storm is small solace to me right now. This will be the second in 2 weeks. I can do without it.
Marion – trust me, I’ve got plenty of reason to have concern for the path of Hanna. I just think they’ve been ignoring the cool dry air that has knocked it apart and redirected it. I’ve been watching it like a hawk. Their prediction of two days ago was wrong.
I still think it’s a mistake to underestimate her as a candidate. Her initial reception has been so negative, she may have nowhere to go but up. Her stand on the issues? Who cares? McCain campauign says it’s not about issues. We’ll see how she does tonight. I expect her speech to be well received. She’s a celebrity who can give a good speech. But she’s not ready.
Are the Republicans going to collect money for us if they can’t do it on TV?
Over/under for term “executive experience” tonight:
423
Savannah’s news media are notorious for screaming “RUN FOR YOUR LIVES” at the drop of a hat, so they’re in full panic dither, with a screamer headline in the Daily Disappointment. People are starting to pull small boats out of the water, just in case, and taking in garden stuff. And watching NOAA. The boss trotted around yesterday making sure she had up to date contact information on everyone.
“here’s somnolent Fred Thompson lambasting the “Georgetown cocktail party circuit”–evokes Abe Simpson more than Abe Lincoln.”
I was thinking Abe Vigoda, actually.
If Republicans think “executive experience” is so damn important, why isn’t Romney or Ghouliani their nominee? They both ran on it.
No. This has been another chapter of “short answers…”
Washignton Journal for this morning — to go with the bagels and cream cheese
7:30-8:00 JIM SCHAEFER
Uplink Detroit Free-Press
Staff Writer http://www.freep.com
Locator: Detroit
Topic: Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s Removal Hearing Today. Our guest will explain the timeline of events, which led up to today’s hearing held by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to consider removing the mayor from office as well as the details of the hearing. On January 24th, our guest along with fellow Detroit Free-Press reporter M.L. Elrick, broke the story involving the Mayor’s lying under oath about a personal relationship with his chief of staff during a settlement trial of a Detroit police whistle-blower.
8:00-8:15 Newspaper Articles/Phones/Roll Call phoner
8:15-10 WJ Live from the Republican National Convention
Locator: St. Paul, Minnesota
8:15-8:45 MICHAEL CAREY
Anchorage Daily News
Columnist
http://www.adn.com
Locator: St. Paul, Minnesota
GOAL: Discuss the political background of Governor Sarah Palin (PAY-lihn) including her strengths and liabilities, political accomplishments as Governor and what she faces at a V.P. nominee. Guest is retired from the Anchorage Daily News but still writes a regular political column.
8:45-9:15 DANIEL RIEFF
Minnesota Young Republicans
Chairman
Locator: St. Paul, Minnesota
Topic: The Republican Party this week will make Senator John McCain the oldest presidential nominee seeking a first term. Meanwhile, the Obama-Biden campaign continues to significantly out poll McCain-Palin in the under 30 age group. Our guest discusses the impact of their candidate’s age on younger Republicans and where the youth of the GOP would like to take their party.
9:15-9:45 GOV. TIM PAWLENTY
at RNC R-Minnesota
http://www.governor.state.mn.us
Locator: St. Paul, Minnesota
GOAL: Guest will address political themes addressed during Campaign 2008: why he believes John McCain’s has the ability to defeat Sen. Barack Obama, his thoughts on McCain’s chosen running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin and the current state of the GOP after 8 years of the Bush Administration.
9:45-10:00 Newspaper Articles/Phones
Didja see Palin is getting tutored on foreign policy by ex-Bush administraion people? Great job of dissasociating yourself, McCain. Can you say “more of the same”? Obama and Biden can.
MN Young Republicans? Damn, I’m gonna miss that. Think since Sunday any of them went out and got pregnant? They’re very easily led.
8:45 – 9:15— over/under for mentions of “executive experience” = 148
9:15 – 9:45 — over/under for mentions of “executive experience” = 723
Just keep this GOES satellite link handy on your favorites:
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/HURRLOOPS/huwvloop.html
They’d like for you to believe it’s rocket science, but it’s just weather.
Hanna never had a chance to move north – and it’s been obvious for over 24 hours.
The National Weather Service is on Home Depot’s payroll.
here’s a link for that story about Palin being taught foreign affais by Bush people:
http://www.blog.newsweek.com/b…..escue.aspx
ABC’s Good Morning America is going to have Geraldine Ferraro on. I changed the channel.
If Putin gives us anymore trouble ,we’ll send hockey mom Sarah there to kick his ass!!
On a serious note good luck to all of you along the south coast big blow coming!
The most infuriating line of the night came from our dear prez: ”the angry left”. Always the divider. He’s the guy who rubs someone’s face in the dirt. The guy who kicks someone when they’re down. He has never understood that he was supposed to be the president for all Americans. That, as president he’s supposed to display a modicum of dignity. He truly is the worst ever.
Thanks, Attaturk, great post.
Actually, as one who lives in Confederate flag country, this line drove home to me the idea that in selecting Palin, McCain has now removed geographic barriers from the Southern strategy. Does the AIP have a flag?
The latest projections for Hanna have put my part of north central Florida out of the expected cone of TS force winds, but at least I now have my generator functional again.
Citizen Beerfart:
As long as the media stays off a the “family planning” issues of Palin’s closely knit family and focuses instead on her political history especially her relationship to the Alaska Independence Party, she will take the McCrazy campaign straight to hell
Heh. Check the big photo front and center at CNN.com. At last nights convention, the McSame sign closest to the camera is being held upside down. Sign of distress or just illiteracy? Can’t tell with this group.
See the story about Palin’s church video? T^he Iraq war is a ”task from God” and in order for the pipeline to be worth anything Alaskans hearts have to be ”right with God.” Oh no.
Do you know where your Darth is? What he might be up to?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7595259.stm
It’s almost like tere’s so much stuff out tere it’s hard for our side to focus. It would be especially troubling to me of she stonewalls the investigation up there.
GWB is the type to start a fight in a barroom and then duck out the back door when the fists start flying.
May be these folks are so brain washed everything has to be presented to them in such a way WWJD!!
Scary part is she’s serious. After all teh Founders said we’re one nation under God when they wrote the Pledhe of Allegiance.
PS. Friedmnan trashes Palin in the NYT today.
Citizen Beerfart:
There is nowhere for her to run unless folks focus on the “illegitimate” issue of whose children are whose or the ethics of takin’ an 8-hour flight ta Alaska while in labor…all of these issues are part of the newscycles now and the more she hides from the press, the more these things will be driven by the bloggoshpere.
has it been 6 months?
Maybe the think we’ll be laughing so hard we’ll forget to vote
I didn’t see any of the convention, I heard they trotted out the old propaganda that making believe reagan lowered taxes…man I long for the day our fourth estate sets the record straight on that
anyway, will this convention give the republikkkans their convention bump?
what are teh predictions
see BT’s last link upstairs perris
Yes, he is. President Wimp sends his wife to stand in for him cuz he’s too unpopular right now. “Send Laura, I’m ascared I’ll get booed”.
And, while we’ve been distracted, NATO has imploded. Another Bush triumph. Destroy everything he touches and bring turmoil to every corner of the earth. And they send freeking Cheney??? What for? To make matters worse?
The NY Times buried the lead on their coverage of Sarah Palin:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09…..=2&hp
I’m praying no bump. That it’s over. Obama continues to climb. Picking Palin proves McC doesn’t give a damn about this country. And, I think people are catching on.
Well things are looking up, the corporate media is actually casting a critical eye at the McCain campaign for the first time this election…
…I hope that’s all good for us, good for the country and good for the world.
But there’s part of me that understands they have some evil geniuses on their side who surely have a few more tricks up their sleeves. We need to stay on the ball, because this thing could turn around in a moment’s notice.
I heard on NPR this morning we launched attacks across the border in Pakistan overnight. Some talk that we’re finally going after bin Laden after all these years.
A new war or a terrorist attack could change everything, and I don’t think any of us here think the Bush/Cheney regime wouldn’t endanger the country for a little political gain.
Condi is off to some sale, can’t be bothered, Dick Dick Prick, is taking over State Dept. in absence of teh secretary.
I predict that the price of gas will be lowered to $3 per gallon by election day…as another strategy for a Bush perk.
And this will serve as evidence of how oil prices are REALLY controlled, and by whom.
IMF/WorldBank + Rockefeller Globalists.
Just reading that if McC doesn’t replace Palin before she’s nominated, replacing her will be more complicated. I think he has no choice but to stick with her.
which would bother me not one bit if it weren’t for her “abstanance only” positions, the most dangerous position a parent or politician can take regarding their children
man, hypocracy, thy name is republikkan
I cannot believe she does not withdraw, especially after we make it known she was having sex long before she was married and that even she doesn’t believe in abstanance only
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7595293.stm
Déjà vu 2006 “all over again” just at a higher level.
so am I getting this right?
so far, the republican convention bump has gone to obama?
too funny
yup, every election season prices have gone down, even in the face of spills and holiday travel
it ain’t about the price of gas but that sure helps
I watch the NHC at the NOAA pretty closely. They are usually pretty spot on.
She scares me. Kerry called her ‘Cheney-esque’. And she is. She destroys her political opponents and she doesn’t feel reigned in by the law. Not to mention that she’s a lightweight who has no business being the veep nominee. McC has put our country in danger by choosing her. Stay or go…whichever assures a dem victory.
Just curious…isn’t it the Religious Right who say that a woman’s place is in the home, taking care of her children, subordinate to man, in no position of leadership. Wonder how Susan Palin gets such great support from this group?
Off to prepare for work. Starting the day pissed off.
I am hoping mccain has no choice but to keep her, I think mitt and lieberman would give us some problems, I don’t think this girl gives us any.
I don’t think she’s cheney-esk
cheney is nothing but a narcisistic oportunist, he is not an idiologue he is a sociopath
this girl is an idiologue, note, her own pregnancy and her childs, she refuses to have an abortion
cheneey would have had that abortion in a second
two differant people here
me leaving too, see all l8ter
I would have said “hertbeat” instead of “second” but we all know his heart is so bad we couldn’t bet on one following the other
Would like to see a list of the books Sara Palin wanted banned from the Wasilla Library. Did she want them banned or burned?
Did Fred Thompson really complain about the Georgetown cocktail circuit?
That must be because he wasn’t invited. My understanding is that he and his wife were very much on some Washington cocktail circuit and that he is quite the party boy. Not that that’s a bad thing….it’s just a bad thing to complain about just because you are getting too old to keep up.
Yes gas will go down prior to the election. Be sure and write letters to the editor of your local papers to point out to the underinformed and ill informed voter. Connect the dots people.
Wait a minute – I use Old Spice and I am totally Dem. I am 59, but have liked OS, English Leather and British Sterling for many years. Just want you to know that Old Spice knows no boundaries.
i lived in a small town once. Population about 600.
That’s EXACTLY how it was!
LOL!
W — came back later in day. Love your comment style, gotta tell you. Sorry about tornado/hurricane specter. Wow… what a stress. Later I had wondered if you had meant you were near Gustav… but I had heard about other serious impending storms and assumed one of them was heading for you. I am praying it misses.
Regret tv-less not to see Sarah. Will turn to radio once again.
The list just keeps on growing on her. But the horrors of police behavior in Minn…. are they getting any MSM attention I wonder. Is the new phrase, tradmed…. I have fallen behind the lingo once again.
More later, my friend. Good luck!!!