zed. and thoughts on Palin. Over at dkos, a rec’d diary on Valerie Jarret inspired this reflection on my part.

I am struck by the fact that it took this long for us to learn about Jarret, although she has been part of the Obama campaign for over a year, and of his life for more, while I am well provided with information about Palin and have been since day one of her candidacy.

Which is the proper focus of out attention as a preparation for possible action?

On the one hand, in the case of Jarret: The benefits of doing as has been done here excellent research about our candidates inner cabinet, a once and future player in our politics and about the history of one black family’s pursuit and gaining of excellence. Inspirational, informative, but, frankly where’s the opportunity for action here? We can support her appointment to the Senate if and when that is considered, to be sure. But aside from that?

On the other, in the case of Palin: The benefits of fun and snark, to be sure. Where’s the action here? We can continue to expose her to ridicule, but the case of her ridiculousness is already made and being well made by trad meds. If we continue to pile it on, might we not make her a figure of sympathy, as some trad med columnist argued. What more can we gain and our cause gain from our discussing Palin?

Any thoughts anyone?

Good Morning! Sarah was on Today Show also. I had assumed that Sarah’s children had a tutor on the campaign trail but it appears not. Piper mentioned that she was glad to be back to school but it will be hard to catch up. I guess the RNC had money for clothes but not tutors.

Truancy laws apply here. Parental responsibility for truancy–there must be a violation of something here. How many are school age, three including our pregnant mom I am guess, plus the future son-in-law. I am loath to spend one more click on her. Wherefore my question.

AIG spends $343,000 for Arizona retreat as thousands lose their jobs

Sarah will make sure that she is in the news.

Although we do not need to spend time on Sarah, it is important that her negatives are pointed out. The last thing that I want is for Sarah to have a chance to become President. Personally, I would like to know how much tax payer money it took to protect Barack because of Sarah’s hate speeches. In that figure we could also include the amount that it took to protect polling sites from the right wing whackos.

Seems appropriate priorities for Rs.

You know you’ve arrived when you get into the Urban Dictionary!

Palin [n]

1. An applicant lacking even basic job skills.
2. Someone supremely un-self-aware or lacking any relative sense of what he/she does or doesn’t know.

http://www.urbandictionary.com…..term=palin

Brought up from downstairs because… well, you’ll see.

Newest entry into the “Dumbest Shit I’ve Ever Read” file.

From TPM (because I don’t click through to wingnut sites),

John Hinderacker supposedly said:

Obama thinks he is a good talker, but he is often undisciplined when he speaks. He needs to understand that as President, his words will be scrutinized and will have impact whether he intends it or not. In this regard, President Bush is an excellent model; Obama should take a lesson from his example. Bush never gets sloppy when he is speaking publicly. He chooses his words with care and precision, which is why his style sometimes seems halting. In the eight years he has been President, it is remarkable how few gaffes or verbal blunders he has committed. If Obama doesn’t raise his standards, he will exceed Bush’s total before he is inaugurated.

Now that is just simply ridiculous. Someone’s got to take his keyboard away before he types again.

Clips on MoJo right now of the Lauer interview. Nice house that Todd built.

Sarah will make sure that she is in the news.

Mark it down, this knucklehead is gonna get that Senate seat.

It will be easy, will keep her in the limelight & out of -40 wind chills.

Plus, she obviously took a shinin’ to shopping in the lower 48.

Good Morning Blue Texan and Firedogs -

Georgia Update: Via Kos Diary,

Jim just told me that some of Obama’s ground team is already in place here in Georgia with more on the way. There have already been some online specialists and bloggers sent to Georgia to help out.

If time permits, Obama will also make an appearance for Jim here in Georgia

am crossing my fingers that at a minimum, PEBO cuts an ad or two – preferably one where he asks GA voters to make the pundits wrong and show up on 12/2

I am so glad to hear that.

I want this to be the start…the start of becoming what we could be…..keep the mojo going

Thanks for the KO special comment. It’s outstanding, as expected.

It would be sooo nice to get rid of Chambliss. Said that on election day, it would be the icing on the cake. Still hopeful. He got on my worst persons list after what he did to Cleland.

If only we could change the names in this story…

After Kerry lost, I was really ticked at him. Thought he ran the dumbest campaign ever. And that stupid duck-hunting stunt angered me to no end. Repubs might feel the same way about McC. He may not be the asset they think he is.

Assuming facts not in evidence, namely that Rs can intelligently assess what went wrong.

looks like someone else shares your sympathies

“I’d never seen anything like that ad. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to the picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield — it’s worse than disgraceful. It’s reprehensible.”

am assuming a video of same is winging it’s way to a dfh mailbox as we type :D

Georgia has a runoff because they know that it benefits the republicans. Sad but true. The DNC ran ads for Martin about the unFAIR Tax which did not gain traction because folks down here support it. Saxby is on the attack and Martin needs to call him a liar publicly.

I love Savannah Marion’s take (from previous thread) on Bobo saying R party will veer right for awhile: “How it can do that without vanishing up it’s own asshole defeats me.” ROTFL

I knew nothing about Valerie Jarret when I would see her speaking for Obama, but noted her intelligence and class, particularly in high relief, compared to all of the nasty McCain spokespersons. Her Wiki biography indicates a very impressive pedegree. It just seems like Obama’s real “associations” are some of the ablest, classiest people around.

Wow. Keith nailed this one. WaPo has a piece about lawsuits already being filed.

Today is Veteran’s Day. Used to be Armistice Day, celebrating the end of hostilities in WWI. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In addition to recognizing the service of our veterans ask those you know to help in restoring the honour and integrity of our country. They’re kinda keen on serving.

I realize it’s along shot, but still hoping.

Rachel and Steve Clemons pretty much agreed last night on Rachel’s show that HolyJoe would not be a factor in a 60 vote fillibuster-proof majority in the Senate. I wished both of them would have waited to have that conversation on-air until after the finalization of the 3 remaining Senate races. And, as I have said at least twice before, if McConnell had been defeated, JoeLie would be a non-factor. I’m very anxious for the results of the SC, MN and AK recounts/run-offs.

McCain is not an asset to most of the rank and file Republicans out there. They think in simple terms of Winners and Losers and McCain falls clearly in the Loser category.

AIG spends $343,000 for Arizona retreat as thousands lose their jobs
reply

AIG has gotten a total of $160 billion dollars from us dumb taxpayers. Riding into Phoenix in their corporate jets, they are trying not to advertise their corporate excess.

AIG made significant efforts to disguise the conference, making sure there were no AIG logos or signs anywhere on the property.

An AIG spokesperson said there were no AIG markers in order to minimize signage costs and to lower the company’s profile.

A hotel employee told ABC15, “We can’t even say the word [AIG].”
In addition to the nearly 150 independent financial planners in Phoenix for training and education, the conference attendee list was a Who’s Who of AIG leaders, including Larry Roth, President & CEO, AIG Advisor Group; Art Tambaro, President & CEO, Royal Alliance Associates; Mark Schlafly, President & CEO, FSC Securities; Gary Bender, Senior Vice President, Investment Advisory Services; Bruce Levitus, Senior Vice President, Investment Advisory Services; and Stuart Rogers, Senior Vice President.

The ABC15 Investigators went undercover at the resort and found AIG executives having poolside meetings while drinking coffee and working out at the spa while other attendees were in conference rooms for seminars.

We also watched as half a dozen of the executives went to dinner at McCormick & Schmick’s at the Camelback Esplanade, racking up a bill of more than $400 for drinks, appetizers, and meals.

But we should thank AIG, because their corporate sponsors are paying for most of their cost. There is no evidence that these brilliant businessmen were frolicking with high class prostitutes.

Conference Sponsors
(as seen on a board in one of the conference rooms)

-AIG SunAmerica Mutual Funds
-OppenheimerFunds
-Russell Investments
-Brinker Capital
-Investment Advisory Services
-Curian Capital
-Dimensional Fund Advisors
-eMoney Advisor
-Financial Guidance
-Genworth Financial
-Hanlon Investment Management
-Invesco AIM
-Icon Advisers
-IAS
-iShares
-John Hancock
-Lockwood Advisors
-Morningstar
-Rochdale Investment Management

Broken linkie, try this one for KNXV report on AIG “corporate sponsored” junket.

But we should thank AIG, because their corporate sponsors are paying for most of their cost. There is no evidence that these brilliant businessmen were frolicking with high class prostitutes.

They will only frolic with budget-minded prostitutes until the financial crisis is over.

WJ guests (subject is defense) keep mentioning Richard Danzig for SecDef or Sec of Homeland Security. I’m off to wiki, but does anyone know anything about him that might not be in his wiki?

Gingrich and Steele vying for RNC chair. Yep, the Rethugs need another leader specializing in discrimination, greed and divisiveness. Go for it, motherfuckers.

Here’s Danizg’s wiki. I’ve emailed a friend who was probably in his class at Reed (born the same year she & I were) to see what her take is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Danzig

nothing untoward at SourceWatch

Thanks. He has an impressive resume. I like that he went to public high school in NYC (the most selective one, to be sure), and Reed is an unusual college choice. Intriguing.

“And ever since then, those clothes, knowing that they didn’t belong to me … we boxed them all up, sent them back to the rightful owners, the Republican National Committee, and that’s the story on the clothes.”

I wish to God this stupid putz (can I say that?) would just go away. That statement is a fucking transparent lie. She had previously been saying the clothes were in the campaign plane. She had so many damn clothes she couldn’t keep track. She boxed up “all” of them? She was wearing her own clothes from Wassilly Goodwill for the last three months? Bullshit. Irrelevant? Don’t think so, lady. You are trailer park trash with a handout for free stuff.

Not Your Night Newton Leroy !
finally finds himself back in a position to appear all savior-like – ‘cept it’s up against Steele at a time when the nation elects it’s first AA President

bwaaaahaaaahaaaa ….

hope it’s close enough for him to trot out some of his usual warm and fuzzy oppo crap

Republicans and the Media Whores who carry water for them are utterly irrelevant. Never forget that simple fact.

SD (or anyone else who may know) – i always forget, is there any special way i’m supposed to hang my flag today? i don’t want any vets to think i’m disrespecting them by doing it wrong. thanks!

Happy Veteran’s Day to all our Veteran Dogs. You know who you are. America owes you a debt for which she is still behind in her payments.

Thanks for the reminder. I stopped flying the U.S. flag after the invasion of Iraq. But then my flag holder got taken down when the front porch was painted this summer. Need to get a new one. On the list of things to do.

Item Iraq..LIE, Item Iran..LIE, Item 9-11..?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/i…..;aid=10767

i agree that there’s a danger in piling on too much but darn it, she keeops giving us new reason to. we don’t have to go out of our way anymore. she’ll screw up. you can count on it. on the other hand, how can she be taken seriously as a person? as a candidate, yes because she has an appeal to the redneck base and the neo-con yahoo base and the jesus freak base no matrter how dumb she is. but she isn’t out of the woods investigation-wise i don’t think. one important thing in beating mccain was exposing his “maverick’ theme as bullshit. we could start putting a dent in her mav’rick story, too.

Damn right!!! Thanks vets!!!

where did he go? bronx science?

Christy is upstairs…

Yes, he did.

hope gingrich gets it. he’s like rove in the sense that his “political genius” is waaaay overrated.

btw, saw KKKarl on FOX last night saying he never said he wanted to build a “permanent” Republican majority. If anyone ever stumbles across that quote let me know so i can e-mail him and tell him to shove it so far up his ass he’ll shit it for a year.

Morning all,
Didn’t Gingrich leave the house after being found guilty of ethics violations.

http://peaceflags.org/

Just sue the shit out of the khurch of latter day saints ,they seem to have excess funds after feeding the sick and caring for the ill.

Nope, just the normal way. Upside down might be frowned upon, though. Gonna wear my normal demo/protest gear, sans sign. Folks at work have never seen me in cammies unless it was in the paper or on teebee, and that was years ago. Seems like a goddamn lifetime.

Hmmmm, there’s this really cute Lithuanian at the bank…

Remember who took down another criminal Al Capone… The IRS.
Think about a new car and the value lost when you drive off the lot.
Same thing with her new used clothing, she’s on the hook for that value.
And if she claims the RNC gave her those clothes it doesn’t move the IRS boy just make sure she lists that gift on the next tax return.

Off to swim in the great socialist, er, capitalist cesspool. I’m confused.

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.

Today’s random act of kindness – put a great liplock on a vet today

Namaste

yup. and that per diem she takes for… living in her own house…..unbelievable

newsmeat donations richard danzig
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by…..g&st=

one regular party donor, one other don’t know if the same one-’r’ donations, one other in penn., not him.

Take a look at the video Mudflats links to: http://mudflats.wordpress.com/…..-she-says/

Notice (even though reporters say Todd sat off to the side listening in while holding Trig) 7 year old Piper taking care of baby Trig, taking him up the stairs, then she comes back wearing an apron to take food and drink orders. Todd? WTF you “Family Values” people you voted for these sociopaths.

This was the best bit in the Newt/Steele article:

Those like Shawn Steel who want to see Mr. Steele as the face of the party say he has the “it” required for national stardom – that he is tall, articulate and charismatic.

What’s that distinguishing quality that first comes to mind when I think of Michael Steele?… Oh, yeah, “tall.” We need to make the GOP more appealing to “tall” people, that’s it!

thanks will do.

Wow, you guys still trying to destroy Palin after she is gone. Who gives a rats ass if she takes per diem or not, AND who honestly cares if the kids were in school or not. That’s none of our concern. I bet Barak’s ties cost more than what I spend on electricity in a month, but your not saying anything about that. BTW, she has already been exonerated multiple times of the ‘leaks’. Grow a life all of you. There are more important things out there than cloths for a outted VP nominee. Speaking of leaks, nice to see that Obama’s people can’t keep their mouth shut. Already he is being a snake by trying to force Bush’s hand on the car industry. This guy is a piece of work, and he isn’t even in yet.

Gone? She had an interview on the Today show this AM, CNN tomorrow night, part 2 on the Today show tomorrow morning and on and on. She is putting herself in the limelight. She is hardly gone.

If anyone read the Newsweek piece on the election, I was most surprised by the fact that Sarah would not go on stage with a Republican senate candidate and u.s representative because they were pro-choice. When the campaign told her she had to, she went on stage with them at the next rally and refused to introduce them. Nutty, nutty, nutty.