The Republican Ticket

McCain, via Slog:
Palin, via The Huffington Post


From the Campaign Log:
October 15, 2008

We both managed to do something crazy and/or ridiculous and/or idiotic today. Ony a couple weeks left. Go Team!

No, Dave! Nooooooooo!

From The Huffington Post:

David Letterman and Sen. John McCain will get a chance to make up.

The Republican presidential candidate is scheduled to appear on Letterman's "Late Show" on Thursday.

It will be McCain's 13th visit to the CBS program but his first since he angered Letterman by canceling last month.

Letterman was unhappy when McCain sat for an interview with Katie Couric instead of him on Sept. 24.

At the time he said he first felt like a "patriot" to let McCain off his commitment to deal with the economy but "now I'm feeling like an ugly date."

A McCain spokeswoman said at the time that because of the economic crisis, the campaign "felt this wasn't a night for comedy."

See also:
Required Viewing Re: Why is McSame in Such a Rush to Flake on Letterman?
AND
Late Show with David Letterman

Jezebel to McCain: Look at This Mess You've Made!

From Jezebel:

John McCain created this hateful monster, and no amount of back-pedaling, especially when he's still running ads trying to portray Obama as a terrorist, is going to stop it. The Straight Talk Express is currently on its Hate Across America tour, and John McCain is slowly becoming the lead singer who can't figure out where all of his rock star dreams went wrong. We'll here's a hint, Senator: when you stoke the fires of paranoia, hatred, and anger, you might just get burned. Or booed. Either way, when your audience can't even accept your own words anymore, you might want to ask yourself why any of us should.

What He Said

Is anyone else experiencing some mild to moderate trepidation?

From The New Yorker's George Packer (emphasis is mine):

A number of people are afraid that the ugly tactics of the McCain-Palin campaign are going to incite violence, maybe assassination. Joe Klein, Andrew Sullivan, McCain’s former adviser John Weaver—even the ultimate sober-sided moderate David Gergen last night on CNN. I hope they’re wrong. It’s a big leap from hateful talking points and shouted epithets to vigilantism and the lone gunman. What’s undeniably true is that Republican rallies and the incendiary language of party leaders are stirring up the darker, destructive mob passions that have a long history in American politics. At the very least, the Republican ticket is making sure that, if Obama wins, he’ll be regarded as an illegitimate and dangerous President by thirty or forty per cent of the country.

Palin is too shallow to understand the weapon she’s playing with; she’s just thrilled to be the birthday girl and the object of so much semi-erotic devotion. But McCain knows better....

via Slog

Furthermore, not only does he know better, McCain is now attempting to control the wild, blood-thirsty beast he has created.

also via Slog

The Right-Wing Reacts to the Debate (Also, in Classic Nelson Muntz fashion: "Ha ha. Ha ha!")

Via Slog, the right-wing reaction to the debate, via The National Review:

Well I have gone outside and pulled up my Mcain/Palin sign. This election is over. I will vote for Mcain but I know that come Nov. 5 Obama will be our president-elect.

I feel sorry for Sarah Palin. A once promising career will be permanently connected to the landside loss of John McCain.

I weep for my children and their families.

The McCain-Obama Post-Debate "Handshake"

via Slog

He Put it on eBay

via Truthdig

In My Secret Life

I smile when I'm angry.
I cheat and I lie.
I do what I have to do
To get by.
-"In My Secret Life," Leonard Cohen

Hers:

Today we hear that Palin has requested, and received, a four day extension for the disclosure of her personal finances. The new release date for these forms? October 3rd, the day AFTER her scheduled debate with Joe Biden.

His:

So it’s rather surprising that as the general election hits the homestretch, the McCain campaign has effectively squashed efforts by journalists, medical experts and the political class to fully examine his medical records.

The most recent review of McCain’s records cannot be described as independent or thorough. In May, the campaign gave a limited group of reporters only three hours to review thousands of documents. Aside from the time limit, the selected reporters were “ensconced” in a cone of silence, as CNN reported. The campaign banned the use of cell phones or e-mail for journalists, who might have consulted with experts while assessing the medical information. It’s not clear why so many news outlets consented to such terms.

This news ires me to no end. What, do you suppose, still lurks in their cache of deception? I'm scared to learn....

via Slog

Required Viewing Re: Why is McSame in Such a Rush to Flake on Letterman?

Sarah Palin's running-mate flaked on David Letterman; "this doesn't smell right," he says.

DL, I concur.



via Slog

Why is McSame in Such a Rush to Flake on Letterman?

Especially since the fundamentals of the economy are strong?

From Drudge Report:

David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.

Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, “Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?”

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, “You don’t suspend your campaign. This doesn’t smell right. This isn’t the way a tested hero behaves.” And he joked: “I think someone’s putting something in his metamucil.”

“He can’t run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara [sic] Palin. Where is she?”

“What are you going to do if you’re elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We’ve got a guy like that now!”

via Slog

Oh. My. Shit.

Why has McCain's obvious schizodisorder gone undiagnosed for so many years?



via TPM

Could Someone Please Get Obama a Gold Star and the Key to a Big White House Somewhere?

Last night, Obama (transcript) and McCain (transcript) were on 60 Minutes. At the end of the program, Obama was asked an incredibly difficult, complicated question:

I know, for a fact, that there are a lot of people out there, there are a lot of people right here in Elko, who won’t vote for you because you’re black. I mean, there’s not much you can do. But how do you deal with it? I mean, are there ways that, from a political point of view, that you can deal with it? And how do you fight that?

His amazing, thoughtful and gracious answer (with my emphasis):

Going up against a very formidable Republican machine, and having been subject to constant attack and millions of dollars spent trying to scare people over the last two months, I’m still tied or in the lead with John McCain.

That tells me that the American people are good. That they are judging me on my ideas and my vision my values, and not my skin color. Now are there gonna be some people who don’t vote for me because I’m black? Of course. There are probably some African-Americans who are voting for me because I’m black. Or maybe others who are just inspired by the idea of breaking new ground. And so I think all that’s a wash. The bottom line is am I viewed as somebody who’s gonna be a champion for the guy who’s waking up every day, working hard for a paycheck? And I’m confident that if they think I can help them, that I’ve got a shot at getting their vote. And it may take a little more work on my part. But I don’t mind working harder than the other guy.

I almost can't get over Obama's response. He has this terrific humility that makes me feel really comfortable with him.


Oh, and McCain gave a notable answer last night, too. Here's the question:

Longest you’ve lived any one place?

Aaaaaaaaand the answer:

Hanoi.

::shakes head:: Okay, McCain. We get it already. That's quite enough.


via Slog

Naomi Klein: Palin = ‘Bush in Drag'; Andrew Sullivan: Palin is a Farce

This clip is from the September 19 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. Klein's point about Palin=Bush because [Palin] "has a certainty [about issues] that is completely incommensurate with any knowledge or experience" is entirely accurate. And if you think I hate Sarah Palin, wait until you hear what Andrew Sullivan has to say.


via TruthDig

Palin Has Some Pretty Big Balls

I'm watching her speak to the irresponsible, short-sighted McCain/Palin supporters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She just said that the "Palin/McCain administration" will change the economy (which is interesting since McCain believes that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong,"why does he want to change it? But that's another story). Palin/McCain?! Really? I wonder if McCain has been told that he's now second on the ticket.

The Answer is Rx

Remember when I was afraid my blog was rapidly heading in the direction of a foodie blog? And now its all, "McCain Lies," "Palin Lies," rape kits, the real McCain = Bush, bla bla bla. If I'm growing weary of it, I'm certain you are, too, no? I much prefer to bring you dead fruit flies, sudsy melons, Michael Phelps' halter top and info on what I'm putting in my lady parts.

I find it nearly impossible to use this blog, this home of beeping cats, for much more than a Palin pressure release. I'm afraid I have Election Anxiety Disorder. Do you?

From Eli Sanders, The Stranger:

You're a Democrat. You call yourself a liberal, and you're not ashamed.

All through the spring and summer you felt hopeful. It was an emotion you'd lost contact with over the last eight years, and it was fantastic to feel it again. Your man was doing well. He was going to win the election in a walk.

The country wanted change. Your man was change. Democrats were change. Change would triumph. You believed.

Deeply.

But now you're increasingly feeling anxious. You can't concentrate. You can't manage anything close to the euphoria of January and February, nor can you summon the optimism of June, July, and August. Ever since the Republican National Convention, ever since Sarah Palin, a gnawing dread has been lying just below the surface of your every interaction. Sometimes you can't keep it bottled up. Sometimes you snap—at the screen, at your friends, at your family.

What you feel these days is that it's happening all over again: the lies from the right, the successful pandering to the evangelical Christians, the sinking poll numbers for the Democratic ticket.

The man—your man—who should obviously be winning, now seems like he could very well lose.

You wonder if you're suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder. You find yourself thinking ominously of how they stole the election from Al Gore in 2000. You have flashbacks to that heartbreaking, alienating moment in 2004 when you realized John Kerry was going to lose, too. You can't stop worrying. But you also can't stop following the events that are terrifying you. Your life is an endless circle: read the news, worry, talk to friends who are worried, get even more worried because they are worried, repeat.

I need an Rx for Pollzac, Registrithium, Cellexa, Afrodiazepine and, most certainly, Palanium.

Look! Twinsies!

via Slog

"You never know what's gonna pop out of Palin next." - Dan Savage

From CNN:

Sex columnist Dan Savage and author of the popular syndicated sex advice column "Savage Love," made his way to St. Paul, Minnesota, to attend the Republican National Convention where he is filming a piece for HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

Planted in the CNN Grill, Savage shares his thoughts on John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, tells us what a sex columnist is doing at a political convention, and gives us his take on who's sexier, Democrats or Republicans.

Here are five questions for Dan Savage:

CNN: You're here because you're a lifelong Republican?

Savage: No, that's not true, actually. I'm a Democrat, although I am a registered Republican in Washington State, but just to drive the Washington State Republican Party up the wall.

CNN: Why are you here?

Savage: I was here to see if I could find any evidence of George W. Bush at the convention. And I found very little. There was that satellite feed. I bought this button [points to Dick Cheney button on his shirt]. This will be the only time you'll see Dick Cheney at the convention is when you see me walk by with this button ... I wasn't able to purchase it here ... I mean you talk to Republican delegates walking around, a lot of them will admit that George Bush has been a major disappointment and they're happy that he's not here. And one of the reasons that they're happy he's not here is that they don't want America reminded that four years ago and eight years ago, these same delegates ... thought George Bush walked on water.

CNN: Why would "Real Time with Bill Maher" send a sex columnist to cover the Republican National Convention?

Savage: Because when you're a sex writer in America you have to write about politics because politicians will not stop obsessing about it -- screwing around with people's sex lives. Often when I write about politics in "Savage Love," my sex advice column, people write to me and say, "you're a sex columnist, stick to sex." And I'll say -- I usually respond -- "I'll be able to stick to sex when politicians stick to politics and leave our sex lives alone, and stop politicizing our sex lives." But they do. And it's one of the major differences between the two political parties, our sexual issues. And so my view is very relevant, I feel very at home here.

CNN: Any thoughts on McCain's running mate choice?

Savage: I think Palin has been the clown car of the vice presidential nominee. You never know what's going to pop out of Palin next.

CNN: Who's sexier: Republicans or Democrats?

Savage: Well, there's just something about those Young Republicans. They're very sexy. They're very tense and nervous. I spoke to a lot of them because I've been running around the convention asking teenagers throughout the convention if they're virgins or not. 'Cuz I feel like I have a right to know because we've invested over a billion dollars in abstinence education programs under George Bush.


via Slog
image via CNN

What He Said on MSNBC

"Because John Bush -er, John McCain is very much his own man." Is he, Tom Ridge? Is he?

via Slog

Sarah Palin Is Your New Ford Pinto

Sarah Palin is your new Segway

Sarah Palin, the life-iest pro-life candidate who ever scared the crap out of me

Sarah Palin vs. Liz Lemon: Who'd make the better Veep?

Sarah Palin: When choosing a woman might not be choosing for women

SHIT! This Is Awful News

She may have a uterus but she is certainly anti-woman. Furthermore,

TPM:

So now we've learned that Sarah Palin is McCain's choice for vice presidential nominee. I have to say, it's a daring pick but I think a very weak one. I'm perfectly happy with it. Palin is in the midst of a reasonably serious scandal in her home state. Her brother-in-law is a state trooper who is in the midst of an ugly custody battle with her sister. And she's accused of getting the state police to fire him. Recently she was forced to admit that one of her aides had done this, though she insists she didn't know.

Next, John McCain's central and best argument in this campaign is that Barack Obama simply lacks the experience to be President of the United States. And now John McCain, who is a cancer survivor who turns 72 years old today, is picking a vice presidential nominee who has been governor of a small state for less than two years and prior to that was mayor of a town with roughly one-twenty-seventh of the constituents that Barack Obama represented when he was a state senator in Illinois.

Whatever you think of Barack Obama's qualifications to be President, Palin is manifestly less qualified. And that undermines the central premise of McCain's campaign.