Today in Traditional Marriage

The Smoking Gun:

A Florida man wearing an "I [heart] My Marriage" t-shirt was arrested last night for allegedly choking his wife during an argument in their Tampa-area home. Bradley Gellert, a 32-year-old financial consultant, was busted by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies and booked into jail on a felony domestic battery by strangulation charge.... The "I [heart] My Marriage" shirt was a promotional item tied to the 2008 movie "Fireproof," a Christian-themed film starring Kirk Cameron. The movie, a hit in evangelical circles, centers on a fireman's religious awakening and his simultaneous effort to save a failing marriage.

Says Dan Savage, "Bradley hearts his marriage - it's his wife he can't stand."

via Slog
image via The Smoking Gun

Guns Don't Kill People

Parents who allow their 8-year-olds to play with an Uzi kill people.

From Fox News:

Westfield, MA -- An 8-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself in the head while firing an Uzi submachine gun under adult supervision at a gun fair.

The boy lost control of the weapon while firing it Sunday at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman’s Club, police Lt. Lawrence Vallierpratte said.

As the boy fired the Uzi, “the front end of the weapon went up with the backfire and he ended up receiving a round in his head,” police Lt. Hipolito Nunez said. The boy died at a hospital.

The boy’s father and older brother were also there at the time, a gun club member and school official said. Francis Mitchell, a longtime member and trustee of the club, said he was told the boy’s father was supporting his son from behind when the shooting happened. …

The event ran in conjunction with C.O.P Firearms and Training. “It’s all legal & fun — No permits or licenses required!!!!” reads the ad, posted on the club’s Web site.

via Slog

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!

The "Libertarian Conservative" has Successfully Reserved a Special Place in Hell for Himself

From Dan Savage, Slog:

Conservative blogger “”The Libertarian Conservative” created the above ad ..., and he says he’s only “doing exactly what the left is doing to Sarah Palin.” Yeah—remember how we lynched Sarah Palin? Good times. The bigoted blogger adds…

We’re at war folks, and I intend to fight this war until my dying breath. We’re at war against terrorists that want to destroy this country and everything it stands for and we are war against godless liberals who hate the very values and freedoms that this Nation was founded upon.

Well, the bigot blogger showed some restraint—he called lynching Obama “The Fucking Solution,” and not “The Final Solution.” Wouldn’t want to alienate those Jewish voters that McCain is gonna need in Florida.

Sure, McCain doesn't directly have anything to do with this hateful, disgusting, racist shit; but he sure isn't doing much to discourage it. This is utterly distressing.

image via Slog

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

I Can't Say These Things Aloud at Work

so I'm recounting them now for your enjoyment. More, no doubt, will follow.

• you probably think you're being encouraging and supportive when you tell me I should go back to school because I am working a ridiculous job. You don't need to remind me that I'm too good for this perfect-for-high-school-girls-and-retired-women-job. For now, this job serves its purpose and you should be happy I'm here to smile cordially and chew the fat with you. I'm nicer than most....
• a plain bagel toasted with butter, cream cheese, double american cheese, ham, sausage and and bacon is disgusting. Why are you eating such a large quantity of trash?
• some things are too expensive; I agree with you. However, I have no ability or authority to do anything about a $0.72 slice of cheese.
• I'll get to you when I get to you.
• I've been up since 4 a.m. Cutting me a smidge of slack would be much appreciated.

This is OBVIOUSLY a Shampoo Ad

Her giant, barely covered breasts were the first clue, right? There's also a blonde one, if that's your preference.

via feministing

Will Someone Please Get This Man Some Answers?

Weeks ago, I mentioned Sarah Palin's bizarre behavior during her pregnancy with Trig: she hid the pregnancy for five months, insisted on giving the keynote address at the Republican Governor's Convention in Texas despite leaking amniotic fluid, decided against being admitted into a Texas hospital; instead, she flew home to Alaska and subsequently drove 45 minutes to the Wasilla hospital t0 give birth to Trig. Weird, right?

No one has said much about her weird behavior in the recent weeks but Andrew Sullivan is still asking for answers:

Back in her time as a Christianist culture warrior in Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin demanded total transparency from her moderate Republican opponent:

Within a few months, Palin was officially challenging Stein and exploiting the cultural shift masterfully. She welcomed a national anti-abortion group in to carpet bomb Wasilla with pink postcards affirming her pro-life bona fides. She orchestrated an NRA endorsement and a mailing from the group falsely proclaiming Stein, a lifelong hunter, "anti-gun." (Stein complained to the local newspaper that Palin was telling voters he wanted to "melt down" all the firearms in the state.) And, in a move practically out of Karl Rove's playbook, she dwelled on how Stein's wife used her maiden name, going so far as to demand a marriage certificate as proof of their nuptials. Palin's campaign literature proclaimed her "deeply devoted to conservative family values"--all in the context of an ostensibly nonpartisan election. (Stein himself was a moderate Republican.)

So it is part of Palin's record to demand the marriage license of a fellow Republican, but to ask for any medical confirmation of the mysterious birth of Trig earlier this year, any affidavit from the obstetrician, any objective evidence at all that Trig is indeed Sarah Palin's biological child is, well, in the words of John Podhoretz, "virtually unspeakable." Look: this is usually not hard at all. Births are recorded at the hospitals where they occur. And, as you might expect, there's a long list of babies born at Mat-Su Medical center, where we are told Trig was born on April 18 this year. But for some reason, Trig Palin's name is not among them.

Why would a hospital exhaustively record all births on their premises and leave out easily the most famous baby ever born there? There were only 24 births at Mat-Su in April of this year: it's not like they could have mislaid one. So why is there no formal record of Trig's birth? This is not an "unspeakable" question. It's a simple factual one. Presumably there's an explanation. Perhaps the Palins decided that it would be an invasion of Trig's privacy to have the birth actually recorded in the hospital where he was born. But at least they should be able to tell us that. Or perhaps the hospital decided for some reason not to record that one birth. I have no idea. I do know that if Sarah Palin were running against Sarah Palin, she would demand evidence, as she did with something just as accessible with respect to John Stein's marriage license.

How much longer are we supposed to put up with the far right running on different standards than everyone else? Hand over all the medical records and put Sarah Palin in front of a press conference now. We need answers to an almost dizzyingly long list of questions and accountability for an equally long list of public lies.

You, Michelle Allen, Are All Class

From WBNS 10 TV:
Cincinnati, OH--

A Middletown woman was arrested after chasing children, urinating on a porch, and blocking traffic - all while wearing a cow suit.

Police said 32-year-old Michelle Allen was chasing children while wearing the cow costume early Monday evening.

(more)

image via WBNS 10 TV
via Slog

Jon Stewart: "Those who do not study the past get an exciting opportunity to repeat it"

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

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

Baby, You Can Drive My Car[s]

From Truthdig:

Forget houses, John and Cindy McCain have 13 cars to Barack and Michelle Obama’s one. McCain would point out that most of the vehicles are in his wife’s name, but still, you can’t call the other guy an elitist when you sleep with one.

Read about the McCain fleet on Newsweek.

What He Said; Also: What? and WHY?

This might be bat shit crazy at its finest. From Slog:

Every once in a while on the great big internets, you just come upon something that reminds you Japanese culture is completely fucking nuts:

Fluffy Milk-chan” is a world of affable characters that live a cute and slightly mischievous lifestyle. The heroine is the laid back Fluffy Milk-chan, who has friends such as the fashionable Pink Milk-chan and the trendy Tanned Milk-chan.

They’re adorable stuffed breasts. You know, for kids. I especially like the comic strips. And does Miss Can Milk have a vestigial nipple?

Please notice Tanned Milk-chan's pierced nipple and Miss Can Milk's birthmark? Dysplastic mevis? Very small hat?

Re: Palin Has Some Pretty Big Balls

See the video here.

If This is What Change Looks Like, I'm Moving in with Canadian Rachel.

What. The. HELL?! This asshole is abhorrent beyond belief.

From Wonkette:

Check out this dude! He went to the Republican convention in St. Paul, as a delegate from Colorado! He is a 29-year-old attorney. He was real proud of himself, talking to the AP and giving this repulsive little interview to LinkTV. Ha ha ha ha ha, what happened to him is fantastic. It’s better than the infamous urban legend about the guy in the Batman suit raping some drunken loser at Mardi Gras — because this tale is true.

Oh this is so beautiful. So dumb, so smug. He can’t pronounce “nuclear,” of course, so he’s going to pretend to drop “nukular” horror upon Iran because, hey, why not? “Less taxes and more war.” Yes indeed! What’s he wearing, anyway? Some kind of rockabilly getup from 1983? Good lord, money sure can’t buy class.

Anyway: A wonderful lady picked him up at a bar, and she went to his hotel room, and she slipped him a mickey. When he woke up, his entire ridiculous jewel-encrusted ultra-tacky wardrobe was stolen — “$120,000 in money, jewelry and other belongings,” according to the Pioneer Press. Ha, it costs $120,000 to look like that? Who knew!

It was the night of Sarah Palin’s big dumb speech at the RNC. This guy, Gabriel Schwartz — “a single attorney and a fixture in Colorado Republican politics,” according to the Pioneer Press — was staying in Minneapolis at the fancy Hotel Ivy. He reportedly took this girl back to his $319-per-night room and she told him to get undressed while she made the drinks. This is a wonderful scene from some James M. Cain book, but rather than wearing a salesman’s suit, the mark is dressed like some castout from the Village People or the Stray Cats or god knows what.

“Victim reported suspect made victim drinks, told him to get undressed, which is the last thing he remembers,” a police narrative said. “Upon waking, victim discovered money, jewelry gone; total loss over $120K.”

A police report notes the crime occurred between 4:22 and 5:46 a.m., and Palmer said investigators believe Schwartz had been drugged, although he declined to discuss details.

Aside from the watch, ring, necklace, earrings and belt, Schwartz also reported a $1,000 purse or wallet, a $1,500 cell phone, $500 in cash and a couple of rings worth $50 had been taken.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. We salute you, wonderful girl thief of Minneapolis. You are America’s Real Hero. Everything about you is a delicious testament to the American Dream … the American Dream of duping a vulgarian lawyer.

Way to go, Sexy Hero Gal. Good on you.