We should pity the woman with mental problems who perpetrated this and the law will deal with her appropriately. As far as what you term the “overzealous exploitation of a local campaign group”…. I disagree with you. The furtherance of this is by the PA communications director (not very “local” in my book). And PA is a huge swing state that McCain hopes to win. One would expect the communications director in such a state to be mature enough to show good judgement. If this were a one-off incident with the McCain campaign, then I'd be willing to give the guy (and McCain) a second chance. However the McCain campaign has this pattern of linking Obama to terrorists, etc. McCain is running a divisive campaign. This is just one more example of the campaign's tactics. McCain should be held responsible for setting this tone, because he does allow it to happen.

By the way, has the McCain campaign apologized for jumping the gun on this? I think it's too much to ask for them to apologize for pushing “facts” that the police didn't even mention…. but at least the campaign could apologize for jumping the gun.

As for the two videos (Nevada and Colorado McCain/Palin crowds)… what a celebration of ignorance! It is my sincere hope they represent only a small portion of the republican party, otherwise the R's are in bigger trouble than I thought they were.

One of my three yard signs was vandalized last night, or more accurately, “melted” – while the other two were left alone. I'll leave it to you to figure out which was which. Fortunately I was prepared for just such an event and have my back-up out there already. Good thing I didn't see the varmints who did it, I have a history of chasing people like that down and holding them accountable.

I was just looking at electoral maps from NBC and have to say, McCain and Palin decided to campaign by telling voters how much they love “real America.” Based on the electoral maps today, it looks as though “real America” is a much smaller piece of land with a lot smaller population than they counted on.

Why?

She’s mentally ill. But she’s also a PAID staffer for McCain – not just some off-the-street volunteer.[/i]

Could someone please point me to the article or source that indicates Todd was a “paid staffer”? Everything I've read indicates she was a volunteer.

Being a tribal affiliater with a party is no sin. It's as old as the Jacksonian party system.

But being a public bigot on camera is another matter.

Ashley Todd is a pathetic and disturbed woman – though somehow you'd think she was “vetted” beforehand.

But the backstory to this sort of thing is real. Todd may be a lunatic, but accusations of black-on-white woman crime are loaded with historical grievance.

Why?

She’s mentally ill. But she’s also a PAID staffer for McCain – not just some off-the-street volunteer.[/i]

Could someone please point me to the article or source that indicates Todd was a “paid staffer”? Everything I've read indicates she was a volunteer.

Unfortunately, these sorts of things happen all the time in campaigns and the media -both old and new – keep falling into the trap. With so many real issues facing us it is sad that we waste our time on nutjobs like these people.

Because if it is, I think I'm going to be sick.

Where to begin?

This screed on how Republicans are racist because of a mentally ill woman, in a hoax that even the evil Michelle Malkin immediately denounced? And the fact she was a paid staffer does not imply towards the campaign or the other staff that there is systemic racism. Mentally ill is mentally ill.

However, it does say something about their screening process, at least at the local level.

Obama supporters, on the other hand are well informed:
http://www.thespoof.com/magazine/index.cfm?eID=…

For latest Palin bombshell:
http://www.thespoof.com/magazine/index.cfm?eID=…