To my earlier point -- namely, that Obama would win even if McCain played the card he does not want to play -- you gotta read this slice of life, courtesy of one of Ben Smith's Republican sources. Wow. … [Read more...] about Signs that Things Will be Different This Time
Have The REALLY ROUGH Games Now Begun?
Have the real dirty tricks begun? Read THIS. No matter. Even with the denial, it'll become a raging subject on some Web sites that will dismiss the denial, and on talk radio which will present it as fact. Which would be exactly the intent. Then there's common sense: Why would the Democrats give the GOP such a gift? It seems...this... UPDATE: Meanwhile, on the … [Read more...] about Have The REALLY ROUGH Games Now Begun?
Throwing Rocks Instead of Arguing Positions
I've had problems getting motivated to post lately, not entirely due to exhaustion arising from my busy personal life. There is an emotional drain on me from reading several weblogs whose authors once made rational arguments for their political views that have degenerated into throwing rocks at "the other side". Sadly, "the other side" is just as interested as they are in … [Read more...] about Throwing Rocks Instead of Arguing Positions
Will Ohio Be The Focus Of Voting Controversy Again?
Are Democrats trying to stack the deck in Ohio? Or are Republicans setting the stage to try and suppress voters big-time in an attempt to negate pro-Obama votes? Read THIS. And read THIS. You decide (and leave your comment in comments...) … [Read more...] about Will Ohio Be The Focus Of Voting Controversy Again?
A Shout-Out for “Sarah’s Base Hardener”
William F. Buckley is smiling down from heaven at John McCain, who has found a new, improved, way to continue work that Buckley started. Buckley's work: "I've spent my entire lifetime separating the right from the kooks." Buckley has had another recent ally in George W. Bush, who by the sixth year of his administration had liberated so many conservatives from the base … [Read more...] about A Shout-Out for “Sarah’s Base Hardener”
Dan Balz and Double Standards: Another Example of the Media’s Abominable Coverage of the 2008 Election
I missed this on Monday -- so stuffed was I from Canadian Thanksgiving -- but Beltway staple Dan Balz wrote a post for WaPo's The Trail in which he argued that "the real focus now ought to be on Barack Obama. Why? Well, because, "at this point, Obama has a better chance of becoming president than McCain." Praising McCain for offering "substantive" criticisms of Obama in a … [Read more...] about Dan Balz and Double Standards: Another Example of the Media’s Abominable Coverage of the 2008 Election
Colin Powell Getting Ready To Endorse Obama?
From Lawrence O'Donnell, who has shown signs that he has good info about former Secretary of State Colin Powell in the past, a prediction: Colin Powell is on the verge of making an endorsement: When Colin Powell turns off his TV after the final presidential debate, he will have learned everything he is going to learn about the candidates vying to succeed his former boss, … [Read more...] about Colin Powell Getting Ready To Endorse Obama?
Obama Dominating Among Early Voters
Nate Silver points to a recent survey suggesting Obama is well ahead in the early and absentee votes cast so far in five states polled: New Mexico (+23%), Ohio (+18%), Georgia (+6%), Iowa (+34%), and North Carolina (+34%). For a little historical perspective: "Early voters leaned Republican in both 2000 and 2004; with Bush earning 62.2 percent of their votes against Al Gore, … [Read more...] about Obama Dominating Among Early Voters
Bailout Of Banks
Patrick Chappatte, Le Temps, Switzerland It's a huge international story. For more info on the U.S. aspect of it, GO HERE. … [Read more...] about Bailout Of Banks
Davis Prosecutor Speaks; Blasts Death Penalty Critics
In a seven-page "manifesto" released yesterday after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up Davis' case, Chatham County District Attorney Spencer Lawton Jr. complained: “The PR campaign has of course become the favored artifice for corrupting the independence and credibility of the truth-seeking and independent judicial branch of our government,” he wrote. “These … [Read more...] about Davis Prosecutor Speaks; Blasts Death Penalty Critics
McCain: Hedging Bets on His Legacy
Sen. McCain has taken his lumps lately, for allowing his campaign to sink into a vile pattern of half-baked smears. In that context, I read with particular interest this Politico article, which suggests that "the Rev. Wright factor" is a line McCain won't cross. (Not surprisingly, the same article suggests McCain's running mate is not only ready to cross that line but to … [Read more...] about McCain: Hedging Bets on His Legacy
Do Obama And/Or McCain Pose Dangers To Bloggers’ Free Speech?
There's an email discussion between some respected top bloggers about whether a victory by Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama will pose a danger to bloggers' free speech. Or will a McCain victory pose a danger on another front? Read THIS MUST READ which now brings the debate on the Internet itself. Be sure to read comments on this post and leave your … [Read more...] about Do Obama And/Or McCain Pose Dangers To Bloggers’ Free Speech?
Christopher Buckley Explains Obama Endorsement and Axing From National Review
An intriguing story yesterday was how Christopher Buckley, son of National Review founder William F. Buckley, was suddenly gone from the magazine his father founded after a firestorm over his endorsing Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for President -- just as some other leading traditional conservatives have nixed the John McCain campaign. Here's his account on Chris Matthews' … [Read more...] about Christopher Buckley Explains Obama Endorsement and Axing From National Review
Crunchy Con on that City on a Hill
Dallas Morning News columnist and religious (but not evangelical) conservative Rod Dreher, author of Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, ... America (or at least the Republican Party) was the guest last week on Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippet. Dreher … [Read more...] about Crunchy Con on that City on a Hill
Obama, Jackson, Israel and Bad Habits
At a recent appearance in France, Jesse Jackson apparently lit off some fireworks by claiming that American relations with Israel would get a bit more chilly under an Obama presidency. Barack Obama's campaign stepped in quickly Tuesday to distance itself from a claim by the Rev. Jesse Jackson that "Zionists" would lose clout under an Obama administration. The move was … [Read more...] about Obama, Jackson, Israel and Bad Habits
This One’s For You, Joe & Jane
My father and mother were the blackest white people whom I have ever known. What I mean by that is that not only were some of their best friends Negroes, to use the painfully archaic cliche of their day, they talked the talk and they walked the walk as civil-rights activists. But despite being optimistic about most things they were unable to imagine the day that a black person … [Read more...] about This One’s For You, Joe & Jane
Hope for a Global ‘New Deal’ and a Leader of ‘Vision’: El Pais of Uruguay
The writer of this article from Uruguay mentions the need for a 'visionary leader' that will institute a modern - global 'New Deal.' Many will surmise that the author, Sebastián Da Silva, is talking about Barack Obama. But perhaps that's too Democratic and U.S.-centric a view. In outlining the problem, Da Silva says among other things: "So far, no one knows the depths of … [Read more...] about Hope for a Global ‘New Deal’ and a Leader of ‘Vision’: El Pais of Uruguay
What If John Kerry Came to Town…
...and nobody (or almost nobody) showed up? The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry, was in Madison, Wisconsin, where Ann Althouse notes, he came to campaign for Barack Obama. Kerry drew all of 250 people. This, Althouse points out, stands in stark contrast to the 80,000 who came out to see him when he made his own bid for the presidency in 2004. What … [Read more...] about What If John Kerry Came to Town…
Robot Leaders (Cartoon)
This is in reaction to and in anticipation of the presidential debates. I thank the candidates for being wonderful muses. (Click the cartoon for a full size image.) For more cartoons, visit Small World Cartoons. … [Read more...] about Robot Leaders (Cartoon)
The Bradley Effect, in Dutch
As our presidential elections near their finale, and as the vitriol directed at our black presidential candidate, Barack Obama, intensifies, we begin reading more and more about the so-called "Bradley Effect." Most recently---on October 6, 2008---TMV contributor, ELROD, referred to it in "McCain's Death Throes." He said, referring to the McCain campaign "descending … [Read more...] about The Bradley Effect, in Dutch