Isn't it time to say it? As noted here, I supported John McCain in 2000 and even today my own views on the war (unlike some who write here on TMV) are probably closer to his than to Barack Obama's. When I vote, I take a deep breath and often surprise myself by my own vote on Election Day as I make one final calculation. But I'm finding out in emails and conversations -- and … [Read more...] about Oh, Those Silly, Frivolous Community Organizers!
Running Down His Leg
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com … [Read more...] about Running Down His Leg
Hidden Dissent Over Palin in the GOP Ranks?
One of the often annoying aspects of MSNBC's production team is their cutaways following news segments as they go to commercial. They will usually cut to some sort of external panning shot, bring up some music and stay on that for an uncomfortably long time before actually cutting away. This habit wound up reaping some unexpected rewards recently, as NBC Political News Director … [Read more...] about Hidden Dissent Over Palin in the GOP Ranks?
Civil Rights Roundup: 09/04/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news This is a little late, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution had a fascinating story about an area police officer who found out recently that she was intersex. A judge has ruled that the ADA applies to airlines. My home county is posting a decline in test scores and an increase in the racial achievement gap. Mounting … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 09/04/08
Sarah Palin’s Seized And Perhaps Lost Opportunities
The old and new media are flooded with reactions to GOP Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin's acceptance speech last night. Here are links to four of the most intriguing posts: 1. The conventional wisdom is that she hit a home run. But did she also miss an important opportunity that was there to be seized? Read Talk Left's Big Tent Democrat, one of the most … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Seized And Perhaps Lost Opportunities
The Palin Speech, Reviewed
Seriously, this is a joke, right? That's what I was asking myself during pretty much the entirety of Palin's speech. What a joke. But, let's give credit where credit is due, Libby Spencer nailed it: "Sarah Palin will give a great speech. She will lie her face off." Check and check. Though the "greatness" of the speech needs to be considered relative to the expectations, … [Read more...] about The Palin Speech, Reviewed
The Merits and Demerits of the Palin Speech
Last night, I went to another event sponsored by Log Cabin Republicans at a hotel in Minneapolis. It was among these other Republicans that I watched the Palin speech on TV. Some thoughts: Merits: Palin has received a lot of flak for her social conservative views. As a social liberal Republican, that gave me some pause. That said, Palin laid off gay marriage and … [Read more...] about The Merits and Demerits of the Palin Speech
Last Minute Media Alert
Sorry for the short notice, but we'll be rushing on the air with Mid Stream Radio at 11:00 am eastern this morning with some live floor reports from the GOP convention and analysis of the Sarah Palin speech from myself, Cindy, and our very own Shaun Mullen. We might even get Ron Beasley on the air if we're lucky. … [Read more...] about Last Minute Media Alert
Rudy’s Ironic Gift to the Democrats
Yes, Rudy Giuliani's over-the-top red meat speech angered and fired up the Democratic base, just as it riled up the GOP base. But that's Rudy and to him it's always 2004 and building off 9/11. The problem with Rudy's speech is that it lasted too long. So long, in fact, that they couldn't show the introductory biography video of Sarah Palin before she spoke. Why does this … [Read more...] about Rudy’s Ironic Gift to the Democrats
Memo To Governor Palin: Boffo Speech, But You Got The Lipstick Analogy All Wrong
It has now been confirmed that Sarah Palin can bite. But can she chew and digest? In a Republican National Convention appearance that was 95 percent theater and 5 percent substance, the Alaska governor broke her silence with an Exxon Valdez of a speech laden with empty rhetoric that was received with roaring adulation by delegates already fired up by the demagogic Rudy … [Read more...] about Memo To Governor Palin: Boffo Speech, But You Got The Lipstick Analogy All Wrong
Quote Of The Day: The GOP’s Heart Belongs To Sarah Palin
The political Quote of the Day comes from Josh Trevino who was at the GOP convention and writes about Vice Presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin's acceptance speech. He starts out by noting how disappointing the Republican convention was -- up until Palin's "electric" appearance: Know this: every cheer you heard on television was magnified a thousandfold in the great hall. … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: The GOP’s Heart Belongs To Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin Likely To Fade Behind McCain
We've known for a long time that John McCain is introverted, that is, he is an interior person... likely his first thought about most anything is, No... until he thinks things through. Then the No may rapidly turn to a Yes, or a Not now, or a Maybe later, or a Right away. Young introverts, to varying degrees depending on the development of the person, are the ones who think … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Likely To Fade Behind McCain
Sarah Palin as Reese Witherspoon – and that’s a good thing
John McCain just found his new attack dog, and I think we'll all want to get bitten. When McCain first announced Sarah Palin, I thought she was a terrible choice, imagining some grizzled old Alaskan woman who would serve as a poor Hillary substitute. A week later, I'm pretty close to convinced that Palin is a huge asset to McCain, precisely because she is his Obama, just as … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin as Reese Witherspoon – and that’s a good thing
GOP Stages “Beauty and the Beast”
A Republican star was born tonight, but Sarah Palin's success as a pit bull with lipstick, to use her own definition of a soccer mom, was greatly enhanced by following the smug, sarcastic Rudy Giuliani, who redefined the word "demagogue" with his ugly, leering attacks on Barack Obama. (If you have a strong stomach, read it here, but I won't quote from it.) America's Mayor, … [Read more...] about GOP Stages “Beauty and the Beast”
Red Meat Anyone?
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post NOTE: The wrong cartoon went up in this space earlier. We regret the error. … [Read more...] about Red Meat Anyone?
Sarah Palin: Potential Downsides of Being a Forceful Woman
Consider that tonight Governor Palin was speaking to 'her people.' Her people were indeed wowed. Her talents are obvious. However, in the larger world, it remains to be seen how Governor Palin's many talents will play, for it is still sometimes true in our culture, no matter how developed we might be... that a man who is bold in attack, is often seen as authoritative, … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin: Potential Downsides of Being a Forceful Woman
A Wonderful Anachronism
This was an odd speech by Sarah Palin. She had a few genuinely good lines: the hockey mom as pit bull with lipstick was genuinely charming. The mockery of the pillars was sharp. But the mockery got a little overboard at times. Yes, it fires up the base. But Rudy Giuliani gave them all the mockery they need. She sounded petty as the speech went on and she delved more and … [Read more...] about A Wonderful Anachronism
Formidable Talents of Sarah Palin: Like Her or Not, She’s A Natural Warrior Woman
1. She can deliver natural and biting satire in a funny way: parfum of The Simpsons, paraphrasing her speech here: 'When they haul the Styrofoam pillars off Obama's stage.... what is left that is real?' 2. She hired a writer who is an original rather than a 'speech-writery' one... one who apparently enhances how/who she is, rather than trying to make her say lofty things. … [Read more...] about Formidable Talents of Sarah Palin: Like Her or Not, She’s A Natural Warrior Woman
Sarah Palin: Can You Feel The Energy?
I can, but that's because Gov. Palin's speech only delved into substance on the topic of energy. Which makes sense -- it is the one national-caliber issue on which she has any expertise. And she definitely sounded like she knew what she was talking about -- though I'm not entirely convinced that the Republican Party wanted "drill, baby drill" to be the defining chant of its … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin: Can You Feel The Energy?
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: WHAT AN ELECTION!
Sabato's Crystal Ball's Larry J. Sabato says, WHAT AN ELECTION! Two tickets full of history, one headed by the first African-American in position to become president, the other with a woman situated to become the nation's first female vice president. Could it be that, in this increasingly diverse nation, we have seen the last of the all-white male party offerings that have … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: WHAT AN ELECTION!