Taking stock: What have we learned this year? Nothing new, really. What goes up, must come down, the higher they go, the harder they fall, and that the arc of history bent towards Obama in 2008. Who'da thunk it? I can say with pride that I was a supporter of his since the moment he entered the race in February, 2007. We can thank Kerry for making Barack keynote speaker in 2004. Often my father, who is of a persuasion across the aisle, as it were, talked about Reagan's 1964 keynote address -- and, depending on how things go, I fancy myself saying the same thing to my kids about Barack in 2004. That speech and introduction to the world was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise dismal year (politically), and now comes forth the fruit in 2008.

2008 was also about discovery for us as a family: Would we go forth with our plan to move to the midwest so that we could buy a house? Or would we flip the script based on new realities. As it turns out, our landing point would have been Chicago, and though we do have a handful of friends there, it would be like starting over, and starting over while freezing our asses off for six months out of the year. We're getting to be too old to start all over again if we don't have to. Although it is also true that Northern California has a kind of fountain of youth: youthful attitudes can prevail for people like me, at age 38. I still feel like I'm in my 20s sometimes.

So...when K started crunching the numbers --indeed, this year was finally the year where we paid off all of our old debts, and we are indebted to her mom for advocating a living situation for us back in 2004-5 that allowed us to do that--she realized that housing prices in some areas here began dropping into our price range. We took preliminary steps and as the weeks and months passed, we realized we could begin saving and maybe make a run at a house in Oakland. Now, with some additional help from K's father and some belt tightening on our end, we are about to put in a bid for a house. We submit the papers on Friday. So it looks like we'll be here to stay. The job front looks stable enough for us to ride through the time it will take to close on a house if we start now.

It's funny, back in 2002 when we felt so broke, drowning in credit card debt, the rest of the country, it seemed, was beginning to feed at the housing trough. The tech industry here was at the edge of collapse and you'd hear stories of PhDs in computer science begging for work, but the mortgage bubble was in its infancy, and it would follow the same path as the dot com boom and bust. People had the same false hopes at quick cash: "Flip this house with no money down!" And suddenly my wife and I look like geniuses for holding off on buying a house--for being too broke to do it earlier, when it seemed like a no-brainer investment.

We're cautious people. This is not to say conservative in the sense we know it today in the political realm, but in the choices we've made for our family. We have a lot to be grateful for and I, for one, think 2008 was a good year. At least, I think it will be a turning point for a lot more people down the road. Hopefully more people will be able to take stock of things like we did back in 2004, asking themselves what can they do without. There is a lot of hurt out there, and I hope that hope wins out over fear. Because there is a lot to fear right now. But...it's not 1962 and the Cuban missile crisis, or 1931 and the great depression, or 1861 and the civil war...our country has been through worse.

About 2009: we are ready to move into our own place and have the freedom to make the decisions we want to make about what goes into it. The past three years have been fortunate ones and we are grateful for the help of others, particularly in our family, but there have been some drawbacks too--certain episodes of drama and perfectly avoidable chaotic moments out of our control--indeed, all things come at a cost. And so: Happy 2009 to all. Will it be the last year that people can sell those "00" glasses that began in 2000, or will they be able to come up with a non-lopsided design for 2010 where the "1" is over the nose and the two zeroes are the eyes? We shall see about this time next year.

This may be counterintuitive, but I am actually ok with Obama picking Warren for the invocation at the inauguration. I mean, for one, he's not picking him for a sermon. It will be like, "let us pray" and maybe a couple of paragraphs praying for the families, yadda yadda. He's not gonna say "I hate fags" or anything like that.

Obama can use this opportunity to neuter some of the wingnuts while hammering another nail in the Wright controversy's coffin, but I think it serves a larger purpose: increasing public scrutiny on Warren which will expose contradictory statements, beliefs, half-truths, and sloppy thought. I think as long as Obama remains magnanimous and somewhat aloof, there won't be too much guilt by association. Hopefully time will fade that. But getting to know the real Warren will hopefully have a lasting positive effect (well, negative for him specifically, but positive for the rest of us). We're seeing some of that already.

Can someone please tell me, really, what the difference is between what Madoff did and the global economy as currently configured?

Here is a spot-on article from Michael Lewis, author of "Liar's Poker" and "Moneyball," which explains the root cause of the current financial mess.

The Obama victory is the final nail in the coffin of the age of corpulence. Fat people with fat cars and fat McMansions due to fat paychecks based on a fake economy....the age of corpulence. From here on out we're due for a reality check. Starting with the financial system, we'll modernize the regulatory framework so that things like credit default swaps don't slip by under the radar and the American taxpayer has to foot the bill when the whole thing comes crashing down, a.k.a. "de-leveraging." Call it the "fat flush plan" if you will.

Vindication, victory! First drink in two months, by the way.

Am I wrong in thinking the 30 minute ad buy in prime time for Obama's campaign has a hidden danger in turning off folks who might be on the fence? Something in my gut tells me this is a bad idea. Or maybe I'm drinking too much tea or something? I secretly hope the World Series doesn't go to game 6. I just hope that whatever the content is doesn't give fodder for those who might think this is an arrogant, "measuring the drapes" kind of thing. I wonder whether it's necessary.

Evacuate? In our moment of triumph?

I'm reminded of that line in Star Wars this morning, turned on its end, I guess. Before I started my daily round of blog reading, I was thinking to myself: "Eight days until this Historic election, and it's looking good for Obama and thus, for America!"

And then I start reading about the coming right wing populist fascism that will threaten our very fabric. This is gloom and doom stuff. Something in the water, perhaps? I read it here, here and here. The election hasn't happened yet, folks. Let's get to that bridge first.

As if we didn't already know that the McCain campaign's final solution, if you will, to try and eke out a win was through race baiting, now there's this hoax which seals the deal. Now, I'm not saying they planted the hoax, but they were all too quick to hop on board.

And I think it's one of the reasons why moderate, and thinking Repubs are doing the previously unthinkable and endorsing Obama. There's a lot of fear to go around these days, but I do think a fear of being pegged on the wrong side of history is a real one. Say what you want about McCain the man. At best he's unable to control the machinations of his own campaign, and that would say a lot about his aptitude or ability to lead the Executive branch. At worst? Well, I suspect it looks, walks and quacks like a duck.

So, Hank Jr.'s against Obama. Shocker. These guys are still bitter over the "bitter" flap. What's worse, saying (and I'm paraphrasing now) "I can see why some might get bitter and cling to slogans like 'god, guts and guns' without thinking shit through about the plutocrats in disguise they've been voting for all these years?" Or saying (still paraphrasing) "People who live in small towns are the only real Americans. If you live in a big city you're anti-american." I am reminded why I hated the rednecks in my home town as a kid. I hope it goes without saying that not everyone in my town was a redneck, and I have long lasting friendships from there as well as places I've lived since. But in this climate, it seems everyone's in lockstep with their given stereotype. Yet I am at least encouraged by this news.

My gut tells me that this business about people who live in "real" America versus...what, "fake" America?!...is the nail in the coffin to GOP candidates in the minds of independents and wavering democrats everywhere. The mask is certainly off this week, isn't it? It reminds me of that commercial, guess it's Verizon, about the mom who recollects missing the call for her child's birthday party about how they were sending the "T-REX" instead. The "real" GOP, if you will.

I am ready for the election to happen. The campaign, as usual, has been a big obsession and I guess I should admit I'm a bit of a political junkie. There are other things going on.

Firstly, Olivia is 1, and we have a new baby on the way, the due date we suspect will be in late May.

Second, housing prices have fallen so low in Oakland and elsewhere in the East Bay that buying a house for us might actually be an option. We've paid off our old debts. Funny how being unable to afford to buy a house all these years makes us look like geniuses for holding off until now, when the market has taken such a crap that we might be able to buy one. Up until about six months ago, we were planning a possible move to the midwest to buy there. Then we started looking at the numbers and took stock of our lives. Though I'm from the midwest, did I really want to start all over again? And do I really, REALLY want to freeze my ass off for six months out of the year if I don't have to? There were other considerations, too, but I won't get into all of that.

There is a threat to this plan, though. Call it a reality check, a.k.a storm clouds on the work front. The economy might eventually affect my employment if things keep up. I can survive through this deep into next year, then we will have our own house, California home owners. I would have never thought this to be possible. So, I will try to keep my head up and keep my eyes on the prize, come what may.

And Joe's a tax cheat? Oh look, the links to http://apps.co.lucas.oh.us/onlinedockets/Docket.aspx?STYPE=1&PAR=LN200701803-000&STARTDATE=01/01/1900&ENDDATE=01/01/2100&PARTY=D,1 indicate that whatever was there was taken down.

Yup, just as I suspected. Joe's a fraud. Why do I get the feeling there's a money trail that leads to McPalin or RNC?

Joe the plumber is a republican, you can be sure of that. And I guarantee you he is not an undecided voter. I mean..."social security is a joke?" He knew who he was going to vote for all along and you can be sure he won't change his mind.

Fox "News" = Pussies.

Don't like what you hear>? Pull the plug.

And just in case you don't believe me (prev post), have a look at the beginning of this video. Not a shred of decency among these "dead men walking."

And then have a look at this behind the scenes footage of Obama, Biden, supporters and family. I have never wavered in my support for Obama since February of 2007. I had my doubts he could pull it off in the primaries early on, but never wavered from my support. This is a good man. We need him as President, now more than ever.

I can't help but think that footage of some of the McCain/Palin supporters, and the GOP candidates' willingness to look the other way is going to scare a lot of decent folks away. I can only hope that moderate repubs will think twice before casting a vote for this crowd.

So the wingnuts of America are mad, stark raving mad. Tell me something else I don't already know. They're mad because they think they're gonna lose. And they're probably right. So I fully expect the remaining days of McCain's campaign to slouch ever closer to pandering to the racists out there in this country. You know the ones, the right wing rednecks who think the Obamas are "uppity." They're just pissed that the global financial panic happened on Bush's watch. I'm starting to smell a landslide, knock on wood.

I think it's time to resurrect an old word to describe the current global economic situation: panic. We are in a global financial panic. The word was changed to depression in the last century, but now it's time to bring it back!

I think folks need clarification about McCain's supposed mastery of the town hall format: He's a master of the town hall format when his audience is partisans who favor him. He did not look good last night. Obama, hands down. Obama was calm, methodical, perhaps a little boring, but that's a good thing.

McCain must be seeing Obama in the mirror. I think it's hilarious that McCain would attribute an Obama response as an "angry barrage of insults." I mean, huh? I swear, McCain is TRYING to lose this thing, he's clearly gone off his rocker.

Ok, he voted for it. But there is this.

Ok, now that a Senate vote is imminent, watch McCain. I'll bet he does another unpredictable move and votes against the bill, and I'll bet he blames it on pork. The stage is being set as we speak.

Luckily for Obama, the roll call goes in alphabetical order, so McCain's up first. Unless, of course, he waits for a repeat call. If he's not recorded in the first vote and Obama goes first...WATCH OUT!

Okay. I'm about 1/4th of the way through the Alaska Governor's Debate of 2006.

One word of advice to Biden tomorrow: Don't say anything that will give Joe Sixpack an inferiority complex. Instructive to this is Palin's response to a question about where she would live in the state if it wasn't her home town? 18:02-18:56. Check it out.

This is the classic neoconservative construct: Liberal elites don't respect our way of life. "Laugh if you will..." etc.

Beyond that, we know about her support for "life" under all circumstances (except when the mother might die from childbirth). Even when the mother is raped...although she does seem to pay lip service to "this is my choice, but." This is at 13:10 - 14:20.

In addition, early on she kept repeating her aversion to hypotheticals. One of the panelists then smacks her down a bit at 34:18. What follows is interesting.

New pussies = House GOP.

John McCain = pussy.

For a little background about what I mean when I say McCain's gonna try and wait to see how Obama votes and then vote against it (or abstain?)...and then run on it for the next month...

...head on over to TDS and this post. I vaguely remember having to memorize some of these "game theory" graphs for a college International Relations class, taught by a professor who was ranked by students as "simply...the worst," I digress, have a look here.

I'll bet 'ya 700 billion dollars that McCain votes against the bailout if Obama votes for it and continues to try and lie about being a populist. Mark my words. McCain will vote against it.

On another note tomorrow morning my favorite girls and I will be participating in the Out of the Darkness community walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention here in San Francisco. As many of you recall, we participated in the 20 mile overnight walk two summers ago and raised over $8000 as a team. This time, it is a shorter walk and my donation goal is $200. I'm a little late in getting this out. For those interested in donating, here is my site. I'm currently at $115!

Yes, indeed. Sarah Palin is a joke.

And there's this wackadoo shit.

Thankfully, the Palin honeymoon seems to be passing. We can thank McCain for that.

Looking forward to the debates tonight. Let's hope Obama can get McCain's temper up like Gore did to Perot many moons ago.

Sarah Palin is a fucking joke.

I like what this gal has to say about her. Thanks to TDS for the link.

Same old Bush/Cheney administration tactic: There's a crisis because of your shit administration, then use the urgency of that crisis to try and ram your right wing agenda down everybody's throats. Much has already been said about the 32 word clause buried in the bailout:

"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

Today Paulson says we should save the debate for later. But how can you pass the legislation when it includes the above without at least some debate?

We've seen this all before. While Bush himself these days increasingly looks like someone just sitting around and running out the clock, the neocon agenda is alive and well.

UPDATE: Indeed, Cheney's paw prints appear to be all over this thing. Same old shit, different year, except that many GOP lawmakers now are running away from it.

Ah yes, there was a reason I went to college and spent those hours in symposiums senior year discussing political philosophy and considering other systems besides the free market capitalism model, although it seemed somewhat pointless in the real world at the time. We knew the Republican and Democratic viewpoints were both slight variants on the free market system, but times were ok relative to the Great Depression so those differences didn't matter much. But now it is all coming into focus again.

The key difference is this, and I'll use an analogy: Republicans think that government should help private companies build the train track and trust that they will do the right thing and spend some of their earnings maintaining that train track and that government should stay out of their way or quit meddling with the wisdom of the private enterprises' right to spend their profits as they see fit.

Democrats wisely believe that someone has to make sure that the track is being maintained. Republicans will only act to fix the track after a train derails and people are killed. Democrats, if allowed to do so, use taxes and earmark those funds to make sure someone is maintaining the track, so the derailment never happens on account of neglect.

How many times do we have to relearn the same lesson? The Grover Norquists, George W. Bushes and John McCains of the world are for deregulation at all costs...until they are against them (well, except for Norquist, who doesn't have to decide anything other than advocate for elimination of government at all costs). Private companies under a Republican administration know they can cross the line because if the shit hits the fan, "big government" (normally their bugaboo) can always bail them out.

Back in the symposium days, one of the books we read was Strong Democracy by Benjamin R. Barber...which advocated, among other things, town hall meetings like the ones we see today. This is the same Benjamin Barber that in later years wrote the rather stiff "Jihad vs. McWorld," but he still has a lot of interesting things to say. This article of his puts things into greater focus.

The man has absolutely no shame. I hope to God the American people are paying attention to this, because if McCain gets elected, we have another liar in the White House.

Nice mansion. And that's...check...on the styrofoam columns.

And then there's this. This is proof, I think, that Georgia's in play. Why else would someone want to stir up the KKK?

It's on. Bring on the debates. I have a feeling McCain will bring out his talking points about the discredited supply side philosophy tonight. It will be interesting to see what kind of lies he comes up with about how he's different from Bush.

I have to say I am pleased with the way Palin presented herself last night. All she had to do was present herself as a likable candidate with a positive vision for how to take the country forward, and she didn't do that. She presented herself as petty, snarky, and unlikable to anyone not already predisposed to like her (read=wingnuts). So, I think we're gonna be okay. Gloves can come off now!

Thank god for Jon Stewart!

And here are some facts (from AP, of all places).

Palin = Snark over substance. Full of lies. I don't see that speech winning over wavering democrats or independents. It played right to the base. It was full of, as Chuck Schumer said recently, "rabbit punches." Good luck tonight, MacSame. She's a tough act to follow. Fallows has it just about right.

A word of caution about the feeding frenzy going over Palin: The GOP are counting on this to take on a life of its own and make her into a sympathetic figure for those prone to believe that this country is under the influence of a "liberal" media. I don't think it's going to work this time, because things are looking bad for the GOP. However, I will be interested to see what she says in her speech tonight in contrast to this little speech to evangelicals in Alaska a while back. Remember how many people were turned off by Buchanan in 1996? Let's just say ol' Pat's in her corner. Point is, we all need to be careful, and start talking about this potential smoke screen. Because she's going to frame herself as the girl next door tonight. Think Ollie North. Or...

...this may seem counterintuitive, but I can't help but think back to the Anita Hill controversy, and wonder if Thomas would have sailed into the Supreme Court in 1991 if not for the sexual harassment allegations. At the time 98% of the Senate was male, and...I'll need to check the record on this...but I wonder if Thomas would have had the votes if his record and views alone were all that were considered. The controversy polarized a lot of people at the time, and though the shift took place later (remember 1992 as "year of the woman?"), I think for some in the Senate, the claim Clarence Thomas made, that of a high tech lynching, might have resonated with some in the Senate who might otherwise have voted against him because it made him a "sympathetic figure." Food for thought anyway. Camille Paglia said as much many summers ago.

Here's all I'll say about Palin: Getting personal with family matters should be off the record, unless what you do for yourself isn't what you prescribe unto others. Remember when the Clintons were practically hanged for sending Chelsea to a private school? And I hear wingnuts yak about Al Gore's energy bills for his estate all the time. Come clean about your abstinence-only philosophy and now you're talking.

She's got bigger issues than her daughter's pregnancy, but more to the point...McCain's got two big problems:

1. Judgment to lead - This was clearly a last minute hail mary a-la Brett Favre 2005-2006.

2. Readiness - How is McCain's argument about Obama's readiness to be commander in chief holding up? How about all of the wingnuts who parroted the same line? They can all stew in their moose shit now.

I wonder if Gustav's the only reason these guys are scaling back their convention. For one, it doesn't seem like everyone got the memo. And another, I wonder if turnout and enthusiasm would be any different Gustav didn't happen. I guess we shall see.

All I will say is this tonight: Anyone who can synthesize as much in one speech as Obama did tonight and keep the story compelling is more than ready to be the first real President of the 21st Century. Thank you, and goodnight.

And this sums up my previous rant much better than I can convey it.

"And I suppose if you look at the events through a soda straw, it does look unusual. But if you include the slightest bit of context, the story changes into something normal and routine." Great stuff!

I am disgusted by the state of American journalism. Most of the mainstream journalists writing about the election and the current Democratic convention are so concerned about keeping some kind of controversy alive, that they pull shit out of their ass. One headline reads: "Bill Clinton and Barack: Too Alike to Like Each Other?" And then there are the CBS "experts" trying to read Hillary's "body language" to interpret how she "really feels" about Barack Obama in her speech last night. And still others talk about how the speech was "great, but listen to what she didn't say," and then pull out a rabbit like, oh, "Barack is ready to be President." "But why? Why didn't she say THAT?" Un-be-fucking-lievable. It's as if GOP operatives secretly funded groups to funnel money to lackeys in J school to get their degree, look handsome, and then parrot their talking points. Like the one about the Greek Temple. I mean, give me a fuckin' break! Clinton's speech was fine. Maybe she and Barack aren't going to bake cookies together, but Jesus. I'm sure it will be all love, peace and harmony in St. Paul. At least, according to the toadies that give McCain free pass after free pass.

Now, who knows what Bill's gonna say tonight. But I am at least heartened by this exchange. Git' em, Joe!

Contrary to what the James Carvilles of the world think, Obama and company are smart for letting the GOP go negative in their convention, if that's what they're going to do. What's McCain's vision, other than the same old supply side, shoot first, ask questions later crap, and trying to paint Obama as a celebrity, you know, like Paris Hilton? I look forward to the debates, especially the VP debates. I think it will be over by then. Mark my words. All the rest is noise.

After watching this rally in Sturgis, SD, I can now say with confidence that we know John McCain's base:

Bikers, strippers and walkers.

(Special thanks to my coworker Mark for that last bit)

And by the way...my gut tells me that I really like this idea.

To elaborate on all the to-do about whining and the FDR rejoinder (if indeed rejoinder is appropriate):

Ol' Phil has a point...to a point. And I remember when he ran for President in '96. I thought "This man doesn't have a chance in fucking hell." First of all, you don't want to come out of the gates and say "Stop whining" like Schwarzenegger in whatever movie that was. It's not constructive. Not now--or ever, probably. Fan the flames, like when MacArthur went in and burned down the Hoovervilles, and you will not be remembered in the final judgment as a positive contributor to the greater good. History has not treated Douglas MacArthur kindly, for that and a few other reasons. Years later Truman punked him, unpopular at the time, but correct. This is how he wrote about it in his diary:

April 7, 1951: "We met again this morning--Gen. Marshall, Dean Atcheson, Mr. Harriman and Gen. Bradley. It is the unanimous opinion of all that MacArthur be relieved. All four so advise."

Eloquence and (or) a bit of humility is hard to come by, much less economy of language, when it comes to matters of public record. FDR had both in spades. So did Truman. We need that now, more than ever. Words matter, as Barack reminds us. And I would add, how they're said. I say: Speeches, followed by action = Solutions. Speeches first, then lay out the agenda in a way that makes sense, with a positive attitude that does not annoy you with empty cheerleading. And finally, do your job. Follow through. Show appreciation in a genuine way towards those who do the grunt work to help get the job done. Not: "You people are all a bunch of fucking pussies." And then: "Lets go fuck this shit up!" And isn't that what Phil Gramm really means? What he SAYS may be true in many respects. Yes, we are a bunch of fucking pussies when you look back a ways and and dust off the History books. But humanity survives when it learns to pull a few punches. If restoring responsibility is what you want, calling (or naming) names is not the way to do it. And knowing what you know about Gramm, about how he's lived his life, one must ask: Who do you trust? And further to the point: At the Olympics this summer, what will people be chanting? "U.B.S.?"

John McCain, presumptive nominee from the party of family values.

In 1933, FDR said that the only thing we had to fear is fear itself.

Today's GOP has a very different tone:

"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession," [Former Texas Senator and adviser to John McCain's campaign] said. "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet."

"We have sort of become a nation of whiners," he said. "You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline."

I must ask GOP supporters: How does it feel to be once again on the wrong side of History?

Anyone need an affordable burp cloth that doesn't like shit and cost too fucking much?

Check it. www.spitrz.com.

Ha ha, this is funny! Dobson calling out Obama for pointing out some of the crap fundamentalists cite in the Old Testament (Leviticus) all the time. Dobson says, basically, that it's the Old Testament, that people should be paying more attention, as Christians to the New Testament. Fair enough. Then call out all the nuts who cite the Old Testament verses as the Law.

Although I'm a little concerned about the public opinion shift among some towards a more receptive attitude for offshore drilling (that's a convoluted way of saying people dumb enough to have bought a Hummer or a Ford Excursion are really getting desperate now), I'm not THAT concerned. This is an obvious ploy by a lame duck administration to get a few more chits for their cronies in the oil industry, nothing more. They're once again trying to fuel (ahem) the debate, but I believe it will backfire (heh). How? By getting McCain in line with the pro-drilling forces. Now the cards are on the table, another example of "McSame."

And then all it takes is to convince people how stupid the idea is, and how it won't work. All that will take is a little common sense: by the time any offshore drilling would have any effect, and it's doubtful that it would, it would be too late to matter. And, in the time (estimated 2030ish) it would take to do that, we could have instead implemented an alternative vehicle strategy that encourages EV vehicles among others, and they'd certainly be in production by then. Right?

Well, we had an EV a while back. But they killed it.

Ok, a couple of volunteers at Obama's campaign told two muslim women not to sit behind Obama in fear that the wingnuts would seize on this image and try to further paint Barack as a Muslim in disguise. Here's a link.

Maybe it's unfortunate, but maybe it's also an opportunity to remind everyone about what matters and what doesn't. Now, the next time there's an event and a couple of women wearing headscarves sitting behind our candidate at an event somewhere, some nut somewhere will say "See, he supports terrorists, they're sitting right there," someone else can remind him that it was also he who made a big deal earlier about the campaign staffer who "discriminated" against muslim women. Or, I suppose the same nut can take it a step further and say..."well, they was scared that the truth would come out about their terrorist leanings before, which is why they didn't let them women up there but now, see, they done slipped up." At which point the rest of us can go: Man, that guy is a NUT.

The fat lady is not singing yet, but barring something unforeseen, I believe I hear her warming up. Really, I do.

The first leading indicator of the coming downfall of Fox News? O'Reilly is not "on top" in the ratings anymore for the key ratings indicator for that time slot. Olbermann is. Sign of a trend? Methinks.

The truth of the matter is, wingnuts will always turn to Fox so long as it's being run by a wingnut. What's more important is where the regular folks go.

Contrary to some, I think Fox News is getting desperate with their rhetoric. They know their time is about up. There's this, too. And this. Thanks to TPM for the former, Huffpost for the latter. Yep, I enjoy my liberal biased news.

Our long national nightmare is over apparently. And, boy, McCain looks bad. I also foresee the wingnuts defecting to Bob Barr. Gosh, this is going to be fun. Strap in.

Having had time to reflect, I don't think Hil's comments were meant to be nefarious, but it was an unfortunate thing to bring up. Not to mention, as the Rude Pundit has pointed out, the fact that primaries used to start later than they do now so there's really no comparing this year to 1968.

That said, Hillary's camp were quick to pounce on Barack's "Small town" comments and were all too welcoming in the reaction of the press there, how those blew up, so karma's a bitch, huh? We'll see how this plays out, but I have a feeling this ends it for her. I don't think she'll be Veep, either.

Wow.

A new low.

Warren Buffett endorses Obama. I like the dig into Bush at the bottom.

"They say in the stock market ... buy stock in a business that's so good that an idiot can run it because sooner or later one will...Well, the United States is a little like that. We can take a little mis-management from time to time."

Haw haw, vewwy funny.

No, what this says to me is: GOP=RIP.

Interesting take on Obama's "Applachia problem." Some of the end of this piece is a bit of a stretch, I don't think one can equate the current climate as an analogy to John Adams and John Q. Adams v. Andrew Jackson, but, you get the idea. A sensitive lot, like the Scots, methinks.

My take? I'd say Jim Webb would be high on the veepstakes list, assuming he'd accept.

To my fellow Obama supporters, let me just say this: It's not surprising that the old country club would try and throw the kitchen sink at us. Remember, both McCain, Clinton, and also most of the establishment media have a lot to lose were Obama to be elected. The absence (largely) of PAC and Corporate, Lobbyist money means the end of things as the country club folks know it. And they are fighting to dupe people into believing that Obama is the kind of elitist that, in reality, they are. This election is our last, best hope to change that. Otherwise, it won't happen in my lifetime, and this century will be a repeat of the last. America will slowly fade as a power and countries like China, India, and others in the Asian region will be the ones dictating the terms. If we stay our current course, the vacuum we have created for ourselves will continue to suck things that way.

Let's see if humorless George asks McCain the "tough questions" this Sunday. My money says no.

Way to go Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Couldn't have said it better myself.

I am encouraged that the good people of PA don't appear to be fooled by the same old spin. One thing is true: Nobody can complain about the free pass Obama's getting by the press anymore. And I suspect, when the chips are down, that McCain's past will revoke his pass, too. Remember, this is a guy who said "I hate the gooks." It's only a matter of time before he says another whopper like that. McCain's a loose cannon. I look forward to the General. One more thing: All of this talk about the U.S. being a center/right leaning country isn't looking at the trend lines, or the amount of new voters who have registered as a result. Oh, and the realignment election of 2006, and the fact that things seem to be continuing on that trend, away from the wingnut Bush administration. McCain is guilty by association, and his true nature will be unearthed in the general. The more people get to know Obama, the better they like him. I suspect the opposite to be true for McCain.

I have a sick feeling in my stomach about the to-do over Obama's comments about people from small towns being "bitter" about the last 25 years. I'm from a small town, but I know what he meant. He meant that politicians come through small towns blow smoke up their ass and then turn around and promote policies that encourage people to leave them. The ones who stay behind become embittered about such politicians. Our manufacturing base, for example, is being shipped to China and other places and promotes a dependence (not interdependence, by the way) on a repressive country that will come to haunt us one day (if it isn't haunting us already).

But all the so called "liberal" media and the other candidates will point out is how "elitist" the comments were and I fear this will resonate, because it taps into the psyche of rural America, and not in a good way. When people see themselves as being pigeonholed, they will get touchy, and many won't look at this rationally. I just hope he can weather it.

All he should have said is that people are ticked off. And the whole thing about religion and guns was sloppy. The wingnuts (and, by extension in this case, Billary) are going to have a field day. Now this thing's going to stink its way through the convention. Yuck. I hate politics.

Oh. Dear.

Well, it looks like it's put up or shut up time for the political talking heads touting the success of the troop escalation last year in Iraq. It's increasingly clear on word of today's news in Basra that Al-Sadr's gonna end the cease fire.

I should add to my previous post that the speech, largely written by Obama himself, offers a big clue as to how he would approach the Presidency in general and diplomacy in particular. It's clear to me that he will be a fine diplomat, and that bodes well for the country at a crucial time in its History.

I'm not superstitious, so I don't think I'll jinx it when I say that Obama's speech in Philly on race earlier in the week elects him. The wingnuts will try and take excerpts out of context, but the fact remains that this speech, when taken in its entirety, is one of the best on the subject from a major candidate that I've ever seen.

The false narratives are hurting Obama now, but there's a lull in the campaign. Once things start happening I think he'll be all right. As they say, there's a lot of ball left. Somebody needs to exploit the wingnuts now for being hypocritical. They can't both paint Obama as a muslim and the wrong kind of christian. I suspect he's gonna take a hit in Pennsylvania, that's inevitable. When it comes down to it, once people start paying attention to the candidates themselves again instead of third party pundits and blabbermouths, Obama will come back out ahead. 2008 is going to be a benchmark year: will we continue to allow ourselves to be governed by our fears or our aspirations about where we need to be?

"And tonight we're gonna party like it's 1988." Oh, Geraldine. Tsk tsk. Not only is this offensive, but it's just wrong. It was wrong then, and wrong now. And I look forward to the backlash.

How many more ways can I say "Wisdom Trumps Experience in 2008-Vote Obama?" This article sums it up pretty nicely.

The campaign is starting to depress me. It's turning into the same old shit. I am just disgusted with the Clintons and their Tammany Hall style shenanigans. I fear that this is just going to end up as more of the same. The subject of Florida and Michigan should not be on the table. They broke the rules. Period. And the only reason the Clintons want to reinstate the delegates is because Hillary won in both cases. But the thing that's most disingenuous is she won't even acknowledge that Obama wasn't on the ballot in Michigan. That's just sleazy.

This assessment makes a lot of sense. I'd add that in some ways the kind of racism in places like where I grew up can be more toxic than you might see in some places in the south now. The African American population where I'm from was under 1%, so there certainly wasn't a lot of day to day interaction, but there were certainly a lot of epithets, many of which I blindly repeated when I was little, before I knew any better. Not sure how much has changed, but I doubt much.

Speaking of wishing I knew better, my prediction of Obama taking 10 points in TX was, oh, just a little off. Goes to show why I'm not in the politics business. Talk is cheap. I just hope things don't get too nasty now. So far it's been a relatively civil primary campaign compared to years past.

Well, this is interesting. Maybe I should've competed in the mathletics or something. I am still wary of the Clinton strategy and think they're gonna slime up the convention. I'm not ready to call it for Obama just yet, but I do believe I hear the fat lady warming up.

Rush Limbaugh is still a big fat idiot. "I don't know who Curious George is," yeah right.

I might add: if Hillary had to filibuster 15+ minutes on the Health Care question, I'd say that Obama held his own. If she was so confident in her experience in that realm, why did she keep rattling on about it? What message does it send? Well, I'll tell 'ya: Give her a second chance at Health Care reform and it'll get bogged down again.

Based on last night's Obama/Clinton debate, I'm ready to make a prediction: Obama takes Texas by about 10 points, and Clinton squeaks by in Ohio by about 2 or 3. Obama wins the rest. The Saturday night live line Clinton had again fell flat, just like the Xerox line and scores of others. I thought Obama's rebuttal about the definition of denounce versus reject was a nice subtle jab at the definition of what "is" is. If the Clintons have any class they will bow out with grace next Tuesday, but I think we know that won't happen. They're probably going to slime up the convention over Superdelegates and Florida/Michigan. I hope I'm wrong.

On another note: Tim Russert is such a [XXXXX}. [6-14-08 Edited out of respect for the dead, but will keep the link from TPM]

All we did when we went into Iraq to take out Saddam is create a vacuum which will eventually be filled by someone as bad or worse. That man appears like it will eventually be Al Sadr. All of the self-congratulations going around among the supporters of Bush Iraq policy and the recent troop escalation hinges on what appears to be a cease fire ordered by Muqtada. And I'll bet something else. When a Democrat is elected and we pull out of Iraq, Al Qaeda better be ready to run, because Sadr's people will take them out. And then the fun begins: a three way partition of what was once Iraq. This has been long predicted, for better or for worse. Remember the chants of "Muqtada, Muqtada" just before Saddam was dropped with the noose? Remember that sound, because we're going to be hearing a lot of it. And we have our friends at the PNAC to thank for all that. Back then we were too busy wagging the dog.

Ok, here's what I'll say about Hillary: I think she would make a great Senate Majority Leader. I think that deliberative body is where she belongs. I keep hearing about Obama's inexperience and lack of specifics on policy. I'm wondering if anyone spreading that around is actually paying attention? Apparently not. [Sigh] Hillary inspires precisely nothing for me as potential President. I'd like to see a woman President. But I don't think we'll get anywhere with her. I've supported Obama from the beginning, and have been pleasantly surprised by his run. It looks like he can take Texas. If he does that, hopefully Hillary's people will see the writing on the wall and not try to slime up the convention with win at all costs tactics. We don't need to be sending THAT message to the world at large.

Sooooo dramatic. File under "huh?" And I quote: "I think even a six-year-old understands that you don't change the rules of the game halfway through..." And FOX news proclaims: OBAMA'S CHARMED LIFE IS OVER. Wow. Hang it up, boys, it's over. I mean, COME ON.

My gut feeling is that Hillary's accusations of plagiarism are gonna backfire for her in Wisconsin, and possibly Texas. No wonder she left WI early. This one sure looks like desperation to me.

I agree with this post wholeheartedly.

The op-ed piece in today's Washington Post just about sums up how I feel about the '08 election. I don't think there's a conspiracy going on at all. I don't think the wingnuts are bluffing about their dislike of McCain, for example. A certain member of my own family seems to think that the "pink mafia" is behind McCain's nomination. Heh heh. Pink Mafia. This notion, and the current state of the right wing blabbermouth set, is not unlike a depiction of McCarthy era House Unamerican activities in the context of a Shakespearian comic subplot. If that makes sense. I like our chances in November.

Well, as Josh Marshall (or somebody) put it, the "Mittmentum" is officially over. Gee, couldn't see that coming. Love the spin: I'm bowing out to make sure the terrorists don't win. I can't help but think how the current era will be looked at 50 years from now. I don't suppose History will be kind. Perhaps there will be a break for the semester on Late 20th/Early 21st Century at or about 1/20/09 and a better viewpoint on the period thereafter. One can only hope.

I am enjoying it while it lasts: Watching the right wing blabbermouths whine and complain about a left wing media conspiracy being responsible for McCain's resurgence as the front runner of the Republican Party. All the paranoid hatemongers out there are looking for anyone to blame but themselves. They're just pissed that it's a weak field. All of the GOP candidates are flawed and I smell victory (even if it's Hillary). McCain: Loathed by the right wingnuts and rejected by the independents this time around due to his steadfast support of Bush Iraq policy. Romney: Does anyone really LIKE this asshole? Absolutely no shred of a sense of humor to be found. Huckabee: Come ON. Are you kidding me? The "secular" world knows better than that. Good luck, Pal.

Cast my vote for Obama this morning, and also NO on everything except Prop. 93. I've never been a fan of the current state of CA's term limits. Also No on A & B for Santa Clara. It's shameful how dishonest the proponents of A & B have been, on up to the Mercury News. I used to think the Merc was the best paper in the Bay Area. Not anymore.