So, I guess that sweethear Phil Berg is suing Obama in the name of the state of Pennsylvania. Apparently there's some concern about the legitimacy of his birth certificate and his possible duel citizenship.
Have you guys already posted on this? I've been out of the loop. If not, does anyone else see a snake in the grass here? Have they already work out their Osama Obama rhetoric or do you think this will hold water? I have a feeling the Dems will just delay the court long enough to run the election as planned, given the court's precedence to let sleeping dogs lie rather than upset a national election, but I wonder what this will do to his support base... Any thoughts?
A Non-Starter?
Thus Spoke the Institution
The NYT has a neat little infographic outlining the words the candidates used at their conventions. Shows where the two parties differ, but also where they are so very much the same.
Bam!
A commenter on Politico:
Mrs. Palin needs to be reminded that Jesus Christ was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Party of the People: Cindy's $300k Outfit
From Vanity Fair:
Cindy McCain
Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000–$25,000
Shoes, designer unknown: $600
Total: Between $299,100 and $313,100
Palinguage
Up in the Twin Cities area folks are speaking a new language. Or, should I say Palinguage. It sounds sorta familiar because it's Latin based. But different from the plain English we're used to speaking, in Palinguage recognizable words take on new meanings. Won't you take a moment to learn some Plainguage so you can talk like a hypocritical conservative?
REPEAT THE FOLLOWING:
If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "token hire." If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."
If you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you're a "baby daddy." If you're the same in Alaska you're a "teen father." (Actually, according to your own MySpace page you're an F'n redneck that don't want any kids, but that's too long a phrase for the evil liberal media to take out of context and flog morning noon and night).
Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America. White teen pregnancies? A "blessed event."
If you grow up in Hawaii you're "exotic." Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential "American story."
Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're "unpatriotic." Name your kid Track, you're "colorful."
If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're "reckless." A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a "maverick."
If you say that for the "first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my country" it makes you "unfit" to be First Lady. If you are a registered member of a fringe political group that advocates secession that makes you "First Dude."
A DUI from twenty years ago is "old news." A speech given without proper citation from twenty years ago is "relevant information."
And, finally, if you're a man and you decide to run for office despite your wife's recurrence of cancer you're a "questionable spouse." If you're a woman and you decide to run for office despite having five kids including a newborn... Well, we don't know what that is 'cause THAT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK.Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Science of Cheating
It's in your genes, dude.
A team led by Hasse Walum of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, sequenced the AVPR1a gene in about 500 pairs of adult same-sex Swedish twins, all of them married or cohabiting for at least 5 years, and their partners. One variation of the gene was particularly common; about 40% of males had either one or two copies of a version--or allele--of the gene known as "334."
Although not simply an analog to the polymorphism found in prairie voles, allele 334 seems to have a similar effect on the stability of human relationships, as measured in interviews and questionnaires. The tests included a Partner Bonding Scale containing items that reflect affection and cooperation, such as "How often do you kiss your mate?" and "How often are you and your partner involved in common interests outside the family?"
Palin vs Obama
Mark Ambinder asks:
Has this ever happened before? Is the frame of the race now Obama v. Palin? Is that the way to elect John McCain?
Garrison Keillor -- A Misdirection in Minnesota
I love this opening:
The Republicans are meeting down the hill from my house, helicopters are pounding the air, and there are more suits on the streets and big black SUVs and a brownish cloud venting from the hockey arena where the convention is assembled. A large moment for little old St. Paul, which is more accustomed to visitations by conventions of morticians and foundation garment salesmen and the Sons of the Desert, and so we are thrilled. It makes no difference that the city is Democratic. What matters is that, for a few days, TV will show a few pictures of the big bend in the, the limestone bluffs, the Capitol and cathedral, and a tree-shaded avenue or two, and some of the world will know that we exist.
>> full article
Keeping Us Safe
In her speech at the RNC Laura Bush just credited her husband with keeping the United States safe.
What's that 9/11 slogan? We will never forget?
Unless it's for political purposes. In that case we'll just casually elude.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Sigh
Carly Fiorina, McCain aide:
"[I am] appalled by the Obama campaign's attempts to belittle Governor Sarah Palin's experience. The facts are that Sarah Palin has made more executive decisions as a Mayor and Governor than Barack Obama has made in his life. Because of Hillary Clinton's historic run for the Presidency and the treatment she received, American women are more highly tuned than ever to recognize and decry sexism in all its forms. They will not tolerate sexist treatment of Governor Palin."
Fiscal Conservative?
There's too much Palin goodness out there, but here is one tidbit that warrants mention. She might claim she's a fiscal conservative, but if her experience as mayor is any indication she's anything but.
Giving Palin the benefit of the doubt by setting the town's population at its highest, current estimate (9,000 people), using a conservative estimate for the U.S. national population over the last decade (275 million), and multiplying the latter figure times the debt-per-Wasillan ($2,444 = $22M divided by 9,000), that means that if she were running the country it would translate into about $672 billion in debt. (And if you use the 6,700 population figure for Wasilla, the number climbs close to $1 trillion.)
Going with the theme that McCain is too old ...
When asked if contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV, McCain took a long pause and replied, "You've stumped me. I think his memory is going. He also said, "I'm sure I've taken a position on it in the past. I have to find out what my position was." He can't remember how many houses he has. He can't remember how he feels about issues. He might show up to a press conference one day wearing two pairs of pants, forgetting that he already put one on.
Read about his hypocritical stance on contraception.
PS - Dirt, I believe, is younger than John McCain.
Brookings Instutution on Candidates' View
The Brookings Institution is publishing a series of charts on the candidates' positions on a wide range of topics. They are all worth a read.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Winning Back Dems
As was said earlier in this forum, the primary mission of the convention was for Obama to win back the support of his Democratic base. Though it's still very soon after the primary, the latest poll from Gallop suggests a strong change in his support amongst conservative Democrats.
Palin and Creationism
"The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor's race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms.Source.
'Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.'"
Things Younger Than McCain
An incomplete list:
Alaska
The Golden Gate Bridge
The Chocolate Chip
FM Radio
Minimum Wage
Automatic Car Transmission
The PB & J Sandwich
McDonald's
Polyester
Velcro
Television Commercials
Mount Rushmore
Barack Obama's Mother
Duct Tape
The Zip Code
The Slinky
The Area Code
The Polio Vaccine
What Does The VP Do?
Fast forward to 2:50 and then watch as Palin admits to not knowing what the Vice President does, or watch the entire clip if you care about such things as 'context', which I really just think is some liberal elite bullshit for 'talking out of both sides of you mouth'.
My Cynical Palin Thoughts
After looking at a few photographs of her I think there’s a glaring issue: She’s young and attractive. I wonder how much this will come across as a ‘newer, better’ version of that other female statesman whose named was batted around for the Vice Presidency. Palin clearly doesn’t have Hillary’s record on substantive issues. With that hollow core she might smack many voters as a pretty face, which could be a huge backfire when you’re clearly targeting Hillary voters.
Speaking of a pretty face, this isn't the first time that McCain has gone for a young, beautiful woman, although I would not suggest that he married Cindy McCain for purely political motives. That said, there will certainly be a trophy wife aspect to the GOP ticket.
McCain turns 72 today. He was a prisoner of war. He cannot be in the best of health. But he just chose a woman who's been governor for three minutes to be his successor should tragedy strike. That damages his 'lack of experience' attack on Obama.
Joe Biden is a huge talker, often to the point of blunder. So does anyone expect that he'll be deft enough in a debate not to come across as mean? Yes, this is a gender issue. If he piles on too much there will certainly be political fallout.
This pick signals that McCain thinks he cannot win without courting disenfranchised Hillary Democrats. So in that light it's a reactionary pick that makes him look weak. However, nothing from the die hard HRC supports inspires confidence in me that they wouldn't vote GOP just to spite the DNC.
Straight Talk Express Off Rails...Again, Again, Again
McCain is solidly pro-life. He does not have a pro-choice record of which to speak, so do not be confused by what you are about to read.
"I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary," McCain told the Chronicle in 1999. "But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."
Er, what did you say? Let me clean my ears out. Come again?
“I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned,” McCain said during the South Carolina primaries.
That sounds better.
Fat Tax
Alabama is considering a "Fat Tax" of $25 per month. They say it's to pay for the extra health insurance.