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I’m Back From Planet Awesome

Woah.

UPDATE: I’ll be traveling tomorrow, more gushing from me when I get home.

UPDATE 2: Before I go to bed, I’ll say this: Our next president spoke tonight.

111 Responses to “I’m Back From Planet Awesome”


  1. Gravatar Icon 1 Chuck

    I wish I was there. That was seriously one amazing speech.

  2. Gravatar Icon 2 Flubber

    I was with friends watching and all at once just one word was mentioned.

    Daaaaaayum…..

  3. Gravatar Icon 3 Parthenon

    Crucially - he’s getting better as he goes, what’s known in the sports world as ‘peaking at the right time.’ You can bet we won’t see anywhere close to a repeat of Saddleback-type answers in the debates.

  4. Gravatar Icon 4 Ralph Waldo

    He hit it outta the park. On the phone with my Dad, who once upon a time worked for RFK, I suggested it was a homerun. He said, “It was Barry Bonds on steroids.”

    Couldn’t be more pumped.

  5. Gravatar Icon 5 anotherbozo

    A brilliant, perfect speech, and any fool could tell he meant every word.

    Now for Bush, Cheney, and The Other Option, my friends.

  6. Gravatar Icon 6 SaveFarris

    Best State of the Union Speech from a Democratic Candidate ever!

  7. Gravatar Icon 7 Vanessa

    My husband and I are away at a bed and breakfast. While we listened to Obama’s speech on the tv in our, we could hear it echoed as people were watching on their own tvs in other rooms. It wasn’t the stadium in Denver, but it was an event.

    Obama was amazing.

  8. Gravatar Icon 8 Repack Rider

    I understand the lineup for the opening night of the RNC will be:

    Joe Lieberman
    Dick Cheney
    Laura Bush
    George W. Bush

    Brace yourself for some riveting… ZZZZZZZ….

  9. Gravatar Icon 9 SaveFarris

    OT:

    Remember when Oliver slobbered that keeping a lid on the VP pick 18 hours out was phoenomenal? Well, we’re less than 90 minutes away from McCain’s VP pick and it STILL hasn’t officially leaked yet. I await Oliver’s praise for McCain’s Inner Circle…

  10. Gravatar Icon 10 durablend

    It’s Sarah Palin, guys. Unless it’s an awesome head fake, it’s been confirmed by the networks.

  11. Gravatar Icon 11 j mccann

    “UPDATE 2: Before I go to bed, I’ll say this: Our next president spoke tonight.”

    Somebody’s a wee bit gassed up on emotion.

    LMAO!

    I’ll admit this though, the man can give one hell of a speech. But it was just more of the same. He’s just a hip version of Jimmy Carter. And if we all remember, JC managed to hit a 29% approval rating WITHOUT an unpopular war.

    McCain ‘08!

  12. Gravatar Icon 12 Enlightened Liberal

    If you were really that concerned with more of the same, maybe you wouldn’t want to support the candidate that agrees with Bush over 90% of the time.

  13. Gravatar Icon 13 fafaroo

    “McCain’s VP pick and it STILL hasn’t officially leaked yet.”

    Yeah, because he didn’t flip the coin until this morning.

    If Palin doesn’t seem like a last-minute, desperation choice, I don’t know who would.

  14. Gravatar Icon 14 Jay

    If you were really that concerned with more of the same, maybe you wouldn’t want to support the candidate that agrees with Bush over 90% of the time.

    Wow. A Republican that agrees with a Republican more often than not. I never saw that coming!

    Yeah, because he didn’t flip the coin until this morning.

    Right. Considering she flew into Ohio last night, he flipped the coin this morning.

    If Palin doesn’t seem like a last-minute, desperation choice, I don’t know who would.

    I see you’re already drinking the Kos Kool-Aid.

  15. Gravatar Icon 15 Duros Hussein 62

    There goes you’re “experience” argument, repubs. Not. Another. Word.

  16. Gravatar Icon 16 Dave in SoCal

    If Palin doesn’t seem like a last-minute, desperation choice, I don’t know who would.

    As opposed to the brilliant selection of 30 year Washington insider Biden by the “Hope & Change” and “New Kind of Politics” campaign.

    Got any specific reasons why Palin’s a “last-minute, desperation choice” or are you just worried that Old Guy’s VP pick will steal some of the thunder from Obama’s rousing speech and coronation?

  17. Gravatar Icon 17 SaveFarris

    “Last-Minute”? She’s been in play ever since June when Obama wrapped up the nomination and the disffected Hillary-ites started screaming foul.

    “Desperation” was picking Joe Biden after months of McCain banging away on the inexperience card when Obama SHOULD have chosen someone like Bayh, McCaskill or Kaine to re-enforce his “change” mantra.

  18. Gravatar Icon 18 Duros Hussein 62

    Jealous much?

  19. Gravatar Icon 19 Enlightened Liberal

    A governor for 18 months of the least populous state, a mayor of a village of 8,000 before that, and managed to get embroiled in scandals in each place. Good job McSame!

  20. Gravatar Icon 20 WTF

    So, the half-black young guy picks an old white guy and the old white guy pick a young white woman!!

  21. Gravatar Icon 21 cmhmd

    Hi, Oliver,

    Lot’s of new ersatz McCain campaign signs in that speech!
    My vote for the best:
    “A 10% Chance for Change! McCain 2008″

    Cheers,

  22. Gravatar Icon 22 JWG

    Not. Another. Word.

    Yeah, it’s not like she actually been a mayor or a governor or anything. Oh, wait…

  23. Gravatar Icon 23 Enlightened Liberal

    Watch out Cindy! McCain’s shopping for No. 3! Is this politics version of the casting couch? (Sleep with me and I’ll take you places!)

  24. Gravatar Icon 24 cmhmd

    SaveFarris:

    You profoundly underestimate the respect and affection we liberals have for Joe Biden. He is a fantastic choice.

    Cheers

  25. Gravatar Icon 25 JWG

    It must be embarrassing to have Palin with more leadership experience than Obama.

  26. Gravatar Icon 26 Quaker in a Basement

    Well, we’re less than 90 minutes away from McCain’s VP pick and it STILL hasn’t officially leaked yet. I await Oliver’s praise for McCain’s Inner Circle…

    You don’t understand, Farris.

    Republicans are good at message discipline. They kept the lid on the VP pick right up to the announcement? No surprise–it’s what they do.

    Democrats on the other hand, totally suck at message discipline and Democratic campaigns tend to leak like a cheap diaper. (For an example, look at the open book provided by Hillary Clinton’s organization revealing its infighting in gory detail.) I’m amazed–and Oliver correctly notes–the unexpected discipline of the Obama team in keeping Biden under wraps for so long.

  27. Gravatar Icon 27 JWG

    Wow. For an “enlightened liberal” you sure do hate women.

  28. Gravatar Icon 28 Jay

    There goes you’re “experience” argument, repubs. Not. Another. Word.

    Um, you guys seem to forget something. Palin is not running for President. McCain is. YOUR inexperienced guy is at the TOP of the ticket.

    So no. The experience argument will not go away.

  29. Gravatar Icon 29 Parthenon

    Pretty good pick for him, actually. Didn’t know a thing about her until ten minutes ago, but they’re pretty close ideologically (i.e. fairly moderate Republicans). Sen. McCain moderates the experience issue, just as Sen. Biden does for Sen. Obama. And of course there’s teh female thing - any remotely conservative Sen. Clinton supporters (i.e. somewhere between center and Clinton) out there will likely jump ship.

  30. Gravatar Icon 30 Quaker in a Basement

    Now, Farris, here’s where you get schooled on what Republicans do poorly:

    “Desperation” was picking Joe Biden after months of McCain banging away on the inexperience card when Obama SHOULD have chosen someone like Bayh, McCaskill or Kaine to re-enforce his “change” mantra.

    You’d be right if the criteria was “Which VP pick is best to bolster Obama’s campaign theme?” In other words, who can best help you win the election?

    That’s the wrong way to judge the pick. Instead, it’s “Which VP pick is best to help Obama run the federal government?” The only Republican ticket in my lifetime that made the choice on that criterion was Bush/Cheney. (Not to say I think Cheney has done a good job–he’s been a disaster, but a disaster by design. And he certainly didn’t bring any charisma to the ticket.)

  31. Gravatar Icon 31 fafaroo

    “Right. Considering she flew into Ohio last night, he flipped the coin this morning.”

    Whatever small reserve of humor Jay once has apparently evaporated.

    Yes, Jay, I’m drinking kool-aid while you race to vigorously defend McCain “with the FACTS!!!!” against an obvious joke.

  32. Gravatar Icon 32 Dave in SoCal

    managed to get embroiled in scandals in each place

    What scandal was there during her time as mayor or on the city council?

    Regarding the Monegan firing, as was noted on another thread (by Jay or Jay Tea) there’s no “there” there, so far. The Democratic senator who is overseeing the investigation admits that the Palin administration is fully cooperating.

    I detect a whiff of desperation in the air, and it seems to be coming from Denver, not Ohio.

  33. Gravatar Icon 33 Parthenon

    Not sure how the pick will play for the hardcore base that doesn’t much trust McCain, though. I imagine we can expect to see a healthy dose of “At least he’s not Obama.”

  34. Gravatar Icon 34 fafaroo

    “…are you just worried that Old Guy’s VP pick will steal some of the thunder from Obama’s rousing speech and coronation?”

    Yes. I’m deeply concerned that everyone will forget one of the best political speeches delivered in years because John McCain picked a VP that no one has ever heard of and with whom, he himself, is barely acquainted.

  35. Gravatar Icon 35 Enlightened Liberal

    Lighten up jwg, you have no sense of humor.

    I’m pretty worried about a potential VP candidate that put her family squabbles above the state of Alaska- will she do the same as VP? America doesn’t need a VP that will take out her own personal vendettas on government employees that happen to cross her path.

  36. Gravatar Icon 36 Changey McHoperson

    I’m pretty worried about a potential POTUS that is a former cokehead that associates with known domestic terrorists, makes shady property deals and attends a church with a racist minister.

  37. Gravatar Icon 37 Dave in SoCal

    a VP that no one has ever heard of and with whom, he himself, is barely acquainted.

    Don’t worry, America will have ample opportunity to meet Mrs. Palin and hear all about her background and accomplishments in the next 9 weeks.

  38. Gravatar Icon 38 SpiderJ

    Wow. For an “enlightened liberal” you sure do hate women.

    The sexism card emerges!

    Um, you guys seem to forget something. Palin is not running for President. McCain is. YOUR inexperienced guy is at the TOP of the ticket.

    So no. The experience argument will not go away.

    McCain decided that the person most fit to lead the country if something should happen to him is a woman with less experience in government than Obama.

    Oh, but she’s a GOVERNOR, so it’s okay.

    Except…McCain has never been a governor. But he’s been in Congress for 25 years, so he’s ready.

    This is that new math, isn’t it? If both McCain and Palin are qualified to be President, then the equation is something like twelve and a half years in Congress equals one year as governor?

    Or:

    12.5c = g

    Is that it?

  39. Gravatar Icon 39 I'm a Hick

    “Last-Minute”? She’s been in play ever since June when Obama wrapped up the nomination and the disffected Hillary-ites started screaming foul.

    Is that why she was chosen? She’s a woman, so Hillary’s supporters will automatically vote for her over Obama?

    From MSNBC:
    “Sarah Palin is pleasant surprise for those of us who had hoped that Senator McCain would pick a principled and authentic conservative pro-life leader,” former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said.

    Huckabee also used the Palin pick to appeal to disaffected supporters of Hillary Clinton.

    “Governor Palin … will remind women that if they are not welcome on the Democrat’s ticket, they have a place with Republicans.” he said.

  40. Gravatar Icon 40 fafaroo

    “Palin is not running for President. McCain is. YOUR inexperienced guy is at the TOP of the ticket.”

    Right. Keep telling yourself that, Jay. McCain is going to have a hard time convincing people he cares about experience when his running mate has considerably less experience in public service and government than Obama.

  41. Gravatar Icon 41 Zython

    I’m pretty worried about a potential POTUS that is a former cokehead that associates with known domestic terrorists, makes shady property deals and attends a church with a racist minister.

    Funny, you didn’t have that problem with Bush.

    That was too damn easy.

    Don’t worry, America will have ample opportunity to meet Mrs. Palin and hear all about her background and accomplishment in the next 9 minutes.

    Fixed.

    Watch out Cindy! McCain’s shopping for No. 9! Is this politics version of the casting couch? (Sleep with me and I’ll take you places!)

    Fixed.

  42. Gravatar Icon 42 JWG

    The sexism card emerges!

    Uh, yeah — it’s likely to appear when someone compares the female VP pick to a prostitute. You leftists are so classy!

  43. Gravatar Icon 43 Quaker in a Basement

    Funniest line of the day…no, the month:

    I detect a whiff of desperation in the air, and it seems to be coming from Denver, –Dave in SoCal

    Um, yeah. Desperation. That’s exactly what I took away from last night’s speech.

    Haw!

  44. Gravatar Icon 44 Duros Hussein 62

    On the bright side, she does have 5 kids, so at the very least she knows how to change a diaper.

  45. Gravatar Icon 45 Quaker in a Basement

    “Palin is not running for President. McCain is. YOUR inexperienced guy is at the TOP of the ticket.”

    On a related note, today is Mr. McCain’s 72nd birthday.

  46. Gravatar Icon 46 Jay Tea

    I’m going to refrain from commenting on Palin until Oliver makes a post on the subject.

    All I can say is, this just became quite possibly the most entertaining political campaign in a very, very, very long time.

    I just might have to watch a little of the RNC after all…

    J.

  47. Gravatar Icon 47 Jay

    I’m going to refrain from commenting on Palin until Oliver makes a post on the subject.

    He commented on Twitter:

    Palin? another corrupt republican? that’s not change we can believe in

    He’s probably tired.

  48. Gravatar Icon 48 Enlightened Liberal

    “On the bright side, she does have 5 kids, so at the very least she knows how to change a diaper.”

    Duros wins the internets

    “Uh, yeah — it’s likely to appear when someone compares the female VP pick to a prostitute. You leftists are so classy!”

    Point out where I compared the female VP pick to a prostitute. On the other hand, a certain presidential candidate likes to compare his wife to a trollop and call her the c word. Who is the real sexist?

  49. Gravatar Icon 49 Dave in SoCal

    all about her background and accomplishment in the next 9 minutes.

    Fixed.

    Sure, it might take only 9 minutes to list her accomplishments. Contrast that with the mere 9 seconds needed to list Obama’s actual achievements.

    Obama’s sole executive experience was chairman of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. Result? Over $100 million shelled out (some of it to groups associated with his acquaintance Bill Ayers as well as HIS buddies) with little impact on Chicago school improvement

    From the link (A comprehensive study of the outcome of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge by the Consortium on Chicago School Research):

    “Results suggest that among the schools it supported, the Challenge had little impact on school improvement and student outcomes, with no statistically significant differences between Annenberg and non-Annenberg schools in rates of achievement gain, classroom behavior, student self-efficacy, and social competence.”

  50. Gravatar Icon 50 Changey McHoperson

    “Funny, you didn’t have that problem with Bush.”

    Funny, I’m sure you did.

  51. Gravatar Icon 51 Dave in SoCal

    Change You Can Believe In?

  52. Gravatar Icon 52 Dave in SoCal

    Oh, and Oliver… when you get back home I’m looking forward to your thoughts on the Obama campaign’s efforts to silence Stanley Kurtz from talking about the results of his research into the Chicago Annenberg Challenge as well as their lawsuit and request for criminal charges against the American Issues Project (and its founder) for airing an ad spotlighting Obama’s longtime working relationship with Bill Ayers.

    I guess we now know what Obama wanted that “civilian national security force” for. Someone will have to keep dissent and criticism of President Obama under control.

  53. Gravatar Icon 53 Quaker in a Basement

    Obama’s sole executive experience was chairman of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. Result? Over $100 million shelled out (some of it to groups associated with his acquaintance Bill Ayers as well as HIS buddies)

    Really Dave?

    Other than Mr. Walter Annenberg (a Reagan Republican) who were some of the other “radicals” associated with that board? Hm?

  54. Gravatar Icon 54 Dave in SoCal

    Palin? another corrupt republican? that’s not change we can believe in

    From Palin’s Wiki entry:

    Governor Murkowski appointed Palin Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission,[8] where she served from 2003 to 2004 until resigning in protest over what she called the “lack of ethics” of fellow Alaskan Republican leaders, who ignored her whistleblowing complaints of legal violations and conflicts of interest.

    After she resigned, she exposed the state Republican Party’s chairman, Randy Ruedrich, one of her fellow Oil & Gas commissioners, who was accused of doing work for the party on public time, and supplying a lobbyist with a sensitive e-mail.

    Palin filed formal complaints against both Ruedrich and former Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes, who both resigned; Ruedrich paid a record $12,000 fine.

    Sure, Oliver. Run with your usual “Republican corruption” schtick. Let’s see how that works out for you.

  55. Gravatar Icon 55 Enlightened Liberal

    “I guess we now know what Obama wanted that “civilian national security force” for. Someone will have to keep dissent and criticism of President Obama under control.”

    Oh noes, you’ve exposed our secret. Armies of black men in suits and bow ties armed with bean pies will pull your IP, fan out throughout the country and arrest Americans such as yourself on Inauguration Day.

  56. Gravatar Icon 56 Dave in SoCal

    Other than Mr. Walter Annenberg (a Reagan Republican) who were some of the other “radicals” associated with that board? Hm?

    Where did I say ‘radical’ or imply that he was (or is) one? Trying to put words in my mouth or just changing the argument, Quaker?

    I was just pointing out that the effort Obama led (as chairman of the board), his sole executive leadership role, was a FAILURE. That’s what ‘little impact’ means.

  57. Gravatar Icon 57 Dave in SoCal

    Oh noes, you’ve exposed our secret. Armies of black men in suits and bow ties armed with bean pies will pull your IP, fan out throughout the country and arrest Americans such as yourself on Inauguration Day.

    Well obviously they’re going to have to battle it out with the covert Republican/Bush secret police state troops who are busily taking away everyone’s rights and shredding the consitution on a daily basis.

  58. Gravatar Icon 58 Quaker in a Basement

    Where did I say ‘radical’ or imply that he was (or is) one? Trying to put words in my mouth or just changing the argument, Quaker?

    See those indented words inside the quote marks, Dave? That’s where I cut and paste what you wrote. Like this:

    Obama’s sole executive experience was chairman of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. Result? Over $100 million shelled out (some of it to groups associated with his acquaintance Bill Ayers as well as HIS buddies)

    Now I’ll repeat my question for you. Who were some of the other (You don’t think the word “radical” applies to Mr. Ayers? Very well. You must have some other reason for mentioning his name.) people associated with that board other than Ayers?

    We already know what an America-hating bomb thrower the Reagan Republican Walter Annenberg is. Who else?

    Hm?

  59. Gravatar Icon 59 Duros Hussein 62
  60. Gravatar Icon 60 Quaker in a Basement

    Oh noes, you’ve exposed our secret. Armies of black men in suits and bow ties armed with bean pies

    Heavens! Not the bean pies!

  61. Gravatar Icon 61 Quaker in a Basement

    the Obama campaign’s efforts to silence Stanley Kurtz from talking about the results of his research into the Chicago Annenberg Challenge

    Silence him? They gave out the phone number for a radio station. Specifically, a radio station hosting a call-in talkshow open to the public.

    Ooooh! Scary, kids!

  62. Gravatar Icon 62 z_adura

    What a silly conversation this is. Sarah Palin is a lightweight’s lightweight. There aren’t even 150,000 people in the entire world who have cast a vote for her in her entire political career. She has no experience that is relevant to the job of president and doesn’t even know what a vice president does.

    Dan Quayle was bad. Spiro Agnew was bad. If you are trying to prove that governments can’t solve problems, this is your candidate.

  63. Gravatar Icon 63 Jay

    They gave out the phone number for a radio station. Specifically, a radio station hosting a call-in talkshow open to the public.

    And did you listen to the audio? Not a single one of those callers responded to any of the information. They just tried to shout down both Rosenberg and Kurtz. Rosenberg invited Obama to send one of his representatives on the show and they declined.

    So they called and said Kurtz was spreading “terrorist smears” and that he was “lying” but each and every time Rosenberg or Kurtz asked them for specifics we got the crickets. Because the specifics were not on the email sent out to the Bots.

  64. Gravatar Icon 64 buma

    Any chance the wingnuts of cable will spend any time beating the drum for a convention fight on this Palin pick, as they did for Hillary at the DNC? Shouldn’t they be speculating about how the disgruntled Mitten fans are going to create a rift?

  65. Gravatar Icon 65 buma

    Duros, hold that Palin stuff until after they cement the deal at the convention.

  66. Gravatar Icon 66 Dave in SoCal

    Quaker, first of all, Walter Annenberg was NOT on the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC). He was on the board of the Annenberg Foundation, which awarded the $50 million grant to the CAC, which was led by Obama. Sorry, no Republican/conservative “America-hating bomb throwers” on the CAC board as far as I know. I guess they must all be Democrats/liberals.

    Secondly, the reason I mentioned Ayers’ name is that at least $175,000 went to a group called Small Schools Workshop, which was led by Bill Ayers and Mike Klonsky (Ayers’ friend and fellow Weathermen founder). Link

    You don’t think the word “radical” applies to Mr. Ayers

    Actually, I do. I just didn’t call him one. And obviously you do too, since you immediately asked me about other ‘radicals’ on the board.

  67. Gravatar Icon 67 Duros Hussein 62

    Don’t know about that, buma, but Steve Douchy said Palin does too have foreign policy experience ‘cuz Alaska is right nest to Russia! So there! Nyahhhhhhhh!

  68. Gravatar Icon 68 j mccann

    Most Hilarious headline of the day….

    http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/29/now-obama-wants-experience/

    LMAO! You’ve *GOT* to be kidding me!!! At least our inexperienced guy….er, girl I mean, isn’t at the TOP of the ticket!

    Pot, meet kettle.

    Real life is better than satire sometimes.

  69. Gravatar Icon 69 John

    “Rove is pushing Romney so aggressively some folks are beginning to wonder what’s going on…”

    My personal take on Palin is a mixed bag. Her choice deflates the Experience Attack on Sen. Obama (which failed for Hillary in the primary). She does help with the Female population and is a strong ethical reformer in her short history.

    Looks like John McCain is trying to shift the dynamic of the race towards one of Reform and bipartisanship (both of which are perceived strengths).

    I think the Experience Attack Line is a poor one as some of our finest Presidents have had little to no Executive or Political Experience. I would personally stick with attacking Obama’s perceived vagueness in his Change platform by presenting concrete, specific policies of reform that would be enacted in a McCain/Palin administration.

  70. Gravatar Icon 70 SpiderJ

    I’ll repeat it for j mccann.

    John McCain chose somebody with less experience than Obama to lead the country in case something happens to him. If he considers Sarah Palin to have enough experience to run the country, then he cannot turn around and say Obama doesn’t have enough experience.

    If he says that her minimal experience as governor qualifies her to be President, then one is forced to ask why John McCain, who has no experience as a governor, is qualified to be an executive.

  71. Gravatar Icon 71 Dave in SoCal

    They gave out the phone number for a radio station. Specifically, a radio station hosting a call-in talkshow open to the public.

    From the “Obama Action Wire” on this subject, giving instructions to his faithful minions:

    Tell WGN that by providing Kurtz with airtime, they are legitimizing
    baseless attacks from a smear-merchant and lowering the standards of
    political discourse.

    Call into the “Extension 720″ show with Milt Rosenberg at (312) 591-7200

    The campaign didn’t tell people to rebut the statements being made by Kurtz (nor did they… instead they just called him “smear-merchant”, etc.). They just made it clear that WGN shouldn’t even give Kurtz airtime. In indeed, none of the callers refuted any points (I know because I listened to the whole thing), they just said how terrible and irresponsible it was that WGN let Kurtz on to speak. Faithful drones all.

    Sure, Quaker. No big deal, nothing to look at, move along, pay no attention to the attempts to silence the man over there.

  72. Gravatar Icon 72 Quaker in a Basement

    Actually, I do. I just didn’t call him one. And obviously you do too, since you immediately asked me about other ‘radicals’ on the board.

    And now that your little dance is done, why don’t we return to the question you’ve been avoiding?

    Who were some of the other “radicals” associated with that board?

    If you don’t know, you can just say so.

  73. Gravatar Icon 73 Enlightened Liberal

    Palin’s experience is representing a remote state that has fewer people than 20 cities and over 100 counties. By contrast, Obama represents 12 million people in a diverse society and economy. Biden represents 843,000 and has over 30 years experience in foreign policy.

  74. Gravatar Icon 74 Rheinhard

    Palin’s a great pick!

    She’s anti-science. (Supports teaching creationism)

    She’s anti-choice. (that’ll bring in all those Hillary supporters, you betcha!)

    She thinks her role is bully state employees she doesn’t like. (trying to get a state cop in a divorce with her sister fired) - perfect followup to the Bush Admin!

    She will piss off and alienate all of Pawlenty’s and Mittens’ supporters:

    DENVER — Though it was high in shock value, the Palin pick left bruised feelings among the short-list contenders who were not picked — and infuriated some Republican officials who privately said McCain had gone out on a limb, unnecessarily, without laying the groundwork for such an unknown. Two senior Republican officials close to Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty said they had both been rudely strung along and now “feel manipulated.” “They now know that they were used as decoys, well after McCain had decided not to pick them,” one Republican involved in the process said.

    I didn’t think it was possible to find a worse VP pick that Dan Quayle, but dammit if McSame hasn’t come through!!

  75. Gravatar Icon 75 Zython

    Plus, the whole pick reeks of “Hey, Hillary supporters, check out MY running mate. Sure she’s not who you like, but she has a VAGINA, and that’s what’s really important! Right? Right?”

  76. Gravatar Icon 76 John

    Anti-Science:

    “While running for Governor of Alaska, Palin supported the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in schools, however, she noted she would not use ‘religion as a litmus test, or anybody’s personal opinion on evolution or creationism’ as criteria for selection to the school board.”

    Anti-Choice:

    Yes, so is McCain. So it makes sense he would choose someone who has similar beliefs to keep his campaign “on message”.

    “On April 18, 2008, Palin gave birth to her second son, Trig Paxson Van Palin, who has Down syndrome. She returned to the office three days after giving birth. Her decision to have the baby after prenatal genetic testing revealed he had the disease resulted in much admiration from the pro-life community.”

    So she stands firmly behind her beliefs even under the extreme personal pressure and tragedy of having a Downs-Syndrome child.

    Mittens was probably the worst person that McCain could have chosen. He is the walking definition of what Obama charges as “What is wrong with Washington.” A political opportunist whose opinions and positions change with the Poll Barometer. His Mormon background is extremely disliked by the Evangelicals. His background as a Venture Capitalist CEO would not sit well in the face of the sub-prime meltdown environment. He would have been bloody, red-meat to feed to the Obama campaign.

    You should read her Wikipedia entry if you have not:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

  77. Gravatar Icon 77 Jay

    Oh this is great. I’m really have a good laugh. “I love the smell of desperation emanating from liberals.”

  78. Gravatar Icon 78 buma

    Maybe McCain thought it was a mavericky move, but to me it shows he won’t veer from the increasingly popular policies of the current administration. That’s not change we can believe in, my friends.

  79. Gravatar Icon 79 John

    PS - Both she and Sen. McCain have children serving on active duty with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan between them. There goes the whole “anyone who votes or supports a war as a public official should be forced to have their children serve” line.

  80. Gravatar Icon 80 Zython

    It seems that Palin doesn’t know what the VP does. Can we really afford to have yet another person in the executive branch that doesn’t know their own job?

  81. Gravatar Icon 81 Rheinhard

    Suuuure, lotsa Bushies have said they would NEVER use religion as a litmus test (hello, paging Monica Goodling, paging Sara taylor!)

    And your quote supports what I said. SHE SUPPORTS TEACHING CREATIONISM. Unless she means “teaching why it is ridiculous and wrong”, then that is, sorry, manifestly anti-science.

    Re: choice: well at least I can congratulate her for not being a flagrant hypocrite (this makes her better than 99.5% of Republican candidates of recent memory, including McCain). She chose one way, but would deny TO ANYONE ELSE the OPPORTUNITY to choose differently.

  82. Gravatar Icon 82 Duros Hussein 62

    Anti-Choice:

    Yes, so is McCain. So it makes sense he would choose someone who has similar beliefs to keep his campaign “on message”.

    He didn’t used to be.

  83. Gravatar Icon 83 John

    Quaker,

    I don’t personally think the whole radical thing holds water, but to illuminate the controversy over the Chicago Annenberg Challenge:

    The Small Schools Workshop had been established in the early 1990s by William Ayers who hired Mike Klonsky, a Chicago cab driver who had earned a Ph.D. in education from the University of South Florida, and former activist with Ayers in Students for a Democratic Society, or SDS. Klonsky had achieved limited notoriety in 1977 when he traveled to Beijing to seek the endorsement of Communist China for a political party he had helped establish in the United States, the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist).

    So its more of a “Barack knew Ayers who knows this guy, who knows this guy, who knows this guy” kind of thing.

    I accept that people of the Democratic wing will meet and mingle with Leftists just as Republicans will meet with Righties. Not a big deal, just regurgitated food for Cable News.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Klonsky

  84. Gravatar Icon 84 Jay

    Once again, Zython and others of his ilk show that they have no grasp of the word context. Those of us who do can tell she was speaking rhetorically and that if she was going to be the VP choice that she would want to have the kind of active participation on a day to day basis as she does now as Governor.

    Is it a choice to act so ignorant or is it something you just can’t control?

  85. Gravatar Icon 85 Dave in SoCal

    And now that your little dance is done, why don’t we return to the question you’ve been avoiding?

    Who were some of the other “radicals” associated with that board?

    Who’s avoiding it? I have no idea who else was on the CAC board. But since my point was never “ah HA! the CAC board is full of radicals like Ayers”, what relevance does this have to my actual point that the outcome of Obama’s sole executive experience was a failure?

    The quote about Ayers and his buddies getting money was to point out a little insider dealing going on.

    You seem to have difficulty figuring out the difference between the point I was actually making and the one you want me to be making. You’re usually better than this, Quaker.

    If you really want to know who was on the CAC board. do your own research.

  86. Gravatar Icon 86 Quaker in a Basement

    Photobucket

  87. Gravatar Icon 87 Quaker in a Basement

    The quote about Ayers and his buddies getting money was to point out a little insider dealing going on.

    Then you’re way out in right field.

    Mr. Ayers applied for a grant and won it. That’s how some organizations get funded. Where’s the “insider dealing”?

    Now Dave, you can’t kid an old kidder like me. “Insider dealing” is not the reason you mention Mr. Ayers name.

  88. Gravatar Icon 88 Bruce Henry

    John McCain’s grandfather died suddenly when he was quite a bit younger than McCain is now. McCain’s father died suddenly when he was quite a bit younger than McCain is now.
    Forget about whatever cynical motivation, or mistake of judgment, caused McCain to pick Palin as the person who will assume the presidency if he DROPS DEAD, as is quite possible. I want Jay and Dave and all the other Righties to post here about why they are SURE that Sarah Palin is so very very qualified.
    It would be bad enough if McCain was president. What would happen if this person was suddenly Commander-in-Chief?
    And also, Righties..what if he is disabled BEFORE the election? Strokes are pretty sudden things. Do you think Palin could win the election at the top of the ticket against Obama? Or even against Biden?

  89. Gravatar Icon 89 Quaker in a Basement

    If you really want to know who was on the CAC board. do your own research.

    Won’t be necessary. I already have that information. I just wanted to see you write this:

    I have no idea who else was on the CAC board.

  90. Gravatar Icon 90 Duros Hussein 62

    TFJ, Quaker. TFJ.

    if she was going to be the VP choice that she would want to have the kind of active participation on a day to day basis as she does now as Governor.

    Just wondering. How much day to day does the Lt. Governor get? Isn’t VP the Federal equivalent?

  91. Gravatar Icon 91 John

    Rhein,

    I’m a Republican and an Atheist. Most of my religious-political views are very akin to Bill Maher’s take on it. I despise the Bush Administration as probably the worst one in the history of the US. I’m still a Republican because I don’t believe in the concept of my Government taking care of me and every other citizen from cradle to the grave

    I am a strict constructionist in relation to the Constitution of the United States, especially in regard to the seperation of Church and State. I am Pro-Choic. I believe that all drugs should be legalized and taxed by the US Gov’t like tobacco - all tax revenue should be used for drug treatment facilities and programs. All non-violent drug offenders should be immediately pardoned.

    However, I hold no ill will towards Evangelicals or whomever else. Because someone “believes there is an invisible man in the sky who has a list of 10 things he doesn’t want people to do” makes that person no less fit to hold office than myself.

  92. Gravatar Icon 92 Bruce Henry

    Quaker, the McCain/Palin bumper sticker was the funniest thing ever!

  93. Gravatar Icon 93 Dave in SoCal

    Where’s the “insider dealing”

    A member of the board that is part of the selection process that gives a $175K grant to a group that he is director of (and his friend Mike Klonsky is co-director of). I guess that’s too nuanced for you.

    Now Dave, you can’t kid an old kidder like me. “Insider dealing” is not the reason you mention Mr. Ayers name.

    I’m sorry Quaker, did I accidentally say some kind of “code word” or mistakenly trigger some kind of “dog whistle”? I keep forgetting about the super-sensitive hearing of the left and their hair-trigger reaction to perceived slights or accusations.

  94. Gravatar Icon 94 Dave in SoCal

    Won’t be necessary. I already have that information. I just wanted to see you write this:

    I’m glad you enjoyed it. I just hope you weren’t touching yourself while reading it.

  95. Gravatar Icon 95 Dave in SoCal

    If nothing else, the Palin pick today somewhat deflates the giant hype balloon that Obama was hoping to ride out of Denver.

    Rather than the media spending the day gushing over Obama’s awesome speech, everyone is instead talking about the McCain camp.

    Happy Birthday, John!

  96. Gravatar Icon 96 Rhein

    John - I agree with you 100% in everything you just wrote except for the being Republican bit.

    And that conflicts NOT ONE JOT with my problem with Palin.

    My problem (and the problem of many voters like me) is NOT that she herself is religious. Not even that she herself believes Young-Earth creationism to be true.

    My problem is that she supports presenting Young Earth creationism to schoolchildren as a perfectly valid alternative explanation to the origin of matter and life on Earth. Crossing that line means you are explicitly in favor of the dumbening of America, regardless of your personal religious convictions.

  97. Gravatar Icon 97 Rheinhard

    (woops, mistyped my nick when trying to post)

    John - I agree with you 100% in everything you just wrote except for the being Republican bit.

    And that conflicts NOT ONE JOT with my problem with Palin.

    My problem (and the problem of many voters like me) is NOT that she herself is religious. Not even that she herself believes Young-Earth creationism to be true.

    My problem is that she supports presenting Young Earth creationism to schoolchildren as a perfectly valid alternative explanation to the origin of matter and life on Earth. Crossing that line means you are explicitly in favor of the dumbening of America, regardless of your personal religious convictions.

  98. Gravatar Icon 98 Quaker in a Basement

    I’m sorry Quaker, did I accidentally say some kind of “code word” or mistakenly trigger some kind of “dog whistle”? I keep forgetting about the super-sensitive hearing of the left and their hair-trigger reaction to perceived slights or accusations.

    Do your own research! Bwah!!