John McCain...e-mail...and the end of Barack Obama

The Corner on National Review Online

Yep. The day after 9/11, as part of its "get tough" makeover, the Obama campaign is mocking John McCain for not using a computer, without caring why he doesn't use a computer. From the AP story about the computer illiterate ad:

"Our economy wouldn't survive without the Internet, and cyber-security continues to represent one our most serious national security threats," [Obama spokesman Dan] Pfeiffer said. "It's extraordinary that someone who wants to be our president and our commander in chief doesn't know how to send an e-mail."

Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by "extraordinary." The reason he doesn't send email is that he can't use a keyboard because of the relentless beatings he received from the Viet Cong in service to our country. From the Boston Globe (March 4, 2000):

McCain gets emotional at the mention of military families needing food stamps or veterans lacking health care. The outrage comes from inside: McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes.

Way to go, Obama. Can't do enough research before you attack someone to know that your insulting a man for not using e-mail when the reason he can't use e-mail is because he can't use a keyboard because his hands don't work well enough because his captors beat him so badly while he was imprisoned while serving his country!! Idiot!

How about you just go back to organizing your community and pretending to be the second coming. This is getting ridiculous!

By the way, a friend of mine asked me today. How come Barack Obama's too stupid to fly a plane. George W. Bush and John McCain both know how to fly fighter jets...

Hillary to replace Biden??

Hearing more and more rumors about Obama replacing Biden with Hillary for VP. This could just be wishful thinking on the part of some after Biden's comments this week.

If it turns out to be true, would that be pandering? Nah!

Stay tuned.

NYT: Why Not A Non-Senator Woman As VP?

It's always nice when you can you someone's own words against them. This is a beautiful job of unearthing what the NY Times editorial staff wrote over 24 years ago. You've come a long way, baby!

NYT: Why Not A Non-Senator Woman As VP? Sweetness & Light

New York Times Editorial

July 3, 1984, Tuesday, Late City Final Edition

On one side, Walter Mondale has been hearing some infuriating demands. If he wants to win in November, feminists are saying, he has to nominate a woman to run with him. Otherwise, as Judy Goldsmith, president of the National Organization for Women, said the other day, ”I don’t know how we can go out to women and say ‘Here’s something to work for.’ ”

...to be shrill is no worse than to be righteous, like the people who insist that the women Vice Presidential candidates so far proposed lack the requisite standing and experience. Why, it is said, none of them is even a senator.

Where is it written that only senators are qualified to become President? Surely Ronald Reagan does not subscribe to that maxim. Or where is it written that mere representatives aren’t qualified...

Where is it written that governors and mayors, like Dianne Feinstein of San Francisco, are too local, too provincial?

...Remember the main foreign affairs credential of Georgia’s Governor Carter: He was a member of the Trilateral Commission...

Why shouldn’t a little-known woman have the same opportunity to grow? We may even be gradually elevating our standards for choosing Vice Presidential candidates. But that should be done fairly, also. Meanwhile, the indispensable credential for a Woman Who is the same as for a Man Who - one who helps the ticket.

Barack Obama's Latest Campaign Ad

Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need "Still" -- On the air...



So this is what they've come up with? John McCain doesn't use e-mail??
Yeah, that's gonna work.

Tennessee Rep. Compares Obama to Jesus, Suggests Palin is Pontius Pilate

Tennessee Rep. Compares Obama to Jesus, Suggests Palin is Pontius Pilate - America’s Election HQ

Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen riled Republicans Wednesday after he compared Barack Obama to Jesus Christ and suggested Sarah Palin is akin to Pontius Pilate.

The Tennessee Democrat, who supports Obama, was on the House floor giving a one-minute speech when he offered the comparisons.

“If you want change, you want the Democratic Party,” Cohen said. “Barack Obama was a community organizer like Jesus, who our minister prayed about. Pontius Pilate was a governor.”

Nice.  Now they aren't just thinking Obama is the Messiah, they're actually calling his opponents Pontius Pilate.  This will go over real well in flyover country...
Oh, and by the way - anytime a congressman or representative is referred to as "Rep", that's media-code for 'this guys a Democrat but we can't say that in the headline...despicable

Sarah Palin Investigators Set Up ‘Tip-Line’

From the Associated Press via Sarah Palin Investigators Set Up ‘Tip-Line’ Sweetness & Light

Sen. Hollis French, the man heading the Palin investigation appears fifth from the right along with two other of the panel’s Democrat “investigators” in this photo taken at Obama’s headquarters in Alaska.

Palin’s attorney: Investigator ‘biased’

By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Thu Sep 11

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A lawyer for Gov. Sarah Palin ...Thomas Van Flein called the investigation “unlawful and unconstitutional” and said the man hired to run it, former prosecutor Stephen Branchflower, has a conflict of interest because he’s a friend of the fired commissioner. Citing “your seemingly biased conduct of the investigation in recent weeks,” he urged Branchflower to stop interviewing witnesses — the second time this month that he’s asked Branchflower to stand down.

...The investigation has included setting up a secret tip line to “accept and investigate anonymous rumors and complaints outside the scope” of the inquiry, Van Flein alleged. He also said Branchflower has deposed witnesses without proper notice other attorneys.

Branchflower did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.

Van Flein sent one of the letters to Branchflower and the other to Democratic Sen. Kim Elton, who heads the Legislative Council, the body that unanimously approved the investigation in July. Both letters were dated Tuesday.

Elton this week rebuffed a Republican attempt to have Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat, replaced as head of the investigation.

Van Flein wrote that both French and Branchflower are friends of Monegan but apparently failed to disclose those relationships to the Legislature.

...The Palin family repeatedly complained to Alaska State Troopers about Wooten, and he was eventually suspended for five days. Wooten admitted that he Tasered his 10-year-old stepson and that he illegally shot a moose, but he denied other accusations, including that he drove with an open container of alcohol in his patrol car.

Maybe it's just me but it doesn't seem quite right to allow one campaign to conduct an official investigation of the other and claim there's no bias...

Foiled Terror Plots Against America Since 9/11

FOXNews.com - Foiled Terror Plots Against America Since 9/11 - Local News News Articles National News US News

For those liberal elitists who love to preach about how George Bush took his 'eye off the ball' and put everything we had into Iraq and 'hasn't made the country any safer', here's an amazing list of the success stories in preventing terrorist attacks since 2001.

Never, EVER, Forget...

Obama Can't Win Against Palin - by Karl Rove

Obama Can't Win Against Palin - WSJ.com

Of all the advantages Gov. Sarah Palin has brought to the GOP ticket, the most important may be that she has gotten into Barack Obama's head. How else to explain Sen. Obama's decision to go one-on-one against "Sarah Barracuda," captain of the Wasilla High state basketball champs?

It's a matchup he'll lose. If Mr. Obama wants to win, he needs to remember he's running against John McCain for president, not Mrs. Palin for vice president.

The "evil genius" gets it right, as usual.  I just wish he would wait until AFTER the election to try to help Obama.

The looney left has become unhinged as Obama slides in the polls

Here is just a sampling of the headlines and comments that are out there today as the Obama campaign, the Democrats and the media (I know, I know...redundant) scramble to recover. Suddenly Obama is the victim and it's that mean Sarah Palin's fault.

S.C. Dem chair: Palin primary qualification is she hasn't had an abortion - Politico.com

South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler sharply attacked Sarah Palin today, saying John McCain had chosen a running mate " whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn’t had an abortion.”

Community organizers are staple of democracy -- Newsday.com

The way to make the case for John McCain should not be by tearing down the work of Barack Obama's early career, which is the hard work that thousands of community organizers are doing daily to make democracy more vital and improve our lives.

World wants Obama as president: poll - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may be struggling to nudge ahead of his Republican rival in polls at home, but people across the world want him in the White House, a BBC poll said.

Governor Implies Palin's Repeated Use Of 'Community Organizer' Is Another Way Of Saying 'Black'

...Gov. David Paterson (NY) ...raised eyebrows again, and tempers, by accusing the John McCain campaign of veiled racism.
"I think the Republican Party is too smart to call Barack Obama 'black' in a sense that it would be a negative. But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican Convention – a 'community organizer.' They kept saying it, they kept laughing," he said.
...Paterson sees the repeated use of the words "community organizer" as Republican code for "black".

Lest We Forget, Obama Flipped Off Hillary

Lest We Forget, Obama Flipped Off Hillary | Sweetness & Light

But what is also interesting about Mr. Obama’s unscripted remarks — is that they were preceded, word for word from a Tom Toles cartoon:

That’s right, Mr. Obama plagiarized from that America-hating racist cartoonist.

I can't say I know for sure if Obama spoke these words before Tom Toles or not.  He may have said something similar on the trail before.  But it is strange that his speech was almost exactly what this cartoon says.  If he did plagarize Mr. Toles, then at least their President/VP ticket is consistent.

Barack Obama 'Lipstick' video

For those that would like to see it for themselves...

Palin Energizing Women From All Walks of Life

Palin Energizing Women From All Walks of Life  By Anne E. Kornblut  Washington Post Staff Writer

Susie Baron is a Republican, a mother of two and a home-schooler. She voted for Mike Huckabee in the Ohio primary, but now -- because of Sarah Palin -- she thinks she is part of something much bigger.

"I wouldn't even call it a Palin movement, I'd call it a sleeping giant that has been awakened," Baron, 56, said at a rally here Tuesday. She described its members as a silent majority of women in Middle America who "are raising our families, who work if we have to, but love our country and our families first."

"And until now, we haven't had anyone to identify with," Baron said, adding that traditional feminist groups such as the National Organization for Women do "not represent me."

Obama: 'Lipstick on a pig'

Ben Smith's Blog: Obama: 'Lipstick on a pig' - Politico.com

Obama poked fun of McCain and Palin's new "change" mantra.
"You can put lipstick on a pig," he said as the crowd cheered. "It's still a pig."
"You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still gonna stink."
"We've had enough of the same old thing."

The crowd apparently took the "lipstick" line as a reference to Palin, who described the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull in a single word: "lipstick."

OK, OK. I know this is probably not what he meant but you know he's just been to imply it. Unfortunately for him, some people won't get it and will think it's really rude. I say - too bad. He should have known this would come back to bite him.

Biden Killed Asbestos Bill For Top Donors

Biden Killed Asbestos Bill For Top Donors Sweetness & Light

What a shock.

Mr. Biden killed legislation that would have hurt his top donors, relatives and friends — who all just happen to be involved in highly lucrative asbestos class action lawsuits...

...The senator has longstanding relationships with law firms that donated to his congressional races and his two bids for the White House. Top contributors for his recent run were the Law Office of Peter Angelos in Baltimore, Maryland, which donated $156,250; SimmonsCooper in East Alton, Illinois contributed $146,600; Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones in Wilmington gave $145,625; and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor in Wilmington gave $127,979.

Many of those firms have handled asbestos and bankruptcy cases, issues Biden has weighed in on from his seat on the judicial committee. Biden was a critic of the failed Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act of 2005, which would have trimmed returns on future litigation and hurt firms like SimmonsCooper, a billion dollar asbestos practice which used son Beau’s former law firm, Bifferato, Gentilotti, Biden & Balick (now Bifferato Gentilotti), as local counsel to file asbestos suits in Delaware. Angelos’ firm also represents asbestos clients, and Stargatt & Taylor has handled mass tort asbestos cases, representing court-appointed advocates for unknown future claimants–individuals representing people who have been exposed to asbestos but have not yet become sick.

Obama to Embrace Charter Schools

Obama to Embrace Charter Schools - TIME

(DAYTON, Ohio) — Barack Obama is promising to double funding for charter schools and replace inferior teachers, embracing education reform proposals normally more popular with Republican candidates...

...The pitch was an appeal to moderate voters in this presidential election swing state...

Folks, this is probably the first of what will be many instances of Obama "stepping in it" as a result of McCain's momentum. It's becoming even more apparent that Obama will say whatever he thinks he needs to get votes wherever he is that day. However, this is one flip-flop that will flop for the junior senator from Illinois.

Think about it for a minute.

What demographic does the mainstream media think Obama is losing as a result of the Sarah Palin announcement? Women.

What group of people is this announcement really going to upset? The teachers union.

What is the teachers union mostly made up of? Women

In an effort to gain "moderates" that prefer charter schools and vouchers, he's going to tick off one of the most powerful lobbies of the left. Not smart, in a political sense.

Who in his own party might he gain support from in this move? African Americans, who overwhelmingly support charter schools and vouchers. The only problem is that 90% of African Americans are already supporting Obama. Once again, politically, not a smart move.

This is what happens when you don't actually believe in anything (or anything you can admit) and change your stance based upon political winds. Obama handlers will now begin make strategic shifts in policy in an effort to win back some of the voters that have shifted and he will continue to 'step in it'.

Perhaps Sarah Palin said it best in her speech:

"we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening. We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco."

Barack Obama 'wanted to join the US military'

Barack Obama wanted to join the US military - Telegraph

Barack Obama has said he considered joining the United States military when he left school but decided not to because the Vietnam war was over and "we weren't engaged in an active military conflict at that point".

The statement is thought to be the first time during the 19-month-long presidential campaign that the Democratic nominee for the White House has indicated he once wanted to serve in uniform. The aspiration was not mentioned in either of his two volumes of memoirs.

I'm not sure where to begin with this one. I don't know if this is pandering done poorly or stupidity done well. The statement, in and of itself, is moronic for two reasons: First, everyone knows it isn't true. Second, what kind of an idiot says he didn't join because there wasn't a war to fight at the time. This should disqualify Obama from being the Commander in Chief solely based on his complete lack of understanding of what make the military work.

The Culture War's Decisive Battle has Begun

American Thinker: The Culture War's Decisive Battle has Begun

from the article:

By choosing Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate -- and by staking his own claim to the presidency on "Country First" more than on any specific policy initiative -- John McCain has thrown the switch and put us Traditionalists onto the offense.  By doing so he has unleashed the energy and the will to victory among Traditionalists that have been dormant for so long the Left-Wing Liberals mistakenly assumed we'd lost.  And by taking the over-confident Left-Wing Liberals so completely by surprise, McCain has stunned them into revealing themselves for the vicious phonies that they are.

As a result, what started out as a typical campaign between Republicans and Democrats -- each party trying to hold its base while attracting enough independent voters to win -- has exploded into the Culture War's decisive battle.

Zogby International: McCain/Palin up by 4%

Zogby International

The McCain/Palin ticket wins 49.7% support, compared to 45.9% backing for the Obama/Biden ticket, this latest online survey shows. Another 4.4% either favored someone else or were unsure.

Another useless poll but keep watching. This is the time where the pollsters have to start slowly working their way toward reality lest they look bad against the actual results in election day.

Gallup Daily: McCain Moves Ahead, 48% to 45%

Gallup Daily: McCain Moves Ahead, 48% to 45%

The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update shows John McCain moving ahead of Barack Obama, 48% to 45%, when registered voters are asked for whom they would vote if the presidential election were held today.

I'm still not a big fan of polls but I like the way they're trending. Yes, it's a convention bounce. Let's see how long it holds...

Barack Obama — Magna Cum Saudi?

IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- Barack Obama — Magna Cum Saudi?

Does Barack Obama owe his meteoric rise to an Israeli-hating adviser to a Saudi billionaire? Why did a race-baiting mentor to the Black Panthers favor this yet unknown community organizer?

Interesting article about where Obama's money came from.  What is it, exactly, that I would need to do in order to get someone else to raise money for my education at Harvard??

Funny how President Bush was inextricably linked to Jack Abramoff because they were in the same picture at the White House but the mainstream media can't seem to drum up the interest to look into Obama's association with this guy, Tony Rezko and William Ayers when he, so obviously, had much tighter connections than he is claiming.

ABC News: Is Oprah Biased? Host Won't Interview Palin

ABC News: Is Oprah Biased? Host Won't Interview Palin

Let me say this about that - and it might surprise some of you.  I am GLAD that Oprah can choose to not have Sarah Palin on.  Sure,it would be great to have Sarah get that much more exposure and maybe have the chance to sway a few voters BUT...

...it's Oprah's show!  Why should she feel obligated to have anyone on?  People talk about her being biased.  I say, so what?  I'm biased and I'm proud of it.  Whether you like Oprah or not, she has made herself into the celebrity that she is and she runs her show the way she sees fit.  I say good for her!

I may disagree with her not wanting to put Palin on (if that is the case) but I don't have to agree with her. 

Talk show hosts and TV commentators don't have to be unbiased - reporters do.  If Katie Couric wanted to interview Joe Biden and not Sarah Palin and run a "news" story, I'd be the first one firing off angry e-mails to CBS.  But this is different.

The media just doesn't get it...

Sarah Palin will be missing from action Sunday a.m. | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times

As is The Ticket's custom, a post listing the entire roster of appearances on this Sunday's interview programs will pop up Saturday at noon PDT (3 p.m. EDT).

But here's an advance heads up, in part because of who WON'T be found on any of the chat shows.

Three of the four now-official candidates on the major-party presidential tickets are scheduled to sit down for questions: Democrat Barack Obama on ABC's "This Week," his running mate, Joe Biden, on NBC's "Meet the Press" and Republican John McCain on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Absent from this list, of course, is the GOP's star of the moment, the not-so-long-ago obscure governor of Alaska who is McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin...

...Today, top McCain aide Rick Davis indicated the campaign isn't in any hurry to slot Palin for a Sunday show appearance -- and will do so only if he and other strategists determine it serves the ticket's purposes, not because some may view it as a required initiation for a major political player.

Appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show, Davis said, "I'd never commit to anything in the future. ... Our strategy is in our hands, not the media's. We're going to do what's in our best interests to try to win the election. If we think going on TV news shows are [sic] in our best interests, we'll do it. If we don't, we won't."

The poor mainstream media is all in a tizzy because Sarah Palin won't go on their Sunday morning shows as soon as they want her to .  Perhaps they weren't listening when she said "But here’s a little news flash for those reporters and commentators. I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this great country.”

The freedom of the press means that reporters can report what they want without fear of government retribution.  It does not obligate ANYONE to speak to them or play by their rules.  Conservatives are FINALLY getting the balls to tell the media elite to 'stick it' and I, for one, couldn't be happier.

While we're at it, how about the Senate?

I decided to make this comment response a new post so that it would appear on the front page. Since I'm putting myself out there with my Presidential predictions, why not prognosticate on the possibilities in the Senate. Thanks to Tim for the request.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on the congressional and senate races? Do you see the "Palin energized" conservatives helping to pick up seats in either? Tim

Author said...

I think the energy level of conservatives can certainly be affected by the Palin pick and there are several places where it can most definitely make a difference in Senatorial races. Congressional House races are just to hard to predict based on any national waves, although they can be more affected by them.

Specifically, North Carolina, Minnesota, Colorado, New Hampshire, Alaska and Louisiana. Unfortunately, almost all of these are seats currently held by Republicans so there aren’t big gains here – mostly non-losses. But considering where we were before, it’s an improvement.

North Carolina: I think Liddy Dole would have been safe here anyway but the polls are close and she could use any boost she can get. The Obama camp seems to think they can win here and I think they are crazy. The increased interest in Palin getting elected (McCain isn’t terribly strong here) should help keep Dole ahead.

Minnesota: Minnesotans are actually looking at the possibility of putting Al (Stuart Smiley) Franken into the Senate. I have to believe that most of them don’t want to do that, although the polls here are close as well. Strong in independent voters, I believe McCain can carry the state and Palin will bring conservatives out that might have otherwise stayed home and help carry the Senate seat for Norm Coleman.

Colorado: I had this one pretty much written off a couple of months ago since Mark Udall was so far ahead in the polls. But the polls are tightening a bit and Bob Schaffer may still have a shot at it. Colorado voted for Bush both times but it will be close. The focus on this race will increase turnout as well. Whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen. Palin will definitely bring out more conservative voters and that should help carry the state for McCain. We’ll see if it’s enough to carry Schaffer.

New Hampshire: Here’s another state that wasn’t looking very good. Incumbent John Sununu beat the person he is currently running against (Jeanne Shaheen) in 2002 for this seat but he is significantly behind in the polls. A couple of things may change this: First, if the Iraq war continues to go well and nationwide support starts to go up (and it appears to be doing so, no matter how hard the media tries to make it otherwise), then Sununu could get a break from the beating he’s been taking as a supporter of the effort. Second, New Hampshire has a wildly independent streak and the combined McCain/Palin ticket may energize a good portion of them to come out and vote. New Hampshire folks LOVE candidates that promise to clean up Washington and stop wasting taxpayer money.

Alaska: If you’d have told me two years ago that Ted Stevens would be fighting for his Senate seat, I’d have said you were nuts. But with the ‘bridge to nowhere’ fiasco and allegations of Stevens receiving illegal gifts as a Senator, he is now the underdog. This is the race, however, that Sarah Palin will most impact. Alaska was reliably in McCain’s column anyway, but the enthusiasm for Palin will bring many party line voters to the booth on election day and will probably carry the day for Stevens, from whom she (Palin) has distanced herself.

Louisiana could be another interesting state for three main reasons. First Mary Landrieu is a big target for the Republicans and she’s not all that popular. Unfortunately, her challenger, John Kennedy (nothing beats name recognition, huh?) switched from being a Democrat to run against her so there isn’t exactly a groundswell of conservative support for him. Second, since Katrina, the state’s population has shifted dramatically and the pollsters just don’t know what to make of the electorate. There could be big surprises from the Big Easy come election night. And finally, Bobby Jindal has done a phenomenal job since taking over as governor. His pre-Gustav response was seen nationwide and he is very popular in the state right now. He’s not running for anything but people may be starting to view Republicans better in New Orleans.

Overall, these factors don’t point toward a tide in one direction or the other. In my dreams, this could turn out to be a MUCH better night for Republicans than most people are expecting. In a perfect storm, we would keep Colorado, North Carolina, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Alaska while taking Louisiana. It looks like the Dems are going to pick up seats in New Mexico and Virginia. If Lieberman stops caucusing with the Democrats, that would give us a net loss of 1 seat with a net-zero in control. Maintaining the status quo while defending 23 seats to the Democrats 12 would be wonderful.

Election Prediction - Going out on a limb...

OK, folks. It's time to make a prediction for the 2008 Presidential Election. The conventions are over. The bounces are still bouncing. And the pundits have begun all their 'punditry'.

John McCain and Sarah Palin will win this election with a nationwide vote of 52% to 47% over Obama with 1% going to Nader, Barr, et al.

The electoral map will look something like this:



I strongly believe that McCain/Palin already have 265 electoral votes on their side (the dark red). All they need to do is win any one of the remaining light red states (unless it's New Hampshire, then they would need one more to avoid a tie).

By the way, you can make your own map at Real Clear Politics

Now you can begin to see why I am so optimistic about the outcome of this election.

Of course, my opinion and $4.00 (at Starbuck's) will get you a cup of coffee.

(Does anyone really like Starbucks coffee? I thought people just drank it to look cool - sort of like smoking in high school...)