"Don't Cry for Me, Alaska" - The Sarah Palin Story

They're gonna have to abridge this story - it's gonna end in five weeks:

Seniors for Obama

Hear why American seniors are excited to support Barack Obama:

Trading Market Swings to Obama

Courtesy of Intrade - Click the graphic to go there:

Traffic Signal at Jorgensen YMCA starting Thursday

The long overdue stoplight at the intersection of Aboite Center Road and Westlakes Drive will be activated at 2 pm this Thursday. Crews just finished repainting the new road lines and stop bars today. This is a welcome sight at this bustling intersection that serves the Westlakes addition, the YMCA, and Indian Trails Park.

John McCain: Economic Disaster

John McCain does not have the ability to fix this economic crisis. After declaring the fundamentals of the economy strong, he created a political circus in Washington last week by mucking up bailout negotiations; a deplorable stunt, considering he and his political cronies helped cause the current meltdown.

It was McCain and his economic adviser Phil Gramm who pushed for the deregulation that helped lead to the banking crisis, and it was McCain's crony Rick Davis who had deep lobbyist ties to Freddie Mac. Don't let others be fooled by McCain's economic grandstanding because the reality is his policies and principles will only exacerbate our financial hardships. That's why you must spread this video.



McCain is being deceitful with his sudden populist message and support for regulation; his economic policies still favor our nation's wealthy elite. Call out McCain's economic dishonesty. Send this video to friends and ask them to sign up for a free Brave New Films video subscription to know the latest on TheRealMcCain.com. Then, post it on your blogs and spread it on networking sites like Digg and Reddit. These are some of the best ways to reach people who are not following this debate closely.

Sarah Silverman Tells Jews To Make The Great Schlep For Obama In Her New Video

You go, girl! (Not safe for work):


The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo

Goode is No Good

The piece of shit racist asshole pictured at left is a Virginia congressman. You may recall him for his ignorant remarks regarding Keith Ellison's election to the United States Congress from the state of Minnesota two years ago:

"The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration, there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran."

Big surprise that this asshat is at it once again, but this time he's taking it one step further - he's painting his average-joe, fair-skinned, all-American looking, Democratic opponent as a (insert threatening tones here) a. . .Muslim! AAHHHH!!!!! Here's a shot of Tom Perriello -
Now check out the ad that this piece of shit, Goode, is running:

"I'm John Good, and I approved this post, because "Virg" gives Good a bad name. Normally when there's an "E" on the end of my surname, it denotes a Jewish ethnicity, but I don't imagine that many Jews follow your inbred hatred of everyone different. Good luck on your re-election this year. . .have you noticed the recent political trends in Virginia, or are you too busy attempting to force your narrow views on others who don't share them?"

Barack in the Virginia Rain

I've heard several progressives express frustration that Barack hasn't attacked enough, that he hasn't enough shown anger and outrage. I submit this video for your approval:

Oops - Grampy Pissed Off Roger Ebert!

Guess who's NOT coming to dinner?
Great job, John McCain. Even Roger Ebert is pissed off at you. Then again, I'd be a little touchy too after reviewing the presidential movies of the last quarter century. . ."Bonzo Goes to Washington" (1980), "First term - The G.H.W. Bush Story" (1984), "Watching Danny Grow" (1988), "The Dukes of Little Rock" (1992), "Read My Lips - The Monica Files" (1996), "Chad and the Supremes - Stealing the Oval Office" (2000), and "Fooled Me, Won't Get Fooled Again - HA! Ya Did Get Fooled Again, Suckaz!". "No Country for Old Men gets a double thumbs down from this humble blogger as well. Roger's thoughts:

"I do not like you, John McCain. My feeling has nothing to do with issues. It has to do with common courtesy. During the debate, you refused to look Barack Obama in the eye. Indeed, you refused to look at him at all. Even when the two of you shook hands at the start, you used your eyes only to locate his hand, and then gazed past him as you shook it.

Obama is my guy. If you are rude to him, you are rude to me. If you came to dinner at my house and refused to look at or speak with one of my guests, that would be bad manners and I would be offended. Same thing if I went to your house. During the debate, you were America's guest.

What was your problem? Do you hold this man in such contempt that you cannot bear to gaze upon him? Will you not even speak to him directly?
Do you think he doesn't have the right to be running for President?
Were you angry because after you said you wouldn't attend the debate, he said a President should be able to concern himself with two things at the same time? He was right. The proof is, you were there. Were you angry with him because he called your bluff?

During the debate, Jim Lehrer repeatedly called upon both candidates to speak directly to each other. Obama looked at you. He addressed you as "John," which as a fellow senator is his privilege. His body language was open. You stared straight ahead, or at Lehrer, or into space. Your jaw was clinched. You had a tight little smile, or a grimace, or a little shake of your head.

I had to do two things at once while watching the debate. I had to listen to what was being said. And I had to process your rigid and contemptuous behavior. If you were at a wedding and the father of the groom refused to look at or speak to the bride, how would that make you feel? Especially if you were the father of the bride?

You made a TV commercial showing the moments Obama agreed with you.
Everybody knows he did. Did his agreement show honesty, or weakness?
It is significant that you said it proved he was not ready to lead.
What is the better leadership quality: (1) Willingness to listen to your opponent, and keep an open mind? (2) Rigidly ignoring him? Which of the two of you better demonstrated the bipartisan spirit you say you represent? Was there anything he said that you agreed with? Could you have brought yourself to say so?

I'm not the only one who noticed your odd, hostile behavior. Just about everybody did. I'm sure many of your supporters must have sensed the tension. Before the debate, pundits were wondering if you might explode in a display of your famous temper. I think we saw that happen, all right, but it was an implosion. I have instructed my wife to exclude you from any future dinner parties."

Cream? Sugar? Bat?

A Cedar Rapids, Iowa resident reported seeing a bat in her home, but wasn't terribly concerned about it. She followed her normal evening routine. Read the paper, watch some tv, set the coffeemaker for the next morning. Goodnight.

In the morning she woke up, grabbed a cup of coffee and, thinking it tasted a bit off, looked in the filter basket to find. . .the dead bat. The bat was taken to the state lab to test for rabies, but it's brain was too cooked by the heat of the brewing water to accurately determine if it was rabid or not. The woman is being treated as a precautionary measure.

A Palin Presidency

If you watch this you will,

1. - Need sleep meds tonight.

2. - STILL have nightmares

3. - Write a check to Obama 08 immediately.

Do #3 regardless. And watch this video:

Barney Frank to GOP - "Grow up"!

So the Republicans are saying they lost the vote because Nancy Pelosi gave a speech that offended twelve of their members. Well Barney Frank has an offer for them:

Give me those twelve people's names, and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them, and tell them what wonderful people they are, and maybe they'll think about the country.

Kucinich: "Is This The United States Congress Or The Board Of Directors Of Goldman Sachs?"

You Tell Me

Welcome to Monday! (ducking) Since you gotta be here anyway, hopefully your "team mates" have better names than these - but. . .you tell me:

Reach Out and Touch a hand

I feel that this song relates to the general mood of the country as we head to the polls in just a few short weeks:

26,000 Attend Rainy Rally for Obama-Biden

The spirits of 26,000 residents of Fredricksburg, Virginia remained undampened despite the pouring rain at a rally for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.


Fox News 27


NBC 29

Tina Fey Reprises Palin Role

One Day in 2009

One sunny day in 2009, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Ave, where he’d been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the US Marine standing guard and said, “I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.”

The Marine looked at the man and said, “Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here.”

The old man said, “Okay” and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, “I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.”

The Marine again told the man, “Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here.”

The man thanked him and, again just walked away

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same US Marine, saying “I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.”

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, “Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush. I’ve told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the president and no longer resides here. Don’t you understand?”

The old man looked at the Marine and said, “Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it.”

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, “See you tomorrow, Sir.”

Periodic Table of Condiments

Something to hang on your fridge - click to enlarge:

Side by Side - You Decide. . .

. . .who you want in charge of foreign policy decisions for our country:

Do NOT Let This Happen!

If you are prone to nightmares or suffer from stomach ulcers, do not watch the following video:



We're all counting on you to do the right thing. Click here to begin doing that right now!

WHO needs a bailout?

Certainly not the former CEO of Washington Mutual. If you want a prime example of how bloated these corporations are, Alan Fishman is your guy:

Fishman was the new chief executive officer for Washingon Mutual — WaMu — the nation's largest savings and loan, which was taken over Thursday night by federal bank regulators and quickly dumped in a fire sale to JPMorgan Chase for the Wal-Mart-like price of $1.9 billion.

But don't cry for Fishman, who reportedly was sky-high — literally — last night, on a flight from New York to Seattle, when WaMu collapsed. Even though he's only been on the job for less than three weeks, he's bailing out with parachute worth close to $20 million, according to an executive compensation analysis conducted for the New York Times by James F. Reda Associates.

Fishman, hired on Sept. 7, had a base annual salary of $1,000,000 which, for his three weeks on the job equates to about $60,000 before taxes. His target annual bonus was 365% of his salary, or $3.65 million. And if Fishman has to pay taxes because of any severance he receives as a result of the takeover, then the company would also cover those taxes.

Fishman's sign-on cash bonus was $7.5 million as well as 612,500 shares of WaMu, which are now virtually worthless. If Fishman is terminated without "cause" - such as the loss of a job due to a takeover of the firm - than he would receive a lump severance payment of $6.15 million. This figure is 2.5 times his base salary of $1 million plus the maximum bonus of $3.65 million. When you add up his salary, the possible bonuses and the lump sum payment, Fishman could walk away with more than $18 million.

I'm applying for every CEO job I can find available first thing on Monday Morning. I'm pretty sure that if people like George Bush and Carly Fiorino can run perfectly good companies into the ground, I . . can. . .too!

"Zero" - Obama Post-Debate Ad

"Zero" highlights how many times McCain mentioned the middle class in the first Presidential Debate and features footage from that debate where Obama gave his thoughts on the fundamentals of the economy and explained how John McCain's policies are just a continuation of the last eight years. On the air. . .

Paul Newman has died at 83

Paul Newman lost his battle with cancer yesterday at his home near Westport, Connecticut. The actor had finished chemotherapy treatment for the disease in August and it was widely reported in the US that he had only weeks to live. Newman, who got his start in theater and on television during the 1950s, became one of the world's most enduring and popular film stars. He was nominated for 10 Oscars, winning one regular award and two honorary ones, and had major roles in more than 50 motion pictures, including "Exodus," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Verdict," "The Sting" and "Absence of Malice." He also starred in The Hustler, Hud, and Cool Hand Luke.

Newman is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joanne Woodward, with whom he had one of Hollywood's rare long-term marriages. "I have steak at home, why go out for hamburger?" Newman told Playboy magazine when asked if he was tempted to stray

Joe Biden's Reaction to the Debate

I can't wait for the veep debate next Thursday - "Shhhh. . . be vewwwwy quiet. . .I'm hunting Caribou Barbie. . ."

Independent Voters Followed Obama Tonight

Judging by the audience meter during tonight's debate, Obama won handily tonight. When he spoke, the most important and deciding factor in this election, the independents, rose in support of Obama, yet generally fell when McCain spoke. Obama pushed back hard at McCain. Watch:

Debate Flashbacks - '96 - '00 - '04

Debate Flashbacks: NBC takes a look back at the last three series of presidential debates -- Clinton v. Dole, Bush v. Gore, and Bush v. Kerry:

1996


2000


2004

Friday Nite Retro - Songs for September

Welcome to Friday Nite retro - The September Songs Edition:

September - Earth, Wind & Fire


September Morn - Neil Diamond


Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day


September - Ryan Adams


Try to Remember - Roy Orbison


A Lonely September - Plain White T's

"Repeating the Past"

Jon Stewart finds an eerie similarity between President Bush's big bailout speech and his Iraq invasion speech five years ago. "Those who do not study the past get an exciting opportunity to repeat it." Watch:

Day 2 - Letterman Continues Attack On McCain

John McCain to the Rescue!

"God save us from such help" - Barney Frank

Palin's New Smash Hit Single

As heard on Stephanie Miller:

The OBAMA GIRL and RALPH NADER Show!

The NEW "Odd Couple". . .

Obama - "A Stronger Economy"

One day after President Bush addressed the nation on the financial markets and John McCain announced he would go back to Congress to work on the bailout, Barack Obama takes the leadership mantle from the both of them, releasing this video on his outlook on the economy:

Raw Video! - Couric/Palin Interview

"I'll try to find ya some, and I'll bring it to ya".

Julie Brown - "The Ex Beauty Queen's Got A Gun!"

Julie Brown has rewritten her infamous tune "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" in honor protest of Sarah Palin. She debuted it today on the Stephanie Miller Show - Listen:

Wisconsin Voters Targeted for Fraud by McCain Campaign

I've heard of some reports of this in other states, but this is the first I've actually seen in print. From The Racine Post:

Democratic voters in at least two Wisconsin communities have received absentee voter forms from the McCain campaign that -- if used -- could cause their votes to be ignored.

Is it a simple error? Or campaign shenanigans and voter fraud? You be the judge.

Keith Heck, a former Racine Unified School Board member who lives in Mount Pleasant, reports receiving a mailing containing two tear-out requests for an absentee ballot. The preprinted request form -- an 11x17 piece of card stock folded over twice for mailing -- is addressed to the clerk in the the village of Caledonia.

Heck says, "I spoke with the Caledonia clerk and learned if we (in Mount Pleasant) used the form and sent it to the pre-printed address they would have to forward it to the right jurisdiction (if they had the time and the people) who would then have to send out the absentee ballot. As the deadline to submit a request is Oct. 30, and the clerks have a deadline of Oct. 31, this bogus form not only gums up and overworks the process to get absentee ballots sent out, it could cause some to not even be mailed."

Read the rest of this Racine Post story here.

Top 25 Censored Stories for 2009

• #1. Over One Million Iraqi Deaths Caused by US Occupation
• # 2 Security and Prosperity Partnership: Militarized NAFTA
• # 3 InfraGard: The FBI Deputizes Business
• # 4 ILEA: Is the US Restarting Dirty Wars in Latin America?
• # 5 Seizing War Protesters’ Assets
• # 6 The Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act
• # 7 Guest Workers Inc.: Fraud and Human Trafficking
• # 8 Executive Orders Can Be Changed Secretly
• #9 Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Testify
• # 10 APA Complicit in CIA Torture
• # 11 El Salvador’s Water Privatization and the Global War on Terror
• # 12 Bush Profiteers Collect Billions From No Child Left Behind
• # 13 Tracking Billions of Dollars Lost in Iraq
• # 14 Mainstreaming Nuclear Waste
• # 15 Worldwide Slavery
• # 16 Annual Survey on Trade Union Rights
• # 17 UN’s Empty Declaration of Indigenous Rights
• # 18 Cruelty and Death in Juvenile Detention Centers
• # 19 Indigenous Herders and Small Farmers Fight Livestock Extinction
• # 20 Marijuana Arrests Set New Record
• # 21 NATO Considers “First Strike” Nuclear Option
• # 22 CARE Rejects US Food Aid
• # 23 FDA Complicit in Pushing Pharmaceutical Drugs
• # 24 Japan Questions 9/11 and the Global War on Terror
• # 25 Bush’s Real Problem with Eliot Spitzer

Jack Cafferty: Let's Have The Debate!

Cafferty expresses what most Americans are saying:

McCain's a "celebrity" Too!

After mocking Barack Obama and labeling him as a celebrity, it turns out that Grampy McSame has spent over $5,000 on his own personal Hollywood Make-up artiste! Tifanie White, the makeup artist who works on "American Idol," performed cosmetic services for the "senior" senator on several occasions, most notably before his joint appearance with Barack Obama at Saddleback. I guess John Edward's $400 haircuts weren't all that extravagant after all. . .

Letterman Mocks McCain

"We've got a guy like that NOW"

"In the middle of the taping of his show today, Dave Letterman got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"


Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."


"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"


"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

UPDATE: Video

Obama Rejects McCain's Debate Ploy

Barack Obama rejected the proposal -- put forward by John McCain today -- that the two presidential candidates leave the campaign trail, delay Friday's debate, and return to Washington to work on a bailout package for the economy, "Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time," he said, "it is not necessary for us to think we can do only one thing and suspend everything else."

Obama Leads 52 to 43

Click the graphic below for the full story:

McCain Lies About Buying American

What a surprise! In addition to his SEVEN HOMES, John McCain owns 13 vehicles; three of which are foreign made, despite his statements:



Who's the elitist candidate in this election? John McCain, you're a lying sack of shit!

The "No Talk Express"

John McCain has destroyed the one major advantage he held in this campaign - his open relationship with the press. McCain has long been a media darling due to his accessibility to the media, but that ended since he added Sarah " Ida Know" Palin to the ticket. Can't say that I blame him, as Caribou Barbie is clueless on 99% of the issues. Watch the dodge:

The Paulson Scam E-mail

Did anybody else get one of these? Thanks, Paddy.

CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Dear Mr. American,

Good day and compliments.

Iam HENRI PAULSON, the Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic ofAmerica, and the personal financial adviser to GEORGE W. BUSH (theeldest son of the former dictator of America, GENERAL GEORGE HUSSEINWALKER BUSH).

This letter will definitely come to you as ahuge surprise, but I implore you to take the time to go through itcarefully as the decision you make will go off a long way to determinethe future and continued existence of the entire members of my country.

Itis with deep sense of purpose and utmost sincerity that I have theprivilege to write you this letter knowing full well how you will feelas regards to receiving a mail from somebody you have not met or seenbefore. There is no need to fear, I got your address from a Wall Streetbusiness directory which lends credence to my humble belief. I alsoassure you of my honesty and trustworthiness. I need to ask you tosupport an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of fundsof great magnitude.

During the last Military Regime here inAmerica, the Government officials set up companies and awardedthemselves contracts which were grossly over-invoiced in variousministries. My country has had great crisis that has caused the needfor large transfer of funds of US$800,000,000,000.00 (eight hundredbillion US dollars) in cash for safe-keeping. If you would assist me inthis transfer, it would be of most profitable for you.

I amworking with the honourable MR. PHIL GRAMM, lobbyist for UBS, who willbe my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As Senator,you may know him as leader of the American banking deregulationmovement in the 1990s.

This is a matter of great urgence. Weneed a immediate blank cheque. We need the funds as quickly aspossible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of ourclose friends because as civil servants we are constantly undersurveillance by Democratic members of Congress, the media, and theAmerican public. My family lawyer, MR. RICK DAVIS, advised me that Ishould look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as anext of kin so the funds can be transferred.

Please note thatthis transaction is 100% safe and we hope to commence the transferlatest seven (7) banking days from the date of the receipt of thefollowing information: all of your bank account, IRA and college fundaccount numbers and those of your children and grandchildren towallstreetbailout@treasury.gov so that we may transfer your commissionfor this transaction. This way we will use your country's name to applyfor payment in your name. After I receive that information, I willrespond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used toprotect the funds. That's all. Let me know what you think about this.

We are looking forward to doing this business with you and solicit your confidentiality in this transaction.

May Allah show you mercy as you do so?

Your faithfully,

Dr. Minister of Treasury Paulson

Palin "Rape Kit" Update

CNN digs further into the story. Watch:

Bailout Battle Leans Towards Congressional Dems

"Heckuva Job Hank" Paulson and the White House appear to be facing an uphill battle as several high ranking Democrats stepped up their opposition today to Paulson's $700 billion plan, which called for scant additional oversight added to the financial markets or Paulson himself. In short, they wish to continue down the same unregulated, non-supervised road that they took to drive us into this current mess.Section 8 of the plan reads:

"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."

House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank, was one of the first out of the gates, telling ABC's Good Morning America: "I trust Hank Paulson. But I don't trust anybody to have the amount of power he asked for in the bill he sent us." Senate Banking Committee Chair Chris Dodd warned that this bill would "turn $700 billion over virtually to one individual."

Barney Frank: 'bad decisions' made


Chris Dodd: "quickly, but carefully"


"The Treasury is not in a take-it-or-leave-it position with Congress," said Robert Shapiro, president of Sonecon and the undersecretary of commerce during the Clinton White House. "The Treasury and Fed's mismanagement over the last two years helped bring up this brink, and they and a president with 30 percent approval are not in a position to dictate terms."

You Tell Me

Another Blue Monday. . .enjoy this New Order tune first:



And then, caption this photo:

The GOP Needs a New Playbook

Everything old is new again -

"The whole focus of Republican oratory these days, seems to be to switch labels. The object is to persuade the American people that the Democratic Party was responsible for the 1929 crash and the depression. And that the Republican Party was responsible for all social progress under the New Deal. Now. . imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but I am afraid. . I am afraid that in this case it is the most obvious common garden variety of fraud."

- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Thanks, Kevin.

Obama Responds to BornAliveTruth.org Attack

Barack Obama is airing a new ad in New Mexico and Ohio that defends his abortion rights record and says Republican rival John McCain backs a party platform that would deny abortions to victims of rape and incest.

The ad is in response to an independent ad campaign, financed by an anti-abortion philanthropist, that singles out Obama's efforts in the Illinois Senate to defeat the Born Alive Infants Protection Act:



As an Illinois state senator, Obama opposed three legislative efforts in 2001, 2002 and 2003 to give legal protections to any aborted fetus that showed signs of life. The 2003 measure was virtually identical to a bill President Bush signed into law in 2002 that unanimously passed the U.S. Senate.

Obama and other opponents of the Illinois bill have noted the state already had a law to protect aborted fetuses born alive and considered able to survive. Moreover, they said the proposed legislation would have undermined the landmark Supreme Court case on abortion, Roe v. Wade, in ways the federal law would not. Among those opposed to the state effort was the Illinois State Medical Society, which argued that the bill would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship and expand civil liability for doctors.

Al Franken's McCain Skit

Saturday Night Live's opening skit knocked John McCain for running misleading ads about Barack Obama. As Politico reported last night, Al Franken had a hand in crafting the skit:

Keating Five Redux

In a clip from their documentary "Third Term," Progressive Accountability finds a direct tie between John McCain's actions in the Keating Five scandal and his current response to the economic crisis. Watch:

Rednecks for Obama

Missouri resident Tony Viessman traveled to Denver for the Democratic National Convention to help persuade "rednecks" that Barack Obama should get their vote:

Obama Blasts McCain Healthcare Proposals

"There's only one candidate who's called himself "fundamentally a deregulator" when deregulation is part of the problem. My opponent actually wrote in the current issue of a health care magazine - the current issue - quote - "Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation."

So let me get this straight - he wants to run health care like they've been running Wall Street. Well, Senator, I know some folks on Main Street who aren't going to think that's a good idea."

Barack Obama - "Promise"

Campaigning in New Mexico, Obama mocked McCain's call to fire the SEC chairman, basically saying why stop at Cox.

"In the next 47 days you can fire the whole trickle-down, on-your-own, look-the-other-way crowd in Washington who has led us down this disastrous path," he told a campaign rally in Espanola. "Don't just get rid of one guy. Get rid of this administration. Get rid of this philosophy. Get rid of the do-nothing approach to our economic problem and put somebody in there who's going to fight for you."

Bush with Big Hair

Garrison Keillor weighs in:

So the Republicans have decided to run against themselves. The bums have tiptoed out the back door and circled around to the front and started yelling, "Throw the bums out!" They've been running Washington like a well-oiled machine to the point of inviting lobbyists into the back rooms to write the legislation, and now they are anti-establishment reformers dedicated to delivering us from themselves.

It is a bold move on the Republicans' part -- forget about the past, it's only history, so write a new narrative and be who you want to be -- and if they succeed, I think I might declare myself a 24-year-old virgin named Lance and see what that might lead to. Paste a new face on my Facebook page, maybe become the Dauphin Louie the Thirty-Second, the rightful heir to the Throne of France, put on silk tights and pantaloons and a plumed hat and go on the sawdust circuit and sell souvenir hankies imprinted with the royal fleur-de-lis.

Click here for the rest of his opinion.

Sarah Palin is No Friend to Women

I received this via email tonight from a good friend. A friend who happens to be a woman. A smart, free-thinking intellectual woman. The kind of woman that Sarah Palin doesn't believe in giving a voice to. Or supporting during the worst possible violation of her humanity and womanhood. I don't care what your party affiliation is or your personal views may be - this woman does not give a flying fuck about you or what harm may befall you. Place yourself in the shoes of this rape victim, and make the call for yourself:

I sat with a rape victim during the “harvesting of evidence”. Mascara smeared eyes stared blankly out from a cave of shame. “We’ve got swimmers,” announced the forensic tech in the lab next door. My friend didn’t look surprised. In her 60’s, she was still asked if she felt the need for emergency contraception. Surviving the process would have only been compounded and made worse with an itemized bill; victimized twice courtesy of Sarah Palin and the city of Wasilla.

Much can be learned about the Palin Administration’s family values from reviewing their spending priorities. Former Chief of Police Irl Stambaugh included forensic rape kits (up to $1,200 per kit) in his budget requests. He was fired by Palin in 1997. In her termination letter, Palin wrote, “…I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment. . . ” Staumbaugh headed the police department since it was created in 1993. Before that, he served 22 years with the Anchorage Police Department rising to the rank of captain. Sarah Palin hired Charlie Fannon as the new Wasilla Chief of Police and said it was one of her best decisions as mayor. Fannon eliminated the forensic rape kits from the budget. Though the number of rapes weren’t reported, Fannon claimed it would save Wasilla taxpayers $5,000 to $14,000 a year.

When Eric Croft, a Democrat Legislator from Anchorage, learned of Wasilla’s policy, he drafted HB 270, which Governor Tony Knowles signed into law. The new law made it illegal for any law enforcement agency to bill victims or victims’ insurance companies for the costs of examinations to collect evidence of a sexual assault or determine if a sexual assault actually occurred. Upon signing the law, Governor Knowles said, “We would never bill the victim of a burglary for the cost of gathering evidence, nor should we bill rape victims just because the crime scene happens to be their bodies.”

Wasilla Police Chief Fannon protested the new law stating it would require the city and communities to come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams. Really? Are the true costs of sexual assault and forcible rape in a community only measured and reflected in the dollars spent on the forensic rape kit?

If you were a Hillary Clinton supporter, good on you. Mrs.Clinton is your friend. She's a champion for women across the board. She understands you. She has lived through many of your worst moments in her own life. Sarah Palin doesn't give a rat's ass about you. Her view is that your body is an instrument of God and you are not allowed to have any control over it. Raped? Victim of incest? Sorry 'bout your luck, but it's God's will for you to carry a child if you are impregnated during those very personal violations against you!

Barack Obama will protect your rights; Joe Biden has an extensive track record of fighting for your rights. Sarah Palin wants the courts to control your personal decisions regarding your body, John McCain left his first wife for a younger, richer mate, whom he later called a "cunt" in a public venue. I know you're smart; I know you're paying attention; telephone - telegraph - tell a friend! Don't let these reprobates win a third Bush term with their misinformation!

Friday Nite Retro - Michael Martin Murphy

Welcome to Friday Nite Retro! Tonight, I got to learn all about Michael Martin Murphy; who recorded three songs that I was aware of. As it turns out, I wasn't all that aware! Murphy has performed everything from bubble-gum pop to folk to country to cowboy-western. Murphy was born in Oak Cliff, Texas in 1945, and grew up in Dallas. His love of the outdoors began at an early age when his parents took him and his brother Mark on regular trips to the country to visit relatives. When he was six years old, Murphy started riding horses on his grandfather's and uncle's ranches. Years later he would remember sleeping on his grandfather's porch under the stars listening to the older man's stories and cowboy songs. He also enjoyed being around these men of the land as they went about their work. These experiences made a deep impression on the young boy.

His early influences included Hank Williams, Bob Wills, and Woody Guthrie. At seventeen he took his first "professional" music job, playing western songs around the campfire at a Texas ranch. By the early 1960s, Murphey was playing the clubs in Dallas, performing country music, folk music, and rock music. He won over the conservative Texas audiences with his charm and talent, and soon formed a band that developed a significant following in the Dallas area.

After high school, Murphy moved to California, attended UCLA, and made a name for himself in the Los Angeles folk music scene. By 1964, he formed a musical group with an old Texas friend, Michael Nesmith, and John London and John Raines, under the name the "Trinity River Boys". Nesmith, who became one of the Monkees, asked Murphey to write them a song for the next Monkees album, and Murphey composed "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round."

What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?


In 1971, Murphy returned to Texas and became part of the so-called "Outlaw Country" movement, playing alongside other maverick performers such as Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker. He created a unique sound that combined his country, rock, and folk influences. It was during this period that Murphy wrote "Geronimo's Cadillac," a song about Indian rights that later became an unofficial anthem for the American Indian Movement in the early 1970s.

Geronimo's Cadillac


In 1975, he released his seminal album, Blue Sky, Night Thunder, which contained the hit "Carolina in the Pines" and what is perhaps his masterpiece, "Wildfire", a sentimental song about the ghosts of a woman and her horse. As a boy, he first heard the story of a ghost horse rescuing people in the desert from his grandfather. Years later, Murphy had a dream about this ghost horse and wrote the words and music the same day with songwriter Larry Cansler.

In May 1975, "Wildfire" reached No. 1 on the Radio and Records charts, No. 3 on Billboard's Pop Chart, and No. 1 on all Adult Contemporary Charts, giving Murphy a new level of commercial success and exposure. The song's success was due, in large part, to the unique harmonies supplied by Jeff Hanna and Jimmy Ibbotson from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the beautiful piano introduction based on a classical piece by Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, played by master jazz pianist Jac Murphy.

Wildfire


In 1982, Murphy signed with Liberty Records and produced two original albums, Michael Martin Murphy and The Heart Never Lies, and a compilation of re-recorded versions of his A&M, Epic, and Liberty hits. During the early 1980s, Murphy had significant commercial success with hits like "Still Taking Chances," "Disenchanted," "Don't Count the Rainy Days," "Will It Be Love By Morning," "Radio Land," and the No. 1 hit "What's Forever For" which also reached No. 19 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart.

What's Forever For


Still Takin' Chances


In 1983, Murphey was voted Best New Male Vocalist of the year by the Academy of Country Music. In 1985, his rerecorded version of "Carolina in the Pines" reached the Top 10.

Carolina in the Pines


In 1990, Murphy released the album Cowboy Songs — a project he'd been working on for several years. This was a pure labor of love, since no one had recorded an album of authentic cowboy songs in more than twenty years. The album contained Murphy's versions of old cowboy songs from the public domain such as "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," "The Old Chisholm Trail," the beautiful "Spanish is the Loving Tongue," the classic "The Streets of Laredo," and his tip of the hat to Roy Rogers, "Happy Trails." The album also contained Murphy's own "Cowboy Logic."

Cowboy Logic


Michael Martin Murphy has had a successful music career that has spanned four decades and included such musical genres as folk, country, rock, popular, western, and cowboy music. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, he has contributed some of the best-loved songs of his generation. His songs have been recorded by Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Cher, Lyle Lovett, Flatt & Scruggs, Claire Hamill, Hoyt Axton, Roger Miller, Bobbie Gentry, Michael Nesmith, and the Monkees.

Murphey played a major role in the resurrection of the cowboy song genre, recording and producing some of the most successful cowboy music of the past forty years. His album Cowboy Songs inspired a whole series of albums. For his accomplishments in the Western and Cowboy Music field, Murphey received five awards from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, formerly known as the National Cowboy Hall of Fame) in Oklahoma City. His name is now synonymous with Cowboy Music.

Drop by his official site to see what he's up to today!

Obama Ad - "Need Education"

Late today, the Obama campaign released a new ad hitting McCain for his opposition to equal pay. The spot, titled "Need Education," was narrated by Lilly Ledbetter, the Alabama woman whose Supreme Court case led to 2007 fair pay legislation.

Aqua Indiana: "Bend Over Aboite"

From The Journal Gazette:

Aqua Indiana customers will begin paying 50 percent more for their water and sewer utilities next month.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the company’s 75 percent rate increase request last month. The higher rate will be phased in, with a 50 percent spike taking effect in October and the remainder of the increase in June.

Bill Etzler, vice president and regional manager of Aqua Indiana, said customers won’t see the new rate on their bills until November, and because of billing cycles, the full effect won’t be seen until December for most customers. According to the state, the full increases will mean an extra $19 a month for the average sewer customer and an extra $14 a month for typical water customers.

I think it's time for the city of Fort Wayne to take over water and sewage in Aboite as they did last year in northern Allen County.

The Economy and You

Obama Leads by 3 Points in Indiana

According to a new Indianapolis Star-WTHR poll, Barack Obama now holds a 47% to 44% lead over John McCain in the Hoosier State. While the Star report doesn't say so, I think it's safe to say that this is the first time that a Democratic presidential contender has held a lead in Indiana since my cousin Lyndon did so back in the year that I was born (1964).




The poll shows a solid lead for Obama in Marion County, but claims McCain holds the remainder of the state. I question that aspect. I am 100% certain that Obama will handily carry Northwest Indiana, Fort Wayne, and Bloomington. I predict a rural vs. urban race that should allow Obama to eke out a close win in Indiana.

As the poll shows, Obama supporters are far more "fired up and ready to go" than McCain's, and Obama trumps his opponent in every important issue except experience. As McCain continues to show his "experience" as he has during this week, people will continue to fall behind Senator Obama.

Wingnut Lawyer Gets Served

Meet Gabriel Schwartz, 29, of Denver Colorado. His hobbies include: practicing law, lowering taxes for the wealthy, bombing the shit out of countries filled with brown people, and picking up thieves posing as sexy women interested in sleazeballs. Yes, ladies, he IS single and available! Although possibly a bit more cautious with his dating these days. I DID report on the prevalence of prostitution at GOP conventions earlier this year - but this enterprising young lass completely skipped the actual sex part of the transaction. Schwartz, who's been described as "a fixture in Colorado Republican politics" gave the following interview during the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.



Apparently that was before he picked up a "date" for the evening and invited her up to his hotel room for some after hours entertainment. Once there, the woman fixed the drinks and told him to get undressed. And that was the last thing he remembered from is romantic encounter. He later awoke to find that he had been robbed of over $120,000 in money, jewelry and other belongings.

I love a happy ending!