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Wednesday Open Thread: Busy Being Fabulous

Reader, reader on the wall, who's the most fabulous of them all?

As McCain continues to hit at Obama's celebrity with yet another video ad, here's a better one to watch.

(Lyrics here since it's hard to hear the words over the music.)

And you were just too busy being fabulous

Too busy to think about us

This is an open thread.

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  • Display: Sort:
    The ad (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:36:03 PM EST
    you linked to by McCain really wasn't that good. However, I was surprised at the effectiveness of "The One" ad. I only saw it yesterday and it did effectively skewer Obama. I wouldn't have believed that Obama himself had claimed that a "light will come down upon you" if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Wow. That statement shows just how politically immature Obama was when running in the primary.

    Heh, and during the primaries (5.00 / 0) (#3)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:40:30 PM EST
    there was all that screaming that CLINTON was writing ads for the Republicans.

    While this one wasn't as grabbing as The One, The Celeb or Obama Love, they do make McCain look more visually appealing than he appears in the snippets we see of his stumps on the news.

    Parent

    Even I thought Obama was joking (none / 0) (#71)
    by Valhalla on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:40:29 PM EST
    when he did the light shining down on you bit.  He was being funny, right?  Please, please tell me he was being funny.

    Parent
    what's considered (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:48:21 PM EST
    funny in January can seem distinctly unfunny in August, September, October and the first week of November if one is being slammed as being a celebrity, of having little to offer but the ability to draw a crowd, of being inexperienced and arrogant and of being The One.

    And this is only ONE quote that will come back to bite him in the behind.  Smart politicians like Hillary and McCain have a tendency to watch what they say in Primaries knowing full well it can come back and get you in the General.

    You think at some point someone would have told Obama and Axelrod that the bridges they were burning to get to the Nomination were bridges they'd need to get to the White House.  

    And it's almost impossible to rebuild something still smoldering and sparking and covered in a haze of noxious smoke.

    Parent

    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:27:20 PM EST
    it was meant to be but it didn't come off that way. Obama is not known for his sense of humor.

    Parent
    John Kerry told me he has (5.00 / 2) (#106)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:54:24 PM EST
    a great sense of humor.  and who better to judge?


    Parent
    Now, that cracked me up. (5.00 / 2) (#114)
    by Cream City on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:50:51 PM EST
    Kerry, Obama . . . not so much.


    Parent
    He was definitely joking... (none / 0) (#85)
    by OrangeFur on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:06:44 PM EST
    But I suppose one could argue you have to have a certain mindset to make a joke like that. It's hard to imagine most politicians saying something like that.

    Parent
    It wasn't a joke .... (none / 0) (#116)
    by bridget on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:56:05 PM EST
    the latest "symbol" thing is exactly the same thing

    he means it ... and his fans eat it up

    expect more where this came from

    Parent

    After watching... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by desertswine on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:38:30 PM EST
    McCain's ad, one would think that he's running to be president of his middle school.

    The ads by McCain are effective (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:41:41 PM EST
    against obama and that is what they hoped for...if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

    Parent
    May as well be.... (5.00 / 0) (#50)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:22:56 PM EST
    the national IQ is at a middle-school level...and dropping like a stone:)

    Parent
    Yeah I think you're right... (none / 0) (#62)
    by desertswine on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:31:35 PM EST
    Mencken:

    "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public."

    ...or its intelligence.

    Parent

    Patton Oswalt made the observation (none / 0) (#91)
    by blogtopus on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:18:11 PM EST
    Median IQ in America is 100, meaning half the population has double-digit IQs... I wonder how true that is, heh.

    Parent
    A win for consumers (5.00 / 0) (#5)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:45:02 PM EST
    HR 404 has been passed on to the President and he says he'll sign it.

    Edit: Hr 4040 that is (none / 0) (#8)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:45:57 PM EST
    It occurs to me that the real favor (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by andgarden on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:45:27 PM EST
    Paris Hilton did Obama was to shift the national discussion back to personality. If this election is decided on a personality contest, Obama wins. That's a first for a Democrat.

    (Incidentally, Obama should also win on a policy discussion--if ever he actually decides to emphasize policy).

    IF (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by txpolitico67 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:47:11 PM EST
    being the operative word.  It would be fabulous to see McCain and Obama FINALLY go at it in one of those townhalls instead of sniping and using these ads.

    Paging anyone with courage.  Courage, you have a call holding on the blue courtesy phone.  PLEASE pick up!!

    Parent

    McCain has been doing (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:48:55 PM EST
    everything but begging for a town hall.
    Obama is hiding under every bush and skirt.


    Parent
    I disagree (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:49:44 PM EST
    every time Paris is on the screen it turns off older voters and helps McCain.

    Parent
    the thought that (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:53:31 PM EST
    a continued linking of Obama to Paris Hilton somehow helps Obama is beyond my grasp.

    Especially when McCain says that Paris Hilton has a better Energy Policy than Barack Obama.

    Obama is helping McCain make a joke out of Obama.

    Parent

    That kind of thinking never works (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by andgarden on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:54:57 PM EST
    Famous people win elections.

    Parent
    even those where (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:58:46 PM EST
    nearly 50% of the people are tired of seeing them?

    Man, that's some damn strong kool-aid.  I hope Team Obama has designated drivers on-call.

    Parent

    also (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:01:09 PM EST
    I think by Nov 4th Obama is going to be famous for a lot of things he would rather not be famous for.

    Parent
    I'm not so sure. (5.00 / 0) (#31)
    by TheRealFrank on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:00:32 PM EST
    Having "star quality" helps generally, but if voters perceive that as your only strong quality, then you're in trouble.


    Parent
    on the other hand (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:02:09 PM EST
    by  his metric maybe Paris has a chance.

    PAR-IS PAR-IS PAR-IS

    Parent

    Depends (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:33:17 PM EST
    on what you're famous for.

    If you're famous for being nauseating, you don't win.

    For me, his first nauseating quote:

    "We are the ones we've been waiting for"

    What does that mean?  Is that some hopey-changey manta or a self-admission that we're all perpetually tardy for group events.

    Parent

    if we are the one we have been waiting for (5.00 / 3) (#68)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:36:40 PM EST
    why have we been waiting?

    I think its sort of funny that in that quote (video version) there is such a strong accent on the WE that its glaringly clear that what he means and is trying not to say is I am the one we have been waiting for.

    Parent

    oh, thank God (5.00 / 0) (#73)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:42:40 PM EST
    I thought it was just me that was always late.  Nice to know I travel in a large pack.

    Oh, wait, that clock doesn't really say it's almost five, does it?  No, really?!  Sh*t!  Um ... I gotta go.

    Later ...

    :-)

    Parent

    What does it mean? Ask Hopi elders (5.00 / 0) (#96)
    by Cream City on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:27:16 PM EST
    who said it first.

    In this, as in other lines, Senator Obama seems to be lacking in the attribution area.  Lawyers here: Don't you have to attribute/cite/footnote quotes?

    Parent

    It's when a shallow thinker like BO tries to claim (5.00 / 0) (#121)
    by Ellie on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:16:11 PM EST
    ... credit for a cribbed quote which he dumbed down to impress a credulous, shallower and dumber throng with his Wisdom.

    Gandhi urged people to be the change they wanted to see in the world, believing, correctly, that the ripple effect would create real change.

    Obama uses the affectation of a faux visionary to sell his morally empty, materialistic, Me-Me-Me self-marketing.

    Parent

    we will see (none / 0) (#24)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:56:43 PM EST
    worked so well for Kerry and Gore :-) (none / 0) (#135)
    by RalphB on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 08:33:20 PM EST
    and she does have a better (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:57:50 PM EST
    energy plan

    Parent
    She certainly has (none / 0) (#140)
    by weltec2 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:38:41 PM EST
    a much nicer smile than either of them.

    Parent
    My take: it's McC's latest BO=Bush3 msg to Repugs (5.00 / 0) (#127)
    by Ellie on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:51:25 PM EST
    McCain's been painting Obama as another GW Bush that in all those 'lame' ads that Obama's too-clever-by-half Super Geniuses eyeroll (before they huddle for another round of Let's Make This Always About Race Evah for the slobbering faux-controversy addicted media.)

    Quietly and effectively, McCain has been putting space between himself and that GE millstone, which should please hardcore Repugs who want to retain the WH for dynastic GOP rule over the One Party (that is always theirs, ever).

    Obama and Paris Hilton? Well, that's just like GW Bush's shallow blond eedjit supporter Britney Spears innit?

    Parent

    I disagree ... its the older guys who (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by bridget on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:13:59 PM EST
    enjoy looking at young women like Paris - and they will not be turned off

    the younger the better btw.

    mark my words

    Parent

    Look. Bridget. (5.00 / 1) (#142)
    by weltec2 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:45:09 PM EST
    I only watched that video ten times and half of those were with the sound turned off so they don't even count. Sheesh! Have you been crashing my computer?

    Parent
    ROTFLOLOL ..... ;-) (none / 0) (#145)
    by bridget on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 10:25:55 PM EST
    Disagree (5.00 / 0) (#15)
    by TheRealFrank on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:51:20 PM EST
    I think the discussion being about personality (Obama's) has definitely hurt him. I don't see how it can be a win for him during the rest of the campaign.


    Parent
    trust me (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:54:33 PM EST
    they are going to ride the personality cult pony until it falls over dead from exhaustion.

    Parent
    if they're smart (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:57:28 PM EST
    they'll follow the hint given in the latest Pew Poll and back off.

    Of course, the operative phrase here is "if they're smart".  

    Ergo, more personality and rock star events on the way!  Oh-bam-a, Oh-bam-a, Oh-bam-a!!!!

    Parent

    Considering The Pew Poll (5.00 / 0) (#90)
    by JimWash08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:17:23 PM EST
    You'd think that the Obama Campaign should be rethinking the whole Nomination-Speech-At-The-Stadium gimmick, but by the looks of it, it's all systems go.

    Parent
    what else do they have? (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:23:36 PM EST
    also (5.00 / 0) (#109)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:21:59 PM EST
    they really have no choice as far as the stadium speech.
    that is the only way to be sure of keeping Hillary supporters shouted down.

    Parent
    That is true. (5.00 / 0) (#122)
    by JimWash08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:20:50 PM EST
    After all, they are only letting in the "faithful Obama supporters" right?

    Parent
    I honestly don't know which side (none / 0) (#75)
    by Valhalla on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:45:50 PM EST
    this statement is aimed at.

    ;)

    Parent

    A recent poll shows 48% of the people (5.00 / 3) (#37)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:03:42 PM EST
    are already sick of seeing obama...as for personality, if his response to these ads is any indication, he could be construed as lacking personality as well as being humorless.

    Parent
    throw in a now famously (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:35:13 PM EST
    thin skin with a few snippy, impatient answers to perfectly reasonable questions and I think you'll see an even bigger exodus away from The One and either onto the couch or into the McCain column.

    I suspect that Obama is becoming more and more peeved that things aren't going the way he was promised they would and the Media, in his eyes, has turned against him eg. is asking him hard questions now instead of beating up his opponent for him.

    Eventually, and not too far from now, people will be seriously questioning the Democrats who supported him over the obvious winner they had in Hillary.  Not exactly the best way to instill confidence in the Dem Party, you know?

    Parent

    I think that's going to be the crux of the ads (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by blogtopus on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:22:12 PM EST
    We'll probably see more of Obama than Obama wants, courtesy of McCain's advertising.

    Throw in lots of photos of him with his usual beaming smile, cut in the Chanting fans, and juxtapose with whatever garbage McCain feels like making up (or bringing to light), and you have a whole season of over saturation.

    The huge speech at the ball park will only provide endless fodder for more ads. Obama needs to find a way to provide good associations with his face and the crowds; gotta remember that many Americans do NOT like being pressured into doing something by the people around them.

    Parent

    I disagree. (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:09:25 PM EST
    Personality is not Obama's strong suit. The way Obama wins is by touting Democratic plans and talking about how they are better than the Republicans, something he has pretty much failed to do so far.

    When fighting on personality the campaign switches to the "war hero" vs. "the one".

    Parent

    I saw the Paris ad this morning (none / 0) (#26)
    by cmugirl on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:57:49 PM EST
    and the first thing I thought was, "Wow - this really helps McCain because it keeps the conversation about the first ad going for another week."

    Obama wants to change the story.  Maybe when we see pictures of him in his swim trunks on the beach in Hawaii, that will bring back the "older" women.

    Parent

    Right, because "older" women (none / 0) (#51)
    by echinopsia on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:22:57 PM EST
    Vote for the more attractive man for president.

    Hey, that was the idea for Dan Quayle.

    Parent

    And it drove Robert Redford nuts that Quayle (none / 0) (#123)
    by bridget on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:23:33 PM EST
    was compared to him in "The Candidate." Didn't Mrs. Quayle also state that her husband was better looking than Redford, too? I know ...rolling eyes ...
    then someone wrote that Quayle looked more like Pat Sayak(gameshow host?) than Redford and that about did it for Quayle. No more Robert Redford comparisons followed.

    Parent
    I remember when I used to be fabulous (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by txpolitico67 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:45:36 PM EST
    Gosh, where did all my glamour go??!?!  I thought being gay meant I had a forever pass at being AbFab.  

    you do (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:47:34 PM EST
    it just becomes more inney and less outy.

    Parent
    Trust me cap'n (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by txpolitico67 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:50:39 PM EST
    NO ONE is more OUTTIE than me!  ;)

    Parent
    Txpolitico67....those who know you already (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:01:20 PM EST
    know you will always be fabulous :)

    Parent
    Paris has my vote (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:46:45 PM EST
    she has a better energy plan than either of them and she is hot.

    Not hot.... (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:54:31 PM EST
    I think she's funny-looking myself.  

    That being said...between her and the two remaining stooges, she's got my vote too:)

    Parent

    Paris is fabulously hot ;-) (5.00 / 1) (#117)
    by bridget on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:58:26 PM EST
    What can I say.... (5.00 / 1) (#147)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 08:46:30 AM EST
    I'm a bruntte man...waiting on a Factory Girl.

    The anti-Paris is my type:)

    Parent

    hillary webchat (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Little Fish on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:00:11 PM EST
    Hillary will be having a webchat tomorrow at 12 edt. I can't link to anything on my phone but check your e-mails for info! :)  

    I won't be able to watch so I expect full updates from here.

    Thanks! Link enclosed :) (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:02:08 PM EST
    thanks! (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Little Fish on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:09:28 PM EST
    I ♥ my blackberry but sometimes the web features blow.

    Parent
    wink (5.00 / 0) (#36)
    by Little Fish on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:02:29 PM EST
    Forgot the little winky smile after my last sentence. Don't want to seem too demanding.

    ;)

    Parent

    Did you see? (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by cmugirl on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:08:21 PM EST
    I can't get to the link on YouTube, but a Las Vegas reporter, Steve Ralston, asked Obama about his energy policy and the contradiction between trying to link McCain and Cheney together (when it was Obama who voted for Cheney's 2005 Energy Bill and McCain voted against it).  Obama did not like the question:

    RALSTON: I guess what the American people want to know though Senator, is what is the real difference between you and John McCain. You are running this ad tying him to the industry saying that he has taken all of these contributions, but as you well know there is a story out today about how you supported the Dick Cheney bill and he opposed it. That bill gave subsidies to the oil and gas companies, John McCain opposed the bill saying those are tax breaks for those companies, Barack Obama favored it.

    SEN. OBAMA: Hold on a second Jon, I thought I was talking to you instead of debating John McCain, but I am happy to let you serve as his proxy. The fact of the matter is that I supported that energy bill saying at the time that those tax breaks were wrong but also recognizing that this was the largest investment in alternative energy in history. And that it was important for us, for the solar industry to get off the ground in places like Nevada, for to get wind kicked off the ground, that that was something that we had to do and I immediately said during that time and subsequently that we should strip out those tax breaks for oil companies. I would point out that in December of last year, we had a vote to strip out those tax breaks for oil companies, there was one Senator that did not vote on that measure, and that was John McCain



    Ooh, Touched A Nerve (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by JimWash08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:21:36 PM EST
    Hold on a second Jon, I thought I was talking to you instead of debating John McCain, but I am happy to let you serve as his proxy.

    So Obama can be really snippy when pushed to the edge. Priceless. I'm waiting patiently for the audio/video when he blurts out a cuss word. :)

    Maybe we'll see who does it first at the debates; McCain or Obama. I'd have wagered McCain, but looks like Obama's lost layers of skin in recent weeks.

    Parent

    Did Obama just (5.00 / 0) (#59)
    by waldenpond on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:29:28 PM EST
    That was odd.  Did Obama just accuse someone who dared to ask him a question trying to clarify Obama's position on an issue of being a McCain (proxy) supporter or plant?  ha!

    Parent
    Cut Obama some slack ... (5.00 / 0) (#76)
    by Robot Porter on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:46:16 PM EST
    he probably wasn't allowed to finish his waffles before the interview.

    Parent
    just MO (5.00 / 0) (#80)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:58:05 PM EST
    but I think he should probably stay from waffles for a while.
    and flip flops on his vacation too.


    Parent
    Yeah, and he probably already answered, (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by echinopsia on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:13:15 PM EST
    like, eight questions.

    Parent
    I don't know if anyone else has noticed (5.00 / 4) (#41)
    by Anne on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:09:39 PM EST
    this, but in the McCain ad, he has very cleverly pictured a grinning Obama as we see the words "Higher Taxes," "More Government Sepnding," and "Fewer Jobs" - making it appear that Obama is grinning about those things or the prospect of those things.  Yes, I know most people will understand that Obama would not be happy about fewer jobs, but I still think the juxtaposition is deliberate and jarring.

    As for the Paris Hilton spot, I think the person it helps the most is Paris Hilton, who comes off a lot smarter than anyone ever suspected she might be.

    Well, he did grin when he voted (5.00 / 3) (#94)
    by Cream City on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:22:38 PM EST
    down the 4th Amendment.

    Parent
    I noticed ... but McCain is wrong when he says (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by bridget on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:05:34 PM EST
    Obama is the biggest celebrity in the world

    he said that twice now. Why promote his rival this way with such a huge compliment. First thought I had when I saw the first ad, too.

    I could name loads of folks bigger in the celebrity department. Paris for starters ;-)

    Parent

    At least Paris can memorize (5.00 / 0) (#138)
    by weltec2 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:25:38 PM EST
    a speech as well as Ronald Reagan.

    Parent
    Here's a funny (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by echinopsia on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:15:14 PM EST
    that got a you tube bookmark (none / 0) (#64)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:33:20 PM EST
    Gas prices (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by CST on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:23:37 PM EST
    The upside

    And a big part of the reason I don't support gas-tax vacation, off-shore drilling, etc...
         - The gas tax also supplies my bread and butter

    If only we could get the government to support public transit the way they've dished out money for new 20-lane highways, then maybe more people would be able to take this route to work.

    It's kind of a double edged sword, CST (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:48:14 PM EST
    Here in Denver, mass transit ridership is way up for sure, but the Regional Transportation District is having to cut back the planned light rail expansion because of the double whammy of increased fuel prices and declining sales tax revenue.  

    As to your other point, I agree.  And, if the Feds had invested a tenth of what is spent on road contruction on a nationwide, high speed rail system (like Japan or most of Europe), we'd be a lot better off, IMO.  Instead they tried to starve Amtrak to death.

    Parent

    I know (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by CST on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:01:00 PM EST
    It's ironic that we get money for this stuff from the gas-tax, so as demand increases funding drops because people aren't driving.

    Although it is interesting to note that transit use went up despite fare increases.

    Parent

    In fact (none / 0) (#81)
    by CST on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:58:40 PM EST
    Travel on all roads and streets in the U.S. changed by -3.7% for may 2008 as compared with may 2007.

    Not only that, but every single state in the country saw a decrease in vehicle miles traveled between may 2007 and may 2008 except North Dakota which increased by .7%

    And, when broken down into rural vs. urban roads, rural roads actually saw a greater decrease than urban roads, despite the lack of transit.

    Vehicle trips have been lower every month so far this year (up to May).

    Parent

    Roland Martin: Obama's Own Worst Enemy (5.00 / 0) (#101)
    by JimWash08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:32:35 PM EST
    Go on Roland, continue to disrespect the only Democratic president in the last 40 years to hold down two terms in office, and continue to spread lies about him and belittle him for wearing his emotions on his sleeves and having the balls to speak the truth.

    With you, who needs enemies? Good gawd!

    I don't really understand why CNN even gives this guy a platform to spew his nonsense. He's just another loudmouth on talk radio.

    But, but, but (5.00 / 0) (#108)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:06:33 PM EST
    Obama's gonna win and be president for the next 8-10 years (I know, I know).  This will erase any memory of that scumbag Bill

    /snark for those who are completely dense.

    Parent

    From a link at Hullabaloo Blogads.... (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by Oje on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:05:50 PM EST
    I watched BAGnewsNotes' "ObamaPhobia" video, a "NetrootsNation Presentation '08." This obviously made an impression, as recent race-baiting accusations fly from the formerly A-list blogosphere.

    The question of whether John McCain and Republicans have ever used racially-coded language aside (surely, but often deliberate, and how often unaware even to themselves?), the one thing that comes across to me is the ridiculously abstract identity of the racially-baited audience in the video. The video goes seamlessly from McCain's campaign, to rightwing net groups, the Clinton's, New Yorker, NY Times photographers, etc., etc. All words and images subjected to the "dog whistle" analysis exist without the context of an audience - words and images are essentially and authoritatively racist, not contextually and meaningfully racist.

    In its totality, the audience collapses into some kind of null space in which political and class and racial identities disappear, and the audience for the "dog whistle" is Democratic and Republican, rich and poor, white and black. There is no historical or social content. The speaker - Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, NY Times, New Yorker  - moves effortlessly from accusation to accusation without deeper contextual analysis to understand who the audiences - southern white elites, northern white laborers, primary Democrats (there all the same), the nation's newspaper's readers, and bourgeois periodical readers - are for the allegedly racists utterances.

    For me, this is why BTD's rebuke of Josh Marshall and formerly A-list bloggers is important. The accusations of racism against Bill Clinton or Geraldine Ferraro in the primaries complicated the  question of when and where dog whistles are being deliberately used by the McCain campaign. The numerous charges (smears) of "dog whistling" from Obama's official and unofficial supporters took place in a vacuum - in which the presence and identity of the audience is of no consideration. As a result, the left blogosphere's "barking moonbats"  have actually enabled FNB politics with their "shrieking hypersensitivity" during the past 7 months (paraphrasing Perlstein). In the minds of such bloggers, the racist has become such an abstract figure that we are all racists now, and every utterance in any situation is abstractly racist.

    Such a superficial formula for linguistic and visual racism provides cover for concrete instances of racism - in which speaker and audience together exchange meanings.

    I need to vent.... (5.00 / 4) (#110)
    by Jjc2008 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:22:36 PM EST
    the little boys and girl of MSNBC are bitter brats.  They really are.  Their talking point is: Bill Clinton refuses to admit that Obama is qualified.  He is bitter.

    I want to scream at them, all of them: GROW THE
     F #$%## up.  
     Barnicle and Gregory cannot contain their glee at the prospect of trashing the Clintons.  And Maddow sneers at the mention of Hillary's name.  Their vendetta against the Clintons continues and it p*sses me off.
    I WANT THEM TO BE TAKEN to TASK for their misogyny, their obnoxiousness and stupidity.  

    &&^$#%*()_)(&%$#$%&^&)&E^%%#(
    aarg

    the wheel of karma (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:23:42 PM EST
    grinds slowly but finely

    Parent
    Stop punishing yourself! (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by Joan in VA on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:04:37 PM EST
    I feel worlds better since I stopped watching that bunch. Really, take a mental health break from the media.

    Parent
    You know, (5.00 / 1) (#128)
    by Jjc2008 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 07:00:30 PM EST
    I did .....from about Feb thru the end of July I stopped watched all of them.  But for whatever reason I had it on today......and I am sorry I did.

    Parent
    Petition Your Cable Provider (5.00 / 0) (#130)
    by JimWash08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 07:07:39 PM EST
    to remove MSNBC from its lineup, like Comcast did in Pennsylvania. That would be a start. I called my provider and the representative told me that they had received several requests, and continue to do so, but it hasn't reached the level for action yet.

    Parent
    Will someone please tell Gergen that Obama was (5.00 / 2) (#129)
    by kempis on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 07:05:13 PM EST
    NOT "raised by a single mother"?

    link

    "Here is a man who grew up in a broken home whose father left at a young age and who was raised by a single mother," said David R. Gergen, director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, who has previously served as a White House adviser to Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. "It's an admirable story of rising from rags to riches, one that resonates. In many ways he's a modern Horatio Alger.

    "Now the McCain campaign wants to create a dramatically different narrative," Gergen continued. "They want you to see him as a man who went to fancy schools; who has had the beneficiary of an elite life, and is increasingly removed from the mainstream of normal American life. They want to create someone who is 'The Other.' That's what they did for John Kerry. They succeeded in turning his medals of honor in Vietnam into a liability.

    Sad. I used to think Gergen was part of the reality-based community. Here, Gergen is peddling a fantasy-biography of Obama while the McCain campaign actually is telling something closer to the truth--unless EVERY person raised by a step-parent and parent was raised "by a single mother."

    Furthermore, Obama's stepfather was a successful businessman in Indonesia and his grandparents were hardly struggling in Hawaii, where his grandmother was a VP of the Bank of Hawaii. And, yes, he really DID go to an elite prep school from middle school through high school in Hawaii. He's not "the Other" because he had a stepfather and loving and well-to-do grandparents who saw that he got a good education. He's not lavishly privileged, but neither is he the "rags to riches" figure Gergen paints.

    I know: Obama treats his stepfather as the man who (5.00 / 1) (#143)
    by jawbone on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:52:36 PM EST
    wasn't there. Talk about more disrespect for his family. Yikes.

    At most, Obama's mother was a "single mother" for about two years or less, perhaps longer if counting the time Obama Sr. left the family in HA while he as at Harvard prior to the divorce?

    But, then, his mother married Soetero, who, according to some sources, adopted Obama Jr.

    I am still amazed that the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party has so many unknowns about his fairly recent past. I know HA is sorta far from the Mainland, but it is indeed a state and was so at the time.

    What is going on with this lack of simple bio info??? And the misleading statements, over and over. I know he admires Reagan, but Reagan had an excuse for believing movies to be true life. Obama is much too young for that--has to be deliberate.

    And why isn't the MCM tracking this stuff down?  

    Parent

    Wow. Dropping faster (5.00 / 0) (#132)
    by Cream City on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 07:44:47 PM EST
    than the temperatures will.

    Word is that a poll in Wisconsin is on the way.  It has been months since one was done.  But first, the pollsters had to ask how we feel about Favre.

    Turns out that we don't like his style lately -- grandstanding like a celebrity.  Interesting, hmmmmmm?

    Don't like Favre's grandstanding? Or Obama's? (5.00 / 0) (#144)
    by jawbone on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:53:35 PM EST
    Hope Hamdan decision will be discussed at TL (hint (5.00 / 0) (#139)
    by jawbone on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:37:47 PM EST
    Found guilty of supporting terra by being a driver and bodyguard. But not part of 9/11 conspiracy.

    Could/would the military officers on the jury dare to acquit entirely anyone connected with OBL?

    OK now. If BushBoy is charged with war crimes or crimes against humanity for his actions to invade Iraq, will his drivers be subject to arrest and trial? The pilots of Air Force One? Rest of the crew?  Cheney's crews? Rummy's office cleaners? Ad infinitum?

    The voters for supporting him? (I have evidence on blogs that I never supported Bush! Really!)

    Yes, taken to ridiculous extreme--but it's a ridculous and awful situation BushCo has put our nation into.

    BTW, those people who thought (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:54:16 PM EST
    that supporting Nikki Tinker against Steve Cohen was a fabulous idea, here's another ad she put out attacking him in an underhanded and racist way.

    Karma, karma, karma. (3.00 / 2) (#47)
    by LatinoVoter on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:21:13 PM EST
    Maybe he'll take a hint and just stay in the tub.

    Parent
    Being principled means that you denounce (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by andgarden on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:23:48 PM EST
    campaign tactics like this no matter what.

    Parent
    Who said I was principled? (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by LatinoVoter on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:36:55 PM EST
    Plus I'm all outraged out.

    Parent
    Wow (none / 0) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:15:30 PM EST
    it looks like she learned a lot from the Obama campaign. Too bad Cohen didn't learn anything from the presidential primary.

    Parent
    I think you know (4.00 / 0) (#136)
    by Steve M on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 08:54:57 PM EST
    that the Obama campaign hardly invented racial politics.  The only novelty was importing tactics into a presidential election that I'd normally associate with local races in Detroit.

    Parent
    Cohen is going to win anyway (none / 0) (#46)
    by andgarden on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:18:09 PM EST
    And honestly, no Obama TV ad ever came close to this. I think you need some perspective.

    Parent
    I'm (5.00 / 0) (#56)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:25:03 PM EST
    not talking about Obama's ads. I'm talking about the race baiting that's exactly similiar to some of the stuff Obama and his campaign said and did.

    Parent
    Jesse Jackson Jr. came close (none / 0) (#57)
    by andgarden on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:26:16 PM EST
    But I Tinker's overall campaign is much more racist. I think this is obvious to any reasonable person.

    Parent
    I guess (5.00 / 0) (#61)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:30:19 PM EST
    you could say that it's worse since there are ads. However, it seems that Obama's campaign has shown that these tactics are viable and even desirable in a Dem primary.

    Parent
    wheres waldo (none / 0) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 02:55:38 PM EST


    Has it occured to anyone (none / 0) (#49)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:22:20 PM EST
    else that McCain seems to be trying to copy Bill Clinton circa 1996 and Obama seems to be trying to rerun Carter 1976?

    Obama and the MSM (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:24:56 PM EST
    want us to think he is Reagan in 80 but Carter in 80 might be closer IMO.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#58)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:28:32 PM EST
    it seems to me that while McCain is running for Bush's third term, Obama is running for Carter's second. I wonder if McCain will be smart enough to assign W's speech to an unwatched time slot at the convention? Probably not.

    Parent
    if he is smart (5.00 / 0) (#65)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:34:13 PM EST
    he wont let Bush in the city limits.

    Parent
    I think it might be (5.00 / 0) (#70)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:38:52 PM EST
    assigned to Labor Day when people will be at barbecues and Cheney will nowhere to be seen at the Convention.

    As for Obama running for Carter's second term, were nearly 50% of people sick of seeing Carter even before he was the official Nominee or is that just part of Obama's New Politics Hope and Change theme?

    Parent

    they certainly have one thing in common (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:40:50 PM EST
    I am beginning to feel, as I did with Carter, that I know each of Obamas teeth personally.

    Parent
    I'm impressed (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:51:24 PM EST
    you know he has teeth.

    Whenever he opens his mouth, all I see is his foot.

    Thank you ... and good night!

    :-)

    Parent

    Well....I heard the only time obama (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:27:32 PM EST
    opens his mouth is to change feet...but you didn't hear it from me...lol

    Parent
    ah, makes sense (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:41:11 PM EST
    that must have been when Capt Howdy saw his teeth.  They were noticeably NOT wooden, ergo the comment about not looking like the men on the money.

    Or at least that's the story as I understand it.  

    Nothing yet on whether he wears a powdered wig or not, but what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors.

    And, in this case, all I can say is Thank God!

    :-)

    Parent

    the funny thing is (5.00 / 1) (#111)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:22:49 PM EST
    its not that hard to imagine Obama in a powdered wig.

    Parent
    fine (5.00 / 0) (#113)
    by ccpup on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:36:11 PM EST
    but the minute he starts brandishing his sword, I'm outta there.

    Parent
    McCain was in town today. (none / 0) (#66)
    by liminal on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:34:57 PM EST
    Must be why I felt vaguely ill-at-east all morning.  And Dubya was in the state last week, speaking to what is probably one of the few friendly audiences he is likely to find anywhere - the WVa Coal Association.  I'm surprised that the concentration of carbon-producing evil in that room didn't nudge up the planet's temperature by at least a half-degree.  

    Congestion Pricing Works (none / 0) (#74)
    by CST on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:43:43 PM EST
    Paging NY, Bloomberg was right.

    Although it looks like they are having all sorts of other un-related traffic problems.

    Sounds like they are addressing the (none / 0) (#82)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:00:04 PM EST
    problems though, which beats the heck outta scrapping the program  ;) I'm generally a fan of Bloomberg's green efforts. I like the "Million Trees" one.

    Parent
    Yup (none / 0) (#84)
    by CST on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:03:54 PM EST
    I am a huge fan of Bloomberg's plan.  Also loved the "million trees".  Question for NYers, how was this man every really a republican?  There may be things I don't know about him, since I tend to follow transportation and environmental issues more than anything else.

    Parent
    He switched to run for Mayor (none / 0) (#87)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:10:45 PM EST
    Something about opponents or lack there of iirc. May have been the easiest way on the ballot.

    I'm sure a few Repubs weren't thrilled with his social beliefs, lol!~

    Parent

    In NYC (none / 0) (#137)
    by Steve M on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:00:17 PM EST
    The Democratic Primary is pretty much machine-controlled, so he went for the only nomination he could.

    He never would have won the general election but for the good fortune of having a universally disliked opponent.

    Over on Daily Kos, more than a few Democrats (a couple of whom post here!) took tons and tons of grief for voting for Bloomberg for reelection.  People somehow thought he was a Bush-lover for bringing the GOP convention to New York, or something.

    Parent

    Maybe I'm dense... (none / 0) (#86)
    by NWHiker on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:08:56 PM EST
    Maybe I'm not too swift today, but I haven't seen this video linked.

    Paris for Prez?

    Last night's open thread (5.00 / 0) (#99)
    by waldenpond on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:31:36 PM EST
    It was fun.

    Parent
    Another "helpful" Obama supporter (none / 0) (#89)
    by CHDmom on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:13:15 PM EST
    I hope this link works http://tinyurl.com/5n9u2y
    Roland Martin on why Bill is still upset,
    (CNN) -- Poor Bill.
    Stuck in no man's land, no longer able to stand before adoring crowds of African-Americans who would welcome him as the "nation's first black president" with thunderous applause and all kinds of pats on the back, he clearly is having issues dealing with the new world order.
    Almost two months after Sen. Barack Obama captured the Democratic presidential nomination, the former president is still brooding about his wife's loss. And his chief source of anguish? That supporters of Barack Obama accused him of injecting race into the campaign.
    Never mind that the Obama camp -- loaded with white male advisers -- was so afraid to bring up race that it wasn't funny.

    I like him better when he (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:22:08 PM EST
    had Dan Rowan as a straight man.

    Parent
    What an *ss (5.00 / 4) (#100)
    by Valhalla on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:31:42 PM EST
    Plus he out and out lies (excuse me, abdicates the truth, or insert your own euphemism here) when he says that Bill 'immediately' jumped to denying he was racist.

    ha ha -- which Obama camp was afraid to bring up race?  The one in a parallel dimension?  Because the one in this dimension sure didn't have any probs.

    Finally, he spends the whole article spinning the video to support his dubious thesis, but doesn't provide a link to the vid.  (The Clinton link is just a search link for cnn stories with Clinton's name in them).

    I know I should be beyond caring about this stuff but could people please stop beating up the Truth and then trying to hide the evidence?

    Parent

    Oops, Sorry (5.00 / 0) (#105)
    by JimWash08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:44:26 PM EST
    Didn't realize you posted about Roland Martin's obnoxious column too. The man, like so many others on CNN, should be booted off the air.

    Parent
    madamb hasn't been on here much lately, (none / 0) (#102)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:32:48 PM EST
    but she has been busy being fabulous too:

    link

    I {heat} madamb! (nt) (5.00 / 0) (#124)
    by cmugirl on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:24:53 PM EST
    I'm not sure madamab wants to be (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:46:07 PM EST
    heated....lol

    Parent
    Oops! (5.00 / 0) (#146)
    by cmugirl on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 06:26:29 AM EST
    Bad fingers!  Can't type!  lol

    Parent
    Madamb is the core definition of Fabulous (5.00 / 0) (#125)
    by Ellie on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 06:30:09 PM EST
    From Paris Hilton for President:

    Confrontation is not the same as whining that McCain is being mean to you because you're black. You need to take on the Republics on the issues, and make them back down. Up the ante. No matter what they do, laugh it off and refocus the debate.

    Which brings me to President Paris Hilton. Here is her hilarious and pointed rebuttal to McCain's charges that she is a dumb blonde who contributes nothing to society. (Yes, Paris Hilton got the point of the ad and Barack Obama and his supporters didn't.



    Parent
    FEDS SAY IVINS ALONE CAUSED 2001 (none / 0) (#103)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 04:36:57 PM EST
    ANTHRAX ATTACKS

    link

    Watched some of the presser--scary to see a (5.00 / 0) (#141)
    by jawbone on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:38:54 PM EST
    cover-up unfolding before one's eyes.

    Parent
    Okay - here are a couple of things that will (none / 0) (#115)
    by Anne on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 05:53:12 PM EST
    make your blood pressure go up - all are from Think Progress:

    Artist Steve Powers has opened the new "Waterboard Thrill Ride" at Coney Island in New York. "It looks at first like any other shuttered storefront near the boardwalk: some garish lettering and a cartoonish invitation to a delight or a scam -- in this case there's SpongeBob SquarePants saying, `It don't Gitmo better!'" The New York Times describes the experience:

    If you climb up a few cinderblock steps to the small window, you can look through the bars at a scene meant to invoke a Guantánamo Bay interrogation. A lifesize figure in a dark sweatshirt, the hood drawn low over his face, leans over another figure in an orange jumpsuit, his face covered by a towel and his body strapped down on a tilted surface.

    Feed a dollar into a slot, the lights go on, and Black Hood pours water up Orange Jumpsuit's nose and mouth while Orange Jumpsuit convulses against his restraints for 15 seconds. O.K., kids, who wants more cotton candy!

    Powers's "initial idea was for real people to undergo real waterboarding, right there in real time" but "his wife was among the first to point out that that might be a tad over the line." However, he claims "the purpose of his art isn't to tell people what to think, just to get them thinking in the first place."

    AND

    Today, Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed Brian Benczkowski to serve as his chief of staff. TPMMuckracker reminds readers that Benczkowski served as one of the Justice Department's torture apologists, arguing that if torture is conducted to prevent an attack "rather than for the purpose of humiliation," it doesn't violate the Geneva Conventions' ban on "outrages upon personal dignity" and thus is likely acceptable:

    "The fact that an act is undertaken to prevent a threatened terrorist attack, rather than for the purpose of humiliation or abuse, would be relevant to a reasonable observer in measuring the outrageousness of the act," said Brian A. Benczkowski, a deputy assistant attorney general, in the letter, which had not previously been made public. [...]

    In one letter written Sept. 27, 2007, Mr. Benczkowski argued that "to rise to the level of an outrage" and thus be prohibited under the Geneva Conventions, conduct "must be so deplorable that the reasonable observer would recognize it as something that should be universally condemned."

    Last month, Mukasey declared that people who perpetrated torture "cannot and should not be prosecuted" or even investigated.

    Words fail me.