Thursday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:47:43 PM EST
Tags: John McCain, 2008 (all tags)

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John McCain, More of the Same.

Is anybody watching the Republican National Convention? John McCain speaks at 10 p.m. ET. We'll have a new thread up for that, but if anyone has anything to say before then, here's a place and an open thread.

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Thursday Night Open Thread | 105 comments (105 topical)

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I think a lot of people woke up yesterday (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by zvs888 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:54:19 PM EST

Seems as if the left is realizing just how dangerous Palin is going to be; heard that Obama raised $10M over the last 24 hours. McCain doesn't even have to do anything anymore; seems as if he can just send Palin out since she gets the same kind of spotlight as Obama.

The most worrying aspect is that it means that there are 3 central figures to the campaign, Obama/McCain/Palin and then Biden a distant last.

Either way I'm somewhat worried that a motivated Republican turnout operation combined with independents in the right places (Ohio/Virginia/Colorado/Nevada) will take the election even if Obama wins the popular vote.

Palin's speech was within a few points of (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Buckeye on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:56:49 PM EST

Obama's in ratings. A lot of people are watching the Republican convention. We will see if McCain gets a lasting bounce. CBS said Palin got an 8 point bounce for McCain.

Parent

And 37 million people watched Palin's (5.00 / 1) (#108)
by PssttCmere08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:49:03 PM EST

speech...not bad for a virtual unknown.

Parent

: I don't like Politician Palin* (5.00 / 0) (#114)
by Fabian on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 03:17:37 AM EST

but it's easy to see her strategic value.
*as opposed to Private Person Palin.

Parent

Yep (2.00 / 0) (#19)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:10:06 PM EST

I'm expecting a 10 pt. bounce for McCain out of the convention.

Parent

It's pretty amazing (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Polkan on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:58:45 PM EST

how these things happen. "Hurricane Sarah made landfall" is how the republican blogs describe it. I think the huge danger for Obama is that she is the new toy. The new fresh face, the new enigma. And he suddenly seems so old news, like the last season's episode. And toothless Biden... OMG.

Parent

: Obama/Biden had better get with the ISSUES (5.00 / 1) (#53)
by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:32:11 PM EST

They can longer count on winning solely on the basis of Obama's ineffable charisma.

Parent

You missed the part where (5.00 / 0) (#9)
by JAB on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:59:08 PM EST

The donations, which came in over the Internet in the hours after the speech, will add to the massive war chest that the Republican Party has built up for the fall contest. A Republican aide leaked us the news that the Republican National Committee ended the month of August with $75 million in the bank.
That's more than the total that the Democratic National Committee and Barack Obama had in the bank at the end of July. Neither Obama nor the DNC have released their cash on hand figures for August. But the DNC had just $5 million in the bank at the end of July. Meanwhile, Sen. Obama would have been foolish to keep much money in the bank at the end of August because all money raised for the primary campaign had to be spent by the time he officially became a general-election candidate at the Democratic convention last week.
Sen. McCain had $32.8 million in the bank at the end of July, but probably has a zero balance now.
The RNC says donations began pouring in over the Internet soon after Palin began speaking. McCain also got a few last-minute donations. Once McCain accepts the Republican nomination for president tonight, he will no longer be allowed to accept private donations because he as opted to accept $85 million in federal financing for his campaign.

Link

Parent

Obama has raised 8m (5.00 / 0) (#17)
by demchick on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:08:52 PM EST

since Wednesday, not in 24 hours. So says the WSJ.

Parent

He'll need it. (5.00 / 0) (#24)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:15:47 PM EST

Despite out-raising and out-spending Hillary by, well, a heck of a lot, she still won 9 of the last 13 primaries and beat him in the total popular vote...

Parent

Well (none / 0) (#18)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:09:26 PM EST

Obama should just go ahead and quit here in GA and spend the money elsewhere. She convinced them that Obama is too scary to be let into the WH.

Really, what I'm seeing is worse than what Kerry had going against him.

The newspaper was full of how motivated evangelicals and other voters are now even though they aren't thrilled with McCain.

Parent

GA Dems (none / 0) (#40)
by liberalone on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:25:24 PM EST

I've heard that GA Democrats were fairly confident that they could turn the state, which I seriously doubted.

I agree that the Bible Belt will be an even more difficult challenge with Palin. Perhaps, (Northern) VA and tech savvy NC will edge blue. Those are the only two southern states Obama has decent odds of winning.

Despite the odds I say keep up the fight in every state.

Parent

The GA (5.00 / 0) (#49)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:29:24 PM EST

dems had to be talking out of their behinds with that statement. Maybe at one time, there was hope that evangelicals would sit home.

The reason I'm saying he should pull out of GA is that he doesn't have the money. He's not been meeting his fundraising goals and he's already pulled the ads here in GA. The offices that were supposed to open haven't opened.

Obama has ZERO chance in NC despite what the polls say. He might have a chance in VA though.

Parent

Well (5.00 / 1) (#61)
by Steve M on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:37:07 PM EST

the GA Dems care about more than just winning the presidency. If they can persuade the Obama campaign to spend lots of money in Georgia, registering voters and stuff, that's going to be very helpful for the state party. So who knows what they really believe, but if I'm the head of the GA Democratic Party, my incentive is not to say "look, you guys have no chance here, just forget about us."

Parent

: I agree (5.00 / 1) (#67)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:41:45 PM EST

about the incentive, however, anyone who bought it should have their head examined after what happened here in 2006. In a Dem year, the D gubernatorial candidate pulled 39% of the vote. 2 Dems were reelected statewide and the rest of the offices went to Republicans. It's going to take a long time to build back up and it's certainly not going to happen this year.
The odd thing is, GA would be somewhat competetive if we had a candidate who talked about economics in a way that appealed to working class voters. Nobody's talking their economic language but Palin is speaking their cultural language so they'll vote for the R ticket.

Parent

I think NC will go red now with Palin (5.00 / 1) (#55)
by ap in avl on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:34:44 PM EST

We hav pockets of deep blue support here in this wonderful state but Obama only had a chance here if evangelicals stayed home.

Yes I only have anecdotal evidence, but after spending this holiday weekend with my fundamentalist extended family I can you that they and their friends who were going to sit this out are now energized by Palin.

It's scary.

Parent

Florida's more a swing state anyway (none / 0) (#47)
by nalo on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:28:08 PM EST

She's also convinced Florida that McCain/Palin would be too scary to let into the WH.

Parent

I doubt it. (5.00 / 0) (#50)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:31:25 PM EST

Even before Palin showed up, McCain was doing well in FL. Obama spent a ton of money in that state only to see his numbers go down. It's off the table for him. He's going to have win a combination of VA, NV and Co or some other states to pull out a win. I think his chances are looking dimmer and dimmer in CO.

Parent

Not quite (5.00 / 0) (#85)
by ruffian on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:58:09 PM EST

Lots of Republicans here are very excited about Palin, where they were not about McCain alone. I still see McCain taking Florida, though it may be closer than it looked 6 months ago when I thought it was a sure thing for McCain.

Parent

Florida is a much better shot (3.00 / 0) (#52)
by steviez314 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:31:36 PM EST

now that the Republicans have turned into the Party of God.

They should get Hillary, Wexler, and Debbie W-S pounding this home. If you're Jewish (and I am) you have to be absolutely crazy to vote for St John and Joan D'Arc.

Parent

They (5.00 / 0) (#58)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:35:41 PM EST

were the party of God in 2004 and it didn't matter. There are lots of evangelicals in FL. Obama has never polled well down there. I don't think that Wexler is going to help with the Jewish population much.

Parent

: Don't underestimate the Jews for Jesus thing (3.00 / 0) (#86)
by steviez314 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:58:18 PM EST

and the Pat Buchanan issue (even if that's not quite true).
I know way too many 65+ year old Jewish mothers for whom those 2 things rank just behind AH himself.

Parent

She's got some pastor issues. (3.00 / 0) (#59)
by nalo on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:35:42 PM EST

It's like she's the perfect candidate to have on the opposite ticket for Obama. For thinking people, it takes Obama's biggest weaknesses off the table (experience, Wright) as her issues are directly comparable and significantly worse.. For bigots, it probably entrenches them more, but it would have been hard to get their vote any way

Parent

Man you give (none / 0) (#66)
by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:39:57 PM EST

St. John and Joan D'Arc a bad name! Esp Jeanne D'Arc

I love Debbie W-S. My first exposure to her was listening to her grill Addington and Yoo a month or two ago. I thought she was calling BS pretty well on them, and I could hear her anger and frustration. I saw her on Larry King last night. She seems to be scaling the ladder pretty quickly - I hope she continues her gov't work. Maybe she's a rising star?

Parent

Who watches (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by christinep on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:57:52 PM EST

Me. I watch them all. It will be comparing "apples and oranges" so to speak--in terms of packaging and presentation, etc. The gratuitous comments about age and aneurisms are offensive, however. Suggestion: To win, we need to reach across the generations. (For me, I really don't want to dwell on my friends EARLY death from an unknown aneurism. Lets not be so cocky, okay?)

Jeez louise (none / 0) (#14)
by Nevart on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:05:58 PM EST

Lighten up, already. My dad had an anreurysm, so no lectures.

Parent

STJ just died from one (5.00 / 1) (#29)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:18:55 PM EST

Biden has had 2. Somethings just aren't funny.

Parent

: My mom had two (5.00 / 1) (#33)
by demchick on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:22:23 PM EST

It's not funny.

Parent

Wow. And you think she's scary? (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:57:59 PM EST

Totally unfair Jeralyn (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by flyerhawk on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:11:42 PM EST

I don't think it is fair whatsoever for you to show a picture of McCain and Bush in an embrace.

I think that completely justifies the McCain campaign starting a new advertising campaign about Obama's ties to Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko, and Benito Mussolini.

It's time for Liberals to realize that any action of theirs completely justifies a wild over reaction by the McCain campaign.

that was snark, right? (3.00 / 0) (#22)
by bjorn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:14:04 PM EST

Parent

Heh (none / 0) (#25)
by flyerhawk on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:16:27 PM EST

What do you think?

Parent

: just checking! (none / 0) (#26)
by bjorn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:17:05 PM EST

Parent

Benito Mussolini and you had to ask? (none / 0) (#32)
by rdandrea on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:21:11 PM EST

n/t

Parent

heh (none / 0) (#28)
by Salo on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:18:28 PM EST

and Ketsoweyo's defeat of the British 24th regiment at Islandwana too.

Parent

: That goes without saying. (none / 0) (#48)
by flyerhawk on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:29:22 PM EST

Parent

I'm watching (5.00 / 2) (#81)
by waldenpond on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:54:48 PM EST

Someone give me a sharp stick so I can poke out my ear drums..... aaaahh...

Note to self... no matter how close a friendship, no matter how much you love your family... never let them take the stage on your behalf.

They did this on purpose to try and make McCain sound good. Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

the voice over for John Mccain (5.00 / 1) (#96)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:05:58 PM EST

sounds like the budweiser real american hero guy. Here's to you war hero guy.

LOL! You all are (none / 0) (#97)
by CCinNC on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:09:38 PM EST

hilarious tonight. :)

Parent

: well it wasn't (none / 0) (#101)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:15:39 PM EST

pete stacker but it sure sounded like him. It was Robert Davi from Diehard...

Parent

So (5.00 / 1) (#107)
by flyerhawk on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:24:11 PM EST

John is the good cop I see. Probably better role for him. Attack dog isn't his forte.

What about that 9/11 video (none / 0) (#5)
by bjorn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:56:57 PM EST

I thought that was in very poor taste

TG for football (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:59:51 PM EST

I can do without 9/11 vids

Parent

Watching game not convention (5.00 / 1) (#63)
by MKS on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:37:42 PM EST

I can't tell if the Giants are good or the Redskins are bad.

And the Giants defense, is it good without their pass rusher from last season; or, is Jason Campbell just very mediocre?....

I think the Skins are very mediocre team.

Parent

Jason was great with the (none / 0) (#65)
by bjorn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:39:49 PM EST

Dolphins. I don't think he wanted to leave Miami, and he is older now, he may have slowed down some.

Parent

'Skins are weak (none / 0) (#74)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:49:25 PM EST

Giants are always a toss up, imo. I'm happy as long as Manning keeps tossing to Burress, who's on my Fantasy team {grin}

Parent

Giants have this one (none / 0) (#83)
by MKS on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:56:22 PM EST

plus plenty of rest before their next game....

Manning looked a little off....but Jacobs is a beast running the ball....

Parent

Game over--I am not watching McCain (none / 0) (#91)
by MKS on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:02:10 PM EST

I'll do something else, thank you.

Parent

Game was fixed. (none / 0) (#93)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:02:41 PM EST

Had to be! The ended right on time, lol!~

Parent

: The incompetent Skins (none / 0) (#100)
by MKS on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:12:02 PM EST

let a lot of time run off the clock for a team behind....

Parent

I'm watching (none / 0) (#13)
by Jeralyn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:03:15 PM EST

Big Brother 10. I'm more interested in whether Remy or Keesha gets evicted.

: So are the people. . . (5.00 / 1) (#46)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:27:26 PM EST

I'm watching Big Brother
tuned in to the convention.

Parent

For heaven's sake... (none / 0) (#16)
by Nevart on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:08:11 PM EST

Does nobody have a sense of humor? Is everyobdy reading Plato when the rest of us are watching the Daily Show?

: it isn't funny (5.00 / 0) (#36)
by Jeralyn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:22:57 PM EST

to suggest that watching someone's suffer a catastrophic medical event on national tv would be something worth watchng.
Sorry if our senses of humor are different, but I found it over the top.

Parent

They're really milking (none / 0) (#21)
by CCinNC on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:13:02 PM EST

Palin. Was this the video that was supposed to be shown last night?

And was that really (none / 0) (#30)
by CCinNC on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:19:04 PM EST

the theme song from the TV show "Dallas" playing behind that video???

Parent

I didn't pick up on that but I think it may have (none / 0) (#38)
by Teresa on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:23:29 PM EST

been. That was the one that was supposed to be shown last night. It was kind of boring but the scenery of Alaska was worth watching.

Has anyone heard why Rudy talked so long that they couldn't show it last night? Just Rudy being Rudy?

Parent

: I think he was having teleprompter (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:26:59 PM EST

probs also, so was winging it a bit. But bottom line, Rudy being Rudy.
The scenery of Alaska is always worth it :)

Parent
: It Was A Domino Effect (5.00 / 1) (#45)
by JimWash08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:27:11 PM EST

I heard that the delay began earlier in the evening because of some technical glitch so it just rolled on from there.

Parent

Yes It Was (none / 0) (#34)
by JimWash08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:22:40 PM EST

But Rudy went over his allotted time and the video was shafted.

I thought the video was pretty lame, so it was a good thing it wasn't shown last night. It would have killed the anticipation of her speech. She made up for the video, and offered so much more.

Parent

: and yet Rudy was making fun of Biden (none / 0) (#99)
by DFLer on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:10:23 PM EST

in an interview with Matthews, saying something like Biden would talk and talk and talk....
Matthews called him on it saying something like, so are you ridiculing here?

Parent

More Emeril Green for me (none / 0) (#23)
by andgarden on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:14:50 PM EST

Over 40 Million (none / 0) (#27)
by JimWash08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:17:33 PM EST

people tuned in for both Sarah Palin's and Barack Obama's speeches.

24 Million people watch Joe Biden's speech.

I think John McCain will be lucky to reach Biden's number.

: meebbeee (5.00 / 0) (#31)
by Salo on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:20:51 PM EST

meeebeee not. Biden is such a dull figure in many ways.
Worthy old Biden. Gris Eminence.
I don't think this is Dole/Kemp on their side. it might be that on our side though.

Parent

That picture (none / 0) (#37)
by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:23:04 PM EST

is priceless!

I don't know what I am watching tonight...but I am not watching McCain's speech. If I want a dose of today's Republicanism, I'll switch on Dallas at 4 am on the Soap Network. If I want some Hallelujahs, I'll switch on the Happy Mondays.

Ridge used to be (none / 0) (#39)
by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:24:52 PM EST

my Governor (PA) he always seemed like a decent enough guy (of course that's what people used to say about McCain). Amazing that the people that are interesting about the Republican Party are frequently snubbed (Ridge, Ventura, Paul). Think it has anything to do with the fact that the Christian Right has its own TV network????

: Actually the Christian Right (none / 0) (#41)
by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:25:31 PM EST

has more than one TV network...but one amongst those networks stands tall in prestige, somehow (guess which).

Parent
: Well, now the Christian Right has its own (none / 0) (#70)
by steviez314 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:45:48 PM EST

party too.

Parent

Oh good... (none / 0) (#43)
by Oje on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:26:07 PM EST

More images and speeches made by the Parallax Corporation.

I read a book recently called New American Militarism. It was written by a former Republican, so there is lots of equivalation throughout it, but the basic point was how militarism increasingly defines our political thought and the perceived political efficacy of military power. I read it conjunction with speeches by former U.S. Presidents.

At this convention, even with all the things Bush did to militarize the presidency, John McCain seems to be going even further. This whole "country first" theme is attempting to introduce a military ethic into a political party. Add to that Lindsay Graham's assertion of "loyalty to country, not loyalty to party," and you have the making for a very volatile political movement.

The Republicans in attendance failed to clap at this moment. Was it because they were confronted with the insinuation that loyalty to party could be treasonous? That is pretty extreme political position. Even at the height of the Cold War, the Communist Party was not abolished as treasonous.

This party conference seems to be strategically upending the traditional relation of military and civic life in the United States in its effort to get John McCain elected (and this is the irony and the false deceit of McCain's campaign). At the same time, the implication that loyalty to party over country can be treasonous. Is this the lesson that McCain has taken from the Republican party's corruption form the past 14 years? What a shocking message Lindsay Graham just sent to Republicans, and all Americans.

: Paralax corporation ... (none / 0) (#57)
by Robot Porter on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:35:39 PM EST

that's funny.
But that might be giving them too much credit.
For people who don't get the joke, you can watch what Oje is referring to here.

Parent

Maybe it's a cultural thing ... (none / 0) (#51)
by Robot Porter on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:31:31 PM EST

or something.

But the Republican videos just seem so cheesy. I think Palin is lucky they didn't run that video before her speech.

Does anyone here find them effective?

: they make me change the channel (5.00 / 1) (#54)
by bjorn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:33:42 PM EST

Parent
: The Narration (5.00 / 2) (#64)
by JimWash08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:38:30 PM EST

For me, the boring factor is the narration. The images and the music is fine. But they could have gotten someone with a more interesting voice, and better script. Palin's video, for example, was narrated by Jon Voight. By comparison, the Veterans' video at the DNC was narrated by Tom Hanks.
I think by far, the best video was Hillary's tribute, well for obvious reasons, and because it was light-hearted, nostalgic and fun. And it had the best selection of backing music.

Parent
: Face it, Republicans are cheesy. (none / 0) (#73)
by Maria Garcia on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:49:23 PM EST

...that pledge of allegiance by Cowboy Troy last night was totally cringeworthy too.

Parent

Palin vs Obama (none / 0) (#56)
by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:34:44 PM EST

I just saw a commercial that compared Palin to Obama...

what happened to McCain running versus Obama?
seems we see where the future of the right is, a freudian slip, maybe...
Karl Rove is that you behind that door, or is that Hagee and Falwell....

and that's a scary future with Palin the barracuda or the bulldog or whatever she is...is being a bulldog with lipstick on really considered an admirable trait these days...
I don't want her bulldogging her way all over my god-given rights...

pit bull (none / 0) (#60)
by bjorn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:36:19 PM EST

Parent

ah yes, thanks (none / 0) (#71)
by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:45:56 PM EST

even worse...

at least bulldogs are adorable in a way...

Pit Bulls are just plain mean for no good reason (and I have an American Pit)...at least she doesn't have trouble admitting it...

Parent

: Pit Bulls aren't just plain mean! (none / 0) (#79)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:54:16 PM EST

I'd trust a pit over a Chi any day of the week :)

Parent

Heh (none / 0) (#62)
by flyerhawk on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:37:25 PM EST

I received this from the fine folks at Red State today.....

As you know, the magazine Us Weekly will hit news stands this coming weekend with a hit job on Governor Sarah Palin.
Though Us Weekly claims that its coverage is very balanced, its cover features Governor Palin holding a baby with the headline "Babies, Lies, and Scandal."
US Weekly, which has been a promotional vehicle for Senator Obama's campaign, is in the tank for Barack Obama and will stop at nothing to ruin Governor Palin's reputation.
Please consider doing this: When you go to the grocery story this week, pick up a couple of copies of Us Weekly and deposit them on the shelves where the toilet paper is located.
Sincerely yours,
Erick Erickson

Yup. US Weekly is now a political mouthpiece for the Obama campaign.

They join the ranks of Bridal Magazine, TigerBeat, and Cat Fancy. Damn liberal media.

Huh? (5.00 / 0) (#69)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:45:37 PM EST

Put in the aisle with toilet paper? I guess that's supposed to make them feel better or something?

Parent

Jann Wenner (5.00 / 0) (#75)
by JimWash08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:49:33 PM EST

Consider this: Jann Wenner is the publisher end exec. editor of US Weekly and Rolling Stone magazines. He's a rich Californian who's contributed thousands and hosted several fundraisers for Obama's campaign.

He's put Obama on Rolling Stone's cover TWICE, and three times on the cover of US Weekly. In fact, Wenner himself wrote a gushy piece for one of those RS cover stories.

It might be interesting to note, on the subject of magazines, that Obama has been on the cover of TIME magazine 7 times in 2008 alone. By comparison, McCain's been on the cover twice (including this past week's issue.)

The media is in the tank for Obama? Naaaw!

Parent

The Tonight Show (none / 0) (#109)
by Socraticsilence on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:51:01 PM EST

McCain's been on Leno 13 times, Obama just once, by your calculations this would seem to suggest that NBC is in the tank for McCain, and yet this is obviously not the case, huh maybe your metric is inane.

Parent

: Leno Doesn't Provide (2.00 / 1) (#113)
by JimWash08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:04:37 PM EST

Sparknotes or teleprompters. Must be why.

Parent

Mrs. Mccain (none / 0) (#68)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:45:11 PM EST

bombing, not even in the same league as Laura Bush....

Agree (5.00 / 1) (#88)
by nell on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:01:02 PM EST

I actually like Cindy McCain apart from her politics, mainly due to her humanitarian work, but I could not watch the speech after the first few minutes. It was painful and she kept tripping on the teleprompter.

Parent

She's not the geatest speaker in the world. (none / 0) (#72)
by Maria Garcia on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:47:51 PM EST

Parent

gees louise (none / 0) (#80)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:54:34 PM EST

when will she end? Way too long

Parent

I Don't Think That It's Too Long (none / 0) (#87)
by JimWash08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:59:03 PM EST

but that she's so monotonous, and her manner of speaking is flat. JMO.

I know she doesn't always sound like that because I've seen interviews with her on the Sunday morning talk shows.

Parent

: really? (none / 0) (#105)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:21:06 PM EST

i thought it was 10 minutes too long. Guess I have heard the same story too many times and am in need of moving on....

Parent

So who called (none / 0) (#77)
by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:52:15 PM EST

Sarah Palin as the VP pick? I recall people typing about her here quite a few weeks before she was selected. I am surprised that so many people were so farsighted...apparently (according to some sources) you knew more than her vetters!

So congrats and what do you think now? I'm surprised she is such a hardliner. I am definitely home ("fired up and ready to go" for Obama now).

the bookies didn't have her high on the list (none / 0) (#89)
by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:01:04 PM EST

yup, you can put money on things like who will be the VP...

her nomination was basically being held a secret, the people researching her didn't even want to call her local newspaper to receive archived articles about her because they didn't want the secret getting out...

republicans being sneaky, no way...

the extremist religious right has had the hots for her for quite a while now, and there was previous talk of her being the Presidential nomination for 2012 anyway, so this just makes it easier...

extremists in this country want the U.S.A to be ran by guys like Hagee, Robertson and Falwell...all people who love our country so much that they want above all else for America and Israel to make a pre-emptive strike on Iran because they believe in a prophecy that says the war with Iran/Persia will bring the end of times, the second coming...

so they love the country so much that they want it to end...and yet this people already have a stronghold on the Right...

it's downright scary, really what a TV station can do when it's paired with a national news network (you know the one)

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: There are a few commenters here (5.00 / 1) (#95)
by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:04:51 PM EST

who I think saw this coming...and I am impressed.
As for the bookies, I know you can bet on the VP. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the ire on the media's side is coming from burned media gamblers. You know Blitzer is just peeved he lost so much money on Pawlenty.
My coworker is impressed Palin marathons...America, welcome the new, healthy version of "have a beer with" - "go on a morning run with!" Yeehaw.

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Cindy McCain just described herself (none / 0) (#78)
by EL seattle on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:52:44 PM EST

...as being a "western conservative" mom.

Has the phrase western conservative, been used much in this campaign? Having a VP from Alaska helps solidify it, but since McCain's from the west, it could have been in use already. Is it the way the McCain folks will distance themselves from Bush? Texas isn't necessarily the west. It's just... Texas.

I'm just curious about this....

: Playing for Obama's western strategy (none / 0) (#84)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:57:55 PM EST

she emphasized the west a few times.

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: Trying (none / 0) (#94)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:04:27 PM EST

to distance herself from conservatism is what I imagine.
Conservatism means the same thing as southern fried fundamentalism. So using a qualifier is a way to separate.

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I'm trying to figure out what my husband would... (none / 0) (#82)
by Maria Garcia on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:55:20 PM EST

...have to bribe me with to get me to deliver a cheesy speech like that on national television.

: especially if you already had, like (5.00 / 1) (#90)
by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:01:44 PM EST

7 houses...

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: Heh (5.00 / 1) (#92)
by nell on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:02:19 PM EST

The blue room, the red room, the white house christmas tree? =)
Just kidding, I actually like Cindy McCain, but the speech was painful.

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Most Creepy Video Award of the RNC goes to..... (none / 0) (#98)
by Oje on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:09:59 PM EST

The Hagiography of John McCain (Who Loved His Country)!

The green screen again? (none / 0) (#102)
by ruffian on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:16:18 PM EST

Really? It is the White House Lawn, but still - major mistake.

yes, excorcism green (none / 0) (#103)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:16:28 PM EST

again, great choice.

I just returned from a training session (none / 0) (#104)
by DFLer on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:16:43 PM EST

for election judges. I will be the acting head judge for ward 3 precinct 3 and will be opening the polls. (we have a primary next Tuesday) I have a plastic tote with the ballots and additional material, sitting in my kitchen. Ain't democracy grand!

and thankfully I'm home in time for John's speech. Thanks goodness. USA!USA!USA! (okay, just in case: snark)

the damage done to our economy (none / 0) (#110)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:52:13 PM EST

by rising oil prices? how about 8 years of fiscal mismanagement and a trillion dollar war? sheesh

here come the commies. Wow, he is prepared for the commies.

"i know how the world works"

"i know how to stand up to those who don't"

"i know how to secure the peace"

big strikeout. America is so not focused on fear and terror, we are afraid of 8 more years of failed economic policies....

I wouldn't be so quick (none / 0) (#111)
by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:00:29 PM EST

to say that America isn't focused on war and terror, even with more pressing national issues...

we'll see if this fear mongering works once again like it has many times in the past...

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: people are very concerned (5.00 / 1) (#112)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:02:59 PM EST

with the concerns of the day. The concerns of the day are jobs, jobs, jobs and more jobs.

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Thursday Night Open Thread | 105 comments (105 topical)

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