This article, http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2008/08/obamas_big_7.html, caught my attention. While I realise that Obama and the Democrats have money to burn at this point, all the evidence to date indicates that this is going to be a much tighter election than many previously believed. On current polling, if McCain can hold Virginia then he needs Michigan and one other state (Indiana the likely one) in order to pull of a surprise victory.
As such, Obama spending money in North Dakota, North Carolina, Montana, Georgia, and Alaska seems a little bit of a waste. After all, even if we assume that he wins in North Dakota and Montana say, those six electoral votes will not get him the presidency. North Carolina is obviously a better place to attack, given its 15 electoral votes. But it would be a big ask for Obama to win North Carolina.
Instead, it would be far more useful to simply concentrate on Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. (I discount Florida, as the polls are going back to McCain there - I even tend to discount Indiana, but given that the polls tell us that it is close, and I go by the polls). It is in those states that this election will be won or lost. The others are effectively irrelevant.
As such, I think that Obama is wasting time and money in those states. There are 90 days to go in this election campaign and at this point in time the momentum – according to the polls – is with McCain. Time to get back to political reality. A fifty-state strategy might be a nice little dream, but that is all it ever was. A five-state strategy is what is needed to win this thing.
I sent you two emails.
Chis at 501 – when PB sneezes I don’t catch a cold. But if I get pissed off – chances are that PB will catch a virus.
Ted Stevens has launched his senate campaign. The absolute arrogance of the guy.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WqGudtuW50Y
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=rEl56ecWU3k&feature=user
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=d0hitld77kw
502 Catrina Such a nice girl like you.
Sure, Obi’s vactioning in Hawaii with his family, but what we have here is a bunch of political Money Shots. Especially the last one.
Johnny Bomb-Bomb can get as antsy as he likes with the Russkies, but as far as powerful imagery goes, the old warmonger can’t compete with The Kid on this level.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/14/obama-bodysurfs-in-hawaii_n_119070.html
N.B. The Kid doesn’t go goofin’-off lookin’ for no winsurfer action:)
Somewhat more broadly appealing image that “Dipstick” Dukakis and the tank turret, imHo.
http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/images/2008/03/28/dukakis_tank.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CSUPQ7EpU_4/R7VRGk6H9yI/AAAAAAAAELg/SRp6E1aoGb8/DukakisTank.jpg
♥
For a good laugh, an ebay jilted lover’s auction, and how she caught him.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/EMPTY-CONDOM-PACKET-A-PHOTO-OF-THE-TARTS-KNICKERS_W0QQitemZ250280309940QQihZ015QQcategoryZ1469QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Is it “get a room”-time yet?:mrgreen:
Just took a cold shower.
After all Catrina’s pretty hot stuff.
She made centerfold of the Mormon Yearly magazine.
Voting Machines:
http://xkcd.com/
Maybe Mcains trying to destroy his own party, so it can be rebuilt again from the ground up.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12542.html
Fri Aug 15: My grand-daddy was a millworker
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/mattbors;_ylt=AhKOAPq9JR9PciK_xQJH8EHX.sgF
Ecky@515,
509 Enemy Combatant
Take a walk on the wild side, Ecky! Try these:
Fornicating Tours: You get to see the Sin!
(Free Rosary Beads with every Jumbo Tour booked)
Or go the whole hog (so to speak) with with:
Fornicating Tours: You get to see the Sin!
Kirri, you’re really going to miss “The Stuff” when you’re better, arn’t you?:)
Fri Aug 15:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/tonyauth;_ylt=AsIReAxiKmnrpJ3BZodFvj_mcLQF
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57613
Fri Aug 15:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/jerryholbert;_ylt=AiGmlKZ_uKre1CV3bVPkB0rV.i8C
Will joint US/Oz military exercises here in Oz expose our landscape and groundwater to contamination by the depleted uranium used in conventional weaponry, or do we have a policy against it?
Note Belgium has banned the use in their weapons.
http://www.truthout.org/article/the-depleted-uranium-threat
517,
Rosary beads on a forny tour…..
but no condoms,d’ya hear?
Ecky@518,
The ’swift-u-boat’, a touch too close for comfort!!
What is it they say about a woman scorned and the enemy
from within?
Yes, Megan, Brutusina is a difficult and delicate balancing act. Brush her at the Convention and she’ll white-ant him for the rest of the campaign. Very damaging if the race tightens. Give her too much space and she’ll convert it into a launching pad for 2012.
Senator Clinton is to be presented as some sort of consolation-prize nominee in Denver and is “on the ballot” or something. This will pacify many of her diehards, but Axelrod and Co. will need to prepare for the odd stunt or two from her most besotten fanatics.
————–
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57617
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AE847UXu3Q
Fri Aug 15:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/doonesbury;_ylt=Aiw78Zt8kxoyS_DdNg1yTVLX.sgF
This would have to come pretty close to cartoon of the campaign so far.
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57655
Ecky@523,
Brilliant!!
Her eyes, body language next to Bill’s.
And as for Edwards ….
One for the archives!!
520 megan
Are you picking faults with my literary irony????? LOL
Wanna nuther one?
(Pssst, only odd atomic numbers are radioactive isotpoes)
Yes,please…enjoying the morphy ‘literirony’
Have to make the most of it while we can!!
isotopes
Ah, the dyslexia isn’t cured!
*that’s nice, tonight he’s an atomic physicist*
Kirri, can a faulty “isotpoe” be, ipso facto, a nu-cu-lar accident?:mrgreen:
Thurs Aug 14: It’s scary out there in Howland Land.
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/bensargent;_ylt=ApbVEuQk9HioZj0DQb7Plevd.sgF
Johnny Dukakis
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57614
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57623
Megan, Ecky:
http://www.submission.org/miracle/19-chemistry.html
…curved space has allowed me to return to this!
A couple of videos from Georgia.
This one shows some live footage from a rather adventurous group of reporters. What I have heard is that the shooting is coming from civilians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gONOzTOO-6o&eurl
This one details live reporting in which the reporter is grazed (presumably by a bullet) while reporting.
http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/Wiadomosci/1,80277,5592454,Gruzja__dziennikarka_postrzelona_w_trakcie_relacji.html
Kirri,
I have been following your progress – pleased all is going to plan. Don’t be surprised if it takes a while to get back to your usual state – that is quite normal!
Take care and blessings from all available gods!
Kirri, here I was all these years thinking like a galactic hitch-hiker, that the secret to the universe was 42. The document to which you link reckons it’s 19. Tell ya what I’ll do. Let’s split the diff and call it 23 or more precisely 30.5 pending university controlled tests.
Ya gotta love 30.5, it’s a number with a lot of potential.
Maybe tomorrow we could take a look at String Theory.
————————–
The Fix Is In:
http://www.crisispapers.org/essays8p/fix.htm
—————-
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57618
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57635
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57648
531 kerneels
cheers, kerneels, I can feel your blessings whizzing over the intertubes as I type! (’Speaking’ being ‘off the menu’ for a while lately)
Kirri,
I had a friend who could not speak for a while for similar reasons- he is back to full argumentative mode and very vocal now, a bit hoarse and whispery but that does not stop him communicating!
534 kerneels
I can still blog! LOL
Night night Kiri,
let me know how you get on, and for now, sleep tight.
KR everywhere
Just get better or I’ll be really pissed off.
♥
Look here Kiri, we are all a bit scared of Catrina, she knows what she is doing and we had better listen to her, so there!
Yeah, I know what you’re saying!
You don’t give Catrina a problem
537 Catrina
Rather than incur your annoyance Catrina, I promise to recover fully.
OK? Got that?
That was a promise and I was a witness!
KR at 540
*hugs*
Night night, Catrina and Kr
I must get some sleep, so, over and out.
You all remember that flight incident when Obama’s plane had to do an unscheduled landing. Turns out the pilot declared it as an emergency landing and things were (perhaps) a lot more serious.
Here is the brief overview.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26217459#26217459
While a more detailed report gets into some of the technical issues.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26209478#26209478
NYTimes:
Ms. Rice, who was in Tbilisi to show support for President Mikheil Saakashvili, said that “with this signature” there had to be “the immediate and orderly withdrawal of Russian armed forces and the return of those forces to Russia.”
At the same time, a column of at least a dozen armored vehicles moved south from Gori, the central Georgian city, to the village of Igoeti, and took up a position there, about 15 miles from Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. This company-sized unit of armored personnel carriers, commanded by a Russian captain, has come closer to the capital than any other so far.
Russia put its signature to the accord earlier this week, but the agreement included a point that allowed Russian troops to act in what was termed a peacekeeping role, even outside the boundaries of the separatist enclaves where the war began.
It soon became clear that Russian forces had turned this provision to their advantage as Russian troops, pushed further into Georgia and seized full control of the central city of Gori in recent days.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/world/europe/16prexy.html?hp
…the picture of Condi Rice and Saakashvili is remarkably versatile: either that lurid red tie is the frog’s tongue, ready to extend and devour Ms Rice at shutter speed, or Ms Rice has taken the role of ‘older woman’ to Mikheil’s stag night.
Take ya pick.
Morning Kirri,
Another early morning ‘brekkie’ I see!
No doubt an irresistable mouthwatering smorgasbord of
poached isotpoes, scrambled itosopes and isotopes
benedict for your delectation this morning?
That photo of Condi is perfect for one of those caption
competitions!!
Must fly – hope your friend Morphy keeps you comfortable
today.
Hello friends-
Kirri- sounds like the end of the horrible treatments will be a major cause for celebration -
can you tip champers down the tube?
If not, i’ll have one for you.
You”ve shown incredible resilience. Inspirational stuff.
548 jen
I do recall asking the quack if rhyming was adequate justification. As in:
‘Keg’ rhymes with ‘PEG’.
He obligingly said that that probably just made it!
But a good champers would be utterly wasted on me for some time yet I’m afraid.
547 megan
“… irresistable mouthwatering smorgasbord of
poached isotpoes,”
…of course you meant “isotopes” didn’t you? LOL
And you need to be critised for putting ‘mouth’ and ’smorgasbord’ together in the same sentence (or even on the same page as far as I’m concerned!)
At this stage, I’ve had the inside of my mouth irradiated to the limit and it produces copious (as in unimaginable!) amounts of viscous mucus which I’m dishcarging at a frightening rate! LOL
So, can you kill this ’smorgasboard’ stuff for a while, huh?
A very interesting article on what effect the voter registration will have on the election.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080901/hayes
Kirri,
I DO have the biggest feet that inadvertently spend too much time in my “m…..h” ……argggghhhhh!!
So sorry- sussed the treatment just not the location.
Hell on earth,eh?
My playful take on your dyslexia comment yesterday mushroomed into that overblown gastronomic flourish this morning …:oops:
Promise to write 100 times, “I must not…..”
Just wish you the very,very best
Afternoon, Gang.
Kirri, by the time time you get through the worst of it, you’ll be able to send the nippers on a Grande Tour or two and buy Greg Norman’s “yacht”, (you know, the sucker Sharkie can’t fire up on a cold morning without the choke) on the proceeds of your mastery of a “New Genre” in expectorant art, namely Muco-Polysaccharidal Hoik-ku.
From the caves of Altamira to the cove of Circular Quay.
Goes like this; first you recite some poetry, then a short sharp burst of Tuvan throat singing. Next you “approach” your blank canvas having masticated a mess of beetle nut. A well-heeled throng gather expectanly, lured by the “exotic music” and incense. Your schtick consists of spritzing your spits to canvas with creative choreography; lots of John Belushi “Sat. Nite Live” squeals and purrs and staccato grunts.
Can see you down at the Quay muscling out your Street Performers patch, systematically relieving cashed-up tourists of vast wads of their holiday fat. A couple of laminated A4 home-office generated signs flutter inoffensively in the background:
“Trade Enquiries Welcome”
“No Card Facility Available. ATM opposite”
—————————–
Chris B at 551, great piece from The Nation. Here’s a couple more paras that indicate why a “50 state strategy” is hitting pay dirt.
Nate Silver calls it “leftovers”, to others it’s a main course.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/friday-afternoon-leftovers.html
Chris at 551
Good article – it really gets into the dirt and glory of grass roots.
“Muco-Polysaccharidal Hoik-ku”
Mate, this stuff can walk…
…up walls!
Gallup Daily Tracking: Obama 44%, McCain 44%
Gallup puts the drop down to Obama’s absence from the stage during his vocation in Hawaii.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109564/Gallup-Daily-McCain-Obama-Tied-44.aspx
Resistance is pointless!!
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/blob.jpg
Cat at 559: “Gallup puts the drop down to Obama’s absence from the stage during his vocation in Hawaii.”
Cat, others might consider it a pre-convention, Beijing-distracted pseudo-narrowing.
Besides, what red-blooded Patriot can be bothered being fully attentive to a pesky phone poller while America’s Best are mining Cathay gold and Mickey Phelps is reinterpreting water cubism?
You people have no idea how the general american public thinks. If there is a sniff of a war they will vote for M’cain in a second.
Stay here and hero worship Obamba but get over you r Pc correct ideology the usa will not vote for a black president ,this year no way no how.
I am not being racist but stating facts that the usa is a racist country the same as aus. is still a racist country .So you all enjoy grouphugging eachother and get ready to cry come election day.
A rather good read:
Six days that broke one country – and reshaped the world order
But even more interesting is the politics behind the scenes.
558 Enemy Combatant
You’ve nailed it Ecky! (And believe me, you could! LOL)
Although the colour is more caramel.
If Obamba really wanted to be pres why take a break in the most critical year?
Kerry is being touted as possible VP candidate due to his military and foreign policy strengths.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=4226712&cl=9298242&src=news
Colin Powell is being touted as a possible McCain VP.
“I am not being racist….but..”
Is usually followed by some redneck comment.
Think we’ve got a raw one here.
thats right attack someone with a diffrent view.
Obamba will not win win because the Usa is a racist country and obamba is black. Also as i stated any hint of a war and Mcain will win. Belive all you want and talk him up but be prepared to lose come nov.
[comment removed at Catrina's discretion]
BTW> my wife comes from a little town in ohio and she just loves reading all your expert posts from people who have no idea at all but just rely on , who is your political guru?
JOHN STEWART a left wing commentater who admits he votes for the reb. and is a actor formost.
Catrina are you a nazi?
Do yo not belive in free speech?
American, young, not deliberately inarticulate, definitely not bright.
EC at 570
[comment removed at Catrina's discretion]
Thomas Paine at 564 released from the dungeon.
Sat Aug 16:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/nonsequitur;_ylt=AkTQQw9n_UoEXu6g0pS9_6LmcLQF
Cortoonologists and students of lingual extension are uncertain about how the evolutionary jump from “THWAP” to “ZOT” actually occurred. Under an Obama Presidency, revenues raised from tightening corporate tax loop-holes will be showered upon those keen to pursue phenomena of similar cultural significance.
No matter how many working families in Ohio have to stand in the breadline to fund it.
http://www.talkingproud.us/ImagesMilitary/BlindbatLGB/HartZot.jpg
errr, that’s “ZOT” to “SHWAP”.
Guess I got a little tongue tied:)
lilprawn@570,
My understanding is that Nazis are right wing….don’t think you could ever accuse Catrina of that
563 lilprawn
I took it as a parallel with the incucumbant! LOL
Sat Aug 16:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/doonesbury;_ylt=ArOfWxAauYlvNSszo2Um3JlX_b4F
“We interrupt this program to bring you the following NewsFlash!!
Sat Aug 16:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/thequigmans;_ylt=A0WTUcNLfqZI6BcBtg8DwLAF
“Thank you for your attention, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a jungle out there.
We now resume our normal transmission……”
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57540
Thomas Paine@564,
I thought there was some mention of Colin Powell endorsing Obama?
megan, PNAC pointman, William “The Bloody” Kristol recently said Powell would speak at the Dem Convention endorsing The Kid.
Powell said it was bullshit.
————–
The Ides of August:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/mikeluckovich;_ylt=Al5TjuJWUi6WY8fGdlC5sRNR_b4F
Essential questions to consider regarding the Georgian pipeline.
Who owns the oil going in?
Who got the oil coming out(until recently)?
Who controls it now?
Will Oil & Gas Corps go to war to protect “their assets”?
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57671
Fri Aug 15:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/bensargent;_ylt=AosmxEz42ONWxLMIDwB_2nlN_b4F
“The fighting between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia is an unnerving reminder of that, and of how quickly the balance of global power can be tilted from unexpected directions with barely a warning. ”
An interesting perspective from a Retired Army colonel,West Point graduate, Andrew Bacevich.
America and the World
Catrina is right wing. She wants this whole site to agree with her views and she can not stand it if some one disagrees.
I will say again Obama will lose because the USA is not ready to elect a black president.
Like it or lump it is a fact and do not cty when reality takes over.
The nazis started out restricting free speech.
What is what catrina doing any different?
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-forum16-2008aug16,0,6960752.story
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-campaign16-2008aug16,0,4771633.story
584 lilprawn Might be handy if you learn your left wing from your right wing as you obviously have no idea.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10208365
registration needed for NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/us/politics/16arkansas.html
Registration required for Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/15/AR2008081503441.html?hpid=topnews
Bent GOPper Senator, Teddy “Fingers” Stevens, is trying to have his corruption charges heard in his home state of Alaska. Even with all the justice money can buy, Fingers has two chances of this occurring; Buckley’s and Bubkes. The transfer hearing has been set for late August.
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57709
http://www.electoral-vote.com
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000002938429
You need to be registered for the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/us/politics/15web-hulse.html
Affiliation of Cable news watchers.
CNN: 51% Democrats, 18% Republicans, 23% independents
MSNBC: 45% Democrats, 18% Republicans, 27% independents
Fox News: 33% Democrats, 39% Republicans, 22% independents.
http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/444.pdf
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/top-ceos-give-10-times-more-to-mccain-than-to-obama-2008-08-15.html
Nah, it’s one with fish heads! Purleeeeeeeeese David, no more fish heads! OK, LOL?
597 was to 217 David Gould
in case anyone was unclear! LOL
Morning to all who can’t avert their eyes from the fear and loathing that is an American presidential campaign.
Coming soon to a pipeline near you…….
Transfusion Nation: “we will not rest until your country is free……..free to have its peoples’ blood exchanged for oil.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7728735
Surely America’s MSM won’t let Dubya get away with such outrageous inconsistentcy. They have far too much integrity to let that one thru to the catcher. They’ll smack it clean outta the park like a 240 yard line-driven homer and skewer The President with his own words…….. any day now…..just you wait and see!!
“I’m in show business, why come to me?”
“War is show business, that’s why we’re here.”
– “Wag the Dog” (1997 film)
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20530.htm
EC @ 599 the hypocrisy is breathtaking yet the msm swallow it hook line and sinker