Categories
Open Thread

Referendum on Obama ?

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been noticing a reoccurring phrase from the talking heads in the US media.

This election is a referendum on Obama.

Give me a break! If this was a referendum on Obama it would be suggesting that all of those dumb white lazy Americans were actually thinking about voting for Obama instead of cleaning guns and beating the women folk with their bibles.

Reality is that white Americans are not dumb, the majority are not cleaning their guns, only a very small percentage are beating their womenfolk, and this election is not a referendum. However, looking at the situation from the media perspective, they do need a narrative that will last out the election season, and we have some of the ducks lined up. Obama is representing a substantially new series of policies and an attitudinal shift, he is popular, knows how to motivate an audience, knows how to construct sentences, and according to people who know him a lot better than we do, actually knows how to speak with a lot more depth than he chooses to deliver on the campaign trail. McCain in contrast is building on a familiar landscape, a national reverence for anything and anyone military, and an somewhat old-boy, beer on the balcony, best mate persona, his foreign affairs acumen established as a prisoner of war, and that ‘Rodger RamJet: Hero of our Nation’ thing.

Roger Ramjet is a patriotic and highly moral but not too bright superhero (kind of a jet age Dudley Do-Right), who is typically out to save the world, with help from his Proton Energy Pills (“PEP”), which give him “the strength of twenty atom bombs for a period of twenty seconds”. The World is invariably saved by dispensing violence towards the various recurring criminals who are traditional characters in this form of entertainment.

But, it gets worse … doesn’t the following quote sound a lot like General Petraeus, John McCain, and the McCain Campaign crew?

On government missions assigned by General G.I. Brassbottom, Ramjet encounters various nemeses during his missions. Typically he is caught, and must be rescued by his crew of sidekicks, the American Eagles (named Yank, Doodle, Dan and Dee – a play on “Yankee Doodle Dandy”.) Although his Eagles appear to be children, each of them, except for Dee, flies his own individual ramjet aircraft expertly, along with being obviously much more savvy than their leader.

I’m going out on a limb here and I’m suggesting that the media have already figured out that a ‘national referendum on Obama’ is just what is needed to create a multitude of interesting talking points, and justify a media bias to cover attention of the more interesting candidate. Think of the alternative – repeats of a kid’s TV animation series from the 1960s? After all, there are still 24 days to the Convention, 95 days (or 2,280 of those 24×7 media hours) to fill before this election is done and dusted (excluding recounts and associated supreme court rulings) and 173 days until the Inauguration.

Cialis pharmacie-dela-place prix canada viagra en pharmacie pour améliorer la production des spermatozoïdes mais plutôt. Sans viagra online bestellen ordonnance femme enquête sur le prix de la solution.

Content referencing Roger RamJet courtesy of Wikipedia.

611 replies on “Referendum on Obama ?”

Votemaster polls are in.

Lots of polls today. Quinnipiac University has polls showing Florida and Ohio as statistical ties, with Obama leading by 2% in each state. In Pennsylvania, Obama is ahead by a solid 49% to 42%. Montana is also a statistical tie, with McCain ahead by a mere 1%. This is the second poll showing that this normally dependably red state may be up for grabs this year. If McCain has to fight hard to win Montana, that signals trouble ahead.

http://www.electoral-vote.com

And a poll for Alaska which has blown right out. 50% to 37%.

If he gets a quick trial and found guilty, it’ll bow the republicans away, just before the election.

#95 is about 2010 senators giving money to save their 2008 mates, if I were them I’d hang onto their money they’re going to need it to save there own bacon.

Something interesting I came across just a few minutes ago is an article over on the Washington Post which is a sort of in-depth backgrounder on McCain, and in some ways an attempt to get inside McCain’s head. While the article does not achieve that objective by any stretch of the imagination – it does get into the smell of his skin (if that makes any sense). While there is a lot of good content in the article, I could not help but be caught by the closing two paragraphs …

Two books that McCain has not read are the bestsellers written by Obama. Isn’t he curious about his opponent? “Well, I’ve been watching DVDs of his debates,” McCain replied, “and I pay attention to his speeches.”

Does this combination of respect for Obama’s campaign and apparent indifference to his books suggest another example of McCain’s romantic fatalism? Salter, the alter ego, emphatically rejected that idea. “I can tell you right now,” he said of McCain, “he can’t stand losing. . . . And sometimes when he’s losing, it’s not all romantic and glorious. He gets pretty tough. . . . He’s as resilient a human being as I’ve ever encountered. There are no permanent defeats for him.”

And to me, this makes a lot of sense. The complete turnaround on his promise to run a clean campaign, the general low-life attributes of the last two weeks, and the desperation we have seen this last week. Romantic and glorious are not attributes that spring to mind.

Is it safe to conclude that McCain thinks he’s loosing?

Source: The curious mind of John McCain
By Robert G. Kaiser
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 1, 2008

MSNBC (no subscription required)

Thanks,Ecky…some corkers there 🙂

Could only play Deputy Dawg for a couple of hours last night as a dinner out won over sitting at my PC for the evening.

There is a glorious day outside and ,after so much damp and cold weather, the outside chores can’t be ignored any longer. So back to topic later.

No worries , megan, nothing like getting your hands into the soil with the nippers in the backyard.
What you actually sow on days like these grows beyond the botanical harvest and may live for generations.

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57094

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57101

Why the spatially challenged have thinner babies and less satisfied spouses.
http://xkcd.com/
———————-
Presumptive GOPper Nominee and Master of Ape-Rape Comedy (a sure-fire winner with randy women voters in 2008), and Maestro of the publicly delivered matrimonial sweet nothing (“you make-up plastering, cunt!!), is giving his “terrorist jabbing” opponent a major boost among voters who mute TV and cable ads and are susceptible to influence by powerful imagery.

Update – Tom in comments makes a good point about McCain’s “The One” ad. Go here and watch with the sound off. Consider the imagery, body language, smiling shots of Obama in front of happy crowds and put yourself in the shoes of one of Stahl’s focus group people not listening to what she said. Would you be sure this was an anti-Obama ad?

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/how-you-look-how-you-sound-what-you-say.html

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57094

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57101

Why the spatially challenged have thin babies and less satisfied spouses.
http://xkcd.com/

Presumptive GOPper Nominee and Master of Ape-Rape Comedy (a sure-fire winner with randy women voters in 2008), and Maestro of the publicly delivered matrimonial sweet nothing (“you make-up plastering, cunt!!), is giving his “terrorist jabbing” opponent a major boost among voters who mute TV and cable ads and who are susceptible to influence by powerful imagery.

Update – Tom in comments makes a good point about McCain’s “The One” ad. Go here and watch with the sound off. Consider the imagery, body language, smiling shots of Obama in front of happy crowds and put yourself in the shoes of one of Stahl’s focus group people not listening to what she said. Would you be sure this was an anti-Obama ad?

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/how-you-look-how-you-sound-what-you-say.html
————————-
Isn’t it about time major Parties thought about recruiting Lloyd Fullerton to their team. Lloyd’s the kind of a guy…….who can think outside the square!:)

Yeah, that Lloyd Fullerton can really get his head around the big issues at play this election.

Latest VP odds have the Repugs down to a 2 man contest of Romney vs Pawlenty at 2/1, with daylight to the rest at 10/1 plus. The Dems are also down to two with Kaine vs Bayh at 2/1 and 3/1, then miles to Biden, Sebelius and someone called Clinton.

House Dem Chief: Don’t Get Complacent.

In his latest memo to fellow lawmakers, Representative Chris Van Hollen, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, cautioned his members against slipping “into complacency,” even as he expressed confidence that the Democrats would pick up seats in November.

On the day of the Congressional recess, Mr. Van Hollen, of Maryland, referred to the National Republican Congressional Committee as “under funded and in disarray,” and highlighted the D.C.C.C.’s plans to blanket the airwaves with television advertising in 50 districts this fall. The committee has already reserved $53 million worth of air time, it said.

Must register for NYT.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/house-dem-chief-dont-get-complacent/

Can someone please tell me what is going on?? As much as I’m trying to ignore it, the head to head polls have tightened since Obama’s very successful overseas jaunt. Dont tell me the Brtiney commercial is working???

Crying wolf, (or perhaps that should be “ROVE”) one time too many:

As many observers have noted by now, the negative strategy adopted by the McCain campaign under the leadership of new manager Steve Schmidt follows a template created by Schmidt’s old boss, Karl Rove. It is all very familiar stuff, from the direct assault on Obama’s power as a media star to the insinuations that he is weak, elitist and not truly patriotic. All these themes can and will be amplified by “independent” advertising that raises doubts about Obama’s religious and racial attitudes (or those of his wife).

It isn’t Swift-boating — yet — but it regurgitates the same themes used by Rove in both the midterm campaigns of 2002 and the presidential race of 2004. Whether Schmidt or Rove executes those same old appeals to the worst in us hardly matters. What matters is that McCain has adopted an approach that was once thought beneath him. And that choice dates back to his decision to ally himself with George W. Bush and indeed with Rove, despite the vicious tactics that defeated him in the Republican primaries of 2000 — for which he held them responsible.

Salon

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/08/01/rove_mccain/

…the press are starting to question this stuff, and you get the feeling that flashing Britney was just too low even for the cynical world of punditry.

Macca is looking desperate and dateless when he trawls this muck.

Hey, how did that smiley thingo-me-jig get in my last post?

Aaargh, it’s Rove, infiltrating the blog! LOL

Glen Greenwald digs into the anthrax story, and it’s truly shocking that there appears to be an inside (ie high level governmnet) attempt to dupe the US public into thinking Saddam was the source.

And guess who was also pumping out the innuendo too? None other than John McCain.

If you want a conspiracy scandal with legs, this one’s got plenty:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/01/anthrax/index.html

122

Kirri

Good link KR.

Between him and Greg Palast they may be able to get something rolling.

Pretty hard to get something reported now days, even here in mSM if it does not suit their particular agenda, unless you buy space.

One day soon!

Kirri, Greenwald’s perceptions on the anthrax story have legs like a centipede. This bit from Update 4:

As I said, it is not possible to overstate the importance of anthrax in putting the country into the state of fear that led to the attack on Iraq and so many of the other abuses of the Bush era. There are few news stories more significant, if there are any, than unveiling who the culprits were behind this deliberate propaganda. The fact that the current GOP presidential nominee claimed back then on national television to have some “indication” linking Saddam to the anthrax attacks makes it a bigger story still.

No argument here that “Schmuckens” Schmidt’s got his mitts all-over the present slime-boating. The Kid’s gonna have ta kick Bomb-Bomb in the nuts coupla times before the rubes goof-off on The Games (where eveything from the climate to internet access is totally controlled). Then knock their socks off at Colorado.

124 Gaffhook

The implications are huge: insiders fed false info to ABC News who dutifully whipped up the “Saddam link” as the neocons were going full tilt to cooking up a war with Iraq. Whowere these ‘four sources’? Greenwald’s right to point out that this is probably the biggest story of the pre-invasion period, and yet nobody seems to even recall how big the anthrax fear was in driving the conclusion to invade.

It has a VERY fishy smell. Not to mention the appallingly inept investigation and the harassing of at least one innocent person.

Yep, Greenwald’s a tireless advocate for bringing this stuff into the open against a tide of apathy and collusion. Love him.

Sat Aug 2: The following cartoon is brought to you courtesy of “Big Picture Expert”, Lloyd Fullerton.
Thanks very much, Lloyd.
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/doonesbury;_ylt=A0WTUfM9MpRIOzkAmQ0DwLAF

Sat Aug 2: Unless I’m mistaken, the other guy is John Ashcroft, the Imbecile-appointed A-G before that slurry skipper, Alberto Gonzalez.
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/jeffdanziger;_ylt=AikwXcVhjK4d5mmosBH6prdX_b4F

Sat Aug 2: A primer for Janet Albrechtsen
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/nonsequitur;_ylt=AgZMZt8nTDXLFMOYlqTqq71R_b4F

Fading icon watch:

G.M. ended the quarter with $21 billion in cash reserves, which would be considered a healthy financial cushion in normal times.

But the automaker is burning through more than $1 billion in cash each month, a worrisome indicator that has prompted some investors to speculate about the potential for G.M. to go bankrupt. One indication of a loss of faith is that the company’s bonds were trading on Friday at 48 cents on the dollar.

NYTimes

….and if they can’t turn it around quickly, will we see the once indomitable GM go the way of the dodo?

(There’s a pic on the article of a car yard full of brand new Hummers…unsold and unlikely to be in this new age. Ironic how the ‘captains of industry’ just beached themselves on the hard rocks of reality, huh?)

Kirri and Gaffy, following on from your “FEAR of anthrax” comments at 124 and 126, this review from Jane Mayer reads like velvet.

Seven years after al-Qaeda’s attacks on America, as the Bush administration slips into history, it is clear that what began on September 11, 2001, as a battle for America’s security became, and continues to be, a battle for the country’s soul………

Instead of heeding this well-intentioned dissent, however, the Bush administration invoked the fear flowing from the attacks on September 11 to institute a policy of deliberate cruelty that would have been unthinkable on September 10. President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and a small handful of trusted advisers sought and obtained dubious legal opinions enabling them to circumvent American laws and traditions. In the name of protecting national security, the executive branch sanctioned coerced confessions, extrajudicial detention, and other violations of individuals’ liberties that had been prohibited since the country’s founding. They turned the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel into a political instrument, which they used to expand their own executive power at the expense of long-standing checks and balances.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21716
—————————-

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57104

131

EC

Just love those cartoons. They are the only people who report with honesty and there is more in one of them than a thousand words.

Just lookin at that one and by the time i got to McDumb i was singing “welcome to my world” from one of the previous Toons you posted.

That bill Leak one in the OO the other day, “The full Nelson”, really made me laugh with the speech bubble coming from where it was the day after Red Kerry had tore him another one.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/opinion/cartoons/

Morning all,

and there is a glorious day beckoning me out.

Will be interesting to see how Obama handles both the Iran and Israel nuclear issues once in office -good to see Rudd has adjusted to a more a even -handed manner towards the latter since being elected.

http://www.monbiot.com:80/archives/2008/07/29/nuking-the-treaty/

Enough horror stories re the economy so thought I’d post rant by someone who shares one of my pet gripes instead : 🙂

Warnings,Notices, littering visually and aurally wherever you go ……

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2008/aug/02/1

142

Cracker first paragraph Megan:

Washington can act with breathtaking urgency when the right people want something done. In this case, the people are Wall Street’s titans, who are scared witless at the prospect of their historic implosion. Congress quickly agreed to enact a gargantuan bailout, with more to come, to calm the anxieties and halt the deflation of Wall Street giants. Put aside partisan bickering, no time for hearings, no need to think through the deeper implications. We haven’t seen “bipartisan cooperation” like this since Washington decided to invade Iraq.

…it’s the panic of knowing the horses have already bolted.

I notice here that when Rudd says expect recession the loopy conservatives start going feral AS IF it’s the government’s fault! Shanahan’s calling for Costello to save the Liberal party, while implying Rudd is an economic ‘fraud’.

My god, desperate, or what? LOL

It’s good to see the hagiography being re-written about the “Maestro”, and none more scathing than ‘Greenspan’s Bubbles: The Age of Ignorance at the Federal Reserve’ by Bill Fleckenstein:

“In his typically engaging style, Bill Fleckenstein pops the Greenspan bubble…presenting compelling and convincing evidence that the former Fed chief got us into this mess…”-Herb Greenberg, Senior Columnist, MarketWatch.com

As I’ve been saying for years, Greenspan will eventually be the MOST reviled figure this (and most likely the next) generation, for the unmitigated disaster he’s brought down upon them.

Just had a quick peruse of The Other Site and the usual suspects are going on about mr Flip-FlopObama now supporting off-shore drilling having said he wouldn’t . Is this true???

Talking of which…

Noticed the other day that he ‘of the talking horse’ name wrote “…Kirri R was right.”

Still enjoy reading the local stuff but am glad we can put our heads up here without the sniperfire.

As an atheist, and a republican to boot, can’t help but agree with your sentiment, Prog.

Jen@145,

Yes, read that too but on reading the transcript of what he actually said, feel it has been blown out of proportion.

but megan at 152, when the huff post has it as its major headline yesterday as a back down, youd have to see it as significant, and he hasnt come out to clarify or change anything

Andrew,

Agree it doesn’t look good but think he is doing a Rudd, creating as few differences as possible to court the middle ground.

Once elected, I am HOPING he will be able to revert to his earlier convictions.
He is still so much better than the alternative 🙂

145 jen

It’s the typical “I won’t get wedged” position. McCain pushes the line that fuel prices would fall if they open up off-shore fields. This is actually debunked by most knowledgeable commentators, but if Obama leaves this flank uncovered he’s open to attack for being more concerned with molluscs than the plight of the driving public.

Politics as usual.

149/49

I’m pleased to hear the Gruffmeister has actually learned something…I was despairing he’d ever be capable! LOL

As for a ‘god’ Prog, a very mortal one! LOL

(But I’m chuffed to accept the compliment)

But remember how Kerry got skewered with the “flip flop” thing- remember the giant flip flops being waved at the convention??- Obama needs to be careful, as the reaction to the so-called Iraq flip flop showed.

The media and the public dont go for nuanced positions.

158 Andrew

Check out Jon Stewart’s take on McCain the other day if you really want to see flip flopping!

It seems the MSM are quick to jump on anything Obama says but are still giving Macca a free ride.

KR youre spot on, as with Rudd in our campaign, Obama is under much more scrutiny that McCain, which means he has to be extra careful, and I dont think the off-shore thing has done him any favours

there’s a cou[ple of things that I think need to be taken into consideration when looking at Obama’s candidacy than say Rudd.
Firstly- this is the United States: a conservative, religious, consumeristic country with no equal to rival it in terms of its insularity and delusions of grandiosity.
No one, not even Jesus, could be elected if he did not pander to this culture. This is extremely unfortunate, and the consumerism of the US will only be slowed by economic disastor, not by concern for the planet.
Therefore as disappointing as it is, and it is, if Obama wants to win he has to say that he would CONSIDER a range of environmentally negative options. If the yanks think they might have to leave the SUV in the garage he’ll lose.
Rudd supports old-growth logging, desal plants and uranium mining FFS, but the one-eyed Anyone But Obama trolls are so intent on pulling him off his pedestal that they would rather see the media beat him to death evn if it means the best chance we have to have intelligent informed decsionmaking is traded for the neanderthals that are the Republicans.
One has to wonder why the dislike is so intense…. 😡

oops @161 😳

…”no rival to equal it…
and “pulling him off his pedestal” refers to Obi not Kevin

Afternoon Grinch- good to see you like to stay in touch, even if you must comment about what is written here on the Oz thread. 😉

“One has to wonder why the dislike is so intense….”

Jen, if there’s anything a true GOPper hates it’s an uppity nigger who’s burst from the woodpile so brilliantly that it’s caught ’em a mite offguard. That’s why “Schmuckens” Schmidt was press-ganged into heading up Bomb-Bomb’s War Room about a month ago and why Team McAngry have gone feral with the trash ads.

Obi personally needs to lead a blitz on the Sunday Talkies, work McCain “about the head” and splash a bit of Bomb-Bomb claret on the canvas. Flying like a butterfly is pretty to watch but American Culture being what it is, the punters are fair fangin’ for Bazza to show how he can sting like a bee.
Best to save the savage right cross and the old zippo-bang combination till the last round. Nothing focuses “the American voting mind” like the memory of a fresh political kill as seen on TV a coupla sleeps from E-Day.

http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2008/06/24/tomo/

Hi Ecky- my sentiment too. It becomes truly odd when seemingly left thinkers hate Obama to the poinyt where they clearly want to see him fail – like helllo!???
Look at the alternative.
And even the most embittered Hillary supporters have moved to support Obi: even Bill has FFS!!
So all tis banging on about Flip-Flopping, not signing Kyoto Pastorsauce Gate, etc appears to be nothing more than out and out personal hatred.
Wonder if the same excessive and unreasoned dislike would be happening if the guy was white?
If that’s the concern at least they have McCain , as white as a cadavre to go for.

At this stage in the 1988 presidential race, Michael Dukakis, the Democratic candidate, had a 17 percentage point lead over George H.W. Bush, who went on to win the election. John Kerry emerged from the 2004 Democratic convention with a strong lead over George W. Bush only to lose the election as well. In 2008, conventional wisdom says Mr McCain is running a much less effective campaign than either of the Bushes.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6a42365c-5ffa-11dd-805e-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1

Stevens Plummets in Post-Indictment Poll.

Stevens Sinks in Alaska Senate Race
A new Ivan Moore Research poll in Alaska shows Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) leading Sen. Ted Stevens, 56% to 35%.

However, even though Stevens faces six opponents in the Aug. 26 Republican primary, he still holds a huge lead over chief rival Dave Cuddy (R), 59% to 19%.

We know which is one of the biggest issues to use in this election don’t we? Shshsh don’t tell anyone. 👿
http://www.politicalwire.com

Kirri@135
sums it up pretty neatly

“The forces arrayed against Sen. McCain’s candidacy are formidable: an unpopular president, the near impossibility of extending Republican White House rule for three terms, the GOP trailing in races at every level, a listless fundraising base, doubtful sentiments about the war, a flailing economy.

The generic Democratic presidential candidate should win handily. Barack Obama, though vulnerable at the margin, is a very strong candidate. This will be a turnout election. To win, Mr. McCain needs every Republican vote he can hold.”

The Republican Party is facing what Ronald Reagan called “a time for choosing.” A real argument is raging over how much it should turn its back on the bad habits that cost it control of Congress in 2006.

Just after that debacle, Alaska’s Sen. Ted Stevens, the father of the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere,” encountered Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, the antipork crusader who had held up many of the projects so many members believe are the key to their re-election. Mr. Stevens said, “Well, Tom, I hope you’re satisfied for helping us lose the election.” Mr. Coburn replied, “No, Ted, you lost us this election.”

The data favored Mr. Coburn: 2006 exit polls revealed that corruption in government was second only to the Iraq war as the driving force behind the Democratic takeover. A major part of that corruption was earmarks — pork projects members often secure in secret. Earmarks were at the heart of the scandals that sent Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Calif. Rep. Duke Cunningham to jail.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121763231581006155.html?mod=todays_columnists

So, going on the above article and what has happened in the USA recently. I suspect that the top 3 issues in order are now

1. The Economy stupid.
2. Corruption
3. The Iraq war.

Facebook has a group that is called I bet I could find 5 million people that hate George Bush, which replaces I bet I could find 1 million people that hate George Bush. They got there 1 million, but trolls have taken over the comments. The new one is moderated.

jen at 145

Just had a quick peruse of The Other Site and the usual suspects are going on about mr Flip-FlopObama now supporting off-shore drilling having said he wouldn’t . Is this true???

What we have is a group from Congress (calling themselves the Gang of 10) composed of 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats that have been working on a new bill titled The New Energy Reform Act of 2008.

The New Energy Reform Act of 2008 calls for spending $84-billion over 10 years on research and development of better batteries, fuels and energy-saving technologies and includes tax incentives for people who buy hybrid and alternative-fuel cars and trucks. This is moving directly towards Obama’s own plan to spend 15 billion over 10 years in the same area. The catch, or compromise if you prefer, is the strategy dealing with the raising of the 84 billion – and that’s where limited off-shore oil comes licenses come in.

At this time Obama has not endorsed the bill, instead his attitude is that if a compromise can be reached, he is not going to block things.

Here is what he said:

My attitude is that we can find some sort of compromise, If it is part of an overarching package, then I am not going to be rigid in preventing an energy package that goes forward that is really thoughtful and is going to really solve the problem.

However, this is only a draft bill, Congress is in recess for 5 weeks as of yesterday, there is an issue with the bill in that Florida cannot veto drilling (the bill is restricting off-shore to 50 miles off-shore which I understand pushes the subject outside of Florida state control), and, the bill is in effect proposing an increase in taxes on oil companies – something that GWB has said he would veto (but a GWB veto is kind of meaningless at this point in the process).

Just watched Obama on SBS and wonder if there are Repug plants in the audience bringing up the race factor so frequently.
The fact that he is as much black as he is white should surely ,logically, defuse that whole issue.

Just hope Obama has a copy of Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” tucked in his back pocket.

174 Catrina Just a generalised comment Catrina. Nothing to worry about. Politicians do that before an election.

On oil-drilling, Obama’s move is right imho. Energy supply and cost is a huge issue in America – as, indeed, is it is everywhere. If he wants to be competitive in an increasingly tough race, I reckon he has to avoid the dreaded wedge.

Hillary (remember her?), just last Thursday, mulls over what if, what could be, and oh heck, if you gals nominate me at the convention:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8gdU_1MM44

…she’s not calling it out of bounds straight up, but prevaricates in that lovely way…lots of nodding ensues! LOL

megan @ 142, I have this horrible sinking feeling that reform of the finance industry may come, but only after the wider economy has been trashed. So far, we’ve seen some some fast-moving financial triage and emergency patch-ups, but nothing like the far-reaching therapy that should be carried out.

180 Enemy Combatant

Some WaPo journo was on Lehrer saying that Alaska has the highest per capita pork barreling ratio of any state because Stevens was the chair in charge of dolloping out funds.

She also alluded, but declined to say on air, that some Alaskan pollies were wearing caps with flagrant slogans of their being in bed with local business!

Cowboy country.

182 blindoptimist

The socialisation of the US economy is moving forward at a cracker pace BlindOp, and beefing up Fannie and Freddie while loosening the controls so they can expand their book is the disease and NOT the cure in my opinion.

Nobody wants to say it, but the US citizen is gonna get fleeced and his assets trashed and hey, they’ll just have to suck it up.

It’s shocking, but it’s true.

Economic models predict clear Obama win in November.

It really is the economy, stupid! Economic models that have correctly predicted the winner of almost all post-war U.S. presidential elections say recession fears will secure a victory for Barack Obama in November.

Three separate studies showed the Democratic presidential hopeful winning between 52 and 55 percent of the popular vote on November 4, based on current gloomy economic estimates.

Any further darkening in the economic outlook — many analysts think things will get worse between now and November — would reinforce that election outcome.

😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0138628820080801

Yes, Kirri, Stevens is slowburning coal fire of corruption in a land where people do a lot of huddlin’ and outbreaks of this kind are not readily contained. Teddy “Fingers” has proclaimed ,”I’m innocent”, and is indeed a man much misunderdtood.
Why is it always the innocent bent people who keep getting it in the neck?:mrgreen:

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57108

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57123

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57117

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57122

Further to that article at 185

“This model has correctly predicted the winning party 12 out of 14 times,” Macroeconomic Advisers said.

It does not take into account the massive advertising advantage Obama has, which will further highlight those issues in all areas during the Olympics. The Demographics, the huge advantage in issues including his opponents age and health. Plus the fact that the Republicans are grossly incompetent. Then their is me and Catrina with the backup of KR, EC and Jen. What more could you want?

The recent entry of a politically experienced challenger, Democratic state Sen. Don Cravins Jr., has created the possibility of an unexpectedly competitive race this fall for two-term Louisiana Republican Rep. Charles Boustany Jr.

This development — and the announcement Friday by national Democratic officials that they have listed Cravins as one of their top challenger candidates this year — has prompted CQ Politics to change its rating on the race in southwestern Louisiana’s 7th District to Republican Favored, from the former category of Safe Republican.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000002932765

Gaffy, would you care to repost what the vision clear one has deemed to delete at the protect the ponies site; just for the record…you know how it goes; norty then wicked etc…

I believe the post was pre

1107
codger Says:
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Gaff Hooked!

Cheers, norty. 🙂

Keep up the good work everyone. Always good to see useful information and debate on this site. And pleased to not have the previous interference in the airwaves even tho I can see some bludgers rather like the scent of a enemy in their nostrils. Personally I see most benefit in good analysis and thinking as currently happening rather than having to dodge missiles from dubious quarters.

It is interesting to see how the conservatives and reactionaries in both US and Oz have the idea that they can fool people by creating the image of mildly progressive people such as Obama as elitists and enemies of ordinary people. The worry is that with the help of self-interested media companies they do fool a lot of people but with good sites like this their chances of doing so are at least a bit diminished.

Big surprise: a lot of smarty-pants computer types have been snickering at John McCain lately.

The self-described “Neanderthal” of the Grand Old Party (emphasis, old) has been catching flack for admitting that he is no techno-geek. He not only did not invent the Internet, he can barely use it.

“I don’t expect to set up my own blog,” he told the New York Times reporters Adam Nagourney and Michael Cooper. The Times has learned that Mr. McCain does not text, Treo or Twitter, either.

How would he possibly spend his time in the White House?

We joke, but the serious question — and one that has occupied many of the blogs and discussion groups that Mr. McCain does not partake of — is whether the computing habits of the presumptive Republican nominee should have any bearing at all on his fitness to be commander in chief.

You need to register for the NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/weekinreview/03leibovich.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Capping off a week on the campaign trail overshadowed by racially tinged accusations, Barack Obama sought a tone of unity in a speech Saturday to a predominantly black audience and pledged to help everyone achieve the American dream.

The hundreds of people gathered for the National Urban League convention frequently interrupted the Democratic candidate’s speech with raucous cheers, in contrast with the more subdued response to Republican John McCain’s appearance the day before.

”Our march is a march for America,” Obama said, crediting an Urban League leader from the 1960s with the sentiment. “Not black America or white America. Not rich America or poor America, rural America or urban America. But all America.”

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/story/627273.html

Kirribilli Removals @ 184….

yes, kr, the con-job is in full swing – the super ponzi.

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

I received two emails earlier today that gave me a heads up on a storm in a teacup brewing over on the PB Classic. I took a look at the progress of things over there earlier this afternoon and noticed GG getting into a flap because he’s somewhat insecure about posting here, and I noticed Ron and the Finns going ballistic on the Kid without actually dealing with facts. Nothing new there. What I also noticed was William cutting through the flack and asserting a policy position backed by some good editorial policy decisions.

Basically, my take is as follows – William is not interested in people bitching about this site on PB Classic, just as I’m not very tolerant of people bitching about the PB Classic over here.

However, I just want to note that there are some things that are fair game. If some mindless dork over on PB Classic sitting in a vibrating Jason recliner while watching Fox News is thinking its appropriate to launch an attack on this community, this site, or thinks its appropriate to raise a subjects within our purview, then (and I want to make this real clear) if you post the quote here, and address your response here, that will be considered totally on-topic.

I.e. feel free to express your opinions on the quoted opinions of other individuals from any source, but please make sure you focus on that individual opinion, that you quote that opinion here, and that you do not deviate into questions of PB Classic editorial policy or management.

In the meantime the Kid has demonstrated once again that he is the only candidate with a moral center.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2008/08/02/obama.urban.league.cnn

Catrina, I am but a humble visitor but may I suggest that you have things slightly ar$e about. Any attacks launched on the main PB site should be dealt with on the main PB site. It is far better that this blog moves on and stops being baited by the Clintonauts.

We are currently in the down time before the conventions and the campaign proper hasn’t even started. The republicans haven’t even started on Obama, the mud will come thick and fast and from all angles before the campaign is done. Setting a tone of a cross site slanging match with the relegated team from the primaries, will only spoil the real fun to come.

1185
William Bowe Says:
August 4th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Codger, I don’t know what you’re talking about, you’ve wilfully refused to do as I asked, you aren’t funny, and that’s the end of you around here I’m afraid.

& It’s good night from him. Cheers. Goodluck all.

TurningWorm at 198

I am for want of a better word ‘ambivalent’ with respect to the the other site. However, some articles of war need to be declared. GG is a lot like Colin Powell – he’s thinking ahead about the consequences. The Finnigans is playing the familiar low-life-self-deprecating-bottom-sucker role and Ron, oh Ron, I had hoped for so much more … but it seems that Ron can only comment on the lowest of the low.

Bottom line – if some bitch somewhere manages to pull together a cohesive sentence then consider said sentence as fair game here. While I recognize that this may exclude Ron as a matter of theoretical grammatic principal, I would like to note that grammar has not been a subject on our editorial policy discussions.

And with respect to downtime ..

21 days to the Democratic Convention
92 days to Election Day
169 days to Inauguration

Those 21 days translates to something like 4 to 5 posts here on the PB US Edition. So my question to you is – are you ready to write up your position? Are you ready to asset something that will last forever along side the alias TurningWorm?

Comments are closed.