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Joe Biden: "I'm Getting Hard"

No, he wasn't talking about Sarah Palin. He was talking ice cream.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, asked his running mate if he was getting hard of soft ice cream.

"Let's see what we've got here," Obama said as he approached the counter.

"So," he said to Biden, "you decided to go with soft?"

"I'm getting hard," Biden said. "I'm a hard guy."

Chuckles all around as Obama orders his wife a small sundae.

From the Guy Who Started it all For Palin

Adam Brickley began the surge of support for Sarah Palin with his website to draft her for veep in february of 2007. Brickley, a sophomore at the University of Colorado, is all over the television after his campaign paid off today. He had a great post Wednesday on why Palin should be the pick:

Sarah Palin is an anomaly in American politics. It’s not because she’s a woman, not because of her blue-collar background, and not because of her ability to juggle the titles of “governor” and “committed mother of five”. Forget about all of that stuff for a moment; it’s interesting, but if Barack Obama has taught us anything, it’s that a compelling biography is not a qualification for leadership. Instead, Palin is unique because she can claim one of the broadest bases of support of any leader in our country. Other than the lunatic fringes of Alaska’s kleptocratic political establishment, nobody hates her.

Most politicians rise to power because they represent a certain wing of their party, and even some of their own partisans detest them. Mike Huckabee will never resonate with libertarian republicans, social conservatives cannot support Rudy Giuliani, certain evangelicals will always have a problem with Mitt Romney, and frankly I doubt that hard-core conservatives will ever fully embrace John McCain. That doesn’t make them bad candidates; it just means that they face significant opposition within the Republican Party. Sarah Palin does not have that problem.

I have been working to draft Gov. Palin as Vice President since February of 2007, and I can recount first hand how she has united divergent views among Republicans and is now even gaining Democratic support. The key is that she offers a combination of qualities that make her a hero to many, many different groups. For instance, two of our strongest bases of support have been social conservatives and libertarian republicans, who are normally at each other’s throats.

However, she offered both groups something that they desperately wanted without compromising any appeal to the other. The SoCons loved her pro-life, pro-family, and pro-gun positions, while the libertarians and fiscal conservatives cheered her on as she vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars of wasteful government spending. Getting those two groups to sing kum-ba-ya was enough of an accomplishment, but now it appears that a third group has found what it wants in Gov. Palin: McCainocrats.

For those Democrats who are considering abandoning the Obama ticket (primarily disillusioned Clinton supporters), Palin represents the final push into the Republican camp. Not only is she a woman (which, like it or not, is an issue for some voters), but she also puts a fresh, future-oriented face on the McCain campaign. By upending Alaska’s corrupt political class, Palin has actually produced the type of change that Barack Obama can only talk about; and her collar is far bluer than Joe Biden’s ever was. Furthermore, she is arguably the only candidate who has the necessary expertise to address the single most pressing issue in this election: gas prices. As Governor of Alaska, Chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (America’s largest interstate organization), and a former Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Sarah Palin can run rings around almost anyone when it comes to oil.

The last candidate to assemble such a broad coalition of support was a gentleman by the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan. He not only won the presidency in two successive landslides, but went on to become one of the most beloved and effective presidents in recent history. Now, I realize that it is somewhat presumptuous of me to make this comparison, but I personally have no doubt that Sarah Palin has the capability to become the next Reagan. In fact, the only real question that I have heard is whether we should bring her to the forefront now as a VP candidate or save her for later as a full-fledged presidential hopeful in 2012. I personally choose the former, because the latter involves the defeat of John McCain and the election of President Obama and Vice President Biden. 2008 will be a crucial election year, with the winner being handed the responsibility for the Iraq war, the gasoline crisis, the Russo-Georgian conflict, and any number of other issues. The stakes are simply too high to throw McCain under the bus and bide our time. Likewise, Sen. McCain should realize that the stakes are too high for him to select a VP candidate who simply “does no harm” rather than pushing his ticket over the top.

There is one sure fire solution to this problem, one way to guarantee a McCain surge, one way to put Obama on the defensive, and one way to steamroll to victory in November. Her name is Sarah Palin.

I've though Bobby Jindal was the next Reagan for some time now, but if Palin can indeed do it, and I'm starting to think she can, this would be even better.

McCain Decided on Palin Last Night

For his Vice President. It looks like the choice was going to be Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. For once, I am thankful that McCain has that maverick streak in him. From ABC News by way of HotAir:

McCain wanted to shake up the ticket.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s name in the mix as an unconventional choice for months, but she had not been considered a front runner. So over the next few days, with McCain continuing to believe he needed someone who had more of a maverick streak than his other choices, lawyers reviewed her vetting information. They kept their activities from even some in McCain’s most senior inner circle…

The campaign secretly flew Palin into Dayton last night. She and McCain met privately for a couple of hours. McCain concluded she would “shake up the system” and was “a maverick,” qualities he believed Lieberman would have brought to the ticket. But she also would appeal to conservatives–which Lieberman most certainly would not have done.

After their meeting, McCain concluded he was comfortable with his choice. He notified Pawlenty this morning that he was going a different direction.

Kind of interesting that McCain has barely met her and only decided last night. As you know, I couldn't be happier with the pick.

Hillary Clinton Supporters loving McCain/Palin

You might have to register to see this, but the folks at the Hillary Clinton Forum are solidly behind McCain-Palin. Game Over. Here's a sampling of page one:

If it's Palin, I will put blood and sweat into campaigning for that team.

Yeah!!!!!! I'm doing Oprah's version of the happy dance.

All this B.S. that the Republicans are racist and sexist, yet colin powell and condi rice were some of the biggest players in the rnc.
Now Sarah has been confirmed.
What does that tell you about the DNC.. Hypocrits. (sic)

I LOVE McCain!!!! He pulled through for us. The Maverick does it again!!

Leave it to the GOP to pick a woman for the ticket.
Obama snubbed the most viable and experienced woman who received 18 million votes, for another MALE.
I have a feeling, somewhere somehow, Hillary is snickering.

Ok, can anyone confirm this for me? Is it true that we must donate to McCain by Aug. 30th in order for him to accept it? I need this response, ASAP!

I Will Have No Problem Voting That Ticket! Look Out Obama

Now I'm excited! It's not Hillary (she'll be President in '12).... but it's exciting none the less!

If this is true, this moves me from staying at home to voting McCain.

CHECK MATE !!!!!!!!!!!!

I think McCain has just scored a huge number of HC supporters.
It's no mistake he chose a female - he is going to deeply tap the huge amount of support Hillary Clinton received.
It could potentially however set up a Clinton v. Palin battle in 2012. Wow, wouldn't that be CHANGE when it's been MAN vs MAN for an eternity!

McCain has picked PALIN!!! I am THRILLED! AS for the Dums whining that she doens't have experience running things--SHE HAS FIVE KIDS!! TRUST ME! SHE KNOWS HOW TO RUN THINGS!
GOD BLESS MCCAIN/PALIN!!!

Do you all hear the sound of the running feet of all the women the Obama camp tossed aside? It is THUNDEROUS!!!!

I certainly had not planned a donation to McCain but when/if this is announced I will make a donation!

This is a stain on the DNC.

I am excited. Talk about a finger in the eye back for that 3am text message b.s.

I AM SO EXCITED, I'M HEADING TO ALASKA,
YES YES YES YES YES
VOLUNTEER, I'M IN, I'M READY,DONATE, TIME, WHATEVER, MY VOTE GOES TO MCCAIN/PALIN ALL THE WAY, I'M RUNNING BACK AND FORTH, CANNOT SIT DOWN, I'M CLIMBING THE WALLS

The Democrats are the party of sexist pigs.

Think about it. They enjoyed trashing Hillary and yet, ironically, it was the GOP peeps out there that supported her, even Ann Coulter supported her. I've talked with so many wonderful republicans on the web that were so sympathetic during our primary. All I got was grief and harrassment from the Obamabots and vile attacks against my gender.
To top it off, Obama and the DNC threw Hillary out like yesterday's garbage, along with her 18 million supporters.
McCain/Palin welcome us with open arms.

WOW! Brilliant move by the McCain campaign!
So much for McCain being against women's rights and equal pay...
I can't wait til Hillary can mutter under her breath- I TOLD YOU SO- you stupid arses!

Palin Interviews

Here are a couple past interviews with Vice President Sarah Palin that I enjoyed:

Newsmax

How did you pull off your election victory as governor?

Alaska was ready for a positive change and tired of the good ol’ boy network. It caused many Alaskans to lose faith in their government. People want faith in their government. I have been able to pass a comprehensive reform law and place the state's checkbook online. You can be a reformer and also be a conservative.

And your stand on abortion?

I'm pro-life. I'll do all I can to see every baby is created with a future and potential. The legislature should do all it can to protect human life.

Politically, how would you describe yourself?

Fiscally and socially, I am a conservative. My respect for the three different branches of government and the balance between them has been my guide.

If you were running for president, what causes would you champion?

I would push for a strong military and a sound energy policy. I believe that Alaska can help set an example on energy policy.

Speaking of energy, how much oil and gas does America really have?

We have billions and billions of barrels of oil and trillions of feet of natural gas. We have so much potential from tapping our resources here in Alaska. And we can do this with minimum environmental impact. We have a very pro-development president in President Bush, and yet he failed to push for opening up parts of Alaska to drilling through Congress -- and a Republican-controlled Congress, I might add.

I thought when we hit $100 a barrel for oil it would have been a psychological barrier that would have caused Congress to reconsider, but they didn't. Now we are approaching $200 a barrel. It's nonsense not to tap a safe domestic source of oil. I think Americans need to hold Congress accountable on this one.

Lawrence Kudlow

Kudlow: Here’s the bad news. The Congress is going to take their summer recess without a vote - not even a vote - on rolling back the moratorium on drilling onshore and offshore. Not even a vote. Nothing on ANWR. Nothing on shale. Nothing on the Outer Continental Shelf. What’s your reaction to this?

Palin: Well with all due respect to Congress, it’s pretty pathetic, that action they’ve taken. I appreciate the President’s call to lift the moratorium. I appreciate the President’s call to drill in ANWR, to do all those things for American production opportunities. Very, very disappointed in Congress though.

Kudlow: You know we talked about a month ago, or last time you were on the program, you told me you were going to persuade Senator McCain to drill in ANWR. Now actually, McCain’s come a long way on drilling Outer Continental Shelf. Have you yet talked him into ANWR?

Palin: I have not talked him into ANWR yet. But yeah, aren’t you appreciative though that his mind has evolved into being open enough to say yes to that offshore? Obama certainly hasn’t gone there. So, you know, for me it’s all the more reason to support the Republican ticket heading into the next era in American economy here. We certainly need this. We need it for American security, for energy independence. All those things we talked about last time. I think we need McCain in that White House despite, still, the close-mindedness on ANWR. I think he’s going to get there though.

Kudlow: All right, well we need you to persuade him. Now you’re fighting a battle in the state. You want to get a new natural gas pipeline, as I understand it. You’ve got to get it through your state legislature. You’re going to run that up from the North Slope down through Canada and eventually to the lower forty-eight. What’s the state of play on that? Are you winning or losing on your new gas pipeline?

Palin: We’re winning and I’m glad that you asked that question. It’s so timely because it could be today that our lawmakers vote yay or nay on the TransCanada pipeline, natural gas pipeline being built 1700 miles. This is North America’s largest, most expensive, private sector infrastructure project in our history. It’s $30 to $40 billion dollars to deal with the energy crisis—get this safe, stable, clean domestic supply of energy and natural gas flowing from our rich reserves up in Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope of Alaska, into the hungry markets in the Midwest especially.

Kudlow: Now you’re fighting with the legislature. You may get a vote this evening. Have you gone out and done a poll? Have you talked to the polar bears, and the caribou, and the large black flies? Are you sure? I want everyone on board here.

Palin: Well we do want everyone on board there. And as for the wildlife, you know, they’re doing just fine under the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline of course that has been up and running for thirty years in Alaska. So we think that even they will be on our side also, as we build this next economic lifeline for Alaska and for the rest of the U.S.

Much more there, check it out.

The Case for Palin

While i have been hoping McCain would chose Sarah Palin for some time, and even predicted it at one time, I fell into the Romney camp at the end because i just didn't think McCain would pick her. One blogger who was solidly in favor of Palin the entire time is the New Conservative. (I guest blog there on occasion.)

Governor Palin has passed ethics reforms in her state and is ethical to the point where it almost cost her a political career. She is refered to as, "A crusading corruption buster". She has gone after corrupt Republicans as well as Democrats in Alaska. "The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who crossed Sarah," says pollster Dave Dittman, who worked for her gubernatorial campaign. It includes Ruedrich, Renkes, Murkowski, gubernatorial contenders John Binkley and Andrew Halcro, the three big oil companies in Alaska, and a section of the Daily News called "Voice of the Times," which was highly critical of Palin and is now defunct." (Hard to sell papers critizing someone with a 90% approval rating.) It is now a crime in Alaska for public servants not to report bribery that they know about. http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp?pg=1

Another issue where she would be a plus is on Coastal drilling as well as drilling in ANWR. With high energy prices and American's screaming for congress to act Palin will help highlight one of Obama's biggest weaknesses. Also being from Alaska Americans may be more interested in her opinion about drilling there than they would a politican who may have visited once or twice in their lifetime.

Governor Palin also has a record has a strong fiscal conservative. She believes that people can handle their money better than government, an overriding conservative principle. Palin cut property taxes while at the same time increasing services as a Council Member/Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. As Governer She has vetoed 1/3 of earmarks put into legislation, including several put in by Republicans. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/vassilaros/s_517252.htmlGovernor

Palin is a devout Christian. This can only help McCain with the social conservative base of the party. Who, for whatever reasons, do not believe he shares their values. Palin is pro-life and believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. However she failed to sign a bill outlawing Gay Marriage due to the fact the Alaskan Supreme Court had said the law would be unconstitutional. She refers to her State Constitution as "my bible in governing."

Good stuff.

Compare the Inexperienced Candidates

OK, so now we have two inexperienced candidates in the top four to lead our country, although admittedly Palin's experience somehow dwarfs Obama's. What have they done with their inexperience is the important question. Thanks to Ace of Spades for the photos.

Or this:

And this (Miss Wasilla 1984):

And this.

 

Hmmm. Tough choice.

Shocker - It's Sarah Palin!

I had a late night last night and slept in today, but I have woken up to the best news I could've heard. Sarah Palin, Alaska governor, is going to be the next Vice President of the United States.

I am stunned that John McCain made the perfect pick for his second in command. He managed to pick someone that conservatives will love and that the left can't (or won't) effectively rip. He has picked the perfect running mate for Hillary Clinton supporters to flock to. The Republicans will win the female vote this year, mark it down. Historically, he has selected the first female VP candidate in America's history. Some people say that Geraldine Ferraro was the first, but they don't know history. Ferraro was never a potential VP because Mondale wasn't going to beat Reagan, ever. That would be the same as if Jesse Jackson had run for the Green Party nomination in 2000 and gotten 2% of the vote, and people said that he, not Obama, was the first black presidential nominee of a major party.

Palin is the poster mom for conservatism, reform and motherhood. McCain has showed great judgment with this pick, a sign that he is improving with age.

Soon we will be reading articles on how she represents the end of feminism. Palin is the exact opposite of the failed radical feminist movement, and could, in my estimation, become the next Margaret Thatcher (but more in touch with everyday people). McCain did us conservatives good here, with many safer choices that he could have picked.  

Anyone else wondering how Hillary feels, having watched on back-to-back days both Obama and Palin stealing her spotlight? Lamps are being tossed as we speak.

I'm giddy.

Update: The PUMA's say McCain-Palin wins it. Then they get into some nonsense about starting a new Democrat party.

She Got Run Over By a Damned Old Train

Great piece here from Don Boudreaux at Cafe Hayek, comparing Hillary Clinton's speech the other night to "the perfect country and western song" David Allen Coe spoke about in his sone "You Never Even Called me by my Name."

Karol (who doesn't share my taste for much country'n'western music) has heard me sing these lyrics several times, just for fun.  So this morning when she read parts of Hillary Clinton's speech to the Democratic National Convention, she exclaimed "This reminds me of that David Allan Coe song you're always singing!"

And Karol's correct.  Sen. Clinton's speech is predictably full of typical political nonsense, posturing, and hubris pretending to be humility.  In this sense, it's a really good political speech.  But her inclusion of these lyrics are what make it the perfect political speech:

Go there to read why. Especially if you have never heard the lyrice to that song. They are classic.

Live-blogging Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech

I will be here live commenting on Obama's speech tonight and anything else that is going on. It looks like McCain's Veep pick might leak tonight. I'm guessing Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. He's not my first choice, but he'd be much better than some of the other names I've heard.

Joe Biden has made a "surprise" appearance. Apparently he didn't do enough yelling last night.

Oprah seen wearing sunglasses with "Obama" spelled out in diamonds. Cute.

I ripped the set, and I stand by what I said, but I actually think it looks pretty decent. I'm interested to see what the elevated platform is going to look like. They really need to be careful not to overdo this.

I'm pretty convinced that all introductory videos pretty much suck. This one sure does. "In the people he met, he would find answers." Oddly, those shown do not include Bill Ayres and Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Wow, this is awful.

Here comes Apollo to the elevated podium. This really is an atmosphere like nothing I've ever seen before. Gotta admit all the people there looks pretty cool. Obligatory shot on woman weeping at his mere presence.

He is now thanking each audience member individually.

"Eight is enough." Didn't realize GW was running for a third term.

Why are they always talking about Joe Biden and Amtrak train conductors? Enough already.

"Tonight more Americans are out of work." What utter BS. He's really shoveling the despair early on. As Ronald Reagan said once, "When the federal government tells you you're depressed, lie down and be depressed."

"This moment, this election is our chance to keep.. the American promise alive."

Obama shows that he hasn't heard the latest economic news.

Interesting to see a crowd full of people who spent the last eight years whining give a standing ovation to Obama for saying "we are not a nation of whiners."

"It's time for America to change, and that's why I'm running for President." America to change? Is it time for Kobe Bryant to change the way he plays basketball? Is it time for Brett Favre to start running an option offense? And liberals wonder why we think they hate America. People who have it better than anyone else in the world, thinking that things need to drastically change.

LMAO. "The fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper." But not your half-brother's keeper?

"Drilling is a stop-gap solution." That's not a winning line for most people outside of this stadium.

"Provide every child a world-class education... I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance." Odd, Senator Obama, why don't you support school choice then?

Pretty much just guaranteed the bankruptcy of the health insurance industry. This is how he gets to socialized medicine. He doesn't offer it up at the start. But he just promised to force companies to "not discriminate against sick people," which would, of course, bankrupt the industry or lead to sickeningly high premiums. Either one would clear the way for socialized medicine.

He's gonna go through the budget line by line, eliminating and improving? Did Obama somehow get the line-item-veto that Republicans have wanted for decades?

Promised to defeat poverty, terrorism, genocide, climate change and disease. Seriously. Dude promised to defeat poverty, terrorism, genocide, climate change (at least that one should be easy) and disease. I know I already said that, I just can't believe it, so I rewound and watched it again. He still said the same thing. That may have been the dumbest claim any presidential candidate has ever made.

Obviously I'm disagreeing with lots of what he says. But dude is good (notwithstanding the above paragraph). This is an excellently delivered speech, and has many parts that most people (including me) would find appealing if they were true.

"All across America something is stirring." I think he's talking about Chris Matthews here.

Good line: "The change we need doesn't come from Washington, it comes to Washington."

Good stuff on the American spirit and the American promise. Very good, almost Reaganesque, if you buy it. I certainly do not, because all his policies belie his words. His promise is in government, not in the individual.

He is going to get a bounce based on this speech alone. This speech makes up for what had been the most boring convention since Bob Dole's. He can perform.

Wait until the debates.

I have to admit I'm a little down after this. I had seen him in Tempe and, while good, he wasn't 1/10 as good as this. This is quite concerning to me.

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty to rip in this speech. But the people who will make that case were never going to vote for him to begin with. I think many undecided voters will be swayed. By definition, undecided voters are either uninformed or not very bright.

Conservative Blogger Quote of the Day (8/28)

Frank J. of IMAO:

I guess the Greek temple for Obama's speech is okay, but they may have gone overboard when they put all those prayer mats on the field so everyone can bow down and worship. Interestingly, I hear Obama has a special new $2 million suit for this occasion, but it's invisible to stupid people.

College Football Season is Here!

The season finally kicks off tonight, and I expect to get things started right. If you enjoy such things, you can follow my predictions and recommendations for profitably wagering on the games all season long at Smartplays.

Free Speech is Dead if Obama Wins

What other conclusion can you come to after the debacle yesterday on the Milt Rosenberg radio show? Dissenting views will not be tolerated.

Stanley Kurtz's appearance on the Milt Rosenberg radio program in Chicago last night provided an unsettling look into the authoritarian tactics being employed by the Obama campaign to stifle and intimidate its critics...

As I arrived at the downtown Chicago studios a few hours before show time, the phones began ringing off the hook with irate callers demanding Kurtz be axed from the program. It didn't take long to discover that the Obama campaign—which had declined invitations to join the show for its duration to offer rebuttals to Kurtz's points—had sent an "Obama Action Wire" e-mail to its supporters, encouraging them to deluge the station with complaints.

Interesting to note that rather than appearing on the show to rebut any falsehoods about Obama, the Obama team simply sent an email to supporters telling them to take over the show with idiotic rants. Is this what we have to look forward to under President Obama? I think so. Just as important is the question of what really lies underneath this story that would destroy Obama if people were to find out about it. I can't imagine the campaign would go to such lengths if there wasn't a raging furnace below the surface.

Evidently, much of Obama nation is comprised of obedient and persistent sheep. They jammed all five studio lines for nearly the entire show while firing off dozens of angry emails. Many vowed to kick their grievances up the food chain to station management. After 90 minutes of alleged smear peddling, Milt Rosenberg (a well-respected host whose long-form interview show has aired in Chicago for decades) opened the phone lines, and blind ignorance soon began to crackle across the AM airwaves. The overwhelming message was clear: The interview must be put to an end immediately, and the station management should prevent similar discussions from taking place.

One female caller, when pressed about what precisely she objected to, simply replied, "We just want it to stop!" Another angry caller was asked what "lies" Kurtz had told in any of his reporting on Barack Obama. The thoughtful response? "Everything he said is dishonest." The same caller later refused to get into "specifics." Another gentleman called Kurtz "the most un-American person" he'd ever heard. Several of the callers did not even know Stanley's name, most had obviously never read a sentence of his meticulous research, and more than simply read verbatim from the Obama talking points.

As Rosenberg repeatedly pointed out that Team Obama had been offered the opportunity to take part in the conversation, the agitated masses adopted their argument to suggest it was outrageous to request an interview from the Obama campaign in the thick of the DNC. Delivering the line of the night, Rosenberg countered, "The Obama national headquarters is just down the street from here. They obviously have the time to send out these angry emails, but they can't walk a few blocks to our studios?"

Throughout the open line segments, Rosenberg and Kurtz wore incredulous expressions. The hostile callers were so bereft of any legitimate argument, there was little to do but sit back and marvel at what was going on.

The experience was surreal, amusing, and chilling. In a matter of hours, a major national campaign had called on its legions to bully a radio show out of airing an interview with a legitimate scholar asking legitimate political questions. Coupled with the Obama campaign's recent attempts to sic the DOJ on the creators of a truthful political advertisement —which also happened to feature Obama's relationship with an unrepentant terrorist— last night's call to action represents an emerging pattern. Any criticism of Obama's unknown past is to be immediately denounced as a "smear," and the messenger is to be shut down at all costs.

Stanley Kurtz is pouring through mounds of documents (access to which was initially blocked) in a public university's library that (a) establish a deeper link between a major party presidential nominee and a man who is proud of bombing US government buildings, and (b) shed light on said candidate's brief, unexplored executive experience. It's entirely understandable why the Obama campaign would prefer that the files remain out of the public eye until at least November 5, but Kurtz's careful research is completely within the bounds of reasonable inquiry. One might even argue it's vital that a man who may be the next leader of the free world be thoroughly vetted.

If anyone still believes reinstating the fairness doctrine isn't a top priority for the American Left, last night's example offered a stark and alarming wake-up call. Still not convinced? For goodness sake, read Jonah's book.

Look, people, this is getting scary as hell. We have a man who was mentored by a communist, who went to a black supremacist church, who hangs out with a communist/socialist terrorist who should have been put to death for treason, whose campaign issues calls for his subjects to try to suppress freedom of the press and of speech. What the hell are we doing here?

Obama is Getting a Bounce from this Crap?

Americans are more brain-dead than I previously thought. Somehow, Barack Obama has received a small bounce from this train-wreck that the Dems call a convention. Obama leads 48-42, according to the latest Gallup poll, his largest lead since August 13.

Pelosi Endorses 'Drill Here, Drill Now'

While I'm on the satire kick, I might as well point out what Frank J. of IMAO had to say about Nancy Pelosi today...

At a train station outside the Democrat convention, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought volunteers to help ease the severe shortage of gray matter in the Democrat Party, asking one group "can we drill your brains?".

"It's no secret that Democrats have been low on brains for a long time now," said Pelosi, "as our convention so sadly illustrates. From our presumptive candidate not knowing whether he was in St. Louis or Kansas City, to his mental defective veep referring to him as 'Barack America', to our tribute to Ted Kennedy opening AND closing with scenes of open water - dear God in heaven, we just aren't that bright."

While some in the Democrat party have advocated clean, renewable sources of brains - such as babies - left-wing scientists are unable to discover a practical method of bringing them out into the world alive so that they can grow. "There's no commercially viable way to turn these bits of fetal tissue into something that can think like a human being," noted Pelosi, "even the Pope agrees with that."

"We've tried using trained monkeys as a substitute for smart people," said the Speaker, "but all that got us was MoveOn.org."

McCain/Creed?

Jack at Ace of Spades has come up with the perfect running mate for John McCain:

(W)hen you are battling an Olympian God, it is inevitable that you are gonna have to bring in a little heavy artillery of your own. And who better than Apollo to help even the slate?

Apollo Creed brings a lot to the table. He's an African-American who has ascended from the mean streets to the top of his profession through hard work and dedication instead of government sponsored preference programs. His friendship with Rocky Balboa (his chief rival) shows that Apollo is capable of reaching across racial boundaries and, in many ways, indicates that Apollo gives more than just lip-service to the notion of a post-racial candidacy.

While some would be messiah's marry women who are ashamed of their country and pal around with domestic terrorists, Apollo Creed was never ashamed of America. While some Presidential candidates refuse to sully their dignity by wearing an American flag pin, Apollo Creed was willing to incorporate the design of the American flag into his "work clothes."

And, unlike ObamaZeus, Apollo Creed is a strong advocate of the capitalist system. He worked hard for his millions, and he isn't embarrassed about the lavish lifestyle he has created for himself. Can any of the Democrats claim to be ardent capitalists? No, my friends.

Finally, Apollo Creed also brings much more foreign policy gravitas to the table than The One. After all, Apollo has been fighting the Russkies since the late 1980's. And, sure, he got killed by one of them. But the Dems are always lecturing us about "sacrifice", aren't they?

If They Think The Convention Did the Trick, They are Sorely Mistaken

At least according to the good people at PUMA (Party Unity My Ass), who took Clinton's endorsement of Obama as a call to keep up the fight. As of now there are about 1200 comments, and a quick scroll shows that most are planning on working to make sure Obama loses. 

Thank you Hillary Clinton - We’ll take it from here.

HUGS and LOVE FROM DENVER

PUMAS - stay the course.  We expected this.  Our mission has not changed.  This is no longer about Senator Clinton - this is about all of us who have been told to sit down, shut up and fall in line.   This is about all of us in Denver and around the nation who have been counted out.

I ask that ALL PUMAS consider Hillary’s message from last night.

“When you hear the dogs - KEEP RUNNING!”

We will not sit down.  We will continue to fight. 

We will remember in November.

WE STILL OWN OUR VOTES!

 FOCUS ON THE MISSION. DEMOCRACY.

Tomorrow is a new day.  Be good to each other.  We must remain united.

Operation Chaos: The gift that keeps on giving.

Good Economic News for the Mainstream Media to Ignore

I give the USA Today credit for begrudgingly reporting this:

Despite an economy starting to wobble, incomes were up and more people had health insurance last year, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday. Income inequality even shrank a bit...

Starting to wobble? Haven't they been telling us that our economy is collapsing and has been for a long time now? Anyways..

The Census reported:

•Income. Median household income rose to $50,233 in 2007 after adjusting for inflation. That's $665 more than a year earlier but still below the peak of 1999. Income in black households rose for the first time since 1999.

•Poverty. The poverty rate remained stable at 12.5% of households.

•Equality. The top one-fifth of households took home slightly less of the nation's income in 2007. The middle and lower-middle class gained the most.

•Insurance. The number of people without health insurance dropped 1.3 million to 45.7 million. The uninsured fell to 15.3% from 15.8%. The primary reason for decline: More people, especially children, are covered by government-sponsored insurance.

The rest of the article spends much time noting that (as always) things will be much worse this year.

Clinton Releases Delegates, Many Yell 'No!'

From the Washington Post.

Less than an hour before the Democratic convention calls the roll of the states, Hillary Rodham Clinton began an emotional gathering with her delegates Wednesday by telling them she was releasing them as delegates to vote for Barack Obama. Many in the crowded ballroom yelled back "No!"

Clinton told her delegates she's not telling them what to do, adding: "You've come here from so many different places, having made this journey and feeling in your heart what is right for you to do."

Unfortunately, it isn't looking like the full-scale brawl we were hoping for. But at least many are apparently unconvinced.

Conservative Blogger Quote of the Day (8/27)

Since I spend so much time reading other friends on the right, I decided I'm going to start a semi-daily post of my favorite line from a conservative blog that day. It's early, but I don't see myself seeing anything better than this to start it all off. From Allahpundit at HotAir:

What are the odds that a feminist icon would be forced by political circumstance, on the grandest possible stage, to stand by some slippery jackass who done her wrong — for the second time in her life?

'Submerged Hate' in the Mile-High City

My favorite loony leftist chick, Maureen Dowd, has a surprisingly enjoyable read up today at the Devil's Favorite Fishwrap.

But this Democratic convention has a vibe so weird and jittery, so at odds with the early thrilling, fairy dust feel of the Obama revolution, that I had to consult Mike Murphy, the peppery Republican strategist and former McCain guru.

“What is that feeling in the air?” I asked him.

“Submerged hate,” he promptly replied.

There were a lot of bitter Clinton associates, fund-raisers and supporters wandering the halls, spewing vindictiveness, complaining of slights, scheming about Hillary’s roll call and plotting trouble, with some in the Clinton coterie dissing Obama by planning early departures, before the nominee even speaks.

We now know what Obama was talking about when he talked about bitter people and the things that they cling to. Barack Obama, in all his omnipotent foreknowledge, was really talking about people bitterly clinging to their hopes of electing Hillary Clinton. Let's hope they keep on clinging.

She keeps acting as if her delegates are out of her control, when she’s been privately egging on people to keep her dream alive as long as possible, no matter what the cost to Obama...

She added insult to injury by coming out Tuesday night looking great in a blazing orange pantsuit and teaching the precocious pup Obama something about intensity and message. She thanked her “sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits,” and slyly noted that Obama would enact her health care plan rather than his.

She offered the electrifying fight that the limpid Obama has not — setting off paranoia among some Democrats that they had chosen the wrong nominee or that Obama had chosen the wrong running mate...

Afterward, some of her supporters began crying, as they were interviewed by reporters, saying that her speech had proved that she would make a better president than Obama. And, as one said, she would only give him “two months” to prove himself.

Keep clinging.

At a meeting of the Democratic women’s caucus Tuesday, 74-year-old Carol Anderson of Vancouver, Wash., a former Hillary volunteer, stood in the back of the room in a Hillary T-shirt and hat signed by Hillary and “Nobama” button and booed every time any of the women speakers mentioned Obama’s name.

She’s voting for McCain and had nothing nice to say about the Obamas. What about the kids, I asked. “Adorable,” she agreed. Well, I said, Michelle raised them.

“I think her mother does,” Anderson shot back, adding: “I wonder if Michelle would give the Queen one of her little knuckle punches?”

Ouch. Now we have feminists spitefully attacking a working mother for the fact that her mother takes care of the kids during the day. If anyone had told me a year ago that all these leftists, who pretty much agree with each other on everything, would be at each other's throats like this, I would have called you hopelessly optimistic.

Bill’s pals said he was still gnawing at his many grievances against the younger version of himself he has to praise Wednesday night; the latest one being that the Obama folks, like all winners, wanted control over Bill’s speech, so that he did not give a paean to himself and his economic record, which is what he wanted to do, because he was incensed that Obama said a couple critical things about his administration during a heated campaign.

Finally, Obama had to give in on Monday and say he would allow the ex-president to do exactly as he likes, which is what he usually does anyhow.

Obama’s pacification of Bill made his supporters depressed and anxious that he was going to be a weaker candidate than they had hoped and fearful that, as in Obama’s favorite movie, “The Godfather,” every time Democrats try to get away, the Clintons pull them back in.

And Democrats have begun internalizing the criticisms of Hillary and John McCain about Obama’s rock-star prowess, worrying that the Invesco Field extravaganza Thursday, with Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, will just add to the celebrity cachet that Democrats have somehow been shamed into seeing as a negative.

So that added to the weird mood at the convention, with some Democrats nitpicking Obama’s appearance, after Michelle’s knock-out speech and the fabulously cute girls, with a reassuring white family in a town he couldn’t remember at one point. They wondered why he wasn’t wearing a tie, fearing he looked too young, and second-guessed Michelle’s green dress, wondering if it clashed with the blue stage, and fretted that there wasn’t a speaker Monday night attacking McCain and yelling about gas prices.

A party unhinged. Thank you, Operation Chaos.

Florida Poll Favors Romney Choice over Crist

The Miami Herald reports that a Mitt Romney selection as VP for John McCain would be the most helpful choice for McCain.

Mitt Romney's more of a hit. Gov. Charlie Crist should stay where he is. And Joe Lieberman should go away.

That's all according to Mason-Dixon Polling & Research's latest Florida voter survey gauging the vice presidential picks and possibilities in the presidential race.

About 32 percent of respondents said they'd favor McCain if he picked Romney. That's double the number of those who said they'd be less inclined to back the ticket. Only 17 percent said they wanted Crist on the ticket.

''People like Charlie Crist where he is, in the governor's mansion. They know Romney, who campaigned hard in this state,'' said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. ``Romney looks like he gives McCain more of an edge than Biden gives Obama.''

But Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman looks toxic to the ticket. Nearly twice as many people said they'd be less likely to vote for McCain if the former Democrat were on the ticket. Many Democrats see the former vice presidential candidate of 2000 as a turncoat. Conservative Republicans can't stand his abortion-rights record.

''Lieberman's luster has faded,'' Coker said.

While I am hoping McCain chooses Romney, it isn't for this reason. I think Florida will go to McCain fairly easily to begin with. But every little bit helps.

Obama: Out of Touch and Full of Himself

If the Obama campaign goes forth with its plans to have Obama speak on Thursday from the Greek Temple set currently being built o the Invesco Field grounds, I am convinced it will blow up in his face. Rush has already noted on the air today that the Greeks built their temples as homes of worship to their pagan gods. The audacity of this symbolism will not be lost on the American people.

In addition, I am hearing that Obama will step onto a platform that will elevate him high above the adoring worshipers on the ground. Whether or not he delivers his speech from "on high," he will be cementing his candidacy as the cult of personality it is. This is not a good way to go for anyone seeking election as President of the United States.

Most Americans do not worship their politicians. They don't even think very highly of them. Most of us are looking for someone who shares as many of our views as possible, and has not become too corrupted by the system or too in love with themselves. JFK was the only recent President to run on a cult of personality platform, and his term didn't go very well. Much has happened since then to convince most Americans of how corrupt and arrogant most politicians are.

There have been very few politicians in my lifetime that I still, if ever, have respect for as people. More important, like most Americans, I have no confidence in government, no belief in government as a tool for making my life better. Sure, many of us want our government to address a couple pressing issues. But the idea that some politician is going to make the world a better place by fixing every perceived wrong in the world does not carry any water.

Most Americans want government to leave them alone. Most Americans believe that they themselves hold the keys to their success. Occasionally we find a Reagan-type who comes to be almost universally loved and respected, but that love comes because they work to free us of the odious restrictions past governments have placed on free people. That love comes from a virtuous character and unbending adherence to long-held beliefs.

America will not love this spectacle. This is a slap in the face to Americans who believe that "we the people" run government, and that those that represent us are our servants, not people to be worshiped.

Poll on McCain's VP Selection

John Hawkins at Right Wing News received responses from myself and 66 other right-of-center bloggers regarding McCain's VP choice. We were asked who we thought he would choose, who we thought he should choose, and who we would least like to see picked.

I answered that McCain will pick Tim Pawlenty, that he should pick Mitt Romney and that I would go ballistic if he selected Joe Lieberman.

Here are the results.