Republicans don’t get it: At a press conference today unveiling the stimulus proposal, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) justified the conservative plan to give tax breaks to corporations — instead of working Americans — by arguing that people actually like working long hours: I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We’re the workingest state in the country, … Read More
Election 2008 Analysis: Michigan
Well, Romney won, as many Democrats had hoped. Dems hoped for a Romney win, because they would rather face Romney in the general, as opposed to McCain. (The "best of all worlds" Republican nominee would be Huckabee, but that ain’t gonna happen). The Romney win means that the Republicans will continue in a clusterfuck kind of fashion. Thompson is far … Read More
B Roll Of Katie Couric
From My Damn Channel, a look at Katie Couric when the camera is rolling, but she’s not on the air: There’s nothing particularly controversial about it — in fact, Katie comes off as normal, engaged and personable. It’s just kinda weird to hear her say, "Oh shit oh shit oh shit"
Bill Clinton Can Still Make The Ladies Swoon
Yesterday:
Things That Cause Me To Tune Out The Campaign News
Shit like this. For those not clicking the link, it’s a Washington Post editorial which points out that Obama — no, not Obama — er, Obama’s minister — no, no, wrong again — ahem — Obama’s minister’s daughter runs a magazine which last year recognized the "achievements" of Louis Farrakhan, a man widely known for his anti-semitic views. Even though … Read More
Thought Of The Day
In addition to getting rid of the word "change" in this 2008 campaign, can we also get rid of the phrase "race card"?
The Politics Of Sex
From the February issue of Playboy (so I’m told): More people under 40 have sex at least once a week than vote for president once every four years. 25% of all Republicans and 35% of all Democrats have had more than 10 sexual partners in their lifetime — a higher percentage than vote in congressional and local elections. 55% of … Read More
Breaking News: Richardson Bows Out Of ’08 Race; 6.5 Magnitude Off Of Oregon Coast
The two are not apparently related.
The Media’s Role In Campaigns
This exchange last night between Tom Brokaw and Chris Matthews is revealing: BROKAW: You know what I think we’re going to have to do? MATTHEWS: Yes sir? BROKAW: Wait for the voters to make their judgment. MATTHEWS: Well what do we do then in the days before the ballot? We must stay home, I guess. BROKAW: No, no we don’t … Read More
Shorter Gloria Steinem
NYT: I don’t want this to be a competition as to who has it worse: Obama facing racism, or Clinton facing sexism. It’s unseemly to make this make comparisons as if it were a competition. But, you know, Clinton has it worse.
Election 2008 Analysis: New Hampshire Final Results
Some slightly-organized thoughts: Democrats (1) Why Hillary won. Because she got more votes. (2) No seriously. Why Hillary won. I think there are a number of factors that came in to play. Most voters made their decision in the past few days, so that’s where my focus is. First, the last debate. I thought Edwards "won" it, but for people … Read More
Election 2008 Analysis: NH Results
Well, it’s 10:00 and the story is Clinton. She hasn’t won (yet), although she is leading, proving the polls and pundits (myself included) very very wrong. This means, of course, that even if Obama ekes out a win, he still "lost". Odd. Two weeks ago the Clinton nomination was "inevitable". As of yesterday and this morning, many were saying that … Read More
New Hampshire Update
No exit poll leaks, folks. (Here’s why) But it looks like turnout in New Hampshire is likely to be at record-setting levels. More importantly: I’m watching MSNBC now and have heard already a couple of times that there are precincts that are requesting extra Democratic ballots from the Secretary of State as turnout is exceeding predictions. I do not know … Read More
Obama In Concord
Amateur video: Says Ezra Klein: The line began forming three hours prior to the event, in 30 degree weather. The journalists covering the speech kept pulling out their personal cameras to snap photos: Somehow, this run of his, these crowds of his, feel historic The words "Bobbie Kennedy" float up dozens of times a night.
Again, Rudy Invokes 9/11
On MSNBC today, he was asked about Clinton’s "holding back the tears". So naturally, he responds with: The reality is, if you look at me, September 11 — the funerals, the memorial services — there were times in which it was impossible not to feel the emotion. Jon Stewart was right: Rudy has "9/11 Tourette’s". UPDATE — the video: