"Crawford" the Movie

Interesting documentary on the effect of the Bush presidency on a small town.

The Next First Family

This morning I woke up and it felt like Christmas morning with all the excitement a child feels realizing that soon they will open their presents, except that mine came last night. To add to that, it snowed today in Salt Lake City.

My eyes have welled up off and on today. This has got to be one of the best days of my life.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....

The polls close in 5 minutes on the west coast and I feel like it's New Year's Eve and I'm counting down to midnight.

Just waiting for Obama to hit 270!

Optimistically Nauseous

Those two words pretty much sum up how most Obama supporters are feeling today.

Personally, I'm eating way too much of my kids' leftover Halloween candy and am glued to MSNBC but very happy that in 3 hours some results will start flowing in.

GOBAMA!

This Is What Happens When You Live in the Campaign Bubble

Sarah Palin received a prank call from two comedians from Montreal, one of them posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy. You can listen to it here. Below is the transcript.

This is what happens when you live in the campaign bubble. Especially in these last days, Palin is so focused on those talking points that she doesn't realize it's a prank call.

(Ring)

Palin aide: This is Betsy.

CKOI: Hello Betsy.

Betsy: Hi.

CKOI: Hi this is uh Frank l'Ouvrier (Frank the Worker) uh I’m with uh President Sarkozy on the line for uh Governor Palin.

Betsy: Yes, one second please. Can you hold on one second please?

CKOI: Yeah, no problem.

Betsy: Alright, thanks. Hi, I’m gonna hand the phone over to her.

CKOI: Okay, thank you very much. I’m gonna put the President on the line.

Betsy: (talking to Palin) Okay, he’s gonna put him on the line.

Palin: This is Sarah.

CKOI: Uh yeah, uh Governor Palin.

Palin: Hello (enthusiastically).

CKOI: Uh juh, just hold on for President Sarkozy. One moment.

Palin: Oh, it’s not him yet Betsy. I always do that.

CKOI: Yes, yes hello Governor Palin.

Palin: I’ll just have people hand it to me right when it’s them.

CKOI: Yes, yes hello Mrs. Governor.

Palin: Hello, this is Sarah. How are you?

CKOI: Fine, and you? This is Nicolas Sarkozy speaking. How are you?

Palin: Ooh, so good. It’s so good to hear you. Thank you for calling us.

CKOI: Oh, it’s a pleasure.

Palin: Thank you sir. We have such great respect for you, John McCain and I. We love you and thank you for spending two minutes to talk to me.

CKOI: I followed your campaigns closely with my special American adviser Johnny Hallyday, you know?

Palin: Yes! Good!

CKOI: Excellent. Ar, ar, are you confident?

Palin: Very confident and we’re thankful the polls are showing that the race is tightening and…

CKOI: Well I know very well that the campaign can be exhausting. How do you feel right now my dear?

Palin: I feel so good. I feel like we’re in a, a marathon and at the very end of the marathon you get your second wind and you plow through the finish…

CKOI: You say I got elected in France because I’m real and you seem to be someone who’s real as well.

Palin: Yes. Yeah. Nicolas, we so appreciate this opportunity…

CKOI: You know I see you as a President one day you too.

Palin: (laughs) Maybe in 8 years.

CKOI: Well, I, I hope for you. You know we have a lot in common because personally one of my favorite activities is to hunt too.

Palin: Ooh, very good. We should go hunting together!

CKOI: Exactly. We could go try hunting by helicopter like uh you did. I never did that.

Palin: (laughs)

CKOI: Like we say in French, on pourrait tuer des bébés phoques aussi. (english – we could kill baby seals too)

Palin: Well, I think we could have a lot of fun together as we’re getting work done. We can, we can kill two birds with one stone that way.

CKOI: I just love killing those animals! Mmm, mmm. Take away a life. That is so fun.

Palin: (laughs)

CKOI: I’d really love to go as long as we don’t bring Vice President Cheney. (laughs)

Palin: (laughs) No. I’ll be a careful shot, yes.

CKOI: Yes. You know we have a lot in common also because except that from my house I can see Belgium. That’s kind of less interesting than you.

Palin: Well, see, we’re right next door to other countries that we all need to be working with. Yes.

CKOI: Some people said in the last days, and I, I thought that was mean, that you were not experienced enough in foreign relations and you know, that’s completely false. That’s the, the thing I said to my great friend, the Prime Minister of Canada Stef Carse.

Palin: Well, he’s doin’ fine too and yeah when you come into a position underestimated it gives you an opportunity to prove the pundits and the critics wrong. You work that much harder…

CKOI: I, I was wondering , because you are so next to him, one of my good friends, also the Prime Minister of Quebec, Mr. Richard Z. Sirois. Have you met him recently? Did he come to one of your rallies?

Palin: Uh, haven’t seen him at one of the rallies but it’s been great working with the Canadian officials in my role as Governor. We have a great cooperative uh effort there as we work on all of our resource development projects. You know, I look forward to working with you and getting to meet you personally and your beautiful wife. Oh my goodness. You’ve added a lot of energy to your country, even with um with that beautiful family of yours.

CKOI: Thank you very much. You know my wife Carla would love to meet you. Uh, you know, even though she was a bit jealous that I was supposed to speak to you today. (laughs)

Palin: (laughs) Well give her a big hug from me.

CKOI: You know my wife is a popular singer and a former hot top model and she’s so hot in bed. She even wrote a song for you.

Palin: Oh my goodness. I didn’t know that.

CKOI: Yes, in French it’s called “du rouge-à-lèvres sur une cochonne” (lipstick on a pig) or if you prefer Joe the Plumber, (sings) it’s his life, Joe the Plumber!

Palin: Maybe she understands some of the unfair criticism but I bet you she is such a hard worker too and she realizes you just plow through that criticism…

CKOI: I just want to be sure. I don’t quite understand the phenomenon Joe the Plumber. That’s not your husband, right?

Palin: That’s not my husband but he’s a normal, American who just works hard and doesn’t want government to take his money.

CKOI: Yes, yes I understand. We have uh the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France. It’s called Marcel the guy with bread under his armpit uh oui…

Palin: Right, that’s what it’s all about. It’s the middle class and government needing to work for them. You’re a very good example for us here.

CKOI: Uh, I seen a bit about NBC even Fox News wasn’t an ally, an ally, sorry, about, as much as usual.

Palin: Yeah that’s what we’re up against.

CKOI: I must say Governor Palin. I loved the documentary they made on your life. You know uh Hustler’s Nailin’ Paylin?

Palin: Oh good. Thank you. Yes.

CKOI: That was really edgy.

Palin: (laughs) Oh good.

CKOI: I really loved you and I, I must say something also Governor. Uh, you’ve been pranked by the Master Avengers. We’re two comedians from Montreal.

Palin: Oh. Have we been pranked and…What radio station is this?

CKOI: This is for CKOI Montreal.

Palin: In Montreal. Tell me their radio station call letters.

CKOI: CK…Hello?

(phone changes hands)

CKOI: If one voice can change the world for Obama, one Viagra can change the world for McCain!

Palin aide: I’m sorry. (inaudible talking) I’m sorry. I have to um let you go. Thank you.

CKOI: Yeah! Woo! Hoo!

Happy Halloween!

You Can Vote However You Like

Obama Visits His Old Hawaiian Neighborhood

Our next President? God I hope so.

The Complete Video of Obama and Joe the Plumber

Some are trying to paint Obama's exchange with Joe the plumber as hostile. It was anything but. Here is the entire video.

On Obama Being A Socialist...

This is Obama's response to accusations by the McCain campaign that his tax policies are socialist:

"It's true that I want to roll back the Bush tax cuts," Obama said. "John McCain calls that socialism. What he forgets, conveniently, is that just a few years ago, he himself said those Bush tax cuts were irresponsible. He said he couldn't 'in good conscience' support a tax [cut] where the benefits went to the wealthy at the expense of 'middle-class Americans who most need tax relief.' That's his quote. Well, he was right then, and I am right now."

Source: LA Times

VP Debate, SNL Style

As Putin Rears His Head...

Palin Talks Foreign Policy - Heaven Help Us!

On Alaska being bordered by two foreign countries:

Couric: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign-policy credentials.

Palin: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of.

Republicans Cannot Support the Bailout, Their Party Platform Says So

The GOP's party platform was approved earlier this month at the convention. Part of it discussed rebuilding homeownership. If the Republicans truly believe in the free market as stated below, they cannot approve the bailout. Read it in full here.

Rebuilding Homeownership

"We do not support government bailouts of private institutions. Government interference in the markets exacerbates problems in the marketplace and causes the free market to take longer to correct itself. We believe in the free market as the best tool to sustained prosperity and opportunity for all."

Vote Like Your Life Depends On It

True Leader from iocomposer on Vimeo.

Les Misbarack

It's November 3rd, 2008 at Obama National Headquarters. The song is from the play Les Miserables. See original song here with subtitles.

Remembering September 11th

May we never forget...

Matt Damon Read My Mind!

...And Pigs Fly

From TPM TV:

This Just About Sums It Up For Me

From Hillary Clinton, in Florida today:

"Choosing a Republican to clean up this mess is like asking the iceberg to save the Titanic.”

A Daily Show Must See - "McCain's Real Bio Video"

"The Reformed Maverick."

He's Just Saying...

Obama on the Republican Attacks

“You know, I’ve been called worse on the basketball court.”

On Bristol Palin's Pregnancy, "The Saddest Part"

From Mark Morford of SF Gate in an article today:

"But here's the saddest part of all: Governor Palin knew. She absolutely had to realize that her daughter's unfortunate condition would come to light when McCain offered her this bizarre gig. To which we can only say: Way to shove your own daughter under the wheels of the GOP Machine, Governor Palin. Ultimate sacrifice indeed."

McCain's Resolve

From Bush's GOP convention speech:

"Fellow citizens, if the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain's resolve to do what is best for his country, you can be sure the angry left never will."

But McCain canceled an appearance on Larry King Live because reporter Campbell Brown's questions to McCain spokesperson Tucker Bounds "went over the line" (watch here).

So Hanoi Hilton couldn't break McCain's resolve but CNN could.

Palin Will Not Be The VP Pick For Very Long

Palin will not be the VP pick for very long for the same reason that McCain chose her - politics first.

Today, for the very first time, Obama hit the 50% mark in support among registered voters in the Gallup daily tracking poll. If the polls numbers continue favorably for Obama, you can be sure Palin will be dropped.

But don't worry. The Republicans will have an excuse at the ready. They will say that it wasn't a political choice to drop Palin but that it was her choice to resign, in order to take care of her family, her newborn baby son and her pregnant daughter (even though she knew all of these things beforehand!).

And everyone will know not to go there, because it's personal and nobody's business.

Update: Intrade is betting her nomination will be withdrawn. See here.

What They Were Saying Before They Knew It Was Palin

Get Ready for Next Week - The Tax-And-Spend Liberal Attack

At the Republican convention next week, Obama will be attacked as a tax-and-spend liberal. Well, he is liberal - in his tax cuts to the poor and middle class. Below is a graphic that clearly shows this.

Let's pause and remember Obama's words from his convention speech.

"It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it.

For over two decades, he's subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy - give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society, but what it really means is - you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. No health care? The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps - even if you don't have boots. You're on your own.

Well it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America."

So get ready for the attacks. Just more of the same.

Meet the McCain/Palin Families

Below is a photo of the two families from People Magazine which conducted an interview with them just before the announcement of Palin as McCain's VP. Read the entire interview here.

Not shown is Palin's eldest son Track and McCain's six other children. From McCain's first marriage to Carol Shepp: Doug and Andy which he adopted and daughter Sidney. From his second marriage to Cindy: Jack, Jimmy and Bridget. Bridget was adopted from Bangladesh. I found a nice picture of her below. Maybe we'll see them all at the convention next week?

From the interview:

PEOPLE: Do you feel ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency?

SARAH: Absolutely. Yup, yup. Especially with a good team around us.

PEOPLE: What's on the dinner table most often in the Palin house?

TODD: Our favorite is moose hot dogs, caribou hot dogs. We get caribou, get 'em ground up and put them into hot dogs. They're Polish.

Get to Know Obama

Obama's Acceptance Speech

Would You Pick Lettuce for $50 an Hour?

John McCain thinks so little of American workers that he doesn't think they'd pick lettuce for more than one day, even if they were paid $50 an hour.

My Vote for Cutest Granny & Grandson at the Convention

Joe Biden's Mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, 90-years-old!


And his only grandson, Hunter.

Mini McCain

Best Quotes - Day 2 of the Convention

(Click on name to read full transcripts)

"No way. No how. No McCain." (Sen. Hillary Clinton)

"It makes perfect sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities, because these days they’re awfully hard to tell apart." (Sen. Hillary Clinton)

"John McCain calls himself a maverick, but he votes with George Bush 90 percent of the time. That's not a maverick. That's a sidekick." (Sen. Bob Casey)

"Not four more years. Four more months." (Sen. Bob Casey)

"This election isn't about liberal vs. conservative. It's not about left vs. right. It's about the future vs. the past." (Gov. Mark Warner)

"We simply can't drill our way to energy independence, even if you drilled in all of John McCain's backyards, including the ones he can't even remember." (Gov. Brian Schweitzer)

"I'm sure you remember a girl from Kansas who said there's no place like home. Well, in John McCain's version, there's no place like home. And a home. And home. And home." (Gov. Kathleen Sebelius)

"You know, President Bush inherited the strongest economy in history and a huge budget surplus. He inherited an economy that created 23 million new jobs. I'm a little surprised. You would think the one thing President Bush was good at was inheriting things. Instead he turned a $236 billion surplus into a record deficit and added nearly $4 trillion in new debt. That's the one thing we can say about George Bush: Mr. President, we will be forever in your debt." (Rep. Rahm Emanuel)

Cindy McCain in Georgia

I think it is presumptuous for Cindy McCain to go to Georgia. She is not first lady. But seeing here there today, I was mostly bothered by what she was wearing. Jeans and a t-shirt? She looks like a teenager!

"This is not a time for politics as usual or for run-of-the-mill politicians."

Former U.S. Representative Jim Leach (R-IA) gave a great speech tonight at the DNC Convention. Below are my favorite parts. You can read the full transcript here or watch the speech here.

"In troubled times, it was understood that country comes before party, that in perilous moments mutual concern for the national interest must be the only factor in political judgments. This does not mean that debate within and between the political parties should not be vibrant. Yet what frustrates so many citizens is the lack of bipartisanship in Washington and the way today’s Republican Party has broken with its conservative heritage."

"The party that once emphasized individual rights has gravitated in recent years toward regulating values. The party of military responsibility has taken us to war with a country that did not attack us. The party that formerly led the world in arms control has moved to undercut treaties crucial to the defense of the earth. The party that prides itself on conservation has abdicated its responsibilities in the face of global warming. And the party historically anchored in fiscal restraint has nearly doubled the national debt, squandering our precious resources in an undisciplined and unprecedented effort to finance a war with tax cuts."

"America has seldom faced more critical choices: whether we should maintain an occupational force for decades in a country and region that resents western intervention or elect a leader who, in a carefully structured way, will bring our troops home from Iraq as the heroes they are."

"Whether it is wise to continue to project power largely alone with flickering support around the world or elect a leader who will follow the model of General Eisenhower and this president’s father and lead in concert with allies. Whether it is prudent to borrow from future generations to pay for today’s reckless fiscal policies or elect a leader who will shore up our budgets and return to a strong dollar. Whether it is preferable to continue the policies that have weakened our position in the world, deepened our debt and widened social divisions or elect a leader who will emulate John F. Kennedy and relight a lamp of fairness at home and reassert an energizing mix of realism and idealism abroad."

"The portfolio of challenges passed on to the next president will be as daunting as any since the Great Depression and World War II. This is not a time for politics as usual or for run-of-the-mill politicians. Little is riskier to the national interest than more of the same. America needs new ideas, new energy and a new generation of leadership."

The Criticism Card

From a Kos diarist...

Would McCain Reinstate the Draft?

In the video below, McCain does not disagree with an audience member on the need to reinstate the draft in order to "chase bin Laden to the gates of hell". The Obama campaign needs to make it clear to voters that McCain is dangerous. McCain has a foreign policy based upon promoting democracy in the world through the use of force. Not only would he not hesitate to take us to war with the likes of Russia or Iran, but he'll make sure your sons and daughters can't say no.

Hillary Will Be McCain's VP

Well, according to my husband that is. He's been saying this since last March. He thinks that a McCain/Clinton ticket would be unbeatable. And it seems this week the Clintons have been giving him more meat to chew on.

Last Monday, on the same day that Bill Clinton praised McCain on energy policy, Hillary's brother and other Hillary supporters met with McCain's top economic adviser, Carly Fiorina.

I still find his theory highly unlikely.

Update: After Hillary's speech at the convention, no way, no how would she ever be his VP!

McCain’s Top Ten Excuses For Being Late To Saddleback Church

One question I wish the media would ask is, why was McCain late to the Saddleback Civil Forum last Saturday night? Reagan was never late! So since no one is asking and he's not saying, I've come up with some excuses for McCain.

McCain’s Top Ten Excuses For Being Late To Saddleback Church

10. I was taking a nap. I wanted to be in top form. As you can see from my performance, it worked!

9. I was watching the Olympics. That Misha Phelps is an excellent swimmer!

8. Interrupt my suppertime? I don’t think so.

7. I was working on my weekly Presidential radio address.

6. Kept mulling over whether to use sandal or stick in my “dirt in the cross” Christmas story.

5. My motorcade was held up by the local paparazzi.

4. I don’t usually work weekends.

3. I got caught up in prayer for Georgia and Florida.

2. Me? Follow the rules? I’m a maverick!

1. My friends, I’m a P.O.W. How dare you question my integrity!