Fear of Clowns

Crooks and Liars.

Labels: carnivorous plants, McCain

// posted by Erik @ 8/27/2008 10:20:00 PM
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Krugman,

[I]n the world we actually live in, pro-corporate, inequality-increasing Republicans argue that you should vote for them because they're regular guys you'd like to have a beer with, while Democrats who want to raise taxes on top earners, expand health care and raise the minimum wage are snooty elitists.

If there's anything else we need to understand about the economics of the 2004 elections, I don't know what it would be. The queer phenomenon of down-and-out social conservatives gathering at the gated communities of their corporate overlords pitchforks and torches in hand, bellowing, "We are here to lower your taxes!!" is described in detail by Thomas Frank in his phenomenal book What's the Matter with Kansas.

Labels: 2008 elections, Bush White House, conservatism, free markets, income inequality, liberalism, McCain, obama, Republicans, right wingers

// posted by Erik @ 8/25/2008 07:41:00 PM
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From the Strib,

Vandals broke three plate-glass windows and a glass door early Sunday at presidential candidate Barack Obama's state headquarters in St. Paul.

Here is what someone thought of my Obama bumper sticker (purchased at said Obama headquarters) that I displayed at a golf resort in Wisconsin a few weekends ago.

UPDATE: A billboard outside of the MSP airport welcoming the kerrfluckers' overlords:

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, obama, republican wreking crew, Republicans, right wingers

// posted by Erik @ 8/25/2008 07:06:00 PM
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Days before McCain's inevitable gaffe yesterday regarding the number of houses he owned, the backlash had already begun. From August 18, four days ago:

A conspiracy theorist couldn't make the timing more destructive to the McCain campaign.

I believed John Kerry was playing rope-a-dope in 2004. I was wrong then, but even if rope-a-dope wasn't Obama's plan, McCain yesterday showed his real colors in a way that will firmly make it Obama's election to lose.

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain

// posted by Erik @ 8/22/2008 12:21:00 AM
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That's one of the back porches off the master bedroom in one of the mansions owned by the presidential candidate who's running a campaign highlighting the accusation that his African-American opponent is "elitist".

Labels: 2008 elections, corpocracy, income inequality, McCain, obama, Republicans

// posted by Erik @ 8/21/2008 09:59:00 PM
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The print and television media coverage is obviously biased in favor of Sen. Obama, yet you do not hear McCain complaining about it. He continues to march face-first into the howling political winds like an American buffalo on a mission. I like that.

When Obama received European adulation (as if he were the Second Coming), McCain did not complain but rather continued his steadfast campaign on American turf.

"No Whiners Allowed"
By Ted Nugent

Here is just a sampling of the many complaints over much time from the McCain camp about Obama and the media.

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, media, obama, YouTube

// posted by Erik @ 8/21/2008 07:46:00 PM
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Good Lord, kill me now. Jesus Christ at a waffle bar.

Labels: 2008 elections, energy, McCain, obama, Republicans

// posted by Erik @ 8/04/2008 11:46:00 PM
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The McCain campaign feebly attacks Obama not only in a ridiculous manner but in a ridiculous manner that is equally applied to McCain.

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, obama, Republicans

// posted by Erik @ 7/25/2008 10:52:00 PM
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I've gotten used to the fact that FOX NEWS is a crypto-Republican public relations firm, but even unscrupulous public relations firms stay away from push-polling. The assimilation of FOX News into the Republican party apparatus is now complete.

Labels: 2008 elections, corpocracy, McCain, media, obama, Republicans, right wingers

// posted by Erik @ 7/24/2008 07:14:00 PM
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Iraqis are begging for us to stay, nomatter what they may say. McSame,

"I have been there too many times. I've met too many times with him, and I know what they want."

Full interview (with commentary) is a hoot.

Labels: 2008 elections, iraq, McCain, obama, Republicans, right wingers, YouTube

// posted by Erik @ 7/22/2008 10:52:00 PM
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The goal of the "Iraq surge" was to give breathing room to Iraqi political leaders to find political reconciliation. Republicans are not claiming the surge has succeded.

Although violence is down, the mission has failed.

Labels: Bush White House, iraq, McCain, Republicans, war

// posted by Erik @ 7/17/2008 06:43:00 PM
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Reality.

Labels: energy, McCain, Republicans

// posted by Erik @ 7/16/2008 09:28:00 PM
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Labels: 2008 elections, Bush White House, corpocracy, McCain, Republicans

// posted by Erik @ 7/15/2008 12:13:00 AM
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Q: Europeans call people who speak two languages bilingual and those who speak one language trilingual. What do they call Americans who speak one language?

A: American.

From TPM (the language thing is near the beginning, hang out to the end to see McCain hop off his stump long enough to tread onto Obama's (Obama "is living proof of the greatness of America")

Labels: 2008 elections, immigration, McCain, obama

// posted by Erik @ 7/10/2008 07:20:00 PM
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From The Strib,

The head of the Minnesota Gambling Control Board said that a solicitation for funds on the national website of the Barack Obama presidential campaign may constitute a raffle, which is a violation of Minnesota gambling laws.

Tom Barrett, executive director of the board, said he will ask the state Department of Public Safety to look into the matter.

... The Obama website, which is soliciting funds of up to $2,300, says anyone who makes a contribution to the Obama campaign of $5 or more between now and July 31 "could be one of 10 supporters chosen to meet Barack backstage" in Denver.

From John McCain's website,

Be the lucky supporter to ride with John McCain on the Straight Talk Express on an upcoming bus tour. Everyone who donates between now and June 30th is eligible.

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, media, Republicans, right wingers

// posted by Erik @ 7/08/2008 10:01:00 PM
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Reagan on meeting with adversaries,

"We had quite a meeting there with [Gorbachev] and his people. I can remember a few things about that because of the oddity of it. We decided that the subject of the summit meeting would be mutual reduction of armaments and he agreed on that ...

"Then the first meeting with him, real meeting, it was going to be the first meeting in a big home along Lake Geneva and at a table like this only a little longer he and his team on one side and me and my team on the other to deal with the weapons.

"I told my people what I was going to do so they wouldn't be surprised. As everybody started to sit down, I looked across the table at him and I said, 'Why don't we let our two teams start this discussion about the reduction of the weaponry and all, and why don't you and I get some fresh air? He was out of his chair before I finished that sentence, and there he was. So, he and I left and we walked about a 150 yards down across the lawn to the lake where there was a beach house, and again I had told our people about this.

"It was cold, a real wintry day and that beach house had a big roaring fire going in the fireplace. We entered and in there were the two translators. I stopped him before we even sat down and looked right at him and I said, 'I'm going to give you a quotation that's not mine. Someone else has said that we mistrust each other because we're armed.' I said, 'I believe we're armed because we mistrust each other.'

"Then I said, ... 'wouldn't it be fine if we would spend just as much time trying to find out the reasons for our mistrust?'… I said to him that we should do this and I said, 'The only alternative to this is we resume the arms race.' Then, looking him right in the eye, I said, 'That is a race you can't win. There is no way we're going to permit you to be superior to us in weaponry.'

"So he took that and we sat down and the meeting went under way for an hour and a half. Then, I figured that we'd better get back up to the rest of our people, so we got up and we started back up the hill."

McCain on meeting with adversaries,

Republican presidential contender John McCain on Friday said he would meet with leaders of Iran and North Korea only if the encounter would guarantee a U.S. win.

"The logic is, you don't want to do something that enhances the image and prestige of someone who is your adversary, OK?" McCain told reporters traveling with him on a four-day campaign trip to New Hampshire's northern regions.

The Arizona senator said there could be disastrous results if the outcome of meetings with any hostile leaders were not predetermined.

"Are you going to accomplish something? That's the key. If you're going to go in and you're confident you are going to accomplish something, fine, do it," he said. "Know what the outcome is going to be so you're not embarrassed by the person you're taking to walking out and embarrassing (you) and enhancing their own prestige."

The further irony is that the Reagan quote is from a deposition he gave regarding his administration's effort to improve US-Iranian relations by arming them with US weapons.

Labels: 2008 elections, Iran, McCain, Reagan, Republicans

// posted by Erik @ 6/17/2008 11:51:00 PM
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His co-opting of Obama's campaign slogan and imagery is quite bizarre. And he says a lot of things that sound like what they just might be: ramblings of a senile geezer.

Today, he referenced Reagan when speaking of reducing deficits. McCain was in the House of Representatives for the last six years of Reagan's terms. Whatever the reason he mentioned Reagan - forgotten about the huge deficits, hoping everybody else forgot or just pulling Reagan out of his ass - it is not the sort of statement one with the aptitude to lead the country would say.

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, McCain senility watch

// posted by Erik @ 6/07/2008 09:40:00 PM
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From the tone of the email John McCain just sent me, it seems he's likely to bow out before Clinton,

Never in memory have the Democrats, liberal special interests groups, labor unions and unregulated "527" soft-money groups come together with so much money and so much determination toward one purpose: Defeating Republicans.

They want the White House. They want Congress. They want total control of government. And with record-breaking fundraising and voter turnout in Democrat primaries and caucuses nationwide, the challenge to our Party is greater than at any time in modern history.

I truly believe the only way we can stop the Democrats is if dedicated Republicans, like you, step forward immediately and support the Republican National Committee's VICTORY 2008 project -- a grassroots effort that is the backbone of our entire Republican Party.

As our Party's presumptive nominee for President and as a fellow Republican, I am asking you personally to help the RNC's critical VICTORY 2008 campaign to strengthen our Party, to spread our conservative message, and to rally more Americans behind our Republican candidates.

Please help me kick-off the RNC's VICTORY 2008 project by clicking here to make a generous online contribution of $1,000, $500, $100, $50 or $25 or as much as you can afford to support our campaign efforts.

E, let me tell you why your help is so urgent.

The aggressive campaign being played out for the Democrat nomination is showing us one very crucial fact: The Democrats and their liberal allies are building the most massive political fundraising machine ever seen.

They are growing their mailing lists and phone banks, perfecting their technologies, developing their money-raising techniques -- from telephones to text-messaging to mail to the Internet to knocking on doors. And it is working.

With all the hype and media attention focused on their campaigns -- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have managed to raise a staggering $425 million between them. Together they raised more than $60 million in the month of March alone. This is an unheard of amount of money in the history of American elections -- it's approaching a half a billion dollars.

The upcoming elections could be the most important in decades -- and have far-reaching implications for America's future security, growth, and prosperity.

If we fail to elect conservative Republican leadership in Washington, D.C. and all across the country, we face a return to the Democrats' tried-and-failed liberal policies that embrace higher taxes, more government spending, socialized medicine, and surrender in Iraq.

These are not the solutions to our country's greatest challenges.

That is why we are calling on our Party's very best -- individuals like you -- and getting them involved at the highest level in the RNC's victory-building campaign.

E, as someone who has done so much in the past for our Party, may we continue to count on your support at this very important time?

Your secure online gift of $1,000, $500, $100, $50 or $25 will be used for promoting our Republican agenda, identifying Republican and Republican-leaning voters, conducting voter education and Absentee Ballot programs as well as funding our vital voter registration program, with the goal of registering 2 million new Republican voters before Election Day.

With your help, the RNC will fight to make sure we have a Republican seated in the White House and strong Republicans in Congress and offices all across the nation who will push forward our conservative vision for America that includes lowering our taxes, reducing wasteful government spending, and ensuring victory in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We need you with us. I hope to hear from you soon and I look forward to working with you throughout this campaign.

Sincerely,

John McCain

P.S. The Democrats are assembling massive rallies, breaking records at the polls, and raising unprecedented campaign funds for their candidates. Every vote, every dollar makes a difference in this election. E, I'm counting on you, as a loyal Republican Party supporter, to answer this challenge and join the RNC's VICTORY 2008 by making a secure online contribution of $1,000, $500, $100, $50 or $25. Thank you.

Labels: 2008 elections, imaginary liberal, liberalism, McCain, Republicans

// posted by Erik @ 5/27/2008 03:06:00 PM
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In his wide-ranging essay The Fall of Conservatism: Have the Republicans run out of ideas?, George Packer observes,

In its final year, the Bush Administration is seen by many conservatives (along with seventy per cent of Americans) to be a failure. Among true believers, there are two explanations of why this happened and what it portends. One is the purist version: Bush expanded the size of government and created huge deficits; allowed Republicans in Congress to fatten lobbyists and stuff budgets full of earmarks; tried to foist democracy on a Muslim country; failed to secure the border; and thus won the justified wrath of the American people. This account - shared by Pat Buchanan, the columnist George F. Will, and many Republicans in Congress - has the appeal of asking relatively little of conservatives. They need only to repent of their sins, rid themselves of the neoconservatives who had agitated for the Iraq invasion, and return to first principles. Buchanan said, "The conservatives need to, in Maoist terms, go back to Yenan."

The second version - call it reformist - is more painful, because it's based on the recognition that, though Bush's fatal incompetence and Rove's shortsighted tactics hastened the conservative movement's demise, they didn't cause it. In this view, conservatism has a more serious problem than self-betrayal: a doctrinaire failure to adapt to new circumstances, new problems. Instead of heading back to Yenan to regroup, conservatives will have to spend some years or even decades wandering across a bleak political landscape of losing campaigns and rebranding efforts and earnest policy retreats, much as liberals did after 1968, before they can hope to reëstablish dominance.

The whole article is good. It lays out that movement conservatives have been replaying the 1972 election ever since and their anti-government views have necessarily made them ineffective at their elected responsibility: to govern.

Labels: 2008 elections, conservatism, McCain, Republicans, right wingers

// posted by Erik @ 5/25/2008 02:23:00 AM
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Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, right wingers

// posted by Erik @ 5/16/2008 11:46:00 PM
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The questioner asked, "I do not believe that one more soldier being killed every day is success. There were three U.S. soldiers killed today. I want to know, How long are we going to be there?" John McCain replied,

I can look you in the eye and tell you that those casualties tragically continue ... But they are much less, and they are dramatically reduced and we will eventually eliminate them.

To this, the questioner famously responded,

President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for fifty years.

McCain: Make it a hundred.

McCain's goal in Iraq is to stay until no Americans are being killed there. Which to anybody who's been paying attention means never and always. Under McCain, we will be in Iraq, ready to be killed forever.

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, war

// posted by Erik @ 5/04/2008 02:18:00 AM
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From an email John McCain sent me today,

Today, there are 47 million uninsured individuals in the U.S., and nearly a quarter of them are children. High costs and limited access are the underlying, fundamental problems in our healthcare system.

As you know, both Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are touting outrageously expensive and unrealistic universal health care plans - a government monopoly over health care.

Unlike my opponents, I do not believe that all of our nation's problems can be solved by turning control over to our government, with all the tax increases, new mandates and government regulation that come with that idea.

The Mcain solution,

I will reform the tax code to provide every family the option of receiving a direct, refundable tax deposit - effectively $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 cash for families to offset the cost of insurance.

McCain openly admits he's no economic genius, however few realize this means he can't multiply or divide even with the assistance of senior campaign lobbyists aides.

Assuming every U.S. household received McCain's proposed individual refund ("$$$CASH$$$" no less!), the math is,

126,316,181 US Households x $2,500 each = $315,790,452,500

Without raising taxes, McCain is proposing greater than a new $316 billion unfunded mandate. In other terms he's proposing more than doubling the yearly deficit.

Labels: 2008 elections, McCain, taxes

// posted by Erik @ 4/29/2008 08:05:00 PM
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Labels: McCain, religion, right wingers, YouTube

// posted by Erik @ 4/24/2008 09:28:00 PM
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Your guess as good as any.

Labels: 2008 elections, iraq, McCain, Republicans, terrorism, war

// posted by Erik @ 4/15/2008 09:55:00 PM
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During the Crocker and Petraeus testimonies earlier this week, McCain asserted that we're "no longer staring into the abyss of defeat" in Iraq.

He's a trainwreck in every sense of the word - I'm embarrassed to watch video clips of him when my girlfriend is within earshot.

I can't imagine Americans are as stupid as McCain assumes. You can go back and back and back and you'll find McCain always saying we're winning (even if it may take another six months for it to really turn around) and never find him anywhere nearly as pessimistic as "staring into the abyss of defeat".

In fact, according to McCain, we're pretty much perpetually coming out of the abyss ... we just need another six months.

Update: check out the second result for "six months":

Labels: 2008 elections, iraq, McCain

// posted by Erik @ 4/11/2008 10:45:00 PM
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