August 23, 2008
— Ace DrewM already posted John McCain's lightning-quick ad, but here's more.
Biden, on a post-debate appearance on MSNBC, October 30, 2007: “The only guy on the other side who’s qualified is John McCain.”Biden appearing on The Daily Show, August 2, 2005: “John McCain is a personal friend, a great friend, and I would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off, be well off no matter who...”
On Meet the Press, November 27, 2005: “I’ve been calling for more troops for over two years, along with John McCain and others subsequent to my saying that.”
And more on Obama:
Assessing Obama’s Iraq plan on September 13, 2007: “My impression is [Obama] thinks that if we leave, somehow the Iraqis are going to have an epiphany” of peaceful coexistence among warring sects. “I’ve seen zero evidence of that.”Speaking to the New York Observer: Biden was equally skeptical — albeit in a slightly more backhanded way — about Mr. Obama. “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
Also from that Observer interview: “But — and the ‘but’ was clearly inevitable — he doubts whether American voters are going to elect ‘a one-term, a guy who has served for four years in the Senate,’ and added: ‘I don’t recall hearing a word from Barack about a plan or a tactic.’”
...
December 11, 2007: “If Iowans believe campaign funds and celebrity will fix the debacle in Iraq, put the economy on track, and provide health care and education for America’s children, they should support another candidate,” said Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro. “But I’m confident that Iowans know what I know: our problems will require experience and leadership from Day One. Empty slogans will be no match for proven action on caucus night.”
Much more at the link, including Biden's Inconvenient Truths on Iraq.
How will Joe Biden explain his denigration of Barack Obama and praise of John McCain?
Simple: This is not the John McCain and/or Barack Obama I thought I knew.
So much has changed in six months.
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08:39 AM
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— Ace To say something positive: Jacob Weisberg is admirably forthright and direct about what most liberals are dishonestly passive-aggressive about.
But, that aside, it's all downhill from there.
If Obama Loses: Racism is the only reason McCain might beat him....
If it makes you feel better, you can rationalize Obama's missing 10-point lead on the basis of Clintonite sulkiness, his slowness in responding to attacks, or the concern that Obama may be too handsome, brilliant, and cool to be elected. But let's be honest: If you break the numbers down, the reason Obama isn't ahead right now is that he trails badly among one group, older white voters. He does so for a simple reason: the color of his skin.
...
Many have discoursed on what an Obama victory could mean for America. We would finally be able to see our legacy of slavery, segregation, and racism in the rearview mirror. Our kids would grow up thinking of prejudice as a nonfactor in their lives. The rest of the world would embrace a less fearful and more open post-post-9/11 America. But does it not follow that an Obama defeat would signify the opposite? If Obama loses, our children will grow up thinking of equal opportunity as a myth. His defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to. In this event, the world's judgment will be severe and inescapable: The United States had its day but, in the end, couldn't put its own self-interest ahead of its crazy irrationality over race.
...
You may or may not agree with Obama's policy prescriptions, but they are, by and large, serious attempts to deal with the biggest issues we face: a failing health care system, oil dependency, income stagnation, and climate change. To the rest of the world, a rejection of the promise he represents wouldn't just be an odd choice by the United States. It would be taken for what it would be: sign and symptom of a nation's historical decline.
Um, I don't agree with them. Any of them, pretty much. Why would I vote for a leftwing platform now when I've consistently rejected the same platform when announced by white men?
Let's be more accurate here, Jacob: Race and only race would be the reason for a hypothetical Obama victory.
Thanks to Slublog.
Posted by: Ace at
08:11 AM
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— DrewM Nothing that doesn't happen every time the VP choice is someone who was in the primaries but it's still amusing.
Congratulations to "Beppo" for being the only Moron to pick Biden in the VP Sweeps Pool. Your month of free Ace of Spades content begins today. Enjoy!
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07:38 AM
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— Jack M. Last night, while awaiting the sacred text message to descend from on high, I started thinking again about an Obama/Biden ticket.
Because, you see, I knew that I had seen it somewhere before. A small inner voice was filling my head with childhood recollections that had been submerged in the depths of my subconscious mind 'lo these many years.
And then, in a flash, it washed over me like so much of the Obamessiah's new and improved (extra hopenchanginess included!) baptismal water.
First, Obama. In him we have a nerdy, Urkel-esque character who is young, inexperienced, somewhat naive. His grasp of history appears weak (as his comments tying American actions to Russian military intervention revealed yet again this week). Clearly he needs a mentor.
In Biden, we have an insufferable, self-professed "higher i.q. than you" guy, with a penchant for falling in love with the sound of his own voice and for demeaning those who seek to share the limelight with him.
To paraphrase Men at Work, "who could this ticket be, now"?
It's obvious. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Democratic Ticket.
Mr. Peabiden: 1972, my clean, articulate friend.
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06:43 AM
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— Open Blog Being the nosy moron I am, I was poking around on Obama's website, wondering what kind of welcome messages our new under-overlord might be receiving, when I noticed what a pretty background the webpage has. Taking a look at the background image, I found this nestled behind the page content:
I'm guessing some poor web designer didn't get the message of utter ridicule being heaped upon his Savior's head for the last seal. It's entirely possible, since I seem to live in a box that doesn't extend much past Denver, that he's had this seal on the front and center of every ad he's used for the past few months, but I don't recall it. Would one of my fellow morons care to correct me on this?
And on a side note, I'll be down taking pretty pictures of the Democratic festivities over the next few days. If anyone is aware of something I should be photographing that isn't widely publicized enough to have penetrated my unaware little box (Dammit Alamo) made it into my schedule, please let me know in the comments.
Update: And I might as well throw in a link to my little photoblog, as long as I'm trying to unembarrass myself. Although I think this is going to follow me around for a while.
Posted by: Open Blog at
06:11 AM
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August 22, 2008
— Open Blog While youÂ’re waiting breathlessly for the Secret Service to arrive at Sen. BidenÂ’s residence to arrest his hair plugs for making terroristic threats against the presumptive Democrat(ic) nominee for the U.S. Presidency, you might as well read this story.
(Point of record: I have no actual knowledge of Sen. Biden’s hair plugs making any actual threat against the nominee, just a rumour that they were threatening to “shed,” whatever that means.)
According to a story reported online today by an anonymous source telling a bad joke can get your ass kicked. Or get you punched in the arm. Or worse, a glare, and possibly not being invited to after-work drinks.
”MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) - There's a reason comedians call it "dying on stage."Research by a Washington State University linguist found that people who tell bad jokes often endure an astonishing outpouring of hostility from the listeners.
"These were basically attacks intended to result in the social exclusion or humiliation of the speaker, punctuated on occasion with profanity, a nasty glare or even a solid punch to the arm," said researcher Nancy Bell.”
"The predominant verbal reaction to failed humor in our study was oriented exclusively toward attacking the speaker," Bell said.”
That thereÂ’s some grim shit. And I bruise easily. But what are the reasons for this violent reaction?
”First, such canned humor often disrupts the natural flow of conversation. And jokes that fail to deliver humor are a violation of a social contract, so punishing the teller can discourage similar behavior in the future.”“Finally, a stupid joke insults the listener by suggesting that he or she might actually find it funny, Bell said.”
But thereÂ’s hope for the droolers who actually read this blog and find themselves insulted (assuming they can actually read). Be assured that The American Humor Studies Association is working on it.
”Humor is a serious topic with a rich academic tradition. The American Humor Studies Association publishes a journal and accepts papers on topics like "Colonial Humor" and "Dark Historical Issues made Light," according to its web site.”
You can learn more about the AHSA here. Feel free to submit a paper of your own. As the famous Greek comedian Bluto once said…”It don’t cost nuthin’” Of course, the rabble outside of the academy have their own take on things.:
”Somewhat less academically oriented, Maxim magazine recently rated the worst professional comedians of all time, with Sinbad rated No. 1, followed by Margaret Cho.”
You can find that list here.
ThereÂ’s no truth whatsoever to the rumour that Dave in Texas is #13 on the list. (more like #11)
Also, If you donÂ’t agree that this man is the funniest comedian ever, thereÂ’s a high probability that your comments will be edited and/or deleted. (but not by me)
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11:06 PM
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— DrewM Here's the latest...
Obama Spokeswoman and part time reporter Andrea Mitchell says Bayh and Kaine are out (FNC is also reporting Kaine is out).
So all eyes are turning to Joe Biden! Thanks to Dave in Texas, you can watch CNN stakeout of his home.
The talk is now that Obama won't be sending out The Text until Saturday morning.
It's amazing how much millage the Obama people are getting out of this. It's a quality product roll out, no doubt about it. But at the end of all this hype and interest you wind up with...Joe Biden?
No VP nominee has made much of a difference since, what? L.B.J.? I'm sure Biden or whoever winds up on the ticket will keep that sting intact but at least Biden will be fun.
UPDATE: If you missed it earlier in the week, take a look at Jack M.'s thoughts on a possible Obama-Biden ticket.
UPDATE x2: The Weekly Standard says their source tells them it's Biden.
On behalf of Republicans and bloggers and co-bloggers everywhere, let me be the first to say...THANK YOU Barack!
UPDATE x3: The Secret Service is reported to en route to the Biden's home to establish their protective detail. Alas, they won't be able to protect him from his big mouth.
UPDATE x4 [Dave in Texas]: McCain camp launches Biden ad (via HotAir) more...
Posted by: DrewM at
05:23 PM
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— Ace I don't, for one. But Arthur sends these anyway.
I direct your attention to the horrifying enormous Kingdom of the Spiders sized webs down page.
Mo Spiders, Mo Problems: Gah.
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03:41 PM
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— Ace I kid, actually. I disagree with Captain Ed about the un-patriotic pastelization of the American flag's colors-- I think the lighting design is damned nifty. If it were the Republican platform, I'd be singing its praises.
Then again, I've been forced to watch Trading Spaces and Project Runway more times than I'd like to admit.
Compare that to the Republican stage (hit the link). Our stage? Damn, I like that too. Simple and strong. (Actually not so simple; it just looks that way.) If we're knocking stages for lacking fidelity to the actual colors in the flag, well, I think the Republicans have changed the colors a bit too; a bit oversaturated, and a bit darkened with black. Fierce.
I'd love this stage if I didn't see the Democrats' cotton-candy lightshow. Now I worry a bit it's going to come off a bit flat and static compared to the Democrats'. I mean, they're going to be able to Change lighting schemes as someone's talking.
It worked for Bill Cosby in Himself. Adds a little sense of scenery to an old guy just sitting there yammering at you.
Also note that the Democrats' backdrop will be interesting enough in close shots, as each element is small enough to be part of the background; the Republicans' backdrop will look grand in long shots only. Up close -- in the range of 90% of the pictures -- it's just going to be some dude standing in front of a couple of red and white stripes.
Captain Ed quips it seems the two stages are designed for two different audiences. Well, yes. But I think they're both good, and both play to the intended audience.
I give the Republicans' state 3 WWII-Era Captain America Shields out of four, and the Democrats' three and a half Zorro-snaps with a Tim Gunn "Make it work" kicker.
Dual-Use Thread: Obama's veepshit in the sidebar.
Here's the news:
It's either Bayh, or Biden, or someone else.
You heard it here first.
Biden Head Fake? Obama's plane en route from Chicago to Delaware. Possibly to pick up Biden, more likely in a planned fake (pre-arranged by Biden) to paint him red herring to disguise real criminal, I mean running mate.
PS, on Fox, they note the bumper stickers reading Obama/Bayh seem kind of crude and lack the fabulousness of Obama's cutting edge/retro-Stalin graphic designers. So, almost certainly just a company hoping to get product out the door ahead of competitors.
Denver Mayor Hickenlooper Instructs Police to Not Harsh Conventioners' Buzz: Don't enforce pot laws, cops told.
Wouldn't want that cosmic lightshow stage to go to waste. Every night after the convention winds down -- Laser Floyd!
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02:34 PM
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— Russ from Winterset Scott "Animal Mother" Beauchamp, that is. I wanted to get this up on the site so that everyone could read the Radar magazine article, and I'll let Ace come in and do the analysis if he wants to do so. He did all the heavy lifting last time, so I'll defer to his expertise.
Lots of interesting tidbits in the Radar article. Go. Read. Learn.
Better... [ace] than anything I can do is Confederate Yankee's rebuttal.
Incidentally -- the author of that piece, clearing Beauchamp and TNR of any wrongdoing? Spencer Ackerman, former editor of TNR.
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02:31 PM
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