Mocked and dissected over at QandO. I can't steal it all, but here's a taste:

No wonder, given the daunting job responsibilities laid out by these two, that it's hard to find anything to criticize about Obama. How can one criticize the record of a person who has had no responsibilities, had no power, made no decisions and, frankly, done nothing - except perhaps listen?

And, as if Klein senses the fact that what he's presented is well on its way to being touted as the newest example for that which defines "lame", he resorts to race baiting:

But look, let's call a spade a spade: When Giuliani sneered about community organizers on the "South side" of Chicago, it's pretty clear what he was saying: Barack Obama spent his time rabble-rousing among black people.

Yeah, Ezra, that's surely what it means. After all it couldn't just be a statement of fact, could it?

It's pretty standard in election contests to see partisans defending the indefensible, but the Obamatons have really been forced into saying (and apparently believing) silly things about the Obamas. This is a community-based reality, so statements like "He is a listener" are greeted with enthusiasm and treated as the end of the argument. Don't you know, listeners are by definition more experienced than mayors. Or governors. And we don't ever, ever make fun of people who do nothing and have no responsibilities but to listen.

The sarcasm that Giuliani and Palin shot at Obama's "community organizer" credential was a genius counterattack for his insistence on referring to Palin as the Mayor of Wassily (sic) and ignoring her time as governor. Now the Obamatons can busy themselves trying to spin Obama's few accomplishments as a community organizer into a grand resume. Meanwhile, Obama can run crying to Mama, "But what about when I was a civil rights lawyer or a law professor?"

No wonder Ezra Klein wants to short circuit the whole thing by just crying "Racism!" It would get pretty uncomfortable having to actually discuss the series of short-term jobs Obama has flittered to and from. The man hasn't actually held one job for any length of time at all. And now he's trying to skip out on his latest engagement two years early.

Later: To be fair, I'm sure a community organizer does something. But it sounds like one of those bullshit jobs used as filler in a weak resume.

"It says here in between being an Albertson's sacker and volunteering for Joe Sharps for City Council you were a 'community organizer.' What's this about 'raising consciousness?'"

"Well, um, I, ah, photocopied posters and, um, put them up around town. -Well, ah, I, not the whole town. Four blocks on the South Side."

"Okay, great. We've got some more interviews, but we'll be sure to call you."

Please, Obambi, could we talk about this for another news cycle? Thanks.

And S. Weasel observes:

Click on over there and tell her how awesome she is.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 07:50 AM | Comments (96)
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The State of Iowa passed a fairly strict no-smoking law this summer where EVERY business with more than 2 employees that's open to the public has to be a smoke free zone. Of course, considering that "Big Casino" brings a lot of cash into the State's coffers every payday, they did find it in their Nanny-Statist hearts to exempt casinos from the law, but that's another post.

Several bar owners have complained about lost business since this law went into effect, but now there's one bar owner who's going to court to defend his right to allow his patrons to smoke. Larry Duncan's his name, and he's even a nonsmoker.

The name of this courageous establishment? Otis Campbell's Bar & Grill in West Burlington, Iowa.

When contacted for a follow up to this story, Tom Miller the Iowa Attorney General might have said "Yes, we plan to prosecute Mr. Duncan to the fullest extent of the law. I'm confident that we can win, but I am troubled by the fact that the local judge in this case is probably going to let Mr. Duncan walk into the jail, pick out an empty cell, lock himself into it and then hang the keys back on the nail next to the cell door. I was hoping that they would frogmarch this criminal down the steps of the State Capitol in front of the assembled press, but I guess they do things a little differently in that town."

Posted by: Russ from Winterset at 07:37 AM | Comments (21)
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Stickied.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 06:52 AM | Comments (39)
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Statistical dead heat.

he Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows the beginning of John McCainÂ’s convention bounce and the race is essentially back where it was before Barack ObamaÂ’s bounce. Obama now attracts 46% of the vote while McCain earns 45%. When "leaners" are included, itÂ’s Obama 48%, McCain 46% (see recent daily results)...

Both Obama and McCain are now viewed favorably by 57% of the nationÂ’s voters (see trends). However, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is viewed favorably by 58%--a point more than either Presidential hopeful. Forty percent (40%) have a Very Favorable opinion of her.

Update - Yesterday? The One: 49, McCain: 42. Today, The One: 48, McCain: 44.

How much has the Palin pick rattled the community organizer? This much.

What I find interesting is that despite the near-ludicrous hype, Obama has not proven to be a breakaway candidate like Bill Clinton, who jumped anywhere from 12-16 points after his convention and never really looked back. We've been told that the electorate is hungry for change and they're angry at the GOP, but they seem reluctant to embrace the "change" candidate.

Posted by: Slublog at 09:43 AM | Comments (140)
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Sarah Palin: Chickens

Us Magazine: Roost

Jann Wenner, a no-talent ass-clown best known for running bong ads in a magazine featuring interviews with barely coherent sub-morons finds his second-rate People magazine (think on that) in even more trouble.

“I’m hearing it’s 5,000, maybe more,” says one well-placed source in the industry. Another source claimed that as many as 10,000 readers have already cancelled their subscriptions. A spokesperson for Wenner Media, which publishes Us, says “it is completely false that we are losing 10,000 subscribers.” As for the 5,000 estimate, the spokesperson only said “that is false, too,” but wouldn’t comment further.

The magazine was mailed out Monday, and will not be received by many until Friday or Saturday. So many of these cancellations come from those who haven't even received the magazines yet. They know what the story is.

“When Us went to print Monday night, it looked like the ticket was falling apart," says one magazine editor. “They went to print thinking Palin was dead in the water, and their mistake was thinking everyone who reads Us is a Democrat, when they’re not. Readers are loyal, but the base of a political party is more loyal. They don’t need to read the magazine when there’s so much press around it to know to be upset.”

Upset might be an understatement: One Us advertiser has admitted that they’ve received calls from angry former subscribers threatening to boycott their products. “(Us publisher) Jann Wenner supports Obama, Wenner media decided to follow the buzz around Palin before her speech, and now subscribers feel like a vote has been cast on their behalf," says another magazine editor. “It’s going to be tough to bounce back from this one. Especially if the advertisers get involved. If they get nervous, that can hurt all of us.”

Awww, that sucks.

Gee, I guess now we know why Us Magazine sent out its nitwit writer to go out there and claim she was voting for McCain, huh? And that the article must therefore not be the product of bias, because, of course, a staff writer has full freedom to write whatever cover story she likes irrespective of the editor's and pubisher's demands.

Damage control.

"Hey, I'm one of you, really. I'm a big fan of Palin's, that's why I smeared her!"

KTHNXBAI.

Note they trotted her out to make this claim just hours before news of the mass cancellations hit.

Thanks to Rob.

By the way, my girlfriend -- and I don't know why I always hide this stuff; I just don't think it's appropriate, but it gets cumbersome to keep saying "this other person I was talking with" -- anyway, my girlfriend picked up the issue.

After two pages of ads, you know what it features?

A two-page spread on how chic (their word) Michelle Obama is. Lots off glamor shots of her with her daughters and husband -- See! Look! Here's a solid marriage, as opposed to that dysfunctional white-trash train-wreck on the cover!

GF: "Gee, what are they trying to tell me here?"

Some sample text for your enjoyment. Quotes are quoted in the magazine, coming from designers and fashionistas, but of course reflect the editorial opinion of Jann Wenner.

Michelle's Campaign Style

Mrs. Obama kept it simple and chic...

"Her style can best be described as timeless"...

"Mrs. Obama possesses a natural and unpretentious sophistication...."

Michelle has "the grace and beauty of a dancer..."

Yes, and the forehead ridges of a Klingon bat'leth warrior.

And, of course, Governor Palin takes a bad picture once in a blue moon. Us Weekly just happened to find one to slap on its cover making her look a bit like a vampiric Barbra Streisand. And now that the left is absolutely terrified of her, what a shock, every other picture of her is a bad one.

Jann Wenner should stick to what he knows, and just keep paying college students to claim that Bjork's new album is "Five Stars -- Brilliant" even though no one believes them or cares, actually, either way.

That, or he should pursue his true area of expertise and begin publishing Bisexual Douchebag Star-Fucker Quarterly.

Obama's Fingerprints Are All Over It: The publisher? Huge Obama supporter. The executive that sent out "helpful" emails that this wonderful article might "guide" us through the Palin news? A former Clinton White House operative. His Florida chairman and MoveOn.org, which of course endorsed him, are furiously emailing libelous claims insinuating that Palin is a Nazi sympathizer.

And yet Obama says he doesn't want any of this sort of attack on Palin's family, and that he practices a new, better politics generally.

So how come the Idiot Messiah's cultists don't listen?

If Obama presumes to lead a nation, shouldn't he be able to lead his most loyal followers first and foremost?

BTW, the Idiot Messiah has thusfar refused to release his college transcripts to the public. I guess I'm supposed to assume his grades were so scary-high I'd be threatened by his incandescent brilliance.

No sale, dummy. And it's astonishing that after the Daily Kos Media has made college grades and SAT scores such an important matter in presidential politics in recent years, they don't even bother to ask the Idiot Messiah for his.

Power Glutes: Defending his viciously insane Trig Trutherism: more...

Posted by: Ace at 10:09 PM | Comments (185)
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Once again, I note we saw Chelsea Clinton an awful lot -- even campaigning with her mother, and speaking on her behalf! -- but the media has never claimed Chelsea was fair game.

And of course Obama's daughters too. Political props? Open season? I think so.

I'm out of rage, but I don't need it anyway -- read the comments here for catharsis, if you need it. They tear this "guy" a new one.

Bounce! Sixty percent of those who watched the speech rated it an "A," and independents went from splitting on question of whether Palin was an asset to believing she's an asset by a 2:1 ratio.

Oh-- and as far as the betting line, the ticket people expect to win -- Obama had been leading 16:15, and now that's flipped in McCainacuda's favor.

Posted by: Ace at 09:48 PM | Comments (31)
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Let's get this party started.

Must Watch: Keith Olbermann, keepin' it nonpartisan: breathtaking.

The only reason 9/11 is a painful memory to Keith Olbermann is because it hurt his beloved liberal suckers of cock. The rest of us remember it as an attack on America; he remembers it solely as an attack on the political fortunes of the Democratic Party.

Allah tipped this, not as a tip, but because he was so angry.

Keith, maybe you should drink some water so you won't get dehydrated after crying so much.

Like a bitch.

Palin Nielsens Smash: Even bigger ratings than we thought:

Barack Obama apparently isn’t the only “rock star” in presidential politics this year.

After days of intense media coverage about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah PalinÂ’s qualifications, more than 40 million Americans tuned in Wednesday to see for themselves what they thought of her.

...

Her poised speech, primarily going after Obama and touting McCainÂ’s case for the presidency, was gushed over by many analysts.

...

Last week, Nielsen said 38.4 million people watched Obama speak at a Denver stadium on the six commercial networks, along with BET, TV One, Univision and Telemundo — four networks that didn’t cover Palin’s speech. PBS added an estimated 4 million to that total.

Nearly 2 million more women were watching Palin than men, Nielsen said.

More: Lots and lots of women viewers.

The Nielsen ratings showed that Palin attracted a huge female audience of 19.5 million women, nearly 5 million larger than the third day of the Democratic convention when Hillary Clinton spoke.

The third day of the GOP gathering also attracted more Hispanic viewers than the third day of the Democratic gathering -- 1.4 million to 1.2 million -- even though Univision and Telemundo did not carry the Palin speech.

Oh, and this moron's still fighting with McCain's Junior Officer:

Sen. Barack Obama ditched his normal languid cool today, punching back at Gov. Sarah Palin as he spoke with reporters in York, Pa, hotly defending his work as a community organizer. He said he assumes Palin "wants to be treated same way guys want to be treated, which means their records are under scrutinty. I've been through this for 19 months. She's been through it, what four days?"

Obama's hackles were clearly raised by Palin's dismissal of his community organizing --a response to his earlier dismissal of her record as a small-town mayor. "Why would that kind of work be ridiculed?" Obama said. "Who are they fighting for?" The idea that community organizing is not relevant to the presidency, he said, just shows why Republicans "are out of touch and don't get it."

The Obama campaign was clearly on the defensive today, acknowledging how appealing Palin came across, and sending out surrogates hitting their talking points that Republicans have spent their time on attacks rather than substance.

Celebrity? An Israeli documentarian visited Alaska to film Palin as he documented amazing women around the world. He became particularly "mesmerized" by Palin.

Think he's cutting that documentary as fast as he can to release it?

Barracuda: Now I wantcha. more...

Posted by: Ace at 07:23 PM | Comments (228)
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Why am I getting "Sarah Palin children names" as a search about one in every 300 referrals?

I would think that's a good thing. Indicating interest in the person, and not just a desire to dig up dirt or naughty pictures.

The names are Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and Trig Paxon Van Palin.

You're welcome.

Posted by: Ace at 06:05 PM | Comments (24)
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(No, tonight is not an open blog night. DPUD has an Important Action Alert. -lauraw)

Yeah, hate to break up the party, but we've got some RINOs that need to be slapped back in line, or we're going to be sold out by the GOP in the Senate yet again. You guys remember the Gang of Ten? That group of RINOs who want to sell out on oil exploration and energy production?

Yeah, they're getting close to getting their greenie squish bill passed. Basically, they'll allow limited drilling (no ANWR, limited coast access), nuclear reactors (yeah, I'll bet, those'll never happen), in exchange for regulations, solar, wind and other greenie boondoggles and taking away tax breaks from oil companies...the costs of which would be passed on to you, of course. Not enough to convince you? The Center for American Progress likes it, that ought to be enough to give you pause.

"Some environmentalists have serious problems with it, but it's actually a pretty good deal," says Joseph J. Romm, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank, and a top Energy Dept. official in the Clinton Administration.

A few more people have signed on to this bill, and the Gang of Ten is getting close to "getting something done." Never a good sign when that phrase is getting bandied about. The one thing we have going for us is that both sides know their bases don't like this compromise nonsense, but we know our elite are squishier than theirs, so let your congresscritter know what you think of their latest sellout effort.

* Be sure to check out doubleplusundead, my crappy moronblog

Posted by: Open Blog at 05:45 PM | Comments (22)
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Also, Obama's on O'Reilly right now. Claiming Sunni and Shiia anti-American radicals can't ever cooperate.

How the Live Blog Works: No, we're not ignoring you, you're not banned, and there's not a special button to get posted. This software only allows a limited number of "producers" and "panelists," and I send those slots out to the cobloggers.

Other comments, as far as I know, cannot be posted on the main chat-box automatically. They only get posted when the producers -- me and the cobloggers -- specifically click on a comment and add it to the board.

Why do we pick some comments and not others? Well, the obvious: They're funny or insightful. (Given the brief nature of communications during a live blog, "funny" is by far the dominant category.)

If we don't post your comment, it doesn't mean we don't like you. It might be duplicative, it may not be super-funny (in our brief estimation), or we may just not have seen it. Bear in mind, everyone on this is doing three things at once:

1) Watching the speech

2) Thinking up and writing comments

and

3) Looking for good comments to post from everyone else.

Sometimes we just get overloaded on 1 and 2, and sometimes the whole comment queue just jumps ahead for no reason and we miss out on a whole swath of comments.

Anyway, no one's trying to be a douche, except JackM., but I think that goes without saying.

Sorry for the confusion about this. I should have taken the time to explain it each time, rather than assuming everyone had done this before and knew how it worked.

more...

Posted by: Ace at 04:50 PM | Comments (36)
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