Well, well, well. Look whose turn it is to provide your ONT entertainment tonight. ThatÂ’s right, little olÂ’ me.

What's that? You want a theme? I don't need no stinking theme.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:00 PM | Comments (468)
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As most of you know, Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, has passed away. Wired has a very nice remembrance:

A visionary inventor and entrepreneur, it would be impossible to overstate Steve JobsÂ’ impact on technology and how we use it. AppleÂ’s mercurial, mysterious leader did more than reshape his entire industry: he completely changed how we interact with technology. He made gadgets easy to use, gorgeous to behold and essential to own. He made things we absolutely wanted, long before we even knew we wanted them. JobsÂ’ utter dedication to how people think, touch, feel and interact with machines dictated even the smallest detail of the computers Apple built and the software it wrote.

Still, as much as I love my iPod, I think I'm most thankful he co-founded Pixar, the studio that has made some of my favorite films. Godspeed, Mr. Jobs. Thanks.

Posted by: Slublog at 04:39 PM | Comments (340)
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Statement:

After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.

My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.

Update - Hot Air has a link to the interview.

Posted by: Slublog at 02:17 PM | Comments (778)
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When did we decide that it'd be a great thing for the Republican presidential debates to be a bunch of gotcha questions from liberal Democrats?

Because that's what it's turning out to be.

Drew linked my observations below about the stupid nature of this crappy debate schedule - but there's an added nugget that I've learned just today.

So this next debate, sponsored by WaPo/Bloomberg and hosted on Bloomberg TV, was supposed to be exclusively about the economy. At least that's something, right? We've seen ridiculous sideshow questions for too long - let's get down to brass tacks and talk about economic issues which this whole election is going to end up being about. If you go to the WaPo site, it still says as much (emphasis mine).

The Washington Post and Bloomberg TV, in partnership with WBIN-TV and host Dartmouth College, present the first debate of the 2012 campaign focused exclusively on the issue that matters most to American voters: the economy.

But guess what: that's a lie.

I'm told that the debate organizers have informed the campaigns as of yesterday that only the first half of the debate will be about the economy. The second half will be a free for all.

And anyway, because they're including eight candidates (everybody but poor Gary Johnson), they're limiting things to thirty second answers. Again. Typical.

Oh, and one more bonus:

Charlie Rose will moderate the Bloomberg Washington Post Debate with co-moderators Washington Post political correspondent Karen Tumulty and Bloomberg White House correspondent Julianna Goldman.

Karen Tumulty. Hmm. Would that be the Karen Tumulty who is part of the same WaPo political journalism shop behind the biggest smear campaign yet of the 2012 cycle? Is that Karen Tumulty, Journolist member? The unbiased journalist who thought the 2010 election was Obama being "punished for his effectiveness"?

My only question is: will she personally bring a racist rock to plunk down on the dais?

Posted by: Guest Blogger at 01:21 PM | Comments (236)
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James Taranto over at the WSJ noticed this little scheduling oopsie that probably should have gotten more airplay back in June:

June 23, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- World leaders are gathering in Chicago next year for two international summits. Both the NATO and the G8 summits will be held in May.

It will be the first time since 1977 in London that two international summits will be held at the same time in the same city. Security experts say it will be a security challenge that no American city has ever had to face. Planning is likely to focus on the possibility of violent demonstrations.

Posted by: Guest Blogger at 11:13 AM | Comments (317)
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The New York Times recently featured an article highlighting Obama's "alternate routes" to re-election, with some Democratic observers, reflecting on the President's poor numbers in the Buckeye State, claiming that he doesn't really need those stinkin' 18 electoral votes:

While Mr. ObamaÂ’s approval ratings have slid across the board as unemployment remains high, what buoys Democrats are the changing demographics of formerly Republican states like Colorado, where Democrats won a close Senate race in 2010, as well as Virginia and North Carolina.

He has North Carolina! He has Virginia! Oh, and he has Colorado, his Ace in the hole! Noticeably absent in their rerouting are Indiana, Florida and that Omaha congressional district that come through for him back in '08. I guess even the most optimistic strategist realizes some states are just gone. But anyway, back to DEMLOGIC.

Based on the assumptions of DEMLOGIC, they are right. Conceding Florida, Indiana, NE2 and even Ohio, a Republican would only get 238 electoral votes, 32 shy of the Presidency.

In theory, abandoning Ohio but falling back on North Carolina, Virginia, and Colorado makes sense.

If the President was doing good in those states, that is.

John E, let er rip: more...

Posted by: CAC at 10:52 AM | Comments (154)
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Via Nathen Wurtzel, Occupy Wall Street isn't your parents' hippie invested commune protest. Actually, take away the technology and yeah, it is. Some things never change.

I'm kind of surprised this is in The New Republic. (Content warning...plenty of objectionable words at the link)

The occupation has no leaders or organizers. At least that’s what its leaders and organizers told me. The smartest was Matt, a waifish blue-eyed grad-student with expressive wrists who teaches at an elite private school. At the occupation, however, he helps run the daily General Assemblies, where different decentralized committees jostle and present proposals. Matt calls on folks “not in the order people raise their hands, but with sensitivity to racial and gender order.” “It’s not leading,” he insisted. “It’s horizontal facilitating.” His facilitation duties also include enforcing codes of conduct and, well, preventing sexual harassment and assault in the square.

AdBusters, the Canadian anti-consumerist organization that started the occupation, had promised that “one demand” would soon be revealed. Anonymous, the shadowy web collective, suggested “freedom.” Unions said workers rights. Ron Paul supporters said ending the Fed. A kid in spectacles and Keds demanded more episodes of “Arrested Development.” But Matt said not to expect clear demands soon or, perhaps, ever. “The injustice is so severe, we need a radical, open, transformative, prefigurative democratic space to explore the possible.” That said, he assured me that there were some specific political proposals in the mix: bringing back the Glass-Steagall Act, revoking corporate personhood, and passing the Buffet Tax right away. But if the occupation’s goals weren’t clear, its duration was. “It’s indefinite,” he smiled.

...

A man in a skull-faced grim reaper costume tapped me with his scythe and introduced himself as Phil. As it turns out, the grim reaper supports Ron Paul. “He’s the only politician not infested with lobbyists.” Phil also hates the Fed. “20 years ago, after getting out of the Air Force, I applied three times to work there and was rejected.” Now, Death works as a concierge at Ruppert Towers in Yorkville. He could never get a job in finance. “There was always a brokers son,” he told me. Although I couldn’t see his face, I heard him sigh. “My mother raised four boys on one salary. I could never do that today.”

As the topless woman danced, the yogi did yoga, and the discussion groups discussed, more and more people poured into the square. It smelled like cigarettes, sweat, and urine. But also hope. Change was in the air; the tide was turning; the mob was growing. Together, the occupiers had fought adversity, rain, and the NYPD. They were so close to revolutionary catharsis: Radiohead might actually perform.

Apparently Radiohead never showed up so they dodged that bullet.

Just remember...these were the people Obama was so proud of organizing into a community back in the day.

It's funny how the media is taking this rabble seriously but treated average, hardworking Americans who didn't want anything from the government but to be left alone as terrorists.

Posted by: DrewM at 10:03 AM | Comments (267)
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Even a broken clock is funny twice a day.

There are a lot of times Stewart is unfair; he's intellectually dishonest, and his chief methods are taking things out of context and deliberately misunderstanding his targets. Of course, if you pointed that out to him, he'd say "clown nose on." At any rate, he barbecues Romney in this segment merely by quoting him. No need to be dishonest when dealing with a congenital flip-flopper like Mitt Romney.

Video below the fold. more...

Posted by: rdbrewer at 08:27 AM | Comments (334)
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Rick Perry may have had a less than stellar roll out with voters but he's rolling in the dough.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry raised $17 million during the third fundraising quarter of the year despite a late entry into the race and a compressed time frame for raising money, campaign spokesman Mark Miner said Wednesday.

The number is significantly higher than the $10 million that the campaign had been floating as its target for the quarter. It is also nearly as high as the $18 million haul his chief rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, brought in during the second quarter. And it is likely higher than the $10 million to $12 million Romney is expected to raise during the third quarter.

Of that $17 million, Perry still has $15 million in the bank. So while his first month to 6 weeks on the trail was awful from a polling perspective at least it was cheap. If and it this point, it's a big if, Perry gets his act together, he's got plenty of money to capitalize on it.

Perry's next chance to try again on the debate front will be next week at an event held by Bloomberg TV and the Washington Post which will be moderated by...Charlie Rose?

A couple of things-

First, Bloomberg TV? If the idea is to hold one of these things and not have anyone see it...Mission Accomplished.

Second, Charlie Rose? That means each question will be 9 minutes long and candidates will have 1 minute to answer, though they will be frequently interrupted by the moderator during that time.

Overall the idea of holding a debate focused exclusively on the economy/federal spending is a good one. It should favor Romney and Cain. For Perry, it's a chance to connect his record in Texas to his vision for the future of America. He really needs to find a way to do that or he'll simply continue to squander one of his major advantages over both Romney and Obama.

For more on the GOP "debates", you should be subscribing to guest blogger Ben Domenech's free daily email newsletter (subscribe here).

But this gets back to a larger question: why are we letting the media dictate this crap? Why can't actually conservative/Republican organizations step in and take a leadership role in sponsoring these and winnowing the field? Why can't we have questioner panels on topical issues? Wouldn't it be better to see panels with questions from folks like Steve Moore, Charles Krauthammer, Steve Hayward, John Bolton, Elliott Abrams, Jim Pethokoukis and others? Why do we let the least serious people in the world, with an ideological bent against the right to boot, decide what questions matter?

For comparison, here's Reagan and HW Bush duking it out in 1980. Anderson was still in the race at this point (had just scored two strong third place finishes in Wisconsin and Kansas at 27% and 18%), so was Howard Baker, so was Phil Crane... these are not small personalities, that's the Senate Minority Leader for crying out loud. But the candidates told them to go screw and debated in Houston. They actually just talk through policy! Reagan and Bush are, in that clip, disagreeing about how much you can cut taxes without spending cuts at the same time, disagreeing about Art Laffer... Imagine being able to see a debate where the candidates just talk to each other for a good chunk of time. ThatÂ’s what theyÂ’re supposed to be, not ping-based gameshows.

In horse race news...Herman Cain momentum is starting to show up in the polls.

Herman Cain's rise through the Republican field continued Wednesday, as a new national poll found the former businessman tied with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for first place in the latest CBS News poll.

Cain and Romney both earned the support of 17 percent of American voters - a rise of 12 percentage points for Cain compared to two weeks ago. His support seems to have come almost entirely to the detriment of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who nearly halved his number of supporters, falling 11 percentage points from 23 to 12 percent.

Romney has more or less run a Rose Garden primary campaign, just sort of floating around in the low to mid 20's nationally and watching contenders like Bachmann and Perry come and go. more...

Posted by: DrewM at 07:35 AM | Comments (199)
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Last night we brought you this maniac polluting the streets of Manhattan with his vile diatribes. Now while all these Occupy Wall Street loons aren't quite as unhinged as he is, a common theme emerging is we've got a pack of spoiled brats simply looking to live off the rest of us.

As Michael Graham points out today, the one thing most of these slobs aren't occupying is a job.

Has there ever been such a collection of mewling, puking overgrown babies as the clueless college brats of the “Occupation” — a particularly ironic phrase given how few of these oafs actually have one.

Posted by: Guest Blogger at 07:02 AM | Comments (266)
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