Today’s opining on the public discourse.

Let’s all raise a glass to the DNC and hitting McCain where it hurts:

The McCain campaign doesn’t seem especially concerned about Democratic attacks that he’s running to give the nation a third Bush term. He doesn’t seem to care when people highlight his age. He shrugs off questions about his reputation as a hothead with a nasty temperament who flies off the handle on a regular basis. He couldn’t care less when he’s caught flip-flopping, abandoning long-held principles, or getting confused about the basics of public policy.

But bring up his line about leaving troops in Iraq for 100 years, and McCain goes completely apoplectic. It seems to be the one point of criticism that McCain and his campaign fear most.

[snip]

There’s simply no reason for Democrats to feel even the slightest bit hesitant about using this. Even in its full context, McCain has said, on multiple occasions, that he’s comfortable leaving U.S. troops in Iraq for a century or more. The only way that’s even possible is to establish permanent bases, which are opposed by both Iraqis and Americans, and which fuel anti-American violence. He said it, he meant it, and Democrats would be insane not to tell voters about it.

And yet, McCain and Republicans have, for several weeks, launched a coordinated, carefully-orchestrated campaign to get people — everyone, really — to stop using the words “McCain,” “Iraq,” and “100 years” in the same sentence. No one can do push-back as well as the Republican Machine, and these guys are intent on making it impossible to hit McCain where it hurts.

As such, I’m delighted the DNC is ignoring the push-back and poking the sore spot.

Can’t link to videos from our lovely work computers, alas, but if you drop by Carpetbagger’s place, you can see the ad in all its glory. And let’s all gleefully use “McCain,” “Iraq” and “100 years” in every sentence we can possibly think of.

Raise your glasses, now: “Here’s to St. McCain, who’s willing to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years.”

McCain’s fuckwitted and completely divorced from reality views strike me as far more important than the hoo-ha over Obama’s blank lapels, but apparently, other people don’t think so:

In my heart of hearts, I don’t really believe there are any Americans who would base their presidential vote on flag pins and the Star Spangled Banner. People can and do back (or oppose) candidates for some pretty superficial reasons, but no one’s that dumb. My hunch is that voters, when it comes to Barack Obama, may decide they don’t like him for other reasons, and then rationalize backwards, coming up with pins and patriotism to justify a more personal animosity.

Nevertheless, thanks to email chains and the national media, Obama keeps hearing about this. At a town-hall meeting in Indiana, a woman told Obama that her mother wasn’t going to vote for him because he didn’t “address the flag.” Obama responded, “This is a phony issue, so let me address it right now.”

Can I just say how fucking ridiculous it is to base your vote on whether someone “addresses the flag” or not? It’s right up there with lackwits choosing our next glorious leader based on his or her beer-drinking credentials. And the media feeds this inanity. They create an issue out of it. It’s time for us to hit back.

Glasses up again, my darlings. “To Obama, who understands patriotism without pins. To campaigns with substance, and to a candidate who, unlike McCain, understands that we shouldn’t stay in Iraq for 100 years.”

I’d like to raise another toast to San Diego, which has apparently decided that Blackwater is an unwelcome addition to their beautiful city:

OTAY MESA – San Diego officials will challenge Blackwater Worldwide’s permit for an indoor military training facility in South County, saying the public didn’t know about the plan.

“Residents deserve to know when a facility like this is approved – before it is approved,” San Diego City Council President Scott Peters said.

[snip]

Brian Bonfiglio, a Blackwater vice president, said the opposition seems to originate from anti-war sentiment, not animosity toward the facility itself.

Good for them! And, as Digby wonderfully points out:

If that’s so, then we are seeing a major sea change. San Diego is a super military town. If it’s gone “anti-war” then you can pretty much guarantee that it’s over for the pro Iraq crowd.

I don’t know if it’s actually true that San Diego is anti-war, but I think it’s pretty clear that just about everybody is anti-Blackwater. This is an unAmerican company made up of war profiteers who have no loyalty to anyone but their own bottom line. The soldiers fighting over in Iraq on their third and fourth tours for peanuts certainly aren’t crazy about the preening jackasses who make their job more dangerous.

These mercenary “security” companies do not adhere to American law and they don’t answer to the American government. They are a very dangerous step toward a privatized military that answers to no one but its owners. The problem is that the rest of the world will hold Americans responsible for what they do and we will all pay the price.

Exactly. So, glasses up yet again: “Here’s to San Diego for giving Blackwater the boot, and may they also give the boot to John McCain’s 100-years-in-Iraq scheme.”

This is fun. Who’s raising the next round?

I found some items in my Yahoo! News feed that are too tasty not to pass on.

You know the White House Correspondents’ “Let’s All Get Together and Wank Over Our Own Greatness” Dinner? Yeah, the dinner that Stephen Colbert delivered his masterful smackdown at two years ago? They still haven’t recovered, and that warms my heart:

The Scottish-born [Craig] Ferguson found middle ground between the tepid impersonations of last year’s entertainer, Rich Little, and the merciless satire that Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert delivered in
2006.

Heh. “Merciless satire.” I would’ve said “absolute fucking verbal slaughter,” but merciless satire works.

Craig wasn’t exactly kind, either, telling Bush he could “look for a job with more vacation time,” and remarking that it “takes longer than you think to pack up an entire dungeon” when noting that Cheney’s already started moving.

Bush proved once again that he’s not only a lame duck, but a lame-ass joker as well:

“Senator McCain’s not here,” Bush said of GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain. “He probably wanted to distance himself from me a little bit. You know, he’s not alone. Jenna’s moving out too.”

Bush then referred to scandals that have dogged the campaigns of the two remaining Democratic candidates, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, in explaining their absence: “Hillary Clinton couldn’t get in because of sniper fire and Senator Obama’s at church.”

Earth to Bush: you’re not fucking funny. You’re a pathetic little power-mad moron. Shut the fuck up.

The White House Press Corps handed each other little awards telling each other how wonderful they are. A few of those awards were even given for substantial reporting, such as the National Journal’s Alexis Simendinger’s breaking the RNC-White House email story. My own Seattle P-I had three reporters walked off with a Poe for their series “The Terrorism Trade-off.” It’s just too bad that there was so little substantial reporting to choose from.

On to election news. We have work to do, my darlings:

In 2004, Bush won 286 electoral votes to 251 for Kerry. This year’s Democratic nominee must triumph in all the states Kerry won, and pick up 19 more votes to prevail — or come up with another game plan to reach the magic number. McCain, for his part, must fend off Democratic challenges to hang on to the GOP advantage.

The AP article cites Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, and Virginia as prime battlegrounds. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Oregon are listed as Republican opportunities. Wild-card states are Arkansas, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Montana, Kentucky, Arizona, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, California, and Washington.

You know what to do.

Today’s opining on the public discourse.

Plenty of red meat for us today, my darlings. Let us forgo bar food and dig in to some nice, juicy steaks (unless, of course, you plump for the vegetarian option).

You remember how a few days ago, I mentioned Tony Snow’s joining CNN? Yeah. That Tony Snow. Mr. “My Nose is Glued to Bush’s Buttocks” Snow. And I’m sure you’re all wondering how he’s doing.

Carpetbagger reports: Not too good.

Well, it appears that Snow is having a little trouble making the transition back to broadcasting, because CNN’s latest addition seems to think he’s still the White House press secretary.

Blitzer: What do you think about McCain’s decision yesterday? He was very forceful in making it clear he did not like the Bush administration’s handling of Katrina.

Snow: Of course he also doesn’t know a lot about what went on behind the scenes, but you would expect that. You’ve got somebody who’s running for a nomination. The president’s popularity ratings are low. He’s going to put a distance between himself and the president. Everybody hates what happened in Katrina, including the president.

I see, so Bush’s handling of Katrina was fine, and McCain is just making cheap criticism for crass electoral purposes.

Blitzer: Do you think he’ll be doing more distancing of himself on other issues?

Snow: I think he’ll do it when it’s easy. But on the other hand, there are things, like the war, where he’s agreed with the president…. Right now, Democrats have made it clear they don’t have any issue other than the fact they’re not George Bush. What McCain wants to be able to do is say, “Neither am I.”

Hmm. Democrats are running on their ideas regarding Iraq, healthcare, the economy, the environment, veterans’ issues, energy policy, foreign policy, and homeland security. They don’t, however, “have any issue other than the fact they’re not George Bush.” Why, this is the kind of insightful analysis you can only hear from CNN’s highly-paid political analysts — and any fourth-tier right-wing blog.

Oh, snap! Nice one, CB! Poor Tony’s balls must be stinging just about now. Oh, wait, he’s a conservative pundit: he doesn’t have balls. Never mind.

A funny coinkydink, here: I stopped watching CNN many years back when they stopped reporting the news and started spouting conservative bullshit along with all the sensational marlarkey I’ve come to expect from the glossy tabloids. This ain’t likely to win my viewership back.

Speaking of clueless media sorts, I found this fascinating:

We’ve all heard the expression, “90% of life is just showing up.” It seems to be the basis of an LA Times editorial today, praising John McCain’s week-long tour of small towns, urban areas, and other communities that have struggled economically for years. McCain appeared in impoverished areas in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Ohio, and the LAT thinks that’s just great — even if he doesn’t have any intention of actually helping the families who live there.

[I]nstead of promising truckloads of aid if he’s elected, McCain talked up his vision of a government that helps more by doing less.

It’s not a new message from the Arizona senator, who follows an unpredictable political muse but typically favors smaller government and less regulation.

Excuse me. So sorry for the interruption – I just had to wipe my drink off the screen.

Unpredictable political muse? What the fuck are you assclowns talking about? His political muse is completely fucking predictable! It tells him to follow conservative talking points – except when he’s lost a primary using those, so he should try to look Democratic in hopes of getting picked up as a VP. He’s absolutely fucking predictable.

In fact, let me predict it right here: his political muse will tell him to keep sailing Republicon, with only minor, safe criticisms of Bush to snooker the Bush-is-anathema crowd, until the media stops saying he’s a maverick. In that unlikely event, his muse will tell him to go do something mavericky but flip-flop on it later. Oh, and if the Democrats look to be winning, expect him to attempt to lock his nose onto their buttocks with the same glue Tony Snow’s been using for the Bush Administration.

That’s it. I’m sending my Muse to go beat the ever-loving shit out of his muse.

In election news, those who aren’t satisfied with the current field of candidates now have a fourth option:

Alan Keyes appears to have locked up the Constitution Party’s nomination for president.

[snip]

I really want to see Alan campaign hard, especially in states like Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, New Mexico and New Hampshire. As you may know, Keyes is one of the great orators of our time, and he’s the genuine item: anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-public programs, anti-public schools, anti-civil liberties, anti-pretty much everything (except guns and Jesus – he’s very pro on those).

I never thought I’d say this, but I mean it sincerely: Give ‘em hell, Alan!

Everybody loves options! I especially love those options that siphon votes from McCain. So I’d just like to give Alan Keyes my blessing. Now, if we could just give him the Colbert Bump, we’d be set.

Update: It appears reports of Alan Keyes’s victory were greatly exaggerated. As Morbo says, “Darn! I knew I shouldn’t have trusted the MSM!” Chuck Baldwin has won the Constitution Party nomination. Who the fuck is Chuck? I have no idea. And if you ask me how many tugs on a dead dog’s dick I give, the answer is, “Very few indeed.”

Still, I think we should all let our die-hard conservative acquaintences know they have options.

Today’s opining on the public discourse.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Republicons would prefer to keep our elections dirty:

Rep. Rush Holt’s (D-N.J.) Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act seemed like the kind of bill that should sail through Congress. The legislation would help local governments pay for paper trails and audits for electronic voting machines, adding safeguards to potential recounts
and a layer of integrity to the election process.

Indeed, Holt’s bill was so obviously worthwhile, when it came for a vote in the House Administration Committee a few weeks ago, even House Republicans voted for it — unanimously.

Incredible! A change of heart! We could make America safe for democracy yet. But wait… it’s the Republicons we’re talking about here. I suspect there’s a fly in this ointment – ah-ha, there it is:

First, the White House announced its opposition. Soon after, the same House Republicans who’d voted for the bill in committee didn’t even want it to reach the House floor. (A spokesperson for Republicans on the Administration Committee said lawmakers didn’t realize how expensive it would be, and $685 million for reliable election results was apparently too high a price — though Holt insists it would actually cost far less.)

Shorter House Republicons: “Bu-bu-but Bush said he don’t like it, so we were obviously wrong! About face! Integrity in the election process bad! Somebody bring us a lame excuse so we can pretend we’re doing this for principle rather than power!”

Many Americans are finally beginning to understand just how fucking ridiculous these con artists are, but never fear – the Republicons can always rely on the 28-percenters. And a conservative-loaded Supreme Court who will pluck the ripe fruit of a contested election and hand it to them with nary a twinge of conscience.

And what happens when we in the reality-based community get upset about such nefarious things? What are we to do? Scalia has some advice:

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia usually shies away from media attention, but now that he has a book coming out, and interviews might help sell his new product, Scalia is opening up a bit. He chatted with “60 Minutes” and the discussion turned to “Bush v. Gore.”

Scalia’s message? Critics of the ruling should just “get over it.”

[snip]

It’s possible that I’m just petty. I have a hard time forgiving and forgetting. But every time I hear conservatives argue that we should “get over it,” I’m reminded of why I continue to harbor grudges.

Republicans threw the political world into turmoil in 1998 by launching an impeachment crusade against Bill Clinton. It was an absurd and painful exercise. Those of us who are still annoyed by the fight are supposed to “get over it.”

In 2000, Republicans orchestrated a massive fraud in Florida, and, with the help of the Supreme Court, delivered the presidency to the candidate who came in second. Those of us who harbor resentment are told we should “get over it.”

Bush failed to take the terrorist threat seriously before 9/11? “Get over it.” Bush launched a disastrous war? “Get over it.” Bush is rewarding Swiftboat liars who helped smear a war hero with a vicious lie? “Get over it.”

It’s not enough for the GOP and its allies to engage in offensive conduct; they also insist, after a short while, that we stop being bothered by it.

That’s right. We should just let go and, I’m sure, let God. This comes from the same group of assclowns who still obsess over Monica Lewinsky’s stained blue dress, mind. Apparently, obsession is supposed to be an exclusive priveledge of Republicon Party membership. And Dems, independents, and other assorted members of the reality-based community should just get over the rampant hypocrisy, law-breaking, lying, and spectacular fuck-ups.

We’ll get right on that.

Just as soon as McCain stops making spectacularly stupid claims about the debacle in Iraq:

The AP reports today that as a result of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki’s recent offensive against Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s militia, Sadr may “set aside his political ambitions” and restart “a full-scale fight against U.S.-led forces.” The violence would likely show potentially disastrous security implications” across the country.

But Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is happy with the outcome. In a blogger conference call today, he said the results in Basra and southern Iraq were a “pleasant turn of events” in his view. Sadr, McCain says, is now marginalized.

Whew! That’s great news – for a minute there, I was worried we might have a real horrific mess on our hands. But if McCain, who’s just got loads of experience being a POW and a total incompetent on Sunni/Shi’a differences, says Sadir is “marginalized,” it must be true, right? He’s our Expert. Right?

Sadr is hardly marginalized; in fact, the opposite is likely true. As the AP notes, Sadr still commands at least 60,000 fighters — “5,000 thought to be highly trained commandos” — and he is “emboldened by its strong resistance to an Iraqi-led crackdown.”

Um.

Shit.

How could America’s Expert in All Things Mooslim get it so wrong?

McCain has repeatedly misstated the outcome of the events in southern Iraq, for example, falsely claiming that Sadr “declared the ceasefire.” But, as he admitted last week when lauding the operation against Sadr, “Maybe I’m digging for the pony here.”

Ah. Gotcha. It’s that whole pony thing again. Well, I’ve got news for McCain and other
advocates o
f the Pony Strategy: if you have to dig for the pony, that means the pony’s already dead. Ponies, in fact, don’t live underground.

Get over it.