http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_el_ge/gop_workers

Tell me it ain't so, Rick!

Lady Lynn, whose husband's family's wealth is so far off the chart they don't even bother asking anymore; whose primary residence is a 3,200 acre English country estate (with other homes in Chelsea, London and New York's Upper East Side, the French Riviera and India); whose husband, who plays polo with European royalty, has been described by journalists as one of the most stuck-up, condescending individuals they've ever encountered; who now spends the bulk of her time giving and attending lavish parties; whose new pet project is a fruit farming interest in India where her workers make less than $2 a day; and who so obviously has endorsed John McCain because she's pissed off that her friend Hillary Clinton, who let her sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom on occasion when the Clintons lived in the White House, did not win the Democratic Party nomination, because under Obama's tax play she would be taxed at the same rate as under Clinton...and then again, when I think about it, because she lives permanently overseas, has a $87,000 federal income tax exemption anyway.

What on earth was Team McCain thinking to appoint this symbol of inherited, massive wealth and luxuriant excess to their Rust Belt campaign posse?  It's yet another example of just how out of touch they are with the "real America". 

Unbelievable (in a good way)!

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1008/563913.html

Joe McCain called the police emergency line because he was angry he was stuck in traffic.

The 911 call came into the City of Alexandria on Oct. 21st That's creating some buzz because it appears to come from Joe McCain, John McCain's brother.

Operator: 911 state your emergency

Caller: It's not an emergency but do you know why on one side at the damn drawbridge of 95traffic is stopped for 15 minutes and yet traffic's coming the other way?

Operator: Sir, are you calling 911 to complain about traffic? (pause)

Caller: "(Expletive) you." (caller hangs up)

The complaint call about traffic on the Wilson Bridge, outrageous enough that the 911 operator called back. The voicemail on the other end, appears to belong to Joe McCain, brother of presidential candidate, John McCain.

"Hi this is Joe McCain I can't take this message now because I'm involved in a very (inaudible) important political project... I hope on Nov. 4th we have elected John."

What about Henry Fonda in Fail Safe?

http://www.ina.fr/archivespourtous/index.php?vue=notice&id_notice=I08290030

So John McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee, and if the Democrats keep squabbling their way toward self-destruction over race and gender (how deliciously ironic!), he may well be our next president, even in a year that doesn't look good for Republicans as a party. So what kind of president is he likely to be if elected?

According to Matt Welch, now back at Reason magazine as editor after a stint on the L.A. Times editorial page, he is likely to be the most instinctively bellicose and militaristic president since Teddy Roosevelt, as well as an advocate of increased government power and regulation domestically. Given that most of the media, taken some years ago by Sen. McCain's considerable personal charm on the self-aggrandizingly-named Straight Talk Express and his personal story, have delved hardly at all into his policy preferences, Welch's book, "McCain: The Myth of a Maverick," would be salutary reading for those curious about what this country would be letting itself in for with John McCain as president.

McCain's deviations from Republican orthodoxy are well-known. He was a co-author of the notorious McCain-Feingold campaign finance restrictionist bill that bars political speech by independent groups too close to an election, a provision whose "actual purpose," as columnist George Will put it, "is to protect politicians from speech that annoys them." He has supported (as has President Bush) the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill that provides a path to citizenship for illegal aliens, something most Republicans oppose. He opposed President Bush's tax cuts before he supported them.

McCain has flip-flopped on ethanol subsidies, on constitutional amendments to ban abortion and gay marriage, and supports drastic action on global warming. He famously trashed preachers like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance" in 2000 but has spent much of the past year trying to convince the religious right he is really with them.

The thread running through Sen. McCain's emerging political positions is a love for national glory, usually expressed through military endeavors. As the son and grandson of Navy admirals who believed strongly in the use of sea power to project American influence, he comes by it honestly. He disdains "merely material" success, lecturing us that we must serve a "cause greater than ourselves" (a phrase that only began to appear in his speeches as he found himself in the late 1990s). But the "cause greater" is always nationalism as defined by the government, not devotion to helping the poor or seeking religious enlightenment or - perish the thought! - expanding individual liberty. He sees mere individualism as puny and selfish.

The restrictions McCain would place on ordinary economic activity, lobbying or donating to political candidates are aimed at restoring confidence in ... government, of course, a curious goal in a country whose founders and Constitution expressed the necessity of constant skepticism toward government.

It is hardly uncommon for a man of personal charm also to be personally pugnacious, and McCain's temper is legendary. We experienced it in an editorial board meeting some years ago when the senator blew his stack over some issue so minor we have forgotten what it was. Matt Welch illustrates with a number of examples that McCain is most likely to explode when a criticism contains a strong element of truth. He also shows that from an early age McCain was frequently looking for a fight, eager to show he was a tough guy.

It was not difficult for Welch to find veteran Republican operatives in Arizona willing to criticize McCain for his combative temper, his unnecessary denigration of aides and volunteers, and his disdain for many ordinary folks. Perhaps the fact that he grew up near the nation's capital and spent most of his life there or overseas, and entered Arizona politics largely by marrying an Arizona heiress, accounts for many Arizona Republicans' ambivalent attitude toward him.

It becomes clear also that Barry Goldwater disliked and disagreed with him, largely on the importance of individual liberty.

McCain has admirable qualities, including personal charm, personal courage and perseverance that contributed to his unexpected (by most pundits) political success this year. As president, however, he would likely be dangerous to the country and to its citizens' freedoms.

K&B Publishing has issued a kit containing a voodoo doll (or "poupee vaudou") resembling M. President emblazened with some of his more unfortunate public remarks; a set of instructions and tiny pins.  The idea is, whenever you get angry at Sarkozy for his policies, his flashy excesses in a time of dire economic turmoil or for calling various groups of people he disagrees with "scum", you stick the pins in the voodoo doll.  Which is supposed to make you feel better, and has the added benefit, if you believe in such things, of causing the French President a degree of physical discomfort.

A harmless way to poke (literally) fun at politicians?  Not according to Sarkozy's lawyers, who claim despite the fact he is a public figure, he continues to control the exclusive use of his likeness.  And he is not interested in granting those rights to anyone who ridicules him and/or encourages Sarko-haters to stab his effigy with little color-coded pins.

I wonder how he'd fare on SNL?

Jay:  My advice is, go to WalMart and buy a gun. Regardless of who wins this election trouble is going to erupt, particularly in urban areas.  Don't carry it around with you like some nut, but keep it in your home in a secure place and learn how to use it to protect yourself and your family.  Here in Baltimore the natives are already getting restless and agitated.It's only going to get worse.

Brad:  Brian, Yes you can buy long guns at Wal*Mart in Washington. I am eye balling a Remington 700 in 7MM for purchase.

Robert G:  Yes I hope that regardless of how the election turns out the Obamanites go ballistic. I would love to mix it up with the gutless punks.  All power to the Party, Hail the Obamination? No."violence begets violence"? We hope se as people become more animal like in thier behaviour and decorum when things don't go their way.

Brian:  You can still purchase guns at Walmart. At least in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas. Havn't hunted in any other states but I can vouch for those four. My guess would be Wally world sells guns in all but the most fanatical states. If you're in a tradionally red state or a hunting friendly state you can most likely get a gun at Sam's shop. In MA, NY, WA and CA you're screwed. Sorry. Thanks to the liberal's "gun laws" you'll just have to go to the innercity of the nearest metropolis and ask anyone on the street where you can buy a gun. A criminal will be happy to accomodate you. You'll get more firepower for less money than from Wall-mart anyway.

Waldoft writes:  I Have a house full of firearms. I have a Weatherby 270, two 22 cal rifles, three shotguns "12 and 20 gauge" and a glock model 30 45 cal I carry everywhere. I have a conceal carry permit. Trust me, these obamatons are nothing but thugs and thives and crack whores. They are also weak liberal homosexual white men and lazy entitlement minded white women. Obama will lose on 11/4. The Joe the Plumber revelation which exposed Obama for the socialist he is will be his undoing. I plan on being loaded up after 11/4 and in prtection mode. I expect the blacks to riot because of ocurse they are all animals. Let them riot. I am not afraid. Big mistake to attack me is all I can say.

MCPA08:  Personally cant see any reason to vote for obama. Unless you hate America, hate white folks or are just awaiting an even bigger government handout than you've been getting.
Someone said a democracy can only last until enough voters realize they can vote for largess to be awarded to themselves from the public trough and do so. I think unfortunately, we are there. Bye Bye Miss American Pie.

In Conservative America writes:  In this Cesspool/city that averages what? about 60,000 muggings/assaults per week, how did anyone even notice? And how did they ever get a Cop to put down their Corned Beef & OTB forms long enough to fill out a report? REMEMBER: in all of this political mush....No matter how you slice it, it's still Baloney!P.S. If this happened where I live, the Lady would have had a carry permit, and she would have just shot the stupid S.O.B.

Caedmon:  LuK, very true. It is increasingly obvious that liberal/lefties have a predilection for this sort of thing. However, all it will take is a couple of assaults on conservatives who are lawfully carrying concealed weapons and who lawfully defend themselves with said weapons. Once those incidents are publicized, I bet the violent libbies will settle down a bit. If these pukes begin to realize that they run the risk of drawing deadly force in response, they'll think twice.

Check out concealed carry laws in your state.

Barry:  That bunch on the left call themselves americans, Ha Americans are tollerent of others we don't surpress others opinions. They are all a bunch of closet communists, God help if you say something about their great OBOMA what a bunch of bullshit. Let them riot if they lose I got something for um. We know how to handle that kind of thing down here in the south. Ever notice when they riot and burn stuff its mostly in the big city or in their own neiborhoods the know where they can do that shit and where not to. Ya I wish that had been my wife she would have kicked his ass. No cops needed just EMS for that dumb bastard.

Chasmodee:  I personally just registered for my conceal and carry permit so I could fend off the lunatic left after they lose next month.

Anonymous (repeated verbatim by IrishKay):  It is time to put on our armor, lock and load, stand up, get up, and defend this country from socialism! Are we ready? Do we have the fortitude? Or are we too comfy and cozy.  See, what the white democrats don't realize is that they too will be in the line of fire if the black folks lose the election. It's not about democrats and republicans any more, it's about blacks against white people who didn't vote for Obama. White democrats can cry I'm with you all they want, it won't matter, if you're white, your gone!

Parker: I AGREE WITH JAY... NO MATTER WHO IS ELECTED, "CERTAIN HOOLIGANS" - ESPECIALLY, IN URBAN AREAS, WILL BE INTENT UPON RIOTING... DESTROYING OTHER'S PROPERTY... LOOTING... KILLING... RAPING... STEALING, ETC., ETC., ETC.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN... BETTER TO BE PREPARED TO PROTECT YOURSELF, FAMILY, AND PROPERTY. I KNOW, I AM. AMERICA WILL EXPERIENCE A "RACE RIOT", NATIONWIDE, SUCH AS IT HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
MAYBE IT'S ABOUT TIME TO GET THIS "RACIAL NONSENSE" SETTLED... ONCE, AND FOR ALL. "LOCK AND LOAD, PILGRIM!"

Lunsford, who refused to be interviewed on camera, told local reporters that "America is a white, Christian nation" and only white Christians should be allowed to run the country.

Is Lunsford one of the small-town Americans Sarah Palin praises at her rallies?  Does he "get it", in her parlance?

The only thing Mike Lunsford "gets", in my opinion, will be a visit from the Secret Service and FBI.

Because, the campaign has told her, she would get depressed.

Palin has become the ultimate "low information candidate".

But I wonder...is it because seeing yourself vilified in writing (or read from the teleprompter) by 80% of the journalists, commentators and bloggers in the world (including many conservatives) something which would make the supremely confident and blithely righteous Palin rue her decision not to blink before joining the ticket, or is it because she has such a low threshold for processing information they are afraid she couldn't quote an op-ed or news piece?  Or is it that she is as smart as they claim, but are afraid she has an independent streak and will see the error of her ways and stray off-message?

Imagine if the feisty Palin (who only 7 months ago was interviewed without babysitters by Newsweek) read all that has been written and heard all that has been said disparaging the tactics of the campaign which appears to the rest of us, at least, to govern and manipulate her every thought and action?  That's not mavericky, that's puppetry.  Do the people who know and love Sarah Palin best really think she is a tool by nature?  And if she's not, then why does she continue to allow herself to be branded as one?

Bill Kristol was right - the campaign should let Sarah Palin be herself.  But I think what the McCain campaign and the GOP hierarchy fear most is, if they let her be herself, she might end up packing her bags and heading back to Alaska, where she is the decider and can say and do anything she wants.

The McCain campaign is like the Borg.  They are trying to assimilate Palin.  If she is weak, she will succumb.  But if she is a real pitbull - lipstick or no lipstick - she will resist.

Now, John McCain has latched on to "Joe The Plumber" as his mascot.  McCain mentioned "Joe" more than a dozen times during the debate at Hofstra University, has invited "Joe" to join him at campaign rallies, and has "helpfully" provided "Joe" with talking points for a string of national television and radio appearances, and now features him in his ads.

Problem is, "Joe" isn't what he originally told Obama, or the press.

He's not undecided; he's a registered Republican who let it drop that he decided who he was going to vote for a while back, and a few years ago was registered with the Ohio Natural Law Party, whose platform includes such novel ideas as ending wars by manipulating the serotonin levels in peoples' brains.

He doesn't make anywhere near $250,000.  He may like the idea of one day owning a business worth $250,000, but the one he has his sights on doesn't even make $250,000 now, so the likelihood of this small business which does mainly local residential work making $250,000 any time in the near future is probably slim, and the possibility that "Joe" may one day buy it even slimmer.

"Joe" hasn't got a plumbers license, and if he's worked in Toledo, has done so in contravention of the law.  "Joe" owes the State of Ohio over $1,100 in back taxes, and currently has a lien on his pre-fab home.

His name isn't even "Joe".  It's "Sam".

Don't get me wrong.  I don't begrudge "Joe" -- I mean "Sam" his dreams of one day getting his plumber's licence, paying off his debts, moving out of the trailer, buying a business and eventually earning over $250,000.  But I wonder what John McCain's economic policies are going to do to help him achieve them?

She had the copying done at Kinkos.  Which was founded by Paul Orfeala.  Who is a real Arab (the Los Angeles-born son of Lebanese immigrants).

Paul Orfeala has been cited as one of America's most successful businessmen.  He is now retired from the business world, and serves as a visiting professor at U.C. Santa Barbara and the USC Marshall School of Business.

Orfeala is a registered Republican.  Stick that in your bum bag, Ms Quinnell.

(By the way, his Arabic name is بول أورفاليا‎ (I don't know how that's going to come out on a blog).

When it comes to excellence, I think of people like (Arab) Paul Orfeala and (non-Arab) Barack Obama.  So should we all.