Politics: The Double Talk Express as Explained by Jon Stewart

Thanks to Dr. Klahn, here's a clip of Jon Stewart showing Repulicans flip-flopping like fishes in an effort to defend moose-dresser Sarah Palin. Too bad they contradict everything they've said previously but never mind what we said then, listen to us now! The clip:

Politics: Meghan McCain -- Music Geek?!

It's always oddly jarring to see someone who is so different than I am politically but who is clearly intelligent and is a music geek to boot! Reasonable people can disagree! So it is with John McCain's daughter Meghan McCain and her endless fascinating blog, McCainBlogette. Unlike Romney's good clean wholesome poll-tested sons Meghan McCain seems to actually be blogging from the hip as it were. The most interesting part of the blog for me, predictably is her playlists. Gang of Four? The Clash? Tony Allen? Pulp? Clap Your Hands Say Yeah? Bad Religion? Not your typical safe Republican choices. There was even a debate over whether the Ramones "My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)" is anti-Reagan (it is). Meghan's response was to point out that Johnny Ramone was a fervent Reaganite (he was indeed).

It's tempting to say that she is supporting her father out of loyalty and love, and surely that is evident all over the blog, but the time she's spent on it and on the trail suggests she supports the campaign on the issues as well. I doubt it will sway any votes but she certainly sounds like a fun person to hang out with.

Politics: Legislature Of The Dead

Is it just me or is this photo of John McCain and former Liz Taylor love bunny John Warner like something out of a George Romero film. "Uhhhhhh must feed on human flesh....brains...BRAINS!" Lock the doors, get the shotgun, the zombies are a-feastin' kids!

Politics: Senate Votes To Undermine Rule of Law -- Shield Phone Companies From Prosecution For Caving to Illegal Govt Pressure

Sen. Jay Rockefeller -- Why does he hate our freedom?

In a truly sad turn of events, 19 Democrats including Intelligence Chair Jay Rockefeller, voted to save the telcom companies' bacon and shield them from the consequences of inaction. Rather than support a citizen's and a corporation's right to resist being asked or forced to commit a crime at the behest of the federal government, they have rewarded those who did not speak out and used the shield of "patriotism" to hide behind.

The attacks of September 11th were not an excuse to suspend constitutional authority, the rule of law, or common sense. Reasonable people did not speak up in places like Iran, Afghanistan, and Nazi Germany out of the same kind of fear and blindness that gripped companies like AT & T. With every distortion of the rule of law, our constitutional protections, and our American way of life, the President and those who enable his Imperial agenda allow the terrorists to win.

This is a shameful distortion of the rule of law, let your Senator and member of the House know that you will not stand for it!

Politics: Guest Star-Studded Debate Turns Into The Love Vote

"...love, exciting and new..."

Let the WGA strike the Oscar's this year. We already got all the cutaway shots we need at last night's debate between Democratic Presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. CNN must have shown Rob Reiner five times -- so sorry about Bucket List getting snubbed by the Academy, Meathead! There was a loving shot of Remington Steele...er James Bond, and my personal fave was very fetching America Ferrara wearing the very latest in Hillary buttons.

The debate you ask? The candidates mostly stayed away from the rough stuff and at times looked so lovey dovey that I wanted to suggest they get a room. When it came down to the nitty-gritty, Hill was still stronger on substance with a very assured and detailed explanation of her health plan versus Obama's. He may have been less surefooted when it came to the policy wonkery but he brought the charm and most importantly the vision.

They both got their hits in on the immigrants being allowed to get driver's licenses issue (a red herring as its a state matter anyhow). Obama referenced Hillary's shaky answer on this initially and she was good enough to remind him gently but forcefully of his own problems with this topic earlier in the year. He sheepishly nodded his head. It was like watching an old married couple.

This was the kind of healing exchange of ideas the party needed at this juncture. Obama eloquently reached out to Edwards supporters, as did Hillary, and everyone seemed to leave the event with a warm glow -- except perhaps for Wolf Blitzer who was roundly booed for trying to bait Obama into an attack. Here's a clip -- check out 4:54 forward for the line of the night, delivered by Clinton, oh and Annie Hall:

Politics: History is Made -- Edwards Drops Out -- Historic Party Nominee Inevitable

John Edwards is ending his quest for the Presidency, throwing a major monkey wrench into Clinton and Obama's Super Duper Tuesday strategies and ensuring that a major party nominee will for the first time in American history, be either a woman or a black man.

Though Edwards is endorsing no-one for the time being, the timing of this move serves as a boost to Obama. To wit:

1) Hillary's last minute "victory" celebration in Florida last night, a state that was stripped of delegates and in which all of the candidates pledged to refrain from campaigning was meant to capture media time and shift some of the mo' back her way after Obama's rout in South Carolina.
Edwards last hurrah is sucking up that oxygen.

2) The ABC (anyone but Clinton) vote now has only one serious conduit, and the states where Edwards might have been strongest in on Tuesday are states that Obama runs well in.

Mussolini-esque Snowbird Republican Rudy Giuliani also has decided to cut short his sojourn in Florida, having bet everything there and lost spectacularly. Oh Rudy, us New Yorkers could have told you: The more time someone spends with you, whether it be the voters, your ex-wives, or police and firefighters, the more they come to realize you are a major league a-hole.

The Interwebs: Warpublican Storms the Shores of Blogistan

Another landmark of investigative journalism

For those of you who like your political news and opinions delivered with an edge may I recommend a site new to my Cool Blogs list-- Warpublican. Political junkies -- and you know who you are -- commence the drooling over a site that has already brought shame and dishonor to the New York Post. Oh wait, Rupert Murdoch did that. Anyway, let the good folks at Warpublican get all I.F. Stone on your asses...

Politics: Hoyer -- Immunity For Telecoms on the Table

Steny Hoyer tests the political winds...but is he too cautious by half?

Top House Dem Steny Hoyer of Maryland said today that Democrats would "consider" what President Bush and his telecom cronies want desperately : immunity from prosecution. It is now clear that major telecom companies in the United States broke the law at the behest of the Bush administration and spied illegally on Americans. We still do not know the extent of the illegal activity -- nor will we ever if the freedom haters in the White House have their way. House Majority leader Hoyer points out reasonably ""We have not received documentation as to what in fact was done, for which we've been asked to give immunity..." Today the President made clear that no such documentation will be forthcoming. Democrats should hold the line and send this bill (with or without telecom immunity) to the dustbin where it belongs.

Politics: Bush Out on a Limb -- Will House GOPers Follow?

Cannibal turkey? "This reminds me of that conference I had with Larry Craig..."

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has warned the White House and fellow Republicans that they are in danger of facing an even more hostile electorate if President Bush vetoes the new State Children's Health Insurance Program bill as he is expected to do. If the House fails to override his veto Grassley expects a pounding from Democrats going into next year's election. Read the article in the Washington Post to see just how steamed up Grassley is it the President of his own party. Grassley is absolutely right on all counts here, and the White House has shown once again the contempt for fellow Republicans as well as Democrats that's the hallmark of an imperial presidency.