Download | Play    Download | Play

I've complained about the Democratic TV surrogates before so this is just a follow up. Donna Brazile, you have to do better. Please, Obama needs your help. The Newties are trotting out their "Pelosi-Reid" liberal deck of cards to try and intimidate Americans to not vote for Obama. "Don't vote for Obama because the Democratic Party may control the White House and Congress and America can't afford that!" Right, because as we've seen, Conservatives really know how to govern this nation. Gingrich---for the most part is running McCain's campaign already (with Hannity's help of course) and gets enough time on FOX already so whay is he on ABC? OK, let me stay on point. When I watched ABC's THIS WEEK, I wondered why Donna was already throwing cold water on Obama's head if he actually does win the election in November.

Newt Gingrich: If Obama won and had a moderate House and a moderate Senate, he would probably be a moderate president. His temperament would lead him to be much more like Richard Daley than like Reverend Wright. He's not gonna have that. he's gonna have card check to take away your right to a secret ballot. He's going to have an effort to eliminate freedom of speech for Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. He's going to have a congress that wants to raise taxes, that wants to increase government --- is he really going to veto and fight with Pelosi and Reid? ... As the Wall Street Journal said on Friday, here is what their promising their allies they're going to do.

Donna Brazile: Yeah, but they're not in office Mr. Speaker. Senator Obama will inherit a 10 trillion dollar deficit and he's going to have to put things on the table that perhaps many of us would not like to see a Democratic president put on the table in terms of cutting back on spending, freezing hiring and making some real tough decisions. So, I think he will be constrained by the deficit and also by the fact that we're still in two major wars.

Continue reading »

(h/t Think Progress)

He's at it again. Backtracking from his promise in 2007 that he'd call for no more "Friedman Units", Mr. "The World is Flat" suggests that Obama's stated timeline-- one that is advocated by the Iraq government -- for withdrawal from Iraq would be improved by another Friedman Unit to "win" the war.

I think everything that we believe — there was a great piece in The Washington Post today by Bill Emmott, former editor of The Economist who was basically sort of examining all the sort of conventional wisdom about what will happen next, you know that America will become weaker, not stronger and what not. And I think he was on to something. I think everything we believe could be wrong. That is Iraq could turn out — that Osama — sorry, not searching for Osama bin Laden could be not the biggest issue for Obama. I think you could actually find out that Obama can win the Iraq war and he will want to actually continue our presence in Iraq for — until 2011.

When host George Stephanopoulos points out that even Gen. Petraeus admits that there is no "victory" in Iraq, Friedman back pedals slightly, but still stubbornly holds on to the notion that there is something achievable by our continuing presence in Iraq.

Download | Play    Download | Play (h/t Dave)

Finally, someone pushes back against the media's need to create false equivalencies! Nobel Economics Prize shortlister Paul Krugman tries to make a cogent point about how there are those in the Republican Party who simply cannot accept a Democrat governing:

KRUGMAN: This is also…this is not just about McCain, what he did. The fact of the matter is, for a long time, we’ve had a substantial fraction of the Republican base that just does not regard the Democrats governing as legitimate. Remember, the Clinton years, craziness, right? That they were murderers, drug smugglers, and the imminent prospect of what looks like a Democratic victory would drive a lot of these people crazy even if Sarah Palin wasn’t saying these inflammatory things. It’s going to be very ugly after the election.

Only to have Cokie Roberts try to draw the false equivalency of Democrats not accepting the results of the 2000 and 2004 elections:

ROBERTS: On both sides, that’s true. I also think you’ve had a huge number of Democrats who think the Republicans are illegitimate and that was particularly true after the 2000 election and to some degree, after 2004. And so, you really do have, at the core of each party, people who are not ready to accept the verdict of the election.

Um, Cokie? Not the same thing at all. By all standards, Bill Clinton won the elections. The witch hunt that went after him had nothing to do with the legitimacy of his election...they just threw as much mud as they could to see if something would stick, regardless of truth--Vince Foster, Travelgate, Filegate, Whitewater, Gennifer Flowers/Paula Jones/Monica Lewinsky.

The Democrats who view this administration as illegitimate do so because there is significant (and almost wholly media-ignored evidence) that the election was manipulated for George W. Bush. We don't need to make up scandals that go nowhere...we just need to find some backbone in DC to actually investigate those openly before us.

It's unfortunate, however, that Krugman is not given the opportunity to explain why he rejects such false equivalencies...allowing something other than the standard GOP framing out there.

Krugman also raises an important point that I think all of us should bear in mind even after the election. Assuming that trends stay the way they are in the next three weeks and Obama is elected, our job is far from over. It is not inaccurate to say that much of these slings and arrows pointed towards Obama are the foundation for the work the Republican Party will spend the next 4-8 years to de-legitimize an Obama presidency. At its core, this faction of the GOP believes that Obama does not deserve the presidency -- because he is not like them -- and will stop at nothing to bring him down, just as we saw with Clinton. The particulars are different: birth certificate, secret Muslim beliefs, anti-American pastor, consorting with terrorists, and if we're completely honest, the color of his skin as well. But while the specific allegations are different, the tactic is exactly the same.

Download | Play    Download | Play

This Week with George Stephanopoulos marks the passings of folk singer Nick Reynolds, Newsweek's Osborn Elliott, civil rights attorney J.L. Chestnut as well as nine soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to iCasualties.org, the total number of service people killed in Iraq now totals 4,491. And IBC records 110 Iraqi civilian deaths this week and a total of 572 for the month of September.

Download | Play    Download | Play

With Obama taking the lead in Florida via the newest polling data on the battle ground states, ON ABC's THIS WEEK, Republican Senator Mel Martinez actually said that the economy is no big deal. The people of Florida will get past it and McCain will win the state! How insensitive can a man be?

STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Martinez, let me begin with you. Florida has one of the highest foreclosure and unemployment rates in the country right now. And four Florida polls since the financial crisis hit all show Barack Obama ahead. So as the Obama campaign charges, is your campaign desperate to
change the subject?

SEN. MEL MARTINEZ (R), FLORIDA: Well, look, for sure, the
economy hurt the McCain campaign in Florida. Florida has been very
hard-hit, as you just stated. The fact of the matter is that there is
much to be done yet. The fact of the matter is that Florida is far from being over. Florida is going to be close all the way to the end.

McCain was well ahead in Florida before the economic crisis hit. I believe once this campaign gets beyond that immediate crisis that Florida is going to come back to the McCain camp.

How do the people of Florida get past an economic crisis of this proportion in thirty days? Or ever?

This week we note the passing of Rick Wright, founding member of legendary band Pink Floyd, Green party activist and Ralph Nader's 2004 running mate, Peter Camejo, and famed yacht designer Olin Stephens. We also note the passing of 13 soldiers and marines killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Download | play   Download | play  

  It's a cold day in hell when the entire "This Week" panel rails against John McCain and his utter confusion when it comes to the economy. Cokie Roberts raises the specter of Herbert Hoover, Donaldson rightfully pins the deregulation racket on McCain and Republicans, calling McCain's promise to champion regulation a "hard pill to swallow,"  and George Will says McCain acted "unpresidential" and that the issue of age should re-enter the debate over whether McCain is fit for the job.

Download | play   Download | play

Quote of the segment, from George Will of all people:

John McCain showed his personality this week and made some of us fearful.

Download | play    Download | play   (h/t Heather)

This Week with George Stephanopoulos marks the passing of basketball coach Don Haskins, actress Anita Page and novelist David Foster Wallace as well as 7 soldiers and Marines who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, I also have to note the passing of Green Party founder (and former Nader running mate) Peter Camajo.

According to icasualties, the number of allied deaths attributed to Operation Iraqi Freedom is now 4,471. During this same week, Iraq Body Count lists 129 Iraqi civilian deaths.

Download | play   Download | play   (h/t Heather)

Liberal media, my Aunt Fanny.  McCain campaign proxy Carly Fiorina keeps pushing the Clinton PUMA meme as a way to reinforce for those women voters why they should vote for John McCain.  Sadly, George Stephanopoulos -- who, as a former member of the Clinton administration really ought to know better -- lets her get away with it.  Note that every time Obama supporter Sen. Claire McCaskill tries to make a point, Stephanopoulos interrupts to give Fiorina the rebuttal. 

And proving that while they absolutely cannot govern, Republicans are masters at campaigning, as McCaskill tries over and over again to show that McCain's own record belies his stated support for women's issues (a patronizing concept in and of itself--these are everyone's issues), Fiorina goes personal against Obama himself, while providing herself the alibi that Obama has gone negative despite his rhetoric of hope.   And Stephanopoulos doesn't bat an eye, nor ask Fiorina to rebut the specific legislation that McCaskill brings up.

The final indignity?  After Fiorina spins that really, she and McCaskill agree that women vote on issues and that's why they're going to vote for McCain, Stephanopoulos cuts off the interview with a Rovian let's "end on that point of agreement." Point of agreement, really?  How about corporately-pushed-low-info-voter propaganda, George?

Transcripts below the fold

Continue reading »

Download | play    Download | play   (h/t Heather)

This Week with George Stephanopoulos acknowledges the passings of Ford Agency head Jerry Ford, LGBT activist and same sex marriage pioneer Del Martin and Nobel Laureate Thomas Weller as well as 5 soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

According the icasualties.org, the total allied deaths for Operation Iraqi Freedom now stands at 4,150.  Per Iraq Body Count, there were 141 Iraqi civilian deaths this week. 

On ABC's THIS WEEK, Cokie said this about Obama going to Hawaii:

 Download | Play   Download | Play (h/t Heather)

 Roberts: …going off this week I know his grandmother lives in Hawaii and I know Hawaii is a state, but it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place. He should be at Myrtle Beach and if he’s going to take a vacation at this time. I just think this is not the time to do that.

Responding to Cokie Roberts ridiculous statements about Obama's vacation to the state of Hawaii--here's a little message for her via email from Senator Akaka's office:

"Saying our 50th state is somehow "foreign," does a great disservice to the hard working, patriotic Americans who call Hawaii home. For months people have been asking me, 'when is Sen. Obama going to come home?' I'm so glad he found time to visit his sister and his grandmother, show his daughters more of his home state, and relax a little. Hawaii is a great U.S. destination, just ask the 5.5 million Americans who visited last year for business and pleasure.

I wonder how many times Cokie has been there herself?

  Even though Cokie Roberts knows that Obama's grandmother lives in Hawaii, he's still acting like an elitist snob for taking a vacation instead of some place common people go, like Myrtle Beach, SC.  Hey, it's a party town. I think Obama should have Cokie make all his vacation plans from now on.

Download | play   Download | play (h/t Heather)

Roberts: ...going off this week I know his grandmother lives in Hawaii and I know Hawaii is a state, but it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place. He should be at Myrtle Beach and if he's going to take a vacation at this time. I just think this is not the time to do that.

We're all so happy that Cokie is a concern troll and hey, she knows Hawaii is a state and all.  Wow, what a concession.  It's so exotic, visiting your grandmother. Really, it's just more of the chattering class talking amongst themselves. Who cares where Obama goes on vacation except for the wanking elites?  Are they bothered by the fact that McCain takes off every weekend and goes to one of his eight homes? Of course that's not elitist at all, is it, Cokie? 

UPDATE: (Nicole) In addition to his elitist vacation spot, the McCain campaign and the RNC put out a mocking "Barack Obama's Hawaii Travel Guide" that, among other things, bashes Obama for attending a private school on scholarship there.  Jon Perr has it. 

Download | play    Download | play   (h/t Heather)

This Week with George Stephanopoulos marks the passings of former Ambassador Anne Armstrong, former Surgeon General and HeadStart founder Dr. Julius Richmond, journalist Edie Huggins, Congressman John Seiberling, as well as 3 soldiers and Marines killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  According to icasualties, the total fatalities for the Iraq coalition is now 4,442. And per Iraq Body Count, there were 130 Iraqi civilians killed this week. 

In July, there were 589 confirmed killings of Iraqi civilians, 25 of which were children and 14 by U.S. forces.

Download | play    Download | play   (h/t Heather)

Don't listen to the Federal Reserve or economists, dagnabit!  You're better off now than you were eight years ago.  George Will thinks so, and he's never wrong, correct?  The problem--as Will sees it--has nothing to do with economic indicators but with people like Robert Reich pointing out that the economy is benefiting the very wealthy and those in the middle class aren't seeing any improvement for them.

So for all you who haven't been able to find a job for months because yours has been outsourced and you've fallen off the unemployment rolls, or you purchased your home through companies like Countrywide, which used predatory lending tactics and are now facing foreclosure, whose IRAs and investment portfolios still haven't recovered from 2001, who have felt the pinch and had to make hard choices in your standard of living due to the higher cost of groceries and oil, quit yer whining!

Transcripts below the fold:

Continue reading »

Download | play Download | play (h/t Heather)

This is what aggravates me so much about the Sunday "news" shows. There is so much lying and muddying of the waters so that the average American--who doesn't have the time to read judicial decisions--doesn't understand that the Supreme Court basically told the Bush administration that they are operating outside of the established laws of the country for the third time in the way that they are prosecuting their War on Terror™. Former Senator and indolent presidential contender Fred Thompson appeared on This Week with George Stephanopoulos to provide his "Law & Order"-honed gravitas to the false assertion (and GOP platform) that the recent Supreme Court decision saying that Guantanamo detainees have a right to habeas corpus is somehow destroying this country.

After years of trying to make the unitary executive a more powerful branch of the government, the GOP seems upset that the Court would remind them that new laws enacted would be subject to review by the judicial branch...that whole Constitution thing being more of a suggestion than a system of government, apparently. Thompson claims that our laws are more liberal as they ever have been, which is odd, considering that the ones they sought to strike have been in place since the founding of the country. In fact, referencing Marbury v. Madison (1803), Justice Kennedy wrote: *

(T)he writ of habeas corpus is itself an indispensable mechanism for monitoring the separation of powers. The test for determining the scope of this provision must not be subject to manipulation by those whose power it is designed to restrain.

But I guess it's too much to ask for a Republican to actually respect the Constitution.

Transcripts below the fold

*Corrected to properly attribute quote 

Continue reading »