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April 19, 2008
Obama Way Ahead In Newsweek Poll
That's remarkable. I wonder if, at the end of the day, Senator Clinton is proud of her Rove style politics. Was the gamble worth it?
One of the more devastating results for Clinton was that a majority of all registered voters now see her as dishonest and untrustworthy. According to the poll, just four in 10 (41 percent) registered voters view the New York senator as honest and trustworthy, while 51 percent think the opposite. This compares with solid majorities of voters who see Obama and McCain as honest and trustworthy (both polled 61 percent).
08:30 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
35,000 People In Philly
The Obama campaign set a new attendence record last night at Independence Park. This is what a crowd of 35,000 people looks like:
(Photo by Caitlin Harvey at BarackObama.com)
I'm going to sneak over to the Clinton rally at the local high school gym. Seriously. I wonder if 35,000 people will be doing this sort of thing:
UPDATE: GottaLaff at Cliff Schecter's place says it was more like 40,000.
08:13 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Clinton Slams MoveOn For Voter 'Intimidation'
I still believe that Senator Clinton might run as an independent just like her friend Zell Lieberman. In addition to their mutual desire to censor video games, Senators Clinton and Lieberman have no love for MoveOn:
"Moveon.org endorsed [Sen. Barack Obama] -- which is like a gusher of money that never seems to slow down," Clinton said to a meeting of donors. "We have been less successful in caucuses because it brings out the activist base of the Democratic Party. MoveOn didn't even want us to go into Afghanistan. I mean, that's what we're dealing with. And you know they turn out in great numbers. And they are very driven by their view of our positions, and it's primarily national security and foreign policy that drives them. I don't agree with them. They know I don't agree with them. So they flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support me."
By the way, I don't think this will stick or have the same impact as the "bitter" controversy. But it will continue to chip away at the superdelegate count. That's for sure.
UPDATE: TRex gets into it here, with more about Zell Lieberman.
08:03 AM | Comments (2) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Less Booking, More Blogging
On a personal note, last Tuesday I delivered the manuscript for ONE NATION UNDER FEAR. 12 chapters/essays, plus a preface titled "This Is A Dark Ride" and a conclusion titled "Another Hero Generation."
Here are some other chapter titles (subject to change):
-The Great Fear of 2008
-The FISA Feargasm
-Bottled Liquids Are Banned From This Chapter
-It's 3AM
-The 'No Attacks' Mythology
-Glenn Beck Has An Unfortunate Name
-The Atheist's Nightmare
Anyway, expect more blogging now that my free time is more abundant.
08:02 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Morning Awesome
06:30 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
April 18, 2008
This Is Why David Brooks Sucks Balls
Via Greenwald, David Brooks the Media Hack:
But the fact is that voters want a president who basically shares their values and life experiences. Fairly or not, they look at symbols like Michael Dukakis in a tank, John Kerry's windsurfing or John Edwards's haircut as clues about shared values. . . . When Obama goes to a church infused with James Cone-style liberation theology, when he makes ill-informed comments about working-class voters, when he bowls a 37 for crying out loud, voters are going to wonder if he's one of them. Obama has to address those doubts, and he has done so poorly up to now.
Voters want this because David Brooks and his ilk beat this to death as a legitimate qualification. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Brooks says it, then people believe it, then Brooks says, "See? I told you!"
Bowls a 37. Sheesh. Grow the fuck up, Brooks, and take a look around you. The truth is that the presidency requires a personality who doesn't give a rip about bowling, but who's a master at fixing the economy and Iraq and all the rest of it. Bowling????
11:43 AM | Comments (5) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Clinton Paying Comment Spammers?
I found this comment on the Politico:
Obama supporters can relax a bit. Information still points to a very active clinton "blog" activism. Almost 40% of IP address are still coming from 1 or 2 campaing sites. Just relize that the outragous comments are not from regular democrates but staffers paid to spam the boards.
This is something we've been tracking at the Huffington Post, but, as far as I know, we haven't been able to confirm it.
Here's a pro-Clinton site that's organizing a team of comment spammers.
Another story from December.
11:16 AM | Comments (2) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Screw Bowling
Senator Obama on the new episode of HBO's Real Sports.
08:58 AM | Comments (3) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Go, Mr. Chairman
Howard Dean is beginning to crack down on the super duper delegates:
An increasingly firm Howard Dean told CNN again Thursday that he needs superdelegates to say who they’re for – and "I need them to say who they’re for starting now.""We cannot give up two or three months of active campaigning and healing time," the Democratic National Committee Chairman told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. "We’ve got to know who our nominee is."
08:48 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Do You Believe In The Flag?
Personally, I believe the American flag exists. I've never seen one, but I have faith that there are, in fact, American flags -- sheets of fabric bearing 13 stripes and 50 stars.
Anyway, here's that woman from the debate the other night, Nash McCabe (real name):
"How can I vote for a president who won't wear a flag pin?" Mrs. McCabe, a recently unemployed clerk typist, said in a booth at the Valley Dairy luncheonette in this quiet, small city in western Pennsylvania.Mr. Obama has said patriotism is about ideas, not flag pins.
"I watch him on TV," Mrs. McCabe said. "I keep looking for that lapel pin."
More information uncovered by TPM and McClatchy.
For the record, Nash McCabe wasn't wearing a flag pin either. Senator Clinton wasn't and neither were the moderators. And you know, I've never worn one. Why? Because I don't wear anything with lapels, and because it's just too Nazi-ish. They wore pins. And arm bands.
What's the next goddamn controversy? Senator Obama doesn't have a car window flag?
08:37 AM | Comments (2) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Rachel Maddow PWNS Scarborough
The traditional media has been so wrong for so long, I think they're beginning to crumble under the pressure. Please let that be true.
08:16 AM | Comments (5) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Morning Awesome
08:05 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
April 17, 2008
Senator Obama On The Debate
Also, if I read another wingnut comment about how Senator Obama is "slow on the uptake," I'm going to beat them over the head with my copy of The Bush Dyslexicon. Senator Obama is -- what's the word? -- thoughtful. He also has a stammer, which -- SORRY -- has nothing to do with his eloquence or his intelligence.
04:45 PM | Comments (8) | Posted By Bob Cesca
The Politics of Distraction
Via Markos, Michael Grunwald of TIME:
Obama's memoir dripped with contempt for modern gotcha politics, for a campaign culture obsessed with substantively irrelevant but supposedly symbolic gaffes like John Kerry ordering Swiss cheese or Al Gore sighing or George H.W. Bush checking his watch or Michael Dukakis looking dorky in a tank. "What's troubling is the gap between the magnitude of our challenges and the smallness of our politics—the ease with which we are distracted by the petty and trivial," he wrote.Last night at the National Constitution Center, at a Democratic debate that was hyped by ABC as a discussion of serious constitutional issues, America got to see exactly what Obama was complaining about. At a time of foreign wars, economic collapse and environmental peril, the cringe-worthy first half of the debate focused on such crucial matters as Senator Obama's comments about rural bitterness, his former pastor, an obscure sixties radical with whom he was allegedly "friendly," and the burning constitutional question of why he doesn't wear an American flag pin on his lapel — with a single detour into Senator Hillary Clinton's yarn about sniper fire in Tuzla. Apparently, Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos ran out of time before they could ask Obama why he's such a lousy bowler.
Yeah. Right on.
04:06 PM | Comments (3) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Democratic Debate Reaction
Charlie and George aren't going to like me.
But. I don't care.
01:47 PM | Comments (13) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Morning Awesome
08:58 AM | Comments (2) | Posted By Bob Cesca
April 16, 2008
Prediction
Stephanopoulos will not disclose that he used to be perhaps the second most famous Clinton staffer ever.
PS. My Huffington Post item will go up tomorrow. I switched with Arianna again.
07:15 PM | Comments (7) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Stranahan On Obama
Lee Stranahan's entry for MoveOn's Obama In 30 Seconds contest.
01:19 PM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Jon Stewart On Clinton Drinking
Go to around 5:20
"Just what we need. A president who gives in to peer pressure."
08:31 AM | Comments (2) | Posted By Bob Cesca
The War Is Largely Over
Why aren't the Iraqis coordinating their message with the White House and the traditional media?
BAGHDAD — A company of Iraqi soldiers abandoned their positions on Tuesday night in Sadr City, defying American soldiers who implored them to hold the line against Shiite militias.
And...
BAGHDAD — Bombings blamed on al-Qaida in Iraq tore through market areas in Baghdad and outside the capital on Tuesday, killing nearly 60 people and shattering weeks of relative calm in Sunni-dominated areas.
It just occured to me that four years ago Senator Kerry had all but won the Democratic nomination. The Abu Ghraib story hadn't even been made public (not until April 30, 2004). And the occupation of Iraq was a major issue. Four years ago.
08:18 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Bruce Springsteen Endorses Senator Obama
Dear Friends and Fans:LIke most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.
He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."
At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams of My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.
After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.
Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President.
Bruce Springsteen
07:58 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Morning Awesome
Gauchos covering Iron Maiden's 'The Trooper'
07:55 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
April 15, 2008
Change, Or More of the McSame
Oil prices have topped $112 per barrel. Senator McCain has taken $404,136 from oil and gas companies during this election cycle. The faux-maverick campaign finance hawk has taken $590,952 from lobbyists -- and now he's reaching out to them. Senator McCain wants to make permanent President Bush's tax cuts for the super rich.
More of the McSame.
And as for Senator Clinton... Go to a gas station today anywhere in Pennsyvania and ask people if they're bitter. I guarantee they won't offer her a beer.
08:30 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Morning Awesome
Back by popular demand... The Civil War in 4 minutes.
On this day in history... In 1865, President Lincoln died, several hours after being shot at Ford's Theater in Washington by John Wilkes Booth. Andrew Johnson became the nation's 17th president
08:04 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
April 14, 2008
I'll Post It, Too...
...Because it's awesome.
Have another drink, Senator Clinton.
10:40 AM | Comments (5) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Sunday Gallup Tracking
Sunday's daily tracking poll:
Obama 50%
Clinton 41%
Oh shit! Senator Obama appears undamaged. Quickly, Senator Clinton -- more drunkery! More desperate Rove talking points! Maybe that'll work.
10:28 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Barack On
Now it may be that I chose my words badly. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. But when I hear my opponents, both of whom have spent decades in Washington, saying I'm out of touch, it's time to cut through their rhetoric and look at the reality.After all, you've heard this kind of rhetoric before. Around election time, the candidates can't do enough for you. They'll promise you anything, give you a long list of proposals and even come around, with TV crews in tow, to throw back a shot and a beer.
But if those same candidates are taking millions of dollars in contributions from the PACs and lobbyists, ask yourself, who are they going to be toasting once the election is over?
He's right about the lobbyist cash, too. Senator Clinton is way ahead of everyone on that front. A distant second? Rudy Giuliani.
10:25 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Last Night's John Adams
The best episode yet, but they really went easy on Adams in terms of the Alien and Sedition Acts. The best scene of the whole episode, however, was the last one: Adams leaving the White House aboard a public stagecoach. "I'm John Adams, ordinary citizen."
I wish this series would go on and on. After this one, they could do Madison, then (asshole) Jackson. Imagine a series like this about Lincoln.
07:49 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Morning Awesome
07:29 AM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
April 13, 2008
Drink Up, Daughters Of America
Seriously. This is disgraceful.
07:10 PM | Comments (1) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Clinton And McCain: Drinking Together
I was digging through my archives of ridiculous articles and found this 2006 New York Times article about the drunky friendship between Senators Clinton and McCain:
Two summers ago, on a Congressional trip to Estonia, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton astonished her traveling companions by suggesting that the group do what one does in the Baltics: hold a vodka-drinking contest.Delighted, the leader of the delegation, Senator John McCain, quickly agreed. The after-dinner drinks went so well — memories are a bit hazy on who drank how much — that Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, later told people how unexpectedly engaging he found Mrs. Clinton to be. “One of the guys” was the way he described Mrs. Clinton, a New York Democrat, to some Republican colleagues.
Whoopee! *burp* And they're so *barf* close that Russert thought they should run as a ticket:
They made a joint appearance last year on “Meet the Press,” interacting so congenially that the moderator, Tim Russert, joked about their forming a “fusion ticket.”
They can split Jell-O Shots.
09:46 AM | Comments (2) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Sweet, Sweet Liquor
What kind of message does this send our nation's daughters? In order to fit in with the guys, they have to drink whiskey and beer -- at the same time? Because Senator Hillary Clinton, candidate for President of the United States, said so? Goddamn. I'm trying to make sure my teenage daughter doesn't fall into this trap, and Senator Clinton does this for votes? We're trying to teach our kids that alcohol is a drug. For fuck sake.
09:12 AM | Comments (3) | Posted By Bob Cesca
Morning Awesome
George Washington's inauguration.
Part the Sixth: "Unnecessary War" tonight! Happy birthday to Thomas Jefferson.
09:03 AM | Comments (0) | Posted By Bob Cesca
