Rising Hegemon

INVOLUNTARY

2008-07-26T07:06:00.002-05:00

REACH-AROUND!!!

(AP Photo/Zach Ornitz, Pool)

So unpopular

2008-07-26T07:04:00.001-05:00

Even babies are going incognito.

REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)

Why is David Letterman

2008-07-25T15:58:00.001-05:00

Braver than any major or cable news show?

And thank you Dave.

via Crooks & Liars.

Semper Fi, Soldier. Semper Fi.

2008-07-25T14:07:00.002-05:00

Good grief. I read this theater review and all I could think of was one of Max Fisher's Rushmore extravaganzas.

Another pundit talking point down the shitter

2008-07-25T06:36:00.002-05:00

The underlying premise that Obama is unpopular in Israel is...shockingly...once again...false:

Even more positive news from Barack Obama's trip to the Middle East: a new poll by Israel Radio shows, for perhaps the first time, Israelis preferring Obama to John McCain.

When asked "who would you rather see elected as the next president of the United States," Obama bested John McCain by a 37-28 margin. While far from a decisive advantage -- 35 percent of Israelis chose "no preference" or some other answer -- the poll reflects a notably different state of affairs from previous surveys, which generally showed McCain with a large advantage over Obama.

Obama's competitiveness spanned the political spectrum across Israel's top three parties. The Illinois Democrat trounced McCain among Israel's most liberal voters, who belong to the Labor Party (44-6), tied among more right-wing Likud voters (28-28), and held a slight edge among sympathizers of the Kadima Party, which is led by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (40-32).

The survey of 600 respondents taken this week, likely before Obama landed in Israel, also found that more Israelis believe Obama would be a better president for the Jewish state, 31-27. (Forty-two percent registered other responses.)

John & Lindsey find a new way to travel Ohio

2008-07-25T04:57:00.001-05:00

modified from here.

The incredible creativity of the internets

2008-07-25T04:43:00.001-05:00

http://view.break.com/542113 - Watch more free videos

Still no cure for cancer though.

via Silent Patriot at Crooks & Liars.

Compare & Contrast

2008-07-25T04:22:00.002-05:00

Obama:

“The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand,” he said. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.”

The "honorable Mr. Straight-Talks" spokesflack (still not reprimanded):

"The Muslims have said either we kneel or they’re going to kill us.”

John McCain's 7/25 agenda

2008-07-25T04:15:00.003-05:00

1. Schmidt's BATH HOUSE
2. Schmidt's MEAT HOUSE
3. The Central Ohio Sausage Fest
4. Costco to hand out "Pomegranate Juice" samples
5. Schmidt's HIZ HOUSE

Mimosas, Cupcakes, Botox

2008-07-24T13:13:00.004-05:00

Or, why res does not enjoy being a girl.

Please kill me.

Oh dear, dear, dear

2008-07-24T06:41:00.003-05:00

I'm relatively sure that while Obama is off looking Presidential, the idea of McCain explaining away gaffes in front of a line-up of "DOLE pinapple juice" is the visual you do not want.

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Barack Obama and Angela Merkle celebrate...

2008-07-24T05:46:00.002-05:00

the "I will not touch you inappropriately pact" of 2008.

(Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

You think the GOP

2008-07-24T04:48:00.005-05:00

Would have more luck if they pulled McCain and instead nominated that talking Volkswagen with the german-accent instead? He's moderate with the ladies.

I know it would have the whole "where was he born" problem, but then again, according to our intrepid flock of kerners so do McCain and Obama.

It would probably draw a better crowd than McCain in Berlin.

Or they could piss off Lou Dobbs and nominate this guy, dude even has his own "Cindy McCain" (about 0:55):

I think it's safe to say, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences might as well start polishing the Oscar*.

*and you know how much fun that can be

Way to distance yourself there Huggy

2008-07-24T04:39:00.003-05:00

If McCain wants to spend the next three and a half months doing this...AWESOME!

Republican John McCain on Wednesday credited the recent $10-a-barrel drop in the price of oil to President Bush's lifting of a presidential ban on offshore drilling, an action he has been advocating in his presidential campaign.

I guess by that logic, Bush gets credit for Oil going up from the $30 a barrel it was when he decided to invade Iraq with your blessing?

"Straight Talk Jacket Express"

2008-07-24T04:05:00.003-05:00

Well, well, well -- I guess it's just "McCain bein' McCain"

Tuesday:

COURIC: Senator McCain, Sen. Obama says, while the increased number of U.S. troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCAIN: I don't know how you respond to something that is such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel McFarlane (phonetic) was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik* and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history.

McCain, January 5, 2007 (Two weeks before Bush announced sending additional troops to Iraq):

"Too often the light at the tunnel has turned out to be a train, but I really believe -- I really believe that there's a strong possibility that you may see a very substantial change in Anbar province due to this new changes in our relationships with the sheiks in the region. ... But it's important, as I said in my opening remarks, that this troop surge be significant and sustained. Otherwise, don't do it."

So he acknowledges the changed relationship being important before the so-called "surge".

*Oops (thanks to commenter Stony Pillow for reminding me)

(fez tip to Mark Nikolas)

Book Report

2008-07-23T13:34:00.004-05:00

Oh, right! I still write at this blog.

Attaturk, you made my day with this Eschaton post. How can I let that smug, fratboy ideologue Scarborough ever get me riled up again knowing that an audience the size of the population of Plano, Texas is watching (and putting him in last place)?'

If you've been reading the papers or watching the news and wondering what in God's name they're talking about when they're talking about just what, exactly, is going on with the credit markets, the mortgage crisis, and our economy in general, you could do worse than to pick up Charles R. Morris's The Trillion Dollar Meltdown. It's a short 'n sweet explanation of What Went Wrong that's perfectly comprehensible to non-finance types like me. The "Chicago School" of economics and all that that implies (lax-to-no regulation, faith in free markets that aren't really free, and the grand tradition of privatizing profits and socializing losses, etc.) comes in for a well-deserved thrashing, which will be gratifying to anyone experiencing the effects of or merely watching this train wreck.

As I was finishing Meltdown, I read this NYT article about Americans drowning in debt. Yes, I was struck by the number of snowglobes in the subject's house, but I was struck even more by the number of people I call "friend" who want to punish her -- and severely -- as in, "Take her house and throw her out in the street! That'll teach her a lesson." Appeals to rationality (e.g., "Hey, it will cost us more as a society to care for her if you chuck her into the street than it will if we make sure she has a roof over her head, a job, and (yes) a manageable repayment plan") went nowhere. So I ask you, "Why are Americans such a punitive people?"

Did you see this yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

Breakin' the Law, Breakin' the Law

2008-07-23T11:21:00.006-05:00

Alert the "Hangin' Judge" he claims to love so much:

Syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak was cited by police after he hit a pedestrian with his black Corvette in downtown Washington, D.C., Wednesday morning.

A Politico reporter saw Novak in the front of a police car with a citation in his hand; a WJLA-TV crew and reporter saw Novak as well. The pedestrian, a male in his 60s, was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital with minor injuries according to the Metro Fire Department. Novak was later released by police and drove away from the scene.

“I didn’t know I hit him,” Novak told Politico...

Bono said the pedestrian, who was crossing the street on a "Walk" signal and was in the crosswalk, rolled off the windshield and then Novak made a right into the service lane of K Street. “The car is speeding away. What’s going through my mind is, you just can’t hit a pedestrian and drive away,” Bono said.

He chased Novak half a block down K St., finally caught up with him and then put his bike in front of the car to block him and called 911. Traffic immediately backed up, horns blared, and commuters finally went into reverse to allow Novak to pull over.

Bono said that throughout, Novak "keeps trying to get away. He keeps trying to go.” He said he vaguely recognized the longtime political reporter and columnist as a Washington celebrity but could not precisely place him.

He rolled off the windshield but Novak didn't know he hit a pedestrian?

I guess I should’ve known by the way U rolled over my windshield
that I should hit the gas
See, U're the pedestrian that crosses legally
But I am goin' fast
I guess I must be dumb cuz U had a pocket full of viagra
And my giant teeth we're unamused
But it was Wednesday still, I guess that makes you roadkill
And U say - "Ow, my hipbone is fused?"

And honey, I say Little black Corvette
Bobby, U're much 2 fast (Oh)
Little black Corvette
I need an alibi that's gonna last

Return of the Teutonic Titmouse

2008-07-23T10:37:00.002-05:00

Well, well, well:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an admirer of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama -- even though she has not yet met him in person.

Asked at a news conference on Wednesday what she thought of Obama, Merkel responded: "I would say that he is well-equipped -- physically, mentally and politically."

Your so-called Liberal Media in action

2008-07-23T05:16:00.002-05:00

CBS covers up a monumental gaffe by the self-described foreign policy expert.

Oh the inanity

2008-07-23T05:01:00.002-05:00

John McCain and his base...so happy together

Ah, the comfort of obvious and inherited wealth.

And now, a completely unfair comparison - but after this -- McCain deserves one:

The Iron Grip of the Washington Posts Editorial Page Jackass

2008-07-23T02:52:00.002-05:00

Fred Hiatt, doing all he can to drive the Washington Post below the Washington "Moonie" Times:

July 8: Good, Obama is willing to be flexible with his Iraq Plan, the Iraqis don't want it.

AND THEN,

July 16: Obama's Iraq Plan is dangerously rigid and the Iraqis don't want it.

BUT WAIT,

July 23: Obama's Iraq plan is dangerously flexible and the Iraqis' agreement with him is proof they don't want it.

And for the final dose of why Fred Hiatt is a war mongering dupe, today's kicker:

While the United States has an interest in preventing the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban, the country's strategic importance pales beside that of Iraq, which lies at the geopolitical center of the Middle East and contains some of the world's largest oil reserves.

Now we're down to the ol' imperial brass tacks of it you two-bit neo-con toady. Who cares about "terrorists" it's all about the oil.

(pic Brendan Calling)

The GOP attack machine

2008-07-23T02:02:00.001-05:00

Atta J. Turk reviews commercials

2008-07-22T07:05:00.003-05:00

#1

Nothing says "family" like

Two young girls helping Dad get laid.

#2

There are many reasons to be disturbed by Mac & Cheese in a cracker

Plus, "Wheat Thins" don't give you explosive diarrhea (unless you're a celiac).

Yes, this is the IMAGE McCain wants

2008-07-22T06:47:00.002-05:00

Riding "shotgun" in Poppy's golf cart (dig the sign and monogram).\

McCain even looks like he's worried a golf cart will go too fast.

That's the sign of youthful vigor!

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

John McCain in one quick paragraph

2008-07-22T05:23:00.002-05:00

The reporting in Iraq and the limited access of reporters has hurt coverage of what is actually happening there...along with the boredom of our pundit-dominated news culture (making us the biggest squanderers of press freedoms in history).

This from Juan Cole sums things up accurately:

Look, it is more important that McCain was consistently wrong. He was wrong about the desirability of going to war against Iraq. He was wrong about it being a cakewalk. He was wrong about there being WMD there. He was wrong about everything. And he was wrong about the troop escalation making things better. The casualty figures dropped in al-Anbar, where few extra US troops were ever sent. They dropped in Basra, from which the British withdrew. Something happened. Putting it all on 30,000 extra troops seems a stretch. And what about all the ethnic cleansing and displacing of persons that took place under the nose of the "surge?" McCain has been wrong about everything to do with Iraq. And he is boasting about his wisdom on it!

There have actually been several journalistic pieces pointing this out, but they are lost in the cacophony of the drum-beat, rote, screaming of the same sadists who dreamed of invading in the first place. People trying to save their legacies don't count.

From wanting to invade years before we did, to declaring things easy, to being wrong (or lying) about how awesome the war is going, to trumpeting the actual merits (while ignoring the costs) of the so-called "Surge" John McCain is a either a fool and/or a fraud.