Open Thread
Here is a thought- Sarah Palin is here to rehabilitate George Bush’s reputation. After watching her, Bush looks like pretty damned with it.
September 25, 2008 3:52 pm
Posted in: Site Maintenance
68 Comments
68 Responses
The Other Steve - September 25, 2008 | 3:56 pm · Link
Greatest Movie Ever!
Soviet Troops invade United States via Russia. I loved that movie. If I remember correctly towards the end there’s this scene with the US soldiers down on ammo defending an oil pipeline station… they line up these culvert pipes and sit in them waiting for the Russian troops so they have a clear shot without being seen well.
Almost as great as Red Dawn!
This is what Governor Palin is protecting us from!
JL - September 25, 2008 | 3:57 pm · Link
Comrade, You would also have to assume that McCain is smart enough to figure that out, unless Rove selected her.
Comrade Napoleon - September 25, 2008 | 3:59 pm · Link
Its being reported on TPM that McCain, who has suspended his campaign, is sitting down to do interviews on all the 3 broadcast news reports tonight.
But he doesn’t have time for the debate tomorrow.
mawado - September 25, 2008 | 4:00 pm · Link
Damn. I thought Bush Jr.’s job was to make Bush Sr. look good. I sure hope I die before whoever is supposed to make Palin look good shows up.
Comrade PeterJ - September 25, 2008 | 4:01 pm · Link
Barbara Boxer is suggesting that McCain is crawling into a corner with his blanket.
libarbarian - September 25, 2008 | 4:01 pm · Link
Palin has international experience. She was the Mayor of Islamabad …. I mean Riyadh…I mean Tehran….I mean Wasilla.
Nevermind. Sometimes I get mixed-up about all these cities who punish rape victims.
Wasilla, as much as it may resemble a Middle Eastern hellhole, is technically in America.
SpotWeld - September 25, 2008 | 4:02 pm · Link
I think you’re thinkning a little too small.
Not only does Bush look better in comparsion, so do all Republicans.
Voting for your local representative and wondering if to stick with the GOP encumbant. “We’ll he’s/she’s still not Palin”.
Alan - September 25, 2008 | 4:03 pm · Link
Shelby says there’s no agreement. So McCain may be our only hope. LOL
JL - September 25, 2008 | 4:04 pm · Link
The Other Steve, “The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966)” is the most accurate account of a Russian invasion on our soil. I’m obviously older than you but I grew up in New England so I too could be Vice-President.
Rick Taylor - September 25, 2008 | 4:06 pm · Link
I’m not so sure. Go back and watch the first Bush-Gore debate, especially towards the end where they’re both asked what they would do in the event of an attack on the country. At least Palin projects confidence (no matter how unwarranted).
Comrade General Stuck - September 25, 2008 | 4:07 pm · Link
Well, Bill Clinton is doing his best limit damage to the Mccain candidacy, and Taylor Marsh is puzzled how Bill could say such nice things about our opponent.
Different day. Same stoopid democrats.
Comrade Rick Massimo - September 25, 2008 | 4:09 pm · Link
Has McCain backed out of ANYTHING but the debate?
gbear - September 25, 2008 | 4:09 pm · Link
To quote the Torch Song Trilogy: Not. Good. Enough.
The Other Steve - September 25, 2008 | 4:09 pm · Link
Sarah Palin is mocking Holiday Inn Express.
rob! - September 25, 2008 | 4:10 pm · Link
aww…John McCain needs his Wooby!
Alan - September 25, 2008 | 4:10 pm · Link
The economic problems will never be fixed until the Fed is forced not intervene every time the economy takes a down turn. Recessions are far better than economic collapse.
Laura W - September 25, 2008 | 4:10 pm · Link
1) I was nervous that the debates would not occur tomorrow. Mostly because it would’ve been a great excuse to get hammered. Not that I need an excuse in these interesting times. Now I am happy happy again because Obama might get to have the two hours to himself to do a town hall or one-on-one or both. WIN.
2) I would like to throw “pocketbook” under the bus. Do we have a new under bus list going? Who says pocketbook but my 93-yr-old Grama? Say “wallet”. Men and women have wallets. Or “household budget” or some other semi-contemporary word.
3) I’d like to reiterate my appreciation for the changes made to David Gregory’s show.
4) Have I mentioned lately that I wore John McCain’s POW bracelet in high school? FAIL.
Comrade Zifnab - September 25, 2008 | 4:12 pm · Link
George Bush sees the finish line and he’s sprinting the last hundred yards out. And, like I keep saying, there’s only a limited amount of stupid in this world. Palin and McCain are sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
And if it looks like GW is getting smarter, this may be because he’s finally confident that he’s no longer running for office. Apparently, holding an election is the fastest way to make a Republican run off and act like a giant ‘tard.
Joshau Norton - September 25, 2008 | 4:16 pm · Link
So what part of McCain’s campaign has been “suspended”? Has the meaning of the word changed since Tuesday?
If I was a more cynical person, I’d think the whole $700 billion bail out/Wall Street crash thingie was a Rovian plot to stop the VP debate.
PodpolkovknikHumboldtBlue - September 25, 2008 | 4:20 pm · Link
Bush appears the way he’s appeared since mid-2006. He knows he’s out, done, gone, so it doesn’t really matter what the fuck he says, does or thinks. He doesn’t care, never has, just as long as he gets to keep his nap time.
Can you imagine the apoplexy from the right if, in October of 2000, Clinton had announced a trillion-dollar bailout package for his wealthiest backers?
Kevin K. - September 25, 2008 | 4:24 pm · Link
I ran into a pal of mine on the street just now and we both realized we’re at a loss for words about what to say about her anymore. It has gone from funny to disturbingly surreal. About all I have right now is a George Costanza-ism: “I am speechless. I am without speech.”
That said, I think the VP debate, if it happens, could rank as one of the top ten nights of my life.
Laura W - September 25, 2008 | 4:25 pm · Link
Apologies if this is old news but this just aired during Hardball. McCain’s cancers and medical records spot.
Obama speaks to press in a few from a hotel.
Punchy - September 25, 2008 | 4:27 pm · Link
Question—Do the Pubs have the stones to intentionally delay agreeing to this until Monday for no other reason whatsoever other than to give McCane the backdoor escape of “I cant (mass)debate cuz this aint fiz’ixed yet” excuse?
Shorter—will they hold the signing hostage for days on purpose to help McCane from engaging Barry?
cybergal619 - September 25, 2008 | 4:27 pm · Link
McClatchy has the details of the bailout …. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227.....ng+News+v5
Dork - September 25, 2008 | 4:31 pm · Link
I will be so drunk on this nite. It’ll be the only way to keep me from throwing the remote, the dog, and the old lady at the TV every time she says something with such shitfuckedness.
Maybe if they debated topless, she’d have a fighting chance. Not sure. Havent seen Biden’s abs yet.
Comrade Twisted Martini - September 25, 2008 | 4:32 pm · Link
For all you Detroit Lions fans:
Sarah Palin is Matt Millen with breasts.
Grand Moff Texan - September 25, 2008 | 4:34 pm · Link
Bush did sound more with it last night, probably because he spent most of his time agreeing with Barack Obama.
.
Comrade EdTheRed - September 25, 2008 | 4:41 pm · Link
Fail, but that’s how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe its not to late
To learn policy
And forget how to hate
Talking points not working
Interviews a damn shame
I’m going off the rails on a fail train
I’ve listened to preachers
I’ve listened to tools
I’ve always been a dropout
Who makes her own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media won’t buy it and do what they’re told
Couric won’t stop smiling
My answers are so lame
I’m going off the rails on a fail train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeah-h
Heirs of a cold war
That’s what we’ve become
I live next to Russia, I’m mentally numb
Failure, I just cannot bear
I’m answering a question that just isn’t fair
Poll numbers keep sinking
Who and what’s to blame
I’m going off the rails on a fail train
Joshau Norton - September 25, 2008 | 4:46 pm · Link
It just occured to me that the VP Debate offers up a rare opportunity for an extremely quick drinking game.
The only rule would be that if you hear her say something jaw-dropping idiotic, you take a drink immediately. Minutes to complete black out: T-minus five.
Maybe four if you gulp.
Whatever you do, don’t TiVo this thing or you’ll be in rehab before Election Day.
Not My Fault - September 25, 2008 | 4:47 pm · Link
Just so I know. Tomorrow night…
is it drink on “bailout” or drink on “recovery plan?”
Scott H - September 25, 2008 | 4:56 pm · Link
Hurrah! Apparently, McCain just did to the bailout what he has done to his campaign.
stickler - September 25, 2008 | 4:56 pm · Link
NMF:
Yes!
Laura W - September 25, 2008 | 4:58 pm · Link
is it drink on “bailout” or drink on “recovery plan?”
Both. And I’ll add “blink” and “pocketbook”.
Let’s keep a list!
Comrade Cris Ivanov - September 25, 2008 | 5:04 pm · Link
It’s drink on “prison.”
PC - September 25, 2008 | 5:14 pm · Link
Whoa. There’s a commercial about McCain’s bouts with skin cancer on MSNBC.
Comrade Dreggas - September 25, 2008 | 5:16 pm · Link
Hurrah! Apparently, McCain just did to the bailout what he has done to his campaign.
So I’ve been hearing. This is not gonna look good for McCain at all. Everyone was talking about agreement and consensus then in comes McCain and fucks everything up. If I were a betting man I’d wager that tomorrow stocks start to tank and they get that “crash on monday”.
JL - September 25, 2008 | 5:18 pm · Link
, MSNBC just had the ad on David Gregory’s show. It’s a great ad and only highlights Sarah’s inexperience. Hopefully it’s on all the networks.
psycholinguist - September 25, 2008 | 5:27 pm · Link
You know, I was watching the video of her various interview responses and I had this epiphany (for me, you guys are all over this I’m sure). The republicans finally did it, they finally screwed up and took seriously the cynical cultural issues that they have pushed as so all-important since the 80’s(always with a wink).
Here we have a candidate who embodies perfectly those issues they trot out every election NO GAYS, NO ABORTION, and it turns out people aren’t buying, Americans really do understand that a president needs to actually have some understanding and interest in the larger world. They jumped the shark, and the silver lining to me on this, is that they can never really make those arguments seriously again.
Laura W - September 25, 2008 | 5:40 pm · Link
Arrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh
choking on my dinner! (wine washes it down nicely)
Someone go find Brian Williams with McInsane just now. Obama got garbled but will replay soon.
Now they are showing Katie with Sarah being “mocked”.
Putin rearing head.
We send those out to make sure an eye is being kept on Russia cuz they are like right THERE!
aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhh
NBC nightly so in our tank.
Comrade PeterJ - September 25, 2008 | 5:44 pm · Link
BraveNewPAC should buy time for that ad before and after the vice presidential debate for maximum effect. Especially just after.
gopher2b - September 25, 2008 | 5:47 pm · Link
Real good article on the meltdown
Gringo Starr - September 25, 2008 | 5:47 pm · Link
Man, West Virginians are some nasty bastards!
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford - September 25, 2008 | 5:48 pm · Link
Is McCain working to hold off the bailout deal so he can have cover for ducking the debate?
gopher2b - September 25, 2008 | 5:48 pm · Link
I don’t know how to link:
http://www.economist.com/opini.....d=12305746
Ryan S. - September 25, 2008 | 5:51 pm · Link
Rumor has it Redorks are backing out on the bailout.
Punchy - September 25, 2008 | 5:52 pm · Link
Palin on my TV. About threw up laughing and cringing at her answers.
Good. Fucking. God.
Comrade Dreggas - September 25, 2008 | 5:53 pm · Link
Is McCain working to hold off the bailout deal so he can have cover for ducking the debate?
It’s not just that, he’s trying to have some sort of Hero moment. Of course the problem here is the bill the House Goopers have is a complete 180 from what McCain said the bill should contain. This is going to make him look even more pathetic and Obama will probably get a free 90 minutes of air time tomorrow night to talk directly to the people.
t jasper parnell - September 25, 2008 | 5:56 pm · Link
Really, 100 years, er, hours.
Laura W - September 25, 2008 | 5:57 pm · Link
To the drinking game list for VP debate, I’d like to add:
Second Guess
Good Guys
Bad Guys
Couric: You recently said three times that you would never, quote, “second guess” Israel if that country decided to attack Iran. Why not?
Palin: We shouldn’t second guess Israel’s security efforts because we cannot ever afford to send a message that we would allow a second Holocaust, for one. Israel has got to have the opportunity and the ability to protect itself. They are our closest ally in the Mideast. We need them. They need us. And we shouldn’t second guess their efforts.
Couric: You don’t think the United States is within its rights to express its position to Israel? And if that means second-guessing or discussing an option?
Palin: No, abso … we need to express our rights and our concerns and …
Couric: But you said never second guess them.
Palin: We don’t have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe … that it is in their country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests to fight against a regime, especially Iran, who would seek to wipe them off the face of the earth. It is obvious to me who the good guys are in this one and who the bad guys are. The bad guys are the ones who say Israel is a stinking corpse and should be wiped off the face of the earth. That’s not a good guy who is saying that. Now, one who would seek to protect the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel and her friends, her allies, including the United States, in my world, those are the good guys.
JL - September 25, 2008 | 5:59 pm · Link
Is McCain working to hold off the bailout deal so he can have cover for ducking the debate?
Long answer Hell yes
Short answer yes
Comrade Jake - September 25, 2008 | 6:00 pm · Link
Is that a direct quote on Israel? Jesus fucking Christ (no pun intended).
ChrisB - September 25, 2008 | 6:02 pm · Link
Well, he ditched Letterman last night. How’d that work out for him?
Matt Millen has breasts. They’re just not as perky.
Rick Taylor - September 25, 2008 | 6:05 pm · Link
Huh? Did something happen?
Martin - September 25, 2008 | 6:06 pm · Link
I thought about something that went around about a week ago… Vilifying the big dog was the best GOTV machine the GOP ever had. Right now, the GOP isn’t taking any issue with the Clintons. Bill isn’t exactly helping McCain/Palin, but he’s defused the whole situation. The GOP doesn’t have him or Hillary to hate right now – at least not like they had before, and the GOP rank and file really need someone to hate. I think Pelosi is pretty much the big target for them right now. That’s not good for the GOP for November.
Brian J - September 25, 2008 | 6:07 pm · Link
I’ll be honest. I didn’t watch her interview yet, as I was trying to set up the laptop I bought late last night and then just went to bed. But I read portions of it on my phone today, and if it’s as bad as it seems, this can only get worse, unless the press has absolutely no access to her for the rest of the campaign. She can’t think of anything else to say besides the Fannie and Freddie stuff from 2005 when asked about specific regulations? Not even some random stuff about the free market working best, like mentioning how the repeal of Glass-Steagall allowed Bank of American to buy Merill Lynch? Really, lady? And what about the part where she says she’ll get back to Couric about specific examples? As someone on either this blog or one like it said, that should be repeated from now until election day in Obama ads. That’s about ten times worse than Kerry’s “before I was against it” comment.
Comrade Dreggas - September 25, 2008 | 6:09 pm · Link
Huh? Did something happen?
According to Reports coming out, a bipartisan agreement was close at hand. Then after the meeting with the president all the stuff that everyone thought was settled came back up and McCain and the republicans balked offering up a plan of more tax cuts etc. In other words a deal was close, people seemed to be happy with it, McCain went to washington and now it’s back to square one.
Laura W - September 25, 2008 | 6:09 pm · Link
Comrade Jake, yes. I saw it live on CBS news tonight and raced to their site but couldn’t find the video link so cut and pasted the text they posted. Yeow.
Your lips, Allah’s ears.
Really, we have to find Brian Williams first couple questions to McInsane tonight. My jaw dropped. I think he accused him of parachuting in to be a hero (more or less…+3…Bri Bri could’ve been quoting Dodd) and then McCain said “Country First” in his own defense and I almost choked on my organic NY strip steak, cooked to perfection on my Foreman Grill.
Best Election EVEH!
Obama can haz prezidency now?
FoxinSocks - September 25, 2008 | 6:13 pm · Link
Thought you all might enjoy this:
Top Ten Real Reasons John McCain Can’t Attend the First Presidential Debate
10. Searching for a white horse to ride into Washington on.
9. Still trying to explain to Sarah Palin that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili isn’t from Atlanta .
8. Was planning on spending a quiet Friday with Cindy, watching the fish frolic around the offshore oil rigs.
7. Chasing kids off your lawn is really time-consuming when you have ten or twelve houses.
6. McCain’s make-up artist informed him she’s taking Friday off.
5. Too busy watching Jurassic Fight Club on the History Channel and explaining to Palin why there aren’t any humans cuddling with the T-Rex.
4. A rabid moose ate his debate prep.
3. Can’t decide which of his thirteen cars to drive to the debate.
2. Was told Rachel Maddow would be in the audience on Friday.
1. With a faltering campaign and disastrous vice-presidential pick, McCain is attempting to appear in control while searching for an excuse to cancel the vice-presidential debate.
Comrade Jake - September 25, 2008 | 6:18 pm · Link
Boy this is frustrating. Country first, my ass. This is McCain first, country last. Full stop.
Laura W - September 25, 2008 | 6:19 pm · Link
HA!
Is that yours, or Letterman’s for tonight?
HA!
(Obama has just implied that all of the political “posturing” today totally got in the way. And he’ll see us all tomorrow night.)
Just Some Fuckhead - September 25, 2008 | 6:20 pm · Link
Ejecting from his crashing campaign over Washington woulda been more appropriate.
PodpraporschickHumboldtBlue - September 25, 2008 | 6:20 pm · Link
I’m thinking USC-Oregon State is gonna win out over political TV tonight. Then again, Maddow is definitely gonna have something good on Palin …
Decisions …. decisions ….
FoxinSocks - September 25, 2008 | 6:33 pm · Link
It’s mine, actually. Thanks. :)
Oh Great! Now What? » Blog Archive » Parental Advice Sarah Palin Missed - September 25, 2008 | 7:22 pm · Link
[...] I think John Cole is on to something: Here is a thought- Sarah Palin is here to rehabilitate George Bush’s reputation. After watching her, Bush looks like pretty damned with it. RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL Write a comment [...]
oh really - September 25, 2008 | 7:24 pm · Link
Alternative explanation? She’s here to make McCain look smart.
Sadly, for the forces of evil, the plan has failed. She looks and sounds like someone functioning on her brain stem alone, but it doesn’t make him look better, it makes him look like the dumbest mofo on the planet for choosing her.
Comrade Texas Dem - September 25, 2008 | 8:57 pm · Link
Ah, Red Dawn. One of my favorite movies. Wolverines!! Seriously, though, I think Palin may be a Rovian plant designed to improve George W. Bush’s reputation and historial standing. Think about it: after a few years of that woman as president, wouldn’t you miss George W? I sure would. She makes him sound like freakin’ Cicero.
Comrade Texas Dem - September 25, 2008 | 8:58 pm · Link
Palin makes Bush sound like Cicero.
zuzu's petals - September 26, 2008 | 2:40 am · Link
Best visual. Ever.
Putin Rears His Head