Monday With McCain

"I think she's most qualified of any that has run recently for vice president, tell you the truth." ---on Sarah Palin, interview with Don Imus, Oct. 22, 2008

Titties, Toes, & Tater-Tot Tuesday

Monday With McCain

In honor of election day, the top 25 McCain/Palin quotes from recent months...

1. "Our economy, I think, is still ― the fundamentals of our economy are strong." ―John McCain, Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 15, 2008 (Source)

2. "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. I've got Greenspan's book." ―McCain, as quoted in the Boston Globe, Dec. 17, 2007 (Source)

3. "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where ― where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." ―Sarah Palin, explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS News's Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008 (Source)

4. "[Sarah Palin] knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. ... And, uh, she also happens to represent, be governor of a state that's right next to Russia." ―McCain on Palin's foreign policy experience, interview with WCSH-6, Portland, OR, Sept. 12, 2008 (Source)

5. "They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." ―Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco, Oct. 5, 2008 (Source)

6. "Well, let's see. There's ― of course in the great history of America there have been rulings that there's never going to be absolute consensus by every American, and there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So, you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ―" ―Palin, unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs. Wade, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008 (Source)

7. "I think ― I'll have my staff get to you. It's condominiums where ― I'll have them get to you." ―McCain, after being asked how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own, interview with Politico, Las Cruces, N.M., Aug. 20, 2008 (Source; take a Google Earth tour of the McCain residences)

8. "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you." ―Palin, asked by Katie Couric to cite specific examples of how John McCain has pushed for more regulation in his 26 years in the Senate, CBS interview, Sept. 24, 2008 (Source)

9. "All of 'em, any of 'em that have been in front of me over all these years." ―Palin, unable to name a single newspaper or magazine she reads, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Sept. 30, 2008 (Source)

10. "I think if you're just talking about income, how about $5 million?" ―McCain, after being asked by Rev. Rick Warren to define "rich," Lake Forest, California, Aug. 16, 2008 (Source)

11. "Maybe a hundred...That would be fine with me." ―McCain, to a questioner who asked if he supported President Bush's vision for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq for 50 years, Derry, New Hampshire, Jan. 3, 2008 (Source)

12. "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." ―Pailn, on the Iraq war, speaking to students at the Wasilla Assembly of God, June 2008 (Source)

13. "You know that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran? Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran." ―McCain, breaking into song after being asked at a VFW meeting about whether it was time to send a message to Iran, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, April 18, 2007 (Source)

14. "There was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate loaded down with goodies, billions for the oil companies, and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one." ―McCain, pointing to Barack Obama during the second presidential debate, Nashville, Tennessee, Oct. 7, 2008 (Source)

15. "I told the Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." ―Palin, who was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it, multiple speeches (Source)

16. "I was looking at the Sturgis schedule, and noticed that you had a beauty pageant, so I encouraged Cindy to compete. I told her [that] with a little luck, she could be the only woman to serve as both the First Lady and Miss Buffalo Chip." ―McCain, on the annual Miss Buffalo Chip Pageant, which features topless (and occasionally bottomless) contestants, Sturgis, South Dakota, Aug. 4, 2008 (Source)

17. "I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'" ―Palin, as quoted by former City Council Member Nick Carney, after he raised objections about the $50,000 she spent renovating the mayor's office without approval of the city council (Source)

18. "I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing ... any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be cleared of any of that." ―Palin, after an Alaska legislative report found she had broken the state's ethics law and abused her power in the Troopergate scandal, conference call with Alaska reporters, Oct. 12, 2008 (Source)

19. "She's a partner and a soul-mate." ―McCain on Palin, whom he had met only once before selecting her to be his running mate, "FOX News Sunday" interview, Aug. 31, 2008 (Source)

20. "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt." ―McCain, to his wife, Cindy, after she playfully twirled his hair and said "You're getting a little thin up there," as reported in the book The Real McCain by Cliff Schecter (Source)

21. "That's exactly what we're going to do in a Palin and McCain administration." ―Palin, elevating herself to the top of the ticket, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 18, 2008 (Source)

22. "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty and sincerity and dignity." ―Palin, in her speech at the Republican Convention, quoting the fascist right-wing columnist Westbrook Pegler, an avowed racist and anti-Semite who once lamented that Franklin Roosevelt's would-be assassin hit the wrong man and also expressed his hope that Robert F. Kennedy would be gunned down (Source)

23. "Honestly, I have to analyze our relationships, situations and priorities, but I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to harm the United States. ... I have a clear record of working with leaders in the hemisphere that are friends with us and standing up to those who are not. And that's judged on the basis of the importance of our relationship with Latin America and the entire region." ―McCain, after being asked if he would invite Spanish President Jose Rodriguez Louis Zapatero to the White House, casting an ally of the U.S. as a potential enemy while simultaneously confusing Spain for a Latin American country, interview with Radio Caracol Miami, Sept. 17, 2008 (Source)

24. "As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?" ―Palin, interview with CNBC's "Kudlow & Co", July 2008 (Source)

25. "Across this country this is the agenda I have set before my fellow prisoners. And the same standards of clarity and candor must now be applied to my opponent." ―McCain, Bethlehem, Penn., Oct. 8, 2008 (Source)

A Hockey Mom In NYC

I was going to write a snarky post about Palin's field trip to the UN, but this image from the NY Daily News will suffice...

I've Been To Russia A Few Times...Can I Be Secretary Of State?

Trust me, I'll be eminently more qualified that Sarah Palin on anything having to do with foreign affairs.

This is one of the worst talking points I've ever seen. It's from a recent interview with McCain:

Q: Well, you say you're sure that she has the experience, but again, I'm just asking for an example. What experience does she have in the field of national security?
McCain: Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. She's a governor of a state where 20% of America's energy supply comes from there. And we all know that energy is a critical and vital national security issue. We've got to stop sending $700 billion of American money to countries that don't like us very much. She's very well versed on that issue. And, uh, she also happens to represent, be governor of a state that's right next to Russia. She understands Russia.

And nobody questions John McCain's judgement? Good God! Now, let's ignore McCain's ridiculous assertion that Palin knows more about energy than anyone else in the good ol' US of A (I mean, really, WTF?!) and take another look at the last sentence of his statement. Apparently, because Palin is Governor of Alaska, and Alaska is separated from Russia by the Bering Strait, this somehow translates into Palin understanding Russia, and thus having national security experience. Never mind the fact that Palin has never actually been to Russia, and didn't even get her first passport until 2007! I've been unable to ascertain whether Palin took any elective courses in Russian language, history, literature, or politics at any of the four colleges she attended while pursuing a degree in communications. But this does not matter, because McCain has assured us that Palin "understands" Russia, something that very few people, whether scholars or government officials, can claim to do (in fact, it brings to mind a certain quote by Winston Churchill).

But this wasn't the first time that the McCain campaign used this talking point. Cindy McCain had this to say when George Stephanopoulos claimed that Palin had no security experience:

C. MCCAIN: You know, she — the experience that she comes from is with what she’s done in the government.

And, also, remember, Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia. So it’s not as if she doesn’t understand what’s at stake here.

I think my brain just exploded.

The New Faces Of Politics

Where is Joe Biden?

Great...

Courtesy cnn:

McCain must embrace Palin's beliefs, evangelical leader says

Her faith is one of the reasons many evangelical Christians are excited about Sarah Palin's addition to the Republican presidential ticket, but the Alaska governor's evangelical beliefs have also drawn scrutiny.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council says evangelicals are closely watching the McCain campaign.

Evangelicals are closely watching whether the McCain campaign embraces Palin's religious views or shies away from them, Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, told CNN.

Perkins sat down with CNN's John Roberts on Tuesday to discuss how the vice presidential pick's faith could influence the presidential election.

Roberts: For a couple of decades, she was a member of the Pentecostal Assembly of God church. Six years ago, she changed to the Wasilla Bible Church. I read an article in which one of her former pastors suggested [the McCain campaign] may be playing down her faith because there may be some misunderstanding about her Pentecostalism. What do you think about all of this? Watch how faith could shape the 2008 vote »

Perkins: Obviously people, the polling data would suggest people want a leader or leaders that believe in God [and] pray, and I think there's some sense that there's a greater accountability there. But I think the campaign, John, is at a critical point. John McCain made an incredible selection. He has turned around the campaign that I think was moving south, and there's enthusiasm, excitement and hope among social conservative voters.

But ... the next few days, next couple of weeks will be very critical because as you pointed out, her faith has become an issue. It's being attacked, being used as a weapon against her. People are watching. It will be very important how the McCain campaign handles this. If they become defensive and run from it and try to hide the fact that there is this element of faith, then I think it's going to turn off social conservatives, evangelicals, orthodox Christians. Is the Palin pick a risk? »

If they say, "Hey, why should someone have to check their faith at the door and move towards the base," I think it's going to energize, you know, the socially conservative voters more. It's very important how they deal with this in the next few days.

Roberts: You say people are attacking her because of her faith. Are they attacking her or asking legitimate questions, such as when she said at the Assembly of God church back in June. ...

[Palin] talked about U.S. troops in Iraq, and she put it this way: "Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that's from God." Even some Pentecostals say that could mean that the U.S. is in a holy war with the Muslim world.

Perkins: I think it's important that you see where these convictions lead her on policy issues, and I think that is part of the scrutiny that she will undergo from socially conservative voters.

Roberts: Do you have any idea at this point about how her faith will inform how she governs?

Perkins: No. There's not a lot of evidence in Alaska other than, you know, she's conservative. I mean there's not -- you can't point to a lot of policies that people say [she adopted] because she's a conservative evangelical.

You don't see a lot of that. I think what people are looking for from the McCain campaign is: He's made a great selection. He has their attention. He's built hope and enthusiasm. Are they going to move away from this faith element? Are they going to move away from, you know, the base trying to keep her from being too aligned with him or going to run to their strength?

That will be a critical decision they make in the next several days.

More On Sarah Palin's Alleged Affair

It is now being reported that the guy Sarah Palin allegedly had an affair with has just filed an EMERGENCY court motion to have his divorce records sealed.

So what does that tell us?

Well, it seems the Enquirer might not be so wrong after all.

Wonder what he's trying to hide?

Wonder if any family members or friends will speak up?

In other Sarah Palin news, senior lawmakers in the Alaska State Legislature said Friday that they would seek subpoenas to compel seven witnesses to answer questions in an ethics inquiry into whether Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president, improperly put pressure on state officials to dismiss her former brother-in-law, a state trooper.

I Love America!!!

What else says "I Love America" life a dirty swimming pool, a hunting rifle, and a red, white, and blue bathing suit? Now,if she could have found somewhere to attach a lapel flag pin...

GOP Factoids

Courtesy of Associated Press:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.

Some examples:

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.

MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.

THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.

FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."

THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

Soccer Moms Need Loving Too!!!

From the National Enquirer, the fine folks that first broke the news that former Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards had cheated on his wife and had an affair, comes news that Republican Vice-President choice Sarah Palin is "allegedly" having an affair with her husband's business partner.

Oops!!!

The Good News And The Bad News

I’ve got good news and bad news.

The good news is that Sarah Palin’s speech was laden with trite delivery, cutesy messaging and no specifics about anything specific. It was a Toastmasters after dinner speech at best. Nothing special, nothing great. Hardy-har-har. Yuck, yuck. We get it, Shecky Palin. You’re not a Washington-tainted, Beltway-contaminated politician, but just a mom who can field-dress a moose. Holy Fess Parker, Batman! Frances McDormand in a pants suit. (Speaking of which, after hearing all the Hillary pants suit jokes, I noticed nary a dress at the Xcel Energy Center. At least on women attendees.)

Now the bad news. The Republicans loved it. Think Red-Stater for moment. The guys that bring you NASCAR, bad country music, Lee Greenwood, “Hee Haw” and now Sister Sarah. Preaching to the choir. And the choir loved it. Big time. While you and I may laugh at the phoniness of her address, the dude with the sequined-cowboy hat ate it up and wants seconds. She delivered to her crowd.

Sarah Palin Supports Young Mothers...

NOT!!! Yes girls...If Sarah Palin has her way, if you are a victim of rape, the government will force you to give birth. If you are a victim of incest, the government will force you to give birth. And support for that child? Too bad!!! Don't expect much from Sarah Palin. Governor Palin recently slashed funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live. So much for Sarah Palin being pro-life...