Worth the Consideration of Those Who Would Consider It Worth Considering

McCain Blogette: Musings and Pop Culture on the Political Trail. John McCain's daughter continues to blog the campaign trail. Harrogate found out about this months ago, and even linked to it once on the Situation. But then, he forgot all about it, what with the deluge of Breaking News that has Broken over the course of that period. But then today he remembered, and thought he'd post it again.

Odd question of the day:

When you home school, does your child move up from grade to grade or just move from room to room?

Smoke More Blog: Two Bloggers We're All Familiar With, Offering Takes on Palin

Literacy Chic celebrates Palin especially here; and also here.

Though apparently not a fan of the Alaska Governor, Anastasia Offers a Wag of the Finger at Sexism in the Palin Discourse

Harrogate's Second Ever Tip of the Hat to Andrew "Reagan Was Awesome But Gays Should Have Rights" Sullivan

Harrogate's gotta hand it to Sully. Since the scope of Palin's social conservatism has begun to emerge centerstage, he's been going after her with everything he's got.

Nor is the "human interest" angle for attacking Palin, that Supa mentioned yesterday, lost on his Sullyness. Take this particular entry, for example.

About that glass ceiling Schtick

In her speech of introduction, er, acceptance speech, Sarah Palin stated:

“It was rightly noted in Denver that Hillary made 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. It turns out the women of America aren’t finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.”

By shattering, she means that women can only hope o be VP so long as they are accompanied by their grandfather?

Palin; or, Gun Rights Explained, Iraq Solved, Change Delivered, Glass Ceilings Cracked, and Green M&Ms Eaten

So much bilge packed into only 46 seconds!

A New Acronym

Sigh.

Breaking News:

Lots of people, all over the world, are taking dumps at this very moment.

As Much as Harrogate Detests The Current Configuration Of Our Media......

He is still human. Does he not still bleed? Does he not feel the thorns of life? And verily, has he no sense of humor?

Because it is goddamned funny how MSNB has said "to hell with it, we're getting behind Obama the rest of the way, though we promise to be clumsy about it often, to the inadvertent detriment of the candidate we are supporting. Even Buchanan and Scarborough are going to come off, the rest of the way, as friendly old curmudgeons who just need more time around Rachel and Keith, and they might see the light yet." Etc.

Meanwhile FOX says, "whatever, duuuuude. You knew where we'd be the whole time."

Compare all this with the putridness of CNN as they continue to raise the brow and pretend to an above-it-all objecticity and journalistic integrity. But in reality, CNN runs mre fluff pieces, more human interest stories (heh), than the other two, and by a country mile.

FOX and MSNBC therefore win in terms of entertainment value. Flipping back and forth between them lately has been a real treat.

:-)

Breaking News: P. Diddy Impacted by Rising Fuel Costs

Poor P. Diddy. He's having to fly commercial airlines these days instead of trekking around the world on his private jet:

That's how high gas prices are. I'm at the gate right now. This is really happening, proof gas prices are too high. Tell whoever the next president is we need to bring gas prices down.

Preach on, Diddy. Preach on.

"She's No Hillary"

Amen. Hillary, please don't let Sarah Palin ride your coattails. I can't believe she cited you as an inspiration. Doesn't she know that she's McCain's pawn? I'm so disgusted right now. I love Rachel Maddow: Sarah Palin is basically a "human interest story" right now in national media coverage. Awesome.

If you want to destroy my PUMA....

Pull this thread as I walk away....

Earlier today, I was about to nominate Mr. Howard "Nice Sweater" Wolfson for the coveted Assy McGee Award® for his completely obnoxious comments of

If the pick is indeed Sarah Patlin you are going to have a lot of women voters wondering why Senator Obama didn't tap Senator Clinton as his running mate.

Of course if Obama picked Clinton there would have been no need for Palin but...what do you expect from someone who works at Fox.

But, instead of Mr. Nice Sweaters Finish Last, I will promote Darragh Murphy, one of the leaders of the PUMA movement. On Hardball this evening, Murphy, as she is known on all the A list blogs or, Bat-Shit Murphy as she is known on this blog, is still in the grieving process of the Democratic Primary. Instead of having 16 years of a Democratic President, with Senator Obama knowing his place in society and waiting to run in 2016 even if Democracy screwed that up, Bat-Shit Murphy stated we'll probably have 16 years of a Republican presidency noe beacuse of the excellence (and ovaries) of Sarah Palin. Damn kids who voted in the Democratic primary, ruining the dreams of PUMA...how could you? McCain is too good and this ticket s too string to even cast a ballot.

But, for the person who donated to McCain in 2000, this is okay so long as you vote Democratic on the down-ticket. Well, Bat-Shit Murphy, by ignoring the top of the ticket, you are going to do a splendid job of advancing your goals of health care for all, equal rights, reproductive rights, worker protection, enviroment protection, help for college students, and good public schools. McCain and Palin are known for these issues.

We here hope you are wonderful towards one another...And we hope you support Palin, who clearly supports every one of your goals. Just ask the polar bears, Bat-Shit.

Today's Assy McGee Award®: Sean Hannity in a Walk

First off, let Harrogate Preface this by saying there were many fine contenders today. Including any Hillary Clinton "supporter" who is out there pimping for McCain, and definitely including the entire Townhall.com blogroll, which has been creaming all over itself over McCain's vacuous and overtly desperate Veep pick all day.

And so at first, Harrogate thought he'd just not give the award to anybody. But Harrogate and Supadiscomama turned on "Hannity and Colmes", and in the first five minutes Sean Hannity referenced five times the fact that Palin gave birth to a child she knew in advance had Down Syndrome. It was not a personal decision for Palin herself, you see, but an act of Political and Doctrinal vindication.

Yes. Hannity hailed this as a celebration of Palin's anti-abortion creds. That Palin will apparently put up with and even encourage this kind of framing all season (will she even do it herself?) says enough about her character.

Perhaps we will be hearing about this all season long. Nothing is too low, nothing is off limits for the GOP which has done so much damage in such a short period of history. Doctrinalization of every aspect of Life. This is What Sean Hannity and the GOP stand for.

Oh, Fuck It. There are no words. Just the Award.

A Consideration of the Palin Pick

After thinking about the pick on the walk home, here are a few thoughts:

First, from McCain's perspective, it is a smart pick. It energizes the base (Christian Right, NRA, Pro-Life [Feminists for Life]; it reinforces the Maverick image, and it looks to keep the lower-middle class vote. It excludes Lieberman, Romney, and Ridge, as the Christian Right desires. It also saves Huckabee for 2012.

Second, it changed the narrative of the day though it did not change the terms of the fall campaign. Obama defined the campaign Thursday. There has been no rejection of those definitions. In fact, with the Palin pick,we are still discussing McCain's judgment.

Third, this may empower competing groups of women as an electorate. Thinking about women as a voting bloc is a mistake. I am sure that many social conservative women are thrilled with the pick as she "speaks for them," those who are forgotten in the culture wars.

Fourth, she reminds people of Tina Fey.

Fifth, McCain is attempting to appropriate the "change" argument. We know that the premise of the election is "change." The question McCain presents is how much change can you tolerate? Race will be the subtext to the question of change.

Sixth, the debate will go straight down hill. Even below the point at which we stand. Since the inexperience topos is effectively off the table, we have only Obama is "different." Obama's "otherness" is too much, ours is just right. As Time shows, McCain no longer has any honor left because of this election. I do not know if Palin has any, especially when she asks the American people to support her because she has ovaries...i mean to break the glass ceiling.

Seventh, this is an attempt for Ohio and Pennsylvania, but mainly Ohio. This is a completely defensive, and political, selection for John McCain. I repeat, he has no political honor.

A few things I cannot understand: Palin admitted she knows "nothing about Iraq." She has not thought about it with any depth.

The know nothing about one another as they only met once. This is a terrible sign of judgment.

McCain does not believe think highly of the American electorate. His arrogance is overwhelming at this point.

Finally. she opposes polar bears!!! (I wonder what her stance is on global warming?)

Harrogate: We must discuss this pick!!!

Sarah Palin, the Creationist. Let's here it for faith based reality:

"Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."

No wonder why the country went to war in Iraq. Republicans do not know how to judge evidence in a debate.

Fucking Kids.

My Love for Debbie Wasserman Schultz

It continues. Yesterday, or the day before, I noted her kick ass nomination address. According to The Washington Post (via TNR) here is her response to Palin:

"I know Hillary Clinton, and Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton."

Introducing Sarah "Barracuda" Palin

Ed Rollins, on CNN.com, offers this insight into Palin as VP candidate:

The "who" is a young, articulate, smart, tough, pro-life woman who is the governor of our northernmost state. She is conservative and a mother of 5, including a son in the Army who is set to be deployed to Iraq on September 11. Her youngest child has Down syndrome.

The "Barracuda" nickname came from her aggressive basketball play on the state championship basketball team. She is a hunter, pilot and lifetime member of the NRA.

She is blunt, outspoken and charming. And don't assume she can't stand toe-to-toe with Joe Biden. She is a great debater. And she was runner-up for the Miss Alaska title, won Miss Congeniality in that contest, and plays the flute.

I love that last bit. Is there an implied comparison to Hillary here? That is, Palin is tough but also appropriately feminine? I'll bet she wears skirts to prove it.

Identity Politics to be sure

But, he cautioned, “The huge gamble is that John McCain is 72, he’s had a couple of bouts with cancer.” If McCain wins the election, but then were to die or become disabled, Buchanan wondered, “Can this woman be President of the United States?”

So says Pat Buchanan about McCain's VP pick, Sarah Palin in an article on MSNBC. While think Buchanan's question is valid, I wish he had worded it another way--"Can this person be President of the United States?" would have been a better wording I think. Buchanan, however, (and believe me, I never, never thought I'd be saying this) articulates a point that I equally concerns me by highlighting Palin's sex. She is going to be questioned hard by Republicans and Democrats alike because of her sex and her position as a mother of 5. I imagine she (and McCain) will be asked the following question many, many times: "In the event that you become President, how will you juggle the Presidency and motherhood?" This questions angers me because it is inherently sexist, and here's why: no one has asked Barack Obama (or Bill Clinton for that matter) how he will juggle fatherhood and the Presidency?

McCain may have made a strategic pick, but as Solon and Harrogate have already pointed out, the VP campaign (such as it is) is now solely about identity politics. And while many conservative women may be thinking that McCain just did a great thing for American women, I actually think he has succeeded in screwing us over yet again.

Happy Friday Musical Tribute

Come on Oxymoron, don't let Mark Wahlberg tell ya what to do. You know you gotta give it up for "Rocket."

:-)

To Barack Obama--Thank You

A lot of people are writing a lot of things about Obama's speech last night, and understandably so. But for Harrogate, a lot of it is still sinking in. It did something no modern political speech has ever done for him--it put him on defense, it made him think seriously about what his politics really are, and where they are going from here.

It is hard to explain, but knowing Harrogate personally, perhaps some Board Members will sense what he's getting at. For example, there was a time when for Harrogate, the social conservative element in America was the most loathed of its parts. That has been eroded over the last eight years, and in ways that Harrogate cannot quite articulate, Obama reminded him of why that is. Obama also reminded Harrogate of the truism that total agreement is not necessarily the endgame for political affiliation. This is not to say policy doesn't have crucial importance. But sense of life is just as important, and while ideological differences abound between them, Barack Obama's sense of life is very appealing to Harrogate indeed.

At this point it is hard to imagine Nader peeling away Harrogate's vote from Obama, even if he gets on the ballot here.

A Moment in Women's History II

Sarah Palin, the first term of Alaska, is John McCain's choice for V.P.

A Moment in Women's History

My dad's significant other forwarded this link to me--an interesting reflection on Hillary's role in this election cycle.

The American Promise

The American Promise is the title and theme of Senator Obama's speech. It asks the country to renew that promise. Here are a few excerpts:

“Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story – of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

“It is that promise that has always set this country apart – that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well.

“It is why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women – students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.

“We meet at one of those defining moments – a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

“Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit card bills you can’t afford to pay and tuition that is beyond your reach

“These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed presidency of George W. Bush.

“America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.”

The speech will discuss economic policies and national defense. It is the culmination of the convention.

Whie Mile High?

Tonight will be the biggest attempt of community campaigning on the face of the planet. For the people in the crowd, they will register voters, text their friends, make phone cards, and receive cards showing them what to do next.

The Obama campaign has 200 offices in Montana. McCain, only a few. The Ground game matters on election day.

Oh the Irony...and the tragedy...

According to Politico:

Planners of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul held emergency conversations Wednesday about what to do if a tropical storm continues on its track as a potential Category 3 hurricane threatening New Orleans.

Gustav’s projected path suggests possible landfall on the convention’s opening day — Labor Day.

The storm could threaten everything from President Bush’s Monday night address to the broader Republican message of effective government management.

And to save his candidacy, McCain may nominate Leiberman for VP. Well, it worked well for Gore, so it may work well for McCain. Oh.

Fate has a driver...

Update: "Conversations" are occurring. The president may not speak on Monday because it won't look good. Anyone see his poll numbers lately?

If I were religious, I would make some argument that G-D is punishing the Republican party for its sins. And just think, Focus on the Family asked for voters to pray for rain when Obama speak. Hmph.

Do you any have plans next year?

Welcome to the Senate Beau Biden. If things go well, there will be a seat waiting for you. While I may not be too happy with legacy seats, I would move to Delaware to support him.

The text of the speech is here.

Random Thoughts on Days 1, 2, & 3

There may or may not be any connection to these topics but...

Yesterday was thee 8th anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment; tomorrow, the 45th Anniversary of MLK's "I Have A Dream." Today? LBJ's 100th birthday.

LBJ's presidency was terrible on many fronts. Yet, without the Voting Right Acts, blacks Americans would not possess political equality in the north and the south. I have been reading Nixonland in spare time (hah!). In many, usually forgotten, aspects, the North was not too much better than the South; Chicago was a nightmare.

Without the VRA in 1965 there would be a different nominee in 2008.

Pillars? Pillars will be the backdrop, connecting to vision of the Athenian democracy and the Lincoln Memorial. There is some criticism from the chattering class or the Cheetos Brigade. It must be terrible to hate symbols of democracy over aesthetics...

Overall, the convention is calm. No too mush Partisan ad hominems in the Zell Miller category. (See Part I, II, III; The "duel)."

We know that the Republicans will rely on ad hominems as they can rely on nothing else. With a strategy of inoculation, which is what former President Clinton is doing, and a more positive campaign, highlighting responsibility and actual difference, the Obama campaign will be making a well reasoned argument to the American public. Now, what is your view of the American public?

President Bill Clinton's speech was much better than Senator Hillary Clinton's. Sharp images of difference, sharp images of praise; discussed torture, subtlety; delivered with authority, though I doubt his conviction because of past comments.

Man MSNBC sucks. And I just saw the Hillary "Jilted" Ad, which really makes no sense because Bidden attacked Obama in the same way. Oh...I Forgot.

Just waiting for Bidden....

And Senator Kerry... if you are going to use the figure of correctio, you need to go, "The Bush...No, I'm sorry, I always make that mistake. The McCain..." Read Cicero, jackass. Oh, and you beating up on torture now? Four years ago it may have helped. But, when it is safe...

Okay, I take my criticisms back. Kerry does well with the McCain is "For it before he is against it" line and then hits McCain on the Rove tactics. That's cathartic. And, by the way, if you want to know, I did not write this speech even as I suggested the theme.

I do think this is one of the best speeches of the convention so far. Kerry may not have the best delivery, as years in the Senate will do that, but he delivers a forceful blow against McCain's "good moral character." Everything that McCain stood for, Kerry argues it is long gone. This is well done and it could only come from Kerry.

It is a good day for redemption...

And to have Claudia Kennedy speak, the first and only Three Star General. This is a coup d'état, especially because of the politicization of the military.

Torture is in almost every speech tonight. This is a big turn on the moral values debate.

Finally, Debbie Wasserman Schultz delivered an excellent nomination address for Senator Obama. I do not know if she had another opportunity to speak, but If not, that was a shame.

Finally, Finally. Whoop!!! Chet Edwards.

Biden accepted the nomination. What a surprise....

The Santorum

For today's Assy McGee Award®, Harrogate nominates Richard Olivastro, for having the temerity to suggest Rick Santorum as a good Vice-Presidential pick for McCain. A representative anecdote: Santorum responded to Lawrence Versus Texas, which finally banned the criminalization of homosexuality nationwide, by observing that the next thing would be to legalize bestiality.

Rick Santorum. If you google his name in quotes here is the first hit that you are given.

It is of course well within reach for John McCain to become the next President of the United States. Because of that, Olivastro's suggestion scares the hell out of Harrogate, even though in his heart, Harrogate retains hope that even McCain wouldn't go that low.

Anticipating Biden

We are told that Biden is Obama's lieutenant in charge of rallying blue-collar working class Americans to the Democratic nominee's cause.

Relatedly, Biden himself told us the day Obama introduced him as the Veep nominee, with his entrance music (a lot of times the line between politics and professional wrestling is pretty damned thin, no?), that he is a Springsteen fan.

So in anticipation of the task Biden faces tonight, Harrogate offers a great performance of one of Springsteen's most underrated working-class anthems. And, it's done the way Oxymoron likes it: just a man and his guitar.

No, the name of the song isn't "Scranton." It is "Youngstown,"* as in Youngstown, Ohio. But the political resonances are the same, as ye shall see.

Maybe this very morning Biden is relaxing with a cup of "Joe," contemplating the work ahead of him, and looking for a bit of intellectual stimulation at The Rhetorical Situation. Joe, this one's for you.



*From one of his quietest, most haunting albums, The Ghost of Tom Joad

Clinton's Speech

I watched Senator Clinton's speech last night but didn't know what to think about it. It was a good speech. Yet, it wasn't the right speech for the situation. It was an "endorsement with no embrace," as MSNBC's favorite right-wing nut-job stated.

Above all, it was a Democratic speech. The most important line:

I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?

The problem with the speech is that is was more of a stump speech than a case for Senator Obama as president. Maybe Clinton is not the best surrogate to praise Obama because her attacks during the primary limited her ethos is this regard, but to not address Obama in a personal way, after spending 18 months near him, seems a little odd to say the least. The purpose of the important speeches it to make the case for Senator Obama, especially when there is a lot of division Slate's Dahlia Lithwick :

Let’s give her credit for doing what she had to do: She lit up the crowd (and not a moment too soon) she reminded her supporters of the real stakes here; and she stuck a shrimp fork in John McCain’s eye enough times to really hurt a guy. So she didn’t sell the country on Obama. If he can’t manage to do that for himself, he’s got bigger problems than a bunch of put-out PUMAs.

Again, it was a good speech, probably a very good speech. However, it was not the speech for the occasion; it was not a convention speech. It reinforces why Clinton is not the VP as there is a lack of trust.

"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuit"

Ha!  That was funny.

And it just gets better....

And the Second Assy McGee Award® goes to....May I have the envelope please...

Debra Bartoshevich.

Yesterday, as Harrogate pointed out rather judiciously, Bartoshevich, a former Clinton delegate, is now shilling for Mr. McCain.

Well, according to Politico, Bartoshevich is not only shilling for McCain but lying about his record when doing it, suggesting that McCain supporters a woman's right to choose. Time has more if you would care to read.

Michelle Obama's Speech

Well, the Democrats couldn't have asked for anything more from their headline speaker on this night. Midway through, Harrogate commented to Supadiscomama that Michelle Obama is as compelling a speaker as her husband.

For Harrogate's part, he still has serious ideological difficulties with the Democratic Party at this Moment, and this very much extends to the people at the top of the ticket. But this night went some ways towards reminding Harrogate that some progressivism is better than none at all. Sigh.

(By the way. Harrogate would be remiss this evening if he didn't throw a hearty shout-out, and a recognition that will only barely be granted by the television outlets covering this spectacle, to the protestors who have been sequestered over a mile away from the convention site, and some of whom have reportedly been pepper-sprayed by the police, this evening.)


But anyway. Harrogate is very curious what other Board Members, and our litany of Readers, thought about the two main speeches tonight.

For Ted Kennedy

One had no choice but to leave the cynicism at the door when he took the stage and gave the speech that he gave. His promise to return to the Senate in January, his words on Health Care. He electrified the crowd, making a worthy opening-night setup for Michelle indeed.

Nothing but respect for that man.

Blog Post of the Day: "The Details"

From Matthew Yglesias:

A voter goes into a bar, I mean focus group. I mean, Joe Klein at Time goes to a focus group and hears a voter say something about the need to clarify change. Joe Klein writes about said voter:

“Change” as a theme is over. Too vague. And Obama’s rhetoric has begun to seriously cut against him. “No more oratory,” one woman said. “Give us details.”

Yglesias' response:

I always wonder about this stuff. I mean, it’s inconceivable to me that this woman is genuinely yearning to learn more about the details of Obama’s policy agenda. If she actually wanted to know, she could, you know, look into it. She could learn all about the differences between auctioning emissions permits and giving them away, about the implications of having the federal government provide reinsurance for catastrophic medical expenses, about the case for a permanent R&D tax credit, etc., etc. But all indications are that most people find politics boring, and policy details duller still. And swing voters, which is what this was a focus group of, are least interested of all.

I can only think of the movie Clerks, whch is a total non-sequitur.
Man (Who's looking for a set of keys asks one of the Clerks): "Have you seen a set of keys around here?"
Randall (Who is as annoying as bat-shit): No time for love Dr. Jones.
Man (Who is annoyed after receiving that response even though he asked a question to someone completely incompetent): "Fucking Kids."

This is what I have to say today: Fucking Kids.

DNC Protestors Versus Fox News

Already the DNC Protestors are out in force. Here's a confrontation they have already had with a FOX camerman/anchor/whatever. Apparently they didn't get Harrogate's Memo that the diff between FOX and the other cable media is no more profound than the diff between green M&Ms and other M&Ms....

For the first thirty seconds or so it is a bit hard to watch, as the suggestion of crowd violence is palpable. Nice job by whoever uploaded this video by the way. The Carlin-esque chant is in mid form, from the beginning.

And the guy at the end is priceless. Yea, Harrogate wants to go to Denver and buy this guy a drink. Check out his deadpan delivery of: "Some people say FOX is a corporate whore."

Somebody asks him, "some people say what?"

"FOX," he repeats, "is a corporate whore."

Well, there's no arguing with that, regardless of your individual position. Some people do, indeed, say that FOX is a corporate whore.

Monday Musical Tribute

It is hard to believe that the Roseland performances are over a decade gone, now. For months Harrogate has been enjoying their most recent effort, Third, which kicks ever-loving ass. But still, it is the Roseland Concert that Harrogate thinks of first, when he thinks of this group.

Here is one of the reasons why.



If Harrogate ever made a list of the smokinist Female Rockers of His Generation, Beth Gibbons would finish first, second, third, fourth, and fifth.

And the Musical Force surrounding her would quite possibly finish second, behind only Radiohead, in a list of the smokinist Bands.

A Few Convention-Day Ruminations, Opinions, Etc.

1)Word is, Biden is occasionally given to speaking in the Third Person, and also likes to say that his goal is to "Be the Best Biden I can Be." From an artistic standpoint, Harrogate heartily applauds both of these tendencies, although he would recommend Biden keep a wrap on such tendencies when in public.

2)Speaking of the Artistic Standpoint, Obama's selection of Biden underwhelmed everybody except Biden, which was probably the point. But at the same time, just about every pundit in the world is telling us that Obama needed a good attacker in the old-school, populist, union-hall, "lunch bucket," muscular Democrat mold, and most of these pundits are telling us that Obama got a good representative of this Norman Rockwell Demographic, in Biden. Who is Harrogate to disagree with all these oracles?

3)Biden came out of the gate breathing sentimental fire, and showed his determination to daisy-chain McCain to Bush. Whether or not this is fair, over the top, or both, people will now be forced to decide, because every time they see Biden speak, he'll be putting the daisy-chain front and center in their brains.


4)Some things Harrogate can't remember. In what town and state did Joe Biden grow up? As a Senator (can't remember how old he was when first elected to the Senate, either), where has Biden always gone after work, when the Senate is in session? How does he get there?

And where is Jerome Bettis from, again? To be continued........

God McCain is an Asshole

On the cusp of the Democratic National Convention, the winner of The Rhetorical Situation's Inaugural Assy McGee Award® goes to ..... John McCain

Solon has already posted, and rightly lambasted, one of the McCain Ads attempting to fan Clinton/Obama flames, and peel off voters who supported Hill in the Primary.

Here is another such Ad.



It didn't take them long, did it?

But in Harrogate's opinion these Ads went too far in the cartoonism, even for the Republicans. As Andrew "Reagan Was Awesome But Gays Should Have Rights" Sullivan and others have already stated, McCain has provided Hillary Clinton with a Golden Opportunity to hit him in the jugular on Wednesday night, for being the craven sonofabitch that he is. In fact, these Ads are so over the top that McCain has really left Hill no choice but to tee off on him.

(As a side note, it is is a bit amusing to see Sully, in his own passive/aggressive way, writing and/or linking to something regarding either Clinton, that is not total demonization.)

Pass the Salt...

And Pour it in his wounds....

Well, the campaign is officially underway. And nothing is better than to exploit perceived sexism. The add was inevitable, regardless if she was or was not on the ticket. Though there is something sinister behind this....

Here is the new ad from John McCain, which is looking to pick up votes from women despite his record of not supporting legislation the protects women.



I guess this means Huckabee is going to be on McCain's ticket then.

Update: I am sure this is just a total coincidence, but William Kristol at the Weekly Standard has a post, "The Democrats' Glass Ceiling" that argues that same point: it was sexist of Senator Obama not to pick Hillary.

I never knew Kristol or McCain were such devoted feminists. I bet they are working toward equal pay as we speak.