Both as MTP's host-for-now and as a talking head on MSMBC, Brokaw has been execrable. How I wish he'd stayed retired.

Just on Drudge, from few-minutes old story, "PAWLENTY CANCELS NUMEROUS PUBLIC APPEARANCES..":

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080828/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_veepstakes

But at the same time, there's supposed to be activity about Mittens, SS protection, etc.

Suffering through network coverage and no CSpan? The Democratic Convention page.

Live feed!

Since you and Hilzoy took over, please redesign the WaMonthly homepage, I'm sorry but it's not the most attractive or easy to read blog...and it's showing its age.

I once got put in time-out as a kid for an offense I didn't commit, which immunizes me from getting blamed whenever I smack random strangers in the back of the head. They never believe me when I explain it to them, which makes me feel justified in having smacked them in the back of the head. Damn a-holes!

"The stock markets did well today, which I suppose means, based on Larry Kudlow's economic theories, that investors like what they're hearing from the Democratic National Convention."

No, no. The Democrats have failed to serve up much red meat at the convention, which greatly improves McCain's chances, and Wall Street responded with a rationally exuberant rally.

EXCLUSIVE: Cindy McCain's Half Sister: "I'm Voting for Barack Obama"

http://www.usmagazine.com/news/cindy-mccains-half-sister-im-voting-for-obama

* And Tom Brokaw continues to carry water for McCain, suggesting that his background of a prisoner of war necessarily shields him against, well, everything.

How would Brokaw feel if we started referring to McCain's antics as blatant POW socialism?

What about the guys who never came home, Tom? What about the guys who don't get any recognition, who get lousy VA care, who have to fight for benefits, who can't find work, who are losing their homes?

I'd call Tom Brokaw a brazen putz, but I'd be insulting all the brazen putzes of the world by doing so....

Sorry to hear about the laptop, Hilzoy.

Cindy McCain's Half Sister: "I'm Voting for Barack Obama

None of his family wants to go the convention either. For each who attends, Cindy will gift them a cliff-hugging condo in La Jolla. For those who agree to be photographed with him, she's throwing in a Bentley. And free gas for life.

Clearly the stock market went up because they saw that the Democrats were blowing the convention, making a McCain presidency more likely...or something. Or maybe it went up because more people thought the going prices were lower than they will be than thought them to be higher than they will be.

Apparently, the Goopers are going apeshit about Obama speaking in front of columns in Denver tonight. Just a little reminder, And Bush spoke in front of columns, too. Yo, you Repulican idiots, have you never visited the Lincoln Memorial? The Jefferson Memorial?

IDIOTS!!!!

This will teach Hilzoy to keep her eyes on her computer when in a room filled with Democrats. I bet it was Wexler, trying to scrape together a down-payment for a residence in Florida.

TPM has an interesting bit on the Obama campaign's response to the Ayers swiftboating ad:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/obama_campaign_overwhelming_ay.php

Basically, they're reporting that on 8/26 the Ayers ad ran 304 times in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Virginia (and pity those poor voters!) while the Obama rebuttal ran 550 times. They're ramping up the response (finally). . .

"Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential election candidates."

it's come to a pretty pass when you find a former kgb operative more believable than you do your own government!

I'm glad to see Abramoff back in the news. We wouldn't want him forgotten, would we?

One of the talking points from the anti-Obama crazies is that Michelle was part of a scheme at the U of Chicago Hospital where she works to dump emergency room patients onto other providers. What she was actually doing was starting a program which would interview people in the ER who weren't emergency cases and make appointments for them with other more appropriate providers. The ER has become the doctor of last resort for America's uninsured. Vote for McCain if you like it that way.

In 2012, they'll still be claiming that Obama isn't a citizen. But enough of this mud sticks to low-information voters that it's worth the time of the Liddys of the world to keep talking about it.

I hate these freaking invocations.

/rant

"Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential election candidates."

The only way they will ever prove that is if the Georgian President feels betrayed by Cheney and spills the story. If true, I doubt he would have been in on it and gotten hundreds of his countrymen killed. I do wonder why Cheney's foreign policy adviser was there the week before the attack though. Preparing for the VP's trip next week doesn't sound believable, how did Cheney know that region was about to be a hotspot before the Russia-Georgia conflict?

Very sorry about your computer, Hilzoy. My apartment got burglarized last year-- the guy stole my computer, iPod, and, to add insult to injury, my collection of U.S. statehood quarters (yes, I'm a nerd,)-- so, I understand your plight. Hang in there!

Brokaw's bias is surprising, embarrassing, so disappointing. I always thought him more fair minded (though I haven't watched regular network news since long before he gave up the anchor spot), in part because in a few essays he wrote for the NYT, which seemed very much to be in his own voice, he showed himself to be a good writer. Also, a PS to comment I did earlier on differences between Obama and McCain -- I left out, in my roll call of the Republican nominees since the 1980s, Bob Dole. Well, that pretty much speaks for itself, but mea culpa.

Wrongway McCain lost FOUR planes before he ever saw combat. That makes 5 planes total. You can bet if a Democrat had done that we'd never hear the end of it: "Do you want someone who crashed FIVE planes to lead this country?"

If you haven't seen this disgusting news out of Denver, check it out. Dare I say, welcome to Amerika?

Don’t let Putin fool you. He could have garnered PC-points by distributing picture of dead Russians and invaded after the election, to justify his action with sensitive types and help Obama win his campaign.

The fact that Putin moved in August means that Putin believes that Iran-Israel will come to a head after the election. By destroying the Georgian army, Putin now controls the Georgia land-bridge that stands between Middle Eastern oil supplies and the West. It’s just that piece of land, the Strait of Hormuz, and two pipelines in Saudi that keep our social order from falling apart.

Putin knows this and moved to a stronger strategic position in advance of the conflict that he expects to play out sooner than later. He is now in the position to tip over our little apple cart at a time of his choosing.

Al Gore speaks tonight.

I'm heading to the emergency room now for my routine checkup. If there's anything wrong with me, I'll go back to the emergency room next week and wait for 7 hours for my follow up visit. Just like that, universal coverage!!! How great.

I'm homeless and dying of AIDS. I'm so happy John McCain isn't changing a thing about America's universal health care.

Wrongway McCain lost FOUR planes before he ever saw combat.
Posted by: Speed

Bzzzt! Wrong

So today I go to CNN. I note the first link 'Praise for Biden; disgust over Clinton morals'. I go to that link. Of the fourteen people whose views comprise the article, eight mention Clinton. Seven praise his speech.

One, with moniker 'SickOfSlick', admits he didn't watch the speech and spews barely-literate venom about Clinton; his comments are in the third-to-last paragraph. But his comments get the frontpage link line. I know, there are penguins in Antarctica. But -- god damn it.

It's more likely that Putin is orchestrating the war for the benefit of his own domestic politics in Russia. Nothing boosts the ratings like a quick victory against a pushover; President Bush was at 70% approval during the "mission accomplished" phase.

If Putin could get a blustering and reactionary Republican into the White House at the same time, all the better to drive fearful Russians into his protective arms.

The AP is still showing how objective they are:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-CVN-Obama-Promises-and-Problems.html

Cindy McCain is in Georgia this week. Let's eavesdrop on her private conversation with President Saakashvili:

From Georgia with Love

"And Tom Brokaw continues to carry water for McCain, suggesting that his background of a prisoner of war necessarily shields him against, well, everything."

This could easily be turned on its head by saying, "Ok, so McCain was so damaged in Viet Nam that he is incapable of taking responsibility for anything he does or says. Is that what you're saying? And do we want such a damaged individual to be the president of the United States? Seriously?"

It would make a great talking point if someone would just pick it up.

oh, before they change it, please notice the title of the AP article I just linked:
"Democrat's vision will collide with reality "

hmmm... I wonder who fed them this article...

Brokaw=broken. Who is he to tell us what we can do. Polite reply to him: "Go have sex with yourself."

Sad news about Del Martin. 55 years with Phyllis Lyon, and they were only married for two months...but they did finally get legal recognition, so that's something.

The good news is that a new poll shows Proposition 8 opposed by 54%. The finest possible tribute to Del Martin would be sending Prop 8 down to flaming defeat.

* My friend Hilzoy's computer was stolen while at the Democratic convention. -- PA

If you can't trust your fellow Dems, whom can you trust? OTOH... Didn't she (he?) mention something about having problems with it? It would serve the thief right to have pinched a lemon.

MisMuddled, @17:40

Not everyone can access the Convention via that site. My OSX (Panther) is too old; according to them, I need either Tiger or Leopard. But, at least for The Speech tonight, it's often possible to find "a speech-watching party near you" via Obama's webpage.

Tom et al,

Want to give Republicans and the religious fascists something to have a hissy fit about? Send a contribution to No On Prop 8 in memory of Del Martin, and help defeat hate and inequality. Watch the haters wail and gnash their teeth when this travesty is defeated.

If the Mormon church can mobilize its CA members to work on getting a Constitutional amendment ripping marriage equality to shreds, we can surely spare $10 or $20 to help toss their hate into the dustbin of history.

McCain Tickets.

mhhr?

Brick?

Chadron?

Bubba?

Anyone?

They are going fast.

Who needs Tickets for Dayton tomorrow.

Tickets. Who needs Tickets. McCain VeepStakes Tickets.

Anybody?

McBOC

Tickets, McBOC? I have a personal invitation, thank you very much. On thick, creamy, paper. Hand delivered, too. Unfortunately, I've given my pilot a day off tomorrow (will need him for the Labor Day weekend, to get me over to the Twin Cities), so will just send a cake. Wonder which nuts would go best with sprinkles (and the Nutter Center)...

libra

I would send one of our Yatchs, and limo ride from Cincinnati. Its quite a splendid trip, but it is too close for Magic time for this.

Sorry.

You should have got in touch with me last week.

SJRSM: Bzzzt! Wrong

During his relative short stunt on flight status, McCain III lost five U.S. Navy aircraft, four in accidents and one in combat.

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_mccain_lost_five_u.htm