People Bearing Glass Wombs Should Not Throw Policy Stones

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I think Obama’s response to the news that Sarah Palin’s 17-year old daughter is perfect: to stress that a teenaged mom, with the support of her family, can still raise her child to be President.

… my mother had me when she was 18. How family deals with issues and teen-age children – that shouldn’t be the topic of our politics.

It sounds like Bristol Palin will have the family support to go through a challenging, life-changing event, and I hope that support helps her succeed at being a teenaged mom as well as Obama’s mother did.

That said, I think Nate’s question–asking why, if this is such a shameless event, the family and campaign hid that news over the weekend–is an important one.

I think it’s wonderful that Bristol Palin has chosen to have her baby, and I’m sure that she’ll make a wonderful mother.

But if it’s such a wonderful thing, let’s be out and proud about it — not try and change the subject. Let’s disclose this in the People magazine interview. Let’s not bury the news when there’s literally a hurricane bearing down on Louisiana. And let’s sure as hell not confuse the overheated rantings of the liberal blogosphere for the series of decisions made months ago by mother and by daughter that led to a 17-year-old child becoming pregnant.

The media ought to be more responsible than to take the McCain campaign’s spin at face value. If that irrelevant distraction about rumors in the blogosphere belongs in this — than certainly things like these do: What is Palin’s position on contraception? What is her position on sex education? Does she believe that sex outside of marriage is immoral? These questions are not remotely personal, but they’re certainly a part of the story.

Likewise, I agree with Anonymous Liberal’s point: this rumor got started not by liberal bloggers, but by Republicans in Alaska wondering why a 44-year woman carrying a high-risk child would delay medical attention for over 10 hours after she went into labor.

I know for a fact that is not true. The reason I know that is because I first heard the rumor within minutes of the media reporting that Palin had been tapped to be McCain’s VP. And I heard from friends from Alaska, not liberal bloggers. Read more →

Wolfson Van Winkle

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I’m grateful for this Howard Wolfson column–for his willingness to wax poetic about the guy who beat his candidate.

For me, the presidential campaign began in a crowded Iowa hall, where I saw a man my age lift up a daughter around my daughter’s age and tell her that one day she could be president. Last week things came nearly full circle, when I saw another man my age lift up another child and say the very same thing.

But I find his description of the Hillary bubble even more evocative.

For many of us who were part of the Clinton campaign, Sen. Barack Obama’s appeal was something we understood only in the abstract — data in polls, faces at a televised rally.

Most of us never heard him speak in person. At work 14 hours a day in the war room, we focused on his perceived faults and deficiencies. Our time was spent sharpening and advancing arguments. Skepticism was critical to our efforts. Insulated from Obamamania, I met few Obama supporters and distanced myself from the ones I knew. I lived this way for 18 months.

From the outside, our loss may have seemed inevitable for months, but inside the campaign we simply kept going.

[snip] 

Once we ran out of states and the campaign ended, we were like Rip Van Winkle. We awoke to a world transformed by political currents we had stood against. There was the neighbor in an Obama T-shirt getting the morning paper. Every parked car on the street bore an Obama bumper sticker. Had they been there along, or did they pop up overnight?

I’m not surprised by Wolfson’s description of the impenetrability of the bubble–it was always clear he wasn’t aware of his surroundings. But I am curious why their oppo guys–the young kids wandering around after Obama with a camera–could never communicate this message to the campaign. I am curious why Wolfson distanced himself from his friends who supported the Obama campaign. Wolfson was studiously polite when Richardson endorsed Obama–couldn’t Wolfson have used that as an opportunity to understand this excitement? I know it’s important to assess a campaign from hard data–but does that excuse ignoring the qualitative impressions as well (though, arguably, Obama didn’t get the qualitative appeal of Hillary to working class voters until just recently).

Mostly, though, Wolfson could be speaking for the McCain campaign, which seems to be in a similar bubble. Read more →

This Is What Happens When You Use Terrorism Laws to Investigate Hippies

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Jane and Lindsay have been doing great work covering the heavy-handed raids on hippies’ houses leading up to the RNC.

Early this morning, the Ramsey County police raided several homes occupied by people here to protest at the Minneapolis Republican National Convention. It’s believed that these were associated with another raid conducted last night, and the target were individuals associated with a group called the RNC Welcoming Committee.

It’s time, I think, to recall something I reported back in May: lefty groups very much like Food not Bombs were infiltrated by Minneapolis’ Joint Terrorism Task Force earlier this year.

Minneapolis’ Joint Terrorist Task Force is recruiting people to infiltrate vegan potlucks to look for potential–what?–tahini enthusiasts?–in advance of the RNC convention this fall.

If the Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher got it into his head that these hippies were terrorists, this is precisely the kind of thuggish behavior you’d expect. Heck–you’d expect it from the Bush DOJ as well.

Which is all the more reason to find out the precise role of the JTTF in these raids. If the Bush DOJ approved the use of terrorism techniques to prepare for the convention–in spite of the fact that such an approval would violate DOJ guidelines–we’d have a crystal clear example of why it is inappropriate to interpret terrorism as broadly as the Bush Administration has been pushing to do.

My Thoughts on Palin

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Admittedly, I have mostly been driving all day, listening to L. Patrick Gray’s rebuttal to Mark Felt (and Bob Woodward), punctuated by surveys of Nebraska’s and Iowa’s excellent public radio stations (the guy from Minnesota with the Obama bumper sticker who filled up the same time as me was listening to Rush, and warned me that Rush’s comments on Palin weren’t worth the trouble). So these aren’t influenced by all the smart and witty things already said about McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin to be his new girlfriend running mate. But here are my thoughts on Palin.

  1. McCain believes all the BS in the press about the PUMAs–even though none of them showed to the Convention, and even though Hillary and Bill did such a good job reaching out to Hillary voters.
  2. McCain believes women are too stupid to understand the difference between women’s issues–and women. 
  3. McCain saw in Palin a fellow-traveler: someone who makes loud nods to "maverickyness," even while abusing power.
  4. McCain just sacrificed every legitimate claim to environmental creds he had to Palin’s fight against the polar bears. I do hope the DNC does some ads pitting Palin against the polar bears, because Palin’s suit against the polar bears is her one act that affects national governance.
  5. McCain is sinking deeper and deeper into the oil culture that corrupted Bush and Cheney’s Administration. It’s like crack cocaine for Republicans–they can’t keep away.
  6. I wonder whether Paris Hilton’s ad made McCain see the wisdom of running with someone who is hot–rather than another wrinkled white dude like Lieberman.
  7. Apparently, Palin isn’t going to be able to help McCain with his ignorance about Wikipedia culture.
  8. McCain is apparently down to one campaign event a day–though, admittedly, that’s still a laudable activity level for a guy who turned 72 today. But Palin has 5 kids, the youngest a special needs kid. When exactly do these two plan to campaign? Particularly since it’ll take Palin an extra several hours to get anywhere to do any campaigning. 

It’s Palin! Because They Couldn’t Get Geraldine Ferraro…

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Well, the big news of the morning appears to be that John McCain has picked Palin as his running mate. I see this as a brilliant move; one sure to baffle Democrats and lead to victory for the Republicans in November. Palin is a fantastic writer, and his ribald sense of humor will surely offset the growing tendencies of John McCain to be a total angry, old prick. After witnessing the Obama acceptance spectacular last night, it was darn near impossible to envision what the GOP could do to regain some oxygen and momentum.

Boy, was I wrong. Naming Michael Palin, a founding member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, as McCain’s running mate was a stroke of genius that is sure to revive a rotting, dying campaign that….

What??? Oh, wait a minute. I am being corrected; it is not Michael Palin, it is Sarah Palin. Well, who the heck is she? Hmmm, Wiki says:

Born in Idaho and raised in Alaska, Palin played point guard on her high school’s basketball team. She was the 1984 runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant, receiving a scholarship that allowed her to attend the University of Idaho, where she received a degree in journalism. After working as a sports reporter at an Anchorage television station, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council from 1992 to 1996, was elected mayor of Wasilla (population 5,470 in 2000) in 1996, and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 2002. She was elected Governor of Alaska in 2006.

NPR’s Linda Wertheimer was asked by the host of their coverage for her thoughts. Paraphrasing, she said:

“I can’t think of a VP candidate on either party’s ticket whose resume is so thin and weak. Given that McCain’s health is what it is, he’s said that his VP pick is perhaps more important than most presidential candidates. Given that, I just don’t get this choice.”

Wow. Palin really does have a pretty thin CV for the party that only yesterday was carping about Obama’s lack of experience. It does, however, set up a fantastic campaign slogan:

"Sarah Palin: She Hasn’t Been Indicted Yet!"

Of course, she is from Alaska, so that could change any second now. At least this is a well thought out, carefully planned, choice for McCain that will help him combat Obama’s energy policy. Wait, hold on, I am getting another call (these breaking news stories are tough I tell ya; hard work, hard work). Ooops, it turns out that Ms. Palin just a couple of weeks ago was profusely praising Obama’s energy platform; but worry not my friends, there has been an emergency purge of that fact from her website, apparently last night, so nobody should ever pick up on that Read more →

Wow

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Wow.

What a wonderful experience, from start to finish. For about 2 hours, I hung out on the floor with some other DFH blogger types (though they have all gotten hired by the DNC, so I was the slob in the crowd, not wearing a suit). I took about 8 videos like this one, just watching all the people go crazy waving their American flags and dancing to music or hooting at a great line from a speech.

It was a revival meeting, but rather than religion, it was a revival of American democracy. People of every color and age were exalting in democracy.

And, yeah, when Pat Buchanan calls a Democrat’s speech the best convention speech ever, you know Obama hit all the right notes.

But for me, it was the crowd that was most exciting. To see tens of thousands of people just dancing with joy in response to great speech after great speech–even the great speeches of the regular folks–that was worth the trip to Denver.

Checking in from Mile High

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So I trudged out to Mile High with David Neiwert, Lindsay, and Ian (Spencer scored some great seats on the 50 Yard Line, so he’s here, but with a better seat); the line was miles long. Remarkably, there were only a handful of cops there–but everyone was pleasant and well-behaved.

We’ll be watching the proceedings from behind the ABC News tent, out in the sun. Right now, I’m posting from the blogger lounge, which is actually pretty swank but completely full already. Had I known the press file center would have both wired internet access and air conditioning, I would have come here first. 

They’ve started with speakers and bands (the first band was a local bluegrass band).  And Michelle Obama did a paparazzi walk just below the press stands–Neiwert got a pretty good picture. 

I’m going to head out and figure out how I get to the field to visit my peeps from Michigan. I probably won’t post again–this place is mobbed.

It sounds like more fun to go hang with all the people enjoying the fun. See you later.

John McCain Proves Cactus Is Not The Biggest Prick In The Desert

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images-2.thumbnailJohn McCain is famous for his symbiotic love affair with the national press. McCain plopped his raunchy carpetbag down in Arizona, married up the local liquor heiress and suckered her, her family and their friends into fronting every penny of his campaign for the elected office he felt he was entitled to, as a matter of right, for having been a prisoner of war. From that second forward, the press has slurped his fraudulent milkshake. A candy coated prick for the suckers in the press.

The MSM has fawned over him on the 2000 Straight Talk Express, cavorted at his backyard barbeques, and helped him cover his affairs and corruption. But the bloom may be coming off the faded, old, wrinkly rose. The new Time article from Jay Carney and Michael Scherer really shows how dramatically the relationship between McCain and the press has changed.

That was then:

For years, John McCain’s marathon bull sessions with reporters were more than a means of delivering a message; they were the message. McCain proudly, flagrantly refused direction from handlers, rarely dodged tough questions and considered those who did wimps and frauds. The style told voters that he was unafraid, that he had nothing to hide and that what you see is what you get.

This is now:

But his mood quickly soured. The McCain on display in the 24-minute interview was prickly, at times abrasive, and determined not to stray off message.

Boy howdy; Carney and Scherer weren’t kidding either. Check out this exchange:

TIME: There’s a theme that recurs in your books and your speeches, both about putting country first but also about honor. I wonder if you could define honor for us?

McCAIN: Read it in my books.

TIME: I’ve read your books.
McCAIN: No, I’m not going to define it.

TIME: But honor in politics?
McCAIN: I defined it in five books. Read my books.

McCain is so old, addled, and strung out on Karl Rove inspired message discipline that the closest he can come to any of his so called personal honor is to refer to some self aggrandizing fluffer books. Well, that is sure impressive. Or not. Really not.

But wait! There’s more! Read more →

Richardson Bumped to Prime Time

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I was standing with one of the NM bloggers and not far from Bill Richardson’s Presidential internet staffer last night when Beau Biden started speaking. All of a sudden, I realized that Richardson, who was supposed to have a slot in the schedule before Biden, hadn’t spoken. We were in a bit of a tizzy trying to figure out why Richardson hadn’t spoken. 

It looks like they got behind on their schedule, and decided to bump the popular, Latino Western Governor to a prime time slot today at Mile High, before Obama speaks. From DNCC spokeswoman Jenni Engebretsen:

Giving even more Democrats and supporters an opportunity to hear from Governor Bill Richardson, his speech has been moved from this evening to a featured speaking slot tomorrow at Mile High. Because of such an enthusiastic audience response, the long-running schedule led the Democratic Convention to ask the governor if he would speak tomorrow and he graciously agreed. He will be speaking to 75,000 people and a nationally televised audience.

I find this particularly fascinating since, even with Obama’s surprise showing at Pepsi Center last night, they still finished about 15 minutes before 9:00–they’re running a really tight ship timewise.  Though perhaps they hadn’t calculated in time for Obama’s appearance and had to bump Richardson to allow time for that?

Yup, Novak’s Still Up to His Old Ways

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That is, doing Rove’s dirty work for him.

When you put Novak’s anti-Lieberman colum…

McCain backers, plus McCain himself, would pick the pro-choice liberal from Connecticut if they thought they could get away with it.

But they can’t get away with it — and this has been made clear to McCain by none other than Joe Lieberman himself.

Lieberman surely doesn’t know that much about Republican politics, but he has close Republican friends. One of them prevailed on Lieberman to tell McCain that a McCain-Lieberman ticket would be a disaster for all concerned, and especially for the GOP.

…Together with the Politico story on Rove’s involvement in the anti-Lieberman campaign…

Republican strategist Karl Rove called Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) late last week and urged him to contact John McCain to withdraw his name from vice presidential consideration, according to three sources familiar with the conversation.

Lieberman dismissed the request, these sources agreed.

Lieberman "laughed at the suggestion and certainly did not call [McCain] on it," said one source familiar with the details.

"Rove called Lieberman," recounted a second source. "Lieberman told him he would not make that call."

[snip]

The column said Lieberman had made that clear to McCain personally at the behest of a "close friend," but a Lieberman source called that "totally and absolutely false."

Reached by phone, Novak would say only: "I don’t talk about my sources."

…It becomes pretty clear that Rove’s the guy who told Novak Lieberman was told to tell McCain not to select him.

Or, in other words, Lieberman refused to do as Rove wanted (after all that help beating Ned Lamont, Joe? Where’s your gratitude?), so Rove just told Novak Lieberman had done so anyway.

Man, Novak’s getting abused by his sources over and over these days. Again, where’s the gratitude?