Republicans: Just Frigging Nuts

This picture is of a Republican in a stupid squirrel suit attacking Harry Smith. Apparently it is part of the Republican strategy to take down Obama. Not by offering solutions or fielding reasonable candidates, but by bitching about ACORN. What is ACORN, you ask?


Yes folks, apparently the Republicans, the party who pretty much stole the election in 2000, and likely stole some votes in Ohio in 2004, are complaining about Mickey Mouse being registered to vote. I'm sure that a few errant registrations, many of which were marked as fraudulent by ACORN, explains why Obama has a sizable lead on John McCain.

Why, On a day where the Dow dropped another 700+ points, do the Republicans just want to talk about ACORN and Ayers? Because they have no other strategies to play. The Democrats consistently beat them on issues, so its up to Silly Season to take the opponent down. They figure if they stomp their feet hard enough about NOBAMA the TERRURIST, maybe they can reach the magic number of 270.

Hopefully people aren't buying it, are finally getting wise to the stupidity of the GOP's game. Hopefully people realize that the Republicans have lost touch with reality, and that it is time for real change.

My idealistic side hopes that this is correct. But my side that sat through 2004 and watched Karl Rove and his minions tear down John Kerry still makes me worried. Fortunately, Barack Obama is a much better candidate than Senator Kerry.

The List: 10 States to Watch on Nov. 4

Every Tuesday between now and November 4, we'll be putting out a list of 10 states to watch on Election Day.

10. West Virginia

Why it might be important

This state was one of the worst for Obama in the primary, but recent polls have shown a potential for victory here. The very fact Joe Biden is talking about a surprise in the state shows how far McCain has fallen since his post-convention bounce. If this isn't called quickly for McCain (or called early for Obama), expect a wonderful night for the junior senator from Illinois.

Why it might not be so important

Despite some promising polls, the road is probably still far too daunting for Obama to take this state. Although it might not be called immediately at 7:30, it probably will still be called fairly early for Senator McCain.

Direction: Rising

9. Wisconsin

Why it might be important

Despite polls showing the Badger State solidifying for Obama, McCain appears to still feel he has chance in this state. Although its middle of the pack closing time doesn't make it an early indicator, it could still point to the direction in which the night will conclude.

Why it might not be so important

If the polls slide more to Obama's favor, this state will probably move to the likely Obama list, instead of the lean Obama list. With so many indicator states closing before Wisconsin, it very likely will not be a key indicator to the night.

Direction: Falling

8. Missouri

Why it might be important

Missouri is a historical bellwether state. With only 1956 as the exception, Missouri has gone for the winner every year for a long time. For a while this appeared to be a safe McCain state, but Obama has made a push.

Why it might not be so important

McCain is still likely to take the Show-Me State, although excellent GOTV efforts in Kansas City and St. Louis might negate that effect. Like Wisconsin, Missouri is too late to be an early indicator.

Direction: Rising

7. Florida

Why it might be important

Its Florida, and its close. McCain can only win if he takes Florida and Ohio (plus other swing states), and the Sunshine State could be a prime indicator for the election.

Why it might not be so important

Unlike Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004, Obama has a path to victory that doesn't require this state (or Ohio). Getting it would be nice, but losing it wouldn't ruin his night (although it would not be good if Florida was called immediately.

Direction: Stagnant

6. Nevada

Why it might be important

Barring a major surprise in Oregon or Washington, Nevada is the farthest west swing state on the map. Whoever wins this state might find themselves the winner of the whole election. Polls are close here, and it is very possible all eyes will be on the Silver State come election night.

Why it might not be so important

Its late poll closing time will mean that it is very possible the election picture will already be cleared up by the time the results start rolling into Carson City.

Direction: Rising

5. Ohio

Why it might be important

Like Florida, this state is crucial for McCain if he wishes to move into 1600 Pennsylvania. If 2004 was any indicator, expect it to be very early in the morning Wednesday before results come in.

Why it might not be so important

If results don't come in until early on November 5, it is very possible the election could be decided before we know the result. As mentioned with Florida, Obama doesn't necessarily need Ohio to win this year, although we are sure he would love to take home the Buckeye State.

Direction: Stagnant

4. Colorado

Why it might be important

Along with the three states above it, Colorado was a state comfortably won by Bush in 2004. However, shifting demographics, changing circumstances, and a much better Democratic ground game have put this state in play. If Obama plays well here, this might be the state that puts him over 270.

Why it might not be so important

Like Nevada, Colorado's polls close much later than several of the other potential swing states. Thus, the election might be decided before Colorado can give its results.

Direction: Rising

3. North Carolina

Why it might be important

Who would have thought four years ago that the Democrats might have a shot in the Tarheel State? North Carolina closes earlier than many states, and could certainly be a major indicator for the night. Whatever the result, the very fact it is in play has to be a victory for Obama.

Why it might not be so important

The polls in Virginia will be closed sooner than the polls here. Thus, it might be Virginia's (or our #1 state) role to play as the early indicator state.

Direction: Rising

2. Virginia

Why it might be important

Virginia (along with Maryland and DC) gave Obama a commanding lead in the Democratic primary, and he is doing his best to make sure the Old Dominion goes blue on November 4. If this is called early for McCain, it might be the first ray of sunlight for his campaign. If it is called late (or called early for Obama), expect it to be a long night for the Republicans.

Why it might not be so important

McCain decides to concede the election, making the point moot. Otherwise, the only way Virginia becomes irrelevant is if the results take too long that other states put Obama over the top.

Direction: Stagnant

1. Indiana

Why it might be important

Although it is likely McCain will come out with a victory in the Hoosier State, it won't be without a fight. Obama has narrowed the gap here, and it could be an interesting night. Indiana is one of the first states to close, so what happens here could be a prime indicator.

Why it might not be so important

If it takes as long on November 4 to call this state as it did the Democratic primary, Indiana could be irrelevant.

Direction: Rising

Dear President Bush

Dear Mr. President,

Your Administration has been an abject failure. Your unnecessary wars, embarrassing cowboy diplomacy, and general dumbassery has secured your place at the bottom of our Presidential honor list. Hope you like it down there with Warren, Franklin P., James B. and Richard. Please enjoy the last few months of your tenure as this nation dips deeper and deeper into the financial muck. It is oh so bad you didn't get your wish to privatize social security.

Sincerely,

Andrew C. Tate

/Tumbleweeds Rolling By

Sorry for the gigantic lack over the summer and early fall. Unfortunately this exciting election season coincided with a move to a new job and state, and my posting has fallen down as a result. I can't promise anything, but I hope to have some stuff up on this election shortly.

Later,

Andrew

Waiting in anxiety for Gustav

I write the title knowing that while I'm safe and sound in St. Louis for the time being, the true feelings of anxiety lie with those who will actually experience the Category 3 storm or fled from it. I can't imagine what it must REALLY be like just waiting and hoping for the best, which you know won't be that good anyhow. 

I remember the night before Katrina made landfall. I had stayed up all night watching weather reports and following the media "hype"...I remember the genuinely eerie feeling of knowing that as I watched that swirling storm inch closer and closer on the map to the coast that something immensely bad was going to happen and many people were going to suffer and nothing could be done about it. 

I remember wringing my hands watching the CNN live coverage of checking people into the Superdome. The sky was getting dark and I wondered how on earth all those people would fit inside. I remember hearing about the people who didn't want to leave, or didn't think the storm was going to be that bad....and I remember thinking to myself that if I was there and had no way out, I'd rather start walking to get out than sit still. The feeling I felt was like knowing I was going to witness pure chaos...and it was surreal because I also knew I would never actually experience it. 

Thinking back on that night, I realize that my fascination and fear watching the coverage was because I had never seen anything like it before. At 18 years of age, I had never before felt such distress over something so destructive. I didn't "witness" when it made landfall; I had a doctors appointment early that day and ran some errands afterwards. I remember sitting in the parking lot of Target, switching radio stations trying to find some news. Of course, it is still fresh in the minds of many Americans that it was actually much worse than the worst outcome had predicted. 

Now back to the present day. I'm glad to hear, and actually so relieved to hear, that many people did heed the warnings to evacuate. I'm glad to see that maybe, just maybe, mistakes on action won't be repeated. 

Once again, as a nation, all we can do is watch, wait, and pray. 

And the Winner Is...

Joe Biden is the Democratic candidate to be the 47th Vice-President of the United States.

Biden is an interesting choice, as he brings experience to the Democratic ticket. His track record of speaking off-the-cuff is both an asset and a liability, but I'm sure he'll be on his best behavior for the campaign. 

The VP debate should certainly be interesting, especially if Mitt Romney is McCain's choice.

Let's bring on the Conventions and shift the campaign into overdrive!

Gold Medal to Chinese Publicity Disasters

With the 2008 Summer Olympics being held in Beijing, China pounced immediately on this opportunity to heighten their image as a country of peace, prosperity, and sportsmanship. All was going well for awhile and then...hilarity ensued.

Now I realize some people may not agree with me that these PR backfires are as funny as I find them but then again I appreciate the subtle (or not-so-subtle) irony of the situation. I'm not saying that every China-related media frenzy is worth a chuckle (lets not forget the tragic earthquakes and mudslides that occured) but for a country whose government is so hell bent on giving just the perfect image that they'll do ANYTHING to portray it just so....they've had almost everything come around full circle and covered internationally.

It all begin with the running of the torch; the beloved precursor to the actual Olympic events. This year, the torch was met with controversy as protests against the Chinese recognition of Tibet were held. As media swarmed over the on going struggle for Tibetan freedom (which, might I add, isn't necessarily a bad thing) the Chinese government and the Olympic Committee did their best to, well, ignore any relevance to the issue at all, giving themselves a sort of double standard as the Olympic games drew near. This mindset seemed to say "sure, we oppress people in their own native land...but enough about that! Let's put focus back on the Olympics, a true show of humanity and peace, which China is a blossoming example of!"

Thats not really what I find funny though. It starts the way, but in truth its simply world politics at work...and really, theres not that much that even I find hilarious about that.

A few days ago, however, as the Olympics were finally underway the world was met with breaking news; the little darling who sang her heart out in the Opening Ceremony was not, in fact, the actual singer at all. No, the real 7 year old girl who sang was deemed "not cute enough" by a panel of "officials". Basically, this little girl was told she wasn't good enough to represent the image of China and thus a much more agreeable looking child was found to lip-sync. Interviewed later, the snubbed singer Yang Peiyi told China Central Television that "just having her voice used was an honor"...perhaps another attempt at covering this up? In case anyone is wondering, Peiyi doesn't look like the child of Frankenstein; the picture of her in an AP article about the situation showed a cute, bubbly, chubby faced little girl...the kind of little kid that any audience would eat up just as much as they did with the pig tailed Lin Miaoke. Of course, theres going to be those people who say "Westerners don't understand. It's more important that the most beautiful child represent the country that China is trying to portray" simply because they're butthurt over such shallow narcissism...Westerners wouldn't understand? The whole Western hemisphere is obsessed with body image and unreasonable standards of beauty, and even the media still made a big deal out of this child getting the double standard. Way to go China PR, if epic fail was an olympic sport, perhaps you'd have even more gold medals to show off.

Last, but not least, anyone who has watched the womens gymnastics knows what I'm about to touch on....China has two competitors, both said to be 16, whom all were skeptical about. Seriously, you can't tell us that those girls are 16. Even the Chinese media reported on earlier news documentation within the past year claiming both girls to be 13 and 14, respectively. However, the Olympic Committee has given a simple answer; the government-provided passports claim them to be 16, therefore, they must be 16. This is funny to me an absurd sort of way, since fake legal documents MUST be out of the question, despite those things floating around known as FACTS.

So what have we learned from the perfect nation that is China? Douchebaggery is acceptable as long as you have one document saying it is and you are pretty enough to present it. The spirit of humble sportsmanship lives on!