The more people see Giuliani

The more li'l Benito is ending up in the political equivalent of a Milan Piazza.

Statistics compiled by ABC News Political Unit and ABC News' team of off-air reporters indicate that Giuliani held more events in this first-in-the-nation primary state than any other Republican except for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in neighboring Massachusetts. He also spent more on TV ads than anyone except for Romney and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz...

Giuliani's effort here has been Herculean. Romney held 176 events in New Hampshire through Tuesday, primary day, while Giuliani held 126. That's considerably more than McCain, who held 104, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who held 93.

Moreover, Giuliani held more events in New Hampshire than either Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., or Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who are favored to come in first and second (not necessarily in that order) on the Democrats' side.

According to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, Giuliani has spent more money on TV ads in New Hampshire -- $2.5 million through Jan. 1, 2008 -- than any other Republican, with the exceptions of Romney ($7.3 million) and McCain ($3.5 million).

After all this money was spent, Rudy barely held off Ron Paul. No doubt sending Sean Hannity sprinting out of New Hampshire with greater speed than ever.

It all comes back to what Jane Hamsher told me (ed: NAME DROPPER!!!!), the more people see of Rudy Giuliani, the more support he loses. Which explains why, even though Howard Fineman proclaimed him the other winner of the GOP Primary (HA!) Rudy is tanking, absolutely fucking tanking, in Florida where he is spending most of his time now -- and everyone else is just starting to visit.

Honestly, how much does does Howard Fineman make versus how little I deservedly make at this shitty blog? And take into consideration that my pick in the GOP primary was DITKA!?

(photo by Stephan Savoia/AP)

The Villagers have their Pogrom Ruined

Once again, the Villagers, as Atrios calls them, have their dreams dashed.

They were all ready to bury Hillary Clinton, and here she is ruining John McCain's big moment -- and his magic 3x5 cards -- by squeeking out a victory in New Hampshire (both she and Obama each beat St. John by 24,000 and 16,000 votes respectively, but don't tell Broder).

Bill Kristol blames "you dumb broads":

“It’s the tears. She pretended to cry. The women felt sorry for her. And she won.”

What a guy.

Right now David Broder is rubbing his, uh lamp?, trying to summon Mike Bloomberg.

(photo from e-strategy.com)

Bobo's World

An old feature at Eschaton, though Uncle Atrios may have moved on, so I'll reprise it here.

CLEVELAND - A clergyman is accused of stealing about $300,000 from the church he led, taking money from a fund for the poor and stealing parishioners' identities before his imprisonment last year on unrelated charges.

The Rev. Donald Ray Robinson, who was released from federal prison last month after serving time for wire fraud, was indicted Monday on charges of theft, securing records by deception, identity fraud and money laundering.

An investigation began after parishioners of Lane Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church found that Robinson used church property as collateral to obtain loans and laundered money through bank accounts, prosecutor James Gutierrez said...

Robinson told church members last year that he would be going away for 10 months. He was in federal prison in Pennsylvania after being convicted of a real estate scam in Mississippi, Gutierrez said. The Federal Bureau of Prisons said Robinson was released Dec. 14 after serving a sentence for wire fraud.

McCain's Speech

The worst victory speech I have ever seen.

Hoover = Fascist?

A little ditty from the NYT about Hoover and the FBI that I think deserves more attention (ignored in the run up to the caucuses and holiday season):

A recently declassified document shows that J. Edgar Hoover, the longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had a plan to suspend habeas corpus and imprison some 12,000 Americans he suspected of disloyalty.

Hoover sent his plan to the White House on July 7, 1950, 12 days after the Korean War began. It envisioned putting suspect Americans in military prisons.

Didn't see any brown shirts among the Ron Paul folks in Iowa and New Hampshire, maybe Hoover took them all and sewed himself a dress?

What I Can Do For America

When I watched and listened to Senator Clinton's emotional response to the question about how she prepares for each day on the grueling campaign trail, it wasn't the tears that struck me, because good lord it has to be exhausting. What struck me was her words (from WSJ):

Mrs. Clinton said she has helpers. And then she got emotional. "It's not easy. It's not easy," an exhausted-looking Sen. Clinton said, shaking her head. Her eyes began to get watery as she finished answering the question: "I couldn't do it if I didn't just passionately believe it was the right thing to do," she said, her voice cracking. "I have so many ideas for this country, and I just don't want to see us fall backwards as a nation. This is very personal for me."

Those last two sentences are just loaded, and I think represent the problem with the Clinton campaign. It isn't and shouldn't be all about her. Now I'm sure that she would agree that it is about America, a fight for the soul of the country. But the change isn't going to come because she wants it, it will happen because the people will it. The Clinton campaign must fear that is exactly what Obama has tapped. He is not the inevitable candidate, all Obama represents is the force of hope and change.

Update:

Kos notices the whining coming from the Clinton camp:

I see Clinton's surrogates complaining about the unfairness of the media coverage, about how Obama is getting a free pass.

Does this sort of whining ever work? It sure didn't in 2004 as us Deaniacs complained about the governor's shitty media coverage. It looks particularly petty for a former president of the United States to join the whining.

And come on, the Clinton campaign has had surrogates like Begala and Carville embedded in the punditry promoting her campaign from within! Who else had such advantages?

Regardless, the media is unfair. I think we can stipulate that without argument. It sucks. But the Clintons have had every advantage in the world -- just about the entire party establishment. The fact that $100 million, the best campaign team in the (Democratic Party) universe, the bulk of the party establishment, well-placed pundit allies, and a fragmented field haven't been enough to put this thing away for Hillary points to her flaws as a candidate.

It's not the media's fault that people are sick of the Clinton machine and want change. The only reason she has even been competitive is that the "change" forces never coalesced around a single candidate. But even in a fragmented field, Hillary is in serious trouble. God help her if she only faced a single serious candidate. She'd be crushed.

Whining about the media doesn't change that cold, stark reality.

Update II:

At the risk of exposing my softer side, from the other day, my defense of Hillary against unfair press.

DELETE MY FUCKING ACCOUNT...

Important matters of the Day discussed at the Great Orange Satan:

A Petition to Kos to remove the Hitler Kittie Ad

I hope Mary Kathryn Gallagher, or O'Connor or whatever can hold it together during this trying time.

There are also, by the way, actual real and more substantial freak outs being noted at Daily Kos, such as the on-going and ever more voluble RedState crack up.

Yeah, that's about right

Watertiger found a picture of Rudy that, once again, seems eerily familiar.

You and your mistress stay out of Milan, Rudy. Just some friendly advice.

The last year is REALLY the party year

Tim Boyle/Bloomberg News

About 30 700-thread count sheets to the wind.

Shorter Fred Hiatt

Damn, all those unable to admit error in their positions vis-a-vis Iraq. Especially for non-errors.

It's quite rich.

Campaign Pics Part II

In a completely unscientific photographic essay, let's examine the difference between Democratic and Republican groups at one caucus site.

Democrats (over 230 attendees):

Republicans (under 70 attendees):

Says a lot doesn't it?

Monkey waits for Obama

He sure was disappointed that Barak brought no bananas!

Pics from Caucus - Part I

The day of the caucus, Atta J. Turk and I attended several different events.  One event was a Ron Paul - health speech.

We found some very interesting things while there:

Hey, what is that woman recording the video feed for Ron Paul doing?

Hmmm... she appears to be manipulating the sound being recorded by clapping to augment the crowd applause for her guy...

 

The Ron Paul campaign... careful, they'll give you the clap.

From The Enhanced Techniques File

Now we know how Chief Justice Roberts would rule on the torture question, from his questioning today in the lethal injection case:

If these three drugs are "properly administered," the inmate should die peacefully, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told a lawyer for a Kentucky death-row inmate.

Hey, if it's good enough for Fido, it must be good enough for a person convicted by a jury predisposed to the death penalty. Oh wait, it isn't good enough for dogs.

"That's why it is illegal in Kentucky to euthanize animals this way," Verrilli said.

My bad.

But not to worry Scalia wants efficiency, and efficiency he will get.

Justice Antonin Scalia said the defense lawyers are simply trying to stop executions. If the court agrees there are problems with Kentucky's method, "this never ends," Scalia said.

Because after all, there must be death!

Defending Hillary

Over on this little corner of the blogosphere none of us has been the biggest booster of the Clinton campaign but let me tell you one thing that gets my blood going: my Republican relatives and friends that tiptoe around Obama and are ruthless in their evaluation of Clinton, none of it fair or even accurate. Senator Clinton may be a lot of things but she isn't half of the batshit crazy stuff she is accused of, and I'm not even talking about Vince Foster. I am certain of her smarts, her dedication to her family, and her dedication to her country, not to mention being as tough as nails. I don't think she will ever get a fair shake from the Republicans but is it too much to ask from the press? I didn't think so.

Sleazy Sweeney (R - Of Course)

John Sweeney, the Republican congressman who conspired to subvert the Constitution by rounding up a gang of thugs to help steal the 2000 election from the rightful winner continues his very own little Bourgeoise Riot.

Obamania

How one extrapolates nationally from a precinct level turnout and result, or even a statewide result like the one that occurred in Iowa, I don't know. What I can say, having attended a caucus less than one week ago, is that it was impossible to ignore the vibe. I don't think Iowa created it but I do believe that the results here fanned the flames already burning and turned it into an old fashioned prairie fire.

All over the national press, cable telee-vision, the blogosphere, etc., there is word of a Clinton campaign in full-blown crisis mode (here for example). That this fits in well with a narrative the national press prefers given its distaste for Hillary which, as already argued by bigger bloggy blogs than this one, is quite unfair, but I don't think that made a difference here in Iowa. My unscientific observations here, which I believe will be duplicated outside of Iowa, is that the results had nothing to do with press. Senator Clinton received plenty of favorable if not fact-based reporting in the run up to the caucuses.

All you had to do was walk into one caucus site last Thursday to experience the difference between the source of the real energy in the place and, unfortunately for Senator Clinton, it wasn't with her supporters. Right now Obama has the mojo, not Hillary and not even her husband has it.

Hmmmm, sounds familiar...

Perhaps we need to pass the GULF OF TOKIN' RESOLUTION?

U.S. officials: 5 Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats harassed, provoked 3 U.S. Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

Yes, I'm sure those Iranian Rowboats really scared a Nimitz-Class Carrier Task force shitless.

Maybe we should shoot down another civilian airliner?

The Ranger wants Bush Impeached

Each day it seems, more well-known Americans call for impeachment of Bush lite. The list includes George McGovern, Ralph Nader, Rocky Anderson, Daniel Ellsberg, Noam Chomsky, Harry Belafonte, and actor Viggo Mortensen, the Aragorn character in the movie Lord of the Rings. And if the ranger is out to get you...

More than 180,000 Americans  have also put themselves on record supporting hearings. If any of you haven't yet signed Congressman Wexler's petition, please visit this site.

George McGovern's compelling recent article calling for impeachment is here.

Other impeachment resources here.

Hey, Billy Kristol

That Bush Administration government you've been enabling the last Seven Years, HECKUVA JOB!

The average UK person will this year have a greater income than their US counterpart for the first time since the 19th Century, figures suggest...

"The UK has been catching up steadily with living standards in the US since 2001, so it is a well-established trend rather than simply the result of currency fluctuations."

Rather funny

Especially about six minutes in.

Forget all the other problems...

It is time to note that Bill Kristol cannot write worth a shit. He makes Bobo Brooks read like Walter Lippman.

He quotes Michelle Malkin, which is sort of like Theodore Bilbo quoting Simon Legree.

Well,

I guess John McCain is going to win New Hampshire,

The polls still have John McCain comfortably ahead of Mitt Romney in the New Hampshire primary, but I don't believe them. For one thing, McCain has just dragged himself through two of his worst debate performances ever. For another, Mitt Romney--even though under assault constantly in Saturday night's debate--has had two of his best debate performances yet.

Honestly, was that Joe Klein, or Hugh Hewitt's money shot?

After all, on December 31st,

That sound you hear rumbling out of Des Moines appears to be a monumental [Huckabee] implosion.

"Press...here...must...resist...urges..."

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Our Man Mooshy

You can see why Bush loves Musharraf so much, the man is nothing if not completely oblivious to how events affect anyone else but Pervez Hilton Musharraf:

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination was her own fault, the country's president, Pervez Musharraf, said in an interview that aired Sunday on U.S. television...

Still, he added, "if she had not come out of the vehicle, the protected and armored vehicle, maybe we would have seen her smiling face again today."

I can report that Musharraf did not twirl his mustache while making this statement, but it sure did seem like a mafia don tut-tutting a gunned down rival making the mistake of going out for for linguine with clam sauce one too many times.

Meanwhile, John McCain chirped in that apparently he doesn't mind if Moosh stayed in power for at least another "hundred years",

Though Musharraf's popularity at home has plummeted, he retains support from GOP presidential contender Sen. John McCain.

"I think he's a good man," the Arizonan told NBC's "Meet the Press." "But I think he's made mistakes, don't get me wrong. And we've got to move forward with these elections and have them free and fair.

"But I can work with him. He understands the threat to his country that the Taliban and al Qaeda present. And radical Islamic extremists. He's a very smart man. He'd be one of the first to go. They've tried to kill him nine times, OK? Nine times they've tried to kill Musharraf. He's not their favorite guy."

Funny how when it comes to Musharraf, Al Qaeda's success rate is about what the Pakistani military's average is aganist Al Qaeda. On the other hand, when it comes to killing Bhuttos, the Pakistani military's batting average is stunningly high.

Hopefully, someday cross-posted at Firedoglake.

Must See TV

Monday night (8pm Eastern time, repeats at midnight Eastern)

Everyone's pal Keith Olbermann will do puppet theatre on Bill-O's whacked out ego-busting incident this past weekend according to MediaBistro.  So, take some time out and watch Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC for the best in political puppet theatrics. 

Personally, I loved the Michael Jackson Puppet Theatre myself.

Rudy's New Rules

After watching the New Hampshire debate, in which once so-called front runner Giuliani is trying to reshape himself, we see several new campaign rules for Rudy clearly demonstrated in speeches -- especially his campaign stops and debates in New Hampshire:

1. Mention Ronald Reagan whenever possible and connect yourself to him, his legacy, his administration, his policies... any possible connection (whether plausible or not - the more the connection is indirect the better).

2. Stop mentioning 9-11. (see rule #1 for what should replace 9-11) -side note: this is going to be tough, must rewrite all policy statements and speeches-

3. Dress like Ronald Reagan. (helpful if I can study films and walk and gesture like he did as well)

4. Call Judy - Nancy in interviews and public appearances.  (might be helpful if she wore more red dresses)

5.  Smile more.  Reagan smiled a lot.  And its easy.

6. Cock head to the side like the Man himself did while talking.

7. Have Judy legally change her name to Nancy.  (check whether changing my name will have any negative campaign consequences)

8. Instead of being referred to as da Mayor, only allow interviewers refer to me as Mr. Governor.  No one is going to notice anyway and it connects to RR without having to do anything substantive.  (check to see if the transgovernator is taken, it sounds cool and might help siphon away some of the youth vote)

9. Chuckle more when being asked a question. (do not need reason for the chuckle)

10. Begin more statements with a drawn out, "Well..."

11. Find a Bush to be my running mate.  Competency not required.

12. Join the actor's union. (check on this, did I do this already?)

13. Add Al Haig to campaign staff. (he's still alive, right?)

Leaving Iowa

After spending several days in Des Moines for the caucuses it is time for me to leave.  To our good rat pack blogsters and friends I say thank you for all of the kindness you showed one Dirk DeDurkheim.  Given the media frenzy and all around carnival atmosphere, I appreciate everyone's efforts in allowing me to experience the caucuses in their full glory.

Next time, let's get a satellite truck.

Words can Matter

How many Americans listen to the pundits tell us what happened in the Iowa caucuses and base our interpretation entirely on these pronouncements and prognostications?  If we listened to Bobo Broder we would all sit around in a circle holding hands.  Sheesh.

To listen to these media talking heads (apologies to the great band),  Hillary Clinton should shout "defeated" right now after Iowa and the New Hampshire debates.  Seems a wee bit premature to me.  Just a smidgen, really.

Thinking about the interpreters and their interpretations does raise the question of what is said, by whom, and what it means? For example, does anyone see themselves as "working-class?"  Or how about "average American?"  Yeah, right.  And this is why I've said that I think Edwards is on many of the right issues but that he's going about it all wrong.

Edwards who is going to need to do well in New Hampshire in a couple of days -- although for my two cents, he did alright in Iowa and did quite well in the ABC New Hampshire debate -- will be more successful, I think.

Imagine if Edwards could meld his spot on economic analysis with the hope-filled aspirational terms we see from the Obama campaign rather than discussing a staid economy is bad and it hurts.  We must get past the Faux newsies arguments about the GOP lies about wealth and privilege in America.

No, of course, I would never suggesting that there's anything more to the world than political perception... Wha?  Me.  Naw.

Don't Let them Kill the Caucuses

Several so-called opinion makers are on the witch hunt against the Iowa caucuses.  They don't matter, they are not representative, Iowa does not matter, Iowans are not comparable to the rest of the nation... blahty blah and more blah.

As an outsider who observed the caucus process, I want to contend that we need to keep the Iowa Caucus system.  First, it was heartening to see non-politicos, non-bloggers, non-whateveryouwanttothinkof - interacting with the candidates in a way that is direct.  Being asked questions even if not representative of all constituencies or stakeholders (and, yeah the larger states are always representative - come on, give me a break). 

Second, this is democracy.  Yup, its messy.  It is awkward and funky but it gives someone outside of the beltway, outside of the big media outlets an opportunity to give the candidates a tire test -- you know, kick the tires see how it feels, how the car handles -- that is inescapable. 

No Charlie Gibson asking leading questions or Bill-O screaming about how everything is really about him, or Crazy Peg Nooners freaking out about whatever Reagan inspired melodrama she cooks up in that whacked out noggin of hers.  No, Iowa has a level headedness that is refreshing.  It's not about what the punditocracy and freepers tell us to believe, its about a handshake, a question, a look-me-in-the-eyes moment that is hard to experience in the national campaign.

So, for those reasons and more, let's keep the Iowa caucus.

Mark Penn's secret plan

On Monday afternoon, New Hampshire will pass a law making the voting age 50.

In preparation for tonight's FoxNews GOP Debate...

Will someone please give a Hugh Hewitt a splooge towel?

Talk about being in the tank.

Post-Moribund

Frank Rich summarizes the week the "Pundits" from David Broder to Joe Klein had over the last few days and how accurate they were in regard to Obama & Huckabee:

The “they” who did not see the cultural power of these men, of course, includes not just the insular establishments of both their parties but the equally cloistered echo chamber of our political journalism’s status quo. It would take a whole column to list all the much-repeated Beltway story lines that collapsed on Thursday night.

But some are worth recounting because they prove nearly as instructive as they are laughable. The Benazir Bhutto assassination was judged as a boon for Mrs. Clinton because it would knock the silly voters to their senses by reminding them it was no time to roll the dice with foreign-policy novices. Oprah Winfrey’s Obama rallies were largely viewed as a routine celebrity endorsement, while Mr. Romney’s address on “Faith in America” was judged as momentous as “Mission Accomplished.” Only a week ago, Mr. Huckabee was literally laughed at by reporters for his “Howard Dean meltdown” at a press conference where he contradictorily exhibited and then disowned an attack ad on Mr. Romney.

The final Des Moines Register poll — Mr. Huckabee up by six points and Mr. Obama by seven — was greeted with near-universal skepticism. John Edwards and John McCain, we were reliably informed by those “on the ground,” were surging in Iowa.

Meanwhile, the pundits have moved on to impart the same wisdom in New Hampshire by claiming it's stupendously different from Iowa.

Whatever.

When will one of the National Enquirer's psychics be hired?

The Continuing Adventures of Rudy & Judi (Part VIII)

This morning, in the Granite State ....

RUDY: "What are you still doing here?"

JUDI: "Not now, Rudy. I have a headache."

RUDY: "Why aren't you with your boy Romney?"

JUDI: "Romney? What do I want with some empty suit who thinks the Garden of Eden is located in Missouri. Everyone knows the Garden of Eden is in East Hampton on an oceanfront lot south of Montauk Highway."

RUDY: (rolls eyes) "Why do you have a headache, anyway?"

JUDI: "I watched the debate with my ex husbands last night. We each drank a glass of champagne every time you said 'September 11th.'"

RUDY: "Well, take some Tylenol and lets get rolling. We've got about sixteen different appearances today. "

JUDI: "Rudy, listen to me. You've got to get your shit together. Do you think America is ready for a first lady who looks like Aunt Bea from "The Andy Griffith Show?" America can do better. We can do better. I can certainly do better. In fact, I have done better."

RUDY: "Judi, the only thing you've done better is set records for numbers of dogs killed, $5,000 handbags purchased, and microdermabrasion and Botox injection appointments rescheduled."

JUDI: "Listen, Mister 3%, at this stage of the game, you're a big ticket to Loserville. You blow this election and you lose all the dough that's been rolling in and what's more, you lose me. Who do you think is gonna hire Mister I-Fought-The-Evildoers-But-I-Couldn't-Fight-The-Flip-Flopper?"

RUDY: "First of all, it was 3.5% -- and I didn't even campaign in Iowa, Judi. And ..."

JUDI: (sing-song voice) "Sixth place! Sixth place!"

RUDY: (sighs) "Okay, Judi. What do you want?"

JUDI: "I want to get the fuck out of this shithole and head to Florida ahead of you. There's shopping -- oops! I mean campaigning I could be doing in West Palm. You think Huckabee and that bovine battleax are a problem? Wait until I show up down there and show those dried up old prunes how a real first lady dresses!"

Backstory:
Episode I
Episode II
Episode III
Episode IV
Episode V
Episode VI
Episode VII

"Damn, which trust fund to dip into this time...

"Tagg, Ben, Matt...that other one or that one?"

(Via Talking Points Memo)

The Triumph of 3 yards and a Cloud of Dust...

We switched back and forth between the NFL playoffs and the debates last night. I just have to say that I believe that while Hillary Clinton presented herself as more experienced, most people will end up supporting the audacity of David Garrard.

Curiosity

I just have to know something, friends (and I am not running for any office - promise).  Given the fact that there appears to be little movement in resolving the writer's strike (and I have refused to buy some DVDs and watch several television shows in solidarity), this has freed up a lot of time for me. 

I have been reading some books on The Replacements and Roky Erickson and Thirteenth Floor Elevators and catching up on some reading and watching of websites and blogs.  Ah, youtube can be fun, right?  Also, been listening to some CDs -- anyone remember just sitting down and closing your eyes and listening to music?

What are all of you doing with your extra time?  Any suggestions for must reads or must watch lists?  List what you have been doing in the comments section below for all to be inspired.  I know I can use some more suggestions, how about you?

Economy Slides

I was thinking about Edwards performance in the New Hampy debates tonight. I think that Edwards did very well during the debate with Clinton, Obama, and Richardson (memo to Richardson camp, its all over but the shouting).  Edwards may not win the New Hampshire primary but if the economy continues to tank - by the next presidential election maybe even sooner - then the electorate may be ready en masse to hear Edwards's truth-telling about what's wrong with the American economy.

By then, they'll have disabused themselves of the notion that they're rich people waiting to happen aspirational BS or upper middle class denizens or even members of the middle class at all. They may actually be ready to call themselves -- horrors -- "working people." In fact, they may be happy just to have a job.  Forget the fight over affordable health insurance.  It will be hope to even have health insurance, period.

For now though, I bet these upwardly mobile folk prefer to see their problems through the soft-focus lens of Obama's hope-filled viewpoint.  But you can't put food on the table with hope no matter how inspirational it might be.

Clueless Push for Ratings?

From Gawker (though found among many bloggerati), we have O"Really's efforts to generate ratings for his flailing Faux news programarma circus of lies.  So, anyone not think that this confrontation proves that O'R thinks that he is above the rules that are put in place for the safety of candidates?  His efforts to turn this into a big deal is all about trying to get more viewers to his worthless theatre of conservative self promotion.

My advice to all, don't watch the show on Monday. 

Can We Just Elect Him President?

So I go to the link below that brother DeDurkheim posted to the Buzzflash article of Barack Obama by Roland Martin, and find Martin commits the same mistake as so many journalists by casting this as an election for Commander in Chief.

Roland Martin: If you are elected what is the very first thing that you focus on as Commander in Chief of this country?

Barack Obama: Well, we will call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I will give them a new assignment and that is to bring our troops home in a careful, responsible way, but to end this occupation in Iraq. I will call in my Secretary of State and initiate the diplomacy that's needed to make sure that exit is accompanied by negotiations between the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.

Really, isn't it enough to elect him or any one of the candidates President?

Bringing the Troops Home

From our pals at Buzzflash -- Obama's first act as president.  Is this act of bringing the troops home from these Bush family follies the best first act?  What are great first acts of a democratic president after Bush Co?

BoBo Bounces Obama

Watching Charlie Rose (who has a number of problems himself) late last night I was struck by how BoBo Brooks made the comment that Obama does not have experience with statecraft and then noting that the Bush administration does and has done so well. WTF!!!???  Yes, nothing says statecraft like secrecy, lies, and the rendering of the Constitution. Can you get more out of touch then that?

Of course this is the same BoBo who also argued that Cheney is not a Neocon.  And the only problem with  Bush lite is that he is a hands-off president and was only responsible for setting an atmosphere in the White House and that's all.

The Tragedy becomes personal

He wished his death not to be used for political arguments, but I consider this simply a statement of fact.

A soldier who died for the vanity of another, from Hilzoy at Obsidian Wings:

Andrew Olmsted, who also posted here as G'Kar, was killed yesterday in Iraq. Andy gave me a post to publish in the event of his death; the last revisions to it were made in July.

Andy was a wonderful person: decent, honorable, generous, principled, courageous, sweet, and very funny. The world has a horrible hole in it that nothing can fill. I'm glad Andy -- generous as always -- wrote something for me to publish now, since I have no words at all. Beyond: Andy, I will miss you.

My thoughts are with his wife, his parents, and his brother and sister.

D-I-V-A!

I can tell you one thing, Lou's gardener isn't allowed to pull this shit:

TVNewser has received several tips today about a blowup last night between CNN anchor Lou Dobbs and CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein. One tipster writes that Dobbs was upset by a lack of airtime and apparently attempted to leave during the broadcast. Klein told Dobbs to sit down, and that's when "the fireworks went off." A second tipster says that the two, "had it out."

Lou wanted to talk about how Duncan Hunter's sterling performance buttressed his arguments about the importance of "illegal immigration" to the average voter.

Speaking of things we've been warned about

Say what you want about the Iowa Caucuses, it's unwieldy and awkward and susceptible to organizing and peer pressure, but it is also old-fashioned and reliable. Now, finally, the unreliability of electronic voting my finally enter mainstream...and reveal the damage it has already done.

Coming between the Iowa and New Hampshire tallies, this Sunday's cover of The New York Times Magazine ought to strike a chord. It shows a man inside an exploding voting booth with a WARNING label over it and the words: "Your vote may be lost, destroyed, miscounted, wrongly attributed or hacked."

The massive Clive Thompson article, titled "The Bugs in the Machines," is quite chilling. "After the 2000 election," it opens, "counties around the country rushed to buy new computerized voting machines. But it turns out that these machines may cause problems worse than hanging chads. Is America ready for another contested election?" One key passage: "The earliest crtiques of digital voting booths came from the fringe -- disgruntled citizens and scared-senseless computer geeks -- but the fears have now risen to the highest levels of government."

One expert says that "about 10 percent" of the devices fail in each election.

To this point, I've avoided electronic voting machines...at leat as long as a ballot reader isn't considered electronic voting. I do not think the old system was broken, just because "punch card" ballots were fucked. But, what happened in Ohio in 2004 cannot be allowed to happen again, it was at least as bad, if more ignored, than what happened in Dade County 4 years earlier.

Can't say they weren't warned...

But, of course, they never could have anticipated...

An Iraqi soldier shot dead two American troops for "reasons that are as yet unknown" while they were patrolling together north of the capital, the U.S. military said Saturday. An Iraqi official said the suspect has links to militant groups.

Three other U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter were wounded in the Dec. 26 attack, the military said in a statement. The shooting occurred as American and Iraqi soldiers were trying to establish a combat outpost in Ninevah province in northern Iraq.

According to Brig. Mutaa Habib Jassim al-Khazrachi, commander of the Iraqi army's 2nd Division, an initial investigation has indicated that the Iraqi soldier has links to local militant groups.

Al-Khazrachi said the shooting occurred in eastern Mosul as American and Iraqi troops were in a firefight with gunmen.

Oh, that will work

I admit, I know more about Iowa than New Hampshire, having grown up in the Midwest and lived in this state for *sigh* more than twenty years (over the length not the location).

However, what Marc Ambinder describes as Clinton's strategy in that state strikes me as a sure loser. Among the categories are...

3. Find some way to go negative against Obama. Some Clinton advisers and aides say that the campaign have a storehouse of opposition research -- old and new -- that they'll use against Obama. In Iowa, being directly associated with negative attacks is seen as uncouth and un-Midwestern; in New Hampshire, rude remarks as as welcome as questions and answers.

This rings as vastly overstated to me. I really can't believe that New Hampshirites are that much more accepting of going negative than Iowans. The "Union-Leader" is a Republican editorial page, not a Democratic one.

4. Claim that Clinton never had a shot in Iowa because of the state's historical bias against women (it's only one of two to never have elected a woman as governor or member of Congress); that Edwards had cornered the Democratic vote and that Obama ran against the Democratic party and cornered the Democratic leading independents; that for a New Yorker to receive 25 percent of the vote or her is impressive (although.. I distinctly remember an HRC mailing calling her a Midwesterner).

Oh, c'mon! How many African-Americans has Iowa voted for if you're going on that score? Though, neither party has successfully elected a female to one of those offices, it has a lot to do with the fact that it is hard for incumbents to lose here. The State Democratic Party has twice in recent years nominated women to run for Governor. They won the primary for those positions. This is a pathetic canard. And one that we'll remember here if she's the nominee, it is a gratuitous slam of the state.

Sore Loser

Hillary sounded a lot like a sore loser today when she downplayed the importance of the Iowa caucuses. Let me tell you, as an observer living through the whole thing and an active participant, she did not approach it like it didn't matter. The machine she had on the ground was bigger by an order of magnitude than any one that preceded it. Her paid staff was larger than the others combined. She played this thing to win and had a multiple double digit lead just months ago. She got trounced, pure and simple. It just sucks to not meet expectations.

But Markets Are Strong

In Bushworld the prospects for recession, not to mention the reality that some people can't pay their bills, doesn't mean a thing. Why? Because the markets are strong. As long as the rich maintain their wealth by being able to move their money around, the problem just takes care of itself. Hmmm. Reminds me of Bush's savior: Supply-Side Jesus.

TV Worth Watching

Dennis Kucinich will be the guest on Bill Moyers Journal tonight Friday night, January 4. Moyers will look at the media's power to benefit some candidates and disadvantage others.

(Check the schedule of your local PBS station. Bill Moyers Journal is re-broadcast several times on most PBS affiliates.)

Iowa Caucus Loss Excuse-O-Meter™ (Updated)

Some of the excuses posted in last night's Iowa Caucus Loss Excuse-O-Meter post were great, so I added them in bold below. I'm sure they'll come in handy after the New Hampshire results come in next week anyway. So herewith, the Rising Hegemon Iowa Caucus Loss Excuse-O-Meter.™ Chose the excuse for your loss that best fits and then ... onward to New Hampshire!

1. We wuz robbed."
2. "My loss is really a win."
3. "I lost, but everyone else sucks."
4. "I lost, but Candidate X lost worse than me, so really, I won."
5. "I am the Comeback Kid."
6. "It ain't over 'til it's over."
7. "The cold kept our people at home."
8. "The media was against me."
9. "The caucuses started too late/early, were too far away (and the parking sucked)."
10. "'Grey's Anatomy' was on."
11. "My opponent played dirty."
12. "The Caucus System sucks."
    
13. "This is nothing. 9/11 was way worse." (This one is candidate-specific, of course.)
    
14. "Massive Democratic/Underwhelming Republican Turnout in a Red State."
15. "What me worry?"
16. "Iowa is not representative of the rest of the country anyway."
17. "You talkin' to me?"
    
18. "We're taking this campaign to the next most important state: the internet!"
19. "We exceeded our/your/the media's expectations."
    
20. And my new favorite, which I'm calling "The Scarlett O'Hara:" "Tomorrow is another day!"

Listing your Enemies

We all know that websites, wikis, listervs, email, chatting, and more only encourage the best of character.  Yeah, I am chuckling right now too.

Now its time to list your enemies.  Or set aside Friendster and go to Snubster instead.  Aw, the Internet it just brings out the best qualities in humanity, eh?  Maybe the larger question is if we want to legitimize what becomes an advertised hate list - isn't that what an enemies list is all about? Didn't most of us outgrow this when we left elementary school?  Immaturity calling, check.

What are the legal implications if someone truly hates someone on a website and then is accused of acting on those angry feelings? Hmm... Should the website be taken seriously? And should the educational system use this as a way to pre-empt problems that could occur on campus?  Do we even want to go there?

Maybe the Rethuglicans can use something like this?  It will go so well with their brown shirts.  Maybe Peggy Noonan can get behind this...

Random Caucus Thoughts

At my caucus site numbers were double the 2004 turnout.

Both Tom Harkin and Dick Durbin attended my caucus and I had the opportunity to button-hole them on telecom immunity. Durbin showed great judgment in passing on the opportunity to address the crowd.

I am amazed at the hostility some pundits and bloggers have towards the Iowa process. People, don't hate. The caucus, as imperfect as it is, as a process is far superior to writing a name on a piece of paper, punching a card, or filling a ballot. There is a lot to be said for the angry (or at least determined for change) mob and until you have tried it, don't knock it.

Edwards v. Obama

It seems to me that the majority of eligible voters (not the majority of actual voters) have signed out of the process thanks to both parties failing to change their lives for the better.  And the folks last night furious that Obama's supporters are not being good progressive democrats miss the fact that "progressive democrats" have not made the case that they can and will actually create change in ways that impact most people's daily lives.

As I said in the past on this blog, I'm not saying Obama would actually deliver that (and clearly Edwards is closer to an analysis that leads in that direction but he is not good at capturing the spirit) but Obama clearly knows how to message that ... and I sure hope we listen.

This is something I've been mulling over myself in recent weeks as I've studied the split between the progressive blogosphere's support of Edwards and the general success of Obama; especially in light of last night's caucus win.

What some progressive bloggers and commentators tends to forget is that while their -- our -- influence as opinion movers and force multipliers is vast, it's not always good at connecting on a basic level with what the average voter wants. Note that I used the word "wants" and not "needs." While on an intellectual level, we understand the dominance of corporatism and how it's enabled by the right-wing conservative empire, and how Edwards is best positioned to fight that, Obama is expert at appealing to the emotional desires of voters who want an end to arguing and just want things to change.

It's a very simple, primal need that is suffusing the electorate after eight years of being choked to death by Bush and his cronies. Edwards is a stronger "change candidate" (I hate that phrase) than Obama in terms of his policies and willingness to fight hard, but Obama appeals more to those who aren't in the trenches, looking around and seeing nothing but anger, rage, and bickering with little real results.

Edwards has already pushed Obama more progressive on several key fronts, and as the race tightens up between the two of them, I think you'll see even more of that occur as they spar. If Obama commits himself to more progressive values in order to gain more Edwards supporters, I call that a win.

Well, that's not at all good...

Only 18,000 new jobs added in December...the holiday season.

That's about what we had at my Caucus precinct last night.

Can't.Stop.Laughing.

Peggy Noonan, November, 4, 2004:

I do not know what the Democratic Party spent, in toto, on the 2004 election, but what they seem to have gotten for it is Barack Obama. Let us savor.

Indeed.

Sweeter Words Were Never Spoken

Josh Marshall:

The truth is that the Republican party tonight is in complete disarray. The best financed candidate just fell on his face. Their big winner of the evening is opposed by almost the entire establishment of his party. The frontrunner of recent months is lost down in Florida shakily repeating '9/11' under his breath like a hobo who needs a stiff drink.

Andrew Sullivan:

Tonight was in many ways devastating news for the GOP. Twice as many people turned out for the Democrats than the Republicans. Clearly independents prefer the Dems.

Now look at how the caucus-goers defined themselves in the entrance polls. Among the Dems: Very Liberal: 18 percent; Somewhat Liberal: 36 percent; Moderate: 40 percent; Conservative: 6 percent. Now check out the Republicans: Very Conservative: 45 percent; Somewhat Conservative: 43 percent; Moderate: 11 percent; Liberal: 1 percent.

One is a national party; the other is on its way to being an ideological church. The damage Bush and Rove have done - revealed in 2006 - is now inescapable.

Finally, the sweetest words of all:

Permanent Republican Majority

/falls off chair laughing

P.S. These words are pretty sweet, too.

Worth the Wait

Wow, what a speech!  Seriously, I mean it.  Obama did not disappoint.  And it was well worth the wait.  The speech was clear, focused, and powerful.  He spoke to a crowd that erupted -- and by now you all have heard his speech. 

What you can't see are the smiles, the happiness of people who were at the event.  And yeah, I know... many of these people were working for Obama but I tell you there was a sensation in the air.  Something about this was different.  It was more than a victory speech. 

Some of the people all around me in the normally jaded press corp even seemed genuinely moved.  Well, except Joe Klein who apparently was moved in a different way; but that is between him and his proctologist.

The call for unity, reconciliation, and political change were met with thunderous applause from the crowd.  Obama spoke to dreams rather than fears.  He understood the critical historical juncture in which we find ourselves after several years of the criminal gang of Bush and company in Washington. And he wants to restore something that has been violently taken away by them. 

He gave a speech that outlined several meaningful policy initiatives that will be difficult to pursue but are worth the effort. Isn't that one of the most important qualities of a politician? Being inspirational?  How many politicians are truly moving?

Because from inspiration in a common ideal that is more than crass "let the market decide" or "government is the problem" mantra, we build community.  And in trying to build community, Obama seemed different.  He seemed like something we have not had in a while, something that I would call... Presidential.

Postscript

We will add pictures from our big Iowan adventure soon.  There are more stories to tell and pictures to share with all of you.  Check back again soon, ya hear?

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting some More

Near the end of our night, Atta J. Turk and I -- along with a few thousand of our very close personal friends -- awaited the candidate of the night:  Barak Obama.  The same drum cadence being played over and over for 20+ minutes. 

We even saw the yellow clad Obama fly girls showing the crowd their exciting dance moves.  Nothing says presidential like having your own dance coterie.

The press corps with whom we were bivouacked waited for Barak to make his statement about his win in this evening's caucuses.   We have to assume that his campaign is going to time his statement to go after all of the other candidates and to come around 11pm Eastern time.

Let's wait to see what he has to say.

Press Do your Job

Sitting here looking at all the smug reporters and media who have failed to do their job for eight years.  I am struck by an irresistible impulse to shake them.  Demand that they do their job.  Not let the right-wing punditocracy shape the dymanic and context for the election. 

Will they do their job or will they phone it in?

I am not going to hold my breath.  You?

Caucusing Part I

Well, Attaturk and I went to some caucuses for the democrats and republicans and I was mightly impressed with the dems.  They were exciting and energetic.  These people were fired up.  And then there was the republican caucus.  They were down.  They seem depressed or resigned.  They had little fire or enthusiasm.

And during the republican caucus when people stood up and spoke for several of the campaigns, when it was time for someone to speak about Giuliani -- no one said a thing and several people giggled.  Interesting.

Iowa Caucus Loss Excuse-O-Meter

Well, the results are in and no doubt, some of you are feeling better than others. For those in the latter camp, I offer the Rising Hegemon Iowa Caucus Loss Excuse-O-Meter. Chose the excuse for your loss that best fits and then ... onward to New Hampshire!

1. "We wuz robbed."
2. "My loss is really a win."
3. "I lost, but everyone else sucks."
4. "I lost, but Candidate X lost worse than me, so really, I won."
5. "I am the Comeback Kid."
6. "It ain't over 'til it's over."
7. "The cold kept our people at home."
8. "The media was against me."
9. "The caucuses started too late/early, were too far away (and the parking sucked), and were on a Thursday and 'Grey's Anatomy' was on."
10. "My opponent played dirty."

(Feel free to add more excuses in comments.)

Getting Ready to Go Caucusing

Well, alright I cannot caucus but I can observe the discussions among the average Iowan.  Attaturk and I are getting ready to go out and attend a caucus here in Des Moines.  Things we expect:

1. No one is going to mention the "mansion" home of Edwards like the mainstream media constantly do.
2. Evangelicals are going to come out for Huck
3. Romney is not going to get as big a return for the money the campaign has spent.
4. Media pundits will talk about high turnout after its over.
5. Iowans will be happy to get their city and state back.

Wish us well as we enter the fray.  

Heading over to see R.P.

Before noon, Atta J. Turk and I headed over to see Cap'n Ron and his not-so-hardy mates.  We noticed several interesting things about the Cap'n's peeps.  They tend to be older, middle, and younger. 

Yup, some of them are wearing the Reagan uniform of the 1980s -- red ties, white shirts, khakis, and brown shoes.  But some of them have flock of seagulls type hair, wore mostly black, and had that faint look of rebellion (or at least the prepackaged form of rebellion sold at the local thrift store).  Several folks brought their children with them as well.  It was a strange menagerie of politicos and bored disinterested others who were forced to attend this event.

Some of these people should be over at a Kuccinich rally we thought.  Some should be over with the D.A. Fred and his more conservative than thou crowd.  Yet, perhaps this speaks to the odd freakish charisma of Cap'n Ron?  Or maybe it speaks to the wide spread of the nut-ball right-wing?  Or was it the free box lunches with Cheetos.  Score!

A Monkey & a Bear?


I was wondering what Horatio Sanz was up to.

Costco Collisions

So, you are a blogger with a need for a giant tub of pretzels, some backbacon, and wanting to talk with Iowans who have not been repeatedly debriefed by the mainstream media, where do you go?

I puzzled until my puzzler was sore and it hit me.  Go to Costco where you can buy items in massive quantities in a huge warehouse and chat with some folks there over the free samples of nasty soda and pasta cups -- yup, little pasta cups.  Not bad really.  Samples of soda, not good.  Yuck.

In a completely unscientific fashion, I sauntered up to several Iowans and after making small talk about the weather, hey its what people talk about here in the Midwest, I asked if they were going to "go caucusing."  Sure enough, several people said they were going and some of them said it excitedly.  Not everyone in Iowa is jaded by the media frenzy.

However, after talking with several people a pattern began to emerge: people who are interested in Democrats are excited and ready to go caucusing, while the Republican supporters are not as enthusiastic.  Two people I spoke with who are supporting some Republican candidates are not going -- either because they have to work, have a family to take care of, or are just not interested in their candidates. 

The Dem supporters were enthusiastic and immediate when asked if they were going.  One has to wonder if this means a lack of enthusiasm for the GOP.

Boy, I hope so.

Checkmarks are not always a Good Thing

While the media frenzy taking place in Des Moines, Iowans are not as star struck by the whole process and punditocracy.  In fact, I have overheard several Iowans complaining about all the media trucks blocking roads in downtown Iowa.  "It's like the O.J. Simpson case," one person on the street remarked.

Talking with some Iowans here in Des Moines as they prep for the caucuses, they are tired of the incessant campaign commercials and the "calling at-all-hours" from campaign staffers and so some Iowans have taken to keeping track of the calls and place checkmarks by the names of candidates whose staff are calling them and... the candidate with the fewest checkmarks gets support.

Call it reverse contact.

All Things Considered, I'd Rather Be In ...

Iowa?

You know, I like to consider myself the Angie Dickinson of the Rising Hegemon Rat Pack. But with Attaturk, DeDurkheim, and Champollion (respectively, the Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, and Dean Martin of our little crew) out galavanting in Iowa with the likes of Jane Hamsher and Jeralyn Merrit and me stuck here in frigid NYC, I'm beginning to feel more like poor Nancy Barbato, who had to stay home and seethe in Jersey while Frank carried on with Ava Gardner and Lana Turner out in Hollywood.

I'll have to see what sort of trouble I can get into while the boys are away...

My mayor has obviously grown bored with his job. Good. Go back to running your company. I can think of a couple of great people to run the show here in the Big Town, starting with this guy.

What does Karl Rove value above all in his friends? Read this, and then marvel at either his total lack of self-awareness or his ability to lie with impunity.

The article is unfortunately not online, but if you're hankering for something interesting to read, you could do worse than to check out Mystery on Pearl Street by Burkhard Bilger in the current issue of the New Yorker.  

Finally, following up on yesterday's screed, as always, driftglass says it better than I ever could (plus, he got into the Photoshop again).

Word for the Day

How wrong will the pinheaded pundits be revealed to be tonight?  Quite wrong I imagine.  So, let's call them what they are from the Word-a-Day folks:

commentariat (kom-uhn-TAR-ee-uht) noun

The group of people who provide opinion and analysis of events in the news.

[Blend of commentator and proletariat. The term was first noticed in a 1993 article in the Washington Post.]

Examples of people who comprise the commentariat: talk show hosts and their guests, newspaper and magazine columnists, and political bloggers.

-Anu Garg

"This outcome should not have surprised anyone with the wit to examine the opinion polling. But most of Australia's conservative commentariat  refused, until faced with the actual results, to believe that their  nation's sagacious voters would be so ungrateful as to throw their  favourite overboard."
  - Frank Bongiorno; Rudd Ends Opposition Years; New Statesman (London, UK);  Nov 26, 2007.

Under the Radar

clore has just posted in the Eclectic Journals forum of C. L. Writers' Forums under the title of Most Underreported Stories of 2007.  Check out the thread...

Everything comes back to Gilligan's Island

In honor of the political circus in Iowa, I offer the only prescient analysis that one can offer in these times...

Skipper: Professor, will you tell these people who is in charge on this island?
Professor: Why, no one.
Skipper: No one?
Thurston Howell III: No one? Good heavens, this is anarchy!
-- _Gilligan's Island_, episode #6, "President Gilligan"

Being Discovered in Des Moines

On the way out of our uber awesome meal with a gaggle of bloggers, Attaturk and I ran into Dana Milbank who was trying to have an anonymous meal at Des Moines' best restaurant. Of course, it isn't hard to be anonymous when you appear on Keith Olberman's cable telee-vision show that only real nerds like us watch, but hey, who's complaining?

Me: Mr. Cilizza, I love your work on Hardball.

Attaturk: No dummy, that's EJ Dionne, he's much too young to be Chris Cilizza. Please excuse my friend, he gets all excited when he sees someone who knows Chris Matthews.

No, that didn't happen. What actually happened is Milbank recognized the red fez and knew right away he was in the presence of real celebrity, gave us a card and Keith's cell number. We're negotiating for a spot sometime during the Oddball segment, or perhaps at the end of Keith's show when they have FM rock radio personalities wax eloquent on the current state of American Idol. We'll do a schtick that will be perfected during a run on some small town college radio station before we take it to Olberman. I'll keep you posted.

On the one hand...

I stayed up far too late last night, by my standards.

On the other hand, by tomorrow Joe Klein and Chris Matthews will be out of Des Moines!

Last night Champollion and I took Jane Hamsher, Jeralyn Merritt, and their friend Linda to dinner at a great restaurant on the east side, Lucca. It was lovely to see them -- them and their massive blog traffic. Of course, they actually do activist organization, journalistic work, and substantive analysis.

I do K-Lo photoshops.

And people dare to question my business plan!

Meanwhile, DeDurkheim is here too, so three of your four bloggers at this middling blog are in Des Moines at the same time.

That's one better than the attendance at "Yearly Attaturk".

In an Undisclosed Iowa Location

Well dear friends after some weather related mishaps, I finally find myself in a secure undisclosed Iowan location with none other than our snarkmaster mastersnark Atta J. Turk.  We will be attending the caucuses to experience the entertainment extravaganza that is Iowa politics. 

I know, I know... can't you just feel the electricity?

Any suggestions for what we should do or events that we can attend are welcome.  Personally, I am voting for the snow ball fight with Obama and making snow angels with Thompson -- you just have to remind him that we are not making Reagan angels. I just don't get it.

I am immediately struck by some indisputable facts.  First, the Edwards supporters are all upbeat and handsome.  No, really.  They look good.  While we have not been to too many events tonight, the Edward supporters are quite happy, attractive, and excited.  As they leave the rally with Johnny Cougar Mellencamp, they were all singing "We're just a lovely bunch of Coconuts" or that Chevrolet commercial or maybe it was some other song. 

The second fact is that there are many, many, many political commercials on Iowan TV where the candidate are all trying to look like they are caring, intelligent, and down-to-salt of the Earth people. Who knew? 

And finally, it appears that the Thompson people handout many Law and Order DVDs which is cool because apparently Thompson looks very presidential and in total control in them.  Personally, I watch them for the squeaky assistant DA not commander 'aw shucks.'

That's all we have so far...  Wish us luck.  Send snacks.

Stay tuned for more.

The Hillary Machine

Asked very early in this process, probably more than six months ago, by a local friend of the Clinton's, and an acquaintance of mine (he is a big honcho in local Democratic party politics) who I was supporting, my answer was: not Hillary unless and until she becomes the nominee. Like everyone else I have my reasons why I am not supporting Hillary yet--which I can assert without becoming too snide while talking to her supporters. The response from the friend of Hillary was, in essence, you will come around. So the reason I wouldn't declare for Hillary, and what I told our mutual friend, is that I did not like being told whom to support. I did not want to support the candidate that the machine supported, having been so let down by the machine the last two presidential elections.

Hillary has been the machine candidate since, well forever. I am told she has signed up four thousand people to drive voters to caucuses (Kerry by comparison had 300). I don't know whether being on the Letterman show will give her any advantage tomorrow, but Obama and Edwards had better have their organizations ready to roll or they will get trampled by the Clinton machine.

You know things are bad...

When this is your headline:

Pakistani refugees head for Afghanistan

I do believe that is the epitome of tragic irony.

So, when the the Kenyans start fleeing into Uganda to be close to the Rwandans?

Comforting the Comfortable Since 1851

I know I'm behind the curve here, but the news about the NYT hiring William Kristol falls into the "Shocked, but Not Surprised" category as far as this res is concerned.

Someonce once said that the job of the journalist was to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Contrast that with the NYT's mission, especially in the last fifteen years or so, which has been to comfort the comfortable under the banner of Grand Dame of the "Liberal Media." Witness the NYT's odious "Styles" section, its reprehensible real estate coverage, and the increasingly (and ridiculously) far-flung locations featured in its "Escapes" section. And those are just the paper's consumerist oases! A full discussion of the mendacity of the Op-Ed and the business sections could take years and cost millions of lives. And yes, I know that Kristol is technically an opinion writer, but I'm sure he'll will continue this grand NYT tradition.

In any case, what really irritates me is that when a real journalist -- someone who did take seriously the "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" mission -- makes the rare appearance in the NYT, it's as a subject in the damn year-end Lives they Lived issue.

Silent Endorsement?

So, the Huck is going to be on Leno's return show tonight (sans writers) the evening before the Iowa Caucuses.  Is it fair to do so?  Is this a silent endorsement?

Babies got no Stinkin' Rights

The main writer of Arizona's new employer sanctions law is crafting a series of new legislative measures and maneuvers aimed at people who entered the U.S. illegally -- read: people who do not look like them. Russell Pearce, a Republican serving the Mesa area, says he is introducing these "much needed new measures" this legislative session to accomplish his many objectives:

● Deny regular birth certificates to babies born in Arizona unless at least one parent proves citizenship.
● Expand the state crime of trespass to cover anyone in the U.S. without authorization.
● Require proof of legal presence in the U.S. to register a vehicle or get a title.
● Deny workers' compensation benefits to undocumented workers injured on the job.
● Bar local policies that prohibit police officers from checking the immigration status of those they encounter.

Is it possible that he is afraid of babies in addition to people who do not look like him?  Of course, we are all aware that these are the same Mesa Republicans who are afraid of clones.  Personally, I like babies.  They are cute.  I enjoying living in a society where some people look like me and some don't.  And I cannot wait until I can make a few clones to help me with my workload.

Quote for the New Year

As we approach the Iowa Caucuses tomorrow...

To be GOVERNED...
"... is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so. To be GOVERNED is to be at every operation, at every transaction noted, registered, counted, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorized, admonished, prevented, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is, under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be placed under contribution, drilled, fleeced, exploited, monopolized, extorted from, squeezed, hoaxed, robbed; then at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, vilified, harassed, hunted down, abused, clubbed, disarmed, bound, choked, imprisoned, judged, condemned, shot, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed, and to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, derided, outraged, dishonored. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality!"

Why I like Kuccinich

Even though he will not win the Dems nomination...

"Obviously, I connect with all religions," says Representative Kucinich (D) of Ohio, in the midst of his second presidential campaign. "All manners of belief and even non-belief come from a common font, and that is the transcendent power of the human heart.... All those things that would separate us are based on misunderstandings of our nature."

Gosh, someone who thinks, is tolerant, and respectful of others becoming president.  A blog guy can dream, right?

Thanks for Coming. Now Please Go Home.

Dear Tourists,

I've had enough. You've exhausted me, tried my patience, and zapped whatever goodwill I possessed when you started to overrun my home last summer. My tolerance reached its apex yesterday, when I noticed clumps of you wandering around the far, far West Village poring over your maps and oggling God-knows-what on what would have otherwise been a quiet New Year's Day. I don't know if you were looking for celebrity residents of the Richard Meier apartments on the West Side Highway, if you missed the White Horse and just found yourselves in unchartered territory, or you were just looking for a place to brunch, but I've had enough. It's time for you to go. It's too cold here now, anyway. Please, please, please get out of my city at least until the spring thaw. Leave me MOMA on free Friday nights. Leave me the Corner Bistro for lunch. Leave me the sidewalks of midtown, for God's sake. You've bought enough marked-down cashmere sweaters, sexy Apple electronics, and $100 knock-off bags to schlep back to Manchester, Rotterdam, and Liverpool. You've seen "the tree" at Rockefeller Center. You've taken enough photos of Times Square. There's nothing for you here now except gray skies, slushy gutters, and wind-whipped cross streets. Go to Miami. Go to Honolulu. Go to L.A. It's warmer in all of those places.

I know you'll never go away forever, but just leave New York to the New Yorkers for a few months, okay?

xxx...res

Music Quality

Ever sit there listening to a CD and you wonder why it does not sound as dynamic as vinyl? Don't remember vinyl? How about your listening to something and you wonder why the different pieces of the drum kit sound equally loud or mushed together?

Why does the sound of a CD feel smashed together? Why does it sound so damn loud even in the soft spots?

Blame the overuse of sound compression and extensive overuse of other forms of sound manipulation.

David Bendeth, a producer who works with rock bands like Hawthorne Heights and Paramore, knows that the albums he makes are often played through tiny computer speakers by fans who are busy surfing the Internet. So he's not surprised when record labels ask the mastering engineers who work on his CDs to crank up the sound levels so high that even the soft parts sound loud.

Over the past decade and a half, a revolution in recording technology has changed the way albums are produced, mixed and mastered — almost always for the worse. "They make it loud to get [listeners'] attention," Bendeth says. Engineers do that by applying dynamic range compression, which reduces the difference between the loudest and softest sounds in a song. Like many of his peers, Bendeth believes that relying too much on this effect can obscure sonic detail, rob music of its emotional power and leave listeners with what engineers call ear fatigue. "I think most everything is mastered a little too loud," Bendeth says. "The industry decided that it's a volume contest."

Now producer David Bendeth is talking about the tinkering with, and degradation of, audio. This is the man who single-handedly took four Elvis Presley songs, remixed them for the dance market and created the funky version of "A Little Less Conversation" that was added onto the exceptional "30 #1 Hits" so he knows a bit about sound manipulation --good and bad.

For my money I don't think Bendeth differentiates clearly enough between the tool of compression and the hideous overuse of it (which is the heart of the problem) that plagues modern sound recordings.

Update 01-02-08

From our friend, Cuddlefish, there is an excellent analysis of the overuse of compression here.

For those of you who don't live in Iowa

Let me advise you, it is FUCKING cold here right now.

For those of you who live north of Des Moines, sucks even more to be you I guess.

Meanwhile, last night Mike Huckabee tried to pretend that the bass player gets all the chicks. He had Chuck Norris there to grunt about the "Total Gym" or whatever the hell he also endorses late at night with another great thespian Christy Brinkley.

REUTERS/Andy Clark

Let's just say that John Entwistle's dead and this is what we get in return?

Oh, thanks a LOT Jeebus!

Hey, which do you think has had more work done, the Huckabee stomach or the Norris face?

What the hell is it with Chuck Norris & John Derbyshire anyway? They both get they're asses kicked by Bruce Lee (same movie even) and suddenly their Republican Xenophobes.

Does sort of look like me...

Pansypoo alerts me that I may have been temporized in Wisconsin.



Fairly accurate, except needs to be whiter and far too happy. I do, however, have broom handles for arms...making me the perfect cop for the Giuliani-era.

Blogging The Caucuses

The countdown has started for Thursday night's festivities. Des Moines is crawling, literally crawling, with famous and lesser known media-types following around the candidates and their campaigns. No, I am not referring to any of the middling quadrumvirate, though Res Ipsa will be pining away the next several days while the rest of us live the life of Riley on better beer than we normally drink on the $53.38 that has been thrown into the till over on the left. Maybe we can even upgrade to wine with real corks.

I expect all of us and others to be posting about this subject matter over the next several days but let me just address a couple things about caucuses. First, contrary to the popular reports in the press, people don't have to stand up in front of their neighbors and make a stump speech. That said, despite the faults associated with a caucus as opposed to a primary, it really is an energizing event to attend. While people don't have to make stump speeches, it is fascinating to watch the precinct captains and neighbors bargain for the support of people whose candidates can't get the threshold numbers--why this whole second choice phenomenon is huge.

As for me, other than the fact that I want to support Dodd for his recent fillibuster, I would be supporting Obama or Edwards. I expect that all but the top three will not get their numbers, so where does that leave the other three? I will leave that speculation to people like Matt Stoller. All that said, I am scratching my head at the way Obama has been running his campaign in the 11th hour--like he is listening to consultants a little too much.

Finally, and until tomorrow, the last misconception I will address is Stoller's assertion:

My next post will start with 'I was talking to a cab driver,
and he told me that Iowa is flat.'

Have you ever been to Nebraska?

New Years Wishes for Everyone

"I wish you more for the New Year than words can express, peace of mind and rest of your body, supreme satisfaction in your personal life, and in your work.  Much joy and some happiness snatched from a mad and bloodthirsty world."  - Emma Goldman 1939

Old Arguments with a New Label

Ah, more right-wing religion is under attack nonsense...

Characterizing Hitchens' work as "screechy and intolerant" and "shrill hectoring" may be fair (I haven't read his book, but How Religion Poisons Everything is a pretty unambiguous subtitle) but lumping Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series with that is nonsense.

And saying that there's a genetic predisposition towards religiosity doesn't say one thing about the existence of a creator. To be honest, the whole piece feels like a series of strawmen being set up and knocked down.

But isn't that the normal form of right-wing analysis?

Negative is as Negative Does

Poor ol' Huck hits back.  Whatever happened to "turn the other cheek?"  Yeah, I know, I know.  Nothing like trying to stay above the fray or pushing principle when you hands are dirty from flinging mud right back, eh?

Standing before a banner reading "Enough is Enough" and flanked by five large charts attacking the record of rival Mitt Romney, a haggard-looking Huckabee said that the fight to win Thursday's Republican caucus had gotten "out of hand" and "out of control" and that he would refrain from any more negative campaigning.

Huckabee's unorthodox media event comes as a barrage of new polls has battered his lead in Iowa and put his campaign at risk of crash-and-burn. Some of those surveys now show Romney regaining a lead he had maintained over most of the year until Huckabee began to surge ahead in recent weeks.

"Conventional political wisdom is that you must counter-punch," the former Arkansas governor said. "When you get hit you should hit back. And every bit of advice I have been given says that is exactly what we should do." Huckabee explained that he, indeed, prepared and produced a TV spot attacking Romney, sent it to local TV stations but had just given the directive to pull it from airing. "This morning I ordered them to hold the ads," Huckabee said. "From now we will run only ads that say why I should be president not why Mitt Romney shouldn't be president."

Then, amid loud gasps and laughter from the more than 150 reporters on hand, Huckabee announced he would show the assembled press the same ad. As dozens of TV cameras whirred, and after two false starts, the 30-second spot assaulting Romney's record was shown in full. The tag line of the spot ended with the narrator saying of Romney: "If a man's dishonest trying to get the job, he'll be dishonest on the job"

This story reads like something from The Onion or the 1970's Saturday Night Live... but it happened.  Meltdowns are such fun...

Nail in the Coffin

Is this the end of the music industry?

Still, hardly a month goes by without a news release from the industry's lobby, the Recording Industry Association of America, touting a new wave of letters to college students and others demanding a settlement payment and threatening a legal battle.

Now, in an unusual case in which an Arizona recipient of an RIAA letter has fought back in court rather than write a check to avoid hefty legal fees, the industry is taking its argument against music sharing one step further: In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.

Wow, how do you enforce something like this?  Why would the music industry (at least that part of it represented by the RIAA) go on a crusade against the fans and consumers that keep them in jobs in the first place? 

Now, the brief doesn't charge the guy with taking his own CDs and putting them into his own computer, but with putting them into a public folder on his computer, which could be accessed by others.  So  the issue is still unauthorized distribution, just on a much smaller scale than one of the P2P networks.

I would argue that the RIAA's days are numbered. EMI is pulling their "protection" money as the new CEO there has realized the RIAA hasn't actually been effective in stopping the decline of the theft or in recouping lost revenues through lawsuits.

Even with 20,000 people sued (whose restitution payments, when convicted, would have to be split between the big four major labels), EMI is still giving the RIAA millions every year to represent them. EMI has realized the millions could be better spent elsewhere internally to deal with fixing the problem of shrinking sales rather than having someone police a format shift that should have been monetized FIRST, then sanctioned.

Until then, I suggest folks only support music created by NON-RIAA affiliated artists and labels. There is zero fear of recrimination if they find your computer is filled with music they don't represent.

Can you think of any other industry or trade group that is so hell bent on alienating its consumer base?

Let's take the high road into 2008

With some culture, inspired by Athenae:

Thought(s) for the Day

"Love, work and knowledge are the well-springs of our life. They should also govern it."

--Wilhelm Reich, 1897 - 1957

"I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it."

--Sir Michael Phillip Jagger, b. 1943 & Keith Richards, b. 1943

Nincompetent

I wanted to go to the 'Hill & Bill Rockin' New Year's Eve' but both my friend and I fell asleep.

That's just how lame I am.

But dammit, I had to get up early to entertain a very small subset of America!

Where's my fucking Medal of Freedom?

Snitchens

"The undemocratic caucuses are a terrible way to choose a presidential candidate."

I agree, it is true.

Meanwhile, in other Hitchens' news:

"Drinking alcohol continuously is a GREAT way to be an alcoholic"

It goes without saying

But I'll say it anyway:

Times Square celebrates 100th ball drop

100 teabaggings in Times Square in 2008 already?