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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Palin Brings Her Dad to Beat Up "Mean" Katie Couric; Instead World's Most Uncomfortable Interview Ensues

Monday Night Gov. Sarah Palin returned to CBS News with her dad running-mate John McCain for another round with the perkiest network anchor in the biz, Katie Couric. I don't know if he or she or they helped themselves much. Even though I've heard that this dual interview was scheduled long in advance they HAD to know what this would look like.

A parent/teacher's conference.

Katie: Sarah hasn't been doing very well with her oral exams. I don't think she's been taking her studies serious enough.

John: I assure you I am working very hard with Sarah and her tutors and she is prepared and will be prepared for her big test on Thursday. I promise. She promises. She's ready.

Sarah: But Dad, if I could just say ...

John: Quiet you!

And for bonus points, Couric STILL managing to get the goat of Palin with Palin's own gaffes, sidesteps and faux pas. She is really making Couric out to be a far better interviewer than she's ever been. I mean, Couric is not known for bludgeoning or out-smarting her guests. She kills with kindness and Katie's one more interview of doing the work of The George Will Revolt for them.

And at last check, The George Will Revolt now includes: ringleader George Will, David Brooks, Kathleen Parker, David Frum, Peggy Noonan, Mike Murphy and the son of William F. Buckley, satirist Christopher Buckley, who, like a good satirist, has made fun of this entire sorted affair (but is sympathetic to the poor dear).

Leslie Sanchez, a person who I'm going to bite my tongue and describe as "not stupid," labeled these individuals as part of the conservative intellectual elite. (Is elite the new "bastard" or N-word now?) So did Bill Bennett. This is laughable considering Sanchez and Bennett aren't exactly slumming it with the degrees, advanced degrees, fancy white collar jobs and radio shows and such. These individuals aren't exactly Larry the Cable Guy.

Larry actually has a purpose. He makes people happy. And he's acting. I've interviewed the man before. He just plays an idiot. In the real world he's a smart, capable entertainer who created a lucrative market for himself -- the undeserved subgroup who read Jeff Foxworthy's "You know You're A Redneck If ..." and clamored for more.

I honestly don't know what Sanchez and Bennett do for the human race other than play good little soldiers on this Palin thing. And that's really what this is about. The separation between the conservatives who won't go along to get along and the troopers. Sanchez is a trooper, as is Bennett, Amy Holmes, Alex Castellanos, Sean Hannity, etc. are all willing to reserve judgment, to bite the tongue, to keep the faith unless the wheels completely fly off.*

Some snap sooner than others (see Murphy, Mike). But he might have stayed on the reservation if he'd realized that camera was still rolling when he and Noonan went all "IT'S OVER! McCain '08 is DOOOOOMED!" in regards to McCain picking Palin.

It's only when shit officially hits the fan that out of exasperation (and shame) that they put down those buckets of water they're carrying and mutter something that sounds like doubt.

Until then -- of COURSE Sarah Palin is qualified and I'm a sexist for pointing out her weaknesses!

Sidenote: Couric is STILL releasing more of her interviews with Palin. Hasn't she put that woman through ENOUGH?!?!?! Couric is a cruel news mistress.


*These individuals should not be included with characters like Pat Buchanan, Bay Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly. While all these individuals are right wingers their ego and personal issues supercede party politics. So they're a little unreliable, and with the exception of maybe the delightfully hateful siblings Buchanan, if it's between you and their ratings you're going down mother fucker!

Who's Party Is This Anyway?

This segment from The Rachel Maddow Show Monday night was illuminating. If you're a Democrat you know who to blame when things go wrong -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. For good or for bad, the buck often stops with them. Lord knows I find Harry Reid especially maddening. But this recent vote that doomed the bailout was an eye-opener about who "the man" in the Republican Party.

It's not John McCain, whose campaign suspension to get to "work" in Washington, D.C. resolved nothing. Or Rep. John Boehner, the minority leader in the House who took his coalition to the floor on a prayer that they had the votes only to find they did not. And it's definitely not President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney who could no longer Billy Goat Gruff the freepers into submission.

Politico.com is running a host of stories on what a death knell this could be for McCain, Boehner and the progressively lamer than lame duck presidency of George W. Bush.

Boehner's story was actually sad to me. While I typically abhor the man, I even moreso hated how the man before him, Texan Tom DeLay. DeLay bullied, lied, emasculated, double-crossed, threatened and beat down any Republican who dared to air a different opinion. Boehner retired the wrath of The Hammer, but his reluctance to be a blood-thirsty, crooked orge didn't help him in this debacle.

From the beginning, Boehner has let his members do what they want. He campaigned for the top job by telling Republicans he would not lean on them as his predecessor, former Texas Rep. Tom DeLay, was wont to do.

But that long leash has been problematic at times — never, though, like it was on Monday.

Democrats were quick to dance on Boehner’s grave on Monday — even though some of the Republicans who could someday replace him might be less gracious in negotiations than he has been.

“I guess the Republican leadership is so weak John Boehner couldn’t deliver 50 percent of the votes,” Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey (D-Wis.) told a scrum of reporters shortly after the vote. “I thought these were big boys.”

It's understandable to be frustrated with Pelosi, who despite delivering two-thirds of her contingency couldn't sign on some of members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus. But she only promised half on a bill proposed by a Republican president and individuals appointed through a Republican administration. To get two-thirds of Democrats to even touch something with eau de toilette de Bush on it is an accomplishment in itself. But to have Republicans balk on their once infallible leader who is still popular amongst their constituents (if you believe the polls) says something profound.

And think of McCain, the man who wants to succeed Bush. He bet the most on this gamble and lost. Now he's in the midst of digging himself out of a potential political grave, declaring he will not be undone by his own doing.

Reluctant Republicans ignored Sen. John McCain, undermining the Republican presidential nominee’s efforts to cast himself as a problem-solving legislative leader ... (I)t was the House Republicans, whose support McCain had returned to Washington to seek, who drove a stake through the bill’s heart: Two-thirds of the Republicans voted against the bill; nearly two-thirds of the Democrats voted for it.

The failure to pass the measure, and the commensurate historic drop in stock prices around the world, overshadowed the presidential campaign, as it has for a week, and swamped McCain’s attempts to turn the conversation toward a more general argument about taxes and spending. The election remains squarely situated on the economy, turf on which polls suggest McCain is far less trusted than Obama.

Now McCain wants to call the publicly unpopular "bailout" of Wall Street a "rescue," but I don't think nomenclature is the problem. From day one, the administration has been reluctant to take this crisis seriously or even admit there is a crisis. Then, on a dime, they turn from "there's nothing to see here, ma'am" to "EVERYBODY PANIC!" It's only natural people would be skeptical, wondering what was the rush. The Patriot Act was rushed. The war in Iraq was rushed. Americans have routinely been told to panic then rush towards the benevolent leader's guidance and to never doubt him or his followers.

Now even the once "true believers" are looking twice. Of course the public is balking.

Other than Bush's pathetic doom and gloom prime time speech, no one has explained anything. No one understands the magnitude of the crisis or how acting (or not acting) would affect the average voter. I'm a regular follower of politics and I don't understand. I've read all sorts of materials and I'm not sure what's the right thing to do. But I do know my votes and my tax dollars are based in my reluctant faith on Congress, the White House and the federal government to catch a clue and find a way to fix this thing other than picking the second largest sum they could guess and asking the taxpayers to fund it (via China).

If Bush, McCain and Boehner can't convince their own party of the severity how can they convince a "fool me once, fool me twice" public?

Recycled Jewelry


Check out this truly a one of a kind piece. It is actually made with an old vinyl wallpaper. The designer cut out the beautiful embossed parts of the paper. Beautiful freshwater pearls connect the pieces. Even though the necklace is essentially made of paper it is pretty durable. The perfect piece for a party or event. $54.00 by Recycled Jewelry.

Sarah Palin Gets The New Yorker Treatment

Couldn't happen to a nicer person. (Courtesy of The Huffington Post)

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

Monday, September 29, 2008

This Public Service Announcement Brought to You By "Extreme Hair of Change For Obama"

Yet another in my growing collection of "Hair for Change." These shots will never, ever cease to amaze me. (And this is one of the better cuts. Props to reader/blogger Anovelista.) This is like when Spike Lee's "X" came out and dudes had Xs carved in their heads. Or the tri-colored Africas or their names. Obama's face in your head is the new cornrows, ya'll!

That said I wanted to address an issue that keeps coming into my inbox. The "can I vote if I have my 'Yes We Can' pin on?" Snob answer?

Yes you ... maybe.

We've got 50 states and everyone deals with what they consider to be campaign solicitation differently. Like in Wisconsin and Florida? Go nuts. Go vote dressed as Obama. Wear a suit spotted with nothing but Obama campaign rising sun symbols. Others, like Texas ... um, leave the hat at home.

It took FOREVER to do the research. Thank God the folks at Positively Barack did the bulk of it for me four days ago.

Laws against campaigning or “electioneering” in and around polling places are pretty much universal, though each state boasts its own specific regulations and varying degrees of enforcement.

The majority of states use language prohibiting voters and poll workers from “distributing,” “circulating,” “posting,” or “exhibiting” campaign materials within 10 to 200 feet of polling places. This is sometimes interpreted as including buttons, t-shirts, hats, and other political garb (often called “passive electioneering”), but is more often restricted to signs, posters, fliers, pamphlets, and the like.

At least 10 states — Delaware, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont — explicitly prohibit the wearing of pins, buttons, stickers, labels, or other “political insignia.” (via UrbanLegends.About.com)

Personally, I don't think a T-shirt should count as electioneering. Nor this dude's stupid haircut. Nor "a hat." (Free speech! It's my other religion!) And I'm pretty sure if I asked the ACLU they'd agree with me that these rules were solely created to frustrate overly enthusiastic voters.

But if you want to make sure you're not breaking any rules when you go vote contact your local elections office. They don't make this info easy for you to find. (I was about to go through each state and territory's poll worker instruction manuals until I found that site. That's how much I almost cared. Feel special!) But your local elections office/voter's information peeps SHOULD be able to answer this question for you. Until then, I think I may kick off a 50 state strategy to remove that HIGHLY unnecessary rule from every state. Anyone who feels pressured by an "Original Mavericks" pin doesn't deserve the right to vote.

Also, don't ask people who they're voting for when you get to the polling station. That's illegal too, but that one actually makes sense to me. I don't need some busy body all up in mine asking me about my secret ballot. Bill of Rights! My other other religion.

Also a must read: Icebergslim's The Mother of All Voter Registration Diaries on DailyKos

Paris S/S 09: Nina Ricci

When I was a kid, I'd somehow got the impression that Nina Ricci was for old people (yes, I got started into fashion very early). I am definitely much wiser now (either that or Olivier Theysken performed a miracle), because the Nina Ricci collection this season was anything but old.
There were lots of tulles and leggings. The color palette was a nuetral cream, pale and nude. The shape of the skirts, short and modern in the front, but soft and overflowing behind them, were beautiful. There was also a big shoulder silohoeutte thing going on that contrasted well with the soft flows of the dresses. I especially loved the white big shoulder leather jacket (left) over the super feminine dress.
The rest of the runway was interesting. There were lots of shorts and t-shirts, and leotard looking outfits (left), that looked more like day to day home wear (or ballet costumes) than ready-to-wear. Then there were super heroe inspired ball gowns. Perhaps this is an extension of Christina Ricci's gorgeous red super heroe dress for the Met Costume Institute Gala this year?

Image Source: Style.com

Paris S/S 09: Nina Ricci

When I was a kid, I'd somehow got the impression that Nina Ricci was for old people (yes, I got started into fashion very early). I am definitely much wiser now (either that or Olivier Theysken performed a miracle), because the Nina Ricci collection this season was anything but old.
There were lots of tulles and leggings. The color palette was a nuetral cream, pale and nude. The shape of the skirts, short and modern in the front, but soft and overflowing behind them, were beautiful. There was also a big shoulder silohoeutte thing going on that contrasted well with the soft flows of the dresses. I especially loved the white big shoulder leather jacket (left) over the super feminine dress.
The rest of the runway was interesting. There were lots of shorts and t-shirts, and leotard looking outfits (left), that looked more like day to day home wear (or ballet costumes) than ready-to-wear. Then there were super heroe inspired ball gowns. Perhaps this is an extension of Christina Ricci's gorgeous red super heroe dress for the Met Costume Institute Gala this year?

Image Source: Style.com

Paris S/S 09: Nina Ricci

When I was a kid, I'd somehow got the impression that Nina Ricci was for old people (yes, I got started into fashion very early). I am definitely much wiser now (either that or Olivier Theysken performed a miracle), because the Nina Ricci collection this season was anything but old.
There were lots of tulles and leggings. The color palette was a nuetral cream, pale and nude. The shape of the skirts, short and modern in the front, but soft and overflowing behind them, were beautiful. There was also a big shoulder silohoeutte thing going on that contrasted well with the soft flows of the dresses. I especially loved the white big shoulder leather jacket (left) over the super feminine dress.
The rest of the runway was interesting. There were lots of shorts and t-shirts, and leotard looking outfits (left), that looked more like day to day home wear (or ballet costumes) than ready-to-wear. Then there were super heroe inspired ball gowns. Perhaps this is an extension of Christina Ricci's gorgeous red super heroe dress for the Met Costume Institute Gala this year?

Image Source: Style.com

Detroit Gives You Red Wiiiiiiiiings!

The Obama-Biden ticket visited "Title Town," Detroit, MI and Former Mayor/convicted criminal (Wait, is he a convict yet?) Kwame Kilpatrick was kept 1,500 yards away from them at all times.

And Michelle was ready to do some glad-handin' and grinnin'! Who's husband is up in the polls! Hers is! Woot! Woot!

And hey kids! It's Grandpa Joe! I have to imagine that as zany (and slightly unstable, but in a lovable sort of way) as Joe Biden is as a politician he has to make an extremely fun, insane grandpa. Imagine the stories he tells the lil'est Bidens how he wrote "Profiles In Courage" and that time he and FDR arm wrestled over who would get win a date with Eleanor, and then later took down Imperial Japan with the power of "filibustering." And then Jill walks in with her hands on her hips and goes, "Now Joe! You're not telling the kids you single-handedly freed the Pacific again?"

Oh, crazy Grandpa Joe! The things you must say!

Barack: Hey Michelle, you know who's cute?
Michelle: Who?
Barack: You are.

Awwwwwww!

"And when we send all the bastards to hell they can tell Satan that Mad Dog Joe Biden sent'cha!"

And now for the presentation of the jerseys. Once again, Kwame Kilpatrick was NOT there to hand them out, thank you, Jesus. I'm starting to think it was the Obama campaign who made him step down just so they could campaign in Detroit and not be asked about him or see him or even consider the fact that he once prowled these streets, flacking for Hillary Clinton while sleeping with women who weren't his wife, while firing the detective investigating him, while just being gross. Detroit should lobby for a Papal visit. They need an exorcism to make sure they get that Kilpatrick smell out.

Oh well. Guess Hopey McChange will have to do for now!

I just hope Title Town's tenacity for wins rubs off on Team Obama. He's gonna need it! That McCain is crazier than Mad Dog Joe. Joe is his own, one-man diversion. McCain's got more stunts than Snoop's got blunts. It's a mad, mad campaign.

Who's Zoomin' Who?

Rep. Barney Frank is not feeling the Republican response to why the bailout bill failed Monday. The Republicans came twelve people short in a vote where the Democrats brought two-thirds of their team.

Give me those twelve people's names, and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them, and tell them what wonderful people they are, and maybe they'll think about the country.

Insiders say the Republican leadership made the mistake of going to the floor of the House not knowing if they had enough votes.

Designer Panichgul Pleased As Punch of Obama's Love of His Florals

Love it, hate it, tre chic or couch cover, designer Thakoon Panichgul is thrilled that Michelle Obama loves his designs. And -- get this -- he wasn't the one who introduced them to her.

From New York Magazine Online:

At a party in Milan, Robin Givhan ran into Thakoon Panichgul, who was still "giddy" about seeing his dress on Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention, especially because "she bought it herself and wasn't styled into it."

Impressive, yet this also explains why the dress fell flat with a few of us. Another viewpoint might have helped here. Where is that Maria Pinto? Doesn't she have her two cents in this? If Michelle makes it to First Lady, Pinto will be the main designer to benefit.

And I wonder if he had something to do with this latest choice? Panichgul? I'm sure you're a great guy and a very edgy designer, but don't you have something that's both cutting edge and not an attraction for confused bees?

There Goes The Money, Pt. II

It's the end of the money as we know it and I feel fine (largely because I didn't have any to begin with).

A deal has been made (so they stay) and the carnage continues (Citigroup just bought out Wachovia's banking interests ... but wait? I thought Citigroup was in trouble? Never mind. We're all screwed.)

As I type, Congress has failed to pass the $700 billion plus bailout. Stocks have plummeted. Down goes the markets 470 points! Make that more than 600! Wait, it won't stop changing on me. Now it's around 500. We're all DOOMED!

Seriously.

We're all doomed, but I'm not one to scare the jeepers creepers out of people. I'm not going to "suspend" my blog as a result of the crisis like ol' Scrooge "War hero" McDuck over there. I only say we've got serious problems because they was never any guarantee this bailout would work and there's a good chance it could have made things demonstrably worse, but per usual the Bush Administration waited until the last possible minute to do something about this crisis (I think they spent the latter of two years denying there was even a looming crisis), therefore leaving everyone -- Democrats and Republicans -- with little time to come up with jack shit.

Leaving us with Henry "Munster" Paulson and Ben Bernanke and their no oversight, "give us the cash or we'll crash the economy" plan. And both parties tried to make it as palatable as possible, but apparently not enough. The official vote tally was 205 for and 228 against.

On both sides, most vocally amongst the resurgent Libertarian-leaning fiscal conservative Republicans, there was some major balking at bailing out companies who got themselves in this mess. (Ninty-five Dems and 123 Republicans voted "hell no!") But then there is the horror scenario being pitched by everyone from Paulson to CNBC's Jim Cramer that VERY BAD THINGS will happen if Wall Street doesn't get this bailout.

I'm going to translate a recent conversation I heard on MSNBC's "Hardball" between Cramer and Chris Matthews on this very "no bailout" possibility.

Cramer: This economy is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Matthews: What do you mean, "biblical"?
Cramer: What I mean is Old Testament, Chris, real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!*

No lie. That's what I heard, or interpreted. For reals.

The reality is if no bill is passed more banks will fail, more international financial markets will fail and credit will freeze for everyone, not just other banks. Eventually it would become increasingly hard for invidiuals to get loans for homes, cars and small businesses.

From CNNMoney:

The frozen markets mean banks are hoarding cash, making it difficult for businesses and individuals to get much-needed loans. (Full story)

Also in play: news that troubled Wachovia had to sell its banking assets to Citigroup as the financial market crisis raged. A number of European banks also collapsed.

But if the bill had passed the OTHER nightmare scenario would have included the banks getting bailed out, but inflation skyrocketing as the US Treasury prints more money to flush into the lending system, weakening the dollar ever further and raising the prices of everything.

Sure, CEO's would get paid and banks would stay in business, but if everyone stops spending because they can't afford anything I don't know how THAT helps the economy either.

Obviously, there was some cajoling, arm twisting, begging, crying, whatever it takes to get votes changed from no to "yes, take the tax payers money," at first leaving me to wonder if this is going to turn into a daylight version of the less critical, but highly messed up drug benefit vote where thousands of lobbyists and House Enforcer Tom "The Hammer" DeLay were brow-beating recalcitrant Republicans into backing a plan they barely understood and would learn later, they never would have voted for.

But there's no Hammer. And Bush, Cheney, et al, don't scare anyone. Even potential president John McCain, despite "suspending" that campaign wasn't able to do shizznit to get his team on board. He flirted with joining the revolt, but at the debate admitted tersely that he would vote for the behemouth bailout. And apparently, the house Republicans were upset before over what they called a hyper-partisan speech Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave before the vote.

You potentially doom the country over a speech hurting your feelings? Let's be real. Those Republicans just didn't want to vote for that thing. Some Democrats didn't want to vote for this. Don't blame Pelois. Did her speech affect those 95 Democrats who said no, too?

The president is all sour patches over the no vote. Congress is all sour patches. I'm all sour patches, but I don't have much money in the market (just a paltry 401K that is probably worthless right now). But I'm sour patches because this is it. The Bush Administration truly has the opposite version of the Midas touch.

Everything they felt up turned to shit. From the terrorist attacks on 9/11, our relationship with the world, to going to war with the wrong country, inadvertently strengthening Iran and upsetting the power balance in the Middle East by taking out Iraq, to letting people die in the Superdome and drown in the streets of New Orleans, to the spiking of gas prices to "I'm taking the bus" levels, to now the housing crisis which has taken out Wall Street.

Bravo, idiots! Bravo! You ruined everything. I won't say that Bush is the worst president ever. That title will forever belong to James Buchanan who allowed the South to secede under his watch, eventually causing the Civil War. Last time I check, the Bushie's have NOT been successful at causing the South to rise again.

But he's got three-and-a-half more months to find a delightful way to restart what was the most deadly war in United States history!

Google Stalking TJ Holmes: Flippin' the Bird

That is totally rude. I can see a guy doing this to Gloria Borger or John King (someone please do this to John King) but this is so unnecessary to do to my little Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of the TV News. (Source: Bone2Bone*)

For more TJ pictures, click here.

For past Google Stalking TJ Holmes coverage, click here.


*Warning: the site is a little ... um, "penis friendly black gay erotica friendly." (Apparently "penis friendly" wasn't specific enough! Happy now!) Not that anything's wrong with that!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Barack Makes A Whoopsie!

From FOX News:

Speaking at a Congressional Black Caucus gala in the District of Columbia, Barack Obama recognized his wife, Michelle, who joined him at the event.

Obama told the pro-Michelle crowd that they would be celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary next week.

“She just about has me trained. Almost. I still do stupid things she tells me sometimes,” he joked.

As it turns out, the Obamas were married in October of 1992, and will be celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary next week.

Last year the then long-shot candidate flew home to Chicago to take his wife out to dinner to celebrate their real 15th anniversary.

Tina Fey's Palin Is Starting to Creep Me Out

Michelle, Campaign Warrior Queen ... And Barack Too

First off, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden fresh from the debates in Florida on Saturday at Florida A&M University.

Per usual, Michelle is rocking the sleeveless look, but this time in a simple burgundy dress with a blue ribbon sash. She was glowing and her arms looked ripped (as always). Her look was simple, dressy, yet casual. The hair? Still awesome. She's maintaining it very well.

Jill Biden also looked lovely (and caught a bit of Michelle's sleeveless bug). She's a gorgeous woman and looks like a "real" woman. No disrespect to Cindy McCain, but Jill looks warm, fun and friendly. She seems very earthy and sweet. That doesn't mean that Cindy's Cruella DeVille, she just sometimes projects an ice queen look when she's actually not that frigid. Plus, the long hair on Cindy makes her look a tad too "Dina Lohan" as one critic opined. I wish she'd go back to rocking her pixie cut of 2000. It made her look hipper and smart. Now she just looks like Menopause Barbie.

It rained on Barack's parade at a rally he and Joe Biden held in Virginia, but that didn't stop him and Michelle from stepping out at the Congressional Black Caucus banquet in Washington, D.C.

I'm on the hunt for a better picture of Michelle's dress. It looks very interesting and feminine. I'm wondering if the embellishments on the bottom are black flowers against a peach chiffon-like fabric. If anyone has a better photo (or a tip on who made the dress) shoot me an email.

Celebrity Photos Fashion