Interesting juxtaposition

This photo was juxtaposed with this story over on Wonkette. Nice.

Re: A Sense of Decency

Yes, today John McCain (at least a week and a half too late, IMO) told some supporters to shush when they started to yell the more vile things they yell about Obama. But if you think actions don't have consequences, we're reminded of this, which leads to this.

The Week Didn't End Well ...

... for the McCain campaign. Just a few minutes ago, the Alaska legislative panel investigating Troopergate voted to release its report - which found that Sarah Palin abused her power as governor by firing the state's public safety commissioner.

Jon Stewart Explains Why It Got All Nasty

Whoa...

Ranty, kinda long...but whoa...

Debate Comments: The Sublime, the Funny, and the Astute

We live-blogged the debate over at m-pyre tonight - and I encourage you to go look at the whole thing (it's in the comments) . A smattering of the observations: Did she just wink at the camera? - Trevor Don't drink every time she says, "Maverick." You won't make it past 9:30. - Byzek We should start a pool about how many specific examples of *anything* she gives tonight. - Byzek If she says hockey, soccer, football mom one more time i am going to throw up - Susan Palin is good at speaking plain. That's her strength...she hasn't been around long enough to get the pol speak down. - Marjorie Biden is really effective correcting her... his tone is just right. - Maggie She's not going to answer your question, Gwen, because she hasn't prepped for that one. - Bethany You can't go out and get a private insurance policy worth crap unless you are under a group plan. If you do, they penalize you with preexisting clauses and it's a hell of alot more expensive and they can raise your premiums whenever they choose.... - Vicki I'm sorry, once again I can not keep a straight face as Republicans try and bash tax breaks to oil companies. Remember when McCain did that during the convention speech, and there was a confused silence in the crowd? - Maggie "Main streeters like me" When Biden says Obama pointed out the subprime lending crisis two years ago, I'd like to point out that this was an issue of the left 2 years ago. - Marjorie "I don wanna talk aboot bankrupcy, i wanna talk energy and alaaaaska" - Trevor He's so right, drilling isnt going to make any bit of difference... not for a very long time anyway. Yes I think we should to an extent, but obviously alternative fuels is where we need to put our bucks. - Kat & Jerry in the house She's standing up fine. He's gona have to get to her in the late rounds - Dean I used the Castro Brothers once when I moved. They were punctual, well-groomed, and quite polite. - Bethany "can we talk afghanistan? i have color coded flash cards for that one." - MaryBeth A "shout out"?!!?!? Are you kidding me?!? How about "Hi Mom"! Does she not realize the caliber of forum that she's in? - Heather She keeps saying "reform"... This word... I do not think it means what you think it means. - Jessie Well .. at the very least ... she's going to be tolerant of us gays (me). WTF. - Lyndsey Maverick = crappy Dallas basketball team that toys with people's emotions by looking like they'll win momentarily, only to choke on it when the stakes get high. I take it back. Maverick is wholly appropriate. - Bethany I love how Joe brought up our loss of creditably abroad. That's a very important issue to me. - Heather

Debate night, Veep Style

Head over here, where we're all live-blogging. For your viewing pleasure, try out this, or this (or both, if you're able to stand and see straight after the first one). Update: Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear. OH DEAR.

Of this, and that: The Thursday is Not Friday, Unless You're Me Edition

1. How about this bit of awesomeness? Can. Not. Wait. 2. I have no idea why they'd want to do this. None at all. 3. The Chicago Tribune's Mary Schmich just discovered Internet commenters are sometimes lowlifes spewing mean awful stuff. 4. Cindy Adams: How can you get even a correction wrong? The DMN reported already that your source never talked to you, and your subject hasn't picked a neighborhood. So you're wrong. Still. 5. Princeton Professor Julian E. Zelizer asks, "If we're gonna be reforming stuff, why not the electoral system as well?"

I can see Russia from my house!

"I scratched and clawed through mud and barbed wire, and you just glided in on a dogsled wearing your pageant sash and your Tina Fey glasses!"

Are You Hiring?

Dear Sarah Palin: After hearing this, I just would like to ask if I could be considered for the position of Secretary of State. You see, I love states, and I've been to a bunch of them, and so I feel I would do a good job as Secretary of State. Yours Truly, Me

Amen

Community Organizers - or an Open Letter to Sarah Palin

Dear Sarah Palin (and your speechwriters); I'm sure that, when crafting your speech for Wednesday, you meant to only attack the Obama campaign. But in attacking his record, you also managed to insult thousands of Americans who, for little or no pay, choose to make their community a better place by taking an active role in it. And I'm sure, as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and later as governor, you did make decisions that affected thousands of people (670,053, to be exact, according to the 2006 census). But just as important and just as worthy is the one-on-one attention to detail that a community organizer gives his or her particular cause. Is helping someone find a job unworthy of you? Is helping one family find a clean, safe and affordable home beneath your efforts? Better yet, is rallying your neighbors to fight a far-away ruler bent on milking you for taxes merely tilting at windmills? For without community organizers like Sam Adams, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Paul Revere, you wouldn't even be running for vice president - you'd be paying exorbitant taxes to the British Empire. I don't think that anyone mocked Thomas Jefferson or John Adams for their roles as community organizers when they became president - we had to wait more than 200 years for you to come along and do that, I suppose. I don't know if you recall this, but the current president made a great to-do about faith-based initiatives. Who do you think runs those wonderful causes that - as President Bush pointed out - often serve the needs of their communities far better and quicker than the government can? Community organizers. Calling into question a candidate's experience is one thing - after all, nobody runs for the office expecting sunshine and lollipops. But slamming an entire group of very worth individuals is the exact reason you played to a lot of empty seats this week. If it was on purpose, then it shows how out of touch your party is. If it was unintentional, it shows how out of touch your party is.

From the Takes One to Know One File,

Gloria Steinem weighs in.

Dear Cindy McCain:

Before you talk about sexism, I suggest you read this. Particularly this:

As an actual feminist, I have the great good joy of getting to determine what is and isn’t sexist. Sexist: Asking whether Sarah Palin shouldn’t be staying home with her baby and her other children. (And yes, I’ve heard you asking just that.) Not sexist: Pointing out that Sarah Palin is an utter twit.

Love and hugs, Me