Following John McCain’s concession speech last night, the ironic choice of music playing in the background was the theme to Crimson Tide by Hanz Zimmer. If you’ve seen Crimson Tide then you know that it’s a film about an old, about to retire white Navy captain (Gene Hackman) and his young and inexperienced black Executive Officer (Denzel Washington). They butt heads and fight but in the end Denzel’s character is right and ultimately wins.
Just saying…
9:29 — Obama takes Ohio — the first red state to go blue. Without Ohio and Pennsylvania I don’t know how McCain could possibly win.
7:30 — I think I just saw a hologram on CNN….
7:08 — This will be sporadic blogging tonight since I’m cooking dinner in the kitchen.
7:00 — I guess I spoke one minute too soon. MSNBC just called Kentucky for McCain, but it’s still a pretty close race. Vermont goes to Obama.
6:59 — I know it’s early but I cannot believe how close Kentucky is. Kentucky! This is a state where McCain should win handily. But the results on CNN right now show it a close race — within three points!
John McCain couldn’t help but laugh at Tina Fey’s portrayal of his running mate on last night’s Saturday Night Live.
“If you pull this cord he talks for forty-five minutes.”
This would be called a November surprise if it surprised anyone: Apparently Sarah Palin’s staff, which comprises of people from the McCain campaign — the same people who could very well hold jobs in a McCain-Palin administration — are as stupid as she is. And Sarah Palin is fucking stupid…
AP: Palin takes prank call from fake French president:
Sarah Palin unwittingly took a prank call Saturday from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and telling her she would make a good president someday.
Listen and laugh…
Last night The Daily Show with Jon Stewart was at the top of its game when talking about Sarah Palin and Joe “the plumber” going rogue.
You can see the full Fox News segment between Shepard Smith and Joe “the plumber” here.
Meanwhile, rougeness seems to be contagious. Last night on The Colbert Report, prominent conservative pundit Stephen Colbert endorsed (but does not support) Barack Obama for President.
Why doesn’t this surprise me?
John McCain’s campaign steered media attention to the story of Ashley Todd and the make-believe incredibly tall black man with shiny shoes who carved (scratched) the backwards letter ‘B’ on her face.
John McCain’s Pennsylvania communications director told reporters in the state an incendiary version of the hoax story about the attack on a McCain volunteer well before the facts of the case were known or established — and even told reporters outright that the “B” carved into the victim’s cheek stood for “Barack,” according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
Of course the story turned out to be just a big, fat lie — and a last ditch effort at race-baiting in western Pennsylvania.
Ashley Todd, the woman who claimed she had the letter ‘B’ carved into her face by an unidentified black assailant, admits she made up the whole thing:
Police sources tell KDKA that a campaign worker has now confessed to making up a story that a mugger attacked her and cut the letter “B” in her face after seeing her McCain bumper sticker…
Investigators did say that they received photos from the ATM machine and “the photographs were verified as not being the victim making the transaction.”
This afternoon, a Pittsburgh police commander told KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin that Todd confessed to making up the story.
The commander added that Todd will face charges; but police have not commented on what those charges will be.
Last night on Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday, Will Ferrell reprised his role as The Decider and endorsed John McCain (Darrell Hammond) and Sarah Palin (Tina Fey).
I’ve heard of the ‘O’ Face but a ‘B’ face?
A Texas woman volunteering for the GOP in Pittsburgh, PA claims a “dark-skinned African-American, 6 feet 4 inches tall with a medium build and short dark hair, wearing dark clothing and shiny shoes” robbed her and then, after noticing a John McCain bumper sticker on her car, became angry and cut the letter ‘B’ into her face with a knife. The police still cannot substantiate the claim, this is only what the woman said happened.
Despite being made with a knife, as the woman claims, she refused medical care but gracefully accepted media attention. But the best part was that the letter ‘B’ was “cut” backwards — as if made while looking in a mirror. So either the assailant was dyslexic or the woman faked the whole thing.
UPDATE: The victim has been identified as Ashley Todd, 20, of College Station, Texas. Wonkette has screencaps from her Twitter account, as she conveniently documented the whole ordeal.
UPDATE 2: Even conservative blogger Michelle Malkin thinks this stinks.
UPDATE 3: Salon has great rundown of the entire ordeal:
The alleged attack happened Wednesday night, at a local ATM. Todd says her assailant came up behind her while she was using the ATM, put a knife to her throat and demanded money, and that she gave him $60. But then, Todd says, the robber saw her bumper sticker and attacked her, punching her in the back of the head and knocking her down. Todd told police that the man continued to punch and kick her, saying he’d teach her a lesson for supporting McCain. In a later interview, she added that he said, “You are going to be a Barack supporter.” According to Todd, he then sat on her chest, pinning her hands with his knees, and used a dull knife to scratch the letter “B” into her right cheek. WTAE, a local television station, reports that this occurred outside the view of the bank’s security cameras.…the Web site TMZ.com says it has sources inside the Pittsburgh police who say “they have serious questions about the authenticity of the alleged victim who says she had her face cut by a politically-motivated attacker.” The site also reports that it has been told “there are several things about the alleged attack that don’t add up.” Police reinterviewed Todd Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports; the questioning lasted at least five hours. And the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says investigators plan to administer a polygraph test to Todd, reportedly because her statements conflict with evidence from the scene where she says the attack occurred.
…
Update: Shortly after I posted this, WTAE updated its story on the incident with additional comment from Richard, who said, “We have learned that the victim’s statement has a few inconsistencies in it and her statement has changed.” According to Richard, Todd now says she isn’t sure if it was her bumper sticker that enraged her alleged attacker or a campaign button she wore on her jacket. (Separately, the Post-Gazette reports that she did not originally tell police about the bumper sticker at all.) She has also reportedly added new details to her story, saying she lost consciousness during the attack and also that she was sexually assaulted.
“She indicated that when he had her on the ground he put his hand up her blouse and started fondling her. But other than that, she says she doesn’t remember anything else. So we’re adding a sexual assault to this as well,” Richard said.
UPDATE 4: Ashley Todd admits making up the whole thing.
Back before she was named John McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin admitted during an interview on CNBC that she didn’t know what the job of vice president consists of, and even asked “What is it exactly that the VeePee does?” After her nomination, that video came back to haunt her.
During the vice presidential debate with Joe Biden earlier this month, Palin claimed she was just joking during the CNBC interview. Well, it turns out that she wasn’t joking. Sarah Palin really has no idea what the vice president does. Perhaps what’s most disconcerting about Palin’s lack of knowledge in regards to the office that she seeks is the fact that she was stumped by a third grader.
On Monday Sarah Palin sat down for an interview with NBC affiliate KUSA. At the end of the interview Palin was asked a write-in question from local 3rd grader Brandon Garcia: “What does the vice president do?” Palin got the answer wrong.
As The Decider would say: “Is our children learning?” Watch and weep:
Move over Joe The Plumber….
Ed O’Neill reprises his role as Al Bundy from Married with Children in Barack Obama’s most brilliant campaign ad to date. Ed O’Neill probably falls in the tax bracket where he wouldn’t get a tax cut, yet he endorses Obama. Further proof that Obama is the right choice.
How much will you save under the Obama-Biden tax plan? Find out here.
I’ve never been to Ohio and while I’m sure most Ohioans aren’t this abrasive, it certainly makes me never want to visit.
“He must support terrorists! You know, uh, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. And that to me is Obama.”
Al Jazeera exposes what the American mainstream media won’t. This report clearly showcases the scary and dangerous racism that lurked at a Sarah Palin rally in Ohio, but really it lurks at many of the McCain/Palin rallies. These are the people who yell out things like “Terrorist!” and “Kill him!” whenever someone mentions Barack Obama’s name.
It’s sad but ignorance abounds in many places of America, not just Ohio. Hell, several of the people in this video could easily be one of my relatives from Louisiana. By stoking hate and fear, these racists are no different than their middle eastern counterparts. Yes, these people are terrorists, too. They don’t seem to have the intelligence to appreciate such delicious irony.
Is it just me or does the man who says Sarah Palin is “full of light” remind you of someone?
CBS News’ Bob Scheffer moderates the third and final presidential debate between Senators John McCain and Barack “That One” Obama from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. There will be blood….
Josh and Natalie have joined me at my apartment, both armed with a laptop.
10:33 — I think the winner of this debate was obviously Joe The Plumber. Hands down…
10:31 — And that’s a wrap. McCain says “good job” to Obama. “Good job. Good job. You kicked my ass.”
10:25 — Why does McCain keep mentioning Sarah Palin? She doesn’t have an autistic child, she has a child with down syndrome. Who is he trying to appeal to?
10:21 — Josh Marshall writes:
A lot of the time, when Obama’s talking and they have the split screen, McCain looks like he’s about to explode. Not always, and I’m not trying to be hyperbolic. But he frequently looks like he’s about to snap. Not going nuts, but like he’s seething and just holding it in. Are other people seeing the same thing?
10:20 — According to CNN’s Uncommitted Ohio Voters Graph, McCain flatlines everytime he speaks…
10:11 — ABORTION!
10:03 — “Hey, Joe…” McCain should specify which Joe he’s talking about. Joe The Plumber or Joe Six Pack.
10:01 — Chris just noted in a text message: “McCain is loosing his third debate. It’s bad this time. He has rambled incoherently at least three times.”
9:57 — The excitement died off pretty quickly. I was hoping for punches to be thrown. Literally.
9:47 — Nuclear Power Pants!
9:46 — This debate is harder to blog because it’s interesting and I don’t want to look down…
9:38 — The split-screen format of this debate adds so much dramatic tension.
9:36 — Obama mentions Ronald Reagan. America gets hard.
9:34 — Is McCain going to snap? He seems to be getting more and more irritated with Obama and the debate in general. Is he going to flip out and punch Obama?
9:32 — Obama is calling out McCain on the lynch mob mentality of McCain/Palin rallies and John McCain felt it was necessary to interrupt him. Thrice.
9:29 — I don’t know why McCain continues to wine and bitch about Obama not doing a bajillion town halls with him. After McCain’s behavior and showing in last week’s town hall debate he should thank God that Obama didn’t agree.
9:27 — I wish Obama would make the world’s tiniest violin gesture with his fingers.
9:25 — Looks like Scheffer is raising the stakes early…
9:20 — McCain actually just nailed Obama with his “I’m not President Bush” comment. While he did get in a swipe, he came off as very angry, like an old man trying to send soup back in a deli.
9:15 — Obama has a pay-as-you-go cell phone.
9:11 — “I want Joe The Plumber to spread the wealth around.” Why have they been talking about Joe The Plumber for five minutes?
9:08 — McCain’s flatlining…according to the CNN graph.
9:05 — Could John McCain blink just a little bit more? Is he sending out Morse Code?
9:03 — “It’s good to see you again, Senator Obama.” I don’t think there will be a funnier moment tonight…
9:02 — Bob Scheffer lays down the law. And….FIGHT!
Who knew the famous Batman/Penguin debate from the 1960’s TV series Batman had startling similarities with John McCain’s campaign? Specifically, McCain’s putrid attempts at character assassination. You know, that whole ‘Who is the real Barack Obama?’ deal.
I guess this makes Barack Obama Batman….
I completely forgot this even existed until I came across it earlier tonight. Back in 2002, John McCain played a creepy husband stalking Amy Poehler in a Saturday Night Live sketch. I must say, after watching the clip again, McCain is a pretty good actor — he definitely has the creep act down pat. I wonder if this is how he acted when he asked Sarah Palin to be his running mate?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to stomach some Chris Matthews before getting to the McCain clip. I can’t seem to find a better version. Embedding of the video has also been disabled.
Sarah Palin, the world’s most (in)famous hockey mom, was greeted with widespread boos during an appearance at a Philadelphia Flyers game Saturday night.
If you listen carefully you can hear they weren’t saying boo, they were saying boourns.
Does Hans Moleman remind anyone else of John McCain?
John McCain referred to Barack Obama as “that one” at tonight’s debate. Classy.
