Do NOT Mock Obama!

Joseph Palermo of the Huffington Post gets so incensed that Jon Stewart mocked Obama's decision to opt out of public financing that he denounces Jon Stewart as having led us into war:

Sometime during the run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq I remember watching a comedy bit on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart that drove home what a big joke the United Nations weapons inspectors in Iraq were. The segment featured the UN inspectors, who were at the time charged with unearthing Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, as a bunch of Keystone Kops running around Iraq tripping over their own equipment and being led around by their noses by the Iraqis who were obviously hiding banned munitions. The thrust of the satirical news story was to give viewers a laugh while they nodded in agreement that anyone who trusted these UN clowns to uncover weapons of mass destruction in Iraq must be a fool.

Slamming the UN weapons inspectors as ineffectual twits dominated right-wing talk radio at the time and The Daily Show was in effect regurgitating the talking points of those who wanted to bring the country to war. Dissing the UN's efforts on Comedy Central inadvertently helped in make the case for war.

And that's why proper libs shouldn't mock Obama now, since it inadvertently makes the Republican case for McCain. 

Groan.  Does this mean the next four (or eight?!?) years will be humor free, at least from the left?  Not as long as Huffers step into the gap with quips like this:

Second, absent from the discussion about Obama's "betrayal" of his principles because he's not foolish enough to tie his hands in the general election is the fact that he has broken all records in American politics for the amount of money raised BY SMALL DONATIONS. The vast majority of his campaign cash, about 93 percent, has come from donations of $200 or less.

I urge Mr. Palermo to leave the math to others.  Obama has a lot of small donors, but they are giving small amounts (Coincidence? I think not!).  Consequently, the fraction of cash raised from small donors is (and must be) lower than the fraction of small donors in the donor base.  Per the Times:

The Obama campaign highlighted Thursday the fact that 93 percent of the more than three million contributions it had received were for $200 or less.

And what does that mean for his total fundraising?  The Times again:

But by showing that he could raise large sums from small donors — 47 percent of the $263 million Mr. Obama received has come in amounts of $200 or less — Mr. Obama has made the argument that he has achieved online what the public finance system has been unable to do.

Still very impressive relative to what other candidates have accomplished in the past, but not quite as impressive as presented by Mr. Palermo.  Oh, well - math is easy; comedy is hard (OK, dying is hard, too).  The Jammie Wearing Fool has more on the Obama campaign as a humor-free zone and the Huffington Post as its content-free counterpart.

Comments

[clarice]

Seinfeld's bit on Carlin was magnificant.
Slightly less memorable, but still good comedy:
"Obama has a lot of small donors, but they are giving small amounts (Coincidence? I think not!). "

[Thomas Collins]

Palermo is a good foot soldier for the B57O crew's strategy of claiming that any criticism of the Audacity Messiah plays into the GOP's talking points. Of course, in some manner, any criticism of any candidate plays into the other side's talking points. We will see if B57O and his minions are able to shut down parody and pointed comments directed at B57O.

[clarice]

More on the "birth certificate"--(It's phoney)
" Faked certificate suggests that Obama may not be "natural born" US citizen
By Reuven Koret June 24, 2008


Bookmark to del.icio.usDigg This Story

It is now a certainty that the "birth certificate" claimed by the Barack Obama campaign as authentic is a photoshopped fake.

The image, purporting to come from the Hawaii Department of Health, has been the subject of intense skepticism in the blogosphere in the past two weeks. But now the senior spokesman of that Department has confirmed to Israel Insider what are the required features of a certified birth document -- features that Obama's purported "birth certificate" clearly lack.

The image became increasingly suspect with Israel Insider's revelation that variations of the certificate image were posted on the Photobucket image aggregation website -- including one listing the location of Obama's birth as Antarctica, one with the certificate supposedly issued by the government of North Korea, and another including a purported photo of baby Barack -- one of which has a "photo taken" time-stamp just two minutes before the article and accompanying image was posted on the left-wing Daily Kos blog.

That strongly suggests that Daily Kos obtained the image from Photobucket, not the State of Hawaii, the Obama family, or the Obama campaign. Photobucket is not generally known as a credible supplier of official vital records for any of the fifty states, and the liberties that other Photoshoppers took with the certificates confirms this.

Some of these oddities surfaced in Israel Insider's previous article on the subject, but new comparative documentary evidence presented below, and official verification obtained by Israel Insider from a senior Hawaiian official, provides the strongest confirmation yet.

An authentic Hawaiian birth certificate for another Hawaiian individual has since surfaced which, using the same official form as the presumptive Obama certificate, includes an embossed official seal and an authoritative signature, coming through from the back. Obama's alleged certificate lacks those features, and the certificate number referencing the birth year has been blacked out, making it untraceable.

Janice Okubo, Director of Communications of the State of Hawaii Department of Health, told Israel Insider: "At this time there are no circumstances in which the State of Hawaii Department of Health would issue a birth certification or certification of live birth only electronically." And, she added, "In the State of Hawaii all certified copies of certificates of live birth have the embossed seal and registrar signature on the back of the document."

http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/12939.htm

[narciso]

Do not mock "Happy Fun" Obama, this is right after the Obasm post by Steven Weber
on the Huff Po; amazing what a divorce settlement with a family, who's fortune was
made on Indonesian crude can get (That's Arianna' Let'Um eat my SUV' Huffington, a point left out of the 60 hagiography.

There is a well founded case for skepticism regarding the successor to UNSCOM's credibility. We were uncovering weapons stashes from 1991-1997; under Kay, Butler
& Ritter; frustration with tighterguidelines
led Ritter to share his mis givings with Sy Hersh; who uncovered than Russian Foreign Minister Primakov's client relationship with the Iraqi Govt, as such that made Hersh and Ritter one of the intellectual backers for the Iraq intervention. After the
December '98 strike, the leading backers for Iraq, France, China & Russia along with
Germany (whose officials were later implicated in the Oil for Food scandal; Zhirinovsky, Pasqua, et al)restructured the
guidelines to make any further discoveries more difficult. Those were the rules under
which the new inspectors led by Blix went in; where he guilty parties were tipped off by Jay Rockefeller, the guilty scion of the
Iraqi Petroleum Company's concession, six monthes before the war.

[Neo]

The first thing that comes to mind is ..

Psycho: "Any of you homos touch my stuff .. I'll kill ya" Sergeant Hulka: "Lighten up Francis"

[Neo]

Having actually seen that particular Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the funniest part is when the audience seems to have stunted laughter after Stewart does the Obama piece. Jon Stewart then instructs the audience that "it's OK to laugh".

Frankly, I can see why Joe Palermo is so worried. Jon Stewart, the primary source of news for so many, just told his audience that it's OK to laugh at Obama's mis-steps. This is a major turning point. And there is no turning back now.

Let the stories of Obamanations begin !

[Porchlight]

Wow, look at the borders on the scan of the real Hawaii birth certificate at Clarice's link. Polarik from Townhall, JMH and others were right on target.

[Der Hahn]

Does this mean the next four (or eight?!?) years will be humor free, at least from the left?

I find the most typical symptoms of leftism are deficiencies of humor and irony.

[clarice]

jmh is always right on target--remember it was she who first pegged Armitage as the leaker based on the redactions in the court papers.

[clarice]

Now the question is--why would a website dedicated to setting the recotrd straight be promoting an obviously fake document?

[PeterUK]

There is a rumour that a lot of BHO's small donors comes from organisations like Hezbollah,Hamas and al Quds.Any truth in this?

[Rick Ballard]

"Now the question is--why would a website dedicated to setting the recotrd straight be promoting an obviously fake document?"

They're saving the news of his parthenogenic origins for the "October Surprise"?

[Jane]

I saw that Daily show episode too Neo. I try and watch the Daily show to see what kind of news the elite in this country relies on. I am consistently amazed at the bias. Oftentimes I can't sit thru the whole thing.

If the media cared about agism, like they care about racism Stewart would have suffered Imus' fate of last year, months ago. Every word about McCain highlights his age.

[Porchlight]

remember it was she who first pegged Armitage as the leaker

I'd forgotten that, Clarice. We really have some amazing commenters here.

WRT the birth certificate, your earlier observation - why would Obama do something with such a high risk/low benefit? - comes to mind. The only reason I can think of is that the real birth certificate has something on it that he really doesn't want anyone to see. But if that's the case, why not just refuse to provide it? It's beyond stupid to peddle a forged document.

[Porchlight]

I can't watch it, Jane. My husband sometimes turns it on to annoy me and I have to leave the room. Okay, I admit some of the jokes are funny but it still makes me want to destroy the TV.

[Cecil Turner]

What kills me is the recurring theme of wanting to refight the SwiftBoat wars in favor of Barry O. Why? Do they really want to bring that one on?

[Jane]

Porchlight,

I think it's weird that I've(we've) gotten so sensitized to the political climate that some
things are just painful. Recently a friend of mine told me the Daily Show is her favorite show and the only news she believes. This is a woman in her 50's. I decided she wasn't alone and I needed to hear what she was hearing. It freaks me out.

I'm wrapping my mind around the idea that if Obama wins I need to step back a bit from politics - or move to Sydney, which ever is easier.

[narciso]

So punishing child rapists with death, would be a violation of 'increasing standards of decency", specially in circumstances like this: Warning this will seriously make you lose faith in the law:

"-"The victim's predominate injury was vaginal with profuse bleeding. Her entire perineum was torn and her rectum protruded into her vagina. Dr. Scott Benton of Children's Hospital testified as an expert in pediatric forensic medicine that the victim's injuries were the most serious he had seen, within his four years of practice, that resulted from a sexual assault. A pediatric surgeon was called in to repair the damage, which was repaired successfully.FN4

FN4. However, as a result of pain, the victim had to be fed gallons of stool softener through a tube to permit her to begin defecating again.

I'm sure Barry 'Sunshine' Obama will find someway to rationalize such a decision. This is not an original thought, but do they even consider the facts of the case, or they just apply the latest EU statutes, that are not affected by sharia law.

[MarkJ]

The Ten Commandments of The Obama:

I am Obama your Messiah.

You shall vote for no other candidates but me.

You shall not worship graven idols...unless it is my "presidential seal."

You shall not make fun of the name of your Messiah.

Remember Election Day and keep it holy.

Honor your Mama and Papa...unless they get in the way.

You shall not murder...but, if you do, blame it on George Bush.

You shall not commit adultery...but, if you do, blame "The White She-Devil."

You shall not steal...but, if you do, give the money to My Campaign.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor...unless you can keep it off YouTube.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house...especially if they are a minority and facing foreclosure.

You shall not speak ill of My Wife...otherwise you're a racist.

[Thomas Collins]

No moving to Sydney now, Jane. The US survived the Civil War and will most certainly survive a Columbia IR/Harvard Law Review/Community Organizer lightweight and his worshippers. Besides, the polling numbers are too close to anoint He Who Must Not Be Mocked as POTUS just yet.

[Porchlight]

Jane,

It is too bad. I think what's happened in part is that shows like Stewart and Colbert make politics into entertainment. This is my husband's view - he doesn't necessarily believe everything Stewart says, but he thinks he's funny, so he goes along with it.

One upside is that this sort of news by proxy appeals to the very demographic that is least likely to get off their butts and vote. In fact, I think the cynical Stewart/Colbert attitude even increases the laziness. I have to remind my husband on Election Day every year that it's time to go vote. This year I may just forget to do that. ;)

[MikeS]

Barack has a penchant for saying things that are not just wrong, but jaw-droppingly, Daily Show worthy wrong.

For Obama there is a danger that people will start to see him for what he really is, half flim flam man and half Gilligan.

[Sue]

My parents canceled each other out, election after election. He a staunch republican, she a devout democrat. My mother one-upped him though. She outlived him.

[Jane]

Thomas,

Have you ever been to Sydney? Actually I think I prefer Perth - Australia is my absolutely favorite place.

Porchlight,

I'll give you 5 bucks to forget to tell your husband.

[centralcal]

Very interesting about the Obama fake birth cert. Kudos to JMH for spotting it early on.

It is so nice to see the thread this morning.

Guess 89 is still in bed since it appears he worked until the wee hours dominating all threads here. Pretty soon he will be up and all will be unreadable again.

[kim]

No, no, no, it was MJW. I'd take nothing from JMH except false attribution.
===========================

[Pofarmer]

Mr. Obama has made the argument that he has achieved online what the public finance system has been unable to do.

Like getting money from Hamas?

However,I see PUK beat me to it, dang it.

[kim]

Cecil, most leftists think they won the Swift Boat wars. Look at the generally accepted meaning of the term.

By the way, yesterday's RCP had a very interesting article about Scary from a progressive journal.
=============================

[Sue]

Kim,

That is what JMH says too. Whatever happened to MJW?

[kim]

Jon Stewart is not going to think it's funny that humour is out of bounds re: Obama. If someone wanted to guarantee that he'd continue to ridicule Obama, they just found a way.
============================

[kim]

I run across an MJW who sounds the same on some climate threads. Just as acute as ever.
=================================

[Neo]

I still have a problem with Stewart, but since Congress went Democratic Colbert has become much more bipartisan with his cutting remarks.

[Sue]

Kim,

Do you have a link to the article?

[Porchlight]

Sue,

My parents have canceled each other out in exactly the same way, at least since 1964. One exception - my dad voted for Clinton in '92 because he couldn't stand GHWB and he thought Clinton couldn't be much worse. In hindsight he hasn't been too happy about that decision.

Jane,

Send the $5 to the McCain campaign and you have a deal. :) Actually the McCain bumper stickers cost $5, I know b/c I just got one a month ago. It is a very sharp-looking black oval with white print.

[narciso]

Kind of like how the word 'stigmata' has come to mean a negative thing. While
"Kerrying" has not not come to mean,
libeling your fellow soldiers sailors & airman, in time of war, in order to start
your political career. Speaking of slimy weasals "Chris' Countrywide' Dodd, has proved Samuel johnson, wrong again, by proving that "the last refuge of a scoundrel is to cry Bushhitler, or Big Brother" as he has come to oppose the FISA
compromise, that would likely save from that flash of light, the next time a Ilkwan
tribesman comes to take out the Capitol Building. Eerily, all of this panjambrum of outrage over torture, terroristsurveillance,
et al was predicted by Vince Flynn, years ago; in his novel "Memorial Day"

[GnuCarSmell]

Michelle Obama has hinted at what life would be like under Dear Leader. From her recent speech at which her audience erupted in nervous laughter:

"Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed."

There's a lot of humor there, particularly the "he is going to demand" and "will never allow you" punch lines.

[Cecil Turner]

Cecil, most leftists think they won the Swift Boat wars.

Don't see how . . . the only meaningful metric was at the polls (and especially the veteran vote, which roundly rejected JFK II). But even if you allow the common MSM usage, it can't help B_O. It only underscores his lack of service.

Moreover, in any actual discussion of the events, the Kerry crowd comes off badly. That's partly because the facts are against 'em, but more so because the lefties have such a paucity of military experience that their arguments are obviously uninformed. And there again, any such discussion just undermines B_O.

[Soylent Red]

Does this mean the next four (or eight?!?) years will be humor free, at least from the left?

Just to be clear...

My entire life experience watching the Democrat party has shown them to be humor free during that time. It's serious business fomenting racial and class tension for the purposes of maintaining your power.

And John Stewart, IMO, has never been funny.

[Neo]

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, has a double dose of predictions on gasoline prices that nobody wants to hear: Prices are going up a lot more, he says, and the nation doesn't have any good ways to bring prices down.

"There are no short-term answers. And I know that there's going to be long-term pain. I predict to you that gas prices will be as much as $5 before the end of this year and they will go to $6 at some point next year," he said during an interview with reporters and editorial writers at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"When they go to $6 it will fluctuate between $5 and $6 and more for some time to come. That's the harsh reality no matter what law we pass," he said.

"I get tired of hearing people, politicians, friends of mine, Democrats, Republicans, liberal, conservative, all of them telling you they have the answer," said Hastings, serving his eighth term in Congress. "There ain't no answer, OK? ... All the talk is feel good talk."

So Pelosi's "common sense plan" to reduce gas prices and all those commercials here in PA about Obama's plan for gas pump relief were all a lie.

[Neo]

The NewD irection fails again.

[Ranger]

It's beyond stupid to peddle a forged document.

Posted by: Porchlight | June 25, 2008 at 11:13 AM

Well, you could say the same thing about posting after action reports for combat missions you never went on to beef up your "warrior" cred. But Kerry did that and even left them up for a long time after he got caught in 2004.

I think it is an arrogance these kinds of politicians develop, believing that since no one has caught them yet, no one ever will.

[Thomas Collins]

Jane, I've never been anywhere outside the US except for a trip to Digby, Nova Scotia, a trip to Toronto, Ontario, a few trips to Montreal, Quebec, and a trip to Bermuda. I've spent most of my life on the streets of Providence, RI, Boston, MA and Cleveland, OH.

Does Australia have good bowling alleys (ten pin, candlepin and duckpin are all fine) and does it serve french fries with vinegar? If so, maybe I'll retire there (although most likely I will retire in some shack near the RI shoreline).

[Jane]

Send the $5 to the McCain campaign and you have a deal.

Consider it done. And I've already got my bumper sticker in place. Since this is Massachusetts I'm wondering if the bumper sticker is the reason my tail light was broken shortly thereafter.

Is anyone else as incensed that Dodd's committee is about to bail out countrywide? Dodd's $80,000 preq is about to cost us $300 million. Why isn't someone demanding an investigation of favoritism before that bill is allowed to go to the floor?

Okay, that was a rhetorical question, I concede.

[Sue]

Jane,

I have already expressed my disgust this morning on another thread.

[PeterUK]

There was a young man named Obama,
a smooth political charmer,
but if you cause any fuss it is under the bus
be you Pastor or Daddy or Grandma.

[Jane]

Thomas,

Australia is like America in the 1950's but with all the modern conveniences. The air is so clean you can smell it. The birds come in bright pinks, greens and purples and come right up to you. The people are friendly. It's not crowded. Kangaroos hang out on the golf course. You can take a boat to work. opportunity overflows.

Make a point of going.

[glasater]

Jane--Sorry but the figure is three hundred billion.

[Jane]

Oh Geez - you are right glasater.

[Neo]

Under public financing, would Obama be allowed to “buyout” Hiliary’s debt ?

I seem to remember reading that he couldn’t.

[Hoosierhoops]

Good afternoon JOMers..
So Obama is going to pay off Hillarys 10 million debt.. that way she'll campaign for him.. If Baby Jesus really wanted the womans vote he should take Bill Clinton on the road with him.
/just say'n

[Soylent Red]

Make a point of going.

And if you are single, Aussie women love American men. Because even the biggest dirtbag in the U.S. is probably more sensitive to women than the typical Aussie male.

I seem to remember reading that he couldn’t.

Which might have figured prominently in Obamessiah's decision-making process.

[Neo]

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader accused Sen. Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic Party nominee, of downplaying poverty issues, trying to "talk white" and appealing to "white guilt" during his run for the White House.

This may give Imus a well needed diversion.

[Rick Ballard]

The $300 billion "price tag" is a bit of phony hype generated by multiplying the 400K mortgages covered by the $750K maximum insurance allowable number. The only "real" tax money involved at the primary level appears to be $3-5 billion in grants to prog fiefs for the purpose of better fencing to prevent the serfs from escaping - what a surprise.

The cost of the guarantess for the "$300 billion" (more probably $80-120 billion) in mortgages is to be paid by levies on new borrowers exacted by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

I really hate the use of notional numbers by the hacks writing for the MSM. It's as if you paid $1,400 to insurance your house for $300K and then announced that your "cost" for insurance was $300K.

Oh well, I suppose it's worth it as long as the Countrywide Six are properly hanged.

[PeterUK]

"And if you are single, Aussie women love American men. Because even the biggest dirtbag in the U.S. is probably more sensitive to women than the typical Aussie male."

The first visit to Bondi Beach is an eye-opener.Groups of beautiful young girls sitting in circles,talking,listening to the radio and knitting. Just after Banzai goes through ones mind come the realisation that all their boyfriends are out at sea all day, surfing.

[Porchlight]

Since this is Massachusetts I'm wondering if the bumper sticker is the reason my tail light was broken shortly thereafter.

I've been expecting my car to be keyed any minute, or worse. Back before 9/11 I had an American flag sticker on my rear window which got smashed out on Easter morning 2001. They aimed right for the sticker.

[kim]

Cecil, 12:15. I wish you were right, but for the general public Swift-boating is right up there with illegitimate black babies in primary elections. I'm serious, I know millions of veterans read 'Unfit for Command', but the term 'swift boating' is in the lexicon as an illegitimate paid for political attack.

It is a measure of the power of the media and the use of propaganda in the present era.
=============================

[kim]

Sorry, Sue. Go to yesterday's RealClearPolitics and it's just a click away. I'm fascinated by the fact that half of the sinestrosphere now understands that Scary, and by extension Joe and Val, are big fat liars. I can't wait for the movie.

But what if Scary's right, and the Whitey tape is being held for after the convention? Scary rehabilitated? Now, that's scary.
==========================

[SAM]

FWIW:

As far as Stewart's concerned, if he can't jab at Obama, it will be a dry term for him. Without a Republican administration, what will there be to deride?

I watch him very little because I don't have the time. That said, he does remind me of many of the guys I was in a frat with in college. Everyone had idiosyncrasies that others always pointed out. And if you couldn't learn to laugh at yourself, you were toast. The more you objected, the worse it got. I bet if someone plays hardball with Stewart that he just turns up the heat.

I will say that during the Wright flare up, I saw Stewart do the funniest routine. He played a series of Wright clips in which Wright was at his worst. Then, the cameras cut to Stewart, who had a PETRIFIED look on his face. He immediately pulled out some car keys, and you could see and hear that he had hit a remote security device as if to lock and secure his car. Actually, they'd rigged his desk with two sets of front auto lights, which blinked when he pressed the remote. It was hilarious.

I suppose we'll see.

[Porchlight]

Here's the Larry story -

Larry Johnson's Strange Trip

[MikeS]

Obama is a different kind of politician. Even though he practices the old style, ruthless, opportunistic, Chicago politics, he transcends the old style politics that don't get us anywhere.

Even though he accuses all his opponents of racism, he transcends race.

Even though he is hyper-partisan, he transcends partisanship.

Even though he favors public financing of campaigns, he transcends public financing himself.

Even though he looks down on the working class, he transcends elitism.

Even though he plans to stimulate the economy, he plans to raise taxes and increase regulation.

Truly, the world has never before seen such a one as Obama.

[Jane]

The first visit to Bondi Beach is an eye-opener.Groups of beautiful young girls sitting in circles,talking,listening to the radio and knitting. Just after Banzai goes through ones mind come the realisation that all their boyfriends are out at sea all day, surfing.

Some middle eastern guy, half my age tried to pick me up there. He had images of a citizenship dancing in his head, I suspect. When he heard the American accent, he amended his goal.

In some ways Bondi pales compared to the beach at Cottlesloe, at least at 6:00 PM when every single resident of the town (or at least it feels that way) marches down the middle of the road to the beach to surf before ending up at the pub across the street. That's the beach where they held Heath Leger's memorial service. I had never heard of him before he died, but I recognized the venue.

[Neo]

Porchlight reminded me about how Jason Leopold was supposed to out his source for that Rove Indicted .. 48 hours to get his matter in order story, if it wasn't true.

Well, Jason .. we're still waiting for you to keep your word .. or is your word as good as a Nigerian e-mail ?

.. and don't give us any of that Sealed v Sealed crap.

[Wilson's a Liar]

That HuffPo piece reads like a parody. It's like the entire nutroots catechism in three paragraphs.

Boy is it gonna be a long 4 years if this guy is elected.

[PeterUK]

"Some middle eastern guy, half my age tried to pick me up there."

Boys that age aren't legal in Australia.

[Jane]

Awww, aren't you sweet.

[JM Hanes]

Clarice:

Wish I could take the credit for Armitage, but that was MJW. It's interesting that the real kicker on the Obama certification turns out to be the non-existent embossing. Is it under the bus for Fight the Smears?

[Neo]

Just watch the right-wing radio shock jocks and the literati warmongers like David Brooks and William Kristol -- who are always looking for a cute "hook" to slime Obama -- cite The Daily Show as confirming, from a hip "liberal" source, their worst fears about Obama.

LOL

William Kristol probably doesn't even know who Jon Steward is, so is unlikely he would quote him.

[JM Hanes]

I see I was late to the MJW party! Porchlight's link to Obama's Presidential Playlist definitely deserves a spot in the mockery thread:

"I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics," he said, "but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."
......
"It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying they were getting bad images of themselves," he added.

Obama's playlist: Bad for his kids.

[Porchlight]

Is it under the bus for Fight the Smears?

If he ever admits it's a fake I think he would have to produce the real certificate to end the rumors. What a mess!

[kim]

So what is on the real birth certificate? Ironically, putting out the photoshop may require him to reveal the real one. Better he had ignored the issue.
==========================

[Rick Ballard]

Slightly OT -

The annual International Energy Outlook report issued today forecasts an increase in oil production of 5 mbd through 2010 (see Table G1). To put that in perspective, production dropped by 100 kbd from 2005 - 2006 occasioning proud crowing by the Peakers that the "tipping point" had been reached. Still another way of looking at it is that world consumption only increased by 1.1 - 1.3 mbd last year - with widespread subsidies in place throughout Asia and South America.

Let's see how the Wily E. Coyote Paradigm holds up as the traders finally look down and note the distance to the valley floor.

I still want those caribou drilled - you just can't have "too much" oil.

[kim]

Was the birth recorded? This is a long shot, but his mother may have given birth at home.
==================================

[Paul Zrimsek]

Stewart joked! People croaked!

[Porchlight]

Obama's playlist: Bad for his kids.

This confersation isn't helping Michelle's kids. Get that dirt off your shoulder, Barry!

[Porchlight]

***conversation***

[JM Hanes]

Porchlight:

The whole story gets ever weirder as it goes along. Israel Insider quotes Janice Okuba -- the same official the St. Pete reporter quoted as ostensibly corroborating the certification in an email exchange.

Obama's effort to keep his campaign "tightly wrapped" seems to be plagued by a whole host of amateur missteps. It makes his pretense that McCain could control what outside organizations do and say on his behalf more than a little ironic, when the Obama message has been most seriously undercut by things his own staff and advisors have said and done.

[Porchlight]

JMH,

I noticed Janice Okuba's name and thought that was strange, too. I think this story is probably considered radioactive by the MSM and mainstream blogs right now, and for good reason - it attracts the nutters. But I was impressed with the Israeli Insider article. It was edited carefully, stuck to the basics and didn't go out on any wild speculation limbs.

And you're correct that the Obama campaign's many errors have been largely unforced. If this story ends up going anywhere, Obama's people will have no excuse, as it will be entirely their own doing.

[Neo]

The key points of this (long!) blog post:

1) Obama education advisor Linda Darling-Hammond responds to Global Labor blog posts on Bill Ayers and Reparations

2) Review of Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) documents shows that Ayers and Obama each chaired the two CAC operating bodies from 1995 to 2000

3) CAC was at heart of Chicago school “wars” in 90s

4) CAC handed out more than $100 million in Chicago school system

5) CAC failed to improve student achievement but Ayers and Obama’s political goals were tackled

[Neo]

Who is Mike Klonsky? Well, on one level, he might just appear to be a protege of Bill Ayers in the education world. He received, as I detail below, a $175,000 grant from the Ayers/Obama-led Annenberg Challenge to run the Small Schools Workshop that he and Ayers started in Chicago to push their school reform agenda.

[Soylent Red]

Was the birth recorded?

Has anyone checked the public records for the city of Bethlehem?

[LindaK]

This may help explain why BO's campaign chest is brimming with contributions: He's making a profit on bussing the press around. According to an item up on Drudge -- sorry forgot to link -- a reporter from the Bloomington (IN) Herald Times was billed by Team BO $115.62 for a turkey sandwich and soup. That's a pretty big markup, even if it had arugula, which, as you know, is expensive.

[clarice]

jmh and rick get their names in the bright lights:
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/obamas_antismear_site_relies_o.html>Why the fake certificate?

[Rick Ballard]

Copperhead Dem Candidate Summer 1864:

"Sherman got lucky with Atlanta, just wait until his logistics catches up with him and he's trapped out there in the middle of Georgia. Those valiant Southerners will chew him up.

This war is too expensive and nothing has been achieved. Lincoln needs to meet with Jefferson Davis and just accept the reality of southern secession. Wars never solve anything and those negroes aren't worth a drop of a white man's blood."

You can count on the Dems.

If you're the USSR or Cuba or Venezuela or North Korea or Syria or Libya or Iran or al Qaeda.

[bad]

Drudge just posted: McCain and Obama tied

[bad]

Previous post about Drudge incomplete. Gallup shows a tie between McCain and Obama.

[Soylent Red]

Nooooooo bad! The moonbats will see that and awake from their stupor to vote! Ssssssh!

[E Buzz Miller, Rev Dr]

I think it is much better that we have no fucking clue as to what Barry's all about.

It makes the surprise all that much better, like a jug-eared box of Cracker Jack that can't speak in public without cue cards or teleprompter.

[JM Hanes]

What's with the sudden emregence of all these internal reports? Via Instapundit/Mortman:

Justice Department officials illegally used “political or ideological” factors in elite recruiting programs in recent years, tapping law school graduates with Federalist Society membership or other conservative credentials over more qualified candidates with liberal-sounding résumés, an internal report found Tuesday.

Sounds sort of like unsealing your divorce papers to me. I think somebody's already fisked the DoJ report, but there's still plenty of fodder left for mocking the NYTimes coverage -- like describing the Council on American-Islamic Relations as "a group that advocates civil liberties." How could a Republican administration possibly object to a member of an organization like that?

[Ranger]

Who is Mike Klonsky? Well, on one level, he might just appear to be a protege of Bill Ayers in the education world. He received, as I detail below, a $175,000 grant from the Ayers/Obama-led Annenberg Challenge to run the Small Schools Workshop that he and Ayers started in Chicago to push their school reform agenda.

Posted by: Neo | June 25, 2008 at 03:34 PM

Yes, as I suggested in a previous thread, a large part of the CAC money was spent to ensure that Bill Ayers grad students could make a nice living on the "education reform" gravy train rather than getting real jobs (the kind that required a lot of effort and paid standard middle class wages) in education.

[JM Hanes]

You're a generous lady, Clarice, thanks! I have always particularly admired your get-it-done attitude -- thinkers who are also doers are a rare breed, and your many accomplishments enrich us all.

[davod]

The great ones seal has resurfaced on his web site More Presidential Seal Imagery at Obama Site.

"...But if you watch closely as the now-vanished page loads, you can see something else that’s very interesting: Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Invalid URL.

The page background image is quickly covered up by a content box, but the image they’re using is actually another version of the Obama faux Presidential Seal. Subliminal imagery? Say it ain’t so, BHO!..."

Could help explain the massive small donations via the internet.

Hat tip LGF

[Reed]

With the excepton of when Al Franken announced he was going to run for the Senate, when has the left ever had a sense of humor? This would be a better world if all liberals would hold their breaths until any liberal laughed at himself.

[Neo]

Let the yawning begin.

Scott McClellan - the longtime supporter of President Bush who served as his White House press secretary for nearly three years - said Tuesday he hasn't ruled out registering as a Democrat or voting Democratic for president this year.

"I haven't made any long-term decisions," McClellan said after an address to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, where he received a warm reception from an audience numbering in the hundreds at the Fairmont Hotel.

Has this clown been definitive about anything ?

A sex addict can get more satisfaction from a fan dancer.

[Sara]

Re: Obama paying off Hillary's debt. I heard someone joke the other night that she will be receiving the largest speaker's fee in history when they appear together in Unity, NH.

[Maddie]

The title of this post made me laugh: It's the capitalized *not* that did it for me. That sort of Huffington post finger-wagging is like a red-flag to bulls, er, people who like to make fun.

And, oh yeah, Obama. The guy's hilarious. What's NOT to laugh at?

[clarice]

Thanks--you're too kind,jmh.
How many people do you think give a rat's patootie about how Scott's going to vote?

[Occam]

I don't think you can mock a mockery

[LynnHam]

I am just wondering if he is eligible for a senate seat?

[glasater]

even if it had arugula, which, as you know, is expensive

It may be expensive but easy to grow on one's backyard garden. My neighbor gave me a bag of it. Had never tasted it before but it is good tasting. Has a touch of spiciness to it:-)

[kim]

I'm trying to be the last person in America who knows what arugula is.

True story: On election day 2000, I wrote in the name of Scooby-Doo for President, then watched the returns in a desultory fashion. By the time I went to bed, I knew that Florida was critical. In the morning I decided to ignore the television, and the newspaper, and other people in a little private conceit to be the last person in America to know who the next President would be. Hah, hah, hah.

Even unto the Spring of 2004 I somewhat despised Bush; then the Democrats nominated Kerry and my radicalization began. What really drove me around the bend was talking to all the moonbats on a local blog. I'm proud to say, too, that I have a couple of comments, mistaken ones, in Beldar's archives for August 2004.

However, I live in a state whose Presidential hue is a foregone conclusion, so I had the luxury in November of adding Shaggy to my ticket as Veep. You could look it up.
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