Comic gold from Obama's now famous San Fran Chronicle "bankrupt the coal industry" interview:
"I do think that I have tried to conduct my political career and my campaign in a way that is honest and candid and straightforward and minimizes spin.
"It doesn't mean that I have no political sense about me, and that I'm above modulating my tones or positions as I go through ... my career. But generally speaking, I tell the truth.
"And that's part of the reason why I think we have been getting people who are turned off to politics attracted to my campaign. ... They sense that I don't try to trim my sails.
Jim Geraghty documents Obama's non-sail trimming on the surge, public finance of elections, Iran, the Wrong Reverend Wright, and much more. Mary Katharine Ham works the same theme with video clips.
Let me add to the list the shifting explanations from the Obama campaign about the Obama/Ayers relationship. Obama is a young man, Presidentially speaking, so the truth may be buried for decades, if it emerges at all. Based on their current track record, there is no reason to expect full and fair disclosure from the Obama side anytime soon.
What does Obama really believe? Let's elect him and find out!
cboldt
My mom is voting for Hobama because she thinkshe will send her a check, lower her property taxes, and lower her utility bills.
I know, I know...I'm a failure.
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Obama with very little time in Congress has shown us how to lead the world..........A country that changed...determination of American voters..........
Posted by: tumbo | November 04, 2008 at 09:56 AM
I confess to being a thief today.
I "stole" the lovely flag wallpaper at National Review Online and put it on my home and my office computers.
It helps keep me in the right mood today (the flag, not the stealing).
Posted by: centralcal | November 04, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Just caught my polling place on CNN. In the background you can see the state rep candidate for whom we had the bonfire Sunday.
My favorite comment in line was made by an 80-year old woman: "I voted the first time for Roosevelt. I didn't know any better then."
Posted by: Walter | November 04, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Clarice could view this as a money making opportunity.She could open a B&B for first time lady protesters.A place for women of a certain age,who would like a safe haven during their first protest
Posted by: jean | November 04, 2008 at 10:03 AM
"Clarice could view this as a money making opportunity.She could open a B&B for first time lady protesters.A place for women of a certain age,who would like a safe haven during their first protest".
She could also give lessons in stick fighting.
Posted by: PeterUK | November 04, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Clair McAsskill says if Hobama wins it is kumbaya time. Same thing if he loses.
BARF
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 10:08 AM
PUK and I are already cornering the market in knobbed walking sticks (the better to kneecap the oppo).
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Well today is my birthday -- hope to get a nice present out of the voters this eve.
Eye-witness Report from Manhattan: Lines at the polls are HUGE, and I hear that it is the same in Brooklyn here. Never seen anything like this before. The makeup appears to be mostly AA's and liberal Obamabots -- there are noticeably a lot of young people in the mix un both groups.
And Oh the earnestness and alacrity in the air! One would think that they were voting for the commencement of the Renaissance or something. Horrid to behold.
Obamabots outnumber the AA's -- which you would expect in Manhattan. I would imagine that this is reversed in Brooklyn and the like.
I was out at 7AM: Around the block. Back out at 9: Even longer. A friend came in from Brooklyn and said that their were very long lines at 6:45.
Still, nothing to worry about from an EV point of view.
I think that we can safely say that both AA and the urban vote numbers will be a record.
Just FYI.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 10:09 AM
and BHO is touted as having a chance on a promise of "New taxes."
But only on other people. Those rich people and corporations. Everyone else is getting a check in the mail.
Posted by: MayBee | November 04, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Happy B-Day , AB. Another sign that the popular and EV pictures may once again diverge.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Beach Boys.
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Obama spent a lot of time in the voting booth. Couldn't figure out how to vote "present".
Posted by: Bill in AZ | November 04, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Folks, nothing to see here. The lines in the morning are long because people were told the lines would be long, so they got there early like everyone else. At my local they were around the corner and down the block at 6am. By 9am they were down to their normal three people in length.
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Obama spent a lot of time in the voting booth.
A voice in his heart, his conscience, said, "For once, do the right thing."
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Crap. Voted for McKinney by mistake. Thought it said, "Whom do you definitely not want?"
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 10:16 AM
See LUN for some Wildcat material for your radio gig, Jane.
By the way, there were only two Obama/Biden signs outside South Station in downtown Boston this morning. I would have thought there would be more enthusiasm for The One in Mass. Maybe they were all in NH working the Dixville Notch vote!
Posted by: Thomas Collins | November 04, 2008 at 10:19 AM
she thinkshe will send her a check, lower her property taxes, and lower her utility bills.
Well, she'll probably get 1 out of 3. Too bad she's bass ackwards on the other 2.
Posted by: Pofarmer | November 04, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Thanks, Clarice. I am feeling hopeful about today for some reason -- just a feeliing.
Hope it is not just senility kicking in early.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Light rain and cool in Southern California -long lines in The OC.
Posted by: in_awe | November 04, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Po
She will go ballistic when those taxes and utility bills don't go down.
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 10:29 AM
O: "But generally speaking, I tell the truth."
And the rest of the time?
And how do we tell the difference?
For what reason does any sane person running for office add "But generally speaking" to that sentence? For what reason would any sane person vote for him?
Posted by: PD | November 04, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Well, I'm getting slightly better dealing with MT, but it really looks like my posts were done by a dipsomaniac.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:31 AM
hey charlie,
i lived in columbus for about two years working with one of the japanese companies out on i-65. a lovely and wealthy little town with two fortune 500 companies there.
it's night and day between there and bloomington. the university here skews everything so far left. there is actually someone running for city council in bloomington who wants to institute a 'county wide single payer health system'. they have imbibed deeply the socialist kool aid here and he'll probably win.
there is a tiny dry gulch that wends it's way thru the I.U. campus called the Jordan river. we like to refer to bloomington as Berkeley-on-the-Jordan.
Posted by: bubarooni | November 04, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Bill:"Obama spent a lot of time in the voting booth. Couldn't figure out how to vote "present"."
Nah--he was wide stancing it with Ayers and Farrakhan.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:32 AM
lol clarice
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 10:33 AM
bub, many decades ago one of my husband's frat brothers ran for president out of Bloomington and was indicted by the state atty genl for treason or something.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:34 AM
She will go ballistic when those taxes and utility bills don't go down.
Oh, they'll go the opposite of down.
Posted by: Pofarmer | November 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Happy real birthday, AB.
Posted by: MayBee | November 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM
I just voted - twice in fact. I screwed up my first ballot which was rejected by the machine so they had to mark me down as "idiot" and give me a second ballot. I wrote in Joe the Plumber for every unopposed democrat.
Posted by: Jane votes Joe The Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM
we like to refer to bloomington as Berkeley-on-the-Jordan.
Here in Madison, we're "Berkeley of the midwest" or "People's Republic of Madison." Our common council is forever wasting time on stuff like voting to become a sister city of somewhere else in the world or whether to support Bush impeachment.
Turnout seems good here. My polling station opened at 7. I got there at 6:30, there was a line already. I was voter #80.
Posted by: PD | November 04, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Madison? Hi, badger! Do you listen to my B-I-L Michael (Whadda Ya Know)Feldman?
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Thanks MayBee.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Does anyone here get Atlanta local news? There are reports of low turnout in urban Atlanta (which would be understandable, given the early voting numbers). I'm curious as to local reports.
Posted by: Sarah Joseph Ballard | November 04, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Well, I'm getting slightly better dealing with MT, but it really looks like my posts were done by a dipsomaniac.
Must.
Resist.
Setup.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 10:47 AM
My husband just left to vote. He's going to call me if the lines are long (I hope they are not. It's rainy here today).
I'll go around 10 with all the retirees, and probably just before Chuck Todd calls the election for Obama.
Posted by: MayBee | November 04, 2008 at 10:49 AM
The face of things to come... Chuck Schumer is on tv touting the fairness doctrine comparing partsinship in broadcasting to porn.
Posted by: LJM | November 04, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Chuck Schumer is on tv touting the fairness doctrine comparing partsinship in broadcasting to porn.
He had the most perverted grin on his face while he was saying it too.
Posted by: Jane votes Joe The Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Go Vote, I say.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Happy Birthday, AB--you are in good company with Laura Bush!
Clarice--I feel good that you will not have to start-up the self-defense school, just yet. Though, if the 3,000,000 polls are right, I will have to go to work...along with the rest of the world that worked hard, saved their money, paid their house off, invested carefully for it to be taken away by a socialist!
Posted by: glenda waggoner | November 04, 2008 at 10:54 AM
"He had the most perverted grin on his face while he was saying it too."
Were his hands visible?
Posted by: PeterUK | November 04, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Happy birthday, AB! I hope it turns out just the way you want it to.
If you all will forgive me I'm going to make one more plug for the Malstrom piece. It is a terrific read and a great morale booster.
Obama is Toast
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I give up Charlie. What's the zinger?
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 10:56 AM
It's unnerving.
Posted by: LJM | November 04, 2008 at 10:56 AM
For Sarah Palin:
I - I love the colorful clothes she wears,
And she's already workin' on my brain,
I - I only looked in her eyes,
But I picked up something I just can't explain.
I'm pickin' up good vibrations,
She's givin' me excitations.
Good, good, good -- good vibrations...
(The Brian Wilson Smile version, natch!)
Posted by: Clyde | November 04, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Schumer was probably "ridin' dirty" with the microphone again, Jane.
Charlie--You MUST.(I wish you were going to be three with me so that i could master that darn formatting,Chaco.)
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Ah well. My husband just called and he's done voting already. I'm going to go now and cancel his O vote out.
Posted by: MayBee | November 04, 2008 at 10:58 AM
It can't be "That's because they were.", can it? Clarice is as lucid as they come.
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Thnx,Jim--lucid maybe--well-typed (alas)never.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Heh, MayBee. My parents have canceled out each other's for most of the last 40 years, and my husband and I are carrying on the tradition.
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 11:00 AM
**each other's vote***
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Is it just me, or does Schumer kind of remind you of O'Reilly's evil twin?
Posted by: Clyde | November 04, 2008 at 11:01 AM
If nothing else comes from this, I am hoping that Bill Ayers will be rooted out and exposed by the media for the slime ball that he is. That may be too much to hope for as the media would be more likely to glorify the guy. I'm hopeful. I just can't believe this guy and his horrible wife are walking around free and have any legitimate influence in society.
Posted by: LJM | November 04, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Schumer as O'reilly's evil twin. LOL
Posted by: LJM | November 04, 2008 at 11:04 AM
From Don Surber:
Karl Rove predicts the Electoral College outcome.
It will be a short night, according to Rove: Democrat Barack Obama 338, Republican John McCain 200.
LUN
Sorry to bum you out.
Posted by: Jane votes Joe The Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Porchlight, you're walking a very fine line there.
"Obama is Toast" is 49.9% potentially racist. "Burnt Toast" would push it over that line.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Glenda: Yes, Well I proud to share it with Mrs. Bush as I am quite a fan of hers. We could all learn a bit from her gracious, dignified and stalwart example. One of the best first ladies to ever grace the WH, IMO, and poorly served by Left and their baboons in the media. The whole sick lot should be ashamed of themselves. Both she and her husband will be treated much more kindly by history should the Republic survive.
You know, it is also Will Rodgers's BD too -- how we could use him now.
I was poking around, and I found that it is also the BD of Comrade Cronkite...Oh well, can't have everything.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:12 AM
I believe that Rove's map is no more than his calculation of the average of the polls.
But if it were his prediction remember he predicted a Rep win in 2006.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Happy Birthday AB!
Posted by: Jane votes Joe The Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 11:13 AM
"It will be a short night, according to Rove: Democrat Barack Obama 338, Republican John McCain 200."
I'd hate to see Harare on the Potomac.
Posted by: PeterUK | November 04, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Porchlight, you're walking a very fine line there.
"Obama is Toast" is 49.9% potentially racist. "Burnt Toast" would push it over that line.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Secretary of State Bill Ayers
Supreme Court Justice Cornell West
Attorney General Lynne Stewart
Come on, help me out here people....
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 11:15 AM
""Obama is Toast" is 49.9% potentially racist. "Burnt Toast" would push it over that line."
Milquetoast.
Posted by: PeterUK | November 04, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Sorry I meant Secretary of Education Bill Ayers.
Sec State is still unfilled...
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 11:15 AM
If it was Kerry it would be French toat.
Obama: bruschetta with arugula
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 11:18 AM
**toast**
What is my problem today?
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 11:18 AM
That rove map is just an average of polls that are out there. It is not his estimate or opinion. I do not know what Rove is upto with this.
There are those of us who think Rove is the "Obi Wan" source over at the NRO. [S]he has a much better opinion of M/P chances.
Perhaps Rove is staying out of it, at least publicly, for fear of hurting the GOP's chances lest he be associated with M/P
(or maybe he is just anticipating the gulag).
Let us not get discouraged by this poll averaging.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Hey Porchlight, you're a librarian, right? That's two good reads in two days. I'm going with your recommendations from now on.
Posted by: Extraneus | November 04, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Andy McCarthy on guilt by association hypocricy from Khalidi. LUN
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 11:25 AM
The Rove map is becoming for me like the Berg case became for Clarice.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I went back and read some of the comments on Tom's link above. There was some discussion about Jack Cashill's Ayers/Obama connection theory. I noticed in the San Fran article posted above that BHO used a nautical metaphor "trim my sails."
As you may recall Cashill attributed the use of nautical metaphor in "Dreams" to Ayers.
Posted by: LJM | November 04, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Thanks, Jane.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Hit: Well just so you don't hit any innocent bystanders (amused or not).
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:32 AM
"I noticed in the San Fran article posted above that BHO used a nautical metaphor "trim my sails."
Well,it isn't a phrase that a community organiser would use on the streets of Chicago.
"Wa he say bro?"
"Dunno,somtin about cutting prices".
Posted by: PeterUK | November 04, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Chuckie Todd over at PMS-NBC gets to use the Greek columns from Obama's convention night. (okay, maybe they aren't the exact same ones, but dang near!)
LUN
Posted by: centralcal | November 04, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Yes, Extraneus, and thank you, but I'm a bit down on my profession these days. You're considered a pariah if your politics are anywhere to the right of Hillary Clinton's, and the younger generation of librarians are if anything even further to the left. Some of them describe themselves as "librarian activists" and campaign openly for leftist politics within the profession.
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 11:37 AM
BHO used a nautical metaphor "trim my sails."
Hobama had been ordered by Ayers to sound masculine. People were talkin'... So Dohrn gave him a list of phrases to add to raise his man quotient.
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Happy birthday, AB!
Again, Karl Rove is not predicting anything. His map is entirely dependent on public polling.
Posted by: Elliott | November 04, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Goldberg:
...nothing prepared the country for some of former Vice President Biden's comments while in office. Early on, when he told the Russian foreign minister he'd "rather punch a nun in the throat" than cooperate on an Iranian nuclear deal, the Obama administration knew they had a problem on their hands.
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 11:40 AM
"BHO used a nautical metaphor "trim my sails."
Hobama had been ordered by Ayers to sound masculine."
So we can expect,
"Shiver me timbers".
"Ah Jim Lad"
"Splice the mainbrace"
"Man overboard"
"Pieces of eight,pieces of eight"
"Who's a pretty boy then?"
Posted by: PeterUK | November 04, 2008 at 11:41 AM
"trim my sails" The phrase of a poseur, beyond a doubt. Never has trimmed a sail in his life, I'd bet. Does he think the "ruling class" still talks like this?
I tell you, this election has just destroyed my patience with "liberal-speak" and all their vapid metaphors. (This is awkward for a New Yorker, let me tell you.)
This is sort of metaphor is straight out of the 1930's, which is what this election is all about. The Dem's really want to return to the days of FDR. Literally.
Mass senility laced with nostalgia.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Hobama had been ordered by Ayers to sound masculine.
And to start using nautical metaphors as much as possible now.
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Thanks Elliot. Better steer clear of Hit on the Rove stuff (just kidding).
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Jim:P lol.
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Jim:P=JimR:
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Today's verse:
Is 40:31 NIVcan't find my King James version - it's much more poetic - but this will do.
Posted by: SunnyDay | November 04, 2008 at 11:47 AM
:P means you are sticking your tongue out.
Posted by: SunnyDay | November 04, 2008 at 11:51 AM
It's raining in Philly, Cleveland and Northern Va, all blue blue areas.
You're welcome,
Gaia
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Rain has stopped here. Pray harder.
Posted by: SunnyDay | November 04, 2008 at 11:51 AM
I do not understand this:
Index Value: 9,624.88
Trade Time: 11:52AM ET
Change: 305.05 (3.27%)
Prev Close: 9,319.83
Open: 9,323.89
Day's Range: 9323.89 - 9624.88
52wk Range: 7,773.71 - 13,850.90
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 11:52 AM
O: "Bill? Did you read the article? The nautical metaphors! Jesus, Bill!"
A: "Crap. Okay, calm down. Crap! Okay, look. Start using nautical metaphors. A lot. Not too much! But use 'em."
O: "Bill, I'm freakin' out. I didn't even understand a lot of what you wrote for chrissakes."
A: "Do you know 'cut of his jib', for example? How about 'Arrgh!!'...Hello?"
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Yes, indeed, happy birthday AB!
Make that wish when you blow out your candles.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 11:53 AM
OK, I voted and it was fast. They had a table with pink provisional ballots in the center of the room, and signs explaining them. That's good.
California sends out a fantastic election guide with all proposals, the pros and cons written by supporters, the rebuttals to the pros and cons, and the actual language. It made it really easy to vote quickly, because I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
My Dem Congressnostril was running unopposed, but I suspect he won't find much to investigate in this next administration.
Posted by: MayBee | November 04, 2008 at 11:54 AM
The San Fran interview was in January. I'm not sure when Cashill first asserted his theory. I read somewhere that Moby Dick was one of BHO's favorite books. Maybe that explains everything.
Not to get to far ahead of myself I'm looking forward to hearing how BHO works "shiver me timbers" into the State of the Union address.
Posted by: LJM | November 04, 2008 at 11:54 AM
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
(King James Version)
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:54 AM
the only image that comes to mind with Obama's statement is of Danny in Caddyshack at the yacht club, wearing his blue blazer and captain's hat.......just like Judge Smails.....
Posted by: matt | November 04, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Hit: thanks again.
JimR: Too funny (and Just so)
A: "Didn't you ever watch Gilligan's Island?
O: I was 8 years old then and...er...umm...
A: Oh for the love of Pete...
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Secretary of State Bill Ayers
Supreme Court Justice Cornell West
Attorney General Lynne Stewart
Come on, help me out here people....\
Aunt Esther for First Lady
Posted by: peter | November 04, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Another great verse, Sunny and AB!
Posted by: centralcal | November 04, 2008 at 12:00 PM
DirecTV has an Election Mix channel today. 8 channels in 1 screen, I just toggle over the picture to choose which one's audio I want to here.
Talk about your porn.
Posted by: MayBee | November 04, 2008 at 12:02 PM