Betrayed By The Blank Slate

Peter Beinart takes us back to 2008, when Obama fans looked into the Mirror of Desire and saw a bold new course on foreign policy.  What it was in Obama's personal history that evidenced boldness is one more for the history books.

Comments

[DebinNC]

Wiki:
"The Mirror of Erised is a mystical mirror discovered by Harry in a back corridor of Hogwarts in Philosopher's Stone. On it is inscribed, erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi - which, when mirrored and correctly spaced, reads I show not your face but your heart's desire. Also erised reversed is desire, so it is the mirror of desire. ...Dumbledore cautions Harry that the mirror gives neither knowledge nor truth and that men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they see."

[Jane (woof woof)]

So the self-rehabilitation effort by the mainstream media has begun.

It won't work.

[narciso]

Afghanistan is important, yet he didn't give attention to it for months, Iran is important,
the lest said of that, the better. Meaningless
negotiations that only put pressure on Israel,
he's focused on that like a laser beam

[Captain Hate]

I feel dumber from having read that article.

[anduril]

This is simple. Obama has long since caved totally to Netanyahu--the realities of American politics overtook The One. There is no peace process. It is what Netanyahu wants it to be, which is just a show. There is NO pressure on Israel. End of story.

[Porchlight]

The Mirror of Erised is such a perfect metaphor. Countless times in 2008 I heard liberals discussing all the great peacenik things Obama was going to do, such as (but not limited to) immediately withdrawing all forces from both Iraq and Afghanistan. When I pointed out that none of those things bore any resemblance to Obama's stated positions, they weren't worried in the least. They were convinced that his plan of action mirrored precisely what it was they wanted to happen.

[huxley]

The article does contain an interesting link (LUN) to a Samantha Power memo from yesteryear (2007) on foreign policy with the bewitching 3x refrain:

Barack Obama’s judgment is right. It is conventional wisdom that has to change.

In Beinart's trademark muddled way he offers this memo as the bold vision from which Obama has lost his way.

And Samantha Power? I remembered her as being thrown under the bus during the campaign, but she is now Director for Multilateral Affairs on the NSC. Furthermore, she is married to Cass Sunstein, now Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Obama didn't betray the Power memo. He embodied it. But Barack Obama's judgment was wrong, and so was that of all those convinced that Obama's complaints and college sophomore schemes were wisdom.

[glasater]

Anyone watching Bozo in Ohio?

[Neo]

Just like watching the interactions in DC, foreign relations require at least two parties "to relate." Given that most other parties haven't changed their position on Jack, having Hiliary do a dance for them is more entertainment than relations.

[Rick Ballard]

"Anyone watching Bozo in Ohio?"

GL,

He couldn't even fill a rec center at Cuyahoga Community College. I'll bet he pees on the new carpet in the Oval Office again to get even. That'll show 'em.

[JM Hanes]

The effort to reconcile Old Peter Beinart and New Peter Beinart is not going well -- it doesn't help when you're looking into a rearview Mirror of Erised too.

For almost nine years now, the Afghan War has enjoyed widespread bipartisan support, even as the rationale for fighting it has eroded.

Yeah, right. After an initial spasm, the only support it got on the left was almost entirely cynical (We're not pacifists! We support The Good War!), which unsurprisingly evaporated on Jan. 20, 2009 -- long before Obama began publicly insulting Karzai. Apparently Beinart didn't notice that the Prez-in-waiting never even called a meeting of his NATO subcommittee.

It gets harder all the time to dress up, "But he promised us a brand new bicycle!" in anything remotely resembling compelling commentary.

[JM Hanes]

Speaking of Blank Slate politics, I found this LOL! funny:

President Barack Obama — facing a buzz saw of bad news — plans to shift his tone on the economy, ditching dry Explainer-in-Chief policy lectures for a more emotional, more personal approach emphasizing his own family’s hardships, administration officials tell POLITICO.

Exhibit A: Obama’s Wednesday trip to Cleveland — where Obama will follow up a pointed attack on House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) with a retelling of the economic struggles faced by his family during his childhood in Hawaii.

[...]

“I think we’ve lost the president’s personal narrative in the story he’s been telling about the economy,” a senior administration official conceded Tuesday. “We recognize that. And you are going to see a change.” 

Now that's what I call throwing the car into reverse. I too felt pain. Once. When I was about 13.

[Neo]

Man registers his dog, Tuckup, an 11-year-old black lab and golden retriever mix to vote in New Mexico.

After receiving a voter registration card, he mentions it on a blog, gets busted, serves nine months probation and the case was dropped.

Last week, Tuckup received a notice in the mail telling him where he can vote in November.

[JorgXMcKie]

You know, when I first saw those "One Big Assed Mistake America" signs and posters, I thought perhaps they were a bit over the top.

Now I'm not sure they shouldn't be much, much stronger.

Beinart,though, is reliably enough a general suck-up to indicate there's something going on here. Who's he's sucking up to right now isn't all that clear to me, but since it's his basic operating mode, I'm sure he's doing it.

[Captain Hate]

“I think we’ve lost the president’s personal narrative in the story he’s been telling about the economy,” a senior administration official conceded Tuesday. “We recognize that. And you are going to see a change.”

Are they serious? All he talks about is his personal narrative. For example we know that he's too dumb to understand auto insurance; that pretty much told us all we needed to know about his ability to move the economy in the right direction.

[Rob Crawford]

Yeah, right. After an initial spasm, the only support it got on the left was almost entirely cynical

Remember the pipeline conspiracy theories?

[Porchlight]

Who the F cares about the president's personal narrative??? These people are INSANE. It's almost like they're apologizing for "losing the narrative." W.T.F.

This is confirmation - as if we needed it - that he literally has NOTHING but his biography to recommend him. And of course, to anyone with any principles, his biography does nothing of the kind.

SEriously wtf.

[Rob Crawford]

From neo's story:

"Unfortunately, submitting a false or fraudulent voter registration is actually a felony," Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver said.

But it was only after Pizzolato talked about registering Tuckup on a local blog that officials realized the mistake. Then they charged him [because he embarrassed them -- RC]. He served nine months probation and the case was dropped.

...

"I would actually have to have a court order causing me to remove the voter registration and I still haven't gotten anything yet," Toulouse Oliver said.

In other words, the people who pressed charges against him, and likely ended his right to vote (felony conviction, right?), won't remove the fraudulent registration. I don't buy the "I need a court order" line -- the registration is fraudulent, should never have been entered, and was void from the beginning! If they have the authority to press charges for fraud, they have the authority to discard the results of that fraud.

If they seriously need a court order, it seems like a simple request made to the judge in the case should suffice to produce one.

[squaredance]

The sad thing is that it is more than certain that ole Tuckup has more common sense than a broad swath of the electorate.

He no doubt is actually capable of something useful too.

[Captain Hate]

He couldn't even fill a rec center at Cuyahoga Community College.

It's hard to adequately measure the extent of political apathy in northeast Ahia now. Yesterday there was a "special election" primary for candidates on a county government restructuring that was so poorly participated that some polling locations didn't have a single voter take part. There are multiple reasons for it (it wasn't well publicized since I found out by accident, having it the day after Labor Day isn't brilliant timing, there were only two things to vote for) but it's still pretty embarrassing.

[maryrose]

The dems never supported either wars. They constantly vote to defund them. The last vote had
about 100 votes of "hell no we won't go"
all former Obama supporters. At last count Guantanamo was still open and we haven't tried anybody. Eric Holder is a joke and a half and isn't taken seriously by anybody. Stem cell is stalled because Obama tried to get around the law again and a smart judge stopped him. Is anyone else tired of the Obama narrative that ultimately allows him to say Me Me Me in his speeches. He almost cut into my afternoon soap opera here in Cleveland but luckily probably got caught in traffic on his way to Parma. He's in the belly of the beast in that location with precious few votes cast for him there in 2008.

[Rob Crawford]

The dems never supported either wars.

Not strictly true. Some of them supported the other side.

[Jack is Back!]

There is not enough room in the White House for two mirrors,">http://www.michellesmirror.com/'>mirrors, much less one.

[squaredance]

The only time the Democrats support an American war is when it is to help a socialist society--like the USSR.

Witness their passive-aggressive treason during the Cold War. If it were not for Reagan, and by implication the GOP, the USSR would still be there and no doubt doing as well as China is now doing.

"Support for Afghanistan" was mere momentary and mincing political posturing to cover them as they cast about for new ways to undermine us. After a time they got their bearings and it was straightaway back to the their grim little dance. What a baldfaced charade.

When will people learn that they hate all that is good and decent and all that is good and decent about America. The Democrats are some of the foulest souls on this earth.

anyway...where are the birth certificate freaks? That would be a good place to start with his "personal narrative".

That the WH imagines that the problem is that Obama has not "got out his narrative" bespeaks less of their foolishness and rather much more of the sheer callowness, feckless and triviality of he supporters at large in the electorate.

[Pagar]

IMO, Some should be changed to most in the 03:39 post.

[maryrose]

I love the mirror image metaphor as regards to Obama and has me singing Carly Simon's old favorite "You're So Vain " And yes Obama does think it's all about him. And quite frankly we enjoy talking to him like a dog though I like the article by Dana Milbank today who called Obama a cat. Yes the preening and feline characteristics do seem more in Obama's mode.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

and likely ended his right to vote (felony conviction, right?),....

Probably not.

He served nine months probation and the case was dropped.

Sounds like it was a deferred-prosecution thing.

[Janet]

retelling of the economic struggles faced by his family during his childhood in Hawaii.

What economic struggles? He went to an expensive private school. Which family? His grandparents that raised him, or his mom & stepfather that left him?

Yeah, lets go back & look at his childhood in Hawaii...& his college years...& his initial time in Chicago. I'm all for LOOKING at it.

[daddy]

Anyone on the National scene or MSM apologized to Rush lately for hoping this President fails in what he's trying to accomplish?

I know it's hard sometimes to admit when someone's been wrong. That's why I want to give special OT kudo's to the Guardians George Monbiot (moonbat). He just came out and admitted he was wrong about vegetarianism being the only answer:

">http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/06/meat-production-veganism-deforestation"> I was wrong about veganism. Let them eat meat – but farm it properly

We could sure use more of that "I was Wrong" stuff from our domestic punditry.

[Rob Crawford]

Sounds like it was a deferred-prosecution thing.

Then he didn't lose his right to vote, good. But that doesn't change the fact that the registrar could ask the judge to issue the order to remove the false registration.

Or, likely, remove it themselves because it was false and invalid from the beginning.

[narciso]

This is awkward, but not surprising, considering that trip to the city of Sunshine
in the 57th State of Florida, in the LUN, got
to back up that teleprompter

[Dave (in MA)]

Back on the domestic front, I don't know if anyone else already posted it, but Insty linked to Obama vs. JFK on taxes.

[JM Hanes]

I sure wish my head felt better, because this would definitely be LOL day. Tonight "Nature" on PBS has a 2 parter: Dogs that changed the world.

[Neo]

The dems never supported either wars.

Vote 77-23 On the Joint Resolution (H.J.Res. 114) - 11 October 2002, 12:50 AM
Republicans: 48-1
Democrats: 29-21
Independents: 0-1

Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Breaux (D-LA), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Carnahan (D-MO), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Cleland (D-GA), Yea
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Daschle (D-SD), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Edwards (D-NC), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hollings (D-SC), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Miller (D-GA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Torricelli (D-NJ), Yea

[narciso]

Yes they voted for the Gulf of Tonkin, two, and they walked away from that. Biden voted
against the Gulf War, but for this one

[Janet]

Even if you are not a fan of Boehner...this video of Stephanopoulos is sickening. He stutters around because he knows how low this is...and ABC had the graphic all ready, so it was planned. I hate the MFM.

[Janet]

Boxer aide busted for pot on Capitol Hill. LUN

from the article - "Stanley has worked on Capitol Hill since 2007, according to financial disclosure records from Legistorm, and draws a six-figure salary. He has also worked for the Joint Economic Committee."
Bold is mine. Hah!

[Janet]

Also from the article - "This is not the first time a member of Boxer’s senior staff has been arrested. Senior policy adviser Jeffrey Rosato, who also worked on the EPW committee, was fired in 2008 after he was arrested and charged with the receipt and distribution of child pornography."

Ya know, these are the people writing our laws. Not the Senators...they haven't even read the bills. A pot head & a child pornography pervert...telling me & my family what we have to do.

[Neo]

Beinart writes with the prose suitable for describing how to attach bristles to a broom.

[DebinNC]

and ABC had the graphic all ready, so it was planned..

I didn't watch the video, but read the transcript excerpt. If "the graphic" is of a tanned Boehner then I'd say it backfired, because it gave Boehner a reason to mention he'd been out "cutting my grass" and bike riding. I bet I'm not the only one who immediately thought, "Obama probably never mowed a lawn in his life." BTW, it's Obama's turn with Stephie tomorrow.

[flodigarry]

glasater -

I was Leesburg, VA on business and thought I'd grab some lunch at McDonald's. I grabbed an empty booth which turned out to be right below the TV which had on BOZO's speech (oh crap!). I set a speed record in scarfing down my meal - even so I could not avoid hearing BOZO spout at least a dozen falsehoods... Scoped out the other diners on my way out to see if anyone was buying his $#!+.

[JM Hanes]

More amusements in Cleveland: "Tri-C students recruited to fill the seats for Obama's appearance" (with less than an hour to go).

[Melinda Romanoff]

flodigarry-

Those things come with plugs, you know.

Just might fall out of the outlet at any time...

[bunkerbuster]

Bravo Capt. Bigot, for a magnificently succinct summation of why Rush Limbaugh is a multi-millionaire, how wingnuts are consumed by a deep sense of intellectual inferiority and why they could never accept the reality that there is no media conspiracy against them.

``I feel dumber from having read that article.'' -- Capn Bigot

[flodigarry]

Mel - I briefly considered that, but it was mounted on the ceiling. Rats.

[Melinda Romanoff]

flodigarry-

A little something for the keychain, if you can spare $20.

[Porchlight]

bubu! Where have you been! We missed having you to kick around.

Loved this from VDH today:

Given all that, it is understandable both why America is very worried what it has wrought — and why Barack Obama is miffed and lashes out.

You would too if both accountability and criticism were novel experiences at 49.

Zing!

[Porchlight]

Melinda,

CNN at airports. Wouldn't that be great?

[Elliott]

He has also worked for the Joint Economic Committee.

No wonder this Congress will get rolled at the polls.

[Thomas Collins]

Speaking of $$$$, it looks as if at least one of the GZM investors will take the money and run if the opportunity presents itself. See LUN.

[DebinNC]

They were expecting 1200 invited politicos/union members, which includes 50 student tickets given to each of the 3 Tri-C campuses. The reason given for choosing the Parma campus and not the larger Cleveland one was supposedly the lack of exits due to construction, but this video, in which Obama is blessedly seen but not heard, reveals what the closeup podium pic doesn't....the very small venue is not crowded even after students were commandeered at the last minute.

[Porchlight]

DebinNC,

That Moonlight Sonata soundtrack was hilarious, if odd. What were they thinking?

We should send folks to his speeches and get them to video it and do a 360 pan of the room. I bet they'd get kicked out though. ;)

[Elliott]

Porchlight,

It occurred to me earlier today that he's probably not thrilled at the prospect of six and a third more years, but, with all the perks, would never countenance bowing out.

[Porchlight]

Elliott,

Good to see you posting more.

I don't think he can take it. I think he purely hates the job apart from the perks and the constant blowing of sunshine. It's a hard job for anyone, but it's especially hard if you've never had a real job.

The freedom to spend his money and cruise the lecture circuit is going to become even more tempting to him in the next couple of years.

[maryrose]

I don't think Obama likes the job either and probably is ready to turn it over to Hillary come 2012. What other dem could get the nomination? He gets especially surly if you don't agree with him.
Neo: Half the Senators who supported the war's efforts are gone now. I was thinking primarily of the House members.

[Rick Ballard]

Does anyone else think that the "they" in President BOwser's "they treat me like a dog" might be a reference to his kennel keepers rather than the opposition? I have a feeling that the kennel keepers are less than thrilled with the Obamas' choices regarding their public displays of idiocy - from too many golf rounds to Moochelle Antoinette's sojourn among the eurotrash of Marbella.

The absolute lack of adequate advance work for today's blather suggests that the President is calling all the shots now. I think that he should be encouraged to do so at every opportunity and that Michelle should be given a long leash as well. A clear demonstration of the First Couple's innate intelligence and decision making capabilities will really electrify the electorate.

[Rick Ballard]

Does anyone else think that the "they" in President BOwser's "they treat me like a dog" might be a reference to his kennel keepers rather than the opposition? I have a feeling that the kennel keepers are less than thrilled with the Obamas' choices regarding their public displays of idiocy - from too many golf rounds to Moochelle Antoinette's sojourn among the eurotrash of Marbella.

The absolute lack of adequate advance work for today's blather suggests that the President is calling all the shots now. I think that he should be encouraged to do so at every opportunity and that Michelle should be given a long leash as well. A clear demonstration of the First Couple's innate intelligence and decision making capabilities will really electrify the electorate.

[Extraneus]

I hate the MFM.

I've never understood why Republicans don't just boycott them. There are many other places they can go to get their message out. For example, why wouldn't a Republican president just skip over the networks, NYT, WaPo, etc., at press conferences, and give time to more neutral or even friendly outlets? The MSM aren't trying to report news, so what's the point of talking to them? Maybe you won't be tripped up?

It was obvious way before the fact that there was no value for Sarah Palin to interview with MSM operatives from the Democratic party, for example. She could have spent time with Rush, Britt Hume, and/or other less antagonistic interviewers, especially being so new at the game. Made no sense at all to go with network news-readers.

F them, I say. If I were advising Boehner, I'd recommend shutting them out after November 2. Learn from Newt, who couldn't resist flapping his yap, and just quietly do what you do while the left tries to figure it out.

[Captain Hate]

Soooo, if you're a student at Tri-C West you got your classes canceled today *and* got badgered to attend a "post partisan" stemwinder by the Indonesian Imbecile. Such a deal! I hope that Tri-C plans on rescheduling the missed classes or, failing that, offers the students a pro-rated refund.

I'm not sure where the tie-in with Tri-C and the jugeared goof is as far as it being the forum for a number of his appearances; other than the college preznit, Jerry Sue Thornton, is a gladhanding bitch who never misses a chance to jump on a potential donkeycrat gravy train.

[Extraneus]

I see that HotAir has a headline alerting that Palin and Romney denounce the Koran burning. (Guess we'll be seeing a lot of what Palin and Romney think after November 2nd.)

Shouldn't some of these so-called leaders of ours step up to say they despise the act, but they'll defend the preacher's right to burn the Koran? Shouldn't some people advise the Muslim thugs that they'll be met if they come down to Gainsville to threaten the preacher's 1st Amendment rights?

This is what they guy is attempting to incite, I think. The pic at Drudge shows his intention to create an "International Burn the Koran Day" on 9/11. He wasn't planning to be the only target, apparently.

[glasater]

Here's a link that contains many good links:

The 15 Most Obvious Lies in President Obama’s Ohio Speech and 1 Damning Freudian Slip

Here's the Freudian slip:

“I believe government should be lean, government should be efficient, I believe government should lead people free to make the choices that are best for themselves and their families so long as those choices don’t hurt others.”

He meant to say government should leave people free to make the choices. But lead came out instead. This is, of course, his embrace of the big government philosophies of his czar Cass Sunstein, co-author of the book Nudge which argues government should push people to make the right choices.

This is a President with such disdain for America and its people that he demands he and his elite team lead the citizens in making the choices that are best for you.

[anduril]

Obama's stumper seems to me to be a recipe for Dem failure--violating the first rule of holes:

"If we're willing again to choose hope over fear, to choose the future over the past, to come together once more around the great project of national renewal, then we will restore our economy, rebuild our middle class and reclaim the American dream for the next generation," he said, striking the same cadences that buoyed his presidential bid.

The polls seem to be saying loud and clear that the American people are NOT willing to buy into that line again--they recognize that it IS a line. If that's what he's out offering to the American people, that hole will only get deeper. The trusted blindly once, they won't do it again.

[Captain Hate]

Shouldn't some of these so-called leaders of ours step up to say they despise the act, but they'll defend the preacher's right to burn the Koran?

Not really; I'm kind of upset they're addressing it at all but the MFM has somewhat backed them into a corner by making the words of a promised action by some glory-seeking mook a BFD. This is using an Al Sharpton tactic for a different goal and, whether or not you agree with the goal, it's still a scummy tactic and deserves to be ignored.

[Jim Miller]

Janet - Thanks for posting that story about the Boxer aide. (I used it in a post, and forgot to give you credit, so I'm thanking you here.)

[Neo]

Clean Energy Works, a coalition of 80 environmental, religious, veteran and labor groups, will phase out its operations this fall as Democratic congressional leaders abandon plans for a sweeping bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions.

[Neo]

Castro replied: “The Cuban model doesn’t even work for us anymore”

[Extraneus]

There should be a verb for the Al Sharpton technique.

[Jay8]

and saw a bold new course on foreign policy.

Yeah, like this:

WASHINGTON – A sharply divided federal appeals court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit involving the Central Intelligence Agency’s practice of seizing terrorism suspects and transferring them to other countries for imprisonment and interrogation. The ruling handed a major victory to the Obama administration in its effort to advance a sweeping view of executive secrecy power.

By a six-to-five vote, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, reversing an earlier decision, dismissed a lawsuit against Jeppesen Dataplan Inc., a Boeing subsidiary accused of arranging flights for the C.I.A.’s “extraordinary rendition” program, as it is known. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the case on behalf of five former prisoners who say they were tortured because of the program – and that Jeppesen was complicit in their treatment.

OH well, all this silly comments lies about this program while Bush was in the Oval Office go down the memory hole...

LUN

[Jay8]

Thanks for posting that story about the Boxer aide

Yeah, and let's not forget this one:

Senior policy adviser Jeffrey Rosato, who also worked on the EPW committee, was fired in 2008 after he was arrested and charged with the receipt and distribution of child pornography.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Ex-

I'll give you a choice of nouns.

Remora or Lamprey?

[Melinda Romanoff]

Neo-

That scrapping may be a bit premature.

[Extraneus]

Tawana'd?

(That Lamprey thing was interesting.)

[daddy]

I'm baldheaded, so if anybody has an spare hair would you mind lending it to me so I can set it on fire...

Both The Hill and FOX news are announcing that tomorrow Lisa Murcowsy will announce that she is running as a write in candidate for Alaskan US Senate.

Huge talk radio topic. On the day when the Left wing WaPo actually says the Repubs may have a chance to take the Senate, we get Lisa, for whatever personal reasons of hubris or Palin hatred or whatever, deciding to enter the race a second time, try to destroy Joe Miller, and thereby very possibly empowering Obama by preventing the Repubs from regaining the Senate.

Consensus appears to be that she will wholehog focus on hammering Joe Miller. The National Dem's have to be doing handsprings up and down the DNC corridors today, in hopes that they can contribute to defeating Palin thru defeating Joe Miller. If they're stuck with a now "Independent" Lisa versus Joe Miller--great.

If they are able to get McAdams to drop out of the Dem race and replace him with former Dem Governor Tony Knowles as the Dem Candidate (or somebody similar) even better. Knowles lost 44% to (I think) 47% in a previous election. He's the first Dem name that comes to mind but I assume if the national DNC decided that McAdam's needed to be replaced he would receive an offer he could not refuse.

Whatever the hell her selfish reasons are, we may be in the position of saying Thank you Lisa Murcowsky for allowing Barack Obama to have 2 more years of trying to ram his agenda down our throats.

For you lower 48's, there are so many people up here who really dislike Sarah Palin (and therefore Joe Miller,) that Lisa has a real opportunity to cause massive damage up here.

Breaking news is reporting that Lisa's Leadership position with the Repub's has just been reported to be off the table. She's lost that.

My realistic view is that this is simply spoilership. Sarah beat her dad and Sarah's candidate beat her. But the scary thing is how many peiple on a conservative talk show are calling in and saying they will never vote for a candidate supported by Palin and that they would vote for Lisa.

Also credible comments by pundits on McAdams just bowing out at the last minute and throwing his support to Lisa.

Big apologies for my State folks, but it looks like the political soap-opera up here continues. And BTW I am misspelling her name as our current rules supposedly are that 1 letter misspelled in a write in ballot disqualifies that ballot: MurCowSky, Merkowskee, MirCowski.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Ex-

Lampreys don't differentiate between fish or people.

And the mouth will give most men a nightmare or two.

[Janet]

No need to apologize daddy. My state gives you big-head Jim Webb & Mark "where is he" Warner. Both pretend to be conservative dems, but they always...ALWAYS vote party line. Webb owns a gun & Warner went to church once...so they are marketed as conservative dems. What frauds.

[Pagar]

Melinda, "That scrapping may be a bit premature."

Any clues you can give us?

Chicago Climate exchange New record low. The only lower number is zero.

RGGI Auctions

"Auction 9 results will be posted here at 10AM ET on Friday, Sept. 10"
What is who buying? In Jun it looks like $80,465,566. was collected, and that is the lowest auction of the 8 to date.

[Jane]

Daddy,

It is simply not understandable on any level if one cares about this country.

[Extraneus]

Kelsey Grammer on RightNetwork.

"We're not out to vilify or accuse or identify anybody as an enemy," Grammer said. "We're out there to encourage people to open their minds and take a look at some things that we as a group of people believe is the right direction for the country."

[Pofarmer]

"Made no sense at all to go with network news-readers.."

Keep in mind . The person arranging the interviews had once worked for Katie Couric. They simply don't have a clue How the media atmosphere has chanaged.

[daddy]

Jane here's some links:

">http://www.rollcall.com/news/49614-1.html?type=aggregate_friendly"> Murkowski Weighing Write-In Bid (The Hill)

That's the topic Du Jour today up here.

Here's Hot">http://hotair.com/archives/2010/09/08/here-we-go-murkowski-set-to-launch-write-in-campaign-tomorrow/">Hot Air.

FWIW, Miller just called in during the last few minutes of the Fagan Show:

Sez he hopes she keeps her word she made in the Kenai debate to support the will of the Primary voters. Other than that, not slamming her---instead focusing on what he's doing and what he wants to do.

Sez he undertands she will have no position of power if she wins, but regardless he will simply continue doing and saying the stuff he believes in: Constitutional principles; less Government, etc.

He sounds very confident, speaks very well. Discussing what is wrong economically with the country he is very sharp. How to fix less specific, but still very sharp.

Very well aware of the attacks incoming. Said he was at the Fair on Saturday and he just discussed some of the lies in the Literature about himself put out from the DNC Info Table set up at the Fair to put slam him and promote McAdams.

FWIW, Murkowskee the dad was a sitting Governor and was the bottom loser in a 3 way primary won by Sarah and some other guy.Murcowski was dead last, just did awful. The he appointed lIsa and now she gets drubbed by another Palin. And Palin got famous initially by quitting the corruption board she was assigned to by Governor Murkowskee because he blew off her findings of corruption. Big bad blood betwixt the Mercow's and the Sarah Palin. The tone deafness of what Lisa is doing i simply stunning to me. And reports are that her folks are still in Talks as of this morning with the Libertarian Party (even tho their candidate has said hell no he's not stepping down fro her) all so she can get her name on the Ballot as opposed to having to be a write-in candidate.

Her only other option is to see if she can swap and run as the Democrat.

To me this whole thing is vindication of how smart the voters were to see thru her and pull the lever for Miller. But it sickens me.

[Pofarmer]

"But the scary thing is how many peiple on a conservative talk show are calling in and saying they will never vote for a candidate supported by Palin and that they would vote for Lisa."

Call screening?

[Bill in AZ sez it's time for Zero to resign]

Same crap happened here in AZ during the primaries daddy. A lot of slimy money came in from McAmnesty's "my friends" from all over the country, and influenced some key races. What was particularly disappointing is some of the local conservative bloggers who fell for this crap. And then there was the constant barrage of "conservatives" calling in to radio shows, posting on blogs, etc. Enough that it had to give folks who don't follow this stuff 24/7 pause, and the damage was done.

That is one thing that concerns me greatly about the election - the polls look good, there is a fever out there, but a lot of this stuff is local. A concerted effort at the local level in a few key races can really screw up the minds of the voters. Looks like Merkowasaki is one of their key races. Tell the radio stations to knock it off and pay attention to who is getting scammed. My local conservative talk station got unbearable in the last couple of weeks before the election, because they bought it hook line and sinker - or they got paid off by "my friends".

[daddy]

Po,

This is the Conservative Fagan show. I know there is no call screening. We are too small potatoes for that. I call in almost every day, get on in at most 5 minutes. It's an honest to goodness unscreened call in show. A large segment hate the Murkowskee's because of their hubris dynastic pretensions and her daddy giving Lisa the Senate seat he vacated, and on the other hand many folks hating Palin because of how poorly they think she did as Governor, therefore hating Joe Miller as her hand picked "Pailinbot" clone.

"Palinbot" is a very familiar and immediately understandable derisive term up here to just about everyone. It's how a non-Sarah conservative ends a conversation they are losing with a Sarah fan "You're a Palinbot."

As for Fagan, he hates Sarah Palin but loves Joe Miller's conservative message. A real schizoid personality. And the call screener is a nice gal (22), and he and she hate each other over abortion. Trust me, no call screening shenanigans going on on the Talk Shows. For Ellie Lights and Comment screeners you have to go to the ADN or the local networks.

FWIW Fagan said today that he would be going to the police and filing his report of having knowledge of a crime being committed by Governor Parnell, by this upcoming Friday.

[Porchlight]

daddy,

FWIW Allaheeyore posted a link to an article that says (at the end of the article) that spelling doesn't count in AK - it's the intent of the voter. Do they have that wrong?

[glasater]

If it's any comfort daddy, most voters will not take the time to write in a candidate's name.
I say that from having worked in elections years ago.

[DebinNC]

Our Alaska tour guide was right when he told us: "As far as a woman finding a husband in Alaska, the odds are good...but the goods are odd." The women seem odd too. I'm praying we find a 2012 candidate who at least hasn't polarized his/her own state. Run, Haley, run.

[Captain Hate]

So the Polack Princess is a sore loser? There's a shocker; just another worthless Repuke brought to you by the country clubbers that get comfy with Groin-itch, Snarlin' Arlen, My Friends, Cheeto Crist and this RINO pos from Delaware that Ace and AllahPuke say we have to support. To hell with them all.

[Pofarmer]

Stilll doesn't mean there's not an orchestrated effort to game the call INS.

[daddy]

Porchlight,

Don't know on the spelling. Will try to find out. That's just the prelim word that was coming down on Talk Radio.

We have an unusual history up here of write in candidates, because we are still small enuff, or have been small enuff, where write-ins can and have made a difference in the past.

If Lisa definitely announces tomorrow her intent to run as a write-in candidate (with a 1.5 million dollar war chest) then pretty quickly we'll know the exact rules, plus how to mount the legal challenges to allow the misspellings to count. Ughh.

Overall it simply seems to me if she says she's going for it tomorrow, then its a brand new shuffle of the card deck, a new hand has been dealt, and the National DNC will now know where to immediately spend millions of dollars in attack ads to confuse a measly 350,000 Alaskan voters in a very small media market, that is already 90 percent bought and paid for by the Left and the DNC.

And Bill in Arizona is dead right. These charges are nasty and false, but unfortunately, for folks who pay less attention than we do, they stick and if not effectively counterattacked can have real influence in the voting box.

[daddy]

I'm off to walk my President.

[MayBee]

Just heard some clips of Obama's speech.

As usual, he is raising the taxes of "millionaires". These people making $250,000 are going to be getting a $100,000 tax cut under Boehner's plan, or something.

That's how you can tell the $250,000 cut off was just pulled out of a hat. It's just a number on the way to "millionaire".

[DebinNC]

...they stick and if not effectively counterattacked can have real influence in the voting box.

Kudos to you, daddy, for fighting the good fight in the talk radio arena. And great to hear Beefmerky may lose her ranking member badge.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Cap'n-

It isn't Country Club RINOs, it's club within a club RINOS.

BIG snobbering difference, my term, not yours. Think "kitchen" cabinet.

Very 50's-60's stuff, and you had to be asked. It still goes on, and is very in-bred.

Just my 2p.

[Captain Hate]

If anybody wants to waste their time watching two of the most pathetically stupid people on the planet: Keith Olbermann will be on Letterman tonight.

[Melinda Romanoff]

MayBee-

Think about it, most who receive federal and/or state handouts will nevver ever hit the $250,000 mark.

Everyone else does.

[Captain Hate]

I'll defer to you on characterizing those quislings, Melinda; either way they're vermin that resemble what I'd scrape off the bottom of my shoe.

[narciso]

That's crossing the streams stupid, Captain,
could disrupt the entire space time continuum.

[flodigarry]

Thanks Mel - I'm gonna get me one of those!
TM might even pick up a few cents in commission.

[Captain Hate]

narc, when I saw the commercial I kept looking for Jack Hanna to be accompanying the sub-primate.

[Porchlight]

I'm praying we find a 2012 candidate who at least hasn't polarized his/her own state. Run, Haley, run.

Palin took on the entrenched, corrupt Republican party in AK and won. Despite that battle, which might well have polarized the state, and despite the fact that the AK GOP establishment (cough*Murkowski family*cough) hated her guts, she still managed 80% approval ratings in AK until she was nominated. (Then the national media took over.) So as I see it she had united her state prior to running, not polarized it.

The lesson of 2008 is that ALL future GOP nominees will get the Palin treatment. If Barbour runs and they hammer him (which they will) and he loses, he might very well go back to MS a much less popular figure.

Anyway, I know you're talking about the Sarah Palin of 2010, not the Sarah Palin of July 2008. Just wanted to set the record straight.