The Political Whore

Let’s check in with our friends at Fox News. The first 2:30 of this clip are maddening, but then Alan Colmes (yeah, Colmes, really) flips the script on his conservative cohorts, leading to much stammering, yelling and Sean Hannity’s contention that McCain’s time as a POW gives him a free pass on marital infidelity.

• Only the French could negotiate a cease fire that allows one side to continue attacking.
• Who will the U.S. be backing, Russia or Georgia? The Russians would like to know.
• More Fox News: Bill Kristol says Colin Powell is going to endorse Barack Obama and speak at the convention. Powell immediately denies everything. It’s a real shame you can’t believe anything broadcast on Fox News, as this one is juicy.
• Bring on the books about the presidential candidates — and by “candidates” we mean Obama.
• Folks, please be careful when shaking hands with Cindy McCain. She’s fragile.
• The”Colbert Bump” gets the research paper treatment.
• Tarantino’s latest has critics up in arms, and he hasn’t even started shooting yet.
• Julia Child was a frickin’ spy!

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When is martial law permissible in the U.S.? For one Arkansas town, the answer is “right now!”

• McCain figures out the Interwebs enough to crib some talking points from Wikipedia.
• Russia rampages across Georgia as the West ponders how to stop the fighting.
• This week’s reason to hate Bush’s guts: The administration’s proposed rule changes gutting the Endangered Species Act.
• Oil goes down, stocks go up. See a pattern?
• There must be something in the water, other than the swimmers that is.
• The Boss to play the Super Bowl in Tampa.
• Hillsborough electric rates set to spike 40%.
• Spain’s basketball teams (male and female) need some sensitivity training.
• The Rays start dropping like flies.

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Olympic fever and the dull days of August have slowed real news to a trickle. Sports Illustrated has a list of the 25 best sports videos (that contain no actual sports) on YouTube. Here is #1. (Warning: Not for the kids.)

• While the world watched the Olympics, war broke out in Eastern Europe.
• Incidentally, if you missed Friday night’s incredible Opening Ceremonies, they can be seen here.
• Lieberman on McCain’s short list, proving past performance is not a vetting factor.
• Who the hell is Robert McGovern, and what the hell does he have to do with the Edwards mess?
• Be the first to know Obama’s V.P. choice.
• The U.S. poised for an economic recovery?
• R.I.P. Issac Hayes, R.I.P. Bernie Mac, R.I.P. Whaley’s Market.
• The Rays break the team record for wins in a season.

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Move On goes after McCain with an ad reminiscent of the Jim Davis “empty chair” ads that helped deliver Florida to Crist in 2006. Enjoy, and have a good weekend, everyone.

• The stimulus checks are gone and retailers are staring into the abyss.
• Bill Clinton gets quality face time at the convention.
• Parents beware: Drug testing you kids could lead to their death!
• Speaking of Mary Jane, half of Tampa just got arrested in a major drug sting that saw the cops nab over a ton of weed.
• Anybody heard anything about this “Olympics” thing?
• You might want to avoid drinking this woman’s beer.
• Bin Laden’s evil, terrorist-mastermind driver will remain behind bars forever until a few months from now.
• Love on the set of Morning Joe? (With disturbing Scarborough sniffing video.)

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Some deft footwork by Obama in Ohio yesterday. Someone in the crowd heckles, and Obama has the person lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Ron Suskind’s new book sends the White House into a tizzy.
• Paris strikes back!
  
• Favre about to become a Buccaneer?
• Did the FBI stalk Anthrax scientist Bruce Ivins to death?
• South Tampa’s Whaley’s Market to close shop on Sunday.
• A good day on Wall Street.
• MIT claims game-changing breakthrough on solar power.
• Kevin Smith’s latest squeaks out an R.

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The folks over at the Tampa Bay Community Network sent word of two new episodes of Speak Up Presents that will be airing in the next two weeks. Each program lasts an hour and focuses on an amendment that will be appearing on the November ballot.

Listing from Pam Garron at TBCN:

Speak Up Presents: Marriage Amendment
Tuesday, August 12 @ 1PM on Verizon 30, Bright House Network 950 and Comcast 20
Friday, August 15 @ 12 PM on Verizon 36 and BHN 949

Speak Up Presents: Mayor Ballot Initiative (on again, off again, on again?)
Saturday, August 16 @ 12 PM on Verizon 30, BHN 950 and Comcast 20
Monday, August 18 @ 1 PM on Verizon 36 and BHN 949

And another recently produced episode that you might be interested in:

Speak Up Presents: Immigration
Wednesday, August 13 @ 12 PM on Verizon 36 and BHN 949
Monday, August 18 @ 11 PM on Verizon 30, BHN 950 and Comcast 20

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This is a new video from Good magazine that boils down the history of the planet (but mostly of oil and food prices) since the dawn of civilization — all in about four minutes.

• Bush signs the government’s big mortgage bailout bill.
• McCain suddenly remembers he’s a Republican, decides tax increases aren’t on the table after all.
• Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R) sees his career slide further down the tubes.
• A whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.
• Oil prices drop 16% in July.
• New drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease stops the disease in its tracks … maybe.
• Ex basketball ref Tim Donaghy foul’s out for 15 months after rigging NBA games.
• Don’t hurt the robot’s feelings.

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Here’s a sneak peak of the movie everyone (especially angry conservatives looking to score political points) will be talking about this fall. Presenting the first trailer for Oliver Stone’s W.

• Bush to leave behind a $482 billion deficit — and that doesn’t include “the full cost of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the potential $50 billion cost of another economic stimulus package, or the possibility of steeper losses in tax revenues if individual income or corporate profits decline.”
• You know the nation is in trouble when the Justice Department is guilty of repeatedly breaking the law.
• “Nuclear weapons are so 20th century.”
• McCain has part of his face removed; Obama’s hip hurts.
• Obama narrows the veep list … maybe.
• BlackLight’s not just for your Jimi Hendrix posters anymore.
• Amy Winehouse leaves the hospital, Kelsey Grammer checks in.
• Helpful tips for hallucinating the natural way.

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And so we bring the week to a close in style, with a little game of “Bush or Batman?” Have a good weekend everyone.

• Obama wows them on the continent.
• McCain’s going to pick Romney for V.P., isn’t he?
• No end in sight: Foreclosures double from a year ago.
• Ford loses $8.7 billion last quarter.
• Firm charged with manipulating the oil market. But the oil execs said high prices were only caused by supply and demand?
• Qantas may never crash, but they can still come damn close.
• The Internet’s “critical flaw” exposed.
• The Mindfreak prepares for a little building-implosion prestidigitation on Clearwater Beach.

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