The Political Whore

McCain-Palin have a new TV advertisement running in battleground states and online, touting themselves as the “Original Mavericks.” Here’s the ad:

And here’s the “fact check” from the Obama campaign:

“Despite being discredited over and over again by numerous news organizations, the McCain campaign continues to repeat the lie that Sarah Palin stopped the Bridge to Nowhere.  John McCain has voted with George Bush 90% of the time and he and Sarah Palin will continue Bush’s economic policies, his health care policy, his education policy, his energy policy, and his foreign policy.  McCain and Palin will say or do anything to make people believe that they will change something besides the person sitting in the Oval Office.  That’s the kind of politics people are tired of, and it’s anything but change,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

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I shot this video at the Anti-War March on Labor Day outside the Republican Convention in St. Paul. I would have posted it sooner but I got the shit kicked out of me and was arrested shortly after the march ended. Very big bummer.

(also viewable on youtube if this isn’t loading for you)

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Final night of the Republican’s big show. Last night was by far the best of the convention, nabbing huge ratings and keeping the chattering class buzzing. Tonight, the main event. Sen. John S. McCain takes the stage to make the case for why you should vote for him.

What do you think of tonight’s festivities? Sound off in the comment section.

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We’ll open the thread around 9 p.m. Bring your A-game.

Here’s today’s RNC lineup:

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While watching last night’s festivities at the Republican National Convention, I found myself coming back again and again to three distinct storylines floated by the speakers. The first is the obvious “Rah Rah McCain” story, which is quite easy to pull off when the candidate in question spent 5-and-a-half years being tortured harshly questioned by the North Vietnamese. Besides all that, there were the dual attacks of “Obama is not qualified to be president due to his youth and inexperience” and “Sarah Palin is a tough Washington outsider, a ‘hockey mom’ who loves her family, hates abortion and is out to clean up Washington just like she did Alaska!”

Here’s what The Washington Post’s excellent media critic Tom Shales said about Palin’s acceptance speech:

“If the Republicans win the presidential election in November, it may well be said that they won it last night — the night that John McCain’s brilliantly screwy choice for a running mate changed from laughing stock to national star.”

Somewhat predictably I’m afraid, those second two storylines and what Shales wrote are complete bullshit.

Here’s the truth: If Obama loses, it’s because he didn’t have the balls to stand up for his impressive record in the face of vacant Republican attacks.

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Rev. Bruce Wright, the noted (and in some circles notorious) homeless rights advocate from St. Pete, talked with Kelly Benjamin in St. Paul. In the video he explains why he’s protesting at the Republican National Convention and participating in the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign.

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Kelly Benjamin, who reported for CL on the arrests of journalists (including himself) at the RNC convention in 2004, ran into the same over-reaction by cops at this year’s convention.

Over-reaction is an understatement; his blog post and video (above) reveal just how brutal the treatment of journalists and protesters was. (Amy Goodman got off easy.)

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From among my Facebook friends’ status updates:

• “has seen the devil incarnate. Her name is Sarah Palin. She embodies war, fearmongering, and destructive politics. World existence depends on burying this dog.”
• “is still very impressed. If you don’t know why call me we have to talk!”
• “Was that a PALINdrome?”
• “thinks Palin gave a great speech … Giuliani was pretty good too.”
• “is impressed with Palin’s speech.”
• “is still on the O-Train, but Palin is not pushover. Impressive speech.”
• “is loving Sarah Palin.”
• “is all sarah palin, all the time.”
• “wonders why, if the Palin pregnancy is “private,” did they subject the boyfriend to the national spotlight? Talk about mixed message. He’s on A1 of every paper.”
• “Unwed pregnant teenagers for McCain-Palin ‘08.”

And one funny related item:

• “is waiting for Rudy Giuliani’s speech to be translated in the original German.”

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Time to get in front of your favorite network and watch some Republican National Convention. Tonight’s speakers include America’s Mayor and America’s Favorite Alaskan Governor.

Let the games begin …

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Does Sarah Palin believe that gays and lesbians are diseased and in need of a cure? That’s what her church seems to believe. Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out wants to know whether Palin agrees. Any Log Cabin Republicans want to weigh in?

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We’ll be on hand here in Snark Central for Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech tonight and Sen. John McCain’s acceptance speech on Thursday night. Owing to the fact that the GOP schedule is under revision right now, I’m guessing that I’ll open a live thread about 9 p.m. both nights, but check back here for an update once the Republicans release the actual speaking schedule for tonight.

UPDATE: We’ll be open for business at 9 p.m. in order to catch Giuliani’s and Palin’s speeches. Here’s the official schedule just out from the GOP:

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Call to Order, Introduction of Colors: U.S. Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.)
Presentation of Colors: Law Enforcement Memorial Association (Minn.)
Pledge of Allegiance: Sharon Clahchischilliage and Mary Leavitt
Singing of “America the Beautiful”: John Shillington and Ruby Brown
Invocation: Father Edward Reese
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.)
Video: “Country First: Prosperity,” with narration by Robert Duvall
Speaker: Anne Beiler
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (Minn.)
Speaker: Renee Amoore
Speaker: State Sen. Abel Maldonado (Calif.)
Speaker: Carolyn Dunn

7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Elena Rios
Speaker: Ruth Novodor
Speaker: Christy Swanson
Speaker: Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams
Speaker: Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuno
Speaker: Meg Whitman, former President and CEO of EBay
Video: Sen. McCain’s Economic Reform Package
Speaker: Carly Fiorina, former Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard
Prayer: Bishop Thomas Wenski

8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Speaker: GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele
Speaker: Former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.)
Speaker: Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.)
Musical Performance: John Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Cowboy Troy

9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Speaker: Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (N.Y.)
Speaker: Gov. Linda Lingle (Hawaii)
Video: Sarah Palin
Speaker: Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin

10 p.m. to Conclusion

Procedural Activities Required for Nomination of the Presidential Candidate: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
Roll Call: Sec. Jean Inman, Assist. Sec. Connie Nicholas, and Assist. Sec. Rosie Tripp
Benediction: Rev. Eva Rodriguez
Adjournment: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)

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Lots of good videos to get caught up on this past week, with the DNC, McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin and primary elections. To get started, here is John McCain’s gracious and sincere message to Sen. Obama on the night of Obama’s nomination:

Vlogbrother’s introduction to Sarah Palin:

Gov. Palin on Glenn Beck, talking about “the polar bear lawsuit:”

Pat Buchanan <3 Obama’s speech:

Hotties <3 Obama:

“Democrats are devil-worshiping Satanists:”

“Jesus, Joe, why don’t you get a shovel?”

And finally, our No. 1 political video of the week: