Diversion

I've been pretty down, what with the collapse of our economy and all. I needed something to cheer me up, and a friend was there to help out. We should all have friends who send us stuff like this.

The Never Talk About This Stuff on the EIB

Conservative columnist David Brooks is not amused by the actions of the Congressional conservatives:

House Republicans led the way and will get most of the blame. It has been interesting to watch them on their single-minded mission to destroy the Republican Party. Not long ago, they led an anti-immigration crusade that drove away Hispanic support. Then, too, they listened to the loudest and angriest voices in their party, oblivious to the complicated anxieties that lurk in most American minds.

Now they have once again confused talk radio with reality. If this economy slides, they will go down in history as the Smoot-Hawleys of the 21st century. With this vote, they’ve taken responsibility for this economy, and they will be held accountable. The short-term blows will fall on John McCain, the long-term stress on the existence of the G.O.P. as we know it.

I’ve spoken with several House Republicans over the past few days and most admirably believe in free-market principles. What’s sad is that they still think it’s 1984. They still think the biggest threat comes from socialism and Walter Mondale liberalism. They seem not to have noticed how global capital flows have transformed our political economy.

I provided the italics because from my infinitely biased point of view, this really is the crux of the issue. Conservatives have left reality, and they have been aided and abetted by the conservative media monster they helped create.

Oh Boy

This is the picture that CNN is using above a story about the markets plunging as "no" votes mount for the bailout. It looks like things are about to get worse.

80's Movie Line of the Week

Porky's understood racists pretty well.

Tim: Anybody wanna go fly a kite with me tonight? I hear it's great weather for flying KITES! I wonder if there's any KITES around here we can fly!
Brian Schwartz: Hey listen, Cavanaugh. It's not kite, it's KIKE! K-I-K-E, "kike." You know, you're too stupid to even be a good bigot!

Too Much

John McCain has suspended his campaign because it is vitally important that he personally be in Washington to save America from its economic troubles. He will apparently do that without reading the 3 page document that everyone else is using as a starting point.

Dominos

Is it possible that everything that has been going on with McCain the last couple of days is simply a ploy to keep Palin out of the spotlight as much as possible. Lindsey Graham floated the idea yesterday that the vice-presidential debate might need to be moved, and McCain ditched Letterman for Katie Couric, which conveniently moved Couric's Palin interview down in the newscast.

I'm not saying they are playing everything around a protection of Palin, but I am saying maybe they are. Could you blame them when this keeps happening:

Make a Mental Note

Daniel Gross has a story on Slate regarding how we will pay for the $700 billion bailout. But I think the most important piece of his story is this:

Think about everything Wall Street has been given since the late 1990s: cuts in the capital-gains tax, dividend tax, and estate tax; cuts in marginal income tax rates; free-trade agreements; low interest rates; light regulation. The promise was that doing the bidding of the financial-services industry would deliver solid growth and boost incomes for everyone. It didn't. This business cycle, in which job growth was generally anemic, ended with median incomes about where they were at the end of the last business cycle. The S&P 500 is basically where it was 10 years ago. Sure, we got cheap mortgages, all the credit we could eat, and some higher corporate income-tax payments for a few years. But now Wall Street wants it all back in the form of bailouts.

This point is crucial because the line we have been expected to buy over the last several years is that handing over our country to the wealthy is necessary for the rest of us to make any progress.

The three decades in between the mid-forties and mid-seventies had already proved this was untrue. In that time, equality grew, living standards were increased, and the economy grew. In the thirty years since, the economy has grown at the expense of equality and with less regard to improved living standards for all Americans.

The last 10 years, however, are the crystallization of why we can't sacrifice attempts at equality for the sake of total growth. The growth hasn't helped most Americans at all, and it may turn out not to have been real for those it did. Moving forward, let's not allow ourselves to be convinced that we can't strive for both.

I Miss the West Wing

I don't usually read Maureen Dowd. I just don't like the amateur psychoanalysis that is the focus of most of her columns. Fortunately for me, friend of the blog ESL passed along this week's column, which she outsourced to West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin. He writes an exchange between Barack Obama and West Wing president Jed Bartlett. The whole thing is pretty funny, but this exchange was killer:

OBAMA I’m not. They pivoted off the argument that I was inexperienced to the criticism that I’m — wait for it — the Messiah, who, by the way, was a community organizer. When I speak I try to lead with inspiration and aptitude. How is that a liability?

BARTLET Because the idea of American exceptionalism doesn’t extend to Americans being exceptional. If you excelled academically and are able to casually use 690 SAT words then you might as well have the press shoot video of you giving the finger to the Statue of Liberty while the Dixie Chicks sing the University of the Taliban fight song. The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it.

I went to the Truman Presidential Library this weekend for the first time. There is, of course, a pretty significant portion of the museum dedicated to the atomic bomb. One of the features of this section is a guestbook where visitors can write about whether they believe dropping the bomb was the right or wrong decision.

For every person that wrote a critique or defense of Truman's actions based on some thoughtful argument, there were probably three who wrote things like, "Nuke 'em til they glow," or something about how President Bush was weak for not following Truman's lead.

There were literally pages and pages of these comments. I could have stood there and read the book all day, but I don't think my faith in humanity is sturdy enough right now to endure it. Aaron Sorkin's exchange above kind of captured how I was feeling on Saturday.

The Bottom?

Perhaps today is the day. I hope today is the day. I hope today marks the nadir of Kansas City professional sports. There is no way to be sure, but when the Royals never threaten in their final home game of the season (in route to a 3-0 loss) and the Chiefs lose to another suspect NFL team 38-14 to start 0-3, you have to think maybe there is no where from here but up.

One thing that doesn't encourage me is being at Kauffman Stadium today. It is possible that the construction is causing some problems, but the Royals ran the concession operation today like they were running a roadside food stand out of a trailer. Every concession stand I made it to today was out of something, and the people in front of me were complaining about the same experience. Maybe I just don't know the facts, but it sure seemed like the Royals were sacrificing the fan experience (of the fans loyal enough to come see this bunch lose their 86th game of the year) to keep from having much inventory left at the end of the season. That does not give one much hope for the future of the franchise.

On the plus side, I finished my first fantasy baseball season ever by winning my league championship today. This proves the fantasy rule that whoever knows the least about what they are doing has an automatic advantage. If only that rule extended to real sports management.

Government by People Who Hate Government (Part 2,746)

Economic experts are spreading the blame around for the financial crisis, but they agree on one place to lay blame:

These experts, from both political parties, say Mr. Bush’s early personnel choices and overarching antipathy toward regulation created a climate, that, if it did not set off the turmoil, almost certainly aggravated it.

This is why Barack Obama talks about the "failed philosophy" of conservative government. It's why we need people who believe in the work of government to be in charge once again.

80's Movie Line of the Week

The Princess Bride reviews the downside of experience.

Buttercup: We'll never survive.
Westley: Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has.

Well, We've Never Had Trouble Before Right?

From the Washington Post on voter registration increases:

Federal officials estimate that 2 million poll workers will be needed to handle the turnout, twice 2004's number and a goal states are scrambling to meet.

It wouldn't be an election without some finger pointing and a lawsuit or two, right?

Bad Timing

We taxpayers just bought another company, AIG, and now the stock market is headed even further into the toilet. Sometimes you just can't catch a break.

Different Planets

Die hard conservatives live on one planet, and the rest of us live on another. From Rich Lowry's column on the NRO:

Since 2000, John McCain had thrived on his irrepressible chattiness with the press, talking about anything reporters wanted for as long as they would listen. The press loved the access and avoided “gotcha” coverage, letting McCain explain any seeming gaffes. The arrangement worked beautifully for both sides — until McCain became the Republican presidential nominee.

Suddenly, he wasn’t afforded the same old courtesy from reporters, and he had to go about the grim business of driving a daily message. With the end of the running bull sessions, a trial separation began with the press that became a divorce that became a feud.

Whatever affection they still have for McCain is now expressed in self-interested yearning: Where is the McCain of old, the one who could be reliably counted on to lose?

On planet Conservatron, it was the press who didn't afford the same courtesy to McCain, the candidate was forced to promote suspect daily messages, and the whole thing is because McCain refuses to run a losing campaign by telling the truth.

Who are the Ad Wizards...

If you want proof that Kansas City's pro sports franchises don't take the people of the city seriously, simply look at the effort they put into marketing. This morning, unless I was still dreaming, I awoke to a Royals commercial that featured the voice of some woman talking about how much fun it is at a game.

The woman throws out some of the usual family fun stuff, but as she goes it becomes clear she is talking to a friend named Sarah. I had no idea, where this was headed until she mentions that Sarah needs to get past this "hockey mom" business (or something pretty close to that - like I said I was still staggering towards my alarm clock). Then the voice says something like "you too, McCain."

Now, I'm not sure whether this commercial was showing some tacit support for McCain, making fun of the Republican nominees, or most likely just trying to tie the Royals to something people care about. But I can't think of a much worse idea. You, at the very least, have the possibility that McCain fans will think it is mockery, and Obama fans will think it is supportive. Then everyone is angry about an ad that is dumb even if everyone takes it the right way.

This is not long after the Chiefs started running an ad featured the venerated spokesduo of Kevin Costner and Michael Garozzo. Why on earth the Chiefs would ever think a testimonial from either of those guys would make me think about how badly I too needed to come to a game is really a mystery. Even more of a mystery is that they felt like pairing the two in back-to-back spots would not be even more incongruous.

The point is that the two teams must not be trying at all. The belief seems to be that if they throw anything at all up on the radio (or TV), people will respond. After all, these are the only teams they've got. If only that wasn't so.

I Just Can't Do It

I want to write about the horror show that was the Chiefs game yesterday, but I can't. There really isn't anything to say, except that long suffering Kansas City sports fans are now getting the worst they've ever got. It's sad, frustrating, angering, and amazing all at the same time. I'm ready for some blackouts.

Credit Where it is Due

While I don't think there is any real chance that Fox will be abandoning its conservative cheerleading on a consistent basis, you have to give them (or just anchor Megyn Kelly) credit for finally calling out McCain's repugnant advisor Tucker Bounds on the campaign's regular habit of lying.



His response by the way is awesome because it involves both more lies and an insinuation that Obama is the one who is flat lying. Pretty amazing.

Via Steve Benen.

80's Movie Line of the Week

Today I read this:

Three decades ago, there were more federal wage and hour inspectors than there are today, though the labor force was 40 percent smaller.

Made me think of Randolph and Mortimer in Trading Places.

Louis Winthorpe III: Randolph. Mortimer.
Mortimer Duke: Winthorpe, my boy, what have you got for us?
Louis Winthorpe III: Well, it's that time of the month again. Payroll checks for our employees, which require your signatures. And no forgetting to sign the big ones!
Mortimer Duke: We seem to be paying some of our employees an awful lot of money.
Louis Winthorpe III: [laughs] Can't get around the old minimum wage, Mortimer.

That might have been true in the 80's, but these are heady times for the Duke's of the world.

This Aggression Cannot Stand, Man

I'm tired of hearing about pigs, lipstick, and unchallenged lies. So instead, how about I share this great reading of The Big Lebowski as a commentary on Neoconservatism?

The police have recovered the car, and the Dude has found, wedged between the seats, a page of homework belonging to one Larry Sellers. Walter figures out Larry's address and arrives at his house, the Dude in tow, the homework in a plastic bag. He then makes a brief presentation...

When Larry says nothing, Walter proceeds to Plan B: destroying the new Corvette parked outside—purchased, he assumes, using the money left in the car—with a crowbar. Actually, though, the Corvette belongs to a neighbor. Neocons everywhere can sympathize.

Is this eerie foreshadowing of the second Iraq war coincidental? Not entirely. The Coen brothers created a character with traits that run deep in American culture: unflinching righteousness and a tendency to violence. (He was largely based on John Milius, who wrote and directed Red Dawn, the Cold War-paranoia film that later gave its name to the military operation that captured Saddam.) This character confronts a situation that combines both injustice and the opportunity for material gain. He responds more or less as one would imagine. The Dude's pacifist leanings are no match for Walter's assertiveness: While the Dude's disposition may be admirable, he has little effect on the tide of world events. (Refugees from the 1960s can also sympathize.)

The author is probably giving the Coen's a bit more credit that they deserve, but basically the comparison works. And it's a lot more fun to watch this fictional debacle than the real life Walters who have been running our country.

No Reason to Lie About it

Just because lies have become a central part of the McCain campaign strategy doesn't mean they will lie about everything. For instance, the fact that they are regularly lying.

John Feehery, a Republican strategist, said the campaign is entering a stage in which skirmishes over the facts are less important than the dominant themes that are forming voters' opinions of the candidates.

"The more the New York Times and The Washington Post go after Sarah Palin, the better off she is, because there's a bigger truth out there and the bigger truths are she's new, she's popular in Alaska and she is an insurgent," Feehery said. "As long as those are out there, these little facts don't really matter."

And, as I mentioned in the previous post, it seems to be working just fine. Actually, the public is a willing participant.

For now, there appears to be little political reason to back down. A Washington Post-ABC News poll taken Sept. 5 to Sept. 7 found that 51 percent of voters think Obama would raise their taxes, even though his plan would actually cut taxes for the overwhelming majority of Americans. Obama has proposed eliminating income taxes on seniors making less than $50,000 a year, but 41 percent of those seniors say their income taxes would go up in an Obama administration.

You can be mad at the McCain campaign all you want, but as long as the public buys it there really isn't much to stop them. You get the government you deserve I guess.

And Then It Happened

No way the American public is duped into changing their minds because he adds a woman who shoots moose, I thought.

No way American women in particular don't see through the pandering and walk away insulted, I thought.

No way the American public ignores the facts that she played the lobbyist game while claiming she didn't, I thought.

No way the American public lets him get away with not talking about economic policies that address the average worker, I thought.

No way the American public sees a convention devoted to a war story and personal attacks and changes their minds, I thought.

No way, no way, no way. And then they did.

Latest average of national polls on Pollster.com: McCain 46.4, Obama 46.3

American public, I am disappointed in you.

Watch and Behold

The brazen dishonesty is staggering.

80's Movie Line of the Week

From Spies Like Us:

Keyes: By your actions, sir, you are risking the future of the human race!
General Sline: To guarantee the American way of life? I'm willing to take that risk.

Not Enough Time Today

But there are a few things I have to mention briefly:

I thought McCain's speech was actually not too bad if viewed out of the context of the rest of the convention. He isn't a great speaker, but he seriously toned down the war against liberals raging basically up to that point at the convention.

If you watched it in context of the rest of the convention, however, it seemed weird. So you want to reach across the aisle, by leading a group of people who have proven for three days that they are hell bent on the destruction of those across the aisle? How does that sell?

***

Maybe John McCain really is uncomfortable running his campaign the way he has been. It seemed to me that every time he told an obvious untruth or really went after Obama his face sort of contorted in a half smile, half wince. So his character may not be enough that he is unwilling to do those things, but it is at least enough that he knows its wrong.

***

In no way related to the previous topics, the Oklahoma City team has named itself the Thunder. I mentioned previously, what a lame choice this would be. Now I must say what a lame choice it is. I still plan on going to OKC to watch some games, but I am not thrilled by the prospect of having to hear Garth Brooks sing "Thunder Rolls" during the game. On the plus side, they'll probably also use AC/DC's "Thunderstruck." It will be like you're at the RNC.

The Great Truth Divide

Both sides spin stories to make their position look most favorable and their opponent's look least favorable. Fine. But, Republicans seem to have decided that just lying is a far more effective tool.

The AP released a story giving some fact-checking examples from the GOP Convention last night. They did a similar story for the Democratic Convention. The difference between the examples is pretty stark. For illustration purposes, I picked the most favorable and least favorable examples for both.

Most Favorable:

MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.

and:

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID of NEVADA: "Sen. McCain and the Republicans have centered their answer to our vital energy needs on one solution: offshore drilling. Sen. McCain calls for it in every speech ... White House analysts, congressional analysts, and the oil industry all agree that offshore drilling won't add one drop to our energy pool for at least 10 years... Will it do any harm? The answer is, we just don't know, and neither does he."

THE FACTS: Reid is correct when he says opening areas of the U.S. coast, now off limits, will produce no new oil for years; energy experts predict seven to 10 years. McCain has acknowledged the time frame, but argues it could have a psychological effect on oil markets if the U.S. commits to more production. Many experts believe such an effect would be temporary and likely do little to lower prices.

The Republican one is most favorable because it is just misleading instead of just patently false. The Democratic one is favorable because it happens to be completely true.

Least favorable:

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

and:

FORMER SECRETARY of STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: "Sen. McCain says that American troops should remain in Iraq perhaps as long as they have been stationed in Korea and Japan, as if there were no difference in history, religion or culture between our friends in Asia and those in the Middle East."

THE FACTS: Democrats have made much of McCain's "100 years" comment at a town-hall meeting earlier this year in New Hampshire. It was in response to a questioner who had challenged him about President Bush's view that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 50 years.

"Maybe a hundred," McCain said. "We've been in South Korea. We've been in Japan for 60 years. We've been in South Korea for 50 years or so. That'd be fine with me as long as Americans, as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed. Then it's fine with me. I hope it would be fine with you if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting and equipping and motivating people every single day."

McCain also has said he envisions victory in Iraq and the return of most U.S. troops by January 2013 — the end of his first term if elected. He also says withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Iraq, not hard deadlines.

The Republican one is tough because it is actually tied with just about every other fact check listed as egregious lies. Not only will Obama not raise taxes on every American, but he will actually benefit most Americans more than McCain's plan. The Democratic one is misleading because it substitutes "fine with me" for "should."

There is a definite truth gap between the two parties.

Drill Baby Drill

Man these RNC people are something else. There were so many ridiculous things about tonight it is hard to know where to start. The "Drill baby drill" chant was probably the highlight.

Nice to hear Rudy get a 9/11 plug in. I think he taught McCain how to pull off working POW experience into every conversation.

Creepy to hear about McCain and Palin laying pipeline in January.

Two Different Worlds

If you watched the Democratic convention last week, you saw a lot about the U.S. economy and the struggles of the middle and lower class. In fact, you might have thought that was the most important issue in this election. You would be right if you asked voters who continue to put the economy on the top of their list of important issues.

But if you listened to the Republican convention last night, you would have thought that all those troubles must have evaporated over the last week. Joe Lieberman made a perhaps accidental case that he might truly still be a Democrat by being the only speaker I saw during the evening mention the problems faced by working families.

The rest of the Republican world seems to be ready to stick their heads in the sand and pretend that if the rich are doing well, then everyone must be doing well. I hope they do because it will make for a much easier election.

GW is Still Classy

From his speech at the RNC last night:

“If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain’s resolve to do what is best for his country, you can be sure the angry Left never will.”

Game Changer

Hey were you aware that John McCain was a P.O.W.?

Incongruity 2

John McCain's friend Tommy Espinoza just referenced McCain's work helping the poor and got crickets. He did, however, get cheers when he mentioned Jesus.

Complaint

The Republican Convention website sucks. I couldn't find the name of the young singer I referenced in the previous post because they don't have anyone but the major speakers listed. What's the deal?

Incongruity

Only at the Republican National Convention could a young Christian singer singing a song she introduced as "Blessed," be followed by AC/DC's Thunderstruck.

Predictably, dancing to either was a disaster.

Palin

Oh my.

That is about the only family friendly way to respond to John McCain’s VP selection. I realize I am a bit late to the party here, so I probably don’t have much to say that hasn’t been already said by those who can say it better. Nevertheless, I can’t let it pass without comment.

First, I hope all Democrats have the good sense Obama had in regards to the pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s daughter. Obama’s official comment was:

"Let me be as clear as possible," said Obama, "I think people's families are off-limits and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a vice president."

Good for Obama, and I hope others fall in line. It is patently ridiculous, however, for conservatives to complain that questions are being asked about birth control in this situation when they weren't in the case of John Edwards and whoever else. Well, John Edwards isn't an advocate of abstinence only education and Sarah Palin is.

Enough about that. There are two far more important issues to look at here.

The first is that Palin was once a member of a party whose founder said,

"I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."

That is the founder of the Alaskan Independence Party, whose name befits its platform quite well. If you think that would be a big deal if it were in the past of a Democrat you would be correct. After all, Obama's preacher took criticism for inflammatory comments but not membership in a secessionist party. And it was Obama's minister, not his VP pick.

So this seems like a big deal. Also of note are the facts that Palin raked in an impressive amount of pork for her city before deciding to denounce such practices, has been hiring more lawyers in anticipation of action over the "Troopergate" inquiry, and her executive record has some bruises.

But easily the most disturbing aspect of this whole episode is what it says about John McCain. Apparently, McCain didn't really want Palin but decided his preferred choices risked running afoul of social conservatives. So McCain picked Palin having met her exactly twice before and vetting her with the following stellar research:

According to this Republican, who would discuss internal campaign strategizing only on condition of anonymity, the McCain team used little more than a Google Internet search as part of a rushed effort to review Palin's potential pitfalls. Just over a week ago, Palin was not on McCain's short list of potential running mates, the Republican said.

Pretty thorough sure, but just to be safe they are looking into her a little further now that they have already named her the VP candidate.

Aides to Mr. McCain said they had a team on the ground in Alaska now to look more thoroughly into Ms. Palin’s background.

You might say that John McCain is flying by the seat of his pants on this one. I hope, however, you wouldn't be that generous. You should probably say that John McCain is displaying just how little interest he has in effectively running the country. Don't take my word for it though. Former Bush speechwriter, and NRO contributor, David Frum says it best:

But question: If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?

And that would have been a great place to leave things, but a friend of mine sent me a link to a blogger friend of his who wrote this great take that I feel obliged to pass on:

Sarah Palin does not meet the experience test and she was not vetted by election, she was appointed. I'm sure she is a great person. People testify to her plain-spokenness and her maverick style. She's a member of the NRA for gosh sakes. I'm sure she's a hoot. A spitfire. A veritable ring-tailed tooter. She's a pistol, for sure. Unfortunately, we're not auditioning for Annie Get Your Gun. This is the real deal. And it's important, damn it.

Scoreboard

The chart above should be tatooed to the palm of every Democratic talking head. When a Republican inevitably starts to make wild claims about how Democrats don't understand the economy, they can speak not word but simply raise the palm.

In fact, this chart should be the focus of every Democratic booster on the planet over the next month or so. I am aware that the American people may be hard to break through to, but if everyone brought it up at every chance, people would notice. Republicans have turned "staying on message" into an effective political tool. Let's see Democrats do it as well.