Election Central Morning Roundup
Tonight: Obama's Acceptance Speech, And Good Weather
Barack Obama will give his big speech tonight at Invesco Field, ceremonially accepting the Democratic nomination before a packed football stadium on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. And Nature seems to be on his side: The weather forecast for Denver tonight predicts mild temperatures and no precipitation that might have ruined his outdoor speech.
Obama And Biden To Embark On Bus Tour After Convention
The full Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, plus their wives Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, will be heading off on a bus tour through three key swing states after the convention is over. The first stop is tomorrow in Beaver, Pennsylvania, with the tour set to also take them through Ohio and Michigan.
McCain In Ohio Tonight
John McCain will be traveling to Ohio tonight, where he's expected to kick off a pre-convention campaign swing that will include the announcement of his running mate. Press reports indicate that McCain has made his final decision of who his running mate will be, leaving us all to await the announcement.
Report: Rove Worked To Stop Potential Lieberman Veep Pick
Jonathan Martin reports that Karl Rove himself, concerned over John McCain's ability to hold on to the conservative base, approached Joe Lieberman and asked him to tell John McCain not to pick him for vie president. Lieberman reportedly turned down the request.
Connecticut Delegates Demand Lieberman Be Punished
The Hill reports that many Connecticut's delegates to the Democratic Convention are adamant that Joe Lieberman be punished by the Democratic Party for his support of John McCain. "I can't wait until we expand our majority in the Senate so he can be stripped of his committee," said Jennifer Just, a delegate from Woodbridge.
Bobby Rush: Obama Became A Better Pol After I Beat Him
Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush, who easily turned back a primary challenge in 2000 from an unknown state senator named Barack Obama, told Roll Call that the 2000 race made Obama a better candidate: "He took the loss very seriously and the it taught him a little bit about humility. And I believe that it serves him well now -- having a humble spirit."
Terry Mac: I Might Run For Governor Of Virginia
Terry McAuliffe, who made his name this campaign as one of the most vociferous and entertaining spokespeople for Hillary Clinton, is apparently considering a run for governor of Virginia in 2009. If McAuliffe runs he will likely have to face a couple candidates who are already lining up support, but nobody can say he isn't energetic on the stump.
August 28, 2008 9:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or boyfriend. :)
August 28, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, just let us have our misogyny for christ’s sake
August 28, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, just let us have our misogyny for christ’s sake
August 28, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whichever the case may be.
August 28, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Novak also has a column warning the GOP about what a Lieberman VP pick would do.
http://www.creators.com/opinion/robert-novak
August 28, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please GOD let him pick Liebermann! PLEASE!
August 28, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain-Lieberman: Even Rove doesn't want it.
August 28, 2008 9:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, it should say:
McCain-Lieberman: If Rove don't want it...
August 28, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK. It's official. I'm rusty this morning.
August 28, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please, God, let McCain pick Lieberman for veep.
August 28, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like a popular prayer this morning!
August 28, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
You people are so fickle! What happened to Mittens? I want him to kick around some more! The economy is Romney's "strong" point. We'd get to publicly air his Gorden Gecko business practices. Lieberman only echoes McCain's kneejerk foreign policy saber rattling like kicking Russia out of the G8. The G8 works by consensus, they don't do anything unless they all agree. Not only would half of Europe not want to risk Russia's response, shutting off their gas so they'd freeze in the dark next winter, Russia itself would have to vote to kick itself out. McCain is an idiot on int'l. affairs all by himself. He needs Romney to prove Republican predatory economics lives on.
August 28, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Romney. Lieberman. Either one would be beyond amazing.
August 28, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
It'll be Romney or Hutchison.
August 28, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Kay Bailey-Hutchison?
Bwahaahahahahahaha!
Yes, please, make it KBH!
August 28, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know. I've heard Hutchison and McCain don't like each other all that much. Plus, I really think she wants to run for Tx Gov.
August 28, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Kay wants to be governor of Texas, basically because she doesn't like to work and the governorship is not a real job.
KBH is despised by the pro-lifers in the GOP, who actually tried to block her from going to the GOP convention four years ago.
Picking Hutchison would be pissing on the shoes of the pro-life, assholier-than-thou religious nuts.
Woo-frickin-hoo!
August 28, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Referring here to the Texas GOP.
August 28, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seems to be a theme with McCain's potential VP picks -- he doesn't get along with any of them except his BFF Joe Lieberman.
Since McCain seems to have a hate-hate relationship with almost all other Republican pols, the one positive thing if he were elected is that the VP's role would go back to just attending state funerals.
August 28, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It must irk McCain that Rush has forbidden him from picking a pro-choice veep.
August 28, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mittens would be great too. It seems to me that John McCain doesn't have any stellar choices for VP. I wish the exorcist Jindal was still on the list!
It has occurred to me this week that the Dems have so many more stars than the GOP (Kennedy, Hillary, Bill, Carter, Kerry, Gore, Obama). Bush is going down the toilet. Rudy, Mitt, and Fred are not that impressive. Schwarzenegger might skip the convention completely. Seems like Huckabee's the only one with some star power and a real following. He was ruled out for veep, right?
August 28, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like God answered Focus on the Family's prayers for rain in Denver with Gustav.
August 28, 2008 9:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Talking about karma.
August 28, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
which ran over their dogma.
August 28, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Neener, neener, neener!
We've got God on Our Side!
August 28, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign!
I wonder whether the disappointed kooks will get media coverage because God didn't answer their prayers for rain?
ROTFLMAO!
August 28, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm waiting for the update to this post that adds:
"It will be interesting to see what Obama and McCain's new VP say about Bill and Hillary Clinton, and whether they praise them strongly enough."
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 28, 2008 9:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unrelated post:
Brokaw should be retired of hosting the town hall debate after what he said. Honestly. In a dream world, he would be replaced with Rachel Maddow...
Where's Cronkite? He's 92 but he still is a better choice to host that debate. That could be nice.
August 28, 2008 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously. What the fuck was he thinking?!
August 28, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
What did he say?
August 28, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Brokaw said that Dems can't attack McCain because he was a POW.
August 28, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't understand that at first. I thought he was saying that McCain has made an effective defense out of being a POW (as ridiculous as that may be). But now you're saying Brokaw's intent was: McCain is a POW, hand's off.
Hell, even fuckin' "Gotcha Russert" would have asked McCain if he was using the POW POW POW too much.
August 28, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm, I guess he could have meant "unable to" as opposed to "not allowed to."
I dunno.
August 28, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I watched it again, I really get the sense that it's "not allowed to."
August 28, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really miss Tim Russert now.
August 28, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
And right after Bill Clinton's speech, Brokaw stated that "John McCain was a POW in a prison in Hanoi while Bill Clinton was writing letter to his draft board to get out of service. And it worked!"
There's a seat at the FOX table for you Brokaw, you tool!
PEACE
August 28, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
wtf?
August 28, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw that, too. I think it as at that point that I turned the station.
August 28, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Meanwhile, the wingers' prayers have not been answered. Big Dog didn't piss all over Barack's hopes last night and there's no rain forecast for the big rally tonight.
So, for MCCain, it'll be POW POW POW for the foreseeable future. It's all they have.
August 28, 2008 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not completely true. They also have lies, damn lies, and disinformation.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_08/014431.php
August 28, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
<GOP>Typical Democrat wishy-washy, stand for neither one thing nor the other type of leadership</GOP>
August 28, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wouldn't it be ironic if the GOP conventions gets washed out by that hurricane?
Could it be divine retribution for the people Bush-McCain killed in Katrina?
August 28, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bush and McCain killed people during Katrina? Dude...you need to get that out...Obama will win for sure now.
August 28, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it was cronyism that killed people in New Orleans during Katrina. That's what happens when you're the President and you select good ol' Brownie, who used to head the Arabian Horse Show Association, as the Director of FEMA.
August 28, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't Brownie the FEMA director covering the entire gulf coast area? Only New Orleans was the site of the Bush-McCain murder plot? Sounds like an "inside" job...maybe Nagin-Blanco?
August 28, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, it's okay: Brownie's FEMA pretty much f*cked up the entire Gulf coast. Heckuva job.
August 28, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was not a murder plot it was negligence. It was expecting folks to fend for themselves even in situation where it is not posible. That is the difference between the parties. The GOP is 'Every man for himself'. The democrats are 'We are all in this together'.
The Republicans want you to pull you up by your bootstraps after they stole your boots.
August 28, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Then why was the "tradgedy" only in New Orleans and not the rest of the areas "left to fend for themselves?" It was a failure of state and local government. If it was Bush-McCain-FEMA-(insert flavor of the month the left wamts to blame)then why only New Orleans?
August 28, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The circumstances were different in different places. N.O. was the only place in the area that had large parts of its population below sea level protected by a federaly maintained leve system. On the MS coast and the rest of LA the water washed in and then washed out. In N.O. the water washed in and then was held there by gravity and a levey system that will keep water in as well as it keeps it out if the water gets on the wrong side and the pumps are down. Comparing the sparsely populated coast of MS to a city with hundreds of thousands living under sea level marks one as either misinformed or decietful.
August 28, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's true that FEMA messed up big and the White House didn't take it seriously until far too late. And it's true that this probably cost lives--it certainly caused misery.
That said, we can't just blame FEMA and Bush. I'm a geologist and New Orleans is a huge CF caused by decades, hell maybe a century-and-a-half of mismanagement. There are so many problems with a city being there that you could write a book. A few. Try McFee's, it's better than most.
We ought to hold FEMA and Bush accountable. But we can also blame the Corps and local governments. But do you know who probably has the most blame? It's those damn French for building a city there. It getting destroyed by a hurricane. And them re-building it in exactly the same place. Multiple times. Stubborn bastards.
August 28, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would surely be fun to watch the religious right explode over a Lierberman pick. They've threatened him not to, so we'd get to see if they follow thru.
But my hopes are on Mittens. He's much fun. And the "two superrich guys who just laid you off" vibe is golden.
August 28, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
That would be pretty priceless... One guy owns 6, 7, 8 houses. They other guy paid $45M of his own money to win bubkes except a seat on the Snake Talk Express.
The footage of the oozing disdain for one another at the Reagan Library would be nice to see every few hours as well...
August 28, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
There's been some buzzing about Kay Bailey Hutchinson, another pro-choicer.
McGoo could give us no greater gift than to select a pro-choicer. Does he understand that to the true-believer fundies who make up the GOP's base (read: people who are already plugging their noses at the thought of voting for him), lending endorsement to anyone who would permit abortion to remain legal is the equivalent of working for an abortion clinic? Dobson's head will explode.
If KBH is the pick, bet everything you have on Colorado going blue.
August 28, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
The fact that the right-wing crowd set up a prayer group to pray for rain, biblical-level, torrential rain, should be front and center in this story. I beg you to edit this fact into the story.
August 28, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Second that. For a change, TPM could ridicule the rethugs, upfront and bold, instead of talking about tanking polls.
August 28, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Where is the relentless scouring of the earth to figure out who John McCain's running mate will be? Reporters were squeezing blood out of turnips, and then some, just to get some sort of glimmer on who Obama would choose -- partly, I imagine, just to try to ruin the surprise. I want to know who McCain is going to choose and I want to know before he does.
August 28, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're ruling out the possibility that McCain might forget who he picked between now and the announcement? Very presumptuous. But be patient and vigilant. I suspect that McCain will have the name of his nominee pinned to the lining of his suit just in case it slips his mind. You might catch a glimpse of it when he unbuttons his jacket. I also suspect that Cindy will have paid some trusted maid or other servant to pin it there...
August 28, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Given his history, don't be surprised if McStain's campaign announces the Veep, and then Ol John goes out and announces someone else. There'll be a few days of sorting out, then the campaign will announce that McStain doesn't speak for McStain.
Should be fun to watch!
PEACE
August 28, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, stop, you guys! My sides are splitting!
August 28, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't sweat it. Nobody's turning over stones because nobody really cares. The real question is whether anyone besides Mitt Romney wants to be McCain's running mate.
August 28, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now is the good weather forecast luck or divine providence. . .enquiring minds want to know.
August 28, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd bet on my home state Gov. Pawlenty. I doubt he has any real skeletons (or real qualifications but that is another matter). They will hype that he is an R gov of a blue state.
When I think of the US being only a heartbeat away from President Pawlenty...
August 28, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Biden will eat Pawlenty alive.
August 28, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
"...or real qualifications..."
So you need "real qualifications" to be Vice-President but not President? Doesn't being a Governor at least equal "community organizer?"
August 28, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you mean community organizer/state senator/U.S. Senator?
August 28, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
And POW is a qualification how ?
August 28, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
...but McCain has a bit more than that...Command in the Navy, Congressman, Senator (more than 1/2 a term)...
August 28, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I also place my (Intrade) bet on Pawlenty.
August 28, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pawlenty would be good at only repeating talking points and doing a rope-a-dope during the debate.
Sure he would "lose" the debate but that isn't that big a deal. He would have no shame at doing a Rove inspired stump over and over again.
August 28, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
His mullet will haunt him forever. You can't just cut them off. Hockey hair might get you elected in weirdo Minnesota, but the rest of America will not vote for an ape drape.
Fear the McMullet?
August 28, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone know what time Obama hits the stage?
August 28, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
8 pm Local time, which is 10 pm Eastern:
http://www.demconvention.com/thursday-schedule/
This is also a good site for live streaming, if you want to see it full screen w/o Pundit interruption.
August 28, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I half expecting the GOP to trot out the actors from Hogan's Hero's next week because, ya know, they were POWs!
August 28, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I imagine that the GOPers would make a very creative attack ad with that theme if the P.O.W. shoe were on the Obama foot. Since the Dems are the party of taste, however, I don't foresee that ever coming to pass.
August 28, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's powerful. I think they've all done a superlative job. The Clinton's were surprising. Kerry was on fire. Michelle. etc.
All this means is that McMud will dig even deeper into the slime. He has no choice. At some point people will see through all of it.
I hope.
August 28, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you think that Dobson and the Focus on the Family wingnut who put out the video asking everyone to pray for a downpour on Obama's speech will question which side God is on when it's gorgeous tonight in Denver and Hurricane Gustav comes crashing ashore during Bush's RNC speech on Monday?
Nah probably not, I bet he'll still find some way to show that God is also a right-wing nut.
August 28, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't believe that 'prayers for rain' thing until I googled it. Link: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/17166715/detail.html
August 28, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Never underestimate the idiocy of a wingnut.
August 28, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is clearly a lie. There is no, nada, none, zero evidence that McInsane is physically, mentally, or spiritually capable of making a decision.
- - - - -
If Johny-mop chooses José then we can say:
"OUR Joe can kick the butt of YOUR Joe . . . 24/7/365."
- - - - -
McAuliffe needs to get a real job and stop leaching off the American people.
August 28, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
In reading your headline "Obama's Acceptance Speech, And Good Weather" the memory of that A-hole from Focus on the Family popped in my head. He was the jerk who in an attempt at humor put out a video of himself praying for rain during Obama's speech in Denver. Well it looks like God didn't hear him. Forecast is for clear skies in Denver!
The sad irony (and lets all hope this doesn't happen) is that it's possible that hurricane Gustav might make landfall in New Orleans during the Republican convention. What will John McCain do if this happens? Keep on celebrating in the Twin Cities whilst eating cake with Bush? Or will he cut Bush from his speaking slot to avoid reminding everyone where he was the last time a hurricane hit New Orleans? My guess is that Bush will be quietly asked to stay away from the convention and for him to use the crisis as an excuse to do so.
August 28, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Haven't seen old Huckabee around much lately...
It wouldn't really surprise me that much if he got tapped.
August 28, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Huckleberry was on Colbert last night. He said that picking Biden was like "going to Baskin Robbins and ordering vanilla."
Got to stroke his "fat boy within" and be a racist all in the same statement!
PEACE
August 28, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The most popular ice cream flavor is vanilla.
Works for me.
August 28, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a lifetime Virginia resident I have to say "NO" to Terry McAuliffe for Governor. I honestly don't think that most campaign manager types have much if any credibility in terms of real governing since they spend so much time lying through their teeth.
August 28, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a Virginia resident, I second your comment completely! McAuliffe has no credibility as was shown during the primary. Either of the other two Democratic candidates will beat him handily.
August 28, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
And who knows more about humility than the man who claims to have personally transformed Obama into a successful politician?
August 28, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, what an irony.
August 28, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The weather forecast for Denver tonight predicts mild temperatures and no precipitation that might have ruined his outdoor speech."
And mostly clear skies! This despite the evangelicals praying for rain on Obama tonight. Tee hee! They lose again! :-)
August 28, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Demonstrating once again that whatever they pray to has really poor aim. There have been torrential rains, but nowhere near Denver.
August 28, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.. looks like I might have for once been right
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/28/bush-gustav-rnc/
"In reading your headline "Obama's Acceptance Speech, And Good Weather" the memory of that A-hole from Focus on the Family popped in my head. He was the jerk who in an attempt at humor put out a video of himself praying for rain during Obama's speech in Denver. Well it looks like God didn't hear him. Forecast is for clear skies in Denver!
The sad irony (and lets all hope this doesn't happen) is that it's possible that hurricane Gustav might make landfall in New Orleans during the Republican convention. What will John McCain do if this happens? Keep on celebrating in the Twin Cities whilst eating cake with Bush? Or will he cut Bush from his speaking slot to avoid reminding everyone where he was the last time a hurricane hit New Orleans? My guess is that Bush will be quietly asked to stay away from the convention and for him to use the crisis as an excuse to do so."
August 28, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink