The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    I'm John McCain and I Would Like My Strained Peaches Now

    By Ripper on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 1:14pm |
    Has anyone else noticed that absent look on McCain's face at the end of his ads when he says he approves the message?It's like the look of a dementia patient awaiting dessert....

    Drop the Grudges, People

    By Ripper on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 12:26pm |
    Lots of posts and comments today about Obama being ungracious to Hillary for picking Biden, Hillary and Bill not relinquishing stardom, Obama not appreciating Hillary's help, etc., etc., etc.In the immortal words of Rodney King: "Jesus! No more! Stop beating...

    Why Was I the Last to Know?

    By Ripper on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 4:17am |
    Dear Barack,You said I would be the First to Know about your veep pick, but I was not. What gives? ABC, CNN — those guys knew. Everyone at TPM seems to know.I mean, I signed up and everything. But you...

    An American Prayer: Video and MP3

    By Ripper on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 9:05pm |
    Got this in the inbox today. It's awesome. If you like Obama (and MLK and Forest Whittaker and  Cindy Lauper and ...) you will LOVE this. Co-written by Bono and Dave Stewart.The best part is the end.Click here for the...

    Beautiful Timing: Front Pager Tying McCain Home History To Carpet-Bagging History

    By azpaull on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 5:38pm |
    I was very pleased to pick the paper out of my cactus (missed the driveway again, guys) and see the above-the-fold headline:  "Tempe homeowners:  John McCain slept here".  Great timing, thought I.  For those who don't want to click on...
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    Is This a Start?

    By stillidealistic on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 3:23pm |
    I know Eugene Robinson is an MSNBC guy, but isn't this a start?http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/21/AR200808......
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    Bush Library

    By stillidealistic on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:40pm |
    This was sent to me in an-email, with no credit given to who originally said it...I believe it was on an investment chatboard, who knows when or where, but thought it was good enough to pass along...Preliminary design plans for...

    Our 3 AM Call

    By Ripper on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 4:50am |
    Holy crap! I just was wondering: Do you think Obama might text out his Veep selection at 3 AM — maybe TODAY?It would play off Hillary's 3 AM ad,  of course.It could be the first thing on the morning talk...
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    Hell Hath No Fury...

    By stillidealistic on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 3:34am |
    I just spent a frightening hour on a website that will curl your toes and send ice water through your veins.It's founder was interviewed by Chris Mathews today.http://justsaynodeal.com/index2.htmlTheir tag line is: "We are a coalition of millions with one thing...

    Political Stunner: McCain Chooses Georgian President Saakashvili as His Running Mate

    By AmericanDreamer on Thu, 08/21/2008 - 11:34pm |
    --Washington, August 21  In a stunning development, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain has chosen Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili as his vice presidential running mate.A beaming McCain said "Mikhail and I are a couple of daredevil guys who speak from...

    How LOW Can the POW Go?

    By Ripper on Thu, 08/21/2008 - 8:39pm |
    Having been a prisoner of war gives John McCain certain privileges as a candidate, and perhaps even some experience bearing on the presidency. But we haven't had that discussion yet. I think we will.Sam Stein's piece in today's HuffPo is...

    Apologies to Deanie, et al

    By Ripper on Thu, 08/21/2008 - 1:27pm |
    Yesterday, I left a testy comment at Deanie Mills' well-written post, ROPING A DOPE.I wrote: "We're blogging here, Deanie, not writing books."I apologize, Deanie. I was in a foul mood and that is that. I was petty and wrong. Your...

    Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones Dies

    By Ripper on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 11:17pm |
    Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, 58, the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress and a vocal critic of the Iraq War, died at 6:12 p.m. tonight, according to an official at Cleveland Clinic.Initial press reports erroneously reported...

    Yankee Drool Dandy

    By Ripper on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 8:46pm |
    Intro    I'm the fart who steals your candy,    I'm a Yankee Drool Dandy,    I'm glad I am,    So's Lieberman.    I'm a real live Yankee Drool,    My claim to fame began in school,    When this drinking fool flew off to be...

    KJMAW: Suck On This, McCain

    By Ripper on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 6:00pm |
    Obama has to paint McCain into a corner.McCain uses "celebrity" to define Obama in a single word that upends Obama's strength and casts it in a negative light. "Celebrity" is a narrative frame into which the GOP smear machine can...

    Senator Kennedy: Thank You For the Music

    By AmericanDreamer on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 4:44pm |
    I am delighted that Senator Kennedy will be honored at the Convention and only wish I could be there to add to the rousing, sustained ovation he will so deservedly receive.His is one of the most prolific records of legislative achievement in Senate history.  Regardless...

    John McCain is So Predictable

    By Ripper on Tue, 08/19/2008 - 11:42pm |
    Problem: John McCain has used the word "celebrity" to define Barack Obama in a single word that captures his existing public image and campaign rhetoric while casting it in a negative light.Assignment:Return McCain's favor.Solution:PredictableAs in McSame. As in NOT a...

    How Sweet! McCain's Long-Time Lawyer Representing Monica Goodling

    By azpaull on Tue, 08/19/2008 - 10:47pm |
    Sure, John Dowd's a high-flying, bluster-filled attorney who represents many Republican politicians, I think it is yet another connection between John McCain and the Bush Presidency.  But, Dowd has benefitted from John McCain's (and his buddies') legal/ethical missteps several times over...

    Through the Gates of Hell

    By Ripper on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 7:43pm |
    John McCain was asked at the Saddleback Church forum about the right response to evil. “Defeat it,” McCain said. "If I have to follow him to the gates of Hell, I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to...

    Place Bets: Obama Veep Pick by Date, Time

    By Ripper on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 6:39pm |
    What date and time (you must include time zone) will Obama's text message announcing his Veep pick go out?I'll guess Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. Eastern.Worst pick has to bankroll Obama final ad buy....

    Why Can't McCain Close the Deal?

    By Ripper on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 6:12pm |
    With everything going for war hero John McCain, why can't he close the deal with the American electorate?Today's Gallup Tracking Poll has Barack Obama opening up a statsistically insignificant lead, 46-43, over McCain, after weeks of virtual deadlock. Other polls...

    thoughts on Georgia-Russia conflict

    By AmericanDreamer on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 2:16pm |
    The US agreement with Poland on missile interceptors that Rice is going to sign seems particularly ill-timed.  It accomplishes the worst of both worlds--it is clearly a provocation to the Russians.  But it does nothing to address the current situation in...

    McCain, Obama Speeches at Their Respective 2004 Conventions on C-Span at 6:30 EST tonight

    By Wordie on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 12:02am |
    There's video of the program, part of the Road to the White House series, available on the C-Span website too:http://www.cspan.org/Series/Road-to-the-White-House.aspxObama is wonderfully inspiring, but you aren't gonna believe how much McCain praises Bush and the Iraq War! Enjoy and tell...
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    Using Fear for Votes: Drafting our Children for McCain's War Without End;

    By CVille Dem on Sun, 08/17/2008 - 6:39pm |
    I don't fear the heightened alert colors; I don't worry about jihadists running amok in our country.  What I do fear is that my two 18 year-old sons, and thousands of others will be drafted to become fodder for McCain's desire...

    McCain: Old, White, Rich People First

    By Ripper on Sun, 08/17/2008 - 2:56am |
    When John McCain was asked by Rev. Rick Warren to define "rich" at Saturday's faith forum at Warren's Saddleback Church, he didn't just pick the figure $5 million out of his hat.McCain has flip-flopped to favor continuing the Bush tax...

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