For a taste of what's going on in FL, see this Joe Biden "interview" conducted by Orlando's own Barbara West, news anchor at ABC affiliate WFTV channel 9. (When I was in Orlando, there was another woman at WFTV who, by contrast, made Barbara West seem quite moderate and sane.)
It's not so much an interview, as a list of statements phrased as questions. It's obvious that West is more interested in making these statements than in eliciting information.
If you visit this video on YouTube you'll find some bizarre commentary ("Biden Angered By Tough Questions") from the person who posted it. You'll also find some video replies from various people who evidently took West's semi-rhetorical questions the way I did - as a week attempt to put weird words in Biden's mouth.
By "weird words" I mean like something taken out of a McCarthy-era novel. I don't see an "angry Biden" here; I see a guy who's bemused by questions that sound as though they fell through a time warp from the 1950s. They're "tough" in the sense that it's hard to have a 21st-century conversation about 20th-century concerns. They're "questions" in the sense that they are punctuated with question marks.
Biden answered the less-crazy questions about ACORN (which have already been asked and answered in nationally-broadcast interviews and debates) without any problem, and as for the crazier ones that weren't really questions... you know, I wish he'd actually shown more anger. Barbara West can do all the red-baiting she wishes, but she doesn't need to have Biden there while she does it, and he doesn't need to waste his time listening to it.
I don't know if she was trying to make him lose his temper, but to do so would have required some skill. West's questions were clearly intended to manipulate, but they weren't very artful.
Incidentally, Barbara West is married to Republican strategist Wade West.
I'm sorry, did you have a question?
Even the Sports Media is Biased!
Just when you thought there was nothing MORE ridiculous they could get upset about than a photo that wasn't retouched, I bring you football. Specifically, an NBC program called "Football Night in America". On this show, they recap the games of the day with ESPN style glib commentary. As an example, kicker Kris Brown kicked a game winning field goal as time expired. The commentary? "What can Brown do for you? With a nice FedEx sign in the background." You get the idea. Pop culture and one-liners mix with football. So, why would the right get upset? Because one of the commentators is Keith Olbermann. And what did he say? He was responding to a Buffalo Bills player getting knocked out of the game with a concussion. "They had to cart Edwards off. He was OK otherwise, but he said 'I can see Russia from here.'"
Pretty innocuous, right? A little bit anti-Palin, but hardly earth shattering. I certainly don't think it called for a Michelle Malkin rant. Of course, nothing really calls for one of her rants. But I can't get out of my head how out of proportion the screeching is over this. Google "palin olbermann football" and see how many hits you get.
Fox Tackles the Important Questions
Like whether or not Sarah Palin's photo is retouched on the cover of Newsweek this week.
This is not an argument about whether Newsweek altered a photo to give Sarah Palin buck teeth, or added nose hair, or pimples. This is about whether they didn't retouch her photo to make her look like a model.
Here's the video, but I don't necessarily suggest you watch it:
What the Fox?
Dick Cheney Impersonator
Governor Palin, do you have something stuck in your eye, or is that your best Dick Cheney impression?
You know, that's not strictly part of the job of vice president. Although you apparently favor a more Cheneyized role for the VP:
"I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies," Palin said.
Somebody should tell McCain, though, since his view is more limited:
"The vice president has two duties. One is to inquire daily as to the health of the president, and the other is to attend the funerals of Third World dictators. And neither of those do I find an enjoyable exercise."
On the basis of her Dick Cheney impersonation alone, she has what it takes to be VP.
Gotcha!
Have you all heard the latest out of McLame? Palin responded to a reporter's question in the exact same way as Obama did during the debate. The problem is, Maverick chided Obama for his answer. But that's ok. It wasn't Sarah's fault.
McCain, who sat with Palin, said in Monday's interview that he understands "the day and age of 'gotcha' journalism. ... In a conversation with someone who you didn't hear the question very well, you don't know the context of the conversation. Grab a phrase. Gov. Palin and I agree that you don't announce that you're going to attack another country."So, it is now considered 'Gotcha!' journalism to ask a candidate a policy question. It is THEIR fault that the candidate does not know her partners stances on these subjects.
Debate With Destiny!
I want to remind people that this is a good place to just post goofy shit about the election. If I don't have you guys to amuse me, I'm going to start to go a little bonkers.
I had this song in my head after last night's multiple references to Henry Kissinger (warning, it's not quite kid safe):
If you saw the debate, then you know that the advantage we were told McCain had on national security was exaggerated. At best.
I'd ask you to caption that image, and you can if you like, but I want to point out that it is representative of one aspect of the night. McCain does not like Obama. McCain has a hard time concealing his dislike. It's no wonder he's not a poker player. As far as I could tell, he never looked Obama in the eye. I assume he was trying to contain his emotions.
Here's my caption.
Obama: "Good debate, John. I think we really got our positions across to the American people."
McCain: "What's that? I hear a voice but I don't see anyone. Oh S--T! It's Barack Obama!"
ABC's Harsh Criticism
I was surprised to see such blunt criticism of McCain's recent behavior when I watched "this week with George Stephanopoulos" on ABC this morning.
Truth in Labeling
When I look at this picture, I have to wonder: is McCain's campaign putting his name on all his clothing? And does that help him get dressed quicker in the morning? I'm wondering if I should try this.
LOLitics ... Back From the Dead
The crap and the hate that gets flung around every election has run it's usual course and soured me to Americans in general, so I'm doing what I normally do - go "off the RADAR screen" politically, do my homework and vote when the time comes.
But I'll still take part in the funny stuff. So maybe we can once again become LOLiticians and take a hack at this pic of the two candidates from last week's memorial at Ground Zero in New York...
God's Will
Sarah Palin gives a brief sermon in June 2008 and asks parishioners to pray for a new pipeline.
"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that."
Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview (with video)