From Neal Boortz comes this preview of Hillary's speech tonight:

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I had an aunt die from a brain tumor. It was a horrible, awful death that I wouldn't wish on anyone, not even someone as loathsome as I consider Senator Kennedy. Anyway, listening to the tribute given to said senator at the DNC tonight, one thought kept running through my brain: Mary Jo Kopechne was unable to attend.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 09:06 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Received via email from my mother, of all people:

Electile Dysfunction: the inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either party in the 2008 election year.

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In honor of this week's Great American Mile High Snoozefest, I give you Dave Barry's column. Excerpt:

But in the end, the focus of this convention will be on Barack Obama, who on Thursday night will receive the nomination in long-overdue recognition of a distinguished career of seeking the nomination. His goal, in his acceptance speech, will be to win over the undecided voters -- the people who are unsure of what he really stands for, or who have received emailed rumors that he is a Muslim, or a socialist, or a vampire, or a lesbian. His goal will be to show, with no disrespect to the Muslim socialist vampire lesbian community, that he is a regular person just like you, except he has Vision and Leadership. After that, he will lay out his specific policies for building a brighter future. Then he will turn into a bat.

No, he won't, although that would make this the most fun convention EVER.

I'm rooting for the bat thing myself, but I've got a perverse sense of humor.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:57 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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From Megan McArdle:

It should be possible to debate the issues in this election at a level above "My guy's awesome and your guy is a big fat doody-head". But it doesn't seem to be. I find this profoundly depressing.

I've noticed the same thing the last couple of elections.

Update: Actually, John Scalzi has a pretty good comment of his own:

I think the race has tightened because thatÂ’s what often happens around this time, if IÂ’m not wildly mistaken. Do McCainÂ’s ads have anything to do with it? Oh, probably. So does the fact that Obama went on vacation. So does the fact that conservatives have unleashed their poo-flinging monkeys (see: Jerome Corsi), and so does the fact that some liberals have come around to the realization that Obama, does not, in fact, fart cinnamon-scented rainbows.

I kind of wish that I had come up with that particular line, but I suppose that there's a good reason or three that Mr. Scalzi writes for a living and I do not.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 10:23 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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For the last few years, I've opined that McCain cannot get elected president. Most of that time, though, I had assumed- wrongly- that Hillary! would be the Democratic nominee. And now with the young, handsome Mr. Hope-ity Change-ity as the opponent, Mr. Maverick Melanoma looked like dead meat, especially since some conservative/liberatarian types (okay, ME) will not be voting for him.

Recently, though, I've started to see cracks in the Obama campaign. Once again, the Democrats look like they might have gone with the pretty choice instead of the smart choice. And while I still won't be voting on the McCainiac ticket, I have to admit that the thought of seeing all the leftists in a catatonic stupor the first Wednesday in November does bring a smile to my face.

Anyway, I'll give Karol Shenin the last word:

The thing they [Democrats] all have in common, and have since, oh 2002, is that they all think the Democrat is going to win and they can't wait to tell me so. They were all completely shellshocked when Bush was re-elected in 2004, obviously, but nothing will compare to the devastation if Obama loses. There is a uniform smirk that they all have these days, almost like "silly Republican friend of a friend, can't you see Obama can't lose?" I mostly nod and smile and tell them that I consider Obama a 4 on a 1-10 scale and McCain a 5 so, y'know, I'll live. Blue states should have smelling salts and anti-depressants on hand if somehow, some way, John McCain pulls this thing off.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 01:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Bill Quick has finally decided to vote for McCain. He's not happy about that decision, either. In fact, I'd say that Bill is the complete opposite of happy. Excerpt:

I have often publicly worried about the threat of some sort of biowar attack against the United States, and also worried about things like airborn Avian Flu. I still worry about such things, and I consider them to be major, even potentially existential threats to the survival of the United States.

Now, from a political point of view, I think a John McCain presidency will be disastrous for the GOP in the long term, and certainly disastrous for conservative principles within the GOP. In fact, I think an Obama presidency, in which things generally proceed from bad to worse, would be better for conservatism in the long run.
...
John McCain is probably not going to do much for anything political I care about - I consider him a moderately left centrist - but he is something else, as well. He is capable of making a decision and sticking to it in the face of public opposition. He is a former navy pilot and commander who made life or death decisions on the fly, and then carried them out. So here is what it comes down to: For the sake of my own safety and survival, who do I want in the White House if Bird Flu starts killing people in San Francisco?

Posted by: Physics Geek at 04:18 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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The GOP has a great issue- energy- that's actually working for them. So what do they do? They decide to piss it away.

It’s taken time, but Sen. McCain and his party have finally found—in energy—an issue that’s working for them. Riding voter discontent over high gas prices, the GOP has made antidrilling Democrats this summer’s headlines. . . .

Still, it was probably too much to assume every Republican would work out that their side was winning this issue. And so, last Friday, in stumbled Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Corker and Johnny Isakson—alongside five Senate Democrats. This “Gang of 10” announced a “sweeping” and “bipartisan” energy plan to break Washington’s energy “stalemate.” What they did was throw every vulnerable Democrat, and Mr. Obama, a life preserver.

If you're response is WTF?!, be aware that an explanation does exist, courtesy of Rob:

Sound like a good deal? ItÂ’s not. So why are these Republicans on board with it? Lindsey Graham is from South Carolina. John Thune is from South Dakota. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson are from Georgia. Bob Corker is from Tennessee. Every one of these states has a significant base of agriculture thatÂ’s tied in with the ethanol industry. What these guys are doing is putting whatÂ’s best for the ethanol lobbyists, who are no doubt regular visitors to their offices, over what is best for the country.

Some day the GOP will finally realize that it's bullshit like this that has returned them to minority party status. Or maybe not. It's not like you see a lot of Whig candidates these days.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 12:58 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Check out the picture in this post by Gerard.

In honor of this year's Summer Olympics, some new competitions will debut. Here are a couple:

1) The Run in Front of the Tank Relay.

2) The Dissident Debate Biathalon, where one competitor states an opinion, the second competitor disagrees and the first then shoots the second. Yes, much like chess, going first in this "sport" is an advantage.

Feel free to add your own in the comments.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 10:28 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Paris Hilton spoofing of McCain ended up highlighting the deficiencies of Obama's plan. Someone emailed to Jerry Pournelle what I think would be a great followup:

McCain moving to the realm of "Cool"

If Paris Hilton can mock McCain (& Obama - but the impetous is McCain) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080806/D92CVG180.html , then McCain must be moving to the realm of "cool"! To steal a march, McCain should come out with his own mock add:

Scene - McCain in a lawn chair with a beach umbrella; obviously in a 'back yard'. He's wearing swim trunks, Hawaiian shirt, flip-flops, and a sun hat. His nose is smeared with zinc oxide and he's holding a glass of iced tea. Long shot of back yard, moves in to headshot.

McCain - "Boy, I wish I had a job like this. It's got to be nice to have no responsibilities, but still dream of being president!. Ah, well, I have to think about the economy, Iran, Iraq, social security, immigration, and there's just a little thing like running for the office of President. I wish I could work on my tan more."

Camera moves in tighter to McCain as he settles back in the chair to take a nap. As the camera moves in, he opens his eyes a bit and cuts them toward the camera.

McCain - "I think I'm ready for the A-List".

Cut to closing: "McCain for A-list"

Couv

-- David Couvillon Colonel of Marines; Former Governor of Wasit Province, Iraq; Righter of Wrongs; Wrong most of the time; Distinguished Expert, TV remote control; Chef de Hot Dog Excellance; Collector of Hot Sauce; Avoider of Yard Work

That's a pretty good funny right there. If McCain were smart, he'd do it. Then again, they don't call it the party of the stupid for nothing.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 07:53 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Sen. Obama: "I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions."

I believe that the proper response to such messianic bullshit is Fuck You.

This should be a great year for Democrats at the voting booth, but if Obama continues with his self-aggrandizing ways, I might have to eat my words and watch the swearing in of President McCain. After that, I'll retire to the bathroom to vomit for 48 hours straight. Actually, I'll be doing that no matter who wins, so I've got that goin' for me.

Update: From the Corner:

Any man who believes he is “the moment that the world is waiting for” and views himself as the symbol of the possibility and best traditions of America is an individual of staggering arrogance. That is doubly so when, like Obama, you have achieved nothing so far in your life — in terms of scholarship or literature, legislation, acts of valor, self-sacrifice, or anything else – that qualifies you to view yourself in quasi-Messianic terms.

One increasingly senses with Obama that he views himself not as a presidential candidate but as a world celebrity, with all the vanity and arrogance that accompanies such people.

Obama, a literate man, might want to reacquaint himself with the Book of Proverbs, which warns that “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall,” and the story of Icarus.

Barack Obama is a very talented political figure, but he is not indestructible. And right now he is flying closer and closer to the sun. At some point – it’s hard to tell when – the wings of wax will begin to melt.

Obama vs. The Bible

Proverbs: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Obama: "Your lips are moving and sounds are coming out, but I can't understand a word that you're saying."

Posted by: Physics Geek at 12:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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From the Corner:

March 2007:

Ponnuru: If you could get the Democrats to agree, or at least to come to the table on entitlements or on tax simplification, are those circumstances under which youÂ’d be willing to accept a tax increase?

Sen. McCain: No; no.

PONNURU: No circumstances?

Sen. McCain: No. None. None.

Yesterday:

MCCAIN: I am a supporter of sitting down together and putting everything on the table and coming up with an answer. So, there is nothing I would take off the table. There was nothing I would demand.

I think that's the way that Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill did it. And that's what we have to do again. . . . I have said and will say, I will say that everything has to be on the table, if we're going to reach a bipartisan agreement. I've been in bipartisan negotiations before. I know how you reach a conclusion. We all have to sit down together with everything on the table.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So, that means payroll tax increases are on the table, as well?

MCCAIN: There is nothing that's off the table. I have my positions, and I'll articulate them. But nothing's off the table.

I don't want tax increases. Of course I'd like to have young Americans have some of their money put into an account with their name on it. But that doesn't mean that anything is off the table...

Try as I might, I cannot envision actually gnoshing on this particular sandwich. As far as I can tell, we're all getting force fed a Mammoth Turd-Burger this year, regardless of whom we vote for. However, I don't plan to help make it any bigger.

One thought, though: the Obama supporters appear to be more detached from reality than your average moonbat. Over at Batshit Crazy, John Cole actually stated that the MSM was in the tank for McCain. And while I enjoy the point-and-laugh quality that the site excretes on an almost hourly basis, I couldn't resist commenting at such blatant stupidity. It was something along the lines of "rejecting reality and inserting your own version". Of course, the Obamalytes immediately started screeching and calling me stupid for not noticing that I had been rebutted in the comments above. Let me try to clarify for their sake, and I'll type slowly and use small words so that they might understand:

1) Repeatedly stating baseless assertions does not make them true, no matter how much you wish that they were. I'll wait while you restart your heart.

2) Linking to a handful of pro-McCain pieces does not prove that the media is "in the tank" for him. In your mind, of course, any anti-Obamamessiah piece is obvious proof of pro-McCain bias. To most people with functioning brains, though, it's merely and indication that not 100% of the MSM wants Obama to win.

Update: With regards to my second point above, I've rethought my position a little because I think that, frighteningly, I understand the warped thinking that drives some detachment from reality. When pundits or commentators exhibit such overt Obama worship that it appears that they still have his cock in their collective mouths, this does not mean that the MSM loves him. Rather, it's merely and expression of reality the way that the Obamalytes see it. Any deviation from that constant political blowjob is therefore considered heresy and proof of an overt McCain infatuation by the press. Therefore, pro-McCain pieces, no matter how rare, indicate that the MSM is in the tank for Maverick. Frankly, I don't know what to say about such sublime idiocy. It's not cognitive dissonance, it's rank stupidity, willful ignorance and blatant dishonest all rolled into one.

Ah well, I suppose in the land of unicorns things are always pretty, so I understand the attraction. Maybe they can tell me what color the sky is in their world.

Update: As much as I think that McCain is gonna get steamrolled this November, I'm curious as to how those morons will react if he manages to beat Obama this year. I wonder: will they rend their clothes and cover themselves in ashes? Or piss and moan impotently and then bend over and take it up the tailpipe? Either way, it would be fun to watch, except that McCain would then be president, which means that the shit sandwich finally reached epic proportions.

Update: I'm not the only who thinks that "the press is in the tank for McCain" is an absurd contention. Of course, most people with IQs above room temperature- Celsius- know better.

Update: Unrelated, but the following quote by Ace is in the spirit of the post above:

And you do realize the point you're making -- even if it weren't so absurdly flawed -- is, as the delightful French phrase has it, so fucking stupid it sounds like you skull-fucked yourself with the Retard-Stick?

Posted by: Physics Geek at 09:34 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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This political cartoon pretty much sums it up:

Posted by: Physics Geek at 06:45 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Over here at the Coldhearted Truth is a possible outcome of the EC this fall. He currently has it at 289-249, Obama over McCain. While looking at the at pickup states, I saw something that I found interesting: if Virginia and Iowa hold for the GOP, and ChT is correct about the rest, we'd have a 269-269 electoral split. No big deal, of course, since the Democrats own- and will own- both the House and the Senate and will vote accordingly. However, it would be quite entertaining to see the president selected, rather than elected.

In truth, I have trouble feeling that interested in the projections right now. The election is still a few months away and past polls around mid-June haven't proven that useful as a means to forecast the election. Either that, or I slept through the Gore and Kerry presidencies.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 12:59 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I just checked out a link via Nealz Nuze and it's a good thing that I don't suffer from high blood pressure:

House Democrats responded to President's Bush's call for Congress to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling. This was at an on-camera press conference fed back live.

Among other things, the Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

I could make some snarky comment about a refinery being run with the efficiency of the post office and the compassion of the IRS, but I think that I'll go with my gut response here: FUCK YOU, DICKHEADS!! Maybe next you can own the fucking grocery stores to better control the flow of the food supply to us fatties who vote for you.

Oh, you don't want to do that? Why? Are you afraid that there'd be a swarm of people wielding pitchforks and torches and carrying tar and feathers? You're right, of course, but don't assume that screwing with our food is the only thing that will piss off us stupid little voters enough to come throw the lot of you into the Potomac.

Update: McQ uses less colorful language, but his point is essentially the same.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 09:44 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I've long predicted that if McCain garnered the GOP nomination he would lose in a landslide of epic proportions. Turns out that I'm not the only one who feels that way. Excerpt:

“McCain shouldn’t win it,” said presidential historian Joan Hoff, a professor at Montana State University and former president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency. She compared McCain’s prospects to those of Hubert Humphrey, whose 1968 loss to Richard Nixon resulted in large part from the unpopularity of sitting Democratic president Lyndon Johnson.

“It is one of the worst political environments for the party in power since World War II,” added Alan Abramowitz, a professor of public opinion and the presidency at Emory University. His forecasting model — which factors in gross domestic product, whether a party has completed two terms in the White House and net presidential approval rating — gives McCain about the same odds as Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and Carter in 1980 — both of whom were handily defeated in elections that returned the presidency to the previously out-of-power party. “It would be a pretty stunning upset if McCain won,” Abramowitz said.

While I agree with this analysis, predetermining the fate of a presidential election still 5 months away seems, shall we say, a bit suspect. At this point in 1984 , Reagan trailed Mondale by a wide margin, only to end up kicking Minnesota Fritz's ass. And I have a suspicion what the overall political party affiliation would be if you took a poll of these oracles historians. My guess is that a majority of them wouldn't be rooting for Team Elephant, which gives some sort of nagging doubt that some people-maybe lots of people- out there are trying to win this thing in advance. That makes me question my political prognostication abilities a bit because you don't try to create such a self-fulfilling prophecy if you're confident in your candidate's ability to win it on his or her own. Instead, you try to convince your opponent that he's already lost, so he might as well not even try. There is a danger there, though: if everyone on your side is already convinced that victory is at hand, many of them might be tempted to coast along smugly. Smugly, that is, until someone hoists a paper containing the headline "Dewey Beats Truman" and makes them look like complete and utter jackasses.

I still think that this election won't be decided on issues, but rather personalities. McCain will come across as a crotchety get-off-my-lawn sort of guy and Obama will come across as the Second Coming. The contrast will be striking, and the nimrods who make up their minds in the voting booth will poke the chad for the younger, prettier guy, which means McCain loses. However, I will state for the record that some of the pre-ordained victory articles that I've seen the Democratic aides MSM writing lead me to believe that they aren't nearly as confident as they let on. It should be an interesting 5 months.

Oh, and if you think I'm a McCainiac, you should wade through the comment threads over at Rachel Lucas' site to prevent you from making a fool of yourself. Just a friendly FYI.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Orson Scott Card has a pretty good editorial up about the beliefs that motivate Black Racist Jesus:

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Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:43 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I see that Jonathan Hawkins has finally decided that, tartar sauce or no tartar sauce, he won't be voting for the shit sandwich Republicans this year, embodied, of course, by the one and only John McCain.

I think it's sweet that he believed McCain on the comprehensive piece of shit "secure the borders first" promise, but I'm glad that he woke up before the election.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 05:26 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I predict that Hillary will win Indiana by 10 tonight. Also, I predict that Obama will survive in NC, despite the water that his campaign has been taking on. So call it Obama by 2 tonight.

If my predictions are off, well, what did you expect for nothing? Anyway, feel free to weigh in with your predictions in the comments.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 07:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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