The Surrender Monkey is exhilarated by the Washington Post this morning. Any time he sees one of the major mainstream media outlets completely distort and dive in to Weekly World News territory, he gets a thrilling up his leg.

Surrendie wants to start with the sleaze: A Tangled Story of Addiction - Consequences of Cindy McCain’s Drug Abuse Were More Complex Than She Has Portrayed

When Cindy McCain is asked what issues she would champion as first lady, she often cites one of the most difficult periods of her life: her battle with — and ultimate victory over — prescription painkillers. Her struggle, she has said repeatedly, taught her valuable lessons about drug abuse that she would pass on to the nation.

While McCain’s accounts have captured the pain of her addiction, her journey through this personal crisis is a more complicated story than she has described, and it had more consequences for her and those around her than she has acknowledged.

Her misuse of painkillers prompted an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and local prosecutors that put her in legal jeopardy. A doctor with McCain’s medical charity who supplied her with prescriptions for the drugs lost his license and never practiced again. The charity, the American Voluntary Medical Team, eventually had to be closed in the wake of the controversy. Her husband was forced to admit publicly that he was absent much of the time she was having problems and was not aware of them.

Folks, what in the hell is the point of this very, very, very long story? How many times have you seen a 5 web-page hit piece on anyone else? And it is a hit piece. Is Cindy McCain running for President? Will we see anything similar about Michelle Obama? Hell, will we see anything similar about the guy running for president on the Democrat side? This is just sleaze journalism, and show how far in the tank the Washington Post is for Obama.

Next up, the Post uses its willful ignorance to say that Sarah Palin linked Iraq to 9/11 (apparently the WP has changed its headline since it went up on Memeorandum)

Gov. Sarah Palin linked the war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, telling an Iraq-bound brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would “defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans.”

The idea that the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein helped al-Qaeda plan the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a view once promoted by Bush administration officials, has since been rejected even by the president himself. But it is widely agreed that militants allied with al-Qaeda have taken root in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion.

As Confederate Yankee points out

When Palin referenced “…the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans,” is was an obvious reference to al Qaeda in Iraq, an offshoot of the parent al Qaeda organization that plotted and executed the 9/11 attacks, and while still funds and loosely controls the failing Iraqi branch.

Perhaps the writer, Ann Kornblut, should go and do the style pages, because her grasp of the facts, not to mention that she calls stone cold Islamic terrorists “militants,” is sorely missing. But, she does a great job of supporting Democrat talking points.

Dan Riehl writes:

So much for all those layers of editors. Geesh! The soldiers are not shipping out to fight the Iraqi government under the control of Saddam or anyone else. They are shipping out to fight the remnants of al Qaeda still in Iraq and any other nefarious individuals terrorizing the people and the current freely-elected government.

At least if I was reading the National Enquirer, I would know if they were being stupid or malicious on purpose.

New film footage of John McCain’s release from the Hanoi Hilton, Vietnamese Prisoner of War Prison has been found and released to the public. See the video here.

A Swedish broadcaster SVT, Erik Eriksson (71-years-old) has reported that he found the above video the the archives of the network he worked for when he was writing about his experiences as a Vietnam War correspondent.

Eriksson had contacted a North Vietnamese photographer to film the release of the U.S. prisoners of war. AP Television News edited the video to focus primarily on John McCain as the Presidential candidate.

The release of these prisoners, American heroes, happened on March 14, 1973.

If we had just picked up and left, would we see this?

News of the grand reopening of Aden Street on the Suk Shelal Market in the Shaab neighborhood here was greeted with great enthusiasm from the public.

Many shop owners said the increase in vehicular traffic will be good for their stores, since many more individuals will see the marketplace. As a result, there is a renewed sense of vigor and excitement as store owners build new advertising signage to attract people driving through the area. Local merchants said the opening of the road will make commercial travel and transportation of goods and services easier throughout the northern Baghdad neighborhood.

Or, how about

The United Nations has launched an initiative to have the marshlands of southern Iraq listed as a world heritage site.

And even

Iraq’s economic outlook has improved, thanks to better security, higher oil output and more exports, said the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Not to mention

“Coalition forces will not stop its pursuit to capture terrorists throughout Iraq, AQI influence is failing in Iraq,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Russell, MNF-I spokesman.

None of those things could have come to pass if the Barry Plan, pretty much the same as most of the Democrats held, had been initiated. Instead, Iraq would look something like

And (graphic warning)

Read the rest of this entry »

By now, I am sure that you have heard the Barry lipstick gaffe

Obama poked fun of McCain and Palin’s new “change” mantra.

“You can put lipstick on a pig,” he said as the crowd cheered. “It’s still a pig.”

“You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It’s still gonna stink.”

“We’ve had enough of the same old thing.”

Was Barry calling Palin a pig? Only Barry knows for sure, everyone else is just guessing. The way I see it is (means I am guessing, too), Barry used the line, based on Palin’s joke “How can you tell the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.” as a way of making fun of the line, insulting the McCain camps call that they are the real change in this campaign, and taking a personal shot at Palin. And then he could sit back and say “hey! I wasn’t talking about Palin, but y’alls policies! You people are nuts!” But, in politics, perception is paramount. How the heck does Barry think he got the Democrat nod? Sure wasn’t because of his stellar political record.

Regardless, Barry, most people know a veiled personal smear when they hear one. The Palinator is driving even Barry bat-sh*t crazy. Maybe we should let Palin debate Barry one on one once. See who’s got the gravitas.

Many on the Left are having their standard hissy fit over the McCain claim, and video, that Obama wants to force kindergardeners to have sex education. Sites such as TPM, Huffington Post, and Pam’s House Blend. The ad states

Obama’s one accomplishment? Legislation to teach “comprehensive sex education” to kindergartners. Learning about sex before learning to read?

The Barry Camp, and their Internet palls, are claiming that is not what the legislation was about. Really?

The criticism of Obama on sex education stems from his work in the Illinois state senate on legislation which would have taken the state’s entire sex education standards, which related to 6th through 12th grade, and applied them to all of K-12.

And, yes, parents would be able to opt out. But, why even offer sex ed to children that young? What kind of disturbed mind even considers that sex ed classes are appropriate for children that young? Well, disturbed minds on the Left. Basic sex ed shouldn’t even be taught till about the 7th grade, as kids are coming in to their sexual changes.

“But it’s the right thing to do,” Obama continued, “to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools.”

What does Barry consider “age-appropriate” for 5 year olds?

And for the unhinged, spittle laced world view screed, Jonathan Freedland at the Guardian (the same paper that featured Charlie Brooker calling for Dubya’s assassination if he won in 2004) is the “man” of the hour

(Headline) The world’s verdict will be harsh if the US rejects the man it yearns for

An America that disdains Obama for his global support risks turning current anti-Bush feeling into something far worse (end headline)

Of course I know that even to mention Obama’s support around the world is to hurt him. Incredibly, that large Berlin crowd damaged Obama at home, branding him the “candidate of Europe” and making him seem less of a patriotic American. But what does that say about today’s America, that the world’s esteem is now unwanted? If Americans reject Obama, they will be sending the clearest possible message to the rest of us - and, make no mistake, we shall hear it.

No, really, he is serious. As I am sure many progressives around the world are about Barry. And, they are exposing exactly why Barack H. Obama is unqualified to be president of the United States of America, namely, because it is the most powerful position in the world, and we do not need a barely done nothin’ but write a few memoirs guy in the Oval office.

Not to be the enthusiasm vampire (a saying we picked up in a sales management seminar-pretty much the only thing*), but, McCain may be leading in the Gallup/UselessA Today poll 54-44, and in other polls, but, as we go down the final stretch, remember that the polls are national polls, and have little bearing on the actual election results. What it comes down to is the electoral votes, as you all know, and I bet many of the Direct Democracy libs are abandoning their cherished DD in favor of the current models, based on State polling data going back anywhere from September 2 to late July. (all data via Electoral Vote)

Right now, Barry leads 301-224, with 13 electoral votes for Virginia up for grabs with a dead heat. Right now, McCain is losing in several States that Bush won (Bush-Kerry in parentheses)

• Nevada B47-M45 (B51-K48)
• New Mexico is a butt woopin’ at the moment B50-M41 (B50-K49) New Mexico has tended to go Dem, BTW
• Colorado B45-M43 (B52-K47)
• North Dakota B43-M40 (B63-K36, so, lots of work to do in ND)
• Indiana B55-M40. Real bad there (B50-K49)
• Ohio B47-M45 (B51-K49)

There are also a few states, such as Montana, South Dakota, North Carolina, and Indiana where it is a bit close for comfort in what should be easy states for McCain. And, with Virginia, where it is tied, and Republicans have killed Dems in 3 of the last 4 elections.

It is also a little close in Florida, M46-B45.

Interestingly, McCain is only 5 out in Pa, and 8 out in New York. The GOP has been crushed in NY in the last 4 elections. 9 out in NJ. 7 in Oregon. 5 in Wisconsin and Michigan, but, doubt that will change anywhere to a win. NJ and NY, doubtful as well.

Unfortunately, the last data for Delaware was in February. Alaska is, as usual, solidly GOP. Go figure.

McCain needs to pick back up all those states Bush won, or substitute Pa or Oregon. And he needs Florida.

There is still some good time, and, we need to see what the Palin effect brings on, especially with some of the states that haven’t had polls since Palin made her speech, and over the past few weeks.

Another big factor will be the youth vote, which often fails to show up. Then we have the debates. Time will tell.

And yet another factor will be if Barry realizes that he is running against John McCain, not Sarah Palin.

Of course, if McCain loses, Republicans will be disappointed, but, will go on with their lives. If Obama lose, if you thought you saw bat-sh*t crazy over the past 4 years, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

The wheels are coming off the vast liberal media. It doesn’t get much worse for them, particularly NBC and pMSNBC when the Grey Lady has a story about their implosion: MSNBC Takes Incendiary Hosts From Anchor Seat

MSNBC tried a bold experiment this year by putting two politically incendiary hosts, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, in the anchor chair to lead the cable news channel’s coverage of the election.

That experiment appears to be over.

After months of accusations of political bias and simmering animosity between MSNBC and its parent network NBC, the channel decided over the weekend that the NBC News correspondent and MSNBC host David Gregorywould anchor news coverage of the coming debates and election night. Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Matthews will remain as analysts during the coverage.

The change — which comes in the home stretch of the long election cycle — is a direct result of tensions associated with the channel’s perceived shift to the political left.

The phrase of the day is bat-sh*t crazy (It got stuck in my head by Ace), and that’s where MSNBC’s bold experiment went: bat-sh*t crazy. When you have some of the most rancorous and openly partisan people on the news channels covering the conventions and pretending they are having their typical Manhattan liberal only cocktail parties, like they do on their pundit shows, there are going to be problems. Like, massively partisan bat-sh*t crazy pundits like Keith Olbermann losing any hint of bias like a news anchor should and losing it on camera. NBC/MSNBC wanted anchors like Dan Rather, and got Cindy Sheehan instead.

But, let’s step back a sec: here is the leader of the American news media exposing the bat-sh*t craziness going on at the Peacock Network. I first caught the story on the front page of the pda version. It is on the front page of the Interwebz version. And a tiny blurb at the bottom of the Time’s paper version front page. But, still front page. That has got to pluck a few feathers in the offices of NBC.

The success of the Fox News Channel in the past decade along with the growth of political blogs have convinced many media companies that provocative commentary attracts viewers and lures Web browsers more than straight news delivered dispassionately.

What is missing is that the provocative commentary tends to not be one side. More often then not, when a Conservative is on Fox, a liberal is on at the same time, and vice versa. Which drives liberals bat-sh*t crazy, because Conservatives are not supposed to have a voice in their world.

Anyhow, I’m not sure if the Times is exposing the idiocy and massively partisan opinions at MSNBC, or just taking them to task for showing the open secret that the media is heavily left and doesn’t even want people to remember 9/11.

PS: If you dare, enter the world of the DUmmies, who are going, yup, you guessed it! Bat-sh*t crazy over the story, though, really, that is their normal mode.

They do not have any bikini picks of Sarah Palin (cheap traffic bait phrase), but, this article reads more like those from other countries about her, which treat her with respect, rather then the batsh*t crazy unhinged sexist we have been getting in most of the American Credentialed Media. SF Gate: Palin Floats Like a Butterfly, Stings Like a Bee

The Democrats are in trouble. Sarah Palin has totally changed the dynamics of this campaign.

Period.

Palin’s speech to the GOP National Convention on Wednesday has set it up so that the Republicans are now on offense and Democrats are on defense. And we don’t do well on defense.

Suddenly, Palin and John McCain are the mavericks and Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the status quo, in a year when you don’t want to be seen as defending the status quo.

From taxes to oil drilling, Democrats are now going to have to start explaining their positions.

Whenever you start having to explain things, you’re on defense.

Exactly. And all those in the Nutroots are whining about Palin not going on the news shows while Barry was scared to go on Fox for 19 months, Biden is still avoiding Fox, and when they show up on the other shows, they are given softball questions like “why isn’t Sarah on Meet The Press?”

Willie Brown, who wrote the story for the SF Chronicle, continues

She didn’t have to prove she was “of the people.” She really is the people.

She is. She has the story of a regular person, rather then some crazy “hey, I was a community organizer, and I am qualified to be president because I have been running for president. Oh, ignore that I have never done anything in any office, never taken any chances, just been a good party foot soldier” story.

And remember, the Palin bandwagon needs to roll for only two months.

You know one of the reasons average people love Palin? Because she was not the safe pick (like Biden!). She was exotic, politically speaking. Picking her was saying “you know what? Screw England, we want to be our own country” and “yeah, we could let the Confederacy go, but, damn, we are one country” and “yeah, Hitler is no real threat to us, but, we can’t let Europe go down.” She wasn’t the safe pick, like a guy who has been sitting in the Senate voting with the Democrat majority and the liberal base 94% of the time, making him the 3rd most liberal Senator in 2007.

Americans like challenges. Americans like when people take chances. Americans like to be ahead of the curve. They don’t like to play it safe.

Perhaps I am just reading way too much into this story, but, hey, it is the NY Times, after all: In Palin’s Life and Politics, Goal to Follow God’s Will

Shortly after taking office as governor in 2006, Sarah Palin sent an e-mail message to Paul E. Riley, her former pastor in the Assembly of God Church, which her family began attending when she was a youth. She needed spiritual advice in how to do her new job, said Mr. Riley, who is 78 and retired from the church.

“She asked for a biblical example of people who were great leaders and what was the secret of their leadership,” Mr. Riley said.

That’s it! She must be one of those fundies the Left keeps going on about! How dare she seek guidance from a religious leader, rather then the United Nations, The Goracle, focus groups, the wind, and abortion rights groups! Or The One!

He wrote back that she should read again from the Old Testament the story of Esther, a beauty queen who became a real one, gaining the king’s ear to avert the slaughter of the Jews and vanquish their enemies. When Esther is called to serve, God grants her a strength she never knew she had.

Mr. Riley said he thought Ms. Palin had lived out the advice as governor, and would now do so again as the Republican Party’s vice-presidential nominee.

Uh oh, looks like Palin wants to establish a theocracy. How could McCain have picked someone who is bound to be the Grand Inquisitor?

What’s the Vegas line running on when the Left picks up on that meme?

“God has given her the opportunity to serve,” he said. “And God has given her the strength to carry out her goals.”

Fundy!

“The churches that Sarah has attended all believe in a literal translation of the Bible,” Ms. (Janet) Kincaid said. “Her principal ethical and moral beliefs stem from this.”

As opposed to Obama, a Christian (some even claim born again), and Joe Biden, a self professed Catholic. Both believe heavily in abortion on demand. I can’t find any Christian or Catholic leader of repute who supports abortion on demand, not does the Bible support abortion.

Faith and a loathing of abortion on demand doesn’t seem to be above Sarah’s pay grade.

Yesterday I asked if there was anything that could be said about Barry that would not be considered racist (calling him Barry is probably racist, ya know.) Even Barry helped yesterday with his own playing of the racist card.

We have also seen the disintigration and”yup, I’m going insane!” of writers at many news sources and magazines since the pick of Sarah Palin (damn, she really does scare the living hell out of liberals/progressives/elitist surrender monkeys, eh?) Now, witness John Aloysius Farrall (elitist name) at US News and World Report - which has its own circulation and layoff of reporters issues- use the term redneck in a derogatory manner

The Republicans Think We’re Redneck Dolts

Well, I’ve listened to three days of speeches from St. Paul, and I’ve never heard such condescending rhetoric.

The Republicans must think we are redneck dolts.

“Redneck dolts.” Rather uncivil language, eh? Matter of fact, this is more like some sort racial epithat. Sure, we use the term down her in the South, and, we do not mind it being used for fun. Quite frankly, the Rednecks keep the elitists in their San Fran mansions fed. But, to use it in this manner is like calling an African America and n*gger.

So, as I asked in the comments, and emailed to the editor of rag, why is it OK to use redneck in such a derogatory manner, one completely equivalent to the use of the N word? Heck, it wasn’t even OK to refer to some college ladies as water buffalo’s. I still haven’t heard back from Useless News and World Report yet, and John doesn’t have the cajones to answer my comment. No surprise there.

Definitely read the rest, as it competely encapsulates the true feelings of the Left, who say they aren’t elitists, but are. For the left, the meaning of elitist is not that they truly are, but that they feel they are better then everyone else, especially those Rubes and hicks in flyover country.

Of course, any response from John would probably come in1 of 3 flavors: I’m gay, I must be a Bible thumper, or I must be a neocon.

PS: For the liberal media, and the Barry Camp, who keep saying that Palin’s speech was negative, and Barry’s wasn’t (hint to the cluebats in the media: Barry is running for Pres, Palin for VP), Jim Lindgren at The Volokh Conspiracy breaks down The One’s Speech.

Maybe someone should tell Barry, who wants to initiate high level assaults against Pakistan (not that I really disagree with that), that his VP to be is a Chickendove who recieved 5 deferments as a get of of Vietnam card.