Tom Ridge: ‘John Bush Is His Own Man’ (Video)

By- Suzie-Q @ 9:45 PM MST

Tom Ridge Defends ‘John Bush’

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Palin Accuses ‘Obama/Biden Democrats’ of Attacking Her Family… But Campaign Can’t Name One

By- Suzie-Q @ 9:00 PM MST

ABC News- Political Punch- Jake Tapper

September 04, 2008 8:05 PM

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin sent out a fundraising solicitation today that charged that “the Obama/Biden Democrats have been vicious in their attacks directed toward me, my family and John McCain.”

I asked spokespeople of the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee just which “Obama/Biden Democrats” they’re referring to.

The response I got was that Obama spokesman Mark Bubriski erroneously attacked Palin as a supporter of Pat Buchanan.

That’s it. That’s the evidence.

An attack on Palin herself.

In other words, they can’t name one person affiliated with the Obama-Biden campaign who attacked the Palin family.

But she made the charge anyway, to help raise money.

Incidentally, in 1998 Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, told the following joke at a Republican fundraiser:

“Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?” McCain joked about the then-President’s then-teenage daughter. “Because her father is Janet Reno.”

”This is the bad boy,” he told the New York Times’ Maureen Dowd. “It was stupid and cruel and insensitive. I’ve apologized. I can’t take it back. I could give you a whole bunch of excuses, but there are no excuses. I was wrong, but do you want me crucified? How many days does it need to be a story?'”

Now THAT is attacking someone’s family!

– jpt

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HANG ON FOR THE SARAH PALIN RIDE… NATIONAL ENQUIRER IS DIGGING IN

By- Suzie-Q @ 7:30 PM MST

BUCKLE UP: NATIONAL ENQUIRER PROMISES MORE ON THE ALLEGED SARAH PALIN AFFAIR

Meaningful Distractions Blog

Oh baby: The National Enquirer is digging in on the “Sarah Palin affair” story it published today.  And with the McCain campaign threatening to sue, the Enquirer isn’t even blinking.

A spokesperson tells the Huffington Post:

“The National Enquirer’s coverage of a vicious war within Sarah Palin’s extended family includes several newsworthy revelations, including the resulting incredible charge of an affair plus details of family strife when the Governor’s daughter revealed her pregnancy.”

Then, somewhat remarkably, the Enquirer raises its pimp hand to slap John McCain square in the face:

“Following our John Edwards’ exclusives, our political reporting has obviously proven to be more detail-oriented than the McCain campaign’s vetting process. Despite the McCain camp’s attempts to control press coverage they find unfavorable, The Enquirer will continue to pursue news on both sides of the political spectrum.”

The irony here, as Sam Stein reminds us, is that for weeks nearly every single conservative in the country gleefully heaped ridicule on the “mainstream media” for what they viewed as turning a blind eye to the John Edwards Sex Scandal … first published in the Enquirer.

Now, with the chosen one, Sarah Palin, caught dead in the Enquirer’s cross-hairs, how many of those same Republicans do you think will push for further investigation into the claims made by ”supermarket tabloid trash?”

The McCain campaign’s response:

“The smearing of the Palin family must end. The allegations contained on the cover of the National Enquirer insinuating that Gov. Palin had an extramarital affair are categorically false. It is a vicious lie,” said McCain senior adviser Steve Schmidt.

“The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it.”

HuffPo’s Stein observes that the Enquirer has built up a “reservoir of legitimacy” following the Edwards fiasco.  And he’s right.

Buckle your seatbelts folks because the Enquirer is promising a “larger report” next week.

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Alaska Police Union Files Complaint Against Palin

Posted by Basheert – from Huffington Post

The complaint alleges that the governor or her staff may have have improperly disclosed information from Wooten’s personnel records. The complaint alleges “criminal penalties may apply.”

SOURCE:

AND

Alaska police union files complaint against Palin

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Steelworkers President Leo Gerard To Palin: ‘Stop Using Your Husband’s Membership In The USW As A Prop’

By- Suzie-Q @ 2:00 PM MST

Steelworkers President To Palin: ‘Stop Using Your Husband’s Membership In The USW As A Prop’

Think Progress- By Ali at 1:09 pm

When Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, he trumpeted her husband’s union membership: “The person I’m about to introduce to you was a union member and is married to a union member, and understands the problems, the hopes and the values of working people,” he said. That day, and again last night, Palin also emphasized that her husband is “a proud member of the United Steelworkers Union.”

Conservatives are hoping the reference will play well in Michigan and Ohio. But the United Steelworkers union (USW) isn’t so pleased. USW President Leo Gerard noted that just because Todd Palin is a union member doesn’t mean that Palin is automatically qualified to represent labor interests:

It is important to realize that while the governor’s husband is a member of a union, this does not automatically qualify her for an on-the-job training program to become a heartbeat away from the presidency. And while her husband is one of 850,000 dues-paying members of the steelworkers union, it does nothing to absolve Sen. McCain of his long history of anti-union sentiment and anti-worker actions.

In fact, McCain’s hostility to unions and union priorities runs deep:

– McCain voted to block the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to unionize. [6/26/07]

– McCain condemned unions as “serious excesses” and said government workers are “crippled” by union contracts. [10/9/07; 5/21/07]

– McCain voted to filibuster a minimum wage hike last year. [1/24/07]

– McCain voted against a bill protecting discrimination against workers who go on strike, effectively allowing companies to hire permanent replacements for striking workers. [S. 55, 7/13/94]

– McCain voted against an amendment providing more effective remedies to victims of gender discrimination in the payment of wages. [7/17/07]

Last night, Gerard demanded that Palin “stop using USW as a prop.” Noting McCain’s opposition to the top priorities on USW’s agenda, Gerard asked Palin:

Are you with McCain – and against workers – on these issues? If so, you need to stop using your husband’s membership in the USW as a prop, because then his union card cannot possibly cover up your or John McCain’s worker-savaging positions.

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House Republican Calls Obama “Uppity”

Posted by Basheert @1:28pm – From Crooks and Liars

Rep. Westmoreland (R-GA) calls Obama “uppity”

By: SilentPatriot @ 1:15 PM – PDT

Not even trying to hide their racism anymore, I see.

The Hill:

Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the racially-tinged term “uppity” to describe Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Thursday.

Westmoreland was discussing vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s speech with reporters outside the House chamber and was asked to compare her with Michelle Obama.

“Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they’re a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they’re uppity,” Westmoreland said.

Asked to clarify that he used the word “uppity,” Westmoreland said, “Uppity, yeah.”

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McCain Cancels Habitat for Humanity Photo-op

Posted by Basheert – Huffington Post

John McCain Cancels Habitat For Humanity Event

Where is the Humanity in John McCain – maybe he didn’t need another house?

The McCain campaign sent out a press release this morning, announcing a schedule change:

ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that the McCain family’s appearance at the Twin Cities Habitat For Humanity build site on Thursday, September 4, 2008 has been canceled.

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You Must Peacefully Stand Up Against The Cogs To Make The Machine Stop!

GEF @ 4:08 PM ET

via: C&L

Rage Against The Machine Gives Impromptu Performance For Protestors

The Guardian UK:  (h/t uglycasonova)

After police banned them from playing a political rally in Minnesota yesterday, Rage Against the Machine whipped out the loudspeaker and went a cappella.

The band’s original plan was to play an impromptu gig at left-wing rally Ripple Effect. Sadly, the police had other ideas, leaving Zack de la Rocha to address some angry fans.

“Rage Against the Machine is a band that has never, ever advocated violence,” he, er, rages. “We’ve always advocated a direct opposition to unjust wars like the one started by John McCain and the Republicans and Bush and all of them.”

He continues: “Why the F@#% are these cops so afraid of us? Are they afraid of us?”

I showed this video to our C&L team and BillW could not say enough how much he loved it.  It’s terrible to me that the larger story of how the police have acted — or have been directed to act — has gone mostly unreported in the traditional media, becaue it really does exemplify the tenuous grasp on basic civil rights that most Republicans seem to possess.

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Polling Round Up

By- Suzie-Q @12:40 PM MST

State-Level Presidential Polling Round-Up

Daily Kos- by brownsox

Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 11:15:35 AM PDT

Time/CNN polls swing states in the Midwest. The big prize first: Ohio, where Obama enjoys a very narrow lead.

Obama (D) 47
McCain (R) 45

With third-party candidates:

Obama (D) 45
McCain (R) 44
Nader (I) 5
Barr (L) 2
McKinney (G) 1

Let’s slide over to Minnesota, where the convention is not helping the Elephants:

Obama (D) 53
McCain (R) 41

Obama (D) 51
McCain (R) 37
Nader (I) 4
Barr (L) 2
McKinney (G) 1

The Third Partiers hurt McCain as much as Obama here. And that ol’ convention or whatever they’re holding in St. Paul, doesn’t appear to be attracting too many Minnesotans to the GOP.

Now on to the First Caucus State or Iowa, where Obama posts his best numbers yet:

Obama (D) 55
McCain (R) 40

Obama (D) 51
McCain (R) 38
Nader (I) 4
Barr (L) 3
McKinney (G) 2

The news is slightly better for McCain in North Carolina; at least he’s leading, if only by a bit. Per Democracy Corps / GQR:

McCain (R) 47
Obama (D) 44

A lead is a lead, but quite frankly, McCain ought to be concerned about such a small margin in North Carolina. With a little luck, a good voter-registration drive, and a good ground game, Obama might be able to pick off the state and its 15 electoral votes…something even Bill Clinton could not do in two electoral-college landslides.

Finally, good news for Obama from New Mexico, or at least one third of New Mexico. He’s up big in the First District, where Kerry won 51-48:

Obama (D) 55
McCain (R) 41

If Obama actually does win the First District with 55% (he ought to lose the Second District, but win the Third District with an even bigger margin), he will win New Mexico going away.

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Afternoon Jukebox… Pocket Full Of Sunshine

By- Suzie-Q @12:30 PM MST

Natasha Bedingfield- Pocket Full Of Sunshine

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