Barack Obama: McCain can't remember how many houses he has!


McCain: Obama got quite the deal on his house...

Labels: ad wars, McCain, Obama

McCain: "The system is broken, I'm the maverick who can fix it."


Obama: "McCain: The original maverick? Really???"

Labels: ad wars, McCain, Obama, youtube

John McCain: "Obama's the biggest celebrity in the world...like Paris and Britney"


Barack Obama: "McCain takes the low Road"


Paris Hilton: The Old Guy Must Think I'm Running for President

Labels: ad wars, McCain, Obama, youtube

Why do political bloggers all want to write John McCain's campaign obituary? At least Michelle Malkin is honest about it.

The Story: He only raised $11.2 million this quarter, he's got just about $2 million in his pocket, and only 72,000 donors, total. His campaign won't say why his spending has been so high.

So McCain is pandering. He doesn't care about medical marijuana. So what? Leave the man alone. You all loved McCain in 2000 when he was running against GWB the dumbass (being the fair-weather friends you are) and now he's in a tough spot and you - all of you - abandon him (except for Josh Marshall). Give an old man a dollar.

Let's think, reasons not to hate on John McCain:

(1) He's not a fascist-in-waiting. For that we have Rudy Giuliani. Not to mention that, unlike Giuliani, McCain actually has a position on Iraq (a flawed one, but at least he doesn't dodge the biggest issue of the campaign constantly).

(2) He's not such a huge flip-flopper that ESPN commentators can make a random joke about it. For that we have Mitt Romney.

(3) Hello? Does anyone remember that he's been everyone's favorite bipartisan senator for 20-or-so years now? See My 2008 Manifesto.

(4) The Democrats are going to win anyways.
Clarification: Political bloggers don't like to mention this fact because it takes away from the dramatic quality of the campaign, but the only two-term presidents to be followed by someone from their own party were extraordinarily popular, and Bush is not.

...wait, I finally figured out why the bloggers are waiting for McCain campaign to die...polls in the early primary/caucus states show McCain's not doing so bad.

So whenever George Bush reads something it seems to be a big deal, because I always hear about it. Currently it's a Winston Churchill biography by Lynne Olson, who had an editorial in the Washington Post yesterday just in case Bush thinks he's Churchill. Sorry GWB, you're Neville Chamberlain. Our favorite lame duck also invited historians and authors to the White House to tell him all about his potential legacy, and Kos thinks the Washington Post story is pretty funny.

Jenny Lewis introduces a new kind of music video: the indie porn flick.

Labels: Bush, Jenny Lewis, McCain, Romney

The Presidential Candidates attack online and on YouTube in "Cluster F@#k the White House"


Meanwhile, Romney tries to disprove one flip-flop accusation from the McCain campaign and reveals another. McCain seems to be going very seriously negative on Romney - his campaign bought the url "www.mittvsfact.com."

Labels: Clinton, Daily Show, Giuliani, Gravel, Hillary, McCain, Obama, Romney

So lately with Comedy Central running all these re-runs of Daily Show and Colbert Report episodes I’ve been going through political comedy withdrawal. Where to turn? The Fox-sponsored Republican Debate from May 15th (it was during finals, so I only got around to watching it on Monday of this week). Which leads me to post the following:

The best round-up of any debate, ever:


What Romney actually said about doubling Guantanamo (the real thing is pretty hilarious/scary) = proof that Romney thinks that if he talks like a fascist, the GOP will nominate him. No luck there, since Giuliani actually is a fascist. Now I will go hide in a corner behind John McCain, who called Romney a flip-flopper (in a few more words).

Time for funny video #2 - Guantanamo this!


So into this mess of candidates emerges Fred Thomspon, who has serious potential to be the only non-McCain, non-loser candidate in the GOP nomination race, along the lines of a Gingrich candidacy. Now, he must live up to his potential, and APPEAL TO THE CENTER minus the talk of "Hey terrorists - Terrorize this!" on torture (also known as "enhanced interrogation techniques").
Other features to hope for: a lack of specific talk on gay marriage and other social issues except for promises to "leave things to the states" and "uphold precedent" (the best you can expect from a Republican before the general election) and expressions of displeasure with the Iraq war paired with an uncertain tone when it comes to troop withdrawal deadlines.

Hell0 Saferide - San Francisco
"The only place in North America not destroyed by the government"

Labels: Daily Show, Giuliani, Guantanamo, McCain, Romney, Thompson

Voxtrot's first album, self-titled and all, was finally released yesterday to a big collective blogger sigh, seeing how we've all been waiting for this album for about/over year now. Another sigh too, because it's not quite as brilliant as I'd hoped. But still pretty good.
Voxtrot - Kid Gloves
Buy Voxtrot from Amazon.com
Just an FYI - They'll be heading to the Black Cat in DC on June 13th (more dates).

Meanwhile, the reason I'm back to posting again is that finals are over and I'm back in Virginia, though still working on unpacking.
Limbeck - Home (Is Where the Van Is) (download or die)

Georgie James, who have been looking for a record label for a few months now, finally settled on Saddle Creek, and changed the planned name of their album without telling anybody. Supposedly before it was "Hello" but now it's Places, and it'll be released in September.
Georgie James - Cake Parade (live)
Buy Georgie James records/singles from Dischord records
Their Website / Myspace

Ted Leo's got some more tour dates, the Little Ones have a new EP coming out with a new track "There's A Pot A Brewin" and some remixes.

A final music-related plee: someone, anyone, please stop by the Satellite Ballroom on your tour this summer.

More of the inside scoop on Giuliani from one of his former NYC admin officials; McCain goes at it with Romney. Hillary can't decide what U2 or KT Tunstall song she wants for her campaign.
Congressional Democrats are whimps and that's all I have to say about that.

Bonus: Wilco - Impossibly Germany
(for a friend who's out of the country at the moment and won't be reading this post)

Labels: Georgie James, Giuliani, Hillary, McCain, Romney, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Little Ones, Voxtrot, Wilco

I’ve been thinking about doing a post similar to this one for a while, since it’ll be useful to have to deal with the questions I get about my stance on the 2008 candidate field.

The Question: How do you evaluate the candidates?

In my mind, there’s a serious distinction to be made between the candidate best suited to make decisions about the future of the U.S. and the candidate in the best position to lead the country in a new direction. Were I to make such a decision in 2001 or 2002, the choices in the first category would be obvious: John McCain and Bill Richardson. Of this year’s field of candidates, it is the two of them who stick out as having most astoundingly served the nation, Bill Richardson as a Congressman, US Ambassador to the UN, Secretary of Energy, and Governor of New Mexico; and John McCain as naval aviator and then a POW for 5 years during the Vietnam War and, later, a Senator representing his state for 20 years.

Is in comparison to the current front runners in both parties that these candidates properly stand out – Rudy Giuliani has never served in office except as major of New York City and U.S. Attorney. Nothing about him qualifies either actually or symbolically for President of the United States. His current stance as front-runner is the sole product of his opportunism in taking something that the United States sees as one its greatest tragedies and using it to launch himself into a position of great power (if you’re a Heroes fan it’s worth noting how Giuliani’s path to Presidency oddly mirrors Sylar’s). Giuliani is also notable for a bit of cronyism and dealing harshly with those (especially the press) who disagree with him (see Ferrets). He has a lifetime muzzle award?

Obama’s lack of true qualification is slightly more benign; he was on track to take the slow and certain path to a Presidential campaign with seven years in the Illinois senate and what was sure to be a noteworthy career in the Senate. Along with this, some aspects of Obama’s biography place him in a unique position to run for president; with his book Dreams from My Father, written before his entrance into politics, he demonstrated a long-standing unique outlook on the nation’s complicated racial politics. Likewise, having chosen to work for Saul Alinsky's coummunity organizing group (which recently received some interesting press attention), it is clear that his plans for himself always involved public service. In some ways, this puts Obama on equal footing with Hillary Clinton, whose own political achievements will always be seen in the shadow of her husband’s. Obama fits into the 2nd category by which to judge the candidates - having seen him in person and followed him closely, I can say with some certainty that he has the ability to provide a type of inspirational leadership that the country currently lacks. The real question to ask is how important this type of leadership is in choosing a president.

Back to the real world: noting that Bill Richardson will probably never make it in with the Democratic front-runners due to his sad lack of charisma and public speaking ability, I have no clear preference between the top three Democratic candidates. I campaigned for John Edwards in 2004, and I like both Obama and Clinton, though I have a slight preference for Obama. My only hope for those three is whichever one of them wins the nomination and possibly the presidency will consider Bill Richardson as their Vice President or Secretary of State.

….Which leaves the Republic field of candidates. Noting my distaste for Giuliani, and considering that Romney has changed his position on every social issue the religious right cares about and has basically no integrity left to throw out the window, McCain is clearly the best candidate for the Republican nomination. Every Republican presidential candidate supports continuing the Iraq war in some form, and McCain is the only one to have clearly articulated an Iraq policy distinct from the status quo (see here). Were McCain to win the election, his career in the Senate acts as proof that he knows how and when to compromise effectively, and that his concerns are not simply partisan ones. His greatest downfall is that of his party: he supports an unpopular and unsuccessful war. With the only good option for an incoming president being to minimize the Bush administration’s damage by withdrawing from Iraq while leaving in place some type of structure that will diminish the blow to the region when Iraq eventually collapses, a Democrat will probably win the 2008 election. But the 2008 election will serve to the international community as a test of the American public on the Iraq war, and for a debate on the issue to happen, each party must put forward its strongest voice. John McCain is the only Republican who can fill those shoes. If he does win the election, those in the U.S. against the war will at least be able to live with hope, knowing that McCain has the experience and wisdom necessary to change his mind.

I know there are some problematic things about McCain's candidacy I didn't cover, but I think this post is a bit on the long side as it is.
Mystery Pollster asks, "Who won the Republican Debate?" The answer: not Giuliani, but Romney

Labels: Edwards, Giuliani, Hillary, McCain, Obama, Richardson, Romney

Romney on Osama Bin Laden: "It's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person."
From the mouth of a Fascist (also known as "America's Mayor"): “America will be safer with a Republican president."

Is McCain's former 2000 self coming back from the grave? Andrew Sullivan is wondering the same thing...


I may have gone through my Alanis Morissette stage when I was 13, but now that she's taken on the Black Eyed Peas, I'm willing to relapse.


Bonus: The Go Find - Monday Morning

Labels: alanis morissette, black eyed peas, Giuliani, McCain, music video, Romney, the go find

The Link Dump:

• On the Attorney firing scandal: Bush directly ordered Iglesias' firing with some encouragement from Karl Rove (Talking Points Memo, which has been following the story with a microscopic level of scrutiny, notes some sketchy source-usage)...and Alberto Gonzales is going to testify today...two-thirds of Americans see the Attorney firings as politically motivated...
  
• Hillary Clinton: Are the polls inflating her likely primary numbers? + Do the Clintons have Israel-Palestinian policy all wrong?
• John McCain: David Brooks and I seem to see him the same way right now
• John Edwards...is podcasting!
  
• the Imus "scandal": Hillary embraces identity politics while Barack Obama runs far, far away
• More Presidential fun: The New York Observer profiles the candidates' Iraq strategies based on their advisers, Obama vs Hillary vs Edwards on the policy front (The Economist), George Bush almost exploded himself....
  

Labels: Alberto Gonzales, Bush, Edwards, Hillary, Imus, Karl Rove, McCain, Obama

The White Stripes have finally gotten around to announcing the release date for Icky Thump, and it's (drum roll) June 19 in North America, Southeast Asia, and Japan and June 18 in the UK and Europe. Somehow I feel like us North Americans just got put down. (Source)
I think the cover art is funny-looking, like a Sgt. Pepper wannabe?

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tour, skip some really important cities (the band's website). I didn't post on this earlier, so I'm trying to get away with it while I still can.

4-10 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
4-11 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street Night Club
4-12 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
4-13 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
4-14 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus
4-15 Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom
4-17 Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
4-18 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
4-19 Athens, GA - 40 Watt
4-20 Jacksonville, FL - Freebird
4-21 Orlando, FL - The Club at Firestone
4-22 Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
4-24 New Orleans, LA - Republic
4-26 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
4-27 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
4-28 Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ
4-30 Kansas City, MO - VooDoo Lounge
5-01 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
5-02 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
5-03 Indianapolis, IN - Vogue Theater
5-21 Melbourne, Australia - Hi Fi Bar
5-22 Melbourne, Australia - Hi Fi Bar
5-23 Sidney, Australia - Enmore
5-24 Brisbane, Australia - The Zoo
5-25 Brisbane, Australia - The Zoo
7-04 Lisbon, Portugal - Superbock Super Rock
7-06 Cluses, France - Festival Musique En Stock
7-07 Evereux, France - Festival L Rock Dan Tous Ses Etats
7-08 Zurich, Switzerland - Rote Fabrik
7-10 Dusseldorf, Germany - Zakk
7-11 Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhagen Jazz Festival
7-13 Dour, Belgium - Dour Festival
7-14 Southwold, England - Latitude Festival
7-15 Glasgow, Scotland - Indian Summer Festival
7-17 Munich, Germany - Muffahalle
7-18 Florence, Italy - Arrezo Wave Festival
7-20 Carhaix, France - Carhaix Festival Les Vieilles Charrues
7-21 Angoulême, France - Angoulême Festival Garden Nef Party
7-22 Benicássim, Spain - Benicássim Festival
7-25 Nyon, Switzerland - Paleo Festival
7-29 Mt. Fuji, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival
9-02 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic

Yeah, yeah...there's a new Rufus Wainwright album, Release the Stars, coming out on May 15, so he's announced some tour dates which display blatant NYC & London favoritism. (Source)

On politics...

• McCain: "Unless we fight to prevent it, our withdrawal will be coupled with a genocide in which we are complicit" ....In one sentence, all my hopes for a McCain turnaround on Iraq have dissipated. Plus, he praised Obama on Iraq and got bitch-slapped in return.
  
• The situation (McCain winning the GOP primary) grows more hopeless on other fronts: Fred Thompson revealed to Fox News that he has cancer in remission. Which probably means he's running. Damn.
• Meanwhile, **a little-noted story in the Washington Post yesterday** made me smile for miles and miles. And miles.
  

Labels: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, McCain, Obama, Rufus Wainwright, Thompson, White Stripes

Last night was drag ball in Oberlin, and I made a pretty sketchy man. I may post a photo or two later.

Johnny Cash - Boy named Sue

Meanwhile, some other linking thoughts...

• What happens when you place a Grammy-winning classical violinist at L'Enfant Plaza (in DC) during rush hour? The results.
• More Giuliani stories compiled: He pushed for Bernard B. Kerik as the next secretary of Homeland Security and despite Kerik's bad financial, ethics, and corruption record, the White House went ahead (needless to say, Kerik wasn't confirmed). Plus, he doesn't seem to know the difference between Sunnis and Shi'ites (do you really want this guy making foreign policy in the middle east?) and he's still firmly for legal abortions (and the right is really going to go for this???)
• A great Obama moment in Iowa + Has Hillary lost her mojo?
  
• Oh, McCain and Iraq. Will that story ever end...?

Labels: Giuliani, Hillary, McCain, Obama

Need more convincing that Giuliani would make an awful president? Here's the latest evidence. It involves Ferrets.

Meanwhile, can McCain see straight in regards to Iraq? Although I've been rooting for him for years and believe he would make a great president, the best out of the Republican lot, two things about him concern me greatly: Israel and Iraq. The recent reports about McCain's trip to Iraq, after which he claimed that he could stroll the streets of Baghdad, show that McCain and other Senators were intensely sheltered and guarded. I fear McCain is projecting his feelings about Vietnam onto Iraq, something that could become incredibly dangerous were he to become president.

Meanwhile, I hope Hillary is sweating campaign contributions, because Obama's going to catch up...

Here's a greatly hilarious video on the "devastating human cost of foreign immigration"...(from the Onion)
Immigration: The Human Cost

Labels: Giuliani, Hillary, Iraq, McCain, Obama

......except an incredibly random not-news news round-up. This is not in order of importance, unfortunately.

• Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows cover released today!
• McCain's does a turn-a-round on gay marriage (not really, but I do love hackers)
• and the Senate backs a pull-out proposal on Iraq...making it conference / veto-or-not-to-veto time....... (Yeah!)

Tour notes

• Bands that are touring this spring but aren't coming to Ohio, DC, or VA and therefore get a big but temporary diss: Fujiya & Miyagi, !!!, Dinosaur Jr., Modest Mouse, & Grizzly Bear (who did come to DC, yes...apparently I was looking only at false dates, maybe only upcoming?)
  
• Bands coming to DC, Cleveland, and/or VA who get a *woot!* - Clientele + Beach House, Arctic Monkeys + Be Your Own Pet, The Go! Team, Antelope (ex-Supersystem), & El-P

(Don't hate me for getting info from Pitchfork, I hate their reviews as much as the next person)

Song of the Day: Loney, Dear - I Am John

Labels: gays, Harry Potter, Iraq, McCain, tour

....otherwise known as campaigning for the 2008 Presidental Election
Some of this week's fun:

OBAMA vs CLINTON

• Obama will be speaking at a commemoration of Bloody Sunday (1965)...earlier this week, he went on NPR to talk about it, and thoughtfully answered some tough questions about issues of race
• A Genealogist recently found records indicating that Obama had several ancestors who were slave owners...the article drives fear into my heart for Obama. In many ways, he is an antithesis of the things he represents. Only time will show whether American voters can see the man simply as himself.
  
• While Obama makes gains with black voters, Hillary finds herself lagging behind.
• Meanwhile, a sample of right-wing bloggers sees Hillary as the more threatening Democratic contender than Obama
• Obama might still be able to use public financing...(McCain too)
  

MCCAIN ON IRAQ
McCain announced his candidacy earlier this week, but what people didn't notice...



EDWARDS

• The only big thing in the news about him this week came from Ann Coulter

Labels: Anne Coulter, Edwards, Hillary, McCain, Obama

For a guy who hasn't done a lot lately but raise money and generally be a senator, THE MAN is getting a lot of coverage...

• Kurtz points out the sudden change in Democrat's comments about THE MAN since he emerged as the GOP Frontrunner for 08'
• Wonkette comments on Fortune's interview with THE MAN where he reveals he's technologically ignorant.
• apparently there's going to be a webcast of THE MAN's appearance at an event for McGavick's Senate Campaign
• American Scream says people like me are idjits.

Labels: McCain