McCain campaign takes over Alaska Gov. Office

There are slow news days, there are medium news days, and then there are days like today. Good luck digesting all of today's news. On a political front there are several stories that grabbed my attention.

Story 1: McCain campaign manager Rick Davis has been receiving checks from Freddie Mac monthly until at least last month.

Why this matters:

First, it reminds voters that the McCain campaign is run by lobbyists. Second, it shows just the kind of lobbying and ethics those closest to the McCain campaign are participating in read the following paragraph:

They said they did not recall Mr. Davis’s doing much substantive work for the company in return for the money, other than to speak to a political action committee of high-ranking employees in October 2006 on the approaching midterm Congressional elections. They said Mr. Davis’s firm, Davis Manafort, had been kept on the payroll because of his close ties to Mr. McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, who by 2006 was widely expected to run again for the White House.

Mr. Davis took a leave from Davis Manafort for the presidential campaign, but as an equity holder continues to benefit from its income. No one at Davis Manafort other than Mr. Davis was involved in efforts on Freddie Mac’s behalf, the people familiar with the arrangement said.

Third, the story contradicts the McCain campaign's statements on this issue. Lastly, it makes the McCain campaign look silly for trying to tie Obama and Frank Raines, the former CEO of Fannie Mae.

Story 2: The McCain campaign plans to suspend campaign and not debate if there is no solution to economic bail-out.

The McCain campaign has finally found a way to shore up its credentials. Reverse Psychology. So John McCain really wants to be president and will do anything to get there, how will convince voters to support him? Tell them "I don't really want to be president, I just want to fix the nation's problems." RIIIIIIIIIGHT. Similar to McCain's gimmick challenging Obama to go abroad, this situation is very much a lose-lose for Obama. If Obama accepts McCain's proposal it'll seem like McCain is a sensible leader. If Obama declines, then it looks like Obama is a partisan who has no desire to fix any problems and solely cares about campaigning.

This is particularly interesting in light of the fact that a new poll in Minnesota reports that 1/4 Minnesotans could be swayed by the debates.

Story 3: Barack Obama comes back in the polls.

On the heels of Jill's announcement about the Rasmussen poll that has Obama up nine in Minnesota, is an ABC-Washington Post poll that has Obama up 52-43 over McCain (also nine points). This is one of the first times a national poll has found Obama at over 50% support.

McCain campaign takes over Alaska Gov. Office

The McCain campaign thinks that Sarah Palin can run her own Vice-presidential office and that if necessary she could run this country, but they won't let her run her own Governor's office? While some might disagree, it seems clear to me that choosing a running-mate who you don't trust to handle her own affairs is a perfect example of...BAD JUDGEMENT!

The Alaska Daily News has a scorching editorial about Palin's "abdication":

McCain staff are handling public and press questions about actions she has taken as governor. The governor who said, "Hold me accountable," is hiding behind the hired guns of the McCain campaign to avoid accountability.

Is it too much to ask that Alaska's governor speak for herself, directly to Alaskans, about her actions as Alaska's governor?

A press conference Thursday showed how skewed Alaska's relationship with its own governor has become.

McCain-Palin campaign spokesman Ed O'Callaghan announced that Todd Palin will not comply with a subpoena to testify about his role in Troopergate, the Legislature's investigation into whether Palin abused her power in forcing out former public safety commissioner Walt Monegan.
[...]
ABC News reported that Gov. Palin's official press secretary, Bill McAllister, paid by the state of Alaska, didn't even know the McCain staffers were meeting the press to defend his boss.
[...]
Is the McCain campaign telling Alaskans that Alaska's governor can't handle her own defense in front of her own Alaska constituents?

Way back when, before John McCain chose Palin as his vice presidential running mate, Palin promised to cooperate with the investigation.

Now she won't utter a peep about it to Alaskans.

We know Sarah Palin isn't qualified, is John McCain? Not with choices like these.

No Hard Feelings? Pawlenty Missing McCain Rally

Tim Pawlenty has put on a brave face sense being passed over for an inexperienced neo-con who has now come to dominate the Republican ticket. City Pages has a great article about the snub:

"I'm really excited and pleased with [John McCain's] selection," Pawlenty said to the gathered reporters at the Minnesota State Fair. "Governor Palin is an outstanding, terrific pick for vice president."

But as he grinned wanly before the cameras, Pawlenty could have been forgiven if he felt just a little bitter. Like John McCain's first wife, Carol, who waited faithfully as her husband endured five years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, Pawlenty stood by his man. And like Carol, his loyalty was not repaid; he was cast aside for a younger woman.

And of course, it had to sting when the RNC official said that the candidate for VP was Sarah PAWLENTY.



And now the man who "jetted across the country" on McCain's behalf won't even attend a rally in Blaine, Minnesota.

Polinaut reports that Pawlenty won't be anywhere near the Twin Cities's suburb.

Pawlenty's public events schedule for Sept. 19 includes a 12:00 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony for the Minnesota Steel plant in Nashwauk. That's the same time McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, are scheduled to appear at the Anoka County Airport.

Obama lays out Economic Policy

Undoubtedly you're aware that the economy is not very healthy right now (unless you're McCain/Palin). If you are McCain/Palin, or a college student who has had a busy first week of classes you can check out the news here. The McCain campaign has been furiously struggling to have a position, ANY POSITION on the economy:

VIENNA, Ohio — On Monday morning, as the financial system absorbed one of its biggest shocks in generations, Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were “strong.”

Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers, whom he described as the backbone of the economy, were productive and resilient. By Tuesday he was calling the economic situation “a total crisis” and denouncing “greed” on Wall Street and in Washington.

In contrast, the Obama campaign has produced a coherent two minute ad describing his solution to our country's economic problems.



If you have extra time, I also recommend his full economic policy here: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/

Merkley Pulls Ahead in Oregon

A new poll released by Jeff Merkley's campaign today reveals that, despite Gordon Smith's below the belt negative ads, Oregon's US Senate race is looking bluer and bluer.

The Benenson Strategy Group's poll has Merkley leading Smith 43-41. That lead is within the margin of error, so the really big news here is Smith's approval rating. More than 60% of Oregon voters now disapprove of Smith. Merkley campaign manager explains why:

Oregon voters are ready for change - and they've had it with Gordon Smith's negative campaign and his rubber stamp record of voting with Bush 90 percent of the time. Now, it's our job to introduce them to the agent of change in this election - Jeff Merkley. Jeff is airing positive ads about issues that matter to people -- but he needs your help to stay on the air and drive them home.

The US Senate picture is looking better and better for Democrats. Republicans are losing ground on virtually every major front. Even wanna-be moderates like Gordan Smith can't hide their support of the failed policies of George W. Bush and John McCain any more.

Surpressing the Student Vote

A Virginia registrar of elections released two statements recently discouraging Virginia Tech students from registering at their college addresses.The statements suggested that registering at their school addresses could cause students to lose scholarships, health insurance, and tax status.

Since a lot of our readers are college students, I just want to reiterate that this is COMPLETELY FALSE. In fact, a 1979 Supreme Court case explicitly affirms the right of students to register at their college addresses. "We registered 500,000 young voters in 2004, the majority on college campuses, and we’ve never heard of a single one who lost health insurance, scholarship or tax status because of where they registered to vote," a spokesman for the New Voter Project said.

Micheal Barone and the Hypocrisy of the Right

This week,Michael Barone published an article about Sarah Palin's speech under the adoring headline "A Star is Born in the GOP.". He discusses the various strengths of her speech before the GOP and concludes:

Who wants to say Sarah Palin is a lightweight now?

And I answer ME! I want to say Sarah Palin is a lightweight. Also, I want to say...WHAT! Michael Barone and the right wing establishment who have long argued that Obama cannot be taken seriously because he his "only" credit was being a skilled orator are now seeking to make Sarah Palin a heavy weight because she gave a good speech. Spare me.

Two years ago, Sarah Palin was campaigning for the governorship of Alaska, a state drowning in oil money, which she has thus far done a decent job of governing, did I say it's drowning in oil money? Because it is.

From an article in The New Republic:

When it comes down to it, the state of Alaska has received more than $10 billion this year from oil revenue. Thanks to the addition of these new taxes (on top of the taxes already in place), that is double the amount it received the year before. Now the government's biggest problem ... trying to figure out how to spend the money.

Did I mention that these cities are all bigger than the population of the state of Alaska? (which is known in the McCain campaign as "the largest state in the Union")

– New York, NY

– Los Angeles, CA

– Chicago, IL

– Houston, TX

– Phoenix, AZ

– Philadelphia, PA

– San Antonio, TX

– San Diego, CA

– Dallas, TX

– San Jose, CA

– Detroit, MI

– Jacksonville, FL

– Indianapolis, IN

– San Francisco, CA

– Columbus, OH

– Austin, TX

Her significant experience prior to that point was being the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 7,025). Which received a deluge of federal dollars, which allowed Sarah Palin to lead that small city town. This type of work has not given Sarah Palin any experience that is useful for being Vice-President.

In between being mayor and being governor, Palin's biggest achievement was resigning 11 months into her time being chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. While the resignation was ethical, and seems to have been the right choice, those 11 months don't seem to fill in her resume very much.

Even the experience she has is not impressive. As I stated before, both of her leadership situations were when the state was flush with cash, a situation that the United States is not experiencing and probably won't experience soon. Further the Detroit Free Press on the various experiences she had while in state and local government. I recommend the full article, but you can check out the highlights here.

As Mayor, Palin sought to censor books in the local library:

Many publications have reported an incident early in her tenure when she asked the library director about censoring books in the library's collection. The town’s Frontiersman newspaper said Palin didn't ask about specific books. "I told her clearly, I will fight anyone who tries to dictate what books can go on the library shelves," library director Mary Ellen Emmons told the paper at the time.

She also sought letters of resignation from all staff as a "loyalty test" and fired many people for "giving their full support":

Palin early in her tenure did fire Wasilla’s police chief, the finance director, city planner and other department heads. "I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the City of Wasilla," the Journal reported that she wrote to Irl Stambaugh, the police chief. Palin told the Anchorage Daily News then that the letters sent to department heads were just a test of loyalty as she took on the mayor’s job.

As Governor (in the past 20 monts), she is being investigated for trying to fire her ex-brother-in-law:

Palin is under investigation by the Legislature over the dismissal of the state’s public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, who alleges he was pressured to fire her ex-brother-in-law from his state trooper job. Palin denies pressuring Monegan. The state police union says it will file a complaint against her regarding the disclosure of the trooper’s private information.

and has taken credit for a series of Democratic ethics reforms:

After Palin’s speech Wednesday, the Anchorage Daily News noted: “She mentioned leading the charge for ethics reform, but didn’t note that Alaska’s new ethics laws drew heavily on work Democrats had done before she took office.”

This is the woman, who you are claiming is a heavy-weight? Ha. Call me when she has more than a good speech.

Newsflash: The Economy is in the Toilet

The failed economic policies of George W. Bush and John McCain have left the economy is tatters, if you haven't already noticed. A report released today shows unemployment climbed to its highest level in 5 years this August, at 6.1%. Employers cut 84,000 jobs last month alone, bringing to 2008 total to more than 600,000. Meanwhile, wages are stagnant and inflation has reached its highest levels since the last time a Bush tried to run the country.

It looks like John McCain (and George W. Bush) have given up on convincing Americans that the fundamentals of the economy are "strong." McCain (and Bush) released a statement today saying that "Americans are hurting and we must act to create jobs." Ironically, the 26-year Washington insider noted that "Washington has failed to act." Yes, Senator, somebody should really do something about this economy. Perhaps the second ranking Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee could take some kind of action.

But John McCain's idea of fixing the economy is to keep doing what we've been doing for the last eight years. That's why he's voted with George W. Bush over 90% of the time.

Lindsey Lohan the Pundit

Lindsey Lohan sounds off on the political consequence of Bristol Palin's pregnancy.

From US Magazine, via Mississippifarian.

Protests Day 2

From Minnesota Public Radio:

Jeff Ley, 20, of Roseville, Minn., was among the crowd that had marched to the center. When the crowd was gassed, he began running, but then heeded the advice of other demonstrators who yelled at him to walk with his hands raised. He said a police officer stepped from behind a building pillar and fired pepper spray in his face.

"I put my hands up because I saw everybody else doing it," Ley said. "Then I got hit."

Many got caught in the gas.

"This is the last time I want to be part of history," said Bernie Swafford of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., her eyes streaming from the chemical irritant. She had come with her husband to the Xcel Energy Center to watch the action, not to demonstrate.

More of the same.

Girl Gives Police Flowers; Gets Maced

This girl is trying to give police flowers and gets pepper sprayed/maced. I used to be really proud of Minnesota. I guess I still am, but I'm very confused about what's happening in St. Paul (never mind inside the Excel Center).

Oops

Although Pablo's provides continuing coverage of police aggression at the Republican National Convention is far more important, I wanted to take a few minutes to remind everyone what a gigantic blunder John McCain made in choosing his VP.

Here's a taste of what we've learned about Sarah Palin in the last few days:

• Her underage daughter is pregnant.


• She is under investigation by the Alaska State Legislature for abuse of power.


• She was a member of the Alaska Independence Party for two years--an organization which wants Alaska to vote on seceding from the Union. In fact, she spoke to the AIP's convention this year and told them "I share your party's vision..."


• She's not quite sure what the Vice President actually does.


• Her qualifications for being a heartbeat away from the Presidency include...leading the most sparsely populated state (badly) for 18 months? And, uh...hunting?

So in John McCain's first executive decision, he chose a person with virtually no experience or qualifications, whose "values" reek of hypocrisy, who is under investigation for abuse of power, and who may or may not favor an independent Alaska.

I have a theory: John McCain doesn't actually want to be President. He started running just for the hell of it, but the GOP field was so weak he accidentally won. Now he's trying desperately to sink his ship before he has to spend four more years wrecking the country with crazy Bush administration policies he promised to support. Really it's the only explanation. Senator McCain wants change, not more of the same!

First Hand Account of Protests; "Riots"

This afternoon I received an email from Carleton Professor and my former astronomy professor Joel Weisberg, who participated in the protests yesterday and was arrested on Sunday.

He provided a note, statement and useful links. I am reproducing the relevant parts here:

You have probably heard of many counter-RNC activities in the last few days. I was one of nine people doing peaceful civil disobedience arrested Sunday. Yesterday (Monday) I took part in a peaceful march with tens of thousand of participants. There were many college-age people (many from Mac - I was sorry Carleton was not yet in session).

Yesterday afternoon there was a police riot with many people your age targeted principally for being . . . your age. Hundreds were arrested. I decided to send you my pick of some of the best alternative media vidoes and accounts, plus my statement of Sunday's activities. By the way Amy Goodman of Democracy Now and two of her producers were arrested, roughed up, and later released for . . . well you watch below.

By the way if you are in the Cities or coming soon, there are still lots of cultural activities. Michael Franti and others will be performing today (Tues) at the Capitol, for example. If you are interested, I can send you a schedule.

Here is his statement about his arrest:

On Sunday, August 31, I participated in the solemn march to honor and remember the Iraqi war dead (soldiers and civilians alike ). Eight other people and I chose to commit civil disobedience by crossing a security fence. Among them were David Harris of Red Wing Vets for Peace, prime organizer of the march, Steve Clemens of St. Martin's Community, Sister Betty McKenzie, Jeanne Hynes, and Mary Vaughan, all of the Twin Cities, two members of the Voices for Creative Nonviolence group that walked from Chicago to St. Paul for the RNC protests, and a student from North Carolina.

Speaking for myself alone, I chose to risk arrest to protest the continuation of a war that has led to immense suffering and death, started on the basis of lies, and continued despite large majorities in Iraq stating that they wish the occupying forces to leave and large majorities in the U.S. wishing also for a speedy end. I have contacted my elected representatives numerous times to call for speedy withdrawal, to no avail, so I decided to escalate my commitment to this process
by risking arrest.

We were immediately surrounded by riot police and eventually arrested,
handcuffed, and booked for trespassing. We were released several hours later and were told that we will hear later about a court date.

Although the riot police refused to talk with us, all subsequent officers were
professional and respectful, and we were able to engage them in dialog.

It was a powerful and good experience, principally because I finally placed my body on the line for what I believe in.

Some great links he provided:

A blog where the writer (a medic) encounters a young woman after she was repeatedly sprayed for trying to hand a flower to the police: "RNC Day One: The girl with glitter on her shoulders"
http://www.mnblue.com/node/2137
the original video of a young woman being repeatedly sprayed for trying to hand a flower to the police:"Police Pepperspray Flower Girl"
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=nxlb0_G72uM

A blog where the writer (a medic) encounters her *after* she was sprayed: "RNC Day One: The girl with glitter on her shoulders"
http://www.mnblue.com/node/2137

Amazing cell phone video/audio from young journalists witnessing and barely avoiding sprays, rubber bullets, arrests yesterday (monday) afternoon across the river from harriet island concert. "UpTake Team Surrounded By Police"
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=wCST-5IXzDA

three young men pursued by the police, one whose head is smashed, for refusing consent to have their backpacks searched. Blog entry from Andy Driscoll:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/stpaul-announce/messages/topic/6ZonJ6cAY25ZVyKlFEYl3K

Another statement about the "riots":

I just wanted everybody to hear a first hand account for the Shephard St./Wabasha "riots" The black block left the capitol after the peace rally to go to Harriet Island to watch the show. Myself and some other friends joined them since we were going there as well. Walking from the Capitol on John Ireland, turning onto Kellogg there were about 40-50 riot cops around the corner denying us access to Wabasha. I actually went up to a couple of them trying to get information on a alternative route. No body was from St. Paul let alone Minnesota. My friends and I decided to walk around the block and eventually got to Shephard St. Once there, they would not let anybody across the road to get up on the bridge to get over the island.

There were also Coast Guard in the river with guns attached to the boats pointing at the the people. We tried to cross the road to get up on the bridge. Riot cops would not let us pass. We walked up a little further (past Wabasha) and the black block caught up. They tried to cross the street (on a green light) and the riot cops opened up with tear gas first, smoke bombs second and then they broke out the rubber bullets. We got away, but may people did not. There were many people that were there that weren't even in the black block (sorority types) as well as residents out for a daily jog or bike ride by the river. A protest boat got in between the coast guard and the protesters.

After running from the cops, we went to Harriet Island to tell as many media as possible as well as all of the people watching. We were about to leave, when the coast guard boarded the boat.

I want to be very clear, there was no chanting, signs, or anything else that would be "threatening" going on other than a bunch of people dressed in black (their normal everyday clothing). Most of these people were between 15-25 years old and just wanted to see the concerts at the park.

More on Arrested Journalists

There were four journalists arrested yesterday. They were being held for 'rioting' according to the police. Those arrested included an AP photographer and the host of Pacifica Radio's most popular show, Democracy Now!. This is a problem. I understand that there were violent protesters in St. Paul yesterday. I understand that the police had difficulty with some of them. This is no excuse for going around and arresting people, particularly journalists willy-nilly. What ever the reason for the arrest, arresting journalists smacks of intimidation. In America, I would hope that our officers of the law, could take the time to figure out who they're arresting. This report from the Bemidji Pioneer (emphasis mine).

Associated Press photographer Matt Rourke and Democracy Now! TV and radio show host Amy Goodman were among those arrested Monday at an anti-war march coinciding with the first day of the Republican National Convention.
[...]
David Ake, an AP assistant chief of bureau in Washington, said he was concerned by the arrest of Rourke, a Philadelphia-based photographer.

"Covering news is a constitutionally protected activity, and covering a riot is part of that coverage," Ake said. "Photographers should not be detained for covering breaking news
[...]

Police had been holding Rourke on a gross misdemeanor riot charge, said Tom Walsh, a St. Paul police spokesman.

Democracy Now! producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties, Democracy Now! said in a statement. Ramsey County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Holli Drinkwine said Goodman was arrested on a misdemeanor but she didn't know the charge. She did not immediately have any information about the other three.

Police said late Monday they had arrested 284 people as of 11 p.m.. Most of the estimated 10,000 people in the march were peaceful, but small groups totaling about 200 broke windows, taunted police, slashed tires and harassed delegates.

Rourke took photos throughout the day showing police shooting tear gas at protesters. Evan Vucci, another AP photographer, was with Rourke but did not see him get arrested.

"The police had pushed the protesters into a parking lot where they had police coming from all sides to encircle one area," Vucci said. "Once they got all the protesters into this one parking lot they kind of rushed and arrested all the protesters in there."

Vucci said he was picked up from behind, thrown down, and kicked in the ribs by police before being handcuffed. He said he avoided being arrested after showing an officer his press credentials.

I'm often down on our media, but that's only because I love them so much. A free press is essential to our democracy.

Amy Goodman Update

Here's an update and context for Amy Goodman's arrest, if anything the arrest seems less justified. You decide.

Democracy Now! radio host Amy Goodman and two producers were arrested while covering demonstrations at the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn. Goodman was released after being held for over three hours, but is still waiting to hear when Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar would be released.

"I was down on the convention floor interviewing delegates when I heard that two of our producers had been arrested," said Goodman. "I ran down to Jackson and 7th Street, where the police had moved in."

Goodman said that when she ran up to find out what was going on, she was also arrested.

"They seriously manhandled me and handcuffed my hands behind my back. The top ID [at the convention] is to get on the floor and the Secret Service ripped that off me. I had my Democracy Now! ID too. I was clearly a reporter."

Goodman, who was released after being charged with a misdemeanor, said that Salazar had been hurt in the face, while Kouddous had been thrown up against a wall and hurt his elbow.

"Nicole told me that as they moved in on three sides, she asked them 'How do I get away from this?' and they jumped on her."

Both Kouddous and Salazar could be held for up to 36 hours.

"One of the police kept shouting at me 'Shut up, shut up," she said.

Violence in St. Paul

I'm currently following the main stream media (for the police view) and Fire Dog Lake as well as MNIndependent (for the protesters view).

Most interestingly, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! (which airs regularly on Carleton Radio station KRLX) arrested for Conspiracy to Riot:

Getting word as it plays -- Amy Goodman and two other crew from DemocracyNow! are being detained by police for "probable cause for riot (?)." Happening now -- just got word. Phoned in to other DN! crew to see what we can do. Waiting to hear if it's an arrest or "detained." Should have a report on the live broadcast later today. Police scene here over the top. We chased the raids all day Saturday and I'll blog about some of that later. Meanwhile, in phone contact with DN! and if any help is needed behind the scenes, we're there.

What happened to Minnesota Nice?

Here's some video from FireDogLake:



Also a report from FDL reporter Siun:

Update 4:07 pacific: Lindsay has just called in about an arrest near the bridge - somebody being arrested here - cops are making racist remarks to the guy they are arresting using fake spanish to him and knocking off a hat he was wearing. Lindsay didn't see a cause for the arrest - just turned around and he was on the ground. As we were talking, she could see them dragging him across the road and a nearby motorcycle cop started taunting Lindsay to "take more pictures - Greetings from the great southwest!" while pointing to his badge.

A picture and story via the AP and Volokh Conspiracy

Protesters smashed windows, punctured car tires and threw bottles Monday during an anti-war march to the site of the Republican National Convention. Police used pepper spray in confrontations with demonstrators and arrested five.

Instead of the single coherent march that organizers had hoped for, fringe groups of anarchists and others wrought havoc along the streets between the state Capitol and the Xcel Energy Center where the convention was taking place.

Police estimates of the crowd shifted during the event before settling on 8,000 to 10,000. The crowd was clearly in the thousands, many of them marching peacefully.

Palin Can't Get a Good Minute

Sarah Palin seems like a good woman. I don't agree with her positions, but she seems like a nice woman who has fought corruption, instituted a windfall profits tax on big oil, and is clearly not a career politician. Moreover, she has had the single worst weekend of anyone in this campaign cycle. This from Ben Smith:

I can't remember the last introduction to the national scene this rocky, and it gets worse every hour — and even before the investigative reporters have settled in to Anchorage.

Just got off the flight to St. Paul to find, in my inbox: a second source confirming her past membership in a secession-minded fringe group, her lawyering up in an inquiry the AP slugged "Troopergate," and — insult to injury — another woman claiming she was actually Miss Congeniality in the Miss Wasilla '84 contest.

Follow the link for sources and more analysis. Add to the recent problems listed above, she has been tied to Pat Buchanan and she has had her qualifications contested constantly with McCain advisor saying "She's going to learn national security at the foot of the master for the next four years, and most doctors think that he'll be around at least that long." To top it off she had to announce that her 17 year old unwed daughter is 5 months pregnant. If John McCain really knew all this when he selected her (as his campaign is implying), then I have to question McCain's judgment, not to mention his empathy.

As a side note, tonight at dinner (this is my second to last night at home), my father said "can you imagine being a 17 year old guy and messing things up by getting your girlfriend, then realizing that you might have caused a small state scandal because your girlfriends mom is the governor. THEN, four months later having your girlfriend's mom become a surprise VP nominee and have your story be the news de jour on the first day of the Republican National Convention?" My mom replied, "It's worse for the girl."

While I don't believe Sarah Palin is qualified to be President, and thus not qualified to be a beat away from being president, I do feel for her. Sympathy all around.

This weekend has been somewhat reminiscent of the Harriet Miers nomination (although Miers' attackers are defending Palin). I hope McCain chooses someone else.

Tucker Bounds: Grasping At Straws

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds refuses to answer questions and embarrasses himself.

Happy Labor Day: Get Ready for More Labor

Hope everyone has a good Labor Day.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this administration has ruined our economy and has ensured that you will be working for many more years than you planned. From the AP's Dave Carpenter:

Americans are changing the game plan for retirement, with millions laboring right past the traditional retirement age and working into their late 60s and beyond.

While the average retirement age remains 63, that standard may soon be going the way of the gold watch _ a trend expected to accelerate as baby boomers close in on retirement without sufficient savings.