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Daily Dolt: Fact Free Bloggging

ArchPundit August 31, 2008 No Comments

In our latest Frank Burns delusion, we see him claiming that the DCCC might have walked away from Dan Seals:

But something has happened — it looks like the DCCC is walking away from Dan Seals.

Yesterday, as the Politico reported, Chris Van Hollen welcomed the DCCC’s top 50 candidates for change on to the stage with him at the Democratic National Convention. Dan Seals wasn’t there and wasn’t mentioned (though Debbie Halverson was mentioned and Bill Foster got a shout-out in Van Hollen’s speech). In fact, the Daily Herald even reported live from the Illinois delegation breakfast in Denver — and while the article mentions the Kirk-Seals race, there’s no mention of Dan being at the convention and getting any love from the DCCC.

Dan didn’t go to the convention because he wanted to spend the time in the District–at the advice of some senior Democrats. DCCC still sees IL-10 as one of their best pick-up opportunities.

I don’t begrudge someone for taking shots at someone they don’t like, but trying to get even a few facts straight woud be nice whether it be about how many children are in an ad or where Seals was for the convention is standard practice for most ethical bloggers.

The Patrick Fitzgerald of Alaska

ArchPundit August 30, 2008 No Comments

What a dumbass:

Congressman Mark Kirk calls Palin the “Patrick Fitzgerald Of Alaska” for her grit and determination in taking on the old-line Republican guard in Alaska.

Why It Couldn’t Be Pawlenty

ArchPundit August 29, 2008 No Comments

Being in the city of a major bridge collapse while a hurricane might be hitting the Gulf Coast would not have been ideal optics for the last 8 years.

Not Worth a Warm Bucket of Piss

ArchPundit August 29, 2008 No Comments

Palin:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pak-rH0dCeA[/youtube]

But as for the VP talk all the time, I’ll tell ya, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me, what is it exactly that the VP does ever day?”

8/1/08 CNBC “Kudlow and Company”

Palin

ArchPundit August 29, 2008 No Comments

A few people are wondering how Michael Palin can run given he’s British.

Mostly I’m struck by this being a Rauschernberger-Syverson special with the GOP panicing and finding the first non white male candidate they could and shaking their head and going–see, we are inclusive too…really!

In terms of abortion, she’s a horrible choice. McCain has been playing on the misperceptions that he is pro-choice.  She will underscore his strong pro-life record hurting him with that group of women who supported Clinton that he has deluded himself into thinking he has a shot with.

More than that–she’s involved in a fairly serious ethics investigation taking away any traction on issues of reform.

McCain will get beaten up by the media for two reasons. First, she isn’t part of the club and so the media is already referencing Dan Quayle who was young and came out of nowhere.  Second, serious journalists will point out the basic problem with the choice as Steve Chapman does:

The first and last question to be asked about a potential vice president is: Is he or she prepared to take over immediately as president? Barack Obama’s choice of Joe Biden gave that matter the priority it deserves.

The question is even more important for McCain because he’s 72 years old and has had serious health problems. The chances are considerably higher than usual that his vice president would have to step into the Oval Office without notice.

Sarah Palin may be a politically brilliant choice. She may also be a fine governor. But it’s going to be pretty hard for McCain to disparage Obama’s experience on national security and foreign relations while running with someone who has much less.

But worse, this decision mocks McCain’s seriousness on the issues that are supposed to be his strength. It tells us that he puts his own political fortunes above the safety of the nation.

McCain has done a lot things for his country. He should have done one more and picked a running mate who makes a plausible commander-in-chief.

And that leads into the last problem.  His entire argument is experience and while he’s 72 and a cancer survivor, he chose a woman who was Mayor of a town of 8,000 two years ago.  Oh, and that little corruption trial in Alaska will keep being brought up.

Infuriating Indifference to State Parks

ArchPundit August 29, 2008 No Comments

Jack Darin covers the shutting down of several parks and laying off of even MORE IDNR staff

Illinois Democrats may be hugging out in Denver, but back home on Thursday 39 IDNR employees were notified that they’ll be out of a job November 1st as a result of budget cuts announced by Governor Blagojevich in July.

Eleven state parks and fifteen state historic sites will close. The state parks that will close November 1st are:

* Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park
* Illini State Park near Marseilles
* Wolf Creek State Park
* Castle Rock State Park, Oregon
* Lowden State Park, Oregon
* Hidden Springs State Forest, Strasburg
* Channahon Parkway State Park, Channahon
* Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris
* Kickapoo State Park, Oakwood
* Moraine View State Park, Leroy
* Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton

These layoffs and closings would be totally unnecessary if our leaders in Springfield would get together on a budget solution. There is still time – but the Governor’s action Thursday started the clock ticking.

We need the General Assembly and the Governor to act before the end of September to restore the cuts, keep these parks open, and keep those who run them and look out for our natural resources on the job.

Moraine View personally hurts as I grew up going there, boated there, had large family gatherings there, mountain bike there, and take my daughters there when I visit Normal.

There is simply no excuse for this and it needs to be fixed–while I’d prefer it to be with increased funding I’d take user fee increases if that’s all we can do for now.  Long run, this just continues a pattern of neglect by Blagojevich for our natural resources and he added on our historical resources this time as well.

Illinois has never made preservation the central aspect of it’s parks system and for that reason they tend to be a bit overused–not the worst thing in the world. Now, they won’t be used at all.  No one is innocent in this fight, but one jackass is more guilty than the rest.

Thankfully Not Sam Waterston

ArchPundit August 29, 2008 No Comments

The most cliche liberal voice over talent for the Obama video–instead, an excellent choice in David Straithearn

I’m assuming that was Axelrod’s call and we didn’t have to listen to another overwrought voice over by Waterston for a liberal candidate/cause.

Though a cameo by Chris Cooper playing Colorado’s very own fictional Dickie Pilager/George Bush/Tom DeLay would have made a perfect John Sayles filmfest.

Pat’s A Professional

ArchPundit August 29, 2008 No Comments

At many things including being a racist, but Buchanan is one of the most talented rhetoricians of modern times.  The 1992 speech was unveiled fascism, but it also worked for the audience he was trying to reach.  He wrote for the Globe Democrat and for Nixon—which was more evil is an interesting academic debate, but he was one of the best at what he did.  No one should be surprised with his reaction tonight:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Fru4dZLGA[/youtube]

Definition of Tool

ArchPundit August 28, 2008 No Comments

Maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t Dan actually have THREE daughters??? What happened to the little one in the video???

Larry Linville would be proud

Or perhaps Kirk would like to discuss what he finds that is so offensive about the Obama agenda?

The Biggest Pleasant Surprise

ArchPundit August 28, 2008 No Comments

Joe Biden—he just looks excited and energized and thrilled to be on the ticket.  It’s like watching a kid who has found his calling.