bmags

tpm is angry, Remember the US Attorneys It's time again to remember the backstory of the US Attorney Firing scandal. The firings were one thing. But the story behind the firings, what led to them, is key to understanding the current 'vote fraud' scam being played by the Republicans and the media outlets that are going along with the scam. Remember, the US Attorneys in question were all either Republicans or Republican-leaning independents. In every case, they were appointed by George W. Bush. In most of the cases their firing was tied to 'vote fraud' claims stemming from the 2004 election. The pattern was very consistent. During the final weeks of the 2004 campaign Republican partisans started pressing claims of widespread voter fraud. In many, though not all cases, the examples they pointed to were not even allegations of voter fraud, but allegations of voter registration fraud: examples of people being registered more than once, non-existent people being registered, etc. The Republicans making these claims argued that these problems with registration cards were opening the coming election up to widespread vote fraud. Logically, this makes no sense. And, more importantly, all evidence shows this has never happened, certainly not in any widespread sense. Every person who claims otherwise is either ignorant or speaking in bad faith. Nonetheless, CNN and other national news outlets and especially local media outlets, either out of ignorance or bad faith, ran hard with these stories -- just as CNN is doing now. After the election, there was a lot of pressure from Republicans in states like Nevada, Washington, New Mexico, etc. (not surprisingly, all key swing states) to have local US Attorneys prosecute these cases. The word came down from Washington, DC, particularly the political office at the White House that this was a top priority. And the local US Attorneys launched into it. But there was a problem. Most of these were ethical prosecutors. And when they looked into it there just wasn't anything there. Most of the stories weren't even true. And those that were, were obviously isolated and in most cases not done with malice. The number of people who could actually be prosecuted could be counted on one hand. Local Republicans got angry; Karl Rove got angry. And the US Attorneys got fired. That's the real story of the US Attorney firing scandal. And what we're seeing today is textbook -- exactly the same as what we saw in 2004 and 2006. It's a scam. And the very recent history should be enough for news networks like CNN and others not to let themselves become complicit in this disgrace. --Josh Marshall

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 14, 2008 -> 06:48 PM) Actually, I believe being ARAB is a race. Arabic is a language, as well as a family of languages. True. I wonder what the word is for being prejudice against languages.

Being Arabic is a race.

National primary is dumb. I realize some states won't always get to be heard, and this one seemed like a marathon, but it grants a longer time to weed out the candidates and get a feel for them and their ideas. It's better for political discourse.

I wish we gave players symbols instead of numbers.

Super intellect Sarah Palin mistook supporters for protestors while campaigning in Richmond today. The supporters screamed "louder! Louder" because they couldn't hear. Palin responded "I hope those protesters have the courage and honor to give veterans thanks for their right to protest."

yeah this Palin affair has been all over the airwaves.

Those lazy bums at ProPublica took it off.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 10:17 PM) Stolen Base List. 1. Eddie Collins - 368 999999. Paul Konerko -- 7

actually I still don't understand, the theory that people would say that they would vote for Obama in polls, but actually are going to vote for McCain is all pointed to this election that people coined "the bradley effect". I just reallllly disagree. Especially with Obama over 50%, I think that is pretty close to accurate. McCain's campaign is reeling and looking disheveled, that's not exactly presenting a trusted alternative.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 08:37 PM) 1. I wasn't even referecing the Bradley election, which I think is a very different scenario than this Presidential election. To use that as a single reference is missing the important differences. 2. The fear vote is not just about race, when I refer to it. 3. I am not talking about just the currently "undecided" here, as the article assumes. 4. I don't think it will be any 6-9 points. More like 3-5, to take a wild ass guess. Granted this usually is the case with incumbents, but usually in an election like this, many undecided votes swing to the party not in power, as well.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 05:52 PM) http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/...elective_m.html The Bradley Effect - discredited. edit: this wasn't meant to be a reply to AHB. TO YOU, NorthSide

I'm anxious to see how this early voting helps.

We'll see.

EXTRA angry!

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 07:10 PM) it's just the media trying to not seem like they are pulling for Obama and keep the drama. Ohh... PA is a toss up. umm.. no. not really. If they were honest and looked at the polls, all they'd have to say is that "based on CURRENT polling, Obama would win the election by a landslide, but this can change from day to day". I know that was a good catch, but really I think it's just laziness. If you look at the states, the ones listed as battlegrounds are such because of their history. And the ones that "lean mccain" were ones that would've. It's just like they were too lazy to change the titles. Because I think PA should be a "battleground" state, but Obama is killing it right now. I mean...there aren't many states left, VA, NC, NV and now what ND are the close states? This is absurd

so is Prince.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 05:18 PM) I also think Mizu will be a "landslide" state. It wont be the decider state, it'll be part of the landslide. VA is the decider state to me. Missouri predicts presidents. Virginia's just trying to be cool.

atta boy, MIZ. doesn't matter though, Missouri will be decided within 4%.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 05:00 PM) All by itself, no. In a bi-partisan situation like this, both parties needed to get majorities in their caucus to push it through, obviously there will be dissention and compromises that some house members find reprehensible. By most accounts, the House members took this opportunity to push their own, unreasonable plan that wouldn't get through, and distanced themselves from a weak party and leadership. A group of more than 100 house members in a caucus of one party, during a bi-partisan measure, can absolutely kill a bill. Could the dems have passed it with 100% yays? Yes, but that's not a realistic proposal. The dems did their part, the republicans didn't. And so the bill that ended up passed just needed some great pork projects, because, hey, if you're spending 700 billion, what's 100 billion more?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 04:45 PM) And we all know that the GOP always gets what it wants Seriously. You don't think a block that big in Congress could do harm to a bill?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/...elective_m.html The Bradley Effect - discredited. edit: this wasn't meant to be a reply to AHB.

When you walk up to them, make yourself look real big, so they know who the dominant male is. Don't blink when talking, either. Blinking is a sign of weakness. And don't show your teeth, that's the sign of a witch. Also, if they are staring you in the eyes, don't break eye contact until they turn away, again, for dominant male. Make high pitch screams to any male that also walks up, it warns off other predators. This is the art of the pickup.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 02:01 PM) Watched "The Happening" last night. As brutal as everyone said. I was hoping with the terribly low expectations going in that maybe I'd kind of enjoy it. What a waste of time. Heh. Right now you are in Phase 1 of a "The Happening" viewer. A feeling of disgust. A feeling you lost 2 hours of your life. Phase 2 is more contemplative. Questions arise. You start to replay it in your head. Mark Wahlberg talking like a 14 year old with his balls in a vice. The man with his arm ripped off by the lion. The scene where the kids are shot. You start laughing hysterically. Phase 3. Acceptance. YOu realize, that in some strange way, this trainwreck of a movie was more interesting in its awful execution than previous given credit. Behold, M. Night Shamylan, the 21st century Ed Wood.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 03:49 PM) OK, so how in the hell did the failure for the first bailout vote fall on the GOP with most journalists, when they aren't in control of Congress? because they wanted that credit.