I've Been Avoiding

what we're calling the "war on women" this week because once I start I won't be able to stop. (I'm currently trying to stop swearing about the legislature in Virginia that thinks freedom is requiring an internal vaginal probe.)  But while I'm trying to get calm enough to construct actual words, you really must see the panel that testified on women's reproductive health today to Mr. Issa's committee.

I did not make this up.

Posterization courtesy of Amy at The Pragmatic Progressive

The Teabaggers

I have been cruising the photos today, trying to select my Very Favorite Sign and I just can't do it. It is like being in a candy shop and having to pick the one best treat. This will have to do for now, but there are so many that are better.

The stupid. It burns!

This Is Why I Shouldn't Carry Weapons

A South Philadelphia man enraged because a father and son were talking during a Christmas showing of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took care of the situation when he pulled a .380-caliber gun and shot the father, police said.

I know I should feel badly but I tend to identify with the gunman.

a Philadelphia man who was not identified, told police a man sitting near him told his family to be quiet and threw popcorn at his son.

Well throwing popcorn is excessive. Another "shush" would have been more appropriate.

After exchanging words, Vanore said Cialella allegedly got out of his seat to confront the family when the father got up to protect them. That's when the victim was shot once in the left arm, sending others in the theatre running to safety.

Cialella then sat down to watch the movie.

I suspect he didn't get to see the end. That's sort of a shame.
I don't think it was attempted murder, just terminal annoyance.

The Republican National Committee Crumbles Before Our Eyes

Update below

I had planned to do my final post about what the choice of Vice Presidential nominees revealed about each of the candidates, but that seems to have been overtaken by events. Instead this will be about the Republicans using another tragedy for their own selfish interests.
Tomorrow the Republican National Convention will gavel their convention in session, do a bit of back room business (platform, electing officials) and gavel out about two hours later. John McCain claims that they think it would be unseemly to Conventioneer with that hurricane threatening our people. (He didn't think Katrina was much of a problem when he was eating cake with Mr. Bush, as I recall.) The Times explains

Amid extraordinary circumstances that remain extremely uncertain, many questions remain unanswered, including whether Mr. McCain and Mrs. Palin will actually appear at the convention here to accept their party’s nominations and what the schedule might look like for the rest of what had been expected to be a four-day political coronation for Mr. McCain and his vice presidential nominee.

Rick Davis, the McCain-Palin campaign manager, said organizers are proceeding on a day-by-day basis, monitoring the course of the storm and its damage.

Stunning.

If they flush the toilets will it produce a surge down the Mississippi to New Orleans? (h/t to Landru for that line)

This, of course, would be the perfect platform from which to speak about the problem, address what needs to be done, and even to ask the American people to help out. They have four nights of prime time coverage on all of the networks and news cable outlets. And they're not sure whether they will show up or not?

My theory is that they are coming apart at the seams. There are women like Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Jodi Rell who were just told "fuck you." There are folks running for office downstream, beyond the Congresional members and wannabes who can't possibly get up there and support the ticket with a straight face, not and hope to win their races, anyway. I can't really see too many folks beyond Mr. McCain's favorite butt-boys, Lindsey Graham (who knew he couldn't be nominated without a wife -- and yes, that means what you think it means) and Joe Lieberman who was apparently vetoed by Karl Rove being able to say "YAY" with a straight face.

Politics is an insider game. Senator McCain was on the margin before, but now that he has publicly said FUCK YOU to such a large segment of the party, I expect it will take a while to get it together. And then there is Governor Palin who has to learn to give a big kick-ass speech between now and Wednesday. (I don't suppose they will have her hubby introducing her.)

Besides all that, it is harder to say "I was a POW for 5 1/2 years" when folks are dying. Good luck with that convention thing, party of Lincoln.


Update - The L. A. Times is compiling a list of no-shows at the convention.

At least 10 incumbent senators, plus several Senate candidates, have sent their regrets. Only three incumbents in hotly contested races, including Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, will join the partygoers.

"It's probably easier to say who is attending," said Rebecca Fisher, spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. But the list is "a moving target," she added. ...
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will bow out to stay in California and deal with a budget stalemate, and Govs. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Rick Perry of Texas said they would cancel their prime-time convention appearances because of the threat to the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Gustav.

The piece cites many more. Hard to see how they have enough to have a convention.

Sarah Palin, Barbarian

I'm offering this because instead of saving it for a more opportune time because, as I went Googling about the Intertubes this morning I find that many Sarah Palin material and web sites have been removed/pulled down/redirected to the JohnMcCain web site. (You can find it yourself. You don't need a link from me.) Interesting that she has the identical smile in both photos. I guess they learn that at Beauty Queen Camp.
(Click for big)

Fox News at the Democratic Convention

The protesters outside the convention are provided with the stellar opportunity to speak on the teevee, Fox News, LIVE! The didn't appreciate the wonderful media access that they were given, apprently. Don't miss the moderators incensed comments about their lack of appreciation at the end.


Video via TBogg

Obscenity of the Day

Marc Ambinder has more.

Yes that is John McCain on the balcony where Martin Luther King was shot at the Lorraine Motel 40 years ago. The same John McCain who voted against a federal holiday honoring the same Dr. King.

But Senator McCain is sorry now. He said so today. On that balcony.

Today

I saw a dweeb sporting a "Nader" bumper sticker. He was youngish sporting round tortoise rimmed glasses and a too sparse goatee. He tried to get into a line of traffic ahead of me. He smiled and nodded and pointed. I'm sure he is used to people responding to this boyish charm. I wasn't charmed. I just pointed to his bumper sticker and shook my head no. I left him sitting there looking gob-smacked.

Actions have consequences.

This Man

is an old (older than Saint McCain old), self-absorbed, narcissistic, egomanaical, right-wing dickwad who hates America.

He wants your vote.

He wants you to sign a petition to get him on the ballot in your state.

Don't do it.

Headlines, The Best and The Worst
The Worst: This month's Vogue. "DIY Dermatology" Makes you just want to grab that article, buy it, and run home to try something new, doesn't it?

The Best: Wonkette today. A piece about Bill Kristol and Charles Krauthammer being fired from Time magazine. "Time Fires Major Neocon Douches." Be tough to top that one for combined accuracy and panache.

Ok, ok. The Second Best: On the presidential race's Favorite Xenophobe Tom Tancredo's rumored withdrawal from the race tomorrow. "Vaya Con Dios, Tom Tancredo?" It's at the National Review. I'm ashamed enough, but I won't link there.