Crash; Throw Them Out Running Thread

As I did in the beginning of Palin-mania, we’ll keep a running thread going with links far and wide, constantly updated, newest posts just below the rant, so keep checking back! Watch the video first! (H/T)

EARLY RANT: (Scroll past this for latest updates) I need to first opine that the Democrats yesterday blew my mind with their last-minute addition of 56 billion to the bail-out, their sneaky, slippery attempt to play political games with some of this money – directing it to ACORN (!) – and their subsequent attempt to lie and to blame the GOP – the president – anyone but themselves for not passing a bill which the GOP CANNOT BLOCK. We already know that Nancy Pelosi has no leadership skills except in spite and obstruction – we see she is completely out of her depths here, but Barney Frank’s behavior last night, and his disrespect toward the GOP and the President was particularly egregious in a time of crisis. He behaved like a trapped animal trying to distract the hunters toward anyone but him. Meanwhile Chuck Schumer is unusually, uncharacteristically silent; Barack Obama – except when mentioned by a press pretending he is leading – seems irrelevant to the process and to have no genuine ideas or input, or a desire to lead. All he seems capable of doing is whining about the debate while Rome falls about his ankles. McCain is quite right that the debates would be less urgent if Obama had done the Town Halls McCain had asked for – debates Obama said he’d have “anytime, anywhere” before refusing all of them. I say at this point SCREW the moderated debates that tell us nothing and insist that these candidates town-hall it and speak DIRECTLY to the people who will be most affected by all of this – that would be the ordinary folk. And do the same for Biden and Palin if they debate. And seriously, if there is a debate, it should be on economics, and energy just now, not foreign policy. Speaking of foreign policy, in the midst of all of this, Israel is asking the American president to give a green light to bomb Iran. Imagine having all that on your plate for one day! I don’t know that John McCain is the “perfect” man for the White House, but I’m pretty damn sure at this point that a man with 150 days experience in the Senate, no instincts to lead, a whiny disposition, and a frightening willingness to use the Justice Department as his private thug-corps is NOT the guy we need in the Oval Office in these very serious times. And finally, to end the rant, Charles Krauthammer says we need a few good public hangings re this financial mess. I think – after seeing our “leadership” demonstrate that they haven’t the balls to lead without political cover – we should put them out of their miseries by demanding a few resignations from the leadership of BOTH parties, and both banking committees. There – my rant is over – read below for lastest:

Michael Barone on what the GOP wants. 1:11 PM

Patrick O’ Hannigan looks at the Kenyan Minister praying over Gov. Palin and offers analysis. 1:07 PM

Okay, I have to ask it: If the two parties cannot work together to solve this financial “crisis” – if they are content to play politics with it, then is the “crisis” so imperative as they claim? After 9/11, people worked together because they knew they had to. They’re not working together, now. Perhaps they know they don’t really have to? Come on, now…this is either a monumental crisis or it is not! If it is, then these parties – this “leadership” – had best stop screwing around. If it’s not, stop screwing around, anyway!

The NY Times: has mild criticism of Obama’s ads. Not his policy or his lack of experience or his unwillingness to lead his party. His ads. I guess it’s something. 11:48 PM

So, McCain’s campaign is back up and the debate goes on. Is it still a foreign policy debate? 12:41 PM

Shana’s working on a new graphic: Concerning the political cowardice we’re seeing yesterday and today:

I like the black background, actually.

Also, Lorie Byrd says McCain will debate, tonight. 11:41 AM

Is Bill Clinton for McCain because he is genuinely worried? Roger L. Simon thinks it may be possible. We all know Clinton would rather see McCain win for a future Hillary run, but yes, it’s possible he may want to see the country survive, first. 11:30 AM

A bit of goofiness: Palin in a corn field. The other day my Elder Son mowed the front lawn into a tic-tac-toe board. I’ll post the picture when I take it out of the camera. 11:22 AM

Sarah Palin and the Keyan Minister’s Prayer: Any sensible person knows this story is nothing and a non-starter but some in the press think it should start, anyway. This tells me that the Obama people could not find any real dirt on Palin in Alaska, and I for one WELCOME the story. If we’re going to talk about Palin’s relationship with a visiting minister, it’s fair game to talk about Obama’s 20 year relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. You want to worry about a man preaching against witchcraft, what about a man preaching “God DAMN America!” If we’re going to talk about Palin’s brief past association, it allows us to talk about Obama’s lengthy association with Communist bomb-lover Bill Ayers. I say bring it. If you want to ask Palin what she believes about God, ask Obama what he believes about Saul Alinksy. There is almost nothing you can talk about, anymore, that does not end up reflecting back dubiously on Obama. The press – knowing this – will simply poison the atmosphere for Palin, then let the matter drop. They do not want to be forced to cover Wright or Ayers. I have never hated the press more than I do today, and they used to be my heroes. More fool me. 10:55 AM