I didn't see Hancock, but I'll assume this is right

Speaking of the Obama campaign's response to any and all things Palin, Jim Treacher writes:

Did you guys see Hancock? Remember when Will Smith just stood there while the train hit him, and it derailed all over the place? Sarah Palin's kind of like that, except happier.

It can't be said enough: they have no idea how to approach her. 

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U.S. Backs Ukraine's Entry To NATO

Some more fallout from Russias little adventure in Georgia:

The United States has backed Ukraine's bid for NATO membership a day after similarly supporting Georgia, in a move which may further stoke tensions with Russia.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, left, welcomes U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in Kiev on Friday.

U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney met with Ukraine's pro-Western president Victor Yushchenko in the capital of Kiev on Friday, the third stop of a tour that has already taken him to two other former Soviet republics -- Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The meeting came on the same day as the United States' top warship arrived in the Georgian port of Poti to deliver humanitarian supplies, fueling Russia's fears that its superpower rival is making its presence felt in the Baltic region.

Russia said the vessel's technical characteristics raised questions about whether it should be allowed into the area, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

What characteristics were those?  The ability to shit-stomp the entire Russian navy by itself?  Yeah, we have a bunch of those lying around so any time you wanna get froggy, go ahead and jump.

Anyway, I'm wondering if Pooter is feeling buyer's remorse about South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  First Poland refuses to party like its 1949 and now Ukraine?  Wow, its almost like the world isn't feeling that imperialistic kick you're on with integrity.

It shocks the conscious.

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Palin beat Obama in ratings

She got 40 million viewers to Obama's 38 million.

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In defense of Debbie Schlussel

Actually, I'm just kidding. There's no real defense for this, other than wanting attention or angling for a job with the Family Research Council.

Update: Credit where credit is due, the FRC actually defended the Palins. Oh, and if Debbie Schlussel wants a piece of my $19,000 a year salary, I'm sure that would be a fantastic PR opportunity. I promise I'll make sure it gets her some attention.

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 10:13 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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PALIN SPEECH EXCERPTS!!

It sounds great!  My favorite quote:

Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."

I'm less nervous than I was, but we'll see!  She goes on at 10:00pm Eastern, right after Rudy Giuliani.

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Russian Conquest Complete

Looks like Russian isn't leaving until Georgia recognizes large chunks of its sovereign territory as independent:

Russia will withdraw its troops from the "buffer zone" it has created in Georgia when they are replaced by international peacekeepers and once the Georgian government has signed non-aggression pacts with the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Moscow's ambassador to London, Yuri Fedotov said today.

Allow me to introduce the New Russia*

Update: The U.S. has pledged 1 billion dollars in aid. It is dedicated to purely non-military purposes but, like with giving money to the homeless, any dollar they don't have to spend on rebuilding they can spend on the military. Russia is predictably belligerent.

Fedotov warned that any Nato attempts to rebuild Georgia's military after the conflict would be destabilising.

"If Nato now plans to rearm Tbilisi, to restore or even enhance its military potential, of course it will be very deplorable. And it would not help ... a political solution," he said.

Of course, 'destabilising' means something different in Russian.

* - Same as the Soviet Union but with 100% less idiological purity.

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RIP, Jerry Reed

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What does Fred's speech mean for Palin?; Update!

Allah is right, Fred rocked the house tonight.  If I could put that on a continuous loop in my head, I might just do that. 

But wow...I hope this doesn't make Gov. Palin's acceptance speech tomorrow seem weak by comparison. 

Update: Allahpundit has me in brown paper bag hyperventilation mode over Palin. I'm stressed. Someone calm me down!  (For realsies, not for play-play.)

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Palin 2006!

I think this was posted over at Ace's, but I've found this televised debate from her 2006 gubernatorial campaign very informative.  She gets handed some tough questions and handles them gracefully. 

It's a must watch if you're worried about her debating style in advance of her October 2 debate with Joe Biden*.

*That debate will obviously be much different and less friendly, but the video still helps.

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Tower of Pisa No Longer Most Flamboyant in Europe

It appears other towers are even less straight than Pisa:

The Tower of Pisa is being challenged by a lesser-known 12th-century building in the northern Dutch town of Bedum as Europe's most steeply leaning tower.

Retired geometrician Jacob van Dijk said measurements this week on Bedum's 36-metre church tower of Walfridus revealed it is now leaning more than its Italian rival, which lost part of its tilt following restoration works.

At a height of 55.86 meters, Pisa's tower leans about 4 meters, while Bedum's tower leans 2.61 meters on its height of 35.7 meters. If both towers were the same height, Bedum would have a greater tilt of 6 cm, Van Dijk argues.

"In Italy they're happy with the result, but here in Bedum we are much more happy, because the tower of Pisa is now leaning less than the tower of Bedum," said Van Dijk.

He added, "You might even call us gay. Being Dutch we are glad to see the trend of diminishing straightness in Europe continue.  For years we have tried to ensure that our military and government institutions are free from rigidity and it is good to see even ancient architecture cooperating.*"

* - I may have made up that last part.

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In a world gone mad...

...Don LaFontaine won't be doing voice-overs for movie previews anymore.  Seriously, it's just not going to be the same.



Rest In Peace, Don.  A whole generation of moviegoers is going to miss that low, growly voice of yours.

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And So It Begins

As many may know, Sally Quinn is one of the Heavyweights of the DC Social Circuit. From what I gather, getting an invite to her parties is a sign you have "arrived" in the Beltway. But also, she is one of the big time meme setters for The Deciders; when she says something, it's as good as a stamp of approval for a talking point as anything.

Well, she is one of the first non-Kossack Deciders who has written the line of attack on McCain-Palin over the pregnancy of Palin's daughter and tie in the "unprepared" meme, along with a gross misunderstanding of evangelical voters and a claim that only Beltway Insiders will make good Executive Level candidates.

And now we learn the 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant. She and the father of the child plan to marry. This may be a hard one for the Republican conservative family-values crowd to swallow. Of course, this can happen in any family. But it must certainly raise the question among the evangelical base about whether Sarah Palin has been enough of a hands-on mother.

McCain claims he knew about the pregnancy, and was not at all concerned. Why not? Not only do we have a woman with five children, including an infant with special needs, but a woman whose 17-year-old child will need her even more in the coming months. Not to mention the grandchild. This would inevitably be an enormous distraction for a new vice president (or president) in a time of global turmoil. Not only in terms of her job, but from a media standpoint as well.

McCain's cynical choice has created a dilemma for many women. For still-angry Hillary Clinton voters, they will have to decide if they want to vote against their concscience and political interests by voting to elect a Republican woman who's even more conservative than McCain.

Evangelical women also will have to decide if they will vote against their conscience by voting to put the mother of young children in a job outside the home that will demand so much of her time and energy.

I guess she missed the Dr. Dobson statement on this whole mess.

But Quinn doesn't stop there. She goes on to give the blessing for The Deciders to keep up their attack on McCain-Palin over this story.

Palin's lack of experience and her family situation are both valid and vital considerations here, especially when she will be running with a 72-year-old presidential candidate who has suffered four bouts of a deadly cancer.

And by the way, how can McCain call Barack Obama unqualified, inexperienced, not ready from Day One, not able to be commander in chief, and then put someone like Palin in a position that is a heartbeat away from the pesidency?

Anyway, I could go on. But you get the point. Even though Obama-Biden '08 has declared this story off limits, it doesn't seem to appear that their friends in the media will do the same.

And it seems that the sorest of sore losers on our side of the aisle is staying classy regarding this story as well.

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Palin's daughter is pregnant

But not in a DKos/Andrew Sullivan Rovian conspiracy way....in the actual factual way:

The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said on Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child.

[...]

"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support," the Palins said.

[...]

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates," the statement concluded.

This is about as close to "real family" as one could get.  All families--even the evil conservative ones--worry about this happening.  I wish them the best.  They'll be growing up quickly.  Luckily for Bristol and Levi, there aren't too many paparazzi in Wasilla. 

Exit question: How will the conspiracy theory be altered to address this new information?

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