GUESS WHAT, SISTER SARAH'S A HIT WITH THOSE WHO COUNT. THE ULTIMATE ADDRESS ON THE PENULTIMATE NIGHT.

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Tim Einenkel

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – I’ve got good news and bad news.

The good news is that Sarah Palin’s speech was laden with trite delivery, cutesy messaging and no specifics about anything specific. It was a Toastmasters after dinner speech at best. Nothing special, nothing great. Hardy-har-har. Yuck, yuck. We get it, Shecky Palin. You’re not a Washington-tainted, Beltway-contaminated pol, but just a mom who can field-dress a moose. Holy Fess Parker, Batman! Frances McDormand in a pants suit. (Speaking of which, after hearing all the Hillary pants suit jokes, I saw nary a dress at the Xcel Energy Center. At least on women attendees.)

Now the bad news. The Republicans loved it. Think Red-Stater for moment. The guys that bring you NASCAR, bad country music, Lee Greenwood, “Hee Haw” and now Sister Sarah. Preaching to the choir. And the choir loved it. Big time. While you and I may laugh at the corn poniness of her address, the dude with the sequined-cowboy hat ate it up and wants seconds. She delivered to her crowd.

Don't forget to listen to Lionel on the final day of Air America's coverage of the Republican National Convention, which you can hear and see right on AirAmerica.com.

And I hope that the many who thought that somehow the allegations of her daughter’s bun in the oven, her hubby’s inebriated driving moment, her secessionist inclinations, Trooper-gate, the evanescent blog rumors of her being the fall gal for Trig’s actual mother (who happens to be she) . . . all of this was for naught, at least to the crowd who matters. And would you please tell whoever is telling you that they’re going to pull her name from consideration to wake up, get a life and cup their ear and listen to the thunderous adulation from the attendees of the convention? Please. Wake up, my ignorant and psephologically nescient brethren! The Republicans LOVE her. Repeat: LOVE her.

I know, I know. It’s tough to take. It defies any sentient human being’s sensibilities. I know. But they adore her. That’s the way they are.

And that’s the way it is.

(If Olbermann can rip off Murrow, I can likewise purloin Cronkite.)

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Sarah Palin seems like the Republican’s Clara Bow. Clara Bow was marketed to the public as the epitome of sexy, the same way skinny models are sold to us today. The Republicans are selling her as the new “It” girl and it seems whatever the party shovels to their base, they will eat it up.

-verm

"Look at it this way, if we fail, we'll only lose our lives."

Given that the Republican "brand" is currently held in such low esteem, I'm not sure that Palin's ability to inspire rapture among the members of the now-marginal demographic that still think George W. Bush is a good President is going inspire those who are on the fence to vote for the Republican ticket. Although I do think the Democrats would do well not to underestimate her. She is one nasty, crazy piece of work, wrapped in a homespun, comely, extroverted package. She is tailor-made for the Washington television punditry circuit, a sort of Annie Oakley who channels Ann Coulter. Like a lot of Right-wing nuts, her thinking is utterly superficial and Manichean, but she is extremely comfortable with the role of "attack-dog". The Democrats will have a challenge in responding to this woman, who will say the most vicious things one moment, and yet have no compunction about reflexively claiming she's being attacked by sexist elites who don't understand the values of the heartland if she's questioned. She's one sick puppy, but a dangerous one.

SMACK!!!!!!! That is the sound of a much deserverved, all encompasing bitchslap courtesy of Governor Palin. I know it had to be soooo painful for you lefties to watch that speech last night. This is what a real American family and woman actually looks like. She is a strong, educated American woman with great values and vast experience. Kind of the "anti-Hillary", if you will. She is the type of woman that all American females should aspire to be. Well done Governor Palin.

To the right, a BA in public speaking is ed-ju-mi-ca-tion from Idaho U., the Potato State
Well done.
The things she didn't talk about are just not important to the right:

Al Qaeda
Taliban
Iran
Iraq
Georgia
Russia
Pakistan
Nuclear weapons
Economy
Mortgage crisis
Health care
Unmarried, pregnant minors
Oil crisis (she did say drill, just not where, oh yea - "offshore")
Immigration
Poverty
Science
Military

However, she did talk about religion.
And she covered all the conservative talking points, like "hope" and "confidence"
Good for her.
What a bitch slap
She did as good as expected

Anywhoo I would say that since immigration is a made up issue (and they made it up) they can drop it whenever they wish!

I agree, her speech was "all sizzle, no steak".

Obama's speach had something her's didn't... A certain "je nous se qua"... oh yeah, it's called SUBSTANCE!

I love the "special" sign just to the left of center. Says everything you need to know about the "straight talk express". Can you spot the special sign?

-- McCain = Four more years of the same --

is a real American family. I may not be a lefty or lived in the US for some time now, but I was raised in a family with two college educated parents, who taught their children to be self sufficient. I was born in Virginia, lived in numerous states and two countries. What I am getting at is, being a family counselor and seeing many families, what is the criteria that you use to evaluate what a real American family and what all American females should aspire to be?

-verm

"Look at it this way, if we fail, we'll only lose our lives."

And you're "counseling" families? You are part of what is wrong with society today.

No, you are.
You stand for everything Jesus preached against, yet you believe yourself to be a Christian with values.

HA! HA! HA!

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." Dwight Eisenhower

Yes we Republicans love her. She doesn't appear to take any crap and to buy in the Obama is the next messiah. Better be careful when you put down the NASCAR crowd - one of the largest sports in the US has many democrats who love it as well. What, you thought liberals all are professors in college? Not a good way to treat your fellow democratic southerners. I see that it's ok for the democrats to be totally nasty (ie your bun in the oven comment about a kid), putting down people who love country (I personally hate rap - hey am I racist??) but you can't take what you dish out. She was hilarious and I can't think of a better group of nasties to be put off by it than you. I love how you demonize those who don't agree with you, even though you say you are liberal and are for freedom of expression. Take your medicine wacko lefties, you need it. Oh, and go ahead and continue to spread nasty rumors about Sarah and her kids - you help the GOP with it.

Plus, she's hot.

.
I love what she said about Bin Laden.

She was too busy talking about Obama Bin Biden.

.
One thing I don't understand that should be explained to me. If you mention Bush and Hitler or McCain and Hitler in the same sentence, the Reich, I mean right, goes nuts.

Yet, they constantly try to link an African American citizen, a product of the American Dream to a man who attacked the US directly, something Hitler never did. Someone Bush let go. Someone McCain doesn't see as a threat.

Why is it ok to smear Obama in such a dirty way? Why do they feel so comfortable with a double standard? Is it they don't see African Americans as "real" Americans?

Ok, from looking at the "tokens" in the Republican Party, I guess I get it. It's sad, but I get it.

"African American"? I didn't know that Obama moved to America from Africa. I also thought that he was half white. So what is your point, moron.

.
Something that will make you think for hours.

Of course you don't know what an African American is. I saw your other posts. You don't know what "science" is either. You thought it was a "test" you took using "multiple guess".

For those of us who are not of the base, I simply ask what else was there? Will having little substance matter?

Or does personality or a winning manner win it all?

Do Independents and other voting groups, state by state, buy this Republican story line? Latinos, Democrats (women specifically) African Americans, huge voting blocks, for example, what would they make of this?

You see I have only questions, I've learned from Lionel not to say 'I know' anything till it is verified in some concrete manner.

(Thanks Lionel!)

Regards,

Richard Fox
Brooklyn New York

I'll bet comb-over Joe is rocking quietly in a dark corner.

McCain-Palin... because Washington needs a spanking

"....we should get us some of that REform Pappy"
'O Brother, Where Art Thou
Does it not strike anyone else as hilarious that the republic party that has held the White House for the last 8 years is suddenly the party of change. Change from what? Themselves?
Compassionate conservative. Implying that they were NOT compassionate before. What now, MORE better compassionate conservative?!
And it's always been @ looks and personality, always.

The government shouldn't be in the "compassion" business. It's only true function should be to enforce the laws of this country, defend the borders and Constitution of the United States, and build and maintain infrastructure.

"and promote the general welfare" do you not understand?

that are more than one syllable!

Especially with the closing hours of the bars being extended two hours.

As the seed is planted so grows the tree

Gov. Palin mentioned that Sen. Obama managed to write two memoirs, but failed to author a single bill. WTF?!?

Obama was the primary sponsor of 152 bills and resolutions introduced in the last Congress, including a bill (S.2125) that passed Congress on December 8, 2006, "to promote relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," which he introduced on December 16, 2005. The bill is awaiting action by the president. In addition, three nonbinding resolutions sponsored by Obama have passed the Senate, and 14 bills that he has co-sponsored have become law.

Obama has also introduced numerous other pieces of legislation in the U.S. Senate. For example:

Introduced a bill (S.1194) directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish guidelines for tracking spent fuel rods.
Introduced a bill (S.1426) extending provisions in the Safe Drinking Water Act that relate to preventing and detecting contamination.
Introduced a bill (S.1920) amending the Clean Air Act to establish a renewable diesel standard.
Introduced a bill (S.3988) improving benefits and services for members of the armed forces and veterans.

Source:
1. Library of Congress
2. Media Matters
3. Daily Kos

Oh my God! Are you saying Sarah lied in her speech to the American people? I find that so unlikely and out of character for those in the GOP!

Will you hear any of the Republicans on this forum admit that their "messiah" lied? Nope, they'll just keep drinking the GOP kool-aid!

-- McCain = Four more years of the same --

Yeah, you libs are scared....very scared of sister Sarah. As well you should be. She is actually the best candidate of the 4 of them. Palin in 2012 sounds about right!!!!

I was going to say that was more than John McCain did in 30 years.

Then I remembered he did Vicki Iseman.

Before that he did:

The Keating 5
Suncore
EADS
lobbied to send 40,000 high tech jobs to France
Voted more than a dozen times against our troop
and on and on...

Paste the smug mug of yours with the Alfred E. Newman, "what me worry" smirk all over the web. Tell everyone you can how smart you are and how stupid they are. The Republican base is on fire now and from conversations with my traditional democrat friends, it is quite clear that they are quite sick of your wing of their party. You're going to lose yet another election for them. Hell, you still don't get it. McCain just made the most brilliant political move ever. He got you idiots to stop talking about Obama for three days after his "historic speech". All you guys talked about was this rednecked, ignornant woman from Alaska who would fail miserably and last night she proved you all fools. Keep it up. There is nothing we can do to help McCain-Palin succeed that is any more effective than what you guys have done these past three days.

"When in danger, when in doubt...run in circles....scream and shout".
How the democrats plan to deal with the fact that the Republican VP selection has more executive exprience than their Presidential nominee

does not equal good judgement. Like most Republicans, the record's of McCain and Palin are frocked with examples flip-flopping and bad judgement.

Congrats, you've got your own "messiah".

Problem is, she's a little lacking in the experience/knowledge departments. But that's never stopped one of your leaders before...

I'll put either of our candidates up against their peer on your ticket in a debate ANY DAY!

-- McCain = Four more years of the same --

Patience, Junior. The debates are coming. They should really be entertaining.

Oh no!
There will be no debates! Only an opportunity for the rep candis to trot out their talking points while the "liberal media" says "yup, they really got 'em on that one"

after reading and hearing about busted attendance records in Denver (80,000 people) - has anyone seen any mention of what the crowd size was at the RNC?

Two words.....Hurricane Gustav. "Nuff said.

Really, all those people in the Twin Cities who had tickets stayed home because of a hurricane in Lousiana? Huh??????

Let's ask another question - what was the maximum capacity of the venue and was it full?

-- McCain = Four more years of the same --

- so which party has the real enthusiasm and will expend the energy to get off the couch and vote...

thanks dtaylo75 for stating this

Where were all these "compasionate conservative during Katrina? I offered up my house and my services.
What no convention at that time?

... the board is infested with Republican trolls.

How 'bout that democrat detroit mayor getting tossed out on his fat ass!!!

Yeah, pretty funny. It's about time. I was beginning to wonder if he would weasel his way out of it like that Jefferson congressman, democrat Loisiana, seems to be close to doing.

Abramoff, Jack
Adams, Tom
Adams, Jim
Aiken, Steve
Alishtari, Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali
Allen, Bob
Allen, Claude
Allen, Bill
Alonos, Miram
Anderson, Tom
Ankeney, Randal David
Aragoncillo, Leandro
Atchison, John David R.
Bakker, Jim
Barclay, Bruce
Barnes, Martin G.
Barter, Merrill Robert
Beaird, John
Bena, Parker J.
Beres, Lou
Beverage, Sam
Biggins, Bob
Binder, Alan
Bird, Calvin
Bland, Wilton Frederick
Blessing, Louis
Bloom, Philip H.
Blundell, Brian
Bobrick, Bill
Boggio, Scott
Botes, Stephan
Boylan, Joe
Brady, Kevin
Brock, Darrell
Broderick, Thomas
Brooks, Howard L.
Brown, Shawn
Bryan, John
Bundy, Ted
Burcham, Tom
Burghoff, Matthew
Burt, John Allen
Butler, John
Cagle, Charles "Chig"
Cappelli, Angelo
Carona, Deborah
Carona, Michael S.
Carpenter, Jared
Carroll, Cherie
Casamento, Ricahard
Casseday, Randall
Childers, W.D.
Childs, Keola
Cianci, Vincent
Clark, Donald Ross
Coan, Kevin
Collins, John J.
Colyandro, John
Condos, James
Constantine, Lee
Cooper, Nathan
Corrigan, Larry
Cortelyou, Scott Eller
Coughlin ,Paul
Coutretsis, Andrea
Cowdery, John
Craig, Larry
Cramer, Carey Lee
Crawford, Lester
Cunningham, Randy “Duke”
Curtin, John R.
Dasen Sr., Richard A.
Davis, Ronnie
Davison, Pat
DeLay, Tom
Delgaudio, Richard A.
DeShon, Ronnie Gene
Dibble, Peter
Dickens, Joshua
Disponett, Dave
Doolittle, John
Doyle, Dan
Doyle, Victoria
Doyle, Brian J.
Druce, Thomas
Druen, Dan
Elizondo, Nicholas
Ellef ,Peter
Elliott, Matthew Joseph
Ellis, James
Fabian, Alan
Fawell, Scott
Federici, Italia
Fields, Vincent
Fleischman, Donald
Fletcher, Earnie
Floren, Livvy
Flory, Michael
Floyd, Larry Dale
Foggo, Kyle “Dusty”
Fossella, Vito J.
Fox., Galen
Franklin, Larry
Gallagher, Dennis
Gardner, Richard
Garofalo, Dave
Gillin, William
Giordano, Philip
Glavin, Matthew
Gosek, John
Goyette, Richard R.
Graves, David
Grethen, Mark A.
Griles, J. Steven
Groe, Trish
Habay, Jeffrey
Hamilton Jr., John J.
Hansen, Shaun
Harbin, Ben
Harding, Russell
Harris, Mark
Hazlette, Tim
Healy, Chris
Heaton, William
Heldreth, Howard Scott
Hicks, Brian
Hiller, Bradley R.
Hintz, Mike
Hoffman, Debra V.
Holland, Robert
Hooks Sr., Michael
Hopfengardner, Bruce D.
Horsley, Neal
Houchen, Pamela J.
Hughes, J. Marshall
Hurley, Steven M.
Iadanza, Richard
Matricarid, Edmund III
Isenhour, James K.
James, Rayfield
Janklow, Bill
Jensen, Scott
Jones, Jody
Juliano, Richard
Kaelin, Jeffrey
Kauffman, Allen D.
Kelty, Matt
Kerik, Bernie
Kidan, Adam
Kimmerling, Earl "Butch"
King, Lawrence E. "Larry" Jr.
Klaudt, Ted
Kline, Ronald C.
Kohring, Vic
Kontogiannis, Thomas
Kott, Pete
Knapp, Max
Krusee, Mike
Lambert, James R.
Law, David
Lay ,Michael Aaron
Leonard, Richard
Leung, Katrina
Libby, I. Lewis "Scooter"
Limbaugh, Rush
Linnen, Stephen
Loeper Jr., F. Joseph
Looper, Byran "Low Tax"
Loren-Maltese, Betty
Lukens, Donald "Buz"
Luongo, Gerald J.
Malloy, Patrick G.
Malone, Lance
Martin, Hayes
Mathes Jr., James R.
Matricardi, Edmund III
Matthews, Jon
Maysky, Eugene
McCurnin, Joseph
McGee, Charles
McGuire, Patrick Lee
Meadows, Cory
Merla, John
Michael, John
Mixon, Michael
Monteleone Jr., Joseph
Morency, Nicholas
Murgatroyd, Dick
Murphy Jr., Glenn
Muschany, Scott
Nash, James J.
Neal, Rebecca
Newton, Chris
Ney, Bob
Nielsen, Jeffrey
Nighbert, Bill
Nixon Jr., Kenneth E.
Noe, Bernadette
Noe, Thomas
Noonan, Thomas J.
Novak, Lawrence
Nugent, Johnny
O’Grady, Raymond
Oleen, Lana
Owens, Leonard Ray
Palughi, Anthony J.
Parker, Brent
Patti, Jeffrey
Pazuhanich, Mark
Privette, Coy
Prokos, Alexandra
Pugh, Edward
Rader, Dennis L.
Randall, Tom
Randall, Jeffrey Kyle
Rathmann, Rolf
Ravenel, Thomas
Raymond, Allen
Regola, Robert
Renzi, Rick
Rice, Steve
Ringo, Robert R.
RoBold, Warren
Rosen, Steve
Rowland, John
Rudy, Tony
Russell, Beverly
Ryan, George
Safavian, David Hossein
Scanlon, Michael
Scannapieco, Matthew V.
Schepp, Brent
Schofield, Robert T.
Schrenko, Linda
Scott, Randy
Seidensticker, Mark
Shaner, Matt
Shortridge, Tom
Siljander, Mark Deli
Skandalakis, Mitch
Skiles, Paul
Slocum, William
Smeltzer Jr., Fred C.
Smith, Rick
Stanley, Roger “The Hog
Stevens, Ted
Stillwell, Roger
Stockman, David
Stroupe Jr, Wade
Stumbo, Bobby
Sumrow, Ray
Swartz, David
Symington, Fife
Taff, Adam
Taft, Bob
Tanonaka, Dalton
Tate, Mark
Tebano, Armando
Teele, Arthur
Temple, Merle
Thompson, Joe
Thompson, Donald
Thomson, Gary Russell
Tobin, James
Treffinger, James
Tristano, Michael
Turbyfill, Basil
Van Vleet, Rick D.
Vanderwall, Robin
Velella, Guy J.
Vellanoweth, Robert
Volz, Neil
Wade, Mitchell
Walker, Derek
Warner, Larry
Weissmann, Keith
Weldon ,Terance
Westberg, Craig
Westlake, John E. "Jack"
Westmoreland, Keith
Weyhrauch, Bruce
White, C. Stephen
Wilkes ,Brent
Williams, Robin
Wilson, Bob
Zachares, Mark
Zimmerman, Al

Here is just a little taste of their offences:

United States Senator Ted Stevens was indicted on seven felony counts of failing to disclose gifts that he received from Veco Oil. Allegedly Senator Stevens failed to report more than $250,000 in gifts, extensive renovations to his house, and a Land Rover.

Alaskan Republican State Senator John Cowdery was indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges stemming from FBI wiretaps. Cowdery is accused of trying to bribe Democrat Donny Olson who was running for Lt. Governor and is currently cooperating with the investigation

Former Suffolk County Republican Legislator, Alan Binder pleaded not guilty to second degree bribe receiving, two counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one count of official misconduct. Binder is facing 5 to 15 years in prison and is currently out on $5,000 bail.

Republican radio personality Scott Eller Cortelyou of Denver arrested on suspicion of using the Internet to lure a child into a sexual relationship

Republican former Jefferson County, Colorado, Treasurer Mark Paschall indicted on two felony charges "in connection with an allegation that Paschall solicited a kickback from a bonus he awarded one of his employees"

Republican Congressman Gary Miller is named by Republicans as ranking member of oversight subcommittee of House Financial Services Committee despite the FBI's investigation into his land deals

Major Republican fundraiser Brent Wilkes and former CIA executive director Kyle "Dusty" Foggo are indicted by a grandy jury for corrupting CIA contracts

Major Republican donor Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, aka Michael Mixon, is indicted in federal court on charges of providing material support to terrorists

Ethics complaint filed against Republican Senator Pete Domenici for his role in the Attorney Purge scandal

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney found guilty of obstruction of justice and perjury

Republican former U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich admits to extramarital affair

Former Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles, an oil and gas lobbyist who became an architect of George W. Bush's energy policies, pleads guilty to obstructing justice by lying to a Senate committee

Criminal charges filed against Republican Pennsylvania State Senator Robert Regola in connection with the death of a teenage neighbor who was shot with the senator's gun; he is accused of three counts of perjury, allowing possession of a firearm by a minor, recklessly endangering another person and false swearing

Ronald Reagan's budget director, David Stockman, "indicted on charges of defrauding investors and banks of $1.6 billion while chairman of Collins & Aikman Corp., an auto parts maker that collapsed days after he quit"

Robert Vellanoweth, a Republican activist and appointee of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, after a crash that killed three adults and one child

Jack Abramoff: Pleaded guity to 3 counts of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials

The FBI raids the home of Republican Congressman John Doolittle, investigating his ties to Jack Abramoff

The FBI raids a business tied to the family of Republican Congressman Rick Renzi, as part of an investigation into his business dealings

The FBI questions Republican Congressman Tom Feeney about his dealings with Jack Abramoff

Federal auditors find repeat violations of federal election law from the 2004 Senate campaign of Republican Senator Mel Martinez

David Huckabee, son of Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, is arrested at an Arkansas airport after a federal X-ray technician detected a loaded gun in his carry-on luggage

Bruce Weyhrauch and Pete Kott, former Alaska state Republican legislators, were arrested and accused of soliciting and accepting bribes from the corrupt VECO Corporation

Republican state Assemblyman Michael Cole is censured and stripped of his leadership position after the married father of two spent the night at a 21-year-old intern's apartment

A field coordinator for Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry is indicted for voter fraud in North Carolina

NBC News breaks the story that the FBI is investigating Republican Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons for suspicion of accepting bribes in exchange for securing government contracts

Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy is arrested for drunk driving (he pled no contest on June 1, but didn't publicly disclose the event until June 11)

Republican former South Dakota State Representative Ted Klaudt is charged with eight counts of second-degree rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of sexual contact with a child younger than 16, two counts of witness tampering and one count of stalking against two foster children in his care

Republican state Senate candidate Mark Tate is indicted on nine counts of perjury and two counts of election fraud by a grand jury

Republican Senator Larry Craig is arrested for lewd conduct in the men's bathroom of an airport

South Carolina Republican state Treasurer and South Carolina Chairman of Giuliani for President Thomas Ravenel is indicted by a grand jury on cocaine distribution charges

President George W. Bush commutes the sentence of former Cheney Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby following Libby's conviction on obstruction of justice and perjury

A grand jury report declares that the sale of public land to Republican Congressman Ken Calvert and his business partners violated the law

Republican state Representative and Florida co-Chairman of McCain for President Bob Allen is arrested for soliciting a male undercover police officer, offering to pay $20 to perform oral sex

Republican Senator David Vitter holds press conference acknowledging being on the D.C. Madam's list and past involvement with prostitutes

Story breaks that Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was involved in a sweetheart real estate deal

Republican former state legislator Coy Privette is charged with six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution

Michael Flory, former head of the Michigan Federation of Young Republicans, pleads guilty to sexual abuse

Media report that Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski will sell back land purchased in a sweetheart deal, following close scrutiny of the shady transaction

Glenn Murphy Jr., recently-elected Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, is accused of sexually assaulting a sleeping man

The FBI and IRS raid the home of Republican Senator Ted Stevens following investigations into Stevens' dealings with the corrupt VECO Corporation

Bush administration senior adviser Karl Rove disregards a Congressional subpoena and refuses to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Investigation called for after House Republican Leader John Boehner leaked classified information regarding a secret court ruling over warrantless wiretapping.

Republican Senator Larry Craig pleads guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct following his June 11 arrest.

Major Republican donor Alan Fabian is charged with 23 counts of bankruptcy fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and perjury.

Republican state House candidate Angelo Cappelli is arrested for perjury and grand theft.

Republican political consultant Roger Stone resigns his role with the New York state Senate Republicans after reports surfaced that he made a "threatening, obscenity-laced" phone call to the 83-year-old father of Governor Eliot Spitzer

Story breaks that Republican Senator Larry Craig was arrested and pled guilty - he had not publicly disclosed the events to that point.

Mark Foley (R - Florida) resigned from the House of Representatives after being caught by ABC News and later admitting to exchanging continuous and ongoing sexual Instant Messages with male House pages. With the surfacing of the Mark Foley scandal involving sexual advances towards House pages revelations have surfaced that the Republican leadership in the House knew about this problem for quite some time. Depending on which story you read the House leadership knew about Mark Foley’s exploits either heard about it when it was reported by ABC News (), just a few months previous () or several years ago. Regardless of which story you decide to believe it is evident that the House Republican leadership has covered up the scandal, putting House pages at risk.

Tom DeLay: The former House Majority Leader was indicted by a Texas grand jury for conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme.

Bill Frist: The Senate Majority Leader was charged with insider trading.

Keyport (NJ) Republican Mayor, John Merla, On Jan. 17th he pleaded guilty to accepting a $2,500 bribe in exchange for lucrative municipal contracts. He was sentenced to 22 months, three-year probation and a $20,000 fine.

Montana Gubernatorial candidate Pat Davison pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for securities fraud. He defrauded at least 13 victims of $8.6 million.

Republican Mayor of Ocean Township, NJ, Terance Weldon pleaded guilty to accepting $64,000 from three developers in return for his help in gaining zoning approvals in the township. The judge in the case threw out the prosecutor’s plea for leniency and Weldon was sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison.

Republican Mayor Richard R. Goyette pleaded guilty to extortion and bribery. He was sentenced to two years in prison and one year of community confinement.

Republican Michael Hooks, Sr., chairman Shelby County Commission Charged pled guilty to receiving over $24,000 in bribes.

Alaskan Republican Rep. Tom Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven felony counts of extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering involving allegations that he took bribes of nearly $13,000 in return for using his official position as a legislator to advocate for private prisons. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Republican Robert T. Schofield plead guilty to providing false documents to Asian immigrants for nearly $600,000.

Mayor of St. Peters, MO, Republican Shawn Brown pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to veto an ordinance authorizing the city to purchase digital red light and speeding enforcement systems unless the company paid him a bribe. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Middletown Committeeman, Republican Raymond O’Grady, who was the director of the county motor pool for the County of Monmouth was sentenced to 43 months in prison for extorting and accepting $8,000 in bribes.

Republican Richard Iadanza, 51, former Neptune committeeman pleaded guilty to taking $3,000 in bribes. He was sentenced to 4 months in prison and a $4,000 fine.

Republican county committeeman in Middletown, Joseph "Joey Buses" McCurnin, 65, former Monmouth County transportation operations manager, pleaded guilty to aiding in the extortion of a $1,000 bribe. He was sentenced to 3 months in a federal prison and he had to pay a $3,000 fine, and three months house arrest following his release.

Republican Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty to bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion surrounding defense contracts. He was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison and an ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution.

but if you mean Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, I say good riddance to bad rubbish.

Detroiter,,,,I noticed that too. Don't feed them. Let them choke on their own rhetoric.

And for you lefties that continue to parrot the defeatocrat talking point about the "failed Bush economy", here's something for you to read.

Bush Has a Good Economic Record
By KEITH MARSDEN
September 3, 2008; Page A23

Successive speakers at the Democratic National Convention poured scorn on President Bush's economic record. The clear aim was to justify the party's call for "change," and to undermine support for Republican presidential nominee John McCain. His election would mean a "third Bush term," delegates groaned.

Corbis
Yet Democrats cited no good evidence for their claims that the administration has produced a stagnant economy, widening disparities of income and wealth, high unemployment, and a heavy burden of government debt (supposedly resulting from an unwise military intervention in Iraq).

How does the performance of the U.S. economy really compare with other advanced economies over the eight years of George Bush's presidency? Data published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, the International Comparison Program (ICP) (a cooperative venture coordinated by the World Bank) and the U.S. Census Bureau allow a nonpartisan, factual assessment. Here are some of the findings:

- Economic growth. U.S. output has expanded faster than in most advanced economies since 2000. The IMF reports that real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an average annual rate of 2.2% over the period 2001-2008 (including its forecast for the current year). President Bush will leave to his successor an economy 19% larger than the one he inherited from President Clinton. This U.S. expansion compares with 14% by France, 13% by Japan and just 8% by Italy and Germany over the same period.

The latest ICP findings, published by the World Bank in its World Development Indicators 2008, also show that GDP per capita in the U.S. reached $41,813 (in purchasing power parity dollars) in 2005. This was a third higher than the United Kingdom's, 37% above Germany's and 38% more than Japan's.

- Household consumption. The ICP study found that the average per-capita consumption of the U.S. population (citizens and illegal immigrants combined) was second only to Luxembourg's, out of 146 countries covered in 2005. The U.S. average was $32,045. This was well above the levels in the UK ($25,155), Canada ($23,526), France ($23,027) and Germany ($21,742). China stood at $1,751.

- Health services. The U.S. spends easily the highest amount per capita ($6,657 in 2005) on health, more than double that in Britain. But because of private funding (55% of the total) the burden on the U.S. taxpayer (9.1% of GDP) is kept to similar levels as France and Germany. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 84.7% of the U.S. population was covered by health insurance in 2007, an increase of 3.6 million people over 2006. The uninsured can receive treatment in hospitals at the expense of private insurance holders.

While life expectancy is influenced by lifestyles and not just access to health services, the World Bank nevertheless reports that average life expectancy in the U.S. rose to 78 years in 2006 (the same as Germany's), from 77 in 2000.

- Income and wealth distribution. The latest World Bank estimates show that the richest 20% of U.S. households had a 45.8% share of total income in 2000, similar to the levels in the U.K. (44.0%) and Israel (44.9%). In 65 other countries the richest quintile had a larger share than in the U.S.

Investment has been buoyant under President Bush. According to the ICP, outlays on additions to the fixed assets (machinery and buildings, etc.) of the U.S. economy amounted to $8,018 per capita in 2005 compared to $4,963 in Germany and $4,937 in the U.K. Higher taxes on the upper-income Americans, as proposed by Mr. Obama, are likely to result in lower saving and investment, less entrepreneurial activity and reduced availability of bank credit. Lower-income Americans would be among the losers.

When considering the distribution of income and wealth in the U.S., another factor that should be taken into account is the sharp rise in the number of immigrants. The stock of international migrants (those born in other countries) in the U.S. grew by nearly 10 million from 1995 to 2005, reaching a total of 38.5 million according to the World Bank.

The inflow of migrants may have restrained the growth of average income levels in the bottom quintiles. Nevertheless, their earnings still allowed immigrants to remit $42 billion to their families abroad in 2006, double the level in 1995. So the benefits are widely spread among the families of immigrants remaining abroad -- an important U.S. contribution to the reduction of poverty in these countries.

- Employment. The U.S. employment rate, measured by the percentage of people of working age (16-65 years) in jobs, has remained high by international standards. The latest OECD figures show a rate of 71.7% in 2006. This was more than five percentage points above the average for the euro area.

The U.S. unemployment rate averaged 4.7% from 2001-2007. This compares with a 5.2% average rate during President Clinton's term of office, and is well below the euro zone average of 8.3% since 2000.

- Debt interest payments. The IMF reports that the interest cost of servicing general government debt in the U.S. has averaged 2.0% of GDP annually from 2001-2008, compared with 2.7% in the euro zone. It averaged 3.2% annually when President Clinton was in office.

The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been largely absorbed in a relatively small increase in the defense budget (to 4.1% of GDP in 2006 from 3.8% in 1995). A much higher proportion of U.S. income was devoted to the military during World War II and the Korean War.

The evidence shows that much of the Democratic Party's criticism of President Bush's economic record is wide of the mark. True, the economic slowdown now affecting most advanced countries will likely result in rising unemployment over the coming months. But thanks to sensible policies pursued by the Bush administration (not always with adequate support from a Democratic-controlled Congress), the U.S. economy is sufficiently flexible to keep unemployment below the 7.7% peak reached in the last postrecession year of 1992.

The main risk is that, if elected, Barack Obama will pursue a "social justice" strategy. This would encompass higher taxes on entrepreneurs, savers and investors, more direct government intervention in the economy, and protectionist policies (including revoking existing trade agreements) aimed at safeguarding the jobs of his union backers in "old" industries and public services. If so, the pain is likely to be more widespread and prolonged.

Mr. Marsden, a fellow of the Centre for Policy Studies, was formerly an adviser at the World Bank and a senior economist in the International Labor Organization.

opinion articles from the WSJ do not reflect the pocket book realities felt by the average American.
To paraphrase your Messiah, "are you better off today than you were [7 1/2] years ago?"

It's even worse. The average American household actually makes more than two thousand dollars LESS in adjusted income since Bush took office. This comes from the US Government. I actually saw it on Fox News.

More people may be working, but there are only so many jobs at McDonalds to go around.

Of course, in John McCain's world, if you have 5 MILLION, you are "middle class".

Conservatives have devastated this country and are proud of it.

If all of the above is true, why in the in the name of starving kids in Appalachia and Eskimos whose igloos are melting from global warming (she' with Mr. Inhofe, along with fellow Republican senators, in 2007 threatened to filibuster any climate change legislation), would Palin steal money from the US TREASURY for the Alaska controller's piggy bank especially since they're giving away $500M tax subsidies to Canadian oil companies to build more pipelines?

Sarah Palin's "Bridge To Nowhere" Line Angers Many Alaskans
- by Yereth Rosen, THOMPSON REUTERS

...

National fury over the bridge to nowhere caused Congress to remove the earmark designation, but Alaska was still granted an equivalent amount of transportation money to be used at its own discretion.

Last year, Palin announced she was stopping state work on the controversial project, earning her admirers from earmark critics and budget hawks from around the nation. The move also thrust her into the spotlight as a reform-minded newcomer.

The state, however, never gave back any of the money that was originally earmarked for the Gravina Island bridge ...

SRC:

Get a load of this: http://airamerica.com/node/84568/477239#comment-477239

"The Hot Chick" on the buttons I saw during the convention coverage last night. I'm sure that will sway a lot of women independents and Hillary supporters! Supporters of Hillary did so because they respected her positions and goals. I definitely think they would be insulted if repubs say they support her because she's "hot".

If she accomplished nothing else, she certainly changed the dynamic of the VP debate next month. No longer will Biden have to be careful when addressing her in the debate. She was condescending and sarcastic last night, saying she was itching for a fight. Well, I'm sure Biden will happily give her one. Maybe sometime before that debate, the McCain campaign will be brave enough to let her do press conferences and interviews instead of locking her away and letting her give speeches. And of course, if they don't like the questions, they can just refuse to talk to the media, just as Crash did after he got flack for picking Palin.

And why did he pick her? Because Charlie Black, longtime repub power and advisor to repubs for years, said that this year's repub convention was the most militantly conservative ever, and there would be a revolution on the floor of the RNC if he picked Lieberman or Ridge. So, he picked someone that was rabidly conservative. McCain caved to the most right wing elements of the party, showing that any spine he had dissolved as soon as he began to run for president. The maverick is officially dead, in case there was any doubt. Should the old fart actually get elected, there is absolutely no doubt he will continue to cave to the rabid right. In other words, he will continue and extend the very Bush policies on taxes and ethics and the economy that he so vehemently opposed up until he became a presidential candidate. Sarah Palin is the new darling of the rabid right. She's no Dan Quayle...more like a Rick Santorum.

As a professional orator myself, Brent-Craig often speaks in public out loud and so I feel I can analyze Governor Palin's speech with some authority and clinical objectivity. In that context, I whole heartedly endorse her speech last night as the greatest political speech of the last one hundred years. She made specific fully supported clear points and delivered them in a sincere fully engaged manner. She left Obama's robotic, stilted preacher act in the verbal dust. People will be quoting this women for generations to come.

The charge that her speech lack substance is ridiculous and obviously expected of the jealous Obama crowd who simply didn't hear what they wanted to hear ...promises of running away in Iraq, avalanches of higher taxes, etc.

Governor Sarah Palin is a real American hero secnd only to John McCain. She is a valiant crusader who is sadly enduring the slings of the jealous ignorant masses. Lionel's rant against this woman is criminal and reveals his innate hatred of women and his prejudice against the handicapped. His criticisms of the Palin speech are wholly undeserved and full of desperate reaches to try to say something nasty about this historic monumental sermon.

about someone who refers to themselves in the third person. However, my Christian values prevent me from posting them.

1. I didn't hear much substance in her speech. Just a bunch of feel-good platitudes to the right and a bunch of religious mumbo jumbo. Quote something from her speech to prove me wrong? Where did she talk about Iraq, Iran, Korea, Russia or any of the foreign hotbeds of activity?

2. "promises of running away in Iraq, avalanches of higher taxes, etc". Lets see, which candidate is actually LOWERING taxes on those making less than 250k? That would be... Obama! Running away from Iraq? You mean leaving Iraq because THE FUCKING IRAQIS asked us to and we promised we'd leave if they wanted us to!?!?!?!? Do you know what it's called when you have troops in a nation and said nation doesn't want you to have troops there? It's called a FUCKING OCCUPATION!

3. "historic monumental sermon"? A sermon???? Per wikipendia : "A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy". So Sarah IS your messiah! To hell with that separation of church and state.

4. "People will be quoting this women for generations to come"... Wanna place some money on that? People aren't even really quoting it today! Both in terms of oration and substance, it fell well short of Obama's speech.

-- McCain = Four more years of the same --

that points OUT the substance in her speech, but can't point TO any.

Upcoming

GUESS WHAT, SISTER SARAH'S A HIT WITH THOSE WHO COUNT. THE ULTIMATE ADDRESS ON THE PENULTIMATE NIGHT.

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