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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Re: Biden Says He Finds Palin "Attractive"

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 11:47 PM

At least Biden didn't call Palin "articulate" or "clean."

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Three Salient Points

Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 10:29 PM

Given that the Republican National Convention is not going to take place as everyone had planned, it strikes me that all anyone can do is pray hard for the storm victims and make the best of a bad situation.

In my view, John McCain should accept the nomination from wherever the storm has hit hardest, alone, without a temple or cheering fans. And someone else this week should find a way to make three salient points on his behalf.

First, for McCain, campaigning for the presidency isn't about "the roar of the crowd." He knows that the role of a president isn't about seeking and basking in the applause of adoring supporters. It isn't to offer pretty words without any achievements to back them up. It's to serve all Americans, even when it's difficult, even when it's thankless, and even when it's unpopular with one's own party and the special interests.

Second, anyone can be President when it's time to make grandiose promises and proclaim lofty ideals. But it's when the going gets tough -- when things don't go according to plan, or unexpected disaster strikes -- that you can take the full measure of a President. Americans know how John McCain reacts under pressure -- whether the political pressures he's confronted during his career as a senator and congressman, or other tougher pressures he faced during his military career.

Finally, if a Gustav or some other unthinkable act occurs a year from today, in whose response will you have more confidence: John McCain, with proven character and extensive experience, or Barack Obama, with 143 days in the US Senate?

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Really Disgraceful

Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 10:13 PM

If the coverage wouldn't bring the disgraceful smear further publicity, I would hope that someone in the MSM would make mention of the ugly campaign the left is waging against Governor Palin's 17 year old daughter referenced by Matt below and first by Amanda here .

Decent people on both sides of the political spectrum have long understood that politicians' children are off limits; Republicans and Democrats alike have rightly condemned ugly attacks on Chelsea Clinton and the Bush twins.

Two comments: Someone on the left has been watching too much "Desperate Housewives." Those sorts of things simply don't happen in real life.

Finally, the ring? It's probably a purity ring -- something, obviously, that the secular elitists (and ugly human beings) attacking Bristol Palin know nothing about.

Good heavens. Is this really what it's come to on the left? And is Andrew Sullivan really trying to destroy any vestige of credibility by spreading this garbage?

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Biden Says He Finds Palin "Attractive"

Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 10:09 PM

Is it really customary for one party's vice presidential candidate to be commenting on the appearance of the other'ss? I'm just asking because Joe Biden has seen fit to inform us that he finds Sarah Palin "attractive."

Hm. Did George H.W. Bush offer an opinion on Geraldine Ferraro's looks? Or John Edwards on Dick Cheney's?

When did this become okay?

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Amanda Carpenter from the Republican National Convention

Posted by: Jonathan Garthwaite at 7:57 PM

We're here...the convention is not.

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

First Lady in St. Paul

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 7:36 PM

First Lady Laura Bush briefly appeared on the main floor of the Republican National Convention hours after GOP presidential candidate John McCain announced he would be suspending the first day’s activities of the event.

“Hey, everybody,” Mrs. Bush said at the main podium during what seemed to be a test run of an upcoming speech around 6:20 CST.

She wore a navy pantsuit and held court on the stage with about 25 aides, reporters and convention staff.

At this point, it is unclear when, or if, Mrs. Bush will address convention goers.
The McCain campaign told reporters in St. Paul, via satellite from St. Louis, he was suspending temporarily activities because of the incoming storms in the South late Sunday afternoon. At that conference, campaign manager Rick Davis refused to speculate when the convention would resume.

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Laura Bush Is In The House

Posted by: Jonathan Garthwaite at 7:33 PM

Testing the stage microphone...

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Re: Lefty Bloggers Go After Palin's Daughter

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 7:30 PM

Andrew Sullivan posts this picture and asks: "Where has Bristol Palin (far right, holding Trig, with a ring on her wedding finger) been for the past year?" He also says what he's doing isn't a "smear," but rather, "asking questions" ....

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Police Prepared For Clash With Protesters

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 6:05 PM

On our way into the convention center, we ran into a few protesters... Luckily, they see us as media -- not as Republican delegates. As such, they are very polite -- and also are more than willing to tell us about their radical ideas. I usually nod my head, and take notes at a furious pace. This protest was apparently planned by a group called the Minnesota Peace Team (MnPT). At least, that's what the protester with the "first impeach Cheney" tee-shirt and fanny pack told me.

At one point, a protester -- who was also a nun -- jumped a barricade fence the police had used to cordon off a downtown building. It is unclear why she did this, but most of the folks who saw it were impressed by her athletic ability.

The police were on hand and ready to rock-and-roll. If things turn really ugly, they roll over them in bikes. (It's just a coincidence that it looks like the one police officer is giving Garthwaite the evil eye ...)

As you can see, they've got some night sticks handly, just in case. Luckily, no hippies were harmed in the filming of this event. Then again, it's only Sunday...

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

How To Help

Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 5:51 PM

As reports of Gustav sound grave, for those who want to help, here are some places to consider giving:

The Salvation Army (I list this one first because I have seen their work up close and it is nothing short of amazing)

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief

B'Nail B'rith

Catholic Charities

Christian Disaster Response

Episcopal Relief and Development

Feed the Children

LDS Humanitarian Services

Lutheran Disaster Response

Methodist Relief

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

And for those who want to help the pets:
Humane Society

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Lefty Bloggers Go After Palin's Daughter

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 5:47 PM

Members of the lefty blogosphere haven't stopped perpetuating the rumor Sarah Palin "faked" her last pregnancy and are now humiliating her daughter Bristol on the blatantly incorrect suspicion she is the real mother of baby Trig.

"Sarah Palin is NOT the Mother" is the title of this DailyKos blog that accuses Bristol, a completely fit-looking adolescent teen, of having a "baby bump" in a photo they allege was taken March 9th of this year.

"Sarah, I'm calling you a liar" wrote blogger ArcXIX. "And not even a good one. Trig Paxson Van Palin is not your son. He is your grandson. The sooner you come forward with this revelation to the public, the better. " Photos of Bristol with detailed commentary about her abdomen are contained in the post.

Not only is the DailyKos disgustingly inspecting Bristol's midriff with all the fervor of LA paparazzi examining J-Lo's or Jennifer Aniston's washboard stomachs for evidence of a "bump," the DailyKos is wrong on when the photo was taken. It was taken, and published, by the Anchorage Daily News in 2006. Baby Trig, a child with Down's Syndrome, was born on April 18, 2008. That's a long time for a teen girl to be carrying a "bump" which looks nothing more than the curve of a tight sweater.

Shortly after Palin was announced as McCain's VP, bloggers at the Kos started ginning up the rumor Palin faked her pregnancy, allegedly to cover for an illegitimate grandchild, because she looked so fit and trim in photos taken a few months before giving birth.

This is only the latest in outrageous attacks against Palin as a mother. Fox News anchor Alan Colmes, of Hannity & Colmes, titled a recent post on his blog Liberaland "Did Palin Take Proper PreNatal Care?" In it, he wondered if she somehow was at fault for having a disabled child. Colmes took down the post after being attacked by the blog Wizbang and later reposted a screenshot of the blog to prove he "wasn't running away from what I posted."

Update: I originally mentioned this Kos rumor in a blog post about CNN's John Roberts's insinuation Palin would not give adequate care and attention to Trig if she became VP.

Update Two: Alan Colmes just phoned me to say he posted a clarification on his blog about his previous post. He told me did not mean in any way to suggest in his blog titled "Prenatal Care" Palin was to blame for her child's condition. Colmes says he only mean to call her "judgment" into question.

"I’s fair to question a person’s judgment if that person is seeking to be Vice President of the United States, just as the judgment of the Obama/Biden ticket has been heavily questioned. And part of that question of judgment has to do with life decisions that candidates make," Colmes clarified today. "In the case of Sarah Palin, it had to do with a choice to give a speech and then board a flight after contractions began and water began to break in the last month of pregnancy with her fifth child. "

(And for those wondering, Colmes was very kind and personable with me. We sometimes spar on the air, but there were not harsh words in our conversation at all.)

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

McCain Campaign Charters Plane To Get Louisiana Delegation Back Home

Posted by: Jonathan Garthwaite at 5:09 PM

Announced today were transportation arrangements for delegates from states affected by Hurricane Gustav. The McCain 2008 campaign has chartered a DC-9 that will transport delegates that wish to return to home to their states. The DC-9 will leave Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport today and will fly to Jackson, Mississippi. All transportation costs will be covered by the McCain 2008 campaign.

"As we all watch and prepare for Gustav to make landfall, it is important that the convention make it as easy as possible for delegates to be where they are needed most - with their families and local agencies in their home states. We are grateful to Senator McCain for making this resource available to the delegates from the Gulf States," Maria Cino, President and CEO of the Republican National Convention 2008, said today.

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Boehner Statement on Day One Suspension

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 5:08 PM

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R.-Ohio) issued a statement applauding John McCain's decision to suspend the first day of RNC Convention activities.

“John McCain’s someone who has always put the country first. And clearly when you look at this potential disaster, putting the country first is the right thing to do," Boehner's statement said. “I think everyone learned a lot from Katrina. Clearly, the federal government wasn’t ready. A lot of the state governments weren't ready. Frankly, I don’t think the people in America were ready for such a horrific natural disaster. So I think what we see now is that we're all more sensitive. We're all more prepared for what could occur. Clearly, if you look at the precautions that are being taken today in New Orleans, they are light years ahead of what happened prior to Katrina.”

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Most Convention Events Suspended Tomorrow

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 4:36 PM

The McCain campaign just completed a press conference hosted at the convention center regarding how the hurricane might impact events. RNC chairman Mike Duncan was on hand, as well as others, including campaign manager Rick Davis. McCain spoke via satellite. Amanda Carpenter has the story here.

Earlier today, I posited the theory that McCain may not attend the convention. This theory is entirely still alive. I also mentioned the possibility that McCain might postpone becoming the official nominee. Apparently RNC rules require this to happen this week. As campaign manager Rick Davis said: "At some point between Monday and Thursday evening, we will convene once again to complete the activities needed to qualify Senator McCain and Governor Palin for the ballot in all 50 states."

It is not clear whether or not an emergency might allow RNC rules to change -- or to allow a postponement of McCain's acceptance. And there may be a difference between nominating McCain and having him accept the nomination. Several reporters asked questions regarding whether or not the convention could extend beyond Thursday, but, so far, the campaign and RNC have avoided comment. For now, of course, this is all speculation.

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Another Idea for John McCain

Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 4:04 PM

As we all say prayers for the safety of those threatened by Gustav, let's hope John McCain keeps Matt's idea in mind -- it's a good one.

Here's another that I've been mulling for several days. To keep the momentum coming once -- God willing -- Gustav has come and gone, how about John McCain naming several proposed members of his cabinet?

What about sending Secretary of the Treasury nominee Mitt Romney to Michigan for the next two months? How about a Secretary of State or Defense-designate Lieberman campaigning in Florida?

One of the virtues of experience is being able to assemble a first-rate team without undue sturm und drang. It would be interesting to see if Barack Obama would -- or could -- be willing, as well, to give Americans a glimpse into the type of people he'd want heading two of the most important posts in the federal government.