A Noun, a Verb, and POW

The new McLame meme tickling leftist blogs comes from Joe Biden's remark about Rudy Giuliani: "There's only three things he mentions in a sentence -- a noun, a verb, and 9/11.".

When the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, a close Bush ally, publicly questioned McCain’s marital infidelities, the McCain campaign responded by highlighting McCain’s background as a prisoner of war.

When Dems attacked McCain’s healthcare plan in May, McCain responded by noting his background as a prisoner of war.

Asked by a local reporter about the first thing that comes to his mind when he thinks of Pittsburgh, McCain responded by talking about his background as a prisoner of war.

Accused of possibly having heard the questions in advance of Rick Warren’s recent candidate forum, the McCain campaign responded by highlighting McCain’s background as a prisoner of war.

There seems to be a pattern here.

  Carpetbagger

Even when he isn't sure how many houses he and Cindy own.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

For the Women's Vote

Lee Stranahan video

Hey, Don't Forget About Rudy

Go ahead and call me jaded, but a bomb threat at a Rudy Sagging-in-the-polls-Invisible-in-Iowa-and-New-Hampshire Giuliani speech seems mighty suspicious to me. 9/11! Terrorists! Giuliani!

"We got a lot of attention for it. We showed that we can go with the punches," he said afterward, noting that at least one national television network covered it live. "Maybe if there wasn't the threat, we wouldn't have gotten the live coverage.”

  Raw Story

Stunningly honest.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Best and Worst Quotes From the Iowa Caucus Results

"This feels good. It's just like I imagined it when I was talking to my Kindergarten teacher." -- Barack Obama, getting in a return strike after Hillary Clinton's ridiculous remarks insinuating he's a liar when he says he hasn't been planning to run for president for very long, citing a kindergarten essay he composed aspiring to the presidency.

"Maybe other people acted nervous in a situation like this, but this is not unexpected. [...] None of this worries me - Sept. 11, there were times I was worried." -- Rudy 9/11 Giuliani (as if it could have been anyone else), brushing off his dead last place in the Republican vote.

What a jackass.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

2008

If Rudy 9/11 Giuliani isn't toast in his run for the presidency, he should be. TPM has been covering the dis-covering of his use of taxpayer funds for trysts with a mistress during his mayoral term in New York.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Seen at WTF Is It Now?

Pat Robertson Says Giuliani Presidency Appears in Book of Revelation, Rudy Would Usher in Biblical ‘End Days,’ Evangelist Says. Further references to John 3:16 to be changed to Rudy 9:11.

  WTF

GOP

The closer Rudy gets to the GOP convention, the more info we are likely to see printed or reprinted about his relationship with Bernard Kerik. The NY Times has an article today.

And, speaking of sleazy pols, I just can’t believe the stupidity of these guys. With the Larry Craig bathroom bust barely in the past, you’d think politicos would lay off bathroom solicitation for a while, wouldn’t you?

57-year-old Mike Shallow [two-term City Commissioner and mayoral candidate in Daytona Beach] was among nine men caught in [a gay sex solicitation bathroom] sting after "sexual misconduct" in the second-floor Volusia Mall Sears bathroom was reported to police. The nine are being charged with misdemeanor lewd conduct and exposure. Signals used by the suspects to attract the attention of potential partners included tapping toes, loud zipper noises, coughing and sneezing.

  Page One Q

Mug shots are here of the perp and others busted in the sting. At a Sears restroom in a mall for crissakes.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

War and Torture

John McCain, a Vietnam war prisoner, argued Friday that his top rivals for the GOP nomination aren't qualified to deal with issues like torture — or to be president in wartime — because they never served in the military.

[...]

"There's a clear division between those who have a military background and experience in these issues and people like Giuliani, Romney and Thompson who don't — who chose to do other things when this nation was fighting its wars," McCain told reporters after touring a shipyard and taking questions from workers wearing hard hats and blue jeans.

  Yahoo

I wonder if nobody asked whether he might extrapolate to the current administration.

Frankly, there’s not necessarily a correlation between abilities necessary to be president and abilities necessary to be a soldier. What he should be promoting is his difference from those other three by virtue of his clear claim that waterboarding constitutes torture and is illegal. Giuliani thinks it “should not be used in every circumstance,” but that in “extraordinary circumstances, the president needs all options available,” which sounds to me like waterboarding would be only the beginning of his torture tactic arsenal.

And, speaking of torture, Chuck Schumer and Diane Feinstein are going to vote for Michael Gonzo v.2 Mukasey because they say he’s the best candidate they’re going to get offered to them. How do they know that? Diane Feinstein says Mukasey’s no Alberto Gonzales, but I’m guessing she didn’t think Alberto Gonzales was Alberto Gonzales when he was offered up, either. Boy those Democrats really shook things up when they took control of Congress, didn't they?

And who do you think said this…

Before the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee completely cave-in to Bush, at minimum they should demand that Judge Mukasey appoint a special prosecutor to investigate if war crimes have been committed. If Mukasey refuses he should be rejected. This, indeed, should be a pre-condition to anyone filling the post of Attorney General under Bush.

If the Democrats in the Senate refuse to demand any such requirement, it will be act that should send chills down the spine of every thinking American.

  TPM

That would be John Dean, former Nixon White House crook. I’m not sure how many thinking Americans there are left, but I’m pretty sure they’ve already had their spines thoroughly chilled by the acts of the Senate Democrats. This latest is only what's become expected of them, chilling as it is.

It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress. --Mark Twain

Fun with Rudy

I’m apparently late to this fun.

Quote of the day, as seen in every other blog and now in this one, from Rudy Giuliani: “I took a city that was known for pornography and licked it to a large extent”.

He also assured a blind man that he has a 2nd Amendment right to bear and carry arms.

  W3IAI

Yes, and in Texas and a few other states, that blind man can go hunting.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Values Voter Summit

That’s right, you’re not a “values” voter. Only they have values.

“I am pro-family on every level, from personal to political,” [Mitt Romney] told the summiteers. (Take that, Rudy.) He reeled off anti-abortion pledges — not just the requisite anti-Roe Supreme Court nominees, but promises to “oppose abortion in military clinics, oppose funding abortion in international aid programs and I will work to ban embryonic cloning.” He was almost as impassioned as he was during his Senate race against Ted Kennedy when he talked about the “dear, close family relative who was very close to me” who died from an illegal abortion and his firm conviction that “we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that.”

  NYT

I’m not getting it. He’s against abortion, and somehow he uses the fact that a close relative (family relative – in case you were wondering exactly what type of relative) died from an illegal abortion to support that position? I thought that was an argument for legalizing abortion. Is it just that he’s against abortion in those two situations: military clinics and international aid programs?

The activists and evangelical voters appeared to tolerate Fred Thompson's speech this morning, offering polite applause for his pledges to oppose abortion and gay marriage. And then Thompson offered this promise: that in the first hour as president, he would "go into the Oval Office, close the door and pray for the wisdom to do the right thing."

The crowd leapt to their feet, applauding and yelling their approval to a smiling Thompson, who -- it seems -- had finally pushed the right button.

  WaPo

Scary.

"I would go into the Oval Office, and close the door, and pray for the wisdom to know what was right."

  Raw Story

Thus, fulfilling Jesus’ command to not be like the hypocrites who pray publicly - but rather to go into a closed room to pray, and yet letting you know what he’s going to be doing in there. Hypocrite Lite.

John McCain was there, with no hope of pleasing this group of folks with his support of stem cell research and after having in the past called the late Rev. Jerry Falwell and their beloved Pat Robertson, “agents of intolerance.” But I myself have faith, and I’m sure John will say something Christiany to pimp himself to the Religious Right on his way to losing the party nomination.

Senator John McCain choked up when talking about a North Vietnamese prison guard who loosened his bonds and later drew a cross on the ground in front of him on Christmas Day.

[...]

“And then, shortly after, with his sandal, he rubbed out the cross and walked away,” he said, choking up with emotion at this point. “He’s the one person I have always wanted to have the opportunity to be with again.”

  The Caucus

Bingo.

And apparently Rudy “9/11” Giuliani was proud to be there along with the rest, even though he’s been married about three times and supports gay rights and abortion. This is a man who was afraid to participate in the Black Voters debate. There’s a major point in there somewhere.

And finally, a couple of notes of dischord in presentation by the summit planners:

Arizona Sen. John McCain came on to “The Marine’s Hymn.” McCain was in the Navy, not the Marines. Different song.

Next was Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. Selected for him was Wilbert Harrison’s “Kansas City,” which - after his speech about family values - allowed Brownback to leave the stage to this lyric: “They got some crazy little women there and I’m going to get me one.”

  Statesman

D’oh!

The “Values Voters” are supposed to announce the winner of their straw poll today. And Twit Romney, with a snowball’s chance in Hell – even behind Giuliani – for getting the support of the Evangelicals, is trying to stack the deck.

"Everyone has a flaw. I guess it's going to be what's considered the least liability," said Victoria Cobb, who runs the Family Foundation in Virginia.

  WaPo

Isn’t it always. Isn’t it always.

Rudy 'The Slime' Giuliani

I think we've seen this tactic before: Take a quote of a quote and attribute it to the speaker. Rudy has apparently been saying that Hillary spoke out against the free market system, implying she's communistic, when in fact, the quote he attributes to her was taken from an interview she gave in 1996 in which she was quoting someone else's complaint about the free market system. And apparently, nobody's calling him on it.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Coincidence....Or Psychic Phenomenon?

Rudy 9/11 Giuliani raised $11 million in the quarter ending with the 9th month. At least that's what they're reporting. Just thought you might need to know that, coming on the heels of the $9.11 fundraiser.

It's in the stars, folks.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

$9.11 How Unfortunate for Rudy

The Giuliani campaign is being forced to distance itself from the decision of a supporter to throw a fundraising party where supporters of the Republican candidate for president have been asked to donate $9.11.

Abraham Sofaer, a State Department adviser under President Reagan, is holding the fundraiser at his Palo Alto, Calif. home on Wednesday, but he told the Associated Press that he was not involved in coming up with the “$9.11 for Rudy” theme.

Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the campaign, said that it was “unfortunate.”

  The Caucus

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Oh, Rudy

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani said Thursday [August 9] he had exposed himself to the same health risks as workers at ground zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and spent as much time at the site as those involved in the recovery.

  Digg.com

So rescue workers spent an average of 29 hours over three months there?

Rudy Stepped in It This Time

Even if it had been true, it was a stupid thing to say, especially considering the fact that the rescue workers in NYC have a campaign to block Rudy's bid for president.

"This is not a mayor or a governor or a president who's sitting in an ivory tower," he said. "I was at ground zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers. I was there working with them. I was there guiding things. I was there bringing people there. But I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them."

  TPM Café

Personally, I don't think setting yourself up as the hero of 9/11 works well when you pit yourself against the actual men and women who did the rescue work.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Update: Rudy recognizes his mistake.

"You know, what I was saying was, 'I'm there with you.'"

[...]

"I think I could have said it better," he told nationally syndicated radio host Mike Gallagher.

  Guardian

Well, Rude, you probably couldn't have said it worse....but hey....

2008

CNN is rescheduling the GOP YouTube 'debate' to accommodate Rudy and Twit's 'other engagements'. Can't wait to see why they won't be able to appear now.

Don't Worry, It's Safe

A massive geyser of steam and debris that erupted through a midtown Manhattan street left asbestos in the dust that settled, but city officials Thursday said tests indicated the air was safe of the carcinogen.

  Yahoo

Maybe it really is this time. But then, Rudy's still mayor.

Religion

After all, it's Sunday.

The Pope at least is dealing with the really important things in this world right now.

[T]he Vatican released a statement Tuesday claiming that the Catholic Church is the only Christian organization eligible to use the term church to describe itself.

  Ear to the Ground

Don't tell that to the Baptists.

As Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy report in this week's TIME cover story, the three Democratic frontrunners are leading a fundamental shift in how their party thinks about religious Americans, which includes the first party-wide effort to target and court Catholic and evangelical voters. Republicans, meanwhile, have been lining up to receive the seal of approval from Pat Robertson and James Dobson. But at the same time, Mitt Romney has gone to great lengths to avoid talking about his Mormonism, John McCain's religious advisors quit his campaign in disgust, and when the AP inquired as to what church Rudy Giuliani attended, the former mayor essentially told them to mind their own business. [Ed: Maybe Rudy's only sensible stance.]

[...]

Senator Clinton, the lifelong Methodist and one-time Sunday school teacher, is in a bind: So many voters think they "know" she can't possibly be religious that when she speaks about her faith, they interpret it as pure political posturing.

[...]

[A]ccording to the new TIME poll, only 15% of registered voters believe that Hillary Clinton is "strongly religious," compared to 22% for John Edwards and 24% for Barack Obama. Perhaps more problematic for Clinton is the fact that nearly one-quarter of respondents (24%) say they know she is "not religious".

[...]

[A]s the results of a new TIME poll show, the conventional wisdom about the two political parties and religion may be so ingrained that no amount of evidence to the contrary can change perceptions.

  Time

Why would we expect otherwise from a body of people who still believe WMD were found in Iraq?

....but hey, believe what you want....you will anyway.

2008

The NY Firefighters deliver on their promise to block Rudy Giuliani from the presidency. TPM Cafe has their first video.

In the News

Scooter Libby lost his bid to stay out of jail pending appeal, and unless he gets a pardon (we can speculate), he'll be going to the pokey pronto. He really should be sharing a cell with The Big Dick and the Little Prick.

George finally gets curious. He's apparently holding little meetings to ask whether the rest of the world doesn't hate America so much as it just hates him. I wonder who clued him in.

The Pentagon is spending $900,000 to shred millions of dollars worth of fighter jets, while hiding from the public eye Humvees shredded in Iraq by IEDs.

The US military attache to the Cyprus embassay was found. Dead near his car out somewhere on a dirt track. The local papers said it "appeared" that foul play has been ruled out. I suppose we'll be hearing more.

Scotland Yard says the attacks in London and Glasgow were so bungled as to be "laughable." If you can laugh at flaming cars, I guess. His rather poorly made point is that it wasn't al Qaeda. Larry Johnson agrees. It reminds me of other suspicious and conveniently timed attacks. It also puts me in mind of Operation Gladio.

NYC firefighters have vowed to sink Rudy's ship.

And, to no one's surprise, Insane McCain's campaign is taking major cuts. Die hards can still write in his name when they go to vote.

....hey, do what you want....you will anyway.