Pop Politic Madness

I don't usually discuss politics. But I feel I don't need a PHD to discuss this subject...

Ever wonder if the polls are accurate? We got a hot link for you.

Check out how the polls measure up to the outcome.

Oh yeah ...Obama won. They got that right.

Whip It Out Wednesday: Barack Obama

On this, the first ever Whip it out Wednesday, I'm proud to feature our new President, Barack Obama.

Our new President will be a great leader...because he is all the things other people claim to be. He doesn't have to tell the world he's a good father...he simply is. He doesn't have to tell the world he's an intelligent man...he simply is.

Barack Obama symbolizes so many things to so many people, both here and around the world: this country (such as we know it; we could have a very lengthy discussion about the legitimacy of our occupation of the Native American lands, but for purposes of this conversation we'll simply accept that we're Americans) brought Africans here in chains, denied them the right to vote until 150 years ago, and still -- to this day -- has Ku Klux Klan members squealing about "white power." With Obama's election, we finally took the first step to putting all these embarrassing people on the road to extinction. In the eyes of the world, the United States has finally grown up. And though that may not mean anything to the wife-beating, cross-burning racists currently living in this country, in their double-wide trailers, I take comfort in knowing that they're a dying breed and a very small minority of the population.

To Michael Moore, Barack Obama symbolizes the triumph of intelligence. (Yeah, imagine that: a President who went to an Ivy League school...ON HIS OWN INTELLIGENCE, NOT ON HIS DADDY'S COAT-TAILS. A President who graduated said school in the TOP five percent of his class...NOT FIFTH FROM THE BOTTOM. Hell, a President who can actually SAY "nuclear" and "strategy" and won't hold My Pet Goat upside down while reading to kids!)

"Today, we celebrate this triumph of decency over personal attack, of peace over war, of intelligence over a belief that Adam and Eve rode around on dinosaurs just 6,000 years ago," said Moore. "What will it be like to have a smart president? Science, banished for eight years, will return. Imagine supporting our country's greatest minds as they seek to cure illness, discover new forms of energy, and work to save the planet."

Moses Avalon, the respected music industry mogul, thinks that the election of Barack Obama signals the rebirth of the impossible dream. "Forget all the opinion polls of the last four years, skewed and spun for a nation hemorrhaging in so many ways. This is the only poll that matters. The People have spoken. "Enough" is the word. "Get out" is the word," said Avalon. "Tomorrow we will wake up in a world with a new kind of President. One who beat the odds and beat the prejudice. It gives me pause to think what will be possible in the coming years. No idea will be too crazy or too idealistic. We will need to be careful, but as of tomorrow we once again live in the world of dreams."


For me, the election of Barack Obama is a lot like the ending of Return of the Jedi: a small, understated group of rebels, with nothing to back them but their belief in the goodness of people and the wrongness of their quasi-fascist war machine and all its evil constructs (including its evil leader (Cheney) and his patsy (Bush)), toppled a seemingly-limitless regime. Hell, even the celebrations in the streets were remarkably similar (and judging from the feedback on sci-fi boards, I'm not the only one who thinks so).

Clip below:


Regardless of who you voted for -- and though I voted for Obama, I have to say that McCain gave a truly classy concession speech (would it be that his supporters showed that same dignity. The Obama supporters CHEERED McCain, while the McCain supporters BOOED Obama. Even McCain, for all that he ran a dirty campaign, seemed embarrassed by, and for, them) -- you have to admit this was truly a monumental, historic moment. And that, alone, makes Barack Obama worthy of today's ogling.

President Obama

YES WE DID!

Manic Monday: Election Edition

This is Shirley Nagel, a FIRED teacher from Michigan, and a RNC delegate. Ms. Nagel makes my Manic Monday list today because, quite simply, she's a nasty excuse for a human being and paints every decent, non-judgmental, intelligent Republican (yes, they're out there) in a bad light. Coming from an ol'blue New York Democrat, this is saying quite a bit.

You see, on Halloween, Ms. Nagel decided not to give candy to children whose parents were Obama supporters, using the same tired lines that the entire mean-spirited Republican campaign has been using in this, the Rovian era (i.e., scary Muslim, unqualified socialist, and so on), which has made me, nearly every Democrat, and several moderate Republicans ashamed of the country we live in.

This post, however, is not about political or religious beliefs. This post is about the mean-spirited-ness of this woman who, of course, paints herself as a righteous Christian, in line with the Republican ideals. It's one thing to believe what you like -- far be it from me to tell you otherwise. It's one thing to educate children about the political process, and explain your reasoning in an AGE APPROPRIATE manner (a five year old kid doesn't understand about the politics of mud-slinging, folks. My five year old nephew thinks he should vote for Obama because his younger brother, my other nephew, looks like Obama. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was right. Never mind that, at 5 years old, he doesn't understand that he CAN'T vote, bless his heart...).

It's another thing entirely to deny CHILDREN -- who wield NO political influence, and probably, like my nephew, have such a small understanding of the world to begin with (he doesn't think we should vote for McCain because, like his grandfather [my father], McCain is 72 years old, "and he has to take his medicine, and when he takes his medicine, he doesn't feel very well." Do you think he, for all his intelligence, understands "privatizing Social Security" or "no pull-out timetable for the Iraqi war"?!) -- equal rights to HALLOWEEN CANDY (because, y'know, spreading the chocolate wealth around is SO Socialist...) because you don't agree with their parents' politics.

The sad part is, before the Republicans began catering to the racist Dixiecrats and the fringe Religious Right, it WAS known as the party of fairness and reason. If Barack Obama becomes President tomorrow, in a very real way, it is because of a Republican's efforts over 150 years ago (Lincoln) that was the first in a progressive process of civil rights and equality. Even John McCain -- for all that he sold his soul to the Lee Atawater School of Slander -- was, not so long ago, a true maverick who was unafraid to reach across the aisle to the most liberal of Senators (Feingold and Kennedy -- who both prove that Obama is quite MODERATE in his voting record) to pass truly fair and balanced legislation.

Unfortunately, for every McCain-Feingold Act, there's a Shirley Nagel. I truly hope that, whoever wins tomorrow (the writing's on the wall, but let's be elusive so the networks can get their ratings...), they will have the decency and the courage to reach across the aisle and be truly non-partisan in their rule, and render idiots like Shirley Nagel completely obsolete.

1 Day Left

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Only 1 more day left until Election Day, friends! Start stretching your fingers and get your thinking caps on! Get ready to exercise your American right to vote!

We don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat, JUST GO VOTE! We think this is going to be a huge turnout and we hope that everyone is scheduling around their day tomorrow to head to the polls. We are ready here at PCM, are you?

Cabbage Patch Nominees

With all the serious election news these days -- and, regardless of your affiliation, I urge you all to get out and VOTE next Tuesday! -- today's news is a little light-hearted, for a nice change...

If you, like me, grew up in the 80's, you owned a Cabbage Patch Kid, and quite possibly a Koosa, both of which I still have. (Side note: mine is a bald preemie originally given a very Anglo name [Parker John]. You had the option to send in for a "birth certificate" reflecting a name change to one more of your liking. And so, Pino Caspar -- named, respectively, as a diminutive of my father's name (Giuseppe, or Joseph), and the blond kid my cousin Paula had a crush on in elementary school (Caspar Reskinielsen) -- was named. I know: oy...)

Any-kid-with-issues, this year's presidential candidates -- and their Veeps -- have been immortalized in the form of Cabbage Patch Kids. Is it me, or do the Biden and McCain dolls look near-exactly alike?

Rest assured my Barack "kid" will be joining his brother Pino WITHOUT a name change. :-)

A Narrow Escape

Regardless of your political leanings, this is pretty scary stuff indeed...

According to the Washington, DC ABC affiliate, the ATF says that it has broken up a plot to assassinate Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama. This same plot also involved shooting or decapitating 102 black people in a Tennessee murder spree.

In court records unsealed on Monday, agents said they disrupted plans to rob a gun store and target an unnamed (but predominantly African-American) high school by two neo-Nazi skinheads.

According to electoral-vote.com, John McCain holds a 14 percentage point lead over Barack Obama in Tennessee.

Maybe You Can't Go Home Again

Here comes another one! Jon Bon Jovi isn't happy that his country-tinged hit "Who Says You Can't Go Home" has been played this week during rallies headlined by Sen. John McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin. The singer, a vocal and financial supporter of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid, issued a statement to TMZ:

"We are surprised to hear that our song, 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' was used by the McCain campaign at rallies yesterday and today. We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past twenty-five years. The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the defacto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities. Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of 'Home.'"

Bon Jovi held a private fundraiser at his home in September that raised a reported $4.1 million for the Obama campaign. It really seems like music artists are getting tied into these political campaigns and either signing on to play a huge concert for their Presidential pick of choice or they're simply saying, "Hey, I don't want to be your soundtrack!"

Baby Sarah

A Tennessee man, didn't think he did enough to help the McCain/Palin campaign. So when his daughter was born, he decided to name her Sarah McCain Palin. He figured he got his message across.

Pop Culture Politics

So...what a weird weekend it's been in American politics.

Though the Euro and the Yen bounced back this morning on the strength of various bailouts in the U.K. and the E.U., there are still serious questions being raised about the amount of pork-barrel spending and lack of accountability in the recently-approved $700 billion bailout bill. Electoral-vote.com has more information on this...it's well worth checking out.

The next presidential debate is scheduled to take place on October 15th at my graduate alma mater, Hofstra University, and I plan to be there photographing the event. It should prove to be interesting, because while New York is historically a so-called "blue state," Hofstra University is located on Long Island, which tends to lean Republican thanks to the affluence of its inhabitants.

But McCain has other things to worry about besides the debates (Barack Obama, according to the BBC, was the clear winner in both prior debates, and he's expected to make a strong showing this time around as well). First, there's that pesky Rolling Stone article by Tim Dickinson that, while untouched by the mainstream American media, has caught a fire that just won't die.

In the well-researched article, McCain is illustrated as having a short temper, an entitled child of privilege who coasted on the prominence of his grandfather and father into a career that was mediocre at best (sound familiar?), a political flip-flopper (as his recent Tancredo Republican alliance against his own immigration bill has proven) who uses political opportunity for his own personal gain, and a less-than-admirable family man who frequently cheated on his first wife and married his second wife -- the Vicodin-addicted "Budweiser Barbie" -- to gain access to her family's extensive funds (much needed after that Keating scandal -- even the Reagans, inexplicably held up as the paragon of Republican values, distanced themselves from the McCains after the Cindy McCain/Keating scandal one-two punch).

Then there's an increasing concern about McCain's political strategy amongst his purported supporters. The Associated Press reports that many of the Republican parties' most notable members have expressed concerns about McCain's increasingly disastrous strategy in this election. (Let's just say that when Newt Gingrich thinks you're messing up, it's time to take a step back and re-evaluate...)

Finally, there's Sarah Palin. She may have come out of the gate with all guns blazing, comparing herself to a "pitbull with lipstick" (way to perpetuate a breed stereotype AND insult dogs everywhere, Sarah)...but, as my beloved grandmother used to say, you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

On Friday, an Alaska legislative committee found Gov. Sarah Palin’s dismissal of the state Public Safety Commissioner to be a violation of state ethics law (though don't tell that to her -- all of her public statements are contrary to the legislative committee's findings, leading me to believe she's either stupider than she looks and sounds, or thinks we the people are stupid enough to simply swallow her statements whole, without question). This was, of course, after she winked her way through that joke of a vice-presidential debate (if Sarah Palin is a feminist, then I'm Pia de Solenni -- feminists are NOT such simply by virtue of the fact that they're female, and NO feminist would be caught DEAD winking her way through a debate while doing Matrix-style bullet dodging). And finally, during an appearance this week at a Philadelphia Flyers’ home game, Palin actually dropped the ceremonial first puck...and was booed viciously.

Perhaps the American public is finally seeing what the U.K. already seems to know: despite her milquetoast appearance and down-home folkie accent, Palin is little more than a gun-totin', war-mongering, anti-abortion creationist who will be an environmental stormbringer if she actually does ascend to the vice-presidency (which is becoming less and less likely), who will not fight against oppression of women, children, and/or minorities (her teenage daughter's 1950's-style shotgun wedding is perfect evidence of that -- I seriously wonder how the media would handle it if Chelsea Clinton turned up unwed and pregnant at 17, or -- more pointedly -- if one of Barack Obama's daughters turned up unwed and pregnant at 17. Somehow, I doubt Obama's daughter -- were she to turn up pregnant and unwed at 17 -- would be upheld as a role model for how teenage girls should act, unlike Bristol Palin).

Foo Fighters Denounce Unauthorized Use Of Their Music By McCain Campaign!

Having received confirmed press reports that John McCain has been using Foo Fighters' "My Hero" as the latest in a number of unauthorized theme songs at his campaign rallies without seeking permission from the band, its management, record label or publisher, Foo Fighters have issued the following statement: This isn't the first time the McCain campaign has used a song without making any attempt to get approval or permission from the artist. It's frustrating and infuriating that someone who claims to speak for the American people would repeatedly show such little respect for creativity and intellectual property. The saddest thing about this is that 'My Hero' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song. We hope that the McCain campaign will do the right thing and stop using our song--and start asking artists' permission in general!

Tina Fey Strikes Again

Just keeping our readers posted on yet another Tina Fey SNL moment. She appeared back on Saturday Night Live this weekend as Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. SNL regular Jason Sudeikis impersonated Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden and guest star Queen Latifah as PBS journalist and debate moderator Gwen Ifill. Together, they parodied Thursday night’s debate between Palin and Biden. Hey, if you missed the debate, you can always check out this re-creation. Okay, so it wouldn't really be super accurate, but it may just make you smile! The audience seems to love Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.

Palin/Biden Showdown!

Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin went head to head in their first and only vice presidential debate in St. Louis last night, clashing on the economy, energy issues and foreign policy. The candidates greet each other warmly at the start of the highly anticipated showdown.

It was the first time both candidates had met. "Hey, can I call you Joe?" Palin asked as they were introduced. "Governor, it really was a pleasure getting to meet you," Biden said as the debate wrapped up.

The debate format suited both candidates' styles. Confined to 90-second responses, Biden's tendency to overspeak was held in check. Palin also seemed to find comfort in the time limits which allowed her to make her points succinctly on less familiar ground and to use the two-minute rebuttal period to occasionally expand on a previous point. The economy quickly took center stage, with both candidates weighing in on the financial crisis and the bailout bill awaiting congressional approval.

Overall, no punches were thrown or security had to be called. We'll call it a VP debate success!

McCain Better Listen To Diddy!

Diddy had some choice words for Republican presidential nominee John McCain and posted a video blog (vlog) ranting about why McCain could have chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate. In his latest vlog, he makes a good point, haha, Diddy says:




“John you are bugging the f— you. I don’t even understand what planet you’re on now. This is the job to be the leader of the free world. No disrespect, I love ya, I want you to live to 110, but what if, God forbid, you got a running mate, you become President. Alaska? ALASKA? ALASKA? ALASKA? Come on, man. I don’t even know if there are any black people in Alaska. John, come on. Sarah [Palin]? What in the hell? ALASKA? You’re bugging the f— out. Sarah Palin, you ain’t ready to be vice president. ALASKA MOTHERF—-ER? What is the reality in Alaska? There aren’t even any crackheads in Alaska. There aren’t no black people in Alaska.”

Who Are The Vice President Picks?!

Republican candidate John McCain JUST announced that he is choosing Alaska's governor, Sarah Palin. Yep, you heard it right, she's a female candidate! Here is a few things you may not know about Palin and Biden that we think you should so you can get to know them a little bit more, eh? Palin is a 44-year-old first-term governor and mother of five from Wasilla, Alaska.

She's an ice fisherman, a moose hunter and a lifetime NRA member. Now we're talking! She won Miss Wasilla in 1984 and competed in the Miss Alaska contest. She's even worked as a TV sports announcer. Geez, this lady has quite a broad range of interests!

Democratic Presidental hopeful Barack Obama announced last week that he is choosing Delaware's Joe Biden to join him as his Vice President running-mate. Biden is serving out his sixth term, making him Delaware's longest-serving senator. He is married and has three children. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and got a law degree from Syracuse.

In January, this means that The United States will either have its first African-American President or first female Vice-President! Pretty exciting stuff, we think!

Paris for President

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Tim Russert remembered, honored

NBC journalist Tim Russert's life and legacy was celebrated on The Today Show.

Colleagues and politicians have also expressed their sorrow and gave tribute to the newscaster.

"Tim had become an important part of our political process. He will be especially missed in this historic presidential election year," Dan Rather said. "Tim Russert was a beacon of quality journalism. At a time when quality journalism is in increasingly short supply, Tim Russert was a leader for what is best in American journalism. He was tough but fair, pulled no punches, played no favorites. As an interviewer, he had few, if any, peers."

Katie Couric called Russert a "big teddy bear of a guy" and a "pit bull of an interviewer."

"Laura and I are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. Those of us who knew and worked with Tim, his many friends, and the millions of Americans who loyally followed his career on the air will all miss him," said President George W. Bush. "As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, he was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades."

Both candidates for Election 2008 also paid their respects.

"I am very saddened by Tim Russert's sudden death," Senator John McCain said. "Cindy and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the Russert family as they cope with this shocking loss and remember the life and legacy of a loving father, husband and the preeminent political journalist of his generation."

Senator Barack Obama said he first met Russert at the 2004 convention.

"He’s somebody who, over time, I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend," he added. "There wasn’t a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew."

Obama declines Clinton challenge

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama declined a challenge from Hillary Rodham Clinton to debate without a moderator prior to the May 6 primaries in North Carolina and Indiana.

"I'm not ducking. We've had 21 [debates]," Obama told Fox News Sunday.

"For two weeks, two big states, we want to make sure we're talking to as many voters on the ground, taking questions from voters," he added. "We're not going to have debates between now and Indiana."

Clinton, who is trailing in delegates and the popular vote, has been pressuring Obama to increase the number of debates before the upcoming primaries. She spent Sunday campaigning in North Carolina while Obama took a break from the campaign trail and returned to his Chicago home.


In other political news, a new Democratic Party ad opposing Republican candidate John McCain will be released Monday. It depicts the Arizona senator as a future president who will keep troops in Iraq for 100 years, and is part of a half-million dollar, three-week national cable television campaign that attempts to link McCain's policies to those of President George W. Bush.

McCain also derided Obama for opposing his idea a summer "gas-tax holiday," which McCain believes will help low-income people save on fuel costs.

"I noticed again today that Senator Obama repeated his opposition to giving low-income Americans a tax break, a little bit of relief so they can travel a little further and a little longer, and maybe have a little bit of money left over to enjoy some other things in their lives," McCain said. "Obviously Senator Obama does not understand that this would be a nice thing for Americans, and the special interests should not be dictating this policy."

WWE Announces Lineup: Barack, Hilary and John McCain

The night before an important Pennsylvania primary, Presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain will each make a very special appearance on a three-hour edition of WWE®'s "Monday Night RAW" tonight on the USA Network starting at 8 p.m. ET.

The three Presidential candidates intend to tap into the power of the more than five million viewers who each week tune in to watch RAW, making it the number one weekly year round show on cable.

In particular, Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama will be appealing for votes from WWE fans in Pennsylvania, where they are locked in a tight primary battle. An invitation from the WWE to have Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama appear on RAW to settle the Democratic nomination process in the wrestling ring was the catalyst for tonight's appearances by the three top Presidential contenders, who each will address the WWE audience in specially taped messages.

Who deserves to win the biggest Championship match in the country? Tune in Monday to hear what the candidates have to say.

WWE encourages its fans in Pennsylvania to Smackdown Your Vote! for your favorite candidate on Tuesday.

Check out smackdownyourvote.com to register to vote and to learn more about WWE’s Smackdown Your Vote! campaign.