Buck Naked Politics

Is Hillary Under Consideration for Secretary of State?

by Damozel | Yay, I hope it's true!  Naturally, I think she would be an excellent choice.  The Obama campaign isn't saying yes but they also aren't saying no.  (WaPo)  Ben Smith says that one of his sources says that Obama himself has discussed the possibility with advisers. 

WaPo points out the up side. 

The pick of the former presidential contender and Senate Armed Services Committee member would go a long way toward healing any remaining divisions within the Democratic Party after the divisive primaries. Also, Clinton has long been known for her work on international women's issues and human rights. The former first lady could also enhance Obama's efforts to restore U.S. standing amongst allies worldwide. (WaPo)

Michelle Obama Turns to Hillary for Advice

by Damozel | Whatever these ladies' differences---and we all know Michelle Obama was never a Hillary fan---Michelle knows Hillary understands the problem of sheltering one's young from the "media maelstrom."  (Politico)

Obama Gearing Up to Hit the Ground Running on Reversing Toxic Bush Administration Policies

by Damozel | Did you know that George W. Bush is still president?  It's true.  Fortunately--- according to The Washington Post--Obama's team is busily compiling a list of nearly 200 executive orders and Bush administration policies that they can quickly reverse.

Hurray! 

Colbert Report: "Turncoat" Conservative Kathleen Parker Still Thinks Sarah Palin is Unprepared for the Vice Presidency

by Damozel | See Buckley's fellow renegade conservative and new BFF challenge Colbert to say with a straight face that Palin is ready for the presidency! (via)

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic: Palin Sews Up the Right Wing Dude Vote by Shooting Starbursts at Rick Lowry, You Betcha

by Teh Nutroots   | Apparently The Corner's Rich Lowry experienced the debate a little differently from most people.  In his living room anyway, "projecting from the screen."  And...she winked at him!  Winked!  See?

After which Lowry thought he was seeing "starbursts" zinging round his head, like the Elmer Fudd he is. To slightly paraphrase Stevie Smith, I thought Palin was not waving, but twitching.  I put it down to nerves.

They think we're stupid

Candidate forums and debates can be interesting experiences. For example, take the forum hosted by the Women for Wise Growth on October 1st attended by nearly 120 residents of Oak Hammock in Gainesville.

The main attraction was the incumbent (Rep.Cliff Stearns) v. the challenger (Tim Cunha) for Florida's 6th Congressional District. Of course, Rep. Stearns was not there since he needed to be in Washington DC. So, he sent one of his former staff, now a campaign aide, Mary Johnson Miller, in his stead.

Tim Cunha's positions were thoroughly addressed in the post by Deb on Sept 26th.

What was remarkable was the talking points Miller had on behalf of the 20 year Republican incumbent, Stearns. After the event I realized I had dropped the ball by not taking notes. Still, here are the most, um, curious of Miller's comments:

Reflections on the Debate: Gosh darn it, that Sarah Palin is Just as Bright as a Button!

by Damozel | Sadly though, she's not any brighter.  True, she "exceeded expectations" by---after a hell of a lot of rehearsing, one hears---stringing her words together into actual sentences !!!!!!!  Otherwise....wow.  (BTW, nobody's mentioned this, but I've got to say: compared to Palin's screechy timbre, my girl Hillary's oft-maligned voice is positively dulcet, like the sound of far-off softly ringing bells late on a violet-tinted summer afternoon.)

One of my all-time favorite debate moments ever:  Palin explained that she'll be presiding over the Senate, giving President McCain the benefit of her wide-ranging insights, and, it appears, enjoying all those powers that co-president Dick Cheney so lovingly expanded.  (To be fair, I doubt she meant it---she still isn't quite sure just what the Vice President is really for, it seems.)

Palin Saved Money on Rape Kits As Mayor, While Holding Out Her Hand for Taxpayer Dollars from the Big Old, Mean Old Federal Government

by the Puppet Mistress | Let's start with this fact:  Alaska is clearly years behind the lower 48 or Barack Obama's state in controlling or preventing violence against women.

For years, Alaska has had the worst record of any state in rape and in murder of women by men. The rape rate in Alaska is 2.5 times the national average. (CNN)

Alaskan women are two and a half times more likely to be raped.  Think of that. So it wasn't very nice for the police chief under "reform" mayor Sarah Palin's tenure to charge women who had been raped $1000 for rape kits, was it?

Tina Fey Plays Palin: Watch!

Asked and answered!

Wait. "The View" has to Show the Media How It's Done?

by Teh Nutroots | It says something about the state of our mainstream media lapdogs talking heads journalists "journalists" when John McCain's "toughest interview" yet happened on The View.  Conservative Andrew Sullivan---a former McCain admirer who saw through him way back when he caved on torture---tersely comments;

This is how you conduct an interview. This interview just destroyed McCain's candidacy. (The Daily Dozen)

Yeah.  If only.

Maureen Dowd: Imaginary Hillary-Palin Cage Match

by Damozel |

Clash of the Titans

More from Campaign Trail Fan Fic for Mean Girls [nutshell version]. Surprisingly, I can't decide which of these two dames I hate more. In an imaginary catfight over an imaginary campaign for the presidency, I'd probably back Hillary.  I know:  I'm as surprised as you are!  In the meantime, "It’s delicious imagining the Debate of the Century between Big Mama, as Bill’s male aides called Hillary, and “Hottie Granny,” as People magazine will doubtless dub Sarah. ESPN will want in."

McCain's Platform Doesn't Reflect McCain's Policies

Should John McCain just let Sarah go ahead and run for president?  Perhaps the answer, using the McCain campaign's own reasoning is that she ought to.  In fact, Stephen Colbert argued last week that based on McCain's "executive experience" argument, Palin ought to lead the ticket. 

At Crooks and Liars, Jon Perr argues that McCain's detachment/exclusion from the process of selecting the planks that make up his own platform ought to mark him out to anyone paying attention that we have no business putting him charge of the federal government. 

Hillary Rides Again, This Time Against John McCain

by Damozel | I'm so proud to have been a Clinton supporter.  I hope other Clinton supporters will take equal pride in Hillary's efforts on Obama's behalf, and take heed of what Hillary is saying. 

I keep reading that Palin's speech was the best of the Republican convention (NYT), but the bar was really quite low, wasn't it?  And while Republicans might have enjoyed the sneering tone in which she delivered her little sarcasms, it was definitely amateur night at Snark City as far as I'm concerned. 

"Compassionate" Conservative: Gov. Palin Slashed Teenage Moms' Funding

by Deb Cupples |   If anyone needs help in our nation, it's poor, teenage moms -- and especially the choice-less children that they bring into this world.  Apparently, "pro life" Gov. Sarah Palin doesn't think so.  The Washington Post reports:

Pakistan to Begin Inquiry Into Honor Killings; Three Arrested

by Damozel | Over protests of locals and one politician, the Pakistani government has begun an inquiry into the deaths of five women buried alive in "honor killings." (NYT)   The women were buried alive. (NYT).

[T]he victims were three young women who had planned to marry men of their choice — a blot on family honor — and two older female relatives.

Hillary Passed Over; Tepid Reactions to Biden from the Wimmin

Posted by Damozel |  Biden? Really?   I didn't know whether to yawn or sigh. 

I had given up consciously expecting Hillary to be chosen, but like Nader and John Amato, I must have thought he should have picked Clinton.  I think Obama will pay a price for not doing so. Fortunately, Bill Kristol sheds huge crocodile tears over poor Hill and "the glass ceiling," which makes me think Obama might have been right after all.  Shut up, Bill Kristol.  Nobody cares what you think. 

Pastor Rebukes McCain for Beauty Contest Remarks in Sturgis

by Damozel | McCain's somewhat smarmy little pander to the bikers at Sturgis (offering his wife up for participation in a topless beauty contest for biker chicks) comes back to bite him where it hurts a Republican the most.  (If you want to see what sort of goings-on go on there, there's footage all over the internet).

The pastor at Jenna Bush's wedding---an Obama supporter (PR)--- seems to have heard the word about the exact nature of the beauty contest for which he volunteered his wife. And---speaking, I guess, for Christians everywhere---he spells out his and God's opposition:

Pro-Choice Voters Should Take A Look at McCain's Record on Reproductive Rights

by Damozel  |If you are pro-choice, and wish to preserve reproductive rights for women, you need to take a closer look at McCain’s record on reproductive rights and other issues affecting women’s health.

It's the Hypocrisy, Stupid (Part 7): The John Edwards Scandal

by Damozel | I was disappointed when the story broke, but Edwards isn't a candidate or currently representing any constituency, so whatever.  I feel stupid for thinking he was better than that. As Digby says, the story has no political significance for anyone except John Edwards.  It's something that happened, so I'm going to deal with it and move on.  I still like him for the stand he's taken on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised.  But he stands convicted by his own prior statements (both about himself and about Bill Clinton, as discussed below), which is why I'm calling him out as a hypocrite.

Jane Hamsher nails what I think is wrong with this---"this" meaning the scandal and his response to it---as far as I'm concerned:

Satire: Should Right Wing Women Blog?

Our colleague the very right-wing Mr. J.Q. Public thinks not.   He even included illustrative videos.

skippy the bush kangaroo kindly noted:  "john q. public is writing satire of a swiftian order (more on that below), whereas the other mcmuffin is deadly serious! how can one tell, you ask? simple. the satirist uses much better grammar:"  J.Q.---now presumably in hiding from his blogging Republican ex-wife and unreachable by phone or email--- would protest that he is not worthy to wipe the dust from Mr. Swift's shoes (and J.Q.'s friends will agree with this).  But I'm sure he's deeply flattered.  .He also appreciates Cernig's very kind remarks.