It started not even twenty minutes after John McCain’s “WOW!”-inducing VP selection.
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They were no doubt hung over from the night before. Imbibing too much of the Obamasiah’s deluge of verbal opioid -delivered from the Temple of Dionysus itself- can do that to you. I know from extensive experience that hangovers make people do and say strange things. But even I haven’t done anything near as strange as the clueless Obamaphiles who rushed to the airwaves and the keyboards and immediately began excoriating Sen. McCain for picking “the untested mayor of a town of 9,000″ to be his Vice Presidential nominee.
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Um… who are you supporting again?
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The monumental significance of Barack Obama’s nomination on Thursday should not push from our minds the simple and irrefutable fact that he is quite possibly the most inexperienced and untested major party nominee since Jimmy Carter, and perhaps beyond. At least Carter had the benefit of a full-time job behind an executive desk for four years. Obama can’t even claim to have been a full-time senator. Yet only 12 hours after telling the entire world that a man who has slightly more senate experience than I do is qualified to be the next president, Democrats are telling us that Sarah Palin isn’t qualified to be McCain’s backup.
This whole controversy with Don Fowler’s Gustav remarks today got me thinking. Fowler was embarrassingly forced into this issue because of a private conversation he had with a South Carolina Congressman while on a flight coming back from the Democratic National Convention in Denver to Charlotte. Whoever the individual was sitting behind Congressman Spratt secretly videotaped the conversation and then anonymously posted it on YouTube.
So the question is, in the information age do we have a reasonable expectation of privacy anymore?
Hat tip to RedState on this one. What a gem. Someone on the plane sitting behind Former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman Don Fowler and my Congressman John Spratt (D-SC-05) caught on tape a conversation between the two of them in which Fowler laughs about Hurricane Gustav hitting New Orleans at the same time the Republican National Convention is scheduled to start. You can hear him joking about how it must mean that God’s on their (the Democrats) side.
ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: Former DNC Chairman Don Fowler apologized on Sunday for joking in a private conversation that the timing of Hurricane Gustav demonstrates that God is on the side of the Democrats.
“If this offended anybody, I personally apologize,” Fowler told ABC News. “It was a mistake, and it was a satirical statement made in jest. And one that I clearly don’t believe.”
Fowler was secretly recorded by the person sitting behind him while flying from Denver, Colo., to Charlotte, N.C., following the Democratic National Convention. His conversation with Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., was anonymously posted to YouTube and highlighted by RedState.com, a conservative blog.
“One doesn’t anticipate that one’s private conversation will be surreptitiously taped by some right-wing nutcase,” said Fowler. “But that’s the nature of what we’re dealing with.”
1. Her nickname is “Sarah Barracuda”. She got it from her aggressive style of play while she was a captain and point guard for her high school basketball team. She isn’t too friendly to corrupt Alaskan politicos either. As an aside, Barracuda should be the theme song every time she gives a speech!
2. Her youngest son, Trig, was born in April. Palin knew there was a very good chance that he would have Down Syndrome, but would never even consider aborting him. He was there when McCain introduced her as his running mate.
3. She took on the corrupt mayor of her hometown of Wasilla, AK and beat him. She fired his corrupt staff and the police chief. She lowered taxes 60%. The old mayor sought a rematch two years later and she kicked his ass. Then she did the same thing to state government. Meanwhile, Barack Obama was buying a house with help from his pal Rezko.
4. Her husband Todd is a world champion snowmobiler. He was the 4-time defending champion of the 2,000 mile-long Iron Dog snowmobile race.
5. She hunts moose. Seriously. I’m a vegetarian and even I think that’s freakin’ awesome! It’s said that she even makes a mean moose soup. Her parents were unaware of her selection as VP until early this morning, when she called them and told them to get to a TV or radio. When they received the call, they were hunting caribou. Freakin’ caribou!
The State Ethics Commission is asking a Superior Court judge to prevent state Auditor Les Merritt from investigating a claim of preferential treatment for Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Democratic nominee for governor, that ultimately may have led to a commission staffer’s firing.
The suit claims that Merritt’s office has a conflict of interest because its investigations chief, Frank Perry, left the ethics commission a year ago. The suit also claims that Merritt, a Republican seeking re-election, “denigrated” the commission in an hourlong interview with radio station WPTF.
It may also be the first time the Office of State Auditor has been sued by another state agency.
Merritt’s office released a statement contending that the commission is trying to keep the matter out of the public eye.
Les Merritt hunts corruption the same way future VP Sarah Palin hunts moose. Then he goes home and makes soup out of it. If liberals are angry at him, it probably means he’s doing his job.
URBANA, ILL. - Less than a month after John Edwards admitted having an extramarital affair, the University of Illinois said the two-time presidential candidate has agreed to speak on campus in October.
University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said Thursday that a student group has booked Edwards to speak Oct. 14 on “The American Dream.” Tickets are free, but the student group is paying Edwards $65,000.
Seriously… I’ll start taking up a collection. I’m sure we can agree on some amount of money that will convince him to never enter the public eye again.
“It gets to be absurd,” says state Rep. Dan Blue of Raleigh. “I don’t mind paying for breakfast, and I don’t mind paying twice what the breakfast was worth. But you have to wonder why.”
The reason is a “gift ban” included in a 2006 state ethics law that governs what legislators can accept from outside parties. It’s similar to new federal restrictions on members of Congress. The laws offer a confusing thicket of regulations just as opportunities for gifts, free meals and entertainment abound at the national conventions. The nonprofit Sunlight Foundation has tracked more than 400 parties at both the Democratic and Republican conventions.
What’s wrong Dan, can’t a wealthy lawyer like you afford breakfast? I see that you went to the Democratic National Convention. I assume you still pulled in all of your endorsements even though were not in town for some of them.
Are you going to cut taxes for 95% of us like Obama is? Are you going to get universal healthcare passed in NC like Obama is nationally? Or better yet, are you going to clean up corruption in the NC Democratic Party like Palin did in the Alaska Republican Party?
What was that Dan? No, No, and No? Well you have had 25 years to do the right thing. And all you have managed is a Mental healthcare boondoggle, a 21.4 billion dollar budget with billions in additional borrowing, and a probation system that has gotten people killed.
Senator Dole remarked how historic it is to have the opportunity to elect the first female vice-president. Senator Burr commented on her strong pro-life conservatism and her proven track record of reform and transparency in Alaska. He referred to her as an “excellent” pick. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx sent out a press release this afternoon praising the pick, saying “Senator John McCain’s selection of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate shows that he is serious about shaking up the status quo in Washington .”
In South Carolina, Senator DeMint also echoed Palin’s record on reform as well as her strong conservative credentials. Congressman Inglis was impressed by Palin’s reform efforts in Alaska because she took on the corruption in her own party. State House Speaker Bobby Harrell was stunned by the announcement and thinks she will make an excellent Vice-President. Governor Sanford called her a “fearless advocate for good government in Alaska.”
My personal opinion is that Palin was an excellent pick. She has an 83% approval rating as Governor of Alaska, which is beyond phenomenal. She is highly respected among conservatives, which was a weak part of the base for McCain. Additionally, she is a strong, outspoken, and accomplished woman which is sure to attract like minded women to McCain. And it doesn’t hurt that she is a total MILF.
I mean, seriously, how can you vote against this??
A federal grand jury has indicted an Indian Trail accountant on charges that he threatened to kill U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who on Thursday night accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
The indictment accuses Jerry Blanchard, 48, of publicly threatening to shoot and kill Obama twice last month. On July 15, Blanchard told two diners at a Waffle House on Pineville-Matthews Road that he planned to kill Obama with a rifle he would buy from Hyatt’s Gun Shop on Wilkinson Boulevard, authorities say. On July 28, a witness has said, Blanchard made similar threats at the Crowne Plaza Hotel uptown.
Why does Dan Blue openly support and endorse Barack Obama? Does Dan Blue support Barack Obama’s attempt at stifling the free speech of conservative groups and donors? These groups only point out Obama’s associations and lack of judgment.
I would enjoy debating Dan Blue and his views on many issues and his association and endorsement of Barack Obama. That will never happen. Dan Blue is afraid of this veteran, hard working, and blue collar district 33 citizen.
On Monday, Obama demanded that the Justice Department stop TV stations from airing a documented, accurate independent ad spotlighting Obama’s longtime working relationship with unrepentant Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers. Obama summoned his followers to bombard stations, many of them owned by conservative-leaning Sinclair Communications, with 93,000 e-mails to squelch the commercial.
On Tuesday, the Obama campaign sent another letter to the Justice Department demanding investigation and prosecution of American Issues Project, the group that produced the Ayers ad, as well as Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, who funded it.
Conley, who supported Republican Ron Paul in January’s GOP presidential primary, said Clyburn’s comments make “it clear that the Democratic Party, at least in South Carolina, is controlled by the far left who feel no need to be inclusive when they’ve got a liberal Republican like Graham apparently on their side.”
While Clyburn and Graham didn’t respond to Conley’s statement, the criticism surprised state Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler.
“South Carolina Democrats and the party’s leadership do not support Lindsey Graham,” Fowler said Thursday in a phone interview from the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Last year, Joe Erwin of Greenville, immediate past chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party, was asked what Democrat might challenge Graham in 2008. Erwin doubted anyone would.
“We already have our best Democrat up there in Lindsey,” Erwin quipped.
TABOR CITY — State Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. was accused of spraying one of his legal clients in the face with pepper spray on Sunday, one month after fending off an attack by the same man with a shoe, according to police reports.
No charges were filed in Sunday’s incident.
The confrontation was the most recent between Soles and some of his current and former legal clients, according to police reports.
Soles, a Democrat, has a law practice in Tabor City.
North Carolina Congressman Robin Hayes (R) has predicted a John McCain VP nominee pick of Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor (R). It is said that McCain has made his decision already and that he will unveil that to his pick some time this evening. I imagine we’ll hear about it before the end of the day or early tomorrow morning. Cantor would be a satisfying pick for conservatives given his strong conservative stance on most views and policies. He would also compliment McCain’s fiscal hawkishness and provide for a reform minded message in the Republican Party.
At a campaign event this past Saturday, State Senator Steven Goss (D-Boone) touched on the issue of push polling and it’s negative effect. I don’t know if there was a specific instance in recent days that prompted him to speak about this during his speech, but should push polling be put under better scrutiny.
For those who don’t know what push polling is it’s basically when an individual or group try to influence someone’s vote or view of a particular candidate under the guise of a poll. In other words, they might call you up and say “Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for Joe Blow if you knew he eats babies?” Even though Joe doesn’t eat babies, the question leaves the impression that he does. It’s dirty campaigning. Probably the most famous was the push poll that went on here in South Carolina during the 2000 Presidential election where the Bush Campaign allegedly called up several thousand people and asked them if they would still vote for McCain if they knew he fathered a black child.
Generally, attacks on public figures are pretty much cart blanche (as yours truly takes great advantage of) and in very rare cases can they sue someone for libelous statements against them. However, if the claim is blatantly false, should that be grounds for prosecution and/or compensation by the offending party? It’s a fine line to walk because it’s not always black and white to determine whether or not an accusation is ture or false. The Obama campaign, for instance, is currently threatening several television stations to pull an ad about his alleged friendship with domestic terrorist William Ayers. He says the claims are smears and lies, but Obama clearly has at least a minimal relationship with Ayers. So how would an instance like this be decided under a slander lawsuit?
North Carolina will spend $33 million this school year on a generations-old rite of passage: driver’s education. But there is little evidence that the program’s 30 hours in the classroom and six behind the wheel help young people avoid crashes.
“There’s a pretty widespread belief that this is an antiquated system,” said UNC-Chapel Hill professor Rob Foss, an adviser to state government on highway safety.
Why the hell is this a government function? When I learned how to drive, I started with my father teaching me. After he ran out of sedatives and tranquilizers, he handed me off to a private driving school that taught me just fine, thank you very much. The only time I ever dealt with the government was waiting in line for 3 f–in’ hours at the DMV for my learner’s permit and when I took the road test- which I passed on the very first try (it took my dad two tries!).
It’s not the government’s job to send you to driving school- especially when there are private companies out there that can do it just as well.
Attempts to remake driver’s ed could bring a clash in the legislature. Between employees paid to teach more than 100,000 students per year and lobbying support for keeping the system in place, an overhaul is unlikely to arrive smoothly.
“There are a number of other states that have cut their programs and are regretting it,” said Connie Sessoms, driver-education specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.
Freakin’ great. A bunch of government employees whining to protect jobs that the private sector can do just as well. If I were a state legislator, I’d try to put the whole thing on the chopping block.
Say what you will about those ruthless robot red-light cameras that send you $50 traffic tickets with photographic proof that your car ran a red light.
New numbers in Raleigh say that, thanks to red-light cameras installed at 11 bad intersections five years ago, we’re sending fewer people to the hospital these days.
Right-angle “T-bone” crashes have fallen by 83 percent at the intersections since 2003, when Raleigh installed cameras to catch drivers who run red lights there.
Alright, I WILL say what I want about cameras. They DO NOT make you safer. They make you poorer, but not safer. Here’s why:
Everytime a community installs one of these, it can turn around and say, “look at the good job it’s doing; we don’t need an extra police officer there”. So extra police officers, who actually DO make you safer, are not stationed at dangerous intersections. They’re not out there writing tickets. And they sure as hell aren’t taking bad drivers off the road. Show me a camera that takes a bad driver, or drunk driver, off the road, and THEN I’ll tell you that cameras make you safer.
All these pieces of junk are good for is taking money out of your wallet so local governments can waste it on something.
RALEIGH - A Wake County jury today convicted former state Rep. Thomas Wright of felony obstruction of justice.
Judge Donald Stephens sentenced Wright to six to eight months in prison, to run concurrently with a prison term Wright already is serving for fraud. He is scheduled for release from prison May 31, 2015.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn told delegates in Denver that real national security requires “visionary leadership,” not arsenals of weapons, miles of chain-link fences or shallow tough-talking.
We don’t need an arsenal of weapons. So what are we supposed to use when threatened by our enemies, throw spitwads at them? It is that large arsenal of weapons that keeps us from being invaded by the likes of the Russians, the Chinese, and the radical Islamic extremists razing cain across the Middle East and Northern Africa.
We don’t need chain link fences. I assume he is referring to a border fence. I don’t necessarily disagree with that. There are other methods, like fiercely punishing employers who hire illegals, eliminating anchor baby status, and denying social services to illegals, but Obama will never do any of these thing and the border fence ain’t gonna hurt. It has in fact worked in San Diego.
I don’t know what he’s referring to when he says shallow, tough talking. Maybe he was dismayed by McCain’s statement on Russia and Georgia. Maybe he means the Axis of Evil comments by Bush. Maybe it’s everything. What I do know is that a President Obama will show great weakness in the face of our nation’s enemies. I am by no means a neo-con, being very opposed to the view behind the Monroe Doctrine that we are to be the world’s police, but how much more diplomacy are we to be expected to engage in? We’ve talked and talked and talked with Iran and they are still following through with their nuclear ambitions. We’ve angrily shaken our finger at Russia and shamed them for their invasion of Georgia and yet they are still occupying parts of the country. Sometimes force is going to be the only answer. Sometimes the enemy makes that choice for you. Obama does not have the strength nor the judgment to know when to make that decision.
