Raging Bollocks

I imagine that Grampa Simpson will deliver his Ayers “punch” with the same finesse that Shrub does when telling a joke in his speeches.

What is the over/under on McCain really losing it and using the n-word or “boy” in reference to the Unicorn?

In the unlikely event gramps does mention the Ayers thing, I long for Unicorn to say something to the effect that as a Christian, he believes in forgiveness and redemption, pointing out all the good works Ayers has done in Chicago, while deploring what happened in his past.

@Mistress Cynica: Or maybe he could just say (totally out of character for Unicorn I know, but I can dream): Keatingfivesayswhat?

Lookin’ good in New Mexico, y’all:

A new SurveyUSA poll in New Mexico finds Sen. Barack Obama ahead of Sen. John McCain by seven points, 52% to 45%.

These results are essentially unchanged from the two previous polls.

Interesting: “Absentee voting began in New Mexico six days ago. Among the 10% of New Mexico voters who say they have already voted, Obama leads by 23 points. Among likely voters, Obama leads by 6.”

– politicalwire.com

Nojo: Black Eagle absolutely cannot wait until 15 minutes left to throw the punch. Geezer has to hit within the first fifteen minutes. People may be bored silly by, say, 10:15 ET, so PG has to come with it early. And if Barack lets it slide by, McCain wins the point, based on nothing.

Of course, Barack can wait to see if PG comes with it in response to a second question, and then strike by saying, “you’ve brought this up twice now; let’s talk about the three different economic plans you’ve come up with this week.”

The scary thing: this campaign could be decided — once and for all — by the fifteen seconds after PG decides to go with Bill Ayers. What Obama says there holds the key. Srsly: this is going to be fun.

@chicago hussein bureau: People may be bored silly falling-down drunk by, say, 10:15 ET, so PG has to come with it early.

Fixed…or is that just the Chicago crew tonight? Woo hoo!

In other OT news, Cheney has emerged from his lair and will be here in Chitown for three scant hours. The burning question: Is that long enough for proximity to the Source of HopeTM to make his already fragile heart asplode??

@flippin eck: Cheney will be resigned, Palin will be appointed VP by the end of the week and go to work bringin’ chaynge to Worshington. First step: execution of editorial staff and political reporters at the Anchorage Daily News (also payback for stealing a Pulitizer from The Albuquerque Tribune, bitches!)

Barry should open with the following:

“In this country, we need a new dawn, a feeling of returning glory, a soaring, exhilarating rush of promise and joy…much like the feeling I gave Cindy 15 minutes ago in my dressing room.

She wanted me to say “Hi”, John.”

Instant Aneurysm.

@flippin eck: Apparently his heart is asplodin, according to a report his arythmia has returned and he is going to go into the hospital for another virgin sacrifice and heart transplant.

flippin eck: As you know, the Obamaplex radiates a soft glow of light and change. This may have some restorative powers, especially for those who are particularly starved of Hope. So this may actually help Dick. Good with the bad.

@chicago hussein bureau: You don’t win on points, you win on takeaway. Geezer opened with the “economic plan” at the start of the last debate, and by the end, it was already forgotten.

Barry has twice opened a quick barrage on McCain at 75 minutes in, which leads me to suspect it’s strategy. And if it’s strategy, the question is Why? In both cases, the needling seems intended to get McCain to blow up, to show that famous temper we’ve all been hearing about — at a moment in the debate when a 72-year-old man can expected to be tired, and less in control of himself.

And when there’s not much left to talk about after it happens.

It’s rope-a-dope: Exhaust your opponent, then attack.

The strategy is also risk-free: If nothing happens, you don’t quite realize that Barry suddenly threw all those punches, you don’t get the sense of “failed attack”. You’re just on to the next topic.

@Tommmcatt Yet Again: And then there’s the Cindy Von Shtupp ploy, to which I heartily assent.

@chicago hussein bureau: The Obamarain that falls equally on the good and evil? Nah, you have to be human first. To the heartless RWers, it’s more like sunlight to a vampire. Or water to the West Witch: They’re melting, melting!

@nojo: And PG does get tired. I didn’t see the first debate (radio) but at the last one he was very much flagging around the 2/3 point.

He rallied shortly before the closing remarks, however, so Barry needs to stick those punches at the 75 min. mark with some more cartoonish “POW”.

One sip on the “J*O*B*S” line, drain it if Geezer says “the only part of your jobs strategy the American people get is the B*S”.

@nojo: Circles within circles, grasshopper. And the rope-a-dope is so frustrating to PG, who I think can tell it’s coming but can’t figure out how to fight back (see his “nailing jello to the wall comment”) against it without falling into the trap. Did young Barry study martial arts in his time in Indonesia? Seriously. Because his entire campaign has been one of practiced self-discipline and jiujitsu against bigger opponents.

Speaking of old people who get tired, but more specifically older people who DON’T get tired, have you seen Cloris fucking Leachman on Dancing With The Stars? She is 82 years old! Video is here, although warning it is from Defamer which of course is a Gawker property (I heart Seth, so I still read that one – but never comment).

Y’all are destroying my image of the Unicorn as the distilled essence of sunshine and rainbows and puppies and kitties and all that is bright and good and loving and hopeful in the world.

FSM, you make him sound like some kind of calculating politician. Next you’ll tell me that the Great Pumpkin isn’t for real, you cold, heartless Stinquers.

@Pedonator: Barry’s a poker player, which tells us a lot more than his hoops skills.

@homofascist: When Lisanti left, I limited myself to reading (and commenting on) Seth’s posts. These days I’m not finding the time to even drop by — no fault of Seth’s, just very busy in the Batcave. But with that new comment system, I can’t bring myself to say anything. It just seems so… pointless.

@homofascist: You mean Intern Seth? Sigh. I wonder if he’s ever thought of a career in show-biz and needs a ‘mentor’?

Ms. Leachman truly is The Queen of the Stardust Ballroom. Admirable and just a little creepy. As Michael Bennet demonstrated in the stage version of that musical, the legs are the last to go and a woman whose back may no longer be too flexible can still kick pretty high.

@SanFranLefty: This is from his interview with Rolling Stone, apparently hitting newstands today (with his third cover):

In what way will people underestimate you as president?
[Long pause] Because I tend to be a pretty courteous person and I don’t lose my temper, I think people underestimate my willingness to mix it up. I don’t know if they’ll continue to underestimate that after this campaign, but I think you’ll still get columns saying, “He’s too cool, he’s too soft.” [Laughs] That’s OK, actually.

You like being underestimated in that way.
Yeah. No point in having them see you coming

@Lyndon LaDouche: Couldn’t you have at least gone with Gordon Brown? He’s not as immediately recognizable, and so not as frightening.

@nabisco: Wow. I don’t lose my temper. I love it!

@Lyndon LaDouche: And speaking of Michael Bennett, I had the pleasure of seeing the London production of Chorus Line way back in the day. They all managed their American accents pretty well, except for one actress who let loose with a “Tralways Bus.”

@Lyndon LaDouche:

I knew you were actually Tony Blair all along, you know.

politicalwire.com is en fuego today:

Morris: Obama landslide
Eagle debate points leaked
Eagle: “My most boneheaded move”
Debate expectations: John McCain’s plan to “whip” “That One’s” “you-know-what”

@redmanlaw: Eagle debate points leaked

Which provides me the opportunity to retail one of my own favorite West Wing moments, when Bartlet was giving a series of remote interviews to local morning TV shows.

After one interview, when the feed is still live but they’re “off air”, Bartlet says something offhand that becomes the day’s headlines, and everybody scrambles to “correct” the impression he gave.

At the end of the day, Toby looks at Bartlet and realizes something. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Bartlet smiles back, says nothing.

Leaked debate points? Major head fake.

i think saint ronnie would make a respectable showing if they put him on the ballot.

@baked: Okay, during the debate, if McCain asks for a moment of silence for Nancy and her broken pelvis, everyone drink.

@SanFranLefty:

We all know that Nancy likes to party, but jeebus a broken pelvis!

@Lyndon LaDouche: Oh no, he is a full grown man editor now.

@SanFranLefty: I’ll be stomping and whistling, maybe go off the wagon for a commemorativo chot of tequila (also “medicinal” due to cold enveloping entire body; w/a little lime juice and sugar added, salted rim of glass, to help with the Vitamin C and electrolyte replacement. Heh. Checking out now, headed home to bed.)

@Original Andrew: I bet it happened during a game of Naked Twister.

@SanFranLefty:
any and all mention of the GOP pope…drink!

@Pedonator:
eww eww eww

@Original Andrew: And I thought her face would be the first thing to crack.

@nojo: I thought she was supposed to Just Say No to crack.

@Pedonator: This is Your Face on Drugs.

BREAKING: NANCY’S PELVIS BROKEN DURING NIGHT OF WILD LOVEMAKING WITH OBAMA… ALABAMA ASPLODES…