christian grantham
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
	latest posts   Liz Cheney's Hollow Indignation   "Lynne and I have a gay daughter"   Ron Christie on Mary Cheney   Dick Cheney is an Angry Father   Elizabeth Edwards v. Lynne Cheney

October 20, 2004

Liz Cheney can't stand people who embrace her lesbian sister. The Cheney's were silent while Mary Cheney was politically slandered and attacked by conservative Republicans. Regrettably, the Cheney's prefer to sacrifice Mary to those who hate her before allowing Mary to be embraced by those who love her for who she is.

In her latest missive, Liz Cheney laments her sister being an election year issue.

Dick Cheney, with Lynne at his side, was the first person to specifically mention Mary Cheney is a lesbian in direct reference to the Bush Administration's election year issue of denying Mary Cheney equal marriage rights.

At the Republican National Convention, Liz wasn't bothered by purposefully excluding Mary Cheney and her partner from the preferred "family photo." Liz was very comfortable immorally expending her sister for cheap and tawdry political purposes.

When Liz's daughters ask their mommy where Aunt Mary was in this photo, what lies did Liz tell them to justify her party's bigotry and her complicit role in it?

"I was surprised that Senator Kerry would raise it and I think it is unprecedented for a candidate for the presidency to sort of exploit the child of one of his opponents for political gain," Liz Cheney said in an interview with The Associated Press. "That did surprise me. I thought that was out of bounds, and I think what you have seen as a result of that is a lot of folks across the country really wondering what sort of a person would do that. It was sort of an insight into the character of Senator Kerry."

Liz Cheney said her sister Mary's lifestyle should not be an election issue.

"I don't think Mary should be part of this campaign. I think issues having to do with the war on terror, having to do with the economy, having to do with health care, those are all critically important issues and those are the ones we're spending a lot of our time focused on," she said.
[Liz Cheney: Sister Not an Election Issue - AP - 10-19-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates , For The Record , Political Subterfuge

October 19, 2004

Richard Cohen of the Washington Post wants Kerry to apologize for his "gaffe" and spends a great deal more ink on Bush's "ignorance."

Kerry either made a mistake by mentioning Mary Cheney or callously attempted to "out" her to those Bush supporters who somehow did not know that their vice president has a gay daughter. Either way, he should simply say he is sorry, because, really, he ought to be. Come on, John, be a mensch.

But if and when he issues such a statement, he ought to ask Bush if he wants to rethink his answer to Schieffer's question. Homosexuality may not be a matter of choice -- but willful ignorance sure is.
[The Mary Cheney Flap: a Gaffe vs. Ignorance - Washington Post - 10-19-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 15, 2004

Last night, On FOX's O'Reilly Factor, Former Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy to Vice President Cheney, Ron Christie, said he was outraged that John Kerry mentioned Mary Cheney's sexual orientation because she's never presented her sexual orientation in a professional capacity.

Ron Christie doesn't have his facts straight. Take a look at how right-wing Concerned Women For America describes Mary Cheney.

Mary Cheney’s lesbianism was hardly a secret. Working for Coors Brewing Company as a liaison to homosexual groups, she funneled corporate contributions to several homosexual activist organizations, including $110,000 to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)—a strident homosexual group that later led a mean-spirited crusade against Dr. Laura Schlessinger. GLAAD celebrates positive portrayals of homosexuality in Hollywood and the media, most recently heaping praise on the TV show Dawson’s Creek for featuring a five-second kiss between two young male characters. Mary Cheney also guided Coors to give $2,500 to Equality Colorado, the lead group fighting the state’s Amendment 2 ballot initiative, which would have banned laws giving special recognition to homosexuals as a class. Colorado voters approved Amendment 2 by a 55-45 percent margin in 1992, but it was struck down four years later by the U.S. Supreme Court, with David Souter—a justice appointed by George Bush, Sr.—voting in the majority.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Mary Cheney was her father’s senior policy advisor and described by him as his "aide-de-camp." She attended the GOP convention and the presidential inauguration openly with her lesbian partner. Second Lady Lynne Cheney—after initially reacting angrily to a question posed by ABC newswoman Cokie Roberts about her daughter’s sexuality—has begun to use rhetoric favored by homosexual activists. She praised singer Elton John for supporting "equal rights" for homosexuals and defended the president’s appointment of a homosexual activist as "AIDS Czar."
[The Cheney Factor - 05-31-01]

Does Lynne Cheney have any indignation to spare? Recently, Cheney's father, the Vice President, specifically referenced her sexual orientation on the campaign trail, and did so in direct reference to the Bush Administration's policy on gay marriage. How tawdry.

The more conservatives express their outrage over Kerry's positive acknowledgement, the more curious it becomes as to where their outrage and indignation was when:

• Alan Keyes slandered Mary Cheney as a "sexual hedonist."
  
• Concerned Women For America attacked Mary Cheney for joining the Republican Unity Coalition, later accusing her of pushing "the envelope on homosexuality"
  
• Illinois Family Institute Executive Director Peter LaBarbera praised Alan Keyes comments about Mary Cheney
  
• Gary Bauer of American Values recently said Dick Cheney's publicly pronounced love for his daughter "demoralizes some sections of the base that they need in an election where we could all be counting chads again."
  
• Family Research Council President Tony Perkins recently invoked the "well-publicized homosexual status of one of Cheney's daughters" when expressing his displeasure with Cheney's position on gay marriage.

If Dick and Lynne Cheney reserve their indignation only for people who actually respect and stand up for their daughter, that says everything about the state of "family values" in today's Republican party.

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 14, 2004

Where is Dick Cheney's anger at those within his own party who call his daughter a "sexual hedonist" and seek to deny her right to the American dream? It's curious the Cheney's choose to lash out at those who honor their family's strength while lasvishing praise on those who denegrate their own daughter. This is today's Republican party. This is their vision for America.

"You saw a man who will do and say anything to get elected, and I am not just speaking as a father here, although I am a pretty angry father."
[Kerry Lesbian Remark Angers Cheney - AP - 10-14-04]

also read: Powerline, Wizbang

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 14, 2004

Not to be left out of the debate process, Elizabeth Edwards and Lynne Cheney are exchanging their positions on lesbians. Whose position best represent America's principles of fairness and inclusion?

"She's overreacted to this and treated it as if it's shameful to have this discussion. I think that's a very sad state of affairs… I think that it indicates a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter's sexual preferences… It makes me really sad that that's Lynne's response."
[Lynne Cheney Upset With Kerry Over Remark - Guardian - 10-14-04]

For the record, the wife of the Vice President is the only one of the four White House principles without a title.

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 14, 2004

Lynne Cheney described her rage over her daughter being injected into politics as that of "a pretty indigant mom."

"Of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick."
[Lynn Cheney Upset With Kerry Over Remark - AP - 10-14-04]

Which one of these comments led her to take such a stance over her own daughter?

"If my daughter were a lesbian, I'd look at her and say, `That is a relationship that is based on selfish hedonism.' I would also tell my daughter that it's a sin, and she needs to pray to the Lord God to help her to deal with that sin."
[Alan Keyes on Mary Cheney- Chicago Tribune - 08-31-04]

"Well, the question has come up obviously in the past with respect to the question of gay marriage. Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue that our family is very familiar with."
[Remarks by the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney Followed by Question and Answer at a Town Hall Meeting - White House - 08-24-04]

"We're all God's children, Bob. And I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as."
[3rd 2004 Presidential Debate - John Kerry - Transcript - 10-13-04]

Lynne Cheney should be absolutely ashamed of herself for slathering her hollow indignation on John Kerry for his respectful comments while remaining silent as fellow Republicans slander and attack her own daughter. Finally, the real Lynne Cheney reveals herself and her party's own two-faced taudry politics. (thanks JamesC)

also read: Counterspin Central, BoiFromTroy, Wizbang

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 14, 2004

Here are the results of the USA TODAY/CNN/GALLUP POLL on each of the three 2004 Presidential debates. All of the online, unscientific post-debate polls also say Kerry won all three.

Regardless of which candidate you happen to support, who do you think did the better job in the debate – John Kerry (or) George W. Bush

	Kerry	Bush	Neither	Both	No opinion
Oct 13	52	39	1	8	*
Oct 8	47	45	1	7	*
Sep 30	53	37	1	8	1

[Personalities vs. policies are focus of final debate - USA Today - 10-14-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 14, 2004

Please tell me I wasn't the only one that noticed Bush's bizarre, fake smile throughout last night's debate? It wasn't his constant pevish scowling that lost him the first debate over Iraq, it was his constant lack of leadership in the face of the facts.

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 14, 2004

The White House simply cannot believe the public acknowledgement made by Kerry in last night's debate that Mary Cheney is a lesbian.

"I don't think it was appropriate to bring in the private life of Vice President Cheney and his daughter into this debate at all," White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity.

"I thought it was inappropriate and I don't think people like that type of personal politics being brought into the campaign this late in the game," he complained.
[Firestorm Erupts Over Kerry's 'Lesbian' Attack - NewsMax - 10-14-04]

Don't hold your breath waiting for Lynne Cheney and Dan Bartlett to publicly rebuke the Vice President for also directly acknowledging his lesbian daughter on the campaign trail.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, the question has come up obviously in the past with respect to the question of gay marriage. Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue that our family is very familiar with. We have two daughters, and we have enormous pride in both of them. They're both fine young women. They do a superb job, frankly, of supporting us. And we are blessed with both our daughters.
[Remarks by the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney Followed by Question and Answer at a Town Hall Meeting - White House - 08-24-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 14, 2004

Lynne Cheney unleashed a fiery rebuke of Presidential candidate John Kerry after he acknowledged her lesbian daughter in last night's debate.

"Now, you know, I did have a chance to assess John Kerry once more and now the only thing I could conclude: This is not a good man," she said.

"Of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick."
[Lynn Cheney Upset With Kerry Over Remark - AP - 10-14-04]

Lynne's indignation was over the following:

KERRY: We're all God's children, Bob. And I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as.
[3rd 2004 Presidential Debate - John Kerry - Transcript - 10-13-04]

God's children? My lesbian daughter? Not in the house of Cheney! By her own definition, "cheap and taudry" would best characterize Lynne Cheney's novel about lesbian cowgirls, Sisters. Cheney's response illustrates the difference between liberals and conservatives in America over the issue of gays. Cheney views her daughter as a dirty embarrassing secret never to be seen or mentioned. Conservative policies that strip gays of equal rights, deny benefits and publicly smear gay families all flow from this regrettable shame and ignorance.

Lynne Cheney doesn't mind when John Edwards directly acknowledges her daughter in debate. Coincidentally, her husband openly thanked John Edwards for his acknowledgement of his daughter. Dick Cheney also acknowledged their daughter as a lesbian with Lynne at his side in Davenport.

EDWARDS: "Now, as to this question, let me say first that I think the vice president and his wife love their daughter. I think they love her very much. And you can't have anything but respect for the fact that they're willing to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter, the fact that they embrace her. It's a wonderful thing. And there are millions of parents like that who love their children, who want their children to be happy."

CHENEY: "Well, Gwen, let me simply thank the senator for the kind words he said about my family and our daughter. I appreciate that very much."
[2004 Vice Presidential Debate - John Edwards - Transcript - 10-05-04]

Thanks Senator? Lynne might want to learn a thing or two from her husband about projecting family values and accept her own daughter, Mary Cheney.

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 13, 2004

Now we know why the President rarely did press conferences. Iraq has so distracted him, he doesn't know an exaggeration from the truth. Mr. President, isn't Osama bin Laden the man who attacked us on 9-11?

FLIP: "Gosh, I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those exaggerations."
[3rd 2004 Presidential Debate - Transcript - 10-13-04]

FLOP: "Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him, when he had taken over a country. I was concerned about the fact that he was basically running Afghanistan and calling the shots for the Taliban."
[White House Press Conference - 03-13-02]

"We want him dead or alive ... but we are not too worried about him. ... He is the one who needs to be worried," Bush said.
[Bush not worried about bin Laden - UPI - 01-22-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates , Flip-Flops

October 13, 2004

OK, tonight's the night for the last 2004 Presidential debate. I've said it before, but I strongly encourage you to watch C-SPAN's version of the debate. No other network will provide 100% spin free split-screen coverage.

I also encourage you to tune in about 30-45 minutes prior and listen to the callers to C-SPAN and watch the preparations for the event. You gain a very respectable impression of the debate process, plus the announcements made to the audience set the tone for the evening that is completely lost in the yammering of network television.

After the show, come back and discuss what you thought!

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 12, 2004

When Kerry suggested he'd convene a summit to attract support for the work ahead in Iraq, President Bush and conservatives bristled at the idea. What could Kerry possibly do that Bush didn't? Try diplomatic leadership.

Germany would certainly attend, Mr Struck said. "This is a very sensible proposal. The situation in Iraq can only be cleared up when all those involved sit together at one table. Germany has taken on responsibilities in Iraq, including financial ones; this would naturally justify our involvement in such a conference."
[Germany in rethink on Iraq force deployment - Financial Times - 10-12-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates , Catastrophic Success , For The Record

October 09, 2004

Several mainstream media outlets are now picking up the story of this bulge on President Bush's back during the first debate.

On MSNBC's Countdown last night, Bush Campaign spokesperson Tucker Eskew told host Keith Olbermann the "bulge" was Bush's "strong back bone, that's about all." The answers being provided by the Bush Campaign as to what the bulge was are far more silly than speculation the President was wearing an earpiece.

The White House continues to refuse to comment other than to call the charges that something was under the President's coat a "baseless issue." But when has proof every been enough for them?

The White House refused to provide an on-the-record comment, saying that it would dignify a baseless issue, and referred questions to the Bush-Cheney campaign.

"It is preposterous," campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said. He declined to elaborate or to suggest what could have produced the unusual photo.
[Bulge Under President's Coat in First Debate Stirs Speculation - Washington Post - 10-09-04]

Georges de Paris, who made the suit Bush wore, said the bulge was nothing more than a pucker along the jacket's back seam, accentuated when the president crossed his arms and leaned forward on the lectern.
[Bulge in Bush suit wasn't a radio, campaign says - Mercury News - 10-09-04]

"Was the president wired? No!" Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman shouted to reporters in St. Louis yesterday. "It's laughable.''

Asked where the story may have come from, Mehlman said, "People have too much time on their hands.'' A disgusted Ron Kaufman, a longtime GOP strategist, called Audiogate "totally ridiculous'' and "the dumbest thing I ever heard of."
[Web wags are wondering if W was wired - Boston Herald - 10-09-04]

also read: Atrios, IsBushWired?

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 09, 2004

DailyKos has a great sampling of online pundits concluding Bush seemed angry while Kerry seemed composed. Here are a couple from their longer lists

Andrew Sullivan: "There were moments early on... when he seemed to me to be close to shouting; and his hyper-aggressiveness, having to respond to everything, went at times over the line of persuasiveness."

Ron Forunier, AP: "As he fought to keep his emotions in check in a testy, personal debate with Sen. John Kerry, the president asserted 'That answer almost made me scowl.'... Several answers brought Bush's emotions to the surface, for better or worse, as he sought to curb Kerry's momentum.... Bush was the most aggressive, at one point overrunning moderator Charles Gibson's attempt to pose a question.."

Jonah Goldberg, National Review: "WHY DOES BUSH... Sound like he's angry at the guy asking about making drugs cheaper?"

Here are a few other conservative's comments from FOX News last night. Even they agree.

Mort Kondracke: "… I think Kerry won this debate as he won the first debate I don’t think… I thought that Kerry was much more aggressive and the president was basically on the defense and didn’t have new arguments didn’t have…wasn’t as facile as he should have been." [Fox News Channel, 10/8/04]

Bill Kristol: "I guess I think if you think the President was doing okay and didn’t need a win in this debate, he did fine, but I think, if one thinks that Bush missed an awful lot of opportunities to go after Kerry in the first debate he had to make some of them up in this debate, I’m not sure he really succeeded in doing so."
[Fox New Channel, 10/8/04]

Brit Hume: "Is it now fair to say that in each of these debates in terms of marshaling arguments, and remembering them and presenting them that this is something John Kerry has proved he is very good at. And that it doesn’t play to the president’s strong suit."
[Fox News Channel, 10/8/04]

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 09, 2004

In last night's debate, President Bush was surprised to learn he owned a timber company. According to FactCheck.org, Bush's Lone Star Trust owns 50% in LSTF, LLC, a tree growing company. President Bush disclosed $84 in income through Lone Star in 2003 (view PDF).

Kerry pointed out that under Bush Administration definitions, $84 in income Bush reported in 2003 would count Bush as one of the 900,000 small buisness owners for which Bush claims Kerry would raise taxes. Maybe President Bush doesn't realize this, but $84 is actually smaller than $200,000. If Bush couldn't find a job in 2005, he'd likely get a bigger tax cut under Kerry's plan with a small business income as low as $84.

KERRY: Ladies and gentlemen, that's just not true what he said. The Wall Street Journal said 96 percent of small businesses are not affected at all by my plan. And you know why he gets that count? The president got $84 from a timber company that owns, and he's counted as a small business. Dick Cheney's counted as a small business. That's how they do things. That's just not right.

BUSH: I own a timber company? (LAUGHTER) That's news to me. (LAUGHTER) Need some wood? (LAUGHTER)
[2nd 2004 Presidential Debate - Transcript - 10-09-04]

Even though last night's debate was closely matched, it might be news to Bush that more people think Kerry won. Bush's fawning operatives wouldn't dare tell him that.

Two polls gave Kerry an edge in the 90-minute contest at Washington University in St. Louis. An ABC News survey of registered voters showed 45 percent considered Kerry the winner and 41 percent picked Bush. In a CNN poll, 47 percent said Kerry won and 45 percent favored Bush. Both are within the margin of error. [Bush Fails to Stem Kerry Momentum in Second Debate, Polls Show - Bloomberg - 10-09-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 08, 2004

How did the candidates do in your opinion? Also, visit these website's post-debate polls

ABC
CNN Election 2004
Fox
MSNBC
CBS News
CNBC
LA Times

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 08, 2004

Tonight is debate #2. If you can, watch it on C-SPAN. I'm not sure how they could do split screen in this type format, but hopefully they will. C-SPAN's coverage of the debate has been excellent, and the stuff they air 30 minutes prior really sets the stage for the debate and helps clear your mind of the spin.

There is a wierd white line across the floor meant to prevent each candidate from crossing over into the other's "personal space." I truly hope that silly summer camp rule is broken.

What questions do you hope the audience asks the candidate?

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 08, 2004

Today's Salon.com reports on this mysterious buldge on President Bush's back during the first Presidential debate. The story echoes blogger speculation President Bush was wearing an earpeice with someone feeding President Bush lines. You can see this image at minute 23 in video of the debate.

The campaigns negotiated that no cameras be placed behind the candidates. You might recall President Bush uttering "let me finish" during the debate when it was clear no one was interupting him, fueling speculation someone was feeding him lines.

The White House and the Bush/Cheney '04 campaign are refusing to comment.

Suggestions that Bush may have using this technique stem from a D-day event in France, when a CNN broadcast appeared to pick up -- and broadcast to surprised viewers -- the sound of another voice seemingly reading Bush his lines, after which Bush repeated them. Danny Schechter, who operates the news site MediaChannel.org, and who has been doing some investigating into the wired-Bush rumors himself, said the Bush campaign has been worried of late about others picking up their radio frequencies -- notably during the Republican Convention on the day of Bush's appearance. "They had a frequency specialist stop me and ask about the frequency of my camera," Schechter said. "The Democrats weren't doing that at their convention." [Bush's mystery bulge - Salon - 10-08-04]

Another blogger points out an audio file from a June 5, 2004 press conference, still available on the White House website, clearly picks up someone giving President Bush answers to questions from reporters he then repeats (minute 22:40). (thanks Donald)

UPDATE: Bush/Cheney '04 Media Director Mark McKinnon tells Rory O'Connor, "Unfortunately, the truth is not nearly as interesting. The answer is, 'The President has never been assisted by any audio signal.'"

UPDATE 7:03PM: On MSNBC's Countdown this evening, Bush Campaign spokesperson Tucker Eskew told host Keith Olbermann the "bulge" was Bush's "strong back bone, that's about all." George Bush might want to have that looked into.

filed under: 2004 Debates , For The Record

October 06, 2004

Last night, Vice President Dick Cheney told a few lies. Some lies cost as little as personal pride, and some cost the lives of American soldiers, but both cost Cheney his credibility.

"Now, in my capacity as vice president, I am the president of Senate, the presiding officer. I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session."

[Transcript: Vice Presidential Debate - Washington Post - 10-06-04]

The Vice President said his "record speaks for itself" last night. The record does just that and calls him a liar. In 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, Vice President Dick Cheney spent all of TWO Tuesdays in the Senate.

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 06, 2004

As last night's Vice Presidential Debate illustrated, the Bush Administration's most formidable opponent in the debate over Iraq is itself. On one side of the Bush Administration you have the CIA, Cabinet officials, former Generals, Iraqi Administrators, both U.S. weapons inspectors, and a list of Republican leaders in Congress. On the other side you have Vice President Dick Cheney and those he continues to snow with lies.

Here is a big lie told by Vice President Dick Cheney last night:

"The senator has got his facts wrong. I have not suggested there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11, but there's clearly an established Iraqi track record with terror."
[Transcript: Vice Presidential Debate - Washington Post - 10-06-04]

Yet on Meet The Press in March 2003, Dick Cheney clearly states a connection between Iraq and those who attacked us on 9-11.

"We know [Saddam Hussein's] out trying once again to produce nuclear weapons and we know that he has a long-standing relationship with various terrorist groups, including the al-Qaeda organization."
[Meet The Press - Dick Cheney - 03-16-03]

More recently on Meet The Press in September 2003, Dick Cheney continues to assert a connection between Iraq and those who attacked the United States, defying every conceivable expert and agency at the behest of the United States of America. This pattern of rejecting facts, and then lying about it, is the heart of President Bush's foreign policy.

"We learned more and more that there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda that stretched back through most of the decade of the ’90s, that it involved training, for example, on BW and CW, that al-Qaeda sent personnel to Baghdad to get trained on the systems that are involved. The Iraqis providing bomb-making expertise and advice to the al-Qaeda organization."
[Meet The Press - Dick Cheney - 09-14-03]

Dick Cheney's lies didn't stop there. Last Night, Dick Cheney said the VP debate was the first time he had ever met Senator John Edwards. Oh really?

filed under: 2004 Debates , Catastrophic Success , Flip-Flops

October 05, 2004

Tonight they debate. If you can, try to watch it on C-SPAN this evening (9 p.m. ET).

C-SPAN was the only channel that presented last week's Kerry/Bush debate with split-screen the entire way through.

What questions do you want to see asked tonight?

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 05, 2004

President Bush didn't like all the questions and having to face the facts in last week's debate over Iraq. Tomorrow, the President plans to deliver freshly spun cotton candy for America, complete with the trappings of teleprompters, well written thoughts of other people and the White House as a backdrop. I just hope the puppet show comes with a peek behind the curtain.

In a rare, last-minute change in the presidential schedule, Bush has scrapped a planned talk on medical liability and instead will give what the White House called a "significant speech" about the two central issues of the campaign -- the war on terrorism and the economy, The Washington Times reported Tuesday.

The president is said to be eager to rebut Kerry's attacks on such issues, especially those that came during last Thursday's presidential debate, according to The Times.
[Bush to give major speech - AFP - 10-05-04]

also read: Atrios

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 04, 2004

Take a look at this 3:47 video (via Stakeholder) of President Bush's cake fall in the oven on national television. Without his fawning operatives and crowds of cheerleaders, Bush looks naked.

When you are done with that, take a listen to phone calls between Enron execs discussing all the booty they'll get with Bush in the White House. These are just some of the guys paying for all the media meant to convince you of how lovely the Emperor's cape and crown is. It's a capitalist orgy lubed with arrogance and blind partisan lust!

What did President Bush say about "fooling me once?" Ah, here it is. Here is a longer audio clip.

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 02, 2004

Help the President out, and fill in the thought bubble.

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 01, 2004

As last night's debate illustrated, President Bush is nothing without a teleprompted speech written by other people. The illusion some American's have come to prefer of President Bush isn't complete without a crowd of selected and screened partisan cheerleaders shouting Amen. Last night, with all those trappings stripped away by a 32 page "memorandum of understanding," the real President Bush was shown as an emperor without clothes.

Today's news programs were littered with the President's fawning operatives desperately spinning to recast the President's poor performance. When forced to critically challenge the facts of his supposedly well thought out foreign policy decisions, President Bush failed, and the senior Editor of Business Week agrees.

Besides that, he's the President and has led the nation at a time of enormous peril and uncertainty (some of it, arguably, of his own making). Love him or detest him, he sits at the desk where the buck makes its last stop.

But in Coral Gables, Fla., last night, Bush looked -- at least for the first half of the debate -- like Elmer Befuddled, a commander-in-chief not in command.

...

When Kerry, methodically making his case like the prosecutor he once was, said, "This President has made a colossal error of judgment" by invading Iraq, Bush looked like a 1960s teenager called on the carpet for cracking up the family Oldsmobile. At that moment, it was hard not to get the impression that young George wanted to be anyplace but where he found himself.
[See Bush Debate. See Him Squirm - Business Week - 10-01-04]

also read: catch

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 01, 2004

Take a look at these video clips (DNC) of just some of the faces of frustration Bush delivered in last night's debate. If you are able to watch C-SPAN's split-screen version of last night's debate, you'll see President Bush clearly pissed that for the first time in 4 years he is forced to face the startling facts without an audience of cheerleaders. (thanks Marti)

Windows Media: Broadband | Dialup
RealOne: Broadband | Dialup

filed under: 2004 Debates

October 01, 2004

Now that Kerry clearly won the debates over Bush's issue of strength, how will he fare against Bush's weaknesses in the next two debates?

Daily Kos has an excellent summary of what conservative blogs are saying. Even they realize Kerry won.

There were no glaring mistakes by either candidate during the 90-minute debate at the University of Miami, although Bush often appeared agitated, scowling at times as Kerry leveled his charges. While both delivered their messages forcefully, Kerry sharply questioned the president's credibility and highlighted his own ability to serve as commander in chief.
[Iraq Takes Center Stage in Debate - Washington Post - 10-01-04]

Fifty-three percent of the 613 registered voters who watched the 90-minute debate said Kerry did better, according to a poll by Gallup for CNN and USA Today. Thirty-seven percent backed Bush. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

The ABC poll of 531 registered voters found 45 percent said Kerry ``won,'' against 36 percent for Bush. The incumbent had support from 50 percent of those viewers before the debate and 51 percent after. Kerry was supported by 46 percent before the event and 47 percent afterward.

CBS's survey, conducted via the Internet, found that 43 percent of 200 uncommitted voters who watched said Kerry won, 28 percent said Bush was the winner and 29 percent said they tied. CBS said the survey was among voters who indicated they are undecided or who said they might change their mind. The margin of error is plus or minus 7 percentage points, CBS said.
[Kerry Wins First Debate Against Bush, Three Polls Say - Bloomberg - 10-01-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates

September 30, 2004

OK, how did we do? I want to thank Ben for pointing out that C-SPAN carried the entire debate SPLIT SCREEN. C-SPAN rocks!

Bush looked off his game on the split screen. He looked pissed. He looked like a guy who hasn't faced criticism, much less the facts, in four years, and John Kerry put it to him. John Kerry did an awesome job and presented his case and the differences. If you get a chance later to re-watch the debate, do it on C-SPAN.

filed under: 2004 Debates

September 30, 2004

Before the first Presidential debate begins this evening, check out the litany of ridiculous rules drawn up between both parties. I hope that both parties aim to break these stupid rules and have a real debate.

I'm very proud of the media proclaiming they will not abide by these silly rules, but don't count on them to defy their rampant laziness in fact checking the candidates. I mean, why on earth would they bite the hand that feeds them tens of millions of dollars in advertisements over the past year?

Afterward, drop your comments about what you thought of both candidates.

filed under: 2004 Debates

September 21, 2004

The debates begin early.

Why did it take so long for the Bush and Kerry campaigns to agree on a debate schedule? Sen. John Kerry had the answer for television's Regis Philbin, who has hosted the quiz show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

"The big hang-up was George Bush wanted to get life lines, you know, so he could call somebody," the Democratic candidate for president quipped Tuesday while appearing on "Live With Regis and Kelly."
[Kerry: Bush Wanted Debate 'Life Lines' - AP - 09-21-04]

filed under: 2004 Debates

September 21, 2004

If you thought politics was for the truely obsessive compulsive, you were right. Check out the details hammered out in a 32 page agreement between the Bush and Kerry campaigns for the upcoming Presidential debates.

filed under: 2004 Debates , For The Record