Less than 4 weeks ago, Sarah Palin was praising Obama

On August 4th, Alaska Governor (and now the Republican VP pick) had the following posted on the Alaska government website:

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"I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs."

In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, “Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process.”

Governor Palin also acknowledged the Senator’s proposal to offer $1,000 rebates to those struggling with the high cost of energy.

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Oh, yeah, and while we are on it:

Election Speculation

This one seems to be ramping up more than usual, I just got told the NDP is planning for Harper to call it in the first week of September (for October) AND that all the Conservative Ministers were told to be in Ottawa next week AND that conservatives have been clearing their schedules through September/October.

Update: Looks like the Liberals are hearing similar things

What if you threw a leadership contest and nobody came?

From the Leader Post:

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Ryan Bater will be the new leader of the provincial Liberal party after a contest that was over before it ever really began.At the 5 p.m. close of nominations on Friday, Bater was the only candidate, meaning he will be acclaimed as leader at the party's November convention.

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Congratulations, I think :-)

At least he has a sense of perspective:

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"As far as being negative though, people should be reminded that both Brad Wall and Roy Romanow were acclaimed as leaders of their parties and went on to lead their parties to success," he said of the current Saskatchewan Party premier and former NDP premier.

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HA HA HA HA.

I know Roy Romanow sir, and you are no Roy Romanow.

You're not even a Brad Wall.

John McCain's Voting Record

Affirmative Action = 7%
Human Rights = 33%
Civil Liberties = 0% [That's right, 0%!]

Source: On the Issues

Rated 0% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record.
McCain scores 0% by the ACLU on civil rights issues

Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: ACLU website 02n-ACLU on Dec 31, 2002

Rated 33% by the Human Rights Campaign, indicating a mixed record on gay rights.
McCain scores 33% by the HRC

The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of more than 700,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

Source: HRC website 06n-HRC on Dec 31, 2006

Rated 7% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance.
McCain scores 7% by the NAACP on affirmative action

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has worked over the years to support and promote our country's civil rights agenda. Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has worked tirelessly to end racial discrimination while also ensuring the political, social, and economic equality of all people.

Source: NAACP website 06n-NAACP on Dec 31, 2006

John McCain is a technological troglodyte, and proud of it

A good piece from Salon on why understanding technology is important for political leaders.

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John McCain spends a lot of time talking about Iraq. He also likes talking about terrorism. But one issue he rarely touches upon is technology. In fact, under the "Issues" section of his campaign Web site, technology isn't even an option.
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"I'm an illiterate who has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance that I can get," McCain said in an interview with Yahoo/Politico earlier this year.
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with people wondering if his lack of technology skills is simply part of the "generational gap" between him and younger voters.
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The United States currently sticks out globally for having no national broadband policy -- a plan to give every American access to affordable high-speed Internet connections. Roughly half of the country's households still lack broadband connections, and the United States continues to fall behind.
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Science and technology certainly haven't been priorities under the Bush administration. A 2005 report by the National Academy of Sciences concluded, "The scientific and technical building blocks of our economic leadership are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength."
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McCain has a history of opposing increased Internet access for schools and libraries, backing large mergers to benefit the telecom industry and supporting a virtual system of haves and have-nots.

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Political RickRolling - Barackrolling (At least let it play for 30 seconds!)

Barack is BACK!

This is the kind of smackdown the Republicans sorely need. And the Left needs to shut-up about how this guy can't handle the smears.

Shaping up to be a good Olympics

When will the VP Spots be announced?

As there seems to be never ending speculation about who will win the so-called "veepstakes" on both sides., I thought it would be a good time to point out that we are still weeks away from knowing the answer to this question.

Tradition is that the party that currently controls the White House to hold its convention after the other party (why? who knows.) So the order this year will be Democrats, then Republicans.

However, the Democrats have to worry about the Summer Olympics so they pushed their convention to August 25th-28th, and the Republicans (going second) will hold the latest convention in recent history on September 1-4.

How soon before the conventions will the respective VP choices be announced? Listed below are the dates the nominee announced the selection of his running mate and corresponding dates of the convention…

• 2004- John Kerry/John Edwards- Announced July 6th (Democratic Convention: July 26th-July 29th)
• 2000- George W. Bush/Dick Cheney- Announced July 25th (Republican Convention: July 31st-August 3rd)
• 2000- Al Gore/Joe Lieberman- Announced August 8th (Democratic Convention: August 14th-August 17th)
• 1996- Bob Dole/Jack Kemp- Announced August 11th (Republican Convention: Aug 12th-15th)
• 1992- Bill Clinton/Al Gore- Announced July 10th (Democratic Convention: July 13th-16th)
• 1988- Michael Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen- Announced July 13th (Democratic Convention: July 18th-21st)

(Source)

So almost every running mate has been announced days before the party’s national convention. So the Democratic choice will probably be announced on or around August 21st (To get a full news cylce in before the convention) and the Republicans will announce on or around August 28th (same reason)