Month: August 2008

In The Eye Of The Storm

by digby

It’s great seeing President McCain on CNN speaking directly to the country, directing the convention and the hurricane efforts and all, but I would think even the media sycophants could find time to talk to a Democrat or two in this weird HurriConvention coverage.

It’s reminding me of McCain stepping up to the podium during the Georgia crisis a couple of weeks back. The shit comes down and he’s there, pretending to be president and Bush lets him. (Junior is playing the unlikely role of paper pushing bureaucrat down in the hurricane situation room, while Maverick makes the big pronouncements.) The media have no compunction about showing McCain doing his little star turn, which on this holiday week-end is likely all that people will see until the storm hits.

I saw Rove on Fox this morning going on and on about how much better everything was going to be this time for Louisiana because they had Bobby Jindal in office. Apparently, Rick Perry and Haley Barbour proved that the problem was the Democratic Governor and Republicans are much better in a crisis. And the good news for Democrats is that the entire news media is gathered with the entire Republican establishment to bring us this story for the next week.

I realize that this will likely remind people of Katrina and that should be bad for Republicans. But McCain is going to put on a show to demonstrate that he’s a “differnt kinda Republican” than Bush. He’s going to be all over our television sets with his own Brownie troop, Lindsay, Sarah and Joe, trailing behind him. The picture will say “McCain is in charge.” If the response is as bad as Katrina, he’ll suffer for it. If it isn’t, I’m afraid these next few days are going to help him a lot more than a standard convention would have.

The Democrats have to get on the radar screen here and it isn’t going to be easy to do it without looking like opportunists. I don’t have a lot of bright ideas. Perhaps Al Gore could be persuaded to make himself available?

Update: ferchristsake. I was half joking, but they are really going for it:

GOP, citing Gustav, makes case for McCain

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Republicans are already citing Hurricane Gustav as a major reason why voters should pick Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) this fall.

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) made the case Sunday that McCain is best equipped to lead the country — whether it’s acts of terrorism or acts of God.

Appearing on Fox News, Coleman repeatedly cited the campaign theme of “country first” when describing efforts to prepare the Gulf Coast for Hurricane Gustav.

He also pointed out that new leaders will be responding to the hurricane, noting there is a “different governor” and “a different FEMA.”

Erratic Prisoner Of The Right Wing

by digby

Works for me:

KERRY: […] And now, now, George, you have a choice, where John McCain has proven that he’s not a maverick, he’s erratic. He’s crossed the line from maverickism to — I mean, it’s unbelievable what’s happened, because he himself said… STEPHANOPOULOS: But let me — let me stop you right there. What do you mean — let me stop you right there, Senator Kerry. You said he’s erratic. What are you talking about there? Is that referring to the choice… KERRY: Well, I’ll tell you exactly… STEPHANOPOULOS: … of Governor Palin? KERRY: I will tell you — absolutely, because what has happened is John McCain — you know, we’ve been warning against the third term of George Bush. With the choice of Governor Palin, it’s now the third term of Bush-Cheney, because what he’s done is he’s chosen somebody who actually doesn’t believe that climate change is manmade. He’s chosen somebody who has zero — zero — experience in foreign policy. The first threshold test of a president of a nominee in choosing a vice president is to prove to the American people that the person that you’ve chosen can fill in tomorrow, that they come with the requisite experience to lead the nation in foreign policy and in national security. You know, she may be — I mean, I’m sure she’s a terrific person. I’m not attacking her. I think John McCain ‘s judgment is once again put at issue, because he’s chosen somebody who clearly does not meet the national security threshold, who is not ready to be president tomorrow. And there’s just no way to… (CROSSTALK) STEPHANOPOULOS: You heard Senator Graham, though. He said that she has more experience than Senator Obama. KERRY: That’s just ridiculous on its face. I mean, John — you know, Barack Obama has been in the United States Senate. He has not been absent more than he’s been there. She’s been a governor for, what, the two years now, Barack Obama and the four years? But, moreover, Barack Obama has traveled abroad. Look at the trip Barack Obama took. I mean, it is remarkable to me that the Republicans would try to denigrate a trip that a candidate for president takes where he attracts more — more attention, more support, if you will, than a sitting president of the United States of America. That’s what you need in leadership for a president. You need somebody who can go to Europe and say to them, “We need more help in Afghanistan.” He actually called the Europeans to account on their — on their need to be, frankly, more front-and-center in the effort to deal with Afghanistan than President Bush has. I think that’s leadership, and I think the United States of America is well-served if we have a president who’s able to do that. But coming back to this choice for a moment… STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Kerry… KERRY: … let me just say… (CROSSTALK) STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me ask you another question right now… (CROSSTALK) STEPHANOPOULOS: … because, Senator, Howard Wolfson — excuse me. Let me just ask you another question. Howard Wolfson, Senator Clinton’s former communications director, said that this pick might just work to draw women to the Republican ticket. Are you worried about that? KERRY: Well, with all due respect to Howard, you know, I have much more respect for the Clinton supporters than that sort of quick- blush take with — I mean, how stupid do they think the Clinton supporters are, for Heaven sakes? Do they think Clinton supporters supported Hillary only because she was a woman. For Heaven sakes, they supported Hillary because of all the things she’s fought for, because she fights for health care, which John McCain doesn’t support; she fights for children and children’s health care, which John McCain voted against; she fights for a windfall profits tax on the oil company, which John McCain opposes. I mean, for Heaven sakes, the people who supported Hillary Clinton are not going to be seduced just because John McCain has picked a woman. They’re going to look at what she supports. The fact that she doesn’t even support the notion that climate change is manmade — she’s back there with the Flat Earth Caucus. And I don’t see how those women are going to be fooled into believing — I think it’s almost insulting to the Hillary supporters that they believe they would support somebody who is against almost everything that they believe in. STEPHANOPOULOS: OK.
KERRY: What John McCain has proven with this choice — this is very important, George. John McCain wanted to choose Tom Ridge. He wanted to choose Joe Lieberman. He wanted to choose another candidate, but you know what? Rush Limbaugh and the right wing vetoed it. And John McCain was forced to come back and pick a sort of Cheney-esque social conservative who’s going to satisfy the base. What John McCain has proven with this choice is that John McCain is the prisoner of the right wing, not a maverick. STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Kerry, I’m afraid that’s all we have time for today. Thank you very much for your time. KERRY: Thank you.

I like it.

Once her introduction is over this week, I think Palin should probably be as ignored as all VP picks are. McCain would love to stage a “chivalrous” hissy fit over his “soul mate” and there’s no reason to give him an excuse to have one.

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Bush Cheney, And McCain Implement Operation Hype The Hurricane

by tristero

Since the deeply loathed Bush and Cheney will skip their party’s convention in order to pretend to be in charge of the Hurricane Gustav response, I can only assume that McCain’s pr gang is sighing with relief.

Elsewhere I read that McCain may address the convention from somewhere near the hurricane. What that means is, in reality, that McCain will be in the way, and will clog the response. But nothing will stand in St. John’s way of creating the impression he cares about this country’s little people, the kind that don’t travel by private plane around their state. And let’s face it, creating the impression of caring is a lot more fun than actually caring. All y’gotta do is look concerned.

Oh, and what about the Gulf Coast? Have no fear: Blackwater’s got it under control.

3 Variations On A Shorter Sarah Palin

by tristero

1. How refreshing and bold! Yet another ignorant far right nut who abuses government power for personal reasons!

2. Frank Rich:

The main reason McCain knuckled under to the religious right by picking Palin is that he actually believes there’s a large army of embittered Hillary loyalists who will vote for a hard-line conservative simply because she’s a woman. That’s what happens when you listen to the TV news echo chamber. Not only is the whole premise ludicrous, but it is every bit as sexist as the crude joke McCain notoriously told about Janet Reno, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

3. Samantha B:

Saturday Night At The Movies

Extreme Zen: Man on Wire

By Dennis Hartley

I’m up on the tightwire
flanked by life and the funeral pyre
putting on a show
for you to see

-from “Tightrope”, by Leon Russell

On the surface, Man on Wire may appear to be a straightforward documentary about an eccentric high wire artist who is either incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid. But if you look closer, you might discover one of the best suspense thrillers/heist movies of 2008, although no guns are drawn and nothing gets stolen. It is also one of the most romantic films I’ve seen this year, although it is not a traditional love story. Existential and even a tad surreal at times, it is ultimately a deeply profound treatise on following your bliss.

Late in the summer of 1974, a diminutive Frenchman named Philippe Petit made a splash (of the figurative kind, luckily) by treating unsuspecting NYC morning commuters to the sight of a lifetime: a man taking a casual morning stroll across a ¾” steel cable, stretched from rooftop to rooftop between the two towers of the then-unfinished World Trade Center, 1350 feet skyward. After traversing the 200 foot wide chasm with supernatural ease, he decided to turn around and have another go. And another. And another. All told, Petit made 8 round trips, with only one brief but memorable rest stop. He took a breather to lie on his back (mid-wire) and enjoy what had to have been the ultimate Moment of Zen ever experienced in the history of humankind, contemplating the sky and enjoying a little chit-chat with a seagull (Jonathan Livingston, I presume?) He even ventured a few Fred Astaire moves as he giggled like a 4-year-old splashing around in a backyard kiddy pool. By the time he delivered himself into the less-than-welcoming arms of the NYPD, Petit had spent an astonishing 45 minutes frolicking in the clouds. The only injuries incurred were provided courtesy of the cops, who decided to test this uppity foreigner’s gravity-defying powers by handcuffing him and “helping” him down a flight of stairs.

Now, a stunt like this doesn’t just happen on a whim. There are a few logistical hurdles to consider beforehand. Like how do you transport 450 lbs of steel cable to the roof of one tower of the World Trade Center, and then safely tether it across to its twin? And perhaps most importantly, considering the fact that the top floors of the complex were still under construction and therefore “off limits” to visitors, how do you even case the joint without anyone noticing? Then there’s the whole pesky issue of possibly ending up in stir on a reckless endangerment beef; at the very least, a charge of criminal trespass. Considering all of that, the actual act of traipsing the wire starts to look like the easiest part of the gig. A clandestine operation of this magnitude requires meticulous planning, and at least a couple trustworthy co-conspirators. Sounds like the makings of a classic heist film, no?

All of this potential for a cracking good true-life tale was not lost on director James Marsh, who enlisted the still spry and charmingly elfin Petit, along with a few members of his “crew” to give a first-hand account of events leading up to what can perhaps best be described as a “performance art heist”. Taking an obvious stylistic cue from docu-master Errol Morris, Marsh lets these intimate and engagingly spun first person recollections drive the compelling narrative for his artfully rendered mélange of archival footage and faux-cinema verite reenactments. Marsh also deserves kudos for his excellent choice of music. Excerpts from Michael Nyman’s lovely “La traversee de Paris” are used to great effect, and the accompaniment of Peter Green’s sublime, haunting guitar instrumental “Albatross” to one of Petit’s more balletic high wire walks is an unexpected treat, making for a truly transcendent cinematic moment.

Of course, the foremost question on anyone’s mind would be “Why did he do it?” It certainly wasn’t for money (first clue: no corporate sponsors, at least up to and including his 1974 feat). It did not appear to be an act of willful self promotion, which is where he decidedly parts ways with say, an Evel Knievel. He didn’t appear to be making any kind of political or social statement. So what gives? At the time, he enigmatically offered “When I see three oranges, I juggle; when I see two towers, I walk.” Petit himself remains a bit elusive on the motivations for his stunts. The director doesn’t really push the issue, which I think is a wise choice. When you watch the mesmerizing footage of Petit floating on the air between the towers of Notre Dame, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and then ultimately the World Trade Center, you realize that it is simply an act of pure aesthetic grace, like a beautiful painting or an inspired melody. And you also suspect that he does it…because he can. That’s impressive enough for me, because I can barely balance a checkbook, and when it comes to heights, I get a nosebleed from thick socks.

You’ll poke your eye out: The Wall Crawler: The Vertical Adventures of Alain Robert, Evel Knievel, Houdini,Fast, Cheap & Out of Control ,The Man Who Skied Down Everest,The White Diamond , The Right Stuff, No Title Found, Wings of Desire , 5 Films About Christo and Jeanne-Claude – A Maysles Films Production.

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Proud To Be An American

by dday

Despite attending the DNC convention, the presence of protesters wasn’t all that prominent unless you knew where to look. The security presence was palpable, and there definitely were lots of anti-abortion activists in the streets, but overall you had to look for and find the more wide-scale protests that were expected. And the cops actually facilitated the Tent State march on the Pepsi Center on Wednesday by leading the parade.

The RNC is far different, at least so far. Before one activist has hit the streets, before the delegates have even assembled, there is a coordinated effort by law enforcement to raid suspected protesters and imprison them.

Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with sub-machine guns drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff’s department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than “fire code violations,” and early this morning, the Sheriff’s department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying.

Jane Hamsher and I were at two of those homes this morning — one which had just been raided and one which was in the process of being raided. Each of the raided houses is known by neighbors as a “hippie house,” where 5-10 college-aged individuals live in a communal setting, and everyone we spoke with said that there had never been any problems of any kind in those houses, that they were filled with “peaceful kids” who are politically active but entirely unthreatening and friendly. Posted below is the video of the scene, including various interviews, which convey a very clear sense of what is actually going on here.

Here’s some streaming video of an ongoing raid as well. Lindsay Beyerstein has further info on another raid. There are reports of law enforcement snatching people off the streets as well. The National Lawyers Guild is dispatching attorneys to these sites and then THEY are being detained. This is a full-on police state in the Twin Cities so the authoritarians can hold their party without being burdened with dissent.

This is the 21st century reality of a growing surveillance state and how the feds handle big events – with brute force and ruthlessness. The STASI would be impressed.

Update: From digby — has anyone seen even one news story on this? I haven’t.

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The One Part Of The Hurricane Response Republicans Won’t Screw Up

by tristero

In a post earlier today, Digby noted that for Republicans, ” A big disaster is a big opportunity. ”

Indeed it is:

Officials with the McCain campaign and the Republican National convention are considering changing the event’s agenda as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the Gulf Coast…

A senior McCain source said Saturday that officials are considering turning the convention into a service event, a massive telethon to raise money for the Red Cross and other agencies to help with the hurricane.

“He wants to do something service-oriented if and when the storm hits and it’s as bad as its expected to be now,” the McCain source said.

They are also hoping to get McCain himself to a storm-affected area as soon as possible.

And Bush is planning probably to skip the convention in order to look presidential during a crisis – I’m sorry, I meant to type “closely monitor the effectiveness of the emergency response forces.”

It is genuinely revolting to think of a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane as a marketing op, but this is, after all, a country run by a man who let himself be photographed carrying a fake turkey to feed soldiers in Iraq. So I wonder if the Obama team has given any thought to what a spectacular PR coup this will be. And the bar for Republicans to “succeed” is particularly low. All Bush needs to do is to ensure that less than 1836 Americans end up drowning in their own waste, as they did the last time a hurricane struck during a Republican presidency to declare Operation Hype The Hurricane a triumph.

(By the way, the entire CNN article stinks to heaven. It sounds like a trial balloon, to test how the idea of a telethon might play.)

{UPDATE: The Republican hyping of Gustav begins. And where are the Democrats?}

Not A Good Sign

by digby

Republicans still run the state, so if there are any “discrepancies” in November, they will have the levers of power. Again:

Florida often is the butt of election jokes, and Indian River County unknowingly played a contributing role Tuesday when the Supervisor of Elections reported 5,189 more votes than were actually cast. It doesn’t exactly instill confidence in the system. Not with the Nov. 4 presidential election looming. Lest we forget Florida’s role in the 2000 race for the White House. We were “The Decider” in the Electoral College — George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by 537 votes. Tell me Tuesday’s Texas-sized blunder isn’t going to put us on the radar of ’08 election watchdogs, be they partisan groups or the national media. As we learned Thursday, votes in 40 of the 54 precincts were counted twice. Fortunately for Kay Clem, who is bidding for a fourth term as supervisor of elections, all of Tuesday’s winners stayed the same. It was pure luck.

And then there’s this, by Robert Parry:

Barack Obama made it across the tightrope of the Democratic National Convention, gaining solid endorsements from Bill and Hillary Clinton and giving a rousing speech before some 80,000 supporters at Invesco Field in Denver. But now comes the time when the Republicans win elections. Over the past four decades, Republicans have dominated the outcomes of presidential races by mixing negative campaigning in public with illicit dirty tricks behind the scenes, as I’ve recounted in my last two books, Secrecy & Privilege and Neck Deep.

To those of you who are criticizing me for being “pessimistic” and negative, please keep in mind that I’ve been saying the Democrats will win this election for months and months. I still think so. But I’m not enough of a Pollyanna about it that I don’t think the Democrats should ever take anything for granted.

Making Them Do It

by digby

I have written a short wrap-up of “the progressive moment” at the Denver convention over at The Big Con:

In casual conversation and formal addresses, from health care to foreign policy to media reform and beyond, the progressive agenda dominated the discourse far more than I expected. I knew there would be solidarity in opposition to conservative rule, but it no longer stems from that alone. There is a sense of opportunity and engagement with issues that I haven’t seen in progressive circles for some time.

I was quite surprised at how … well, progressive everyone was. The Democratic party is beginning to unapologetically identify itself as ideological again, tempered with a new pragmatism about Obama and what we can expect him to accomplish on his own. There wasn’t much disagreement at all on issues or the fact that the party establishment is not going to do what needs to be done without strong outside pressure.

The task before us, as a progressive movement, is to figure out how to make them do it. It’s not going to be easy, but there are a lot of ideas out there and we’d be well advised to start thinking about the next steps if we find ourselves in the incredible position of having a government that isn’t run by Karl Rove and Dick Cheney (or their clones.)

It’s a nice problem to have, isn’t it?

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Transcript of Obama’s Acceptance Speech

by tristero

It is vitally important that we continue to note the extraordinary speech Obama gave, so here is a transcript and a short quote:

America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.

It is also vitally important that we never forget how profoundly significant a date August 28 has become in American history. Most of us who lived through the Sixties could never come close to imagining the opportunity to vote for an African-American as president on a major party platform. History was made this Thursday and nothing in the hullabaloo of the latest news can possibly overshadow that.

I hope sometime next week to look at his speech in detail.