Politirazzi

Politirazzi makes its predictions (more to come), and we want to hear yours:

Emily
McCain: Tim Pawlenty
Obama: Kathleen Sebelius

David
McCain: Kay Bailey Hutchinson
Obama: Jack Reed

Amara
McCain: Mitt Romney
Obama: Evan Bayh

Dontre
McCain: Bobby Jindal
Obama: Joe Biden

Dan
McCain: Mitt Romney
Obama: Chris Dodd

LaShawnda
McCain: Mitt Romney
Obama: Claire McCaskill

Bragg
McCain: Tim Pawlenty
Obama: Hillary Clinton

Jamshid
McCain: Mitt Romney
Obama: Jack Reed

The Associated Press moved an alert not 10 minutes ago stating that Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a U.S. Representative from Ohio, had died. Then, about a minute ago, it recanted that alert with this gem of comedic gold:

Kill the APNewsAlert saying U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones has died. A doctor says she is in critical condition.

Yes, its very sad that someone is dying, but a slow golf clap goes to The Associated Press on this one.

Play a game of dead or not dead with yourself here.

— Lizzy

An Obama-Clinton ticket to stun the nation? GOP blogger Bragg believes Obama has this surprise stored up his sleeve.

By Bragg

Barack Obama has unquestionably had a tough few weeks. His overseas tour seemed to do more harm than good, as a trip designed to shore up his commander-in-chief bona fides ended up coming across as presumptuous and hubristic. McCain’s clever “Celeb” ad featuring Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, while called “juvenile” by Obama and his media cohorts, actually was quite effective — if for nothing else than because it gave McCain some attention in an otherwise Obama-dominated media narrative.

In recent weeks, stories have surfaced of “nervousness” or even “buyer’s remorse” in the Democratic party, as party activists wonder why Obama can’t seem to open up a solid lead against McCain in an otherwise slam-dunk Democratic election year. Last week Obama made the curious decision not only to give both Hillary and Bill Clinton primetime speaking slots at next week’s Democratic National Convention, but also to allow Hillary’s name to officially be placed in nomination.

While the joint statement released by the erstwhile rivals claimed this was a unifying step, one could argue that it may have the opposite effect and detract from what should be an all-Obama-all-the-time convention. (If you have any doubts, ask the so-called P.U.M.A. — “Party Unity My Ass” — group of Hillary supporters who obviously still harbor pie-in-the-sky hopes of somehow engineering a convention coup to nominate Hillary instead.)

(continued)

Continue reading "Hillary and Barack: Dream ticket deja vu" »

Who will be the No. 2 sharing Obama's ballot? How about the running mate to supplement McCain's ticket? I greatly dislike the suspense. So tell us already. Any minute now. Any minute now. To hold you over, here are some staff analyses to mull over:

* Who will Barack Obama choose as VP? By David Freedlander

* Obama, McCain open search for running mates. By Emily Ngo

* On the next episode of ... The VEEP. By Kim Reynolds (scroll down)

Capitalizing on the oil-drilling debate, Sen. John McCain tours the Chevron Genesis Oil Rig Platform on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans. (AP)

By Amara

The suave savior, Barack Obama, otherwise known as “The One,” has reason to be nervous after the past few weeks. John McCain, no doubt less telegenic, has hit Obama with a one-two punch on the issues and TKO in a forum proving the old adage that you can get by on charm for 10 minutes — after that, you better have something to back it up.

We can start with the issue of offshore drilling. The issue has left Barack Obama two-faced as he decides whether to cave into his liberal, Pelosi-like base or the 70 percent of America that agrees we should drill. Now, even as part of said 70 percent, I understand we won’t obtain the oil tomorrow. Still, drilling, as McCain understands, does drive down oil prices even before we have it physically.

This was best explained by Harvard Professor Martin Feldstein in the Wall Street Journal, when he said that the nature of the relationship between current and future oil prices implies that the expectation that we will have more oil will drive down oil prices today. Therefore, steps taken now to increase the future supply of oil can lead both to lower prices and increased consumption now. McCain’s assertion that we need to drill here and we need to drill now is not empty — and the American people know that.

(continued)

Continue reading "Triple threat for McCain; one big threat for Obama" »

By Bragg

So, a friend of mine who is (was) a big Hillary Clinton supporter got an e-mail from Hillary's campaign on Friday. Below is the e-mail, the subject of which was, "I"ll see you in Denver." Am I the only one who finds the tone of this e-mail strange? Does it not seem — putting aside the obligatory references to Obama — that the Democratic Convention is Hillary's convention, and that she is the Democratic nominee? You be the judge:

By Jeff

What should McCain do to start getting more positive press? Well, for starters he could talk about himself more than he talks about Obama. There’s no question that Obama is getting more press than McCain, but even McCain’s own site talks about Obama more than it talks about McCain. The Boston Globe’s wordpile shows a pretty good picture that McCain’s strategy has been largely anti-Obama rather than pro-McCain.

His media advertising strategy is all about Obama as well; and it’s a weird one. The visuals are at odds with the content — where if you watch the ad with the sound off, it looks like an Obama ad showing how people love him all of the world because he’s got such an engaging personality and demeanor. How is that supposed to dissuade a potential voter?

McCain may not be getting much press, but the press that Obama has been getting is largely negative. The major stories the last couple weeks have been issues that have hurt Obama. Whether it’s the weird Obama advertising strategy or those major stories or a combination of both, it looks like it’s working as the national polls have shown.

(Photo: AP)

(continued)

Continue reading "McCain, take the media focus off Obama" »

By Bragg

Despite being a Republican, I will readily admit that I gained newfound respect for Hillary Clinton during the course of her campaign, particularly the tenacity with which she continued to battle Barack Obama until the very end. I was frequently impressed by her command of facts and the ease with which she could articulate her positions. She debated well, and showed flashes of humor and charm that I had not previously seen. I had decided a few months ago that if there had to be a Democrat in the White House, I hoped it would be Hillary. I felt she was more qualified than Obama, and from the standpoint of national security and foreign policy, I felt that she’d be less likely to “go wobbly” on us, to quote the great Margaret Thatcher.

With that said, in reading Joshua Green’s much-discussed article this month in The Atlantic, I feel as though a Hillary Clinton presidency might have been far worse than I had begun to think. Green’s article is a must-read for political junkies (particularly the juicy memos and e-mails that Green obtained and provides), but for Clinton supporters — especially those who contributed to or raised money for her campaign — I recommend a stiff drink prior to, during and probably after reading it.

The article exposes a campaign riddled with paranoid infighting, hurt by damaging leaks, weakened by inept financial management, crippled by an absence of contingency planning and, most of all, fundamentally flawed by shockingly poor leadership from the top — from Hillary, herself.

(continued)

Continue reading "Hillary's not-so-rosy campaign" »

By Meg

Give! (clap) That! (clap) Girl a Hand! (clap) Give That Girl a Hand! (clap-clap, clap-clap)

Geez, people, leave Cindy alone.

Poor Mrs. McCain was treated for a minor sprain on Wednesday after being hand-strangled at a campaign event.

I smell a rat. Who is really responsible for this? Enthusiastic McCain supporter ... or a disguised Rachael Ray finally getting her revenge? America deserves to know!

(Photo: Los Angeles Times)

By Jeff

It has become apparent that when it comes to taxes, Sen. Obama’s goal isn’t determining which system will have the best balance between economic productivity and maximizing revenues to the government, but on how he can most effectively redistribute wealth. It was most recently apparent when Obama announced the “windfall profits” tax on oil companies because he felt that the oil companies had made “excess profits” and that it was somehow the governments role to redistribute that wealth to consumers (i.e. bribe them for votes).

An example during the last Clinton debate when he was posed a question as to why he would recommend increasing the capital gains tax when history shows that when the capital gains rate was lowered (Clinton and Bush II), the revenues went up. But when it was increased (Reagan), revenues went down. His answer was: “What I've said is that I would look at raising the capital-gains tax for purposes of fairness."

He’s not looking for a tax code that is maximally efficient. No, he’s focused on “fairness,” which is another word for “redistribution,” which is why his camp has marketed his economic plan by saying 85 percent of Americans would pay lower taxes under Obama’s plan than McCain’s, and why you have so many on the right calling him a Marxist.

(continued)

Continue reading "Figuring it out: Fairness or redistribution?" »

By Amara

Three “Republicans” came out today in support of Barack Obama. Obama can choose to make a big show about these party-line-crossers, but he may want to have his vetting team take a look at them first. Or, even better, I’ll save them the work.

Today’s NY Sun editorial page carried descriptions of the GOPers for Obama:

Rita Hauser: A loyal friend to Western civilization’s enemies, including terrorist-extraordinaire, Yasser Arafat, and Rashid Khalidi, the Columbia University professor who professes not much more than hate for American policy — you know, the same America that gives crazies like him the right to speak freely.

Lincoln Chaffee: A RINO-turned-nothing (he “left” the party) who voted against Ambassador Bolton (huge mistake, huge!), against Justice Alito and against cutting taxes on capital gains. Some crossover he was ...

(continued)

Continue reading "Obama, don't get excited about your GOP backers" »

Sen. John Edwards circa 2000 bears a striking resemblance to our favorite southern dimbulb -- '30 Rock's' Kenneth.

We were startled, in fact, we gasped at this resemblance! Are "Kenneth" (Jack McBrayer) and John Edwards long lost twins?

While surfing through shots of Sen. John Edwards (looking for a good one to add to our political "Faces of Shame" photo gallery), we suddenly came across this photograph of the fresh-faced senator back in 2002 when he was gunning for the Al Gore veep spot.

The image snapped at a Tar Heel town hall meeting in Greenville, N.C. on Aug. 3, 2000.

The Edwards of a few years back - when the road ahead showed nothing but promise and possibility - is a dead ringer for fellow southern boy "Kenneth" - the lovably innocent - and, ahem, law-abiding and morally upright NBC page character on the still under-loved best-sitcom-since-Arrested-Development "30 Rock."

Why isn't the National Enquirer all over this? Couldn't it be Kenneth skulking around with ex-NYC party girl Rielle Hunter? Is Edwards just the fall guy?

Or if not -- maybe this opens up a new career opportunity for Edwards. If he's shamed out of politics for cheating on his cancer-stricken wife, then perhaps there's a future for him as Jack McBrayer's - Kenneth's -stunt double.

By Meg

The Edwards affair seems to have struck a nerve with a lot of people I know. I’ll be honest with you, Politirazzi readership: I couldn’t care less about political affairs of the heart unless, of course, the scandal involves outright abuse of power.

I might be interested in reading about an affair where the politician in question — and this is just a hypothetical off the top of my head — had been shuttling his mistress to and fro’ the Hamptons via personal NYPD escort, but a good, old-fashioned, toe-tappin’-on-the-bathroom-floor-type Washington sex scandal has really never aroused (insert Beavis and/or Butthead laugh here) my curiosity or concern. Hence my complete lack of interest in John’s liaison dangereus.

But maybe I’m missing something? The fact of the matter is that no politician I’ve ever voted for has been involved in a sex scandal.

Clinton? I was so totally over him by the time Monica hit the news. McGreevy? More like McSkeevy. Spitzer? Hey, karma’s a bitch, buddy.

So I thought it necessary to get the perspective of someone who voted for Edwards. Unfortunately, I could only find one: My brother, Kevin, a registered Democrat who voted for Edwards in the N.J. primary in February. (Remember, Edwards dropped out of the race in January. Yeah, stubbornness runs in the family.)

Meg Boyle: Thanks for talking to us today, Kevin.

Kevin Boyle: Thanks for having me, Meg.

MB: So, how stupid do you feel right now?

KB: I don’t feel stupid at all. John Edwards is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

MB: Have you spoken with John? How is he?

(continued)

Continue reading "The Boyles talk Edwards" »

By Emily

Now that it's all out in the open (although NYC media will continue to pursue "baby daddy" details), the new question about the John Edwards/Rielle Hunter affair has become: How was the mainstream media supposed to treat it?

Were we right to sidestep it? Were we too liberal to out Edwards? Is the National Enquirer too trashy to be a trusted in the least? Is it just plain none of anyone's business? Will Edwards' admission draw attention to how John and Cindy McCain met?

Here's a great analysis by The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz.

Now, when is it time to talk about actual campaign issues?

We pulled together photos from the Associated Press (top) and Getty Images (bottom) to create what we think is the sequence of events when President Bush visited some women's beach volleyball players at the Olympics this weekend.

Still not sure what's going on here — maybe he's getting a tutorial on the hand signals players use to communicate with each other?

Or perhaps there's a simpler explanation.

Check out 37 other photos of President Bush's goofiest moments at the Olympics, so far.

He really seems to be having a ball — perks like this must be why the Obama-McCain race is so hard-fought.

Watch your digital inboxes to find out who Barack taps as his VP. Seriously.

By Kimberly

* Is Obama the anti-Christ? That seems to be the alternative interpretation of the latest McCain Internet ad “The One.” Detailed analysis comparing the ad’s seemingly innocuous verbiage to that of the 1990 apocalyptic "Left Behind" series hints that the subtext of the ad to Evangelicals has a very charged meaning. Here is a thorough analysis from a Democratic consulting group that describes how “The One” paints the picture that voting for Obama will lead to the end of the world.

* The “Straight Talk Express” gets into a fender bender, sports an Obama sticker.

* McCain continues to belittle his wife in suggesting that she could be the next “Miss Buffalo Chip” while campaigning at a biker rally in South Dakota. And according to those familiar with this pageant, it has been described as “essentially a topless beauty pageant […] and occasionally bottomless, too.”

* For those of you who still have not seen the Paris Hilton response ad to McCain’s “Celeb,” here it is.

By David

From The Trail:

The Democratic National Committee may be trying to get some mileage out of recent news about oil industry contributions to Republican Sen. John McCain, launching a web site spoofing the idea of McCain sharing his presidential ticket with Exxon. But they may have found an unwelcome surprise in a just-released analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Turns out, the biggest recipient of contributions from Exxon executives and employees during this campaign is not McCain. It's Obama.

The non-partisan center writes: "Through June, Exxon employees have given Obama $42,100 to McCain's $35,166. Chevron favors Obama $35,157 to $28,500, and Obama edges out McCain with BP $16,046 vs. $11,500."

"McCain leads the money race with nearly every other top giver in the oil and gas industry, though — Koch Industries, Valero, Marathon Oil, Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips," the report says. "McCain also has a big edge with Hess Corp. — $91,000 to Obama's $8,000 — which has gotten some attention. And, overall, McCain's campaign has gotten three times more money from the industry than Obama's has — $1.3 million compared to about $394,000."

Boom. This strikes as a moment akin to al-Maliki saying he supports Obama's plan for Iraq, in that it undercuts not just a major talking, but a central rationale for his candidacy.

By Lynne

The Associated Press has Obama with a slim national lead over McCain. Who cares?

Now, I don’t mean the kind of who-cares-yawn-o-rama-Obama fatigue that is affecting 48 percent of voters (and 51 percent of Independents); I mean, who cares because — duh — did we not learn a single thing about the Electoral College after the 2000 election?

It’s not completely clear which state polls their data comes from, but at least the folks over at democraticSPACE seem to get the fact that the outcome of the presidential election is based on the actual result in each state, since that is what determines how many Electoral College votes that presidential candidates receive.

So they look to state polls, not national polls. Makes sense, right?

In their match up, Obama is kicking the wrinkly, white-haired guy’s butt with 332 Electoral College votes to 216 (the magic threshold is 270). They have Ohio, Michigan and Virginia going to Obama with North Carolina, Florida and Missouri going to McCain.

But a recent Quinnipiac University poll says that Florida and Ohio are “too close to call” even though, just last month, Obama was ahead in Florida and Ohio (and Pennsylvania).

(continued)

Continue reading "For whom the poll tolls" »

This looks all kinds of awesome, or all kinds of awful. I'm going to go with the latter but bet I love it anyway.