There is some evidence Barack Obama has sold his soul to the devil: Here We Go 05 Sep 2008 11:49 am Todd Palin’s former business partner files an emergency motion to have his divorce papers sealed. Oh God. Those who recall the 2004 race, Jack Ryan had his divorce records sealed and it was when the Tribune and others [...]

Caption contest!!!

* This may be a bit of a misdiagnosis… A lion of the Illinois Republican Party called the state GOP organization “weak” in a blunt assessment of how much Republicans still must do to rebuild from the ruin left by George Ryan’s corrupt tenure as governor. […] “That’s why we don’t have a constitutional office in [...]

* The DC publication RollCall takes a look at possible cabinet appointments in an Obama administration and comes up with one somewhat surprising name… Transportation Secretary. Possibilities from Congress include Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Aviation That’s the first time I’ve heard Costello’s name mentioned for the cabinet. [...]

* This is kinda strange… Cook County Forest Preserve officials are set to negotiate a deal to buy Rolling Knolls Golf Course — which is owned by county Commissioner Timothy Schneider’s family. The Forest Preserve Board on Thursday approved a proposal authorizing further talks with Schneider’s family about acquiring the 65-acre golf course near Elgin. The [...]

* Land deal, lack of certification behind Howe, mental health center closures Selling a prime piece of real estate and not being able to get recertified appear to be what’s prompted the state to announce it will close a pair of troubled facilities in Tinley Park, state lawmakers and union representatives say. The Howe Developmental [...]

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“What’s the difference between Sarah Palin and Barack Obama?”   “One is a well turned-out, good-looking, and let’s be honest, pretty sexy piece of eye-candy.   “The other kills her own food.” Gerard Baker

Blogging from Eagan, Minnesota.The crowd was in for a letdown last night at the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Center in St. Paul. The build-up to Palin's speech--and the enthusiastic reception by the partisan crowd put Republican presidential nominee John McCain in a tough spot--hitting a back to back home run. But the former prisoner-of-war has been far more difficult situations.He started off slow, calm, and modest. But that didn't stop the crowd from chanting "U.S.A, U.S.A," as we

What else can be discerned from her unfair and unbalanced programming decision that has her staff torn down the middle. Gee, let us guess, Black employees for Obama, Whites for Palin, whites are the racists there but the blacks arent and whitey loses in Orca's world....that's what it sounds like to me.Queen Big Butt has spoken. BIG DILEMMA: OPRAH BALKS AT HOSTING SARAH PALIN; STAFF DIVIDEDDRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2005®:"Oprah Winfrey may have introduced Democrat Barack Obama to the women of Americ

CHICAGO--When John McCain hits the Windy City Monday for a high dollar fund-raiser at the Chicago Hilton, it's part of a four-city "Road to Victory Tour" package designed to lure high end donors. McCain is expected to haul at least...

by Mark Silva BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Sarah Palin dominated the Republican National Convention. And, for the Republican Party, she makes for a good show. She is initially proving to be a popular pick for a vice presidential nominee - if...

by Christi Parsons ST. PAUL--New characters are onstage. Scripts have been revised with a fall audience in mind. And now that the back-to-back political conventions are over, the longest-running presidential campaign in memory enters its home stretch--finally--with the promise of...

Good morning. The national political conventions are finished and now it is a two-month sprint to the Nov. 4 election. Newly minted Republican nominee John McCain is campaigning today in Milwaukee and later Sterling Heights, Mich., while Democrat Barack...

.. so says Big Fred Thompson, Lindsey "I'm not gay" Graham, and about every other Republican at the RNC. They also gleefully and childishly crowed about how no one ever used the code word "victory" at the Dem convention. Well, there you go! They want America to fail. Even though there's millions of them and they're all... Americans. Kind of makes no sense at all... but making sense isn't the Republican's first priority. You could be excused for thinking that they AVOID it if at all possible.It's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B–GswuqiLY

Rest of NATO heard suggesting he go hunting witht he Georgian President. “Georgia will be in our alliance,” Cheney told reporters while standing alongside Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, whose pro-Western government has sought to join NATO despite Russian opposition. Angry Russian officials have repeatedly said U.S. military aid was instrumental in emboldening Georgia to try to retake [...]

Tom Cole just throws in the towel and looks for cover: The House GOP will rely on the top of their ticket for electoral victory, according to the top House Republican in charge of campaigns. “Our strength in Congressional races this year rests at the top of the ticket,” National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole [...]

Here’s the amazingly offensive 9-11 Video the RNC played. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDx80bnFrVs I think lots of people have talked about it being offensive, but tieing 9-11 to the Iranian Revolution? It’s just intellectually incoherent.

It’s that they are sooooo stupid to say it: “Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they’re a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they’re uppity,” Westmoreland said. Asked to clarify that he used the word “uppity,” Westmoreland said, “Uppity, yeah.”

Blogging at the Republican National Convention, Xcel Center, St. Paul Minnesota.I was sitting in the balcony right above the spot where for the second night in a row, a member of the radical group Code Pink tried to disrupt the Republican National Convention. This time Senator McCain was speaking, he was early into his acceptance speech. The troublemaker, a petite brunette whose name I'll post as soon as it is made public, attempted to unfurl a banner. Just as they did last night, delegates, prob

Audio AvailableChicago Public Schools says the school year began Tuesday with record attendance. That’s despite a boycott to protest funding inequities between Illinois districts.

Audio AvailableSome Barack Obama supporters watched John McCain's acceptance speech last night during the Republican National Convention. This morning they weighed in about McCain and the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ZnHTWWErM

My wife woke me up for the end of the speech. I’m still unclear how waking me up to watch that wasn’t the most pointless thing she’s ever done.

Going to watch the McCain speech later, but caught a bit just now and was rather stunned.The most important speech of his life, and they have him .... standing in a corn field?? WTF?I think he said something mildly gracious about Obama. That was nice.By the way, since I haven't seen McCain's speech yet, did he mention anything about being a P.O.W.? (cough)

The endless back and forth about "experience" is the intellectual equivilent of a circle jerk. It's crazy, because one side insists on making it about the abstract and narrow "executive" experience, of which evne Palin comes up short, and the other argues legislative and leadership experience. But face it, NO ONE is ever prepared to become president. No one ever has been, no matter how much they deluded themselves, and the public, into thinking so.What's critical is the candidates style, whether

The Colbert Show last night had me laughing out loud.A few of his unique observations in the guise of a modern right winger:In light of Cindy, and now even John McCain's absolutely flat stupid suggestion that the fact that Alaska is near Russia proves Palin has foreign policy experience, Colbert observed that Alaska is also the home of the tallest peak in America, Mt. McKinley.So, "not only is Alaska the state closest to Russia, it's also the closest to SPACE!" Which means that Palin is obviously

The Republicans have made a point of trying to say that Democrats support a "culture of death", referring to abortion rights, etc.But I have NEVER in my life seen such a nearly religious worship of death as was displayed last couple nights of the Republican National Convention.Speaker after speaker, film after film, with nothing but death, death, death shoved in your face endlessly. It was like their fetish.Thousands of names of the dead, images of the dead, those whose job it is to kill other hu

I am blessed in that I live very near (stumbling distance) to the mega-liquor store Binny’s in River North. Binny’s has every variety of wine and beer known to man (except they don’t stock Trumer Pils) and at reasonable prices, too. For Christmas someone gave me a wine stopper that you can “pump” the air [...]

G*damit! So, I’m listening to the Republican convention in passing and in the little video revealing McCain’s life story, they say that McCain’s father ordered the “carpet bombing” of Hanoi.  Jeebus! Where to start. First of all, McCain’s father was an Admiral and any wide-area saturation bombing would be carried out by the Air Force. [update: see first [...]

I am a very simple person, with simple thought processes, and a pretty black and white view of things.  Since owning a firearm is essentially illegal in the City of Chicago (for now) can someone please explain this to me?

Total snoozer. Even as someone in the opposition, I'm completely dissatisfied.It seemed like a chore -- something he had to get through rather than a pivotal moment in the campaign to elect the next president of the United States.If it were a movie, we'd all be asking for our money back.On the bright side, at least we won't be hearing from the RNC for another four years!

ST. PAUL, MN.--The Obama campaign said Thursday night it raised $10 million online in the 24 hours since Sarah Palin delivered her vice presidential acceptance speech at the GOP convention here....

MR. O'REILLY: Thanks for staying with us. I'm Bill O'Reilly. In the Impact Segment tonight, our first conversation with Senator Barack Obama. It's been a long time coming, as you know, but this afternoon, I met with the senator...

ST. PAUL, MN.-- 'Nothing is inevitable here," said John McCain as he wrapped up his speech at the 2008 Republican convention. Transcript courtesy Federal News Service....

by Frank James At Republican gatherings, we media types take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. Next to whoever are the leaders of the Democratic Party at a given time, we're the GOP's favorite pinatas. They clearly feel they need...

by Frank James The last people a politician might want to get on the wrong side of are community organizers. By definition, they know how to organize. They can have a group of sign-toting, chanting protesters marching around your house...

by Mark Silva ST. PAUL -- Republican Sen. John McCain, with an opening nod of public respect for his Democratic rival, pledged to his party tonight that he will wage a winning fight for the White House. And McCain, who...

As the Democratic Primary draws near (Sept. 9th!) some more people are speaking out on the First Civil Court race in Brooklyn. I want to offer up the opinion of the Brooklyn Papers and Lambda Independent Democrats on Roger Adler and Devin Cohen (the two candidates running). Let me remind our readers of my standard disclaimer: one of the candidates, Devin Cohen, is a friend of mine, so I am biased.That said, most people seem deeply disturbed by Roger Adler's anti-gay stands, ties to the Conservati

As the September 9th Primary nears, I want to post this again. This comes from a blogger I seldom agree with, but on this issue I solidly agree with. From Room 8 (a blog I seldom agree with, but do on this issue...)“There’s no question that mayoral control has done really positive great things.”----Dan Squadron“We need to get parents back in the process in a real way; we need to empower them. I feel the legislature was mislead by this Mayor…”---State Senator Marty ConnorAs Mike Bloomberg moves to

ST PAUL, MN.--This dispatch Thursday from the Obama team: "We have raised $8 million online since Palin's speech from over 130,000 donors - on pace to hit $10 million by the time John McCain hits the stage tonight."...

by Mark Silva ST. PAUL - Barack Obama, who opposed President Bush's deployment of additional military forces in Iraq and pledges to bring American troops home, says the president's "surge'' of forces "succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.'' "I think that...

by Frank James Davide Axelrod, senior adviser to Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign took after Republican vice presidential nominee today and the Republicans naturally didn't like it. This is from an Associated Press story: Earlier in the day Obama's top...

I was at the end of the row, press level the top of the convention center, so I was right next to the volunteer ushers, they happened to be a couple of women. When she did her hockey mom shtick, we laughed and looked at each other and I said I'm a hockey mom, well it's been a few years, and one of the women said, "I'm a hockey grandma", and hey, we're in a hockey stadium in hockey-happy Minnesota. Sarah is one of us.Watch out for the slapshot Barack. This woman plays basketball too. And last nig

It posts a big ‘ole article by the Pharmacists for Life group talking about how normal the Palin family is.  In general, I don’t find the family terribly remarkable so I have no big complaint with the thesis, but having a group like Pharmacists for Life call you normal should be disconcerting. Besides being anti-contraception, they [...]

Other reactions National Journal’s CongressDailyAugust 18, 1992 Although the delegates appeared to love Pat Buchanan’s takeno-prisoners speech Monday night, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said today he believes waging cultural war using social issues like abortion and homosexuality is a political loser. “I don’t think it appears to be a winning issue for the president,” Lugar told reporters. [...]

For the first time ever in this election cycle the GOP actually has momentum. We were watching this election slowly trickle down our pantlegs, until last night. But now McCain and Palin have gone off-script. The planned ritual execution of the Old White Guys before the coronation of His Holiness Barack I is now [...]

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Since the Republican National Convention is under way and humming right along, I thought I’d ask this… Who is your favorite Illinois Republican? Explain. Bonus Question: Who is your least favorite Illinois Republican? Explain. Please, make sure you answer the first question before you tackle the bonus question.

* As I already told you, the Illinois House is coming back next week to deal with a few issues, including a Lottery lease. Rep. Gary Hannig told one of his local papers that he expects the chamber will take up a capital projects spending bill as well as the Lottery lease revenue [...]

* Editorial… Illinoisans might have trouble following Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proclamation to observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month by “encouraging those struggling with substance abuse to seek treatment.” That’s because the governor is “celebrating” by cutting the legs out from under those who provide such treatment. His statewide budget cuts chopped $55 million out of [...]

*** UPDATE *** No meeting yet, but they’ve apparently narrowed the possible days down to two… Now that state Senator James Meeks has called off his Chicago school boycott, he and Governor Rod Blagojevich are working out a meeting date to discuss plans to help underfunded schools. Meeks says the governor’s office has suggested Monday [...]

Tom Maguire [via Instapundit] says: Obama was wrong about the surge while McCain was right, but by and large I think the case could be made (but not by me!) that Obama is by far the more thoughtful and reflective of the two candidates and far more disposed to listen to a range of advice.  My guess [...]

Grannies: Gotta Love ‘Em: (A new employee informs me that she spotted a little boy sneaking some candy in his pants. I confront the boy and an older woman about it.) Me: “Excuse me, ma’am. Hey, kiddo, what’s in your pocket?” Boy: “Nothing!” Granny: “Oh, h***, again?! Boy, if you don’t put that d***ed candy back, that lady gonna [...]

The Assistant Village Idiot observes that Democratic politicians tend to say “I’ll fight for you,” whereas Republican politicians tend to say “I’ll work for you.” His explanation: Republicans run for office telling you they’re going to work for you, because that’s how they perceive progress happening: someone works for it. Democrats run telling you they’re going [...]

(There have been a lot of posts here lately concerning some serious subjects, such as the pending US election or the Russian invasion of Georgia. I thought we could use some lighter fare.) It must have been twenty years since I first heard about it. A wife would wonder if her husband was cheating [...]

Blogging from Eagan, Minnesota.It was a powerful night of speeches last night at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney did something at the Xcel Center he's not known for--giving an emotionally charged address. Here is a bit of what he said:The right course is the one championed by Ronald Reagan 30 years ago, and by John McCain today. It is to rein in government spending and lower taxes, for taking a weed-whacker to excessive regulation and mand

We in Chicago know a fighter when we see one, Obama is not one, Palin is.She kicked some major liberal ass last night as the blogosphere shows, and as the Obama sniffing Mass Media bites their lips and gives Palin her due in some corners.Even the 100% liberal republican hating and often racist Mary Mitchell from the Sun Times tips her hat to Palin in a backhanded way, an amazing thing from the die hard Obama supporter she is.Palin shows she knows how to throw a punch:: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Mary

Let's See the Messiah do that, not in a million years. In Fact here's what happens when Obama doesn't have a teleprompter within reach......BREAKING: Sarah Palin "Winged" Her Speech Because of "Broken" Teleprompter:RedState: "Halfway through Sarah Palin's speech tonight at the RNC, people following the speech noticed she was deviating from the prepared text.According to sources close to the McCain campaign, the teleprompter continued scrolling during applause breaks. As a result, half way through

by Mark Silva BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Leave it to the Alaskans. On the night that their governor was nominated for the vice presdiency of the United States, they cast several votes for Ron Paul in the nomination of a president....

by James Oliphant Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden appeared on the Today show Thursday morning reacting to Sarah Palin's speech. Biden said Palin failed to address economic issues....

by Mark Silva BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- President Gerald Ford pardoned President Richard Nixon. Does an Obama-Biden administration have something else in mind for members of the Bush administration who have refused to cooperate with congressional investigations of its activities? Or...

by James Oliphant PITTSBURGH-- You aren't going to hear the Republicans talking any more about Barack Obama and celebrity, now that they have one of their own. Sarah Palin's coming out party has changed the dynamics of the race--and while...

by Christi Parsons ST. PAUL--When John McCain locked up the Republican nomination months ago, conservatives took a look at his deviation from Republican orthodoxy and began to wring their hands. Since then, though, McCain has moved to the right on...

WorldnetDaily report on the speech and it's aftermath in conservative America as the left wing goes absolutely whacked and flipped out over this selection of a middle American success story turned slayer politician headed to Washington.If she were liberal the headlines today would be screaming"Old Boy Network Killer Sarah Palin Goes To Washington"!!!!Instead they continue this morning to rip her hairdo, her clothing styles, her family and accomplishments, anything and everything but the issues, t

They say you only get one chance to make a good first impression. Too bad Sarah Palin blew hers pandering to GOP prejudices during her convention acceptance, rather than taking the opportunity to make the case that the McCain-Palin ticket would amount to a pair of real independents. Already criticized for being a policy lightweight, Palin shamelessly embraced the shallow, bragging about the smallest of accomplishments, from selling state assets on eBay to dishing out feel-good checks (paid for wi

It’s really annoying and he’s a giant poseur.  Being a white guy doesn’t entitle one to wax rhapsodic about the heartland.  Jackass.

John McCain is rallying the base very well. On the other, the base’s agenda is hated by 70 percent of the US Population and their VP candidate is incredibly unsympathetic to most Americans. I’ll take it.

Two paragraphs stood out in the Spengler article linked to by Zenpundit below: I sat in on a session with three leaders of Veterans for Obama, a group of retired young officers who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan, courtesy of the New Republic’s writer on the scene, David Samuels. With passion and enthusiasm, these young [...]

Blogging at the Republican National Convention, Xcel Center, St. Paul Minnesota.Jon Voight has been all over the place at the RNC, giving interviews to any media members who asked. Several bloggers here in the press filing center have seen him a couple of times, I saw him yesterdat afternoon, giving an interview of course, in front of talk radio row.Voight won an Academy Award for Best Actor in the anti-war film "Coming Home" in 1978. His political views were liberal then, he's now a solid conser

Blogging at the Republican National Convention, Xcel Center, St. Paul Minnesota.Okay, I'm partisan, but here it goes--I thought Sarah Palin delivered a great speech tonight at the Republican National Convention.I had a good view of the crowd from the balcony, and the enthusiasm for Governor Palin was genuine. Right now I'm in the RNC press filing center, preparing for a live video presentation run by Flopping Aces.More blogging to come.Technorati tags: PoliticsRNCSt. PaulelectionsMcCain

ST. PAUL, MN.--Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin accepts vice presidential nomination in GOP convention speech. Transcript courtesy of Federal News Service....

ST. PAUL, MN.--Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani bolsters Sarah Palin and goes after Barack Obama in his GOP convention speech. Transcript courtesy Federal News Service....

Do the ongoing protests organized by James Meeks have a point?

It's the final day of the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Earlier today, speakers before Illinois GOP delegation urged attendees to turn the excitement into election victories this fall. Ray Lahood is a Republican congressman from Peoria. LaHood says organizing and volunteering will help the state's Republican party regain its prominence.LAHOOD: We may have a chance to begin to get people thinking about the fact that Illinois can turn to a Republican state again. Hard wo

Audio AvailableNational Political conventions are known primarily for the prime time speeches but attendees also go to dinners, tourist attractions, fundraisers, and parties. Mary Welling wanted to do all that and more this week in Minneapolis/St. Paul. She's 82 years old and this is her first time being a delegate.Related:VIEW PHOTOS from the floorWATCH VIDEO of Palin taking the stagePalin Accepts VP NominationBen Calhoun Discusses Reaction at the RNC to Palin's SpeechFollow all the coverage of

Audio AvailableChicago Mayor Richard Daley lashed out at Republicans today for using the phrase "Chicago machine politics" against Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Audio AvailableA two-day boycott of Chicago schools is over. Now the Illinois governor’s office is trying to set up a meeting to talk about how to fund schools more fairly. But a key lawmaker doesn’t seem to be on that meeting’s invite list.

The top Republican in the Illinois State Senate continued the assault today on Democrat Barack Obama's readiness for the White House. Frank Watson served with Obama in the Illinois Senate before Obama's election to the U.S. Senate. WATSON: Four years ago today, Barack Obama was an Illinois State Senator. Now we're very knowledgable people. We know a lot of good things. But the Illinois State Senate is hardly the training ground for the highest office in this land. So don't talk to me about experi

Audio AvailableRepublican presidential candidate John McCain officially accepted his party's nomination Thursday night at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Related:Listen to his entire speechPhotos from the floorAll of our photos from RNC08Blog Post: Chanting 101

Audio AvailableIllinois State Representative Aaron Schock gave a speech Thursday night from the Xcel Center at the RNC. Schock is running for Congress in the 18th district, replacing retiring incumbent Ray LaHood. Schock represented Illinois as the lone speaker at this year's convention. Related:Daley Calls Giuliani's Speech Laughable Photos from the floor

Audio AvailableIndiana Republicans are looking forward to tonight when Arizona Senator John McCain formally accepts the Republican nomination for president. But soon after, they’ll return home from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul to hit the campaign trial in Indiana.

Audio AvailableChicago Mayor Daley held a press conference today to announce a home ownership incentive program. Heard in this excerpt, the mayor comments on public housing, the end of a school boycott and Oprah Winfrey's efforts to boost the city's 2016 Olympic bid. Daley was asked about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's comments about Chicago machine politics and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican convention. Related:Daley Calls Giuliani's Speech LaughableVIEW PHOTOS fr

Audio AvailableRepublicans are getting set to hear Arizona Senator John McCain accept their party’s presidential nomination in St. Paul, Minnesota tonight. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin did a lot to excite the GOP base with her speech to the Republican National Convention  last night. But it doesn’t seem to have been enough to sway undecided voters in Indiana. The Hoosier state is said to be a swing state, after decades as a Republican stronghold. This time around, Barack Obama’s campaign is pourin

All day today the talk was this is Sarah's night. This morning I spoke with a woman from Minnesota. She said, everyone around here knows someone like Sarah, and like Sarah's family. And yes, that makes her success all the more remarkable. Yesterday I met a woman from New Hampshire, she said even the Hillary supporters she knows are enthused about Sarah, and independent women like her style--a mom, a professional and someone who doesn't put up with bullying. Another said she was really steamed at

Someone can make Pat Buchanan look warm and fuzzy.

Hmmmm… You also don’t get Ted Stevens getting earmarks for you. You make $12,000 instead of $64,000 a year.  You work on issues like removal of asbestos instead of what time the bars close or whether to ban books at the library. Community organizing is what ordinary people do in order to clean up messes made by [...]

The Civil Rights Movement was a large community organizing effort.

There was enormous amounts of hype and anticipation for Sarah Palin's speech to the Republican National Convention tonight, and rightly so, being as this would be only the second time anyone in the country had even heard the woman speak.Expectations were set so incredibly low that if she managed to find the podium and didn't start speaking with her back to the audience it was going to be considered a success.They needn't have worried. Palin did a fine job delivering her speech. A bit flat and rob

Just heard Rudy Giuliani say that the Democrats didn't use the term "Islamic terrorisism" because they were afraid it was insulting. He then went on ask rhetorically, "Who would the term "Islamic terrorism" insult? He then stated that the term "Islamic terrorism" would be an insult... wait for it... to terrorists.Nothing like insulting an entire religious faith by suggesting that accusing someone of being Muslim is worse than calling them a terrorist.Way to go Rudy!