And now a word from your local neighborhood "Socialist"

Powell endorses Obama, Buchanan Loses it

McCain/Palin throwing Joe the Plumber under the Straight Talk Express?

Via Thinkprogress.

Last night, Sarah Palin said she didn’t want to talk about Wurzelbacher. “I begged our speechwriters, ‘Don’t make me say Joe the Plumber, please, in any speeches,” she said. After failing to properly vet Wurzelbacher’s situation, the McCain campaign is apparently now throwing him overboard and moving on.

Ouch, that's gotta hurt.


And why the sudden U-Turn from the Straight Joe-All Joe-Nothin' But the Joe Express?

Could it be this CBS Report?

So today, Joe, who said he makes much less than $250,000, reluctantly admitted Obama would lower his taxes.

“I would, if you believe him, I would be receiving his tax cuts,” Wurzelbacher said.

Oops.

Like far too many Republicans, it seems that Joe has a habit of lying about as much as the rest of us breathe.

The facts - as even the reluctant to bother actually doing reporting Corporate Media have revealed - are that: Joe The Plumber only makes $40,000 a year, doesn't have a valid plumbers license in the state of Ohio, has only been a "plumber" for 6 years - not 15, has never finished his plumber courses, has never apprenticed as a plumber, can't afford to buy his bosses business - which only generates $100,000 a year in income Profit, not $250,000 - is a registered republican who owes over a $1,000 in back taxes, and under any version of Obama's plan would get a tax cut that would be larger than McCain's.

His (first) Name isn't even Joe - It's SAM!

Speaking directly to Barack Obama, SAM said:

``Do you believe in the American dream?'' Wurzelbacher asked Obama, citing the Democrat's proposed tax rate increase for Americans earning more than $250,000. ``I'm being taxed more and more for fulfilling the American dream.''

Even if Sammy Joe's claim of nearly "fulfilling the American dream" had been true, instead of a ridiculous wingnut bag of lies...

Bloomberg reports that “one other problem in making Wurzelbacher a symbol of the overtaxed” is that — even if he did earn an adjusted gross income of $280,000 — “he would pay just $773 more in taxes under Obama’s plan than McCain’s.” That amount would hardly deal a crippling blow to his potential small business.

Oh ouch. What a burden to bear.

Can't you just feel the crushing chains of the evil Socialism clinking into place?

As someone far more eloquent than me recently said - why would anyone want to be such a douche nozzle?

(H/t to the other Sarahcuda - Silverman)

Oh wait, we are talking about a Republican here aren't we?. My bad. We all should know well by now to expect exactly this kind of douche Enema-baggery (changed to be more Gender Neutral).

If this was the guy who was supposed to throw the sinking McCain Campaign a life-preserver, I think we've all just discovered that it was really an anchor...

Update: So has the dreaded Sarahcuda shaken loose of her handlers and speechwriters enough to actually let go of Joe/Sam the Human Anvil? Er, Not so much. According to various comments she's on the outer tubes of vision right now spouting the party-line of how they're gonna storm the gates of Washington, climb the parapet and get all Mavericky for Joe The (Unlicensed), Not-so-Rich, Non-tax-paying, NOT Plumber, and stop the EVIL ACORN too. You betcha! Also.

blub...blub...blub....

Brings a whole new definition to "Anchor-man".

Update 2: McCain, who only mentioned his name 21 times is now blaming Obama for "Joe the Plumber" - Amazing. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/17/1562227.aspx

John McCain says that, if Joe the Plumber isn’t crazy about the tough questions coming from reporters hanging out on his lawn, he has Barack Obama to blame.

“He didn't ask for Senator Obama to come to his house. He wasn't recruited or prompted by our campaign,” McCain said of the political cycle’s newest celebrity, who questioned Obama on taxes during a neighborhood canvas earlier this week. “He just asked a question. And Americans ought to be able to ask Senator Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks."

He's not being "smeared" for asking of tough question, it was a simple question with a simple answer which Obama more than happily gave him. He's being attacked for being a Liar!

Vyan

More Palin Racists in Ohio

Someone finally reports what's is really like at a Palin Rally, and woudln't you know it would be Al Jazeera?



So what do they think of Obama?

"I'm afraid if he wins, the black [sic] will take over. He's not a Christian! This is a Christian nation! What is our country gonna end up like?"

"When you got a Negro running for president, you need a first stringer. He's definitely a second stringer."

"He seems like a sheep - or a wolf in sheep's clothing to be honest with you. And I believe Palin - she's filled with the Holy Spirit, and I believe she's gonna bring honesty and integrity to the White House."

"He's related to a known terrorist, for one."

"He is friends with a terrorist of this country!"

"He must support terrorists! You know, uh, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. And that to me is Obama."

"Just the whole, Muslim thing, and everything, and everybody's still kinda - a lot of people have forgotten about 9/11, but... I dunno, it's just kinda... a little unnerving."

"Obama and his wife, I'm concerned that they could be anti-white. That he might hide that."

"I don't like the fact that he thinks us white people are trash... because we're not!"

I have to agree that I feel sorry for these people and their tragic mis-information. They simply have it all wrong, but convincing them of them is probably impossible. NO one like to believe their worldview is completely upside down. No one likes to be told they look like a bloody fool. No one like to be embarrised this way.

Yet, it has to be done.

The real question is - just what will they finally do when reality smacks them hard in the face? Accept it or lash out? And being unable to reach Barack himself, who will be on the receiving end of their terror and anger?

Vyan

Olbermann Hits It out of the Park on McHate!

I know Keith has his own diary up, but he rarely includes the video and this simply has to be seen and heard to be fully appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hrJ5hKtcx8



It has to be repeated that this is no laughing matter, pathetic and laughable though the mCcain campaing response - accusing John Lewis of "the most outrageous thing in politics" for clearly pointing out the FIREY DANGER that their campaign in playing with in such a cavelier manner.

"TERRORIST"

"KILL HIM"

"STRING HIM UP"

"He's an Arab!"

Yet the McCain campaign attempts to play dumb when these are the answers are shouted by - by HIS Supporters - when he and Governor Palin ask the thinly veiled rhetorical question "Who is Barack Obama Really?"

Correct Answer: The Next President of the United States.

In this country we are guaranteed the freedom of speech, the freedom to express our ideas and voice our opinions - except - when those opinion are direct invocations for violence and an incitement to cause harm to others.

Despite his weak claims last friday the Barack Obama isn't a "Muslim" and in instead a "decent family man" - John McCain and Sarah Palin have grossly abused their freedom by implying that Obama is dangerous to the nation.

Covering your ears and claiming "I didn't Hear it" - and I didn't Tell them to say it is simply not good enough. The McCain campaign should hang it's head in shame simply because they haven't taken a unequivocal stand against this hate speech. Hiding behind innuendo and vague suggestion is a poor substitute for taking responsible action.

It's not like we have to wait for this type of thing to have consequences, it already has had real physical consequences.

Although the natural inclination is the fear for the potential safety of Barack Obama himself, the reality is that the very real danger exists agsinst those who openly support him, particularly in the deepest darkest red states.

Over the past few days we've numerous recommended DKOS diaries which have described a litany of personal threats and even violence against Obama supporters.

For example:

"If Anyone in this House Votes for Obama, I'll Shoot Them"

And various adventures at Walmart.

Soooo... Tonight I needed to go to Wal-Mart. I try to avoid it as much as I can because I prefer to give my money to the local businesses in town, but I had to go tonight. I try to wear one of my Obama Tshirts whenever possible because I am just really proud of my candidate. Tonight it was my HOPE MONGER tee ;o) It's funny the looks you get from people when you're in the minority.. Sometimes people look at my shirt and then at my face like I'm crazy.. Some smile, some say "Love that shirt!" And tonight... a woman actually confronted me about it.

I was behind her in line thru the self check out... and she looked at me and in a tone dripping with disdain, said, "Can I just ask you 'Why'"? (I knew immediately what she meant), but I asked her, "Why what?" She made a motion with her hand over her own chest, indicating my shirt... She said "Why? Why all that?" My first reaction was really incredulousness, and I said back, smiling, "Why NOT?!" I asked her what our other choices were. And she said.. "Well, not SOCIALISM!"

Or accidentally attending a McCain/Palin Meetup.

As soon as the last member of their group came in, they prayed. In their prayer they begged that God "deliver the country from the evil socialists" and even prayed that "Obama find God".

They talked a little more about how Obama would destroy our country with "free health care" and "gay marriages". The feared his daughters would probably play loud rap music in the White House while world leaders were staying. They feared that Muslim would become our official religion. One of them even feared that "the Muslim language would be taught in schools." Priceless.

And again at Walmart - They Attacked My Daughter.

She wasn’t in the door 2 minutes before she was attacked. And I mean attacked. They pounded her on her old man’s intelligence, how could a small businessman be a Democrat? How could a small businessman support these proposed corporate tax increases? How could a small businessman support Obama’s new health plan? How could a small businessman support the tax increases on the rich (over 250K)? On and On...

I strongly suspect these are not and will not be anecdotal incidents. As they themselves have stated - The Wingnuts are Enraged!

And they will be taking their rage out on the rest of us, who dared to dream and dared to hope that American can and will be better than it is today.

Therefore - we must be ready for them. Just as John Lewis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the freedom riders were ready for the hatred, vitriol and violence that was directed at them. We need to be brave, to stand tall, to realize that we are right - and they are wrong.

We do not need to respond to their violence in kind, we do not need to let them make us into them - but we do need to stand, and to stand up for what is right, and what is true.

God Bless America.

Vyan

So what if he WERE an Arab?

Yesterday, CNN's Campbell Brown stated what should be so exceedingly obvious to any with a conscious mind - "So what if Barack Obama were Arab?"

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



First off, the point here is that he's not an Arab, he's an American. He's not a Muslim, he's a Christian. Being Muslim - and i happen to have just discussed this issue with a immigrant from Iran who also happens to be a U.S. Army Veteran - isn't an issue of "bloodlines". It's a matter of choice. It's a matter of BELIEF.

The truth is that Muslims worship the same God that both Christians and Jews do. They rever the teachings of Abraham, Moses, Jesus - AND - Mohammad. It's a continuation not a competition. The thing here is that Barack isn't Muslim, yet even in his defense of that simple truth John McCain insinuates that Muslim's aren't "Decent, Family People".

That's despicable.

There are criminals in the U.S. Some of them claim to be Christians. Some of them, in the name of Christ, have committed murders and have committed BOMBINGS. Particularly people like Eric Rudolph who bombed the 1996 Allanta Olympics, Gay Nightclubs and Abortion Clinics because "HIS GOD" told him too. Or people like Timothy McVeigh who bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, becaue he wanted to start a Holy War with the "Zionist taking over our country". Christians can be criminals too, and they have NO RIGHT to point fingers at anyone else based purely on their "bloodline" (which is RACISM) or their religion.

And just for the record, Williams Ayers - who may have supported the idea of bombing the Pentagon to end the Vietnam War - was never convicted of anything. He's even received Chicago's "Citizen of the Year" award in 1998 for his work with schools and school choice, an issue in which he happens to largely *AGREE* with John McCain on. Even the prosecutor in the Weatherman case says linking Obama to things that happened when he was 8 years old, and Ayers himself has clearly risen far beyond and above, is ridiculous.

Judge people on what they do, not what they are.


Vyan

Welcome to America-The-Stupid.. and Scary

This video was shot at McCain/Palin rally in Ohio.

http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=KjxzmaXAg9E

So is Obama some kind of terrorist - (even though William Ayers was never convicted of ANYTHING 45 years ago when Barack was 8 years-old, and is now a respected member of Chicago society and even a friend of the Mayor) - or are more than a few of these people suffering from a sad, tragic, bigotted delusion drivin into a fedding frenzy by a barrage of lies, distortions and cheap innuendo from the McCain/Palin Campaign?

"Who is Barrack Obama Really?"

Well, he's already written two best selling books describing himself, why do you try reading some of them?

In recent events supporters have shouted "Terrorist" and "Kill Him" response to McCain and Palin's attacks on Obama and Ayers.
It's gotten so bad that the Secret Service is Investigating!

It's perfectly reasonable to disagree with Obama or McCain over policy issues.
It's perfectly reasonable not to like or trust either of them, but this?

If Obama is a bad guy because he didn't call Ayers to the carpet for his actions in the mid-60, what does it say about McCain when HIS CURRENT SUPPORTERS behave like this and HE SAYS NOTHING?!

Is this what McCain calls "Country First" - more like "Lunatics First".

Vyan

Paul Krugman just scared the #*^&* Outta Me!

In the midst of all this handwringing and teeth gnashing over the economy on cable TV, don't you think it's about time someone talked to, y'know, an Economist?

In this appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher this weekend, New York Times Columnist and Economist Paul Krugman gives his view of the current Stock Market Crisis, and Bailout. And just when I was starting to feel a little confidence again, he yanks the rug out from under the entire country...



First Who's to Blame?

Krugman: I blame Alan Greenspan. But this is the Administration philosophy coming to full fruit. We've been headed this way for 20 years, and hey, we hit the wall but good this time.

Slamming into walls, eh? Not exactly a pretty image, but wait - it gets worse.

Stock Market Socialism Anyone?

Krugman: When I heard news about this plan my first thought was "Kommisar Paulson is seizing the means of Production". This is the most socialist move we've seen by any administration in God's knows how long, and it's coming from the Bush Administration

But then of course, Bush has always been a socialist when it comes to his cronies and lobbyist buddies in the financial markets on Wall Street. He only believes in darwinistic capitalism when it comes to Main Street economics, when it comes to your paycheck, your health care and your pension. All of which have just been completely fracked to the tune of nearly a $Trillion in additional U.S. Debt.

And maybe more...

This is when he really got to me.

Krugman: Look, this is really scary. This is really bad, This Could be 1931 - The collapse of EVERYTHING, so you have to do something big. There are no athiests in foxholes and no liberterians in a financial crisis. When things are really bad, and people are at all rational - well,thank God we've got Hank Paulson as President - we get a response.

Maher: Well, I've been listening to financial experts, and no offense, but it seems like they don't know what's going on.

Krugman: Yeah, right look. Anybody who knew what was going on would have been in a Bomb Shelter by now. This is panicky. Quite Seriously, Like, I was looking at the numbers on Wednesday and I thought "The World is coming to an End", and apparently the people at the Treasury Dept. thought the same thing. This was - boy - this was the worst thing I've ever seen.

Ok, it's bad - really bad. But it's over - right? OVER. Done? Finito? Our jobs, our homes and our savings are all safe now?

Er, Not so much.

Maher: So, the market's rebounded. What's your prediction for next week, and the week after that - are we out of the woods or is everything just beginning?

Krugman: We're probably just at the beginning.

Maher: Aw, geez. [You know the fan has met the shitzilla when BILL MAHER goes "Aw, Geez!!!", which is short for "Oh, Jesus" when he doesn't believe in Jesus!"]

Krugman: We probably won't have everything melt down in two days, which could've happened. The best scenario is that the economy's probably going to get worse for another year, and the housing market is going to get worse for another two years. This is not the solution, this just avoiding disaster!

Oy vey!

It's at this point that Maher says something that I've been saying for years and needs to be repeated as loudly as possible. America doesn't make anything anymore - except debt!. That is our chief exportable product - not something you can use, no - invisible money.

Maher: To me I think, from a layman's point of view for the last 20-30 years, America doesn't make anything. We used to manufacture stuff, cars and stuff. Arabs and Colombians drill oil, Indians make code for computers. China makes DVD's - they make them out of pigshit and mercury - but they make something. Y'know what America makes? Debt. The Financial Services industry just makes debt, it's really pushing money around on computers screens.

Krugman: Well, your right, and in way we actually do have fair trade with China. They sell us poisoned toys and tainted sea food and we sell them fraudulent securities.

Ba Dump - Ching!

Wow. oh wow. That shit is funny because it's just plain true, isn't it? Our entire economy crumbling because it's built on a pack of lies. On promises we have no possible way of keeping. And we thought we were getting the short end of the trade stick with the anti-freeze toothpaste, but what's China gonna do with all that bogus debt? Send it back?

Time to invest in Gold, or maybe a really thick mattress.

Krugman: Everything did eventually come back after 1933. but really, we need a better Government than what we've got.

Amen to that brother, Amen.

Vyan