Palin Makes Assertations of Innocence – A Delusional Self-Image

Jake Tapper from FirstRead has documented Palin’s assertation to several reporters Saturday, on how pleased that she is cleared of unethical activity.

On Saturday, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin twice spoke to reporters about the so-called “Troopergate” scandal and the investigative report on whether she had abused her power in trying to get her sister’s ex-husband Mike Wooten fired as a state trooper, and for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan one year after she, her staffers, and her husband Todd began unsuccessfully pressuring Monegan to let Wooten go.

Palin spoke on the phone with Alaska reporters about the report. The McCain-Palin campaign only allowed one question per reporter. The journalists came from the Anchorage Daily News, KTVA-Channel 11 and KTUU-Channel 2. No follow-ups were allowed. The call can be heard Here.

“Well, I’m very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing,” Palin said, “any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased, to be cleared of any of that.”

That’s just not the case. One cannot honestly make the argument that the report concluded that Palin was “cleared of any legal wrongdoing” or “any hint of unethical activity.” The report states: “I find that Governor Sarah Palin Abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act … Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional…

This is a very deluded attempt to give herself the image of a pristine state of innocence. I found that Andrew Sullivan had much to say on the issue of her denials.

It’s Fall…

Time to search for the perfect pumpkin…

Fill a bowl with gorgeous chestnuts…

Enjoy the beautiful colors of Fall, and get out the rakes…

Letterman Slams McCain – “Don’t Know If We Can Trust Him”

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John McCain has arranged a new date to be on the David Letterman show.  Letterman’s just not sure if he will make it or not.    Plus, McCain needs them to start a half an hour sooner, than what they normally tape the show.  Letterman gets a few digs in on McCain.

Hillary Clinton today in Scranton, PA for Obama/Biden

Hillary was on fire in Scranton today — this is just a small portion of a truly great speech.

Hung out to dry…

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Matt Davies, NY Journal News

Kristol Calls McCain Campaign “Pathetic, No Strategy”

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Bill Kristol on Fox News Sunday, he just unloads on the McCain Campaign.  I can’t think of any adjective he didn’t cover, he made sure he got “stupid and flailing” in there .

Update:  Glenn Greenwald post on Bill Kristol.

Though McCain didn’t bring it up in the debate, since then, the campaign has followed Kristol’s advice, talking about Ayers more than any other single topic. But now that it is conclusively clear that these attacks are failing – that they are actually backfiring and making Obama more popular and McCain and Palin more unpopular – Kristol went on Fox News this morning and attacked the McCain campaign for running what he called a “stupid campaign” and “a pathetic campaign” because the attacks “haven’t worked” and they’re “doing things that don’t work and they keep doing them” – without ever bothering to mention that he, Kristol, just last week, was one of the loudest and most vocal advocates for relying on these character attacks against Obama.

That’s typical Bill Kristol – not only chronically wrong about everything, but far worse, completely incapable of acknowledging mistakes. He just suppresses them, pretends they don’t exist, and in that regard is the perfect face for the right-wing movement that is dying a painful, harsh and profoundly well-deserved death in front of everyone’s eyes.

What we’re seeing in this video is just the start of the angry recriminations in this movement as they seek to blame each other for what has happened. 

(H/T Jed Report)

GOP Is Dumping McCain – “He Has Turned Into A Troll”

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There are some who feel that McCain can turn this disaster around in 30 days. I had to laugh at that quote, because the election is in 23 days. The GOP must be so upset they have forgotten basic math skills. This is from a NYT’s article on Sunday.

“The main thing he needs to do,” said Vin Weber, a former Republican congressman from Minnesota, “is focus on a single message – a single, concise or clear-cut message, and stick with that over the next 30 days, regardless of what happens. He’s had a lot of attack lines. But it’s time to choose.”

Republicans are coming out left and right making their displeasure known about McCain.  My suggestion to McCain this morning, don’t read any newspapers.  A former Republican Governor not very happy with McCain speaks out.

Tommy Thompson, a Republican who is a former governor of Wisconsin, said it would be difficult for Mr. McCain to win in his state but not impossible, particularly if he campaigned in conservative Democratic parts of the state. Asked if he was happy with Mr. McCain’s campaign, Mr. Thompson replied, “No,” and he added, “I don’t know who is.”

Gail Collins from The New York Times op-ed is wishing for “Dear Old Golden Dog Days.” The whole op-ed is a great read. Here is her wish list and her view of McCain.

Remember how we used to joke about John McCain looking like an old guy yelling at kids to get off his lawn? It’s only in retrospect that we can see that the keep-off-the-grass period was the McCain campaign’s golden era. Now, he’s beginning to act like one of those movie characters who steals the wrong ring and turns into a troll.

Brother, can you spare a billion…?

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Steve Sack, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Unhinged…

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Jack Ohman, Portland Oregonian

Racism Rears Its Ugly Head, Again

This is the same man that was captured by ABC news in the bleachers at a Palin rally in Johnstown, PA.

The MorrillMajority was courageous enough to interview this man as he was walking into the rally.

But…But….Bill Ayers!!!

McCain/Palin supporters, while you’re railing about Ayers, chew on this:

At a ceremony in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 1994 Yasser Arafat, master terrorist, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ayers may have been a radical, domestic terrorist when Obama was 8 years old. That was then: This is now. People change.

Today Ayers is a professor of education and a Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois. He has also authored a series of books about parenting and educating children, including: A Kind and Just Parent; To Become a Teacher; City Kids; City Teachers; To Teach; The Good Preschool Teacher; Zero Tolerance: Resisting the Drive for Punishment in Our Schools; and Teaching Towards Freedom: Moral Commitment and Ethical Action in the Classroom.

Sunday News Highlights

U.S. Believes Nuns have a Habit for Terrorism

Two Roman Catholic nuns jailed for non-violent action against nuclear weapons were also listed as terrorists by US authorities. Link.

Tax rebate, Food Stamp Money possible in Aid Plan

After consulting with Barack Obama, Democratic leaders are likely to call Congress back to work after the election in hopes of passing legislation that would include extended jobless benefits. Link

Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers Put the Smack-Down on AIG

Okay, this is about a day late, but what the hell, it’s still funny. On Thursday, Saturday Night Live aired a special 30-minute midweek episode. Link

Alaska Pollock Fishery near collapse: Greenpeace

Stocks of Alaska pollock, a staple of the U.S. fast food industry, have shrunk 50 percent from last year to record low levels and put the world’s largest food fishery on the brink of collapse. Link

Fox News’ Faux Documentary sets New Low

Sean Hannity’s Sunday report, ‘Obama and Friends: The History of Radicalism,’ relied on innuendo and guilt by association to label the Illinois senator a dupe of the shadowy forces of the left. Link