The Latest on Air America

Everything is Going to be Okay

Booman Tribune — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:48:19 -0400

Statistics have a way of smashing punditry:

In hypothetical general election head-to-heads, Obama
leads McCain by slim 51 to 44 percent margin, with the public split 49
percent for Clinton to McCain's 46 percent. Against McCain, Obama does
better than Clinton with African Americans, those with college degrees
or greater education and among younger voters. Clinton, however, draws
more support than does Obama against McCain among older white voters,
white women and whites with family incomes under $50,000 a year.

Against either Democrat, age could be a significant obstacle for
McCain. Only three in 10 said they were "entirely comfortable" with the
prospect of a 72-year-old newly-elected president, about half as many
as said they would be similarly comfortable with an African American or
female president.

I think people need to stop the hand wringing.

Bob Barr's Potential Impact

Booman Tribune — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:30:05 -0400

Ross Perot's 1992 Reform Party movement got more independent votes
(19%) than any third-party candidacy since Teddy Roosevelt's 1912 Bull
Moose Party run. But, it's interesting to see where
he got his support. Perot did exceedingly well in New Hampshire and
Maine (he came in second place in Maine). He got 24% in Minnesota,
which pre-saged the governorship of Jesse Ventura. He got 27% in Idaho,
almost beating out Clinton for second place. In fact, Perot topped 20%
in California, Oregon, and Washington, and in every state (except New
Mexico) all the way from the left coast to the Missouri River. However,
nowhere in the Old Confederacy did he do better than 14%, and he
generally tallied 9-11% in the Deep South.

In other words, while Perot didn't run an explicitly libertarian
campaign (far from it), his main appeal was to the libertarian wing of
the Republican Party. New Hampshire's motto of 'Live Free or Die' is
the motto for much of the West. And these are the areas where Barack
Obama has had the most success with attracting white voters. In West
Virginia, Perot only received 16% of the vote, and in Kentucky only
14%.

It will be interesting to see how Bob Barr's
independent run on the Libertarian ticket will affect the outcomes in
the West. He certainly offers a Perot-like protest vote for hordes of
disaffected Republicans in states like Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, and the
Dakotas. Barr hails from Georgia, which along with Mississippi, is one
of the states where a strong right-leaning third party vote, combined
with record black turnout, could put a Deep Southern state in play for
Obama. But, Barr's appeal is likely to catch fire, if it does at all,
in the states where Perot ran strongest.

Dear Villagers: It's Change and the War, Stupid

Booman Tribune — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:30:05 -0400

In a mostly gloomy and realistic assessment of the Republicans' chances in the 2008 election, Fred Barnes spits out this gem.

There have been some improvements in political
atmospherics for Republicans. The 2006 midterm election was framed by
intense voter dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq. The 2008 election
won't be. The surge of American troops in Iraq hasn't turned the war
into a Republican asset, but it's at least blunted it as an effective
Democratic talking point.

This kind of muddled thinking is widespread in the beltway. This morning on Meet the Press the assembled talking meat sticks wondered aloud what had led to Hillary's defeat. They recited Karen Tumulty's Five Mistakes that Clinton Made.

1. She misread the mood and tried to run as a Washington insider/incumbent when the electorate was hungry for change.

2. Her strategists didn’t have a good understanding of the nomination
rules. Allegedly, chief strategist Mark Penn was actually ignorant of
the proportional allocation rule and thought just winning the big
states would be enough to secure the nomination.

3. She underestimated the caucus states and chose not to put resources
into them because she thought her core voters would be unlikely to
caucus.

4. She relied on old money for fundraising and didn’t tap into the new modes of Internet fundraising.

5. She didn’t plan ahead for a long race and was very late to set up operations in states which voted after Super Tuesday.

McCain's Breathtaking Hypocrisy

Booman Tribune — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:13:48 -0400

In answer to my previous question, 'not if Obama has any say in the matter.'

Senator Barack Obama released the following statement in response to Senator McCain's remarks in Portland today:

"It is truly breathtaking for John McCain to talk about combating
climate change while voting against virtually every recent effort to
actually invest in clean energy. You don't have to look further than
the wind turbine plant where Senator McCain is speaking today to assess
his commitment to this cause. While Senator McCain talks about the need
to invest in alternative energy, he rejected the single biggest
investment in renewable energy in history, including incentives that
contributed to a nearly 50% increase in wind power generation last
year, and he has repeatedly opposed renewable fuel mandates and higher
fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks.

"In stark contrast, I've called for a national standard to ensure that
we're using more renewable energy, an expansion of our green energy
sector that would create millions of green jobs, and a bipartisan plan
to double our fuel efficiency standards. That is why the American
people will have a clear choice in November when I am the nominee –
between a candidate who opposes real solutions to our energy crisis,
and leadership that will solve it once and for all."

It wasn’t anti-war protestors who shunned Vietnam veterans

American Street — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:37:30 -0400

Simplistic euphemisms aren’t always the best means of analysis and taking political tactics personally is not the best way to weigh their importance.

Here’s what Obama said to WV voters today:

One of the saddest episodes in our history was the degree to which returning vets from Vietnam were shunned, demonized and neglected by some because they served in an unpopular war. Too many of those who opposed the war in Vietnam chose to blame not only the leaders who ordered the mission, but the young men who simply answered their country’s call. Four decades later, the sting of that injustice is a wound that has never fully healed, and one that should never be repeated.

The first sentence can’t be disputed. It was also a sad episode that saw our government continue to kill the North Vietnamese till 1 or 2 million succumbed to our superior firepower and military. Exactly what were the Vietnamese fighting for? Liberation from colonial powers. And yet they never posed an actual threat to any US resident except those who went to Vietnam to kill them.

It was sad that our veterans were shunned, demonized and neglected, yes. It was one of many sadnesses. Like the sadness of the 58,000 who did not return alive.

The Power of Now Webinar on Clout! Sarts Tonight!!!

RichardGreene — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:58:17 -0400

Tonight on Clout! we begin a special, 10 week webinar based around the teachings of Eckhart Tolle's first book, The Power of Now. Perhaps you enjoyed Oprah's recent series on Tolle's later work, A New Earth. Or maybe you missed it, and want to know what all the rage is. Listen tonight COMMERICAL FREE!!! on airamerica.com when the progressive political and spiritual communities unite. And tune in Monday nights in May and beyond as we discuss this ground breaking, life changing book with authors, experts and you, the listener.

Clout! listeners can purchase the Power of Now at a special discount price from the New World Library's online store. When prompted, enter the discount code "Air America" to receive 25% off of your entire purchase! Order your copy today, and follow along with us commerical free!!! every Monday from 9-11 PM eastern on the air america webstream.

You can watch streaming video of tonight's webinar HERE.

John McCain, a man who runs on someone else’s record

Tim Einenkel — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:52:44 -0400

RACHEL MADDOW: Every day here on the Rachel Maddow Show, or whenever we feel like it, we do enjoy, poking a sharp stick at the soft white underbelly of the rrrrrrrrrrrightwing scheme machine <<SFX UBELLY>>, giving you a little peek at their political playbook.

Today’s underbelly political tactic? Running on someone else’s record.

Running on someone else’s record (Maddow)

Tim Einenkel — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:48:55 -0400

Just Brilliant

American Street — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:33:09 -0400

The essence of the problem with our superficial media’s political discourse.
The Cult of the Offhand Comment

Phrase coined by Somerby via Digby

7 DAYS w/ Huffington and Green: This Week's Political Scandals Don't Touch a "Clean" Obama

Mark Green — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:03:14 -0400

This week three below-the-fold scandals threatened three politicians while Sen. Obama stayed “clean,” in the good meaning of Sen. Biden’s adjective of a year ago. Because Barack Houdini easily escaped the chains of Rev. Wright and because of “the math” after the North Carolina romp, it certainly looks like it’s too late for Clinton to stop him– just like when the Phillies couldn’t make up seven games with only 14 to play in the National League East race in 2007. Remember?

First came Vito Fossella, as of this writing a five-term congressman from Staten Island-Brooklyn. A good-looking, buff Republican with a reputation, said a colleague, of being “the Paris Hilton of Congressmen,” he lived down to his reputation when, driving drunk, he made the mistake of spilling the beans to cops at 3AM where his mistress and previously unknown love-child were sleeping. If you’re a public figure urging that the 10 Commandments be posted in public places, it’s probably a good idea to live to #4 about coveting other women. And “if you’re going to be in the party of family values,” said commentator Doug Muzzio, “you shouldn’t have more than one.”

Second was Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who appears likely to soon join Fossella in the ex-category. It was widely reported this week that a Long Island businessman, Morris Talansky, personally gave Olmert hundreds of thousands of dollars while he was mayor of Jerusalem and running against Ariel Sharon for leadership of the Likud Party. Olmert, suffering his fifth financial investigation in recent years, denied the money was a bribe but said that he’d quit his position if indicted.

(And if he leaves office, it appears likely that he’d be succeeded by a former Labor PM, Ehud Barak, which would delight tabloid headline writers when the likely leaders of the U.S. and Israel meet in 2009.)

MEDIA MAUNDERING: HILLARY WON'T QUIT YET AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY

Lionel — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:57:00 -0400

Well, it’s official. Every pundit, poobah, prognosticator and psephologist has analyzed with what they consider to be great particularity and precision Hillary's reluctance or refusal to drop out of her quest to become the Democratic nominee and not one has any explanation for it. Not one. Nada. Zippo. Yet they keep yammering away day after day, night after night, column after column. And they are saying nothing. News chat hosts show incessant clips and march out the usual passel of columnists and commentators and no clear explanation for her activities or plans is even suggested. Remember SNL’s bit: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead? This should be stated: We still have no earthly idea why Hillary Clinton is still in this race. And on with the show.

Think of it: What are they talking about? Nightly, no less. Nothing. But don’t think that that will stop the commentators. Are you kidding? The show will go on each night whether they have anything intelligent to say or not. That’s what the guests are for. Think TV Hamburger Helper -- they stretch the show.

I can’t say I blame them though, these political swamis. This recalcitrance on Hill’s part knows no equal or analogue. What? A team that refuses to leave the field after they’ve lost and the whistle’s blown? That Japanese soldier who doesn’t know the war’s over? Hell, at least in that case, he doesn’t have cable and just doesn’t know any better.

“We would never trust a company like Monsanto to tell the truth”

American Street — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:40:16 -0400

Quoted from a movie you are not supposed to see.

A movie we will never see in the US: (video access gone from Cannablog, It Must Be The Vapors, and other places. Found in caches.)

The World According to Monsanto 1 of 4 27min

On March 11 a new documentary was aired on French television (ARTE – French-German cultural tv channel) by French journalist and film maker Marie-Monique Robin, entitled ‘The World According to Monsanto’ (Le Monde selon Monsanto[1]). Starting from the Internet over a period of three years Robin has collected material for her documentary, going on to numerous interviews with people of very different backgrounds. She traveled widely, from Latin America, to Asia, through Europe and the United States, to personally interview farmers and people in influential positions.

Fearguth’s Great Snark Hunt

American Street — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:22:11 -0400

“If anything,” said Rush Limbaugh, “my impact will increase
with a McCain presidency.” And, by God, it did.

American Afternoon with Ron Reagan – Monday, May 12th 2008

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:34:57 -0400

Air America Radio welcomes Ron Reagan as our guest host all week. Ron, as you know, is the son of former President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. He is currently a political commentator for MSNBC.

Ron welcomes Scott Horton in HOUR ONE today. Horton is a contributor to Harper's Magazine and writes No Comment for this website. A New York attorney known for his work in emerging markets and international law, especially human rights law and the law of armed conflict, Horton lectures at Columbia Law School. A life-long human rights advocate, Scott served as counsel to Andrei Sakharov and Elena Bonner, among other activists in the former Soviet Union. He is a co-founder of the American University in Central Asia, and has been involved in some of the most significant foreign investment projects in the Central Eurasian region. Scott recently led a number of studies of abuse issues associated with the conduct of the war on terror for the New York City Bar Association, where he has chaired several committees, including, most recently, the Committee on International Law. Horton will be on today’s show talking torture and abuse of power with Ron Reagan.

Thom Hartmann: Are we doomed?

Chris Rosen — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:00:17 -0400