What Is Roe V Wade All About? Don't Ask Cindy McCain

Cindy McCain may not be the one that is running for President, but when it comes to issues that affect women, you'd think she'd at least know the basic facts of a few issues. One of the most important social debates that Republicans have used effectively as a wedge is abortion rights. Democrats want to keep Roe v. Wade on the books, keeping abortion legal for those that make the choice to have one. So when Cindy went on Katie Couric's show, a simple answer, either wanting to keep the practice legal and disagreeing with her husband and Sarah Palin, or toeing the party line.

Check out what she had to say:

Couric: And do you believe Roe V. Wade should be overturned?

McCain: No. no.

Couric: No. Why not? Your husband does.

McCain: No. I don't think he does.

Couric: He believes it should be overturned. That's what he told me, and that it should go to the states.

McCain: Well, in that respect. Yes, yeah, I do. I understand what you're saying now. It's a states issue.

Couric: So, you believe it should be overturned or shouldn't be overturned.

McCain: I believe it's a states issue. That I do believe.

Oh dear. OH, DEAR. The campaign later clarified that Cindy McCain does not believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, even though, you might know this already but, it was the express purpose of the Roe decision not to let abortion become a "states issue."

It seems that she doesn't have a clue as to what she thinks. Also, the campaign itself doesn't really know what is going on if they allowed that "opinion" to be clarified that implies she opposes her husband after agreeing with him. It looks like Sarah Palin's mom isn't the only family surrogate that needs a large dose of GOP message control.

Republican Intellectualism At Its Finest

Enough said:

Problems Still Ongoing At Deutsche Bank Bldg

With the 7th anniversary of September 11th fast-approaching, there are still many eye-sores in and around Ground Zero. None is worse than the former Deutsche Bank building, or what is left of it. Those in charge claim it will be taken down by next summer, but with the web of deceit surrounding the operation, who knows when it will truly be done. As you recall, last summer two firefighters lost their lives because of lax supervision of workers who smoked on the job while dealing with hazardous materials. What is worse though, was that FDNY itself did not properly inspect the site and the fact that the water pipes that were meant to fight fires were disconnected and in some places, missing.

After the tragedy occurred politicians and administrators vowed to clean things up, while trying to fend off an independent investigation. Well it turns out that fault lay with many different people and agencies connected to the Deutsche mess. Even with that dirty laundry laid out for all to see, some of the same problems that led to the fatal fire still exist to this day.

From The NY Daily News:

Empty cigarette packs and beer cans were found on several floors last week, triggering a full-tilt probe by fire marshals, two sources familiar with the investigation told the Daily News.

"It is shameful that they would be smoking there. It is a shameful act," FDNY spokesman Jim Long said. "We will take the necessary actions to prevent any further incident."

Joseph Graffagnino Sr., whose son, Joseph Jr., died in the Deutsche Bank fire, said the new revelation was appalling.

"It makes me feel like I want to puke," he said. "They just don't care. They are back to the same old business as usual attitude, which is not the way things should be done."

So 13 months later we still have the same tough talk from the FDNY but obviously no real change to speak of. Why is it that the victim's family still have to complain about the unsafe conditions that led to their loved ones' death last year? The report was a good first step in the direction of accountability. But until those responsible for the tragedy and the unsafe conditions that exist to this day are given their fair share of justice, this is matter will be far from over.

M.T.A. Will Try To Stay On Top Of TS Hanna Disruptions

Wow, well look at this. The MTA is trying to reach out to its riders and the media before the system floods this time. If you can recall from last August, the MTA was virtually shut down from a morning thunder-storm, causing massive delays. I walked several miles in the humid and sweltering heat that day, cursing them with every single step. So it was nice to see this email pop up just now.

From the MTA:

To our customers:

Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain, are forecasted for this weekend and could impact subway service. We have already begun preparations to safeguard the system from flooding. This includes the cleaning of subway drains, checking all subway pumps and pre-positioning personnel and equipment at flood prone locations. We may also move trains from their storage yards and store them underground instead.

In the event that weather does impact subway service, we will notify the media and post updates on our website. Please listen to local radio reports and check our website Please check www.mta.info for current 'Service Alert' information. Click on the flashing service alert triangle.

Posted on 9/5/2008 5:08:12 PM

How about that folks, was it really hard for them to do this? Now of course the current situation is different from last year's disaster. There is more time to prepare for the storm and it is going to pass through on a weekend. So while this is a good first step, what we really need is for that text message system to come online and to make NYC Transit work like London's Underground. I'm sure we'll never see the latter, knowing the country's current priorities in relation to mass transit but a text message telling me what lines are delayed or stopped with rapid updates is something that is very feasible.

Sarah Palin Can Read A Teleprompter, But She Can't Compete With Joe Biden

This small snippet of video is just a preview of what is to come in the VP portion of this campaign. Palin can deliver pithy statements, but Joe Biden has more passion for the common man in his pinky than her entire body:

Dems Force McCain To Support Women

John McCain and the Republican party think they can pull one over on 51% of this country, but they are wrong. Picking Sarah Palin may be great for the conservative fundamentalists, but women, just like men, care about what you are going to do for the country, not simply how you choose cheap political stunts.

So to help McCain out with women, the Democratic Congress has graciously decided to have a vote on the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to show that the Republican nominee truly cares. Now of course McCain missed the first vote on this bill (like he missed so many other important pieces of legislation) but here is his chance to redeem himself.

From Politico:

Democrats have hammered Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) this summer over his vote against legislation pushing equal pay for women and men. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will get a second act in September, as Democrats seek to remind voters that McCain opposed it, according to an e-mail from the Democratic Senate message center. It lists "[e]qual pay legislation" as among the issues the Senate will take up in September.

It is one of the many pieces of legislation on the calendar in the last few weeks of the 110th Congress, but it is an important one. John McCain has already shown by his record that he has opposed equal pay for women, citing that the companies will correct themselves by their own accord. Anyone with a half a brain knows that that is a bunch of steaming bull crap. Of course, John McCain being the maverick he is, I suppose he bucks the trend by expecting everyone to fall for his political stunt named Palin while making pathetic excuses over the Fair Pay Act.

Damn, he is mavericky!

Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) Is Either Ignorant, A Racist Or Both

Lynn Westmoreland represents the 3rd Congressional District of Georgia. He grew up there and was alive while it was a segregated land. Code words were well known by everyone regardless of color and everyone knew which ones meant what. So yesterday when he made a statement describing Barack Obama as "uppity" a reporter took notice and asked him to clarify, but he stuck with the code word. Now today, he is claiming ignorance and will not apologize for his racist remarks.

From The NY Examiner:

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Democrats are calling on a Republican congressman from Georgia to apologize for referring to Barack and Michelle Obama as "uppity," but the lawmaker stood by his comments and said he meant no offense.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville, Ga., described the Obamas as members of an "elitist-class ... that thinks that they're uppity," according to The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

Asked to clarify whether he intended to use the word, he said, "Yeah, uppity."

Westmoreland fully knows what the word means, even before he was told of its significance. He claimed that he was using the dictionary definition of the word, but if he thinks Americans are that stupid, then he has another thing coming to him. It would take a gullibility level of a thousand to not get what he was saying, but in the South, that word comes through crystal clear. Now you'll never hear McCain utter that word or anything like that. If anything it would be much more subtle, but you can count on surrogates like Westmoreland to reinforce the message of intolerance throughout the South and wherever racism rears its ugly head.

A Helping Of Compassionate Conservatism With A Side Of Lies

Yesterday on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Jay Carney of Time wanted to question Palin about her housing crisis line in her speech, but McCain spokeswoman Nicolle Wallace wasn't having any of it. To her it is a travesty that the press would want to ask Palin questions and thinks no one cares for the press to do their job. She thinks that Palin's scripted speech is the same as the politician having a conversation with the American people. Instead she'd rather make erroneous claims about what Palin really said.



McCain and Palin must be glad to have Wallace protecting them from the truth and accountability for what they say to the people.

Obama Responds To Palin's Derision Of Community Organizers

Sarah Palin proved she was a disgrace many times over two days ago. One particular theme that stuck out was the attack on Obama being a community organizer and community organizers in general. People were appalled (unless you had huge partisan blinders on in the Xcel Center) that people who try to make a difference in their neighborhood would be bashed in that manner. Well Obama wasn't about to take that one lying down. First he raised $10 million for his campaign based on her overall hate and vitriol, then he made a statement that made all organizers proud and showed his supporters that he is ready to fight against the GOP machine of fear and manipulation.

From DailyKos:

q. How is community organizing relevant for the presidency?

Obama:
This is very curious. They havent talked about the fact that I was a civil rights lawyer, or taught constitutional law, my work in the state legislature, or US Senate, they focused on this 3 years where i worked as a community organizer, right out of college. As if im make the leap from 2-3 years out of college to the presidency.

I would argue that doing work in the community, try and create jobs, rejuvenate the communities that have fallen on hard times, bring people together, setup job training programs in areas that have been hard hit where the steel plants have closed. That's relevant only in understanding where im coming from, who i believe in, who im fighting for and why im in this race.

The question I have for them is
Why would that kind of work be ridiculous?
WHO ARE THEY FIGHTING FOR? (emphasis mine)
What are they advocating for?

Do they think that the lives of those folks struggling each and every day, that working with to try and improve their lives is somehow not relevant to the presidency.

I think that is part of the problem, that they are out of touch and dont get it because they havent spent much time working on behalf of those folks.

Palin and her brand new sycophants play right into what Obama has been saying about them. The GOP is out of touch and do not understand the problems that so many Americans have to deal with, especially after eight years of George Bush. Barack Obama is willing to fight for those that are struggling under the economic conditions we are facing. McCain thinks that the fundamentals of our economy are strong, but it just shows how clueless he is. Community organizers have been fighting aginst Bush's policies since the turn of the century and for many, many years before that as well. If they want to attack Americans that work to make a difference in their community, then by all means, go for it. Meanwhile, those organizers will be doing all that they can to elect Barack Obama.

NYC Pols Trying To Repeal Citizen-Enacted Term Limits

Councilman Oliver Koppell is putting his neck out for many of New York's elected officials (and himself too) that want to remain in office past the date that term limits set for them. If you remember, it was the people of New York that voted to set term limits for politicians that get elected to office in our city. Now a little more than half the council is in support of extending the limits by four years (to twelve) and by stroking Mayor Bloomberg's ego, they might just pass the extension. Oh and by the way, their reasoning is pathetic.

From The Gothamist:

Bronx Councilman Oliver Koppell has taken the next (baby) step towards repealing the city's term limit laws, promising to introduce a bill proposing to extend them within weeks. Previously the Council were waiting for Mayor Bloomberg to confirm he would sign such a bill into law. But Koppell is ready to take the lead in extending the eight-year limit to twelve; he tells City Room that limits “cut off people’s careers in politics, which makes no sense.” He would like to see Speaker (and potential mayoral candidate) Christine Quinn introduce the bill, but says he will go forward with it if she does not. The Council would then have sixty days to decide whether to send the bill forward to the mayor, but Koppell claims such a bill could pass through Council "within twenty-four hours."

Um Oliver, you have got to be kidding me on that one right? First of it is the right of the people to change a law that they enacted. To go behind the backs of the voters of this city is at the very least severely unethical. It should go against the city charter and be illegal. Koppell and the rest of the supporters should be ashamed of this. If they really feel so strongly about extending the term limits or abolishing them, then go to the voters. Instead we see this dirty maneuver that testifies to the reason term limits were put established in the first place.

Samantha Bee Exposes Republican Hypocrisy Over "Choice"

There are plenty of reasons Samantha Bee is a part of the Best F*cking News Team, here's one of them:

Thank You Sarah Palin

It seems weird to be thankful for one of the biggest jokes to hit the national political stage this year, but honestly I am grateful that Sarah Palin jumped on board the Straight Talk Cynicism Express. Yeah I know, the conservative whack jobs love her, being one of their own and all. She'll rally the base to some degree with her ridiculously partisan tone and cheap one liners. Though as much as she does that for the religious right, she does it even more so for the rest of us.

Not only does this energize the Democratic base, Palin will help move moderates and Independents over to the party that represents true change. Polls including her introduction to the RNC and her speech are still formulative, but before election day, one of the best ways to show your support of a candidate is from your wallet. So let's see what happened after Palin spoke, shall we?

From Democratic Underground:

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Barack Obama's presidential campaign said it raised $10 million Thursday following the Republican National Convention speech by rival John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Palin's address, heavily laced with digs at Obama, prompted an outpouring of donations from more than 130,000 donors.

"We're up over the previous record and the number is still climbing the more Palin's attacks are covered on cable and network news," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said.

The Republican National Committee announced earlier Thursday, at mid-afternoon, that it had raised well in excess of $1 million since Palin's speech. Republicans expect Palin to mobilize their donors. But the Obama camp promptly used the speech as a fundraising hook, sending an overnight e-mail to supporters to contribute.

Ten million to one million, or for the benefit of the doubt for the GOP it could be 10 to 1.5. Whatever number you want to put after that decimal point is fine by me. While Palin pleases the GOP base because they were disappointed by the nominee himself, Barack Obama already had his base shored up. Sure there were some PUMAs out there, but most of them were Republicans dressed up as Hillary supporters. When Palin commended Hillary for her campaign, her crowd booed her. Women aren't fooled by this and while Republican women will still vote for the McCain/Palin ticket, Democratic women aren't swayed by a VP choice that is diametrically opposed to the way they view choice, domestic policy and world views. As for moderates and Independents, they are well aware of when someone is trying to placate and fool them.

The real fools here are the Republican leadership that made McCain go with Palin instead of Lieberman. John S. McCain may have the tag line "Country First" but really this is all about winning, at any cost. Whether it comes from the money of the religious right or the metaphorical bank account in his soul, McCain and his base are morally bankrupt...and it shows in real dollar amounts that are evidence for the enthusiasm for one campaign over the other.