Friday Clearinghouse

Welcome to the Friday Clearinghouse, a new feature here at 3Q where I'll be tossing down some of my favorite links from the week. It may not happen every Friday, and it may not happen every week, but for now we're going with it. In fact, while most of this post was written on a Friday, here it is Wednesday night.

Bill Richardson has launched a terrific website, No Troops Left Behind, poking a thumb in the eye of both parties. Even though he, in my opinion, botched the ideal launch of the slogan by using the word "zero" for emphasis the line is a killer. Though hardly the basis of a campaign, this is the kind of chicanery that wins the hearts and minds. Kudos to Bill.

Spoofed on the Borowitz Report, and certain to be widely panned by jilted Democrats, Ralph Nader gave an interview recently wherein he ponders another White House run. (Full interview here, at 1:44 into the transcript.) Most of the interview pertains to corporate welfare and it's disharmony with the spirit of America, but the interview invariably turns to '08, where Ralph gives his take on most candidates. It is interesting to hear how he sees them, mostly in terms of how bought they appear to be. His take on HRC is the most vicious, and rightly so: "She is a political coward," Nader said. "She goes around pandering to powerful interest groups on the one hand and flattering general audiences on the other. She doesn't even have the minimal political fortitude of her husband." Put that in your poll and smoke it! There is an article about Nader in the brain somewhere if any more noise is made, and in the meantime I would recommend catching a recent documentary if you get the chance, An Unreasonable Man.

It turns out that the electorate has a crush on more than just Obama. Here is Nashville's love song to F. Thompson. As it turns out, the Fix has uncovered a hate song, as well, coming from the far right. Love or hate, the "choice" is yours.

I'm not sure if Giuliani is considering changing his authoritarian stances on anything, but I am sure his SC state chairman might suggest some drug war efficacy in light of his recent cocaine indictment. That won't play well in the South.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I am strongly considering devoting at least one paragraph a week to point out what a schmuck Sam Brownback is. In this campaign youtube video he not only bumbles nearly every sentence that comes out of his mush mouth, but he also closes his entry by saying that he is travelling "acrosst America". Oh man, we gotta get this guy out of the race.

So much to say, so many beers to drink, so little time.


Opa Opa at the Spoke-a,
BTB

Big Ol' Piece of Gravel

Yet another reason Mike Gravel won't win the Democratic nomination in 2008, he has positioned himself as a French filmmaker in this campaign video.


Absurdity? Existentialism? Metaphor? Check, check and double check.

Bordello of Boredom

Hillary Rodham Clinton released a video, too. This one a spoof of the Soprano's ending. Although I have never seen a single episode of Tony & Co., the finale got so much media attention that I knew exactly what to expect. The video was a preface to the release of the official campaign song. The spot is amusing, but ultimately a letdown when you realize that the song is...You and I by Celine Dion. Wow. Never ceases to disappoint. I am with Bill, it should have been Smashmouth.

Malbec and Pizza,
BTB

Super Hum-Mitt

My favorite part about Mitt Romney is the admiration I have for him as America's Mormon Political Superman. In time for Father's Day, the Romney campaign released a video on it's website, a home video no less, showing the 2006 Romney Christmas holiday from their beautiful, Western, woodsy Utah vacation home with pine walls and stainless steel appliances. Apparently it was over this vacation that Mitt made the final decision to run for President of the United States to cap off his charmed life. This video shows his outrageously all-American family - men with chiseled chins playing basketball, sledding and watching football alongside attractive wives and toddlers running around playing games and drinking juice. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady even make notable cameos in the background of a number of shots on the television. Coincidence? I don't think so. More importantly, only once does anyone appear to be actually watching the game, a grandson. What's up with that? Back to the point, we see Mitt as vigorous (sledding and being rammed into by his son), patriarchal (saying a thankful prayer before dinner), studious (shooting a piercing gaze into a book while his wife gushes about how intelligent he is) and successful. What better in a President? Sound judgment perhaps, but in terms of political pageantry I think we have as fine an actor as we will see in our lifetimes. I recommend the video (only 13 minutes) even for the haters out there. At the very least you will see that he has a son named Tagg. Whoops, I guess I ruined that for you.

See you out on the trail,
BTB

Live from Goffstown

Rather, the television is live from Goffstown, NH but here in Quabbin Qountry we are just plain alive. Wolf Blitzer looks like he is in a screening room compared to the candidates behind, but I'll believe CNN. I hate to do the same ol'-same ol, but alas here we go with some live blogging.

"I am the Senator from New York. I have seen firsthand the terrible damage" - Clinton echoes Giuliani. Not surprised.

"I opposed this war from the start. I think you're about 4 and a half years too late." - Obama in response to Edwards' barbs. Meanwhile, Hillary is trying to stay as neutral as possible, likely because she knows she doesn't have any capital. She strives to tell people that the real differences are not between the Democratic candidates, but rather between the Dems and the GOP.

Oooohhhh, Wolf just zinged Hillary by asking her whether she regrets her vote having not read the intelligence report. How can you answer that? You can't. Hence, she failed to say "yes" or "no". He comes back and gives the same question to Edwards. Damn, how you gonna not read that? That said, Edwards admits his mistake. He got the first applause of the night of anyone for giving props to Obama for being right from the beginning, followed by a brief speech on the need of honesty after Bush.

I don't know if I mentioned it last time, but Obama really needs to improve upon his stage presence. Granted, he does have the least experience of any candidate, but he really shows it. He pauses too much in his speech, carries on words, stuff like that.

Hillary once again stops short of answering Wolf's question. She ends with a quotation from Barry Goldwater.

"Who's most likely to end the war in Iraq? Who's most likely to lead the way in health care?" - Edwards telling how the main role of President is not to be a legislator, but to be a leader.

As the night went on, I became distracted by other things around the house and my bloggings became less and less common. I hope to recap my efforts later on, but now its push-ups and dessert.

Ahoy,
BTB