Bay Buchanan at UWM!

Conservative pundit and sister of Pat Buchanan, Bay Buchanan, came to deliver a speech entitled "The Failure of Feminism". I, of course, decided to show up with the UWM feminists from VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood.

Less that thirty people showed up, which was too bad. But on the up side, I got to ask her a question. I also got to speak with her after the event. In addition, I got some good photos and a little bit of video. Hopefully, I'll get all my videos on this computer soon. I'm still working on it. I have video of John Edwards, Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinich, and Barack Obama.

Her speech on feminism were the usual complaints about abortion, divorce, and promiscuous sex. She spoke briefly on immigration, leadership, and the 2008 election, too. I was so happy when she declared that there was "no excitement in the Republican Party for John McCain". Eventually she got to answer questions. Several members of VOX challenged her abortion stance for the most part, she held her own. The questions got a little silly at times -- from a guy who asked the question twice about why being a "moderate" was the best political position, to even a Ron Paul fanatic!

The highlight of my night was when I asked her a question. I first asked how her brother (Pat Buchanan) was and if "he was going to run for president again?". She laughed and said that she "never knows" what he's up to. Then I brought the hammer down.

I then said, "In your speech, you said that you believe that abortion is the single most selfish act is abortion and that you couldn't thing of anything more selfish. Might I suggest that rape is?"

The room was silent and her tone changed immediately. She said that because rape is a criminal act that is wasn't comparable. She then gave the talking points about how terrible abortion is. But she acknowledged that I had a good point. And that was important because she stressed that everyone should acknowledge when their opponents have a good point.

After speaking to her for awhile afterwards, I remembered that I am not a complete partisan. There are some traditional conservative beliefs that I agree with (such as securing the border). And both Bay and Pat Buchanan hold some liberal beliefs (like Fair Trade). So it was really refreshing to see a conservative give a speech with some points that I could agree with.

Here's a photo from the event...
Yep, I'm also surprised she posed with me!

All in all, it was a good time. I got everything I hope for when I go see speakers. So now my list of political figures I have seen can now include Bay Buchanan.

-Mr. Joseph

Also, I found out that David "Democrats are worse than terrorists" Horowitz will becoming to UWM in late April. I plan to attend that, but I doubt I will enjoy it as much as this one.

Coulter's Credit Card: DENIED

This is hilarious.

NYPost...

Ann Coulter suffered a serious embarrassment over the weekend when her credit card was declined in Palm Beach. According to our spy, the nutty arch-conservative was caught at 9:45 p.m. Saturday night in the 10 Items or Less line at the local Publix when her card was rejected. "She was embarrassed but didn't make a scene," our witness said. "She just paid with cash and ran out of there. But at least she's eating."

LINK: STRICTLY CASH

RELATED READING...

LINK: Coulter’s Credit Card Denied at FL Supermarket

I know how embarrassing that is, but I'm not a millionaire like her. It looks like she needs to book a few more speeches, considering her book sales are suffering...

On a related note, this is funny, too.

-Mr. Joseph

Obama wins WI primary!

And by a huge margin! Congratulations to Sen. Obama! And to Christopher Larson, a local politician who won his primary for Milwaukee Country Supervisor. I was happy to vote for both.

NY Times reports....

Senator Barack Obama decisively beat Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Wisconsin primary and the Hawaii caucuses on Tuesday night, accelerating his momentum ahead of crucial primaries in Ohio and Texas and cutting into Mrs. Clinton’s support among women and union members.

With the two rivals now battling state by state over margins of victory and allotment of delegates, surveys of voters leaving the Wisconsin polls showed Mr. Obama, of Illinois, making new inroads with those two groups as well as middle-age voters and continuing to win support from white men and younger voters — a performance that yielded grim tidings for Mrs. Clinton, of New York.

On the Republican side, Senator John McCain of Arizona won a commanding victory over Mike Huckabee in the Wisconsin contest and led by a wide margin in Washington State. All but assured of his party’s nomination, Mr. McCain immediately went after Mr. Obama during a rally in Ohio, deriding “eloquent but empty” calls for change.

For Mr. Obama, Hawaii was his 10th consecutive victory, a streak in which he has not only run up big margins in many states but also pulled votes from once-stalwart supporters of Mrs. Clinton, like low- and middle-income people and women.

Mrs. Clinton wasted no time in signaling that she would now take a tougher line against Mr. Obama — a recognition, her advisers said, that she must act to alter the course of the campaign and define Mr. Obama on her terms.

In a speech in Ohio shortly after the polls closed in Wisconsin, she alluded to what her campaign considers Mr. Obama’s lack of experience, and his support for a health insurance plan that would not initially seek to cover all Americans.

“This is the choice we face: One of us is ready to be commander in chief in a dangerous world,” Mrs. Clinton said in the remarks, which she also planned to expand upon in a speech in New York City on Wednesday. “One of us has faced serious Republican opposition in the past — and one of us is ready to do it again.” Mrs. Clinton did not mention the Wisconsin results; she did, however, call Mr. Obama to congratulate him on the victory.

As Mrs. Clinton was speaking, Mr. Obama appeared on stage at a rally in Texas, effectively cutting her off as cable television networks dropped her in midsentence, a telling sign of the showmanship power of a front-runner.

“Houston, I think we achieved liftoff here,” Mr. Obama told a crowd of 20,000 people in that city as he hailed the voters of Wisconsin. “The change we seek is still months and miles away, and we need the good people of Texas to help us get there.”

With 90 percent of the electoral precincts in Wisconsin reporting, Mr. Obama had 58 percent of the vote to Mrs. Clinton’s 41 percent. On the Republican side, Mr. McCain had 55 percent to Mr. Huckabee’s 37 percent. And early returns in Washington State showed him with 48 percent of the vote to Mr. Huckabee’s 21 percent. In Hawaii, Mr. Obama had 75 percent of the vote, with 71 of precincts reporting, while Mrs. Clinton had 24 percent.

More...

LINK: Obama Extends Streak to 10 and Makes Inroads Among Women

I was able to see both Sen. Obama AND Sen. McCain the Saturday beforehand. In addition, my grandmother and aunt met Hillary Clinton, while Mike Huckabee campaigned within three miles of my house.

It was all very exciting. More on this later.

-Mr. Joseph

Wednesday Funnies

The latest "This Modern World" by Tom Tomorrow is quite funny...LINK: This Modern World

-Mr. Joseph

Al Gore voted for...

...someone we will not know...

The Politico...

Al Gore hasn't made an endorsement, but he has made his choice.

Gore's Smith County ballot was one of the 631,680 counted yesterday in Tennessee, where Clinton won the state by a 54% to 40% margin.

"He early voted," said Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider. "As a private citizens, neither of the Gores are releasing who they voted for."

LINK: Al Gore's vote

I'm surprised he did not endorse anyone. But, I can understand: it's a tough choice. However, I hope Edwards will choose to endorse.

-Mr. Joseph

Eastwood on Coulter: "very masochistic"

One of my favorite actors, Clint Eastwood made a great point about Ann Coulter and other conservatives (like Rush Limbaugh and James Dobson and Glenn Beck) in response to this...

Chicago Tribune...

Clint Eastwood, actor, film director and producer and himself a smalltown mayor, sees a sense of masochism in the Republicans -- like Ann Coulter -- who say they cannot support John McCain's bid for the White House.

And Coulter has a new line of her own.

Happy Chinese New Year.

In an interview with FOX Business Network’s Neil Cavuto live from Pebble Beach, Calif., at the site of the AT&T National Pro-Am Golf Tournament aired this evening, Eastwood talks politics.

Eastwood has this to say about Ann Coulter’s claim that she would vote for Hillary Clinton over John McCain: "Conservatives, often times, are very masochistic. They say, 'I’d rather not show up than have so-and-so. If it’s not my guy then I won’t show up’. You can’t be that way.”

Coulter, commentator and author of If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d be Republicans, had said last week on FOX's Hannity and Colmes that she'd sooner campaign for Clinton than vote for McCain.

Tonight, on Cavuto's show, Coulter made a new offer: “If McCain weren’t a dunce, what he would do is take Mitt Romney as his vice president,'' she said on FOX. "That’s the only way, I think, you could get me to vote for him and that’s my final offer.”

Eastwood had this to say about the nomination of McCain, which was propelled today by the withdrawal of Mitt Romney: "If that’s the way it’s supposed to go then that’s the way it’s supposed to go. I like John McCain, personally, very much.”

“John McCain has talked about keeping down spending," Eastwood says, "and we’ve got to do that... IIt’s a surprise that Mitt Romney dropped out so soon, but it’s an expensive deal…and it’s an expensive deal emotionally on the family.”

Finally, sounding a bit like McCain on the campaign trail, the "Make my day" actor turned director has this to say about political spending: "Both parties and both houses seem to be spending like drunken sailors. No offense to the Navy, of course."

LINK: Clint Eastwood: Ann Coulter, others, 'masochistic'

Also, a humorous story from Think Progress...

Brian Faughnan from the Weekly Standard reports from CPAC that right-wing pundit Ann Coulter still has plenty of books to sell:

Curiously untouched: Ann Coulter books. There are plenty left if you need to complete your collection. Note to my family: you know what you’re getting for Christmas.

Coulter was not offered a speaking slot by this year’s CPAC organizers.

LINK: Coulter’s books ‘curiously untouched’ at CPAC.

Clint Eastwood just made my day.

-Mr. Joseph

ROMNEY'S OUT!

Victory! The Romneybot 3000 is out! He's done! Oh, what a relief. Easily the worst candidate from the start (besides Brownback). Now I can sleep easy.

MSNBC...

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney used this year's CPAC confab here as the venue to bring his presidential bid to a close.

"If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Sen. Clinton or Obama would win," Romney said in his remarks.

As the results were rolling in on Super Tuesday, the Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes correctly predicted on FOX that Romney would likely exit the presidential race during his CPAC appearance.

Several scenarios abounded regarding the road ahead should Romney have stayed in the race (including a situation the campaign explained to the New York Times that had the campaign hoping they could nab many of the delegates up for grabs in the event of a Huckabee concession), but too many prognosticators deemed the odds mathematically impossible.

Romney employed many of the same lines in his speech that he's used on the stump throughout his campaign. And he confirmed one obvious thing that he admitted in his book, Turnaround, following his failed 1994 Senate campaign: He hates to lose.

LINK: Romney Makes It Official; He's Out

RELATED READING...

LINK: Obama On Romney: An "Ineffective Candidate"

LINK: Huckabee vows to press on

LINK: Transcript of Romney’s Speech Withdrawing From the Race

Today is a good day.

-Mr. Joseph

UPDATE (2/25/08):

Oh, is he...?

Rev. Haggard exits "restoration" process early

I guess he realized you just can't "quit" being gay.

Colorado Springs Gazette...

New Life Church said Tuesday that former pastor Ted Haggard has prematurely ended a "spiritual restoration" process begun when he was fired for sexual misconduct.

Haggard was fired from New Life Church and resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals in November 2006 after a former male prostitute alleged they had a cash-for-sex relationship. The man also said he saw Haggard use methamphetamine.

Haggard confessed to undisclosed "sexual immorality" and said he bought meth but didn't use it.

New Life said in a written statement that "the process of restoring Ted Haggard is incomplete and (New Life) maintains its original stance that he should not return to vocational ministry."

Haggard and his family moved to Phoenix last year. As part of a severance package that paid Haggard through 2007, he agreed to leave Colorado Springs and not talk about the scandal publicly. But Haggard made public an e-mail asking for financial support, drawing a rebuke from the restoration team.

Haggard couldn't be reached.

He had agreed shortly after his dismissal to the restoration process, which was expected to include counseling and prayer and last five years or longer. New Life officials made it clear that restoration would not include a return to the pulpit.

On Tuesday, New Life said Haggard will maintain an undisclosed "accountability relationship" with Phoenix First Assembly of God and the Rev. Tommy Barnett.

Barnett was one of three evangelical elder statesmen who served on the restoration team.

No one answered the phone at Phoenix First Assembly after hours on Tuesday.

New Life's statement said Haggard's leadership of the church had been extraordinary "for many years" and wished him and his family well.

Haggard was replaced in August by Brady Boyd, who had been an associate senior pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

LINK: Haggard exits restoration process early

RELATED READING...

LINK: C&L: Ted Haggard Premature Ejection From “Restoration Therapy”

Wonderful...

-Mr. Joseph

Olbermann Promo: "Who will steal the Political Thunder?"

Last night, a promo for Countdown's pre-Super Tuesday coverage ended with the phrase, "Who will steal the 'political thunder?". That's awesome. An unintentional shout-out to my blog. And by my favorite anchor, Keith Olbermann. Well, I'll be watching his show tonight, for sure.

Anyway, guess who my "ideal candidate" on the Indecision 2008's quiz is. Yep, John Edwards.
In addition, I have been asked to do an interview for the radio show, "The Lake Effect" on WUWM. The interview is in regards to this article, in which I was mentioned.

Today has been good to me.

-Mr. Joseph

No Savage!

Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films have started yet another great campaign -- to get the Islmamophobe, Michael Savage off the air.

Check out this video and get involved!

LINK: Michael Savage Hates Muslims

Fight the bully at NoSavage.org!

-Mr. Joseph

UPDATE (2/11/08):

LINK: TP: Five More Advertisers Abandon Michael Savage’s Hate-Filled Radio Show

Russ Feingold on the new FISA legislation

I'm so proud he is from my state. He is right on every issue. Especially these important ones...

Video...

LINK: Russ Feingold on the New FISA Legislation

-Mr. Joseph

Ann Coulter endorses Hillary over McCain!

Wow, I'm sure Sen. Clinton really does not want this endorsement, but she's got it.

These two videos say all that needs to be said...

LINK: Coulter: I'll campaign for Hillary if McCain is the nominee

I love Alan Colmes's reaction near the end of that clip. I also like how it is impossible for Hannity to even acknowledge her point.


LINK: Coulter: No, I'm not kidding about backing Hillary

Just another reason for me to dislike Romney.

-Mr. Joseph

RELATED READING...

LINK: Ann Coulter endorses Hillary Clinton

UPDATE (2/7/08):
Apparently, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and James Dobson are also vehemently opposed to McCain.

However, Coulter has stated that "If McCain weren’t a dunce, what he would do is take Mitt Romney as his vice president... That’s the only way, I think, you could get me to vote for him and that’s my final offer."

John Edwards drops out...

Well, I was ever disappointed to get this news. Edwards was my candidate. And now I can't say that I met the man who might be President. Oh well, it was a long shot anyway and he gave it a good run. All this means is that Obama probably has a better chance of getting the nomination.

From JohnEdwards.com...

I began my presidential campaign here to remind the country that we, as citizens and as a government, have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters. We must do better, if we want to live up to the great promise of this country that we all love so much.

It is appropriate that I come here today. It's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history. We will be strong, we will be unified, and with our convictions and a little backbone we will take back the White House in November and we'll create hope and opportunity for this country.

More...

LINK: Remarks Of John Edwards Today In New Orleans

Video...

LINK: Thank you.

Best of luck to you, Senator...

-Mr. Joseph

PS Anyone remember this great story the Onion did of him?

Giuliani drops out, endorses McCain

Wow, this guy was at the top of the list this Summer, and McCain was all but out. What a turn of events. So his "Florida or bust" strategy went bust, and even Ron Paul lasted longer than "America's Mayor".

MSNBC...

At a very well attended press conference here just a few hours before he was scheduled to participate in yet another GOP debate, Rudy Giuliani announced his departure from the presidential race and his endorsement of John McCain.

"I'm fully aboard, 100%," Giuliani said, announcing that if McCain would have him, he plans on campaigning on the senator's behalf in Feb 5th states. "I don't do things half way. I do them 100%, and when I believe in a man ­– like I do John McCain – this will become, to me, as important as my own election was."

With Cindy McCain looking on adoringly, Giuliani added more evidence to the 'anti-Mitt Romney' story line, as GOP establishment becomes more content lining up behind McCain's candidacy.

"There will be a clear choice this November and I believe that my life has prepared me for a life of service and a life of dedication," McCain said. "My strong right arm and my partner and my friend in this effort will be the former mayor of New York City, all-American hero, Rudy Giuliani."

McCain explained that he and Giuliani were uniquely aware of the threat of 'radical Islamic extremism,' and when he talked about a "clear choice" in November he implied that the Democratic candidates were not up to what he often calls "the transcendent challenge of the twenty first century."

Less than an hour after McCain and Giuliani left the spin room virtually arm-in-arm, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held his own press conference and openly hinted that his own endorsement of McCain could come as early as tomorrow. When asked specifically if he is planning an endorsement, Schwarzenegger said he had "no news today" on the topic.

But he said that Giuliani's departure from the race certainly indicates that "the dynamics have changed," and he went on to announce that he will be attending an event with McCain tomorrow that will focus on conservation and the environment.

Schwarzenegger's endorsement – if it does come – could have the same effect that Gov. Charlie Crist's endorsement had on McCain's campaign in Florida, providing an influential last-minute bump in a delegate-rich state.

LINK: RUDY DROPS OUT, THROWS SUPPORT TO MCCAIN

And then there were four...

-Mr. Joseph

Clinton, McCain win Florida...

In a repeat of New Hampshire, Sen. McCain and Sen. Clinton won each party's primary in the state of Florida...

Epoch Times...

With all but a few precincts reporting, the results of Florida's primary election are clear: Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary Clinton are the big winners in Florida.

Arizona Sen. McCain defeated former Massachusetts Governor Romney 36% to 31%, a healthy margin of victory in a state full of transplanted Northeasterners.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had counted on scoring big in Florida to prove his campaign's viability before Super Tuesday, garnered less than 15% of the vote.

Some media are reporting that Giuliani will withdraw form the race and endorse McCain.

As for the Democrats, Hillary Clinton decisively defeated Barack Obama by 17 percentage points, 50% to 33%. John Edwards finished with 14.5%.

Some exit polls showed Obama as a clear favorite over Clinton. It remains to be seen exactly where Sen. Clinton drew her support, and where Sen. Obama will have to work harder if he is to remain an par with Sen. Clinton.

Florida used to hold its primary election in March, but switched to late January to give the state a greater voice in determining the fate of the Presidential candidates.

This switch angered both national parties. The Democratic national party actually has a rule which states that no Democratic primaries can take place before February 5 (Super Tuesday.) Because of this, democratic candidates were not allowed to campaign in Florida. Many feel that this gave the GOP a chance to convert some Floridians in this important swing state.

Because official campaign efforts were prohibited, the results of the democratic vote likely reflect the strength of the different candidates' grassroots campaign machines. With no official support form the candidates, the ability of the citizens' organizations probably made the difference.

Florida voters are also deciding to adopt or reject property tax reform measure Amendment One, which would raise the Florida Homestead Exemption, cap property tax increases for Florida residents buying new homes, and change the appraising methods for determining the value of some properties.

Many voters found the amendment confusing, while others resented the scare tactics used by its opponents, who claimed that if Amendment One passed, essential services such as police and fire protection would be cut.

Ultimately, the prospect of lower property taxes and transferable resident benefits won the day.

Because of an amendment passed in 2006, future amendments to the Florida State Constitution would require a sixty percent majority to pass into law. Amendment One earned nearly 65%.

LINK: McCain Beats Romney, Hillary Beats Obama in Florida Primary

I am absolutely stunned that McCain is doing as well as he is right now.

-Mr. Joseph

Obama wins SC Primary!

Congratulations to Barack Obama! Alas, John Edwards' campaign is in trouble, but hopefully his role as "kingmaker" will make Obama the nominee.

CNN...

Sen. Barack Obama claimed a significant victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, telling supporters "we are hungry for change."

The Illinois senator earned more than twice the vote that rival Sen. Hillary Clinton did, 55 percent to 27 percent, unofficial returns showed.

Former Sen. John Edwards was third with 18 percent.

"Tonight, the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina," Obama said to supporters Saturday.

A win in South Carolina was considered crucial for Obama, who won Iowa but finished second to Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada. See what the results mean »

"I did not travel around this state over the last year and see a white South Carolina or a black South Carolina. I saw South Carolina," he said.

"The choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders," Obama said. "It's not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white.

"It's about the past versus the future."

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Obama had 55 percent of the vote. Clinton was second with 27 percent, followed by Edwards, with 18 percent. Obama's victory capped a heated contest in South Carolina, the first Democratic primary in the South and the first with a largely African-American electorate.

Obama, who is hoping to become the the nation's first African-American president, did well with black voters, who made up about half of Saturday's electorate, according to exit polls.

Black voters supported the Illinois senator by a margin of more than 4-to-1 over his nearest rival, exit polls indicate.

Among white voters, Obama took about a quarter of the vote, with Clinton and Edwards roughly splitting the remainder, according to exit polls.

Clinton congratulated Obama and said she was excited to move forward to the Super Tuesday contests on February 5.

"Millions and millions of Americans are going to have the chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted," she told supporters at Tennessee State University.

Edwards also looked ahead to the next contests.

"Now the three of us move on to February 5, where millions of Americans will cast their vote and help shape the future of this party and help shape the future of America," he said.

"Our campaign from the very beginning has been about one central thing, and that is to give voice to the millions of Americans who have absolutely no voice in this democracy."

More...

LINK: Obama claims big win in South Carolina

And as long as more Democrats are voting than Republicans, it can only be good news.

-Mr. Joseph

Sylvester Stallone endorses McCain!

Mike Huckabee has Chuck Norris, but McCain now has Stallone. I hope this being stuck in the back of my mind won't ruin the new Rambo movie for me. I'm seeing it tomorrow.

Crooks and Liars...

GOP presidential hopeful John McCain joined the Fox & Friends gang Thursday morning and they had a little surprise for him. Apparently, actor Sylvester Stallone is a big fan of the Senator and thinks he’s the right man for the job. McCain gets all fired up and does his best Rocky impression and Steve Doocy tells him to go pound a side of beef. Watch out, Governor Huckabee — your celebrity endorsement just got some competition. Oy…

LINK: Chuck Norris Hearts Huckabee, But McCain has RAMBO!

Priceless...

I wonder if this means that Stallone has to fight Chuck Norris...

-Mr. Joseph

Kucinich to drop out

I'm surprised by this news. In 2004, he continued to run after Kerry had been nominated. This will probably disappoint a few of my friends.

Alas, here is the scoop...

Cleveland.com...

Dennis Kucinich is staying home.

Two weeks after insisting he could run for Congress and president at the same time, his decision Thursday to drop his second bid for the White House suggests he is concerned about winning a seventh term in Congress.

He faces four candidates in the Democratic primary, including Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman, who has become his chief rival by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and winning media attention.

Kucinich, 61, who has easily won re-election, wouldn't say Thursday what influenced his contested congressional race had on his decision to drop out of the presidential contest. Kucinich will hold a news conference at noon today at a downtown union hall to explain his decision.

He cited his exclusion from national debates and the practical strains of running a national campaign as reasons for leaving.

"There is a point at which you just realize that you, look, you accept it, that it isn't going to happen and you move on," he said during a Congressional endorsement interview with The Plain Dealer editorial board and reporters. Kucinich stayed in the 2004 presidential race until late summer, when he had little competition for re-election back home.

Kucinich said he will not endorse another Democrat in the primary.

Kucinich is seeking a seventh term in Congress, but his long-shot bid for the White House has drawn four Democratic opponents.

When he kicked off his congressional re-election bid Jan. 9, he said he would focus on his local race, but then ratcheted up his presidential bid, campaigning in Michigan and Nevada and filing unsuccessful legal appeals to stay on the ballot in Texas and to win a spot on stage during presidential debates. He has fared poorly in early presidential contests.

More...

LINK: Kucinich drops presidential bid

Video...

For more coverage of Dennis Kucinich, go to the Openers blog.

It's just Hillary, Obama, and Edwards now... and Gravel.

-Mr. Joseph

PS Although I never totally supported his candidacy, I will always appreciate his stance on the SOA. And my favorite photo from the SOA Protest last fall was one of Kucinich's youngest supporters...

O'Reilly vs. Levin?

Even though he's got Scarborough, Imus, Snoop Dog, Al Franken, Olbermann, David Brock, and so many others ready to duke it out with him, I never thought I would hear about this feud...

OpEdNews.com...

Attack. Demonize. Divide and Deride.

It's the right wing Lords of Loud bread and butter. Ripping the opposition is as comforting to talk show hosts as Jessica Simpson is to a New York Giants fan.

Oh, they'll yell all day how the evil Left throws around the Nazi card. Meanwhile, Jonah Goldberg's newest tome, "Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning" is being pimped across the dial by right-minded Lords of Loud.

But this week the Right Wing whack attack took an even darker turn...inwards. And when I heard the light and lilting modulated tones of talk show host Mark Levin on his daily show throwing down the gauntlet at the feet of journalist Bill O'Reilly yesterday, I nearly fell off my No Spin Recliner.

Levin was royally annoyed that Bill had anointed himself chief oversight for talk radio standards of demeanor when he brought on six talk show hosts on the TV Factor to discuss what is the right or wrong behavior for radio hosts.

Though no names were bandied about on the Factor, Levin felt Bill was referring to Levin himself as an example of someone who had the temerity to mock politicians, physically and otherwise.

How upset was the normally calm and collected Levin? After saying that O'Reilly had no audience and would be off the air in a year, he said the worst thing you could say about the performance of a host, that O'Reilly "phones it in." In radio parlance, he basically just shows up and wings it.

But the real shot hit the fan when Levin reminded his audience that Bill was involved in a "porn"(Levin's word, not mine) scandal where he was taped sexually harassing a younger subordinate, one in which Bill had to pay millions to make it go away. Levin said that if Bill didn't stop taking on the mantel of talk radio's ombudsman, he would "do an hour on the porn" during his own show.

Yikes.

While Levin's show is syndicated by ABC and O'Reilly by Westwood One so there's no love lost there, but there are outlets, like KABC in Los Angeles, where both shows broadcast over the same station. Having one host going to war with another one in the same lineup should make for a bunch of tight sphincters in a number of program directors' offices.

Will Bill acquiesce to Levin's demands or will the Nospinster tell Levin to stick it where the AM signal is difficult to receive?

Will Levin allow O'Reilly to tell him how he should behave on his own show or will he end up broadcasting a show that would guarantee to draw Levin's largest audience?

We should know soon, but I can already feel the WWE verberations on the airwaves.

Levin vs O'Reilly.

Steel Cage Radio Match

No Loofas Barred

Vince McMahon, eat your heart out.

LINK: Right Wing Talk Wars! Mark Levin Threatens O'Reilly With Hour Exposing Bill's "Porn"

And by the way, yes, the Mark Levin mentioned here is the same one that was dubbed Sean Hannity's "Cabin Boy" by Alec Baldwin.

Oh, please let this escalate!

-Mr. Joseph

The 2008 Presidential Elections: A Closer Look at the Democratic Candidates

With the primaries heating up, I thought it would be a good idea to analyze the remaining Democratic candidates, given that I am a Democrat. I may analyze the Republican field later this week.

Hillary Clinton...

Senator Clinton is the obvious establishment candidate on Democratic aisle. She has been involved in politics for all her life and she is clearly an expert in the arena. I like Senator Clinton and I could vote for her in good conscience because she is an effective Democrat, a natural leader, and has lead a life full of political experiences. It seems to be an ignorant trend to whine and promise to "move to Canada" if she is elected, and unfortunately, that ignorance is heard quite a bit. But the bottom line is that we all know she would be a very effective President. She's Pro-Choice, pro-civil unions (believes states should decide on gay marriage), against CAFTA (despite her husband supporting NAFTA), pro-gun control, and claims she is the best to implement a "uniquely American" universal healthcare. In addition she has voted with Democrats 96.7% of the time and, although deeply spiritual, she has a near flawless voting record on supporting the separation of Church and State.

In short, like I said, she is an effective politician and reliable Democrat. However, for years she has been the target of some of the most vicious Right-Wing attacks, I would argue that she has endured the most vile smear campaign against of all recent politicians, so one has to admire her resolve.

My only criticism is that she is, in fact, the Washington Insider. She is the Establishment candidate in an election focused on change, and because of that, I personally cannot endorse or support her, unless she is nominated. And that is because, although the establishment candidate, she is definitely more qualified than ANY of the Republican candidates. I'll get to them later.

LINK: Hillary Clinton on the issues

Barack Obama...

Senator Obama has run a fantastic campaign that focuses on the theme of change. He claims that he can bring the honesty, integrity, and positive change that Washington so desperately needs. His campaign has focused on reaching out to others, rising above the petty politics of a campaign, and ending the culture of corruption this last administration has allowed and encouraged to flourish.

Although his record in national politics is limited, his campaign articulates that he is very much Pro-Choice, pro-civil unions (although against gay marriage), interested in amending NAFTA, very pro-gun control, supports comprehensive health care reform, and wholeheartedly supports the separation of Church and State.

I was overjoyed to see Obama win Iowa, and I really hope he will get the nomination, for it seems (at least at this point) he is the only Democrat who has a chance at defeating Hillary in the Democratic primary. His message is uplifting, his speeches are inspiring, and his campaign has been run very well. However, I am terribly upset set to see the topic of race being brought up. Clearly this country still has a problem with racism and I am ever disappointed in this part of the American public that still have issues with a black President.

LINK: Barack Obama on the issues

John Edwards...

Senator Edwards is my pick for President. The man is intelligent, compassionate, and capable of leading this country. He truly cares about the working class -- there is a reason so many major unions endorsed him early. Alas, the media has decided that the Democrats are in a two-person race and have unfairly counted Edwards out. Because of this, Edwards will probably end up taking the role of "kingmaker" by choosing to either endorse Hillary or Obama.

He is staunchly Pro-Choice, pro-civil unions (he still struggles on the issue of gay marriage), very pro-union, opposes NAFTA, has promised to end the Iraq War within his first year, pro-gun rights, and is for universal healthcare. Martin Luther King III and Ralph Nader have endorsed him, and Michael Moore hinted that he is the best choice on healthcare issues.

People like to crack jokes at Edwards because of the $400 haircut nonsense and the "Breck girl" comment, but the bottom line is that he is a man of integrity who cares deeply for those who are struggling in this country. His message has always been one about standing up for the little guy, and although cliche, I believe he means it. I don't agree with Edwards on everything, but I honestly believe he is the best choice for the Presidency.

LINK: John Edwards on the Issues

Dennis Kucinich...

I have not followed the Kucinich campaign as closely as perhaps I should have. His candidacy is, unfortunately, not one that is taken seriously (aside from those on the far Left). I saw him speak at the SOA Protest last November and it was very moving. He has a great message, but his attitude perplexes me. He consistently looks for ways to differ from those in his party on issues he should agree with -- from not boycotting a FOX News debate to refusing to sign a "loyalty pledge", Kucinich appears to be antagonistic when it comes to party loyalty. However, some see this as a good thing.

He's right (in my opinion) on all the issues -- Pro-Choice, pro-gay marriage, against NAFTA, he promised to end the War in Iraq immediately, he is pro-gun control, pro-universal healthcare, and is, apparently, deeply spiritual.

Alas, he will get few votes except from his die-hard supporters, which is too bad, because, even if I am not supporting him right now, I agree he deserves much more credit than he is given.

LINK: Dennis Kucinich on the Issues

Mike Gravel...

I did not know much about Mike Gravel at the beginning of the campaign and I still do not. I know he is to the Left on every position, which is good on some issues, but bad on others. Extremism is never good, and I believe Gravel pushes that on some issues.

His campaign is even less serious than Kucinich's. At his highest popularity, Gravel polled at 1%, and now his campaign stops include high schools. In addition, he has been shut out of more debates than he has been invited to.

Personally, I am not much of a fan of Gravel. I like most of his social positions, but his foreign policy seems a bit off, and his personal demeanor strikes me as odd. He seems to be, perhaps delusional.

Whatever the case, Gravel added something to this election and I am glad he still pursues his campaign even though it was over before it began.

LINK: Mike Gravel on the Issues

So that's my late analysis of the remaining Democrats. Like I said earlier, I hope to discuss the Republican field next. Also, please note, all the facts I listed can be verified at OnTheIssues.org.

-Mr. Joseph