"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler
by Smitty
I’m not related to the Smith in the family trees of Limbaugh, Palin, and Obama. My mother has traced the Smiths back to some folks who came over from Merry England ~1850, fought for the North, and drifted West. Not especially notable, probably due to lack of blogs back then.
Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton: you’re welcome.
by Smitty
As we get down to crunch time on the election, the amount of consideration afforded trolls is going to be essentially none.
Under less serious circumstances, we’re generally happy to go back and forth in the comments with commie degenerates; there is always a possibility of redemption.
However, the next three weeks are not the time, and this blog is not the place for doing anything but supporting the candidates who will save our port-listing ship of state from capsizing.
Nice Venn, you’ve managed to bring down the wrath on yourself. Flagging all of your comments as spam was done without pleasure on my part.
Stacy is in full Gonzo mode and I’m rather tied down at work. Please help us, using the shiny new comment system, but flagging any troll comments–they should drop out of the comments on refresh.
I mean the following in a tongue-in-cheek fashion:
by Smitty
That’s not motor oil you smell, it’s Eau de Moran, the perfect cologne for the high-RPM party tool:
Just so the rest of the country knows, I’ll be phone banking again tonight, as well as whatever is going on this weekend, to support Patrick Murray against this guy.
Why? Because I love the country too much not to do everything I can to upgrade our Congressional representation.
My only regret is that I didn’t do more than vote to retire this guy earlier.
And. . .the first bit of polling info smells like bacon:
Virginia: Another district “in play”?
An internal poll (R) taken in Virginia’s 8th District (Alexandria, etc.) shows ten-term US Rep. Jim Moran (D) with 45 percent to 32 percent for his Republican opponent, retired Army Col. Patrick Murray. Less than 50 percent is a weak sign for an incumbent, especially this one, deemed a shoo-in by most observers. However, it was a Republican poll.
More from Pundette
TOP NEWS
Last Of Chilean Miners Rescued
70-day ordeal over for miners, families
Dozens Charged In Largest Medicare Scam Ever
No, not Democratic Congressmen; Armenian gangsters.
Witnesses Recount Fort Hood Massacre
Major Hasan’s court-martial finally underway
Norway Calls Chinese Anger Over Xiaobo Nobel “Inappropriate”
PRC cancels officials’ planned visits to Norway
DOJ To Investigate Illinois’ Military Ballot Gaffe
Certainly just a coincidence that most troops tend to vote GOP. Certainly.
POLITICS
Democrats Rush To Aid Sinking Reid While Stripping Support From Other Struggling Senators
Over $2 million to be spent in Nevada while Missouri spending scaled back
Coons, O’Donnell Trade Shots In Televised Debate
Michelle Obama: Giannoulas Will Be “Phenomenal” Senator
Congressman Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) Declares He Won’t Vote Again For Pelosi As Speaker
House Democrats Call For Extra $250 Social Security Payment
To compensate for a lack of COLA increases, because there’s been no inflation…wait a minute.
THE ECONOMY, STUPID
September Home Closures Hit Record 100K
Congressional Oversight Panel Criticizes TARP Contracts to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
Dollar Falls To 15-year Low Against Yen, Eight-Year Low Against Euro
Former Car Czar Rattner Close To Deal On Pay-to-play Pension Scheme Charges
GM Chairman Predicts IPO Stock to Sell At $20-25
SPORTS
Jays Looking At Bobby Valentine For Manager Vacancy
Mariners, Marlins, Pirates also interested in former Mets skipper
Wizards Fine Malingering Arenas
Presenting The NASCAR Hall Of Fame’s Class Of 2011
Nationals Send Bryce Harper To Arizona Fall League
Raiders Feel Turnaround Coming
FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Rapper T.I. Helps Talk Suicidal Jumper Down
Played key role in getting man off 22nd story ledge
Jasmine Waltz: “Two Times, My A**!”
Morgan Freeman Divorce Settlement Details Out – Oy, Is He Going To Pay
Lohan Nabbed Leaving Rehab For Coke – Er, Coca-Cola
FOREIGNERS
Palestinians Mull Israeli Settlement Offer, Consider Options
UN Security Council Votes To Reauthorize Military Forces In Afghanistan
Japan Slams ROK Currency Intervention
CCP Elders Call For An End To Censorship In PRC
BLOGS & STUFF
Pat Sajak: Public Employees And Elections – A Conflict Of Interest
Robert Spencer: Gerecht & Goldberg v. Geller – Geller Wins
Matt Welch: Just Admit It, Newspapers – You’re Scared Of Muslims
Jim Romenesko: NPR Staff Told To Avoid Colbert/Stewart Rallies If Not Assigned To Cover Them
— compiled by Wombat-socho
BOSTON — Tonight in a debate at Shrewsbury High School, Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern shocked the audience when he declared, “I think the Constitution is wrong” (0:32):
Discussing campaign-finance regulation, and apparently referring to the U.S. Supreme Court’s January Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission ruling, McGovern said:
“We have a lousy Supreme Court decision that has opened the floodgates, and so we have to deal within the realm of constitutionality. And a lot of the campaign finance bills that we have passed have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. I think the Constitution is wrong. I don’t think that money is the same thing as human beings. I don’t think money equals free speech. I don’t think corporations should have the same equality as a regular voter in this district.”
In a subsequent question from the audience, Tina Hood of Worcester said “it blew my mind” when she heard McGovern say the Constitution is wrong. The Democratic congressman denied having said that and instead talked about the Constitution’s “general welfare” clause justifies social programs criticized by his Republican opponent, Marty Lamb.
UPDATE: Pete Da Tech Guy got video of my post-debate interview with Tina Hood.
UPDATE II: Marty Lamb talks about the debate:
UPDATE III: Press release from the Marty Lamb campaign:
Holliston, MA …Tonight, Marty Lamb, Republican candidate for Congress in Massachusetts Third District, was shocked at Congressman James McGovern’s words and his attitude toward the U.S. Constitution.
During the debate Congressman McGovern stated, “the Constitution is wrong,” when questioned about campaign finance. Congressman McGovern does not seem to believe in the First Amendment—the freedom of speech.
“I am deeply troubled by the Congressman’s statement. I don’t think that Jim McGovern is smarter than our forefathers. I support the first amendment. In fact, I support all the amendments,” said Lamb. “The first action a Congressman takes is an oath is to uphold the Constitution. This oath should not be taken lightly.”
Lamb also criticized Congressman McGovern’s desire for campaign finance reform which includes public financing. “He wants to take your tax dollars during a recession to buy lawn signs for politicians. That’s crazy” said Lamb. “This is coming from an incumbent who took over $300,000 from lawyers, lobbyists, and health and insurance pacs and officials. Hypocrisy at its finest.”
UPDATE IV: A friend on Twitter scoffed at the possibility of Marty Lamb winning the 3rd District. Scott Brown won it with 58%, so please tell me again why McGovern can’t be beat. Martha Coakley ran a lousy campaign, but even she was never so abysmally stupid as to say the Constitution is wrong. This is Grijalva-level stupid.
UPDATE V: Linked by Jane Jamison at Uncoverage and Dave C. at The Point of a Gun. Meanwhile, 3rd District voter Da Tech Guy strives to be fair and balanced, but Jehuda the Rhetorican is glad that at last an honest Democrat has been found in Massachachusetts.
UPDATE VI: The video is now featured at Real Clear Politics and Free Republic.
UPDATE VII: Linked at Fox Nation.
by Smitty
Update II: Let us pray that enlightenment, or a ludicrous amount of pressure, finds Mike Castle. No one can make the old duffer do the graceful thing here: he has every right to be a cantankerous, Ruling Class putz and fail to support the American cause. I support and defend his constitutional right to vie for the Richard Cranium of the Year Award. Nope; can’t take that from the chap. Can’t coerce him to endorse Christine O’Donnell and try to help recover the country. Limited to strong encouragement on this one.
Update: debate available here.
C-SPAN streamed it, and has much other political coverage.
Christine generally turned in a great performance. Her weakest question was recent SCOTUS decisions which she opposed. Apparently she’s fairly in agreement with the Roberts Court.
I just haven’t got a nice thing to say about Coons. Pet, indeed: he seemed to have swallowed every Progressive notion hook, line, sinker, and half the pier. Delaware could elect the HuffingtonPost.com to the Senate with no appreciable difference. OK, Arianna’s digital rag doesn’t meet the age requirement, but still.
Christine sounded a solid candidate. Coons, a condescending tool. A look at history might reveal to Delaware voters that it’s been the tools that have dug our huge economic pit.
Meanwhile, The Other Smitty is deeply sad that no one is loving the theme song for the Friday POTUS visit, Obama Went Down To Delaware. Read, guffaw, link, in that order.
Brokaw is on C-SPAN now doing the CA Governor debate. But I simply cannot listen to the man: his diction is excruciating. Retirement, perhaps?
Latest viral video produced by Ladd Ehlinger Jr.: