Stewart takes apart McLame's speech

Wow - when Republicans make it this easy, I wonder if it's even fun for the writers of The Daily Show. However, I know this - it sure is fun for Jon Stewart, and it really is fun to watch.

As I noted on the night of McCain's acceptance speech, where were all of the people at the GOP convention mocking McSame's Vietnam service record? Hmm, nowhere to be found. Stewart brilliantly points this out above, and I'm very happy that someone, anyone in the media bothered to point this out.

Kudos to Stewart for also pointing out McSame's obviously hypocritic blubbering about "vetoing the first bill the crosses my desk with pork barrel spending in it! {...} You will know their names!" Well, we know one name already - his vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin. What's most amusing about that inconvenient fact is hearing McCain and the right trying to defend it. (I've got some pretty amusing video of conservatives trying to do just that earlier today. Stay tuned.

It's good to see that Stewart is in midseason form as we roll toward the election. If it weren't for Stewart, Bill Maher and Keith Olbermann, there would be virtually no prominent, sufficiently angry liberal voices in the media.

Fred Thompson cuts a, ahem, "commercial"

This one kinda says it all about Fred Thompson - a look into his past, especially his record as a lobbyist, should not hold up to scrutiny, but whether it will or not depends on whether there is any sort of scrutiny in the first place.

Kind of like Rudy Giuliani, and how his stupid, often idiotic decisions surrounding 9-11 get pathetically little scrutiny.

Many are calling Fred Thompson the "New Ronald Reagan." Greeeeeat - that's just what we need - let's put a man in charge of the very government he dislikes and who thinks government is the problem. No, it's anti-government people like Reagan and Thompson who are the problem. Why would anyone ever think it's a good idea to put someone in charge of something he despises? I never understood that.

I found this cartoon last week about Reagan that brought back all of those unpleasant memories of him, as well as the Reagan wanna-bes in the GOP field [Click the image for a larger view]. ...

F. Thompson's campaign gets a life vest

I got a kick out of this one - people from the Democratic National Committee delivered a life vest to Fred Thompson's campaign, because it's already taking on water. With revelations coming to light about conflicts of interest and some questionable ethics practices surrounding his lobbying efforts, his campaign may take a torpedo or two before it even begins.

I know, I know - it's pretty immature, and if I were on the DNC, I would have said no to it - this kind of chest thumping always has a way to come back and bite you in the butt, and that's the last thing Democrats need right now. But, sometimes you need to have fun at your job, so to this I say well done, sort of.

But, the "deeply dissatisfied in our government" side of me thinks that maybe people over at the DNC should consider how they are going to begin impeachment proceedings against Cheney, Bush and Gonzales, not how they can pull off pranks like this one.

I know, fat chance, but that's really what needs to be done. I'm working on a piece that I'll probably finish tomorrow about impeachment, and why it needs more than a casual look from Democratic "leaders" in Congress.

H/T to C&L for the video

PA prez poll has Rudy holding edge

What's wrong with Pennsylvania? A recent poll pitting presidential front runners Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani has Rudy enjoying a four percentage-point lead of Hillary.

I'm anything but frightened by this, for a number of reasons:

1. It's much too early to be panicking about polls. The only real function polls serve right now is fund raising.

2. Pennsylvania has not gone to the GOP presidential candidate in the general election since 1988.

3. There are plenty of x-factors who may yet enter the race - Newt Gingrich, Fred Thompson, Al Gore and Michael Bloomberg.

Pennsylvanians have plenty of time to wake up. I'm betting they will.

Poll details: Conducted May 22-28. 1,318 Pennsylvania voters surveyed. Plus or minus 2.7 percentage points. Leaders for respective parties shown. Graphic via Keystone Politics.

Are there four more seats at this table?

There are rumors to varying degrees that the 2008 presidential candidate pool may swell by as much as four in the coming weeks and months: Newt Gingrich, Fred Thompson, Al Gore and Michael Bloomberg. One Democrat, two moderate Republicans and Gingrich, a has-been who I like to think of as a "never will be."

My first thought about more candidates is that this isn't a bad thing. There is so much at stake in the 2008 election, the more candidates we have to choose from, the better.

I don't know all that much about Thompson, other than his infamous red truck that he used during his campaigns for the Senate. (It was later revealed that he would drive his red truck from campaign stop to campaign stop, but after each stop, he would drive his truck just outside of town, and get into a much nicer vehicle. An aide would drive the red truck almost the entire way to the next campaign appearance. Thompson would then switch back into the red truck and drive into the next town. Real genuine guy, that Thompson. I guess that's why he fit right in as a U.S. Senator.)

I honestly hope that Gingrich gets into the race. After the damage he did to our political system in the 1990s, I'd love to see him get his tail end kicked in the primaries, or heaven forbid, if he received the nomination.

It's no secret I hope Gore gets into the race, but the longer time goes on, the longer the odds are that he gets into the race. I hate it that this is a reason, but money and fundraising has got to be a consideration (and an impediment to his getting into the race later on) for a Gore candidacy.

Quite frankly, I really hope that Bloomberg enters the race. I'm of two schools of thought on Bloomberg. I like it that he would be beholden to no one, because he would not have to worry about fundraising. He has more money than he knows what to do with, so he could just deposit a check for $500 million in a campaign account, and away he goes.

But, there could also be a perception, which would have some merit, that Bloomberg would be "buying" the presidency.

Bloomberg seems to be seriously flirting with the idea of running, but he's tough to read. He recently even complimented Gore and the idea of a Gore candidacy (above).

From a recent New York Times article:

"I hope Al Gore enters the race; I think it would be good for the country," the mayor said.

Mr. Bloomberg this week moved to establish his chops as an environmental mayor by proposing congestion pricing for those who drive into Manhattan. While many have speculated about the Mayor himself running for president, could he be open to directing some of his fortune, and political clout, to Al Gore?

Bloomberg has better environmental credentials than any Republican candidate, and maybe even some of the Democrats.

However, I want Bloomberg to run for two principle reasons: 1. I want a credible threat to the two main political parties, and 2. Bloomberg is a moderate - he's not afraid to make tough choices. Although he's a Republican, he's a moderate who doesn't subscribe to Republican dogma on many issues, including taxes and the environment.

I wouldn't mind seeing all four of these guys enter the race - the more the merrier.

Photo by Chip East/Reuters

GOP Poll chat with Paula Zahn

This spring, I've been decrying the appearance of presidential polls in the mainstream media, but I've rethought that; so many big states have moved up their primary to February 5, which will be the single-biggest day during the campaign, save for election day. Super Tuesday (Some are calling it "Giga Tuesday") is only 10 months away, and it's all but certain that date will determine who the nominees are.

This is a few days old, but still relevant. I still find it very hard to believe that the religious right will be at all happy with Rudy Giuliani - his stances on abortion and guns, as well as his marriages, will ultimately cook him if a number of other differences with the right do not.

John McCain? GOP roadkill.

I'll put out a few fearless forecasts right now - neither McCain or Giuliani will even get the nomination. Both are problematic and not nearly conservative enough, and in McCain's case, not trustworthy enough.

On the Republican side, I think we are yet to see the candidate who could make a viable nominee in '08. Only time will tell.

I wouldn't be shocked if former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson did indeed jump into the race, but I would be surprised. He has more the feel of a cabinet member if, heaven forbid, the Republicans hold onto the White House in 2008.

I'd give my eye teeth for Newt Gingrich to get into the race. I believe most Democrats have been spoiling for a fight with that fool for a long time. I know I have. The Georgia Leech would get his ass kicked.