Strollerderby : debate

They say: Obama Wins

Brett Singer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:11:00 GMT

CNN, The New York Times, and even Fox News have called the Presidential race for Barack Obama. (UPDATE: so has everyone else.)

Amazing to think that it's almost all over after so much campaigning.

Not much to say. I'm still going to watch the news for awhile; I'm like Yogi Berra – it ain't over 'til it's over, y'know? Then again, McCain just conceded. Wow. (Classy speech too, for what it's worth.)

UPDATE: I'm watching Barack's speech now. I can't imagine what must be going through his mind. Think about where he was in 2004. Wow. I know I should have something more articulate to say but "wow" is going to have to do. (It's late.)

My kids don't seem to care that much, which was actually sort of nice in a way. No matter who wins, they get up, go to school, eat lunch, run around, jump on my ribs – a typical day. Eventually I'll talk to them about this election, but not right now.

What about you – how do you feel?

image: me waiting to vote today

McCain's Mom's Morale Super Low

Other Stuff to Vote On Today – Same Sex Marriage, Chicken Cages

McCain Campaign Verbally Abuses an Innocent Child

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: John McCain is not a maverick

Babble Podcast for November 3, 2008

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Joe the racist plumber?

They Say: Obese During Pregnancy? Hatch a Republican!

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

109 Year Old Daughter Of Slave Votes For Obama

Other Stuff to Vote On Today – Same Sex Marriage, Chicken Cages

Brett Singer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:15:00 GMT

So the United States is picking a President today. But there are other candidates, and also many ballot measures in play today.

A quick round-up:

ARIZONA:
- Ban same-sex marriage.
- Require that any initiative involving spending or tax hikes be approved by majority of all registered voters, not just those casting ballots.

ARKANSAS:
- Create state lottery.
- Ban unmarried couples from adopting or being foster parents.

CALIFORNIA:
- Ban same-sex marriage.
- Authorize high-speed rail project.
- Require parental notification for a minor's abortion.
- Create 14-member commission to draw state legislative districts.
- Require all utilities to generate 20 percent of their power from renewable energy by 2010.
- Ban cramped metal cages for egg-laying hens.

I think I'm noticing a trend here.

Several states are voting on ballot measures to "ban same-sex marriage." Personally, I find this bizarre. Isn't it already banned? Are people that freaked out at the possibility of two men or two women marrying each other that they need to put it on double secret probation? (For the record, I think if gay people are crazy enough to want to be married, it's fine. Go for it.)

Looking at the article on MiamiHerald.com, it looks like the to-do of an insane person. Authorize slot machine gambling, check. Allow state's first casino, check. Ban abortion and dog racing, check. Ban cramped metal cages for egg-laying hens, check. (Those are all from different states, not the same one.) That's not to say that all of the measures are insane, it's just funny to think about them out of context. "Let's see, today...Prohibit mandatory union membership and mandatory union dues, authorize slot-machine gambling, and make English the official language of government proceedings. Got it." Busy day.

Sources: Miami Herald, MTV

Read more:

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: John McCain is not a maverick

Babble Podcast for November 3, 2008

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Joe the racist plumber?

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

109 Year Old Daughter Of Slave Votes For Obama

Brett Singer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:45:00 GMT

The line to vote for President and other stuff today might be kind of long. If you get cranky, here's an inspiring story to keep you a little bit sane.

From the Austin American Statesman:

Amanda Jones, 109, the daughter of a man born into slavery, has lived a life long enough to touch three centuries. And after voting consistently as a Democrat for 70 years, she has voted early for the country's first black presidential nominee.
…
Jones' father herded sheep as a slave until he was 12, according to the family, and once he was freed, he was a farmer who raised cows, hogs and turkeys on land he owned. Her mother was born right after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Joyce Jones said. The family owned more than 100 acres of land in Cedar Creek at one point, she said.
Amanda Jones' father urged her to exercise her right to vote, despite discriminatory practices at the polls and poll taxes meant to keep black and poor people from voting. Those practices were outlawed for federal elections with the 24th Amendment in 1964, but not for state and local races in Texas until 1966.

First of all, the fact that anyone lived to be 109 is cool. More importantly, though, is her story. I can't imagine what it must have felt like for Amanda to cast her vote in this Presidential election.

Source/Image: Statesman.com

Read more:

Other Stuff to Vote On Today – Same Sex Marriage, Chicken Cages

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: John McCain is not a maverick

Babble Podcast for November 3, 2008

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Joe the racist plumber?

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

Why Monday Night Football Is Important To This Election

Brett Singer — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

You probably think that a football game has no bearing on tomorrow's election.

Silly voter!

First: both Barack Obama and John McCain will appear tonight on Monday Night Football. They will be interviewed by Chris Berman, a man whose idea of humor is referring to quarterback Jack Delhomme as "Daylight Come And You've Gotta Delhomme." (Get it? "Go home?" "Delhomme?" It's even funnier when he says it every single week.) According to media reports, "The interviews will give both candidates a last major chance to appeal to Americans during a coveted spot on prime-time television. Monday Night Football has averaged 12.2 million viewers this season." That's better than the typical halftime show, although I doubt Janet Jackson will show up and offer a wardrobe malfunction. And while I would personally love it if Obama quoted Chris Rock and said, "Redskins? That's racist! That's like having a team called the New York Ni**ers," I'm guessing he won't say that. But maybe McCain will? Nah. Wouldn't be prudent, you know?

Second: if the Redskins win the game, the incumbent party – the Republicans, in case you've forgotten – wins the election. This has been true since 1948, except for once. In 2004, the 'Skins lost and George W. Bush won. Obviously this isn't a lock. Still, this is one of those weird little things that make you believe in a higher power that has a sense of humor.

The predictions I've seen generally favor the Steelers tonight, but it should be close. So if you want to start obsessing a day early, you can stay up late tonight and watch the game.

Also of interest: Obama was on Monday Night Football back in 2006 to announce… that he was a Chicago Bears fan. Here's the video.

Sources: WSJ, CBC (also image), Sporting News

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

How much is Sarah Palin worth?

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

UPDATE: Jon Stewart says "F*** All Y'All"

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Brett Singer — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:07:00 GMT

When you were a kid, did you ever make prank calls? Call a bar and ask to speak to Dick Hertz? Dial 867 5309 and ask for Jenny? Or "is your refrigerator running? Well, you'd better go and catch it!" (That last one is way old school, dude.)

Some lucky grown-ups actually make a living doing that sort of thing. And Sarah Palin is their latest victim.

Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel, two Canadian radio performers who go by the name The Masked Avengers, have made calls to numerous celebrities and government officials, including Britney Spears (she's a celebrity, not a government official – just wanted to clarify that.) Now Alaska's governor can add her name to the ranks of the pranked. The Canuck comedians got through to Sarah Palin herself on Saturday and convinced her – for five minutes – that she was speaking to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The remarkable thing is how easily they get through. Sure, one would think that Palin would have figured out this wasn't actually the French Prez when he says that he loved the "documentary" that Hustler made about her, "Nailin' Palin." But the really sad part is the staffer who puts her right on the phone. No, "Are we expecting a call from the President of France?" Nothing.

Another good line: "We have the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France. It's called Marcel, the guy with bread under his armpit."

The campaign released the following statement: "Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy and other celebrities, in being targeted by these pranksters. C'est la vie."

So I guess if you catch your children on the phone asking some stranger if they have Prince Albert in a Can (let him out! Ha ha!), maybe you should encourage them? OK, not really.

Here's the entire Sarah Palin prank call for your listening pleasure.

Source: miamiherald.com, huffingtonpost.com

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

Why the Sarah Palin Shopping Spree Included a Ramones T-Shirt

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Alec Baldwin Discusses Palin with Letterman

Palin Busted! New Ethics Complaint Filed

Babble Talk: The Babies Tell Us Who Will Be Their Next President

Palin Mocks Autism Research

Joe the racist plumber?

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

Brett Singer — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:00:00 GMT

By now you probably now that Senator Ted Stevens has been found guilty of lying about campaign gifts. But what WERE those gifts? Must have been some spectacular stuff to be worth risking his political career and legacy for. Right?

Eh, no.

Howard Stern has been talking about this for awhile now – basically, Stevens sold his soul for, like, a barbecue grill. (But a really NICE one.) Jon Stewart weighed in last night (if the video doesn't work, try clicking here):

Personally, I prefer my corruption big. If you're going to go to jail for something, shouldn't it be something really huge? And if you're going to completely sell out to special interests, shouldn't you get better stuff than that crappy fish sculpture?

The details are just too wacky to be true, except that they are. From the Miami Herald:

Stevens maintained throughout his own testimony that he didn't want the things he was given — a grill, a fish sculpture, a generator, furniture, a high-tech massage chair, free labor — and that he never received bills for some of the work done on his home, even though he asked for invoices. He also continued to place much of the blame on his wife, Catherine, saying repeatedly that she was responsible for overseeing the renovations that led, in part, to his federal indictment. He simply was unaware of all renovation-related expenses, Stevens testified.

Let's review. He didn't want the stuff. He asked for bills and never got them. (Funny how that NEVER happens to me. Or anyone else on the planet.) He's blaming his wife. (Nice.) And it gets better:

But jurors are unlikely to regard some of his assertions as credible, including Stevens' claim that a $2,695 massage chair was a loan, not a gift, from his friend Robert Persons in 2001.
The lead Justice Department prosecutor, Brenda Morris, read from an e-mail in which Stevens told Persons "the chair arrived and it's great," but added that he couldn't accept it as a gift, just as a loan. If it's a loan, Morris asked Stevens, why then is the chair still in his Washington, D.C., home more than seven years later?
"I told him I would not accept is as a gift," Stevens said. "We have lots of things in our house that do not belong with us."

If you could hear me, you would know that I am laughing. Out loud. "We have lots of things in our house that do not belong with us." What can one say about that? Imagine you are in your child's room and you notice a toy that looks unfamiliar. You ask them where they got it. "It's not mine. I have lots of things that aren't mine." Oh! OK.

And one more thing: Madeline points out in Morning News that Sarah Palin has asked Stevens to resign his Senate seat. Some have the audacity to suggest that Palin might be eyeing his job. Or as Madeline puts it: "Is Palin looking out for Alaska's best interest? If by Alaska, you mean Sarah Palin, then some say the answer is 'yes!'"

Oy.

Source: Miami Herald, hulu

Read more:

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Jay Thomas Reunites With Out of Wedlock Son

30 Rock Premiere Online A Week Early

Morning News: Does LA Times Hold Key to Obama Downfall?

UPDATE: Jon Stewart says "F*** All Y'All"

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Brett Singer — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

This is really ugly.

I hope that whomever you happen to be voting for, this isn't something you can condone.

As the blog We Are Respectable Negroes (the name comes from the Forty Acres and a Mule document) puts it: "It seems that Barack Obama was finally called a 'nigger' at a recent Republican presidential rally."

Palin will get a lot of flack for not responding, and while I can't argue otherwise, I don't know what she should have said. (In a Palin voice: "Oh, come on now! That's a bad thing to say!") Then again, how do you stand in front of a crowd that screams out something like that?

Michelle Malkin is claiming that the person was actually shouting, "Redistributor!"

Yes, of course. I make that mistake all the time.

(Aside: in case anyone is planning to leave a comment along the lines of, "What about that Sarah Palin hanging effigy? Why aren't you railing against that?" It's terrible and should be taken down immediately.)

I'll ask you -- what do you think you heard? I actually closed my eyes so I couldn't see the captioning on the video. Send the kids out of the room and tell us what you think was said.

Source: We Are Respectable Negroes, MichelleMalkin.com

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Palin's Ohio Rallies Reveal Frightening Misconceptions about Barack Obama are Alive and Thriving

Morning News: Malia Obama Tells Dad 'Don't Mess With My TV'

Breaking News -- Obama Assassination Plot Thwarted

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Joe the racist plumber?

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Brett Singer — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Kim Mance breaks down some of the key points in the Obama and McCain health care plans. I have a few thoughts to add.

I didn't realize this, but the debate about a national health care system goes back much further than when Bill Clinton attempted to implement one when he was first elected way back in 1992. "Both Roosevelt and Truman called for health care to be an 'economic right.' Truman then proposed a single-payer health program to cover all Americans. But it was called a 'Communist plot' by a House subcommittee after the American Medical Association denounced it." Funny (not ha-ha funny) how one of the current digs at Obama is that he's a "socialist". I guess socialist is the new communist.

A key difference between their proposals is, "how to ensure that all Americans have access to health insurance. Both want there to be no 'state lines' as there are now, so families can shop around for the best plan. However, Obama will regulate and require insurance companies to cover patients regardless of pre-existing conditions, and McCain will not. McCain will instead work with Governors on (fifty separate) plans to optimize access to health care within each individual state."

One thing that I find very interesting, and encouraging, is that at least both sides are talking about getting more people covered. Back in the 1990's, it was much more of an "us against them" situation, with the Democrats wanting a national health care system and the Republicans wanting everything to stay the same.

To me, a sign that the McCampaign is out of touch on this particular issue is the notion that a family can purchase health coverage for $5,000, or even that they can purchase it at all. First, as Mance points out in her Babble article, $5,000 covers less than half of the typical family's yearly health insurance bill. Obama says that the cost is $12,000, Mance cites a study that puts the number at $12,680. Second, as someone who has run a small business and offered health insurance to employees, I can tell you that it is not that simple to just go buy a plan the way McCain says it is. For an individual, it is significantly more difficult. Health insurers simply don't want to talk to individuals about coverage, they prefer to deal with "groups", meaning employers. So while it sounds nice to say, "hey, here's five grand, you can buy whatever health plan works best for you", it's just not that simple.

There are more details discussed in Mance's article, which is very much worth a read. The bottom line? It's hard to tell what will happen no matter who gets elected, but they agree that the current system isn't good enough. "Neither presidential candidate's health care plan brings us anywhere near a true socialized medicine or single-payer system. But they do both point out the many ways our own health care structure can be improved." That's at least something.

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

They Say: More Children Have Allergies

New York Times Anthrax Update

Dr. Greene's Vitamins one way to get extra D

Woman leaves toddler in car while she goes to a bar

Santa Claus says: Smoke More

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Mom and son barbecue grandma's remains

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Brett Singer — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave a speech in Pittsburgh on Friday where she discussed the challenges facing children with special needs.

Here is a video clip with a few choice digs at the Obama-Biden tax plan:

If the clip does not appear, try clicking here to see it.

And a couple of pertinent lines from the speech:

As families across America know, the care of special-needs children requires long-term planning, and especially financial planning. A common practice among these families is to establish financial trusts. These are known as special needs trusts, covering years of medical and other costs, and for parents they bring invaluable comfort.
Understandably, then, many families with special-needs children or dependent adults are concerned that our opponent in this election plans to raise taxes on precisely those kinds of financial arrangements. They fear that Senator Obama's tax increase will have serious and harmful consequences -- and they are right. The burden that his plan would impose upon these families is just one more example of how many plans can be disrupted, how many futures can be placed at risk, and how many people can suffer when the power to tax is misused.

I’m unfamiliar with special needs trusts, but it sounds to me like something only someone with money can do. That is, if a family lives paycheck to paycheck, how much financial planning can they really do? Like most political rhetoric, what Palin says is short on specifics and long on fear mongering. (That's true of both sides; lack of details is non-partisan.) Also, "the power to tax"? Oy vey. You would think no Republican administration had ever raised taxes, or that the tax cuts in recent years actually worked. (That's another conversation, but really. Oy vey.)

She also makes this claim:

In a McCain-Palin administration, we will put the educational choices for special needs children in the right hands their parents'. Under reforms that I will lead as vice president, the parents and caretakers of children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to send that boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private.

Just like that? Come on. We're not electing a Supreme Ruler; we're electing a President. And anyone who thinks that a school voucher law like the one that Sarah Palin describes (I know that may be an oversimplification, but hey, I can do it too!) will get passed quickly and easily is at best naïve.

A commenter on the nationaljournal.com article says it pretty well:

I find all these promises far too vague and general to mean much of anything. … What about health insurance? … Sorry, I don't need a 'friend' -- I need someone with a plan that does more than 'hope' that 'market forces' will allow me to afford insurance for my child.

I will say that I think it's interesting to hear this much talk about autism/special needs children during an election year. It's possible that this issue was front and center in the past, but if so, I didn't notice.

Text of the full speech is here if you want to read it.

If anyone has more direct experience with special needs trusts, or any of the other issues Palin raised in her speech, I'd be curious to hear your take on what she had to say.

sources: MSNBC, National Journal

Palin Plays the Race Card, Badly

Piper Palin Carries a Louis Vuitton Bag - Is it Hers? Does it Matter?

Morning News: Pregnant With Palin

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

Breaking News: Maya Rudolph to Play Michelle Obama on SNL

Is Sarah Palin the next Oprah?

They Say: More Children Have Allergies

Dr. Greene's Vitamins one way to get extra D

Woman leaves toddler in car while she goes to a bar

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

Brett Singer — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

I was all set to write something about how I didn't really care if Sarah Palin put her children in the public eye. It's part of running for office, especially national office, and hey, this is her job. People rarely complain about men doing it with their kids. Why should it be different for a woman?

But then this story about Piper and her (fake) Louis Vuitton bag popped up, and I had a change of heart.

Is it really fair to put your kids through that sort of scrutiny? Let's review: We had Piper Palin, on video, spitting on Trig's hair.

Then Palin the Candidate brought Piper and Willow (Piper seems to be getting the most screen time, no?) out to a Philadelphia Flyers game. She thought that Philly fans would NEVER stoop so low as to boo her little girl. (Um, Philly fans would probably boo the second coming of Elvis if he was there to give them each a million dollars, but that's another story.)

These are two of many examples where Palin uses the kids as a bit of a shield. Or if "shield" is too strong a word, I think we can all agree that she's "putting them out there," which means what they do will be scrutinized. Unlike her youngest children (Trig for example), the older kids know enough to realize what's going on and hear the insults being hurled their way. Would I want to subject my child to that sort of thing?

The Presidential couple that did the best job of keeping their kids – actually, kid – out of the news was Bill and Hillary Clinton. For all of his obvious failings, Bill (with Hillary's help, of course) told the press every chance he had that Chelsea was off limits. For the most part the media respected that. Now, that was a different time. Clinton left the White House in 2000, which was before the rise of TMZ, Gawker and the constant barrage of celebrity news programs and web sites that track every move the famous make. Still, I doubt that most mainstream media outlets would have "gone after" Palin's children if they were home in Alaska going to school rather than out dropping pucks on the campaign trail.

Of course, if they were in Alaska, Palin would be separated from her kids for quite a long period of time. But how many hours could she possibly be spending with them anyway? Wouldn't they be better off away from all of this nonsense?

Then again (Live! Flip-flopping in action!) what business is it of ours? Since we don't want Sarah Palin to tell us what to do with our kids, how can we tell her what to do with hers? BUT (flip) doesn't it say something about her judgment that she has no problem pulling her kids out of school whenever it suits the campaign, taking them away from their friends? HOWEVER (flop) don't they benefit from her high profile? Am I judging her differently because she's woman?

And so on. You know what the bottom line is, I think? It's not important. What happens to Sarah Palin and her family is important to Sarah Palin and her family. I disagree with her on virtually every issue she has an opinion on, and I think her behavior at campaign rallies has been reprehensible. (Colin Powell said it much better than I ever could.) That's what matters. Her kids? While I can't say I agree with the decisions she appears to be making, they're her decisions. She'll have to live with them. Right?

What do you think?

Photo: MSNBC.com, via Morning News

Campaign Dream Team: Sarah and Liz!

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Piper Palin Carries a Louis Vuitton Bag - Is it Hers? Does it Matter?

Morning News: Pregnant With Palin

$150,000 Spent on Sarah Palin's Clothing

Breaking News: Powell Endorses Obama

Do Sarah Palin and Family Listen to the Ramones?

Why Won't Sarah Palin Release Her Medical Records?

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

UPDATE: Jon Stewart says "F*** All Y'All"

30 Rock Premiere Online A Week Early

Brett Singer — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

If you can't wait to see the season premiere of '30 Rock' -- well, you don't have to.

NBC has posted the entire episode online at Hulu.com. Actually, it's embedded in this web page. Right here. Who needs a TV?

Liz is trying to adopt, so the episode actually has a lot to do with parenting and stuff. Megan Mullally plays Bev, the woman from the adoption agency, and all sorts of weird crap happens when she comes to the office to see if Liz would make a good parent. (Will Arnett also guest stars. Every time he opens his mouth, it's funny.)

How is it? It's good. A few good lines:

"She touched me in my swimsuit area."
"Is it so wrong that I just want to have one of these to grow up and resent me?"
"I'm Fred, Rick is the other black guy."

For me, the weird thing about '30 Rock' is that I don't mind watching it on the computer. Obviously I watch all sorts of short clips on YouTube and everywhere else, but there's something about this show that lends itself to Internet viewing. Also, while every time I've watched '30 Rock' I enjoy it, I somehow don't feel compelled to ever watch it again. Then at some point, like now, I see another episode, and I like it. And, then it's forgotten again. I don't know why. I'm not the only one; despite the tremendous amount of media attention the show and Tina Fey have gotten, '30 Rock' is described as 'ratings challenged' even by Ms. Fey. Maybe this adoption storyline is going to heat up, and that'll draw people in. There's also that whole Sarah Palin impression that has helped Saturday Night Live get its highest ratings in a decade. Might be some spillover from that as well.

Anyway, Tina Fey is the new Empress of Show Business. You heard it here first.

Source: Hulu

Read more:

Breaking News: Maya Rudolph to Play Michelle Obama on SNL

Sarah Palin Offered to Babysit Tina Fey’s Toddler!

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

Sarah Palin on SNL for Real

Breaking News: Maya Rudolph to Play Michelle Obama on SNL

Brett Singer — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

TMZ is reporting that Saturday Night Live will bring back cast member Maya Rudolph – or as they put it, "Maya Rudolph Goes Barack to SNL." She'll play Michelle Obama and also "will once again co-star with Amy Poehler in their 'Bronx Beat' skit. Oh my gawd!"

What's interesting about this is that SNL has no African-American women in the cast, and it probably wouldn't look too good to put Kenan Thompson in a dress to play the possible First Lady To Be. (Although it could be pretty funny – remember Tracy Morgan playing Star Jones?)

I've always been intrigued by SNL casting when it comes to persons of color. For example, the show initially took some heat for casting Fred Armisen as Michelle Obama's husband. While Lorne Michaels said that, "Fred just had best take on Obama," and that's why he was cast, I wonder if the fact that he is "of white and Asian heritage" (according to the Washington Post) had anything to do with it. That is, maybe Michaels was concerned that if he cast Whitey McWhitebread in the role of the first African-American Presidential candidate, people would get up in arms. (Or up in ARMISEN - get it? Oh, that was bad.)

Of course, as the same Washington Post article points out, Billy Crystal played Sammy Davis Jr. (and Muhammad Ali in the highly underrated "Kate and Ali" sketch) and no one complained. Nor do they mind when Darrell Hammond does his Rev. Jesse Jackson impression. (Which, for what it's worth, is brilliant.)

Casting Rudolph says, to me, that the powers that be at SNL do feel some pressure to have not-100%-white actors play prominent Black characters. Not all the time, but in this case, it's appropriate. I think I agree, but it's interesting that there seems to be some need to deny that.

Source: TMZ and Washington Post

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

UPDATE: Jon Stewart says "F*** All Y'All"

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

Is Sarah Palin the next Oprah?

Brett Singer — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:45:00 GMT

This story from the Hollywood Reporter is making the rounds. It's very odd.

According to HR, "as more and more polls cast doubt on the McCain-Palin ticket, producers and agents across the entertainment world are discussing possibilities for capitalizing on her fame, ranging from an Oprah-style syndicated talk show to a Sean Hannity-like perch in cable news or on radio."

I suppose I could see a Fox News-style show. But Oprah? Come on.

I'm not a big Oprah fan. I think she promotes some questionable stuff, is highly materialistic, and never gets criticized even when her actions might warrant it (she really made some big mistakes with that school she started, for instance). But there's no denying that she is the most successful television host in history, and someone whom millions of people adore. She is also somebody who can say, "I like this book" or "I like this movie" and suddenly that book or movie is number one. (Howard Stern Show producer Gary Dell'Abate told a story on the air about how he tried to get his wife to watch the movie 'Crash' with him. She wouldn't even consider it. Then Oprah said it was great. They watched it that night.) Again, it's not my thing, but Oprah clearly connects with a broad range of people. Sarah Palin is an extremely divisive figure. While that sort of thing plays really well on Fox News and right-wing radio, it doesn't usually work on network or syndicated television. (Anyone remember Rush Limbaugh's late night TV show? I thought so.)

Also, I think Palin has more political aspirations. That's pure speculation on my part, since Sarah and I haven't talked lately. (Actually, we haven't talked ever.) But I'm not the only one who thinks she might want to move into the White House on her own.

Would you watch a show called "Sarah!" starring Palin?

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Joe the racist plumber?

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

Brett Singer — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Will Ferrell made his triumphant return to Saturday Night Live last night; actually, the official title is "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday" which is so clunky it sounds like a Bushism.

The bit is too long, as usual, but has some good lines. Bush is in the Oval Office to offer his endorsement to the McCain-Palin ticket; he refers to the upcoming election as a contest between, “the hot lady and the Tiger Woods guy.” Tina Fey as Palin (I guess we're done seeing the real thing, although with the ratings Saturday's show got, who knows) pops in to the Oval Office to see Bush: “So nice to meet you Mr. President, I've seen you on TV.”

She gets more good lines, saying that she and John have been “Travelin' the country, talkin' about change, and energy independence, and William Ayers... Doin' a little shopping...”

Of course, McCain doesn't want the endorsement, ha ha. Todd eventually tracks him down; I like Jason Sudeikis, the guy who they have playing Todd Palin, although the snow suit does most of the acting.

I can't decide if Tina Fey is getting tired of playing Palin or if the discomfort is part of her performance. Either way, I think she is now officially Head of Show Business. I can't recall a comedienne/writer/actress/whatever you want to call her who became this popular, especially without a blockbuster film or highly rated TV show. I think she's hilarious, and it's a great impression. Maybe sometimes talent does matter.

David Zurawik in the Baltimore Sun says that SNL is providing a “profound service” with their political satire. I don't know if I'd go that far, but it definitely has gotten people to watch the stupid show again. This sketch does get a little more pointed than some of the others, with Ferrell as Bush saying, “When you go in the voting booth to vote for McCain, remember this face,” and points to his own. It's a lot more bluntly left-wing than the Amy Poehler rap from last week. (I thought the rap was funnier, though.)

Here's the clip:

Source: Hulu
Image: Baltimore Sun

Breaking News: Maya Rudolph to Play Michelle Obama on SNL

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The Obamas wear cheap clothes

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Sarah Palin on SNL for real

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

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They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

UPDATE: Jon Stewart says "F*** All Y'All"

Brett Singer — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:15:00 GMT

On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart clarified the remarks he made at Northeastern University a few days ago (source - HuffPo):

Original post is below:

Speaking at a homecoming event at Northeastern University, Jon Stewart had this to say about Sarah Palin and her recent comments:

"She said that small towns, that's the part of the country she really likes going to because that's the pro-America part of the country. You know, I just want to say to her, just very quickly: f**k you."

The video is very low quality (cell-phone I think) and not that easy for my aging ears to understand. The zinger is pretty clear, though, so don't watch this at work. Here you go:

I'm almost surprised that Palin's comment isn't getting more attention. Not that it's been ignored, but what a terrible thing to say. It does, however, feed right into how a lot of people in this country feel (as this video shows pretty clearly).

To paraphrase Stewart, Palin's supporters love this country. They just hate half of the people in it.

source: HuffPo

image: Wikipedia

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Joe the racist plumber?

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

Giant Palin Poster

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They say: Sarah Palin should step down

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Not That There's Anything Wrong with It

Sarah Silverman says: make granny vote for Obama

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Brett Singer — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:44:00 GMT

This video is from July, but Anya Strzemien at Huffington Post dug it up in the wake of the Sarah Palin's clothesgate.

The video is from Access Hollywood, so don't expect hard-hitting journalism. That said, both Barack and Michelle come across as very normal. Plus you get a really cute moment about 1 minute in when one of the Obama kids says, "But mommy IS important!"

As for the photo, according to Strzemien, that dress costs $34.95. As for Barack, he "hates to shop" and his shoes have holes in them. As someone who goes shopping once a year, and even that is under protest, I can relate.

Here's the video:

Source: HuffPo

Read more:

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Piper Palin Carries a Louis Vuitton Bag - Is it Hers? Does it Matter?

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They say: John McCain is not a maverick

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Related on Babble:

The Babble Interview: Michelle Obama

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

Brett Singer — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:10:00 GMT

So it really happened. I kind of thought that maybe it wouldn't, that they were just teasing us, but there she was in all her GOP VP candidate glory.

There were two segments - the first, the opening, seems to have gotten more attention. After Tina Fey, as Palin, explains which parts of the country are less Pro-America than others. Cut to backstage, where Lorne Michaels is standing with the real Palin. Then Mark Wahlberg shows up to pretend to beat up Andy Samberg because he didn't like some sketch last week. Alec Baldwin arrives and thinks Sarah is really Tina, etc. Gawker describes it as "awkward", which I think is accurate. What do you think? Here's the clip; watch for what one Gawker commenter calls "the best bit...the glance Feylin gave each other as they passed- TOTAL F***NG MUTUAL HATRED...":

The second bit, from the Weekend Update segment, has a pregnant Amy Poehler performing a rap that Palin says she now thinks she shouldn't do. It's sort of funny, although I have to admit that lately I sometimes think that SNL is only as funny as the funnier amateur stuff on YouTube.

Palin actually proves herself to be a fairly comfortable actress, which isn't really a surprise since she has a media background (sportscaster, beauty pageants, etc.)

Now, for no reason other than I think I can get away with it in this post, here is my Sarah Palin song parody - Rock Me, Sarah Palin (remember Falco? Rock Me Amadeus? Big hit in the 80's). I admit that the video portion is fairly simplistic, but hey, I don't have NBC money. Feel free to ignore it for the network comedy clips featured above.

Now, I have a question. Is SNL lame for having the real Palin appear on the show? As another Gawker commenter puts it, is it, "all fun and games until someone loses her reproductive rights"? Obviously SNL wants ratings, and this show will probably bring them in. But doesn't it dilute whatever they might be doing satirically by having the object of their ridicule on the show? Or does it not matter?

image: Gawker
source: Hulu/NBC

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They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Brett Singer — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:30:00 GMT

The actual title of this post over at the blog A Little Pregnant is "Why no one with a uterus should vote for John McCain." Despite the fact that I am someone who is without a uterus, I still felt that this argument needed to be shared with Babble readers.

Here is the opening salvo of the strongly but calmly worded argument against the Republican vice-Presidential candidate:

Senator John McCain, Republican candidate for president, on late-term abortions, and whether they should remain legal when the health of the mother is at stake:

"Health for the mother." You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything. That's the extreme pro-abortion position, quote, "health."

For purposes of my argument, it doesn't matter how you feel about abortion. Forget your own feelings about abortion. My own are rather liberal, offputtingly so to many people, so forget those, too. Forget your disappointment, if you feel it as I do, in hearing Senator Obama use the anti-choice movement's buzzwords, "partial-birth abortion," without busting out an angry McCainish sneer.

Focus instead on the air quotes McCain used, the belittling wiggle of his fingers as he summarily dismissed women facing what's possibly the ultimate lose-lose situation: your baby or your life.

Here is the video the author is referring to:

This line is also worth quoting:

Not only is John McCain saying we shouldn't have the right to terminate a pregnancy in the event that our lives are at stake, he's telling us he's skeptical that that happens at all.

We know better.

Actually, the whole thing is worth reading, and its not that long. Go check it out.

Source: alittlepregnant.com

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

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Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 17th

Whit Honea — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

John McCain Does The Monster Mash

More Private Angelina Photos Leaked

Joe the Plumber: The Videos!

Tina Fey "You Ignorant Slut"*

PlumberGate: Joe The Plumber IS Related to Charles Keating, and Also Owes Back Taxes!

Lisa Bonet Confirms She's Pregnant

Russell Crowe Says Sons Are Complete Opposites

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Denis Leary: Autism Means Your Kid Is Stupid and Lazy

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Joe the racist plumber?

Brett Singer — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:00:00 GMT

With all of the attention Joe the (unlicensed, non-union) plumber has gotten, you might think there are no new angles to explore. But my eyes popped when I read the last two paragraphs of a story in today's New York Times:

In his interview with Ms. Couric, Mr. Wurzelbacher, who voted Republican in Ohio’s March primary, said that his encounter with Mr. Obama had been prompted by his desire "to ask one of these guys a question, and really corner them and get them to answer a question for once instead of tap dancing around it. And unfortunately I asked the question, but I still got a tap dance."

He added, "He was almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr."

This, to me, is the elephant in the room with regard to Obama's candidacy. There are people who, when the time comes, will simply not be able to pull the lever for a Black candidate. Even some of the attacks on him – "he's a Muslim", etc. – are often just ways of saying, "he's Black" without actually saying it. (Then there are the not-so-subtle references.)

It reminds me of an experience I had while I was in college. I was standing on line at a McDonald's, and a man came up to me and said, under his breath, "You know, those people, they really can't count or make change."

"Excuse me?" I replied.

"Those people." He gestured to the cash register, where a Black employee was working. "That's why this line is moving so slowly."

"Thanks," I said, and since I didn't give him a high five and ask when the next Klan meeting was, he left.

Putting aside the even more disturbing notion of election fraud (Florida? 2000? Anybody home? Bueller? Bueller?), it will be interesting if people are saying one thing to a pollster – "sure, I'm voting for Obama" – but doing something else in the privacy of a voting booth.

image/source: NYTimes

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They say: Sarah Palin should step down

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Sarah Silverman says: make granny vote for Obama

John McCain Snubbed Jenny McCarthy on Autism

SunnyChanel — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:31:00 GMT

Jenny McCarhty and John McCain share more than the same initials and a McCa in their names. They both believe that there is a correlation between vaccines and autism. Back in March, McCain said "It's indisputable that autism is on the rise among children... The question is, What's causing it? And we go back and forth, and there's strong evidence that indicates that it's got to do with a preservative in vaccines."

The actress Jenny McCarthy has claimed that the MMR vaccine, that’s supposed to immunize kids against measles, mumps and rubella was what changed her healthy, attentive and affectionate six-year-old son, he was later diagnosed with autism.

Since she shared the much debated opinion that vaccines and autism are linked with Senator McCain, she thought she would find a kindred spirit. McCarthy reached out to the Senator and him and his team agreed to the meet on the topic. She flew out to interview McCain in person, was prepped and ready. But McCain backed out at the last minute. Why? His campaign manger said "He's ahead in the polls, and this is too controversial, and he doesn't want to go one way or the next."

Would you have liked to have "Maverick" McCain stick to his guns on this topic?

via: Contactmusic.com

What Did Obama Actually Tell 'Joe the Plumber'?

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:26:00 GMT

"Joe the Plumber" (AKA Joe Wurzelbacher from Ohio) has been plunged into instant fame by asking Barack Obama a question about his tax policy. Since this interaction became the cornerstone of last night's debate, I thought I'd share a video of the actual interaction Obama had with Wurzelbacher, in which he clearly and concisely explains how his tax policy will affect working Americans.

Photo: BBC

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Brett Singer — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:00:00 GMT

You know those lovely folks who have been attending Sarah Palin's speeches and screaming "kill him!" whenever she mentions Barack Obama? Turns out John McCain, the guy who is actually running for President on the Republican ticket, is none too happy about that:

McCain has become alarmed about the fury unleashed by Sarah Palin...against Senator Barack Obama. Cries of “terrorist” and “kill him” have accompanied the tirades by the governor of Alaska against the Democratic nominee at Republican rallies.
Mark Salter, McCain’s long-serving chief of staff, is understood to have told campaign insiders that he would prefer his boss, a former Vietnam prisoner of war, to suffer an “honourable defeat” rather than conduct a campaign that would be out of character – and likely to lose him the election

That's not really news, since this is basically what every news outlet has reported. But here's a little tidbit that I hadn't noticed:

Palin, 44, has led the character attacks on Obama in the belief that McCain may be throwing away the election and her chance of becoming vice-president. Her supporters think that if the Republican ticket loses on November 4, she should run for president in 2012.
A leading Republican consultant said: “A lot of conservatives are grumbling about what a poor job McCain is doing. They are rolling their eyes and saying, ‘Yes, a miracle could happen, but at this rate it is all over’.
“Sarah Palin is no fool. She sees the same thing and wants to salvage what she can. She is positioning herself for the future. Her best days could be in front of her. She wants to look as though she was the fighter, the person with the spunk who was out there taking it to the Democrats.”

Now, if this is accurate – and campaign spokespeople, according to the article, deny that John is annoyed at Sarah, but they confirm that there is "disagreement" among the McCampaign brain trust – that would mean that Palin is going to do whatever she wants, even if it hurts McCain's chances of winning in November, as long as she looks good? This despite the fact that McCain picked her as a running mate, thus giving her more attention than she could ever have dreamed of? Oy.

This little tidbit at the end of the article is also worth mentioning:

In Wilmington, Palin’s many admirers were in no doubt that she should run for president next time. Nancy Ross, a hairdresser, 45, said if the Republicans lost the election, she would be cheered up by the thought of Palin as the 2012 nominee.
“I would absolutely love her to run in four years’ time. By then most of her kids will be grown,” she said. “I’d like her to run against Hillary [Clinton]. She would squash her. She is a real person and we need people like her in Washington.”

First of all, I think Hillary would destroy Palin in an election, but that's not my point. "By then most of her kids will be grown"? Does that mean that it isn't OK for her to be running now? Also, Palin has five kids. In 2012, they will be 23 (Track), 21 (Bristol, who will be married of course), 17 (Willow), 11 (Piper), and 4 (Trig). I guess since Bristol is getting hitched at 17, that means Willow will be "grown" by then? I personally don't think Palin's children are an issue, but if you're going to say something to a newspaper, can you think about it first?

IS THE ELECTION OVER YET? I've had a headache for about a year now, and it would be nice to not have one.

Source: TimesOnline

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Morning News: McCain, Palin Forced to Tone It Down

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Bill Murray asks about the Cubs

Brett Singer — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Listen. There's a lot of noise being made this election season. Lots of questions. Big issues. But Bill Murray knows what's really important – when the hell are the Cubs going to win a playoff game?

On this week's Thursday edition of Saturday Night Live, a "Mr. William Murray" stood up and asked the candidates what they would do about the fact that his beloved Cubbies lost in three straight. Again. (Note: the entire bit was really long, this is just the part with Bill Murray.)

Sadly, both candidates had the same answer – it would be less painful to root for another team. No bailout for Lou Pinella, I guess.

Source: Hulu, Orlando Sentinel

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They say: John McCain is not a maverick

Brett Singer — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:00:00 GMT

"They" in this case is Rolling Stone magazine, and the article is a very long examination of many of John McCain's claims (McClaims? OK, OK, sorry…)

I haven't read the whole piece, which online comes to ten pages. Radar's Fresh Intelligence blog summarizes the article this way: "John McCain a Terrible Pilot, Horndog, and Evil Rove-ian Campaigner." Pretty succinct. They also say that the Rolling Stone cover story shows McCain as an "'undisciplined, spoiled brat' who spent a summer in Rio in the '70s because, despite his wife and three kids, he said he had a better chance of 'getting laid.'" Considering the way he left his first wife for Cindy, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. That doesn't make it right. It just isn't surprising.

In a video called "Five Myths about John McCain," Tim Dickinson, the article's author, does a quick rundown of a few key points. Here are some highlights.

That McCain isn't a "Washington Outsider" isn't exactly Earth shaking, but the author goes further by comparing his life story to that of George W. Bush. Born into a long-line of powerful government figures, a child of privilege, and even a hard-partying young man who was did poorly in school. Dickinson also questions his military record and his claim of being a "Top Gun" pilot; in fact he crashed three planes, and most Navy pilots "didn't get this many chances." It's an interesting comparison, and it works better than I would have thought.

Then there is the claim that he was not the "central hero" of the POW camps, and that he was not tortured for "five and a half years" as Fred Thompson claimed. He was tortured for about two years. Yeah, but he was still tortured, right? I don't know that I want to go there.

The part that I personally found most troubling was not the more sensational "he went to Rio to get laid" stuff. It was the way McCain has changed his positions on key issues for the sake of his Presidential campaign. The author interviewed former Senate colleague Lincoln Chaffee:

"John has made a pact with the devil," says Lincoln Chafee, the former GOP senator, who has been appalled at his one-time colleague's readiness to sacrifice principle for power. Chafee and McCain were the only Republicans to vote against the Bush tax cuts. They locked arms in opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And they worked together in the "Gang of 14," which blocked some of Bush's worst judges from the federal bench.
"On all three — sadly, sadly, sadly — McCain has flip-flopped," Chafee says. And forget all the "Country First" sloganeering, he adds. "McCain is putting himself first. He's putting himself first in blinking neon lights."

I think some of the "revelations" in this article aren't really all that revelatory. To me, though, the position changes are extremely important and need to be pointed out. Somewhat like the Palin money issue (and apparently she lied on her taxes – oops), this is an issue because the McCampaign is making it an issue. Since the McCampaign has decided to make the rest of the election season "about character," (because, you know, that's what we'll all use to retire on – character) this article is certainly relevant.

Oh, debate tonight. Should be fun. Not.

image: Wikipedia