Strollerderby : election 2008

Sarah Palin Speaks To Esquire About Kids And Things

Brett Singer — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:15:00 GMT

Sarah Palin is back. In truth, the Hockey Mom/Lipsticked Pitbull/former Vice-Presidential candidate never left. So before anyone hits me with a "Why don't you leave that nice woman alone!", remember that all of these quotes are from Palin herself, via an interview in Esquire Magazine. It's not like people put a camera in her house. We'll stick with the quotes that are about her kids. Here we go:

On Trig:
I'll tell you, yesterday the Anchorage Daily News, they called again to ask — double-, triple-, quadruple-check — who is Trig's real mom. And I said, Come on, are you kidding me? We're gonna answer this? Do you not believe me or my doctor? And they said, No, it's been quite cryptic the way that my son's birth has been discussed. And I thought, Okay, more indication of continued problems in the world of journalism.

Now, I don't want to feed the beast here. And there are certainly problems in the world of journalism. But in that paragraph, she doesn't say that she's Trig's mom. I understand what she means. But she doesn't actually say that she is Trig's biological mother. Just sayin'. (UPDATE: per the comments below, this was meant as a joke, not serious journalism.)

On Bristol's pending nuptials:
This is what I've been telling Bristol, before she gets married, is, Bristol, there are definitely gonna be tough parts in marriage. You have to look at those tough times and remember that you have essentially a business contract with this person. You've signed an agreement: You're going to be together. And you look at it that way as you work through the tough times, because I guarantee the better time is there on the other side. That's how we've looked at it.

To quote another song by Heart (who sang her theme tune, Barracuda), what about love? I kind of hope that there was more to this one because if that's how she feels about marriage, that's kind of a bummer. Not that I'm all flowers and puppy dog tails when it comes to marriage. But it's more than just a "contract." Isn't it?

On Bristol's name:
Two meanings in Bristol's name: I worked at the Bristol Inn, and Todd grew up in Bristol Bay. But also, Bristol, Connecticut, is the home of ESPN. And when I was in high school, my desire was to be a sportscaster. ESPN was just kicking off, just getting off the ground, and I thought that's what I was going to do in life, is be one of the first woman sportscasters. Until I learned that you'd have to move to Bristol, Connecticut. It was far away. So instead, I had a daughter and named her Bristol.

OK. Hang on. First, she says "two meanings" and then provides three. Second – ESPN? Does that mean that she considered naming the girl Boomer, after Chris Berman? This might seem like another opinion from a "pathetic blogger" (another quote of hers), but that's a strange choice. I mean, I like the Cartoon Network but I'm not naming my son Mojo Jojo. (I did suggest that the name Luke, so I could say, "Luke! I am your father!" But then my wife hit me really hard and I gave up.)

Lastly, a general comment on parenting and kids:
A courageous person is anyone who loses a child and can still get out of bed in the morning.

No disagreement there. I do wonder what prompted her to say that, but that's one thing she and I can agree on. (She was really worried about finding common ground with me, y'know.)

One thing that can't be said enough – when Palin says that she wants us to leave her kids alone, she has to realize that she puts them in the spotlight every time she does press like this. She doesn't have to do the interview. And if she does the interview, she doesn't have to mention her family all the time. I said it before and I'll say it again – if you don't want people to write about your kids, you should stop talking about them in the media.

There's a lot more, including the statement "Everything I've ever needed to know I learned through sports," a bit of "y'all" and "ya", and that she doesn't think of herself as "hot." Oh, and to make a good chili, you need mooseburger. The full interview is online at Esquire.com. G'wan. Read it. You know you want to. Y'all. Ya.

Source/Image: Esquire

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Sarah Palin Says Leave My Kids Alone

Brett Singer — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Remember Sarah Palin? Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, kind of overshadowed John McCain for a while, said the word "maverick" a lot? Tina Fey did an impression of her on Saturday Night Live? Ring any bells?

She's back. Well, to be fair, she never went away. But the Associated Press has published a story talking about how Palin "is going on the offensive against news organizations as well as bloggers she says are perpetuating malicious gossip about her and her children." They say she has, "personally reached out to media outlets such as People magazine and The Associated Press to complain about information she claimed is wrong."

What information? Well, that her daughter Bristol Palin and her fiancee, Levi Johnson, have dropped out of high school. She says that isn't true since they are taking correspondence courses. That sort of thing. Palin says that she is doing this to "set the record straight" and not because of political ambitions.

American University professor Leonard Steinhorn, described as "an expert on the presidency," isn't buying it. He says that Palin is positioning herself to run for Prez in 2012, and is "attacking the media as a way to generate support among a base she hopes will support her." (He's an expert, so he must be right.)

Here's the thing. I don't think it's fair to go after her kids. But someone needs to explain to the Governor of Alaska that if you don't want "the media" to talk about your family, you probably shouldn't invite them into your home, which she did with the Today Show in November after losing the election. No one forced her to do that. And if she wanted to do the interview, she could have done it alone. But she chose to do it in her kitchen while she cooked dinner. She clearly wants to have her family be part of her image, but she also wants to pick and choose what people write about them.

The problem is, it doesn't work that way. You can't have your cake and bake it on national television too. There are plenty of ways to keep your family out of the spotlight. One of them is very simple: keep them out of the spotlight.

Source: AP via HuffPo

Image

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Obama Wants Kids To Have a Normal Life – Good Luck With That

Brett Singer — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:30:00 GMT

On a recent trip to Hawaii, the Obama family "caused a commotion" at a mall.

No! Really? What next? Floor down? Ceiling up?

Reuters describes the event as "a surreal scene -- the president-elect, daughters Malia, 7, and Sasha, 10 and family friends eating at a table at the mall watched by a crowd of onlookers and surrounded by anxious-looking Secret Service agents."

What exactly is surreal about that? Maybe it's surreal for the Obamas, but you might think at this point that they were accustomed to the attention.

The President Elect "wants to maintain some degree of normal life for his daughters. He has also said he fears becoming isolated and losing touch with the world outside the White House 'bubble,'" according to Reuters.

I think this is an admirable idea. It is also, at best, completely unrealistic. How exactly can you call a life spent with multiple bodyguards "normal"? From now on, the Obama family is American royalty. Part of that is just because of the job Dad just got, but part of it is because the entire family has captured the American imagination. I praised Bill and Hillary Clinton for keeping the press away from Chelsea. But this is different. First of all, Chelsea was older, which made it easier to ask for her privacy. Second, it was a different time. As much as the Clinton campaign and administration was heavily televised, it was nothing like it is today. Think about it – there was no YouTube. Cable news was around, but not as prevalent as it is now. And most Americans didn't have Internet access, much less broadband with 24/7 streaming video. And four billion blogs. (Ahem.)

All that is not to say that Barack and Michelle Obama shouldn't do what they can to keep their kids as grounded as they can under the circumstances. But a normal life? Eating at a mall in peace? Come on. Not gonna happen.

Source/Image: Reuters

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Breaking News -- McCain Beats Obama! (In Missouri ... annnnd Just Barely)

Madeline Holler — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:05:00 GMT

Not that it changes anything, but all the votes are in and John McCain, 2008 GOP presidential candidate, beat Barack Obama in Missouri. (You know, that state in the middle of the country that kept showing up white on the red-state/blue-state maps.)

McCain's win was hardly a landslide (obviously, or the damn race would have been certified a long time ago).

The unofficial count gives McCain a lead of ... 3,632 votes. The state cast about 2.9 million ballots in this historic election.

McCain's big Missouri win gives him an additional 11 electoral votes and a total of 173 -- still nothing close to Obama's 365. It also strips Missouri of the "bellwether" label, so we no longer have to hear pundits say "as Missouri goes, so goes this election."

McCain ... he had Sarah Palin, Wilford Brimley and, in the end, Missouri.

Just wanted to give the OCD sufferers out there some relief, in case they've been nervously awaiting the final tally.The big picture: this changes nothing.

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Image: TPM Election Central

New York Election Day 08 Babies

Brett Singer — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:00:00 GMT

New York Magazine ran photos of seven babies born in New York hospitals on November 4, 2008 – you know, Election Day. It's a companion piece to a looong essay by Kurt Andersen about "Obamaism" that is almost completely over the top in its irrational exuberance over Obama's victory and then comes back to be at least within striking distance of planet Earth. (Here's a link if you're curious.) The seven children pictured were born much earlier in the day, so tying them to the election is a teeny bit of a stretch – I was thinking at least one kid would have been born at 11:30pm or something. Also: none are named "Barack" (or even "Barry").

For me, this was mostly this was an excuse to post pictures of cute babies. Because no matter which side of the aisle you're on, you have to admit that babies are cute. I thought it would be nice to end the week with an "aww."

Here are four of the seven:

Fanta Touré, born 8:47 a.m., 6 lbs. 3 oz., Harlem.
In spite of myself I kind of like the name "Fanta", despite the fact that it is also the name of a third-tier soft drink. And "Fanta Touré" is definitely one people won't forget.

Sophie Ella Ruddy, born 5:11 p.m., 7 lbs. 6 oz., Lenox Hill.
I picked this one because its one of those great baby photos where the kid looks like she's about 35 years old already. So cute.

Yamilek Francisco de-Oleo, born 7:43 a.m., 7 lbs. 1 oz., Harlem.
I think I saw the same facial expression on a McCain supporter's face the morning of November 5.

Ava Gagnon, born 10 a.m., 6 lbs. 7 oz., Lenox Hill.
Great name – sounds like a French actress. That hat – oy. The things we put on our kids' heads.

For the full gallery of seven NYC Election Day babies, go to nymag.com.

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Joe Biden Is Our First Catholic Vice President

Brett Singer — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

For obvious reasons, Barack Obama being the first African-American President of the United States is getting a tremendous amount of attention. But we have another first: Joe Biden is our nation's first Catholic Vice President.

When I've mentioned this fact to people, they often express surprise. To those such as myself who are not of the Christian faith, it's easy to forget that for many people, the differences between Catholics and Protestants are serious. I'm not going to get into what the differences are simply because I don't feel comfortable doing so, mostly because I don't know very much about the topic. (True story: in college, I saw a friend with schmutz on her forehead. I went to wipe it off; she jumped back and became very annoyed with me. It was Ash Wednesday. Somehow, despite growing up in New York City, I had never heard of Ash Wednesday before. I was embarrassed, but at least I never did that again.) The website religionfacts.com has an interesting chart. Some highlights: Catholics include the apocrypha as part of the Bible, Protestants don't. Catholics are "Free to do good or evil", Protestants are "Free only to do evil." (There's something to chew on for awhile.)

Anyway, when I point out to people that the U.S. has only had one Catholic President in its entire history (JFK), the idea that it has taken this long to have a Catholic VP isn't as big a surprise.

For some Catholics, Biden doesn't quite cut it. There's even a blog called "Catholics Against Joe Biden." It shouldn't surprise you that the authors of said blog were less than thrilled with Joe's history making victory.

So what's the big deal? Why just one Catholic out of 44 Presidents of these United States? According to Answers.com:

Even though Catholicism is the largest denomination in the United States, making up about 26% of Americans, it has not been looked upon favorably by all the other protestant Americans. Throughout history there have been fears of Catholics and the believe [sic] that the Holy Father, or the Pope might have control over American politics if a Catholic were to take power. There have been many attempts to block Catholics from office and even limit their right to vote in early American history.

So if we elect a Catholic, then the Pope is in charge. Interesting theory. Kind of like the "if we elect Barack Obama, he'll enact some secret liberal agenda." Well, not quite. But surprisingly similar. (I'm not equating the Pope with a secret liberal agenda, only the notion that somehow electing a President means that we're actually getting some sort of shadow government.)

Again, I want to point out that this is not a topic (Catholicism) that I am well versed in, but I thought it was interesting enough to point it out. If anyone has any additional info they want to add, please do so.

Also interesting is the fact that Obama, "won a majority of the Catholic vote" (AP). John Kerry did not – despite being a Catholic himself. (The general consensus is that Catholics paid less attention to which candidate shared their religious beliefs and more attention to the economy this time around, although that's a difficult thing to gauge, of course.) And Peter Steinfels, writing in the New York Times, said that, "Anyone constructing a list of the big losers on Tuesday would probably include the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops." And a Google search for obama catholic vote has over 350,000 matches. Clearly it's a big issue for a lot of people.

Do you think that the fact that Joe Biden is our first Catholic Vice President is significant?

Image: commonwealmagazine.org

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Teacher's Aide Suspended For Racial Obama Jokes

Brett Singer — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:30:00 GMT

To quote outgoing President George W. Bush, what is our children learning? Apparently the curriculum is Truly Tasteless Jokes. (Anyone remember those?)

An instructional aide at a McCandless vocational school is serving an unpaid suspension for making what a student described as racist comments directed at President-elect Barack Obama.
During a lunch period last week, the aide at A.W. Beattie Career Center said Obama would be killed, KFC would be emblazoned on the American flag and the national anthem would become "Movin' on Up," according to the student's mother.

Mara Gilligan is the parent of a student at the school who complained. She said that her daughter says that the aid becomes "infuriated when anyone mentions Obama…That's fine, you can have your own beliefs, but when you start yelling at someone, that's unacceptable."

This is doubly true with regard to teachers. First of all, I don't want to hear that they express their political views from either side of the aisle. (If McCain had won, would the aide have done a week-long "nyah-nyah" dance?) And the jokes – oof. On what planet does anyone think that's an OK thing to say to a student? It's one thing to have dumb thoughts like that, but when it pops out of your mouth in a school setting, maybe you need to consider a different line of work.

Not that it should matter, but the article mentions that the school's student body is 2.8 percent African-American; the student who complained was biracial. I know at my high school, any teacher who had made a joke like that would have found themselves locked in a closet for a few hours. And that was when Reagan was President.

The aide, identified by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review as Chris Skertich, has been suspended without pay "pending a further investigation." In a way, I sort of hope this isn't true. Although a kid making up a story like this wouldn't be much better than a teacher who made those jokes. A little bit better. But not much.

Source: pittsburghlive.com

Image: Amazon.com

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Morning News: Are You There, God? It's Me, President Palin

Madeline Holler — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Sarah Palin told reporters yesterday that she would heed a call from God to run for president in 2012. And this time, she would be prepared for the brutal ride. In the meantime, she'll be praying for God show her an open door if a run for the White House is, indeed, His will.

One thing that might help? Father McCain has absolved her of any campaign sins, which may have led them down that most evil of paths, election night failure.

The GOP presidential candidate told Jay Leno last night that she did nothing to damage the ticket, rather, she inspired voters. Also, he's pretty much caught on that he's way too old for the job.

In her whirlwind damage control tour, she also told Matt Lauer yesterday that Katie Couric's questions were fair, just before mocking them. Then she says she reads the same stuff in Alaska that people read in New York. OK, then. Name something!

Political analyst Michael Barone claims he was honing his comedy chops when he told a roomful of pissy journalists that the liberal media mistreated Palin because she hadn't aborted Trig, the son who we all know was born with Down syndrome. He later apologized via email.

While we're on regrets, Bush, he's got a few. Interestingly, his regrets are bits and pieces of the last eight years. Not, you know, the entire thing. The short list: "Mission Accomplished," "Bring'em on," and "Dead or alive." We were thinking more, Donald Rumsfeld, Patriot Act, signing statements, torture.

At first blush, Bush's mortgage bailout appears to be too little and too late. Only hundreds of thousands of homeowners will get some relief (as opposed to millions) and this is all coming 15 months into a deepening mortgage crisis. But, you know, dump this on the other guy.

Last night Indiana University, today San Francisco ... it's the launch of John Edwards's comeback tour! He's also scheduled to debate Karl Rove at an upcoming bankers convention. Are we ready for this yet? Eh, what the hell (though we're kind of more interested in an Elizabeth Edwards vs. Rove thing).

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Photo: livingtext.wordpress.com

Is Barack Obama Anti-Video Games?

Brett Singer — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Not everyone is overjoyed that Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States last week. (Was it only last week?)

Of course there are people who voted for John McCain. They're not too thrilled. But some hardcore video game players are concerned that our new President-elect may not be so friendly to their favorite pastime.

From the New York Times:

"Blog posts scoring Mr. Obama’s positions on video games have received hundreds of comments, with some readers worrying that his admonitions during the campaign to 'put the video games away' signaled new regulations or restrictions on the industry."

Here's what our new prez said:

"We’re going to have to parent better, and turn off the television set, and put the video games away, and instill a sense of excellence in our children."

Whoa. If that isn't a call to arms, I don't know what is.

In reality, I would imagine that Barack Obama is more likely than any other President to be friendly to the gaming industry as a whole. First of all, his campaign made extensive use of the Internet and other technological tools, including advertising in video games. Plus there is ample evidence that he is at least a little bit geeky. For example, he collects comic books, and made a pretty nerdy Superman reference at the Alfred E. Smith charity dinner (video is below):

In reality, I don't think any politician really wants to "ban" video games. Titles like Grand Theft Auto and other violent or sexually explicit games make "a convenient scapegoat", as the Times quotes a commenter from 1up.com. Just because a guy doesn't spend 12 hours blasting zombies every day doesn't mean he wants to stop other people from doing it. Besides, I think he might have one or two (or a hundred) more important things to worry about come January. Somewhat like the earlier concern that he had stopped telling supporters that he loved them, I think we might be expecting a little bit too much from the guy.

Source: New York Times, Image: Newser

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Matt Lauer Talks To Sarah Palin In The Kitchen

Brett Singer — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:35:00 GMT

Sarah Palin is off the campaign trail but not out of the spotlight. Now that she isn't running for anything, she's doing interviews left and right (that's not a political reference, by the way). This morning, NBC aired the first part of Matt Lauer's interview with the Alaska Governor; part two airs tomorrow, and there's even more coming on NBC Nightly News.

Sarah sat down with Matt in Alaska for a traditional interview (as morning news gigs go, I think Matt Lauer has it the worst – dude has to travel a LOT). He also spent some time at the Palin home, sharing a salmon and halibut casserole, which he said was quite tasty.

Some of the video is below (click here if the embed doesn't work).

Here are some highlights:

Matt says that the Palin family was, “down to Earth.” Palin herself is, “a working mom...making dinner for her family.”

As for Governor Palin, she was thrilled to be, “representing middle-class, hardworking American families” as part of the McCampaign. (I'm waiting for a candidate to say that they represent lazy people who don't care about money.) She “did not know” that the media scrutiny would be as intense as it turned out to be, and she was upset about the rumors that Trig was not her son. Still, it was all worth it because, “I knew we were on the right path...offering me and my family in service of my country.”

Todd weighs in, kind of. Asked about how the Palin family dealt with the crazy campaign schedule, the First Dude said, “our family is very adaptable.” As for the criticisms? It's just “part of the business.” It sounds like Sarah was more interested than Todd in tearing some of her critics a new one. Still, the Governor says that it's all, “part of this beast called politics in America.”

So what about all of the post-election mud that's been flying around our heads? And did the McCampaign keep her from doing interviews? Palin doesn't want to get into “inside baseball” with regard to “who was calling the shots in the campaign.” She makes it pretty clear that she, “loves doing interviews” because she wants to tell the American people what she plans to do to/for them. “You have to be able to speak through the media.” Lauer points out that she answered his question, “without answering it.”

Then we hear from Piper. She awkwardly answers Matt's questions about the campaign, saying that the hardest part was going to the rallies. She missed “a lot” of school, and its been hard to catch up now that she's home again. How would she feel about another campaign, like, say, in four years? “I don't know,” is the 7 year old's answer. Then mom jumps in and asks her daughter, “Would you want to do it again, sister?” Piper, without missing a beat, says, “Yes.” (UPDATE: apparently Piper was wearing high heels.)

I have several thoughts about this of course, but one thing comes to mind immediately. Governor Palin expressed frustration with what she calls a “double standard” regarding how the media covers her. “I don’t know if anybody’s asking Barack Obama, for intance, ‘Who did your makeup before you went on stage?’ But they’ve been asking me.” True. But when John McCain goes on Jay Leno tonight, I don't think he's going to be doing a cooking segment. Live by the mixing bowl, die by the mixing bowl, y'know?

Source/Image: NBC/MSNBC

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Madeline Holler — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:02:00 GMT

In this nine-minute video of Sarah Palin, she tells the Alaska press that from her home in Wasilla that, among other things, she's amazed her ticket did as well as it did in the election. Also, the former VP nominee says the GOP represented the status quo that Americans were sick of.

If you had ever seen Palin interview, pre-nomination, you see the old Sarah, not the post-Gibson/Couric/SNL one.

Also, she addresses the rumors that accompanied her quick rise to the top of national politics, including the one speculating she's not the mother of her fifth child. In her kitchen where she's serving something from a crock pot, she dishes on Tina Fey's family!

Turns out, Tina's in-laws are hardcore Republicans and showed up backstage at one of Palin's rallies. Thanksgiving is going to be fun this year, huh, Tina? As for Trig's mommy, she raises her hand and says that she is. Oddly, she offers up her medical records to prove it. Wait? Why now?

The video shows a bit of the inside of Palin's home. Todd sits shoeless in an upright chair next to the front door. Piper busies herself with Trig, carrying him upstairs and then back down. At the end of the video, she has noted on a pad of paper all the guests' drink orders. Somebody even asked her for a beer.

She says she loved her time in the national spotlight and has not ruled out a run for president in 2012. Palin also explains why she charged Alaskans for living in her own home, instead of the governor's mansion in Juneau (it's cheaper than making them pay for an apartment while the mansion undergoes remodeling). She also says how she'll walk the fine-line of asking for earmarks from the federal government (if it benefits all of the U.S., she'll stick her hand out).

She also says she won't go to work for Fox News, because she would have to leave Alaska. Wasn't she just saying she wouldn't go back?

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Photo: timesonline.com

UPDATE AGAIN: Palin Prepper Defends The Gov

Brett Singer — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:15:00 GMT

ANOTHER update to the "McCampaign staffers can't seem to stop talking" story. From Gawker:

Republican and former Bush executive secretary of the National Security Council Steve Biegun has gotten in touch with National Review editor/wonderboy Rich Lowry to redeem the former vice presidential candidate by repudiating recent claims she has no idea who's in NAFTA and thinks Africa's a country. He calls the allegations "absurd," while managing to note that she had a "steep learning curve on foreign issues," as Lowry formulates it. It's nice someone is stepping out on Sarah's behalf, but is this half-hearted defense simply part of the larger scheme to discredit her for 2012?

I really am fascinated by this whole thing. The word I keep coming back to is childish. Someone bashes her, someone else defends her, the woman herself uses the words "jerks" and "stinkers." Now the person responsible for preparing the former VP candidate for her interviews says, "there's no way she didn't know Africa was a continent, and whoever is saying she didn't must be distorting 'a fumble of words.'" What does that even mean? Steve Biegun offers a theory about the charge that Palin didn't know beans about NAFTA:

He was briefing Palin before a Univision interview, and talking to her about trade issues. He rolled through NAFTA, CAFTA, and the Colombia FTA. As he talked, people were coming in and out of the room, handing Palin things, etc. She was distracted from what Biegun was saying, and said, roughly, "Ok, who's in NAFTA, what's the deal with CAFTA, what's up the FTA?"—her way, Biegun says, of saying "rack them and stack them," begin again from the start. "Somebody is taking a conversation and twisting it maliciously," he says.

Gawker says that, "this can only be the work of a Republican faction that wants Palin never to speak on behalf of their party again." I guess this could be Karl Rove sneaking his way back into the hearts and minds of the GOP. But after everything we saw this campaign season, I think there is a distinct possibility that the people speaking out about what went on behind the scenes at the McCampaign are NOT the best our country has to offer. At the very least, they're behaving very badly. Is it just me or do they sound like children, and not terribly well-behaved children at that?

Original post and updates are below. This is like "The Neverending Story." (Which, by the way, is only $4.99 on DVD. Not a bad deal.)

*-*-*

UPDATE: Palin Says Critics Are Jerks, Some Media People are Stinkers

Updating the earlier news regarding the comments made by one of Sarah Palin's aides, the New York Times is reporting that Governor Palin has made the bold move of referring to the "unnamed McCain campaign aides who have been maligning her in recent days" as "jerks." Also, some members of the media are "stinkers." No word on whether either group is made of greasy grimy gopher guts and mutilated monkey feet. It is also possible that the unnamed sources are, in fact, poopyheads infected with massive amounts of cooties. We'll stay with this story all night if we have to.

OK, OK, we're being silly, but so is everyone else. And we weren't involved in a Presidential election campaign.

Here's the direct quote from the Times:

Referring to the McCampaign staff members who have criticized her: "that’s cruel and it’s mean-spirited, it’s immature, it’s unprofessional, and those guys are jerks, if they came away with it taking things out of context and then tried to spread something on national news. It is not fair and not right."

As for the media: “For the most part, absolutely, media persons, reporters, have been absolutely right on and there has been fairness and objectivity...There have been some stinkers, though, who have kind of made the whole basket full of apples, once in a while, smell kind of bad.”

And there you have it. The original post continues below:

*-*-*

An aide to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has fired back at sources in the McCampaign who claim that Palin was, well, something other than a good VP candidate.

"This is so unfortunate and, quite honestly, sickening," Palin aide Meghan Stapleton said Thursday in a written statement. "The accusations we are hearing and reading are not true, and since we deny all these anonymous allegations, there is nothing specific to which we will respond.
"We have the highest regards for Sen. John McCain. Gov. Palin was honored to be chosen as McCain's running mate. And as governor of Alaska, Gov. Palin looks forward to working with President-elect Obama on securing energy independence for America."

Palin herself says she will not respond to "individual accusations."

"I won't comment on anyone's gossip or allegations that are based on anonymous sources," she said. "That's kind of a small, evidently bitter type of person, who would anonymously charge something foolish like that -- that I perhaps didn't know an answer to a question. So until I know who was talking about it, I won't have a comment on false allegations."

Others in the McCampaign are bummed out that things fell apart so fast. "Despite the acrimony, many McCain aides say they are sad the campaign team dissolved so quickly." No kidding.

I'm a little surprised as well. Regardless of what anyone thinks of Sarah Palin, she was chosen by the McCampaign. So if they had problems with her, wouldn't before the election have been a good time to figure that out?

Not to get too silly about this, but don't we tell our children to be good sports when they lose? And isn't this type of behavior the exact opposite of that? Frankly, the Presidential election is a hell of a lot more important than a soccer game. Sometimes talking about it doesn't help.

Source: CNN

Image: HuffPo

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Morning News: McCain's Camp Starts Dishing On Palin

Morning News: Students Kicked Out for Saying Obama's Name

With Hand Raised, Palin Swears 'I am Trig's Mom'

Eliot Spitzer Cleared of Prostitution Charges

Barack Obama Asked If Bill Clinton Was The First Black President

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

They say: Obama Wins

Mississippi Students, Postal Worker, Punished For Wearing Obama Shirts

Brett Singer — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

I hoped this was a hoax but it appears to be legit.

PEARL, MS (WLBT) - Teachers are prohibiting students from talking about President-Elect Barack Obama. WLBT's newsroom has been flooded by calls and emails from angry parents in several cities. These parents say their children were threatened with suspension if they said Obama's name or wore clothing that supports him.
…
"One student was sent home to change because she had on a Barack Obama T-shirt and on the back it said "yes we can," said Loten.

And then I found this:

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - A U.S. Postal worker says he was sent home Saturday after refusing to take off a Barack Obama T-shirt.
Fifty-year old Roger Thompson works at the main post office in downtown Jackson. Thompson said workers were told Friday that they could not wear President-Elect Obama T-shirts, hats or other paraphernalia.
He says the post office plant manager told employees they would receive disciplinary action if they wore Obama attire because some workers complained that it upset them.…employees were told the Obama ban would be put in writing Monday.

Both of these reports are from WLBT in Mississippi.

Lest anyone think the school thing is made up, watch the video at wlbt.com and see for yourself. According to WLBT, "Magee High School teachers read a memorandum in class the day after the election." A copy of the memo is in the video, as is the statement from the school stating, "It is unfortunate that some employees mishandled this situation, but they have been disciplined and I have spent the day clarifying our policies." The thing is, the memo seems pretty clear, although I don't think it advises school staff to suspend kids for wearing Obama shirts, which is what some parents say is happening.

As for Roger Thompson the postal worker, WLBT was, "told by a postal supervisor today that the plant manager would not be available for comment until Monday." Stay tuned.

Source: WLBT via detentionslip.org, and WLBT via me searching for something else and finding the second story

About Ann Nixon Cooper

Barack Obama Asked If Bill Clinton Was The First Black President

The Obama Kids Get a New Puppy

They say: Obama Wins

Comedians From The Past Weigh In On The First Black President

Brett Singer — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Barack Obama being elected is a historic moment. One way to realize just how historic is through comedy. OK, we don't actually need to realize how historic this moment is. But it is interesting to look at how the idea of a Black President was viewed in the past.

First up, this Richard Pryor sketch where he plays the leader of the free world. It's a little long, and it was the 70's, so some of the humor is a little dopey and dated. For example, there's a moment towards the end when a reporter asks about his mother. Pryor as President responds, "What did you just ask me?" The reporter says, "I’m talking about your momma!" Etc. Here's the video:

Richard Pryor, 1st Black President

This is much more interesting. Remember Eddie Murphy's Delirious? Easily one of the funniest comedy albums/tv specials of all time. Eddie had some things to say about African-American politicians, in particular Jesse Jackson running for President. Here's the video, which is riddled with four-letter words and is NOT safe for work or children (unless you decide it is):

Eddie Murphy on the First Black President

That was 1983. Looong time ago. I'd love to call Eddie Murphy and ask him if what he thinks of this election. Sadly, Eddie's not talking to me right now.

Last (this is in chronological order), here is a Chris Rock bit about a Black VICE president from Saturday Night Live. Chris said (this was many years ago, as you can tell by his unfortunate hairdo) that the country would never have a Black Vice-President. So far, he's right. As for the notion that we'd never have a Black President? Luckily, everybody was wrong about that one. (If the clip won't play, click here.)

Chris Rock, first Black Vice President

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

The Obama Kids Get a New Puppy

Girl Power in the White House

They say: Obama Wins

They Say: Sarah Palin Knows Nothing

Brett Singer — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:15:00 GMT

Let the backbiting begin!

As Madeline reported over in Morning News, some members of the McCampaign is seemingly saying that Sarah Palin is to blame for John McCain not being elected President of the United States. Even you think that's going too far – I haven't heard anyone say that directly – McCampaign staffers are certainly telling tales out of school. And none of the tales are particularly flattering to Governor Palin.

As Fox News reports it, members of the McCampaign are now saying that there were, "gaps in [Palin's] knowledge." Gaps like not knowing that Africa is a continent. Not knowing which countries were part of NAFTA. Little things like that. As Howard Stern said on his Sirius XM radio show the other day, maybe it's OK for an average citizen not to know these things (he did say that everyone should know that Africa is a continent). But a Vice-President candidate?

The video (at HuffPo) of Bill O'Reilly discussing these revelations with a Fox News is particularly hilarious. Responding to the notion that Palin didn't know a lot of important stuff, he says, "You can tutor people," says Bill O'Reilly. "It's gotta be more than that." It does? Why?

Regarding Palin's refusing to be prepped for her now-infamous Katie Couric interview, Bill says, "She didn't want to be bogged down with a lesson before Ms. Couric talked to her." BUT then "Palin began to attack staff… she hadn't been warned." WHAT????

When the McCampaign wouldn't allow Palin to do an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor alone, Bill said they couldn't make it work "logistically." It makes O'Reilly sound like a guy who just wanted some alone time with Sarah.

Palin was throwing "tantrums… there was the throwing of paperwork and things of this nature." Then she met McCampaign staff wrapped only in a bathrobe. "She's a bit of a shopaholic." That's what the Fox News reporter says he was told.

Do you think McCain's loss was her fault? Or is this just a lot of blame shifting?

Source: HuffPo (also image), Morning News

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Eliot Spitzer Cleared of Prostitution Charges

Barack Obama Asked If Bill Clinton Was The First Black President

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

They say: Obama Wins

Barack Obama Asked If Bill Clinton Was The First Black President

Brett Singer — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

This was funny when it happened – during the Democratic Primary, way back in January of 2008. (That seems like it was more than a year ago.) Now, it's not only hilarious but of course takes on a whole new meaning.

Basically, the moderator, Joe Johns, asks Barack Obama is he agrees with Toni Morrison, who once wrote that Bill Clinton was, "the nation’s first black president." Hillary Clinton was sitting right next to him, which made the moment even more amusing. Obama's answer was measured, and quite funny.

Morrison eventually endorsed Obama for President. When asked by Time Magazine if she regretted, " referring to Bill Clinton as the first black President," she said, "People misunderstood that phrase. I was deploring the way in which President Clinton was being treated, vis-à-vis the sex scandal that was surrounding him. I said he was being treated like a black on the street, already guilty, already a perp. I have no idea what his real instincts are, in terms of race." Obama said something little different – basically, that Bill Clinton connected with African-Americans in a way that previous Presidents had not. Then he questioned Bill's dancing ability. It's quite funny, and has much more resonance now. Take a look:

They say: Obama Wins

Comedians From The Past Weigh In On The First Black President

About Ann Nixon Cooper

Brett Singer — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Who is the 106-year-old woman that Obama mentioned in his victory speech?

When I was watching the speech on election night, I thought she was the 109-year-old that I mentioned in this post. Obviously I was wrong, since one of the women is 109 and the other is 106. (It was late, I was tired, and I think I lost some brain cells watching Wolf Blitzer's Magical Dancing Electoral Pants on CNN.)

Here is a little bit about Ms. Cooper from a website called The History Makers:

Ann Louise Nixon Cooper was born on January 9, 1902 in Shelbyville, Tennessee, where she attended school. After the death of their mother, she and her six siblings were separated and an aunt raised Cooper. In 1922, Ann Nixon married Albert Berry Cooper, a young dentist in Nashville, Tennessee. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where they started a family while her husband established his highly successful dental practice. Cooper has been a homemaker for most of her life, working briefly in 1923 as a policy writer for the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Cooper and her husband counted as their friends or acquaintances such luminaries as educators W.E.B. Du Bois, Lugenia Burns Hope and John Hope Franklin, Benjamin E. Mays and E. Franklin Frazier.

CNN points out that, "she knew Martin Luther King Jr. when he was just a boy and was close with his mother." Also, "she sometimes refers to Obama as "'that young man.'" Here's a video (if it won't play, click here):

Embedded video from CNN Video

Personally, I love hearing from anyone old enough to remember how things really were. As much progress as the United States and the world have made in the last 20 or 30 years, the progress in the past 70 years is much more significant. Someone should go out and interview more people who were alive when women and people of color didn't even have the right to vote, when the idea that a person who wasn't white would run for President, much less actually WIN, seemed like a bizarre idea.

Ms. Cooper wants to meet President-elect Obama. She downplays it a little, saying, "I'd be proud to meet him as anybody else." She also doesn't sound like she wants to go to the Inauguration. (She's 106 years old. Who could blame her? I barely want to go to a party tomorrow night that's only 10 blocks away.) It kind of sounds like what she'd love -- she doesn't say this exactly -- is for our new President to stop by for a quick chat. Ms. Cooper says that she would "just like to shake his hand." I know soon-to-be President Obama is a little busy right now, but I hope he can squeeze in a cup of tea with one of his oldest supporters.

Hang on... there's something in my eye... speck of dust... talk amongst yourselves...

Sources: CNN (also photo), The History Makers

They say: Obama Wins

Morning News: Yes, He Did!

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

The Obama Kids Get a New Puppy

Girl Power in the White House

Comedians From The Past Weigh In On The First Black President

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

Brett Singer — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Remember when the Republicans were supposed to be the "family values" party? Personally, I never bought into it, but a lot of people did.

I wonder what those folks had to say when they saw the Obamas take the stage Tuesday night.

This isn't the first time we've had a President with a family, of course. Bill and Hillary Clinton had Chelsea, the Bushes had the twins, the Carters had Amy. According to The Independent, the Obama children, "will be the youngest children in the White House since nine-year-old Amy Carter in 1977."

The paper also says that the girls, "will face intense scrutiny as children of the first black American president." I guess that means that… you know, I don't even want to say what that means. I hope it's not true, although I'm sure it will be.

Watching the family take the stage last night I felt a certain parental kinship that I hadn't experienced with any other politician. Of course some of that is because of timing: I currently have two young children, so do they. Not that we're all in the same situation, of course. But when I first saw this video of Barack and Michelle interacting with their young'uns I have to admit that I felt like I was watching a normal family. By "normal" I mean just a family, any family, not one that is experiencing something so monumental I can only imagine it. The girls were busting mom and dad's chops. Michelle appeared to be in charge. Barack looked uncomfortable talking about clothes. The sisters were trying to one-up each other. There was something familiar about them. Family-familiar. Family-iliar, if I may awkwardly invent a word. (It's all about change, right?)

Obviously being President is not like being a writer, and raising two kids in the White House is not like raising them in Manhattan. (The White House might be easier in some ways.) But somehow I'm finding it much easier to look at the Obamas as a relatable American family, more so than with any past Presidential household. Besides, any man who takes time out of his Presidential acceptance speech to tell his daughters that he loves them, and that they'll be getting a puppy when they move to the White House, is someone I can respect – as a parent.

Does anyone else feel this family-iliar (sorry) connection with the First Family?

image: Chicago Tribune via Morning News

The Obama Kids Get a New Puppy

Girl Power in the White House

They say: Obama Wins

Related articles on Babble:

Michelle Obama: The Babble Interview

Video: Babies for Obama!

Morning News: McCain's Camp Starts Dishing On Palin

Madeline Holler — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Reason No. 136 to celebrate Obama's win: the inner-workings of McCain's campaign are now free to be exposed. And they're starting with Sarah Palin.

An intrepid Fox News reporter told Bill O'Reilly last night (reason No. 137 to celebrate: Obama's win has taken the edge off O'Reilly for now) about what really went on after Sarah Palin joined the Maverick back in August.

Some highlights [plus video clip on HuffPo]: Daily Palin

Aides had to explain that South Africa was a country on the continent of Africa (as opposed to a region of the country of Africa ... major cringe!).

She didn't know the countries of North America (nor which countries were part of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement).

She refused help in preparing for her interview with Katie Couric ... and then blamed her staff when it became a laughingstock.

She read press clippings and threw huge tantrums that made her staff cry.

Of course, Palin does not want to be blamed for McCain's loss.

Some more dishy highlights on Palin [from Newsweek]

The $150K shopping spree, that we defended here, carried an even higher price tag -- tens of thousands of dollars more. And to think, we defended her right here! As a part of the spree, she bought $20K to $40 K in clothes for Todd. She made her staff put some of the purchases on their personal credit cards.

Palin wanted to speak on election night. But McCain's campaign strategist wouldn't let her.

Palin started in with the Ayers stuff before McCain had signed off on it.

Palin greeted campaign aides in her hotel room while she was wearing only a towel.

One McCain aide, who had gotten close to Palin during debate prep, got fired a week before the election for trashing the McCain campaign.

Other dishy stuff in either campaign [again, Newsweek]:

As long ago as the Sunday night before the last debate, McCain campaign insiders were deciding whether to tell McCain he didn't have a chance in hell of winning. They decided not to.

Obama was never going to choose Hillary Clinton as a running mate because of one main reason: Bill.

McCain was relieved Obama didn't pick Hillary Clinton.

On the night she lost the Democratic nomination, Hillary had a long, long phone conversation with ... John McCain. The two thought Obama was flashy and callow.

Neither of the two presidential candidates looked forward to the debates. Obama was recorded as saying this about them:

"I don't consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me … answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."

We hope Obama knows that that is EXACTLY what viewers are thinking when those questions get asked. Exactly.

Here's a nice little round-up of the McCain loss blame-game. Turns out, it's not all Sarah Palin's fault. But we knew that already.

Morning News: Yes, He Did!

McCain's Mom's Morale Super Low

Girl Power in the White House

The Obama Kids Get a New Puppy

Morning News: Election Day

Photo: HuffPo

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

Rove Predicts Obama Landslide, but You Should go Vote Anyway

Shannon LC Cate — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:35:00 GMT

Political strategist of infamy, Karl Rove, is predicting a huge Obama victory tonight. His website, Rove.com shows a map giving Obama 338 electoral votes to McCain's 200. If Rove is right, it will be the biggest margin since the 1996 Clinton-Dole race.

Rove's prediction depends on all swing states going with the candidate currently leading, even if that lead is statistically insignificant. Therefore Rove puts Florida in Obama's column in spite of a mere 2 point lead. He also gives Missouri and North Carolina to McCain, though those states are split exactly 50/50 in the most recent polls.

It seems that most people who are supposed to know these things are saying Obama is a sure thing, and the only question is how big a sweep he will make it. I say, it's not over 'til it's over. Go to the polls and do your duty. McCain folks may stand a chance in some of those "battleground" states and Obama folks--how could you stand aside and let this one roll by without you?

I stood in line with my three-year old for an hour and a half last week to vote early. If it can be done under those circumstances, it can be done under any circumstances! Get out there and vote. Let us know when you've done the deed. We'll be here when you get back.

Morning News: Election Day

Madeline Holler — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

If you didn't wake up with ants in your pants this morning, then you're still asleep. Because today isn't just any Election! Day! It's the Big! One! Election 2008, historic no matter what, is certainly one that the babies will be studying in American History class a dozen years from now.

So what's the news today, if not that? Well, there's a bit. Let's start with a really, really poorly timed press release from the California GOP regarding Obama's recent trip to visit his ailing (and, as of yesterday, now deceased grandmother).

The state party filed an FEC complaint against the Illinois Senator, claiming he used campaign money for personal use. They released the info. right around the time news that Madelyn Dunham had succumbed to cancer was making its way around the news. Shrewd, guys, shrewd.

Dunham's death just a day before the election is on so many levels sad. What's not sad? She had already cast her vote. And the state of Hawaii is counting it.

Onto our (final?) Daily Palin: A second investigation into "Troopergate" exonerates Gov. Palin in her role in firing the public safety commissioner. Unlike an earlier investigation by the Alaska Legislature, this one did not conclude that she abused her power.

Also, after waiting to the very last minute, Palin released a summary of her medical records yesterday. The two-page letter from her doctor says she's never had a major medical problem and that she's totally fit to serve as vice president. You know, healthwise.

Palin tells a black guy she knows what it's like to face discrimination, saying Todd gets it all the time in Alaska. Huh? Watch the video. Even she doesn't believe what she's saying.

So, in one little New Hampshire town, polls have already been opened and closed. And the results are in! Obama by a landslide -- 17 to 10, with two votes for Ron Paul (how sweet, remember him?). Oh, those quaint New Englanders and their "early bird elects the president" mentality.

McCain's got nothing prepared to say today. His speech writer might just start picking up a pen and sketching out some notes about now. That's just how those Straight Talkers roll.

Every news organization wants your polling place story. Or problem. Or picture. So take the camera and head to the polls. Get pics of those long lines, that crappy touchscreen, a poll worker turning you away for a felony you didn't commit. Then send it in to the New York Times or PBS or New York magazine or CBS or, more than likely, your local paper.

And by all means, tell us here at the Morning News in comments. Who? How? What was it like?

Breaking News: Obama's Grandmother Dies

Election Day Ritual ... What's Yours?

Why Monday Night Football Is Important To This Election

Take Your Kids To Vote . . . NOW

Photo: CBSNews.com

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