It makes no difference.

On one hand, Karl Rove is dissing LIEberman as a VP choice for McCain; on the other, he is pimping for Gov. Mitt Romney.

IMHO, both are liabilities for McCain.

The choice of LIEberman would alienate the GOP base because of his pro-choice stance. However, for McCain, LIEberman provides an excellent memory booster, like the time McCain stated:

"Well, it's common knowledge and has been reported in the media that Al Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That's well known. And it's unfortunate."

And LIEberman was there behind him (like the Great Oz), to correct him, at which point the old guy stated that Iran was training "extremists," not Al Qaeda".

Michael Jordan couldn't stay away from the game of Basketball.
Brett Farve couldn't stay away from the football field.
Barry Bonds wants to come back and round the bases once more.

The thrill of existing in the competitive arena in which a person elevates himself to the status of legends is hard to walk away from.

Today, another legendary figure is reported to have returned to their legendary perch for another round. The Sultan of Slander, The Grand Poobah of Puppetry, the man that showed us that treason is not a crime, it's a hobby; Karl Rove is back.

What a coincidence that Hurricane Gustav is heading for the Lousianna coast at the same time that McCain is considering Pawlenty as Vice President.

Pawlenty's political career is one of putting ideology  above pragmatic concerns.

Grover Norquist, "on government-to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub", was Pawlenty's right hand man. Shortly after the 35W bridge collapse last August, Pawlenty publicly mused about increasing the gas tax to improve safety on bridges. When Norquist got wind of it, he sent Minnesota legislators a memo on why not. And Pawlenty toed the Norquist line.

With Pawlenty, Minnesota now has a regressive state taxes, higher incomes pay a lower tax rate than mid and low incomes. The word fee has replace taxes in the state legislation, so Pawlenty can report to Grover Norquist, he hasn't increased taxes, only fees.

More after the fold, including Pawlenty's Willie Horton problem.

Watching Joe Biden's speech, it got to me last night, how respectful everyone is being to John McCain.  He's always described as "a friend" or a "respected colleague" or a "hero.'  And finally it just got to me.  Jon McCain is no hero.

Follow me below the fold, as I explain in more detail how I came to my conclusion that John McCain doesn't deserve to be considered a hero.

(also posted at Booman Tribune)

By now, most of us have seen, read or pored over Joe Biden’s excellent speech lat night.  And in hammering home the major differences between McSame and Obama when it comes to major decisions, Biden hit on a theme that could be absolutely devastating to McCain over the next few months.

John McCain was wrong.  

The beauty of this is that (1) it is accurate, (2) it puts McCain on the defensive, (3) it is simple to repeat and (4) can be applied equally to domestic and foreign policy matters.  There are a number of different frames to use with respect to McCain – and while many are good, they also haven’t stuck.  This is partially due to the faux image that McCain has spent years building up virtually unchallenged by the corporate media (thankfully that is starting to change a bit recently).  But it is also due to the fact that it isn’t always easy to find something that sticks well.

We are all quite aware of just how amazingly disciplined the Republicans seem to be when it comes to memes and talking points.  It's almost as though someone sat them down and explained to them at length why it is so important for them to constantly repeat the same negative characterizations over and over again if they want to successfully 'define' the Democrats as defective and undesirable.  It is my sincere hope that we Democrats will be able to do something similar during the next couple of months.  I am convinced that we will be able to win a big, BIG victory this November if we can find a way to persuade the vast majority of politically informed Democrats all across the country to repeatedly say the words, "They [the Republicans] are misrepresenting the truth..." as something of a mantra between now and election day.

John McCain seems set to announce his Vice Presidential pick Friday morning. So I've got a couple lists for you: his best options and his worst.  Let's hope he chooses from the list of worst picks.  Also, why not visit my blog.  I vent daily and it's nice when I know someone has heard me.  Comments on this post also very welcomed.

Picks after the jump

In case you wondered, here are some of the highlights from the upcoming republican national convention.

We had a great time last week with the Democratic VP Prediction Thread, where the bold and the foolish could go out on limbs all over the country (substantially burdening America's trees) and just... "call it".  There weren't any shockers, but good times were had - we laughed, we cried, we called one other stupidheads - we'll tell our grandchildren all about it some day.  

So here we are again.  McCain will pick his partner in (war) crime today or tomorrow, and make as much noise as possible to distract everyone from the good vibes emanating from Denver this week.  

Who's it gonna be?

(Long-time lurker, first-time diarist. Be gentle.)

Reading the morning roundup of convention analysis, and reactions to some of the attacks on McCain from the headline speakers, I was struck by this thought from Kevin Drum:

A laundry list of flip-flops doesn't make an impression unless you explain what's behind it.

Sure. Context is key. But on the other hand, do we really expect the average non-political-junkie voter to care about a discussion of "the neocons, the theocons, and the moneycons"? How can we boil down the message about McCain's abandonment of long-held positions in favor of political expediency?

Well, it appears as though some in the MSM are starting to exit the "straight talk exress".

In a new Time interview with John McCain, done on board his campaign plane, James Carney and Michael Scherer highlight the fact that "Candidate McCain" is a far different man than "Senator McCain". John Kerry made the right call last night in separating the two men in his speech.

Also, to use the word "prickly" in describing McCain's attitude in the interview speaks volumes. When I hear that word, I think irritable and spiteful. Exactly what that wrinkly, old white guy has become since transforming into "Candidate McCain".

Here is the article: McCain's Prickly TIME Interview

Crossposted at Wonky Muse and The Blue Voice.

Because they have nothing of substance to talk about, McCain and his wingnut horde are once again engaging in the idle sport of mocking Obama, this time for the set of his acceptance speech at Invesco Field:

Pictures and an aerial film footage of the set being constructed for the speech show a curved backdrop with creamy, gray column-like structures, which could suggest Washington architecture, or a classical structure, like a Greek or Roman temple.

Republicans sent out an edition of their "Audacity Watch" email newsletter which they use to point out perceived examples of hubris by the Obama campaign, titled "The Temple of Obama."

McCain also featured the structure on a blog on his website.

Talk about shooting themselves in the foot.

I know there's a coronation afoot, but McCheese is going to announce his Replacement Cheese this Friday. And things are looking up.

Find my complete analysis after the jump.

- so why should we trust him with ours?

Cindy had John sign a prenup in 1980 - at a time when such agreements were very rare.

This quote could be (and considering CNNs track record of late, likely is) completely out of context, but I found it too hilarious not to check. Here's the story link, about the GOP congratulating Dems for nominating a black candidate:

GOP cheers Obama's historic stride

Ralph Reed was back at it tonight, on LARRY KING.  Why do I think "Child Molester" every time I see that sorry SOB anywhere?

How's this for another kick to working Americans who are struggling to get by?  According to the guy that helped develop McCain's health care plan, no Americans should be considered uninsured.

His logic?  Anyone who can get into a hospital emergency room is able to access health care, and therefore shouldn't be considered uninsured.  His solution to the health insurance crisis is simply to define the problem away.

People have been jumping all over John McCain's forgetting of how many homes he owns, and rightfully so - the idea of a man who can't even remember his own assets being the guy who'll fix the American economy is just outright laughable. I'm all for ripping on McCain on this front, or really on any front. But while it's good to take from this a sense of just how out of touch McCain is about the real conditions of the economy, there's another thing we should take away from this - and a disturbing pattern that raises questions about whether this man is fit to hold the office of leader of the free world.