Biden Email Claims Debate Success

I just got the following email from the Biden campaign about the debate.

There's a lot of things we could say about Senator Biden's performance tonight but we don't have to -- members of the media are already saying them for us. Below we've collected some of the early impressions of the debate. Check the blog at JoeBiden.com for updates on coverage of the debate.

"If you're Senator Biden or Governor Richardson, this is your chance because you get to be noticed especially if there are primary voters watching. If I had to pick a winner tonight just because of that reason, I would pick Senator Biden...

I thought [Biden] had a strong performance... Senator Biden may be on the fringe of the leading candidates now but because he has a plan, a controversial plan in Iraq, and because he is so strong spoken about it, he could have a bigger role as the campaign plays out."
-- John King, CNN

"I think Joe Biden had the best moment of the debate."
-- James Carville, CNN

"Everyone also seemed to think that Sen. Joe Biden distinguished himself from Sen. Chris Dodd and Gov. Bill Richardson. Not only did Biden have the best line of the night, he was able to show the television audience his good side."
-- HOTLINE ON CALL

"I think the American people are counting on our elected officials to be adults. I happen to believe that Joe Biden probably has the best plan on this. Look at some kind of partition plan of three states there in Iraq. We have to recognize we cannot mediate and referee a civil war."
-- Harold Ford, FoxNews

"Sen. Joe Biden, too, distinguished himself with his wit and humor. His one-word answer --"Yes" -- when asked whether he could be trusted to represent America on the world stage was the highlight of the night."
-- Chris Cillizza, WashingtonPost.com

"I don't think there's any big [momentum] tonight, but there's a little bit of mo[momentum] that I would give to Joe Biden."
-- Paul Begala, CNN

I'd hesitate to actually declare anyone as the winner of the debate but Biden's one word answer was definitely one of the nights high points.

I Still Hate People

No comment needed.

AUSTIN — A package left at a women's clinic that performs abortions contained an explosive device capable of inflicting serious injury or death, investigators said today.

Source: Explosive found at Austin women's clinic | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Oregon Governor Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) is spending a week on a food stamp budget to show just how challenging it is to feed a family on just $21 a week.

If Gov. Ted Kulongoski seems a little sluggish this week, he's got an excuse: he couldn't afford coffee.

In fact, the Democratic governor couldn't afford much of anything during a trip to a Salem-area grocery store on Tuesday, where he had exactly $21 to buy a week's worth of food the same amount that the state's average food stamp recipient spends weekly on groceries.

Kulongoski is taking the weeklong challenge to raise awareness about the difficulty of feeding a family on a food stamp budget.

Source: ABC News: Ore. Gov. Starts Week on Food Stamps

I Didn't See This One Coming...

“I hope Al Gore enters the race; I think it would be good for the country”

I saw this quote from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday as I was about to leave and it just kind of threw me for a loop. Does this mean that Bloomberg isn't planning on running?

Read More: Bloomberg for Gore? - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

It's What I'd Have Done In His Place

A week after receiving criticism for his "Bomb, bomb Iran" joke, guess what song was playing as the exit music at McCain's rally this morning? The Beach Boys' 1965 single, "Barbara Ann" -- the song he was parodying in that joke.

Source: First Read : The maverick returns?

Iraq Funding Bill Filled With Pork? Byrd Responds To Claim

Robert Byrd has been criticized for making sure that West Virginia got its share of federal money but he's always been popular in his state because of more than just that. Here's Byrd's remarks on President Bush's claim that Democrats loaded the Iraq funding bill with pork.

"The United States Congress is not holding funding for the troops hostage to domestic pork barrel spending.

"$6.9 billion for rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina is not pork barrel spending. Ask the citizens of New Orleans.

"$1.8 billion for the VA to provide first class health care to our wounded veterans is not pork barrel spending. Ask the troops who are waiting for care. Ask their families.

"$20 million to repair Walter Reed Hospital is not pork barrel spending.

"$650 million for the S-CHIP child health program to deal with the shortfall in fourteen states is not pork barrel spending. Ask the parents with sick children.

"$2.25 billion for securing the country from terrorist attack, including port and border security, transit security, funds to improve screening for explosives at airports, and for screening cargo on passenger aircraft. This is not pork barrel spending."

Source: The Democratic Party but you can find the whole speech here.

Did I Mention That I Hate People?

I'm not talking about any specific people, just people in general. I'd comment on the story that brought this all up but I'm way too scared of this guy...

Read More: Marc Fisher - Lawyer's Price For Missing Pants: $65 Million - washingtonpost.com

Thanks Rudy, We Hate You Too

I can't believe that he had the nerve to suggest it...

MANCHESTER, N.H. —- Rudy Giuliani said if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001.

But if a Republican is elected, he said, especially if it is him, terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped.

He just politicized the deaths of 2,973 people. How can someone get away with that?

Source: Giuliani warns of 'new 9/11' if Dems win - Politico.com

Karl Rove Under Investigation

Karl Rove's position as a political operative in the White House has always been a slippery slope and now it appears that he might have stumbled. Now he's facing an independent investigation.

WASHINGTON - A little-known federal investigative unit has launched a probe into allegations of illegal political activity within the executive branch, including a White House office led by President Bush's close adviser, Karl Rove.

The new investigation, which began several weeks ago, grew out of two other investigations still under way at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel: the firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias from New Mexico and a presentation by Rove aide J. Scott Jennings to political appointees at the General Services Administration on how to help Republican candidates in 2008.

Rove needs to learn that there's a big difference between working for a party and working for the people. It's possible for one person to do both but they can never be mixed.

Source: Rove's White House political activity probed - Politics - MSNBC.com

Post-Earth Day Honors

These are the people and groups that I personally feel deserve a mention for their Earth Day efforts.

• The Home Depot - Yesterday Home Depot gave away 1,000,000 n:vision brand compact fluorescent lightbulbs.
• Hillary Clinton - For her announcement that she would follow John Edwards and make her campaign carbon neutral. Come on Barack, get with the program or my wallet is staying shut.
• Dreamhost - Friday popular web hosting company Dreamhost announced that it was now carbon neutral. If I ever decide to move to Wordpress I'll be keeping them in mind.
• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - For urging President Bush to get involved in the planning what will replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012.
• Pajamas Media - Yes, I did just say it. Pajamas Media makes the list for their recent purchase of "One Billion Bulbs", a site that promotes and tracks (through user input) the sale of compact fluorescent lightbulbs. It helps show that global warming isn't a partisan issue.
• Laurie David & Sheryl Crow - For confronting Karl Rove about global warming at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Did I miss anyone? Let me know about it.

A Bright Idea That Can Save You Money

It's Earth Day so I guess that calls for an environmental post. So, um... here's a draft post I've had laying around about compact fluorescent lightbulbs and why you should start using them.

What do I get out of it?

So right now your wondering where we get to the part about saving money by spending more on lightbulbs.

• All Energy Star certified CFL's are guaranteed to work for at least 2 years but some companies may offer guarantees longer than that. The GE bulbs I buy have a 5 year guarantee. Just remember to keep your receipt.
• CFL's are extremely bright. A 13 Watt CFL can take the place of a 60 Watt incandescent bulb. Most CFL packaging will give the actual wattage of the bulb as well as the wattage of the incandescent bulb that it is intended to replace. As an added bonus it's possible to put a brighter CFL in a light fixture.

What's the catch?

There are a few things about CFL's that you need to know before make the switch.

• It may take a short while for the bulb to reach it's brightest level, especially if the bulb has been off for a while.
• Some CFL's won't work with a dimmer or three way switch. Be sure to check the box!
• CFL's contain small amounts of mercury (about 5 milligrams, older thermometers had 500 milligrams). While environmental officials say that CFL's actually reduce mercury emissions due to their low power consumption (coal burning power plants are the biggest source of airborne mercury emissions) please check to see if you can have your CFL's recycled. If you can't find an alternative option please put the bulb in a Ziploc bag before you throw them in the garbage. For more on mercury and CFL's please read this PDF put out by EnergyStar.gov.

Of course I'm not asking you to replace all your incandescent bulbs right now. I just want you to give CFL's a shot and if you like them start replacing your incandescent bulbs as they burn out.

Bill Clinton As America's Cheerleader?

Hillary Clinton recently claimed that if elected she would put her husband to work traveling abroad trying to restore America's credibility.

"I can't think of a better cheerleader for America than Bill Clinton, can you?" the Democratic senator from New York asked a crowd jammed into a junior high school gymnasium. "He has said he would do anything I asked him to do. I would put him to work."

It sounds like a funny idea but I actually think he'd be good at it.

Source: Clinton would make husband roving ambassador, use his skills to repair nation's image | The Huffington Post

"Well Why Don't You Move To Russia..."

Whenever I was on the receiving end of comments like that I used to remind the speaker that the Cold War was over. Apparently I need to start looking for a better reply.

MOSCOW, April 21 — At their first meeting with journalists since taking over Russia’s largest independent radio news network, the managers had startling news of their own: from now on, they said, at least 50 percent of the reports about Russia must be “positive.”

In addition, opposition leaders could not be mentioned on the air and the United States was to be portrayed as an enemy, journalists employed by the network, Russian News Service, say they were told by the new managers, who are allies of the Kremlin.

How would they know what constituted positive news?

“When we talk of death, violence or poverty, for example, this is not positive,” said one editor at the station who did not want to be identified for fear of retribution. “If the stock market is up, that is positive. The weather can also be positive.”

In a darkening media landscape, radio news had been a rare bright spot. Now, the implementation of the “50 percent positive” rule at the Russian News Service leaves an increasingly small number of news outlets that are not managed by the Kremlin, directly or through the state national gas company, Gazprom, a major owner of media assets.

The three national television networks are already state controlled, though small-circulation newspapers generally remain independent.

This month alone, a bank loyal to President Vladimir V. Putin tightened its control of an independent television station, Parliament passed a measure banning “extremism” in politics and prosecutors have gone after individuals who post critical comments on Web chat rooms.

Read the entire article, it gets worse.

Source: 50% Good News Is the Bad News in Russian Radio - New York Times