McCain campaign office evacuated over white powder (that turned out to be John McCain's Polident)

A suburban Denver campaign office of presidential candidate John McCain was evacuated this afternoon, and several people went to a hospital (presumably as a cautionary measure) after receiving an envelope containing a threatening letter and an unidentified white powder.

Our All This Is That stringer in Denver, rooted out the actual story a little later. According to Mary Houlihan, our mid-west correspondent, there was no threatening letter at all. That was just a cover story after someone called police and Homeland Security when they found the powdery substance. The story was soon picked up by the press.

The reason you haven't seen a correction or retraction of the story--that seems to imply a terrorist angle--is that it was, in fact, the Senator's monthly supply of Polident that had broken open. . .which the campaign does not want to announce or admit, especially after the implied possible terrorist/anthrax angle. The McCain campaign has struggled in recent months to portray the Senator as a vigorous 70 year old, and any Polident talk will not bolster that image, according to a low-level staffer's conversation with All This Is That's stringer.

---o0o---

Ralph "Dingbat" Nader says Obama will pick Hillary as his running mate

By Pablo Fanque,
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Ralph "Dingbat" Nader called Politico.com today to tell them he didn't think Barack Obama would select Senators Joe Biden, Evan Bayh, or Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as his running mate. The political mastermind--who these days is perhaps best known as the spoiler in the 2000 election who allowed George Bush to become President--offered his bizarre theory that Hillary Clinton has the VP slot in the bag.

"I don’t think he’s that dumb,” said Nader, commenting on public "short list" of Obama’s choices.

"The smart pick, " Nader said, "is Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Nader phoned Politico Tuesday afternoon to prediction a surprise choice of Clinton is what Obama has had in mind all along. But what about their apparent distrust and distaste for each other after the bruising primary battled? “He just has to swallow hard and do what JFK did” when he chose rival LBJ as his running mate in 1960.

The liberal "activist" and maverick (renegade, rogue?) presidential candidate has spoken. Was my article about Joe Biden yesterday wrong? No way. . .and if you believe anything that comes out of his piehole, well then friendo, I have some land in Florida I'd like to sell you.
---o0o---

Obama settles on Joe Biden for his Vice-President

By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Senator Barack Obama is ready to announce a running mate, according to an article by Adam Nagourney and Jeff Zeleny in the New York Times/International Herald Tribune.

Barack Obama has settled on his choice for a running mate and set the stage for a multi-pronged, multimedia rollout that begins with a crack of dawn alert to supporterss via a wide-spread text message to be transmitted to cell phones and Blackberries around the country.



The article said "Aides said perhaps a half-dozen advisers were involved in the final discussions in an effort to enforce a command that Obama issued to staff members: that his decision not leak out until supporters are notified."

The Senator has focused in recent days on two Senators and a Governor: Senator Evan Bayh (IN), Governor Tim Kaine (VA) and Senator Joseph Biden Jr. (DE). Falling off the list were Hillary Clinton (on the list because "She'd be on anyone's short list"), Governor Bill Richardson (I how Richardson ended up in the doghouse? and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who has been a very strong contender, but in the end her selection would only have riled up the pro-Hillary faction of the party, in addition to being virtually unknown in the rest of the country (not unlike Governor Kaine).

The Obama machine may be virtually leak-proof, but I hold in my hands an email sent to us through a circuit of anonymous internet remailers. The email was originally sent from an Apple Macintosh at a Kinkos in McLean, Virginia and includes just enough detail to leave no doubt about its veracity. The email informs us that Barack Obama has selected fellow congressman, Senator Joe Biden as his running mate.

And if you doubt our veracity, you'll just have to wait until Wednesday morning, when Barack Obama unveils his choice. For our part, it's a great choice. It will be most interesting to watch Obama attempt to keep the ebullient, gregarious and oh-so-talkative Joe Biden in check. With Obama increasingly under fire from the Republicans on defense matters, and not making any headway in the national polls, he had no choice but to select Biden. Biden presided over two of the most fractious Supreme Court nominations ever (Clarence Thomas, and the Robert Bork fiasco), in addition to being a prominent, active, and thoughtful member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

We know Senator Biden will accept the post. He said so in a June 22, 2008 interview on NBC's Meet the Press.
---o0o---

John Edwards experienced a Penile Zipper Injury in his rush to escape the Beverly Hilton Hotel

By Pablo Fanque,

All This Is That National Affairs Editor

I wrote an article a couple of days ago, in which I stated that All This Is That had published its last article on Ex-Senator John Edwards. I should have said "next to last."

How was I to know that I would be in the Formosa Cafe in Hollywood the next day, striking up a conversation with a young woman who turned out to be an intern at Cedars Sinai Medical Center (near Beverly Hills and West Hollywood)? Or that she had treated, along with a resident, a man named "Jack Olson" who was in fact John Edwards? And that she would treat him for a trauma that most often occurs in young boys?

You may snigger, but in fact, Ex-Senator Edwards experienced a common emergency room complaint about which dozens of articles have been published in medical journals. Look here. Or here.

As it turns out, my intern friend, Jenny, treated the Ex-Senator for a Penile Zipper Injury. She only understood what actually happened after the National Enquirer broke the story wide open. The Senator was in a hurry to zip up and hightail it out of the Beverly Hilton Hotel when he experienced a most painful misfire. The injury did not require catgut sutures, but did necessitate application of an ointment and dressing to the former Senator's tallywhacker. John Edwards was zipping up quickly as he realized the hotel was crawling with reporters and photographers.

"Jack Olson" and Rielle "Baby Mama" Hunter

The zipper injury John Edwards incurred has thus far not been mentioned in the press. Until today.
---o0o---

McBush

click to enlarge

I can't figure out who did the original photoshop job, but I like it.
---o0o---

Speaker of the House rips into the dwarf (Senator Joe Lieberman)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Sen. Joe Lieberman on Wednesday for his "totally irresponsible" remarks about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and warned that the Senate might retaliate by revoking Lieberman's committee chairmanship (if they take control and no longer need his 51st vote).

Pelosi chastised some of Hillary Rodham Clinton's more vitriolic supporters for being "less than gracious" toward Obama. She did, however, praise the Senator for supporting Obama after their brutal primary fight.

Pelosi's interview with KGO Radio (810 AM) talk show host Ronn Owens [who was on the KGO in the mid 80's when I lived there] in San Francisco is certain to roil the Clinton backers, despite the fact they got their wish to have her name placed in nomination. But the House speaker's excoriation of Lieberman, was the big news and is certain to please hard core Democrats, who are angry at Lieberman's continual rips on Obama.

On Tuesday in Pennsylvania, Senator Lieberman questioned Obama's patriotism, calling the election a choice "between one candidate, John McCain, who has always put his country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate that has not."

Pelosi was asked by a caller on Owens' show what could be done about the attacks from Lieberman, the Democrats' 2000 vice presidential nominee who, though an independent, still caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate. "One of their best weapons, of course, is someone who is considered by some to be a Democrat."

Pelosi mentioned the timidity of Senate Democrats taking on Lieberman while his vote is crucial to preserving the Democrats' 51-49 majority. And she alluded to the fact that Lieberman's top spot on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will be in jeopardy if Democrats gain seats in the Senate in November.

"In 85 days or something, they will have five more Democrats. They won't need him to make the majority. And it will be interesting to see what the leadership in the Senate, the Democratic leadership in the Senate, does at that point in terms of Joe Lieberman's chairmanship of his committee."

John Edwards and Rielle Hunter: the long, slow slide into obscurity begins

illustration from Co-Ed Magazine

By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

This is our last posting on Ex-Senator John Edwards, in order to let him drift into the obscurity he so richly deserves. . .like the old televisions in the 50's and 60's. . .when you turned them off, the picture collapsed to a small dot in the center of the screen that slowly faded away. John Edwards has hinted that he intends to carve out some sort of public role for himself, but that's the same delusional thinking that led to his current predicament. It's time to air the stench out of All This Is That.

According to today's Daily News, "John Edwards didn't confess his adultery with his flaky videographer, Rielle Hunter, until after he officially announced his presidential run in December 2006."

The National Enquirer reports that "Edwards didn't confess until after an unwitting campaign staffer walked in on him with Hunter and word got back to his wife, who confronted him." They further report: "They broke up a bunch of times, especially when Elizabeth was rediagnosed [with cancer]," a friend of Hunter's, Texas publicist Pigeon O'Brien, told People. "But they got back together."

And a "bombshell" that will surprise no one who has followed the story: "sources close to Hunter say that Edwards and his mistress choreographed their public tango over a DNA test: he offered to take one last week, she declined to allow it. "They worked that out together in advance," a source described only as "an insider" told the Enquirer. "She's still protecting John because she loves him and thinks they may eventually have a future together."
---o0o---

"Crazy" Joe Liberman on the VP short list--for McCain

By Pablo Fanque,
All This Is That National Affairs Editor


"Don't move back Mr. President. I'm getting a chubby."

According to a story in the Financial Times by Stephanie Kirchgaessner, Joe Lieberman, former Democratic vice-presidential nominee/Democrat turncoat, who endorsed John McCain for President, is being vetted as a running mate for the Republican presidential hopeful an unnamed McCain advisor said.


From an All This Is That staff artist, two years ago - August 9, 2006


"John, he's all yours. You can have the P.O.S."


The Senator at a Press Conference with Donald Rumsfeld

Although Democrats haven't exactly been buying McCain’s tarnished image as a maverick politician, Mr. Lieberman’s support for the presumptive Republican nominee has the unfortunate effect of making McCain seem more palatable, as a bi-partisan legislator with friends on both sides of the aisle. Lieberman, could also help Mr McCain win over Jewish voters with his steadfast support for Israel.

But you know what? No one likes a rat, and in the end, what is Joe Lieberman but a sawed-off Neo-Republican apologist for Israel who turned his back on his Democratic brothers and sisters in their hour of greatest need? Sure, you'll use a rat; you'll exploit him to get to the next stage, but in the end, a rat is a rat is a rat. People will trust him as far as they can throw him (what is the record for dwarf-tossing, anyway?).

The odds of John McCain surviving two terms in office are not specifically all that good. Eight of 43 Presidents have died in office, and he will be the oldest President ever. Even if he seems palatable as a running mate, not many people on either side of the aisle are ready for a Lieberman Presidency. The republicans know he has certain liberal tendencies they may find unpalatable. The Democrats know he is an unprincipled weasel who shouldn't be trusted with even an obscure subcommittee chairmanship. McCain will come to his senses once this trial balloon is laughed off the table. McCain will come to his senses and pick a nice, bland running mate who can carry one important state, and do no collateral damage.


---o0o---

Dick Cheney to run for Vice President again (don't laugh, he's still eligible)?

John McCain told Dick Cheney he would have liked to pick him as his Vice-President, if only he had won. Well, Senator, there's still time, and you have the opportunity in the next couple of weeks.

The best part, Senator McCain: he's already been well-investigated, and he is eligible to run for Vice President once again. And, unlike, you he WAS born in the United States.


click to enlarge
---o0o---

John McCain erupts at advance man over somnambulant crowd

By Pablo Fanque,
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Following his less than successful town hall meeting yesterday in Sparks, John McCain gave a rousing speech today in Altoona, Pennsylvania. However, a fair number of people in the audience appeared to be sleeping. Senator McCain greatly abbreviated his prepared remarks and left early for his next campaign stop. A fellow reporter heard the Senator call his advance man on the carpet as he walked to a waiting limousine: "I flew back here from f***ing Nevada to be greeted by this crowd? Where did you round these ***holes up? At the narcolepsy treatment center?!"
---o0o---

John McCain: Maverick or Redneck? The Republicans are not quite sure.

By Pablo Fanque,
All This Is That National Affairs Editor


At a town hall meeting yesterday in Sparks, Nevada, Republican presidential candidate John McCain attempted to maintain the precarious equilibrium between the independence he boasts of and his purported conservatism. Was the audience buying it? Not so much.

"As many of you know, I've been called a maverick, someone who marches to the beat of his own drum," McCain said proudly before being assaulted with questions on offshore oil, taxes and stem cell research from a mostly Republican audience.

McCain swore he would not raise taxes if elected president and promised to appoint judges like Bush nominees Samuel Alito and John Roberts.

"Anything you can tax he wants to tax it more," McCain said of his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama.

But McCain then told a disabled woman facing home foreclosure that he would step up enforcement of the Americans With Disabilities Act. He told a cancer survivor that he supported stem cell research, which pushed a local, Doug Englekirk, to tell McCain that he and other conservatives weren't happy to be supporting the Arizona senator. "There's a lot of us voting against Obama more than anything else," Englekirk said to McCain. "There are a lot of issues I've disagreed with you about, and I would like to know how do you assure me and other conservatives that you will hold to our values and give me something to be excited about?"
---o0o---

Jesse Ventura to run against Al Franken for Senate

Jesse Ventura, the guy you'd want beside you in a dark alley

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura told NPR's David Welna today that he will run for the Senate, against Sen. Norm Coleman (whom Ventura beat in a race for governor in 1998). He will also be running against Al Franken.

Ventura said the main reason he's running is because of Coleman's support for the war in Iraq. "That's the reason I run," he says. "I run because it angers me...All you Minnesotans take a good hard look at all three of us. And you decide: if you were in a dark alley which one of the three of us would you want with you?

The Clinton Enemies List

According to the International Herald Tribune:

". . .that does not mean all is forgiven by others in the Clinton universe."

"For proof, look no further than Doug Band, chief gatekeeper to former President Bill Clinton. Band keeps close track of the past allies and beneficiaries of the Clintons who supported Obama's campaign, three Clinton associates and campaign officials said. Indeed, he is widely known as a member of the Clinton inner circle whose memory is particularly acute on the matter of who has been there for the couple — and who has not."

" 'The Clintons get hundreds of requests for favors every week,' said Terry McAuliffe, the chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. 'Clearly, the people you're going to do stuff for in the future are the people who have been there for you.' "

---o0o---

"18 Million cracks in the ceiling": Hillary Clinton calls it quits

by Pablo Fanque
National Affairs Editor, All This Is That
Washington, D.C. Saturday 6/7/08

OK. We supported her. And then we didn't support her. She and her husband have perhaps too often aggressively pursued their dream, and along the way made some dumb comments about race, Obama's religion, Bobby Kennedy and other tasteless faux pas. . But today, when she finally conceded defeat, it was Hillary Clinton who made the big classy speech, as she bowed out.



"As we gather here today," she told her fans and staff at the National Building Museum yesterday, "the 50th woman to leave this Earth is orbiting overhead. If we can blast 50 women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House."

"Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it," the Senator said, "and the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time."
---o0o---

What's wrong with Bill Clinton?

Bil and Belinda Stronach, an often written-about friendship

A fascinating, long, and detailed study of what went wrong with Bill Clinton, it the current Vanity Fair. The entire article is here....
---o0o---

An intoxicated Hillary Clinton disrobes on campaign plane

by Pablo Fanque,
All This Is That National Affairs Editor,
Washington, D.C.



Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton spent her time in South Dakota today having one two three four five for the road. Clinton took time from her schedule to enjoy a few bumpers of whiskey with a group of journalists. Reporters mentioned off the record that marijuana was openly smoked on the plane, and that the Senator partially disrobed while dancing with a young reporter. Reporters attributed the strange behavior to "a recognition by all aboard that they were approaching the end of the line. There's nothing left to lose."

The Senator was flying back from Rapid City in South Dakota, one of the last states to hold a primary, when she decided to let her hair down. According to the Evening Standard, "Her relaxed mood may give rise to speculation she is preparing to concede to her Democratic rival Barack Obama."


Following the Rushmore visit, Hillary broke out several bottles of Maker's Mark from
the plane's commissary and began pouring drinks for the press, and several for herself.

Earlier in the campaign, Mrs Clinton almost always avoided informal contact with reporters. Today, however, she took a couple of hours from her increasingly spare schedule to visit Mount Rushmore, bringing along numerous reporters who began partying on the bus ride back to her campaign jet.


"I am completely f***ed up," The Senator said after her fourth or fifth drink,before
grabbing the male reporter behind her and dancing to the strains of Fleetwood Mac.
Clinton reportedly removed her top during the song "Go your own way."
---o0o---

No cigar, Bill: Ex-Prez Clinton claims vast left-wing conspiracy against Hillary

click President Clinton and a few of his former playmates to enlarge

Former President Bill Clinton said yesterday that Democrats will likely lose in November if his wife Hillary Clinton is not the party’s presidential nominee. He also said that some people (a vast left-wing conspiracy?) were trying to “cover this up” and “push and pressure and bully” superdelegates to make up their minds prematurely.

"I can’t believe it. It is just frantic the way they are trying to push and pressure and bully all these super-delegates to come out,” he said at a South Dakota campaign stop Sunday, in a speech reported by ABC News. “'Oh, this is so terrible: The people they want her. Oh, this is so terrible: She is winning the general election, and he is not. Oh my goodness, we have to cover this up.'"

The former impeached president added that his wife had not been given the respect she deserved as a legitimate presidential candidate.
---o0o---

John McCain: It's fine for Bush to appear with me as long as no one gets any photos

Click the President to enlarge

Washington, D.C., May 26th, 2008,
by Pablo Fanque, All This Is That National Affairs Editor

On Tuesday last week, President Bush and preumptive GOP nominee Senator McCain were scheduled to appear at a McCain for President/RNC Victory Reception celebration at a Phoenix convention center. On Wednesday, POTUS was supposed to appear at Salt Lake City’s Grand America Hotel with Mitt Romney for a similar event, followed by a posh dinner at the Romneys’ home.

The Phoenix Business Journal reports that “Sources familiar with the situation said the Bush-McCain event was not selling enough tickets to fill the Convention Center space, and that there were concerns about more anti-war protesters showing up outside the venue than attending the fundraiser inside.” All This Is That found this story, among other places, at Mike Allen's Playbook blog on Politico.com.

In short, McCain is glad to exploit whatever remnant of star power and influence POTUS has. . .as long as it isn't in public, and won't be photographed or recorded. As long as the dogs of the fifth estate are kept at arm's length, President Bush is welcome. This makes sense to me. . .however, I want to make it clear that President Bush is welcome to appear on All This Is That whenever it fits into his schedule. Anytime, Mister President!

---o0o---

John McCain posts thousands of pages of medical history, with nary a reference to his mental health

Click the Senator to enlarge

---o0o---

Hillary Clinton: The Tanya Harding of Politics

click Hill to enlarge

It's like Tanya Harding's kneecapping has come to politics. Only the senator from New York has more lethal fantasies than that nutty skater. - Michael Goodwin, NY Daily News

See earlier All This Is That articles on Clinton's RFK statement here (Clinton crosses the final line) and here (Hey...RFK got shot in June didn't he?

---o0o---