When pigs fly: the Salt Lake City Tribune endorses Obama!

Along with other 'papers that endorsed George W. Bush in the past, the Salt Lake Tribune has endorsed Barack Obama for President. They join the ranks of the former Bush endorsing Seattle Times, The Denver Post, Austin Statesman American, Houston Chronicle, the South Carolina State, and The Chicago Tribune (who have NEVER endorsed a Democrat in their 160 years).

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Walk On by Neil Young

Walk On by Neil Young, from the odd and strangely mixed album On The Beach.

If you are intrepid, check out the circumstances of the recording of this album, when Neil was under the influence of the bizarre Rusty Kershaw. . .


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Painting: Senator Obama poster

click to enlarge
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Did John McCain really make that face? Yes, he did.

Did John McCain really make that face? Yes, he did. But it wasn't just another Captain Queeg moment. . .you've probably seen it out of context. He was attempting to shake Bob Schieffer's hand, when Schieffer walked in the opposite direction. McCain made the funny face to show he was all mixed up. It was pretty funny...until the photo started circulating.

If you doubt my veracity (how could you?), you can see this moment on this YouTube video, if you jump in around 4:25, near the end.
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Don't pop the cork yet — with two weeks to go Obama himself admits anything can happen.

click to enlarge


By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Some of my friends say I am too pessimistic about the Democrat chances of regaining the White House. I think I've been realistic. Senator Obama agreed and warned supporters that the election is not over yet!:

“Don’t underestimate our ability to screw it up,” said Barack Obama just last week.

1) The polls now show Barack Obama solidly in the lead, ranging from 14 points to 2 or 3, with a sweet spot somewhere in the middle, about 7 points in Obama's favor.

But: we have to remember that Hubert Horatio Humphrey was also well ahead weeks before the election. Harry Truman was at least 7 points behind Dewey until that election night surprise.
2) Obama is already speculating about his cabinet. including names like John Kerry, Chuck Hagel, a republican who may become the next defense secretary. Surely his foreign policy advisor Susan Rice will have a slot somewhere in the administration. Former NATO general Jim Jones may be on the list, and Republican Richard Lugar as well.

But: Obama has to tread a fine line here. How many Senators does he, or do we, really want in the cabinet? John Kerry, while loyal and capable, surely doesn't play well to the theme of change. And change will be important coming out of the gate January 21st. Obama will undoubtedly name at least a couple of Republicans to top posts.

George W. Bush brought in a handful of old veterans to his administration, and it did not work out well. Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Colin Powell were the "experienced" ones who would help the green President Bush.

3) Colin Powell finally came out today and said in public what many people already knew. He is endorsing Obama. He will no doubt remain a top advisor to Obama, but will probably not take a post in the administration. Iraq is still too much in the forefront, and his role in that is still in everyone's memory. This morning's endorsement by Powell, who was often mentioned as a possible VP candidate for McCain, feels like one of the last nails on the coffin, whether he is part of the Obama administration or not (and in any case he will be an important advisor, as he has been in the campaign).

But: There is Joe the Plumber Wurzelbacher out there making a lot of noise and being trumpeted by Sarah Palin. Actually, I think we all know Joe the Plumber is just a blip on the screen of the rapidly eroding, sometimes deranged "base."

4) Obama is on the offensive now, storming into, and doing well in, longstanding Republican strongholds like Virginia and scaring the beejesus out of the G.O.P.

But: he may not pick up many traditional stronghold states like Florida and Ohio. Fortunately, he may not need them because he's strong in the blue states and making inroads into several red states. The possibility still remains that this election will be an electoral college pile-on.

5) The economy looms over nearly every decision and every action in these last few weeks. Obama has a strong flank of economic advisors, including people like Warren Buffet and Paul Volcker. He has proffered a coherent economic plan and seriously knocked Senator McCain off whatever game he still had left.

But: Paul Volcker is 81, and Buffet is not a young man either. Buffet also owns chunks of several financial institutions now. It doesn't seem likely wither of them will be in an Obama cabinet. . .but there are plenty of highly qualified people waiting in the wings.

Obama will clearly come out of the gate strong on the economy. I think we know where he will get his advice. It's not so clear who the front men and women will be. McCain is making no headway on the economy, and has, in fact, lost support following the recent economic meltdown.

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It's too early to celebrate or be cocky. Democrats need to stay focused the next 15 days. Obama has a strong game going into the last two weeks. The Promised Land lies just around the next corner.

It's now up to the voters to actually get to the polls, mail in their ballots, harangue their neighbors, send money to the campaign, and then get ready to celebrate for the first time since 1996.

The celebration may become even sweeter before it's all over. Just last week, an editorial in The Wall Street Journal last week warned of the distinct possibility of a “liberal super-majority” in the Senate (e.g., 60%). The Dems could end up with a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, basically ensuring they can pass whatever they want, and get at least two left of center candidates onto the Supreme Court.

There is one (former) Democrat who may end up out in the cold after the election: the dwarf from Connecticut, Senator "Crazy" Joe Lieberman. If the 60 person supermajority does not need to include his votes, Joe Lieberman may well find himself handing out towels in the Senate Cloakroom.
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Our cousins the monkeys (sorry Joe the Plumber and Gov. Palin), waiting tables in Japan

I saw this video first on Tom Dougherty's blog, Automatic Daddy. I like the idea of monkey waiters. I think we also need monkey butlers, maids, valets, and probably, monkey bosses, monkey policemen, and monkey congressmen.


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Alec Baldwin's "motivational speech" from Glengarry Glen Ross (and Glenngarry remixed/reimagined)

In the film Glengarry Glen Ross, Alec Baldwin plays the character Blake, who gives one of the most brutal motivational speeches ever. I heard some speeches very close to this in one of my worst jobs ever. To read about that job, click here...



A pretty good mash-up of Glengarry Glen Ross:


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POTUS 13 - President Millard Fillmore

Click Millard to enlarge...

Unlike elevators, they don't skip the number 13 for Presidents. Not that President Fillmore experienced bad luck. . .or much good luck either. . .

When President Zachary Taylor konked out early in his second year in office, Millard Fillmore finished his term. As President, he signed the Compromise Measure of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act. The Compromise Measure may have helped stave off the Civil War for ten years. However, it was very unpopular with both factions, and The President was not nominated by his party for another term.
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POTUS No. 12 - President Zachary Taylor (the President who most closely resembles Mel Brooks)

Zachary Taylor was another war hero President, who came to the oval office after serving forty years in the military in various capacities, including fighting numerous battles with Native Americans. He lasted about 16 months in office before he died, making him one of the shortest tenured Presidents[1]. He was suceeded by his V-POTUS, Millard Fillmore, about which, more soon. . .

[1] Presidents who served less than one full term in office include: William Henry Harrison (30 days); John Tyler (3 years, 11 months); Zachary Taylor (1 yea, 4 months); Millard Fillmore (2 years, 8 months); Andrew Johnson (3 years 10 months, filling out Abe Lincoln's second term); James Garfield (6 months...assassinated); Chester A. Arthur (filled out Garfield's term); William Harding (2 years, 5 months); John F. Kennedy (2 years, 10 months); and Gerald Ford (2 years, 5 months).
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Jack Brummet Poem: The Quest

It’s all one story—
A ragged shape-shifting tale

Of incredible coherence and constance,
Encompassing all you know,

All you don’t know you know,
And all you one day will know.

There is more
To be seen, tasted, heard, and felt

Than can ever be known or told.
Our myths flourish and spread,

Person to person,
And the mysteries of the seas and skies and stars

Fill our collective conscience
With mystical scenery,

Quests, and tales of greatness.
These myths, tales, and fables

Cannot be invented, ordered, or denied.
When you strip away the stage flats, makeup, and costumes,

It’s all one story
Starring our private heroes and dreams.
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POTUS 10 and 11: Presidents John Tyler "His Accidency" and James Polk, The man with a mullet

John Tyler's detractors called him "His Accidency" because he was the first President to take office due to the death of his predecessor. When President Wm. Henry Harrison konked out, after one month in office, Tyler was sworn in. He finished the nearly four year term and did not run for re-election.

"Tyler Too" had troubles with the Whig party. When Tyler vetoed a banking bill, the Whigs retaliated by kicking him out of the party. All the Cabinet resigned except for Secretary of State Webster. A year later when Tyler vetoed a tariff bill, the first impeachment resolution against a President was introduced in the House of Representatives.

Years after leaving office, Tyler led a compromise movement when the first southern states seceded from The Union in 1861. The compromise failed. Former President Tyler then worked to create the Southern Confederacy. He died in 1862, a member of the Confederate House of Representatives.



President Polk was possibly the first and last President to sport a mullet. He was the first "Dark Horse" candidate to become President. Nominated as an alternative candidate on the eighth ballot, he got the nod on the ninth.

There was no dancing, singing, or alcohol in the Polk White House. He had no children. Polk's wife Sarah sat in on cabinet meetings and was extremely influential in her husband's decisions. President Polk was another one-term President, which was probably just as well, since he died a few months after his term ended.
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A YouTube compilation of John McCain's fidgets, eye bulging, tongue flicking, grimacing, and eye rolling from last night's debate

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