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. ---o0o---
"I love you, man." "I love you too." Click to enlarge.
By Pablo Fanque All This Is That National Affairs Editor
Our verdict on the third Presidential debate?: Obama edged out McCain, but just barely. . .exactly what he needed to do.
"You didn't tell the American people the truth," Senator John McCain charged. McCain delivered his best debate performance to date. However, his face told the tale. He was blinking at an alarming rate, mugging, and flashing a smile that bordered on a grimace, or even a rictus [1]. At times he seemed to be involuntarily mugging like The Joker.
As always, cool, cerebral, charming, unflappable, and surging ahead in the polls, Obama expertly parried each thrust, and, at times, lobbed a few Molotov cocktails of his own, all the while appearing absolutely Presidential. At the end of the debate, there was little question of who the voters would want to lead America until 2013.
Obama held fire, wisely. Ahead now in every single poll, and in some by 14 points, there was no reason to jump on the ledge in any issue. Obama performed admirably. . .probably his coolest performance in all three debates. But he is on top: he had nothing to win and everything to lose. And he expertly worked that angle. McCain offered him a chance to decimate his running mate Sarah Palin and Obama held back. What could he possibly gain from attacking the wildly popular Palin? Obama effectively diffused the Obama-Palin campaign's unending attempts to link him as some sort of acolyte of college professor and former Weather Underground mastermind William Ayers. A.C.O.R.N. was also mentioned repeatedly by McCain and Obama--rightfully--basically brushed off the association, leaving McCain pounding sand.
Arguably, the key exchange of the debate was when the frustrated McCain finally said in a clearly scripted remark, "Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."
Obama fired back and dismissed McCain's claim of political independence from The Administration:
"If I've occasionally mistaken your policies for George Bush's policies, it's because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people - on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities - you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush," he said.
Senator McCain passed up the chance to say his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, was qualified to become President (and Obama, also wisely, didn't touch it). McCain did praise her performance as governor and expressed admiration for her work on behalf of special needs children (which according to Alaskans is not a given at all).
McCain referred repeatedly to a voter, Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber from Toledo, Ohio Obama had an exchange with. They both directly spoke to "Joe" several times, and in the end, it went nowhere.
McCain's most critical debate mistake was seeming to dismiss the mother's health exception on the abortion issue. "I am completely supportive of a ban on late-term abortions, partial-birth or otherwise, as long as there's an exception for the mother's health and life, and this did not contain that exception," Obama clearly stated.
McCain sarcastically paid tribute to "the eloquence of Senator Obama. He's (for) health for the mother. You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything." "mother's health," he seemed to be saying, "...who cares?" And with that statement, Senator McCain lost virtually every potential swing vote from pro-choice voters. McCain tried to raise the issue of public financing, but was effortlessly slapped down by Obama. Yes, Obama did go back on his pledge to consult with McCain and hopefully use only public financing in the campaign. While McCain opted for public financing, any possible ethical or moral advantage has been utterly neutralized by the RNC with its massive war chest relentlessly--and indirectly--pumping gushers of money into the McCain campaign.
With only a couple of exceptions, the Presidential campaign is now being waged in battleground states that were solidly Republican in 2004 - states like Virginia, Colorado, and Iowa - and in most of them, Obama holds significant leads in the polls. In the end, this debate changes nothing. It's on to November 4th!
[1] A gaping grimace: "his mouth gaping in a kind of rictus of startled alarm" (Richard Adams). We often think of the rictus as a death-grin. ---o0o---
This morning, the Obama campaign's Press Secretary, Sean Smith, e-mailed a list of debate talking points to the media.
It sounds more like news than the partisan diatribe you might expect!:
-------- Original Message -------- Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:37:27 -0500 From: Sean Smith [s***mith@barackobama.com] To: Sean Smith [s***mith@barackobama.com]
* This is John McCain's last chance to turn this race around and somehow convince the American people that his erratic response to this economic crisis doesn't disqualify him from being President.
* Just this weekend the weekend, John McCain vowed to "whip Obama's you-know-what" at the debate, and he's indicated that he'll be bringing up Bill Ayers to try to distract voters.
* So we know that Senator McCain will come ready to attack Barack Obama and bring his dishonorable campaign tactics to the debate stage.
Obama continues to lead on the economic crisis with a rescue plan for Main Street.
* Over the course of the campaign, Barack Obama has laid out a set of policies that will grow our middle class and strengthen our economy.
* But he knows we face an immediate economic emergency that requires urgent action - on top of the plans he's already laid out - to help workers and families and communities struggling right now.
* That's why Barack Obama is introducing a comprehensive four-part Rescue Plan for the Middle Class - to immediately to stabilize our financial system, provide relief to families and communities, and help struggling homeowners.
* This is a plan that can and should be implemented immediately.
* Obama has shown steady leadership during this crisis and offered concrete solutions to move the country forward - and his Rescue Plan for the Middle Class builds on the plans to strengthen the economy and rebuild the middle class that he's laid out over the course of this campaign.
* Already in this campaign, he's unveiled plans to give 95 percent of workers and their families a tax cut, eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000, bring down the cost of health care for families and businesses; and create millions of new jobs by investing in the renewable energy sources.
* John McCain has been erratic and unsteady since this crisis began - staggering from position to position and trying to change the subject away from the economy by launching false character attacks. ---o0o---
By Pablo Fanque All This Is That National Affairs Editor
As of October 14, 2008, All This Is That is officially calling the election for Senator Obama. We project Obama to take the states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, for a total of 526 electoral votes.
John McCain will likely win both Alabama and Alaska for a total of 12 votes, although support in Alabama appears to be eroding at an alarming rate.
If John McCain's statement "We, my friends, have got them [Obama-Biden] just where we want them" is the delusional raving of a broken-down wardheeler correct, the next question is "Exactly where would that be Senator McCain?"
President Harrison was probably the first empty suit elected to the Presidency. In the end, the damage was slight.
He rode to victory on the coattails of leading a much embroidered battle with Indians called Tippecanoe. "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," was his slogan, and it is probably the best known campaign slogan in American history. The Whigs selected Harrison as a candidate because they believed in a strong congress and a weak president; Harrison filled the bill perfectly. The Whigs turned out 82% of the eligible voters with such blandishments as live music, balloon rides, and free whiskey.
President Harrison's campaign slogan proved to be somewhat prophetic, his Presidency becoming something of an asterisk n the history books. He apparently caught, and soon, died of pneumonia 31 days after assuming office. He was succeeded by President John Tyler. Despite his highly-truncated tenure he is better known than many other Presidents. He is probably the most prominent amongst the most obscure Presidents. . . ---o0o---
I don't know if this is a guilty pleasure or great music. I've always liked it and especially always liked Freddy Mercury's voice. I was thinking about them because they've reformed with a new singer and are on tour at this very moment.
Bohemian Rhapsody Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Is this the real life- Is this just fantasy- Caught in a landslide- No escape from reality- Open your eyes Look up to the skies and see- Im just a poor boy,i need no sympathy- Because Im easy come,easy go, A little high,little low, Anyway the wind blows,doesnt really matter to me, To me
Mama,just killed a man, Put a gun against his head, Pulled my trigger,now hes dead, Mama,life had just begun, But now Ive gone and thrown it all away- Mama ooo, Didnt mean to make you cry- If Im not back again this time tomorrow- Carry on,carry on,as if nothing really matters-
Too late,my time has come, Sends shivers down my spine- Bodys aching all the time, Goodbye everybody-Ive got to go- Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth- Mama ooo- (any way the wind blows) I dont want to die, I sometimes wish Id never been born at all-
I see a little silhouetto of a man, Scaramouche,scaramouche will you do the fandango- Thunderbolt and lightning-very very frightening me- Galileo,galileo, Galileo galileo Galileo figaro-magnifico- But Im just a poor boy and nobody loves me- Hes just a poor boy from a poor family- Spare him his life from this monstrosity- Easy come easy go-,will you let me go- Bismillah! no-,we will not let you go-let him go- Bismillah! we will not let you go-let him go Bismillah! we will not let you go-let me go Will not let you go-let me go Will not let you go let me go No,no,no,no,no,no,no- Mama mia,mama mia,mama mia let me go- Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me,for me,for me-
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye- So you think you can love me and leave me to die- Oh baby-cant do this to me baby- Just gotta get out-just gotta get right outta here-
Nothing really matters, Anyone can see, Nothing really matters-,nothing really matters to me,
By Pablo Fanque All This Is That National Affairs Editor
Something on The Drudge Report yesterday struck me as playing the race card. Matt Drudge posted a link to a Reuters article on Yahoo News titled "Obama goes door-to-door to drum up votes in Ohio." The Reuters article used this photograph from the Associated Press:
The Drudge Report, however, used the same title for their teaser, but included an entirely different photograph:
Isn't this playing the race card? I guess, they could have put a subtitle "Obama molests Blonde Norwegian-American soccer mom." but I may just be a little suspicious after the all the race baiting we saw over the weekend in the Palin-McCain campaign. ---o0o---
Sky Pilotis an interesting, flawed, and powerful song from my youth. Obviously some YouTubers think it is a paean to the military. I tend to think it's less about the military than about war. It's an interesting period piece.
"Sky Pilot" was released in 1968 song on an Eric Burdon & The Animals LP, The Twain Shall Meet. It was a long song, with one part on side one and one on side two of the 45 RPM single; on the LP, it was probably contiguous. It hit number 14 on Billboard (it had a lot of great competition that summer). The song was seven minutes and change--very unusual in 1968.
I saw Eric Burdon perform the song at a rock festival in 1972, and even got to talk with him for about three minutes near the backstage, while he shared a joint with another performer (Delaney Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie). Like every single one of my celebrity sightings, I didn't have a camera. Come on...cassette tapes and 8 tracks had just barely been invented.
As a side-note, the bagpipe music at the end of the song is a bootleg recording of the pipers of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards playing "All The Bluebonnets Are Over The Border" captured by Burdon on a cassette recorder while performing at a school. The UK government sent him a scolding letter about his unauthorized of the song, but that is about as far as it went. Ah, the good old days...
Sky Pilot
He blesses the boys as they stand in line the smell of gun grease and their bayonets they shine he's there to help them all that he can to make them feel wanted he's a good holy man.
Sky pilot, sky pilot, how high can you fly? you'll never never never reach the sky.
He smiles at the young soldiers tells them it's all right he knows of their fears in the forthcoming fight soon there'll be blood and many will die mother and fathers back home they will cry.
Sky pilot, sky pilot, how high can you fly? you'll never never never reach the sky.
He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile the order is given they move down the line but he'll stay behind and he'll meditate but it won't stop to bleeding or ease the hate.
As the young men move out into the battle zone he feels good with god you're never alone he feels so tired and he lays on his bed hopes the men will find courage in the words that he's said.
Sky pilot, sky pilot, how high can you fly? you'll never never never reach the sky. ---o0o---
click to enlarge President Martin Van Buren a/k/a Van Ruin
Martin Van Buren was the first President born as a United States citizen. He was the last vice president to be elected to succeed the president under whom he served. . .until then Vice-President George H.W. Bush was elected.
He was described as a "dandy," much like President Chester Alan Arthur, and loved frenchified clothes, expensive wine and rich food. His muttonchops were even more impressive than those of another dandy, President Chester Alan Arthur.
Van Buren presided over the economic Panic of 1837--the worst recession the U.S. had ever experienced (ahem, up to that time).
Before he was President, Van Buren moved from the New York State Senate, to the New York attorney general's office, and onto the U.S. Senate. Unhappy with the policies of President John Quincy Adams, Van Buren aligned himself instead with Andrew Jackson, the war hero who wanted a return to the Jeffersonian policies of a small government.
In Washington, he continued his party-building efforts on a national scale. Jackson was elected and named Van Buren secretary of state, in recognition of his political skills (and his indispensible help during the 1828 election).
Van Buren oversaw the nation’s foreign affairs and continued to build the organization that would become our beloved Democratic Party. He was one of Andrew Jackson’s most trusted advisers and friends. Van Buren nimbly threaded his way through the palace intrigues and in-fighting that marked Jackson’s fractious cabinet. Toward the end of his first term, Jackson fired most of his cabinet, cut his relations with Vice President Calhoun, and dispatched Van Buren to the political calm of London as U.S. minister to England. He replaced Calhoun in the next election with Van Buren.
His enemies called him "Martin Van Ruin." He lost the 1840 presidential election, and became a one-term President. . .not quite as ignominious as a one-hit wonder rock band, but no picnic either.
Van Buren played key roles in the creation of both the Democratic Party and the so-called "second party system" in which Democrats competed with their opponents, the Whigs. He ignored calls from some Americans to respond to Canadian and British provocations with force, working instead through diplomatic channels to calm the roiled waters.
The two happiest days of his life, according to Van Buren, were the day he was inaugurated President and the day he left the office. ---o0o---
Thanks, as always to Jeff Clinton for finding this nugget on the internets.
The Psychic, Blossom Goodchild, says she has received a channeled transmission from the Galactic Federation of Light.
The Federation will reveal themselves tomorrow, October 14th, 2008, by revealing their 2000 mile wide vessel. The spaceship will remain visible for 3 earth days.
The good news, according to Blossom, is they come in peace and love. . .like our old pal Klaatu from The Day The Earth Stood Still. Check our Blossom's message in the YouTube video, above.
Let All This Is That know if you see the vessel tomorrow! ---o0o---
By Pablo Fanque All This Is That National Affairs Editor
What a week for the John McCain-Sarah Palin Presidential juggernaut! Video clips of their rallies show crowds screaming “treason!” or “terrorist!” at the mention of Mr Obama's name, and at times even darker imprecations like “kill him!” and “off with his head!"
As we wrote earlier, McCain has been forced to appeal for calm, responding to boos from a crowd on Friday: “I have to tell you he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president.” He later snatched the microphone later from a woman who suggested Senator Obama was an Arab.
This past weekend, civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis said the atmosphere at Republican rallies was similar to those of George Wallace, the segregationist presidential candidate. “Senator McCain and Governor Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division.”
At a weekend campaign event in Iowa, McCain was forced to repudiate a pastor who introduced McCain saying that millions of foreigners were praying to “Hindu, Buddha, Allah — that his opponent wins”.
Most Republican insiders and even the rank and file openly admit the McCain-Palin campaign has been desperately adrift, flailing against the economic storms, farcically suspending the campaign to fix the economic problems facing the nation, and having to carry the increasingly heavy baggage of Governor Palin. An Alaskan legislative commission on Friday concluded she had "abused her powers as Alaska Governor by trying to orchestrate the sacking of a state trooper who was her former brother-in-law." Sarah Palin's rallies have generated ugly racial sound clips and both she and McCain appear unable to control their supporters.
In short, it's about time to break out the oxygen and put this campaign in the I.C.U.
Time to pull the draw sheet over the patient?—click to enlarge
Over the weekend, in between trying to seem like a decent person (and possibly rescue some good will for when he trudges back to the Senate in defeat) at his increasingly hate- and invective-filled rallies, John McCain huddled with advisors, struggling to formulate an economic plan that won't be laughed off the stage at this week's debates. We'll see the fruits of those discussions in just a couple of days.
