Sunday Papers – November 9, 2008

New York Times Magazine

• After the Imperial Presidency– Jonathan Mahler
• Payday Lenders, Check Cashers – Redeemed?– Douglas McGray
• Deprogramming Jihadists– Katherine Zoepf

New York Times

• Obama team weighs what to take on first
• Harsh words about Obama? Never mind
• Citing workload public lawyers refuse new cases
• How Merrill fell
• Pelosi, Reid want aid for U.S. automakers
• Op-Ed, Frank Rich: It still felt good morning after
• Op-Ed, Al Gore: The climate for change
• Op-Ed, Thomas Friedman: Show me the money
• Op-Ed, Nicholas Kristof: Obama and the War on Brains
• Rice visits West Bank
• U.S. electricity project in Afghanistan
• Back home, Palin finds landscape changed
• After push for Obama, Unions seek new rules

Washington Post

• Preparing for the Obama era
• Reid, Pelosi urge Treasury to extend aid to automakers
• Self-sufficiency evades Iraqi security forces
• Obama positioned to reverse Bush actions
• Medvedev calls Obama; Kremlin describes call
• Congressional Democrats say economy first priority
• Op-Ed, Rich Lowry: The right needs to get centered
• Op-Ed, Joseph Stiglitz: More pain to come even if he’s perfect
• Op-Ed, Ron Suskind: U.S. has power – it could use authority
• Op-Ed, David Broder: Governors know best
• Op-Ed, George Will: Democratic ironies and Republican Afflictions

Los Angeles Times

• Democrats set sights on Texas
• Public works on the table once again
• Obama relies on a close-knit inner circle
• Op-Ed, Norman Ornstein: The GOP’s deep hole
• Op-Ed, James Rainey: Right-wing media feeds its post-election anger
• Political blogger be nimble, be quick
• Election leaves gay couple feeling isolated

Video: Carl Cameron dishes on Sarah Palin’s Shortcomings – Fox News

In this clip, Fox News eats their young.  Unbelievable.  I’m not surprised to find out Sarah Palin had some basic misunderstandings about how government works – but not knowing Africa is a continent and not a country?  Whoa.  How about what three countries make up NAFTA?  Couldn’t name a one.  Sheesh.  Man, oh man.  We dodged a bullet on Tuesday.

Ohio Sunday Papers & Election News Updates – November 2 – PM

Columbus Dispatch 

Obama maintains lead in last Dispatch Poll

Dispatch Poll methodology

Click for Full Graphic

• Candidates can’t seem to stay out of Ohio
• Election Day lines should move faster
• Voter Guide: Nation Awaits Ohio’s Choice
• Obama draws 60,000 to Statehouse on Sunday
• Biden blasts McCain for name calling
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Traditional GOP Ground Not Looking as Stable
• Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Checks on ‘Joe the Plumber’ Out of Bounds

The Plain Dealer

• Obama and The Boss after Browns Game; Palin draws fewer in Canton
• Palin to Ohio: Do You Share Our Commitment?
• Endorsing faith – Not politcians
• Ohio’s out-of-state absentee voters could affect election
• Op-Ed, Connie Schultz: Intimidation can’t silence the voice of the people
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Ohioans mustn’t fall for payday lenders stealth campaign

Dayton Daily News

• Ohio still the political heartland
• Obama adviser visits rural areas
• McCain makes two day trip to Ohio
• Obama stirs crowd of 60k in Columbus

2 ½ Days: News Coverage of the Election from Ohio | November 1

Columbus Dispatch

• Long lines – yes; longer hours – maybe
  
• GOP gets earful for answers on survey
  
• Mailers are making the TV ads look lame
  
• Boehner demands monitors at polls
  
• GOP volunteers steer up votes
  
• Paper ballot must be offered if poll is busy
  
• Biden, Clinton visit Southern Ohio
  
• Governator stumps for McCain
  
• Worker who checked on ‘Joe’ speaks
  

The Plain Dealer

• McCain predicts comeback victory; Obama advisers skeptical
  
• Multiple absentee ballots sent to some Ohio voters
  
• Op-Ed, Joe Frolik: Election Day Primer
  
• Op-Ed, Kevin O’Brien: Obama a Socialist
  

(Editor’s Note: Op-Ed, Pelikan: Kevin O’Brien is a douche bag)

Youngstown Vindicator

• Most at YSU couldn’t see or hear McCain
  

Dayton Daily News

• Biden derides McCain in Kettering
  
• Boehner’s name-calling desperate: Obama Aide
  
• McCain keeps up attacks on Obama
  

Akron Beacon Journal

• Race to finish in search of votes
• Voters make up minds to try something new
• Editorial: Plumbing for Answers
• Editorial: Lying about his record
• Op-Ed, Steve Hoffman: Why wait for Tuesday? Here’s the deal …

Cincinnati Enquirer

• CT man voted here
  
• Political fliers at churches slammed
  
• Down to the wire, Obama, Palin coming
  

Toledo Blade

• MI woman heads south to door knock
  
• Bus tour rolls into Bowling Green
  
• Boehner appears in Perrysburg
  
• ‘Terminator’ Rallies McCain Faithful
  
• Biden denounces Bush legacy in Lima
  
• Op-Ed, Reg Henry: We’re all runners in this race

Ohio Politics and Elections Coverage: Five Days to Election Day

Recent Coverage by the Columbus Dispatch

• Clinton boosts Obama with Ohio appearances
  
• Obama dips but still has comfortable lead
  
• Down in polls, McCain tells Ohio crowd he’s coming back

• Feds won’t make Brunner reveal voter mismatches
• Schwarzenegger says McCain in uphill battle
• Palin revs up Chillicothe
• Local pastors emphasize duty to vote
• Agency head defends ‘Joe’ searches
  

Recent Coverage by Cleveland Plain Dealer

• Day of the Plumber
  
• FAQ on Casino question
  
• ‘Joe the Plumber’ joins McCain roadshow in Sandusky
  
• Secy State cancels cross-checking of Ohio’s voters
  
• McCain in Defiance, Ohio reverts to name calling
  

Recent Coverage by Toledo Blade

• McCain tells Defiance crowd he’ll cut taxes
  
• Rush Limbaugh blasts Kaptur
  
• Palin joins ‘Joe’ in Bowling Green
  
• Ohio elections chief: Scrap voter database
  

Recent Coverage by Dayton Daily News

• Ben Stiller ‘Rocks the Vote’ at UD
• Judge to rule Friday on Ohio man’s attempt to kick Obama off Ohio ballot
• Payday Lending pays over $3 million for signatures
• Joe the Plumber hires Nashville publicity team

Eight Days: Ohio Politics and Elections News A.M. Update

Columbus Dispatch

• Early Vote very Democratic
• McCain asking Ohioans for help

I know something about Lancaster and Fairfield County. If John McCain is spending an evening with the Republican faithful there, this close to the election, his campaign either sucks or he’s in trouble. You shouldn’t have to excite people who would vote for Atilla the Hun if he had an “R” after his name.

• Palin returning to Ohio on Wednesday

Cleveland Plain Dealer

• Ohio candidates build up war chests
• Cuyahoga County vote counting likely to be slow
• Obama outspending McCain 2 to 1 on Tube
• Over 203,000 have voted early in NE Ohio
• Editorial: Election Day Etiquette

Anchorage Daily News Endorses Obama – Alaska’s Largest Newspaper

Obama for president

Palin’s rise captivates us but nation needs a steady hand

Alaska enters its 50th-anniversary year in the glow of an improbable and highly memorable event: the nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential candidate. For the first time ever, an Alaskan is making a serious bid for national office, and in doing so she brings broad attention and recognition not only to herself, but also to the state she leads.

Alaska’s founders were optimistic people, but even the most farsighted might have been stretched to imagine this scenario. No matter the outcome in November, this election will mark a signal moment in the history of the 49th state. Many Alaskans are proud to see their governor, and their state, so prominent on the national stage. Gov. Palin’s nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency — but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation. Read more

Sparklepony: “Own it Bitches”

Thanks to Tim at Blogger Interrupted for bringing this into the Ohio blogosphere, but especially thanks to Princess Sparkle Pony.  You need to check out her photoblog — it’s smart and funny.  Princess Sparkle Pony said she couldn’t even write about Young Republican whack job Ashley Todd’s stunt.  I did here.  To sum it up, when you’re bereft of ideas and and your campaign is rooted in sleaze and hate, someone could end up getting hurt.  Real patriotic, assholes.

Alaska Newspaper Coverage 3: Sarah Palin News from Her Home State | October 24

From time to time I like to take a look at what the Alaskan media is saying about and reporting on Sarah Palin. This is the news from those who know her best – another news aggregation service from Clips & Comment. This is my third installment, you can find the others here and here.

Anchorage Daily News Recent Coverage

• Palin to testify on Troopergate
• Palin calls herself frugal shopper when at home
• Governor to give deposition on Friday
• State funded Palin kids’ travel
• Palin office defends charging state for children’s travel
• AK’s black leaders feel snubbed by Palin
• Op-Ed, Andrew Halcro – A costly personal, vindictive Palin vendetta? You betcha
  
• Op-Ed, Steve Haycox – Palin is wrong woman at wrong time
  
• Editorial: Too Much Secrecy
  
• Editorial: Palin Vindicated?
  

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Recent Coverage

• Ferrell’s Bush meets Fey’s Palin
• Palin disappointed in endangered listing for Beluga whales
• Palin addresses Alaska natives’ convention
• Op-Ed, Elstun Lauesen –
  McCain camp occupies Alaska
• Palin says she considers herself intellectual

Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman (Wasilla) Recent Coverage

• State legislator calls for Troopergate witness tampering investigation
• Troopergate doesn’t faze Palin approval rating
• Editorial: November 4 a date with history

Transcript: Sarah Palin Interview on CNN | October 21, 2008

(Source: CNN)

Editor’s Note: This, Sarah Palin’s first interview with CNN was broadcast in pieces over the course of the two-hour Situation Room. Portions of the show not directly a part of the interview have been cut for brevity.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Rick. Happening now, Sarah Palin one on one in her first CNN interview. The vice presidential nominee confronts the controversy surrounding her from her remarks about patriotism to her charge that Barack Obama is pedalling socialism. That interview coming up. Plus, John McCain is accusing Barack Obama of major league pandering. The republican is on a must win mission in Pennsylvania while Obama is trying to prove his economic know how in Florida.

And a republican nightmare that could come true. The GOP’s growing fears of a blood bath in the U.S. Senate exactly two weeks from today.

I’m Wolf Blitzer. You’re in THE SITUATION ROOM. Read more

Holy Crap, Palin Thinks Veep is “In charge of the Senate”

Unbelievable. As if it hasn’t been bad enough to have Dick Cheney piss on the U.S. Constitution for eight years as the actual Veep, the one who would be Veep, Sarah Palin, doesn’t seem to have any grasp at all of the Constitutional role of the U.S. Vice President.

I think they would’ve been better to keep her in the McCain campaign’s Witness Protection Program. Here’s exactly what Palin told a TV interviewer when asked to answer a question from third-grader. The question was, “What does the vice-president do?”:

That’s a great question, Brandon. … And a vice president has a really great job because not only are they there to support the president’s agenda, they’re like the team member, the teammate to that president, but also they’re in charge of the United State Senate. So if they want to, they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it’s a great job, and I look forward to having that job.

Holy Cow.

O.K., for you McCain-Palin supporters out there who don’t know what the Constitution says about the role of the Vice President, it boils down to four things:

1. The powers of the presidency “devolve” to the vice president should the president die.
2. The vice president presides over the Senate, but only votes in the event of a tie vote by the senators.
3. The vice president’s four-year term ends at noon on January 20.
4. The vice president serves as acting president should the president be disabled and appoint the veep acting president.

But of course, all of you true blue patriots know your Constitution.

Video: Sarah Palin says Vice President “In charge of Senate …”

Video: Sarah Palin on SNL October 18 Show with Tina Fey

Palin Gimmick and Attacks Fail McCain: New Poll | NYT-CBS Poll

If McCain apologist Bill Kristol’s admonition to “fire his campaign,” wasn’t the 3 a.m. call for the McCain campaign, maybe the latest numbers from the New York Times/CBS Poll will wake ‘em up.

Maybe things are still too tight to say John McCain is ‘losing,’ but all indicators seem to say that he is failing – failing to connect to voters in any meaningful way, failing to offer them a vision of a future that is not more U.S. decline, and failing to show them what his view of a re-invigorated American Dream would look like.

Rather than speak to our ‘better angels’ McCain and company have been trying to stir Americans’ passions by cajoling the devil on our collective shoulder.  Bill Ayers, Sarah Palin, surrogates inciting crowds with toy monkeys and innuendo regarding Barack Obama’s race, religion, and patriotism — it’s all been on display from the McCain campaign over the past two weeks.  It’s all cynical and demeaning to our collective intellect – from the MILFy, gun-toting, Pentecostal running mate (there’s something in that for everyone!) to the attempt to link an eight year-old Obama to the domestic mayhem of the 1960s Weather Underground.  Read more

McCain’s Self-Inflicted October Surprise

I’m betting that John McCain never heard of Stephen Branchflower (left) before the wheels of his bus began turning towards Dayton, Ohio and his unveiling of Sarah Palin. Today, McCain knows who Branchflower is.

Branchflower is the respected Alaskan prosecutor who was tasked by that state’s legislature to investigate what’s become known as Troopergate. The question at the center of the inquiry was, did Governor Sarah Palin abuse her power as Alaska’s chief executive in trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from his job as a state trooper and in the actual firing of state safety director Walt Moneghan.

Branchflower’s report says she did. State legislators met behind closed doors for six hours today before the report was made public, no doubt trying to either figure out how to limit the damage to the McCain-Palin ticket or to just come to terms with what a political bombshell Alaska of all places was getting ready to toss into the scrum of an already messy election cycle. Their six hour meeting did serve to deliver Friday’s trash late enough in the evening that most Americans are probably not aware of the report yet.

The McCain campaign has been wildly gesticulating, flailing about this week looking for something nefarious to stick to Obama. While the economy melts down, McCain and Palin are out talking about the Weather Underground and ACORN – wedge issues that fire up the Karl Rove base, but not subjects most Americans are thinking about tonight while their retirement funds lose value. It’s ironic that the one real character issue that sticks this week will be the Troopergate mess splattered all over Palin.

Poor angry and befuddled John. Just a month ago, he thought his Palin pick was a masterstroke. Today, he’s realizing gimmicks can backfire.

National Coverage

• Alaska inquiry finds Palin abused powers – New York Times
• Probe finds Palin abused power – Washington Post
• Panel: Palin abused her power – Fox News
• Inquiry finds Palin abused power for personal gain – Chicago Tribune
• Palin abused her power, legislative inquiry finds – Los Angeles Times

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