Congressional Candidate Runs for the Border with Elephant, Band

Trying to get an elephant and a mariachi band across the U.S.-Mexico border is one way to get some attention for your Congressional campaign:

Reports of an elephant crossing the river or people trying to smuggle an elephant across were rampant Tuesday while an elaborate political stunt was taking shape near the mouth of the Rio Grande.

It was a while later that the stunt, which was a photo shoot, was abruptly met by federal agents.

“The elephant never made landfall into Mexico, but I tell you something, he could have made 15 laps back and forth, but no one showed up,” said Raj Peter Bhakta, a former star on the NBC show “The Apprentice,” who also is a Republican candidate for the 13th District U.S. House of Representatives seat in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Three elephants, two African and an Asian, were taken out to a ranch near Boca Chica beach to perform, the 31-year-old Bhakta said.

He was in Brownsville to raise funds with friends and decided to get a first-hand look at border security while he was here, he said.

In Brownsville, he witnessed half a dozen men swim under one of the international bridges “with complete immunity” which in turn prompted him to take the immigration issue to the next level.

Bhakta decided to see if he could get an elephant accompanied by a six-piece mariachi band across the river.

According to his Web site, he is in favor of “sensible immigration reform” and supports a border fence, local law enforcement assistance with immigration laws and the use of the National Guard troops to help the U.S. Border Patrol.

“To my surprise, the band played on, the elephants splashed away, and nobody showed up,” Bhakta said of the stunt. “I’m astounded.”

...

He said he was “staggered” by what happened on Tuesday and was planning on sharing the story with his potential constituents.

“If I can get an elephant led by a mariachi band into this country, I think Osama bin Laden could get across with all the weapons of mass destruction he could get into this country,” Bhakta said.

The mariachi band was not immediately available for comment.

Too bad Bhakta is getting trounced in the money race. He's certainly creative.

"Running of the Elephants" [via Raj Blog]

[Added to OTB's Beltway Traffic Jam.]

Vote in the Straw Poll

It's straw poll time. Take a moment from the current elections and choose who you want for the GOP nomination in 2008. I'm leaning Gingrich right now and am seriously considering Giuliani--if only he'd fix his partial-birth abortion stance.

David Zucker's Spiked Anti-Democrats Ad

The GOP may not want to run this hard-hitting yet funny David Zucker ad, but I have no qualms. With North Korea's recent nuclear test it's fitting.

"Video: The Zucker Ad; Flashback: Zucker Ad Goofed on Kerry in 2004"

Haven't Seen Green-Doyle II Yet

I put baseball and Battlestar Galactica ahead of the second Green-Doyle debate. It serves them right for putting a second debate on a Friday night. I guess neither candidate wants voters to actually see them discuss issues. Later today I'll try to watch the video (if I find a site that has it; nothing at WisPolitics) and offer my thoughts.

Foley IM was "Prank"

Drudge reports that the Mark Foley instant message that forced him to resign was "part of an online prank."

According to two people close to former congressional page Jordan Edmund, the now famous lurid AOL Instant Message exchanges that led to the resignation of Mark Foley were part of an online prank that by mistake got into the hands of enemy political operatives, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.

According to one Oklahoma source who knows the former page very well, Edmund, a conservative Republican, goaded Foley to type embarrassing comments that were then shared with a small group of young Hill politicos. The prank went awry when the saved IM sessions got into the hands of political operatives favorable to Democrats. This source, an ally of Edmund, also adamantly proclaims that the former page is not a homosexual. The prank scenario was confirmed by a second associate of Edmund.

The news come on the heels that former FBI Chief Louis Freeh has been named to investigate the mess.

Developing...

UPDATE: There's a perception that I'm trying to defend Foley. Not at all. The IMs with Edmund could have been a prank on Edmund's part, with Foley still being a sexual predator who didn't deserve to hold office. Foley fell for the joke because he refused to control his impulses. That makes him more like that of an animal than a human.

Page Wasn't "Warned" About Foley

It's important to know what happened and what didn't with Mark Foley. ABC News reported a former page remembers being "warned" about Foley. That former page, Matthew Loraditch, has clarified his statement:

Firstly, as to the ABC "Warned" story, while I may have inadvertently used the word, "warned," in communication, I can assure you it was not intended. The fact of the matter is in an informal situation a supervisor mentioned that Foley was a bit odd or flaky and did not connote by tone or otherwise that he should be avoided.

It's certainly possible the supervisor didn't warn Loraditch because higher-ups told him not too.

I wonder about this paragraph from the NY Times:

Matthew Loraditch, who worked as a page with Ms. Gallo and Mr. McDonald in 2001 and 2002, said a supervisor had once casually mentioned that Mr. Foley “was odd” and that he later saw sexually explicit text messages that Mr. Foley had sent to two former pages after they left the program.

Another former page, Patrick MacDonald also later learned "Mr. Foley had sexually explicit Internet conversations with several pages who had left the program." When did these two learn about the messages? Was it with the rest of the country last week, or was it weeks, months, or years ago? What did they do with this information? Did they contact anyone in the page program?

In Loraditch's statement he also defends the House page program's concern for page's safety:

Thirdly, I have stressed several key points in my contact with media that all situations with Mr. Foley occurred after we had finished our service as pages. That if anything had happed while we were in Washington, it would have been dealt with. That I have full faith and trust that any of the supervisors and staff we worked with would have properly dealt with any situation like the current one.

So, Foley might have been clever enough to merely make friends with pages when they worked in the Capitol. He might have been "window shopping." After the pages left the program did he made his horrendous electronic approaches. It's still creepy and disgusting, but Foley might have remember privious House page scandals and thought his approach was safer.

"ABC News Versus NY Times"

Hastert Now Key to Congressional Election

Jib offers some good reasons why the Mark Foley scandal could seriously hurt Republicans in November. Much will depend on how much Speaker Hastert knew about Foley's disgusting communications with House pages. Drudge reports the Washington Times will call for his resignation. I think this was the breaking point for Tony Blankley and company. What we know is Hastert knew about odd e-mails. There's no evidence yet that he knew about the sexually explicit instant messages. With government spending rising faster than if Democrats were running the Congress along with the horrible prescription drug entitlement getting through the House the Times editorialists think enough is enough. Conservative values and ideas aren't advancing along with "inept performance", thus it's time for a leadership change.

If we learn Hastert knew more than he's let on and failed to protect pages the Times won't be the only ones calling for his head. That distain could translate into disgust among the GOP base who will prefer staying at home than dirtying themselves by voting for them. In the next few days Speaker Dennis Hastert has the hopes of a GOP House of Representatives in his hands. Foley claiming responsibility and running off to alcohol rehab won't help his party.

"Why Foley Could Be a Problem on November 7th"

What Hath McCain-Feingold Wrought?

Campaign finance "reformers" want to limit campaign spending and hold politicians more accountable. To them political speech and the money that buys the ads required to advance a message in our high-powered media age "corrupt" government. But what has the campaign finance reform First Amendment restriction law actually done? Radio yappers have been sued, concerned citizens have to keep detailed donation records, newspapers have been shut down, and political activists need permission from federal courts to run ads naming Senators and Congressmen. George Will reports on what's happening in Washington State:

When the state's government imposed a 9.5-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur of station KVI began advocating repeal by initiative. Proponents of repeal put up a Web site, hoping to raise 1,000 volunteers and $25,000. In two days they had 6,500 and $87,000. Needing 224,880 signatures to put repeal on the ballot, they got 400,996.

Appalled by this outburst of grass-roots democracy, some local governments, which stood to gain many millions from the tax, unleashed a law firm that would gain substantially from handling the bond issues the tax would finance. The firm set out to muzzle Carlson and Wilbur, using the state's campaign regulations.

It got a judge to rule that the broadcasters were not just supporters of the repeal campaign, they were agents of it. Why, they had even used the pronoun "we" when referring to proponents of repeal. Their speech constituted political advertising, and their employer was making an "in-kind contribution" to the repeal campaign. The judge said a monetary value must be placed on their speech (he did not say how, he just said to do it that day). The law says reports must be filed and speech limits obeyed or fines imposed.

State law restricts to $5,000 the amount a single giver can contribute in the three weeks before an initiative. If Carlson's and Wilbur's speech were monetized at radio-advertising rates, they would be silenced for all but about 15 minutes in each of the campaign's crucial last three weeks. They continued to talk (the repeal campaign, outspent almost five to one, lost 54.6-45.4) and, aided by the libertarian litigators of the Institute for Justice, have taken the issue to the state Supreme Court.

Will writes, "As a result, attempts to use campaign regulations to silence opponents are becoming a routine part of vicious political combat." Just ask Rep. Mark Green. Such tactics are the cornerstone to Gov. Doyle's re-election campaign.

Thanks, President Bush.

First, it's the commercials, then radio talkers, then the local newspapers. As the internet becomes more influential and important in the mediasphere websites and webloggers (professional and amateur) will be the next targets. Sen. John McCain would love to silence the DailyKos crowd if he nabs the GOP Presidential nomination just like Sen. Russ Feingold would love to shut up Matt Drudge.

Blue Crab Boulevard writes about the ominous time we now live in:

This is the disaster that McCain-Feingold hath wrought. This is what the men who would be president think of your right to say what you want politically. There is a horrible stifling effect here where people can be silenced by creative application of campaign laws. We are headed down an ugly road - and everyone, left or right should be frightened by this. Far from being the way the left will gain power. In the long run this will be the tool that crushes them.

It is wrong, whichever side advocates it. And it will be the downfall of this country in the long run.

Campaign speech restriction isn't about Left or Right; it's about right and wrong. It's about the right to unfettered political speech and how wrong it is for McCain, Feingold, and the "reformers" (with plenty of help from President Bush) to squelch it.

"Speechless in Seattle"

Foley Talking about "Sickos"

From the Pot Calling the Kettle Black Department:

Ex-Congressman Mark Foley had the audacity to go on America's Most Wanted and talk about "these sickos," criminals preying on kids.

[via Netscape]

Foley Scandal Could Damage Like Dems Bank Scandal

The Mark Foley scandal could be to the House GOP what the House bank scandal was to House Democrats in 1992. At the time Rep. Newt Gingrich, then House Minority Whip, used the scandal to tar Democrats for corruption and incompetent management of the House. It was part of Gingrich's plan to paint the Democrats as out-of-touch, arrogant political fossils who no longer deserved to run the House. Rush Limbaugh and talk radio latched onto the story and bludgeoned anyone in its path.

The Foley scandal as the potential to seriously harm Republicans. The scandal could hurt Republicans by undercutting two foundations of their leadership. First, Republicans are known as the "law and order" party. They're the ones who want to be tough on crime and criminals and lambast liberals for being too soft. It could turn out House GOP leaders were too soft on an alleged lawbreaker in their caucus who was allowed to be the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children. Second, the Foley story argues against Republicans being the party better able to protect Americans generally. Security moms (and dads) could look at what's happening on Capitol Hill and ask, "Why didn't they do something about that pervert?"

There's also the question of the GOP's management skills. ABC News quotes two political analysts:

"It's a basic management issue," Torie Clarke, a former Republican Party operative, said on "This Week." "Republicans are in charge of the House and this looks like a House out of order."

Political analyst Stu Rothenberg agreed.

"It's another problem the House Republicans have to deal with on top of all the other stuff they've been buried under over the last two years," Rothenberg said. "It's more evidence of confusion among the House Republicans as they point fingers at each other."

I can see the Democratic Congressional ads: "Why vote for a Republican? They run things so badly they let a pedophile stalk children."

The Foley story has more potential for damage than Bob Woodward's State of Denial. With the book Woodward pieces together a lot of information that was already in public. It won't change minds. Bush backers will say Woodward is part of the liberal MSM that hates the President and is trying to get back into good graces for previous books that spoke well of the President. With the Foley story there's still more to be learned. Reporters are digging into what Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Boehner knew and when they knew it--which could have been as far back as 2001. In Hastert's case there seems to be some confusion about if he knew about the creepy but not graphic e-mails and the disgusting IM message [PDF]. They'll also look into what the FBI did when they first received information about Foley's disturbing e-mails. Using Owen Robinson and dad29 as any indication of how rank-and-file conservatives feel the GOP could take a serious hit from their base. That's bad news with about a month left before Election Day. Hastert asking the Justice Department to investgate Foley and any possible cover-up is the right thing to do, but it makes for lousy political timing.

"Foley Scandal Sends Tremors Through Other House Races"

***

Tom Maguire wonders about the source of the electronic messages and who fed them to the media.

Good Riddance to Sicko Congressman

The hot, steamy news out of D.C. is Congressman Mark Foley resigning from his seat when news got out about sexually explicit instant messages [PDF] between him and a teenager.

You have to be very twisted to converse like he did and think you'd never get caught. It's even more twisted knowing Foley worked to pass laws to protect children from online predators.

Here's what we learned: 1.) if you have sick, twisted sexual fantasies, keep them to yourself or get professional help, but don't get elected to Congress; 2.) make sure you know how to delete potentially problematic IM conversations to prevent future embarrassment; 3.) to parents, the online sicko stalking your child might be a Congressman.

"Mark Foley's "Outreach" To Youths At Risk Of Being Hot"

"US Rep. Mark Foley Resigns From Congress"

"Foley's Folly"

"The Sexually Explicit Internet Messages That Led to Fla. Rep. Foley's Resignation"

Bush Signs Transparency Bill

Today, President Bush signed the Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 which, to use President Bush's words, will "create a website that will list the federal government's grants and contracts." Webloggers will love sifting through that looking for waste and possible corruption. Webloggers like Ace, N.Z. Bear, Mary Katherine Ham and others worked hard to get this legislation past. They weren't forgotten because some of them were invited to the signing ceremony. Even though I wasn't writing anything on it I was still rooting for them. Congratulations all.

"Bloggers Gather at White House for Pork Bill Signing"

"President Bush Signs Spending Transparency Bill"

Big Payoff if Rightroots Goal is Met

If you haven't donated to the Rightroots campaign you only have a few hours left. Over $100,000 have already been raised. The goal is to get 100 people to donate to a slate of good conservative candidates. As an added incentive if the goal is reached the RNC will send out a fundraising email to its massive list. So pick a candidate with fewer than 100 donors and give. I'll be helping State Speaker John Gard keep Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District in GOP hands.

"The Rightroots 15 days Challenge -- 8 1/2 Hours To Go"

Dumb Mr. Ney

Rep. Bob Ney isn't the smartest political cookie. If he wanted to plead guilty he should have done it a few weeks ago when voters were still on vacations and not thinking of November elections. He now lets Democrats take a few shots at the GOP's "culture of corruption" when people are actually paying attention.

"Rep. Bob Ney Expected To Plead Guilty To Criminal Charge"

Bill Bops with the Blogosphere

You can't say Bill Clinton is a dumb politician. He met with a group of Lefty webloggers at his Harlem office. I'm certain he would have pressed the flesh (figuratively and literally) with webloggers if they were running around when he was President. And better than most pols he fed them. With a little food we're easily bought.

"Bill Clinton Meets Bloggers" [via OTB]

The Current State of GOP Presidential Candidates

Stephen Bainbridge thinks some GOP candidate will try "outflank Bush to the right." He uses Newt Gingrich's muscular talk about the war as an example. I hope someone does this--Guiliani would be a good bet for tough war talk--because there's no current candidate that inspires me. Sen. John McCain hates political free speech, Sen. George Allen shoots a little too much from the hip and isn't agile enough to clean up his mess, and the other people who potentially could jump in have little name recognition to even inspire a political junkie like me. Newt has his problems, temperment and management style, but he's a man who's not afraid to think big.

"Gingrich Flanking Bush to the Right"

Donate to John Gard and Rightroots Candidates

It's after Labor Day when political campaigns traditionally lurch into high gear. This year is no different. Through enough political mistakes the GOP is poised to lose one or both house of Congress. Right-wing webloggers don't want to see this happen. So Rightroots was created to help get more conservatives elected to Congress. With webloggers like John Hawkins, "Captain Ed" Morrisey, and Erick Erickson backing the effort you can be assured the Rightroots candidates are good conservatives.

Today begins the Rightroots 15-Day Challenge. The goal is to get 100 new donors for each of the selected Rightroots candidates by 09.20. Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker John Gard is one of them. Gard has a pack of Democrats fighting it out to challenge him in the general election. John will need all the help he can get to keep Rep. Mark Green's seat in GOP hands. I urge you to give a few dollars to Gard as well as to some of the other Rightroots candidates.

"Time Is Running Out"

A Scary Lineup of Potential House Chairman

In politics you have a better chance of winning when you're for a candidate rather than again the opponent. (That may be Rep. Mark Green's downfall against Gov. Jim Doyle.) However, the idea of Reps. Barney Frank, Charles B. Rangel, and the ancient John D. Dingell as chairmen of House committees gives me the chills. If the Democrats capture the House there will be lots of pressure from the far Left for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to let new Judiciary Chairman John Conyers impeach President Bush. If you want to see that vote for the Democrats in November. If you don't start doling out some cash to the GOP. The Rightroots candidates are a good place to start.

"Prospective New House Chairman"

Christopher Hitchens Flips Off Bill Maher's Audience

Christopher Hitchens doesn't give a damn who he ticks off. He says what he thinks and mocks those who deserve it. On Bill Maher's boring HBO version of Politically Incorrect, Real Time, Hitchens made the case that Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the one who wants World War III. Maher's audience preferred ripping on President Bush. Hitchens pointed out their lack of seriousness and gave them the finger.

"Hitchens Gives the Finger to Maher's Audience for 'Frivolous' Jeering of Bush" [via Dean's World]

Just Add Two Letters

A pet peeve of mine with Republicans is calling their opponents members of the "Democrat" Party instead of the "Democratic" Party. The latter is correct and more polite since it is the name of the party. Every time I hear it used by Republicans and their supporters I shake my head knowing how petty and childish it sounds. It's a form of disrespect.

What set me off was a statement from J.B. Van Hollen:

Statement from JB Van Hollen, regarding remarks made at the Democrat AG Debate in Milwaukee Thursday:

"The attorney general should enforce the law and should work with local and federal authorities to see to it that illegal aliens who come in contact with law enforcement are deported, after they serve any sentence imposed upon them," said Van Hollen. "It is an insult to justice that Falk and Lautenschlager attend illegal immigration rallies that celebrate lawlessness. In Kathy Falk's Dane County, she won't even let county employees, including law enforcement officers, inquire about the legal residency status of people they encounter. That's not liberal, that's ludicrous.

"My Democrat opponents are pandering to illegal alien advocates and are purposely blurring the line between legal and illegal immigrants. My Primary opponent favors sending illegal immigrant criminals back home before they've served their sentences. Neither approach provides justice to crime victims or is fair to those legal immigrants who obey the law.

"For Falk and Lautenschlager to criticize my stance on illegal immigrant criminals as race-based is an insult to law abiding Hispanics and legal immigrants of all races. I don't have anything against immigrants. I do, however, oppose those who break the law."

-30-

"Democrat" was used as an adjective twice. Once in the headline and once in the statement itself.

A Republican consultant tells me "it's a base thing, and we're in a primary." It's not been my experience that that GOP base routinely uses the term "Democrat" Party. The average conservative GOP voters I've been with will call their opponents, "Lefties," "liberals," and "left-wing wackos" but not members of the "Democrat" Party. Who uses that are the politicos: campaign workers and political staff who eat, drink, and sleep politics.

The New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg calls "Democrat" Party a "slur" and notes its long history. It's not a slur. It's just some pointless needling that adds no value in political debate. It's just silly.

Van Hollen's campaign didn't do anything by nixing the ic's except to irritate Falk, Lautenschlager, and Wisconsin Democrats. The Republican operatives might have laughed a little, but all they did was egg on their opponents. Some people will be turned off at those such a petty game.

Let me steal some words from uber conservative William F. Buckley. One the use of "Democrat" Party he wrote, "It has the effect of injecting politics into language, and that should be avoided." Words are used for politics, but that doesn't mean our words should be political. The personal isn't the political, and we'll be a little more sane if we remember that.

I yearn more greater political civility and seriousness. A small step to improvement is using proper names. Two letters can mean a lot.

Do you use the term "Democrat" Party? Why?

McCain Loading Up for Presidential Run

Sen. John McCain is building a formidable collection of political consultants for one, last run for the Presidency. A host of Bush-Cheney people has jumped on the "Straight Talk Express" (assuming McCain revives the name for his bus) plus a very interesting name: Nicco Mele, the webmaster for the failed 2004 Howard Dean, M.D. campaign.

Organizationally McCain is far ahead of any other GOP Presidential contender. Sure, no one has officially entered the race, and things will really take shape after November's elections, but conservatives should really start thinking about who they should back and begin organizing talent or else the default GOP nominee will be McCain.

"Exclusive: McCain's Web Team. And Nicco Mele."

GOP Focuses on Kos

Markos Moulitsas must have been very happy today. The Republican National Committee dedicated a whole fact sheet to "WHO IS MARKOS MOULITSAS ZUNIGA?" Tee Bee pulls it off in fewer words:

Take Free Republic squared and mix it with acid-laden grape Koolaid.

...

Plus, he's a pretty big jerk.

Tee Bee forgot "smart." Kos is a pretty big smart jerk.

You know you're doing something well to deserve such attention from one of the two major parties.

"The Kos Rhetorical"

Web Ads Help Lobbyists Find Activists

Internet technology is changing the political game. The Washington Post's Jeffrey Birnbaum reports on how the cost of finding activists has diminished because of fine-tuned web advertising:

The first thing you need to know is that the Internet can be watched very closely. OnPoint/DDC's offices in Old Town are filled with cubicles of computer experts who are in near-constant contact with thousands of display advertisements on Web sites. These experts can see when commercials are clicked on -- and when they're not.

That means they can identify which Web sites lure the types of public-policy folks that lobby groups crave and which ones don't. They can also see which ads make the largest number of "sales" -- compel people to sign up as advocates -- and which ones fail to produce.

It turns out that ugly is better than pretty when it comes to lobbying commercials. Elaborate and beautifully colored ads tend to fall flat, said B.R. McConnon III, chief executive of DDC. Straightforward, text-heavy displays work much better.

In addition, the types of sites you might think would draw a lobbying crowd often don't. For instance, when the American Medical Association, the doctors' lobby, went looking for patients who would push for its policies, health Web sites didn't bring the best results. Game and puzzle sites were far superior.

Campaign finance reform/First Amendment restriction maven Micah L. Sifry mocks the advocates found on game and puzzle sites:

In other words, people who tend to be informed about health care are less likely to want to give up their right to sue a bad doctor than others.

Or maybe those that go to health sites care a little more about finding some answers to their current ailment; while game and puzzle fans are more likely to be abstract thinkers who care more about large systems like health care delivery.

Such sophistication by moneyed interests may depress those who see internet political advocacy through utopian glasses. But using Daily Kos as an example we see how nobodies grabbed the new technology and became a political force. Computers and the internet are levelling technologies. With plenty of creativity, passion, and a lot of luck unknowns can shake the political tree for both good and ill.

"Targeting Likely Advocates With Web Ads"

Kos' Hubris

Ace hands out some good lines about the ever-expanding head of Mr. Kos after Ned Lamont's primary victory:

He's out for blood. Lieberman must be stripped of all committee memberships, immediately, etc.

This isn't political strategy. This is an impulse-control disorder masquerading as "people-power."

Don't take a shot at the king unless you're sure you'll kill him, Mighty Kos. In case you haven't noticed, Joe Lieberman is currently a US senator, and, if he runs as he promised his supporters (very nearly half the Democrats in Connecticut, in case you haven't noticed), he has a very good chance of winning.

You think bullying him by stripping him of his committee memberships is going to make him drop his independent bid? I don't-- I don't see him doing much legislative work at all for the next three months. I see him campaigning and fundraising and basically living in Connecticut.

Like Ned Lamont's radio ads told him to. Remember those?

As Dalton in Roadhouse said: Be nice. Until it's time to not be nice.

It's not the time to not be nice, Hard Guy.

"The Kosfather Puts Out A Contract On Lieberman"

Lamont Runs Far, Far Away from Unhinged Weblog Supporters

The man who wants to beat Sen. Joe Lieberman, Ned Lamont doesn't "know anything about the blogs" after one of his most fervent supporters Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake posted an altered image of Lieberman in blackface on The Huffington Post.

That's interesting since webloggers have driven the anti-war Left nationwide into a fury to end Lieberman's pro-war "Joe-mentum." Daily Kos and the gang the Townhouse gang have raised money for Lamont, helped him with his online presence, helped make Lamont video weblogs, and even got in his first campaign commercial.

Lamont doesn't "know anything about the blogs?" Huh, his campaign would be nothing without them.

"With Friends Like These" [via Captain Ed]

UPDATE: As noted my regular reader DJ Hamsher issued a psuedo-apology. She wrote, "I sincerely apologize to anyone who was genuinely offended by the choice of images accompanying my blog post today on the Huffington Post." It's fake because she didn't really apologize she's just sorry anyone took offense at Sen. Lieberman in blackface. It would be like me telling an irrate customer at the bookstore, "I'm sorry you feel that way." Hamsher doesn't feel bad about the racist picture, she's just bothered that it tarred Lamont.

Source of DeLay Image in Democrats Ad

Human Events thinks they found who made the Tom DeLay mug shot for a Democratic fundraising ad:

HUMAN EVENTS has discovered the ad came from Chickenhead Productions, a questionable website that also runs websites such as SexIsForFags.com, IronHymen.com, NRA-KKK.org, FratBeat.com and WHITEHOUSE.org.

Now the question is whether the DCCC has permission to use it or not.

"Doctored DeLay Mug Came From Chickenhead"

Democratic Ad Uses Dead Soldier Images

There's steam rising from the right blogosphere over a new Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraising ad.

Patrick Hynes calls it "the most appalling wed video since MoveOn.org’s “Bush is Hitler” ads." RedState commenters are furious as are some veterans.

It's a dismal ad. The first half of depressing images of the real world didn't make up for the idyllic, hopeful images in the second half. When I see Rep. Nancy Pelosi I don't get a warm feeling in my heart.

As for the picture of flag-draped caskets that's reality. People are dying, and Democratic supporters want it to stop even if it means abandoning Iraq. The picture doesn't show anything graphic. I don't see that picture anymore exploitative than Republicans using pictures from the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sep. 11, 2001.

What's interesting is the Tom Delay "mug shot." That's fake since this is the actual picture:

At the bottom of the fake mug shot there's a prisoner number: "91108GOP." I'd like to know the "clever" story behind choosing that.

Allahpundit won't "throw stones when it comes to using images of fallen soldiers to make a political point." Still, he doesn't like either party using the images of soldiers in coffins:

But I wouldn’t support Republicans putting it in a campaign ad, for the same reason I think it’s cheap and crass of the DCCC to have added coffins to the mix here. I think it boils down to good ol’ fashioned suspicion of politicians: the priority for most of them is getting (re-)elected and I don’t want anyone’s remains being exploited for that sort of personal profit.

The ad is not great since it's devoid of any ideas, but I wouldn't give myself a heart attack over it.

Robert Novak Talks

Robert Novak, the man who first mentioned Valarie Plame as working for the CIA finally speaks. Jay Tea at Wizbang sums it up well. Two interesting notes: Novak got Plame's name out of Who's Who in America. An unnamed source told him that Joe Wilson's wife sent him to Niger.

"Novak Finally Spills His Guts on Plame"

America's Unilateral Gift

230 years ago our Founding Fathers declared the 13 colonies to be free and independent states. That was the greatest unilateral action in world history. The Founders didn't ask Great Britain to be independent. The colonists had grievances and tried to address them within the confines of the British Empire. She failed to heed their cries over taxation, representative government, and the rule of law. As Thomas Jefferson wrote,

Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

The Founders' answer to tyranny was the breaking of bonds:

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

There was no request to France, Spain, Russia, or any other nation mediation. The Founders knew what was right and just and acted. They declared independence then wondered if they could get international help--eventually from France. That unilateral act created the United States. In the 230 years that have passed she has become a shining beacon of liberty, opportunity, and prosperity.

When someone complains about American unilateralism tell them they'd still be British subjects without it. Unilateralism: America's gift that keeps on giving.

Limbaugh Caught with Viagra

Talk radio king Rush Limbaugh has another drug problem on his hands:

Limbaugh was returning on a flight from the Dominican Republic when customs officials found a Viagra prescription that did not bear his name. Instead, the bottle of pills had the names of two doctors on it according to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents examined the 55-year-old’s luggage after his private plane landed at the airport from the Dominican Republic. The matter was then turned over to the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators seized the drugs - used to treat erectile dysfunction - from Limbaugh.

Being in possession of an illegal prescription could affect the plea deal he made last April.

Limbaugh's lawyer Roy Black says it's a case of mislabeling on the pill bottle:

While going through routine Customs inspection of luggage at Palm Beach International Airport upon his return from an international trip, Rush Limbaugh was detained by customs agents after they noticed a non-narcotic prescription drug, which had been prescribed by Mr. Limbaugh's treating physician but labeled as being issued to the physician rather than Mr. Limbaugh for privacy purposes. After a brief interview, Mr. Limbaugh was permitted to continue on his journey.

"Limbaugh Detained At Airport For Drugs" [via digg]

Robert Kennedy Wants to Sue over 2004 Election

Based on the momentum Robert Kennedy, Jr. got from his Rolling Stone piece claiming President Bush stole the 2004 election he's in talks with lawyers to file lawsuits:

PRWeek: Is there a next step?
Kennedy: I've been meeting with attorneys... to devise a litigation strategy. And I would say that very soon we'll be announcing lawsuits against some of the individuals and companies involved.

PRWeek: Who exactly would that litigation be targeting?
Kennedy: I wouldn't say, right now.

Waste your time and money. Be my guest.

"Interview: Robert F. Kennedy Jr." [via Netscape]

Congressman Gets Away with Hitting an Officer

Rep. Cynthia McKinney won't be charged with anything for hitting a Capitol Police officer last March:

The grand jury had been considering the case since shortly after the March 29 incident, which has led to much discussion on Capitol Hill about race and the conduct of lawmakers and the officers who protect them.

"We respect the decision of the grand jury in this difficult matter," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein.

McKinney did not immediately comment.

Wainstein's statement, released late Friday, also included support for the officer involved, Paul McKenna, and the Capitol Police. He said, "This is a tremendously difficult job, and it is one that Officer McKenna and his colleagues perform with the utmost professionalism and dignity."

With that, Wainstein closed a case that has simmered with racial and political tension.

Even Rep. Patrick Kennedy (yes, a Kennedy!) took some responsbility for his actions. With McKinney the best we can hope for is someone beats her in the primaries or general election.

"Rep. McKinney Won't Be Charged in Scuffle"

Lavish Spending at Kos Party

Tim Blair has fun with Susan G's lauding of herself and her fellow YearlyKos attendees.

Their gathering was full of tin-foil-wearers who sat through a national security panel lead by Arianna Huffington. Your average Kossite might be off kilter the fearless leader is damn smart and shouldn't be underestimated. He's found a way to get Presidential candidates to commiserate with webloggers while spending thousands of dollars on Vegas parties. What Kos doesn't understand is that's not the best way to spend campaign dollars. He writes, "And in politics, $100K is pocket change. Better spend it on a blogger party where the candidate socialized with regular people than on bullshit television ads or crappy consultants." If all you want is the wacked-out weblog vote for the Democratic nomination then blowing money on a Kos party will help. But the 90% of the electorate that doesn't obsess over politics on the internet can be swayed through paid ads.

"Warner's Stratosphere Party"

Honest Earmarker

It's refreshing when a politician doesn't use political-speak and says what he means. I give you Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) at Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner:

When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I'm going to earmark the shit out of it.

Moran may be one of the few Congressmen to be so expicit, but I'm confident he's not the only one waiting to use positions to send largess to their districts.

When it comes to earmarks and bloated budgets the GOP has been an embarassment. "Tossing the bums out" and handing power to the Democrats might not be the wisest thing either.

"Moran: Democratic Majority Means More Money for 8th District"

Kos' Remote Online Political World

One should be amazed at the cockiness of Markos Moulitsas, but one must have lots of chutzpah and ego to run a weblog so dominant it deserved its own convention. Bryon York gives us some nuggets from Kos' keynote:

We’re only four years old, from the early days when bloggers like Atrios and Jerome Armstrong at MyDD inspired bloggers like me and countless others to stop railing at the television, stop throwing pillows at Hannity and Colmes, stop complaining about Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, stop complaining about the pathetic so-called liberals who were supposedly speaking for us in Washington, DC, and take what we felt, that passion and that energy, and start using it online.”

Like many webloggers Kos fails to realize most normal people don't read weblogs. They're still getting their news from television, newspapers, and magazines. I know that's sad, but it's reality--something Kos has a hard time dealing with.

Kos talked about Lefty "netroots" "victories:" Howard Dean, M.D in 2003; Dean, M.D. as DNC chairman; Paul Hackett. Out of those three only one was a winner: Chairman Dean. His track record backing winning candidates is pretty poor. 1-19 is pretty removed from reality. Yet that doesn't stop the Kossites from fawning over their leader. Can you say "cult of personality?"

"The Two Worlds of the Liberal Blogosphere"

Coulter Challenging Victimhood

What's really bizarro is I'm defending Ann Coulter. What's next, me defending Michael Moore?

On Today Coulter took on the Oprah-fication of culture and how liberals use victimhood as a political weapon. Curt from Flopping Aces writes,

A small number of widows have made claim to a moral authority on the War against Terror. They cannot be questioned because their husbands died…..give me a effin break. Why must everyone tiptoe around these things?

In 2004 the Jersey Girls endorsed Sen. John Kerry. When you step into the political ring expect to be challenged and don't use your status as victim as a shield.

In a similar fashion I care little for what Debra Burlingame, wife of the pilot whose jet slammed into the Pentagon, has to say. What qualifications does she offer other than having the unfortunate luck of having her husband killed by Islamists?

In Coulter's case her track record of indefensible, over-the-top statements reduces her effectiveness when she does make a valid point. Ace of Spades writes,

Per