Northwest Airlines serves Minneapolis-St Paul in a big way.  It's no wonder they tout themselves as "The Official Airline of the Republican National Convention," and they're concerned about the comfort of Republicans.  That's why NWA fired off a demand to Clear Channel Communications that the mega-media company take down a billboard they thought carried a "strong anti-McCain message" that was in the Minneapolis-St Paul airport.

Northwest worried that the thousands of Republican delegates, officials, and members of the media would find the ad "offensive" and "scary" and insisted that it come down immediately.

Clear Channel agreed.

Not to take one off Kos' new tome, since I will get to it one day, but I've been reading the excellent, easy-reading Foxes in the Henhouse by Dave "Mudcat" Saunders and Steve Jarding about taking back Rural America.

Though published right around "the awakening" of '06, it had an excellent chapter on the 1994 "Republican Contract with America."

It galls me at times to see so many of those Freshman class Republican Congressmen remaining in office after they sold the American public on the promise they'd support and adhere to Term Limits.

With so many other promises they've made and broken, I thought it instructive to post their entire Contract below. Since it is a public document, I don't think there's any violation of copyright. Here's the official link, though, still Posted at the House Web Site for all the world to see what Liars they are.

I am no writer, but I am going to try to offer my perspectives on the state of our republic. When do we begin to discuss the issues that will shape the future? President Bush was a figurehead that read the teleprompter and could repeat simple phrases. We need to campaign against the Republican Party, not against Bush. He is not worth it.
We need to examine the policies advocated by Republicans and the obvious failures of Republican government. At first glance, the word "incompetence" comes to mind Remember Katrina?  How is that balanced budget going? The War on Drugs? How about deregulation of the financial industry? How is that working for us? Deregulation of the airlines, good idea? Food safety? Foreign Policy? Would the Republicans prefer more or less democracy? Why does The United States hold the most prisoners per capita, in the most profitable prisons in the world? If the leaders of the three main factions in Iraq were to admit to John McCain that The Surge worked, and the USA won the war, can the troops come home?
Who would replace Dick Cheney as Chief Executive in a McCain administration?
I want to see some discussion of ISSUES. The Repubs have a lot to answer for.

There is so much to write about!

Are Americans open to choice? Based on the recent history of our county, it appears that many Americans are content with no choice. In fact, it seems that many prefer more of a dictated path forward ...a course wherein all choices have been eliminated and whereby our selected leader plots a pathway with very hard, defined edges. If we have been aggrieved, then we should strike back ...the, If you fuck with me, I'll punch you in the nose approach to all things foreign. Domestically, the choice for many is to pull in the borders, throw-out those unlike US, eat, drink and be merry with no thought to the future, our kids, our grandkids.

In his latest column Eugene Robinson notes the dilemma Corsi's book presents Obama: not responding gives its lies the whiff of truth, but responding gives its lies wider circulation.  I'd add, when their purpose is to spread a lie, either way serves Corsi's purpose because it's been proven that, psychologically, people remember the lie, not the correction, even forty pages of them.  

So here's how I'd respond: with a simple statement that turns Corsi's strength, the power of lies, against him and attacks the entire Republican brand by providing a lens through which to look at everything they do: You can't trust a Republican.

For instance, Georgia stood up to Russia because they thought George Bush had their backs.  Fools.  You can't trust a Republican.  Congress approved Mukasey because they believed him when he said he wouldn't be like Alberto Gonzalez.  Fools.  You can't trust a Republican.  We believed Bush when he said Iraq had WMD and was working with Al Qaeda.  Fools.  You can't trust a Republican.  John McCain said he wouldn't run a dirty campaign.  Fools.  You can't trust a Republican.  If I were scripting a commercial here for a 529, I'd end it with: Don't be fooled.  You can't trust a Republican.

How local Republicans allowed America's Oldest Republican Party to be destroyed by a pedophile.

X-posted from NMFBIHOP
By now you've heard out-of-town Ed Tinsley talk about how his opponent, Harry Teague, wants to cut the throat of our troops (if not, click here).  The move, for good reason, earned Tinsley mention as Keith Olberman's Worst Person in the World designation.  

The comment was so out-of-bounds that it threatens to put the Southern District race on the map - if only for long enough to draw a breath.  It's no surprise to anyone who has stopped at Disenchanted 2nd that Tinsley is an ideological wing-nut masquerading as an escaped lunatic wrapped in a layer of - well, Grandma would prefer that I use the term "bovine manure".  But if you get your news in New Mexico, you're only going to hear about the best possible spin from Tinsley's moron-icy. Make the jump and watch a news clip that supposedly "covers" the brouhaha.

Obama’s crossover appeal has been one of the big arguments in favor of his candidacy. At least it was in the early days. Back in those days there was a lot of talk about post partisan governing moving beyond the divisions that have plagued us for decades. It sounded really good. Then there are the anecdotal reports of high profile Rswho are endorsing Obama and the rumors of those who might. Doug Kmiec, Jeffrey Hart, Armstrong Williams, Richard Whalen, Lincoln Chafee, Susan Eisenhower. Constant rumors about endorsements by Colin Powell and Chuck Hagel. The question is whether these types of voters exist in real numbers.

Historical background on the Lie Factory:

Remember the lead up to the Iraq War?  The hype was thick and well orchestrated. Cheney's gal Friday, Judith Miller, was dishing his dirt in the New York Times from an anonymous source (Scooter Libby, pardoned by Bush), and he cited her articles as proof that his ballyhoo was substantiated by a venerable newspaper (no longer).  The New York Times stood idly by, letting Cheney play this trick on the American public, anonomously corroborating himself via their reknown reporter (infamous now). The NY Times aided and abetted Cheney's artifice, which would unleash death and destruction on thousands, while sweetening the pot of special interests at our expense, without so much as a correction.

I know, I know, neither of them are particularly popular around here.  That's fine.  You don't got to like them to want to see them face off this weekend on CBS' Face the Nation.  Someone may get politically bloodied!  As Halperin figures it, the top veep contenders are to square off!  They are also both the ones I figured to be Veep for awhile now.  Bayh since May, Pawlenty since June.  I think Pawlenty is far more likely than Romney, but McCain may decide to go with someone who can convincingly take over should the worse occur twice(that being, McCain gets elected and passes).  Now, as for what we can expect on Sunday;

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Paul, Minnesota -- August 12, 2008 -- Impeach for Peace (IfP), along with others looking to demonstrate at the Republican National Convention (RNC), filed a lawsuit Friday with the help of the ACLU of Minnesota in Ramsey County District Court demanding our right to free speech. Plaintiffs include: Jodin Morey and Mikael Rudolph of Impeach for Peace, Colleen and Ross Rowley, and Ron Deharporte.

Ha ha! Very funny article on Politico just now. This first paragraph says it all:

While excitement is building for a Democratic Party convention capped by Barack Obama’s historic acceptance speech before a sold-out, 75,000-seat football stadium, the GOP convention the following week is shaping up to be a considerably more staid affair, marked by the conspicuous absence of many of the usual convention attendees.

Republicans aren’t exactly planning to avoid the convention in droves. But compared to past conventions, lawmakers, lobbyists and candidates aren’t beating a path to St. Paul either.

Sad! I guess this means that it will have the "energy" of their nominee. Which is to say...you know.

I’d like to tell a story about how I met Senator Obama, talked to him, listened to him and how I was inspired to make a difference.  I’d like to tell a story about how I saw his speech in 2004 or in New Hampshire or Philadelphia or St. Paul or Berlin and how it changed the way I thought about politics.  I could tell that story.  I won’t though.  Because for so many of us it’s already a story well known and well told.  The story I’m going to tell is different.  It’s better.

More below the fold

Fox In The Henhouse: Voters Drilled to McBreaking Point

   McCain and GOP Republicans have hammered the final nails into the November coffin.  Their splitting maul dubbed "off shore drilling" is now set in place atop the electoral chopping block, with the public set to fall on either side.

   When the divisive blow comes whose side will win the most votes?  Which side will be vilified?  Will the threat of a Republican-led shutdown on the hill be enough to pressure Americans to the McBreaking point?  Will these actions lead to a McCain Presidential victory?

Finally!!!!

At last someone has the cojones to put it out there!

Breaking News!  McCain is a poor choice!!

Jump for a brilliant and beautiful article that says it all...

Why do Democrats insist on consistently, year after year, taking the high road when it only leads us to four more years of hell?  Yes, we can be the bigger person and not go negative.  Yes, we can stay clean and pretty and not wallow in the mud with the republicans.  Yes, we can be the moral leader in politics.  But does it really help us if taking the high road leads us to four more years of the highest deficit, four more years of 50 million people without insurance, four more years of mortgage, bank, and credit crisis, four more years of our children, brothers and sisters getting killed in needless wars, four more years of...you get the picture.

As a public service, I'd like to provide a preview of the speeches and some of the floor activity that will occur at the upcoming conventions.

First, let me note that I won't be focusing much on the Obama and McCain speeches; those are already going to get plenty of attention.  Obama will give a stirring, inspiring speech, and John McCain will fall asleep at the podium.  Instead, I'm going to focus on some of what you can expect from the other speeches.

I will begin this story by noting that I have never been to a convention, Democratic or Republican, though I have watched both on multiple occasions, and have, believe it or not, sat through entire convention speeches more than once, so I am a bit familiar with their style and approach, and have some passing familiarity with the cult-like mindset of those who attend.

So, I present to you, a brief summary of what you can expect at the conventions.

Despite the much-hyped "parity" between the candidates in national polls, myself and many others are expecting an Obama landslide come November. Why? One huge reason is the "ground game," a term used to signify get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts in the final days of campaigning and on election day.