I think this is a brave video. Ron Howard, director of the upcoming "Frost/Nixon," has gone back to the '50s to revisit both Mayberry, RFD and Milwaukee, Wisconsin in order to support Senator Barak Obama.

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

With all my love,
Aunty Em

26 Papers That Backed Bush in 2004 Move to Obama

If newspaper endorsements mean anything, It's Obama in a landslide.

Editor & Publisher has the full story:

26 Papers That Backed Bush in 2004 Move to Obama
By Dexter Hill
Published: October 20, 2008 9:45 PM ET

NEW YORK Taking a look at our daily endorsement tally so far (see link below), the Obama-Biden ticket has a hefty lead in both total newspapers and total circulation. But another figure that favors the Democratic candidates is the number of newspapers that have endorsed Sen. Obama despite supporting President Bush’s reelection in 2004.

At least twenty-six newspapers have switched their support to the Democrat, while only four newspapers (all in the South) endorsing Sen. McCain supported John Kerry in 2004.

TRUNCATED; More at: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003875870

With all my love,
Aunty Em

The Debate

"There will be no mudslinging in this campaign."

With all my love,
Aunty Em

Caption This:

ORIGINATING PICTURE MOVED.
NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
MOVE ALONG!

h/t Wizard of Wickedness

With all my love,
Aunty Em

UPDATE - McLame To Debate After All

John McChange-his-mind has decided to debate after all, As I type The Hot Air Express is landing in Memphis, Tennessee, on route to Mississippi, where it has been said he was born.

No doubt the minute he gets his face in front of the microphones he's going to take credit for solving The Money Mess™.

He's already claimed to have won tonight's debate---some 10 hours before it took place.

From WaPo:

McCain Wins Debate

Although the fate of tonight's presidential debate in Mississippi remains very much up in the air, John McCain has apparently already won it -- if you believe an Internet ad an astute reader spotted next to this piece in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal this morning.

"McCain Wins Debate!" declares the ad which features a headshot of a smiling McCain with an American flag background. Another ad spotted by our eagle-eyed observer featured a quote from McCain campaign manager Rick Davis declaring: "McCain won the debate-- hands down."

Screenshot above.

In what Alternative Universe is he living?

With all my love,
Aunty Em

On This Day In History - September 26, 1960

On Sept. 26, 1960, the first televised debate between presidential candidates took place in Chicago as Republican Richard M. Nixon and Democrat John F. Kennedy squared off. [Read the NYT's article published the morning after.]

This morning no one actually knows whether Grandpa McChange will actually show up for tonight’s scheduled debate—the first in the Marathon Race of ’08—except The Maverick himself…maybe…possibly…without a doubt!

As the whole world knows by now, McBush has suspended his Election Campaign, dissed David Letterman, and finally went to Washington, D.C. to save the world.

Before he arrived negotiators said they were near a deal. Once McSame entered the scene everything fell apart.

That said, it’s always nice to take a look back to see what history might teach us.

The election of 1960 was a watershed in history. It was the first with televised debates and the first in which the nascent medium of television took a deciding role.

Sitting Vice President Richard Nixon famously squared off with Senator John F. Kennedy. It's now conventional wisdom that those who listened to the debate on radio thought Nixon had won. Those who watched the debate on The Boob Tube thought Kennedy won. Why the disparity?

Nixon, who had actually been ill and hospitalized a few weeks before the debate, eschewed the television make up offered before the debate. As such his 5 o'clock shadow was rather pronounced. As well, he had lost weight but wore a shirt that was loose at the neck, making him look even more unkempt, if that's the right word.

And, let's face it, even had Nixon had a healthy-looking tan like Kennedy, there was no way he could compete in the looks department. The cameras loved Kennedy. Nixon? Not so much.

Here's the opening statement of Senator Kennedy:



And here's Nixon's opening statement:



However, my favourite Nixon moment is from 1962:



Let's hope we won't have John McSame to kick around anymore. Will he debate tonight? Only time will tell.

With all my love,
Aunty Em

A Maverick By Any Other Name

There are lies, damnable lies and statistics!
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

-----Mark Twain

Mark Twain had a lot to say about lies. He also had a lot to say about the issues of race.

And a man of race calls John McChange (I'm trying, Mr. Man) a liar. Well, not really. Senator Obama said that the McChange/Bull Moose Party's "Maverick" advert is "not telling the truth."

Watch as Senator Obama and Keith Olbermann discuss recent statements from The McChange campaign:



There are other ways to say "not telling the truth." Pick one:

Lie, falsehood, untruth, the big lie, prevarication, fib, little white lie, quibble, equivocation, evasion, fiction, falsification, invention, concoction, falsity, barefaced lie, fabrication, trumped-up story, magnification, enlargement, yarn, tall tale, shaggy dog story, garbage, hogwash, baloney, cock-and-bull story, misrepresentation, fish story, perversion, distortion, corruption, inaccuracy, misconstruction, slanting, straining, torturing, canard, hoax, forgery, monstrous lie, mendacity, whopper, crap, dirty lie, shameless lie, defamation and big stinkin' pile of shit.

Mark Twain also had a lot to say about the politicians of his day. I wonder, considering his obviously progressive bent, what he would think of The Presidential Election of Ought Eight™. Would he consider it progress that a Black man is a candidate for president, or would he satire a Republican Party that would lie to The American Public™?

I'd like to think he'd satire a populace that would buy into such bullshit.
_________________________________________________

Later this month a disparate and intelligent group of brigands will be meeting in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A. to discuss this matter, as well as cats; missing feet; crotchless pantaloons; hurricanes; sock puppets past & present; RALPH! RALPH!! RALPH!!! and PIAPS PLOTS™; with plenty of beer, wine, and other liquors to wash it down.

I had hoped to be able to join these delinquents, but I guess this is as good a time to announce that I don't really have the funds for a trip to The Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut. And sadly too, because I am a big fan of both Mark Twain the OT Off-Regulars.

I hope you all have a great time and will toast at least one to me.

With all my love,
Aunty Em