Palin & McCain: The Dynamic Duo Back Together Again

PHOENIX — Sarah Palin and Sen. John McCain plan to campaign together again.

The Arizona Republican announced Wednesday that the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate will join him in Phoenix on March 26 to help campaign for his re-election to the U.S. Senate.

Palin is scheduled to attend a private fundraising event that evening. The next day, she and McCain will appear together at a public event, likely a rally, according to McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail with my former running mate, and I know my fellow Arizonans will welcome her, as well,” McCain said in a statement. “Sarah energized our nation and remains a leading voice in the Republican Party.”

Since their failed bid for the White House, McCain and Palin have had a couple of public appearances together, including a dinner in Washington. But the March events will mark the first time the pair will be on the campaign trail together since 2008, Buchanan said.

Palin has criticized McCain’s campaign since their loss, saying in her book “Going Rogue” that there was substantial tension between her advisers and McCain’s. She also details how she was prevented from delivering a concession speech in Phoenix on Election Night, and how she’d been kept “bottled up” from reporters during the campaign.

Palin hasn’t criticized McCain himself, and the senator has stood by his decision to choose Palin as his running mate and has staunchly defended her.

Earlier this month, McCain refused to discuss material in “Game Change,” a book that says Palin’s vetting was “hasty and haphazard.”

“I wouldn’t know,” McCain said on NBC’s “Today” show. “The fact is, I’m proud of Sarah Palin and I’m proud of the campaign she waged. She energized our party.”

During the interview, McCain predicted Palin will be a “major player” in GOP affairs.

The All Mighty Truth About Elections…

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

‘Welcome to heaven,’ says St. Peter. ‘Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem . We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.’

‘No problem, just let me in,’ says the man.

‘Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.’

‘Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,’ says the senator.

‘I’m sorry, but we have our rules.’

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises..

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

‘Now it’s time to visit heaven.’

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing.

They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

‘Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. 

Now choose your eternity.’

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers:

‘Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.’

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. ‘I don’t understand,’ stammers the senator.

‘Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?’

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, ‘Yesterday we were campaigning ……. Today you voted.’

Gallup: Obama Over McCain By 10

If you’re a supporter of Obama, then you are probably pretty happy right about now.  If you’re a supporter of McCain, then you’re outlook has got to be pretty bleak.

PRINCETON, NJ — Voter preferences in the presidential race continue to be generally auspicious for Barack Obama’s election prospects only three weeks ahead of the eve of Election Day. Obama leads McCain by 10 percentage points, 51% to 41%, among all registered voters, according to Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Oct. 10-12.

The percentage of registered voters favoring Obama has been 50%, 51%, or 52% in each Gallup Poll Daily tracking report since Oct. 4. Support for McCain has been a steady 41% to 43% across the same time period. Thus, although the gap between the two candidates has varied from seven to 11 points in recent days, voter preferences have, in fact, been quite stable. (To view the complete trend since March 7, 2008, click here.)

Biden Cancels Weekend Campaigning

CNN is reporting that Vice-Presidential hopeful, Joe Biden has cancelled his campaigning for Saturday and Sunday due to a family illness. I certainly hope that everyone in his family are all well.

However, is this a campaign stunt to get Biden out and Hillary in?

(CNN) — Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden is cancelling his campaign events for Saturday and Sunday as his mother-in-law battles a serious illness.

The Senator from Delaware’s campaign spokesman, David Wade, put out a statement saying “the campaign has cancelled Sen. Biden’s schedule today and tomorrow because of a serious illness in Jill Biden’s family. Hospice has advised the Bidens to remain close by, and we appreciate everyone’s respect for the family’s privacy.”

Wade is referring to Biden’s wife’s mother, Bonnie Jacobs, who is in a hospice in Pennsylvania.

Biden was scheduled to speak in Washington D.C. and then attend a fund-raiser in the nation’s capitol Saturday night. Sunday he was expected to campaign in Virginia.

We wrote a post about the Democrats replacing Biden with Clinton.  You can read it here.

Senate Version Of Bailout Bill Loaded With New Pork

We are supposed to be facing impending economic doom in the form of a credit crunch that will cause widespread economic turmoil. The Congress was supposed to save the day by supporting President Bush’s call for a bill allocating $700 billion taxpayer dollars. (Remember, the President can request but the Congress controls the purse strings.) The House of Representatives failed to pass a bill after much partisan wrangling. The Senate passed their version of the bailout bill yesterday; 74 yea, 25 nay and 1 not voting.

You would think with taxpayer fury over the mortgage bailout at an all time high, and congressional approval ratings at an all time low the US Senate would pass a streamlined bill specifically designed to deal with the mortgage meltdown. But no, they passed a boondoggle of a bill loaded with extra candy for special interests.

It has been said that crafting legislation is like making sausage, you might not want to see how it is actually done. Maybe that is why the official title of this bill according to the Senate website is “H.R. 1424 (Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 )”. It must make sense to somebody.

Here is a list of the 25 Senators with the courage to vote against it:

Here is the text of the bill and you will be amazed at some the bizarre pork in the bill.

Some examples:

• TITLE I–ENERGY PRODUCTION INCENTIVES
• SEC. 102. PRODUCTION CREDIT FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCED FROM MARINE RENEWABLES.
• SEC. 111. EXPANSION AND MODIFICATION OF ADVANCED COAL PROJECT INVESTMENT CREDIT.
• DIVISION C–TAX EXTENDERS AND ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX RELIEF
• SEC. 512. MENTAL HEALTH PARITY
• SEC. 316. RAILROAD TRACK MAINTENANCE.
• SEC. 503. EXEMPTION FROM EXCISE TAX FOR CERTAIN WOODEN ARROWS DESIGNED FOR USE BY CHILDREN.