In the instant flashlight of celebrity, the rumors, allegations, and "glamor" surrounding the Palin pick has obscured the most frightening development of the last two weeks.  It is pretty clear, by now, that John McCain has either consciously sold out to the theocrats in his party or, worse still, is not able to keep them under control.  By choosing a rabidly conservative hard-core Christian fundamentalist as his running mate, the table is set for a nightmare scenario in which she ascends to the Presidency.

The talismanic issue here is that of creationism/intelligent design.  I don't for one second believe that the evangelical nuts who seem to be in control of the Republican party actually care for a second about what kids are taught regarding the origins of the cosmos and the human race.  No, rather this issue is a deliberate attack on science in particular, and the primacy of expertise and established fact in general.  The insidious notion that we should teach creationism "alongside" evolution as if both are equally plausible is as disingenuous as it is dangerous.

Yes, Barack is a once-in-a-lifetime inspirational leader.  Yes, he clearly wins on every policy issue.  Yes, the war must end.  Yes, the economy is disastrous; but more important than anything else in this election is the preservation of the separation of church and state.  These lunatics want a theocracy.

Cross-posted at Daily Kos and TPM

I believe this election is on the cusp of becoming a landslide for Obama, and I believe that's why the McCain campaign panicked and chose Palin at the last minute without vetting her.

We keep seeing diaries with the latest Gallup, Rasmussen, CBS, etc polling showing a tightening or expanding race. But one thing I have not seen anyone do yet is put this in historical perspective.

Once you do that, you see just how strong Obama is in this election cycle, and why the republicans are so dispirited and downtrodden.

This, more than any other election in my 31 years, is ours to lose. We MUST keep fighting, not only to win, but to utterly decimate the republican party nationwide.

Some press excerpts have been released from Obama's interview with George S. tomorrow on "This Week."  Unsurprisingly, Obama was asked about Palin power and he doesn't seem too shy, at least from the excerpts, with getting in some shots.

http://thepage.time.com/excerpts-from-ob amas-interview-with-this-week/

Obama compliments her as a "skilled politician" though I suspect that's not entirely a compliment.  He also quipped that McCain "chose somebody who may be even more aligned with George Bush - or Dick Cheney, or the politics we've seen over the last eight years - than John McCain himself is."  Is that a hint that Obama may, or leave it to some surrogates to do it, bring up her stances on social issues and turn the culture wars against the pubs because it is generally accepted that McCain is, and this isn't saying much, less socially conservative than Bush?

Halperin also claims that Obama didn't concede that Palin was qualified (I think the best line to use about Palin's experience is "I'll leave it to the voters to determine whether she is qualified for the job as vice president and potentially president) and that Obama noted that the country doesn't know very much about her.

If I were Obama, I'd proclaim that either myself or Biden will hold at least one media availability a day and even better, go on a morning show everyday until Sarah Palin gives a national news network.  I'd promote the idea that she is ducking the press, a completely fair hit on her that has no relation to her gender.

John McCain may have been a man of honor at one time in his life.  He was a man of courage.

Now, he's a liar.  And a thief.  Literally.

Today, on a day he reached out with one hand to reach out in the spirit of national unity, with the other he slaps the very notion of decency in the face.

The lies, the smears, and the crimes below the fold.

Freedom's Defense Fund has produced an ad linking Obama and Kilpatrick.  In the ad Sen. Obama is speaking about all the great things Mayor Kilpatrick is and will do and that he is glad to call Kilpatrick a friend.  The video comes from Obama's speech at the Detroit Economic Club in May 2007.  FDF's press release says the ad is already running in Macomb.

The ad starts with Obama speaking and proceeds to a still photo of the two side by side and then rolls Obama's speech as a voice over while the Kilpatrick's rap sheet scrolls over the mayor's mug shot before returning to the two side-by-side and the kicker: "Do you know who Barack Obama's friends are?"

According to Todd Zirkle, Executive Director for FDF, the ad is set for a "saturated one-week schedule on cable news networks in Macomb County, Michigan."

Zinkle explains their startegy, as if it was not obvious:

"We chose Macomb County for very strategic reasons," explained Zirkle. "We believe it is difficult for liberal Democrats to win Michigan without Macomb County and we know it is extremely difficult for a Democrat to win the White House without carrying Michigan. We plan to extend this buy as resources and donations permit."

The press release:
http://www.earnedmedia.org/fdf0905.htm

The ad:
http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/ 2008/09/05/freedoms-defense-fund-ad-do-y ou-know-who-barack-obamas-friends-are/

Sorry I did not do the video embed trick.

Crossposted at Daily Kos

Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt has proposed a new rule that will limit the rights of women to receive medically accurate information and treatment. The alleged goal of the rule is to protect the rights of health care workers, volunteers, and trainees. The result would be limited access to birth control and abortion for women all over the country - regardless of state law.

From CNN:

The rule, which applies to institutions receiving government money, would require as many as 584,000 employers ranging from major hospitals to doctors' offices and nursing homes to certify in writing that they are complying with several federal laws that protect the conscience rights of health care workers. Violations could lead to a loss of government funding and legal action to recoup federal money already paid.

The comment period ends on September 25th. We have 19 days until this rule takes effect.

At the GOP Convention we heard alot about "common sense" as both a "small town value" and attribute of both nominees, but particularly Sarah Palin.  In my own experiences, "common sense" is code for "poorly educated but able to make smart decisions."  Built into "common sense" is a distain for intellectualism, science and a depth of understanding.

The person with "common sense" has exactly that -- an ability to reason that is common or ordinary.  You don't need a Harvard Law Degree to follow their thinking -- a third grade education will do nicely.  You might not always demonstrate "common sense" but "common sense" solutions are easily explained to just about anyone.  

Too bad we live in a complex world.

No, I am not talking about Obama/Biden.

I am talking about these two stories.

The first:

McCain, Obama plan joint stop at Ground Zero

Presidential rivals vow to put aside politics, ads for 9/11 observance

WASHINGTON - Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama said Saturday they will put aside partisan politics for a joint appearance at Ground Zero to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees, in a statement, said they will appear together at the World Trade Center site on Thursday "to honor the memory of each and every American who died" in the 2001 attacks.

The campaigns already had agreed to suspend television advertising critical of each other on Sept. 11. The McCain campaign has said it will air no ads that day.

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26575396/

more below...