Alaska's Largest Newspaper Endorese Barack Obama

Alaska's largest newspaper endorses Obama

...The Anchorage Daily News, Alaska's largest newspaper, endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Sunday after declaring Gov. Sarah Palin "too risky" to be one step away from the Oval Office.

"Like picking (Republican presidential candidate John) McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time," The Daily News said.

The newspaper said Obama "brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand."

The Daily News said since the economic crisis has emerged, McCain has "stumbled and fumbled badly" in dealing with it...

For more of this article, please click here.

McCain v. Palin?

Are tensions rising between Sarah Palin and the McCain campaign? Maybe.

First, Ben Smith reports that Palin is "going rogue," disregarding the advice of McCain advisers, going off-message, and even trying to talk to the media. Funny story:

Palin strolled over to a local television crew in Colorado Springs. "Get Tracey," a staffer called out, according to The New York Times, summoning spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt, who reportedly "tried several times to cut it off with a terse 'Thank you!' in between questions, to no avail."

It's telling and sad that Palin's handlers freak out if she tries to talk to the media.

Palin's rogue status has been cheered by a camp of Republicans who see Palin as a fresh face that could revitalize the Grand Ole Party. The "Palin camp" is disgruntled with McCain, particularly with his campaign's handling of their savior, and is afraid that a McCain loss will be blamed on Palin.

Smith's report was based on four anonymous Republican sources. In response to the story, Tracey Schimdt retorted, "Unnamed sources with their own agenda will say what they want. But from Governor Palin down we have one agenda, and that's to win on Election Day."

And after that, a McCain advisor called Palin "a diva. She takes no advice from anyone. She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else."

Regardless of where total truth ends and exaggeration begins, one thing is clear: things are not going well in McCainLand.

Another Senior Moment with John McCain

John McCain accidentally insults the people of western Pennsylvania. Oops.

Sarah Palin Does it Again...

So right after declaring herself clear of any wrongdoing in Alaska's "Tasergate," an AP investigation discovered this about Palin:

AP INVESTIGATION: Alaska funded Palin kids' travel

...The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel...

...In all, Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' 64 one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office in December 2006. In some other cases, she has charged the state for hotel rooms for the girls...

For the entire article about Sarah Palin's expenses (and waste of taxpayer money), click here.

Obama Has Incredible Sunday

First, as J-Mad mentioned in passing, Barack Obama raised an astonishing $150 million in September. Astonishing because it broke the previous monthly fundraising record of $66 million, which Obama himself set in August.

Second, Obama received an endorsement from probably the most respected member of the Bush Administration, former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Powell is the highest-ranked Republican to endorse Obama, counterbalancing Joe Lieberman's support for John McCain nicely. The endorsement is notable not only for obvious reasons but also for his declaration that Republicans' condemnation of Obama as Muslim is shameful both because it is a lie and because 'Muslim!' should not be a tacit insult. Watch it:

The picture to which Powell referred.

Palin on SNL

So perhaps there is a movement by the presidential campaigns to make their respective candidates appear more human by being funny and able to laugh at themselves. Or, maybe people have finally realized the ridiculousness of the current American political campaign system and are choosing to laugh to keep from crying. I don't know.

Last week, we had the Presidential candidates roasting each other (click here), and last night, GOP VP pick Sarah Palin was on SNL. It was actually funny and probably the only good thing she has done since joining the campaign. However, her SNL involvement was far less than when other candidates, like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, were on the show. Personally, I think Tina Fey makes a better "Sarah Palin" than Sarah Palin (at least we know that Tina Fey knows the truth about dinosaurs).Take a look at the videos below and see for yourself.

Some people may think that Palin being able to laugh at herself or John McCain taking a joke during the presidential roast might have a positive effect for their campaign. Well, Obama is still raking it in ("Obama Raises Stunning $150 million in September").

This first one is the opening sketch.


The second sketch is the one of Sarah Palin on Weekend Update with Seth and Amy.

Presidential Roast

Last night, at a dinner hosted by the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation in New York, Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama took turns laughing at themselves and roasting each other. Both candidates were quite funny (yeah, even John McCain got some laughs) and the jovial tone of the evening made John McCain look like pre-2004 McCain (as in, not a jerk).

Take a look and judge for yourself which one is funnier.

Senator McCain spoke first.


Senator Obama spoke second.