This is the guy who used to run the CIA. Awesome.

The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg offers an interesting excerpt from “A World Of Trouble,” a forthcoming book by Patrick Tyler on the White House and the Middle East. In this scene, CIA director George Tenet, drunk on scotch at Saudi Prince Bandar’s pool, rants about Bush administration “Jews” who are “setting me up” to take the fall for the false WMD claims. (link)

A brilliant analysis by Timothy Egan. In short, it notes the hell smart people, especially writers, go through when somebody as incoherent as Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber rise to stardom.

One of the best takeaways:

Here’s Palin’s response, after Matt Lauer asked her when she knew the election was lost:

“I had great faith that, you know, perhaps when that voter entered that voting booth and closed that curtain that what would kick in for them was, perhaps, a bold step that would have to be taken in casting a vote for us, but having to put a lot of faith in that commitment we tried to articulate that we were the true change agent that would progress this nation.”

I have no idea what she said in that thicket of words.

Neither did I, and now I know that I am not alone.

Second best takeaway:

Joe, a k a Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, was no good as a citizen, having failed to pay his full share of taxes, no good as a plumber, not being fully credentialed, and not even any good as a faux American icon. Who could forget poor John McCain at his most befuddled, calling out for his working-class surrogate on a day when Joe stiffed him.

Readers know my feelings about Joe the Plumber. Egan sums it up artfully, to say the least.

"If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities
of those who are offended by flag burning, what will we say the next time someone is offended
by some other minority view, or by some other person's exercise of the freedom the Constitution
is supposed to protect?" - Senator Edward M. Kennedy, constituent letter 1997 (link)

The quote reminds me of one of the many reasons I was not a fan of Hillary, even before
the election. For those who aren't aware, she supported a law making flag burning a criminal
 offense. Many believed she did so merely for political gain.  

I agree. 

 In fact, I'd like to hear her answer Senator Kennedy's hypothetical question . . .
for that matter. 

The recent sexist gaffe by Ed Rendell made me remember how annoying he was throughout the primary, not to mention the general election campaign.

For those who forgot here is a reminder:

“You’ve got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate,” the Governor said, ironically, to a black reporter. “I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann [2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate] been the identical candidate that he was — well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking — but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so.” (link).

and

“I don’t want to be selfish,” Rendell told CNN. “But I’m still a little nervous, so I have asked Obama to come back. We understand he’s got demands from 20 different states, but we’d like to see him here.” (link)

and

“Ladies and gentleman, the coverage of Barack Obama was embarrassing,” said Rendell, in the ballroom at Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel. “It was embarrassing.”

Rendell, an ardent Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter during the primaries, now backs Obama in the general election. Brokaw and Rendell began debating campaign coverage, including the on-air comments by Lee Cowan, and when MSNBC came up, Rendell went after the cable network.

“MSNBC was the official network of the Obama campaign,” Rendell said, who called their coverage “absolutely embarrassing.”

Chris Matthews, Rendell said, “loses his impartiality when he talks about the Clintons.”

At that point, PBS’s Judy Woodruff, who was moderating the moderators event, said: “Why don’t we let Governor Rendell sit down.” (link)

and

“If Senator Clinton wins Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan, how can you conclude anything other than the fact that she’s the strongest candidate . . . .” (link)

not over yet . . .

“With people who have a lot of gifts, it’s hard for people to identify with them,” the governor said. “Barack Obama is handsome. He’s incredibly bright. He’s incredibly well spoken, and he’s incredibly successful — not exactly the easiest guy in the world to identify with.”

. . . .

“He is a little like Adlai Stevenson,” Rendell mused. “You ask him a question, and he gives you a six-minute answer. And the six-minute answer is smart as all get out. It’s intellectual. It’s well framed. It takes care of all the contingencies. But it’s a lousy soundbite.” (link)

The list is never-ending. Why do people like this guy again?

And his most recent sex based gaffe about newly nominated Secretary of Homeland Security Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano:

CNN anchor Campbell Brown rebuked Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell Tuesday night for a private remark he made about Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, President-elect Barack Obama’s pick to be secretary of homeland security.

Rendell was caught by an open lectern microphone at the National Governors Association meeting Tuesday explaining why Napolitano, who is unmarried and does not have children, is a good choice to head the department.

“Janet’s perfect for that job. Because for that job, you have to have no life,” Rendell said, apparently unaware that the lectern mike was still hot. “Janet has no family, perfect. She can devote, literally, 19 to 20 hours a day to it.” (link)

His pathetic explanation and response:

Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tom Barnes files Rendell’s response to the criticisms that he made sexist remarks about Janet Napolitano — he was actually complimenting the Homeland Security pick’s working habits, the guv says, and also makes a (slightly off) Rocky and Bullwinkle reference.

“She has no life and neither do I,” he says. (link)

So . . . shutup Ed Rendell. Please just shutup.

First of all, thanks big guy upstairs for this amazing political gift right before our national elections. It just put a smile on my face to read this headline.

WASHINGTON — Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska’s dominant political figure for more than four decades, was found guilty on Monday by a jury of violating federal ethics laws for failing to report tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and services he had received from friends.

The jury of District of Columbia residents convicted Mr. Stevens, 84, on all seven felony counts he faced in connection with charges that he knowingly failed to list on Senate disclosure forms the receipt of some $250,000 in gifts and services used to renovate his home in Girdwood, Alaska

Second of all, Stevens man . . . didn’t you know about more money more problems?

Well, I guess you do now.

Joe Lieberman adopted the role of Republican attack dog early on, but as the election draws near, he’s hoping the political world has a very short memory.

Lieberman, a self-proclaimed “independent Democrat” who was chosen by McCain to make the case against Obama at the Republican National Convention in early September, said his comments have been within bounds.

“When I go out, I say, ‘I have a lot of respect for Sen. Obama. He’s bright. He’s eloquent.’”

My hunch is, Lieberman sees the direction of the political winds, and hopes to convince Democrats that while he’s been a McCain sycophant, he’s always been “respectful” towards Obama. (via Huffington)

Here’s the background music:

Just look at him, he hates her, and himself.  Via Huffington.

If I hear another newscast about Joe the Plumber, I am going to lose my mind. Joe the plumber . . . does not really exist – there’s probably a dozen people in the same situation in America.

How many plumbers are faced with the problem of deciding whether or not to buy out the plumbing business they work for?

How many plumbing corporations even offer themselves for sale?

The entire premise is absolutely totally out to lunch.

Look, however somebody makes a quarter million dollars, they can afford to pay a little more in taxes than the rest of us.

If you don’t agree, as families live paycheck to paycheck . . . then you’re out to lunch as well

UPDATE: Turns out Joe the Plumber doesn’t even exist - at least in the sense that he will not make $250,000. Like I said . . . out to lunch.

UPDATE 3: Also looks like this genius is not registered to vote might be purged from voter rolls if he were a new voter because of a date entry error. Indeed, some people might attempt to purge him for “voter fraud.”

As most of you already know (I got home late) Joe the Plumber likes to criticize Obama for his tax plan, but he just hates taxes period (unless imposed by John McCain) – so he just doesn’t pay them.

Joe the plumber – also does not exist – because he’s not actually a plumber.

So can somebody tell me why anybody cares what’s on Joe-the-tax-owing-not-plumber-guy-who-gets-a tax-cut-from-Obama’s-plan-but-hates-it mind?

There’s a lot I could say. But, you know what?

I’ll just let Palin speak for herself . . .

That seems to be working well.

As Couric notes. If you support a right to privacy, you support Roe v. Wade.

Which means Palin’s statements cannot co-exist in the same reality.