Monsters From the Id

The ironic thing is that this approach seems not to be working. Quite to the contrary. The polls started to tighten but have recently widened a bit. Perhaps because of the Powell Effect along with the nutty and nasty Rovian campaign the McCainiacs are running. Maybe some overly bold reporter will ask Sarah Palin if members of the Alaskan Independence Party are pro-American or anti-American.

The Republicans Have Lifted the Lid Off Their Rightwing Id - Guardian (UK) - 20 Oct 08

"It's true that we're hearing racial-code talk here and there. But the main fear tactic being employed now is something else. It's that Obama and his associates - and for that matter his supporters and even the regions of the country that he's destined to carry - are anti-American.'

Last Friday, in North Carolina, Sarah Palin told a rally that she was proud to be 'with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation'. She means here of course that there are anti-American areas of America, and they are where the liberals live, and the people there are voting for Mr Anti-America.

This was especially interesting coming from a woman whose husband, Todd Palin, was until just six years ago an enrolled member of a rightwing fringe political party that wanted the state of Alaska to secede from the US. But if you understand rightwing logic, then you'd know that Mr Palin had no choice but to join the Alaska Independence party in 1995, because by that time the America he thought he knew and loved had been brought to ruin by the liberals and socialists and America-haters. See?

Likewise, earlier this month, Joe McCain, the brother of John, said that Alexandria and Arlington, the two major cities in the northern Virginia suburbs that lie just across the Potomac River from Washington, were 'communist country' as far as he was concerned. His brother lives in Arlington when in the nation's capital for work, and his brother's campaign is headquartered there as well, but never mind."

( Better be ready! )

Monsters From the Id

The ironic thing is that this approach seems not to be working. Quite to the contrary. The polls started to tighten but have recently widened a bit. Perhaps because of the Powell Effect along with the nutty and nasty Rovian campaign the McCainiacs are running. Maybe some overly bold reporter will ask Sarah Palin if members of the Alaskan Independence Party are pro-American or anti-American.

The Republicans Have Lifted the Lid Off Their Rightwing Id - Guardian (UK) - 20 Oct 08

"It's true that we're hearing racial-code talk here and there. But the main fear tactic being employed now is something else. It's that Obama and his associates - and for that matter his supporters and even the regions of the country that he's destined to carry - are anti-American.'

Last Friday, in North Carolina, Sarah Palin told a rally that she was proud to be 'with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation'. She means here of course that there are anti-American areas of America, and they are where the liberals live, and the people there are voting for Mr Anti-America.

This was especially interesting coming from a woman whose husband, Todd Palin, was until just six years ago an enrolled member of a rightwing fringe political party that wanted the state of Alaska to secede from the US. But if you understand rightwing logic, then you'd know that Mr Palin had no choice but to join the Alaska Independence party in 1995, because by that time the America he thought he knew and loved had been brought to ruin by the liberals and socialists and America-haters. See?

Likewise, earlier this month, Joe McCain, the brother of John, said that Alexandria and Arlington, the two major cities in the northern Virginia suburbs that lie just across the Potomac River from Washington, were 'communist country' as far as he was concerned. His brother lives in Arlington when in the nation's capital for work, and his brother's campaign is headquartered there as well, but never mind."

( Better be ready! )

When They Say It's Not About The Money

It's about the money. Consider that the Governor of Alaska makes less than this shopping spree per year. I suppose she has to stay even with Cindy.

RNC Shells out $150K for Palin Fashion - Politico - 22 Oct 08

"The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August. According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.

The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September. The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August."

When They Say It's Not About The Money

It's about the money. Consider that the Governor of Alaska makes less than this shopping spree per year. I suppose she has to stay even with Cindy.

RNC Shells out $150K for Palin Fashion - Politico - 22 Oct 08

"The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August. According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.

The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September. The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August."

Fun With Vermont Yankee

Two tidbits of note. One leak, one seal.

Accident Clears Yankee Work Area - Times Argus - 22 Oct 08

"Twenty-five workers on the top floor of the reactor building at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant had to be evacuated Monday night after the top of the reactor vessel was placed too close to a fan, which distributed unsafe levels of radiation."

"The workers, who Irwin said he believed were contractors, received a 'very minor' dose of radiation, which he said was well within annual worker exposure limits."

'War of Words' Heats Up Vt. Yankee Audit - Times Argus - 22 Oct 08

"The fight has been brewing for weeks, after the then-chairman of the panel, Arnie Gundersen, went public with complaints that the group was being thwarted in their legislative charge to do a thorough evaluation of key systems of Vermont Yankee. Gundersen said they were being denied access to key documents and not allowed to participate in interviews with plant personnel — all because of the Department of Public Service.

That department is managing the special audit, and it has hired a consultant to do most of the work, with oversight from the panel, all according to a 2008 law, Act 189. The special inspection, dubbed a 'comprehensive vertical audit' is designed to determine whether Vermont Yankee can withstand the stresses of operating another 20 years."

"'I didn't start the war of words, but I'll be happy to help end it,' said Shumlin. 'This audit is incredibly important. Vermonters distrusted the last audit done by the NRC. The last audit said everything was beautiful and then months later the cooling tower collapsed.'"

Fun With Vermont Yankee

Two tidbits of note. One leak, one seal.

Accident Clears Yankee Work Area - Times Argus - 22 Oct 08

"Twenty-five workers on the top floor of the reactor building at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant had to be evacuated Monday night after the top of the reactor vessel was placed too close to a fan, which distributed unsafe levels of radiation."

"The workers, who Irwin said he believed were contractors, received a 'very minor' dose of radiation, which he said was well within annual worker exposure limits."

'War of Words' Heats Up Vt. Yankee Audit - Times Argus - 22 Oct 08

"The fight has been brewing for weeks, after the then-chairman of the panel, Arnie Gundersen, went public with complaints that the group was being thwarted in their legislative charge to do a thorough evaluation of key systems of Vermont Yankee. Gundersen said they were being denied access to key documents and not allowed to participate in interviews with plant personnel — all because of the Department of Public Service.

That department is managing the special audit, and it has hired a consultant to do most of the work, with oversight from the panel, all according to a 2008 law, Act 189. The special inspection, dubbed a 'comprehensive vertical audit' is designed to determine whether Vermont Yankee can withstand the stresses of operating another 20 years."

"'I didn't start the war of words, but I'll be happy to help end it,' said Shumlin. 'This audit is incredibly important. Vermonters distrusted the last audit done by the NRC. The last audit said everything was beautiful and then months later the cooling tower collapsed.'"