November 2007

There used to be a time in this country where people could easily ask candidates questions and didn't have to be screened before hand. The sad part is that has been within my lifetime, and I'm not even 40 yet!

But here we are in 2007 and these candidates, who all try to out tough-guy the other, aren't expected to be able to stand up to questions from regular Americans?

CNN expressed regret yesterday for allowing a Hillary Clinton adviser to ask a question at Wednesday's Republican presidential debate, even as controversy swirled about two other questioners who have declared their support for Democratic candidates.

Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, who asked why gays should not be allowed to serve openly in the military, is a member of Clinton's steering committee on gay and lesbian issues, something her campaign disclosed in a news release in June.

"Had we known that, we probably wouldn't have used the question," said David Bohrman, CNN's Washington bureau chief, who produced the debate. He added that "you could spend hours Googling everybody. What we cared about was that he was real." CNN deleted Kerr's question from a rebroadcast of the debate.

Just like in 2004 when Bush would come here to campaign, people who wanted to attend had to show that they were Republicans. The candidates talk about a divided nation, and I agree it is, but they are the ones creating the division. They put party above country, and that leads us to becoming the new Soviet Union.

And her answer is

JOHN EDWARDS!!!

Edwards would be the best to take on any Republican. I would love to see him win the primary.

So it has started. Anderson Cooper starts off by announcing they have 2,000 more questions than the Democratic debate, and the crowd goes wild. Gee it only took 4 months extra for them to put out 2,000 extra videos.

UPDATE 8:15

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

Rudy and Mitt going at each other about immigration. This is great! Each are accusing the other of hiring illegal immigrants.

And it gets better. After a 3 minute fight, Anderson Cooper tries to move on and Rudy won't let him. The crowd gave "America's Mayor" a big boo.

UPDATE 8:30

It's over. Cooper has zero control over these people and all they are doing is fighting with one another. The next 90 minutes will be a free for all.

UPDATE 8:40

Ron Paul = Hitler. So says John McCain.

UPDATE 8:45

What a bunch of fucking idiots! They are all talking about how they will cut taxes and spending. Funny when you got 3 current members of Congress and one current Senator saying this. So in other words - we screwed up at this level of government, so give us a promotion and see how we do. Hey - that does sound right. Failure = achievement to the GOP. Or should that be the Medal of Freedom?

So this White House sez:

The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly deleted computer files during another probe, using a private computer-help company, Geeks on Call.

Scott Bloch runs the Office of Special Counsel, an agency charged with protecting government whistleblowers and enforcing a ban on federal employees engaging in partisan political activity. Mr. Bloch's agency is looking into whether Mr. Rove and other White House officials used government agencies to help re-elect Republicans in 2006.

At the same time, Mr. Bloch has himself been under investigation since 2005. At the direction of the White House, the federal Office of Personnel Management's inspector general is looking into claims that Mr. Bloch improperly retaliated against employees and dismissed whistleblower cases without adequate examination.