Rocky's Entourage to Take on Apollo Greed

In light of the week's political events, I offer the following scene:

Rocky's trainer yelled out, "You're going down, Apollo Greed!" The fighter's glasses clad wife hid from the media glare.

The large, heavily muscled black man laughed heartily. "You think you can knock Apollo Greed off K Street? Why, you're just an old man and a mousy woman (wink, wink)!"

After more heated words and a brief scuffle, security separated the pair. The media eventually left the scene.

Greed put his arm around the old man. "Beer? Your turn or mine to buy?"

The trainer said, "I think it's yours. Hey Adrian, it's safe to come out. The media left."

"Thank God," she offered. "I thought they'd never leave." Eyeing Greed, she added, "Now who's your friend with bulges in all the right pockets?"

Might the fight be a fix? Republicans sold George W. Bush as a uniter not a divider. America was clearly bait and switched. Why should we believe today's Rocky entourage ticket? Do they have the punch to knock greed off K Street? Or is it all a show for public consumption, scripted to theme song "Eye of the Tiger"?

Palin the Energy Reformer

Source: Sarah Palin's description of the Exxon Valdez spill during her interview on CSPAN's Washington Journal

Palin Halfheartedly Tries to Pull a Harry, While Republicans Hide Bush

Last night Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin took on Washington. It felt as if Adrian Balboa had been sent into the ring to fight Apollo Greed. Schooled by Rocky's trainer Mickey, her running mate, Sarah swung mightily. But her punches had no sting.

I thought George W. Bush would pull a Harry Truman, expecting him to slam the "do nothing Congress", even call them back early to work on energy. But no, McCain/Palin is running against Washington, which includes "he who shall not be named," incumbent President Bush.

Sarah invoked the specter of "small town values" Harry early. She returned to the Democratic leader to attack Congress. Yet, her words fell flat. President Truman cited over and over in 1948 what he asked Congress to do, and they did nothing. Sarah hadn't asked them to do anything, other than give Wasilla millions in earmarks during her term as mayor.

But she hit a low when she talked about John McCain's being tortured by the Viet Cong. Thanks to John & her Repugnicant party, that word now has no meaning. Does it mean McCain was exposed to the pain associated with organ failure or death? What did Harry have to say about human rights, including those of prisoners?

Any denial of human rights is a denial of the basic beliefs of democracy.

The only person who can clean these people's clocks is John Stewart. Why is that? If Democrats act similarly what conventions will be undermined? Consider Truman's words, some years ago:

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a Republican. But I repeat myself.

I believe I heard such idiocy last night. At least it felt that way...

Republican Rocky is Missing in Action

How are Mickey and Adrian going to knock Apollo Greed off his throne on K Street? Mickey's too old and can't raise his arms above his shoulders. Adrian can be prettied up, but she lacks the fighting experience and muscle to deal with Greed. Apollo's strength grew under eight years of Bush provided steroids.

"Mickey/Adrian '08," the Republican "Rocky Less" ticket, missing the necessary strength, guile and heart...

He Shall Be....

McCain
(Sung to the tune of Levon by Elton John & Bernie Taupin)

McCain wears his war wounds like a crown
He calls his savior Jesus
'cause he needs the name
And he attends the conservative church in town

McCain, McCain likes his money
He makes a lot they say
Spend his days counting
In luxury homes by the waterway

He was born a piper to a rank on a Christmas day
When the New York Times said God is dead
Yet another war's begun
Bristol Palin has a son today

And he shall be Levi
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levi
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levi
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levi

Mrs. McCain sells frosty brews in town
Her family business thrives
Jesus pours beers all day
Sits on the bar stool watching them foam
And Jesus, he wants to run the country
Leaving McCain far behind
Take the Christian Capital and go legislating
While McCain, McCain slowly dies

Palin the Pellet for McCain's Christian Conservative Lever

John McCain turned disdain for his Presidential candidacy into strong support with his selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate. Tony Perkins, James Dobson, and Richard Land came out strong for Palin. The New York Times reported:

“I am now more confident about a John McCain presidency than I am about a George Bush presidency,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. “The campaign has courted conservatives aggressively, and it has turned around remarkably in just the last few weeks.”

...On Friday, Dr. James Dobson said the Palin selection had persuaded him to endorse Mr. McCain. Dr. Dobson said in a statement that the nomination “gives us confidence he will keep his pledges to voters regarding the kinds of justices he would nominate to the Supreme Court.”

In Minneapolis, “it was as if the whole Republican convention had started drinking Red Bull," said Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, who added that when the McCain campaign had sought his input weeks before he had suggested picking Ms. Palin.

And that, my friends, is change conservative Christians can believe in. What does that leave the rest of us? Head hanging, yet again...

Sarah Palin & Fran Townsend: Republican Strong Women Not Supremely Competent

Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is marketed as an energy expert. Another supremely competent Republican supermom, Frances Townsend, knows risk management "inside and out".

How would you feel if an energy wonk missed the size of the Exxon Valdez spill by 10.79 million gallons? Would you be disappointed if a risk manager failed to mention the hospital with the largest patient death toll after a record hurricane? Sarah and Fran did just that.

Sarah Palin cited the 11,000 gallons of fuel emptied into Prince William Sound by the Exxon Valdez in her CSPAN-Washington Journal interview. The Valdez spilled 10.8 million gallons of crude, covering 11,000 square miles of ocean. Frances Townsend omitted any mention of LifeCare Hospital and its 24 patient deaths post Katrina. Why would these supremely competent women minimize or outright omit key information?

Palin's is a proponent for more domestic drilling. It helps to gloss over major human misadventures in finding and moving oil. Her characterization of the Valdez spill as 11,000 gallons calls into question her ANWR footprint estimation of 2,000 acres. If Sarah is way off on the Valdez spill size, why would her ANWR drilling estimate be accurate?

When Katrina struck, Townsend worked just blocks up Pennsylvania Avenue from LifeCare's owner, The Carlyle Group. The politically connected private equity underwriter specializes in buying companies, later selling them for a profit. The last decade Uncle Sam has been a major customer for numerous Carlyle affiliates.

I can see LifeCare's risk manager wanting the federal Lessons Learned report to be silent on their patient deaths. I'm confused as to why Fran and the Bush White House felt likewise. No one answered my queries as to why Fran made this basic risk management error. Supermoms making super mistakes, or covering for their super friends?