Sunday Roundup

This week, Michael Phelps lived up to the hype; the Bigfoot hunters did not. Ernest Borgnine came clean; underage Chinese gymnast He Kexin did not. Victoria Osteen was exonerated; Jerome Corsi was not. Joe Klein proved he knows "trash," "swill," and "slow-acting spiritual poison" when he sees them; Mary Matalin did not. Mental disability advocates had a problem with Tropic Thunder; critics and audiences did not. Barack and Hillary showed they can make peace; Russia and Georgia... well, stay tuned. And if you haven't seen HuffPost Chicago, our first local edition, check it out here.

Comments

[Dr. Sam]

SOMETIMES I FEEL THE CAMPAIGN IS NOT DOING ENOUGH RESEARCH ON MCCAIN. The media has refused to do it. Instead, they have continued to focus their gaze on McCain's now defunct image as a "maverick". Frank writes every Sunday and I encourage everyone interested in Obama's victory in November to read his piece in the New York Times of Sunday, August 16. Please do everything you can to read this!!! Another person in the media who does a very impressive research on McCain is Chris Obermann of MSNBC. Frank Rich, Chris Obermann and Arrianna and other writes at Huffington Post seem to always do their homework and do much better work at getting relevant facts and correct argument than the Obama campaign. Obama and his team would need to pursue this thing more aggressively and with passion or McCain wins--God forbid. The Obama campaign team needs to have a credible research and rapid response team. They need to be very specific and fact-saturated in their presentation, ads and responses as both Frank Rich and Chris Obermann usually are. This is a battle of the mind and impression! It is not an intellectual quest; but we need specificity and facts that persuade against the opponent's onslaught of negative ads. We cannot take American people for granted by simply shouting only "hope." Time is short and the zero hour is near!

[JD8]

Arianna, you have had some good bits on energy. We need even more focus and facts for the American people. The link below is to an article I wrote.

Bush and McCain would have you believe that we must drill to get control over the energy crisis facing this country. To the contrary, the facts demonstrate that the technology for America to achieve energy independence from the Middle East exists and is being used by hundreds of millions of people today. As I will show, if we Americans were using this technology today, we currently would be saving more than twice the amount of oil we import from the Middle East.

It is up to each of us to become more conversant with the facts around oil so we can rebut the false claims of Republican politicians. It is not enough to rely on one "guru" or another as a source of information, whether it be the Sierra Club, or for that matter Anne Korins or T. Boone Pickens.

Whether it be hybrids or wind power or whatever solution they offer, these gurus will frame the facts to point you towards their solution. I will show you the basic facts. You can draw your own conclusions.

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/17/142624/520/168/569362

Keep up the good work AF!

[kellygrrrl]

you know what else we saw this week?
A great many Americans still have not tired of the LIES and SMEARS
as evidenced by the latest NY Time Bestseller List

[heal57]

Almost all copies bought by right wing conservative groups; they are pathetic.

[Bobzmcishl]

Tropic Thunder turned out to be a rent-a-movie. Way overhyped by most of the critics for some reason. It's really not that funny, and gets tiresome midway through film. Corsi is a good reason to boycott Simon and Schuster. A far far better read is Nixonland, which gives the best explanation yet of how we arrived at this blue-red state divide, and is even balanced in explaining the unexplainable persona of Richard M. Nixon. Best yet is the revelation of just how much the American people were conned by both parties about the reality of Vietnam and what a waste that war was. Eerie similarities to Iraq, so eerie as to be frightening about how easily it is to con the American people. George W. Bush took full advantage of our vulnerability after 9/11 to pull off the second biggest American con job in our history. No wonder we have become so cynical.

[morton0]

Are there any news media reading these? Did anyone else notice that McCain's story about the cross in the dirt was virtually identical to a story by Alexander Solzenizen (sp?) about an episode he witnessed while imprisoned? Check it out please!

[refah]

What kind of people are Corsi and Matalin?

If John McCain wants to "defeat" evil then he could begin by denouncing these two. Deceiving America is not acceptable for any purpose.

No, he will not as long as his immaturity plays so well. He looked like a second grader with all the "right" answers on Saturday. Such a pity. Congregations like Rev. Dr. Warren's may have influence and money, but the spirit of brotherhood must go beyond the constrained level of evangelical belief as it has with younger Christians.

We are in for a generational change, I pray it will be sooner rather than later. John McCain will only prolong the suffering that manifests by not trusting in the process and all the world. This could be the beginning of the answer to the crisis of humanity or more of the same Washington games. American influence, great though it may be, does not mean we are always correct in our actions.

[TankerRat]

Hey Arianna. Why don't you and Lou Dobbs put your heads together. Your book ( which I have not yet seen except for excerpts) seem to be along very similar lines. BTW Arianna, I WILL be reading your book as soon a I can obtain a copy. God Bless doll. Still Love you and your blog even if we don't always agree.

[LewisWalsh]

Appropriate for Sunday Roundup would be some comment on that dog and pony show that was called Saddleback Forum. Frankly, I only saw parts of it because I have a rather weak stomach. But what I did see was very disappointing; with Obama being so careful with his answers that I think that he befuddled the TV audience. McCain obviously came to the event determined to use his time as he saw fit in a place where he was certain not to be constrained in any way.

Particularly unseemly, was watching McCain trumpet his own heroism, and his rather absurd story about the Vietnamese solder who loosened his bindings and drew a cross on the ground. Heroes that I have been familiar with never tout their own experiences, and certainly not forty years after the fact.

We should be wary of such public events since they could be leading us to some sort of theocracy.

[TankerRat]

Dog and pony show is a very appropriate name for it Lewis. Just another example of how the Republicrats and the Demopublicans are one and the same.

Draft Perot or Ventura in 08!!!!

[JustJoan]

I agree LewisWalsh, I watched the beginning and then it just got uncomfortable. McCain told his stories that I have heard over and over. It was not suppose to be a stump speech but with McCain it's like being with my great-grandmother, he just keeps telling the same stories. Obama seemed to be trying too hard ,maybe, I don't know. He did a good job for the most part and seemed to be givng honest answers. It was the way you had McCain on the other side talking about what a hero he is but in a way that we are not suppose to know he is doing exactly that. The whole thing was just creepy. Maybe because I can't get past the fact that now we have our Presidential nominees being interviewed by a preacher that has made millions with his cult like followers buying everything he puts out there. So yeah, the word of the day....creepy.

[marymansour]

I agree with Obama being too careful in what you correctly term the dog and pony show. I am ready for Obama to take off the gloves and be himself - which, to my way of thinking - is superb.

[springsm]

I think this forum was very misquided. Rick "Warren may be a prophet to a huge crowd..but he is of the Southern Baptist Convention and that is enough for me. I did not watch. And of course, Obama had to be careful...the MSM will attack at every level on every answer. Mccain gets a pass. I heard exerpts and all he did was put his "faith" into politics...and of course his pow status. Faith is personal even if it is atrociaously misused. I find this to be have been a set up to Obama on abortion rights. Don't tell me Rick Warren is the great 'i am'.

[UnknownSoldier]

LewishWalsh

O-bam-a is not only competing against the Republicans he's also fighting against Media Distortions by the Media.

[ex-pat]

"Fasten your seatbelt it's going to be a bumpy ride." It is just getting started

[OldKnute]

Phelps was amazing!!!! Bigfoot LIVES,, Yeeeeee!

Borgnine gives new hope for Baby Boomers!!!!! Kexin, Go Girl GO! Osteen did not taint Christians, the last 8 years,, HAVE!

Corsi, Martin McCain are the "Politics as Usual" The Clintons embrace, and guess what, Hillary LOST,,, Hillary carving out a base of Angry White women,,, HATE and Frustration do not sell like Karl Rove and Bill Clinton think. Smear attacks are NOT working anymore, nor is FEAR and RACE bating.

Tropic Thunder,, I though the purpose of Film Media was to take us to where we cannot go, to explore and press the envelope. I am Blind,, so going to SEE this movie is not REALITY, but the think world of the handicapped or Challenged is not a FUNNY ONE,, you have another guess coming.

Example: A fellow screeched to 4 point halt just inches from me as I crossed the street,,,

He rolled down his window and shouted,,, "HEY,, (%*$ hole),, what are you,, F*&#ing BLIND?",, to which I responded,,, (loudly) "No Sir,, the seeing-eye DOG,, and RED tipped WHITE CANE are a,,,, Fashion Statement!"

Look,,, if we can"t laugh at ourselves,, what have we left,, PC world???

Hillary and Bill make PEACE,, Hardly,,, They just ran out of MONEY!

Russia and Georgia,, LOOK,,,,, all Putin wanted, was to show the BUSH/McCain ticket up for what they are,,, a bunch of hypocrites. Countries do not invade in the 21st century???

RIGHT.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[paixa3]

A really wonderful post. However I have to disagree that Fear, Smear and Rce STILL do work. Obama should have had this victory nearly hands down. He has really lost his edge and I bet will sadly lose the election. Sadly for the USA.

[OldKnute]

Oh Piaxa,,

Not really,, Swift Boating is only good,,,, till the People learn the truth,, about 3 weeks. Then watch out,, , the backlash is overwhelming,,, Americans don"t like being lied to,,, SEE the war in Iraq.

Hillary and Bill did their Mud Slinging way tooooo early,,, the Rovian Spin Machine even helped with the Reverend Write,, flap and FOX News. Still,, No GO! Yes,,, It will be a sad day if HATE and LIES becomes the Staple FOOD of American Politics.

Critical for Obama is that even Wall Street is learning that CHANGE is coming.

They are the first to benefit from this change,, the GREEN Revolution has every company saving money,,, learning to use what before they thought of as Waste,, Looking at the New Energy Policies that are at the CORE of the Obama platform.

One thing,, the Warren Buffets" of this world like to hear,,, GROUND LEVEL Opportunity,, NOT ONLY low taxes.

Everything Obama talks about in his Economic and Energy Packages is music to Wall Street ears. New business, NEW Markets, New Industries, NEW Opportunities to see investments grow. JOBS,,, at HOME. New Factories, Investment TAX credits, Innovation,,, R&D,, Grow. BUILD,, Achieve!

What Americans have done for Centuries!

What does McCain offer???

MORE WAR,,, More Big Oil,, More Blinders on American Business. The OLD Model,, The PAST. More Deficit Spending, more Consumer debt.

Less money to the overall POT.

Wall Street KNOWS THIS.

JMO

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[UnknownSoldier]

Knute, I don't know if you can hear this, but I'm sure you can't see it, but I'm laughing out loud at your comments. Thanks for the laugh.

[OldKnute]

Dear Soldier,, Yes I can hear you¦ I have my Computer readers settings at ,,, Deep Belly Laughter,,,, with pauses for carefully worded responses. I can even change the voice to Female, sweet, kind,, reassuring,,, like when I am reading Arianna.

Just type,, >>LOL,,

My computer ROARS Laughter,,, when it recognizes,, The,, LOL,,, text!

{{{Huggers}}}

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[TankerRat]

Addendum to previous post:

Another good example of what Dobbs talks about is the senatorial race here in Minnesota. Major party candidates are Norm Coleman (I) -Republican, Al Franken- Democrat. and probably Dean Barkley -Indpendence Party ( IP primary hasn't been held yet). Coleman is a Bush hack desperately trying to paint himself as a "Moderate", Franken has never held office , Barkley was Ventura's campaign manager and served out Wellstone's term after Paul was so tragically killed. With Coleman and Franken you get the same "paid for" politics you'll find anywhere. Barkley is owned by NO ONE other than the people themselves. Who'll win? Probably Coleman ( he's up 13 points over Franken as of this writing) because people are sheep and won't vote their convictions rather than as they're "TOLD" to vote the the "Big Two." Tell me people!! How do you break this cycle? If not us-WHO. If not now-WHEN?

[TankerRat]

To all you folks out there I think it would be a good idea if you obtained and read Lou Dobb's book "Independents Day." It will give you some fascinating and perhaps frightening insights into what's going on in American politics both now and for some time now. It will for example show you how and why there is no real differences between the Republican and Democratic Parties. How corporate America and the moneyed special interests have betrayed the people. How they continue to do so today. How in fact people the likes Bill Clinton were even more "friendly" to big business than old Bushie has ever been. It'll also tell you that we the people need it fix it NOW or we won't have a country to fix. People have to vote convictions based on actions. Not pretty words. We have to dismiss that idea that if we choose someone other than who they tell us to vote for that we are wasting our vote. We MUST DEMAND that politicians find solutions in the best interest of the PEOPLE and not to thier own or special interest groups single minded agendas. We are all AMERICANS. WE MUST act in the best interest of ALL Americans. You want change? You are being given another opportunity to do JUST THAT. Please don't throw it away again. REJECT these two awful candidates. Draft a good one and support him or her.

[realistic2008]

President Bush has something to learn from Michael Phelps, make gold, not spend it.

[theeconomicfractalist]

A 2 Week 500 billion US Dollar Loss

Among the news worthy items this week is the ongoing collapse of asset valuations which will be extremely problematic for the next two US presidents. The new science of saturation macroeconomics and asset valuation fractal analysis predicted the exact nominal high of the great Wilshire on 11 October 2007. Quantum fractal decay of all asset classes except US debt instruments is now evolving based on debt default of over valued assets and leveraged asset derivatives. The world's 4.5 billion ounces of the old yellow relic gold has lost over 1/2 trillion US dollars in value over the last 2 weeks. While the epiphenomenon of gold's revaluation is trivial in itself in terms of global consequences, the recent rapid nonlinear devaluation of this asset class is a harbinger of profound devaluations of all asset classes, a collapsing global money supply and global GDP, and a coming global depression.

[researcher]

sounds like we are in trouble.

very complicated comment.

could have said it easier.

we spend more then we make.

simple economics

but we do love to shop on credit

the american way

[Kim445588]

Well, aren't you a little ray of sunshine. More bad news.

[unionave]

As always , Arianna is a winner .