PPP - you're kidding, right?

Public Policy Polling has a North Carolina poll out showing a tied race.
Figured I'd check it out for a laugh.
What's the partisan split?
Democrats plus 12.
Twelve.
In what world do Democrats outnumber Republicans by 12 points in North Carolina?
Not the real world.

Thanks, Clint

From the side of the road, Rt. 250 in Fishersville Wednesday.

Other side of the storm

While the cameras caught all the destruction on the Atlantic coast, the mountains of West Virginia got a big snow from Sandy.
Bluefield, West Virginia had 11 inches of snow and power outages in the region.
That's quite a storm.

Romney's coming to your city

Nice to see the Romney campaign advertising in Pennsylvania and Minnesota as the campaign winds down.
He's got $45 million more in the bank, according to Democrats. Might as well use it wisely.
Obama buying ads in Detroit?
Probably not wise.

Time to hit the panic button

Seven days until Election Day.
Can Democrats dismiss these thoughts?
When the history of Obama's failed reelection campaign is written, it will be noted that Obama's campaign made a critical strategic blunder. Their plan was to disqualify Romney at the outset, rather than other up a compelling agenda for a second term. They essentially decided to run a challenger's race, dragging down the opponent in a wave of negative ads. When Romney took the stage at the first debate in Denver, he didn't just defeat Obama, he defeated Obama's entire campaign plan.

Today's Tied with me

Technorati has this blog tied with Bag of Nothing today - and this post shows there's lots of nothing there.

What's Cindy Sheehan up to?

I heard the father of Tyrone Woods speaking to Sean Hannity on the radio this evening.
It brought to mind the attention on Cindy Sheehan during the George W. Bush presidency.
What's she doing?
Running with Roseanne on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket.
Remember all the attention she got, hanging out at Crawford, Texas?
Anybody in the mainstream media want to talk with Woods about his son?
Ask President Obama how he can ignore the parent of a child lost on his watch?
If you praised Cindy Sheehan for speaking the truth to power, do you praise Woods as well?
We rarely hear about Sheehan anymore.
Her son is still gone, but her storyline has gone too.

Nate Silver, one-hit wonder

In eight days, it's put up or shut up.
Will Nate Silver be shut up?
He's got his defenders now.
He'll need more Obama voters by then.

Snow to the west of me, storm to the east

It's just drizzling and raw in Augusta County.
No snow, like West Virginia.
No big winds yet, like to the northeast.
Lots of frozen TV people along the Atlantic Coast today.

Last contest - help the Obamas pack

By joining the Obama campaign mailing list, you've been bombarded by numerous contests in the appeal to give money.
You could meet a celebrity.
You could have dinner at the White House.
You could visit with Bill Clinton.
Now they claim it's time for the last contest - give for a chance to be in Chicago election night.
All the while bemoaning the fact Republicans have more money in the bank for the final days.
I bet there will be one more contest.
Give to help retire our campaign debt - and help us pack up to leave the White House.

Need a fright?

Been watching too much Weather Channel this weekend?
That's been pretty scary.
Better to think of Halloween scares - like the Haunted Forest done by Twisted Creationz in eastern Augusta County.
Gave us a good scare Saturday - for a good cause.

Four more years

It's been four years since the first post here at Fishersville Mike.
Here's to hoping the next four years are a lot better for the country than the last four years.

Rules for political discourse

In the final days before the election, you may have the opportunity to speak with someone with totally different views than you have.
Here's an easy primer for conservatives talking with liberals, or vice versa.

I'm discerning.
You're bigoted.

I use facts and reason.
You use stale talking points.

My sources are impartial.
Your sources can be easily dismissed as partisan hacks.

Here's my facts.
Here's an opinion piece that disputes your facts.

I live in reality.
You live in fantasy.

Heading to Biden country

Where's Hurricane Sandy going?
Looks like the Jersey shore.
As it heads inland, the center could head over northern Delaware - where Joe Biden lives.
One blowhard wants to meet another.

Obama's economic theory

The Obama argument is very simple.
Your plan has failed in the past.
My plan hasn't had enough time to work.

Bringing it to a close

John Podhoretz highlights Mitt Romney's closing argument on the economy.
Achieving change, he said, “requires that we put aside the small and the petty, and demand the scale of change we deserve: We need real change, big change. Our campaign is about that kind of change — confronting the problems that politicians have avoided for over a decade, revitalizing our competitive economy, modernizing our education, restoring our founding principles.”
The speech presented its listeners with a binary choice: Obama as the candidate of the status quo, Romney as the candidate of the future. If Romney can hammer this home until Nov. 6 as effectively as he did in Iowa yesterday, he’ll be our next president.

Saturday song

A cool picture of a car highlights this video.


Is it too late to turn back now on President Obama?

Facebook quote of the week

Lighten up, Sandy Baby!

Ready for Halloween

A very good episode of Big Bang Theory Thursday, featurings Howard and Bernadette as Smurfs.

On Wisconsin

Enough Ohio talk.
Mitt Romney's headed to Wisconsin Monday.
Win there and some other likely places, and he doesn't need Ohio to get over the top.
If only we had proof that Wisconsin voters like Republican ideas.

Don't stand down

Fox News has the big news from Benghazi.
Fox News has learned from sources who were on the ground in Benghazi that an urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. Consulate and subsequent attack several hours later was denied by U.S. officials -- who also told the CIA operators twice to "stand down" rather than help the ambassador's team when shots were heard at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Benghazi on Sept. 11.

Weekend watchdog

The Fall Classic returned to McCovey Cove Wednesday. Will the Giants need to return to clinch the title?
After winning the first two games at home, the Giants head to Detroit Saturday for Game 3 of the World Series. Fox has coverage at 8 p.m. Game 4 is Sunday, with Game 5 Monday at 8 p.m. if necessary.
It's the Tigers' first trip to the World Series since 2006, where they won one of two games at home before losing three straight at St. Louis. The Giants won the title in 2010 after taking the first two games over the Rangers at home.
The Redskins head to Pittsburgh Sunday on Fox at 1 p.m., with the second game featuring the Giants at Cowboys. The Ravens have the weekend off, so CBS in Washington offers the Raiders at Chiefs at 4 p.m. Other parts of Virginia will see the Patriots take on the Rams from London at 1 p.m.
The Broncos host the Saints Sunday night on NBC, then ESPN has the NFC West battle between the 49ers and Cardinals Monday at 8:30 p.m.
ESPN starts the college football weekend Friday at 8 p.m. when Cincinnati takes on Louisville Friday at 8 p.m.
Notre Dame continues its quest for a major bowl Saturday, visiting Oklahoma at 8 p.m. on ABC. In the afternoon, it's either USC-Arizona or Michigan State against Wisconsin. The game that doesn't air on ABC in your area will be on ESPN2.
Georgia and Florida have their annual battle in Jacksonville Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on CBS. Fox offers Kansas State hosting Texas Tech at 3:30 p.m.
N.C. State meets North Carolina Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on the ACC network.
ESPN starts its day at noon with Tennessee heads to South Carolina. Ohio State visits Penn State at 5:30 p.m. and Alabama takes on Mississippi State at 8:30 p.m. On ESPN2, it's Iowa-Northwestern at noon. There's more Big Ten at 8 p.m. with Michigan's contest with Nebraska.
MASN's Big East game of the week Saturday features Temple at Pittsburgh at noon. Rutgers hosts Kent State at 3:30 p.m., while MASN2 shows Liberty's visit to Coastal Carolina at 3:30 p.m.
NBC Sports network goes to the CAA at noon for Delaware taking on Old Dominion. Fx has UCLA at Arizona State at 3 p.m.
Brad Keselowski continues to lead the Chase for the Cup, and tries to hold off Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
The MLS regular season closes on NBC Sports network with a pair of matches Saturday. D. C. United visits Chicago at 4 p.m., followed by San Jose at Portland. NBC shows New York at Philadelphia Saturday at 1:30 p.m. while ESPN closes the weekend with the Galaxy at Seattle Sunday at 9 p.m.
The countdown to the NBA season continues ESPN2 Friday, with the Hornets at Heat at 8 p.m. followed by Nuggets-Suns.
The tennis year ends in Istanbul, with the WTA championship Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.

Ryan fires up Charlottesville

He's been to Harrisonburg.
He's been to Fishersville.
Thursday, Paul Ryan brought his campaign rally to Charlottesville.
Good job Bill Crutchfield built a business that could host the crowd.

Kitty Genovese in Libya

The more we learn about Libya, the weirder it gets.
The State Department had emails coming in about an attack as it happened.
They had access to live feeds from a drone, as it happened.
And nothing was done.
Reminds you of the famous 1960s instance of Kitty Genovese.
It was such a big deal that many people had a chance to help her and did nothing.
Left her to die.
Ambassador Stevens and the other three killed in Benghazi didn't expect to be doing a replay in 2012.

Watch the approaching storm

Eyes along the east coast are on Hurricane Sandy, with the possibility of a big trouble this weekend.
The Obama team is already searching Youtube for a video to blame.

When does life begin?

Does life begin at conception?
At birth?
Or somewhere in between?
Life begins when Mitt Romney wins the presidency.

Carrion my wayward son

The News Leader has a picture of a vandalized political sign - someone put a deer carcass on an Obama sign.

One rally, no traffic jam

Paul Ryan comes to Charlottesville Thursday evening.
Instead of holding a rally downtown and clogging major highways during the roundtrip, Ryan will be speaking next to the airport.
If you want to see Paul Ryan, you can go.
If you don't, you don't have to watch his motorcade blocking your way home.

Nate Silver, super genius

The election's not over, Democrats say.
Nate Silver says President Obama still has a 70 percent chance of winning.
Wile E. Coyota thought he could catch the roadrunner.
He often found himself running into the air - before gravity caught up and he went crashing to earth.
Meep, meep.

Obama '08 vs. Obama '12 vs. Obama '08

Hey Obama campaign, got anything left?
Obama 2012 is losing two fronts of this run.
It can't match the excitement of Obama's run in 2008.
That allows Mitt Romney to claim the mantle of hope and change.
Obama can't match his last run.
Obama can't match Romney's positioning as the change agent.
Got anything left?

Today's Tied with me

Technorati has this blog tied with Welcome to Married Life.
Cute pictures of kids.

Romney/Ryan vs. who in 2016

Time to get ahead of the herd.
Who's the Democratic ticket after Mitt Romney's first term?

Watch out for that preference cascade

Instapundit explains "preference cascade" to the masses.
It's all around.
Two weeks to see the result.

Five times a Fluck rally

The News Leader calls Saturday's Tea Party rally a small crowd - only about 50.
Compared to Sandra Fluck's Reno rally, it was a smashing success.

Coal in their stockings

A huge crowd gathered in Grundy to oppose Obama administration policies on coal.
Government has not been a friend of coal.
On the air emissions side, two new sets of EPA rules have cut both the present and future use of coal.
First, new air emissions standards prompted utilities to announce the closure of dozens of coal-fired power plants, cutting the demand for coal and costing jobs. In some cases, utilities chose to convert those units to natural gas, which because of new technology for extraction has become relatively cheap and plentiful. Rules for coal-fired boilers have also affected factories and other facilities that use industrial boilers.
Second, a new proposed EPA rule would require any new coal-fired power plants to be constructed with technology to control carbon dioxide emissions -- technology that's not been fully developed. With this proposal, even state-of-the-art coal burning technology, like that being used at the new power plant that just opened in nearby Wise County, couldn't be permitted, utility officials have said.

It didn't stay quiet

Going through my old emails, I noticed the Sept. 11 Morning Jolt by Jim Geraghty.
He noted the Sept. 11 anniversary would pass more quietly than usual.
Little did we know how events of that evening would restart the fire.
Won't be quiet about Sept. 11 events at Monday's last debate.
UPDATE: Part of the Oct. 22 Jolt.

Where Obama's from

After four years, we know where President Obama is from.
Jimmy Carter land.
Malaise-ya.

Proud member of the one percent

Congratulations to DaTech Guy for his 100th radio show today.
I appeared on his 11th show, back in January 2011.
One percent of his shows.
There's celebrating today in Worcester.
And likely on Election Day too.

Balanced approach

Some friends noted on Facebook that the Obama campaign had its best fundraising day on Wednesday.
The Other McCain looks at the party fundraising - where the Democratic cupboard is bare.
Shouldn't Obama have a more balanced approach to fundraising?
All the money to him and not much left for other Democrats doesn't sound like a good approach.
Especially since he needs some friends if he wins.
And some Democrats would still like to be in Washington if he doesn't.

Recycling update

I got 45 cents a pound for my aluminum cans today.
How much will I get in the next administration?

Saturday song

What good can come from Chicago?
If we beat the candidate from Chicago, I think I'll feel alive again.

Facebook quote of the week

I just fixed dinner. Thanks Papa John's for the help.

Nate Silver's problem

One of my friends likes Nate Silver's polling work since he analyzes polling like a baseball statistician.
Time for another sports analogy.
Silver continues to give high odds of President Obama winning the election - despite Gallup's recent polling and the trending of several states to Romney.
Part of the reason - he had Obama's chances so high before the first debate.
If you're trying to be statistical in your analysis, you can't have big drops in your numbers. It must be slow and gradual.
Take the national college football polls. Each year, the traditional powers and last year's winners top the preseason polls. If you aren't expected to win, it takes a long time to climb up the chart.
An unexpected unbeaten team finds it hard to pass the teams ahead of them, especially those with one loss. The pollsters like those team, and find it hard to drop them too much when they lose.
For a few years, I voted in the West Virginia prep basketball polls. I'd check the teams other voters liked, and try to keep an open mind about where to place teams. But as the season went on, it's hard to drop your top teams too far.
Silver had Obama's chances too high in September.
He treated Romney like he didn't have a chance. An underdog so far down, he's never make it to the top spot.
Romney's piling up some good numbers the last two weeks, but the inertia of past predictions make it hard for Silver to give him more than a 30 percent chance right now.
Silver's done well living off his 2008 poll analysis. He can write reasons why Gallup and Rasmussen are wrong to give Romney an edge, but a Romney win stomps all over his reputation.
Let the teams fight it out on the field. Romney's done pretty well the last two weeks, and I look forward to another strong performance Monday.

The wheels come off

Are President Obama's chances of winning 70 percent?
Or closer to seven?
Some think the election will come down to Ohio, Ohio, Ohio.
It's likely to focus on Libya, Libya, Libya.

Weekend watchdog

The first BCS rankings came out this week, and the SEC holds four of the top eight spots. Two of those challengers battle on Saturday.
Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks, ranked in the top three before last week's loss, face Florida at 3:30 p.m on CBS. Spurrier won a national title with the Gators in 1996, and will try to gain the lead in the SEC East.
Notre Dame tries to stay in the national title hunt, playing BYU at 3:30 p.m. Fox has a battle among top contenders in the Big 12 at 7 p.m., with West Virginia hosting Kansas State. At 3 p.m., Stanford faces California.
Virginia Tech takes on Clemson Saturday at noon on ABC in ACC country, while most of the nation gets Purdue at Ohio State. ESPN2 airs that game in ACC areas. At 3:30 p.m., most of the country gets Texas Tech against TCU. Others will see Nebraska-Northwestern on ABC, with that game on ESPN2 in the southeast. In primetime, it's either Florida State-Miami or Baylor taking on Texas.
Virginia tries to halt its five-game losing streak against Wake Forest Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on ACC network.
ESPN heads off to the Big East Friday as Connecticut meets Syracuse. LSU's trip to Texas A&M starts the day Saturday at noon. Alabama takes on Tennessee at 7 p.m., while ESPN2 has a pair of games in the evening - Middle Tennessee at Mississippi State at 7 p.m. followed by Utah-Oregon State.
Fx brings Iowa State at Oklahoma State Saturday at noon.
Comcast goes to the CAA Saturday at noon, with New Hampshire at Maine. James Madison travels to Richmond at 3:30 p.m.
Temple hosts Rutgers in the Big East game of the week at noon on MASN. There's more Big East at 3:30 p.m. when Pittsburgh meets Buffalo from the MAC, then it's off to the WAC for Idaho facing Louisiana Tech. MASN2 shows Liberty against Concord from the West Virginia Conference Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
It's a twinbill on NBC sports network, starting at noon with Penn at Yale. UNLV tackles Boise State on the blue turf at 3:30 p.m.
The AFC North takes center stage Sunday on NBC, as the Steelers play the Bengals. ESPN has the NFC North contest between the Lions and Bears on Monday night.
The Redskins visit the Giants Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox. CBS has the doubleheader, with the first game matching Houston against the wounded Ravens. The Jets head to New England in the nightcap.
NBC Sports network heads north of the border Friday at 10 p.m., with Edmonton meeting British Columbia in CFL play.
The Tigers have clinched the American League title, and the Cardinals host the Giants in Game 5 Friday at 8 p.m. on Fox with a chance to advance. Game 6, if necessary, will be in San Francisco Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
Indiana hosts Game 3 of the WNBA Finals Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. Game 4 will be Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
NASCAR is down to the final five races in the Chase for the Cup, running this weekend at Kansas. ESPN has coverage at 1 p.m. Sunday, after the Nationwide race goes Saturday at 3 p.m.
As the MLS season winds down, D.C. United hosts Columbus at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Comcast. Philadelphia plays Houston Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network and Seattle meets Dallas Sunday at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
On the college pitch, Virginia Tech takes on Virginia Friday at 6:30 p.m. on Comcast.
Florida State faces Georgia Tech in women's volleyball Friday at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast. The Jackets host Miami Sunday at 1 p.m., while ESPN2 shows Nebraska against Illinois at 3 p.m. Sunday.

As the Yankees go...

The Yankees were swept in a playoff series for the first time since 1980.
A few weeks after that sweep, Jimmy Carter was swept out of office.
Time for a repeat?

Kellie with a cause

Country star Kellie Pickler has shown support for a friend with breast cancer by shaving her head.
Looking good.

Government: What's yours is mine

The Other McCain highlights the Grundy airport battle in his story on the election battle in Virginia.
Local leaders say the three-year battle with the U.S. Office of Surface Mining over plans to extend the runway at Grundy Municipal Airport has cost taxpayers in this poverty-stricken corner of Appalachia millions of dollars in lost opportunities, and a list of regulatory hurdles remains before construction can even begin.
“We were attempting to permit this project as an airport project, not a coal-mining project,” said state Sen. Phillip P. Puckett, a Democrat from Lebanon who has been involved for three years with the effort to lengthen the runway from 2,200 feet to more than 5,000 feet — the length needed to comply with insurance standards for corporate jets. The holdup: Federal regulators have refused to allow the runway project to go forward without a mining permit because of the coal deposits below the land that will be dug up during construction.
It's a runway.
With coal underneath.
Something people can use, unlike dirt that's part of these projects usually.
Sorry Grundy, you can't do what you want until we're happy.
For a few more months, until the leadership changes.

Lilly season

Lilly Ledbetter was on MSNBC this afternoon.
As I said last year, the more Democrats talk about that law, the more likely they are to lose.
They keep talking about that.
Looks like they are losing.

Newsweek shrinks; Drudge grows

Better head to the newsstand after Christmas to get the last print issue of Newsweek.
Read it for many years while growing up.
What will waiting rooms do without it?
I'll check the Drudge Report to find out.

He's reliable

Michael Barone tries to explain why Romney is doing better among women in polls.
The debates may have shifted the perception of risk. The downcast Obama and the cackling Biden may have sounded dangerously risky. Many women may have felt, as my e-mail friend’s wife said last winter, that they would feel safe if Romney were in charge.

Time for change

In 2008, Barack Obama promised change.
We haven't gotten the change he promised.
It's time for a change.

What "Forward" means

President Obama embodied his campaign's "Forward" motto at Tuesday's debate.

He's leaning forward - might fall over.

Why Libya matters

With so much attention on what was said after Sept. 11, we need to remember what happened before that day makes the difference.
Frankly, however, while “what did the administration know and when did it know it” is an important question to ask, it pales in comparison to the underlying failure that led to the attack. Put simply, the security withdrawal and attempted “normalization” of consulate operations in Benghazi was more than a mistake — it betrayed the administration’s fundamental misunderstanding of the Middle East. It still views the Middle East through ideologically influenced rose-colored glasses, and such a view is not only costing lives; it is costing the United States its strategic influence.

More Libya

If you enjoyed the Libya question on Tuesday's debate, there's just five days until the next one - focusing on foreign policy.
What's the key tenets of the Obama foreign policy?

1. We killed Osama
2. We're doing things different than George W. Bush.
3. We killed Osama

Libya strikes against the theme of doing things different. Since it hasn't made a difference.
The radicals don't just hate because of Bush.
And the departure of Bush didn't change their opinion.

47 percent

How many viewers stayed through the whole second debate?

An endorsement for John McCain

Having more military experience wasn't important to Democrats in 2008.
Why should it be important in 2012 in Virginia's 5th district?
If you like General Douglass, did you vote for John McCain over Barack Obama?
Didn't think so.

Yes, it's over

Can 11 questions from citizen turn it around for President Obama?
Or is this the beginning of a slow three-week march to defeat.

Ever heard of moving money around?

I love how Democrats are trying to blame the Republican Congress for Benghazi security.
You didn't give us enough money.
Ever heard of emergency funds?
Ever heard of moving money where needed?
It's always a lack of money. No matter how much they have.

Today's Tied with me

In Technorati's rankings, this blog is tied with Kuwaiti music - all the best music from small Mideastern country.

Ryan was ready

National Review gives a good background into Paul Ryan's debate prep.
During the final debate prep in Florida, Olson hectored Ryan. He pestered him and smirked. A couple of Ryan confidants wondered if Olson was overdoing it.
On debate night, the real Biden was worse than Olson’s caricature. “I thought Ted was absolutely great, but I didn’t think Biden would put on such a show,” a Ryan official says. “Clearly, I was wrong.”
“Looking back, the best thing that happened during that boot camp was Olson getting under Ryan’s skin,” says a Romney strategist familiar with the sessions. “He knew how to frustrate Ryan. That’s harder than you think.”

Feel the panic

Today show brought forth the latest polls - Romney is now the front-runner.
Tuesday's debate is a "town-hall" style, which isn't supposed to be Romney's strength.
But if he does well, even just battling Obama to a tie, he still can stay in front.
Then, it's only three weeks until Election Day.
Things aren't looking good for the president.

Undefeated team watch

The Atlanta Falcons pulled out their game late, beating Oakland.
Houston tried to remain undefeated - and got buried by Aaron Rodgers.
The 1972 Dolphins are watching the Falcons.
There's no more winless teams in the NFL - the Browns got their first win.
The 2008 Lions maintain their spot as the lone 0-16 team.

Bad spam

Just got an email reminding me of Medicare Advantage open enrollment.
Thanks. I'm too young for Medicare.
AARP may think I'm the right age for them, but a Medicare Advantage email is bad spam.

Afloat at sea

What has the stimulus been like?
Like giving a life preserver with a slow leak.
It keeps you afloat for a while, but soon enough you're in the same situation as you're before.
Romney and Ryan want to build a boat.
So you're better able to withstand the heavy waves.

Bolling for voters

SWACgirl has the photos of Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's visit to Waynesboro Saturday.

Back to the future

Michael Barone sees the Obama campaign in an 80s vibe - rerunning old hits in hopes of getting continued help in the polls.
In the two debates, voters saw a near-comatose Obama and a near-manic Biden -- and two sober, well-informed Republicans. That's not a good contrast for Democrats.

President of the Weekly World News

President Obama has done another interview with morning radio talkers, discussing the important issues of our day - American Idol judges.
It reminds me of another person who did lots of radio interviews. My former co-worker Leskie Pinson was an editor at the Weekly World News in the 1990s, and would often appear on shows across the country and give the DJs the latest news.
I heard Leskie on the radio several times in Charlottesville. He'd tell the stories and they wouldn't believe him.
President Obama tells his stories now and not many believe him either.

They think they're in trouble

At PJMedia, Roger Simon looks at the behavior of Democrats and sees panic.
As someone who spent over three decades on the left as a liberal-progressive-whatever, I believe I have some sense of how they think and feel. And I have a strong suspicion that at this moment they are not feeling good, no matter what their protestations.

Facebook quote of the week

Wow! Everyone here is sleeping....what did I do to deserve this .....I love it!

Saturday song

Are people ready to take a chance on President Obama again?
If his policies were as cool as this movie opening.

Find something to cheer about

The University of Virginia hasn't had much to cheer this season.
Soon it will be basketball season.
At least the cheerleaders give you something to cheer about.

Happy blogiversary

Legal Insurrection hits the four-year milestone.
What's he been doing?
Over 7100 posts, 138,000 comments, 7200 registered users, 115 banned users, 19 million unique visits, 25 million page views, a new blog format, several contributing Authors here and at College Insurrection, and many new blog friends to whom I am grateful for their support and linkage.

The election is over

Mitt Romney has earned the endorsement of Lindsay Lohan.
The election can now be considered over.

Weekend watchdog

The Division Series are winding down, and soon baseball's final four will be set in the final battle before the World Series.
The American League championship series starts Saturday on TBS, with Game 2 Sunday. Fox has the National League championship series beginning Sunday.
A battle of the Beltway teams is still possible, coming down to Game 5. The Orioles face the Yankees at 5 p.m., then the Nationals host the Cardinals at 8:30 p.m.
If Washington and New York win, they will host the LCS openers. The Giants and Tigers are waiting for their opponents to be determined.
It's a week for Redskin fans to agree with Ravens fans - beat the Cowboys. Dallas comes to Baltimore Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox, followed by the Redskins meeting the Vikings. CBS will offer the Colts and Jets in Washington, D.C., while most of Virginia will see the Raiders meet unbeaten Atlanta.
Peyton Manning and the Broncos visit San Diego on ESPN Monday night, while the Texans try to stay unbeaten Sunday night when they face the Packers on NBC.
In college football, Navy travels to Central Michigan Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
It's time for the Red River Rivalry on ABC, with Texas meeting Oklahoma at noon Saturday. There's three games at 3:30 p.m., featuring West Virginia at Texas Tech. Other areas will see either Illinois-Michigan or Oregon State against BYU. ESPN will air one of the games not seen on ABC in your area.
Notre Dame hosts Stanford at 3:30 p.m. on NBC, while CBS offers top-ranked Alabama at Missouri. Fox has a doubleheader from the Pac-12, with Utah going to UCLA at 3 p.m. USC faces Washington at 7 p.m.
Virginia Tech tries to bounce back at home against Duke, with ACC network coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. Maryland meets Virginia at 3 p.m. on Comcast-plus.
ESPN starts its day at noon with Iowa against Michigan State. Third-ranked South Carolina takes on LSU at 8 p.m. ESPN2 has Northwestern facing Minnesota at noon. It's off to the ACC at 5:30 p.m. with Boston College playing Florida State, then Tennessee tackles Mississippi State at 9 p.m.
Comcast goes to the CAA at noon with New Hampshire meeting Maine. James Madison heads to Richmond at 3:30 p.m.
Brown travels to Princeton at noon on NBC Sports network, followed by Fresno State's contest with Boise State. Kansas State takes on Iowa State at noon on Fx.
MASN starts the day with the Big East game of the week between Syracuse and Rutgers at noon. It's off to the WAC at 4 p.m. with Utah State against San Jose State. MASN2 goes to the Big South at 1:30 p.m. for Liberty facing Presbyterian.
It's halfway through NASCAR's Chase for the Cup, and ABC covers the action from Charlotte Saturday at 7 p.m. The Nationwide racers hit the track Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Over in the WNBA, Indiana advances to play Minnesota in the Finals Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
The NHL may be on lockout, but college ice hockey gets going Friday on NBC Sports network. Maine faces Notre Dame in the Ice Breaker tournament at 7:30 p.m., followed by Army vs. Nebraska-Omaha. The final will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
D.C. United meets Columbus at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Comcast. Comcast has ACC men's soccer Friday, with Maryland at Duke at 7 p.m. Russia and Portugal play a World Cup 2014 qualifier on ESPN2 Friday at 10:55 a.m.
ESPN2 has college volleyball between Minnesota and Nebraska Sunday at 3 p.m.

Coming in January

I can't wait to see Joe Biden trying to interrupt Mitt Romney's inaugural address.

Democrats love Reagan

Is it just me, or did Joe Biden mention Ronald Reagan more than Paul Ryan in the vice presidential debate?
Across the mountain, the Democrat running for Congress touts his time with Reagan.
Guess those days in the 80s weren't that bad after all.

In the valley of death, rides Joe Biden

The more I heard about Democratic plans for Joe Biden Thursday, the worse it sounds.
He's headed into a trap, and his bosses are making it worse.
He'll look like Ken Berry in the opening of F Troop.

Tonight's the night

Ryan vs. Biden.
Will the vice presidential debate matter?
I've been looking forward to this day since Romney picked Ryan as a running mate in August.

Democrats' Maginot Line

Seven days of Democrats claiming Romney lied sure make one weak.
The Democrats think they are building their defense for Paul Ryan's performance Thursday.
I think they are building their own Maginot Line.
You remember that from your history?
After World War I, France built this sturdy defense network on the border with Germany.
The Nazis raced right around it and onto Paris.
The Democrats are fighting the last war.
The nation has five trillion reasons to believe what Ryan says over what they've done.

Two big events Thursday

As Paul Ryan and Joe Biden meet in the vice presidential debate Thursday, the Orioles and Yankees will be playing Game 4.
I have my rally towel.
I'll be waving it when Paul Ryan makes a great point.

Is Ryan too young?

An interesting meme in the news today?
If Paul Ryan ready to be president.
He's only 42.
Troglopundit thinks he's too young.
How does Ryan compare to Joe Biden?
Biden entered the Senate at age 30, the minimum age to become a Senator.
He ran for President in the 1988 campaign season - starting when he was 44.
We don't know if he'd heard of Neil Kinnock when he was 42.

Can't say "Great Romney"

Ann Althouse rewatched Wednesday's debate and reached a conclusion.
Obama wasn't that bad.
It's just that Romney was better.
Checking my observations on second viewing, looking to see what all the commentators claim to have seen, my experience was the same. Obama's performance was surely defensible. He didn't hem and haw or pause or look sleepy. He drifted from topic to topic too much and absurdly returned to schools too many times, but it seemed to me he had chosen a strategy, which was to be a decent, thoughtful, moderate guy, perhaps because it would appeal to women (like me) and to moderate undecideds (like me).
Why didn't the commentators who should have defended him defend him on that ground? Even if you think I'm wrong, we're talking about spin. What I'm saying is at least plausible spin, but we didn't hear it. Why? That's the puzzle before me, and I have the answer. There had to have been a coordinated decision to go with the talking point: Obama was terrible. He was tired, disengaged, unprepared. Shocking! But why would Obama's supporters coordinate to tell the story that way? What a weird thing to choose to put in our minds?
Here's why they did it. Romney was so much better than Obama. Romney was vigorous, vividly in command of the facts, principles of economics, free-market ideology. Like Obama, he had a strategy to appeal to moderates, and he jumped into the moderate ground and occupied it — stunningly — with modesty and charm. He radiated competence and readiness to work for us. There he stood, the brilliant candidate, who wants only to help us, knows how to help us, and deeply, passionately cares that we need help. Wow.

I got the wedding bell blues

The Daily Caller appears to have a scoop - back in 1991, President Obama attended the wedding of Martha Raddatz. She's the moderator of Thursday's vice presidential debate.
A big deal?
Shows the small circle and close connections of those in power.
Another filter to use in watching this debate.

Debate nursery rhymes

Barack Obama had a debate
Barack Obama wasn't that great
All the lefty pundits
and their TV friends
Couldn't put Obama together again

Jack Kemp, part two

The story about Paul Ryan's preparation for Thursday's debate reminds us of Jack Kemp's terrible vice presidential debate.
In late 1996, Ryan, then 26 years old, worked as a policy adviser for Jack Kemp, a former New York congressman and Bob Dole’s running mate. On the trail, Ryan guided Kemp as he prepared for his October debate with vice president Al Gore. The official prep sessions, however, were mostly a disaster. Kemp rarely practiced, and when he did, he lost his temper. At one mock debate, according to writer Robert Draper, Kemp “shot the bird” at Senator Judd Gregg, who was playing Gore, and stormed out of the room.
Once Kemp took the stage in St. Petersburg, Fla., he was hardly ready to challenge the Clinton-Gore record. He did not have an array of facts and figures memorized. Instead, he leaned on clunky anecdotes and platitudes. The entire exchange was tepid, and Kemp flopped, even in the eyes of his friends. “Within minutes it was apparent that Kemp was not prepared,” recalls Ed Gillespie, a Romney adviser, in his book Winning Right.
If Ryan needed a reminder about that, President Obama gave him an example last Wednesday.
In an extraordinary insight into the events leading up to the 90 minute showdown which changed the face of the election, a Democrat close to the Obama campaign today reveals that the President also did not take his debate preparation seriously, ignored the advice of senior aides and ignored one-liners that had been prepared to wound Romney.I liked Jack Kemp as a pick.
He didn't deliver in 1996.
I'm sure Paul Ryan will deliver in 2012.

Don't get cocky? How?

Two days until the vice presidential debate.
Polls are rising for Romney and dropping for Obama.
It's hard to contain the excitement. Especially with all the liberal whining.

Limited upside, enormous downside

Jim Geraghty looks forward to Joe Biden's tough task Thursday.
While the Obama campaign can ride out a contentious, tied Biden-Ryan debate or a boring Biden-Ryan debate, a bad Biden-Ryan debate would reinforce the suddenly pervasive perception of an incumbent campaign in a tailspin.
Biden can’t save Obama from the problems created by the first debate; only Obama can save himself – meaning there’s limited upside, and enormous downside, for the vice president to go out on that stage convinced he has to make magic happen, determined to swing for the fences.

Today's Tied with Me

Technorati gives this blog the same rank as Charlottesville's Schilling Show blog.

Undefeated teams watch

Houston took its Monday night game, joining Atlanta as unbeaten teams through five weeks.
Next week, the Texans host the Packers on Sunday night football. The Falcons will take on the Raiders at home.
The 1972 Dolphins are watching.

Almost time for Biden-geddon

Are you fired up for Thursday's vice presidential debate?
Are 40 years in Washington long enough for Joe Biden?
What kind of fun things will he say against Paul Ryan?

Poor Johnny U.

Sunday was a tough day for Johnny Unitas.
His passing record fell after 52 years.
I stood in front of his statue for a picture.

Romney takes the lead

The Obama team said Mitt Romney lied at the debate.
They know lies go I guess I'm convinced.
Too bad for them many voters aren't.

Debatcle

Driving home from Baltimore, I caught Dennis Miller's radio show.
A caller messed up a word, but Miller thought he worked perfectly.
The caller wanted to call Obama's debate performance a "debacle," but instead created the word "debatcle."
Looking forward to Joe Biden's debatcle with Paul Ryan.

Rainy days and Mondays

Baltimore had plenty of excitement Sunday, hosting its first postseason baseball game in 15 years. The excitement last eight innings, but unfortunately, the game was nine and the Yankees won.

Rain delayed the contest by two and a half hours, leaving the sellout crowd to mingle underneath the stands.

The TV crew had to wait, but eventually the tarp came off.

 

 

 

Throwing out the first pitch was the student shot at Perry Hall High School a few weeks ago and the staff members who stopped the shooter.

 

 

 

How to treat a Marine

 

A marine sang the National Anthem at Sunday's Orioles playoff game, then sang God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. The fans knew how to show their respect.

Marching through the Valley

Mitt Romney visited Fishersville Thursday, and flies back into the area for Monday's speech at VMI in Lexington.
If you're running for president, the Valley is a good place to visit.

I'm an empty chair who disapproves this message

Legal Insurrection kept the extra Empty Chair Day photos sent them on Labor Day.
Thirty-one days of empty chairs sounds like a great way to get ready for the election.
But you won't see our photo - it was part of Empty Chair Day already.

We are ... falling apart

Four weeks ago in Charlottesville, the University of Virginia beat Penn State to go 2-0.
The Cavaliers haven't won since.
The Nittany Lions dropped to 0-2 with the loss.
They haven't lost since.
When does basketball start?

The clothes have no emperor

Paco gets a shoutout from Ed Driscoll at Instapundit for this impression from 2008.
And you can’t inflate an empty suit and blithely assume that the American people aren’t going to see that the clothes have no emperor. Not. Going. To work.

Biden doesn't stand a chance

Look at Paul Ryan's all-star debate prep team.

Joe Biden only wishes he had such brilliant minds getting him ready for Thursday night.

 

Beautiful day in D.C.

It's a nice sunny day near D.C., probably perfect for a round of golf.
Too bad President Obama has to stay inside until he finishes his homework.

Saturday song

Hey, won't you post a B.J. Thomas song?

Facebook quote of the week

I know you're an avid reader... Have you read Dreams From My Father?

Should have left earlier

The Other McCain also made it to the Fishersville rally - even if he can't remember the "s" in our town's name.
He should have been there two hours early - like I was.

Boomerang bird

Mark Steyn takes on Big Bird - a multi-millionaire who still wants government subsidies.
The small things are not unimportant – and not just because, when "small" is defined as anything under 11 figures, "small" is a big part of the problem. If Americans can't muster the will to make Big Bird leave the government nest, they certainly will never reform Medicare.

Weekend watchdog

There's two more games and two more teams in the hunt for the 2012 World Series championship.
The first meeting between wild-card teams takes place Friday on TBS. Defending champion St. Louis made the field as the second wild-card, and take on Atlanta at 5 p.m. The American League contest between the Orioles and Rangers will be at 8:30 p.m.
The Division Series start Saturday, with Detroit hosting Oakland at 6 p.m. and San Francisco taking on Cincinnati at 9:30 p.m.
The wild-card winners host the first game of the other division series on Sunday, along with game 2 from Detroit and San Francisco. TBS carries both Saturday games and three Sunday, with the other game on the MLB network.
The Redskins host the Falcons Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX. CBS has the doubleheader, with the Ravens heading to Kansas City at 1 p.m. before Peyton Manning and Tom Brady meet in New England at 4:15 p.m.
In primetime, NBC shows Drew Brees trying to get the Saints in the win column against the Chargers Sunday night. Houston visits the Jets Monday night on ESPN.
ESPN starts the college football weekend Thursday with a twinbill, as future ACC foes Pittsburgh and Syracuse meet in a Big East clash at 7 p.m. Utah State takes on BYU at 10:15 p.m.
CBS starts Saturday at 11:30 a.m. with a service academy battle between Navy and Air Force. Florida travels to LSU at 3:30 p.m. ABC offers Oklahoma at Texas Tech or Illinois-Wisconsin at 3:30 p.m.
Want to see scoring? Fox has West Virginia's visit to Big 12 foe Texas Saturday at 7 p.m. after Arizona plays Stanford at 3 p.m. Miami takes on Notre Dame from Chicago at 7:30 p.m. on NBC, and ABC's primetime game matches Nebraska and Ohio State.
Virginia Tech tries to bounce back on the ACC game of the week, traveling to North Carolina at 12:30 p.m. Virginia goes to Duke at 3 p.m. on Comcast, which adds North Texas at Houston at 7 p.m.
ESPN starts the day in the Big Ten with Northwestern against Penn State. It's off to the ACC at 3:30 p.m. with Clemson meeting Georgia Tech, then Georgia battles South Carolina at 7 p.m. The nightcap has Washington taking on Oregon.
ESPN2 brings Arkansas-Auburn at noon, with the coverage of the game not on your ABC station at 3:30 p.m. Florida State meets N.C. State at 8 p.m.
On Fx, Kansas State takes on Kansas at noon.
MASN starts its day at noon with the Big East contest between South Florida and Temple. Liberty hosts Big South foe Gardner-Webb at 3:30 p.m., followed by UNLV taking on Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m.
Towson battles James Madison at 1 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
For your CFL action, NBC sports network shows Hamilton at Edmonton Friday at 9 p.m.
NASCAR heads to Talladega for the weekend, with the Chase for the Cup Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN. The WNBA playoffs continue Friday on ESPN2, with Indiana playing Connecticut at 8 p.m. It's Game 2 of Minnesota-L.A. Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
D.C. United hosts Toronto Saturday at 1 p.m. on Comcast. NBC offers the Red Bulls against Chicago Saturday at 3:30 p.m. NBC Sports network caps the night with Real Salt Lake at the Galaxy at 9 p.m. ESPN brings Seattle against Portland Sunday at 9 p.m.
Comcast has men's soccer from N.C. State this weekend, hosting Duke Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Maryland Sunday at 1 p.m.
In college volleyball, Virginia meets Clemson Friday at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast.

I came to hear Trace

Mitt Romney had quite a warmup act for his rally Thursday - country star Trace Adkins.
Adkins performed six songs, starting with "Songs about me."
He disappointed the guy behind me by not singing "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fired up in Fishersville

At Bearing Drift, SWACgirl provides a rundown of big day at Augusta Expoland.

On an interview aired on Hannity, Paul Ryan estimated the crowd at 12,000.

 

 

The guy shooting the t-shirts into the crowd was pretty popular.

 

 

As darkness fell, the crowd awaited Ryan and Mitt Romney.

 

Finally, the candidate arrived to a roar from the crowd.

 

 

 

 

 

Why it's called a Victory rally

Some wondered how the trailing candidate could call his gathering in Fishersville tonight a Victory Rally.
Now they know.

Children of politicians

I just turned on MSNBC and they had - to discuss the debate - Ronald Reagan Jr. and Megan McCain.
Good to see Mitt Romney overcame being child of a politician to do something worthwhile with their lives.

Trace in Fishersville

It's almost time for Trace Adkins to join Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in Fishersville.
Will he sing this song?

Debate aftermath

Can you find anybody who thought President Obama did well?
I think the empty chair had a better night against Clint Eastwood than Obama did against Romney.

Rest area sponsorships

It's cool to see the Geico gecko staring as you while you go.
Maybe the Allen campaign can use those signs with pictures of Tim Kaine - the man who sponspored the closure of the rest areas in 2009.

Here comes the crowd

They're expecting up to 15,000 people for the Romney/Ryan rally.
Fireworks.
Trace Adkins concert.
It's going to be a show in our little town.

Great place to relax, learn

Paul Ryan speaks in Fishersville Thursday, but he's already arrived in the area to continue debate prep.
First lesson - keeping a straight face when Joe Biden goes off on a wild tangent.

Fired up, ready for him to go

Two more days until the Romney/Ryan ticket brings a crowd to Augusta Expoland.
They are looking for a big crowd on what should be an awesome early fall day.
And they aren't shutting down a college to do it.

Moving up the polls

Fishersville's Wilson Memorial debuts in the Virginia prep polls at number eight.
Just a spot behind Riverheads, the team they beat Friday.

Follow the leaders

The News Leader has added a page to highlight local bloggers.
Welcome, and check out the best bloggers in the area.

Smoldering wreckage of Fenway 100

It's not been a good year for Red Sox fans.
With the smoldering wreckage of Fenway 100 behind us and the sellout streak in tact, Ben Cherington is/will be/should be free to pick his own manager this time. There were at least 100 reasons why Valentine should not have been hired in the first place. But there's only reason why he should not come back - he has failed miserably with this chance and has done nothing to justify another year, even if the team is contractually obligated to pay him for it.
Looking ahead, there are many candidates who are equally as capable as Valentine who could fill his shoes - including you, me, the guy selling beer in Section 26 and Wally.

Today's Tied with me

This week, Technorati gives this blog a ranking for World authority.
Along with this blog, which remains us Keith Olbermann is still out there on twitter.

Another rich guy for Romney

Before the debate in Denver, John Elway announces his support for Mitt Romney.

Doctor, doctor, gimme the news

How will doctors vote this election?
Romney 55%
Obama 36%
Fifteen percent of respondents said they were switching their vote from Obama in 2008 to Romney in 2012. The top reasons cited for this change was the Affordable Care Act and the failure to address tort reform.

Reynolds 2016

Instapundit: the man to solve our problems.
Why will he have my vote?
Anyone calling something a “spending cut” when it’s really just a decline in the rate of growth shall be mocked publicly and pitilessly by the Official White House Mocker, Iowahawk.

Really dreaming

Today's Democratic push?
Look at all the jobs that could be created by the DREAM act.
Keep dreaming.
Ask an unemployed college graduate the current benefit of a degree.

Faces of Facebook

My cousin and her husband took a trip to Chicago.
She posted a picture with Mike Ditka.
He posted a picture with Cal Ripken Jr.
Guess they won't need a plane to fly home.

Why Fishersville?

Three days until Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan bring Trace Adkins to Augusta Expoland.
Chris Graham wonders why come to such a Republican stronghold - which means not a lot of votes to switch to your side.
First, look at the electoral map. Most rallies have been in Virginia, Florida, Ohio and Colorado. You're running out of fresh venues.
For the day after the first debate, it builds momentum to speak in a stronghold. Which may be why President Obama will head to the University of Wisconsin.
We're just off the interstate, and not far from an airport.
Bring on the big dogs.

What to watch for

Hugh Hewitt gives hints what to look for in President Obama's debate answers on Wednesday.
Hewitt thinks you'll see lots of straw.
Finally, watch for the parade of straw men, the president's favorite rhetorical trick. He will set up arguments that have never been made in the service of Republican goals that have never existed, and then he will denounce both. If the appearance of a straw man serves as a trigger in a drinking game, many bottles will empty by the end of Debate No. 1.