Post-Debate Hysteria
The Sturm und Drang now in full swing among the professional pundit class is hilarious. Yes, the President phoned in a tepid performance. Yes, Mr. Romney managed to exceed the very low expectations America has of him. What is also true is that an incumbent President losing the first debate to his challenger is more the norm than groundbreaking news (see also 1984, 1992, 2004). Ask President Mondale and President Kerry how dispositive that is. So while Republican surrogates have at long last something to gloat about and left leaning pundits are having difficulty controlling their bodily functions on national…
Bell’s Firm Got $1 Million+ from BP
Well, well, well. Ask not for whom Mr. Bell shills – he shills for BP. We practically needed the jaws of life to pry the truth out of candidate Bob Bell, but it has finally been liberated from the mangled wreck of his financial “disclosure” forms. If you remember from the other day, Mr. Bell decided first that he didn’t want to tell us who gave his engineering firm money. Then APOC told him he had to not only disclose who, but how much. Then he disclosed who, but NOT how much. Apparently it became more uncomfortable for Mr. Bell…
Exclusive from Greg Palast -The Debates: What the hell happened?
Exclusive to TheMudflats.net from Greg Palast, author of Billionaires & Ballot Bandits: How to Steal an Election in 9 Easy Steps please listen to my discussion with Shannyn Moore on her radio show from last night. What the hell happened? Did Barack have a fight with Michelle? Was it nicotine withdrawal? Do really rich guys just scare you, Mr. Obama? Dear Mr. President: As a journalist I don’t take partisan sides, but I do take America’s side. And as Commander-in-Chief, you simply cannot fall asleep in the saddle. I mean Commander-in-Chief in the Class War. The war of the billionaires against the rest…
Debate Live Blog: The Mudkettle
Here were go, people. The most recent posts are at the top, you can sound off in the comments, and refresh your browser if this doesn’t auto-update. Let’s do this! 19:00 (AK) Jeanne: Thanks, Jim! Great fun. My take is that Romney exceeded expectations, and may have won on style, but Obama undoubtedly won on facts. We’ll see what comes out of all this in the next couple days. When all you have to do is “sound like a nice guy” and don’t much care about factiness, it’s easy to make a good first impression. And hey… We were promised…
Mudflats/Stonekettle Live Debate Blogging!
It’s time for rock ’em sock ’em politics in the form of the first presidential debate of this election cycle. Are you looking for a little company tonight? Someone to snuggle up to while catching the Obama/Romney show? Well, may I offer two somebodies in the form of myself, and Mudflats contributor Jim Wright, who is also the proprietor of his own blog Stonekettle Station. We’ve been sharpening our wits to a fine ninja-sword-like edge, and we’re ready to take them both on. You can too. Just be right here at 5:00pm Alaska time (6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern). There…
Oh, the drama: predictions of “Obama’s America”
Iran has nuked Israel, the Boy Scouts have been disbanded, and the guns of loyal American patriots have been confiscated. Thus, back in 2008, forecast the right-wing evangelical group Focus on the Family the state of America in the present day. In keeping with the apocalyptic Tea Party hyperbole that confuses “tyranny” with losing an election, it can fairly be said that those with their hair thus on fire have a poor track record as fortune tellers. Instead of unionized ACORN thugs kicking down the doors of God-fearing freedom lovers and seizing their guns on behalf of Eric Holder, President…
Bob Bell’s Oily Non-Disclosure
Oh, my. Remember Bob Bell? The muskox poachin’, campaign finance violatin’ State Senate candidate running against Hollis French? Well, he decided a while back that he was above the financial disclosure laws that applied to all those other candidates. And then a citizen complaint was filed against him with the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC). And APOC gave him the bad news that yes, the law actually applied to him, no matter how super-special he thinks he is. So, what’s he doing now? Stonewalling. Yes, Mr. Bell continues to violate Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) disclosure laws by failing to…
Church Chat! Get out and Vote, Mat-Su!
. It’s a little more than a month until the general election in November, but for the Mat-Su Borough, election day is also tomorrow! I saw this message from Michelle Church and I asked her if I could repost it here. I hope all you Mat-Su folks remember to get out and vote tomorrow. The results will hinge on a very few votes, so turnout will make the difference. ************************************ The woman’s shoulders shook and her hands clenched. Her ragged voice broke as she testified to the Assembly about a land use conflict. I sat there in the audience chairs…
Best Event/Worst Event!
We’re all buried in invitations to fundraisers and political events this time of year. The fact that 59 of 60 legislative seats are up for election this cycle due to redistricting, makes it even more confusing to sort it all out. But here’s a complete no-brainer for best/worst events for the week. Let’s start with best. You can spend a Friday evening with the amazing Pete Petersen who is running for re-election on Anchorage’s East Side. He’ll be there with the equally amazing Tom Begich to delight you with an evening of yummy food, yummy music, and yummy company. Now,…
Treadwell Oversees & Meddles in Elections
‘Tis the season of the robocall. We all get them at some point – reminding us about a fundraiser, or from a candidate seeking our vote. Occasionally a candidate will get someone to call on his or her behalf. It’s usually not the sitting Lieutenant Governor. Yes boys and girls, if you live in the Valley, you may have gotten a robocall from Lite Gov Mead Treadwell singing the praises of local Tea Party types Larry Devilbiss for Mayor and Ron Arvin for Borough Assembly. Here’s what one of them said: “This is Mead Treadwell. The Mat-Su Borough has made…