(See update at the end...keep the pressure up on McCain) it is working...)

John McCain has proven himself the master of pandering. I wonder sometimes if he even knows he is doing it. We saw as recently as 2006 the "statesman" John McCain in Davos Switzerland speaking on video tape about the need for dealing with Hamas now that they were in power in the Palestinian Territories. Of course he would take that position, he was surrounded by the movers and shakers of the world financial, diplomatic and intellectual communities. He wouldn't want to seem "provincial" would he?

All the talk about Obama's minister Wright and his big mouth. But hardly a squeak about McCain's extremist endorsers and guides.

While Democrats may applaud the media for finally focusing on McCain's creepily cozy relationship with the delusional rantings of Hagee, Ron Parsley, Falwell, Robertson and even Sun Myung Moon, who between them would condemn Catholics, gays, Jews, blacks, Muslims, pro-choicers and other such riff-raff to eternal hellfire, there's not really much cause for said applause.

Here's why.    

Are you going to let a terrorist tell you how to vote?

John McCain thinks you should.

In the midst of a war against extremist followers of Islam the rhetoric of Rod Parsley is both particulary disturbing and dangerous (my thanks to Roxpert for the link). If you watch the video, you will note how Parsley quite inaccurately mischaracterizes the history of US policy towards Islam. One wonders how this kind of footage will play in the capitals of some of our potential allies in the "war on terror" such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and even with Al Maliki.

More below

This is beyond disturbing.  It is dangerous.

Breaking.....Parsley Muslim Hate Video!

We have a man running for President who has described a televangelist who hates Islam and is a religious bigot as "a great leader", a "moral compass", and even a "spiritual guide"

Keith Olberman just posed the question of when the right and white Reverend Hagee (who just renounced his "never mind" moment on his outrageous statements on Katrina) would be held to the same standard as Reverend Wright.  Especially when John McCain has been allowed to still embrace this man.

That's a great question.  

Do a quick Google News search of Rev. Wright and you'll find over 19,000 news stories.  

It's time that the media outlets that chose to make the Wright story the lede, understand that there's an equally, if not more offensive preacher story out there.

Just keep in mind that they made their decision to run the story based on the fact that it was a black preacher linked to a black candidate that was throwing out the inflamatory speech.

I'll let you, and the media outlets figure out the differences between Wright's inflamatory speech and the speech of Hagee and Palfrey.  I don't think anyone needs any hints to solve this riddle.

Of course the long term pipe dream of America's conservative fundamentalist theocrats is to eventually march right into Washington DC and take command of the government... and your lives, but for now it looks like they'll settle for taking control of the Republican party of Ohio, with an eye on eventually seizing the governor's office.

Today Ohio. Tomorrow, who knows?

Maybe your town or state.

Armageddon In Ohio
by Jeremy Leaming

I’m sitting here watching the boob-tube in Columbus, Ohio when I see what I think is a promo for an upcoming show on MSNBC.  The promo has the raspy voice used in movie trailers or other dramatic shows.  It talks about a figure in the bible that is unclear and undefined.  That has scholars confused for years.  At this time I’m still thinking this show is about the Holy Grail or something else like that and I’m kinda interested to find out when the show is on so I can DVR it.

Well, I guess the mainstream media has decided that critiquing the spiritual company we keep, especially politicians running for the highest office in the land, is now fair game. Ok, fine, if that's the way it's going to be played nowdays. We've certainly seen the spiritual company that Barack Obama has been keeping undergo a very close and highly critical examine recently. So, what about John McCain? I wonder what kind of spiritual company he's been keeping? I've heard he's been paling around with a Rev. Hagee and a Rev. Parsley lately. A couple of real wild and crazy guys I've been told.

Interesting. Well, let's see...  

The purpose of holding primaries and caucuses is for candidates to introduce themselves to the voters, explain their positions and policies, and let people see them in action so that people can form an opinion and cast a knowledgeable vote. The fundamental idea is for each candidate to attract as many supporters as possible.

Sometimes, though, this effort goes awry, and a candidate winds up alienating voters. It seems that one campaign (I won't mention which one because I'm trying to be fair here) has tried a number of tactics that have had this kind blowback. Here's a chance for you to vote for the Most Alienating Tactic of this campaign.