About
Captain Ed is a father and grandfather living in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, a native Californian who moved to the North Star State because of the weather. He lives with his wife Marcia, also known as the First Mate, their two dogs, and frequently watch their granddaughter Kayla, whom Captain Ed calls The Little Admiral.
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The Crows Nest
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Hobbs Choice
Volunteer Voters is holding its annual "Best of Nashville" on-line polls, and one of the categories is for the best political writer. Our friend Bill Hobbs, now posting at Newsbusters, and he'd like his on-line fans to cast their votes. Drop by and put one in for Bill if you get a chance!
Murtha Getting Backlogged On Apologies
Gary Gross of Let Freedom Ring sees another case collapsing on the Haditha charges. He's called for Murtha to apologize earlier, and adds another reason to the tally.
No Such Thing As 'Moderate' Islam?
Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan told a television interviewer that he finds the label "moderate Islam" offensive. Shrink Wrapped has a lot more on this, but at least in the same interview Erdogan acknowledged that "radical Islam" exists, and that it's been a catastrophe. Be sure to read the whole post.
MS-NBC Gets Punk'd
Power Line has a great post on a lack of journalistic effort on the part of MS-NBC. In covering the Michael Vick story, they reported on what they thought was Al Sharpton's website proclaiming Vick's innocence. I guess Alex Johnson and two other MS-NBC reporters couldn't bother to read the title bar of the site, which proudly proclaims it as a "parody site".
New Instapundit Podcast On Pharmaceuticals
I just caught this e-mail from Glenn Reynolds about his new podcast with Richard Epstein, the author of Overdose: How Excessive Government Regulation Stifles Pharmaceutical Innovation. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but the topic is important enough to make sure I carve out time for it tomorrow. Get their first and tell me what I'm missing ....
Fed Trying A 'Stealth Easing'?
The Federal Reserve seems to have conducted a quiet campaign to steady markets that started spinning out of control, according to King Banaian at SCSU Scholars. He thinks that the Fed has conducted a "stealth easing". Be sure to read his explanation and follow his lnks.
A Shameless Bit Of Sel-Promotion
Gateway Pundit and Val at Babalu Blog note a crass PR move by Hugo Chavez. Venezuela has responded to Peru's eathquake disaster with food shipments -- and with Hugo's smiling picture on the cans. He also uses the tuna-can label to undermine President Garcia of Peru, who narrowly defeated Chavez' pal Ollanto Humalla, whom the labels extol for his "solidarity" with Chavez.
Tacky beyond belief.
Comments (19)
Posted by Tom Shipley | July 2, 2007 11:47 AM
I'll be rooting for McCain now if only so that he can show that election aren't won with fundraising figures.
Posted by ggeisel | July 2, 2007 12:05 PM
A significnt enemy of free political speech and advocate of open borders bites the dust. Good riddance.
Posted by docjim505 | July 2, 2007 12:16 PM
Any possibility that we can lay McCain off? In fact, "downsizing" the Congress seems like a pretty good idea. Let's face it: if they were the senior management of ANY well-run company, they'd all be cleaning out their offices.
Posted by Carol Herman | July 2, 2007 12:45 PM
Well, he could sell his Double-Talk Express on ebay to raise funds.
Posted by Palamas | July 2, 2007 1:02 PM
Tom: Does that also mean you're rooting for Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel?
Posted by Jim | July 2, 2007 1:05 PM
Well, maybe now those conservative bloggers who were apologists for that dishonest RINO John McCain can cut out the pussyfooting tightrope act, and focus on actual conservative candidates.
And oh by the way, I am not remotely interested in, and nor shall I vote for, somebody who can simply "beat Hillary/Obama" or "beat the dems." I bought that line before, and ended up with Mel "Shamnesty" Martinez as my senator, and Jorge Arbusto as my president. Not happening any more. And guess what - there don't need to be all THAT many pi$$ed off Florida registered (but not giving the RNC a DIME) Republicans, like me to cause a blood bath in 08. And as I have stated on this blog in the past, I don't give a flying rats a$$ how bad a blood bath people like me casting a meaningless vote for a Libertarian or a write-in candidate may cause.
Because members of "the base" like me have been taken for granted and then sh-t on, just ONE time too many. Payback's a bit-h, ain't it, and THIS time our memories are not going to be short.
Posted by Monkei | July 2, 2007 1:33 PM
Poor guy, wonder how his Straight Talking Express Wagon Train would have been running if he had not hitched his team up with this "president"? So much promise 6 years ago, now nothing.
Posted by exDemo | July 2, 2007 1:43 PM
Jim,
You may not like GW Bush but he has fought the terrorists and not swooned and kissed their asses as a good Dhimmicrat of my ex-Party would have done.
The best President of my lifetime of my ex Party, was Harry Truman, who had the pluck and stick-to-it-tiveness, called pig-headed stubbornness then, to fight in Korea and ended up with an !8% support in the polls.
Now they call him a Great President, in retrospect, for initiating and creating the strategy to win the Cold War..
In the year ands a half he has left, he will have already won without a shot in Libya; won in Afghanistan; and increasingly looks like he will have won in Iraq at least as well as Nixon did in South Vietnam.
Bush tried to repair Social Security when any arse like Clinton did nothing. He made no secret of his desire tot do the Immigration bill approach even in his first campaign. The majority of Americans just disagree, but he was no turncoat.
Posted by MarkD | July 2, 2007 1:57 PM
The topic was McCain, not the incumbent. He will never get my vote because of McCain-Feingold. The man is a hero, but I vote for people whose judgement I trust, not those whose accomplishments I admire.
Posted by PDonaldson | July 2, 2007 2:04 PM
Its interesting that McCain can't seem to find enough support within his own party to be a viable candidate. He has a fair amount of outside support although he has eroded that as well in order to boost his chances of winning the primary.
McCain might as well resort to running ads like this fake one on Jimmy Kimmel
http://beta.redlasso.com/Community/ClipPlayer.aspx?i=decb7feb-aa01-4634-b682-43116276122f
Posted by Carl | July 2, 2007 4:19 PM
I must disagree with Carol, as nobody would pay for McCain's train of lies.
Oh, perhaps the laid off McCain employees can pick lettuce for $50 an hour (another of McCain's lies(.
Posted by patrick neid | July 2, 2007 4:23 PM
"Once considered the front-runner for the GOP nomination"....
by whom? McCain never had a serious chance. i'm amazed that anyone would give him their hard earned money. the only folks talking up his chances are the press. they need filler.
i always scratch my head when i see most of these candidates, repub and dem, and try to imagine what could possibly go through their heads to lead them to think that it's all really possible. i have as good a chance and i don't even want the job.
Posted by GarandFan | July 2, 2007 4:33 PM
McCain couldn't win reelection in Arizona right now, much less become President. As others have noted, payback can be a real bit..h.
Posted by Bill Faith | July 2, 2007 4:34 PM
MarkD at July 2, 2007 1:57 PM, we'd get along. I'm disappointed in McCain over BCRA, the Gang of Fourteen stunt, and the shamnesty debacle, but that doesn't change the fact he is still a war hero who deserved our gratitude and respect. I just jumped all over some stupid kid at Hot Air for calling "Comrade McCain" the "Ho Chi Minh" candidate. (I blame our failing school system.) I don't want to see him get the '08 nomination but if he does I'll vote for him. I linked.
Posted by Monkei | July 2, 2007 6:09 PM
exDemo ... you should go standup comedy full time!
Bill Faith ... are you condeming McCain for being in the gang of 14, the same gang that basically has SAVED any GOP issues. Just ponder how many decisions in the Senate would have been passed or agreed upon if McCain and the other moderate 13 did not continue the rules of the Senate. If anything McCain should get the eternal thank you from the conservative GOP.
Like I said before, be careful for what you wish, if the Senate had passed the Frist rules 2 years ago ...
Posted by Karen | July 2, 2007 6:44 PM
McCain lost me when he did everything he could to obstruct Bush's agenda as President. I considered him a poor loser from 2000. Then the Immigration debacle nailed the hammers tighter in his coffin of support from me, and I am probably a typical base supporter, however, my pocket book means more to me than any abortion issue. I am more against gay marriage than abortion. Look at Europe to see the slope of devaluing marriage, no one over there bothers to get married anymore.
Does anyoen beside me find it ironic that abortion is causing the demise of demographics favorable to Democrats? Mostly the liberals and independents who vote liberal get abortions. 46 million abortions in 34 years or so. If we had birthed those babies, we wouldn't need immigrant workers. And we would have a whole bunch of under 30 liberals voting for libs.
McCain just needs to leave the field now. He isn't even a viable VP prospect.
Posted by paul | July 2, 2007 8:20 PM
should have tried offering to pay them in pesos.
Posted by Jeff | July 2, 2007 8:57 PM
There's incredible irony in any scenario where the architect of campaign finance reform goes down because of money problems while his peers raise record amounts of $$ in an election that will redefine what "big money" in politics really means.
Posted by Adjoran | July 3, 2007 1:59 AM
I understand McCain trying to hang in there. After all, in late 2003, John Kerry was reduced to mortgaging his interest in the house his wife had put his name on just in order to keep going, and less than three months later he was the presumptive nominee.
Of course, this presumes a Giuliani meltdown on the order of Howard Dean's, which seems unlikely, and that Romney will assume the Edwards 2004 role of never being quite competitive enough to win on neutral ground, and that Thompson will fizzle as fast upon entering the race as Wes Clark did.
Lots of unlikely things have to happen to keep McCain remotely viable - and the sad truth for him is that even if all the stars aligned as described above, some other late entrant would have a decent chance of beating him anyway.
It's one thing to alienate your base after winning the office, but quite another to alienate them before and during the primary campaign. McCain's innate self-righteousness is the real culprit, though. It is what makes him impute malice to anyone who opposes his ideas. Since the Republican base opposes many of his main issues, he was at loggerheads with the people he needs most from the very start.
At this point, an independent run is out of the question. He would being telegraphing "sour grapes" by such a move, not to mention that Bloomberg is currently sucking all the oxygen out of the "third party" coverage. If he had declared an indy run from the start, he would have had a chance of making some noise, but now all he can manage is a whimper, not a bang.