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
OpenCongress Web Widget
Ever wanted to announce your support or opposition to Congressional legislation? OpenCongress now has a web widget that allows bloggers to do exactly that. Take a look at this, and check out how easily you can build your own.
Maybe They're Flotation Devices?
The Australian Navy foots the bill for breast augmentations. The Labour Party would like to know why, and probably so would most of the voters in Australia.
The Thinking Blogger
Congrats to Fausta, who won a Thinking Blogger award. She thanks me for my friendship, but the truth is that Fausta makes it easy to be her friend. She's always positive and energetic, and she epitomizes the notion of a thinking blogger. Make sure to put her on your must-read list!
Ensign Calls For Return Of MoveOn Money
NRSC chair Senator John Ensign calls for Democrats to return all campaign funds donated by MoveOn, after their despicable New York Times ad today accusing David Petraeus of treason. "If Senate Democrats are serious about moving our country forward, they will denounce this outrageous ad and return the campaign funds MoveOn.org has lavished on them as well as the donations made through MoveOn.org -- the choice is theirs." Ensign's right, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the refund ...
Support The Al-Dura Petition
Roger Simon at Pajamas Media is circulating a petition to demand accountability for the discredited al-Dura report from France's Channel 2. This is, as Roger calls it, the "Father of all Fauxtography," and C-2 has never acknowledged its fault in airing the supposed murder of a Palestinian child. He wants C-2 to show all of the unedited footage of the incident in order to show that C-2 faked the murder. If they're resisting the demand, I'd say they have something to hide ....
There Goes The Undefeated Season
Notre Dame managed to get its first loss out of the way as soon as possible -- and as badly as possible. Georgia Tech came to South Bend and stomped the Irish, 33-3, in the worst home opener loss in school history. The offense fumbled twice and allowed seven sacks on Evan Sharpley, who must have longed to have Brady Quinn back on the field instead. If Charlie Weis doesn't turn this debacle around fast, he may want to start asking Ty Willingham for some career counseling ....
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!
Comments (14)
Posted by SCSoxFan | October 2, 2007 9:31 AM
Don't put too much stock in this poll. It polls adults, rather than likely (or even registered) voters and has a MOE of 9%. It's unlikely McCain has that much strength in the GOP primary electorate.
Posted by Carol Herman | October 2, 2007 10:32 AM
Maybe, it's time for a history lesson?
Abraham Lincoln was screwed over royally, by his "compatriots" inside the WHIG Party. Who got screwed over, royally, in the first place, by Henry Clay's greed. And, his willingness to throw the results of the 1824 election out the window. Or, more accurately, into da' HOUSE; where he manipulated the first ANDREW JACKSON victory; tossing the presidency to John Quincy Adams, instead. In return? Henry Clay got to sit in the Secretary of War's cabinet seat. For 4 years. Until Americans voted, again.
John Quincy Adams, by the way, was part of the "aristocracy." And, in our form of republican government; was a baton that the super-duper-rich-and-well-connected, had decided would only be shared among a "few" houses.
Well, from history, you know what happened to the WHIGS!
And, so, AT politics, Abraham Lincoln, a genius to begin with; learned all he needed to know about duplicity. And, in-fighting.
Comes the Republican Party; and Abraham Lincoln furvently wished to get rid of this "polical class." But as I said, here stood a genius. And, a man who was also wise. And, a realist.
Turns out you can't win at any political game, unless you know the antics "backstage."
All the audience knows? Happens ON STAGE, when the curtain goes up.
Okay. Applying history's lessons, here.
McPain is one of the "front-runners" in his own mind. He really did have a shot in 2000. But the Bush Family manipulated the primaries, a hell of a lot better.
Karl Rove got credit. If you think "push polls," done late in the day, are worth all that much. Because, while it changed how things were going in MANY an American election; we've got the Internet.
And, history. From which we could learn possible outcomes.
These days, McPain got enough exposure to look like the dog that he is. A man who'd be lots more comfortable among Bonkeys, than that which appeals to the MAINSTREAM.
He's way too old.
The other part of this "game?" Well, it has to do with money.
And, it's WHOLESALE. You collect lots of money; whether you're gonna win. Or not! Hillary, for instance, gets so much money shot at her; it's like water coming out of a high-pressure hose.
Why do so few, really; try to "bag" candidates, early on with money?
And, the answers will vary.
Sometimes? The media, themselves, play. It's just a game of switching funds from one hand to the other. Since marketeers and advertisers are IN on the "taking" ... just like in politics, some of the "insiders" could care less of whom they're working for ... (Sort'a like a pretty girl working for an ugly madame. As long as she has the phone lists that provide the best "trade.") Don't get lost, here, thinking love has anything to do with this stuff.
It doesn't.
And, Lincoln was the first to acknowledge that "giving jobs" to "petitioners" ... is what a president will do. That's why Lincoln ALWAYS saw those who came to him. Asking for their "pay-offs." Or "jobs." Call it what you will.
To Lincoln, this was the under-belly. It meant these were the beasts who'd carry your water, among their own crowd. WHere like union thugs, they made sure they had a crew of idiots who did their bidding.
Sounds awful?
Well, so is sausage making. You'd never even eat ONE, if you knew what was inside those skins.
Making the product tasty, however, really does make it useful.
And, you can't get away from reality, no matter how much you dream.
As to polls? The media's up on the ropes. They've run out of leadership. They're not playing "tunes" that People in the majority, feel even bares any resemblance to reality.
You'd discover how this works if you gave thoughts to affirmative action; and, how when you lack talent, you're just never, ever, gonna make it on Broadway.
Does McCain know his short-comings?
I have no idea. And, for the most part, I don't even care.
Polls ain't ultrasounds. They don't do much better than gypsies reading tea leaves. And, the art in that? Is telling the customer what he wants to hear.
McPain is a horse's arse.
And, yes. The whole senate reflects poorly.
As if there was any presidential timber among those 100 termites.
On the other hand? When you're lied to by the press? It gets your dander up.
Having your dander up keeps you from falling asleep while you're driving through this mess. Kapish?
Posted by LarryD | October 2, 2007 11:00 AM
McCain:
Judicial Appointments: F
War: Mixed, supports military in the field, but would treat detainees like POWs or better. Doesn't support coercive interrogation, but expects that if it's necessary, people would do it anyway and he'd decline to prosecute afterwards; B+ and F.
Free Speech: F
And this is just off the top of my head.
McCain will not get my vote. Ever.
Posted by l ertel | October 2, 2007 11:18 AM
McCain hates his base...spits in their face. He is self-serving and he can't gain because he is so transparent. No excitement for this candidate.
Posted by jay | October 2, 2007 11:25 AM
Minnesota's primary won't count for much. McCain will be gone before our primary.
Posted by JAF | October 2, 2007 12:08 PM
Agreed- no way McCain makes it past fifth place in Iowa, third place in New Hampshire, and third place in Michigan. Not to mention he has no real money and will have to abide by Federal spending limits since he has to take matching funds.
Posted by John | October 2, 2007 1:13 PM
Interesting, Mitt is making no impression in MN. He has spent little or no money here of course, but we have seen him in the debates and in the news. And of course Hugh Hewitt plugs him relentlessly on his show, so he is not a complete unknown.
Newsweek's cover story this week wonders if Mitt can connect with voters, he csome across as not having a heart nor a history, plus sounding like an MBA powerpoint presentation.
Posted by Ken Hahn | October 2, 2007 2:03 PM
McCain would need several miracles to become competitive. He won't get them. Pawlenty is a good soldier. His general is not worth his support.
Posted by Oldgoat | October 2, 2007 2:28 PM
Nobody needs to worry about the Minnesota presidential primary: there isn't one. Minnesota selects its convention delegates at party caucuses.
Posted by Bombast | October 2, 2007 2:33 PM
If McCain is the nominee, I will crawl over broken glass to vote against him.
I don't think I can bring myself to vote for Hillary. But I'll write in Snoopy the Dog.
He's been at war with the GOP longer than we've been at war with the Islamists.
Posted by arch | October 2, 2007 2:43 PM
I voted for John in the 2000 republican primary in NY. He has a teriffic war record. Don't think I could have stood the torture. Of course, I'm so obnoxious the NVA would probably have shot me.
My problem with McCain is that he was a member of the gang of 14 and tried to compromise on amnesty.
Posted by Christoph | October 2, 2007 3:04 PM
Ed, I know you want to be nice to all the R candidates so you can invite them here and give them a soapbox... but read your comments.
McCain's finished. Period. End of story.
Posted by Hollowpoint | October 2, 2007 4:27 PM
Star Tribune polls aren't worth the paper they're printed on- they're notoriously inaccurate, always overpolling Democrats and rarely corresponding to actual election results, even those they take shortly before the election.
Note the margin of error- 9 points for Republicans. That's not a poll, it's a wild guess.
Posted by LarryD | October 3, 2007 9:48 AM
Arch, McCain's worse than you remember. McCain wasn't just a member of the gang of 14, he was the instigator who organized it.