All this talk of houses, finance, and the economy make me wonder if we shouldn't contemplate the big stakes gamble we are looking at with a guy who can't even remember where he lives.  

The only way to address this is with the level of seriousness he gives to his own positions ....in other words:  Caption Contest!!!

Rules are simple:  Add your caption in comments. Vote on the one(s) you like by reccomending them.  Add as many captions as you like.  Most rec'd comments wins....

Oh... and remember, we don't refer to Obama's opponent by his name anymore since he has diminished his stature to the point that he is only relevant because he is Obama's opponent...  

It's no accident that poblano has been doing such an outstanding job calling and tracking the races.  People here treat politics the way baseball fanatics memorize baseball stats.  I mention this because it is important for us to remember how skewed our perspective is when we are out and about talking to undecided voters.   I mention this because if you have the right mindset you will be amazed how many opportunities you will have to advocate for Obama.  I'm not talking about accosting folks and pinning them down.  I'm talking about making it easy for people to solicit you for your opinion.

Those are critical opportunities that pay huge dividends.  I just laid the groundwork today that will probably bring in several votes. With a minimal amount of effort, you can do this too.

A federal appeals court today upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, former White House political adviser Karl Rove and former Cheney aide I. Lewis Libby of illegally conspiring to reveal the identity of a CIA agent.

It is still a federal crime to knowingly reveal a covert CIA operative's identity.  But as the AG announced while unveiling the new DoJ motto in front of the American Bar Association: "Not all violations of the law are crimes."  So treason is still a violation of the law, but it is not a crime for Bush & Co. because Congress gave them an exemption to infringe on individual privacy.

In keeping with this overhaul of government mottos, Sec. Rice will be unveiling the new State Department motto later today:  Oderint dum metuant.   Next week, the Pentagon will announce the return of human sacrifices to prime time TV.  Asked to comment, Sen. Obama called this "deplorable" and vowed to change it.  Sen. McCain could not be reached by phone.

People don't plan to fail.  They fail to plan.

Yesterday, I wrote an essay warning how they are going to try and steal the election.  Some people got spooked by that.  Here's the good news:  We know how they are going to do it.   They are going to do it the same way they did it in 2004.  The problem for them is we know WHO did it in 2004 and right now they are a bit preoccupied.  But let's assume they have a deep bench.  That makes our job description pretty clear.  We have to overwhelm them.  This is where you come in.

I want to propose a couple of ways for us to defend ourselves if/when they come to steal the election and turn out the lights.  That's right.  I just upped the ante.  If I was planning the operation, I wouldn't just steal the election this time.  I would shut down your network too.  I would sever your communications links so you couldn't coordinate your response.  And I'd walk away with everything in the chaos.  

Let me show you how the lights will go out, and how we can keep it together in the dark... even if you are a complete computer novice...

Feeling comfy about our prospects in November?  Sit down.  If you are holding a cup of coffee, put it down.  This is going to upset you.   Before we start, here are two rules to keep in mind:

Rule #1:  The vast majority of attacks originate from within the system.

In other words, you are more likely to get knifed in the back by a friend than attacked by a stranger.  That is why date rape is the most common form of rape.  That is why most murder victims knew their killer.  

Rule #2:  "Security through obscurity" does not work in the modern world.

In other words, you will fail if you try to secure a system by "hiding" stuff instead of designing a "lock" to protect stuff.  The reason this fails is simple.  The strategy keeps everything secret until someone talks or someone stumbles across the information.  Then you are screwed -- or dead -- depending on how badly things go.

What's this got to do with you?  If you care about winning in Nov. you need to read the rest of this.  Follow me for a free ride on a subway.  Our destination?  Stealing an election....

Dear David Broder,

You sir, are a role model.  You are widely known and well-regarded as both "the dean of political journalists" and as a Pulitzer-prize winning author.  I'm sure you agree this status compels you to follow the highest ethical standards of your profession.  As a member of The Society of Professional Journalists, you also know you are obligated to follow their Code of Ethics.  It is with dismay I note you apparently violated many of these important ethical principles in your recent column, A Way Back to the High Road?  

After reviewing the attached list of particulars, I hope you will promptly correct these mistakes, thereby avoiding permanent damage to your reputation and credibility.

For those with memories as poor as Obama's opponent, you will be interested to learn how Obama first appeared on the national scene.  Obama's opponent at the time, incumbent Jack Ryan (R), was forced to drop out of the race after the public learned he treated his wife like a trollop.  How ironic!

So how does one respond to the scripted suggestion Cindy play sex toy at Sturgis?  
Caption contest!  

Honey get ready.   They're going to drill.   Right here.  Right now. (h/t mrblifil)

Contest rules and honorable mentions below the fold

Obama's opponent has been getting blasted recently for his ad comparing Obama to Paris Hilton.  So what if he is trivializing the political discourse?  The candidate himself explained this was all just good, clean fun:

"We think it's got a lot of humor in it, we're having fun and enjoying it ... we'll continue to fight and scrap all the way to November 4."

I guess that's why Paris is having fun with it.  Well, where is it written we take turns having fun?  Nowhere.  So I propose a caption contest!  Just like the ones in the New Yorker.  Here's the image:

I keep winding it up but it doesn't do anything!

More information below the fold

People who prefer substance over form may be frustrated that presidents are sold to the public like any other product.  I agree it trivializes the political process.  However, that doesn't mean it favors the opposition.  In fact, it's a golden opportunity to move some Overton windows, put the opposition on defense, build a barrier to the competition, and strengthen Obama's brand while engaging voters.  Which one of those don't you like?

The key to this shift in dynamics can be framed in a simple question.  "

You want to gamble that more of the same will bring something different, or invest in a better future?

The other side is working overtime to raise fears by suggesting a vote for Obama is a vote for someone "untested", "unknown", "inexperienced", "a clean slate", "a roll of the dice"... a.... whoah...hold it right there.  

Voting for Obama is a "gamble," but his opponent is a "sure thing?"  Really?   Watch how easily you can turn the tables when you apply the filter of "gamble or investment" to this campaign...

The press works overtime to make McCain seem deep and thoughtful.   Then he turns around and approves ads that are neither.  

Some have questioned McCain's judgment for letting his team air online an "ad" that mocks Obama and Moses.  When you think about it, there really is little to no downside to that ad except that it makes McCain look small, petty, vindictive and juvenile...oh and contemptuous of faith.  But hey, generating conflict will keep his name in the press.   That's better than being overlooked.

On the other hand, what about an ad that effectively calls Obama a bimbo by comparing him to Paris Hilton?  That's a home run, right?  Actually, no.  On the plus side, the ad is generating conflict.  The problem for McCain is that ad is getting the wrong people angry.   What does this say about McCain's judgment?   You are going to love this....

Now it is official.
They can take any electronic device at the border
And do what they want with it
Regardless of what you want.

How does this make us safe even though the REAL threats don't need to carry their data with them?  On the information superhighway, borders are speed bump.  This is not protection. It is an invitation to rape, and that is not a metaphor.  Rape: destroy and strip of its possession

Here's a thought...what makes you think this is just in place at the border?  
What happens when you board an AMTRAK train?  DHS stops searching?

What happens when they go through the laptop and find legal consults?
What happens when they go through the laptop and find commercial secrets?
What happens when they go through the camera and find porn?
What happens when they grab the ipod with downloaded music?

How do you know evidence won't get planted?
Are you skilled enough in computer forensics to defend against that?

Media manipulation is a critical tool for those in power.  That's why they spend big bucks on it.  Driving the points home effectively requires a range of voices.  It's not enough to have talk radio shills shouting Obama is presumptuous or arrogant every few minutes.  That is where PR firms come in.  The Washington Post recently published an insider's look detailing how

Public relations firms regularly solicit authors of opinion-page articles, draft the pieces for them and place the articles in publications where they will have the most impact.

 They're not always so crass.  Sometimes, PR firms use people on the payroll to reinforce their client's  message.  That's where guys like Dana Milbank come in.  His recent hit piece is an excellent example worth dissecting because it vividly demonstrates how a first class hatchet job doesn't use lying or screaming.  The art is in the (mis)characterization.  Oh...and the echo chamber around it. (that would be you, Buchanan)  

In the past, I have compared Bush (unfavorably) to Nero and Caligula.  Caligula is remembered for his excess and Nero for his indifference.  Against all odds, Bush has finally outdone them.  He has proven he can be both ... excessive and indifferent...

Even the infotainers are starting to smell the coffee.  

Wow.  How come no one is calling it "presumptuous" for Patrick Buchanan to be calling it this early for Obama?  And a "blow out" to boot?  But the press calls Obama "arrogant" and "presumptuous" and refuses to even acknowledge he is going to be the Democratic nominee, still "presumptive" ... as in "I presume the 75,000 people who will greet him in Colorado are going to be supporters." :)

A bit late in the frenetic news cycle of the day,
but when speaking to the Alpha and the Omega,
time is not a particularly important factor.
Content and style, however, do matter.  

Who knew Obama prayed in haiku?
All whining aside, 5-7-6 is pretty good if you are jet lagged :)

I wonder what McCain prays for?

Some people see a brighter future and leave us hopeful.
Some people build a brighter future and leave us enriched.
Some people dream a brighter future and leave us inspired.

Randy Pausch was all of these... and so much more.

The Last Lecture begins below the fold...

Before I bid adieu...

What a surprise...