"Don't be afraid to say you are disappointed in fellow Republicans ... don't hesitate to be anti-Washington, D.C."

In short, just say "Everybody in D.C. is a corrupt asshole ... except me". Should work really well.

Actually there's a bit of dichotomy of opinion. Most people think that Congress is a sink of cupidity and corruption, but that their representative is a shining noble, example. That's why everyone agrees that Congress sucks, but re-election rates normally exceed 95%.

I gotta ask - why is this example of right-wing delusions on the non-fiction list?

OK, so McCain says that he hasn't chosen yet. Since when has McCain actually spoken for his campaign?

I think what he meant to say was that they haven't told him who his pick is yet.

For those wondering - she allegedly tried to fire her former brother-in-law from the Alaska state cops for having the temerity to divorce her sister. She's denied it, but the state is probing.

McCain spoke about putting integrity before power, I wonder who he was talking about.

Interesting theory, but one flaw - Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho. I haven't noted any big Idaho independence movements lately, despite it's having been Skinhead and Identity Christian heaven a few years back.

But, the larger point is that her being a naturally-born citizen and over the age of 35 are about the only ways she's qualified. Constitutionally, that's enough. Past, or current, membership in whackadoo political parties notwithstanding. It's not enough for me to vote for them though.

Obama needs to insist on the interview being live and on being able to make a parallel recording - with his own equipment.

I'd like the Republicans a simple question: why should I pay more tax on earning $50,000 in wages than a member of the Lucky Sperm Club does on the $10,000,000 they inherit?

Or to put it in terms they may be more likely to understand, if the "Death Tax" is so unfair, why is a "Work Tax" better?

"When does AEI start trumping the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this stuff?" Schoomaker asked at the next chiefs' meeting.

General, I think it was 1200 hrs 20 JAN 01. Why'd it take you so long to wake up and smell the coffee?

Way back when, when my now 30-year old twins were infants, I was pretty newly in the Air Force working on KC-135 and other C-135 variant aircraft. The guy who was supposed to train me took pity on me, he did the work while I got to sit in the navigator's seat and take a nap. He was a hell of a guy!

Keith, you only have one little darlin', when they are multiples, they can tag team you.

I will certainly have to admit that Carly has the credentials to know about not being able to function as a CEO. She also knows what it takes to tank in other management positions.

She was CFO while I was at Lucent. This was when they had the bright idea to cash out all the employees' pensions and replace them with stock options. At that time Lucent was selling above $90/share, a couple years later, a share of Lucent was selling at approximately $6.

I was only there for 18 mos before I bailed, so no skin off my nose, but I can't help but wonder how all those long-timer Bell Labs and Western Electric people felt watching their pension evaporate.

I suppose it was good for the company not to have the long-term exposure of pensions, but I imagine that she could have found a way to do it without shifting the risk to the backs of the employees.

I've seen it suggested elsewhere that Obama should counter by offering to change the debate subject to the economy and move the location to DC. I'm sure that they could find a place in the Senate Office Building.

McCain might be dumb enough to moan that he would have no time to prepare, in which case Obama's obvious reply would be to make it a table stakes debate, i.e. no prep - you just bring what you know. As McCain is always touting his experience, he should have nothing to fear ...

The Tapper piece has been updated, McCain's campaign adviser will not be attending. McCain reportedly received the same instructions re: campaign staff as Obama.

if W managed to privatize social security and get everybody's retirement depending on the performance of Wall Street. It was called The Terror and it happened after the French Revolution.

Sometimes the term "class warfare" is taken a little more literally than others. Sometimes you lose your Porsche, sometimes you lose your head.

Republicans were a little less enthusiastic. Or you can assume they were -- most of them weren't in the Senate chamber to hear Obama speak.

That's OK, they won't have so much opportunity when Obama delivers the next State of the Union address. Let 'em not show up while they can.

Maybe Michelle Obama can remind Cindy that the reason that candidate's families are at lease theoretically off-limits (Ms Obama may feel that's a tradition that's been honored in the breach this time around) is because while the family members frequently say nice things about spouse, Mommy, or Daddy, they keep their mouths off the opposing candidate.

Cindy would be smart not to push this door open any further, but then I'm not sure that desperation isn't trumping intelligence.

" ...We've got 19 days, and we're taking serious all these issues."

And besides, this sort of thing has worked so well so far.

But, a bit more seriously, do they want to be bringing up whack-job pastors? Caribou Barbie's had some beauts.