was good. I watched both him and McCain in their entirety. I didn't see any problems with his style. It was set up as a conversation and Obama looked natural in the setting. I didn't agree with Obama on gay marriage, but that's always been his position, and it's light years ahead of the opposition.

McCain did better than I thought, but now he put his oft repeated POW stories into the MSM multiple times. In future debates, even people that support him, might become annoyed when asked about topic A. he responds with "When I was a POW..."

McCain also got it out there that "Life begins at conception", got that fellow women? That means that most forms of birth control are abortion. If you don't believe me, talk to an evangelical.

I also got annoyed with all the "My friends.." comments form McCain, it seemed canned and forced.

I think the bar was set low for McCain (just like it was for Bush) and he did well to a very receptive audience. I think the bar was set high for Obama (just like it was for Kerry and Gore) and he did better than I thought and even got a few rounds of applause from a polite audience.

Of course it's not "fair" that Obama had to do this, but with the rumors of his not being Christian being circulated it had to be done.

Never mind, never mind, they'll be teaching it at the War College soon enough.

prefaced of course, by the commment, after 9/11 Mooser was engaged with a thorny situation....

Stick around, I was/am really in a bad mood after I started listening to the praise being heaped on "I was a POW" McCain after his performance. Obama's thoughtful answers were dismissed as rambling, though a couple of pundits did admit they were "nuanced".

Your use of the word ginormous for Derbig was especially good since it got in the "gin" reference AND the the whole size thing of a Newfie. Good job.

I think it's the weekend and the threads can drift where they may while GG tries to relax, hopefully on a beach with a drink that has an umbrella in it. Hmmm, an umbrella type drink sounds good...

Over at Firedoglake (not too off topic, since the jist of this article is about Jane) they are discussing how this "situation" is being spun as some kind of positive for McCain.

They point out that the Guardian has a different take and things.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/16/georgia.russia1

Cheney on steroids is not who I want at the helm.

Look, Obama sent Joe Biden off to Georgia today, to make sure he has an equal part in whatever disaster we cook up there.

That is being spun.

Biden is being invited to Georgia as the head of of the Senate foreign relations commitee. He's not being sent by Obama.

p.s. I'm floored that the talking heads are talking about how great Mccain did during tonight's show.

How are you a Christian? Well, I was a POW...

How would you fight evil? I'd defeat it! (cheers from the audience)

How would you define rich? Having a good family and home...

Reagan, POW, POW, Reagan, drill, drill, POW, hunt down Osama.

It's painful to be reminded of how Bush was always judged the winner over Gore and Kerry and everybody (including the liberals) shake their heads in agreement.

I don't see Dowd's humor (and I'm an Obama supporter), and I do see her as more of a popular mean girl than satirist. Here are a couple of examples of her wit:

"Al Gore is so feminized and diversified and ecologically correct that he's practically lactating."

When Kerry said "There isn't one of us here who doesn't like NASCAR and who isn't a fan." chose to quote him as saying "Who among us...." adding on to the pretentious charge.

"I’m happy for John Kerry. Long-faced guy, as some Bushies refer to him, finally found somebody to stand at the podium and give him an adoring look." (She meant Edwards and at the same time managing to get in a good Teresa bash)

Calling Edwards the Breck girl in the 2004 race. (saying she heard Bush officials call him that behind the scenes, she put it out there to be mainstream)

Oh, Bambi.

In fact she is usually rougher on the women, you can google her oh so clever comments on Hillary Clinton (when she was first lady if you prefer, not the candidate) and Teresa Heinz Kerry. Dowd has never liked either.

So far, she seems to like Michelle, but I fear when someone on the right comes up with a good "clever" put down of Michelle, Dowd will be sure to spread it. Even if she tut tuts through her laughter as she spreads the good gossip.

To be fair, she bashes the Repubs and has cute little nicknames for them, too, I just don't find that particularly amusing either.

I was going to title the post "not getting it" and realized it, too, had a double meaning.

As firefly82 pointed out, people that saw the potential for misunderstanding "Dive In!" might not have voiced their concern for multiple reasons. Then again, some might not have seen it anything wrong with it until it was pointed out to them, I didn't.

When a client in my field tells a raunchy joke, or sometimes accidentally say something with a strong double meaning I always pretend to be unaware, even if everyone else is sniggering. I've found that if I laugh it gives some the impression that it's okay for the floodgates to open and it will get uncomfortable real quick. I learned this the hard way.

When I'm being polled now, I list myself as a "progressive liberal".

Neither are bad words.