Watching the local news tonight - which is all most Americans see in the way of news, I got a bit annoyed about the framing of the McCain conversation till I stepped back and looked at the entirity of the election coverage tonight.

First it was OBAMA makes speech about patriotism, and sound clips of him saying no-one would challenge his patriotism.

Then Clark quote - they talked over the BS question that led to the "flying in a plane getting shot down comment" making it look like Clark originated the turn of phrase for which he is being so pilloried when he didn't - it was BS that summarized the entirety of the McCain experience to that couplet.  And McCain shaking his head, finishing with Obama "distancing himself from the comments", with the last remarks being Obama saying neither side should dispute the other's patriotism.

So Clark / BS exchange bugged me.  But then I looked again.  Obama's speech got elevated to the degree that the message was that both sides were patriotic and this crap needs to be cut out.  It's a well crafted message... (i don't know if deliberate or not, but if it was it's smart)

Look, I don't know what effort anyone could make in complaining that would make Viacom do anything about ANYTHING... but surely you must have some way to have a word with SOMEONE.

Seriously... I know that crappy show that sometimes comes on before you features that obnoxious Mencia guy that things racist humour is okay again, and for some weird reason it's seen as okay...

...but tonight.. the racist stereotyping crap on Barrack Obama's afro-wigged drugged out partying youth was just, quite simply disgusting...

it's not suddenly funny just because the guy that performs it makes some lame comments about how he's a minority too so it's okay he says it (we're all a little bit racist right?)

In most of my diaries or comments that touch on the subject I think I express my preference for Clark as VP.  But I have to say I think the case for Dodd is growing for me personally.

I think if one believes Barrack Obama is serious in his intent to genuinely change the way things are done in Washington... to truly run the White House the way they pretend it is in Hollywood movies, with integrity and seriousness...

and

if, like I do you are starting to believe Barrack Obama just might be THAT good a candidate that he can beat McCain, the right wing, the Clinton intransigence, the establishment that will do anything to prevent just this kind of Presidency... and i really am starting to think he might... and i mean that single handedly )ticket-wise, not discounting his outstanding organization)... which means that his VP choice is not all that importance in terms of winning vs. losing

then

why not pick someone for VP not based on electoral calculation but on the main purpose of the VP role - President in waiting... someone who can be President in the same vein in the worst of circumstances...

Just building on a comment I added elsewhere that won't get a viewing.

The fact is we won't actually hold the Bush administration accountable.  We'll make the same mistakes again as a nation and not punish our right wing anti-democratic extremists who are trying to destroy our nation and take us away from the constitution on which it is founded.

This is what allowed some of these idiots back in power after they should have been punished for Iran Contra.  

As I'll briefly outline below, personally, I think we'll point back to this as the inaction that led to the disintegration of our nation.  Yes quite seriously I see the violent demise of America in these actions, extreme though that may seem... if you're interested follow me below...

Not really much of a diary - just saying, switch on CNN right now (West coast) and see how they are pushing the Obama/Muslim meme

Clips of people saying he swore in on the Koran, that he says he's Christian now but said he was Muslim before etc.  He will not swear allegiance to the flag of the US.  etc.

The presenter coming up with the - we separate fact from fiction... which I guess will be 10 seconds at the end of an hour of trotting out more Obama lies where they say... nope all false.  By which time the damage is done.

Look this fight is over.  Sure perhaps Clinton miscalculated last night.  But let's not pile on her.  The VP is a non-starter and makes no political sense.  But let's not just grind her into the ground.

I think it's worth taking another look at getting behind a movement to push for her as Senate Majority Leader... she's a leg breaker, a fighter, an insider.  

Many of us think Reid, while a nice guy, just hasn't been tough enough to get what we need done.  I think Obama can change Washington while having a knee-capper pushing legislation through the Senate.

I want to coin a new term:  THE OBAMA GENERATION

Because WORDS ARE POWERFUL - they mean something.  Because THE OBAMA GENERATION is simply and clearly defined.  Because it makes sense as a identifier.  Because with it comes not just a sense of unity but a sense of purpose and an implied requirement for members of the OBAMA GENERATION to step up to the plate, to accept responsibility and change the world.

• Literally: those for whom Obama as an elder, but are old enough to vote or to campaign for Obama's election
• From roughly 18-46, this 28 year spread is a generation from those entering college to those with kids entering college
• And this generation is without a good name, being some mix of Genertaion X and Y... so let's call it what it is

THE OBAMA GENERATION

And let's respectfully ask for help and guidance from those Boomers who worked so hard to effect change in some of the important areas we believe in and take for granted today, and make for a productive transition of power from their generation to ours

I wrote a stroppy diary recently about how pissed off I am at the Boomer generation, like so many of us born after the boomers... but I liked the discussion it provoked and it got me thinking...

You are the generation that fought in or against Vietnam and lived through the sixties, shortly after which you grabbed control of the agenda in America and the country has marched to your generational tune since then.

You are the demographic that is choosing, from the Left Clinton, from the Right McCain.

Well you know what... as you retire and we have to continue to take the reins and clear up the disastrous messes we are inheriting - a shattered and  broken global financial system, climate change at tipping point, peak oil upon us with no fore-planning for a post-oil future, resource depletion, overpopulation... as a generation those of us born after the sixties and voting this November, it's time to say enough is enough...

Einstein once said, it's impossible to solve a problem with the same thinking that created it.  It's become impossible to run our country and give us a chance to actually beat these problems, and provide for ourselves, and our children, your grandchildren, and even you... impossible to run our country and beat these problems with the old politics that created them.

I respect your decision to choose Clinton.  I respect your decision to choose McCain.  But we choose Obama.  And I think it's time you let us have our say.

Seriously.  A f*ck*ng war on.

Jeremiah f*ck*ng Wright?

Are you f*ck*ng kidding me?

There's a f*ck*ng war on people.

Just a short diary because I meant to add this the other night when it was first on... but didn't Bill Maher just nail the argument against Clinton better than most?

He conceded something I think we, here, often unfairly play down.  That was simply, there is a fair point to be made that being there at the end of the day, as the spouse of the President really IS experience that counts for a lot.

The problem is that even with all of that experience she made the wrong decision and voted us into this war.  The most important action she has taken in her professional life, and that decision was wrong.  With unparalleled experience of how a White House works, she got it wrong.

Has anyone else noticed this:

McCain has, a couple of times now (and admittedly far softer than Obama gets) questions from the media about Hagee statements - making at least some small effort to look like he's being held to the same standard as Obama.  At least to the degree of being expected to condemn such statements.

When he is answering he is desperately trying not to give a video soundbite that could be replayed again and again online to undermine his religious right support; while at the same time he is trying to make it a bit of a laugh off to soften any eventual condemnation he throws in there so as to be able to point in the future if need be to say he's already condemned it; but he does eventually throw out there some statement of condemnation, clearly feeling it has legs if he doesn't so he has to - I am guessing he thinks he can bleed away catholics from Obama, but this may throw a wrench in the works.

I guess we need a primmer for Superdelegates so here goes.  Let's get the first two lessons out of the way:

Lesson 1 - It's all about 2012
Lesson 2 - The Obama Coalition vs the Clinton Coalition

The point is this is not complicated.  It isn't difficult to understand.  There is no excuse for not having declared one of the following NOW so we can all do the math and put this to bed:

1 - I am for Clinton
2 - I am for Obama
3 - I am for the pledge delegate leader
4 - I am for the popular vote leader
5 - Here is some other formula I have pulled out of my ass that will determine how I make my decision

This continued process is NOT going to give us more debate on the issues between the candidates (did you not watch the ABC debate).  It is not going to "strengthen our candidate".  It is going to run the risk of losing the White House and a whole bunch of down-ticket races as a result.

So... on with the lessons...

I am so sick of the uncommitted superdelegates.  These are people who have no fig leaf of principle left to hide behind.  They will have blood on their hands and they don't care less.

These people will have blood on their hands.  Because by allowing Clinton cover to stay in this race and take the low road to try to destroy Obama, and ensure that he loses so that she can try again in 2012 if she fails to steal the nomination, they are setting us up for a McCain Presidency.  The BS about the party coming together and being all on the same side in November is just that.  BS.  It just doesn't fit with reality.

This means we'll have more war.  More of our children dying overseas in ill-conceived wars.  More of the same failed economic policies in the face of serious collapse - leading to massive suffering worldwide.  More intransigence in the face of Peak Oil - a crisis which could literally lead to millions of deaths (due primarily to the fact that 95% of global food production depends on petrochemical inputs).

If you haven't watched Maher yet, tonight was it back on form and really one of the best I've seen in a while.  Intelligent discussion. Little grandstanding, that I think has got in the way too often recently.  And everyone just had great stuff to add the the conversation.

His new rules HAS to be seen by everyone here who can - if it YouTubes and you see it before I do, feel free to post a link in the comments.  Basically he nailed it with the whole bitter thing.  I diaried on this a few days back - about being a bitter elitist.  In his usual concise to-the-point style: "You know who's bitter in America?  I am.  Because shit kickers voted twice for a retarded guy they wanted to have a beer with and everyone else had to suffer the consequences".

Anyone else see this week's.  I think it's the best in a while.  You?

F*ck you.  The lot of you.  I have had enough with all of you.  Small town Americans I am talking to you.  People who've lost so much over the last few decades I am talking to you.  The political left I am talking to you.

You want bitter - I am bitter.  You want elitism - I am an elitist.  Or am now anyway.  I am sick of sacrificing personally for people who just don't care and are just too stupid to do anything about it.  

You know what - there is so much opportunity in this country and people can make huge amounts of money and rise above all the problems our society has put out there.  Of course, not everyone can do this.  But some of us can, some of us have the education, the smarts, the opportunities to do so.  

Like idiots some of us in that category then do things like make career sacrifices on principle, put time and effort into helping those that aren't so fortunate, we advocate on behalf of issues contrary to our personal interest - but all we get in return is crap for being elitists or resentment for not doing more.  Well f*ck you.

It appears to be an article of faith on here and in Left Blogosphere that with the exception of KO it's just wrong to watch the talking heads on TV.  But it is ESSENTIAL that Obama win the talk show spin battle now.

To be honest my don't-miss show is Hardball.  Yet people on here seem to reserve a particular level of bile for Chris Matthews.  I know I know - he's said THIS and THAT and THIS... etc.

He's a talking head - he isn't a DailyKos person so he isn't going to say everything we want to hear and he is a swing voter who is more conservative than the average Democrat today.

But for things like this Obama speech - he is still the best coverage on TV.  I think he has an intellectual honesty - though he is often inconsistent and makes mistakes like all of us.

It is going to be essential that the default position on this Obama speech is the Matthews position - someone who has taken the time to be impressed by it - and not the 30 second six-o-clock news soundbite which will focus on the sensational (Wright is like my family).

If you have a moment and saw coverage of the speech I'd love to hear what other news shows local, national or cable, are saying - I cannot watch them all.

Okay, so the grandiose diary title is probably not reflecting that it is being posted so late in the evening that it probably won't get enough reading to gain the recommends to be seen in the morning by many people.  But I just really felt the need to address the superdelegates, so many of whom we know frequent DailyKos, in a direct manner.

Because they have to step up to the plate, you have to step up to the plate, NOW.  I mean NOW.  They must see - or at least a plurality of them surely must - that this race going on to the summer could destroy chances in November and permanently wound the Democratic party.

Don't just shrug it off.  If you don't get this please please go talk to more rank and file Democrats who are now desperately worried.

Did you see the Colbert Report tonight?  Boiled down the McCain story into a nice repeatable limerick - all the better for repetition and propagation.

And it's funny...