Your thoughts on Allen's 2-minute waste of money? No new ideas, no apologies, no new endorsements, no new pledge to serve for 6 years if re-elected, no new nothing. Huh?
Missed Allen's 2-minute drill? Watch it again here and please tell me what the point of that was. Thanks.
P.S. I hear toilets flushing all over Virginia. No further comment.
P.P.S. One takeaway message from that...thing, whatever it was? Vote for George Allen! Senior, that is. Hahahahaha.
[UPDATE: Ben makes a great point over at NLS - Allen called the charges against him "baseless." What is George Allen saying here? That Dr. Ken Shelton and all the others who have courageously come forward with stories about Allen's deplorable behavior, both past and present, are LYING?!? What, that the whole "macaca" thing was just a big joke or something? What is George Allen saying here? That he's a victim of the horrible "liberal media" and nasty bloggers? I could have sworn that those big, tough Republicans just HATED the whole politics of victimhood. Guess not.]
[UPDATE #2: You know what was the dumbest thing about this advertisement? The Allen camp raised expectations so HIGH, and then completely failed to meet them. That's not smart, Dick!]
[UPDATE #3: AP is reporting that "Webb today began a 30-second spot that features two retired military women rebutting claims in an Allen ad aired last week." Nice.]
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
And then the close up of Allen's mug with daddy's picture in the background.
He will have plenty of time to pretend he plays for the Redskins after November 7.
I did also notice the lack of Old Glory. What was up with that? Is he distancing himself from all flags these days?
What a colossal waste of $$.
But, yeah the Redskins paraphernalia was strategically placed.
That's the hilarious conclusion of James Dobson's "Focus on the Family."
Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Focus on the Family Action Senior Vice President of Government and Public Policy Tom Minnery issued the following statement today about the scandal involving ex-Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla:"This is not a time to be talking about politics, but about the well-being of those boys who appear to have been victimized by Rep. Foley. If he is indeed guilty of what he is accused of, it is right that he resigned and that authorities are looking into whether criminal charges are warranted.
"This is yet another sad example of our society's oversexualization, especially as it affects the Internet, and the damage it does to all who get caught in its grasp."
So be careful out there when you're rummagin' around the tubes.
I know this doesn't follow the thread, but I was taught never to color within the lines.
Also, got another voicemail from the robo-push-poll again today, but haven't actually received a call when I'm home yet.
.when it comes to abortion, do you consider yourself pro-life
do you agree wit the us efforts in iraq
tuition tax credit allows children the
the use of unborn foetus for stem research
do you trust republicans or democrats to handle your tax dollars?
do you attend church, mosque, synogogue at least once per week?
have you ever contributed to a poltical campaign or non-profit or religious group
Paid for by the family foundation of Virginia
that's about all I could get. good technology.
Imagine this, it's the 2000 primary, you live in South Carolina, you get a call that asks:
Would you be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if you believed he had fathered a mixed-race child out of wedlock?
It's the same thing here:
When they ask in this poll "should unborn foetuses be used for stem cell research?" it's a question you can't say no to because it reinforces the babykiller myth. Are you a babykiller? well of course not.
It's just the same as if they'd asked: "Should alzheimers patients be allowed to die in the streets even if research could find a cure."
Neither question is fair or intended to test your opinion, it's intended to force you to one side of the argument.
1. Would you consider yourself pro-life?
2. Do you agree with the US efforts in Iraq?
3. Do you believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman? (I'm pretty sure they reminded me that it was illegal already)
4. Do you support stem cell research using unborn fetuses?
5. Would you support a tax credit ?/voucher ? which would enable parents to send their children to whatever school they choose?
6. Do you believe that faith based organizations should take part in the political process in Virginia?
1. NO.
2. NO.
3. NO.
4. YES.
5. NO.
6. NO!!!!!!!!
I was happy to answer the Some Families Foundation's disgusting cadre of questions so those bigoted hate-filled but draped in a pseudo-religious cover asshats know to never call my gay liberal self again for support for their filthy agenda.
While I disagree with that statement this is my response.
Senator Allen, You are a racist. Regardless of how great your "issues and ideas" may be (and which by the way, I would vote for Webb on Issues and Ideas), they are made moot by the fact that you refuse to accept responsibility for your past actions. A senator is given a 6-year term to act as a "trustee" for the people of this Commonwealth, and I cannot in good conscious ignore your lack of accountability for your past.
-Nate de la Piedra
George Allen is a pathetic little man.
To see him standing there, with his wife, saying how we need to focus on the issues, really made me smile.
HOWEVER, did anyone else notice there was no Major Announcement in the "Major Address"...
It was just Allen and wife smiling.
If I could stay up late enough for Leno tonight I am certain I would enjoy it...
Perhaps it would go something like this:
(Imagine it in Leno's Voice)
"I am sure you all have heard of George Allen the Senator from Virginia, who has stepped in much ca-ca recently.
Well tonight Sentator Allen, decided to get the record straight, by using the Ross Perot approach, less the charts and graphs, he purchased a million bucks worth of T.V. time as the news media has not focussed on the issues Allen thinks they should.
The news media seems to think a sitting Senator being a racist is an issue...
But the Senator made clear in his address that he loves kittens, butterflies, sunshine and lemonade, but if he thinks the voters of Virginia are going to send him back to the Senate he better start believing in unicorns..."
It would go something like that I think.
And, just perhaps he is wondering how his dumb boy got this far.
Moving on now...
This was fun!
The average voter isn't tuned in to the issues as most of us are. So the advantage tonight goes to Allen even if he moves a few votes by this stunt.
I'm hoping the Webb team also goes on the offense - you know like trying to get more face time on TV and putting up a fight on the airwaves.
Tonights info-ad was simply a message to Allen's base i.e. telling them, "Hey, stick with me, I'm the nice guy you've known all along." Republicans, to their credit, know how to use codes to speak directly to their base. I think this was the purpose of this whole exercise tonight.
Was anyone else watching this on Channel 4 in Virginia. Did you notice the hit piece on Webb before the "issues" speach? The hypocricy is killing me.
But DC probably costs 30-50 K per 30 second block minimum, and depending upon the programs between which it is sandwiched, it could be higher.
Total still has to be over a quarter of mill just for the two minutes, and I'd be surprised were it undern 300-350K
then there is the fact that he also ran his attack ad on channel four shortly before (although I did not see it) - figure that adds some additional dough, so maybe the figure of half a mill included that as well? although according to Ben T the cost of advertising a 30 second spot for 10 impressions is only a bit over half a mill. who knows. I think they timed it so they wouldn't have to report it in the next FEC reports due out on 10/15
The rest - trying to go by the same message being pushed by Allen's supporters on the internet: We're all about the issues. Problem is, they aren't very strong on the issues. So they listed the ones that sound good as TV sound bites and they hope that most viewers don't go any further into it.
It'll be interesting to see if it gets them much though - that was just a break time in between shows so I doubt many people were paying attention. Maybe tuning in to catch their show, but paying attention? No.
Sadly, this 'ad' has the potential to bring a large number of R's back in line. While we may see through this charade, don't underestimate it's value in reaching out to over a million Virginians.
The Redskin helmet, nice touch. Nicely placed in a den or something. Nice touch the den look.
The Purple blouse of Susan, not the right color, give me a blue blouse PLEASE. What happened to the RED WHITE AND BLUE or RED AND GOLD FOR THE REDSKINS, KEEP THE THEME GOING FELIX!!
The content, totally off, who wrote it? An after thought was a total Iraq comment. It IS the election in November. He is in such denial about Iraq being a problem. He had to bring it up for he has avoided it the issue for so long. The ISSUEs were NOT discussed. Iraq, loss of jobs and National Security. Go back to the chalkboard!
The content, his governor's record? Most of it. He is running for SENATE. His senate record is trashed, he did not do squat, he as much as said so, "moving at the pace of a Sea Slug." and " I'm BORED."
F-
Too bad, the money could have fed a lot of Virginians and kept them warm this winter. He has a million + to throw away and he did.
Such a solid, football-lovin' family white man who kept criminals in prison, taught Welfare Queens a lesson, saved you on taxes, wants an honorable victory in I-raq, and so forth. Why, what's not to like about this? Reinforces all my good feelin's about Big George.
Plus, if he's running statewide smear ads against Webb on something he wrote 30 years ago - who's the one actually engaging in "baseless personal attacks."
I have no problems with "friends endorsing friends" as this fellow did tooting a friendship of 12 years...but, it was all political? That is, a poltical relationship, not personal, as the letter mislead readers to believe.
And it appeared in the what, lifestyles section or something? It sounds very suspicious to me, but I haven't seen the story.
If looked like there was a pattern of very smilar stuff happening, that would be news, but short of that, there's probably no reason to give it more attention than it deserves, it seems to me.
And really, how many people actually saw that thing?
I am not even a redskin fan, sorry a PROUD californian unlike George Allen who works, resides, and VOTES here in Virginia.
I am 49er fan.
But what does that have anything to do with politics.
Nothing. exactly.
I respect redskin fans, and football is football.
Politics and the "debate of ideas" has nothing to do with the NFL.
Does George Allen want to run for the Senate or for NFL Commissioner?
That waste of TV air time, and his attempt to score political points makes my blood boil.
I have had it. Every ounce of my energy will be to promote Jim Webb, and ensure that George Allen never is involved in anything political again.
Sheesh.
First, based upon the previous stories about George Allen's racism and association with the CCC, I can only assume that national (print) media outlets are working on additional stories that will be released in between now and the election showing that Allen is a racist and a liar.
Second, Allen's categorical denial is a form of implosion. He leaves himself no wiggle room. His denial will be used against him in the future to further show his lack of credibility.
In essence, Allen has already made Virginia the laughing stock of late night comedy, and he has now cemented himself as joke.
Allen shot himself in the foot. It seems republicans enjoy inflicting pain upon themselves.
The results of this commercial? Less $$ for Allen, that changed no one's mind.
Allen won the election tonight.
Allen was strong and confident
Issues will carry Allen to a win
Allen reached more voters tonight in 2 min than Webb all year.
Allen is ahead Webb is stuck in the 40's
Allen bypassed the libreal media and hate groups and spoke directly to Virginians
The kool aid has been brewed extra strong for October, I see.
He does think the Senate is boring.
BTW, Condi has been nailed lying. Just a few minutes ago, by the NYT.
October 3, 2006
C.I.A. Chief Warned Rice on Al Qaeda
By PHILIP SHENON and MARK MAZZETTI
JIDDA, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 2 — A review of White House records has determined that George J. Tenet, then the director of central intelligence, did brief Condoleezza Rice and other top officials on July 10, 2001, about the looming threat from Al Qaeda, a State Department spokesman said Monday.The account by the spokesman, Sean McCormack, came hours after Ms. Rice, the secretary of state, told reporters aboard her airplane that she did not recall the specific meeting on July 10, noting that she had met repeatedly with Mr. Tenet that summer about terrorist threats. Ms. Rice, the national security adviser at the time, said it was “incomprehensible” to suggest she had ignored dire terrorist threats two months before the Sept. 11 attacks.
Allen does not come off well in this story at all.
Virginia's Allen Airs 2-Minute AdTuesday October 3, 2006 2:16 AM
By BOB LEWIS
Associated Press Writer
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Sen. George Allen attempted to steer his campaign away from accusations of racial insensitivity Monday night with a two-minute, statewide television ad touting the need to focus on ``the real issues,'' such as support for U.S. troops in Iraq.
The embattled Republican bought air time in every television market just before prime time in an effort to save his political career since accusations he used ethnic slurs sent his re-election campaign into a tailspin six weeks ago.
The ad opens with Allen noting the campaign's disastrous recent drift away from ``the real issues you care about'' and acknowledged that ``some of this I've brought on myself.''
``But the negative personal attacks and baseless allegations have also pulled us away from what you expect and deserve,'' he said.
With his wife, Susan, at his side and a Washington Redskins helmet and a portrait of his late namesake father and football coach behind them, Allen recounted signature events of his term as governor - parole abolition, more stringent academic testing for Virginia students and welfare reform.
Later, he buttressed President Bush's intent to keep U.S. troops indefinitely in Iraq until that country's fledgling government can stanch sectarian bloodshed that threatens to plunge it into civil war.
``I want our troops to come home as soon as possible. And I want them to come home in victory, not defeat,'' he said.
Strategists for the former governor decided to take the dramatic step Saturday, a day after a statewide poll showed Allen and Democrat Jim Webb deadlocked at 43 percent each. As late as July, Webb trailed Allen by 16 percentage points.
On Aug. 11, he called a man of Indian descent ``macaca,'' a comment some consider an ethnic slur. He also was accused by former fellow football players at the University of Virginia of having used a common racial epithet against black people.
Allen paid about $50,000 [sic?]to simulcast the ad once just before 8 p.m. Allen wanted to do the ad live, but the costs and logistical arrangements would have been prohibitive, campaign advisers said. It was taped over the weekend.
Also on Monday, Webb began his biggest ad purchase yet, spending $650,000 a week to air a 30-second spot statewide that features two retired military women rebutting an ad Allen aired last week, said Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd.
Allen's ads featured female U.S. Naval Academy graduates who said they suffered hostility and humiliation at Annapolis because of a 1979 magazine article Webb wrote that said women could not lead men in combat and decrying their admission to the academy.
"Senator Allen, I will debate you publically anytime, anywhere,--three, four or five times a week. Bring your issues, I'll bring mine--how about today?"
Camel Six's Boy
I'll give him this: at last he has let people know who is really is--an arrogant, hypocritical, racist opportunist who has not done anything for the people in Virginia in the last 6 years.
Here is the Washington Post...Allen Seeks to Refocus Campaign With Long Ad
Senator Urges Shift From Character Issues to Political Ones
Too tired to read and digest the whole thing, but doesn't seem to positive from an initial glance.
DESPERATE
BRIAN ROSS: So far, Foley is the only member whose overt sexual approaches have been documented. Charlie?
CHARLES GIBSON: The only one to be documented, but are there other shoes to drop?
ROSS: We’re hearing quite a bit from former pages. They’re sending us all sorts of messages about possible other members.
What normal person would do that? Obviously, you're an Allen staffer.
I also missed what everyone but me has noticed -- the pictorial references to his illustrious father. But then I wasn't born and bred in VA and I never cared much about football (or whatever it was that his father coached).
Allen claims to have actively worked to open VA to newcomers (as in: business investments)... I wonder how many others like me missed the football reference. Foreigners are more likely to be attuned to soccer than football (though we *call* it football
What really *creeped me out* was his delivery... almost no change in pitch or facial expression throughout the 2 minutes. Straight from the Tales of Hoffman -- one almost wanted him to turn around and show us the winding key. And Susan was -- if anything -- worse. You could -- almost -- *time* her on when she'd turn to him with the adoring look and when she'd turn back to the screen with the fixed smile. The only interesting bit was when she couldn't sustain the smile for the entire 2 minutes and the camera, accidentally, caught her in repose, by moving too fast from him to her.
Made me wonder whether there was any truth to the rumors (apparently rife in the Charlottesville area)that he used to abuse his first wife and that he's probably abusing the current one. All in all, I'm glad Lowell gave us an opportunity to see the add but I would not want to see it again. And I doubt it's swayed any independents towards him. Nor reassured his base much.
On the not-quite-push-poll.
Got my call this morning -- early enough to tick me off, but not so early that I was unable to gather my thoughts. I answered the first question: Are you a registered voter in VA (yes)? Heard the second: Are you pro-life or pro-choice? Laid the receiver down next to the phone and I can - almost -- swear that I heard the tape asking more questions, despite my not answering them. But that's "almost"; when I woke up again, half an hour later, the phone was silent. So I replaced the receiver. And I hope their phone bill is large and that they lost some opportunities to connect to others who might have been enjoying a cozy spell under a down quilt.
My good deed for the day :)
Speaking of dresses, how about that futia(sp?) monstrosity Susan was wearing. And notice how "life-like" she was. Someone needs to lay off the vikedin.
Well, if he insists on focusing on issues, maybe he can explain why "his" energy plan was stolen from a Democrat.
Allen wants us out of Iraq as soon as possible, but only after we have achieved "victory". I'd like to know how he's defining victory. Is it at all costs? Is it when all the insurgents decide to go home and lay down their arms even though foreign invaders will still be occupying their land (makes the insurgents sound like a bunch of sunshine patriots, doesn't it)? Is there a time limit on when we're supposed to achieve this victory or will we keep throwing our young men and women into the occupation ad infinitum? Do we keep sending our military people who've already served two, three, four tours over there until they've served seven, eight, or nine tours? Do we finally admit that we've broken our armed forces with this ceaseless demand upon them and institute a draft? George has sons. Is he planning to encourage them to enlist and go over there like Jim Webb's kid did? The Webb campaign needs to seize upon and attack this point. And remember, Allen is against us talking to any of the other countries in that region. He'd rather just keep fighting instead of seeking a diplomatic solution. Even during Vietnam we talked to the North Vietnamese.
Last night I was out with a friend who told me how troubled she is about Iraq, but also said that she was worried about voting for Webb because he's "against women". In other words, the whinemercial has been working with people like my white, educated, middle aged, somewhat conservative friend. I told her the facts behind the article (which have NOT been emphasized enough by the Webb campaign), and also noted his record as Navy Secretary. It's really, really important that the Webb campaign continue to hit this issue hard. The current Webb commercial is okay, but it doesn't refute the assertion that he called the Naval Academy women "promiscuous" and made life hell, etc. Why isn't anyone showing what the article REALLY said and can't you find a Naval Academy woman or two who can talk about Jim Webb's positive work for women?
As for the commercial itself: the scenery so carefully staged it made me ill. And Mrs. Allen looked very uncomfortable and somewhat plastic. Allen should ask for his money back.