Technorati Tags: Chris LIen, U.S. House, South Dakota, 2008 Election

I know if I had done this to Mrs./Dr. Epp, my lovely wife of 27 years, I’d be in the doghouse until 2015 or so.

While at the Buffalo Chip Campground near Sturgis for the Sturgis Bike Rally yesterday, putative GOP nominee John McCain essentially pimped out his wife Cindy to the rowdy throng.

Well, MSNBC’s “First Read” actually puts it best:

There is another stage that is also part of the festival, where KISS performed and where they were holding preliminaries for the Ms. Buffalo Chip beauty pageant — an often-nude affair.

That information is relevant, (NBC/NJ’s Adam) Aigner-Treworgy adds, as McCain joked during his remarks that he had encouraged Cindy to participate, so she had a chance at being the only lady to serve as both first lady and Ms. Buffalo Chip.

And as CBS News reported:

“I was looking at the Sturgis schedule and noticed that you have a beauty pageant and so I encouraged Cindy to compete,” McCain said to cheers from the (mostly male) crowd. “With a little luck, she could be on the only woman ever to serve as both the first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip.”

I can see wanting to seem like you’re one of the Peeps. But to offer your own wife to enter an often salacious and nude beauty contest? That’s pretty pig-like like, fellow babies, even to this less than enlightened male. It is particularly undignified for a Presidential candidate.

Can you imagine the uproar if Sen. Barack Obama had done something like this to Michelle?

It’s just ikcy. Roast pig, anyone?

Photo: Sen. John McCain after he got back on the plane with wife Cindy McCain and she had a “little talk” with him about pimping her out in Sturgis. Photo by  vnoel used under CreativeCommons license (Some rights reserved) from Flickr.com.

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Technorati Tags: John McCain, Cindy McCain, chauvinst pigs, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, 2008 Election

I have to be honest with you. The thought of Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia as Sen. Barack Obama's running mate makes me audibly aghast.

In The Summer of His Discontent With His Own Views, my former Man Crush Barack has pretty much piddled away all of his once formidable Change Agent and Politics Not As Usual capital.

Flip-flops on off shore drilling and FISA, his support of faith-based initiatives, and his failure to effectively respond to Sen. John McCain's awful (but apparently effective) negative attacks have made this Progressive want to go "hmmm."

Now add Gov. Kaine to the mix and I think you'll see a President McCain (but not a Vice President Kaine) this fall.

Here are my reasons why Obama should run, not walk, away from Kaine:

1. He's inexperienced. Kaine is only a few years into his first term of Governor. I think a governor is a good pick for a Veep. But a governor who has some experience under their belt. Say, like a Gov. Kathleen Sebelius from Kansas. (Who is my #3 pick after Gen. Wesley Clark and Sen. Jim Webb.)
   
2. He's unacceptable to the Hillaryites. I never thought I would care about this but there are a lot of Sen. Hillary Clinton supporters who are still unhappy about the primary election outcome. Kaine is neither Hillary, a woman, a progressive, or strong on abortion rights (see below). The Hillary supporters will sit on their wallets and envelop-stuffing hands if Kaine is the Veep pick. And frankly, I wouldn't blame them.
   
3. He's mushy about being pro-choice (or is it being pro-life?). He says he's privately anti-choice but publically pro-choice. Frankly, that's not good enough. His credentials are suspect on this issue.
4. He's not even the second best choice of a Vice Presidential candidate from Virginia. Senator Jim Webb and former Governor Mark Warner are far more experienced, vetted, and tested. Webb also has the advantage of being a former Republican and a veteran.
5. He's not that popular in his own state. A Virginia GOP talking point being circulated says "Governor Kaine is popular only if you define 'popular' as having a job approval rating lower than 50%." Sure, Virignia could be in play, but see #4 above.

Please, Barack, quit raising Kaine up to Vice Presidential proportions. This might be the biggest mistake you'll make this summer.

Cross posted to Kansas Watch and South Dakota Watch.

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Technorati Tags: Tim Kaine, Kathleen Sebelius, Hillary Clinton, Vice President, Virginia, Kansas, 2008 Election

It’s kind of funny, in a sad sort of way.

You’re a hard working, intelligent, pretty, and blonde state legislator.

You merely suggest an idea is worth studying and Neanderthals come out of the woodwork to:

1. Attribute a position to you that you have not taken; and
2. Accuse you of being stupid because you are a woman.

The South Dakota War College put up an excerpt of an Argus Leader story on a legislative summer study committee’s examination of alternatives to the gasoline tax that has lead to major headaches for Rep. Shantel Krebs, R-Sioux Falls.

An excerpt:

“In other states and nationally, everybody has their hands in the air, saying, ‘What are we doing here?’ ” Krebs said.

She suggests a vehicle miles tax modeled after an Oregon pilot program, which the panel will hear more about in September, is worth study. The program involves a tracking device in a vehicle that records travel. A per-mile tax is charged to target the cost of roads to the vehicles that are using them the most.

A careful reading would indicate that Rep. Krebs did not say she supported the measure but that she merely thought the Oregon program was “worth study.” Did she say she was for it, sponsoring it or anything else? No. Like a prudent legislator, she said she merely wanted to study it.

But what was the reaction on the War College? In a word, ugly. I’ll ignore the substantive criticisms and provide a view of the more vitriolic and personal attacks:

Would Shantel allow a device to monitor the use of a woman’s uterus to help prevent unwanted pregnancies?

Of course not. This is equally as ridiculous. Take her out behind the Republican woodshed for the switch.

4 Just Wondering..

Shantel, what’s it cost to purchase, install and monitor? Sounds like a way to ding people with fuel efficient cars.

I’d rather hear a saxaphone duet by her and Opie than any more on this idea.

7 anonymous

Tee Hee! Math and Civil Rights are hard!

8 Just Wondering..

She needs some shoes that fit right

12 anonymous

How many blonds does it take to raise a gas tax…

21 anonymous

Alas, where are the feminists when a woman legislator and leader gets excoriated because of her looks? But perhaps more interestingly, why are Republican commentators—male I’ll bet—so quick to eat one of their own and take her to task and not even really read what she said.

The Republican tribe is a very tough bunch—particularly on its female members. Don’t you dare be thoughtful, smart, or bright if you are a woman. Instead, you ought to be home barefoot and pregnant and leavin’ that legislatin’ stuff to the men. I’m just sayin’.


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Technorati Tags: Shantel Krebs, S.D. Legislature, fuel tax, gas tax, highways, South Dakota

Though you’d never know it from the SD Republican Party, the McCain Campaign, Sen. John Thune, or the Lien or Dykstra Campaigns, but putative GOP Presidential nominee John McCain is coming to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Monday.

More accurately, he’s going to the “Chip”—the notorious Buffalo Chip campground.

As the San Diego Union-Tribune noted about the Chip in 2006:

And although stricter codes of conduct over the years now keep downtown free of debauchery, the infamous Buffalo Chip camp ground and several local bars still welcome the infamous rowdy and lewd behavior that made mainstream riders leery of attending in previous years.

Not exactly traditional Republican family values, huh?

I’m hoping Sen. McCain wears his Speedo so he fits in with the bikini-topped woman who advertises the Chip on the Interstate highway signs.

Also, if I were Sen. McCain, I’d be ticked that I get second billing under Kid Rock and Kellie Pickler. I’m just sayin’.


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Technorati Tags: John McCain, Kellie Pickler, Kid Rock, Buffalo Chip, 2008 election, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, veterans

A day or so ago, my other political blog, Kansas Watch, posted the video of Kansas U.S. Senator Sam Brownback blasting China for alleged plans to spy on Americans and others who visit China for the Olympics.

But American blogger The Only Redhead in Taiwan basically calls Brownback a hypocrite in a post called "Mr. Brownback, the kettle called..."

Just a gentle reminder. Kansas junior Senator voted last year to enacat the Protect America Act, which allows for the federal government to engage in what one commentator says is a "...massive, untargeted collection of international communications without court order or meaningful oversight..." Oh, and Sam also voted for FISA as well.

So, Sam doesn't mind it if Americans spy on Americans and others, just not if the Chinese do it too. Sam's more of a "Buy American" kind of guy.

An excerpt from the Redhead dude:

I want to say that there is something intrinsically different in how US surveillance on suspected threats works, but I have no reason to do so other than the fact that I have faith that the US is freer than the PRC (when, after all, is a Chinese director going to put a biopic out on a sitting PRC chairman?). I’d be interested in hearing from someone as to why it’s different when the US does this sort of thing and when the Chinese do it.

If, as I presume, there is no difference – or very little – then the idea that Sen. Brownback of all people is the one to lead the crusade for justice in the PRC is indeed “laughable.” Let’s not forget that some of the suspected “terrorists” spied on in the US were peace activists and poverty relief advocates. Some of those jailed at Guantanamo Bay were picked based on hearsay from vengeful relatives, later found to have no merit.

That’s a hell of a track record.

Let me reiterate, I think what China is doing is horrible, but I find little difference in what we see our own government doing. This sort of conduct leaves a bitter taste in my mouth wherever it takes place.

Just something to make you go "hmmm."

Photo: The Only Redhead in China says Brownback is like kettle calling Red Chinese pot black.(Geez, so many colors to keep track of!)


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Technorati Tags: Sam Brownback, China, domestic spying, The Only Redhead in Taiwan

I have an ongoing social "relationship" with a Member of Congress.

Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, is my "Tweetie." (But not to be confused with my Man Crush, Sen. Barack Obama.)

Actually, Rep. Culberson and I Twitter one another on a semi-regular basis. I have had interesting discussions (in 140 characters or less) on technology issues, open government, and social media. Rep. Culberson, a conservative Republican, is a firm believer in open government and uses Twitter as a way to communicate with his constituents--and beyond.

Frankly, I've had more direct discussions with my new Texas pal than my own South Dakota delegation over the past month or two. But that also shows the power of social media like Twitter.

Colleague Bob Schwartz at Politics and Hypocrisy has an extensive posting about Congressional use of Twitter and how the body is having difficulty adjusting to giving its members full freedom to use new technologies like Twitter. I urge you to read Bob's extensive post on this issue.

I salute Rep. Culberson (@johnculberson at Twitter, BTW) and other Congressmen and women who are trying new ways to keep in touch with the people who send them to Washington.

You can Twitter me at @SDWatch.


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Technorati Tags: John Culberson, Twitter, Politics and Hypocrisy, social media, Congress, open government