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IKE: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
Florida..? Cuba?? ...The Gulf Coast all over again?
People across the Caribbean are closely watching the progress tonight of Hurricane Ike, a deadly and intensifying storm in the Atlantic Ocean.. The storm has been making progress towards the United States.. new computer projections tonight put the storm over Cuba next week and into the Gulf Coast later in the week. From that point, the mystery: A few long range outlooks place the storm near Texas.. some show Ike meandering and strengthening in the Gulf.. a few take Ike near Louisiana and Texas.. A storm needed to be watched carefully over the next few days..
Late tonight, Ike was upgraded to a Category 4 storm. A strong monster churning in the Atlantic poised to strike .. somewhere .. Henry Margusity from Accuweather writing tonight, "The operational models are painting a dangerous situation for the Gulf coast next week. I am concerned that we may be dealing with a Cat 3 or better strike somewhere between Port Arthur and Mobile Bay late in the week. The worst case would be a southeast strike of an intensifying hurricane on New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. Given that Gustav has weakened things, Ike could be the devastation we all fear could happen this year. In any case, folks along the Gulf coast need to keep watching this one and get ready for evacuations next week" Labels: hurricanes, Ike, Storms, Weather
ANOTHER PERSON CHARGED IN SHENANDOAH, PA, BEATING-HOMICIDE
A fourth person has been charged in the beating-death of Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.. The story has been closely watched by the nation and immigrations groups.. Fears in the small town in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania of racial tensions after three white teenage football players were charged with the crime of killing Ramirez after a fight turned deadly in July 2008..
Officials in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, have charged a juvenile teenager--the fourth in the case--with the death of Ramirez..
He was charged with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and other offenses. His name and age are not being released..
Recently, rumors have abounded online that girlfriend to Ramirez Crystal Dillman was paid an undisclosed amount of money for a PEOPLE magazine spread about the incident..
The case still being closely studied by the nation.. and by the small town of Shenandoah, PA... Labels: crime, Race Relations, Schuykill county, Shenandoah
Weekend box office update: Another Nic Cage flop
 Nic Cage failing again at the box office..
This time, BANGKOK DANGEROUS failing to get audiences across the nation.. According to studio estimates, the movie opened under $3 mil Friday night.. More estimates are putting the film below $10mil for the weekend.. Dreadful numbers.. again for Cage.. The DARK KNIGHT will finish third place this weekend.. The film is still being shown in over 2,700 theaters. AP Photo/Lionsgate,Chan Kam ChuenLabels: Box office, Entertainment, Hollywood, movies
Housekeeping: Links page updates
Flag flap: Republicans use trashed flags as issue
 After the DNC convention, the Democrats threw out over 12,000 flags.. McCain's campaign salvaged them and will use them in a rally.
Not a great deal to do with issues, but an enormous amount to do with character and the perception of the candidates..Old Glory rescued!! The Republicans starting to love recycling..
The DNC put out a statement that changes the tenor of the story, stating 75,000 people waved flags and that the McCain supports wrongfully took leftover flags from stadium.. Oh.. these important issues.. But people rarely vote on issues..
Expect to hear a lot about patriotism, respect, and flags.. 8 more weeks until November..
Photo above: AP Photo/Alex BrandonLabels: Campaign 2008, Election, News, Politics, w
Love of nature goes extreme in North Carolina
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog at the Republican Convention
So much for Hanna
Hanna moved on shore with little fireworks.. There was beach erosion, high winds, and heavy rains over the Carolinas.. Hanna will be quickly moving up the East Coast today, causing some flooding rains and some gusty winds. That's it.
The media attention was pretty funny this go around.. Thank God there was no damage but you'd sure as hell think they were craving it.. This morning MSNBC was reporting from a beach in North Carolina. Wind was blowing.. the reporter looked like he was struggling to stand---just as two tourists in the background casually walked past the camera and headed to the water to take a look at Hanna's waves.. The reporter had no choice but to tout the danger factor of being outside when a tornado could strike any time.. His light coat fluttering in the breeze.. *There is power out for more than 20,000 customers in Virginia.. I'm not downgrading the storm, but Hanna was not serious*
A few updates over Hanna: Latest advisory.. .. Hanna satellite.. Radar..
The storm to watch: Ike.. 
Forecasters have stopped saying Ike is going to hit the Southeast Coast, instead they are placing the storm somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday next week .. The frightening possibilities of the storm making landfall somewhere around New Orleans, or other places still devastated by Gustav.. Labels: Hanna, hurricanes, Ike, Storms, Weather
THE POLITICS OF CHANGE.. STARTING TO STINK .. World of the photoshops: Did you get the Palin email yet?
 A few months ago, I had to combat people at work who thought Barack Obama was born in a different country and was a Muslim.. It was tough . .especially with the constant flow of emails into inboxes overwhelmed with untrue messages about Obama's heritage and faith..
And now, the new rock star of American politics, Sarah Palin, is getting her share of Photoshopped press. Emails flying around of Palin with a gun, wearing an American flag bikini with underage children drinking in the background.. Pictures so well-done it forced one very intelligent man I know to believe the photos were true. He sent them to a lot of people.. I showed him Snopes .. but I think he discounted factual evidence and still continued to believe the Palin Photoshops to be real..
During Obama's Muslim fictitious days, hardcore close-minded Republicans believed Obama was a traitor and sold out America and for these reasons wasn't qualified to be president... During these new Palin-crazed days, hardcore close-minded Democrats believe Palin is an unintelligent right-wing nutcase that isn't qualified to be vice-president. And they are set out to prove it! Even if it means believing fiction..
I just got new emails to my inbox: Palin's kids drinking.. More fakes... and fakes.. and fakes. Didn't get an Obama email lately, though. I guess I'll get it again in October...
I hate to brag, but I predicted the Palin thing a few days back. I know, it's only days..
And yes, there are some topless rumors going around .. more fakes..
The refreshing "politics of change." Looking more and more like the politics of 1800s and 1900s every day. Some brave new world. Some 21st century.... Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, News, Opinion, Palin, Politics
Drudge Report controversy: Slams Oprah over refusal to allow Palin sit on the couch
Matt Drudge reported early this morning that Oprah won't allow Sarah Palin to appear on the show.. Oprah responded to the Drudge Report, which ended up getting some other press about the press from other sources, saying, "The item in today's Drudge Report is categorically untrue. There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the beginning of this Presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."
After it's over..If Sarah's free? Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, Entertainment, Hollywood, News, Palin, Politics
RATINGS GAME: MCCAIN SCORES OVER OBAMA BY 500,000
Big ratings for McCain speech?
Early numbers show bigger audience than Obama!!
Ap photo
"FIGHT WITH ME"
MCCAIN MAKES HIS CASE"Fight for what's right for our country.
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children's future.
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.
Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.".. x x x Reactions: Hecklers interrupt McCain speech..Andrew Sullivan: 11.07 pm. This country song is quite horrible.Marck Levin: "Damn good speech"Kathryn Lopez: "His great rallying section under cheers?
No one heard the whole end of his speech"More coming tomorrow.. The battle lines are now set.. Welcome to fall 2008. And soon an election.. One that will make history.. Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, McCain, Politics
FRIGHT NIGHT: BANKS BORROW MORE FROM FEDS AS 'FINANCIAL TSUNAMI' GROWS
Convention-ed out: Weekend box office theater counts
NEW
Bangkok Dangerous (Lionsgate) / 2,650
EXPANDING
Babylon A.D. (Fox) / 3,425 (+35) / 2
The House Bunny (Sony / Columbia) / 2,736 (+22) / 3
Death Race (Universal) / 2,588 (+51) / 3
College (MGM) / 2,124 (+1) / 2
Traitor (Overture Films) / 2,066 (+12) / 2
NO CHANGE
Disaster Movie (Lionsgate) / 2,642 / 2
Summer's over:
DECLINING
Tropic Thunder (Paramount (DreamWorks)) / 3,446 (-27) / 4
The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) / 2,575 (-175) / 8
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Warner Bros.) / 1,952 (-492) / 4
Mamma Mia! (Universal) / 1,895 (-73) / 8 Labels: Box office, Entertainment, Hollywood, movies
How many Sarah-gasms did you have?
The world was rocked about 10:10 pm EDT last night..
Sarah Palin spoke.. and the the speech was viewed by over 37 million people .. Palin's speech nearly matched Obama's history speech.. (The viewership surpassed Joe Biden's acceptance speech)
While Palin was derided for having an 20-year-old hair style, thongs, t-shirts, and glasses are in hot demand..
( Really, USA TODAY reports that the Palin specs are flying off the shelves)
Another comment I heard was that Palin looked like an old Tina Fey. But a lot of people like Tina Fey, too..
Other Palin related-wrap up stories about the pit bull with lipstick:
John McCain will embark on his presidential journey starting tonight in a town hall style format for his acceptance speech..
Due to Palin, McCain is now being supported by talk radio..
NBC booed during Palin speech..
Piper Palin licks Trig's hair.. (*Yes, this is a news event..*)
Another news event that.. really shouldn't be? Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin now have finger tatoos.. For real, Mr. and Mrs. Media.. You're making fools out of yourselves. Enough rope and you hang yourself..
Politico story mocks Palin apologizers..
Another: Republicans have 'found their Obama'
New polls: Rasmussen reports that 39% of Americans polled say Palin has more experience than Obama, 51% say reporters are trying to hurt Palin.. .. Also, McCain has closed the 8% point gap Obama opened after his Invesco speech..
US WEEKLY editor says she's voting McCain after Palin interview..
Iranian TV blasting McCain.. likes Obama..
She scares Ben Stein..
And finally, for now: "Sarah Palin is 'the new Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan'"..
Ok.. Palin-ed out for now.. So how many Sarah-gasms have you had? Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, McCain, News, Palin, Politics
SWINGING SARAH! CONVENTION CROWDS EATS UP PALIN APPEARANCELabels: Campaign 2008, Election, News, Palin, Politics
Sarah's Turn
The nation watches the Alaskan barricuda ..
Gustav update: Grand Isle flooding
HOW MANY HURRICANES IN ONE OCEAN CAN FORM?
 According to history books on weather, the most total storms at one time ever recorded....drum roll...
"Four hurricanes occurred simultaneously on two occasions. The first occasion was August 22, 1893, and one of these eventually killed 1,000- 2,000 people in Georgia South Carolina. The second occurrence was September 25, 1998, when Georges, Ivan, Jeanne and Karl persisted into September 27, 1998 as hurricanes. Georges ended up taking the lives of thousands in Haiti. In 1971 from September 10 to 12, there were five tropical cyclones at the same time; however, while most of these ultimately achieved hurricane intensity, there were never more than two hurricanes at any one time (from Blake et al. 2005.) "
Jesse Ferrell from Accuweather monitoring the storm count in the Atlantic tonight..
Latest government statement on Hanna.. Ike .. Josephine.. And in the Pacific: Karina. Labels: hurricanes, News, Storms, Weather
Some random rakings from around the world..
 Happy Meteorological Fall!
The convention is back on track.. Gustav is a depression causing widespread flooding in the South .. And there's a few more storms. Yes, a few.. Hanna, going to the East Coast, Ike, going somewhere, and Josephine.. somewhere.. And a few more waves off Africa that need to be watched..
In the meantime, some other news making news.. in the news .. around the world:
Politico argues size matters? Says Obama's bounce is smaller than others. However perhaps McCain won't be able to get his bounce up?
Acress Helen Mirren lets loose: I used to love cocaine!
Oil plunged today to its lowest price in five months.. it's nearing $100 a barrel after Hurricane Gustav failed to cause the damage feared in the oil fields in the Gulf..
Log Cabin Republicans endorse McCain.. they did not endorse Bush.. Insert your joke.. go ahead..
Think about this one as you worry about global warming: Scientists say that the last ice age occurred in less than one year..
Speaking of global warming: Scientists sounding the alarm over melting sea ice in the Arctic..
Don't cap me, bro: The end is near: Comcast, Frontier, and Time Warner announce they will charge for internet usage..
PHOTO ABOVE: AFP/Pablo ArgenteLabels: News, Random rakings
The movies will never be the same again
VETTING SARAH PALIN: MCCAIN PUSHES BACK AGAINST ATTACKS
The strange saga of Sarah Palin continues.. since she was chosen days ago by Senator John McCain to join the Grand Old Party ticket, blogs have slammed her, news coverage has lampooned her, and politicians have taken part in a whisper campaign against her..
The world seems to be piling up on Sarah.
John McCain can only hope the pileon will end up helping..
John McCain said today, "My vetting process was completely thorough." ..Reports state that Palin turned over several years of tax returns, submitted written answers to over 70 questions, and she was once fined for a fishing license violation.. Palin disclosed her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy in a private conversation..
Palin hired lobbyists when she was a mayor in a small Alaska town.. John McCain said today that America is 'excited' over his choice of Palin..
The Republican party's grass roots seems to be fired up over Palin as VP .. they got even more so when nasty rumors abounded on blogs that Palin's youngest son with downs syndrome was really her daughter's first son... And even more fired up when it was revealed that her daughter is pregnant..
Opponents, however, keep piling on.. Prediction markets bet that Palin will withdraw, news today that she belonged to a Secessionist Party, and today Obama hit 50% in a Gallup poll for the first time since the campaign began..
With all that said, Pat Buchanan writes today that Palin is paying off for McCain, "big-time."
Paying off with conservatives, big-time, yes.. But with all of America? Can't tell yet.
But the world is watching.. And viewing a once obscure Alaskan Governor--and her family--through the lens of a media circus..
Palin addresses the Republican convention Wednedsay.. (Some interesting viewing: Palin's gubernatorial debate in 2006) Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, McCain, News, Palin, Politics
WE'RE THE WIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP
 Move over Jerry Lewis!
The would-be Republican convention has turned into a telethon.. Laura Bush and Cindy McCain lead the appeal for donations after Hurricane Gustav.. They appeared Monday night at an abridged version of opening night of the Republican Convention for the fundraising effort.. Delegates are also putting together comfort packages filled with supplies for hurricane victims.. Labels: Bush, Election, gas prices, Gustav, McCain, Palin, Politics, Storms, Weather
Pappa don't preach
 REUTERS/Matt Sullivan/Files Other womanly-presidential news.. America's would be VPILF Sarah Palin embroiled in controversy already.. Rumors persisted online for days that her most recent child was actually her 17-year-old daughter's child.. The rumor got national attention after appearing on left leaning Daily Kos, republished by the Drudge Report..
Today, Palin acknowledged that her 17-year-old daughter was currently pregnant .. "Life happens," said McCain adviser Steve Schmidt, talking about the pregnancy story..
As for that ugly rumor about Palin's child with down syndrome? Obama said publicly today that if he finds out anyone in his campaign is spreading the rumors they would be fired... Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, McCain, Palin, Politics
Out of the woods? Try JUST ENTERING THE WOODS..
Just as Gustav winds down into a power storm, minus the hurricane title, residents will assess the damages--once they can get back home.. And while major disaster seems to have been averted at this hour in New Orleans, there are other storms coming..
Hanna poised to strike the United States before the end of this week (Republican convention begins with a storm and ends the same way?)
Focus will then shift to Ike.. Some fearful forecasts put Ike near the Gulf of Mexico next week..
Another potential exists in the Atlantic for development, just off the African coast..Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, Hanna, hurricanes, Ike, Storms, Weather
Private levee near New Orleans may fail, official says
Still watching NEW ORLEANS, but they may have dodged the bullet with Gustav..
 People walk along the Industrial Canal flood wall in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, September 1, 2008.
REUTERS/Dave Martin Major damage taking place in Western Louisiana .. Mississippi officials said a 15-foot storm surge flooded homes and inundated the only highways to coastal towns devastated by Katrina ..
As far as the levees in New Orleans: Col. Jeff Bedey, commander of the Corps' hurricane protection office, said, "We are seeing some overtopping waves. We are cautiously optimistic and confident that we won't see catastrophic wall failure." Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
2:30 UPDATE
Gustav is near Morgan City, Louisiana..
Levees overtopped in New Orleans--but not breached..
Roads flooded..
Grand Isle hit hard..
Various tornado warnings from Florida panhandle though Louisiana..
Fears for East Texas, as storm may stall out..
New hurricane threatens Mid-Atlantic late this week: Hanna..
NWS carefully studying system in Atlantic forming.. would be Ike..
Oil prices fall as Gustav weakens.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, Hanna, hurricanes, Ike, Storms, Weather
Water levels cause stress on levees; still no breaches reported; so far, Industrial Canal levee not compromised
Big waves crashing over Industrial Canal in New Orleans..
Winds still coming out of the South .. Army Corps of Engineers concerned about the water level ..
Levees stressed but not compromised.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
AP PHOTO
SO FAR SO GOOD: LEVEES CONTINUE TO HOLD, PROTECTING NEW ORLEANS FROM DISASTERDeveloping.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
ALL EYES ON THE INDUSTRIAL CANAL: LEVEES STRESSED -- BUT HOLDINGLabels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
FOX NEWS: COAST GUARD MAY HAVE SAVED NEW ORLEANS
Shepard Smith reporting that Coast Guard have secured the barge that was floating freely in Industrial Canal in New Orleans.. Developing.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
PRAYERS FOR NEW ORLEANS..
FOX NEWS REPORTING: 2 boats and a barge loose in Industrial Canal!
One bumping into city sewer and water system!
Various networks showing live footage of water overtopping levees.. --BUT NOT BREACHING.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Weather
New Orleans Local coverage
GUSTAV: LANDFALL
Landfall of Gustav near Cocodrie, Louisiana.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
Gustav = A Little Relief for Republicans?
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are not going to address the Republican convention *if they have one!* And privately many Republicans are breathing a sigh of relief.. the Politico reporting that Bush's decision to pay attention to Gustav is saying the GOP an 'awkward moment'.. Labels: Breaking news, Bush, Campaign 2008, Election, Gustav, hurricanes, Politics, Storms, Weather
Reports: Levees in New Orleans being overtopped
FOX NEW'S Shepard Smith said that at least one levee wall in the Ninth Ward is being topped at this point .. Labels: Gustav, Storms, Weather
REPORTS: GRAND ISLE FLOODING
 Reports on CNN: The Gulf of Mexico is covering Grand Isle.. CNN's reporter covering Grand Isle, Ali Velshi, says he cannot see any land on Grand Isle.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
We don't like Ike
 In the midst of Gustav, perhaps this will be hurricane overload: But forecasters are closely studying a tropical depression forming between Africa and the Lesser Antilles.. A few forecast models show this storm traveling to the Gulf of Mexico.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Ike, Storms, Weather
FEMA OFFICIAL SAYS GUSTAV WILL OVERTOP LEVEES
SERIOUS CONCERN OVER LEVEES
 The amount of rain that Gustav will produce is causing fear inside FEMA and Homeland Security..
The situation in Louisiana is dire.. Grand Isle may be in the eye of the storm.. Gustav is tracking a little more Northwest at this hour, staying longer over water--warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, allowing it to keep its strength pretty steady over the past few hours..
Gustav is going to be a massive rainmaker.. Concerns this Labor Day 2008 over levees that may break... Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
9:41 UPDATE
 Tornado warnings all across the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle back to Texas..
Hurricane force winds in a widespread area across New Orleans..
Gustav downgraded to a Cat 2 storm (however, please remember, 115 MPH was a Cat 3, Gustav is now at 110 MPH, so a Cat 2 is NOT a huge difference)..
Various cities across the Gulf, including the city of New Orleans, is watching and praying that their levees hold. New Orleans is not getting a direct hit, but instead is on the Northeast quadrant of the storm..
People of Grand Isle are worried about a storm surge..A possible high storm surge..
The most frightening impact of this storm: Forecasters are studying computer guidance that this storm is about to slow down and stall out.. possibly over Louisiana.. This could get bad, even with it being a Cat 2Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
11:30 WRAP..
The big three, FOX NEWS, MSNBC, and CNN have gone wall to wall with Gustav coverage.. The main focus of the nets appears to be on New Orleans. Advice of experts appears to have been heeded.. Officials say that 90% of the townspeoples have gone.. Somewhere. Hopefully safe..
Bobby Jindal, Ray Nagin, and George W. Bush have warned of dire circumstances at this critical time before Gustav comes on land..
While people along the Gulf Coast fear what oculd happen once Gustav comes on land, FEMA is eager to show America and the world what it says it learned since Katrina three years ago. Cramming may have paid off..
Other news events at this moment.. 11:30 Sunday night.. Only a few hours before the storm begins to ravage the Gulf Coast:
The Gulf Coast: Now it's waiting time..
World oil prices already rising..
>Gustav losses on scale of Katrina..
Hurricane winds may start at sunrise..
Defiant few remain in the French Quarter..Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
GOP convention: Opening night called off due to Gustav
McCain/Palin convention calls off first day's speeches and events, with the exception of official procedures required under party rules..(*Interesting side note: Left-wing political blogs are attacking Sarah Palin's family, saying Palin faked her last pregnancy and point to a photo of her daughter with a 'baby bump in the photo* .. the race could get nasty..) Labels: Breaking news, Campaign 2008, Election, Gustav, hurricanes, McCain, Palin, Politics, Storms, Weather
LATEST GUSTAV GUIDANCE FROM THE NWS
THE NEW
GUIDANCE RUNS SHOW A SLIGHT LEFT TURN AFTER 12 HR WITH A LEFTWARD SHIFT IN THE LANDFALL POINT ON THE LOUISIANA COAST. THE NEW FORECAST TRACK WILL NOT FOLLOW THIS SHIFT YET...AND THUS LIES NEAR THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE GUIDANCE ENVELOPE AND THE PREVIOUS FORECAST TRACK THROUGH 48 HR. AFTER 48-72 HR...THERE IS MAJOR DISAGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE DYNAMICAL MODELS ON WHETHER GUSTAV WILL RECURVE INTO THE WESTERLIES...STALL OVER LOUISIANA OR TEXAS...OR TURN SOUTHWESTWARD. SINCE THIS KIND OF SPREAD FREQUENTLY PRECEDES SLOW MOTION...THE FORECAST TRACK WILL CALL FOR A SLOW WESTWARD MOTION AFTER 72 HR. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Storms, Weather
WHITE HOUSE: BUSH AND CHENEY ARE GOING TO SKIP THE CONVENTION
Other cancellations: Schwarzenegger, Jindal, Rick Perry..McCain has been rumored to be thinking of speaking to the convention via satellite.. Perhaps the week will be shortened due to the potential deadly impact of Gustav.. Labels: Breaking news, Bush, Cheney, Gustav, hurricanes, Weather
Hockey moms and soccer moms unite? The possibilities of Palin
AP Photo/Heath Family
Now that America is getting to know Sarah Palin--and quite possibly John McCain is getting to know her, too--questions are arising along with a certain pop-cultural "VPILF" pile-on online..
McCain seems to have chosen Palin on a gut instinct.. Not knowing her, he had to rely on what he knew about her, or at least what he was told about her..
I envision a sort of awkward meeting.. perhaps he's not too sure what to think of this strange-accented Northern gun-toating snowmobiling 'hot' Governor-ess from a state very few people even think about when the speak of "America." It's a huge gamble..
Did she get vetted? The PEOPLE magazine cover this week on the new McCain/Palin team looked strange .. McCain seems able to 'strange up' any situation he's in, though. He looked like a proud grandfather at a baptism for his grandchild.. Palin the happy mom of 5.. The risky gamble..
State politicians up in the North are stunned at the Palin choice, too.. State Senate President Lyda Green said she thought it was a joke when someone called her at 6 a.m. to give her the news.. "She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president? Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"
And Lyda Green is a Republican!
And a reader of Andrew Sullivan notes a fact: The pop cultural appeal of Palin is already ongoing.. I wrote of that the day of her pick..
I also read one story in which the author mentioned that McCain "fingered" the Alaska governor for his VP choice.. .. perhaps now that we have a female Vice President it may be necessary to watch the verbs we choose? Be careful, editors... Labels: Breaking news, Campaign 2008, Election, McCain, Palin, Politics
The Sunday Morning Sidewalk
...Cleaning up the streamers after the Labor Day parade...
Sitting here in Avalon, looking at the pouring rain
Summertime has come and gone and everybody's home again
Closing down for the season, I found the last of the souvenirs
I can still taste the wedding cake and it's sweet after all these years
These are the last words I have to say
That's why this took so long to write
There will be other words some other day
But that's the story of my life
There's comfort in my coffee cup and apples in the early fall
They're pulling all the moorings up and gathering at the Legion Hall
They swept away all the streamers after the Labor Day parade
Nothing left for a dreamer now, only one final serenade
And these are the last words I have to say
Before another age goes by
With all those other songs I'll have to play
But that's the story of my life
And it's so clear standing here where I am
Ain't that what justice is for?
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn anymore
Stack the chairs on the table tops
Hang the sheets on the chandeliers
It slows down but it never stops
Ain't it sweet after all these years
And these are the last words I have to say
It's always hard to say goodbye
But now it's time to put this book away
Ain't that the story of my life
-Billy Joel Labels: Offbeat, personal
GUSTAV: POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING
 Gustav is winding up in the Gulf.. preparations are underway across the South.. Hurricane hunters watching for signs of the big storm becoming a Cat 5, something that is now expected in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico..
Gustav's impact: Tides reaching at least 9-12 feet above normal and winds potentially of Category 3 status, or at least 111 mph, as it slams into the coastline of the Gulf..
Widespread flooding expected.. 6 to 12 inches of rain. .low line areas will be affected by the massive rains .. there will also be isolated tornadoes..
Tonight's hurricane watch statement to New Orleans appears eerily similar to Katrina three short years ago:
"A POTENTIAL STORM SURGE OF 15 TO 20 FEET WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR AND TO THE RIGHT OF LOCATION OF LANDFALL OF HURRICANE GUSTAV. A STORM SURGE OF THIS MAGNITUDE COULD RESULT IN EXTENSIVE FLOODING AND POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL POTENTIALLY IMPACT COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA DURING THE PRE DAWN HOURS MONDAY MORNING AND SPREAD INLAND ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND ACROSS COASTAL MISSISSIPPI MONDAY MORNING. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE COAST BY MID MONDAY MORNING AND SPREAD INLAND TO SOME AREAS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY NIGHT" Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Katrina, Storms, Weather
HAVOC AT THE GOP CONVENTION: WHO WILL ATTEND, WHO WILL CANCEL? McCAIN/PALIN TO GO TO MISSISSIPPI
 The Republican party is set to start its convention Monday--just as Hurricane Gustav (and then Hanna) make major headlines in the Gulf of Mexico..
Tonight, as Governor Bobby Jindal says Gustav could be worse than Katrina and Mayor Ray Nagin is telling New Orleans residents to be 'very scared' of Gustav, questions persist as to who will be speaking at GOP convention.. The POLITICO details a scrambled mess .. President George W. Bush, officials say, will most likely not be at the convention.. There are even plans that John McCain may deliver his acceptance speech via satellite..
According to the POLITICO report tonight, McCain was scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech Thursday but now may do so from the devastation zone if the storm hits the U.S. coast with the ferocity feared by forecasters.. Labels: Biden, Breaking news, Campaign 2008, Gustav, hurricanes, McCain, Obama, Palin, Politics, Weather
Parades across America as New Orleans evacuates
Three years after Katrina devastated Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas in the South, New Orleans is feeling deju vu all over again. Late Saturday Mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, the city most destroyed by Katrina's force in 2005.. And now today, as America celebrates Labor Day weekend with parades and streamers, millions across the South prepare for what could be a will most likely become an intense and dangerous Category 5 hurricane.. Aimed for somewhere along the Gulf Coast..
MORE:
Thousands flee powerful storm..
At this hour, FEMA waiting for storm to blow into Cat 5
Destroys parts of Cuba, now in open Gulf water..
* * *
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal warned that Gustav could be worse that Hurricane Katrina three years ago.. Jindal is requesting a 'pre-landfall' disaster declaration.. Labels: Breaking news, Gustav, hurricanes, Katrina, Storms, Weather
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AP PHOTO
RED MEAT: PALIN HITS HARD AGAINST OBAMA/BIDEN
News
