Yesterday John McCain announced his Vice Presidential selection to a crowd of tens in a parking garage in Columbus, Ohio. Unfortunately, there was no media present, no one in the crowd thought to video the event and there was no cell phone coverage in the 3 story underground facility. Asked if it was true he had named his running mate McCain responded, "Are you my economy czar? No, have you seen him?" Later at a restaurant near his home former Congressman Rob Portman was asked if he was the choice. "Yes it is," said Portman, "and the wine is superb."

Hey, whattya know it’s the Fourth of July. Many folks in the US have the day off, some even with pay. There are those who will spend the day on call, salaried no doubt, and there are those who will work a full day for an hourly wage. Some of those people will get an increase in that rate to compensate for the holiday and some will be lucky their getting a paycheck at all.

Today we’ll all be reminded of what a great country this is and how the sacrifice of others got us the freedoms we enjoy today; the freedom to be stupid; the freedom to ignore; and yes the freedom to wear a flag patch on our ass if we are so moved. But, those flag pins, don’t be screwing with those flag pins my friend.

As the Fourth of July approaches, six in 10 of those surveyed in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll say sporting an American flag pin indicates that a person is patriotic...

What’s next, an additional section in Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq). outlining safe pin disposal?

AP via KPHX Phoenix reports another republican in trouble with the law.

The debate in Las Vegas is over and so is the CNN replay, but what did we see from CNN?

Did it's leads brandish their media cards, did the candidates make me flinch? A bit of both but it was fun to watch. And what about our Wolfie? How did he do? What did he do? (I wonder that myself, often.)

And he's ready to consult on the fires.

Michael D. Brown, Former FEMA Director and current Director of Cotton Companies, one of the leading disaster preparedness and restoration organizations in the nation, is available for comment regarding the wild fires that are devastating Southern California.

Oh my.

The NYT just now has a breaking news story at the top of the website, link, just now that Fred Thompson has declared. The picture shows him with his mouth open. Surprise perhaps?

to republicans from now on. Why waste it on Democrats? I don't need lip service, and freeping polls doesn't float my boat. I want protection, I want to take what I want, when I want it and screw you. It may not help with my parking and speeding tickets, but it should will cover my butt when I need to bend a few rules or break/ignore a few laws.
Then I could wrap myself in my republicanism and take what I may when I may. Whose to stop me?

Back in the day there was a song called Afternoon Delight by The Starland Vocal Band.

My motto's always been; when it's right, it's right.
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night.
When everything's a little clearer in the light of day.
And you know the night is always gonna be there any way.

Why wait for the cold dark night indeed.

WYFP has been a fixture of the Dkos community for a long time. It’s history includes some of the finest rants ever unleashed and some of the best writing on the web. So for a C&J irregular and infrequent diarist to attempt it, well you can imagine my trepidation.

WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here.
Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?

Today is my 58th Birthday. I don't feel that except when I remember all the political devastation I've witnessed over the years. It started innocently enough during the Eisenhower administration, I survived Kennedy (I still remember my parents dread and fear during the Cuban missile crisis) and learned to demonstrate during the Johnson years.

When I turned thirty it got difficult.

If it’s a mark of bad service to leave a penny tip what would that say of a candidate for national office? Would a penny left, say for the McCain campaign, convey disgust or just cause an annoyance? Could I go to his office and leave an envelope containing a penny taped to a piece of paper?

NBC News President Steve Capus has made a statement about the suspension of Imus at Countdown's blog TheNewsHole

Don Imus has expressed profound regret and embarrassment and has made a commitment to listen to all of those who have raised legitimate expressions of outrage. In addition, his dedication - in his words - to change the discourse on his program moving forward, has confirmed for us that this action is appropriate.

Capus goes on to say that Imus's future is in his hands, "...is contingent on his ability to live up to his word."
More

Mojo is dead.
So sayth CT.

Given mojo is sweet,
Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,
What mad pursuit?

Is it April,
When the sun warms
And the fools rush in?

April is not cruel,
It is a time for all,
To pulleth our legs.

This morning's CBS Sunday Morning featured a profile of MSNBC's Keith Olbermann in their series  "The Cable Guy." Many in the DK community are well aware of Keith and his nightly newscast entitled, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and many are fans. This piece appears to have been intended for the uninitiated and may have left many scratching their heads.

Who is this guy who thinks he can diss the President, the Vice President or even for that matter the hero of koolaide drinkers of America, Bill O'Reilly? In Olbermann's words, "You need to make a newscast that looks like life; very serious, very angry, very stupid, very snarky, very much about pop culture.

"It can be exhausting," say Susan Spencer. Yes, Susan, it can, but that's really what it's about, isn't it?

Keith Olbermann says that with a time machine we could go back and revisit the vote to authorize. We could chastise whomever we liked. We could be heroes.

I love the idea of a time machine. It's so much fun to imagine what you'd see by traveling into the past. History in the making, moments of personal importance and visions of days gone by come to mind.

This time around though I might use the time machine for a different kind of adventure.

Sometimes during a quiet moment I wonder what it would be like to travel back in time. It's not known to have ever happened and certainly isn't considered realistic, but a flight of fancy can't hurt. So now and then I imagine I can time travel and witness a moment from the past.

There are so many occasions to choose from, so many places and events to see.  More than likely I'd be interested in something of historical or political significance, although ordinary moments or people could catch my fancy. How about Lucy? What would a day with Lucy be like?  How about a day in Paris in say 1868?

Maybe another time, just now I have history in mind.

Just a short rant, or two, on a feel good Friday evening. Bill’s in the house, the happy stories are up and the glow of a weekend is upon us, but I need to do a quick rant.

Tonight is a reflection of my favorite quote, "One of the biggest changes in politics in my lifetime is that the delusional is no longer marginal." Bill Moyers.

Let's start in my home state.

Some time ago the experiment that is DailyKos included a permanent open thread. It refreshed, if I recall, after a fixed number of comments. It allowed for a constant dialog where comments that may not have required, or could not have sustained, a diary could be made and answered.

Since this site has now over 110,000 registered users and diaries that must be rescued because of sheer volume, could a permanent open thread serve as a safety value? It might reduce "Breaking" diaries, it may relieve us of those single liners (mea culpa on the first KO special comment diary) and it could serve as a safety value when pie fights explode.

The community would use it as open thread is used now; for pimping and whoring diaries, for linking to a notable story, to comment on life in America or for the inevitable rant we all feel we can’t contain, anytime we are so moved.