Palin-bot sues Nevada DMV for not allowing him to display his ignorance on his license plates.

From the Daily Mail:

A Nevada man has filed suit against the state's Department of Motor Vehicles after multiple requests for personalised licence plates supporting Republican Sarah Palin were rejected.

James Linlor, of Douglas County, claims his rights were violated when the state refused to issue a series of license plates supporting the former Alaska governor, branding them 'inappropriate' in nature.

According to the claim, 'GOPALIN' was among several requests rejected, while the agency approved others including 'GO OBAMA' and 'DMOCRAT'.

According to court documents filed on Friday in U.S. District Court, Mr Linlor filed for the personalised licence plate 'GOPALIN' in 2009 and 2010. Both, he says, were rejected, reports the Las Vegas Sun.
In June, 2010, his requests for 'PALIN,' 'PALIN12' and 'PALIN16' were denied.

The DMV’s Special Plates Committee, which reviews applications, stated the applications were 'vulgar or obscene or expressing superiority of political affiliation.'

Well at this point I have to side with the Nevada DMV, I mean clearly this vanity plate choice would fall into the "vulgar or obscene" category. I guess the reason could be that last one, but nah.

After all it is not like there is a clear demonstration of bias on the part of the Nevada DMV.

I'm sorry, WHICH license plate submissions did they okay?

Mr Linlor says he later discovered the DMV had issued other politicly-motivated license plates, including 'GOGREEN,' 'DMOCRAT,' 'AL GORE,' 'KERRY,' 'EDWARDS,' 'DEAN,' 'HILLARY' and 'RONPAUL,' while requests for 'REPBLCN' and 'BUSH,' were rejected.

Testing the system, Mr Linlor said he applied for a 'GO OBAMA' plate, which was approved. 

Oh.  They actually issued an "EDWARDS" and a "RONPAUL?"

Well that sort of changes things now doesn't it?


As much as it pains me to say, I do believe this gentleman has a very definite legal point and he should in fact be allowed to put "IMBCIL," I'm sorry I mean "GOPALIN" on his license plate. As ridiculous, and ill informed as that decision might be, it does appear to be unfair to reject HIS request while allowing other Nevada residents to put THEIR political idols on the license plates which adorn their vehicles.


After all, his decision could have been much, much worse.

Speaking of popcorn, here is a film to add to our list of "must see movies."

From Yahoo Xtra Entertainment:

Jay Roach has signed to direct HBO Films "Game Change," based on Mark Halperin and John Heilemann's 2010 tome about the 2008 election, the network confirmed.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Jay Roach has signed to direct HBO Films "Game Change," based on Mark Halperin and John Heilemann's 2010 tome about the 2008 election, the network confirmed.

Additionally, actor-turned-screenwriter Danny Strong will adapt the book. Roach and Strong worked together on HBO's "Recount," about the disputed 2000 election.

"Recount" won multiple Emmys including made-for-TV movie and best director for Roach.

"Game Change," a New York Times bestseller, goes behind the scenes of the long and captivating campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Roach directed two of the "Austin Powers" movies, as well as "Meet the Fockers" and "Dinner for Schmucks."

I am so there! I loved the book, and can only imagine that the movie will be hugely entertaining.

The only question is who will they get to play our less than favorite idiotic half term Governor?

Will it be our tried and true favorite, Tina Fey?  Or would they choose somebody with a little more range like the amazing Gina Gershon? 

Well whoever they choose to play Snowdrift Snooki, I hope they provide plenty of security and somebody to handle their e-mails for them, because the way Palin was portrayed in Game Change is certainly NOT going to make her flying monkeys happy when it hits the big screen.  If in fact she has any supporters left by the time the movie gets made that is.

John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards in their own words.

From John Edwards:
In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.

I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.

It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up – feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help.

I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say.

From Elizabeth Edwards:
Our family has been through a lot. Some caused by nature, some caused by human weakness, and some most recently caused by the desire for sensationalism and profit without any regard for the human consequences. None of these has been easy. But we have stood with one another through them all. Although John believes he should stand alone and take the consequences of his action now, when the door closes behind him, he has his family waiting for him.

John made a terrible mistake in 2006. The fact that it is a mistake that many others have made before him did not make it any easier for me to hear when he told me what he had done. But he did tell me. And we began a long and painful process in 2006, a process oddly made somewhat easier with my diagnosis in March of 2007. This was our private matter, and I frankly wanted it to be private because as painful as it was I did not want to have to play it out on a public stage as well. Because of a recent string of hurtful and absurd lies in a tabloid publication, because of a picture falsely suggesting that John was spending time with a child it wrongly alleged he had fathered outside our marriage, our private matter could no longer be wholly private. The pain of the long journey since 2006 was about to be renewed.

John has spoken in a long on-camera interview. Admitting one's mistakes is a hard thing for anyone to do. I am proud of the courage John showed by his honesty in the face of shame. The toll on our family of news helicopters over our house and reporters in our driveway is yet unknown. But now the truth is out, and the repair work that began in 2006 will continue. I ask that the public, who expressed concern about the harm John's conduct has done to us, think also about the real harm that the present voyeurism does and give me and my family the privacy we need at this time.

By posting these two statements I feel I have done my duty to be honest and report the truth.

I am still very pained by this unfortunate incident and have decided that this is the last post I will make about this subject. I will not defend John Edwards behavior as I feel it is indefensible.

And again my heart goes out to Elizabeth and the Edwards family. They deserved better, as did we all.

Edwards admits affair!

John Edwards repeatedly lied during his Presidential campaign about an extramarital affair with a novice filmmaker, the former Senator admitted to ABC News today.

In an interview for broadcast tonight on Nightline, Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 44-year old Rielle Hunter, but said that he did not love her.

Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter's baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test.

I am suffering from a horrible case of deja vu.

I wanted desperately to believe he was innocent of this but sadly he is not.

My heart goes out to Elizabeth and the Edwards family. That is all I have to say on the subject right now. It is not a good day for our party.

Update: There is more from Edwards on this affair:

"In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake, and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public."

"With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006, and today I take full responsibility publicly."

So John Edwards knew that he had an affair waiting to be revealed to the public BEFORE he announced his decision to run for President. Which beggars the question, why?

Why would you risk being nominated and having this thing revealed before the election and essentially destroying he Democrats chance of getting back the White House? Why would you risk the security of our country? Why would you put your desire to be President above the good of he country?

I supported John Edwards with all of my heart in the early stages of the nomination process. I wanted him way before I wanted Obama. When Obama was clearly moving to the front of he pack I wanted Edwards to be his running mate. I still held out hope of that way past the point that it was ever likely to happen. I truly believed in John Edwards.

I feel completely betrayed by this, but what is even worse then cheating on the amazing Elizabeth Edwards, is the fact that Edwards almost took the whole Democratic party and 2008 election down with him. He risked EVERYTHING when he knew he could be outed at any time.

For that there can be no forgiveness.

Be still my beating heart.

John Edwards said Tuesday that if he were asked to accept the vice presidential slot or a cabinet position in a potential Barack Obama administration, he would “seriously consider” whatever the Illinois senator asked him to do.

I am not somebody who clings to dreams longer then it is prudent to do so, but I just want to say that if Edwards were to become Obama's running mate I would be the happiest guy on the planet.

I have been pushing for this combination since Edwards first took himself out of the nomination process. Before that I wanted an Edwards/Obama ticket.

I wonder if I can get tickets online?

GOP strategist Karl Rove and former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards will debate the issues of the presidential campaign Sept. 26 as part of the university’s Distinguished Speakers Series, The Buffalo News has learned.

As surrogates for the parties’ standard bearers, the two also could square off more than once at other locations around the nation.

I have little doubt that Edwards will eat Rove's lunch for him.

Maybe Edwards can also ask Rove how he sleeps at night knowing that he has helped sent thousands of brave Americans to die for a lie? I would pay a lot of money to watch turdblossom struggle with that one.

Here is the video of Edwards endorsing Obama.

Part 1:



Part 2:



Now that my friends is the "dream ticket".

Edwards is endorsing Obama!

I have waited and waited for this and wondered what the damn hold up has been. And now it has finally happened. This is a great day for Obama supporters, for the Democrats, and in my opinion for America.

In my heart I know that if these two were to combine forces they could not only win the Presidency in a walk they could actually follow through with every political promise that they made to their supporters and to this country.

There words would not be simply rhetoric, they would be promises. And not empty promises like so many politicians before them have provided, no they would be guarantees that these two amazingly ethical men would feel honor bound to deliver on.

I think I may just have experienced the Chris Matthews leg tingle.

Do you know why John Edwards will never endorse Hillary Clinton? Well here let him tell you in his own words.

It has been so long since I heard him speak these words I had almost forgotten how down he was on Hillary. But I think it is clear that he has absolutely no use for her at all.

Damn listen to him speak! He was great wasn't he?

Another dream has died.

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said on Thursday he would not accept the nomination for U.S. vice president as he did four years ago.

To be honest I had given up on the possibility of Edwards being Obama's running mate a while ago. I cannot tell you exactly when I gave up the ghost on this idea, but I know it was a slow process.

Originally, even before this whole Presidential campaign started, I was rooting for Edwards. I was a big fan even back in the 2004 election.

Then I thought Obama would make a good running mate for Edwards.

Then I flirted with the idea of an Obama/Edwards ticket.

And now I am left with nothing of that dream. In some ways it really is a sad day.

But you have to admit they would have made an amazing team.

So one more time, just for old times sake: OBAMA/EDWARDS 2008!

John Edwards father-in-law passes away.

Vincent Anania, the father-in-law of onetime Democratic presidential contender and former Sen. John Edwards, has died. He was 87.

Anania died Saturday in Chapel Hill of heart failure, the senator's wife, Elizabeth Edwards, said in a statement.

I have been anxiously awaiting news about John Edwards, but this is not what I was hoping for.

I feel badly for the Edward's family. They have certainly suffered more then their share of tragedy lately.

The only caveat I can offer is that Mr. Anaina was 87, which is pretty damn good for a white male in America. The normal life expectancy is only 75.

I still feel badly for the family however.

The answer to my dreams could be at hand.

Barack Obama sneaked down to North Carolina Sunday and met with former rival John Edwards, who has yet to make an endorsement in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Officials at North Carolina television station WTVD said they have video taken from a helicopter of Obama leaving Edwards' home in Chapel Hill. A producer said the station was "tipped off" about the meeting, but said the source was confidential.

The Obama campaign confirmed the meeting. Although reporters normally travel everywhere with Obama, he left them behind to fly down in secret from his hometown.

"Senator Obama visited this morning with John and Elizabeth Edwards at their home in Chapel Hill to discuss the state of the campaign and the pressing issues facing American families," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. He wouldn't comment on the possibility of an endorsement.

Anybody who has been a frequent visitor to this blog cannot help but know that I was an early Edwards supporter. I thought that he had the best platform and the right strength of character to lead this troubled nation.

When I read the writing on the wall and realized that Edwards was making an ill fated run for the White House in a time when he was up against two historic candidacies, I moved my support to Barack Obama.

But I did not give up on John Edwards.

I just started to constantly post about the idea of an Edwards/Obama ticket or an Obama/Edwards ticket. I am pretty sure I drove many of you crazy with my very enthusiastic support for this idea.

When Edwards dropped out of the race I kept waiting for him to endorse Obama, but nothing happened. Then people started suggesting that he might endorse Hillary and I thought my head would explode. But that did not happen either.

But now they are having a face to face meeting. I don't want to get too excited, but this just might be the very thing that I have been hoping for.

In my opinion this would be the greatest political match up in American history.

And the Republicans will simply curl up and die once it takes place.

Edwards drops out.

This breaks my heart a little. Edwards was my original choice for reaching the White House, and I still think of him as one half of the perfect ticket.

I hope that he and Elizabeth take some time to be alone, just the two of them with their kids, and take pride in waging an amazing campaign. If this campaign had not had such an incredible field of history making candidates John would have been the one to beat all the way to the convention. But John is at a disadvantage in this race. But that was not his fault, he is an admirable man, and worthy of leading this country.

I hope that his gifts and potential are recognized by the person who eventually does make it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Edwards is an invaluable resource and a powerful advocate for the poor. Don't let those gifts go to waste.

Breaking news: John Edwards may be dropping out!

I am watching "Morning Joe" and they have just received word from reporter Chuck Todd that John Edwards is giving a speech later and may be dropping out of the Presidential race.

I feel very bad for John who may truly be the best qualified candidate.

However I still remain hopeful that Obama will offer Edwards the Vice Presidency and that Edwards will take it.

Update: David Shuster just brought up the fact that Edwards may be asked to be Obama's running mate. Fingers crossed people.

The talking heads on MSNBC are saying that this will benefit Hillary, but I don't see that. Edwards was a candidate for change, like Obama. If he leaves, and endorses Barack, it will dramatically help Obama.

John Edwards calls on Senate Democrats to filibuster revisions that protect AT&T from prosecution for spying on us.

When it comes to protecting the rule of law, words are not enough. We need action.

It's wrong for your government to spy on you. That's why I'm asking you to join me today in calling on Senate Democrats to filibuster revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would give "retroactive immunity" to the giant telecom companies for their role in aiding George W. Bush's illegal eavesdropping on American citizens.

The Senate is debating this issue right now -- which is why we must act right now. You can find your Senators' phone numbers here or call the Senate Switchboard at 1-(202)-224-3121.

Granting retroactive immunity is wrong. It will let corporate law-breakers off the hook. It will hamstring efforts to learn the truth about Bush's illegal spying program. And it will flip on its head a core principle that has guided our nation since our founding: the belief that no one, no matter how well connected or what office they hold, is above the law.

But in Washington today, the telecom lobbyists have launched a full-court press for retroactive immunity. George Bush and Dick Cheney are doing everything in their power to ensure it passes. And too many Senate Democrats are ready to give the lobbyists and the Bush administration exactly what they want.

Please join me in calling on every Senate Democrat to do everything in their power -- including joining Senator Dodd's efforts to filibuster this legislation -- to stop retroactive immunity and stand up for the rule of law. The Constitution should not be for sale at any price.

Thank you for taking action.

John EdwardsJanuary 24, 2008

Finally we see some real leadership from our Presidential candidates!

John Edwards was on Letterman last night. I think that John McCain needs to hand over the title of "straight talker".

Edwards did a great job of making the case that he is the grownup in the Presidential field and even gets in a dig at O'Reilly.


I must give a hat tip to Enigma, over at Watergate Summer, who told me this was on. I had no idea.

Is Clinton testing John Edwards integrity?

The nasty spat between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama last night sure created fireworks, but after the debate attention turned to an offstage encounter, between Clinton and former senator John Edwards.

According to eyewitnesses, they both walked out of their green rooms after the debate and agreed to talk, then went behind closed doors in Edwards's green room.

Clinton left 20 minutes later. No word on the subject matter, but as Edwards struggles in the polls with no wins to date, his post-campaign strategy is surely in the air.

If Edwards decides to throw his lot in with Hillary then I will have been completely snookered by him. It would be the biggest political betrayal since Clinton sabotaged his Presidency for a blow job.

It would be the smart thing for Hillary to do, but it would destroy the Democratic party in my opinion and open it up to actually losing in the 2008 election.

Edwards and Obama are virtual bloodbrothers in how they see the future of this country. Together they could stroll into the White House and really make the changes that they have both been promising.

If Edwards thinks he will have any significant role as Hillary Clinton's Vice President then he must never have even heard of Bill Clinton. He will be used as window dressing and nothing more. Maybe he should have a sit down with Al Gore before he makes any decision.

I think my stomach hurts now.

Are you a little confused about the controversy over Barack Obama's "present" votes while in the Illinois state senate? This might help.

Voting Present in the State Legislature is Used as A Signal to the Other Party, Not As a Way to Duck the Issue. “An aspect of Obama’s State Senate voting record that is drawing attention is his “present” votes. A present vote is a third option to an up or down “yes” or “no” that is used with great frequency in the Illinois General Assembly. It has many varied and nuanced meanings that, in the context of the actual bills, border on boring. It’s most important use is as a signal – to the other party, to the governor, to the sponsor – to show a willingness to compromise on the issue if not the exact bill, to show disapproval for one aspect of the bill, to question the constitutionality of the bill, to strengthen the bill.

I was a little disappointed that Edwards also jumped on this issue. I hold him to a higher standard and don't want to see him misrepresenting anybody's record, especially Obamas.

Maybe John Edwards really did not understand the significance of the present vote.

After last night's debate Hillary and Barack are licking their wounds as Edwards basks in renewed media attention.

A simmering feud between Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama erupted into charges of distortion and exaggeration in a gloves- off presidential debate Monday, with Clinton accusing him of representing a Chicago slumlord and Obama countering that she was a corporate lawyer for anti-union Wal-Mart.

Even in the superheated atmosphere of their fight for the party's nomination, the statements and exchanges between Clinton and Obama were unusually acrimonious and personal. The debate came as the two campaigns continued to complain about dirty politics and disenfranchisement of voters in last Saturday's Nevada caucuses.

As Obama tried to defend his recent comments about Republican ideas and Ronald Reagan, Clinton interrupted and said she has never criticized his remarks on Reagan.

"Your husband did," said Obama, who has accused the former president of misrepresenting his record.

"I'm here. He's not," she snapped.

Obama followed this remark by saying "I can't tell who I am running against sometimes." Which was one of my favorite quotes of the night.

You know I have a lot of experience with bullies. I have unfortunately bullied others in my life, been terrorized by bullies when I was very young, and been a "bully buster" when I was in high school.

There is a dynamic used by a bully to intimidate or control his chosen adversary. He may often feel the need to bully out of jealousy or to get back something that he, or she, think they lost to the other person.

The bully often feels inadequate compared to his, or her, target. Being unable to compete in the same arena as his target, he needs to bring that person down to his level. Where he, or she, thinks they have a better chance of inflicting damage. They may use name calling, fabricate lies, or bother those that the target cares about to get them down to their level.

We saw these same techniques used by Hillary last night to make Obama feel defensive and begin to fight the Clinton kind of fight. And that was a mistake.

Hillary was able last night to scuff up Obama's shiny shoes and damage his untouchable image. She did not make herself look any better, but she focused on making Obama look worse. And she did not do it alone.

Hillary has Bill, and that has put Obama at a disadvantage. He is running against two powerful political opponents. And he may be outmatched.

He needs help. He needs John Edwards. Edwards demonstrated last night that he can keep his head in a dogfight and he can also keep the debate focused on the issues. And he can beat Bill Clinton. If it were an Obama/Edwards vs Clinton/Clinton match, the Obama/Edwards team would wipe the floor with them. That is not just my opinion, that is fact.

I think the time is right for Obama to reach out to Edwards and strike up an alliance. Edwards is essentially out of this race if he stands alone. But if he and Obama team up he can guarantee his chance to do all of the good work that he has been talking about doing. It is clear they like each other. It is clear they both dislike Hillary. So what is the damn hold up?

I would plead with them both to get together and win this thing! The time is now!

John Edwards takes issue with Hillary's racist remarks.

Democrat John Edwards on Sunday waded into a dispute between his rivals, criticizing comments by Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband that some have considered disparaging to Barack Obama and black people generally.

"I must say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real change that came not through the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King but through a Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that," Edwards told more than 200 people gathered at a predominantly black Baptist church.

Sen. Hillary Clinton recently was quoted as saying King's dream of racial equality was realized only when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, while Bill Clinton said Obama was telling a "fairy tale" about his opposition to the Iraq war.

"Those who believe that real change starts with Washington politicians have been in Washington too long and are living a fairy tale," he said.

"As someone who grew up in the segregated South, I feel an enormous amount of pride when I see the success that Senator Barack Obama is having in this campaign," said Edwards. He the added, with a laugh: "Some days I wish he was having a little less success."

Damn, he is going to make a great Vice President!

I don't know who is helping the Clinton's write their speeches and talking points (Rove?), but they just did the Obama campaign a huge favor.