Robo Call Hell!

I stopped getting political robo-calls. It was pretty easy.. I got rid of having a home phone and switched to a mobile phone. As a result, I missed the slew of calls during the primary and might be missing some for the general election.

I actually think they can be effective tactic for get out the vote efforts but it looks like the McCain campaign is ruining a good thing.

Here are a couple articles about robo calls that I thought you might find interesting.

Time Magazine provides us with "A Brief History of Robo Calls". Click here.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution is asking readers to record the robo-calls and send to them. Click here for the story.

Palin even says lets stop the robo-calls:


McCain confronted on robo-calls

Ohhh Rudy! Giuliani robo-call gets things all stirred up!

Rudy Giuliani has a robo-call playing in target states that claims Obama is soft on sex offenders and drug dealers.

Read the story and check out the link to the audio by clicking here.

Here is the text of the call:

Hi, this is Rudy Giuliani, and I'm calling for John McCain and the Republican National Committee because you need to know that Barack Obama opposes mandatory prison sentences for sex offenders, drug dealers, and murderers.

It's true, I read Obama's words myself. And recently, Congressional liberals introduced a bill to eliminate mandatory prison sentences for violent criminals -- trying to give liberal judges the power to decide whether criminals are sent to jail or set free. With priorities like these, we just can't trust the inexperience and judgment of Barack Obama and his liberal allies. This call was paid for by the Republican National Committee and McCain-Palin 2008 at 866 558 5591.

Coming soon.. guest authors and political haikus

I decided to ask a good friend to help contribute to Hot Political Mess with her wonderful political haikus.

I haven't worked on a haiku since I was a school kid and had to check my trusty wikipedia resource to refresh my memory of a haiku. Wikipedia says a haiku is "a form of Japanese poetry, consisting of 17 Japanese on (a phonetic unit identical to the mora), in three metrical phrases of 5, 7, and 5 on respectively, and typically containing a kigo, or seasonal reference. In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line, while haiku in English usually appear in three lines, to equate to the Japanese haiku's three metrical phrases".

Stay tuned for some fun and an introduction of the contributor!

The Devil Went Down to Georgia

Great news! The U.S. Senate race in Georgia appears to be competitive. Hot political mess Republican Saxby Chambliss is losing ground.

Chambliss ran a very negative campaign against incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Max Cleland in 2004. Chambliss claimed that Cleland was not patriotic. Cleland is a wounded veteren who lost two legs and an arm in the Viet Nam war.

Check out the news on the New York Times blog entry "Revenge & the Georgia Senate Race" by clicking here.

The Polar Bear Pin

I can't remember what exactly I was watching on t.v. but it included coverage of a speech by Sarah Palin. When I looked close at what she was wearing, I noticed Palin was wearing a polar bear pin.

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the pin! I remember hearing that Palin fought polar bear protections. Click here for an article on ABC News.

I got the photos above courtesy of The Crooks and Liars blog

Poor George can't raise money for his party

Politico.com reports that Bush's fundraising for his party and candidates is down $40 million this cycle.

Click here for the story "Bush fundraising down by $40 million"

Random political hot messes

CNN Political Ticker reports the Republican Party is considering a loan to fund republican senate campaigns. Click here for full story.

Yeek, former and right wing Congressman Bob Barr on the campaign trail
Oh my, I forgot that former Georgia congressman and right wing nut Bob Barr is running for president as a Libertarian. A commentary in the Athens, Georgia newspaper several years ago said "Barr is the idol of the gun-toting, abortion-fighting, IRS-hating hard right wing of American politics." Check out this article about Barr campaigning by clicking here.

A little fun with an animated Palin Oval Office
My friend Patti sent this on to me... http://www.palinaspresident.com
Patti says "move your mouse around, stuff happens. If the pointer becomes a hand, click on the object. Oh, have your sound on."

Donald Trump, a McCain supporter, says "I wanted Bush impeached"
Reported by CNN Political ticker, click here for full story.

Palin surprises shoppers at an Ohio Wal-Mart
http://www.mydailysentinel.com/articles/2008/10/13/news/news00.txt

Politico reports a claim by the Palin in the article "Palin not going negative 'at all'" Oh really now!
The article reports that "Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Wednesday rejected the idea that she has launched negative attacks against Barack Obama".
Click here for Politico story

Hockey Mom Sarah Palin Gets Some Boos at Philly Flyers

Check out this clip on YouTube that I found on the blog The E&P Pub...



Read the full story here.

Hot Political Mess: Elizabeth Hasselbeck

Ohhh poor Elizabeth! I don't watch The View but I have heard my friends complain about Elizabeth Hasselback. I had to check out some of her clips and I was amazed. She deserves a mention as a Hot Political Mess.

Check out an article from the LA Times "Does Elisabeth Hasselback needs a Lifeline". Click here for the article.

You must check out this video from ABC's The View as they discuss Palin and Haselback defends Palin. Click here.

McCain... the body language and dissing Obama

McCain's body language and refusal to look at Obama during last Friday's debate has been very strange.

There was an odd hand shake on the floor of the senate. New York Times reports that Sen. Obama got the cold shoulder when he walked over to McCain to shake his hand this week. The two returned to the senate to vote on the bail out legislation.

Click here to read the story.

And one summer at debate camp!

Picture above from CNN

I am a geek and I actually went to debate camp twice during high school. Once in Wisconsin in the same town as the founding of the Republican Party (yeek) and another time at American University. It was actually pretty cool.

Sarah Palin has found herself in debate camp preparing for the VP debate. I have read that she spent a few days in St. Louis getting ready and then went off to McCain's ranch in Sedona. Must be nice.

As an expert debater (based on experience at two debate camps), I offer the following tips to Biden and Palin:

• Make sure you answer the question and keep your answer organized and to the point
• Don't try to be cute and have scripted one liners, stick to the question and the facts
• Look at your debate opponent from time to time
• Don't use big words and long stories
• No smirking or shaking your head
• Interrupt when your record is grossly misrepresented
• Take notes and provide a brief rebuttal when needed. Brief is the key!
• Talk to the audience at home
  

Here are some news stories and included above is a picture from CNN.

Palin heads to debate camp
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/29/palin-heads-to-‘debate-camp’-in-arizona/

Debate camp
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/01/debate-camp/

Palin Seeks Serenity in Sedona
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/palin-seeks-ser.html