Yesterday I posted a mopey diary, to clean out the McNastiness that accumulated in my brain over the weekend. But after several joyous events in the past 24 hours, I'm starting to feel something remarkably like . . . HOPE.

1. Ben Smith used the phrase "playing the POW card" to describe McShame's post-Saddleback shenanigans, and others have used that phrase here. This should be our rallying cry. Say it loud, say it proud, and say it often. We need to get that phrase mainstreamed. It's not only a pithy soundbite, it has the distinction of being true, and in fact encapsulating the most egregious sins flaws of the McCain campaign.

2. KO ripped McCain several new ones in an absolutely KICK-ASS Special Comment that gave eloquent voice to nearly all strands of the pent-up frustration I've been feeling lately. And he and Rachel M shredded McKingOfTheWorld for basically accusing Obama of treason in his VFW speech Monday.

3. I watched a video of Barack's July 2nd "Call to Service" speech in Colorado Springs.

More happy times below . . .

Ahh, so this is how you get Politico's Ben Smith (bsmith@politico.com) to cover an anti-Obama smear book while ignoring the McCain books currently on the stands.

I wrote up the Obama book because, as I wrote in the piece, I was given exclusive access to it by the publisher, and its contents were news.

So it's all about "exclusive access"! You get it, you have to write about it and exclude everything else, lest your journalistic license be revoked! Or get 40 lashes from Karl Rove. Or something.

His commenters seem to get it, though:

I'm not on the MoveOn list, so I won't email you so as not to bias the results. But I do want to point out that "I was given exclusive access" is not a good excuse for a journalist to report one side. IMHO you should report the story fairly rather than just writing up what the reps gave you.

Hey Ben, I really don't think your argument is too solid there. You seem to acknowledge some level of manipulation. You may want to refine your argument.

That's an admirable admission: that you, as a reporter, are subject to manipulation by the campaigns. One that most journalists are hesitant to make.

For Ben's information, the best McCain book might be Matt Welch's McCain: Myth of a Maverick, reviewed by SusanG here. Granted, Welch's publisher didn't "work the refs" or give Ben Smith an "exclusive", but still, that doesn't mean it's not newsworthy.

Oh, and a reminder -- the DNCC gave Ben Smith's blog the New York state blogger credentials instead of the far more deserving movement progressives at the Albany Project. Good call, there, Aaron Myers.

UPDATED 6:28 PM CST: Before I go into my diary, I'd like to point you to the new website Barack Obama has started that chronicles all the smears, lies, distortions and false campaigning John McCain has decided to resort to in a desperate attempt to avoid discussing the issues. Its appropriately titled "The Low Road Express."

http://my.barackobama.com/...

I just read that the GOP has created a new portal to attack Barack Obama.  They call it BarackBook and it is a total smear site.  But don't worry, because anyone can post reviews to the site . . . even us!

For some reason, John McCain and his fans think he's funny? Huh?

Do they really think he's funny, or his fans know that they're supporting a Pre-internet politically incorrect boob, and have no choice but to clumsily support him?

Many Democrats have been calling McLame a goof ball, sexist, not funny, angry, scary, grandpa, etc., for years now. What's this "ol goof's" problem we ask, and "where's the media"on this?

Well today Ben Smith (of Politico) wrote a very revealing(for the press) 2 page article on J. McCain's jokes,titled "McCain's humor often backfires", and how often, many of them aren't funny, insulting and considered sexist(Rape, J.Reno, French Joke, etc.).

I know many liberals, criticize Ben Smith at times. But we should give him kudos on this one. I never expected it. I'm sure he'll receive a lot of push back by the McCain camp. But what took him so long?

Politico(technically)is not the MSM. But let's be honest. Most of the media, gets their stories from a few web sources(like Drudge, Halperin), and Politico, is definitely one of them.

Here's the link & some highlights below:

http://www.politico.com/...

The MSM is once again wringing its hands, asking how can Obama introduce himself to the American population because 12% still believe he is a Muslim.  The talking heads then describe Obama’s failure to connect and explain who he is.  As Ben Smith pointed out, this is a part of a much larger problem in the society.  Americans believe stupid things.  It is not Obama’s problem – it is our problem.

Hillary's speech in New York tomorrow will not be a concession. Instead it will be a declaration of victory in the popular vote total, and a call to her supporters to fight on to the convention in August.

As announced earlier many of her top supporters and financial donors will join her for this speech, their presence being a strong signal to her SD's and uncommitted delegates that she is still viable.

Ben Smith's recent blog entry seems to make all of this clear, and it fits nicely with HRC's pop vote rhetoric, Ickes many threats since Saturday, and her general inability to accept defeat.

 
link

Politico points out what a lot of us in here have been saying, Matt Drudge seems to be an Obamacan.  In recent months, nearly all of his coverage of Obama has been glowing while openly mocking the HRC scandals and McCain's age and health...will it continue into the General, quotes from the article and some commentary after the jump...

Ben Smith from Politico posted a new Spanish video by Producer Andres Levin, who worked with Will.i.am on a past Obama video

As if the degrading comments of a few trolls directed towards West Virginians weren't bad enough, Ben Smith of Politico thought it best to fan the flames further by suggesting that these comments -- "apparently" by Obama supporters -- are an example of the "culture gap Obama's trying to bridge." Wow.

If you're in West Virginia, let us know what you're seeing on the ground.

UPDATE: If you want a glimpse of the culture gap Obama's trying to bridge, take a look at the comments below this item: Nobody from West Virginia, but lots of (apparent) Obama supporters mocking rural white people.

Here's the link to Ben's ridiculousness. As if his preference for HRC wasn't evident enough, I can only assume Ben wants to take one last parting shot at Obama before this Clintonista packs his bags for the winter. Ladies and gentlemen -- your daily dose of Politico's balanced political dialogue.

Politico headline

Go to the Politico website and you get quite a surprise...

As I posted on my blog last week, robo calls in Indiana are illegal.  No question about it.  Both commercial and political robo calls are illegal and the AG will go after anyone who does it.

I wondered if one of the campaigns would make a mistake and get caught as AG Steve Carter fully prosecutes robo calling cases to the fullest extent of the law.

I would not mess with AG Carter.

Now it looks as if someone hasn't received accurate legal advice and will pay for it.  The National Right To Life is robocalling into Indiana against Obama.

What is not clear, however, is if this is a robo call that went into Indiana (the audio is very poor and there does not seem to be a date and time stamp on the call).

It is no secret that Ben is far more favorable towards his blogging about Hillary Clinton than he is about Barack Obama, but his latest post sure takes the cake!  So much that I thought it is worthy of a diary here on Daily Kos.

The media is protecting their social status, which means ignoring real, troubling and challenging issues.

to offend, alienate and generally piss off our allies and enemies alike.  Ben Smith, who normally gets a lot of flack from his readers for being a (perceived) shill for Hillary, has a good post up today about the latest in a series of Clinton gaffes relating to foreign policy.

Just a quickie.

Obama in a picture with a (OMG) flag pin.

Politico's Ben Smith examines Hillary Clinton's tax returns and finds this interesting:

The interesting part, of course, is the roughly $18 million that the summary doesn't account for.

Jeez, I wouldn't let him balance a ten year old's checkbook.

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