As we've suffered through the longest Presidential race in history, a narrative on our side of the political spectrum arose. McSame. Obviously, because McCain's policies were so close to those of President Bush.

But I'm not sure that's fair. And not in the way you might think. I'm not arguing that McSame is too harsh...I'm arguing it isn't harsh enough.

More below the fold

Earlier this morning I came across the most original campaign ad/drive ever. I simply had to share it with everyone and give any who want to join the revolution a chance. I've already budgeted a contribution for a week from Friday.

Information below the fold

Not a lot to put into the diary yet, but the AP is reporting that Ingrid and 3 American hostages have been rescued. I put "Released/Rescued" in the title because there is no word yet if it was a military freeing or a prisoner exchange release.

Regardless, thank you to all that is holy that her six year nightmare is over.

I'll edit in anything else I find. But it's certainly a day to celebrate!

UPDATE: a slightly more informative AP article here. Edited title as it would appear it was a rescue and not an exchange/release.

3 updates after the fold. The Americans freed were Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell

It was early 1996. I was 16 years old, very very impressionable. A sophomore in high school and my cumulative political exposure was my best friend at the time (whose father was a staunchly anti union conservative) and my Economics teacher who was, shockingly, a staunchly anti liberal conservative.

I am ashamed to admit, for the first time ever, that in early 1996 I supported Bob Dole because the only sources of information I had told me to.

...when I was a sheep.

Luckily there is a reason that 16 year olds don't vote. We'll continue this journey after the fold.

Yesterday I wrote this diary where I acknowledged the good things John had done while urging him to run a clean honest campaign of ideas. While warning that hell hath no fury like a former admirer scorned.

And he blew it within 24 hours. Senator Obama gave him the perfect chance to have an honest dialog about Senator Webb's GI Bill. If Senator McCain truly believed the bill would be disaster to the armed forces this was the perfect time to explain why. If there really are holes in the bill, wouldn't his specific and genuine advice be helpful? Perhaps tweaks could still be made if it really was so horrible.

But no. John McCain fired off a thousand word rant where he threw everything at Barack save for the kitchen sink. Predictable far right wing extremism. When confronted with an issue that is a loser for you, bark louder.

Well, up yours John McCain. Up yours today, tomorrow, and damn sure in November.

(more ranting on the jump...)

My mother always taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. This has not worked out too well for me as far as politics go. The nicest thing I can say about George W Bush is that I'd accept a lifetime house arrest to his Crawford ranch in lieu of an International Criminal Court if it got him out of office today.

But George W Bush has earned that hatred. I don't even think I need to say much more than that. But John McCain hasn't, really. Most of his votes piss me off, but for a Republican he's alright. Up until he started selling his soul for the Republican nomination, I kind of thought of him as "one of the good ones".

With that spirit in mind, and to do honor to the things my mother taught me...I will say nothing but good things about John McCain after the fold (heh, please do read the whole thing before someone bans me as a troll, ha)

As we've all read, Mark McKinnon has left the John McCain campaign due to a promise not to campaign against Barack Obama. A former Democrat, the now Republican and "close personal friend of George W Bush" McKinnon showed remarkable honesty in keeping his pledge to resign. And in doing so, whether he knows it or not, I think McKinnon just sealed the deal for Obama

More below the fold

For my diary today I wanted to share the very real and very true plans of 11 of my closest friends (and even a few not so close). From all walks of life, with what they're really feeling the day after our Indiana primary. Obviously for reasons of privacy I'm not naming names but I think you'll enjoy it anyway.

I'm an Indiana resident. Perry 05 to be exact. Voted today. So did my wife. Every friend I still talk too voted today. Heh. Tons of co-workers voted. I may have not been able to donate as much as I would have liked. Or put in as much time as I would have liked. But I swear, some of the people I had to speak with at length to seal the deal has to count for something. I honestly feel like I did everything I was able to. A little hope in a hopeless world.

I'll ramble some more on the fold!

Don't let the recent poll that has us 10 down worry you. I'm convinced none of these pollsters know Indiana any better than they know their own hind quarters. I'm sure they've accounted for the twenty thousand strong Indiana University student population who are becoming rabidly inspired. Who mostly don't have a land line.

No, my friends, Obama is TAKING Indiana. Nothing was given, but he is taking and WILL take this state.

More on the fold...

**crushes beer can**

**chucks beer can at picket line**

COULD SOMEBODY RECYCLE THAT? THANKS!

Ahem, in case I've got anyones attention lets rant. So some people started a  "writers strike" over here. I wasn't aware that the job of INTERNET punditry was a strike-able job, but fair enough. I always support the ability of folks to unionize. I just hope little income rests on us asking our Hillary diarists to come back.

Hop over the fold with me.

Apologies for the title, but I did want to be catchy. Not to interrupt the latest struggle of "Obama and Edwards, who is Great? And who is Greatest?", but a great man just released a CD and said some wonderful things. Some things we should get behind.

Patterson Hood is one of the co-founders of the Southern Rock band Drive-By Truckers. Along with Mike Cooley (who has written some gems himself but that would be another topic) the Truckers have been putting album after great album out.

On their latest disc "Brighter Than Creations Dark" (released today) Patterson has two excellent anti-war tunes. On the jump you'll find lyrics and some more thoughts from myself.

Recently I've been hopelessly conflicted about who to support for the Democratic nomination. It's been "Edwards or Obama" for months now. I feel like I'm trying to decide between a big slice of Chicago style pizza or a big dish of homemade lasagna. Conflicted, but damned if I don't like the choice.

Well, I'm going to finally commit. For now, I'm an Edwards supporter...with an asterisk Explanation on the fold...

I have to be honest. Sometimes I'm turned off by the rhetoric of the Edwards and Obama supporters here. The "rec war" has gotten out of control, and the whole "YOU'RE EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US" vibe often feels straight out of a right wing playbook. I guess this diary is my response to that and my response to last nights Iowa caucus. Follow on the fold, if you like...

Yesterday I wrote a diary urging that we support the Democratic nominee, whoever that may be (even Mrs. Clinton). And I truly believe that and will follow my own advice. If Mr. Edwards is the nominee, I will vote for him. And yet, at this point I would be holding my nose. All for his naive antiquated response to one question, that just happens to be on a subject I care a LOT about. So, on the jump, I'm going to explain why this is and ask you Edwards supporters to tell me why I should support him. To tell me why his actual response to this issue will be different than my perception. I'm 100% uncommitted and you could have another supporter today if I could just get past this one little thing. More on the flip

I've been amused at the quasi "recommended diary" war we've had going on. Each day it seems there's 2 or 3 Edwards diaries crashing against 2 or 3 Obama diaries. With the occasional "HILLARY SUCKS" diary tossed in.

I can understand the urge to pick your candidate and speak out proudly about them. No one is saying otherwise. But I would like to take a moment to remind ourselves of the ONE thing you REALLY need to know about the '08 Presidential Election.

Find out on the jump

The purpose of this diary is not to rail on Ms. Spears, whose plight I've come to learn a bit too much about while trying to seek out real news. In fact, you'll find I spend almost no time on the subject of her. Instead, I'd like to direct this diary towards those who enjoy their tabloid juice a little too much and let you know what has gone on while you followed the play by play of Brit-gate. On the jump

I am on Baron Hill's mailing list, as I'm one of his constituents, and I received the following just minutes ago