Akkam’s Razor

• Talking Points Memo | The Palin Effect - Palin was a surprising pick– virtually unknown outside Alaska (including, as it turned out, by the McCain campaign itself)– and she lacked experience (a key talking point for McCain). But her effect was supposed to be three fold– a woman and feminist for life, she'd pick up disgruntled Hillary supporters, an avowed Christian, she'd consolidate and energize the religious right, and with her youth and self described Mavericky ways, she'd counter Obama's fresh enthusiasm.

  Two months later? Not so much. The Palin Effect exists– but it's not energizing the base. On the contrary. Of the 70 odd conservative politicians, pundits and newspapers that have turned from McCain to endorse Obama this fall, 38 of them have cited Palin as a significant contributor to the decision. Hover over for quotes, and click on the pictures for links. And enjoy.

This really should come as no surprise, as McCain has an established track record of pulling the ejection handle or rapid reverses.  By now you’ve certainly heard that John McCain has ’suspended’ his campaign.

(Yeah, yeah - I know its an F-16, an Air Force jet, and the Thunderbirds.  But it works…)

This morning, the WSJ reports the following occurred:

• perspctv - A political dashboard for the 2008 Election across various online properties.
• Wordle - Kerry Speech - A word cloud from John Kerry's unexpectedly tough speech on McCain from the DNC.
• Daily Kos: State of the Nation: Word Clouds - Check these word clouds from the DNC speeches of Hillary, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden.
• McCain+Bingo.jpg (image) - Make sure you have this available for the convention!
• Washingtonian’s Best & Worst of Congress - Capital Comment Blog (washingtonian.com) - Capital Hill aides rank the members of the House and Senate on criteria such as 'Meanest', 'Most likely to star in a scandal', and 'best and worst dressed'.

Coburn faking it or fallen prey to foul play?.  It’s far more likely that 1) there is some obscure Senate Parliamentary Rule that keeps the bill on hold while he’s incapacitated or 2) it keeps him from being in Congress to be forced to either vote against the bill, vote present, or worst of all, vote for it.  Anyone who votes against it (Republicans) has provided a single vote campaign commercial, with the opponent being able to say that he obstructed 36 important programs.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Update: As expected, the Democrats caved, including local Representatives Pat Murphy and Joe Sestak.  The roll call in the House can be found here, and the Senates tally forthcoming.

In the spring of 1987,  the year of the 200th anniversary of the first Constitutional Convention, President Ronald Reagan began calling for another.  Reagan had been frustrated by Congress’ failure to brovide him with a Balanced Budget Ammendment.  Reagan’s solution was to call for a new Constitutional Convention, as described (but never tested) in Article V of the Constitution, where each state would get delegates to propose a balanced budget ammendment, and then pass it on to the individual state legislatures for approval.  Reagan succeeded in getting agreement from 32 of the required 2/3 of the States, but was eventually blocked by an unlikely coalition of Constitutional defenders, fearful of the seismic changes [pdf] regarding preemptive federalism and the erosion of states’ rights.

• Penn Libraries Mashup
  (tags: mashup)
• Truthdig - Reports - Benedict’s Discomforting Message
  “Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted,” he told the country’s Catholic bishops Wednesday. “Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.”
  (tags: Catholicism Evangelicalism private public)
• The Raw Story | MSNBC hosts psyched at ‘Chris Matthews for Senate’ possibility
  Matthews seemed bemused at first, asking, “A six year term? Representing all the people of Pennsylvania?” However, he was soon admitting to Colbert, “Well, you know when you grow up, some kids want to be a fireman? I wanted to be a senator.”
  (tags: chrismatthews senator pennsylvania arlenspector)

Once again, there is a discussion spanning multiple disciplines that requires attention regarding the importance and relevance of experience.

• Emptywheel - » Did Vicki Iseman “Steal Honor” in THREE Presidential Elections?
  (tags: vickiiseman johnmccain sinclaircommunications)
• TNR::The Long Run-Up [to the McCain-Iseman Story]
  Beyond its revelations, however, what’s most remarkable about the article is that it appeared in the paper at all: The new information it reveals focuses on the private matters of the candidate, and relies entirely on [personal] and anecdotal evidence.
  (tags: McCain politics media journalism tnr business 2008)
• Cartype : Car company logo rip-offs
  (tags: design logos China logo inspiration history)
• Microsoft DreamSpark
  (tags: Microsoft software free windows download development .net)