In fact, we’ve reached the point in our screwed-up political media culture where the polling companies and forecasters—not the pundits, not the spokespeople, and certainly not the candidates—are the only people being evaluated rigorously on the substance of their arguments. If Nate Silver and Sam Wang screw up, their popularity will suffer as a result, and they’ll have to reconsider their models. Meanwhile, if Brooks, Jordan, Scarborough, Rubin, or Byers make another poor argument, they’ll continue to collect their paychecks as if nothing had happened.
America's fucked up pundit culture in a paragraph
A thoughtful post on Deadspin about Nate Silver and the conservatives who must not accept statistical analysis ... they do not like:
Show me the birth certificate!
Never underestimate the idiocy of internet movements. 
[cross-posted at Firedoglake]
Internet evangelist Bill Keller is urging the faithful to promise to vote for Jesus for president in this election. So far, his website, VotingforJesus.com, says it has more than 1.6 million pledges to write in the name of Jesus on their ballots instead of any other presidential candidate. If even half of those who signed the pledge vote accordingly, this could signal real trouble for Mitt Romney in close races by reducing the pool of voters who usually opt for the GOP.I kind of doubt that...but I guess if the election is close it is going to be because of a battle for "show" between Jesus, Jill Stein, and of course:
Ha ha ha
Trump's descent into self-self-parody gets the appropriate response from a pertinent source: 
Mr. Gilles is Chrysler's VP of Product Design.
Well the irony should be rich today
Daily Fucker and Drudge (not gonna link) are pushing the story of New Jersey senator Menendez paying "lady" prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. Menendez denies and the rest of blown out New Jersey could really give a shit.
Although it should be good fodder for Rush Limbaugh who has no history of sex acts in the Dominican Republic with mature women.
Although it should be good fodder for Rush Limbaugh who has no history of sex acts in the Dominican Republic with mature women.
Mock-ward
Poor Willard, so far from liked, so close to being a footnote:
Speaking at a Tampa airport hangar in his first stop since campaigning was put on hold by superstorm Sandy, Romney alluded briefly to the hurricane by saying it was a demonstration of how Americans pull together in time of crisis. "We're going through trauma in a major part of the country," he said. "It's interesting to see how people come together in a circumstance like this. We see folks from all over the the country step forward and offer contributions." But the Republican candidate avoided praise for the government's relief response and did not touch on questions dogging him about a statement he made last year saying he would scrap Fema, which has led the post-Sandy recovery efforts. Romney hasn't been helped by the Republican New Jersey governor Chris Christie's praise of Fema and Barack Obama's handling of the crisis. But the former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, did weigh in at the Romney rally. He reminded the crowd that Florida was hit by eight hurricanes and four tropical storms in 2004/5. He added that, from his experience, "local level and state level" is better at handling the response than Fema. The audience cheered.Oh yeah, your brother's FEMA...the one run by "Heckuva Job" Brownie, who has recently returned to us for a reprise of his poorly received performance art.
"Fine, whatever, just leave me alone"
After ignoring reporters the last few days to have the world's most political non-political events, Mitt Romney found himself needing to say something about FEMA given his earlier statements that he would sure enjoy killin' that varmint with one of his bullet-shooting devices.
As one could imagine saying you want to keep the Federal Government out of tasks it clearly needs to be involved with just as such tasks are badly needed is, well, bad politics. Compounded by your surrogates doubling down on it.
So Williard had to come forth today and say something between gritted teeth:
Of course, Obama's budget proposals are not exactly covered in glory in regard to FEMA funding; his budget has a cut of 3%. However Romney, nebulous assurances notwithstanding, has proposed cuts in FEMA of approximately 40%.
I imagine the money that's left can go toward setting up competitive bids so Romney's corporate buddies can get the contract to clean up (i.e. go all Galveston) after Hurricane Biff or whatever frat name he'll order they be given.
[Cross-posted at Firedoglake]
As one could imagine saying you want to keep the Federal Government out of tasks it clearly needs to be involved with just as such tasks are badly needed is, well, bad politics. Compounded by your surrogates doubling down on it.
So Williard had to come forth today and say something between gritted teeth:
"I believe that FEMA plays a key role in working with states and localities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters," Romney said in a statement supplied by his campaign Wednesday. "As president, I will ensure FEMA has the funding it needs to fulfill its mission..."He then said he was in a hurry to go lie about JEEP some more.
Of course, Obama's budget proposals are not exactly covered in glory in regard to FEMA funding; his budget has a cut of 3%. However Romney, nebulous assurances notwithstanding, has proposed cuts in FEMA of approximately 40%.
I imagine the money that's left can go toward setting up competitive bids so Romney's corporate buddies can get the contract to clean up (i.e. go all Galveston) after Hurricane Biff or whatever frat name he'll order they be given.
[Cross-posted at Firedoglake]
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