Day: May 8, 2008

McCain People Show Grave Concern About Age Issue

Trish

My goodness, the McCain folks are touchy! They read a whole lot into one pretty tame phrase.

Pipe down, Gramps, and quit crying victimhood

Obama, 46, was asked about a recent comment by McCain, 71, that the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas favors Obama for president.

“I think (this) is unfortunate, particularly since my policy toward Hamas has been no different than his,” Obama said on the CNN program “The Situation Room.”

“And so for him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination,” he said.

‘Kaay. And what’s bad about that?

The McCain campaign said the “losing his bearings” comment was an underhanded reference to the fact that McCain is 71 years old.

Mark Salter, one of the advisers, said, “Obama’s attack today: He used the words ‘losing his bearings’ intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain’s age as an issue…”

“That quote is a not-so-subtle attempt by Obama to insinuate the age issue into the race,” another McCain adviser said. “He attacks viciously with subtlety and innuendo…”

Yeah, it was so subtle it went right past me. Thanks for pointing it out, guys. I would have read that and thought it meant McCain was getting so wrapped up in the quest for office that he’ll say anything, or maybe that he had his facts mixed up. Now I see it was Obama’s subtle way of reminding us McCain is 71. Kraf-tee!

Of course, McCain’s folks weren’t concerned about crying foul when the old guy recently said Obama was an out of touch elitist who is “not ready” to be president. Pipe down, Gramps, and quit crying victimhood.

Infectious Disease Update

Buck Banks

Outbreaks of infectious diseases reported today through the worldwide ProMed network include:
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  • Hand, foot & mouth disease in China, Macao S.A.R.
  • Porcine enzootic reprodroductive and respiratory syndrome in Viet Nam
  • Malaria in Africa as a result of substandard and counterfeit drugs
  • Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Turkey
  • Canine rabies restrictions have been lifted in England
  • Human and bovine anthrax in Lima and Piura, Peru

Poll: Bush Support Among Republicans Drops to 60% – Still Exorbitantly High for Worst President Ever

Jon Ponder

Despite a record in office comprised of one abysmal failure after another, the fact that George Bush still has the support of 60 percent of Republicans strains credulity. There is a glimmer of hope in this new Gallup number, however, because it represents a slight drop in support for Bush among GOP dead-enders:

Bush’s approval rating in his party has fallen, with 6-in-10 Republicans approving of the job he’s doing, a Gallup poll indicates.

Throughout his presidency, Bush averaged 85 percent approval among Republicans, including 92 percent during his first term and 77 percent in his second term until the 60 percent registered in the latest survey, the Gallup poll released Thursday indicated…

Pollsters at the Princeton, N.J., company said lower support among Republicans is the main reason behind the drop in Bush’s overall rating. His approval ratings among Democrats and independents were low already.

The culprit for the decline in Bush’s overall job approval rating could be rising gas prices, which historically weigh down presidential approval ratings, pollsters said.

Last month, Bush — whose overall approval rating hovers around 28 percent — added two more metrics to his record as the Worst President Ever: He became the most disliked president in the history of the Gallup poll. And, after accruing 39 months without the approval of a majority of Americans, he became the president with the longest disapproval record.

Death Knell for Hillary … or Barack??

Buck Banks

The Associated Press reports that former senator and ex-presidential candidate George McGovern is switching from backing Clinton to backing Obama. Here’s the rather weird AP story:

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Former Sen. George McGovern, who backed Hillary Rodham Clinton, is urging her to drop out of the Democratic presidential race.

McGovern said Wednesday he has decided to endorse Barack Obama.

After watching the returns from the North Carolina and Indiana primaries Tuesday night, McGovern says it’s virtually impossible for Clinton to win the nomination.

McGovern says he is calling former President Clinton to tell him of the decision and adds that he remains close friends with the Clintons.