Gustav subdues (still) boring old white guy gathering. Red State Rocker set to perform.

I know David Lee Roth. And you, sir, are no David Lee Roth.

Forget Hagar. This convention might not even be Gary Cherrone. JMac curtails day 1.

JMac and PTA mom visit Missouri, convince locals that she's a bulldog.

In a story destined for People Magazine, Palin reveals that 17 year old daughter is pregnant. My favorite quote from this article: "I think it's a very private matter," said Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America. Abortion? Sexual Orientation? Not so private, family matters, eh Roberta?

Obama and Biden gave their first joint interview. Here's Part 1:


Part 2:


Even though Will can't help but espouse his less government is better government beliefs, he makes some nice observations in his latest Newsweek op-ed. The candidates will never be blue-collar, and, they might be better off if they stop pretending that they are.

E.J. explains GOP's infatuation with Palin: ideologies trump lack of experience.

Don't let WVPC's left-leaning jabs fool you into thinking we're without sympathy for our friends across the political aisle. Our heartfelt sympathies to GOP convention attendees: "No open bar," per Bloomberg.

DNC wraps-up. JMac nabs MILF.

New VP qualification: dead bear on sofa.

If the jedi owned Thursday, a governor had the headlines on Friday. No, one of Huckabee's kids didn't hang another dog. JMac tapped a little known Alaskan governor as his running mate. The good news: she's, and be prepared to hear this term quite a bit over the next 60 odd days, an "outsider," and, because of this, she has more in common with JMac than you may have thought. Here's some initial reaction from Obama's camp.

Before the GOP gets too erect and makes premature comments like this, she's under investigation. A little known state saga moves from the Anchorage Daily News to The Chicago Tribune to MSNBC. The gamut has heralded her as a fellow maverick, "a cross between a Fox anchor and a character on "Northern Exposure," and a potential "Dan Qualye in drag." Ouch.

Is JMac's move a trap to catch undecided Hillary voters? The world's worst political columnist, who works for the world's worst newspaper, ponders that same question.

WVPC's verdict: Once the buzz dies down, Palin will have her work cut out for her, particularly against Biden in October. Joe will want want to be stern but not bullying. Palin will gain the admiration of many women across spectrum of politics. She'll capture the hearts of those who don't really follow politics, the people, mainly middle class women, who want a mom in the upper echelons of Washington power. Her acceptance speech in Ohio played admirably with shout outs to Ferraro and Hillary, predictably with fawning over JMac's military experience, and regionally with energy policy reform. Columnists, bloggers, Dems and some cons will patronize her. We don't know if she has Reagan's Teflon quality or the jedi's charm. All we know is that now JMac doesn't have much of a case with that whole "Obama's inexperienced argument." But he'll push it anyway. The race will be close, and this VP choice isn't as bad as it looks.

The Dems have packed up their bags and left Denver. Obama delivered one of his better speeches of the last two months, but the convention failed to deliver a unified message. They need talking points, but they, at least until Obama's above average acceptance speech, delivered mostly pageantry, accolades to party veterans, and apologies to Hillary and her followers.

Palin's social views, at least one of them, come at the perfect time: the party platform's slam dunk issue that turns out the base.

If the 2008 campaign excites you so much that you're already salivating for 2012, here's something that will dampen your spirits. I hear an old red prop revving up its engine.

Denver: Day 1 - My Michelle

It was a day of Michelle mania, bitter Clinton supporters, an emotional call-to-arms from the Senate's venerable Dem, Caroline's great bone structure, and brain drilling?

Sounds exciting, right? Well, one of the party's most prominent insiders doesn't see a "message." Ouch. Wait. Is the bald-headed one correct? Possibly. When you barely have a lead, shouldn't you have a clearer message? The giant projection screen behind the stage should have three bullet points that reflect what Dems want to do. Show those bullet points over and over again. Have the speakers incorporate those bullet points into their speeches. Yeah, it's a cheap soundbite, and it looks like something that Republicans would do, but, you want to win, right? Rocky Mountain...sigh.

My Michelle had the spotlight on Monday night. According to WSJ, she had an appetite for "reintroduction." Like her? Thank Oprah.

Hillary's on deck for Tuesday night.

In preparation for Biden's Wednesday night speech, Reason's David Weigel explains what to love and loathe about Delaware's talky pol.

WVPC will be back with coverage of day two.

Trust the Biden Touch.

And now, to Darcy's Pint for a horseshoe!


Just when it looked like McCain had grabbed the headlines with his praiseworthy performance at Saddleback Church (watch here), the jedi's VP speculation stole the headlines. The speculation is true: loquacious and experienced Delawarean completes ticket. First stop: the capital city, baby.



The choice was not received without skepticism. He's "self-loving;" the move is "too safe"; he's "digressive." Others were able to turn those weaknesses into strengths: he's "realistic,""resilent," "reassuring," and "down-to-earth." JMac's verdict: Biden is a "formidable" opponent.

Those are the words of Beltway insiders. What about average Joe's? 23% don't know who he is. I guess that happens when church is a more popular Sunday destination than Meet the Press. Sigh.

In politics, experience is an asset in the chamber, but it's a liability on the campaign trail. Biden brings strength and challenges to the ticket. WVPC's verdict: he'll make mincemeat of JMac's future VP pick during their lone debate.

This week brought a whole new kind of housing crisis to the campaign. WVPC's verdict: while owning eight homes is kinda offensive, the Dems mudslinging isn't much different than the elitist accusations the GOP hurled at Obama just a few weeks ago.

And, finally, progress in the conservative movement. Amen.

We still like him.

"Oh, please," says Malcolm.

Brace yourself, married couples stray. Brace yourself some more, politicians stray from their spouses. And, finally, politicians lie about it. The big question: why should it matter? That's not in defense of dishonesty. It is in defense of couples dealing with their problems internally without the whole world finger-wagging at the cheater.

The media, er, the New York Post, held a Saturday morning scolding. Also, all those cons who thought he was a phony are licking their lips. That Kirsten Powers. She knew it all along.

WVPC knows what they'll say: he lied. So what? If you're running for president, and you and your wife had already settled this, what would you say? I have a feeling you wouldn't have the same answer if you were running for president.

In case you missed it, here's the whole story along with some footage from the Nightline interview.

Is this the Democrats' Mark Foley for the 08 election? Doubtful. It's hard to connect Edwards to Obama because Johnny's endorsement is old news now that Obama has the nomination locked up. Is it over for Edwards? Can he kiss a cabinet position goodbye? Likely. Even if Barack isn't put off by Edwards' actions, America is watching his every move. Sigh.

Earlier in the week, JMac volunteered Cindy for the Sturgis beauty pageant. I don't think he knew that she may have to do body shots in order to win. JMac will probably remain silent on Edwards, and that response is with good reason.

WVPC know what you're thinking: where's the Obama news? Edwards unintentionally stole the headlines on Friday. You want some jedi news? Here's the most ridiculous article I've read on Obama's appeal among young voters.

Low Blows

Britney. Paris. Barack? Before I could finish my Lohan, the McCain campaign reminded me of another vapid celebrity. You know, that smart, articulate, popular, hopeful guy running for president. Barack Obama. Yeah, the name doesn't really ring a bell, so I'm so grateful for the McCain campaign. They filled me in on who this guy really is: a smart, articulate, popular and hopeful guy running for president.

How can this guy be president? He hates NASCAR and babies. He reads books. He consults intelligent people when he wants good insight. He speaks in complete sentences. We want doers and deciders, not thinkers and, uh, undeciders, Barry.

It's nothing new in American politics. Archaeologists have just unearthed documents that reveal similar accusations took place in the great Lincoln Douglas debates of 1858.

Douglas: This lanky man is just another vacuous, Johnny Come Lately celebrity. He's no different than that opinionated hussy of yesteryear, Dolly Madison (Note to readers: it was difficult to find a suitable 19th century comparison to Britney Spears. Dolly will have to do.).

Lincoln: You know what they're saying. He's got a funny sounding name. He doesn't look like those other presidents on wooden nickels, or whatever we're using for currency nowadays.

Douglas: Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Missouri!

Lincoln: Have you seen the price of buttermilk lately?

Douglas: Buttermilk? Elitist!

Well, folks, history repeats itself.

In case you've been living under a poli-rock for the last week, JMac's crew unveiled this gem:


Others, like the folks at Progressive Accountability (work on that name), counterattacked with this ad. It speaks louder but it isn't very funny.


Britney and Paris were just the beginning. Race reared its head into the campaign on Wednesday, when Barack spoke in Missouri and, a bit later in the day, JMac accused the jedi of playing the ol' race card.

Saddened that JMac, the once noble maverick, has gone so low? WVPC is too. However, it might be the only way he can win. While many predicted that these tactics would backfire, the jedi's camp already said they did.

Get ready for more of the same, WVPC nation. Mudslinging. Feces flicking. Turd tossing. The good discourse is over, as are the decent metaphors for throwing proverbial insults in the form of human waste.

We try to avoid partisan jabs on this site (oh, who are we kidding), but, John, you drove us to them. 2000 was a long time ago, you desperate old man.