People can be good and yet do and say some awful stupid and weird things.  I have known many people that show a soft and warm side, yet be as fundamentally and morally opposite to my core beliefs as day is to night.  I used to argue environmental issues with a older gentleman while I worked the counter of my restaurant.  I would always pour him a free cup of coffee while trying to argue the existence of global warming. I respected his right of mind, and loved it when he introduced me to his grandchildren, as they were my children's age.  He really was a political bastard, arguing for torture and loved his Bush, but also loved to try out his skills with me every morning while I set up shop.  He was gracious and polite, as I was and we kudoed each other on well constructed points, as hard as that was at times.   He died last year, and I visited his family at his funeral home.  We had a warm talk and his family told me how much my talks had meant to him, he called me his renegade buddy.  Apparently our talks are what energized him in the mornings.  

But reading some diaries here yesterday, maybe he was evil.  Or so I have been led to believe after reading some diaries about Bob Novak.  Let me explain.

I, like most regular readers of the New Yorker, love the depth and analysis that is the New Yorker.  At my previous job, my cubicle was adorned by the cartoons that are signature New Yorker with their dry and ironic outlook on life. So I was truly shocked and puzzled when a magazine of such stature should so carelessly bin it's reputation with a cover that is so remarkably outrageous.  Why and what for were my immediate questions?  And here are some of the answers, below the fold.

A few weeks ago I wrote a diary based on my actions involving the channel switch from Fox News to the Weather channel in my breakroom at work.  I'm sorry to say, but the change only lasted a mere 4 days and the ugly Faux News has been restored uninterrupted and unitelligible as before.  I wrote the diary on a Friday and had rethug trolls on it within hours fishing for info.  I put too many obvious details about what company I worked for,and did not hide my email which was my name in reverse.  Although I did not get fired, a strange thing happened on the following Tuesday and stranger things since that Daily Kos post which I deleted out of fear for my job.

Ah, The Sting, one of the first blockbusters to break out in the early 70's.  I loved it, with the delicious twist at the end.  Just when the other side was stacking the deck for their outcome, Redford, Newman and co played an unexpected hand no one saw coming.  

This is my political fantasy diary.  The setting. Hillary takes Obama to the convention by challenging the MI/FLA split. Her surrogates, like Davis, Ferraro, Carville and Rendell keep hammering away at Obama all summer mocking and ridiculing him as a empty suit and unelectable.  This is forshadowing a strategy for Hillary 2012, and she thinks she has Obama in no mans land.  Hammer him up to convention, then campaign like hell for him to deflect any criticism of tainting the well.  But she obviously didn't see the movie, The Sting.

I am commenting on an article that appears in todays cnn.com link http://www.cnn.com/... if John Edwards' only price for his endorsement of presumptive Democratic nominee Obama was to arrange a tour of poor areas for his campaign, then I believe Obama should be thanking him.    I present this issue for discussion, and the homeless women in this article and in their cars tonight for everyone to burn into their souls.

Wow, you don't have to say the primary is over anymore.  Just trying to look for a superdelegate list is impossible today.  That's a good thing, because the official day of the Pivot to the general election i believe was yesterday, thanking the idiot-in-chief for that one. Also, where are any Hillary Clinton diaries? Thankfully none to be found.  What a difference a cheapshot comment from the Knesset can make.

I know this isn't much of a diary, but can anyone update this diary on a delegate count for today?  I know Obama is up one today, any more?

I have been one of those Kossacks that have been very frustrated over the timidity of the superdelegates not coming out for our presumptive nominee, Barack Obama.  I have commented to death about this, and fretted at work and in my solitude.  What the hell are they waiting for?  And then, it occurred to me. If they committed now in a huge tidal wave, Hillary would have her revenge.  Here's my premise.

I lived in the UK for 7 years and used their National Health Care system many times.  It was great.  My wife and I had 2 of our children there, and after the kid's births, a nurse would stop by our house every 2 weeks to check up, have a chat, and give our babies well check ups.  They would offer advise and tips to my wife and i, and were so awesome.  I was working part-time but no worries about bills of course.

Meanwhile, my brother was in the States and was knocked out of his job, he was a cop.  Lost his health care. And thus began my education of what my brother's life was like to have no health insurance.  

I hate to report bad news, but HRC has taken the lead in a new poll.

Here's the link http://politicalwire.com/...

We gotta turn the tide now in NC.  Chin up, and let's fight back.  Andrews is good for Indiana, what about NC?

My take on the Wright sequel is a yawn.  I do not hear anyone at my office mentioning it, nor do any of my friends listening to the watercoolers. It is and was over.  The hilarious head scratcher for me is the MSM do not have even a feeble memory.  Wasn't it only a month ago when the MSM was giving the Obama campaign last rites and then the polls showed nothing of the sort?  

The whole MSM behaviour reminded me of my dogs.  I'll explain.

Former President Carter has apparently won a stunning concession from Hamas.  They are "willing to accept the right of Israel to live 'next door in peace'".

Talk to your enemy.  By including Hamas in your table, you will allow Hamas to be more responsible and take responsibility for its actions.  Too bad Carter didn't have more support for this breakthrough.

Even though there are conditions, this is an important breakthrough.

The tape of Hillary whining to her elite supporters has been well documented.  I would like to add my angle on this back-stabbing moment.  

I whipped through the web to see early spin, here's the headlines

Fox News   "Dems refuse to discuss VP roles"     (yawn)
USA Today  "Obama, Clinton agree the other can beat McCain"   (Stretch)
MSNBC      "Can Obama win? 'Yes, yes, yes,' says Clinton"   (nice)
CBS        "In Tense Debate Before Pennsylvania Primary, Both Candidates Say Rival Could Beat McCain In November"  (Snore)
CNN      "NEW: Each says the other is capable of winning the presidency
NEW: Obama again is asked to explain his 'bitter' comments"  (Weez)

I was never a big Randi Rhodes fan.  However, I supported her show by listening on occasion.  But Kossacks, do we really want to support the vile rantings of anyone against one of our own? Or not one of our own?  I do not approve and certainly would never encourage any of the crap that Randi Rhodes spoke about HRC or Ferraro.  This is never, ever my idea of a progressive movement.  We must be inclusive, listeners, welcoming, showing positivity, creating a movement by leading by example.  The comments are wrong, but they are amplified by those in our community that support these comments in blogs and it creates more harm and divides us.
I would like to think we are spirited debaters and not ugly haters.

Too often in my life, I go to political rallies and see great Dems speaking passionately about the economy.  I hear how the jobs have to stay in America, and american workers have to stop getting the short end of the stick.  I was impressed with Obama when he actually mentioned by implementing executive orders, he could empower unions almost immediately.  But to be fair, the most of what I hear is so similar to all the other speechs-get the lobbyists, do more tax cuts for the middle class, job training and some bankruptcy and credit card reform.  Guess what, the repubs always come up with one or two hot button issues agaisnt Dems.  We all know what it is-no new taxes.  We, as Dems, argue our nuanced platforms and we get shot down with the big government big tax label. I got a couple hot buttons that might just knock this crap out of folks minds.
Here goes.  

Interesting news from Newsmax.  I know, but here's the link http://www.newsmax.com/...  I see this race turning itself upside down.  What's a white racist to do?  Vote for Jesse Ventura?  This obviously will influence the Dems strategy as this ticket could possibly go after untouchable AA support and females.  To me, this could be as shrewd a move as McCain could make.  Pray for a hard core evangelistic McBush clone.  If Condo comes on, it's gonna be an even wilder ride this November.

To all the troops in Iraq-  A letter from your leader,

Aaah, that's me- President Bush.

PPP polling as of today link http://www.pollster.com

Obama regains the lead big time in this important primary.  The test is how strong an effect does the Wright controversy have.  Do voters care about a negative sermon in Illinois, or their economy and the shame of the war in Iraq?  

This is great news and uplifting for all Obama supporters.  If this plays out, no worries for the nomination.