November 1st, 2008

Alex Ball Crashes Franken Pancake Event

by Philip Baruth

You’ll remember Alex Ball as the technical genius behind the Audio Dream Theater pieces we ran about a year or so ago. (The Jim Douglas Trilogy is still available down on the sideboard, and remains the last word in lushly produced audio satire.) Well, after a stint in England, Alex has apparently landed in Minnesota, and damned if he didn’t step directly into the middle of the hottest Senate race in the country: Al Franken versus Norm Coleman.

Alex sent us a series of gripping action photos, chronicling a pancake breakfast out in the hinterlands of Minnesota. From Franken’s arrival, in jeans, to the former comedian’s deft handling of the pancake batter, Alex has captured the essence of a sizzling political finish.

In fact, with photographic chops like these, you wonder why Alex doesn’t drop the audio gig, strap on a massive camera, and head out on the campaign trail. The guy never seems to miss the shot that reveals the heart of the action, and the candidate.

Or almost never. Maybe stick with the day job, Alex.

November 1st, 2008

McCain Engaged in Massive Bait n’ Switch: Apparently What Few Campaign Offices He Does Have Are Actually, You Know, Empty

by Philip Baruth

For those of you chugging Maalox at this point in the cycle, let VDB suggest something that will really settle your stomach: a fantastic piece from FiveThirtyEight.com about the absence of a meaningful McCain ground game. We’ve known for some time that Obama has significantly out-organized McCain, but until you see actual photos of McCain’s offices full of nothing but cobwebs, you can’t get near the full effect. [Hat tip to Rick and family, who have almost singlehandedly brought the Blue to Colorado.]

October 31st, 2008

Former Secretary Lawrence Eagleburger Spreads the Butter and Cinammon on the Very Crunchy Toast That Is Sarah Palin (Now With New Craven Apology Update!)

by Philip Baruth

Lawrence Eagleburger, former Secretary of State under George Bush the First, Foreign Policy guru and one of McCain’s most highly touted backers, speaks to the qualifications of one Sarah Palin to sit in the Oval office:

“Look, of course not. I don’t think at the moment she is prepared to take over the reins of the presidency. I can name for you any number of other vice presidents who were not particularly up to it either. So the question, I think, is can she learn and would she be tough enough under the circumstances if she were asked to become president, heaven forbid that that ever takes place?

“Give her some time in the office and I think the answer would be, she will be [pause] adequate. I can’t say that she would be a genius in the job. But I think she would be enough to get us through a four year . . . well I hope not . . . get us through whatever period of time was necessary. And I devoutly hope that it would never be tested.”

Audio here, for those who like their Palin medium well. For those who prefer well-done Alaska Governor, fresh poll results here from the good folks at the Times, showing that just shy of 60% of the country finds Palin unqualified.

That’s the thing about VDB: we cook it your way.

Late Update, Saturday 11:06 am:

You knew it would only be a matter of hours before the McCain folk had put the screws to Eagleburger, and forced him to recant. And sure enough, the former Secretary of State went on Fox to say his sorries for having told America, in no uncertain terms, that Sarah Palin was a few nuggets shy of a Happy Meal.

thriller

But give Eagleburger his due: he didn’t just issue any craven apology for speaking truth. No, he went so far as to call himself a fool, and Barack Obama a “flim-flam” man. All of this delivered with a straight face, while wearing what looks more or less like a vintage Black Panther glove, circa the 1968 Summer Olympics.

That’s what VDB calls taking one for the team.

October 30th, 2008

Oliver Carling Goes All Adam Sandler

by Philip Baruth

Vermont boy Oliver Carling steps up to the Get Out the Vote plate with this Adam Sandler-inflected ditty: “Don’t Flake Out.” VDB gives it five stars, because we love the kids and the guacamole, and it’s arthouse you can dance to. The cruel irony to beat all cruel ironies? Joe the Plumber has an agent and an impending record deal, and Carling doesn’t.