The International House of Bacon

This is how most political conversations at our pad have been going as of late:

Ann: “Hey, did you hear about [story about Palin].”
Jeff: “Yeah, pretty interesting. Too bad it’s not true.”
Ann: *scream*

I don’t know what’s sadder - that there’s still this much nonsense bandied about concerning Palin, or that I feel I have to do a third post on it. For those sick of it, a) too bad, and b) I’ll have (hopefully) two non-political posts up today as well. First post here, second here. Share, laugh, enjoy! Palin on top, other stuff on the bottom.

* For a great dump of every rumor, check this out. Staggering, really.

* FactCheck has started getting into the act, too, killing four rumors, including the book banning one that at least 9 people linked me to. Not to mention the library listservs. And Facebook. And I’m sure I’ll see it in Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal.

* May as well address this once more, even though people have largely given up on it: Sarah Palin was no surprise.

* Her experience as Alaskan National Guard Commander in Chief isn’t insignificant. I also don’t think it matters much, but some do.

* Palin is pro-contraception and is not in favor of abstinence-only education.

* There’s nothing to the per diem “scandal”.

* Another reason to like Palin: only one of three governors to sign a “Jury Rights Day” proclamation.

* The decline and fall of The Olbermann Empire. Okay, so he’s probably not going anywhere, but I can’t help but chuckle at this entire thing. I grew up watching the guy on ESPN, and to see where he’s at now is more than a little sad.

* An interesting read on the Catholic priest shortage.

* I can’t believe I’m apparently the only person to refer to this as “Fauxba Chamberlain. To give it context, some guy is apparently a dead ringer for Yankee pitcher King Hippo Joba Chamberlain, and was able to get free food, booze, and over 100 ladies with this. Now he’s been arrested. Kind of a neat metaphor for the Yankees season, ain’t it?

* Someone is willing to donate marble to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to replace it. The federal government won’t take it because it hasn’t gone through a bidding process.

* The Census shows 3.6m more people have health insurance in 2007 than the year prior. Naturally, Barack Obama sees this as evidence that 7.2m more people were uninsured. Mmmm, math.

* Fun with statistics.

* Obama as community organizer.

* A history of Gallup bounces. Interesting statistics.

* If this doesn’t sicken you politically, nothing will. “While 82% of voters who support McCain believe the justices should rule on what is in the Constitution, just 29% of Barack Obama’s supporters agree. Just 11% of McCain supporters say judges should rule based on the judge’s sense of fairness, while nearly half (49%) of Obama supporters agree.” How is this even remotely acceptable?

* In some good news, the Supreme Court is willing to rehear Kennedy v. Louisiana in the wake of Justice Kennedy’s “national consensus” commentary. Good move.

* In a surprise, independents appear to be breaking hard for McCain. How much of this is bounce and how much is permanent remains to be seen.

* WANT. If anyone has disposable income and loves me, they should get me this.

* Finally, how Robert Heinlein responded to letters. Such a fascinating man.

Oh, and one other thing? The lipstick on a pig thing? Dumb by Obama, but dumber to keep pressing on. The McCain ad about sex ed? Dumb dumb dumb. C’mon people, seriously.