Politico reports that CNN’s David Gergen, WaPo’s Chris Cillizza, Newsweek’s Jon Meacham and Howard Fineman, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Cynthia Tucker, Politico’s Mike Allen, NPR/Fox’s Mara Liasson, TPM’s Josh Marshall and NYT’s David Brooks, Andy Rosenthal, and Gail Collins joined the President, David Axelrod, Anita Dunn, Bill Burton and Robert Gibbs for an off-the-record lunch today.

Lunch apparently lasted two hours and green salad, halibut and pear tart were served.

No word yet on how the sour grapes tasted.

This is becoming a regular occurrence, isn’t it? What’s happening with this WH? Are they so concerned now about MSM journalists like Jake Tapper asking them tough questions that they’ve taken to meeting “off-the-record” with liberal talking heads (and David Brooks – I know, same thing) in an effort to get “the real truth” out? Answer: Most likely. Hell, that’s why they’re pretty much boycotting Fox News at this point, and demanding that other liberals follow suit or else, because they can’t stand the heat and prefer “friendlier” news outlets, so it only stands to reason that the same rule applies here with these “off-the-record” chit chats where no one outside of the “inner circle” knows what was said. But of course, the “scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back” rule applies here. Write a favorable column, or say favorable things about the administration on either your show or a show where you’re a guest, and you’ll continue to get invited to “off-the-record” WH get togethers.

So much for “open government, accountable only to the people.”

At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration.

Political consultants are a staple of cable television talk shows, analyzing current events based on their own experiences working on campaigns or in government.

One Democratic strategist said that shortly after an appearance on Fox he got a phone call from a White House official telling him not to be a guest on the show again. The call had an intimidating tone, he said.

The message was, “We better not see you on again,” said the strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to run afoul of the White House. An implicit suggestion, he said, was that “clients might stop using you if you continue.”

In urging Democratic consultants to spurn Fox, White House officials might be trying to isolate the network and make it appear more partisan.

Threats? Bullying? Trying to isolate your opponent? It’s all part of the Chicago-On-Potomac/Saul Alinsky Way, baby.

One Dem strategist interviewed by Nicholas says he knows it’s happened to other liberal strategists and his sentiment about it is right on:

White House Communications Director Anita Dunn said Thursday night that she had checked with colleagues who “deal with TV issues” and they had not told people to avoid Fox. On the contrary, they had urged people to appear on the network, Dunn wrote in an email.

But Patrick Caddell, a Fox News contributor and a former pollster for Democratic President Jimmy Carter, said he has spoken to Democratic consultants who have been told by the White House to avoid appearances on Fox. He declined to give their names.

Caddell said he had not gotten that message himself from the White House. “They know better than to tell me anything like that,” he said.

Caddell added: “I have heard that they’ve done that to others in not too subtle ways. I find it appalling. When the White House gets in the business of suppressing dissent and comment, particularly from its own party, it hurts itself.”

And this country, too.

McQ responds:

I’m not sure how anyone can be surprised by such tactics. No one is surprised when a jackal acts like a jackal are they? Then why should anyone be surprised when an Alinsky trained Chicago politician acts like an Alinsky trained Chicago politician?

Would now be a good time to ask how the left would be reacting had such a concerted effort against any left wing MSM outlet taken place by the Bush administration? And perhaps more importantly, can we question their patriotism yet?

TGIF

Are we getting close to the Apocalypse?

Disturbing news via Fox:

A shooting rampage Thursday afternoon at the Army’s Fort Hood in Texas killed 11 and wounded 31 before the gunman was killed and two suspects taken into custody.

All three of the people believed to have carried out the shooting were soldiers, Lt. General Bob Cone told reporters Thursday evening, though the motive remains unclear.

AP cites an unnamed source saying the gunman was Major Malik Nadal Hasan, though authorities have not publicly identified him.

Cone said witnesses reported seeing more than one shooter, but that couldn’t be confirmed. The primary shooter used two handguns, he said.

The shooting took place 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the post’s Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers undergo medical screening before being deployed or after returning from overseas.

Sound like a case Army infiltration? We know rad Islamists have targeted the military here at home before. At least the CIC had the decency to condemn the incident immediately after finding out about it, rather than waiting for days like he did the last time.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. More details to come as soon as they are available.

Random thoughts: Assuming this is the act of a jihadi – or jihadis – in the name of “Allah,” a show of hands how many of you think The Usual Suspects will demand more intense scrutiny on stateside Islamists as they have this year each time an act of brutality has been committed by an alleged “radical right winger”?

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Update 1 – 6:39 PM: Lots of updates at The Jawa Report.

Update 2 – 6:41 PM: Via ABC:

The suspected gunman was identified by ABC News as Major Malik Nadal Hasan.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, told Fox News that military sources informed her that the gunman was about to be deployed to Iraq.

The shooter was killed and two other suspects, who are also soldiers, have been apprehended, Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone said.

Hasan allegedly opened fire and killed 11 people on the base before he was shot, bringing the total number of fatalities to 12.

Here’s more on Fort Hood itself, via the UK Times Online:

Fort Hood is the largest military base in America, has lost more soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan than any other military facility, and after eight years of constant deployments had more than its fair share of highly stressed soldiers and dependents even before last night’s shootings.

In June 2007 The Times was given two days’ access to the sprawling 340-square-mile base, which is home to 70,000 people and adjoins the central Texas town of Killeen — an ugly conglomeration of fast-food restaurants, motels and shopping malls with all the usual accroutements of a military town: swathes of low-rent housing, pawn shops, loan sharks and an unmistakable air of transience. Even then the strains of war were obvious.

The 1st Cavalty and 4th Infantry Divisions had already lost 685 men and women, their names recorded on memorials in the two divisions’ respective parade grounds and many of the casualties buried in the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery on a hillside just outside Killeen.

Those names and graves were not the only way of measuring the toll that Iraq in particular was exacting on the base. Paul Dirksmeyer, a chaplain of the 1st Cavalry Division, spoke of the “emotional carnage” — the broken marriages, the mental afflictions of returning soldiers, the frayed nerves of the families left behind, the occasional suicides, desertions and instances of soldiers suddenly running amock.

The links on this developing story are piling up at Memeorandum. Stay tuned …

Update 3 – 7:34 PM: Andy McCarthy has more on Major Nadal Malik Hasan, the dead gunman:

Major Nadal Malik Hasan, a 39-year-old Muslim convert, was born and educated in Virginia. He is a psychiatrist who worked at Walter Reed for six years (and got a poor performance evaluation there). Hasan was transferred to Ft. Hood and worked at the psych ward there. He complained about deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Fox has interviewed someone who worked with him at Ft. Hood (Terry Lee) who says he was a harsh critic of U.S. foreign policy who said Muslims had a right to stand up and fight against the aggressor in Iraq and Afghanistan — i.e., us.

Update 4 – 7:58 PM: Here are some photos taken this afternoon/evening in and around Fort Hood. (via The Anchoress)

Update 5 – 10:21 PM: The latest: Multiple news outlets are reporting that it was a lone gunman, not three as intially reported and that the lone gunman – Major Nadal Malik Hasan – is not dead but in fact alive, and is in police custody. Fox News reports:

A military doctor who reportedly feared an impending war deployment is in custody as the sole suspect in a shooting rampage at the Army’s Fort Hood that left 12 dead and at least 30 wounded, an Army official said Thursday night.

The news that the suspect, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, was alive and in stable condition, came as a sudden reversal of early reports that the gunman was among the dead.

“I would say his death is not imminent,” Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said. Col. Ben Danner said the suspect was shot at least four times.

Two other soldiers who were taken into custody as possible suspects were released Cone told reporters Thursday evening.

A female first responder who shot at Hasan and was previously thought to be dead, was also alive, Cone said.

Federal law enforcement officials say Hasan had come to their attention at least six months ago because of Internet postings that discussed suicide bombings and other threats.

The officials say they are still trying to confirm that he was the author.

One of the Web postings that authorities reviewed is a blog that equates homicide bombers with a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades.

Hmmmm …

Barack Obama was said to have redrawn the electoral map by winning Virginia last year with 53% of the vote. On Tuesday, Republican Bob McDonnell flipped the state back to the GOP, winning his election for governor with 59% of the vote. Mr. Obama carried New Jersey easily last year with 57% of the vote. This year, despite being outspent 3-to-1, Republican Chris Christie ousted Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine there by 49% to 45%. Mr. Obama carried Pennsylvania last year by 10 points. On Tuesday, Republican Judge Joan Orie Melvin was elected to the state’s Supreme Court by 53% to 47%, leading a GOP sweep of six of seven statewide contests.

The trend here is that suburban and independent voters moved into the GOP column. The overall shift away from Democrats was 13 points in Virginia, 12 points in New Jersey, and eight points in Pennsylvania.

Even a five-point swing in 2010 could bring a tidal wave of change. Today, Democrats enjoy 60 votes in the Senate, Republicans a mere 40. Had there been a five-point swing away from Democrats last fall, the party would have started this year with 54 seats and the Republicans 46.

A five-point shift in 2006 would have left the GOP in control of the House. In 2008, a five-point shift would have produced a Democratic loss of six House seats rather than a gain of 21. It would also have put John McCain into the White House with 279 Electoral College votes to Mr. Obama’s 259.

It’s a good piece, so make sure to read the whole thing.

As always, proceed with cautious optimism when thinking about the prospects for big GOP wins next year. As I’ve said before, the Dems’ big ticket issue right now – healthcare “reform” – could very well sink them in the midterms, but that’s only if Republicans and the Blue Dogs continue to not just stand firm against the type of “reform” ObamaCo. are selling, but also to keep trying to sell fiscally responsible healthcare ideas of their own, as well as also reminding people just how much President Obama and Congressional Democrats will stick it to the middle class in the form of higher taxes and fines over the next several years in order to “pay” for their big ticket items.

Time will tell.

Ok on to the media bias and lefty spin post-Election Day (but I repeat myself …)

—– In light of the big GOP wins last night in VA and NJ, you’d think even a paper as solidly liberal as the LA Times would have no choice but to make those wins their top headline, right? Wrong. Patterico has the screencap from the LAT’s website from this morning where the top headline was …. “Democrats win Congressional victories in California, N.Y.” The smaller subheadline read, “The GOP fares better in Virginia and New Jersey as both states elect Republican Governors.”

As of this writing, the direct link to the article sports the same headline and subheadline.

Think there were a few sour grapes in the LAT’s newsroom overnight last night? Yup – me, too.

—–Obama-loving journo and MSDNC commentator Andrea Mitchell was feeling and showing some major love for Obama’s senior advisor David Axelturf this morning during an interview in which she invoked the classic movie Casablanca in discussing both HBO’s loving Obadocumentary (which aired last night) and the NY-23 race. The money quote? “Well, we loved you in the HBO documentary, and we’ll always have the New York 23rd.” Nudge nudge, wink wink! Watch the laughable exchange here.

—– And speaking of MSDNC, OlbermannWatch writes about how MSDNC’s election coverage was inadequate, even for MSDNC, and noted that liberal icon Keith Olbermann was not around to do the “special live 10:00 PM edition of Countdown.” Come to find out, KO was visiting his dad in the hospital, which is understandable but still doesn’t explain why MSDNC chose not to have someone else fill that timeslot on a big election night. Show of hands how many of you think they would have had last night been huge for the Dems? (Looks around) Yep, that’s all of you.

—– A “senior administration official” told Jake Tapper that last night’s Dem victory over Doug Hoffman meant that Democrats were “2-0″ versus Sarah Palin. Huh? Even if that could be called a “victory” against Sarah Palin, wouldn’t that make it 1-0? Well, considering this administration can’t count worth a crap when it comes to – for example – how much money their healthcare plan will “save” over a several year period (in reality, there will be no “savings”) and how much it will add to the deficit (in reality, it is definitely not “deficit neutral”), I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised.

—– Jonah Goldberg calls out multiple media outlets and pundits on their declarations that last night’s elections were more “anti-incumbent” than anti-anything else. As Goldberg correctly notes, it was Democrat incubments who lost in VA and NJ. Duh.

—– William Jacobson tackles the lefty spinsanity that yesterday’s elections were allegedly “good” for Democrats, especially on the healthcare issue, because they picked up an additional seat in the House. Some lefty bloggers were actually suggesting that the Dems picked up two seats last night, but the CA-10 race was one which stayed in Democrat hands.

There they go with that counting problem again.

—– And finally …. and surprisingly without spin, the NYT reported today on some surprising Republican gains in some local races in NY. Wonders never will cease …

“Elementary epidemic” indeed!

Prior/Related:

• School district confirms Obama “praise” activity was sanctioned
• Yes, Obama DID preach healthcare reform at Wakefield High
• Creeptastic: Elementary school shows Obama “pledge” video to students
• Teacher bullies student over her parents’ support for John McCain

Weds. AM Update – 8:24 AM: Hoffman has conceded. Malkin has a great analysis of that race and what it means for conservatives and the GOP establishment here.

Maine has “just said no” to gay marriage. That makes 31 states who have done so at the ballot box.

In the CA-10 race, Democrat Lt. Gov. John Garamendi defeated Republican David Harmer easily for Rep. Ellen Tauscher’s (D) vacated seat.

————-

Update 25 – 11:37 PM: Just read via MSDNC’s Chuck Todd that the NY-23 race won’t be called tonight. They still have around 11,000 absentee ballots to count, which will happen tomorrow.

Ok – I really am going to sleep now. Nite nite.

——-

Update 24 – 11:13 PM: NBC has called NY-23 for Owens. Oh well.

G’nite, y’all.

——–

Update 23 – 10:50 PM: They are probably conducting a champagne toast at the Charlotte Observer as this city has just elected a Dem for Mayor for the first time in 20 years. Not that it’ll be much different from our previous mayor, who in a lot of ways was a Republican In Name Only.

The AP has (once again) called the NYC Mayor race for Bloomberg. Narrow margin of victory, though, if the results hold up (+3K?).

I’m gonna step away from the computer for a bit. The NY-23 race is still close but Owens has been ahead the whole night. Keep checking this link for the latest updates from that race. The polls in CA close at 11 ET. This link will have the results from that race.

Whether Hoffman wins or loses, the big story of the night is that Obama and the Dems are losing Independents big time. The proof is in the exits. A Hoffman win would just be icing on the cake. If I’m not back here by 11:30 with an update, g’nite, y’all.

————

Update 22 – 10:10 PM: Huge: The AP has just projected Christie to win NJ.

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Update 21 – 10:01 PM: Hearing that multiple news outlets are taking back their projection that Bloomberg will win the mayor’s race in NYC.

————

Update 20 – 9:58 PM: Here’s a link for the results from the CA-10 race.

—————

Update 19 – 9:45 PM: Here’s another (better) link for results from NY-23.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg has, of course, been projected to win re-election.

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Update 18 – 9:25 PM: Here’s a link for election results out of NY-23.

Here’s the link for results for NJ again. Christie’s in the lead w/ 3 % reporting but I hear some big Dem precincts are getting ready to report. Precincts for the deceased to be reported … at midnight. Stay tuned.

———-

Update 17 – 9:20 PM: Breaking: “Machine glitches may delay vote reporting in four St. Lawrence towns” (NY-23).

The Hill is also covering the NY-23 race. I’m still looking for a voting results link.

——–

Update 16 – 9:01 PM: The polls in NY have now closed.

Here is a link to Maine’s election results, where the big ticket item is whether or not to reject their new pro-gay marriage law.

————

Update 15 – 8:47 PM: Fixed the NJ results broken link. Thanks to ST reader GWR for the heads up.

————-

Update 14 – 8:17 PM: Here’s how the liberal Charlotte Observer is reporting the big mayoral race here: “Foxx leads in early returns” … but that’s after only 1% of the vote (the early vote).

Foxx, as you might have guessed, is the Democrat.

————-

Update 13 – 8:09 PM: Per Major Garrett – “Fox calls VA LG race for Bill Bolling and VA AG race for Ken Cuccinelli. Only 3rd time in Commonwealth history Rs sweep.”

—————

Update 12 – 8:00 PM: Per Hotline, “According to early exit poll data released by CNN, ex-U.S. Atty Chris Christie (R) leads Gov. Jon Corzine among indie voters, 58-33%. Indies make up 27% of the electorate thus far today.” Obama won indies statewide 51-47%.

Here’s a link to check for results in NJ, where the polls have just now closed.

———-

Update 11 – 7:57 PM: Fox and the AP is calling VA for McDonnell. Wow!

Polls are getting ready to close in NJ.

———–

Update 10 – 7:39 PM: Polls close in the NY-23 race at 9 PM, FYI.

—————

Update 9 – 7:31 PM: Are indies moving to the GOP in VA? Sure sounds like it:

But the real difference is among indies. Obama edged McCain among VA indies, 49-48%, in ‘08. This year, McDonnell has a 60-39% lead among indies.

Deeds is also underperforming among young voters when compared with Obama. Obama won voters under 30, 60-39%. Deeds only leads this group 52-46%. These voters also did not turn out as they did last year, when they comprised 21% of the electorate. This year, they made up only one in ten voters [STEVEN SHEPARD]

————

Update 8 – 7:26 PM: Here’s a link to check the numbers as they come in in the VA Governor’s race.

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Update 7 – 7:24 PM: Hmmm. “The Intrade Watch – It’s been going Corzine in recent hour(s).” (via K.Lo)

Shep Smith’s revised his earlier comments on a projection in the VA Governor’s race to “sometime this evening.” Alrighty then.

———–

Update 6 – 7:18 PM: Bloomberg’s spent a record $100 million of his own money to keep his seat as NYC Mayor (per Fox).

Scozzafava is still on the ballot in NY-23, BTW.

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Update 5 – 7:10 PM: Shep Smith on Fox keeps teasing about a call coming from Fox News “within minutes” on the state of VA. C’mon already!

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Update 4 – 7:01 PM: Polling guru Nate Silver (D) posts the final polling averages going into today’s elections, along with his predictions. He’s got the GOP winning in NJ, VA, and NY, Dems winning in CA-10, and Maine voters affirming the ‘right’ of gays to marry.

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Update 3 – 6:55 PM: Early exits are starting to trickle in. Supposedly, a majority of voters in NJ and VA said Obama wasn’t a factor in their vote. The economy was the most important issue in both states.

FYI – “Polls close in VA at 7 p.m. EST, while voting continues until 8 p.m. EST in NJ.”

———-

Update 2 – 6:52 PM: Predictably, the WH is downplaying What This All Means for future elections. What, has Axelturf seen some troubling internal numbers coming out of today’s key races?

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Update 1 – 6:38 PM: Ben Smith is reporting high turnout in Maine, where voters are voting on whether or not to repeal a new law that makes gay marriage legal.

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6:20 PM: I’m just now getting home and starting to get caught up on all the Election Day 2009 news. I see the AP is now onboard with the belief that today’s elections in NJ and VA (governor) and NY (NY-23) are referendums on Obama’s clout – or perhaps lack thereof:

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s political clout was on the line Tuesday as Virginia and New Jersey chose governors in contests that could serve as warning signs for Democrats about the public’s mood heading into an important midterm election year.

[...]

One year after Obama won the White House in an electoral landslide and Democrats expanded their majorities in Congress, much of the focus was on Virginia and New Jersey, where Democratic control was in danger despite hefty campaigning by Obama himself.

The outcomes were sure to feed discussion about the state of the electorate, the status of the diverse coalition that sent Obama to the White House and the limits of the president’s influence on the party’s base of support — as well as on moderate lawmakers he needs to advance his legislative priorities.

Strange. Just a couple of days ago, here’s what they were saying about today’s elections:

WASHINGTON – For Republicans, an election win of any size Tuesday would be a blessing. But victories in Virginia, New Jersey or elsewhere won’t erase enormous obstacles the party faces heading into a 2010 midterm election year when control of Congress and statehouses from coast to coast will be up for grabs.

It’s been a tough few years for the GOP. The party lost control of Congress in 2006 and then lost the White House in 2008 with three traditional Republican states — Indiana, North Carolina and Virginia — abandoning the party.

So even if political winds start blowing harder behind them and even if they can capitalize on Democratic missteps, Republicans still will have a long way to go over the next year because of their party’s own fundamental problems — divisions over the path forward, the lack of a national leader and a shrinking base in a changing nation.

The GOP would overcome none of those hurdles should Republican Bob McDonnell win the Virginia governor’s race, Chris Christie emerge victorious in the New Jersey governor’s contest, or conservative Doug Hoffman triumph in a hotly contested special congressional election in upstate New York.

So, er, if I’m reading both articles correctly, GOP wins tonight would be “warning signs” for Obama and the Democrats, yet the GOP would essentially be meaningless because they “still have a long way to go” to overcome “hurdles.”

I sure as heck wish the AP would make up their minds.

As to turnout news, Jim Geraghty’s got several reports on what turnout is looking like in NJ, VA, and NY. Just keep scrolling. If you’ve voted today in the so-called “bellwether” races, please post about your experience in the comments section.

As for predictions? ST reader Anthony has gone on the record:

For today’s elections, I’m predicting two out of four for our side: Virginia is a landslide for the Republican for governor and Hoffman comfortably wins NY-23, while the Democrats easily win CA-10 and steal (literally) the win in NJ.

Longtime readers know about my reluctance on making political predictions (I’m not very good at it), but just for laughts I’ll say that the VA governor’s seat returns to the GOP, the Dems keep the Governor’s mansion in NJ (by hook or crook), the Hoffman/Owens race will be very close, with Owens winning in a squeaker, and the CA-10 race goes to the Dems.

What sayeth you?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: No GOP presidential candidate would have survived the primaries having so many close radical associates, and no GOP President would be able to get away with having so many radicals within his or her administration. No GOP candidate NOR president would be able to get away with the obvious lie that they “didn’t know” so and so “was a radical.” And they shouldn’t be able to get away with it.

But neither should Democrats.

The double standards of the mainstream media on this issue (not to mention so many others) were and are absolutely appalling. They played a huge role in getting this inexperienced far leftist in the WH and we’ll all be paying for his radical agenda thanks in no small part to their persuasive slobbering love fest puff pieces for at least the next four years. Hell – we’ll be paying for his mistakes for more than four years, even if he’s not elected again.

Infuriating.

Time to reverse the tidal wave of massive centralized government this administration is planning for us all. Vote tomorrow!

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) on Monday responded to Vice President Joe Biden’s comments about her support for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in a hotly contested special election.

Biden appeared at a Monday rally for Democratic candidate Bill Owens, during which he attacked conservative leaders such as Palin, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), Dick Armey and Fred Thompson for supporting Hoffman in the upstate New York special election that has attracted widespread national attention.

The fact of the matter is, Sarah Palin thinks the answer to energy is ‘drill, baby, drill,’ ” said Biden. “It’s a lot more complicated, Sarah!”

Biden’s debate opponent during the 2008 presidential campaign fired back.

“There’s one way to tell Vice President Biden that we’re tired of folks in Washington distorting our message and hampering our nation’s progress: Hoffman, Baby, Hoffman!” she wrote on her Facebook page.

Here’s what else she said at FB:

As the vice president knows, I have always advocated an all-of-the-above approach to American energy independence. Among other things, my alternative energy goal for Alaska sits at 50 percent because Alaska reached more than 20 percent during my term in office. The Obama-Biden administration, on the other hand, recently announced a renewable goal of only 25 percent. However, domestic drilling should remain a top priority in order to meet America’s consumption and security needs.

The vice president’s extreme opposition to domestic energy development goes all the way back to 1973 when he opposed the Alaska pipeline bill. As Ann Coulter pointed out, “Biden cast one of only five votes against the pipeline that has produced more than 15 billion barrels of oil, supplied nearly 20 percent of this nation’s oil, created tens of thousands of jobs, added hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and reduced money transfers to the nation’s enemies by about the same amount.”

This nonsensical opposition to American domestic energy development continues to this day. Apparently the Obama-Biden administration only approves of offshore drilling in Brazil, where it will provide security and jobs for Brazilians. This election is about American security and American jobs.

Ouch.

Sarah 2 – Biden 0.

Victory #1:

• The Palin-Biden debate: October 2, 2008

Say it ain’t so, Joe!

Bonus: Check out the photo of Palin at Another Black Conservative’s blog. Gotta love it

Planned Parenthood has been a part of Abby Johnson’s life for the past eight years; that is until last month, when Abby resigned. Johnson said she realized she wanted to leave, after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure.

“I just thought I can’t do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that’s it,” said Jonhson.

She handed in her resignation October 6. Johnson worked as the Bryan Planned Parenthood Director for two years.

According to Johnson, the non-profit was struggling under the weight of a tough economy, and changing it’s business model from one that pushed prevention, to one that focused on abortion.

“It seemed like maybe that’s not what a lot of people were believing any more because that’s not where the money was. The money wasn’t in family planning, the money wasn’t in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that,” said Johnson.

Johnson said she was told to bring in more women who wanted abortions, something the Episcopalian church goer recently became convicted about.

So she woke up to see abortion on demand for what it was and is – not as a ‘procedure’ used to ‘help women through a difficult time’ but instead an immoral birth control method and money-making operation used to line the pockets of people who believe that an unborn baby is not a baby but instead just a ‘lump of tissue’ or a ‘parasite.’ Good for her.

Those of us who are former abortion supporters ourselves can identify to a certain degree with what Johnson feels – once it hits you, the guilt eats you alive. I can only imagine how she feels on a deeper level, thought, what with her being an active participant in Planned Abortionhood’s agenda for eight years. Whatever may be going through her mind, the good thing is that it has changed. In fact, attitudes on the whole about abortions have been changing for the better for the last few years.

There is hope for the unborn yet.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., was among those who urged Dierdre K. Scozzafava to endorse Democratic congressional candidate William L. Owens, the senator’s spokesman said Saturday.

The spokesman, Maxwell Young, said the senator called a number of north country political leaders after Ms. Scozzafava suspended her campaign and had more than one conversation with the Republican candidate ahead of her announcement. He said the senator also called other Democratic leaders about the situation, including White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Mr. Owens said he was “honored” by the endorsement.

“Over the course of her career, Dede has always committed to serving the people of Upstate New York before serving a partisan agenda,” he said in a statement. “Now more than ever we need bipartisan solutions to help bring jobs to Upstate New York to get our economy back on track and move our country forward. Those are the kinds of priorities I will fight for in Congress because that’s the kind of leadership Upstate New York needs right now.”

Those in the camp of the Conservative candidate Douglas L. Hoffman called Ms. Scozzafava a turncoat.

“This afternoon Dede Scozzafava betrayed the GOP,“ Senior Communications Advisor Rob Ryan said in a statement. “She endorsed a Pelosi Democrat who will spend more, tax more, and push the liberal agenda that is dragging down this nation.”

More to the point, she betrayed the establishment GOP. The conservative GOP she betrayed long ago.

The Politico has the story on how “high-ranking national Democrats” began to work on obtaining her endorsement moments after she dropped out of the race. IMO, it was pretty much a no-brainer she would endorse the Democrat, if nothing more than out of spite against the conservatives who criticized her stances on the issues as being ultra-liberal. ST reader GWR, commenting on this story in the wee hours of the morning, hit the nail on the head:

This is textbook RINO behavior. When they win a primary, they expect conservatives to back them in the name of “party unity”. When they lose the primary, they sulk and either secretly or openly support the Democrat. I’ve seen it more times here in NJ (including this year’s campaign for governor) than I care to count.

IMHO, they should make a clean break of it. Admit they’re leftists and go join the leftist party. Who needs them.

Amen to that.

As for final polling numbers going into tomorrow’s election, according to Public Policy Polling, Hoffman is leading the race “big” (via Memeorandum):

Doug Hoffman has a commanding lead in the special election for New York’s 23rd Congressional District.

In a three way contest with Democrat Bill Owens and Republican Dede Scozzafava Hoffman leads with 51% to 34% for Owens and 13% for Scozzafava. In a head to head contest with Owens Hoffman holds a 54-38 advantage.

Polling the race was a little haphazard in a weekend with many twists and turns but Hoffman showed a similar lead at all junctures. In interviews conducted before Scozzafava announced the suspension of her campaign Hoffman led Owens 49-31 with 17% going to Scozzafava. Poll respondents Saturday afternoon/evening and early Sunday afternoon were informed that Scozzafava had dropped out but that her name would still be on the ballot. During that period of time Hoffman led Owens 51-34 with Scozzafava’s share going down to 12%. After Scozzafava announced she was endorsing Owens the remaining Sunday respondents were informed of that and the race showed a little tightening with Hoffman up 52-38 on Owens and Scozzafava’s share dropping to 7%.

The bottom line though is that Hoffman led by double digits during every segment of the poll, an indication that he may have been headed for a definitive victory regardless of Scozzafava’s actions over the course of the weekend.

We shall see …

We won’t be doing any of that unless Delhomme gets it together and remembers what team he’s playing for. I know the team’s got several issues, but the biggest one is Delhomme’s throwing interceptions. He has 13 for the season so far, leading the league. The talk of the town this week has been the future of Jake Delhomme w/ the Panthers, and whether or not he should have one.

Game time is 4:15 PM ET and will be broadcast on Fox.

Update: Wow – what a game. The Panthers looked in playoff form for a change, while Kurt Warner threw several interceptions (6?) and the Cards’ attempt at a late rally failed. Panthers win 34-21.

Delhomme suffered a “chest injury” late in the game. Hopefully it’s not too serious.