Fighting Talker

Do you believe this?

I can’t vouch for the veracity of a New York Post report claiming MSNC’s Keith Olbermann “went apoplectic” over the lack of ketchup packets (!) at a memorial service for the late Tim Russert, a claim K.O.’s publicist called “an outright lie”, but I’m having a hard time determining which is funnier — the notion this incident actually happened, or a disgruntled MSNBC colleague fantasizing, “what’s the lamest possible thing I can accuse Olbermann of doing a a memorial service that someone might actually believe?”

This surprises the hell out of me.

Raleigh, N.C. – Barack Obama kicks off the general election with a 50-39 lead over John McCain in Ohio, according to the newest survey from Public Policy Polling.

It’s a significant change from PPP’s most recent previous Ohio survey, conducted in March, which found Obama trailing McCain 49-41 during the heart of the Jeremiah Wright controversy.

Obama leads by equal margins among men and women, and has a four point lead with white voters while also holding a dominant 75-21 advantage with African Americans.

This also surprises me. But not in nearly the same kind of way.

The survey also found that Hillary Clinton could help him if she was on the ticket in Ohio. 19% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for Obama if he was her VP choice, while 15% said they would be less likely to support him.

Clinton fares better as a possible choice than Governor Ted Strickland. Even though Strickland’s approval rating is a strong 47/26, 15% of respondents said they would be less likely to vote for Obama if he was on the ticket, compared to just 11% who said his inclusion would make them more likely to go for him.

In my mind, I had written Ohio off to McCain. If this isn’t an outlier, maybe the hushed talk of a possible landslide has some credibility.

Hat Tip to Andrew

I listened to the interview he did with BBC Radio 5. He pretty much says the USA has no chance of winning in 2018 and should wait four years. He would have to support the USA through the opening ballots but, Warner’s passionate support would appear to be behind England now. It’s a wonder what dragging David Beckham and co. for a lucrative friendly in T&T can do. The choice bits follow.  (more…)

According to author, journalist, and FIFA corruption expert Andrew Jennings, England’s friendly this weekend against Jack Warner’s Trinidad was not about sucking up to the powerful FIFA chieftain to better position the FA for the 2018 World Cup bid. Instead, Jennings asserts (pdf) that it was a threat by Warner to eliminate Britain’s anachronistic (but useful) permanent hold on a Vice Presidency within FIFA. If Warner and FIFA were to eliminate it, Britain would have almost zero power in the soccer’s world governing body.

One wrong word and the Brits could be relegated to the outer darknesses of Fifa with less clout than Papua New Guinea. So as Fifa’s scandals mount – bribes, ticket rackets, burgeoning legal bills – don’t be surprised at the silence from the blazers of this offshore island.

He then goes on to state how the biggest threat to England’s 2018 WC bid comes not from the USA, but from Mexico. (more…)

With the reminder this weekend that DC politicians tend to be calculating, fearful wusses, United needs to regain control of the new stadium process. The way they can do that is by getting very serious and very public with the PG County officials who have said they want to lure the team there.  Any other moves that United makes will only make apparent that DC is willing to be jerked around by the District and that their threats to go to PG are false (which will only then peeve off PG - not helpful).

Look, as disappointing as it surely is to United fans, this team simply cannot continue to engage in negotiations with a group of people terrified to make a move either way. If Fenty and/councilmembers don’t accept the stadium terms, then say so. But by sticking by these people even after they continue to hesitate, waffle and renege on deals, United starts to shift from being the victim to being the enabler.

It’s time to get very loud with PG (press conferences, stadiums drawings, an announcement of location, a name) and force the District’s hand. If DC city officials don’t want to team in the city, that’s their decision. But DC needs to move to get these folks off the fence. If they don’t land on the side of the fence that United wants, so be it.

It’s time to move on.

This guy is one of the funniest writers alive right now.

Now I don’t claim any expertise in the byzantine affairs of DC city politics but this has to seem like good news.

A coalition of D.C. Council members is drafting legislation that would authorize Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to spend $150 million in public money to subsidize construction of a soccer stadium for D.C. United in Southeast Washington, city government sources said.

Snip (more…)

Ever read something that so confuses you that it feel like your brain is going to blow? Maybe it’s just getting late, but this did it to me. What on earth does this mean?

Drudge-bait:

Among college-educated poll respondents, 19 percent of Republicans believe that human activities are causing global warming, compared to 75 percent of Democrats. But take that college education away and Republican believers rise to 31 percent while Democrats drop to 52 percent.

It left me feeling like this.

This isn’t a book review proper as he hasn’t released anything new, but I just wanted to take the time to highly recommend the work of British journalist Andrew Jennings. He specializes in shining the light on the dirty, dirty work of the IOC and FIFA. (more…)

This crosses a line. I see he’s deleted the post. Here was what was there.

OK fine.

I still honestly don’t understand the fuss, but I surrender.

Please note that the site management is not, and never has been, members of the National Socialist Party.

I post what I post and take sole responsibility.

Maybe if DC changed their colors to mauve and pink…..

Archer writes a lot of good insightful stuff, especially regarding Jack Warner and CONCACAF, but this is simply offensive and hypocritical.

The line between edgy and douchebag is a thin one. Yet again, unfortunately, Archer has crossed it.