So much presidential race news – so little time

I know I’ve overloaded this blog with presidential politics of late, at the expense of local issues. It’s just that I find this race to be the most compelling in my adult life. There is so much fascinating news coming out every day, I can’t even keep up with it.

Thank you to the individual who drew my attention to this breaking story. About 40 telemarketing workers walked off the job today refusing to read an inflammatory script written for the McCain campaign. From Talking Points Memo:

Some three dozen workers at a telemarketing call center in Indiana walked off the job rather than read an incendiary McCain campaign script attacking Barack Obama, according to two workers at the center and one of their parents.

Nina Williams, a stay-at-home mom in Lake County, Indiana, tells us that her daughter recently called her from her job at the center, upset that she had been asked to read a script attacking Obama for being “dangerously weak on crime,” “coddling criminals,” and for voting against “protecting children from danger.”

Williams’ daughter told her that up to 40 of her co-workers had refused to read the script, and had left the call center after supervisors told them that they would have to either read the call or leave, Williams says. The call center is called Americall, and it’s located in Hobart, IN.

“They walked out,” Williams says of her daughter and her co-workers, adding that they weren’t fired but willingly sacrificed pay rather than read the lines. “They were told [by supervisors], `If you all leave, you’re not gonna get paid for the rest of the day.”

There’s lot more news today. The polls notwithstanding, the race isn’t over quite yet.

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Speaking of inflammatory, as if the Palin crowds couldn’t attract even more nutballs, I’m starting to wonder if Obama isn’t stacking the crowds. Give credit to Palin for keeping her cool as a female audience member screams “…. and he’s a nigger!”

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Oh, and then there’s the ATF busting of a neo-Nazi plot to kill Obama at the conclusion of a rampage in which they’d have killed over a hundred African Americans.

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And like somewhere on page seven, the Iraq war spilled into Syria today. At first I thought it might be the “October surprise,” but nobody seems surprised.

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And here’s the Biden interview video drawing some attention. A very right wing “journalist” asks several “when-did-you-stop-beating-your-wife” type questions, including whether Obama is a communist. Biden’s response, “is this a joke?” Now some on the right are whining about the Obama’s campaign decision not to give this woman any more interviews.

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Addendum: Some odd expenditures of the hard-up RNC -chocolate elephants, baseball tickets, art restoration, wine glasses, jewelry, elephant-shaped shrubbery, lunches for Karl Rove, …

There are probably some weird purchases on the other side too.

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Second addendum: No, this is not appropriate, not even as “Halloween Art.”

Fortunately, it’s drawing fire from liberals in his own neighborhood.

I’m told the “artist” earned Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person of the World” award for the day.

The photo comes from Reuters.

Third addendum: How to handle a Fox interview, chapter 2. (remember chapter one? Refer to the “Fourth Addendum” through the link) . I don’t remember the blond’s name at this moment, but is she this agitated all the time?

Arcata City Council race

I’ve been promising some Nohum political coverage. I just haven’t found the time to read up on it all. But this North Coast Journal summary of the Arcata race seems informative.

In the surprise endorsement of the week department, the conservative reputed Eureka Reporter is endorsing Shane Brinton despite his radical, er, younger youth – which suggests that the young man has generated some broad appeal. Good for him, the ER, and Arcata if they choose him.

Meet Estelle before you vote – tomorrow in Fortuna

From Carol and Greg’s blog.

Estelle Fennell, Candidate for Second District Supervisor.

You can meet her Tuesday at 5:30 at her Open House Fennell Campaign HQ, 11th & Main, Fortuna.