I don't think it's that big of a deal, but some lefty blogs are worried that this behavior is a little too Bushlike for them.

Other lefty bloggers say grow up and get a life. Heh.

If there's anything positive to come from the Clinton campaign chairman's Meet the Press appearance on Sunday, it's this: There is Scotch in heaven.

During a passionate defense of Senator Clinton's narrowing chances for the Democratic nomination, Terry McAuliffe invoked a vision of his late father and host Tim Russert's father "both in heaven right now probably having a Scotch and looking down and saying, you know what, this fight goes on."

Which hits us all right here. The only problem is, Tim Russert's father is not dead. In fact, according to the Meet the Press host, he's "sitting on a barcalounger" somewhere. [YouTube via Wonkette]



B. Brandon Barker is the author of the novel Operation EMU.

If you missed Countdown tonight, you missed what is perhaps Bill O'Reilly's finest moment. The conservative talk show host, culture warrior, and loofah enthusiast has rarely been so relatable. I rarely, if ever, find myself identifying with the author of "Those Who Trespass," but I'm right with him in this clip.

Now, Keith Olbermann seemed to think that this clip should be embarrassing to O'Reilly, but anyone who's ever had a piece of technology take up revolutionary arms against them, be it the "blue screen of death" on your laptop, or the accidental use of the "Live" button on the DVR remote during a football game that you started watching late, or even the obnoxious noise your vacuum makes to let you know there's too much hair in the brush, has got to relate to Billo's apoplectic reaction to the cruel misdeeds of his TelePrompter.

John McCain today is launching a climate change video entitled, "A Better Way." Although it does little by way of letting viewers know what McCain would do to fix the problem, it does refer to how "one extreme" thinks "high taxes, and crippling regulation" is the solution, while another "denies the problem even exists."

"I believe climate change is real," a casually-dressed McCain on a mountain says. "It's not just a greenhouse gas issue, it's a national security issue."

The ad comes as McCain travels to the Pacific Northwest to talk about the generally oft-neglected topic. In Portland today, he will deliver what his campaign is calling "a major speech" outlining his plans to combat the threat of global climate change and "re-establish America's environmental leadership in the world."

He's going to propose a domestic cap-and-trade system his campaign says will mobilize market forces to develop and commercialize alternatives to carbon-based fuels. Tomorrow, he will participate in a discussion in Seattle with environmentalists, conservationists and the business community on how to combat climate change.



After the jump, the new pro-Hillary video featuring the White House-scorned duo of Joe and Valerie Plame Wilson.

Good morning, and welcome again to Videos of the Week. The big story this week was, of course, the virtual coronation of Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee. We have a couple of clips related to the making of that sausage, plus a few morsels of John McCain, a couple of cool tricks, and a Mike Gravel chaser.

Before we get to those, I just want to quickly plug Political Machine reader Tom Fitzsimmons' satire work over at The Specious Report, and at Daily Kos. Drop in there, laugh it up, and leave him a good rating, won't you?

By popular demand, I am adding the Obama 59 state gaffe, right after the jump.

Leading off this week is a video from my buddy Cenk at The Young Turks. For reasons that will be obvious later, I'm going to tell you nothing about it.

I'm guessing here that Saturday Night Live is not planning on ever having Senator Clinton on as guest ever again or else this is snark so deep that it's over even my head. However, I embed, you decide.

Last night as the numbers started to look pretty bad for Hillary Clinton I wondered whether she was "retreating to the bunker to come up with a new battle plan, or to write her surrender speech?" Little did I know. It turns out cameras were rolling and now we have exclusive video from inside Hillary's bunker. Even Clinton supporters on this glum day might be able to muster a laugh from this. (Warning: extremely strong language; don't click if you're easily offended or a member of the FCC.)

Only this time, presidential hopeful Mike Gravel is chasing her tail.

I just watched the video below, which literally made me fall off my chair. It's hilarious.

The 77-year-old Libertarian candidate Gravel sings along (and no, he can't carry a tune) with the infamous Obama Girl, trying to get her to join his camp. "You should drop your crush on your Obama," he sings. "You ought to know you're off the chain." (I guess that means he thinks she's hot.)

Obama Girl responds saying while she digs "Mike," she's still got her Obama crush. She dances around in her usual tight-fitting Obama shirt, with Gravel watching on.

Enter "Crank That Soulja Boy" music. Gravel's past debate remarks are mixed to the hip-hop tune, then he's seen doing the Soulja Boy dance with Obama girl and others that made University of Wisconsin basketball coach Bo Ryan a YouTube favorite.

But alas, in the end, despite his efforts, Gravel gets no commitment from Obama Girl. "I'll think about it," she tells him when asked if she'll campaign for him instead of that other guy.

"I totally learned that Soulja Boy dance for nothing," Gravel laments.

Not surprisingly, the Rev. Wright hubbub has resulted in all manner of web parodies, most pretty awful. Just plug his name into YouTube and let the cringing begin. But here's one that is inspired, with the part of Barack Obama apparently played by Homer Simpson (you don't think Obama would like to wrap Wright up in a carpet and drag him away?). Without further ado, a cartoon short to give you a laugh before our primary night feature presentation:

Humor break. Clinton's turn on Letterman: