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If one was to replicate the fashions of Cindy McCain and Laura Bush at the recent Republican National Convention, we would have to shell out a total of over $300,000. Can the masses relate to the wealth of the McCain’s or could it be a turnoff?

According to Vanity Fair, Cindy McCain’s RNC ensemble included $280,000 diamond earrings, a $3,000 Oscar de la Renta gown, a Chanel J12 watch valued at $4,500 and a pearl necklace that would cost between $11,000 - $25,000. Not to mention the snazzy designer shoes. Laura Bush glammed out at between $3,425 and $4,325.

To put this into perspective, Michelle Obama recently appeared on The View outfitted in a stylish ‘Black & White’ dress any one of us could buy for $148.

“One of the persistent memes in the Republican line of attack against Barack Obama is the notion that he is an elitist, whereas the G.O.P. represent real working Americans like Levi “F-in’ Redneck Johnston,” says Vanity Fair.

Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back

Reuters - Republican John McCain cast himself as
an independent-minded reformer on Thursday, vowed “change is
coming” if he is elected president and promised to create
millions of jobs by developing new energy sources.

Original post by Reuters and software by Elliott Back

AP - Novak Djokovic heard what Andy Roddick said about him and didn’t like it one bit.

Original post by AP and software by Elliott Back

In any other democracy in the world the Republican Party would be toast, its prime minister tossed out, its years of governance repudiated. But not in our exceptional American form of democracy. A Republican stalwart who played a key role in implementing the agenda of George W. Bush over these long miserable eight years now attempts to recast himself as an “outsider” eager to return to Washington and clean up the mess he helped create.

John McCain can run from Republican Washington but he can’t hide.

The policy prescriptions in John McCain’s acceptance speech tonight were nothing but retreads of the failed policies of the Bush-Cheney years:

He promised tax cuts for the rich and the corporations.

He promised “free trade” deals that hemorrhage American jobs.

He promised vouchers for people to pull their kids out of public schools.

He trashed the teachers’ unions.

He promised more deregulation of big business.

He promised more privatization of government services.

He promised judges who will curtail consumer protection, worker safety, and women’s reproductive rights.

He promised to continue the saber rattling and threats against Iran, Russia and any other country that defies U.S. hegemony.

He promised more militarization of our foreign policy.

He called for peace through war.

And once again we had to endure a corny homily where we re-fight the Vietnam War, an unjust and savage abuse of American power, which has now become a quadrennial tradition in American politics.

There was nothing in McCain’s speech tonight that differed in any significant way from the disastrous Republican policies of the last eight years.

He’s got Karl Rove’s surrogates running his campaign.

He’s pandered hardcore to the religious Right with the Sarah Palin gambit. It’s gay marriage all over again.

There is not a dime’s worth of difference between John McCain and George W. Bush.

Four More Years!

Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back

AP - John McCain, a POW turned political rebel, vowed Thursday night to vanquish the “constant partisan rancor” that grips Washington as he launched his fall campaign for the White House. “Change is coming,” he promised the roaring Republican National Convention and a prime-time television audience.

Original post by AP and software by Elliott Back

ST. PAUL, Minn. — When it came time for Democrats to officially respond to John McCain’s speech at the Republican Convention tonight, the task didn’t fall to Barack Obama or even Joe Biden, who’ll likely get called upon often to fill the attack dog role for his ticket. Instead, they turned to a figure from the recent past: Hillary Clinton. Her full statement is below.

The two party conventions showcased vastly different directions for our country. Senator Obama and Senator Biden offered the new ideas and positive change America needs and deserves after eight years of failed Republican leadership. Senator McCain and Governor Palin did not.

After listening to all of the speeches this week, I heard nothing that suggests the Republicans are ready to fix the economy for middle class families, provide quality affordable health care for all Americans, guarantee equal pay for equal work for women, restore our nation’s leadership in a complex world or tackle the myriad of challenges our country faces.

So, to slightly amend my comments from Denver: NO WAY, NO HOW, NO McCAIN-PALIN.

Update:The Obama campaign has now put out a statement of its own. Attributed to spokesman Bill Burton, it reads:

Tonight, John McCain said that his party was elected to change Washington, but that they let Washington change them. He’s right. He admonished the ‘old, do-nothing crowd’ in Washington, but ignored the fact that he’s been part of that crowd for twenty-six years, opposing solutions on health care, energy, and education. He talked about bipartisanship, but didn’t mention that he’s been a Bush partisan 90% of the time, that he’s run a Karl Rove campaign, and that he wants to continue this President’s disastrous economic and foreign policies for another four years. With John McCain, it’s more of the same.

That’s not the change Americans need. Barack Obama has taken on the special interests and the lobbyists in Illinois and in Washington, and he’s won. As President, he’ll cut taxes for 95% of all working families, provide affordable health care to every American, end the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas, and eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in ten years.

Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back

AP - That litany of health issues Novak Djokovic dealt with earlier in the week — hip, ankle, stomach and more — seemed a tad humorous to Andy Roddick.

Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back

AFP - Vice President Dick Cheney looks to heal wounds over Russia in Ukraine’s ruling coalition on Friday as he wraps up a regional tour aimed at bolstering key US allies following the conflict in Georgia.

Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back

AFP - US Vice President Dick Cheney was set Friday to meet with Ukraine’s squabbling leaders as he continues his tour to bolster US allies in the region following the conflict between Georgia and Russia.

Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back

Police surrounded some 200 protesters Thursday night after a lengthy series of marches and sit-ins timed to coincide with Sen. John McCain’s acceptance of the Republican Party’s nomination for president.

Caught up in the clash were several reporters assigned to cover the event, including …

Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back