Facts and Fiction

Oprah Winfrey's dog, Sophie, died last month. The cocker spaniel died of kidney failure at the age of 13. Oprah is dedicating her Friday show to the dog. Lisa Ling will be doing an investigative story on puppy mills. From Brietbart.com, "Winfrey says the show is for anybody anywhere who loves a dog, has ever loved a dog, or just cares about their basic right to humane treatment."

OK. We know of Oprah's tendency to go off the deep end when she suddenly discovers issues. Remember her revelations about thyroid problems women can develop during middle age, in particular? It happened to her so she was all on top of that subject. I'd already been there, though I am a couple of years younger than her, so it was a bit amusing to me.

And, now, we will hear of Oprah's big life changing decision to never again adopt pets from breeders or puppy mills. She's decided that adopting from an animal shelter is the way to go. Who doesn't know this? Seriously. "I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it. I am a changed woman after seeing this show," she says."

Back to politics. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Clinton super delegate supporter, was on the early morning Fox News channel show, Fox and Friends, and actually complimented the network. I know. How bizarre. "I think during this entire primary coverage, stating in Iowa and up to the present, Fox has done the fairest job, and remained the most objective of all the cable networks," Rendell said.", from the ABC News blog. "But you actually have done a very balanced job of reporting the news, and some of the other stations are just caught up with Senator Obama, who is a great guy, but Senator Obama can do no wrong, and Senator Clinton can do no right."

The Clinton campaign has been reaching out to typically more conservative leaning media as of late. Hillary has even made a few appearances on Fox News talk shows, especially Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. Obama continues on with the Democrat snub of Fox News. So, I guess Hillary is the more unifying force, reaching out to everyone.

And, finally, as John McCain continues on with his biography tour of the country, highlighting spots of importance in his life story, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said "John McCain can try to reintroduce himself to the country, but he can't change the fact that he cast aside his principles to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bush the last seven years. While we honor McCain's military service, the fact is Americans want a real leader who offers real solution, not a blatant opportunist who doesn't understand the economy and is promising to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years." That, too from the ABC News blog.

Dean referred to McCain as an "opportunist". Ok.

Look back at this: "The real issue is this, " Dean said in March 2004, when endorsing formal rival Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, "Who would you rather have in charge of the defense of the United States of America, a group of people who never served a day overseas in their life, or a guy who served his country honorably and has three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star on the battlefields of Vietnam?" That from Redstate.com with a quote from Jake Tupper, "McCain, by the way, has been awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Dean, political loser outside of his adopted state of Vermont, having been raised as an affluent kid on Manhattan's upper east side, sure has an odd way of honoring McCain's military service.

And, even some traditionally liberal journalistic venues are noting the Obama misuse of the McCain quote of a presence in Iraq for maybe 100 years. The Columbia Journalism Review wrote "the press should call him out on it" and accused Obama of downright lying about the claim. The whole quote is never used by him or his surrogates so a campaign claiming to be above all that petty normal stuff, isn't.

Today we hear quotes of Obama claiming he doesn't receive money from oil companies, in light of the silly hearings on Capitol Hill yesterday by silly politicians without a clue about the industry. Well, I hope he doesn't. It would be against election law. According to FactCheck.com, though, he does receive money bundled by oil company employees, like the other candidates do, so again, a little honest context would be refreshing from the campaign claiming to be different. Two of his top fundraisers are oil company executives. Does he think voters assume only Republicans work for the evil Big Oil?

Did you see John McCain on Letterman last night during the monologue? Good stuff.