If you do not want to talk about the issues I raise in my posts below, here is an Open Thread.

I am not sure what the House is going to do on the bailout and to me that is the most interesting story of the day, but I have nothing new to tell you.

I am out until late this afternoon. I am not sure of J's and TChris' schedule.

Update (TL): I'm off to the dentist in Boulder to fix a tooth I chipped a corner off of yesterday. (At least it's in the back.) If I just need a filling, I'll be back in a few hours. If it's a crown, I'll be back before the debate.

Busy day. Hope J and TChris can come along soon. In any event, your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

As readers know, I sign most of my posts "speaking for me only." The reason I do that is because it permits me to say some stupid sh*t and sometimes some smart sh*t that other folks may not want to say without it reflecting on two of the nicest, fairest, sharpest people I know, Jeralyn and TChris.

Our contentious blogging colleague John Cole has had some fun at my expense about that phrase. That's fair and funny. But I wish John would credit me when I write one he likes. For instance, Country first my ass about John McCain. What say you John?

This is an Open Thread. And yes, I am speaking for me only.

I have filled the page with my thoughts. I will be out for the rest of the day. J and Chris are sure to come along. But for now, it is your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

Jerri! Happy Birthday to one of the toughest, sharpest and sweetest bloggers in the sphere! I miss you, being 2500 miles away in NYC. It was great to spend the DNC with you at your home where you showed me the ropes in that crazy world of blogging mania. You're an inspiration to so many of us women (and men). Thank you! I'll toast to you in New York tonight and I hope you have a fantastic fun evening you deserve. I love you and will call asap.

XXXXAnita

Sweet Jerri! Happy Birthday to one of the sharpest, toughest, sweetest bloggers on the sphere! I miss you -- being 2500 miles away in NYC. It was great to stay with you while you showed me the ropes at the Democratic Convention. You're an inspiration to so many of us women (and men too) that I can't thank you enough. But aside from that, I hope you have a great birthday and have a cocktail or two and enjoy the night. I'll toast to you here in New York. I love you and will call asap.

XXXXX Anita

Flowers from the TL Kid. (Larger version here.)

Your turn, all topics welcome.

Via John at Square State, I've found out there's a site called Sharpy News that has no original material and is misappropriating the blogposts of hundreds of blogs, reposting them without proper attribution or authorization, allowing people to comment on our blog posts at its site, and inserting hotlinks within our posts that redirect the reader to its site.

Example of some TalkLeft posts reproduced at Sharpy News (with their tags inserted):

• Can Evangelical Voters Win Colorado For Mccain?
  (TalkLeft version here.)
• Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s Day In Gitmo Court (TalkLeft version here.)

Go check them out and see if your posts are there. John says they are also misappropriating material from OpenLeft.com, Firedoglake and fivethirtyeight.com. [More...]

I've been blogging so much I completely forgot that my birthday is Sunday. It's not the big one, but close enough to make me less than cheerful.

We're all been working really hard here. Not just at keeping you up to date with the latest on the election, but in making sure the site stays civil and weeding out the drive-bys and blog-cloggers who come here not to have a reasonable debate but to slam and insult our readers or try to hijack or dominate the discussion.

If you appreciate our coverage, or want to buy me a birthday drink, here are the links. If you're short on funds, don't give it another thought, we'll get by:

Here's the paypal link, it's very easy. If you don't like paypal (which takes credit cards if you don't have a paypal account) feel free to pull a few dollars out of your pocket and send it snail mail. The address is below the fold.

More...:

Go Gators!! Gators Stink!! I hate them, at least until next Saturday. What a terrible loss.

This is an Open Thread.

I was trying to put my finger on what bothered me so much about John McCain's smugness last night and I figured out it had to do with him assuming, by virtue of his lifetime of being a politiican, he's entitled to be President. As if he's paid more dues and has seniority in things besides age.

Then, thinking about my birthday Sunday, I remembered that my good pal and occasional TalkLeft contributor Anita Thompson;'s birthday is today. After our great week at the DNC, Anita left for Manhattan to finish up her senior year at Columbia. So I checked in at her Owl Farm blog to see what's she's up to. She has a great section quoted from her husband's Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, '72. It fits McCain to a T. I'm reprinting it below.

I will say this for the last time - McCain loving clueless PUMAs are NOT welcome in my threads. EVER. McCain supporting Republicans are welcome. J and Chris have more patience than I do so I suggest you try their threads instead.

Tonight I will be liveblogging the debate with Jeralyn and before that, I will write a preview of what I expect to come. I am also scheduled to discuss the debate by phone on C-Span either before or after the debate, not sure yet. Obviously, my point of view will be that of a Democrat supporting the Democratic candidate for President. But I will be honest in my appraisal of their performances, as I always have been in these things.

This is Open Thread.