Palin Counsels Akin, Hurricane Threatens Convention, and More

Posted on Aug 22, 2012

She Should Know: Sarah Palin is adding her voice to the chorus of Republicans who would prefer that Todd Akin quit the Missouri Senate race. The GOP nominee has been in hot water ever since his controversial comment Sunday that women rarely get pregnant as a result of rape. During an interview on Fox News on Tuesday night, Palin said Akin would most likely get defeated and suggested she would throw her support behind a third-party candidate in the contest. “I understand what he’s trying to say here, in standing on principle, that he doesn’t want to be perceived as a quitter, but you got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them.” It’s good advice coming from a half-term Alaska governor whom some regard as an expert on quitting.  (Read more)

Perfect Votes: If you think Todd Akin’s record on abortion is bad, wait until you hear about Paul Ryan’s, which is the more troubling of the two. In his congressional career, Ryan has co-sponsored 38 pieces of anti-abortion legislation, some of which have gone so far as to ban abortions even in instances of rape. In fact, since Ryan was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, he hasn’t voted against a single bill that the National Right to Life Committee has supported. In return, the anti-abortion group has given the Wisconsin congressman a perfect score of 100 percent. Because that’s how Washington works. (Read more)

All Eyes on Isaac: A potential threat to the Republican National Convention is brewing, and no, it’s not the Democrats—it’s Hurricane Isaac, which is currently a tropical storm in the Atlantic that is expected to become a hurricane. Based on their models, some weather forecasters are predicting its path will run through Florida early next week, coinciding perfectly with the start of the GOP presidential nominating convention in Tampa. What is it with Republican conventions and hurricanes? (See: 2008). (Read more)

On Thin Ice: The theme of the Republicans’ convention Tuesday night will be “We Built This!” However, unless they are cool with that “we” including government (and it’s a pretty sure bet they’re not), then that statement is entirely incorrect about the arena in which the event is being held. The fact is, the Ice Palace, which the NHL team the Tampa Bay Lightning call home, was built with public funds—$86 million worth (roughly 62 percent of the cost of the project) to be exact. It is doubtful though that you will hear any Republican speeches containing that little nugget. (Read more)

Video of the Day: Paul Ryan likes to tell the same joke over and over and over again. And unfortunately for him, BuzzFeed put it all together in a (somewhat painful) minute-long stream. Take a look.

—Posted by Tracy Bloom.

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