Rudy Attacks, Right Out of the Republican Convention Playbook
MINNEAPOLIS—In what may be a preview of his keynote speech tonight to the Republican National Convention, Rudy Giuliani spoke to the New York Republican delegation at a downtown Marriott this afternoon and attacked Barack Obama on matters of national security and experience. “At the top of the ticket they have someone who is the least experienced candidate for president in 100 years,” said Giuliani. Speaking about the war in Iraq and the surge, he said, “I can’t figure out for the life of me

Giuliani: McCain's on Top, Palin's on Bottom, 9/11
Like other Republicans these days, former mayor Rudy Giuliani defended John McCain's selection of running mate Sarah Palin. He told CNN's Wolf Blitzer, "We have the ticket in the right order. We have got the most experienced candidate on the top... We've got the younger candidate of the next generation on the bottom of the ticket... [Democrats have] got it kind of reversed. They got the guy with all the experience at the bottom of the ticket.'' AND he gave the ultimate approval this morning: When asked b

Lunch with Giuliani, Pataki
“[We] will hold a luncheon at the Marriott City Center at 30 South 7th Street in Minneapolis, MN tomorrow, Wednesday September 3 beginning at 2:00 pm. "The keynote speaker will be Rudy Giuliani. Additional speakers will include Governor George Pataki, Brigadier General Jon Reynolds, Dr. John Lehman, Governor Jane Swift and Congressman Luis Fortuno. "Members of the media are invited to attend." Which should relieve Representative Peter King somewhat of the responsibility of providing quo

Mac 'n' Sarah
Where's the Teeth? By Jason Horowitz ST. PAUL—“Nice place out here,” said Rudy Giuliani. The former mayor and his wife, Judith, had just arrived at a private party—re-purposed as a benefit for Hurricane Gustav relief—thrown in his honor on the terrace of an upscale restaurant in downtown Minnesota a few hours after the opening of the Republican National Convention. >>READ MORE The Alaskans on Palin, Themselves By Andrew Rice BLOOMINGTON, Minn.—Bill Noll, an Alaskan delegate to th

Catsimatidis' Money Is Here, At Least
NYS Republican Chairman Joe Mondello just began speaking at a luncheon here at the Marriott Hotel that will feature speeches from Rudy Giuliani and Goerge Pataki. From the podium, Mondello announced that the lunch is being sponsored by John Catsimatidis, who Mondello said is "a great potential candidate for the City of New York." Catsimatidis already used his airplane to fly Giuliani and others to the convention. Mondello said that Catsimatidis was not planning to attend the convention but did

Rudy Giuliani To Defend Sarah Palin From Sexist Elites
John McCain’s best friend Ron Fournier, the Washington editor of the Associated Press, has written a nice news analysis about, what else, Sexism. He notes that McCain strategist Steve Schmidt’s dismissal of the “faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee for the vice president of the United States Famous” is only the beginning of a terrible two-month strategy to employ the SEX CARD, because what else is there to play? More hilariously, Fournier quotes

Giuliani Confirms He's Still Speaking
Last night, Rudy Giuliani confirmed that he would still be delivering the Convention's keynote address, originally scheduled for today "I’ll be speaking but I’m not sure exactly when," Giuliani told me. As we reported earlier, a source close to Giuliani said he'd probably be speaking on Wednesday.

MSNBC Forgets To Cut to Commercial, Hanging Chuck Todd & Co. Out to Dry on Palin
If you're wearing a microphone, don't say anything you don't want the world to hear! MSNBC's Chuck Todd, political consultant Mike Murphy and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan all put their foots in their mouths today when, after thinking they had gone to commercial, the trio ripped on McCain's "cynical" Sarah Palin veep pick. The conversation gets really good when Todd wonders, "Do you think the Palin pick is insulting to Democrats? Is the really the most q

Sen. Barack Obama to be a guest on Thursday's "O'Reilly Factor"
Obama and O'Reilly -- how does that sound? Yes, I realize Bill would like first billing, but Barack is a presidential candidate, after all. You'll see the two together on Thursday's "O'Reilly Factor." Sen. Barack Obama will make his first appearance on cable news' most-watched program at 8 that evening on Fox News Channel. The interview will be conducted earlier Thursday in York, Pa. The first part airs Thursday, with more to come on later shows. Fox News says O'Reilly will ask about domestic issu

What Nonsense????
Presidential hopeful John McCain's campaign is strongly calling for an end to all the questions and news surrounding the background of VP nominee Sarah Palin. Campaign senior adviser, Steve Schmidt, wrote in a statement “This nonsense is over." Adding, “This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee for vice president of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys’ network that has come to dominate the news establishment of th

Bristol and Levi, together, meet McCain plane
We thought we spied Bristol Palin's baby daddy -- or fiancé, since parents say the two plan to wed -- live on MSNBC, standing in line shaking hands with John McCain as he stepped off his plane at the airport in Minneapolis a short time ago. And it turns out we did. Here's Levi Johnston and Bristol, chatting with the Republican presidential candidate. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her entire family met McCain upon his arrival at the airport. By Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images Posted at 01:33

McCain: No More Question About Palin!
The John McCain campaign has become the Sarah Palin campaign. McCain's camp is sick and tired of answering questions about Palin's personal life because he believes it's a “faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee” for vice president. “This nonsense is over,” declared senior campaign adviser Steve Schmidt in a written statement. “The McCain campaign Will have no further comment about our long and thorough process,” Schmidt said How can we NOT talk

Levi Johnston PICTURES!
PICTURES! Here are Levi Johnston Bristol Palin photos together from today! Boyfriend Levi Johnston arrived with Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin, and Palin McCain family members moments ago at the airport. The arrival is in advance of the RNC Convention speech by Sarah Palin. Moments ago, LALATE broke to you video of Levi Johnston’s arrival. For that video, click here. Levi was newly groomed, dressing preppy, much different than his rugged hockey player look of pictures spreading online last weekend. Le

The New McCain Ad
Here's the new McCain campaign attack ad. Entitled "Let's Try To Distract People From The Fact That My Risky, Under-researched Choice Of A Running Mate Has Been A Complete Disaster, God Knows Which One Of Her Kids Is Gonna Catch Pregnant Next" (or, if you want to be technical about it, "Alaska Maverick"), it's actually quite effective: Until I saw it, I had no idea that Barack Obama was the candidate of big oil while Sarah Palin stood up to the industry. And, the more I think about it, Sarah Palin's story i

Sarah Palin Cover Mania!
From someone we’ve never heard of to this… Newsday: Her Big Night! How People Magazine appealed to both Democrats and Republicans National Enquirer features Sarah Palin’s dark secrets OK! Magazine features Palin & Obama covers! Us Weeky’s Scandalous Cover NY Post/NY Daily News: John McCain is Using Palin NY Daily News: Odd Couple Cover NY Post WOW! Cover! Newsday: Why Palin? Newsweek: McCain and Palin

Inside Fox's St. Paul GOP 'Experience'
A 150x132 foot tent, which boasts a 27x20 foot TV, may be St. Paul, Minnesota's newest tourist attraction, with delegates to the Republican National Convention lining up for tours. Inside, it's all business for Fox News Channel. The tent is situated right where delegates emerge from their buses and walk to the Excel Energy Center, home of the GOP convention. The temporary structure serves as both offices and studio facilities for most of Fox News Channel’s programming during the day. It also is the hub f

Bush Pioneer and Rudy-Backer Says Swank Parties are On Hold
Former Bush pioneer and Republican fund-raiser Barron Thomas says that the usually luxurious parties at the Republican National Convention “are severely on hold” as attention seems to be turning towards fund-raising for potential victims of Hurricane Gustav. “I think the idea is to send a lot of that money down to New Orleans,” said Thomas, who is set to arrive later in the week. On the positive side, Thomas, an Arizona fund-raiser who has been critical of John McCain in the past and was a

Video: The Wackness Movie Trailer
At this year's Sundance Film Festival, The Wackness won both the Audience Award and the Empire's Damon Wise Really Quite Liked It Award. So you know it must be good. IGN has a red band trailer up for the movie, which you can watch here. Fear ye not, prudish ones, there's no nudies or blood, just Sir Ben Kingsley enjoying a large bong. Written and directed by Jonathan Levine, The Wackness tells the story of Luke Shapiro (played by Josh Peck of children's sitcom Drake and Josh, but don't let that put you o

Giuliani Says Palin is More Qualified Than Obama
In non-pregnancy Sarah Palin news, it must be noted that Rudy Giuliani supported Republican vice-presidential candidate on CBS's Face the Nation (video). He said Palin is way more qualified than presidential candidate Barack Obama, "You know why? She had to make decisions," as a two-term mayor of a town of 5,470 and the governor of Alaska for the past 20 months. "I mean, [Obama]'s never run a city, he's never run a state, he's never run a business, he's never administered a payroll, he's never led people

Same Sharpton, Different Audience
MINNEAPOLIS--So Al Sharpton was talking to room full of Republicans at a panel on education, leading them in what he called a “non-partisan” prayer. At one point, he told them about a rambunctious Democrat who, he said, asked if he was really serious about going to the Republican National Convention. Then, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrinch sitting on stage nearby, Sharpton told the crowd that the rambunctious Democrat in that story was, in fact, him. It went over well. “It was hilarious. It br

What McCain Stands to Lose From Gustav
Twice in the television era have the pre-scripted proceedings of a national political convention been badly disrupted – and both times it proved catastrophic for the party that put on the show.   In 1968, chaos in the streets and on the floor of the Democrats’ Chicago convention – punctuated by the unforgettable image of Richard Daley shouting epithets at Abraham Ribicoff after the Connecticut senator decried the “Gestapo tactics” of the mayor’s police force – led many Americans to conclu