(cross posted at kickin it with cg)

Since we are now full on in the Summer Olympic games in Bejing, now is the perfect time to discuss a hot issue here in Canada.  Namely Women's Ski Jumping in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

In November 2006, the International Olympic Committee rejected the inclusion of women's ski jumping for the Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010. IOC President Jacques Rogge stated that only 80 women were competing in the sport and including it in the 2010 Games would dilute the value of medals won in other events.

Nearly all Olympic sports have both a men's and women's event, but the International Olympic Committee always has exempted ski jumping to let it be a male-only competition.  The IOC says its decision not to include women's ski jumping at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games is based on technical merit and isn't discriminatory.

However a coalition of international women ski jumpers filed a lawsuit against the Vancouver Organizing Committee in May challenging this decision. They argue that the women have been discriminated against because the Games allow only men's ski jumping. "The failure to include women's ski jumping events in the Games violates every woman's right to equal benefit under the law," according to the lawsuit filed in British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver.

In order to be considered for inclusion in the Olympic Games, a sport must have held at least two world championships. The first women's ski jumping world championships will be held this year in Liberec, Czech Republic.  

But some say the IOC is using the technical merit justification as an excuse.  Supporters of women's ski jumpers argue there are 135 women ski jumpers in 16 countries. This compares to other sports already in the Games like snowboard cross, which has 34 women from 10 countries, skier cross, which has 30 women from 11 nations, and bobsled, which has 26 women from 13 nations.  They also argue that women's marathon was added to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles after a single world championship in 1983.  

Of note, is that the Canadian Government is fully supportive of the lawsuit and "would try to convince the IOC to include women's ski jumping at the Vancouver Games."  David Emerson, Canada's federal minister responsible for the 2010 Games, said it's "extremely disappointing" women are not being allowed to ski jump at the Olympics.

"Ski jumping is an important sport and we're investing a lot in jumping and training facilities in Canada and to not have women able to participate on the same basis as men, to me, I just don't think it's right."

Deedee Corradini, who was the mayor of Salt Lake City when that city won the right to host the 2002 Winter Games, noted $580 million of Canadian taxpayers money has helped the Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee (VANOC) build Olympic facilities.

"My understanding is it's against federal and provincial law in Canada to spend government money on facilities that discriminate," Corradini told a news conference Saturday at the Canadian ski jumping championships.

"To have a men's only sign on these ski jumps seems to be discriminatory and contrary to Canada's own human rights act."

Additionally a group of Canadian women ski jumpers have filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Right Commission, arguing the Olympic movement is discriminating against them.

While Corradini and members of the Canadian ski team are vocal in their dissent, the United States Ski and Snowboard Association is taking a more diplomatic tact.

The association is the governing body for ski sports in the U.S., including jumping. Tom Kelly, vice-president of communication, refused to say if he thought women were being discriminated against.

"We have great respect for the process the IOC has for bringing the sport into the Olympics.  We were disappointed when the IOC made it's decision (on 2010.)  We are very optimistic for 2014. The first world championships will be held next year and that is a critical event in the growth of the sport. When we get to the world championships, and the world sees what these women can do, that is a great message to send to the IOC."

As 16 year-old ski jumper Zora Lynch says "It's not about the competition between the sports. It's about gender equality and that kind of stuff."

While Jerome asked yesterday why the Obama campaign hasn't had a coordinated blog campaign, let me offer one that all left-of-center bloggers can agree on ... a simple message that would be easy to stick to without any help from 233 N. Michigan.

You simply call McCain a warmonger without calling him a warmonger.

Everyday McCain gives this narrative more validity.  Today he (probably carelessly) agreed that a draft might be necessary to finish the job on Bin Laden.

He's basically created a second American state named Georgia.

He's laughed about bombing Iran ... he's said we could be in Iraq for a millennia, for all he cared.

You see, McCain can't stop himself.  This has been his m.o. since he arrived in Washington.  He makes himself available for any TV camera that asks during any military crisis, voices support for the President and then, sadly, reluctantly (in the case of GOP Presidents) or aggressively (in the case of Dem Presidents) says we're not doing enough.

Because no one ever adds it all up, McCain just sounds tough and informed.  But if you go back ... for example, to the spring of 1999 ... you'll find moments where McCain is on record supporting three large scale U.S. military operations simultaneously.  Then he wanted a land war in Kosovo (because President Clinton's air war clearly wasn't going to be enough), he wanted regime change in Iraq and he wanted an armed attack on Iran to avenge Khobar Towers (yes, three years after the fact, with no conclusive proof that they were behind it.)

McCain shoots off his mouth and orders our troops around, rhetorically, at will.  Except if he's President, it's not rhetorical anymore.  And the idea that we'd need a draft to cover all of McCain's wars isn't theoretical anymore either.

If Democrats can't exploit this issue, we deserve to lose.  McCain is hoping to be the new James K. Polk, in a far more dangerous world.  Tell the truth about McCain and war and he'll think it's hell.

Lately I have been in the doldrums. I am trying to recover from a serious injury and know it is `no politics worth mentioning August`, but I gotta say my almost total lack of interest in the race right now is serious. I haven't felt this low about politics in quite some time.

I am bummed because my favorite blog has become almost unreadable and because my candidate isn't mopping the floor with McCain. Even though Obama was not my first choice, I desperately want him to win this November. More on the former after the fold.

As to the latter, I am stunned that Obama is not doing better in the race at this time. I really have no idea how Clinton would be doing at this point, and could easily imagine that she would be struggling if she were the candidate. I actually think that Obama will come back from this to win the GE no matter who he picks as his VP. My question is by how much does he win? I saw a poll on MSNBC today that Chris Matthews called a golden little nugget. The poll said that half of the people who are currently undecided are/were for Hillary Clinton. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/ As Chuck Todd said on Hardball, the rest of the people who either candidate can get are people who love the Clinton. He went on to say that fully 10% of the electorate would vote for Clinton, but will not vote for Obama. For a truly decisive win this November, Obama needs Clinton.

Joe Biden carried faithfully out the duty of a #2 earlier today, when he dropped some fairly large logs in front of some reporters and, satisfied with what he had done, nodded and remarked, "I had a successful dump."

Not surprisingly, the media ate it all up with a spoon. News of his dump traveled far and wide. Senator Biden then asked if anyone would help him with his next dump, saying, "by the way I got a second load coming and if anyone wants to help me unload let me know" but the confused reporters, who were sick of eating Biden's BS and waiting to hear when  #2 would drop, declined to help Mr. Biden with his next dump.

Well it's happened:  For the the first time in 100 days, McCain is a slight favorite to win the election.

Obama is only favored in states with 264 EVs; he is now a decided underdog in Ohio and Virginia.

Poblano is also making a strong case for Sebelius as Obama's running mate.  Now I've cooled on Hillary after Bill's ovetures to McCain, and I don't like Kaine, Bayh or Biden.  While Sebelius won't please the die-hard PUMAs, she could be effective in appealing to women.  But does she really add anything?  I'm hoping against hope it's Gov. Schweitzer or Gen. Clark.  Any thoughts?

During the primary season AP Reporter Nedra Picler was a favorite of many Hillary haters. She made up many stories to just to humiliate Hillary.

Here is her latest headline:

Biden is Democratic favorite for Obama's No. 2

Here is the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080820/ap_o n_el_pr/veepstakes

After reading the story tell me how she could come to the inference that Biden is Democratic favorite for Obama's No. 2

Cross posted to Clintonistas for Obama

Cross posted to Daily Kos

Today, the Democratic Party lost a true lionness. But more importantly, the world lost a champion for those not spoken for, for voters rights, for human rights, and a wonderful woman who can never be replaced.

today on a conference call the obama team of susan rice and richard clarke made many great points.

You can listen here:

http://www.taylormarsh.com/audio.php?aud io=http://www.taylormarsh.com/podcast/mp 3/stream.2008-08-20.123508.mp3

wonderful easy to understand phrases like "trigger happy" "reckless" "shoot first ask questions later"

hopefully Obama knows he must now repeat , repeat, repeat this memo.

Everyone knows "McNasty" was Mccain's nickname and his volcanic temper.

I'm praying we see an add with components of Dr. Strangelove and The Daisy Ad
with McCain in it....

Please Obama make it...