RIP Paul Newman

Paul Newman, Eugene McCarthy delegate, at the 1968 Democratic Convention

Paul Newman died on Friday night. He was a great actor and philanthropist who lived a full and rich life. He was a capital L Liberal who put his money where his mouth was, endorsing Democratic candidates (from Eugene McCarthy to Ned Lamont) and raising hundreds of millions for charity with his Newman's Own food brand and Hole in the Wall camps for kids with serious illnesses.

You had to love a guy who said "the highest single honor I ever received" was being #19 on Nixon's Enemies List. You had to love a guy who was #19 on Nixon's Enemies List. Farewell to a great man.


Vanity Fair: The Newman Chronicles

NYTimes: Paul Newman, a Magnetic Titan of Hollywood, Is Dead at 83

Vanity Fair: Hard Act to Follow (photo gallery)

Telegraph (uk): Paul Newman, a life in pictures (photo gallery)

NYTimes: Paul Newman in Pictures

Barney Smith! Barney Smith!

Last night at the convention, before Obama spoke, several Obama supporters gave very short -- 2 minutes max -- speeches about why they support Obama. Barney Smith was the best.



"We need a President who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney," he says, and the crowd chants his name. Awesome.

Obama's Acceptance Speech

Wow.

Brian Schweitzer Rocks the House

Before Bill Clinton spoke last night, the speech by the governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, was the best speech of the convention so far. (If you're not watching the convention on C-Span, you probably didn't see it, because the networks and the cable folks think people are tuning in to watch them pontificate. C-Span is pure convention. Watch it.)

A one line excerpt of Schweitzer below; here's the transcript, and you can watch the full video here.

Rachel Maddow Making Her Presence Felt

Last night, discussing McCain's use of noun, verb, POW to deflect all criticism, Rachel makes the liberal case.

I can haz liberulz on TeeVEE?????????



No more posting today, traveling.