I agree with Joe Biden. Biden said: "It's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut." Tax cuts in a time of war, or a time of massive financial crisis, are unpatriotic. But not just tax cuts for the rich.

This should flow logically from rightwing positions as well as from "kitchen table" common sense that you can't spend more than you make. As I wrote in 2005:

"In times of war when the military needs every cent for armor, bullets and bandages, it is verging on treasonous to avoid paying taxes even if the methods used are ostensibly legal. It certainly isn't supporting the troops or the war on terror."

That was the point about the "Good War', WW2. Everyone shared the fiscal burden. Either a war is worth that commitment or it isn't, and rightwingers have consistently argued that the War on Some Terror is a generational war just as vital as WW2. Bush in 2005 said it:

World War II generation endured great suffering and sacrifice because they understood that defeating tyranny in Europe and Asia was essential to the security and freedom of America.

Like previous wars we have waged to protect our freedom, the war on terror requires great sacrifice from Americans.

So, here's the sacrifice. Put your money where your mouths are and make it.

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Joe Biden stepped up and took an aggressive position against McCain on the newest market meltdown. In McCain's world, everything is fundamentally fine.

"John McCain has confessed, and I quote - I want to make sure I get it right - he said, it's easy for me to be in Washington and frankly be somewhat divorced from the day-to-day challenges people have. Well, he's right. He's right. If all you do is walk the halls of power, all you'll hear is the wants of the powerful. Ladies and gentleman, I believe that's why John McCain could say with a straight face as recently as this morning, and this is a quote, the fundamentals of the economy are strong. That's what John said. He says that we've made great progress economically, in the Bush years. Ladies and gentlemen, I could walk from here to Lansing, and I wouldn't run into a single person who thought our economy was doing well, unless I ran into John McCain."

All hail Conservatism and their destructive policies. Wall Street bears witness to them as Lehman and Merrill rock The Street.

The venerable Lehman Brothers investment bank said early Monday that it will file for bankruptcy, while Bank of America unveiled plans to buy Merrill Lynch -- two pieces of news that profoundly alter the American financial landscape...

And how could I forget the mess that is AIG...

Over the past two weeks, the lies emanating from the McCain/Palin campaign have become so brazen that even the most cynical campaign reporters are clearly taken aback. While lies are commonplace in politics, you rarely see candidates continue to repeat factual claims that have been widely debunked in the media, especially claims about biographical facts (lying about your opponent's policy positions is another matter).

The fact that McCain and Palin continue to tell these tall tales about Palin's record in Alaska is aggravating--there's no question--but it also presents the Obama campaign with a golden opportunity. The key to exploiting that opportunity, however, is not to get angry or to join in the lying game. Neither of those tactics ever work well for Democrats. The key to fighting back is to brand McCain and Palin as liars through the use of mockery. I realize that everyone and their brother is playing the role of armchair political consultant at the moment, but please indulge me for thirty seconds.

Here's how I imagine Obama responding:

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While there's all this distraction regarding Sarah Palin, it might be worthwhile to lower our pail down the memory hole and remember just how often Joe Biden has stood up to this president. From the New York Times Magazine, October 17, 2004:

Forty democratic senators were gathered for a lunch in March [2004] just off the Senate floor. I was there as a guest speaker. Joe Biden was telling a story, a story about the president. ''I was in the Oval Office a few months after we swept into Baghdad,'' he began, ''and I was telling the president of my many concerns'' -- concerns about growing problems winning the peace, the explosive mix of Shiite and Sunni, the disbanding of the Iraqi Army and problems securing the oil fields. Bush, Biden recalled, just looked at him, unflappably sure that the United States was on the right course and that all was well. '''Mr. President,' I finally said, 'How can you be so sure when you know you don't know the facts?'''

Biden said that Bush stood up and put his hand on the senator's shoulder. ''My instincts,'' he said. ''My instincts.''

Biden paused and shook his head, recalling it all as the room grew quiet. ''I said, 'Mr. President, your instincts aren't good enough!'''

Biden gave a barnburner of a speech today in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, where he responded to some of the attacks lobbed at the Republican Convention. It just might have been more effective than his actual convention speech.

Download | play Download | play (h/t David)

"It's not merely a lost job, it's a lost sense of identity. I don't think my Republican friends -- and this is not your father's Republican party, by the way. So folks, when I listen to the parts of the Republican convention I can hear...it's not what I heard, it's what I didn't hear. The silence of the Republican party was deafening. It was deafening on jobs, on health care, on the environment, on all the things that matter to the people in the neighborhood's I grew up in. Deafening! Their America is not the America I live in. They see something different than I see.

"Rick Davis, John's campaign manager, said 'this election is not about issues.' Everything I saw at the convention demonstrated that.

"What do you talk about about when you have nothing to say? What do you talk about when you can't explain the last eight years of failure?"

This is the most effective I have ever heard Biden speak. All that he and Obama have to do from now until November 4 is remind people that the only thing John Bush's Republican Party has to offer is four more years of the same old irresponsible economic policies. If you like today's economy, vote McCain. If not, vote Obama. It's that simple. Hell, not even McCain's own surrogates can distinguish him from Bush.

Morrissey - Every Day Is Like Sunday

It's Sunday and the convention high of soaring rhetoric by Democrats makes way for the Republican speak, as we gird up for their convention beginning tomorrow. As I look upon the list of scheduled guests there's one name that catches my eye, Cindy McCain, who will be appear on two of the morning shows. What are the chances even one of them will ask her about her husband's reputed hot temper or his increasing forgetfulness or his off-the-wall judgment that led him to nominate a newcomer in national politics as his running mate? I'll bet my breakfast that she will be asked how many homes she owns. McCain supporters Lindsey Graham, Joe Lieberman, Rudy Giuliani, Tim Pawlenty, Charlie Crist and Carly Fiorina will all be on as well, presumably to spin how Palin was a more "Maverick-y" choice than well, them, for VP

ABC's "This Week" - Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain; Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and John Kerry, D-Mass.

CBS' "Face the Nation" - Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y.; Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.; Carly Fiorina, adviser to the McCain campaign.

NBC's "Meet the Press" - Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn., and Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian.

CNN's "Late Edition" - Govs. Charlie Crist, R-Fla., Mark Sanford, R-S.C., and Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn.; former Sens. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., and Tom Daschle, D-S.D.; Reps. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Eric Cantor, R-Va.; Nancy Pfotenhauer, adviser to McCain; Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.; R. David Paulison, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"Fox News Sunday" - John McCain, Cindy McCain; Mike Miller, director of operations for the Republican National Convention.

"Chris Matthews Show" - Panel: Norah O'Donnell, Clarence Page, Elisabeth Bumiller, Howard Fineman. Topic Questions: As the fall campaign begins, who has the edge: Obama-Biden or McCain-Palin? Will Palin help McCain turn out conservative voters? Meter Questions: Is Gov. Sarah Palin a smart pick for John McCain? YES: 6 NO: 6 Would McCain meet stiff opposition from Democrats in Congress? YES: 11 No: 1

On 60 Minutes tonight, Steve Kroft will interview Democratic running mates Barack Obama and Joe Biden in their first joint appearance.

So, what's catching your eye this morning?

(h/t Heather)

Ruh roh...I think McCain's big gamble may have thrown snake eyes. Jack Cafferty asked the question if John McCain undercuts his own message by choosing a younger politician with no foreign policy experience as his Vice President. Before the show even went on the air, Cafferty had 6,000 emails. By the next segment, they had received some 11,000 emails today.

And the response should not make McCain feel good.

Rebecca in California: "As a lifelong Republican soccer mom living in an affluent community, I was impressed with Senator Obama's acceptance speech last evening. Having my morning latte with a few of my Republican friends, I almost spit my coffee when I heard the news. Is McCain really putting the best interests of our nation first? To me, he is pandering to women, trying to obtain their vote. It seems he wants another 'trophy' to parade around with. What is wrong with this man?"

Transcripts below the fold

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After Joe Biden's ferocious speech about John McCain's poor judgment on national security issues, presumptive nominee Barack Obama dropped by to thank his wife, Hillary, and Bill for all their support and rousing speeches, and promised to make tomorrow night a memorable one.

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"I think the convention has gone pretty well so far. What do you think? I think Michelle Obama kicked it off pretty well, don't you think? If I'm not mistaken, Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night. And just in case you were wondering, I think President Bill Clinton reminded us of what it's like when you've got a President who puts people first. Thank you, President Clinton."

Joe Biden takes the fight over "judgment" straight to McCain, arguing that time after time, on issues after issue, John McCain has been wrong and Barack Obama has been right.

Download | play Download | play

Now, despite being complicit in this catastrophic foreign policy, John McCain says Barack Obama isn’t ready to protect our national security. Now, let me ask you: whose judgment should we trust? Should we trust John McCain’s judgment when he said only three years ago, “Afghanistan we don’t read about it anymore because it’s succeeded? Or should we trust Barack Obama, who more than a year ago called for sending two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan?

The fact is, al-Qaida and the Taliban — the people who actually attacked us on 9/11 — have regrouped in those mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan and are plotting new attacks. And the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff echoed Barack’s call for more troops.

John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right.

Full transcript below the fold:

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McCain's Supreme Court position, in pop-ups

Joe Biden's ability to out straight talk the faux-maverick is definitely an asset for him. He sees what's important right now and isn't afraid to put it plainly.

Biden said U.S. President George W. Bush’s two conservative appointees — Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito — have pushed the nation’s highest court far to the right.

This, Biden charged, has threatened civil liberties and set back efforts to desegregate schools and obtain equal pay for women.

“Other than ending the war in Iraq, the single most significant thing that Barack Obama can do — and I hope I’ll be able to he help him — will be to determine who the next members of the Supreme Court are going to be.”

... During the next four years, Biden said, citing life expectancy estimates, there may be as many as three vacancies on the nine-member court.

“It’s not merely the woman’s right to choose (to have an abortion) which is at stake,” Biden told a mostly female crowd of several hundred people.

“It’s whether or not you are going to be able to have a fair shot at a fair wage,” Biden said. “It’s whether or not you are going to able to demand that you are treated equally in every aspect of your life.”

Those PUMAs who have said they'll support McCain would do well to reflect on Biden's words and McCains.

When National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru asked McCain whether he admires any Supreme Court justice in particular, he answered “of course, Antonin Scalia…I admire how articulate he is, but I also from everything I’ve seen admire Roberts as well.”