Rush Limbaugh said Colin Powell’s decision to get behind Barack Obama appeared to be very much tied to Obama’s status as the first African-American with a chance to become president.

“Secretary Powell says his endorsement is not about race,” Limbaugh wrote in an e-mail. “OK, fine. I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed. I’ll let you know what I come up with.”

For those who can’t read between the lines, Limbaugh’s assertion here is pretty clear: Colin Powell only endorsed Barack Obama because they’re both black.

But if this is true, then what is Limbaugh’s excuse for why the conservative Chicago Tribune endorsed Obama– the first endorsement of a Democratic candidate in its 161-year history?  And what is Limbaugh’s excuse for the Los Angeles Times, who gave Obama its first presidential endorsement since 1972, and also its first endorsement ever of a Democratic candidate?  And what is Limbaugh’s excuse for why the rigidly Republican News-Register in Oregon wrote a strong endorsement for Obama that knocked New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof off his feet, including the following:

Only one candidate stands for change in this year’s presidential race — Barack Obama. Obama’s intellect, temperament and ability to inspire are precisely what we need after a disastrous eight years under George W. Bush.

What did Limbaugh have to say about the other major Republican figures who have endorsed Obama: Lincoln Chafee, Jim Leach, Susan Eisenhower, Ed Koch?

But most importantly, what did Limbaugh have to say when another prominent Republican military man, retired four-star Air Force General Tony McPeak endorsed Obama?  Did Limbaugh sarcastically promise to “find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed”?  Did Limbaugh question McPeak’s endorsement on the grounds of race?  No.  And for one simple reason: McPeak is white, Powell is black.

If this isn’t racism, then the word has no meaning.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Limbaugh has played the race card when it comes to the success of a black man.  As you may remember, five years ago Limbaugh was forced to resign from ESPN after igniting a firestorm of controversy with this statement about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb:

I don’t think he’s been that good from the get-go.  I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL.  I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.  They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well.  I think there’s a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn’t deserve.   The defense carried this team.

This was despite the fact that McNabb at that point, only two full seasons into his career, was a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who in 2000 finished second in league MVP voting and in 2001 led his team to the NFC championship game.  According to Limbaugh, McNabb’s success, like Obama’s, was due to race.

Whichever McCain staffer thought up the idea of sending Sarah Palin to a hockey game in Philly to drop the puck should be fired. No questions asked, no excuses.

This might have been the easiest call in sports/politics history. I mean, in the middle of a heated campaign, you’re sending a Republican with sky-high negatives, into the bluest, least BS-tolerant area of Pennsylvania for a cutesy photo-op with the kids in front of 20,000 rabid hockey fans. There was simply no other way for this to turn out. Maybe next they’ll have Palin walk through a few neighborhoods in Baghdad. Don’t worry, it’s been safe since last March.

For the record, this is officially my new favorite sports/politics train wreck moment. Replacing this one:

In a move that’s sure to be seen as controversial, Hillary has contacted the NCAA Board of Directors to argue that Memphis is actually better qualified to be National Champion.

Ms. Clinton stated that Memphis, while losing the game, had actually shown more ability to act like a National Champion on Day One. She argued that Memphis had passed every test during the game, including scoring more points than Kansas for 38 minutes. For 38 minutes they had shown the experience necessary to be National Champion. “Just because some team comes along in the last minute and scores more points than the other guy doesn’t mean they’re necessarily able to be National Champion on Day One.”

…

“It doesn’t matter what the rules of the game are before it starts. What matters is how we change the rules after the game so we can have the winner we want.”

In other NCAA/political news, a quick glance at Barack Obama’s tournament bracket shows both judgment and vision.  Out of 64 teams, he correctly picked three of the Final Four.

Though in reality, the fact that the Final Four was comprised entirely of #1 seeds means that it didn’t take that much vision.  In fact, it’s probably a safe bet that the least knowledgable person in your office won the pool.

The Washington Post blog also gets in on the action, referring to Obama as “Sen. Barack Obama (D-Bears).”

Wow. This website often has very humorous articles about the political realm, but I feel that anyone who is remotely aware of how difficult it is for a politician to gain support, would understand why Mr. Romney didn’t want to play favorites. Come on guys.

First and foremost, RSII, I salute you.  Stay safe over there.  Second, I agree with you wholeheartedly.  This website often does have very humorous articles about the political realm.  But unfortunately, I can’t cut Mitt a break on the hat, no matter how difficult politics is.  If I started letting things like this go, I might as well shut the website down now.

I do know that for all 18 games this season, anyone who picked against the Patriots was wrong.  But I also know that my mother told me, “Cheaters never win.”  So considering the fact that the Giants matchup as well as anyone with the Pats, and considering that their playoff run has consisted of two road wins over the NFC’s two best teams, I’m gonna have to go with Mom over the conventional wisdom on this one:

Giants 38, Patriots 35

MORNING AFTER UPDATE: What a game!  Baby Manning played the game of his life, the Giants defense sacked Brady 5(!) times and held the Patriots offense to an unthinkable 14 points, Belichick probably wishes he didn’t give away a 49-yard field goal attempt to go for it on 4th and 13 late in the 3rd quarter (4th and 13? What was he thinking?), and this might be the play of the decade.

Giants 38, Patriots 35