The following is a transcript of Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr’s remarks after being introduced as Senator Barack Obama’s vice-presidential running mate in Springfield, Ill.

…

Folks, again, it’s not political sloganary when I say we literally can’t afford four more years of this non- energy policy written by and for the oil companies, making us more and more dependent from hostile nations on our ability to run this country and literally, not figuratively, literally putting America’s security at risk, we can’t afford four more years of a foreign policy that has shredded our alliances and sacrificed our moral standing around the world.

…

The next President of the United States is going to be delivered to the most significant moment in American history since Franklin Roosevelt. He will have such an incredible opportunity, incredible opportunity, not only to change the direction of America, but literally, literally to change the direction of the world.

…

Ladies and gentlemen, we believe that our tomorrows will be better than our yesterdays, and we believe we’ll pass on to our children an even better life than the one we lived. That literally has been the American way, and it can be that way again.

…

Barack has the vision, and what you can’t forget, you know his vision, but let me tell you something. He also has the courage, the courage to make this a better place, and let me tell you something else, this man is a clear eyed pragmatist who will get the job done. I watch with amazement as he came to the Senate. I watch with amazement. He made his mark literally from day one reaching across the aisle to pass legislation to secure the world’s deadliest weapons, standing up to some of the most entrenched interests in Washington, risking the wrath of the old order to pass the most sweeping ethics reform in a generation.

…

Ladies and gentlemen, America gave Jill and me our chance. It gave Barack and Michelle their chance to stand on this stage today. It’s literally incredible.

I don’t know who this guy is. I don’t know his politics. But anyone who can use literally that many times in one speech has my vote.

(Thanks, everyone who submitted this!)

This concludes the week of literally comics – special thanks to Derek!

Cornered

Special thanks to Derek for scouring the web for this week of literally comics.

Snapshots

Special thanks to Derek for scouring the web for this week of literally comics.

Reality Check (01/22/2008)

Special thanks to Derek for scouring the web for this week of literally comics.

Sherman’s Lagoon (01/31/2008)

This entry kicks off a week long all-comics edition here at Literally, A Web Log. Be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed or stop back each day this week for a new comic. Special thanks to Derek for scouring the web for literally comics.

Fred Basset

Lilly McElroy likes to throw herself around. At men, onto her bed, through the air. A performative photographer and video artist, McElroy seems to have a lot of fun making refreshingly spontaneous pictures. I asked her to explain the procedure behind her photographs and this is what she sent me:

“I started the project by placing an ad on Craig’s list looking for men who would meet me at bars blind date style and let me literally throw myself at them. This worked fairly well, but limited the # of photos I could take. Now , I go to bars with a friend/photographer and approach men who are physically larger than I am. I ask them if I can literally throw myself at them. If they say yes, I have myself photographed doing it and buy them a drink afterwards. If it seems like they want to hang out, I’ll have a drink as well. Sometimes we talk about the project and sometimes we just chat. I don’t have a specific set up for the photos. I just want them to look as much like snap shots or party pics as possible.”

Link: The Year in Pictures, Lilly McElroy (via BoingBoing)

Related: more literally throwing of oneself

You didn’t think we were just going to pick on Democrats, did you?

Rudy Giuliani wants us to go for broke, literally: his answer to the economy’s short-run problems is a huge permanent tax cut, which he claims would pay for itself. It wouldn’t.

“Go for broke” is a gambling term that means “risk everything to reap substantial rewards”.

Let me hear your arguments in the comments – is this a correct usage of “literally”?

Link: The New York Times

First from the strip “Working It Out” a man is literally chained to his desk. Click for more comics:

Then from the strip “Clear Blue Water” a woman literally has a cow. Click for the complete strip:

(Thanks, Derek and Lorraine)

(Thanks, Lorraine)