Election Central Saturday Roundup
Obama To Tour Foreign Countries
The Obama campaign has announced that the candidate will be embarking on an overseas tour and meet with foreign leaders -- an important step in establishing a credible image on foreign policy. The candidate will visit Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Jordan, and the trip is expected to take place some time in July.
Obama And McCain Courting Latinos Today
Barack Obama and John McCain are both speaking today before the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference in Washington. For John McCain, this is an opportunity to overcome the Latino community's overall antipathy towards the Republican Party and its anti-immigrant bent. For Obama, his job is to secure the lead he currently has in the polls among a demographic where he lagged way behind during the primaries.
McCain: Obama "Didn't Seem To Be Serious" About Town Halls
During a campaign appearance yesterday in Cleveland, John McCain expressed pessimism about Barack Obama taking up his challenge of holding 10 town-hall meetings in the course of the campaign. The Obama campaign had previously answered with an offer of five appearance, being three traditional debates and two town halls. "The response, in all due respect, didn't seem to be serious," McCain said.
Hagel: I'm Closer To Obama Than McCain
Sen. Chuck Hagel, the conservative Nebraska Republican who has turned vocally against the Iraq War, has indicated in an interview with Bloomberg TV that he does not plan to publicly endorse any candidate for president. Hagel added, however, that his differences with Barack Obama were probably "not as big" as his differences with John McCain.
Poll: McConnell Under 50 In Kentucky
A new Rasmussen poll of Kentucky finds Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell leading Democratic businessman Bruce Lunsford by a 48%-41%, margin, with a ±4.5% margin. This is an improvement from their poll from a month ago, which had Lunsford ahead after his primary victory, but still a mark of concern for a four-term Senator who has become the leader of his party. Keep an eye on this race in the months ahead.
Elizabeth Dole Reverses Herself On Offshore Drilling
The Charlotte Observer reports that Sen. Elizabeth Dole opposed offshore drilling near North Carolina as recently as last week, but has now introduced a bill to give states the option of allowing it -- in line with President Bush and John McCain's embrace of the issue. "Now, more than ever, responsible and practical steps are needed to increase our energy independence and strengthen economic and national security," Dole said in a statement.
BO speaking live on CNN right now to Latino group. JM spoke before he did and got heckled several times.
June 28, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heckling is probably better than silence:
John McCain gives a speech and no one listens
He gave a speech on a conference call, not realizing that the call had been cut off at the beginning.
Had to do it over.
June 28, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
before the heckling really began the room was extremely dull, but once the heckling started it kind of lightened the room and then went back to dull again, but once he was leaving the room was enthusiastic.
June 28, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's going to get some enthusiastic crowds in Europe. Everyone I've spoken to over there hopes we elect him.
June 28, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Found it. Not 24 hours ago, this ABC News blog "learned" that Obama was going to Iraq "later this summer."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/obama-abroad.html
June 28, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, kiss Dole's ass goodbye.
It is interesting that Obama isn't going to hit up Iraq, I wonder if this will be one of those "surprise" visits.
June 28, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I had read somewhere that O. was going to Iraq, maybe just not on this particular trip.
June 28, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Trips to Iraq aren't usually revealed before hand. What with it being such a harbor of safety, and all.
June 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really? I wonder why. I thought everything was going swimmingly. According to mcbush iraq is a vibrant stable democracy and I heard that you can buy rugs in open markets. Iraq is a huge success based on the escalation or "surge" or troop rotation or extended deployments or multiple long term deployments that mcbush has always wanted because he cares about the troops. Oh, well, maybe obama just doesn't get how wonderful iraq is. I mean look at all the good news in the right-wing media, uh, well I guess no news is good news.
June 28, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, they may not be able to publicize that for security reasons. I would think he would do it during this trip since he can't be away from campaigning here too long. But he needs to be away long enough to beef up his foreign policy credentials to reap the dividends. He'll get better payoff for the short time on that trip than he would've being here, and it'll be all over the news.
This is an important trip. I'm glad he's doing it.
June 28, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ummmm, no thanks.
Btw, if anyone at TPM is interested in investigating, there has been a mysterious letter writing campaign to my local paper urging that we allow oil companies to drill in ANWAR and the continental shelf. I supsect it is statewide.
It's really hard to say where they got the idea that they needed to write these letters. Could be as simple as Rush told them to do it and to hear him is to obey. But there's just something very cut and pastie about the way they sound that kind of reeks of astroturf.
June 29, 2008 12:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not seeing a countermessage out there. Obama's made a few comments in speeches, but that's not enough. The Repubs are pushing this hard. Obama's campaign needs to get out there and push back or the American public will be duped into believing that McCain is going to work magic for them at the gas pump.
June 29, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
And we still get no mention of McCain taking credit for the GI Bill he opposed.
http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=10725
Even ex-Republicans are talking about it. Just not ex-Clintonians?
June 28, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
unabogie
McSame gets a pass on everything crazy, mixed-up, wrong, untrue, flip-flopping that comes out of his smirky mouth!
We need to hammer the press, all the networks to treat McSame with the same critical eye that is on Obama.
Send emails in protest today!
June 28, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric
For Obama, his job is to secure the impressive lead he currently has in the polls among a demographic where he has remarkably made up since the primaries.
/fixed without spin & bias
June 28, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dear American Voters, reporters, media. professionals, political parties, and presidential Nominees,
Subject: Presidential Temperament
Please talk about and "Compare And Contrast" the " Presidential Temperament" of our Presidential presumptive nominees. I will also request and plead to the nominees themselves [ Hon. Senator McCain and Obama ].
Our nation has been applying this yard and stick tor the appointments and confirmation process of our Supreme Court Justices nominees.
Our Greatgrand Nation Foundations are as under:
Family, friends, fellows, faith, funds, fun, with fairness & freedom And without fear, favor, and failure.
It will be disgrace and shameful if the nominees and media will not look into this critical and crucial aspect under current challenging times and circumstances facing our country and the Globe.
Please America and citizens USA wake up and ask to compare and contrast the " Presidential Temperament" of our presumptive presidential nominees.
Yours sincerely,
COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret].
Disabled American Veteran
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas, Nevada.
June 28, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/28/obama-undercuts-his-brand_n_109758.html
OBAMA UNDERCUTS HIS BRAND
Top headline on Huff Post. Not good. What is worse, I agree with the story. I had no idea he supported the death penalty, don't know how I missed that one. That, along with FISA, has done it for me. I will vote for him, but I am not going to continue to donate to him when I cannot really afford to but did anyway.
June 28, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
First of all, his stance on the death penalty is not new; he wrote about it in Dreams of My Father. On the Second Amendment ruling, his position has been entirely consistent; he has consistently supported the rights of hunters, and he believes that the narrow nature of the ruling will allow many reasonable gun control measures to remain in place.
I don't believe that he has toughened his rhetoric on Iran at all, because he realizes that tough diplomacy begins with a firm stance in opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions. That's common sense.
Obama's shift on FISA "reform" can be viewed as a shift and is really the only disappointing development of the last few weeks. In my view, the only way to get your perfect candidate is to run yourself.
So, this whole "move to the center" meme is the press being lazy and trying to knock down the leading candidate and keep things competitive. It is not based in reality.
June 28, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
The reality is that some of us were so blinded by the word change, that we didn't notice there isn't going to be any change.
June 28, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone other than Bush or McBush is change.
Lets not lose our heads here.
June 28, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, Ralph.
June 28, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
true this is nothing new but so many liberals thought obama was one as well.... obama been talking about these issues in his books an interviews since the 90's.......
June 28, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
He has always supported the death penalty for specific crimes, like child rape. He wrote about it in his book in 1994. This is nothing new.
June 28, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I missed that. Thank you.
June 28, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amelie:
This has been a bad week for the idealism we crave in our candidate; and most of us blinked, more than once, as we confronted mutiple demonstrations of realism in Obama.
Still, no matter how disappointed you may be, please try to shift your perspective if you can.
First of all, there's an important lesson in this week for us, and it is a good one: as Obama acknowledges that Hillary's toughness made him a more resilient candidate, so Obama's serial displays of pragmatism should make us more sensible and resilient supporters of his candidacy.
Is it reasonable to expect him to deliver, 100% of the time, what we perceive to be the right answer? No. We may want him to be on the right side of every issue, in a moral as well as political sense, but that, inevitably, would be a one-way ticket to election self-sabotage for him -- which would result in the election of McCain, which would be a self-sabotaging result for all of us.
Do we think he owes us an explanation, in advance, of the positions he may have to take under the duress of the GE? No; he can hardly expose his campaign strategy in a public forum, by sending out an email to all his supporters in which he explains why he is making these decisions.
So what is he to do, to get elected but also keep our faith in him? I think the answer is that he is demonstrating his faith in us. He is assuming we are intelligent enough, and hoping that we are committed enough, to stay the course with him. He is treating us as if we are rational adults, able to accept compromise as he himself is doing.
So let's all refresh our commitment by reminding ourselves of the reasons we supported him to begin with: do we believe in his intelligence? Yes, we do. Do we believe that he considers issues thoughtfully before he makes a decision? Yes, we do. Do we believe that he mapped out this campaign well in advance, anticipating most, if not all, of the stumbling blocks? Yes, of course.
So why not take a deep breath, and then hit that Send button again -- the one for a donation -- so that we CAN have most, if not all, that we want in a president? Can, as in YES, WE CAN.
June 28, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
The next secretary of defense, perhaps.
Lemmings!
June 28, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
In recent weeks, he toughened his stance on Iran and backed an expansion of the government's wiretapping powers. On Wednesday, he said states should be allowed to execute child rapists. When the Supreme Court the next day struck down the District of Columbia's ban on handguns, he did not complain...
HEADLINE ARTICLE CLIP.
Way to lose the very small donators who took you over the top. Very disappointed in Senator Obama. How can someone do a 180 so fast? Hell, I wish Russ Feingold was the nominee.
June 28, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
He is tacking toward the center. If he did not take the positions he is taking, he would not get elected. I would rather that he get elected and to change the course of the country than have a "liberal purest" that will get hammered in November. Let's remember the big picture please!!!!!! 150,000 american heros stuck in the middle east trying to tamp down a civil war among people who hate us and we are 1 vote away from the total loss of all civil rights on the Supreme Court. Those are the big issues.
If he loses in November, expect full blown government surveillance, no 4th amendment rights, war with Iran, the draft, an economy in a total tailspin, while the top 1% are gorging themselves on the work of the masses. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
June 28, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you get it? Obama has betrayed people, and that hurts.
I happen to think "tacking to the center" is a smart tactical move, but I'm in the minority around the left blogosphere.
For me, it's pretty straightforward: McCain, or, Obama. That's our choice. Don't like things now, under Bush? It's going to be significantly worse under McCain. End of story.
June 28, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you and I honestly wish people would think about this:
A president with a very clear mandate from the voters can get things done where one who didn't get that kind of mandate has more problems.
You don't get a clear mandate running from either end of the spectrum, unless you steal it.
We have an ideological administration now - they've made everything partisan and we ought to be able to see what a goddamn mess has resulted.
June 28, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena: I see it, and I get it, and finally, as I said, I am voting for him. But there is no way in hell I can admire anyone for saying states should execute child rapists, rather, I wish he would have just kept his mouth shut on that one. FISA, I am deeply disappointed, but at the same time, I am trusting that once he gets elected, he will clear this mess up. I guess my point is that if I feel this way, and I gave every week, was his second Obama girl, then how are people feeling with less devotion? I know he has to go to the center. But these are striking points to go there on. I am also not happy with the whole gun thing, but let's not go there, that issue has killed the Democrats for years.
On the flip side, the MSM is not even talking about McCain raving about the GI bill he refused to back. Double standards.
June 28, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amelie, my bet is that people with less devotion are nowhere as informed as you are on these issues, so it's probably not going to affect them.
He's going to take a hit among well-informed supporters who have higher expectations than cynical people like me.
June 28, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope not. I think you are very understanding and reasonable. I am just sad about this week. But I get over myself pretty quickly :)
June 28, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amelie,
I am very dissapointed myself.
Obama was chosen -over Hillary- for that change he proposed. What he sold us is what made him the nominee. What did it take him to go back on his message? Two weeks?
I will support the Democrat Nominee, no matter what, of course. But, as much as I despised Hillary's campaign, I am starting to see the same difference...
My enthusiasm is taking a rest for now.
June 28, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Same here. I always said, despite deep reservations, I'll vote for Hillary should she become the nominee. So, Barack is still pretty much a no brainer.
I'll vote for him coz this election we can't afford to let it slip, it's dangerous my own future. But I have to say I'm not as excited as I was before.
First, I'm again reminded and offended by the standard trick- an insurgent candidate riles up the base for the primaries and abandons them for the GE. As someone who followed since last four years, I hope Obama is a true progressive and his recent shift to center is merely a winning ploy. Anyway, bottom line- I want him to win, but I'm beginning to question if his intent to bring the change he promises.
June 28, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
kash: I am hoping too, that when he wins he will truly be progressive and not stay center. I'm just not sure where he is truly coming from, and I think that is making a lot of us unsettled.
June 28, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amelie
Obama is for the death penalty for child rapist-murderers.
June 28, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did the 2000 election give Dubya a mandate? Nope, he stole one because his party is ruthless, driven, ideological, and totally committed to its agenda. They faced the majority party down on SCHIP this session and spit in our eye and we cowered back into our little corner and came back with war funding, FISA, and new resolutions to enable war with Iran. They have us for lunch because they know we will fight them on nothing.
June 28, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
The events of 9/11 provided a big assist in this effort.
June 28, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but has he really? The fisa thing is no big deal in reality at this point. I would rather it would go away asap one way or another. On the death penalty, he said it's up to the states. I would rather he would be against it hot and heavy, but I realize that that would be a loser position. On the second amendment, it is what it is. Realistically, in the long run it might be a good thing and deflate the power of the NRA. What's the reason for their existance now? I am in favor of banning guns, but again is that really realistic? Not today, but maybe 50 years from now.
However, I also recognize that I am in the minority in my views. I don't want to spend the next 4 years just whining, I really want to see some major changes in this country, whether I agree 1000% with them or not. We need a shake up and obama can accomplish that.
June 28, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The gun thing is just weird. He made it clear, before the Supreme Court decision, that he wasn't opposed to people owning guns.
So I don't see that particular issue as surprising--if you don't like it now, you shouldn't have liked it a couple of years ago.
FISA is a very very big deal to many people, and I do understand the outrage. I tend to think the problem with FISA is that a secret court exists, and, George Bush has been ignoring the law. I don't see that a new FISA, good or bad, is going to change those basic facts.
June 28, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
We totally agree on our views. Don't get me wrong, I will support him and ask others to do so. I guess this week has just hit me sideways. As far as the death penalty, I just didn't know, my fault.
June 28, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ugh, I got kicked out after a long post. I hope it doesn't appear and wind up being a twofer. I am glad that we agree on our views and you are not at fault for anything. I was completely unaware of his consistent position on the death penalty as well. I abhore that medieval and horrendous practice, but politically it is a third rail due to low information voters. The only way that I foresee getting rid of it is throught the Supreme Court, by the appointment of liberal, dirty word, justices in the near future.
June 28, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unity Unity Unity!
: )
June 28, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, the Democratic majority party just voted more money to keep them there. Watch what they do not what they say.
June 28, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe we should all send money to Feingold or maybe we just make a mistake sending money to specific candidates without getting some promises with the money The left side the party has to figure out a way to get something tangible for our money. Money seems to be the only way to be heard. That's why I'd really like to see third party, not to win but to bargain.
June 28, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
We primary them in 2010. That's the way you get through, or start to.
Jane Harman changed her tune after having to fight a tough primary.
Sometimes, though, it backfires. Exhibit A: Joe Lieberman.
But in any event, I think the best way is to wage primary battles in 2010.
June 28, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
He lagged behind in the primaries, alright, and I think that's cause for a little trepidation and extra effort on Obama's part, but - Hispanic Americans are pretty damn dedicated Democrats. I think the trick will be turnout - if he can get the Hispanic voters to turnout that will be the makings of something really amazing.
I laugh sometimes about this - it doesn't bother me, I think it's a natural progression in the historical view - but Mexico is slowly retaking the ground it lost in the war with the U.S. via which it lost the southwest.
And the Native Americans are busy fleecing the descendants of their Spanish and American conquerers in their casinos. the Ohkay Wingay run a casino just outside of Espanola and they named it the Seven Cities of Gold. I laugh my ass off every time I drive by it.
June 28, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I had MSNBC on this morning, and the weekend political analyst (don't remember his name, he's Chuck Todd for the weekend) could hardly say that Obama had a big lead over McCain among Latinos...And, of course, the next question was "Well, should we believe this?"
The fucking MSM just can't grasp reality at times, and continue to labor under the talking point theme advanced by the Clintons that Obama is going to have problems with Latinos. It was ludicrous.
Pat Buchanan also explained to us that the Newsweek poll and the Times/Bloomberg polls were obvious outliers.
I don't know why I watch that crap. I just get mad.
June 28, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too. The only show I really like is Olbermann. We keep hearing the clintons' talking points over and over and over again. It's been weeks and they keep saying the same things, which aren't supported by the facts. Disgusting.
June 28, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, CT, I used to read the Dallas paper every day without fail. I quit doing that about 3 years ago. I never did watch any news shows, except TDS, which isn't, but I never even watched Olberman until I got here and got TV I control.
I have gotten all my news online for almost 6 years and I sure like it better.
June 28, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I force myself to watch CNN regularly, just so I know what sort of crap they're spouting.
I used to subscribe to "Good Housekeeping" for the same reason. I wanted to know what sort of propaganda they were pushing to American women.
But I couldn't stand it after awhile and had to just let it go.
June 28, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're a better person than I. I can't stand cnn and almost never watch it because I get too pissed off. I probably watch fox entertainment more to get the skinny on the right-wing talking points. CNN is just despicable. At least you know fox entertainment is a mouth piece for the republican party, cnn professes to be unbiased, which is complete horsesh*t.
June 28, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Olbermann is all I can stand. Other than that, I have to get my news online.
June 28, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dammit - O'ke Ohwingay, I think.
Used to be San Juan Pueblo - they went back to their native name a couple of years ago.
June 28, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is with Elizabeth Dole, will that help her in her state?!
June 28, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell if I know.
I think she's from another planet. LOL!
***************************************
I'm sorry you are heart broken, Amelie, I really am. In fact, on the death penalty, which I oppose for all kinds of reasons, he's right that it is a state matter because it is. The president doesn't have much to do with it, really - it's the SCOTUS and the states. But yeah, I can see why you wish he hadn't said anything. Unfortunately, we are apparently in the minority in opposing capital punishment. And this SCOTUS is so not going to abolish it.
I disagree with Obama about capital punishment. FISA is a more complicated issue - but the bottom line for me is that FISA existed before Bush decided to ignore it - and the point of the statute was always to contravene our 4th and 14th amendment rights - that is why it was enacted. The statute is just a Congressional authorization to the executive to conduct warrantless searches and seizures. The supposed protection the statute afforded us was this court - the FISA court, which really was just a rubber stamping agency - they never turned down the after the fact warrant requests - until Bush - but essentially what I'm telling you is that your 4th amendment rights were always endangered by the FISA statute - and there's no way it's going to go off the books. It's a national security statute, the sole and entire purpose of which is to empower the executive to violate our rights, provided the exec comes to the court afterwards, which Bush didn't do, after he was turned down.
But even when an executive is refused an ex post facto warrant - what then? Bush just ignored the whole thing and broke the law, no doubt about it. But FISA is equally obnoxious as originally written as it is revised. And it is an unfortunate fact of life that it's not going anywhere. Just like the CIA - I wish they'd be disbanded, but that will never happen. I don't like RICO, either, and I'm convinced the 3-strikes laws are unconstitutional. The SCOTUS disagrees.'
Too bad for me.
June 28, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena: You are right on the mark. And regarding three strikes, I totally feel the same.
I will get back on the band wagon. You guys all really help though!
June 28, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, it will not help her here in NC. Dole is a complete jerk - her only loyalty is to Bush (or now McCain) - she never, never, NEVER deviates from the party line as dictated from the top. She is completely in robotic lockstep with Bush/Cheney/McCain. I can't wait to vote this fall and throw her sorry ass out of the Senate!
June 28, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yea, I hope you are right!!
June 28, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
She has a strong Democratic challenger (Kay Hagan) who is doing very well in the polls. I fully expect that NC will throw her out of office this time.
June 28, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope you are right. Dole is a dolt in congress. What on earth has she done for nc anyway? If I was a nc voter, I would vote to kick her butt out.
June 28, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I find it rather disengenuous that the potential leader of the free world has to take a crash course in THE most important aspect of what his presidency will cover: foreign affairs. - That he has to do it paints him trying to catch up. Bad form.
I'm sorry, I don't want on the job training for the next president. If experience is the measure of the kind of leader he will be,GWB taught us his was of failing businesses. True to form he put that experience to use:the USA is not prospering is it?
.Thus far he hasn't impressed me, but I'm still waiting. Not gonna hold my breath though.
No thanks, will be voting down ticket in NOv
June 28, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uhh, the king had the allegedly most experienced people in foreign policy running his administration, including darth vader, and running the military, dummy. Obviously, these allegedly experienced, washington hands f*cked up big time. I would rather have a realist, with good judgment, than an allegedly experienced hack like mcbush.
June 28, 2008 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
What does John McCain know about foreign affairs? He was in combat for 21 hours, after that he just screwed around (literally) until he found his young rich wife, and has been a D.C. fixture forever. He has never commanded anyone, never traveled except when accompanied by troops, doesn't have any worldly life experiences as an individual in foreign countries (except when captured, but that is not what I reference) and frankly, has no idea how to lead. I never get people such as yourself who think he has a grip on foreign affairs. He cannot tell the different factions in Iraq, he doesn't know who the leader of Iran is, and his views on diplomacy go back to Korea and post WWII Germany. He really needs to get with the new century here. 71 years old, 72 next month, and his only experience in foreign affairs is the "affairs" part.
June 28, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Simpler to ask, what does McStinky know about anything? He'd never get anything right if his gerbil Lieberman did occasionally pop out of his backside to correct him.
June 28, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you know how much of a pompous jackass you sound?
LOL!
I don't care how you vote - it's your affair; keep it to yourself.
June 28, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, McCain really should take a crash cours in foreign policy. Or, at the very least, a crash course in the differences between Sunni, Shia, Iran, Iraq, and al qaeda, because he seems to be confused about some rather important differences.
What? You weren't talking about McCain?
June 28, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
He was definitely "confused" about how safe the Baghdad Market was to stroll in, given that he had: body armor, armed military escort on the ground; air cover provided by not inconsequential numbers of aircraft - something like 8 Apache helicopters, plus all kinds of other air support.
Yeah he's a real foreign policy genius, McLame is.
June 28, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I especially like the bomb, bomb, bomb iran jingle. That was a piece of brilliant foreign policy.
By the way ct voter, I think the operative word in your post is crash. That's about the extent of his military and foreign policy experience, crashing aircraft.
I still can't believe that the dolt after all this time doesn't understand the distictions that you pointed out. That's truly incredible and scary.
June 28, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think in a saner media environment, we might be examining the whole "crash" issue a little more carefully than we are.
But he's been beatified as a POW, so no exploration will commence.
The media doesn't point that stuff out, because they really believe that those were just itty bitty slip-ups that don't signify anything. Which is one assessment, I guess, but I sure wish that they would let voters decide whether it's meaningful or not, rather than making the decision for them.
June 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe if the media put the jet crashes in terms of cost to taxpayers, that might wake people up.
June 28, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, 5 crashes in the jet age is alot and very, very expensive. It must be nice to have a dad as an admiral. Otherwise, he would have been desk bound for sure. Very expensive pilot.
June 28, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
One way in which the Obama campaign is addressing McCain's lack of real foreign policy and national security experience is by sending Wesley Clark to all the pundit shows. Clark, who obviously has plenty of credentials in both categories as former Commander of NATO, absolutely pummels McCain in his presentation -- pointing out that McCain left the military right after he came back as a POW, and therefore, that McCain never attained the far higher ranks that are required to be given any responsibility in those areas. Coming from one who had that ultimate responsibility, his summation is compelling. If I knew how to post a link, I'd show you an example. But you might be able to Google it. It will make you feel better.
June 28, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michael, that was funny, crashed 5 jets !!! Yes, I want this guy in the driver's seat.........
June 28, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
One more thing, at least he was an fighter ace. He brought down 5 aircraft. Only problem was that they were his own aircraft.
June 28, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did you all read about how at least two debates will have the candidates seated, as McCain is 5'9" and Obama is 6'1". Oh, it will be some show. Let's hope we get some decent moderators.
June 28, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if they'll give mcbush a couple of phone books to sit on as well to balance out the height issue. By the way if mcbush is 5'9", I'm 7'. I'd say he's around 5'5" or so. I hope obama holds out for standing. I'm always more comfortable standing when I debate and he needs to be more comfortable, as debates aren't his strong suit.
June 28, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally OT - the Solar Music Festival just started in Kit Carson Park and I can hear it from my portal - which is really nice. But there is the biggest, meanest-looking storm brewing...damn, that's going to mess things up.
June 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish someone could show me something McLame really does know anything about. I really don't think he's all that bright. He's been cruising on his POW status for years, cause I think that's all he's got.
June 28, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena: He really knows how to lie and keep his mouth shut about it. If you read his book, he lied to his first wife about all his affairs, (his admission years later), and then he lied to his second wife about his age, (as she did to him) only for both of them to learn the truth after they were married and it was published in a newspaper article. LYING - THAT he knows something about.
I agree, IQ not that great. Although, I also am positive there is some mild dementia there, and that may affect his thought process to the point he is now appearing not real bright. I am totally blown away at how off he is in this campaign as opposed to 8 years ago.
June 28, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm actually starting to feel somewhat sorry for him. His peeps putting out that Obama is the "most liberal senator" bit the dust yesterday. There are Rethugs using Obama in their political advertisements. Obama's going off to Iraq, sans Mavericky McSame (I hope he takes Sen. Hagel). Now there's that meme about how Obama's "just a John Eerry with a tan" line. That's not sticking either...
What's McSame left with?
June 28, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
um - Kerry not Eerry.
June 28, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and I forgot, he NEVER work weekends. I was in ICU helping a patient last Saturday, he was probably out spending Cindy's 100 million.
June 28, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
He has done so much damage in his career you really should have no pity for him. The Keating 5 savings and loan debacle cost the taxpayers millions, and he lies every time he opens his mouth. He also has nine homes and a much younger wife, life doesn't get better than that.
June 28, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amelie: I left a reply to you upthread. I hope it makes you feel better about where we are now.
June 28, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I got it, thanks. I have heard Wesley Clark and he has been marvelous! I appreciated your post!
June 28, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I missed that other post. Thank you so much. I am feeling a lot better tonight, other than John McCain pays less taxes in 4 years for beach front property than I do for rural property. Did you see that?
June 28, 2008 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
To all you sincere Feingold supporters, etc.:
Ever hear the expression "pissing into the wind"? Don't do that to yourselves. You have a choice here, it's really simple. Nurse your discontentment if you want McCain to win. If not, you have to deal with it. That's not me talking, that's what this is.
People who were as concerned as you voted for Nader in 2000 and the results have been catastrophic. If you voted for Nader or agonized over it instead of doing something, hold yourselves accountable. Same thing here. YOU.
June 29, 2008 4:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
And one quick note about the death penalty:
Americans favor it. If you don't, you can't be elected to high office. So if you are backing a Presidential candidate who is against the death penalty, what you are saying is that you want your candidate to lose and somebody else to win.
Personally, I strongly favor gun control and I think it is suicidal not to. But I have two candidates to pick from and if either of them should favor gun control, he/she can't be elected in USA. Period. So neither favors it, of course, and then I have to give *my* candidate some slack, if I want him/her to win. And giving him/her some slack is *NOT* saying, "I'll still vote for him/her, but I'm not going to do this and I'm not going to do that!" *That approach* is cutting off my nose to spite my face.
June 29, 2008 4:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
OBAMA TO IRAQ:
"The candidate will visit Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Jordan, and the trip is expected to take place some time in July."
Jordan? You can drive from Amman to Baghdad; many have. Three-four shuttle flights Amman-Baghdad each day. Watch for the "surprise" visit.
June 29, 2008 7:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is anyone else checking out how hard they're beating the drums of war with Iran on CNN this morning?
What's going on with that?
June 29, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think because the New Yorker, Seymour Hersch, is coming out with an expose of covert op movements by US troops in Iran.
June 29, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink