ON THE ECONOMY...McCain was one of the five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Senate Ethics committee censured McCain, saying he "exercised poor judgment in intervening with the regulators." They found he wasn't as culpable as 3 other senators.
· McCain had no idea how bad the economy was doing up until Sept. 13, when he said the fundamentals of the economy were "strong" -- and then back-pedaled later in the week, calling the economic situation "a total crisis."
· Some would say he then heeded the call of leadership by suspending his campaign, others have said he heeded the call of a photo-op -- But his presence on the hill, wasn't enough to get house Republicans to pass the bail-out bill. (The bill that 2/3 of Democrats voted for but 3/4 of Republicans voted against? )
· Sen. McCain said to the WSJ in November '07 to "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."
· In January, McCain argued that Americans were better off than they were eight years ago, but by this summer he had released an advertisement that said "we're worse off than we were four years ago."
ON THE GAS TAX HOLIDAY...Economists said that a nationwide "gas tax holiday" would have had even less impact on gas prices than temporary state moratoriums. James Hamilton, professor of economics at the University of California at San Diego, said that most of the benefits from a temporary tax moratorium would likely go to producers rather than consumers."Prices would certainly rise to the market-clearing level," said Hamilton. "I would expect the price [of gas] to go back to very close to where it was before [the tax cut], in which case consumers would not see any benefit."
ON HIS CHOICE FOR VICE PRESIDENT...The choice of Gov. Sarah Palin says more about McCain’s judgment than it does about Palin. During Palin’s six years as mayor of Wasilla, she increased expenditures by more than 33 percent.The tax cuts she promoted benefited large property owners more than other residents. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of about $20 million. The two highest Republican officers would be gravely lacking in economic savvy in a period of our economic woes.
ON THE MIDDLE EAST...McCain’s Middle East policy a continuation of existing policies? A military presence in Iraq, under a McCain presidency, would likely be longer and more built-up. Military intervention against Iran would be likely, should Iran continue on its present course of acquiring nuclear technology. McCain would likely increase military aid to Pakistan (itself an Islamic nuclear power). He would also create, he says, a “League of Democracies” that would join democratic nations into an alternative to the United Nations: Where the U.N. doesn’t or cannot act, McCain’s “League of Democracy” would, whether to intervene militarily or to address humanitarian crises. The one word that sums up McCain’s Middle East and foreign policy is this: interventionism.
Iraq: He opposes “a withdrawal strategy that has no Plan B for the aftermath of this inevitable failure and the greater problems that would ensue.” But McCain does not propose an exit strategy on his own terms, either. His plan is Bush’s current plan: stay, fight, and see what happens.
Afghanistan: McCain considers the United States’ and NATO’s campaign in Afghanistan successful, based on the return of 2 million refugees, even though, as he wrote in Foreign Affairs, the Taliban’s recent resurgence “threatens to lead Afghanistan to revert to its pre-9/11 role as a sanctuary for terrorists with global reach. McCain does not propose how to do so.
Iran: According to McCain, Iran is “the world’s chief state sponsor of terrorism.” Asked in a forum when the United States should send “an air mail message” to Iran in the form of bombs, McCain replied by singing the Beach Boys song, “Bomb Iran.”
ON NATIONAL SECURITY...Sen. Joe Biden hit John McCain for lacking the judgement required to be commander in chief:
“John McCain continues to insist, against all the evidence and all the facts, that Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism… and not the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan where the people who actually attacked us on 9-11 reside and are regrouping.” “John is more than wrong -- he is dangerously wrong. On a question so basic, so fundamental, so critical to our nation’s security, we can’t afford a Commander-in Chief so divorced from reality and from America’s most basic national interests.”"Time and again, Barack Obama has demonstrated the judgment we need in our next president… and the vision to see over the horizon.”
“Seven years ago, Barack Obama opposed one of the most disastrous decisions in the history of American foreign policy: the diversion of our military might, our resources and focus from Afghanistan to Iraq. He was profoundly right. Now, he is right again: Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq responsibly. He will be as careful getting out as George Bush and John McCain were careless getting in. He knows we should not keep spending $10 billion a month indefinitely while the Iraqis are running a $79 billion surplus – which is why he will start to shift responsibility to the Iraqis…bring our combat brigades home over a period of 16 months… lead a diplomatic surge with the world’s great powers and Iraq’s neighbors to press for a political power sharing agreement… and keep a residual force in Iraq to destroy any remaining terrorists, train Iraqis and protect our personnel.”
“Barack Obama understands what John McCain does not: the next President must be more than the Commander-in-Chief for Iraq. He must be Commander-in-Chief for America’s security around the world.”
ON HIS CAMPAIGN AIDES....John McCain has failed miserably during this campaign in responsibly exercising sound judgment in selecting his aides and advisers. What does that say about his potential judgment in selecting advisers, Cabinet level appointees, and Supreme Court Justices as President of the United States? This is a list of some of McCain's advisers who, for various reasons, either resigned, had to step down or were fired during the current Presidential campaign (McCain, and the campaign for which he is responsible, obviously did not do due diligence in selecting these individuals in the first place):
Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager John Weaver, Chief Strategist Reed Galen, Deputy Campaign Manager Rob Jesmer, Political Director Angela Hession (John Weaver's fiancée and paid McCain strategist) Florida Rep. Bob Allen, co-chairman of John McCain's Florida Campaign (sex scandal) Soren Dayton, Political Department (racially charged anti-Obama YouTube video mashup) Thomas G. Loeffler (National Finance Co-Chair - European Airbus lobbyist) Doug Goodyear (lobbyist to Myanmar Junta) Doug Davenport (lobbyist to Myanmar Junta) Eric Burgerson (energy company lobbyist) Craig Shirley (Virginia Leadership Team; 527 participant)
DURING HIS MILITARY DAYS AS A PILOT...Three crashes early in his career led Navy officials to question or fault his judgment.In today's military, a lapse in judgment that causes a crash can end a pilot's career. Though standards were looser and crashes more frequent in the 1960s, McCain's record stands out."Three mishaps are unusual," said Michael L. Barr, a former Air Force pilot with 137 combat missions in Vietnam and an internationally known aviation safety expert who teaches in USC's Aviation Safety and Security Program. "After the third accident, you would say: Is there a trend here in terms of his flying skills and his judgment?"
Jeremiah Pearson, a Navy officer who flew 400 missions over Vietnam without a mishap and later became the head of human spaceflight at NASA, said: "That's a lot. You don't want any. Maybe he was just unlucky."
Bill Clinton on McCain - Bill Clinton can't help himself: He praised McCain again Thursday, telling Good Morning America that he understands why McCain's wants to delay Friday's debate. ""We know he didn't do it because he's afraid, because Sen. McCain wanted more debates," Clinton said."I presume he did that in good faith since I know he wanted -- I remember he asked for more debates to go all around the country and so I don't think we ought to overly parse that."
Bill Clinton on Palin - On Tuesday, Clinton had kind words for the Palin family. “I come from Arkansas. I get why she’s hot out there, why she's doing well,” he told reporters. (He added that voters would think, “I'm glad she loves her daughter and she's not ashamed of her. … I like that little Down syndrome kid.”) On Larry King Live, he called Palin “gutsy, spirited, and real.” As for Obama vs. McCain, “I genuinely like both of them. … We make a terrible mistake believing we have to find something wrong with the people we won’t vote for.” And calling Obama a “good candidate” and a “smart man” sounds pretty weak.
Bill Clinton on Obama - Why is Bill playing the pundit? - explaining why he thinks Obama will win instead of why people should vote for him. On the Late Show, he predicted the election would “break Obama’s way.” Not because of Obama’s message of hope and change and the American dream, but because of election fundamentals. As he said on The View: “Obama will win for the following reasons: Two-thirds of American people are having trouble paying their bills. … America is growing more diverse,” racially and demographically. And “registration is up for Democrats, flat for Republicans in 20 of the most important states.” WTF? Well isn’t that inspiring!
What is with Bill?
1. Does he feel he's lost the black vote/support, so he's like, “What the hell, F' em, then!”?
2. Is it that "good ole' boy" (GOB) political comradely thing? And McCain, Palin, and Bush1, 2 are part of the GOB network and Obama is not?
3. Is he still salty that Hillary didn’t win? She came close. (as he keeps reminding us in every interview) But, as Chris Rock so duly noted, she lost. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsep_xcWOQ8
4. Is it his ego? Does he feel his legacy will be lost once Barack Obama is president? He had a lot success while in office, and this country thrived, but does he feel he can’t compete with the legacy that an Obama presidency will leave on the world?
Bill Clinton is one of the best orators and political talents of his generation. So why is he such a lousy surrogate?
Most notable are Paul Begala and Donna Brazille.
I was especially impressed by Donna who refused to allow Paul to put words in her mouth. But she made the most powerful statements:
1. She asked Paul to stop dividing the Democratic Party by segrating black voters to Barack and white blue collar workers to Hillary. To do so inevitably insults one or the other. (my sentiments exactly) "Don't divide me or tell me that because I'm black I can't stand in Hillary's camp. Or if I'm a white working class voter that I'll probably vote for Hillary."
2. She made it clear (which is the point I'm glad SOMEONE finally made) that there's no way that Barack would be winning in the popular vote, the delegate vote, and with cash donations if it were JUST BLACK VOTERS voting for him.
CNN repeats it's broadcasts so look for it again tonight!
I found this article interesting. In it the writer compares the two (pontenial) presidential nominees.
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 2 minutes ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080504/ap_on_el_pr/two_candidates
WASHINGTON - The differences couldn't be more striking — and they go well beyond older, white and Republican vs. younger, black and Democratic.
John McCain, more spontaneous and accessible, and Barack Obama, more disciplined and remote, are two unconventional presidential candidates, each with styles all their own.
Contrasts on the campaign trail run the gamut, from the way they stage events and draw crowds to how they court voters and handle reporters.
The two men even carry themselves differently.
McCain, 5-foot-9 and spry at age 71, has a ramrod posture, quick movements and clenched fists; he darts from here to there as if spurred forward by jolts of energy. The combination can make him come across as stiff, despite his remarkably informal and off-the-cuff approach.
Obama, age 46 and lanky at 6-foot-2, seems to glide, his head held high, his gait long and his arms swinging freely at his sides if not buried in pockets. His laid-back mannerisms can seem overly casual, and they belie his highly scripted and picture-perfect appearances.
The divergent personal styles and campaign approaches, particularly during the primary season, offer a glimpse of a possible matchup this fall should Obama win the Democratic nomination over Hillary Rodham Clinton and go head-to-head with McCain, the GOP nominee-in-waiting. At this point, Obama leads Clinton in pledged delegates; it is mathematically difficult for her to win.
For any candidate, mannerisms on the trail can provide insights into how one could behave in office.
Bill Clinton adored glad-handing with voters so much that the Democrat frequently ran late as a candidate; he didn't change as president. George W. Bush was known to josh and needle campaign trail reporters; the Republican does the same with the White House media.
Now, in 2008.... (the article continues with a synopsis on both the candidates. Click the READ MORE button to read the rest of the article.)
How can she say she's for the middle-class when she doesn't even know who you are?
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Please watch the video to the end because he rebuffs and defines for Hillary who the middle-class really are:
Indiana and NC please take note!
WAR: (It is important to be RIGHT on day one!)
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Silly-season vs. Hillary's stealing of Edward's finihing line (during the same debate she accused Obama of plagarism!):
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Obama responds to Clinton's attacks:
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HILLARY'S DIRTY POLITICS BEGAN BEFORE IOWA:
http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=ijxf3NN1B_s&rel=1&eurl=http%3A//my.barackobama.com/page/community/members&iurl=http%3A//i.ytimg.com/vi/ijxf3NN1B_s/default.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskKKAjhzN-BSxtiK6GPArmZe&hl=en%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam
I was wondering why John Edwards hasn't endorsed either of the candidates yet. I did a Google search on "Obama, Edwards" and stumbled across this video on YouTube. In the October 2007 debate, Edwards commented on Hillary and change in America.
He really lays out his opinion of what Hillary stands for and he eloquently puts a strong question to America.
The question is, why hasn't he endorsed Obama, or even Hillary for that matter yet.
I would love to see an Obama/Edwards ticket. That would really do much for America at home and internationally. Click on the link below:
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I was wondering why John Edwards has endorsed either of the candidates yet. I did a Google search on "Obama, Edwards" and stumbled across this video on YouTube. In the October 2007 debate, Edwards commented on Hillary and change in America.
Below is Star Jones' informed and provocative response to Bill O'Reilly's comment about "having a lynching party for Michelle Obama if he finds out that she truly has no pride in her country."Bill O'Reilly said:'I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that's how she really feels - that is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever - then that's legit. We'll track it down.'Star said:'I'm sick to death of people like Fox News host, Bill O'Reilly, and his ilk thinking that he can use a racial slur against a black woman who could be the next First Lady of the United States, give a half-assed apology and not be taken to task and called on his crap. What the hell? If it's 'legit,' you're going to 'track it down?'And then what do you plan to do? How dare this white man with a microphone and the trust of the public think that in 2008, he can still put the words 'lynch and party' together in the same sentence with reference to a black woman; in this case, Michelle Obama? I don't care how you 'spin it' in the 'no spin zone,' that statement in and of itself is racist, unacceptable and inappropriate on every level.
(it gets even hotter... you have to read the rest of the piece. You'll agree with Star by the end whether you're white, black, latina, asian, indian,)
what i don't understand and have been grappling with is, why do you Hillary trolls keep showing up here with your posts?
I mean, if you were here to help shed some light on things for us, you'd share those great thoughts with us in your blog right? (I haven't seen anything worth reading on your posts)
You obviously aren't here to have an enlightened discourse about either of our candidate's policies, because those aren't stated in your blog.
No. You're here to tell us what you think about our candidate.
Look. I don't like your candidate either. In fact, I strongly dislike her now that I've seen who she really is thru these primaries. But I don't go around spreading any venom on your candidate's site.
I don't appreciate it. And I don't want to read anything you've got to say.
I think your a low life and a coward to keep showing up where you're not wanted.
Go Away.
Who do you predict will win the Indiana Democratic Primary? http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=2220
it's important we vote in these polls because these are what the news pundits will you to slant their commentary.
http://gretawire.foxnews.com/
VOTE NOW!
I received this and wanted to share it. It is just another of "Hillary's twisted truths"
Today I read a blog entry comparing the economic plans proposed by HIllary and Barack. I just went searching for it and my God people. Some of you don't use the EXTENDED P0ST TEXT section of your blogs. And some of you really should. Not that the information isn't useful, but it becomes information overload. And sometimes your post (with all the good points to be made) goes unread because your post looks like your interviewing for a head writer position on CNN.
Just an observation.
If anyone knows the entry I'm looking for, please forward it to me.
Many thanks!
This is what the media pundits should be focusing on - Sen. Obama had the immediate insight to denounce the McCain/Clinton Gas Tax proposal as a BAD IDEA.
Economists across the country are saying that this is a bad idea -- namely Even Greg Mankiw, a former chairman of President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers.
Obama criticized the plan as pure politics and said the only way to lower the price of gas is to use less oil.
Hillary is planning to pump gas at a gas station in South Bend, IN today in an effort to draw attention to her plan.
Read the article by clicking on the READ MORE link below. AND FEEL FREE TO BUMP THIS UP ON THE BLOG AND ON THE ONLINE NEWS SITES BLOGS today.
Hillary is planning to pump gas at a gas station in South Bend, IN today in an effort to draw attention to her plan. Let's hope she does just that, because her plan is STUPID. :>>
> Hey Guys!>>>> I need some help to keep this story going so that media is forced to cover> it!!! I have been working on it for over 5 hours and we are over 3,000> hits, but we need 10,000 so that the media sees an abundance of public> interest.>> http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Breaking_News_Hillary_Clinton_Required_to_Testify_in_Nove
BUMP THIS UP --- THIS IS IMPORTANT
