What Has Senator John McCain Accomplished in the War on Terror?
If Senator John McCain describes these as his accomplishments and successes, I would really hate to see what happens when he has a really bad day in the Senate. We cannot afford to risk this nation by electing someone with Senator John McCain’s accomplishments or lack thereof.
Why is "demonstrated accomplishment" NOT considered above "experience"? Barack Obama's accomplishments are just amazing. Sometimes experience doesn't really mean much. Hoover was very experienced, but a really lousy president. Barack Obama's "lack of experience" is used as a key issue in the election. Yet few have really addressed all the things he has accomplished. I am just putting this together off the top of my head. Where are real experts on this?
In a little over 20 months Obama has, at the very least, changed and probably revolutionized the election process. He put together a team that has raised more money, without being totally beholden to "big money", than anyone in history. His contributions actually represent the "people". He did this with the baggage of African genes, a Muslin name (which he didn't change) and little backing. I call that damn good political and economic experience, quite an accomplishment, great courage and honor to his family and country.
He defeated experienced political opponents with major money backing but still managed to keep the "self-destructive" democrates together. That is great leadership experience, probably on the par of herding cats or being a Democrate 'whisperer'. I believe that he has fundamentally changed the Democratic party. It is about time that happened and something no one has been able to accomplish. After dismissing him he came back pulled them up by the scruff of their neck and said "Now you will listen to reason." He may keep them from "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory". Call it experience call it accomplishment, but it is all Barack Obama.
(more in extended post text)
Commentary: It's not a given that Republican candidate has the right stuff
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
Link to article: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/why-mccain-would-mediocre-president/story.aspx?guid={4914192B-12AF-4623-AB18-5EFE91204B04}&print=true&dist=printMidSection
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- In his frivolous Paris and Britney ad, Sen. John McCain has asked the right question: Is Barack Obama ready to lead this country?
Since last January, Sen. Obama's fitness for the presidency has been the only question that matters in American politics. The pollsters and pundits agree that if Obama can show the voters that he's up to the job, he'll win. If not, he won't.
But that begs another question: Is McCain fit to lead America?
That question hasn't been asked, nor has it been answered.
The assumption seems to be that McCain's years of experience in the military and in Congress of course give him the background and tools he'd need in the White House. As Britney might say, "Duh! For sure he's qualified!!! He's Mac!!!"
But is that true? Does McCain have the right stuff?
A careful look at McCain's biography shows that he isn't prepared for the job. His resume is much thinner than most people think.
Here are some reasons why McCain would be a mediocre president.
Lack of accomplishments
Like the current occupant of the White House, McCain got his first career breaks from the connections and money of his family, not from hard work.
The son and grandson of Navy admirals, he attended Annapolis where he did poorly. Nevertheless, he was commissioned as a pilot, where he performed poorly, crashing three planes before he failed to evade a North Vietnamese missile that destroyed his plane. McCain spent more than five years in a prison camp.
After his release, McCain knew his weak military record meant he'd never make admiral, so he turned his sights to a career in politics. With the help of his new wife's wealth, his new father-in-law's business connections and some powerful friends had made as a lobbyist for the Navy, he was elected in 1982 to a Congress in a district that he didn't reside in until the day the seat opened up. A few years later, he succeeded Barry Goldwater as a senator.
McCain hasn't accomplished much in the Senate. Even his own campaign doesn't trumpet his successes, probably because the few victories he's had still rankle Republicans.
His campaign finance law failed to significantly reduce the role of money in politics. He failed to get a big tobacco bill through the Senate. He's failed to change the way Congress spends money; his bill to give the president a line-item veto was declared unconstitutional, and the system of pork and earmarks continues unabated. He failed to reform the immigration system.
Every senator who runs for president misses votes back in Washington, so it's no surprise that McCain and all the others who ran in the primaries have missed a lot of votes in the past year. But between the beginning of 2005 and mid-2007, no senator missed more roll-call votes than McCain did, except Tim Johnson, who was recovering from a near-fatal brain aneurysm.
Shallow
McCain says he doesn't understand the economy. He's demonstrated that he doesn't understand the workings of Social Security, or the political history of the Middle East. He doesn't know who our enemies are. He says he wants to reduce global warming, but then proposes ideas that would stimulate -- not reduce -- demand for fossil fuels.
McCain has done one thing well -- self promotion. Instead of working on legislation or boning up on the issues, he's been on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" more than any other guest. He's been on the Sunday talk shows more than any other guest in the past 10 years. He's hosted "Saturday Night Live" and even announced his candidacy in 2007 on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
McCain has not articulated any lofty goals. So far, his campaign theme has mostly been "McCain: He's None of the Above."
In the primaries, he campaigned on "I'm not that robotic businessman, I'm not that sanctimonious hick, I'm not that crazy libertarian, I'm not that washed-up actor, I'm not that delusional 9/11 guy." In the general election, he's emphasized that he's not that treasonous dreamer.
No leadership
McCain has frequently taken on near-impossible missions that go against the grain of his party. It's the basis of his reputation as a maverick. But McCain has never been able to bring more than a handful of Republicans along with him on issues such as campaign finance reform or immigration. Democrats on the Hill have accepted McCain's help on some issues, but except for a few exceptions (John Kerry and Joe Lieberman), they've never warmed to him.
To achieve anything as president, McCain would have to win over two hostile parties: The Democrats and the Republicans.
Living in the Sixties
McCain is still fighting the Vietnam War. But he's not fighting the real historic war, which taught us the folly of injecting ourselves into a civil war that was none of our business. We learned that, in a world where even peasants have guns, explosives and radios, a determined and popular guerrilla force can defeat a modern army equipped with the mightiest technology if that army has no vital national interest to protect.
Instead, McCain is fighting an imaginary Vietnam War, where a sure victory could have been achieved with just a little more bombing, just a little more "pacification," just a little more will to win at home. This fantasy clouds McCain's judgment on foreign policy.
Most of the other high-profile politicians who fought in Vietnam -- Colin Powell, Chuck Hegel, John Kerry, and Jim Webb -- aren't stuck in the past, and they don't view the Iraq War as a chance to get Vietnam right.
No principles
After years of honing a reputation as a guy who'll say the truth regardless of the political consequences, McCain has crashed the Straight Talk Express. On almost every issue where he took a principled stand against the Republican line -- taxes, immigration, oil drilling, the Religious Right -- he's changed his views.
We ought to like politicians who change their mind when the facts change; it shows maturity, judgment and flexibility. But politicians who change their mind to suit the prevailing winds show the opposite.
The bottom line
Successful presidents come from two molds: visionaries, or mechanics. The visionaries -- think Reagan or FDR -- see what others can't and say 'Why not?" to inspire the country. The mechanics -- think LBJ or Eisenhower -- know the ins and outs of government and are able to harness the power of millions of humans to accomplish great things, or at least keep the wheels from coming off.
McCain fits neither style. He's neither a dreamer, nor a detail guy. His major accomplishment, in Vietnam and in the Senate, has been merely to survive.
Just surviving doesn't make you're a hero, or a decent president. America needs to do more than survive the next four years.
Rex Nutting is Washington bureau chief of MarketWatch.
At one of the UES meetings Jean Prendergast one of the organizers handed out several documents for us to familiarize ourselves with Barack's past political achievements. This 4 page document of Obama's past achievements gave me more solid proof of Obama's character & ability.
I find this list of his past achievements such a powerful tool in educating and winning over undecided voters when they claim they don't know him. This is just a window to what he could do for our country as president.
Email it to everyone. Print copies and pass it out. Ang
The list below is a brief synopsis of bills that Barack Obama has either sponsored or co-sponsored since his election to the Senate. All of these can be searched and accessed via the media pundit and dollar free site of:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
S. 133
To promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes. (1/4/2007)
S. 768
S. 155
To promote coal-to-liquid fuel activities. (1/4/2007)
S. 230
To provide greater transparency in the legislative process. (1/9/2007)
S. 1606
To provide for the establishment of a comprehensive policy on the care and management of wounded warriors in order to facilitate and enhance their care, rehabilitation, physical evaluation, transition from care by the Department of Defense to care by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and transition from military service to civilian life, and for other purposes. (1/13/2007)
S. 2377
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes. (1/16/2007)
To provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans (4/10/2007)
S. 2330
To authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes. (1/8/2007)
S. 681
To restrict the use of offshore tax havens and abusive tax shelters to inappropriately avoid Federal taxation, and for other purposes. (2/17/2007)
S. 242
For Pete's Sake - can someone in the campaign give a list of Obama's accomplishments to the surrogates?
Everytime I hear a Republican ask 'What has Obama done?' there seems never to be a good reply. I would like to see the Obama supporter start rattling off a laundry list of work and accomplishements - I am in marketing, and I know this would be very easy and very effective.
How powerful would it be to start droning on with specifics on Obama's community organizing, State Senate work, Senate legislation, and especially his Executive experience as the head of this amazing campaign that has brought in more money, more voter registration and larger crowds than any campaign in history; Talk about how he has leveraged new media and grass roots networking that rivals the effectiveness of any large scale corporation.
PLEEEEASE!
Please post your favorite Obama accomplishments here. Specifically I'm looking for your favorite legislation that he helped sponsor and pass.
Thanks
I just wanted to share this blog entry written by a "grassroots mom." She did some research at the library of congress website, looking at the accomplishments for Clinton and Obama in 2007. She found that Obama had passed more, and more meaningful legislation. I checked it out myself and found it to be accurate. Going back the pattern seems to hold. I have convinced a few undecided voters wtith this information, those who think this is a choice between an experienced and an inspiring candidate. It helps to break down that whole way of framing the choice--with Obama you get proven competence and inspiration. Hope it can help some fellow callers. cheers, S
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633
I wanted to share one key observation in my conversations with several Obama supporters and a new trend in the media coverage of our campaign.
It is vital that we are aware of Obama's accomplishments. There are too many to list but here are a few key ones that I believe we should all know about in some detail:
1) Obama-Coburne: Obama worked with Republican Tom Coburn to get this law passed.
Bill Requires Public Disclosure of All Recipients of Federal Funding Taxpayers Can Find Out Online How Their Money Is Spent
http://obama.senate.gov/press/060407-coburn_introduc/
2) Lugar-Obama: Dick Lugar and Obama work to help reduce weapons proliferation being used against our own troops abroad.
Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law "The Lugar-Obama initiative will help other nations find and eliminate conventional weapons that have been used against our own soldiers in Iraq and sought by terrorists all over the world," said Obama.http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/
3) Ethics Reform: Obama led and worked with other Senators to pass the strongest ethics reform since Watergate.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011901456.htmlThere are many more but these three to me are critical because they deal with four critical aspects of this race:
1) Bipartisanship2) Foreign Policy/Military Policy3) Spending & Cost Oversight4) Ethics Reform
Please take time to review these (if you haven't already) and pass it along the rest of the team and supporters.
Thanks!
Juan Carlos Perez, (VA, OH, DE, SC)
(Reprint; Courtesy of the Barnes Family)
Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton.Records of these two candidates should be scrutinized in order to make an informed decision.
Where are you on your road to achieving your goals? We all have goals and one of them should be to lead a healthy and productive life. Many of us are unemployed and uninsured. How do we solve these challenges in order to meet the goal of living a healthy and productive life?
We can support and vote for change! Change that would move us from uninsured to insured and unemployed to employed. Obama exemplifies that change. I am looking forward to it.
My voice:
I would like to voice my relief. I am relieved that Obama has not been worn down my the currupt politics of Washington. I am relieved that he has not been able to manipulate the system and disregard the needs of his constituents in order to further his own political career. I am relieved that he has not cast bogus votes or presented meaningless proposals just for the sake of saying "I did this". I am relieved that he has not had enough time to join the ranks of government officials that are so out of touch with the American people that they would allow us to suffer behind their petty "party" differences.
Everyone wants to focus on what Obama has done in the Senate. Personally, I support him for what he is doing right now and what I believe he will do once he is in office. It is evident that he has the power to envoke a spirit of change. He has been able to draw people, that never before have been involved in the political process. This is a very BIG factor that is not getting the congratulations it deserves. Considering that our government is supposed to be "of the people, for the people and by the people", It is a BIG deal when someone comes along that can get people interested in their government, especially when they have been excluded from it for so long. It was not the Senate or the House that sparked abolition of slavery or the civil rights movement, or the woman sufferage movement. It was the people. People that were inspired by voices screaming for change; "Motivational Speakers". Congress decided to act because the people were demanding to be heard and demanding change. Had congress been left to their devises we could very well still be a nation of slaves, surpressed women , and minorities with no rights.
Well, the issues maybe different this time around, but the need is no less severe. I see our nation being divided not by color or gender but now it is the "Haves" against the "Have-Nots". A nation where you have to be wealthy live a quality life. You have to be wealthy have access to better quality food, education, and healthcare. This is not acceptable. It is not fair. It is not right. The messages that have been delivered by Barack Obama have made me recaluate my effect on the world around me. It is not just enough to recognize that their is something wrong. It is my civil duty to fight to change it. "Ordinary people can do extrordinary things". This is one of many statements made or "delivered" by Senator Obama that has changed my life.
Now, I want my government back. I want someone in office that will fight hard to put the issues in the hands of the American people AGAIN and not make back room decisions and policies that only support their own personal agendas. I want a government that will cater to the needs of it's nation. People "WE" are the Government. We are supposed to be calling the shots. Our representatives in Washington are supposed to be "civil servants" to us. We are the majority. The only reason Washington has been able to run thier own side- show for so long is because, "we the people" were not paying attention. We were not engaged. We were not holding these politicians accountable. We were not holding the media accountable. Now, largely due to Barack Obama, we are watching, we are paying attention. Washington, you can not trick us anymore? I want to know your every move? Tell me face to face why our jobs are leaving? Sit down at my kitchen table with me and tell me why I can barely afford to buy fresh produce? Take a drive with me and tell me why my gas tank is never full anymore?
"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things". Baracks presidential campaign has made us aware of our forgotten power to control our government. We do matter. Our words matter. They are not empty speeches. Words can spark your imagination, your imagination can spark ideas, your ideas can spark plans, your plans can spark actions, and your actions will produce results. These results would be the change that we seek. "For once in my adult life", I am inspired. I feel like I can make an impact in my government. I feel like getting involved and not sitting back on the sidelines... and to think it all started with one man giving a SPEECH. "YES WE CAN".
What Senator Obama has accomplished could never be measured by the cynical and condescending rulers of the media. His accomplishments go deeper than the rationalized thought process of the media. You can not measure or tally the power of Faith or Hope, because the power is infinite.
WE MUST EDUCATE ALL those who are going to be on TV supporting Barack Obama. I was embarrassed by Texas State Senator Kirk Watson's gaffe on MSNBC post-election program last night. Watson was on to talk about his support of Senator Obama alongside Representative Stephanie Tubbs (D-OH), who backs Senator Clinton. Watson has endorsed Obama and writes about all the things Obama will do for the country. He was unable to answer Chris Matthew's most basic demand: "Name some of his legislative accomplishments... name any..." Watson could not name a single one. We can't let this happen! Get some facts out to everybody about Obama's accomplishments. Post on blogs, send emails, talk about them. Anything, just keep getting the accomplishments out there! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4578207
Kirk Watson has written about last night's interview on his website:
On Tuesday night, after an important and historic victory in the Wisconsin Presidential Primary by Senator Barack Obama, I appeared on the MSNBC post-election program. "Hardball" host Chris Matthews (who is, it turns out, as ferocious as they say), began grilling me on Senator Obama's legislative record. And my mind went blank. I expected to be asked about the primary that night, or the big one coming up in Texas on March 4, or just about anything else in the news. When the subject changed so emphatically, I reached for information that millions of my fellow Obama supporters could recite by heart, and I couldn't summon it.My most unfortunate gaffe is not, in any way, a comment on Senator Obama, his substantial record, or the great opportunity we all share to elect him President of the United States.
The Chris Mathews evisceration last night has already made its way into Hillary's stump speech -- see Chuck Todd's First Read today. The campaign has to better prep its surrogates -- provide a top-ten list of accomplishments, including Harvard Law Review, Chicago organizing, State Senate legislative accomplishments, U.S. Senate legislative accomplishments, and running a stunning presidential campaign. Then also remind those who ask of that other inexperienced State Senator from Illinois and that young U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.
And what about this for the debate ... have Barack go in with a resume and when Hillary asks what he has accomplished present her with a copy and say its just been posted on barackobama.com for those who are interested. Then ask her what she has accomplished in her fewer years as an elected official? Or in her years in the White House, other than a failed and divisive effort regarding universal healthcare and the combating of various scandals?
Wow, poor Senator Watson.
Let's all resolve to get to know our candidate a little better this week....Here are some links to get you started.
If you have any good links, please post them as a comment!
1. Congresspedia
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama
2. Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
3. Library of Congress: (search "senate amendment agreements" for example)
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html
4. Senate website:
http://obama.senate.gov
5. Contrast article in politico.com:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8573.html
6. New York Times summary of Obama's Illinois Senate accomplishments
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html
7. ... and accompanying article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html?scp=3&sq=obama&st=nyt
8. Mark Halperin's (online free for a limited time) Undecided Voter's Guide:
http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061537301&WT.mc_id=news_HotHarper_Halperin_BI_Full_020108
9. Daily Kos Summary
I have taken the hard work of Daewoo Kim and myself and compiled a much shorter highlights summation of Obama's best achievements. This shorter version is geared to the short attention span of the average American voter, suitable for quick conversation, email, and reading aloud :
BARACK OBAMA :
10 years of senate experience (8 in state senate 2 in federal) with much aisle crossing bi-partisan solutions. Opposed bills he believed were unconstitutional. Drafted many bills that became law, surpassing collegues. In the 2 years he was in majority in his state senate, he sponsored 780 bills, and 280 of those were signed into law.
100% approval rating from: The League of Conservation Voters , Planned Parenthood. The National Education Association gives him an "A" on their most recent scorecard.
Examples in state senate :
Kidcare (added health insurance for 20,000 Illinois children)
Welfare reform (a bipartisan bill passed in Republican controlled senate, generating major headlines)
Earned income tax credit (tax relief for working poor families)Also voted to increase the minimum wage (from $5.15 to 6.50)
Death penalty reform. (He supports the death penalty in exceptional circumstances, but wanted all interrogations to be videotaped. Initially viewed as highly controversial, Senator Obama listened to all sides of the debate, incorporated ideas from many individuals, and the result was a bill that passed the Senate 58-0, and was signed into law by a governor who originally opposed Senator Obama's bill.)
The most ambitious campaign finance reform and ethics reform in nearly 25 years, according to good government groups.
He sponsored a bill to investigate racial profiling by police, essentially second guessing police officers. (By incorporating the best ideas from all sides on this and other bills, he even managed to win the endorsement of the state police officers union when he ran for U.S. Senate.)
Obama was opposed to the Iraq war publically, long before the invasion ever happened. Obama gave a 100% accurate assessment that the war would be of an unacceptable undetermined length, undetermined cost, and undetermined objective, and would result in civil war. This is consistant with the assessment that Bush senior and Dick Cheney both gave in the early 90's as to why they didn't invade back then. The country of iraq was only held together by having a ruthless dictator on top. Otherwise the country had zero unity.
Federal senate :
Obama worked with republican senator Lugar to author and implement a program to locate and dismantle stray Russian WMD's including shoulder fired missiles and antipersonnel mines that were left over from the cold war after the disbanding of the USSR. This was sensible, low cost, and actually resulted in an america safer from terrorism. Some terrorists or rogue nation could have gotten those weapons. So don't let anyone tell you Obama isn't effective in the war for security against terrorism.
Senator Democratic leader Harry Reid has designated Barack Obama as the Democrats' point man on ethics, citing three reasons for his selection: whenever Obama walks into a room, everyone stops talking and listens to what he has to say; Obama is known for having unquestionable ethics and integrity.
Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment in the U.S. Senate happened on January 18, 2007. That is when the Senate passed a major ethics/lobbying reform bill. (Senator Obama had voted against a prior ethics reform bill that he said wasn't tough enough.) Newspapers give Senators Obama and Russ Feingold significant credit for insisting that this latest ethics bill included tough measures. Obama risked some political capital to get this bill passed. The bill bans gifts/meals from lobbyists; puts an end to subsidized corporate jets; requires full disclosure of earmarks (who are the earmarks for, and for what purpose); places restrictions on retiring members of Congress going immediately into lobbying; requires lobbyists to disclose bundling of contributions to Congress, candidates or committees
While touring Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian territories, he told Palestinian Authority President MahMoud Abbas that US would never recognize Hamas leaders until they renounced mission to eliminate Israel. In Africa, he publicly took an AIDS test to show people in Africa that it was ok and even socially responsible to have an AIDS test.
Senator Obama cosponsored the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, S-2611, sponsored by John McCain. It passed the Senate on May 25, 2006, by a vote of 62-36. Under this bill, undocumented persons who have been in the country five or more years would only be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship, provided they pay back taxes, learn English and have no serious criminal records. 2 million undocumented persons who have been in the United States for less than two years would be ordered home.
He has also called for increased fuel efficiency standards (3 percent every year for 15 years). He's encouraged use of ethnanol as an alternative fuel.
In his first first year as U.S. Senator, Obama held 39 town hall meetings throughout Illinois, and in senate, sponsored 152 bills and resolutions, and cosponsored 427 more.
All this as a freshman senator.
Background :Obama worked for $13,000 a year in inner city Chicago helping people. His program registered 150,000 people to vote. When he graduated as the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, he passed up over 600 high money offers at law firms and worked for a civil rights law firm at a fraction of the pay.
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