Leave of absence

I am having technical issues with my computer. Motherboard and associated problems. I may be back on by Tuesday.

Troubling news in Iran

Asia Times: Bush to attack Iran by August.

Asia Times is reporting that the Bush administration “plans to launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months”:

The source, a retired US career diplomat and former assistant secretary of state still active in the foreign affairs community, speaking anonymously, said last week that the US plans an air strike against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The air strike would target the headquarters of the IRGC’s elite Quds force. With an estimated strength of up to 90,000 fighters, the Quds’ stated mission is to spread Iran’s revolution of 1979 throughout the region.

Former Bush spokesman's book criticizes Bush

Scott McClellan

President Bush “convinces himself to believe what suits his needs at the moment,” and has engaged in “self-deception” to justify his political ends, Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary, writes in a critical new memoir about his years in the West Wing.

In addition, Mr. McClellan writes, the decision to invade Iraq was a “serious strategic blunder,” and yet, in his view, it was not the biggest mistake the Bush White House made. That, he says, was “a decision to turn away from candor and honesty when those qualities were most needed."
...

Mr. McClellan writes that top White House officials deceived him about the administration’s involvement in the leaking of the identity of a C.I.A. operative, Valerie Wilson. He says he did not know for almost two years that his statements from the press room that Karl Rove and I. Lewis Libby Jr. were not involved in the leak were a lie.

“Neither, I believe, did President Bush,” Mr. McClellan writes. “He too had been deceived, and therefore became unwittingly involved in deceiving me. But the top White House officials who knew the truth — including Rove, Libby, and possibly Vice President Cheney — allowed me, even encouraged me, to repeat a lie.”

Late Night Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells

McCain Keeps Bush Fundraiser Under Wraps

LA TImes: "What's worse, Obama's apparent gaffe or the RNC pouncing on a Holocaust-related historical mistake for political advantage?"

LA Times had this to say:

The RNC seized the opportunity to fire off a news release, saying that “unless his uncle was serving in the Red Army, there’s no way Obama’s statement yesterday can be true. Obama’s frequent exaggerations and outright distortions raise questions about his judgment and his readiness to lead as commander in chief.”

The Obama campaign soon acknowledged that the Democratic candidate made a mistake. It explained that Obama’s great-uncle was in the 89th Infantry Division that helped liberate another notorious death camp, Buchenwald. Obama, the campaign said, “is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II -- especially the fact that his great-uncle was part of liberating of one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald.”

All of which raises the question: What's worse, Obama's apparent gaffe or the RNC pouncing on a Holocaust-related historical mistake for political advantage?

What about McCains senior moments?

War protesters interrupt John McCain’s foreign policy speech in Colorado

McCain: Forty five years ago, President John F Kennedy asked the American people to imagine, what the world would look like if Nuclear weapons spread beyond the few powers that then held them. To the many other nations that sought them. Stop and think for a moment he said, what it would mean to have nuclear weapons in so many hands large and small…

Protester: Endless war, endless war, Endless war, endless war…. end this war, end this war…

Crowd: John McCain, John McCain.

McCain: You know ahhh, it’s not too important, but I have town hall meetings all the time, I’ll be having one tomorrow where people are allowed to come and state their views and we exchange them and the one thing we don’t do is interfere with other people’s right to free speech, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with these people

Video at Crooks and Liars

Take the Bush-McCain Challenge From MoveOn.com

You have to got to try this! Have fun!

Quiz.

McSame Voted With George Bush 100% In 2008

Progressive Media USA:

CQ’s Presidential Support studies try to determine how often a legislator votes in line with the President’s position:

CQ tries to determine what the president personally, as distinct from other administration officials, does and does not want in the way of legislative action. This is done by analyzing his messages to Congress, news conference remarks and other public statements and documents.

So, these studies only track votes when the President has an explicit, stated opinion on a bill.

According to CQ, Senator John McCain has voted with President Bush 100% of the time in 2008 and 95% of the time in 2007!

Yet the Republican pundits go on talk shows and boast how McCain is his own man, a maverick! Yeah right.

Super Delegates will Endorse Obama After June 3

From ABC News:

When asked by "Good Morning America" what the chances are of Sen. Hillary Clinton continuing her fight for the nomination into the Democrats' August convention, Stephanopoulos replied,

"Zero."

"There's so many superdelegates out there who agreed with what Jimmy Carter said," Stephanopoulos said. Former President Carter said last week that once the voting was over he felt that "at that point it will be time for her to give it up."

"Once these contests are done, you'll see several dozen superdelegates go his [Obama's] way following June 3," Stephanopoulos said.

Chuck Todd: Hillary may have overplayed her hand

First Read

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Did Hillary stay in too long? Given the thud with which Clinton's RFK flub was received, it's starting to become clear that perhaps she erred in deciding to stay in the race this long. Imagine had she suspended her campaign and still won primaries. Wouldn't that have put her in an even stronger position than now? Obama hasn't run a campaign against her for the last few weeks and, in turn, it's helped Clinton prop up her personal standing. But wouldn't she be winning over the support of some in ObamaNation if she were sort of returning the favor by getting out and suspending the campaign? And that's the rub: At some point for her political future, she has to win back the support of Obama's supporters. And they don't seem to be very forgiving of her right now. The Clinton campaign may believe these folks are being irrational, but it's the state of play right now. It's interesting -- Clinton partisans are mad at a lot of folks, but Obama isn't at the top of the list. For Obama partisans, Clinton (or the Clintons) is at the top of their anger list. As for Clinton, she really hasn't given a good reason for staying in (versus suspending her candidacy while keeping her delegates) for any set of voters other than those folks in Michigan and Florida or for the folks in Puerto Rico. If she were in suspension mode, she could be focusing on legacy restoration. Instead, everything she says is viewed through the prism of angling for a longshot 1% chance at the nomination. Whatever the outcome at this point, Clinton's folks may wish they had suspended their candidacy a few weeks ago. In this case, short-term gain could end up being long-term political pain.

Joe Lieberman to headline Pastor Hageee summit

Well, so much for not wanting his support. They still have it!

When will McCain denounce Lieberman?

Senator Joseph Lieberman is scheduled to headline Pastor John Hagee's 2008 Christians United For Israel Washington-Israel Summit this July 22. In accepting Hagee's invitation, Lieberman became the most senior elected representative confirmed to appear at the annual gala. Last year, when Lieberman spoke at Hagee's summit, he compared the Texas televangelist to the biblical prophet Moses, dubbing him "an Ish Elochim," or "a man of God."
...

Hagee's vitriolic condemnation of Catholicism, his jeremiad declaring Hurricane Katrina divine punishment for New Orleans' hosting of a "homosexual rally," and his generally disturbing apocalyptic theology became national news last February when John McCain accepted his endorsement in a widely publicized ceremony.

While initially resisting pressure to reject Hagee's endorsement, McCain finally ended his relationship with Hagee when a sermon by the preacher describing the Holocaust as the will of God registered on the mainstream media's radar.

Taxpayers pay for Bush to attend McCain fundraiser.

BLITZER: Ed, who pays when the President goes to a fundraiser like this for John McCain? The McCain campaign or the American taxpayer?

HENRY: They both pay, Wolf. The bottom line is the President is trying to mix in a little official business today. He’s going to speak at cable company…short remarks. That justifies for the White House charging the taxpayers for some of this trip, and the McCain camp picks up the rest, Wolf.

Late Night foghat- slow ride

Obama picks up 6 delegates this weekend, Clinton only 1

From MSNBC First Read

I wonder what Hillary is really doing?

McCain Campaign Lying About The Polls

Bill Scher at Liberal Oasis:

The NY Times today quotes a McCain campaign adviser defending the campaign's performance because even though "the Republican Party brand is very, very badly damaged, ... Senator McCain is running even or ahead of Senator Obama in most national polls."

That is a false statement, which the Times did not correct.

I recently penned an op-ed for last Friday's Omaha World-Herald about why the attacks on Obama have failed to derail his path to the nomination, and failed to deny him a clear lead against Sen. John McCain (Full op-ed below).

I led with the observation, "He beats Sen. John McCain in seven of eight major polls taken this month, with margins mostly between 5 and 7 points, and the most recent survey showing a 10-point lead."

Mr. Scher goes on to list and link a number of polls that prove otherwise.

Liz Trotta Apologizes

Trotta: I am so sorry about what happened yesterday. In a lame attempt at humor I really just fell all over myself in making it appear that I wished Barack Obama harm or any other candidate for that matter. I sincerely regret it and apologize to anybody I’ve offended. It’s a very colorful political season and many of us are making mistakes and saying things we wish we hadn’t said.

I am glad she said this. I hope it is sincere.

Lieberman compares Pastor Hagee to Moses

Hagee: Therefore it is time for America to embrace the words of Senator Joe Lieberman, and consider a military preemptive strike on Iran to prevent a nuclear holocaust of Israel.

Lieberman: I want to take the liberty of describing Pastor Hagee in the words that the Tirah uses to describe Moses….he is a man of God.

From what I can tell Joe has known Rev. Hagee for one year.

Late Night Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears (Full Long Version)

Petition for Fox News to Fire Liz Trotta

If you fine her comments unexcusable, then there is a petition at Care2Petitionsite

Clintons Camp Blames Obama for RFK Statement

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign accused Sen. Barack Obama's campaign of fanning a controversy over her describing the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy late in the 1968 Democratic primary as one reason she is continuing to run for the presidency.

"The Obama campaign ... tried to take these words out of context," Clinton campaign chairman Terence R. McAuliffe said on "Fox News Sunday." "She was making a point merely about the time line."

I begged to differ. Obamas camp did not have much to say about this last Friday. MSM did!

Fox News contributor jokes about assassinating Obama.

TROTTA: And now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that sombody knock off Osama — Obama. Well, both, if we could.

HOST: Talk about how you really feel.

Liz Trotta is the former New York bureau chief of the Washington Times.

Stephanopoulos Indentifies Rove as McCains Advisor

Parsley withdraws his endorsement of McCain.

Last week Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain denounced Rev. Parsley and his statement about Islam, and at the same time rejected his support.

Yesterday Rev. Parsley withdrew his endorsement of Senator McCain.

Last Friday he mentioned it in passing, but yesterday he clarified it yet again, saying only “this statement is a clarification on (Friday’s) statement.”

Late Night Creedence Clearwater Revival- Proud Mary

Lindsey and Lieberman already breaking McCain's new conflict of interest rules

Getting lost in all of the Hillary coverage is John McCain.

Below is some interesting comments from the Huffington Post:

Two of Sen. John McCain's top campaign chairmen are serving on the board of an independent organization that is behind a new attack ad against Sen. Barack Obama, an apparent violation of the Arizona Republican's new conflict of interest policy.

Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Lindsey Graham both hold chairs for the McCain camp as well as positions on the board of advisers of Vets for Freedom, an advocacy group that supports the Iraq war.

A week ago these titles may not have been a political issue. But under McCain's newly-implemented ethics policy, Lieberman and Graham's role with Vets for Freedom is now proving problematic.

According to the policy: "No person with a McCain Campaign title or position may participate in a 527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate."

On Friday, Vets for Freedom, an independent group, did just that. In a commercial released on its website, the organization directly took on Obama over his willingness to negotiate with Iranian leadership.

From Americablog: More coverage of Hillary's assassination remarks

John Aravosis did a lot of research and posted a lot of comments form some fellow journalists and some national magazines. Instead of reposting most of his blog here, I recommend you go to his blog and read the statements.

He has quotes from, Houston Chronicle blog, Newsday, Andrew Sullivan, Rolling Stone, Dallas Morning News blog, and many many more.

Keith Olbermann Breaks Down All of Hillary's Past Comments That Were 'Forgiven'

Below is a breakdown of all of the past, outrageous comments Hillary had made incampaign that for the most part her supporters and the Democratic Party had forgiven her for. The list is tell-telling to say the least.

• We have forgiven you your insistence that there have been widespread calls for you to end your campaign, when such calls had been few.
  
• We have forgiven you your misspeaking about Martin Luther King's relative importance to the Civil Rights movement.
  
• We have forgiven you your misspeaking about your under-fire landing in Bosnia.
  
• We have forgiven you insisting Michigan's vote wouldn't count and then claiming those who would not count it were UN-Democratic.
  
• We have forgiven you pledging to not campaign in Florida and thus disenfranchise voters there, and then claim those who stuck to those rules were as wrong as those who defended slavery or denied women the vote.
  
• We have forgiven you the photos of Osama Bin Laden in an anti-Obama ad...
  
• We have forgiven you fawning over the fairness of Fox News while they were still calling you a murderer.
  
• We have forgiven you accepting Richard Mellon Scaife's endorsement and then laughing as you described his "deathbed conversion."
  
• We have forgiven you quoting the electoral predictions of Boss Karl Rove.
  
• We have forgiven you the 3 A-M Phone Call commercial.
  
• We have forgiven you **President** Clinton's disparaging comparison of the Obama candidacy to Jesse Jackson's.
  
• We have forgiven you Geraldine Ferraro's national radio interview suggesting Obama would not still be in the race had he been a white man.
  
• We have forgiven you the dozen changing metrics and the endless self-contradictions of your insistence that your nomination is mathematically probable rather than a statistical impossibility.
  
• We have forgiven you your declaration of some primary states as counting and some as not.
  
• We have forgiven you exploiting Jeremiah Wright in front of the editorial board of the lunatic-fringe Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  
• We have forgiven you exploiting William Ayers in front of the debate on ABC.
  
• We have forgiven you for boasting of your "support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans"...
  
• We have even forgiven you repeatedly praising Senator McCain at Senator Obama's expense, and your **own** expense, and the Democratic **ticket's** expense.
  

It is amazing to say the least that she is where she is at in the campaign. Despite all of the things she has said above, she has managed to get as many votes as she has gotten in the campaign.

What is also amazing is the fact that if you list Obama's misquotes they pale in comparison to hers.

After this holiday weekend, I hope the super delegates put an end to her campaign once and for all. For the mercy of all of us.

What people had to say about Hillary and Bobby Kennedy Remark

Rachel Maddow:



Eugene Robinson:



Time:

Though she has now apologized for that very strange and tasteless comment to the Argus-Leader, this was not the first time she's said it. This from her interview with TIME Managing Editor Richard Stengel, published March 6:

TIME: Can you envision a point at which--if the race stays this close--Democratic Party elders would step in and say, "This is now hurting the party and whoever will be the nominee in the fall"?


CLINTON: No, I really can't. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual.

AP:

"Sen. Hillary Clinton referred Friday to the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968 Democratic campaign as a reason she should continue to campaign despite increasingly long odds." AP understood perfectly what Hillary meant.

NY Post:

Hillary Clinton today brought up the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama.

"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said, dismissing calls to drop out.

Clinton made her comments at a meeting with the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader's editorial board while campaigning in South Dakota, where she complained that, "People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa."

Late Night Canned Heat

Biden: Worse Administration Ever? He Thinks So

So do I!

Beware video is over 12 minutes long.

Keith Olbermann Special Comment to Hillary Clinton 5/23

I am going to flip-flop my opinion on this entire ordeal. As you may or may not already know, I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt when she made that statement today that she was referring to the month of June and nothing more. I was thinking this was an innocent gaffe because she said the Kennedy's have been on her mind as of late. He has been on my mind as well. However, thanks to Keith Olbermann and Countdown by means of MSNBC, I learned something today I was not aware of. This was not the first time she mentioned Bobby Kennedy or his assassination. Therefore, I take back what I said earlier. I cannot defend her anymore on this. She is clearly wanting, and maybe expecting Obama to be shot and killed! As Keith said for her to wait around until someone actually does that, makes her unfit to be President.

Below are Keith's remarks on the other times she mentioned June and Bobby Kennedy.

• Firstly, she has previously bordered on the remarks she made today...
  
  Then swerved back from them and the awful skid they represented. She said, in an off-camera interview with **Time** on March 6th...
  
  "Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June, also in California. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing
  particularly unusual. We will see how it unfolds as we go forward over the next three to four months."
  
  In retrospect, we failed her when we did not call her out, for that remark, dry and only disturbing, in a magazine's pages.

  
  
  

• But somebody obviously warned her of the danger of that rhetoric:
  
  After the Indiana primary, on May 7th, she told supporters at a Washington hotel:
  
  "Sometimes you gotta calm people down a little bit. But if you look at successful presidential campaigns, my husband did not get the nomination until June of 1992. I remember tragically when Senator Kennedy won California near the end of that process."
  
  And at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on the same day, she referenced it again:
  
  "You know, I remember very well what happened in the California primary in 1968 as, you know, Senator Kennedy won that primary."

  
  

Keith pointed out that she had avoided using the words assassination because obviously someone had told her it was not a good idea, but for some reason she chose to use it again. Assassination. Fear.

He brought up another good point, she sort of apologized to the Kennedy's, but what about Obama? Not a word. Not one word.

I read Andrew Sullivan's comments on this today and I am paraphrasing them because I agree with what he said in jest. Hillary has been waiting around for something to happen. An assassination or implosion by Obama. Today we may have witnessed an implosion by Hillary.

Preliminary’ talks underway?

Take it for what is worth. CNN reported this morning that they are “aware” of the formal discussions that have begun between the two campaigns, meaning Clinton/Obama for Clinton to be VP. Below is the video.

Rachel Maddow: Hillary is taking this to the convention

Two weeks ago, I would have said no way. Now judging by what Hillary and Bill are saying, I have to agree with Rachel. She is taking this all of the way to the convention. The only way to stop her is if the superdelegates chime in once and for all.

Rachel Maddow from the Huffington Post:

The Florida/Michigan issue get settled, of course, by the Democrats' Rules and Bylaws Committee... unless of course that committee's decision gets appealed to the Credentials Committee... unless of course that decision, too, gets appealed... to the floor of the convention.

Do you see where this is going? If there is an open, unresolved procedural issue involving the Florida and Michigan delegations, Senator Clinton will be able to cite that as her justification for staying in the race until the convention even though she is not ahead in the nomination contest at the end of the primary calendar.

If she can ensure that the Florida and Michigan issue stays unresolved until the convention (and by appealing it every step of the way, I don't see how that can be avoided), then Clinton stays in the race until the convention. Staying in until the convention buys her three more months of campaign time, three more months to make her case to the party and the country, three more months for some potential political unfortunateness to befall Senator Obama....

Listen: you don't need a vivid political imagination to recognize that if what you really want is to be President of the United States -- a slim chance of becoming President (a fight at the convention) is better than no chance of becoming President (because you dropped out).

The Clinton strategy, as best as I can tell, is to stay in the race. You can't win if you don't play -- conceding the nomination is sure defeat, not conceding means there's still a chance....

Obama's campaign should stop believing what most of the press says, and start believing what Clinton says -- she isn't budging....

I think if the Clinton campaign won 100% of what they wanted on the Florida and Michigan dispute, Obama could still clinch the nomination -- even according to the most pro-Clinton math -- if 90 of the remaining 210-or-so undeclared superdelegates declared for Obama.

If they so declared before May 31st, the Rules and Bylaws committee would have no reason to take up the Florida and Michigan dispute because it would be a moot point -- Obama's camp could concede every Clinton demand on the subject and still win the nomination.

Otherwise? I'll be the twitchy one on radio row at the divided Democratic convention in Denver... spooked by the ghosts of 1968, 1972, 1980...

FBI files indict Bush, Cheney and Co. as war criminals

The most stunning revelation in a 370-page Justice US Department Inspector General’s report released this week was that agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation had formally opened a “War Crimes” file, documenting torture they had witnessed at the Guantánamo Bay US prison camp, before being ordered by the administration to stop writing their reports.

The World Socialist Web Site, together with human rights groups and other opponents of US militarism and repression, has long insisted that the actions of the Bush administration—the launching of wars of aggression, assassinations, the abduction and detention of civilians without trial and, most repugnant of all, torture—constitute war crimes under any legitimate interpretation of longstanding international statutes and treaties.

To have this assessment confirmed, however, by the IG of the Justice Department, the only senior official there not answerable directly to the White House, and by agents of the FBI, an agency not known for its sensitivity to questions of democratic rights, is an indication of the rampant character of these crimes as well as the crisis they have engendered within the US government and America’s ruling elite as a whole.

Please go to read the rest of the report. Shocking and true.

Nader Calls for Bush-Cheney Impeachment

From ABC News:

Nader said the President has, "dishonored the White House and brought a pattern of waste."

"A wasteful defense is a weak defense and a weak defense, inspires waste," Nader said.

Nader charged that the President and Vice President are currently committing five impeachable offenses, on a daily basis, including:

• criminal use of offense against Iraq
  
• condoned and approved systematic torture
  
• arresting thousands of Americans -- denying them habeas corpus and violating attorney/client privilege
  
• signing 800 signing statements, precluding the president from actually having to follow the laws he signs
  
• systematic spying on Americans without judicial approval.
  

I agree with Ralph Nader. If George Bush, and many in his administration had been Democrats, Republicans would have had him, and his staff impeached and removed long ago!

Hillary explains why she is staying in

Hillary obama rfk
by dollarsandsense123

Both her husband and the assassinated Bobby Kennedy never wrapped up their campaign until June. Many people found her reasoning and the use of Bobby Kennedy as being offensive.

First of all, I have read some other blogs where the blogger was saying what she meant was Obama might get assassinated! I am not of that camp. That type of reasoning never crossed my mind. That being said, I think the fact that Teddy Kennedy is fighting brain cancer at this time, that bringing up the assassination of his brother, the second such assassination in the family was not a good comparison. What made matters worse was the official statement coming from Hillary's camp!

I am paraphrasing, they said in no uncertain terms that what she was talking about was the idea that both campaigns were not decided until June, and anyone trying to read anything into this was being outrageous.

To Hillary's credit, she very quickly made the correct response herself to a reporter soon after that statement. She toned down the mood of the official statement and apologized to the Kennedy's and to anyone that was offended by her original statement.

Obama widens superdelegate lead

Barack Obama has added five more superdelegates today.

Obama now has 311.5 superdelegates, according to his campaign's count, and is within 56 delegates of clinching the nomination.

McCain had cancer surgery in February.

From AP:

McCain's most recent exams show a range of health issues common in aging: He frequently has precancerous skin lesions removed, and in February had an early stage squamous cell carcinoma, an easily cured skin cancer, removed. He had benign colon growths called polyps taken out during a routine colonoscopy in March.

First of all, I wish him a quick and successful recovery. Second of all, interesting that he and his camp kept this a secret.

Late Night The Kingsmen - Louie Louie (rare 1965 clip)

Powerful Iraqi cleric flirting with Shiite militant message

From the AP:

Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible — a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad.

The edicts, or fatwas, by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani suggest he seeks to sharpen his long-held opposition to American troops and counter the populist appeal of his main rivals, firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia.

Uh-oh!

Rev #2 and John McCain

Earlier today I posted an article about Rev. Rod Parsley and his statements about Islam , calling Allah a demon spirit. In that article it said Rod Parsley is McCains spiritual adviser.

Since I posted that article John McCain has reputiated the remarks and rejected his endorsement.

He hasn't had a very good day!

To see what type of relationship that John McCain has with Rev Parsley, watch the video below.

Another McCain Pastor: Islam Is a 'Conspiracy of Spiritual Evil'

From ABC News:

Despite his call for the U.S. to win the "hearts and minds of the Islamic world," Sen. John McCain recruited the support of an evangelical minister who describes Islam as "anti-Christ" and Mohammed as "the mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil."

McCain sought the support of Pastor Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio at a critical time in his campaign in February, when former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was continuing to draw substantial support from the Christian right.

At a campaign appearance in Cincinnati, McCain introduced Parsley as "one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide."...

"America was founded with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed," Parsley says...

The campaign did not answer the question of whether it was aware of Parsley's widely publicized statements prior to seeking his endorsement in February.

McCain has not disassociated himself from the pastor, but the campaign statement said, "Just because someone endorses John McCain doesn't mean he endorses all of their views.

"It's clear this election they are having is not going to count for anything" Oct 2007

If it was "clear" then, why has she made it unclear now?

Californians give Obama a significant edge over Clinton and McCain

A new poll released today in California finds political momentum shifting dramatically toward Barack Obama—and away from both Hillary Clinton and John McCain—in the nation's most populous state. According to a survey conducted over the past 10 days by the Public Policy Institute of California, 59 percent of likely voters here now have a "favorable" impression of Democrat Obama, while a majority view both of the other candidates unfavorably. In a state whose Democratic primary Clinton won in February, 51 percent of voters now say they have an unfavorable opinion of her; 53 percent of voters feel the same way about Republican McCain.

Obama, meanwhile, seems to be making strides across nearly every constituency. If the general election were held today, 54 percent of Californians say they would vote for him, compared with 37 percent for McCain. That gap has widened by 8 points since March. Obama enjoys the support of more than 80 percent of Democrats here, along with over half (55 percent) of independents. He leads McCain among men and women and is viewed favorably by nearly 70 percent of Latinos—a powerful political group, experts note, not just in California but in several other western states, including Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada.

While there has been an epidemic of hand-wringing among Democratic political analysts over Obama's inability to win over low-income white voters in states like Kentucky and West Virginia, where Clinton has dominated recent primaries, California seems to be a different story. Obama leads McCain by a double-digit margin here among likely voters, no matter what their incomes. He enjoys a 55-to-35 percent lead among those who make less than $40,000 a year, including whites; a 55-to-36 percent lead among those who make between $40,000 and $80,000; and a 53-to-37 percent lead among those who make $80,000 or more.

Petraeus: Greatest threat to U.S. comes from South Asia.

REED: In fact, Admiral Mullen has stated, “If we’re going to pick the next attack on the United States, it would come out the FATA.” Do you agree with those intelligence assessments?

PETRAEUS: I do, Senator. Clearly, al Qaeda’s senior leadership has been strengthened in the FATA, even though their main efforts still is assessed to be in Iraq by them, as well as by us. But the organization of an attack, if you will, would likely come from the FATA.

Quietly, Obama Begins The Quest To Find A Running Mate

Below is a list of possible running mates.

Potential ticket-mates, in no particular order, include Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA), Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ex-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), Ex-Sen. John Edwards, (D-NC), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS), Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ), Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) ex-Rep. Tim Roemer (D-IN), Gov. Ted Strickland (D-OH) and others.

McCain ungrateful to lobbyists

So much for the idea that McCain has railed against the undo access given to lobbyists over the last several years!

This years campaign has been different! He has lobbyists! Over the last few weeks several have stepped down from his campaign, and now many feel betrayed!

It was a small band of loyal lobbyists who stood by presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain last August when his campaign went broke and his White House aspirations seemed doomed.

They raised money for him under impossible odds and kept him company in budget hotels during his darkest days.

Now they are under siege as McCain purges active lobbyists from his campaign team in a quest to wrest the reformist title from Democrat Barack Obama, his likely opponent in this fall’s general election.

If not for the lobbyists, Senator McCain may not have been the nominee! Now that he is, he is throwing them under the bus!

Look, I don't like corporate lobbyists to begin with. It is no sweat off of my back that they are leaving his campaign. What does bother me is the fact he not only did he have lobbyists, after preaching reform for a number of years, but he used them to his advantage, while all the while preaching for change! He is a typical politician. The old way! (Not a pun on his age, rather comparing Obama's message of change!)

Good for John for cleaning up the lobbyists! Bad for John for having them to begin with, using them, then disgarding them like yesterday's news!

Conyers Subpoenas Karl Rove

For Immediate Release May 22, 2008 Contact: Jonathan Godfrey Melanie Roussell


(Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) issued a subpoena to former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove for testimony about the politicization of the Department of Justice (DOJ), including former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman's case. Yesterday, Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, sent a letter to the committee expressing that Rove would not agree to testify voluntarily, per the committee's previous requests.

"It is unfortunate that Mr. Rove has failed to cooperate with our requests," Conyers said. "Although he does not seem the least bit hesitant to discuss these very issues weekly on cable television and in the print news media, Mr. Rove and his attorney have apparently concluded that a public hearing room would not be appropriate. Unfortunately, I have no choice today but to compel his testimony on these very important matters."

Separately, Chairman Conyers recently received a letter from DOJ's Office of Professional Responibility (OPR) indicating that the office has opened an investigation into allegations of selective prosecution of Siegelman and others.

McCain, finally severes ties with Hagee

It took this insinuation for Senator McCain to finally severe ties with Rev. Hagee. The statement that Adolf Hitler had been fulfilling God’s will by hastening the desire of Jews to return to Israel in accordance with biblical prophecy.

His remarks:

“Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Reverend Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well,” McCain said in a statement to CNN Thursday.

After repudiating Rev Hagee, he then reminded everyone although what Rev Hagee said was bad, there was no comparision to the relationship of Rev. Wright and Senator Obama.

“I have said I do not believe Senator Obama shares Reverend Wright's extreme views. But let me also be clear, Reverend Hagee was not and is not my pastor or spiritual advisor, and I did not attend his church for twenty years. I have denounced statements he made immediately upon learning of them, as I do again today,” said McCain.

Nice distraction John! When in trouble point your finger back at someone else! I am surprise President Clinton wasn't brought up somehow! That has been the case many times in the last 8 years! Not from John, but from many Republican pundits!

So it is alright for Rev Hagee statements about:

• The Catholic bashing wasn't enough.
  
• The gay bashing wasn't enough
  
• All the other hate speech wasn't enough.
  

It took a Nazi statement for John to take action! Until then, he never "denounced statements he made immediately upon learning of them."

Something else is missing from Johns denunciation, and that is the fact he saught out the endorsement of Rev Hagee for over a year! He had to know what kind of person he was before seeking his approval!

GI Passed!

Bush/McCain dealt defeat on Iraq bill:

Senate Republicans have broken with President Bush to help Democrats add help for veterans and the unemployed to a bill paying for another year of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The 75-22 vote also adds billions of dollars in other domestic funds such as heating subsidies for the poor and money for fighting wildfires to the $165 billion for the military operations overseas.

The vote is a rebuke to Bush, who has promised to veto the measure if it contains the domestic measures. However, the president still has enough GOP support to sustain a veto.

The bill has passed. We shall now see who really supports the troops! It will interesting to see if the Republicans that backed the bill, will change their vote when the Presidents asks them to!

In another article today, Senator McCain called the bill "too generous." I disagree. The troops are volunteers! They enlist and many have been sent back to the middle east numerous times! Sometimes without the normal time off and many times without being 100% able to perform their normal duties!

Too generous? I think not.

McCain Missed Vote on GI Bill

John McCain missed the vote on Jim Webbs GI bill in the Senate today. What followed the vote was a statement by Senator Obama in the Senate floor followed by a response by John McCain.

Obama:

I respect senator John Mccain's service to our country. He is one of those heroes of which I speak. But I can't understand why he would line up behind the president in opposition to this G.I. bill. I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing, but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them. I'm proud that so many Democrats and Republicans have come together to support this.

McCains response:

"It is typical, but no less offensive that Sen. Obama uses the Senate floor to take cheap shots at an opponent and easy advantage of an issue he has less than zero understanding of," the Arizona senator said in a statement. "I know that my friend and fellow veteran, Sen. Jim Webb, an honorable man who takes his responsibility to veterans very seriously, has offered legislation with very generous benefits. I respect and admire his position, and I would never suggest that he has anything other than the best of intentions to honor the service of deserving veterans. Both Sen. Webb and I are united in our deep appreciation for the men and women who risk their lives so that the rest of us may be secure in our freedom."

McCain added, "And I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Sen. Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did."

Interesting response by John McCain. So he accepts the stand made by President Bush? THE President Bush that got out of military service by going to the National Guard?

Late Night Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You

Hagee: Hitler Was Fulfilling God’s Will

From the Huffington Post:

John Hagee, the controversial evangelical leader and endorser of Sen. John McCain, argued in a late 1990s sermon that the Nazis had operated on God’s behalf to chase the Jews from Europe and shepherd them to Palestine. According to the Reverend, Adolph Hitler was a “hunter,” sent by God, who was tasked with expediting God’s will of having the Jews re-establish a state of Israel.

Going in and out of biblical verse, Hagee preached: “‘And they the hunters should hunt them,’ that will be the Jews. ‘From every mountain and from every hill and from out of the holes of the rocks.’ If that doesn’t describe what Hitler did in the holocaust you can’t see that.”

McCain Attacks Obama on Foreign Policy, Obama Counters

"After Senator Obama's own advisers and supporters backtracked from his stated desire to hold summit meetings with the leaders of the world's worst regimes, Senator Obama himself has begun to reinterpret his stand," the Arizona senator said in a statement. "He now claims that some 'fear' to 'negotiate' with the likes of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who has called Israel a 'stinking corpse' or Ayatollah Khamenei, who called Israel a 'cancerous tumor.' I have news for Senator Obama: I have met some very bad people before in my life. It is not fear that drives my opposition to unconditional meetings with Ahmadinejad, Khamenei, Kim Jong Il, and Raul Castro; rather it is my clear understanding that such a course will fail to eliminate the threat posed by these rogue regimes. I don't fear to negotiate. Instead I have the knowledge and experience to understand the dangerous consequences of a naive approach to Presidential summits based entirely on emotion."

"The question before the American people is which candidate is best able to secure the peace for the next generation of Americans, a peace that will keep our nation safe, prosperous and free. Senator Obama's desire to meet unconditionally in his first year at the presidential level with Iranian leaders is reckless, and demonstrates poor judgment that will make the world more dangerous...

"Senator Obama has consistently offered his judgment on Iraq, and he has been consistently wrong. He said that General Petraeus' new strategy would not reduce sectarian violence, but would worsen it. He was wrong. He said the dynamics in Iraq would not change as a result of the 'surge.' He was wrong. One year ago, he voted to cut off all funds for our forces fighting extremists in Iraq. He was wrong...

"We continue to face challenges in Iraq, and we have a lot of work ahead. Yet the American people must ask whether we are more or less likely to succeed there if Senator Obama has his way. Each of these positive developments in Iraq is the direct result of the new strategy that Senator Obama opposed. Senator Obama consistently predicted the new strategy would fail, and at every step events have demonstrated his judgment was consistently wrong. He now says that he intends to withdraw combat troops from Iraq -- one to two brigades per month until they are all removed -- regardless of the conditions in Iraq, irrespective of the consequences for our national security, and despite the best advice of our commanders on the ground. He is wrong again, and the American people deserve a President who has the strength, judgment and experience to keep our country safe and secure."

The Obama camp sends along this response from the Illinois senator:

"While I always appreciate hearing the news from John McCain, he should explain to the American people why almost every single promise and prediction that he has made about Iraq has turned to be catastrophically wrong, including his support for a surge that was supposed to achieve political reconciliation. While John McCain offers his poor judgment in supporting George Bush's war and a failed foreign policy that has left us less secure, I will continue to make the case for a new foreign policy that deploys all elements of American power -- including tough, principled and direct diplomacy. It's stunning that in such a lengthy written statement, John McCain could not articulate a single new idea that hasn't been tried -- and failed -- over the last eight years."

Israel says it is holding peace talks with Syria

Israel and Syria on Wednesday said they were holding indirect peace talks through Turkish mediators — the first official confirmation of contacts between the longtime enemies.

Let's see, enemies talking with their enemies...definition of this type of action to Bush and McCain is appeasement. So, when can we expect both of them to denounce and reject Israel?

McCain ‘kind of like Jesus Christ on the cross’

Georgia Republican Party chairwoman Sue Everhart said Saturday that the party's presumed presidential nominee has a lot in common with Jesus Christ.

"John McCain is kind of like Jesus Christ on the cross," Everhart said as she began the second day of the state GOP convention. "He never denounced God, either."

Everhart was praising McCain for never denouncing the United States while he was being tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

"I'm not trying to compare John McCain to Jesus Christ, I'm looking at the pain that was there," she said.

I thought I had read everything...until now.

McCainiacs cast 362,000 votes for Clinton in past month

Please go to The Jerod Report. com to the the entire report. Below is the jest of the report.

My numbers come from a question in the exit poll survey which asks all voters to say who they would vote for in both a McCain-Clinton contest and in a McCain-Obama contests. Based on the answers to those questions, the exit poll data shows Clinton received the following votes in each state (rounded to the nearest 500):

* Pennsylvania: 71,500 (6% of her total)
* Indiana: 83,500 (13% of her total)
* North Carolina: 106,000 (16% of her total)
* West Virginia: 24,500 (10% of her total)
* Kentucky: 61,500 (13% of her total)
* Oregon: 14,500 (4% of her total)

I calculated the votes using the following formula:

[Total number of votes in primary] * [% of voters who say they would support McCain over Clinton] * [% of McCain supporters who voted for Clinton]

In all, Clinton's total of 362,000 votes from McCain supporters easily dwarfed the 120,000 votes Barack Obama received.

What this means is that over the past month alone, John McCain's supporters have helped Hillary Clinton narrow Barack Obama's overall "popular vote" lead by nearly a quarter-million voters.


So, why are Republicans doing this? I think they have two reasons.

1. To keep the campaign going between the two Democratic candidates. The longer they 'Duke' it out the better it will be for McCain.

2. This is the real reason why they are doing this, simply put, they think they will have an easier time beating Clinton! I mean what better way to bring out the base and all of the crazies than to mention, Bill Clinton!

Joe Klein: John McCain was still accusing Obama of wanting to negotiate with Ahmadinejad

Time's Joe Klein noted that he could find no evidence that Sen. Barack Obama had ever specifically said he would negotiate with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:

On Friday, I promised to check into whether Obama had ever said that he would negotiate--specifically, by name -- with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Indeed, according to the crack Time Magazine research department and the Obama campaign, he never has. He did say that he would negotiate with the Iranian leadership -- but, on matters of foreign policy and Iran's nuclear program, the guy in charge is the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. As of today, John McCain was still accusing Obama of wanting to negotiate with Ahmadinejad. Why doesn't the McCain campaign and other assorted Republicans ever accuse Obama of wanting to negotiate with Khamenei? Well, because Khamenei isn't quite the flagrant anti-Semite Ahmadinejad is...and, as we keep hearing, Obama has a Jewish problem.

The words below, are taken from the Huffington Post

Later in the day, Klein confronted McCain with this question at a press conference. For a foreign policy "expert," McCain clearly has a pattern of getting the basic facts wrong. McCain insisted that ultimate political authority in Iran rests with Ahmadinejad -- even mocking Klein when he challenged him on it.

Here's the exchange:

KLEIN: I've done some research, and um -


MCCAIN: I have too.

KLEIN: Also checked, also checked with the Obama campaign and he never, he's never sai -- mentioned Ahmadinejad directly by name. He did say he would negotiate with the leaders, but as you know - Ayatollah,

MCCAIN: (Laughing) Ahmadinejad is, was the leader.

KLEIN: But if -

MCCAIN: Maybe I'm mistaken.

KLEIN: Maybe you are, because -

MCCAIN: Maybe. I don't think so though.

KLEIN: The Supreme, you know, according to most diplomatic experts, the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the guy who's in charge of Iranian foreign policy and also in charge of the nuclear program, but you never mention him. Do you, you know, um, why do you always keep talking about Ahmadinejad since he doesn't have power in that, in that realm?

MCCAIN: Oh I thin-Again, I respectfully disagree. When he's the person that comes to the United Nations and declares his country's policy is the extermination of the state of Israel, quote, in his words, wipe them off of the map, then I know that he is speaking for the Iranian government and articulating their policy and he was elected and is running for reelection as the leader of that country. Yes sir, go ahead.

NEW REPORTER: One more quest-

MCCAIN: I mean, the fact is he's the acknowledged leader of that country and you may disagree, but that's a uh, that's your right to do so, but I think if you asked any average American who the leader of Iran is, I think they'd know. Go ahead. Or anyone who's well-versed in the issue.

Obama Closes In On Dem Nomination

Barack Obama stepped to the brink of victory in the Democratic presidential race Tuesday night, defeating Hillary Clinton in the Oregon primary and moving within 100 delegates of the total he needs to claim the prize at the party convention this summer.

Senator Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor

Doctors here at Massachusetts General Hospital, who were investigating the cause of a seizure that Mr. Kennedy, 76, suffered at his Cape Cod compound on Saturday, said preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain had revealed that he has a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe, the upper left part of his brain.

NY Times is the source, and for the rest of the article click these words.

Bill Kristol never let's facts get in the way!

In his NY Times column of May 13, he makes mention of the fact Clinton defeated Obama by 41 points and went pn to further say:

On Tuesday night, while the G.O.P. Congressional candidate was losing in a Mississippi district George Bush carried in 2004 by 25 points, Barack Obama was being trounced in the West Virginia Democratic primary — by 41 points. I can’t find a single recent instance of a candidate who ultimately became his party’s nominee losing a primary by this kind of margin.

Oh really? If he means recent as, let's say last week, his statement is correct because there are no contenders in the Rebublican campaign other than Ron Paul.

If on the other hand, Mr Kristol meant, let's say 3 months ago? He is wrong. All one has to do is a google search!

Their candidate John McCain was beaten by Romney in Utah 90% to 5%! I know that is not 41%, but it is 85%! That was last February.

Mike Huckabee on the same day beat McCain by 41% in Arkansas.

Mitt Romney defeated Bush again in the Colorado caucus by 41%!

If Mr. Kristol is trying to insinuate that Barack Obama is unelectable because of the trouncing he took in West Virginia, then according to his own logic, McCain is even more unelectable!

ThinkProgress.org adds that this is not the first time Mr. Kristol has gotten his facts wrong.

"This is at least the third time that Kristol has gotten the facts wrong in his Times column. In his debut column, Kristol misattributed a quote by Michael Medved to Michelle Malkin. Later, Kristol falsely claimed Obama was in church on a day that he was not."

James Baker: Talking to an enemy is not appeasement

James Baker, served as Ronald Reagan's Chief of Staff and George H. W. Bush's Secretary of State!

So Mr. President, is James Baker an appeaser?

Clinton: Vote for me because Karl Rove says I can win!

I can't believe she is quoting Karl Rove! Hasn't she ever stopped to think he says that because the longer the two candidates stay engaged with each other, the better it is for McCain!

Clarifying Last Weeks Special Comments

The right wing accused Keith of meaning the military when he said "Cold Blooded Killers."

Here is his response.

Late Night Doobie Brothers Long Train Running

White House takes swipe at NBC News

The White House on Monday sent a scathing letter to NBC News, accusing the news network of “deceptively” editing an interview with President Bush on the issue of appeasement and Iran.

At issue were remarks Bush made in front of Israel's parliament earlier this week.

Specifically, White House counselor Ed Gillespie laments that the network edited the interview in a way that “is clearly intended to give viewers the impression that [Bush] agreed with [correspondent Richard Engel's] characterization of his remarks when he explicitly challenged it.

“This deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured storyline is utterly misleading and irresponsible and I hereby request in the interest of fairness and accuracy that the network air the President’s responses to both initial questions in full on the two programs that used the excerpts,” said Gillespie in the letter to NBC News President Steve Capus.

Obama: More Counters on Appeasement

From Chicago Tribune's "The Swamp"

Speaking in Billings, Mont., Obama:

"Anything but their failed cowboy diplomacy that has produced no results is called appeasement," Obama countered. "Here's the truth: the Soviet Union had thousands of nuclear weapons and Iran doesn't have a single one. But when the world was on the brink of nuclear Holocaust, Kennedy talked to Khrushchev and he got those missiles out of Cuba. Why shouldn't we have the same courage and confidence to talk to our enemies? That's what strong countries do. That's what strong presidents do."

"The Soviet Union had the ability to destroy the world several times over, had satellites spanning the globe, had huge masses of conventional military power, all directed at destroying us," he said. "So, I've made it clear for years that the threat from Iran is grave. But what I've said is that we should not just talk to our friends. We should be willing to engage our enemies as well. That's what diplomacy is all about."

"Iran is a grave threat. It has an illicit nuclear program. It supports terrorism across the region and militias in Iraq. It threatens Israel's existence. It denies the Holocaust," he said. "The reason Iran is so much more powerful than it was a few years ago is because of the Bush-McCain policy of fighting in Iraq and refusing to pursue direct diplomacy with Iran. They're the ones who have not dealt with Iran wisely."

Clinton v. Obama From Saturday Night Live

Obama on Good Morning America "Lay Off My Wife"

Good for him!

Sunday Morning Talk- More Appeaser Talk

Israel is negotiating with Hamas. Appeasers!

Kinda ridiculous to say such a thing isn't it! Well no more ridiculous than President Bush and his words!

In Bush's world they are talking to a terrorists group and that is enabling them! Embolding them!

Participants at a recent inner cabinet meeting were listening to details of the Egyptian mediation initiative between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip recently, when a senior minister reportedly reminded those present that Israel does not negotiate, directly or indirectly, with Hamas. Shin Bet security service head Yuval Diskin interrupted, saying there was no other way to describe the talks.

I can't wait to see McCain denounce them! Especially after backing the President and his views!

What did you say? Don't hold my breath?

Technorati Profile

Late Night Vanilla Fudge - You Keep Me Hanging On,1988

Huckabee: I thought McCain’s ‘bomb Iran’ song ‘was funny.’

Nothing like making a joke about shooting a black presidential contender and bomb another nation to bring life to a party. Killing human beings is always funny isn't it Mike!

Bush ends 5-day Middle East trip with few concrete gains

Wrapping up a five-day tour of the Middle East, President Bush on Sunday told his Arab allies that expanding democratic reforms and isolating the "spoilers" — Iran and Syria — were crucial steps to a secure and prosperous future for the region.

Bush spoke at the opening of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East in this Red Sea resort town, where 1,500 policymakers have gathered. More lecture than rallying cry, Bush's speech stuck to familiar themes:

• Iran's nuclear program
  
• more civil liberties
  
• a bigger role for Arab women
  
• free trade
  
• progress on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the end of the year.
  

Bush, however, heads home to Washington with few, if any, concrete gains on his largely ceremonial tour, his second trip to the Middle East in four months. He failed to win Saudi help with rising oil prices and didn't make any breakthroughs on groundwork for a Palestinian state.

So much for all of his tough talk! He did, slam Obama during the trip, admitted as such and then when he and the White House saw this was going to backfire on them quickly changed their story.

He is good at deception isn't he!

Record Obama Crowd!

Sen. Barack Obama has seen his share of large crowds over the last 15 months, but his campaign said they have not approached the numbers gathered along the waterfront here right now.

The campaign, citing figures from Duane Bray, battalion chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, estimated that 75,000 people are watching him speak.

The scene suggests this is not an exaggeration. The sea of heads stretches for half a mile along the grassy embankment, while others watch from kayaks and power boats bobbing on the Willamette River. More hug the rails of the steel bridge that stretches across the water and crowds are even watching from jetties on the opposite shore.

New Bin Laden Message To Be Issued Soon!

CAIRO, Egypt — The media wing of al-Qaida says Osama bin Laden soon will issue a new message addressed to the Islamic world.

Al-Sahab posted a banner Sunday on a militant Web site known for carrying the terror network's messages. It said a "powerful speech to the Islamic nation," will be issued soon.

The announcement comes after a message from Bin Laden on Friday marking the 60th anniversary of Israel's foundation in which he vowed to continue his struggle against the Jewish state.

Messages typically appear within 72 hours of being announced.

Spin on the Appeaser Speech

How many of you have seen the spin that come from the Rupublican pundits and hawks over the last couple of days insinuating that Obama's replies to Bush and McCain were unwarranted? Some even even saying he took this wrong, so imagine what else he may take wrong once in power!

I want to say one thing. The White House admitted it from more than one media source that it was directed at Obama! Some examples are below.

Why do I bring this up on a Sunday? Because this morning, George Stephanopoulos repeated the deceptive lie that the White House the White House denies that Bush was talking about Obama when he talked about Hitler appeasers before the Knesset. That is just not true!

Jon Yang at NBC

Ed Henry on CNN

McCain and YouTube

Webb: Bush Would Be First President In History To Veto Benefits For Vets

Taken from "Meet the Press" Sunday May 18, 2008.

151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War

When Congressman say "Support the troops" that now carries a whole new meaning! What one hundred and fifty one congressman are actually saying, "support me and my financial gain!"

Below are some facts taken from American Free Press.

More than a quarter of senators and congressmen have invested at least $196 million of their own money in companies doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD) that profit from the death and destruction in Iraq.

One hundred and fifty one members of Congress invested close to a quarter-billion in companies that received defense contracts of at least $5 million in 2006. These companies got more than $275.6 billion from the government in 2006, or $755 million per day

Congressmen gave themselves a loophole so they only have to report their assets in broad ranges. Thus, they can be off as much as 160 percent. (Try giving the IRS an estimate like that.) In 2004, the first full year after the present Iraq war began, Republican and Democratic lawmakers—both hawks and doves—invested between $74.9 million and $161.3 million in companies under contract with the DoD. In 2006 Democrats had at least $3.7 million invested in the defense sector alone, compared to the Republicans’ “only” $577,500. As the war raged on, so did the billions of profits—and personal investments by Congress members in war contractors, which increased 5 percent from 2004 to 2006.

When our boys and girls are wounded the government bills them to return their reenlistment bonus. They have to return any pay they received while they were hospitalized. They have to pay for their helmets and uniforms that are destroyed in the hell of war. But they keep on fighting for these politicians’ right to keep their war profits.

• Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) $3,001,006 to $5,015,001
• Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) $250,001 to $500,000
• Rep. Kenny Ewell Marchant (R-Tex.) $162,074 to $162,074
• Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) $115,002 to $300,000
• Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) $115,002 to $300,000
• Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) $100,870 to $100,870
• Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) $65,646 to $65,646
• Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) $50,008 to $227,000
• Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) $50,001 to $100,000
• Rep. Stephen Ira Cohen (D-Tenn.) $45,003 to $150,000

To read the rest of the eye opening report by Ralph Forbes, I invite you to go to American Free Press.

Bush An "Appeaser," Says Egyptian Press

Egypt's state-owned press opened fire Saturday on U.S. President George W. Bush as he arrived for talks with regional leaders at the conclusion of a five-day Mideast tour.

"The Torah-inspired speech of Bush raised question marks over the credibility of the U.S. role in the Middle East," wrote Mursi Atallah, the publisher of Al-Ahram, the flagship daily of the state-owned press. "Bush aims to do nothing but appeasing Israel."

Well, there appears to be more than one way to use the word "appeaser." Seems like Egypt is using this to describe President Bush, and his failed policies.

A second Egyptian newspaper had this to say:

A front page editorial in Al-Gomhouria, another Egyptian state-owned daily, described Mr. Bush as "a failed president who delivers nothing but a lousy speech."

First of all, in another blog earlier last week, I have already said how appauled I am at the fact that President Bush would use a day of celebration in Israel to play partisian politics directed back home in the states. If his intention was to send a message to neighboring countries as well, it didn't work. The newspapers go on to say they are laughing at him! One even posting a picture of Mr. Bush hugging Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and captioned it "lovers."

The sad thing about all of this is, the nation is not willing to rally behind him and his policies. Judging by the low approval rating he has had for some time now, we tend to agree with the nations around Israel.

Late Night Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein

McCain Adviser: What Does "Deal With" Hamas Really Mean, Anyway?

I saw this live when the interview happened. The female adviser in the video below tried to explain to David what "dealing with Hamas" meant!

"Dealing can be anything from bombing to a bed of roses," said Pfotenhauer.

When I heard those words, I thought to myself, so we are going to attack Hamas now! David asked her that and she said no!

Correct me if I am wrong, but when I was growing up, and even all the way through all of my adult life until now, when someone says, "I will deal with them, that almost always followed with exhange of words between the two parties! No matter how she tried to spin it, she was wrong. McCain said we will have to deal with them in time. He was not saying attack a democratic nation!

Limbaugh: "If Barack Obama were Caucasian, they would have taken this guy out on the basis of pure ignorance long ago"

His Radio show of May 14. Click this sentence to download.

LIMBAUGH: Ladies and gentlemen, what you just heard was the presumptive Democrat presidential nominee wandering aimlessly in desperate hope for a cogent thought. His point was -- he was trying to tell these people in his audience in Cape Girardeau yesterday that our foreign policy's all screwed up 'cause every asset that we need to actually win the war against Islamofascists is in Iraq. And that's a phony war, it shouldn't have happened. We don't even have any Arabic translators for Afghanistan. And then, he quickly realized, "Wait a minute. They don't speak Arabic there. Oh God, what am I going to do? What --" Then he makes up a couple languages that they speak. But then he said, "We need some Arabic translators there because you never know who is there."

I am just telling you, if this guy were Dan Quayle -- if he -- can I channel Geraldine Ferraro? If Barack Obama were Caucasian, they would have taken this guy out on the basis of pure ignorance long ago.

CALLER: Obama. And I'm saying, why is he thinking that Obama was -- I mean, McCain was wrong? McCain was not wrong. Iran has been harboring Al Qaeda.

LIMBAUGH: No, OK. OK. It doesn't matter, Paris. It doesn't matter whether McCain's right or wrong. This is what the Democrats do. They're going to try to attack. And Obama's desperately trying to change the subject, and he's trying to make it look like he's already won the nomination. So, he's focusing on McCain, who is the presumptive Republican nominee. It's -- and he knows the drive-bys are going to carry his water. He knows the drive-bys will then go to McCain and play this little -- this gaffe up and so forth.

Now Rush joins Bush and McCain in character assassination! They want to distract and smear because the Republican party cannot run on their accomplishments of the past 8 years!

What are your thoughts?

Senator Kennedy Update

A spokeswoman for Sen. Edward Kennedy says he is conscious and talking to family after he suffered a seizure in his Cape Cod home and was flown to a Boston hospital. [...]

Spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said he is "conscious, talking, joking with family."

His wife, children and niece Caroline Kennedy are among those with him at the hospital.

Gates: Troops Lack the Equipment They Need

...as they have for the first five years. Why should the start of year 6 be any different?

Ted Kennedy said to suffer seizure

Speculation is it may have been a stroke. Mr. Kennedy is 76.

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld implies that Iran was behind 9-11

Bush’s appeasement speech angers Europeans, too.

The Guardian: President without shame:

It is outrageous for an American president to use the term “appeasement” in describing the policy of an opponent when speaking before the parliament of a foreign nation. Democrats have rightly reacted with deep anger to this affront. It seems that when it comes to American traditions, George Bush is content to play Samson and topple the pillars of the temple in order to smash precedents he dislikes. What he forgets is that Samson not only killed his enemy, the Philistines, but himself as well.

Bush’s interminable and self-destructive presidency will continue to be so till the bitter end. And if he can topple the campaign of his political enemy, he’s prepared to bring the walls down on himself as well. So ends one of the most shameful of American presidencies.

Telegraph: Barack Obama's lapel politics:

Midday update: Mr Obama has just started to speak in South Dakota. He is denouncing President George W Bush’s frankly outrageous appeasement slur in Israel. And yes, he’s wearing an American flag pin…

The Independent: Obama attacks President for 'appeasers' jibe:

On yesterday’s evidence Mr Bush is prepared to use the bully pulpit of the presidency to do whatever it takes to keep Mr Obama out of the White House.

The Times:Bush-Obama-McCain and Appeasement:

I can’t help but think that all this might be proof of something Newt Gingrich suggested a couple of weeks ago. if Republicans think they can win this election by attacking Obama on the usual grounds that he’s a weak-kneed friend of terrorists and appeasers, they are sorely wrong. The Republicans’ own record on national security is now so badly damaged that for them to claim that the Democrats can’t be trusted sounds to most ears like that old definition of chutzpah - the child who murders both his parents and then claims the law’s protection because he’s an orphan.

Tennessee GOP Attacks Michelle Obama

The Tennessee GOP is currently running this attack ad on television to try to drum up support for their flagging base.

And the really sad part about it is, that they have resorted to misrepresenting what Michelle actually said.

In her speech, Michelle said that for the first time she was *really* proud of her country.

This clip has edited out the *really* and made it appear to say that for the first time she is proud. So what do they do? Edit a video to fit their smears

Is there anything that Republicans won't say or do to distract the voters from the real issues?

NPR Poll: McCain Loses to Obama, Tops Clinton

NPR poll (May 7,8,10) conducted by the Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies and the Democratic firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner shows John McCain losing to Barack Obama in the general election by five points but nipping Hillary Clinton by a single point:

Obama 48
McCain 43

McCain 46
Clinton 45

Overall, Obama leads McCain in the RCP General Election Average by 4.5%. Clinton leads McCain in the RCP General Election Average by a slightly smaller margin of 3.2%.

Other notables from the NPR poll:

* Right Direction 16%, Wrong Track 80%

* Bush job approval 33%, disapproval 65%

*Congress job approval 23%, disapproval 73%

McCain Lies, Says Reagan Didn't Negotiate With Iran

“Yes, there have been appeasers in the past, and the president is exactly right, and one of them is Neville Chamberlain,'’ Mr. McCain told reporters on his campaign bus after a speech in Columbus, Ohio. “I believe that it’s not an accident that our hostages came home from Iran when President Reagan was president of the United States. He didn’t sit down in a negotiation with the religious extremists in Iran, he made it very clear that those hostages were coming home.'’

Um there is a problem with this statement. A big problem. Remember the Iran Contra affair? The trading of arms for hostages? Correct me if I am wrong, usually when there is a trade involved, discussion precedes that!

What makes matters even worse, John McCain was in Congress in the 1980's, so his words above are either a lie, or another senior moment. Seems to me he has had a lot of them in the last month!

Below is a video curtacy of The Jed Report

Late Night with GEORGE THOROGOOD "Bad To The Bone"

McCain Camp Claims ‘We Never Used The Term Appeasement’

Nancy Pfotenhauer, a policy adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), stood by Bush’s comparison even as she tried to claim that McCain had never used the word appeasement:

PFOTENHAUER: Senator McCain responded directly himself and said he took the president at his word, that those comments were not directed toward Senator Obama. […]

SHUSTER: Nancy, does the McCain campaign believe that talking to our enemies is the same as appeasing them?

PFOTENHAUER: We have never used the term appeasement and you know that.

SHUSTER: But the president did. […]

PFOTENHAUER: We have specifically not used the term appeasement.


First, McCain himself specifically used the word “appeasers” yesterday, insisting “the president is exactly right“:

Yes, there have been appeasers in the past, and the president is exactly right, and one of them is Neville Chamberlain. I believe that it’s not an accident that our hostages came home from Iran when President Reagan was president of the United States. He didn’t sit down in a negotiation with the religious extremists in Iran, he made it very clear that those hostages were coming home.

McCain blasts Obama yet again, Obama answers back!

This is getting good.

Earlier today, Sen. Obama made a few remarks I would like to respond to. I welcome a debate about protecting America. No issue is more important. Sen. Obama claimed all I had to offer was the ‘naive and irresponsible belief’ that tough talk would cause Iran to give up its nuclear program. He should know better. I have some news for Sen. Obama: Talking, not even with soaring rhetoric, in unconditional meetings with the man who calls Israel a ‘stinking corpse’ and arms terrorists who kill Americans will not convince Iran to give up its nuclear program. It is reckless to suggest that unconditional meetings will advance our interests.

It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don't have enemies. But that is not the world we live in, and until Sen. Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment and determination to keep us safe.

Obama:

"What's reckless is continuing the Bush-McCain foreign policy that has cost us thousands of lives and a trillion dollars in Iraq, strengthened Iran, enabled Hamas to take Gaza, took our eye off al Qaeda, failed to capture Osama bin Laden, failed to finish the job in Afghanistan, and left us less safe and less respected in the world. No amount of utterly predictable fear-mongering and tough talk can change the fact that John McCain is running to continue the most disastrous foreign policy in recent American history," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

Source is Politico