OK, I call Bullshit on this idiotic line of crap coming from McSame. “I know how to win wars.” Dude! You were in one friggin war and got your ass shot down and spent the rest of your time in a cell. You know how to WIN wars??? In your deluded mind maybe.
Senator, it’s time for you to retire to that beach front property you own in Arizona. PLEASE!
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
[ADDENDUM - 07-28-08] h/t Arthur Ruger at Washblog
More on what veterans really think of John McSame.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
Please feel free to spread this around liberally and, if you can spare a buck or two
click HERE
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
Would someone please give the man his medication and escort him back to the home?
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
How are your civil liberties feeling today? If they feel a bit bruised you can thank the members of the United States Senate. Once again, as they have on countless occasions in the past seven years, the “elite 100” have done their duty to serve the Executive. By a 69 to 28 vote the Senate voted to grant the Bush Administration another free pass on their efforts to spy on American citizens with complete impunity. Oh and it doesn’t stop with Bush and Company. The just passed FISA Compromise Capitulation comes with immunity from prosecution for any telecom that cooperated with the Bush Administration by turning over records and facilitating access to customer phone and data lines.
While this bill should never have come to the floor for a vote if there any such thing as leadership in the Democratic Senate Majority, there were some on the Democratic side who stood for the principle that the Constitution should be served above all else. And so, for those who are interested, here are the names of those 27 Democrats (plus Independent, Bernie Sanders) who sided with the Constitution :
Akaka (D-HI)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Wyden (D-OR)
And those 21 who chose tyranny:
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
[ADDENDUM - 7/10/08]
h/t Mock Paper Scissors via Crooks and Liars dot com
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
Today, Arianna Huffington has written a great piece on the advice she would offer Obama as he continues down the path to the general election in November. She begins by talking about a panel discussion she participated in and how some on the panel thought that Obama was doing the right thing by adhering to "The Conventional Wisdom." She says:
"...But, as we've seen, Barack Obama is not immune to the seductive call of the Conventional Wisdom sirens. And it's a call that's only going to get louder..."
She then goes on to offer seven great nuggets of advice to the next great hope of Progressives in America. I'm particularly fond of number 5.
"...So, to counter the conventional wisdom pundits, the cautious campaign advisers, and his own inner cautiousness, I'm offering Obama the following suggestions for staying true to the vision and message that took him from longshot "unlikely candidate" to presidential frontrunner -- and for avoiding the fate of the many before him who fell prey to the misguided belief that the path to the White House runs down the middle of the road.
1) Load up your Kindle with passages from leaders who were looking to fundamentally change the country and following an inner compass, not the latest focus-group results. Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King would be a good place to start.
"Some men see things as they are and ask, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were and ask, 'Why not?'" (RFK)
"There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right." (King)
2) Load up your iPod with passages from your own speeches. They've inspired others; now let them re-ignite the inspirational leader in you.
"This campaign can't only be about me. It must be about us - it must be about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle, of your hopes, and your dreams. It will take your time, your energy, and your advice - to push us forward when we're doing right, and to let us know when we're not. This campaign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship, restoring our sense of common purpose, and realizing that few obstacles can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.... That's why I'm in this race. Not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation."
3) Get your campaign to give you a printout of the names of the over 1.5 million people who have donated to your campaign (at an average of $197 each). Give that list a read every day; feel the heft. And remember -- sorry, Stu Rothenberg -- that the tried-and-untrue swing voter strategy is what has led to the Democratic Party's prolonged identity crisis. Forget the fence sitters. Instead, continue to speak to those who have turned their backs on the electoral process -- those who are struggling without health care, without decent schools, without jobs, without hope.
4) Tape to your mirror the poll results from July 2004, where Kerry was up by six, and June of 1988, where Dukakis was up by 15... and don't get complacent.
5) Go to YouTube and watch the concession speeches of Kerry, Gore, and Hillary Clinton, each of whom decided to run to the middle in an attempt to attract undecided swing voters.
6) Don't let the daily petty squabbles of the campaign distract you from the core message that this campaign is not a referendum on John McCain's war record or the level of your patriotism -- but rather on the future of America. Are we a nation driven by hope and promise or a nation driven by fear?
When Bobby Kennedy was agonizing over whether or not to run in 1968, he told one of his advisors: "People are selfish. But they can also be compassionate and generous, and they care about the country. But not when they feel threatened. That's why this is such a crucial time. We can go in either direction. But if we don't make a choice soon, it will be too late to turn things around. I think people are willing to make the right choice. But they need leadership. They're hungry for leadership." Forty years later, we are starving for it. Real leadership, not a poll-driven facsimile. Not swing-state, swing-voter leadership. Leadership defined by an ability to capture our imagination and a willingness to challenge us. Leadership geared to transforming the country through the audacity of hope instead of keeping it mired in the politics of fear and division.
7) Heed the old Texas advice of Dandy Don Meredith and Molly Ivins: "You got to dance with them what brung you."
Voters longing for hope, inspiration, a new kind of politics, and fundamental change are "them that brung you" to the big dance. Don't let the pundits, the advisors, and the cowards convince you to let someone else cut in.
Now I know Obama says that the positions he is taking today represent his long held views but, as a caller on the Rachel Maddow Show said to guest host, David Bender, 'I just keep remember that Bill Clinton ran to the left BEFORE he got elected and I have felt betrayed. I don't want to feel that way again.' Neither do I.
Peace,
Chad
” WASHINGTON (AP) — High gasoline prices have dramatically changed Americans' views on energy and the environment with more people now viewing oil drilling and new power plants as a greater priority than energy conservation than they did five months ago, according to a new survey.
The poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center shows nearly half of those surveyed — or 47 percent — now rate energy exploration, drilling and building new power plants as the top priority, compared with 35 percent who believed that five months ago…”
Even with all the emphasis on Global Climate Change and more experts willing to go on the record about Peak Oil it seems that the folks over at Big Oil seem to be winning the battle of the ad wars.
This change in attitude is happening even though every respected expert in the field will tell you that, even if we began drilling in every conceivable location today, the American consumer would not see any real relief from higher gas prices for at least a decade (if ever). In the meantime real damage to the ozone will be occurring and additional energy resources will be depleted in the exploration process while the potential for ecological devastation lingers precariously around every project. And, at the end of the process, we will still find ourselves pumping more CO2 into the atmosphere. It’s like the smoker who chooses the “nicotine substitute” to break his nicotine addiction.
Most disheartening in this study is that it crosses almost every political and ideological demographic:
” Among the survey's most astounding findings is the dramatic increase in a span of five months in the support for energy exploration and production among groups that have traditionally championed conservation as being the answer to the country's energy problems.
For example, the percentage of liberals who said expanding energy exploration was their most important priority doubled from 22 percent in February to 45 percent; increased by 19 points to 50 percent among independents; and by 18 points to 46 percent among women…”
So what is the compelling information being spewed disseminated by Big Oil? Well according to one of the current crop of ads being run by the American Petroleum Institute,
”Oil and natural gas powered the past. But the future? Fact is a growing world will require more, 45 percent more by 2030 along with greatly expanding alternatives. We have substantial oil and natural gas resources right here [SPOKESMODEL STROLLS OVER MAP OF THE LOWER 48 STATES]. Enough to power 60 million cars and heat 160 million households for 60 years. With advanced technology and smart policies, together we can secure America's energy future.”
Ok, there are a couple of things here that kinda stand out:
1.) While claiming that “We have substantial oil and natural gas resources right here.” The spokesmodel doesn’t say that these are estimates of what they think is there. Oh, and the there? She conveniently stands in front of a map of the lower 48 states; thereby deflecting attention from the “off-shore” areas (such as the Florida and California coasts) and the entire wilderness area of Alaska.
2.) “Enough to power 60 million cars and heat 160 million households for 60 years.” Well that might be ok I guess if we didn’t live in a country with over 250 million registered highway vehicles. She also doesn’t seemed concerned with the fact that gasoline and heating oil are not the only by-products of crude oil and, therefore, either her number of units fueled or heated or her “60 years” might need “adjustment.”
And, again there is nothing indicating the timeline before the American consumer would start seeing any of the benefit from this folly.
The only silver lining to be found here is that, with an election contest underway between presidential candidates with differing views on drilling our way out of the problem, there will should be no sudden shifts in policy before the next president is sworn in.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
But then I saw this:
While surfing over to Goldy's place to secure a link for my previous post I caught this breaking news:
"Darcy Burner, her husband, son and dog escaped unharmed this morning from a serious fire at their Carnation home. There is no word yet on what the cause might be, but the campaign tells me that the house might be “a total loss.”"
There is more news out on this now but, needless to say, I am glad that Darcy and her family escaped unharmed.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
Right out of the chute is Rossi’s declaration on the ballot that he ”prefers the GOP Party.” This is an interesting effect of the goofy “top two” primary we will live under this year. Anyone who wishes to be on the ballot may indicate their choice of party label; or even opt out of any party branding. ( I will have an entire rant on this later) Now I wonder why Republican, Dino Rossi would choose to list himself as a “GOP Party” rather than the more familiar and common place “Republican.” Surely he wouldn't want to be walking away from the Republican brand when the polls clearly show...oh Snap! I guess the polls aren’t looking very good for Republicans are they? But even with low polling numbers for Republican candidates, surely Dino wouldn’t simply be trying to mislead the voters? Well, there is this from David Postman:
”A recent poll by Stuart Elway says that about 25 percent of respondents didn't know what GOP meant. ”
Oh well, as some writer guy once said, ‘A rose by any other name is still a flower.’ – or something like that.
The thing that has really caught my attention though is the whole business of who is raising and spending money for each of the candidates. Whether it’s the BIAW for former Republican Rossi or the newly formed Evergreen Progress PAC for Governor Gregoire; the cries of “influence peddling” are deafening. The latest salvo was launched by John Barnes at the Seattle Examiner In Barnes’ piece, he actually argues that public sector labor unions shouldn’t be allowed to play in the political arena because the object of their electioneering efforts may eventually become involved in future contract negotiations.
What I find so outrageous about these arguments is that you won’t find any of the critics of these groups leading the fight for full public financing of campaigns. It just slaps common sense upside the head. Until we have publicly financed campaigns we will just have to put up with each side flapping their gums over who is “buying a governor’s (or Supreme Court) race".
Coming up…...The battle over campaign ad theme music……
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
