If It Weren't for Geography - We'd All Be Lost....

h/t to Nicole Bell at Crook and Liars Dot Com

Apparently Sen. McSame has been spending too much time with Gov. Palin. He seems to have moved Venezuela into the Middle East.

Then again, hmmmm

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Little Piggies

The Beatles address the proposed Wall Street Bailout:

Peace,
Chad (The Left)Shue

McSame to Suspend Campaign - Needs to Concentrate on Wall Street Buddies

Breaking news from The Hill:

McCain suspending campaign, wants to delay debate

"Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Wednesday he is suspending his campaign, and he is asking Democratic rival Barack Obama to join him in trying to postpone Friday night's debate so that both candidates and both parties can focus on a solution to the Wall Street crisis."

While McSame would like us to believe that he is concerned about resolving the financial mess HIS party has gotten Wall Street in to, I can't help but believe that he is frantically looking for a way to put as much distance between himself and this mess as possible before he has to face the American public (especially on a stage next to Barack Obama).

Even if you are not as skeptical as I am about McSame's self-serving motives, you have to ask what kind of leadership example is this that he is not able to concentrate on more than one issue at a time. I mean, there have been presidential campaigns and elections held during times of economic depression, times of war (both on American soil and abroad) and during times of domestic turmoil such as the time following the assasinations of Martin Luther King Jr. And Bobby Kennedy.

As of this writing, I am not sure what Sen. Obama's answer will be to John McSame. But I, for one say that this is absolutely the right time to make the "Prince of De-Regulation" answer for his sins.

[UPDATE: 16:10 09-24-08] Obama's Response

"A short time later, Mr. Obama appeared at a news conference in Clearwater, Fla., and said that while he agreed “there are times for politics and there are times to rise above politics and do what’s right, ”

he saw no need to cancel the debate, scheduled for Friday night at the University of Mississippi.

“This is exactly the time when people need to hear from the candidates,” he said.

He added: “Part of the president’s job is to deal with more than one thing at once. In my mind it’s more important than ever.”"

Nice....

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Humane Society Legislative Fund Endorses Obama

After recently posting this ad from the Defenders of Wildlife Actionfund, I was very please to see Noemie Maxwell at Washblog post this piece on the National Humane Society Legislative Fund making their first ever presidential endorsement. Here are some excerpts from that endorsement:

"While we've endorsed hundreds of congressional candidates for election, both Democrats and Republicans, we've never before endorsed a presidential candidate. We have members on the left, in the center, and on the right, and we knew it could be controversial to choose either party's candidate for the top office in the nation. But in an era of sweeping presidential power, we must weigh in on this most important political race in the country. Standing on the sidelines is no longer an option for us.

...Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has been a solid supporter of animal protection at both the state and federal levels. As an Illinois state senator, he backed at least a dozen animal protection laws, including those to strengthen the penalties for animal cruelty, to help animal shelters, to promote spaying and neutering, and to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. In the U.S. Senate, he has consistently co-sponsored multiple bills to combat animal fighting and horse slaughter, and has supported efforts to increase funding for adequate enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal laws to combat animal fighting and puppy mills.

...While McCain's positions on animal protection have been lukewarm, his choice of running mate cemented our decision to oppose his ticket. Gov. Sarah Palin's (R-Alaska) retrograde policies on animal welfare and conservation have led to an all-out war on Alaska's wolves and other creatures. Her record is so extreme that she has perhaps done more harm to animals than any other current governor in the United States.

...Voters who care about protecting wildlife from inhumane and unsporting abuses, enforcing the laws that combat large-scale cruelties like dogfighting and puppy mills, providing humane treatment of animals in agriculture, and addressing other challenges that face animals in our nation, must become active over the next six weeks to elect a president and vice president who share our values. Please spread the word, and tell friends and family members that an honest assessment of the records of the two presidential tickets leads to the inescapable conclusion that Obama-Biden is the choice for humane-minded voters."

Please go to Noemie's post at Washblog to read the rest of the endorsement. Then send it on to all of your friends who have pets or care about animals (or even human torture).

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 9/22/08
Americans Killed: 4169
Americans Wounded: 45,000
http://icasualties.org/
Iraqis Killed: 1,000,000+
http://www.thelancet.com
“…a small price…” Rep. John Boehner
----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Lt. Col. Ralph J. Marino, 46, of Houston, PA died Sept 14 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

*Pfc. Leonard J. Gulczynski I, 19, of Carol Stream, IL died Sept. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Capt. Darrick D. Wright, 37, of Nashville, TN died Sept. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Chief Warrant Officer Corry A. Edwards, 38, of Kennedale, TX died Sept. 18 n the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

*Sgt. Daniel M. Eshbaugh, 43, of Norman, OK died Sept. 18 n the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

* Sgt. Anthony L. Mason, 37, of Springtown, TX died Sept. 18 n the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

* 1st Sgt. Julio C. Ordonez, 54, of San Antonio, TX died Sept. 18 n the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

* Chief Warrant Officer Brady J. Rudolf, 37, of Oklahoma City, OK died Sept. 18 n the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

* Cpl. Michael E. Thompson, 23, of Harrah, OK died Sept. 18 n the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

* 1st Lt. Robert Vallejo II, 28, of Richland Hills, TX died Sept. 18 n the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Palin - Cheney With Lipstick

h/t to Goldy at Horsesass dot org

Cheney with lipstick…….

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

McSame - Fundamentally "Unsound"

Yesterday when John McSame was found once again proving his disengagement from the average American when it comes to the economy, decided to turn his bad judgement into an attack on Barack Obama. Below is the response from AFL-CIO President, John Sweeny (someone who really knows about American workers)

Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney On John McCain’s Comments About the Economy and American Workers
September 16, 2008

McCain’s “Rhetoric Is An Insult to Our Country’s Hard Working Families”

John McCain should be ashamed, first for saying yet again yesterday that the fundamentals of our economy are strong, and then for trying to cover up his gaffe by saying what he really meant is American workers are the “fundamental of our economy” and they’re the “most productive and most innovative.”

McCain’s record is one of the most anti-worker in Washington. In his 26 years in Congress, John McCain has earned a voting record on workers’ issues of 16 percent. Trying to cover that up with new rhetoric is an insult to our country’s hard working families who have struggled mightily against the policies he has championed throughout his career.

The record is clear. John McCain has voted repeatedly for the same policies that brought us the financial catastrophe, and he is surrounded by the architects of financial deregulation. Former Sen. Phil Gramm, an early campaign advisor whom McCain has described as more respected on economics than anyone else in America, was the chief sponsor of legislation that deregulated the banking sector, legalizing the risky investment practices that are at the root of the current crisis. This year Gramm has belittled working people who are struggling in the economic crisis.

McCain has done as much as any elected leader in Washington to harm the living standards and futures of working people while building power for corporate interests. He voted against repealing tax breaks that encourage American companies to send jobs overseas and he voted repeatedly for unbalanced trade deals. He voted 19 times against minimum wage increases and he voted against removing hurdles for workers who want to organize unions to win better wages and benefits. Even today he supports making permanent Pres. Bush’s tax cuts that give the lion’s share of relief to the very wealthy, and he supports cutting corporate taxes by an amount that would give immensely profitable oil companies a tax cut of $ 4 billion. McCain’s proposed policies differ from the policies of President Bush only in that they are more extreme and irresponsible.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 9/16/08
Americans Killed: 4158
Americans Wounded: 40,000
http://icasualties.org/
Iraqis Killed: 1,000,000+
http://www.thelancet.com
“…a small price…” Rep. John Boehner
----------------------------
Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Spc. Carlo E. Alfonso, 23, of Spokane, WA (87th Washingtonian) died on Aug. 26 in Sadr City, Iraq.

*Spc. Jorge L. Feliz Nieve, 26, of Queens Village, NY died on Aug. 28 in Mosul, Iraq.

*Spc. Steven J. Fitzmorris, 26, of Columbia, MO died on Aug. 25 in Adhamiyah, Iraq.

*Pfc. Patrick W. May, 22, of Jamestown, NY died Sept. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Mayne, 29, of Fort Benning, GA died Sept. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Bryan R. Thomas, 22, of Battle Creek, MI died Sept. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pvt. Jordan P. P. Thibeault, 22, of South Jordan, UT died Sept. 5 at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq.

*Sgt. 1st Class Daniel R. Sexton, 53, of Wentzville, MO died Sept. 10 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Darris J. Dawson, 24, of Pensacola, FL died Sept. 14 in Tunnis, Iraq.

*Sgt. Wesley R. Durbin, 26, of Hurst, TX died Sept. 14 in Tunnis, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Sarah Palin: Pro-(HER)Choice

This from Media Needle

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Sarah Palin, 'Iraq - "A Task From God"

"...our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God..."

Sarah Palin - would-be Vice-president of the United States speaking from the pulpit of her church

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

The Most Important Election for a Generation

If you believe that the invasion of Iraq and the so-called War on Terror is important:



Samuel Alito

If you believe that civil liberties are important:

John Roberts

If you believe that torture should not be an instrument of American foreign policy:

Antonin Scalia

If you believe that civil rights for all our citizens is important:

Clarence Thomas

You should know that Ruth Bader Ginsberg will be 79 years old before the end of the next president's term of office:

Oh yes and John Paul Stevens



will turn 92!

You decide who will appoint the next justice to the Supreme Court:

or

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

We Are All Community Organizers - and Our Responsibility is to Each Other

Please go to Truth and Hope dot org and help get this ad on the air:

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

McSame Follows Bush Pattern of Hiding the Fallen Warrior

h/t: Crooks and Liars dot com and Vote Vets dot Org

It seems that John McSame and the RNC are so afraid of acknowledging the genuine sacrifice of our armed forces in George Bush’s personal war, they won’t even show real soldiers honoring their own fallen brethren. Brandon Friedman writes at “VetVoice”

”For its "Pledge of Allegiance video" on Tuesday night, the Republican National Convention used stock footage of a staged military funeral, along with actors dressed as soldiers and sailors.” He cites a report from CBS News:

” It was a video that was supposed to elicit soaring patriotism and real emotions about the Pledge of Allegiance. But to do that, it used fake soldiers and a staged military funeral instead of the real thing.

CBS News found that the footage of the 'funeral' and soldiers is what is called 'stock' footage. The soldiers were actors and the funeral scene was from a one-day film shoot, produced in June. No real soldiers were used during production.”

I guess you might say that this is in keeping with the Bush Administration’s policy of hiding any images of real sacrifice from the American public – and just another example of how John McSame is bound to follow those same policies.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Double Double Talk Talk

Turd Blossom and friends discuss the value of the Palin pick:

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

McSame's Republik of Amerika

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Ratified 12/15/1791. - Repealed 09/01/2008.

On the opening day of John McSame’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul Minnesota, award winning journalist and host of “Democracy Now!” Amy Goodman (who was fully credentialed to be on the floor of the convention and to report on the events surrounding the event) was arrested for doing her job.

First they came for………

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

McSame/Palin - Putting Country First

Imagine that you are a young woman; married, with five children. You are a staunch conservative with strong family values. One of your children has Down syndrome and another is 17, unmarried, and pregnant. Imagine also that you are the governor of a sparsely populated northern state which already requires a certain level of family disruption. Add to your plate the fact that you are being investigated for ethics violations and possible abuse of power (which could lead to your impeachment from office). Now imagine that your party’s candidate for POTUS asks you to be his running mate and, if elected, serve just one heartbeat away from the most stress filled and demanding job in the world. What do you say? Hmmmm.

Now a lot of folks in the pundit and political world seem to want to focus on Sarah Palin’s answer to the question. They want to speculate on her parental priorities or even her parenting skills. But is Sarah Palin really the issue here? I mean what kind of man would ask someone with so much on their plate – a disabled infant and a teen aged daughter who will need the love and support of a caring mother as she prepares to become a mother herself – what kind of man would ask this family to add the responsibilities of the Oval Office to their life? It would take a special man. It would take John McSame.

It is often said that the first “presidential decision” a candidate makes is their vice-presidential pick. For the entire campaign season thus far, McSame has been babbling about putting country (and presumably family) first, ahead of politics. And so you can imagine the conversation that had to have taken place between Palin and McSame. After hearing about all of the challenges facing the Palin family, McSame’s final words must have been something like this:

’Sarah, I understand that you have so many struggles ahead of you in the coming months and years as you devote yourself to caring for your infant son, and try to prepare your daughter for the daunting challenges of parenthood at such an early age. And yes, I understand that you will have some distractions ahead with any possible legal challenges which may arise from that unfortunate ethics investigation. But as I have traveled around the country and the world; meeting with other officials in our party – members of Congress, other governors, business leaders – I cannot imagine anyone who would do more to attract young professional women who may be simmering over the exclusion of Hillary Clinton from the Democratic ticket, while reaching out to the evangelical and rural conservative base of the Republican Party being as qualified on national security and national economic issues and as capable of guiding a legislative agenda through a legislative body run by the opposition party as you. Sarah Palin, will you turn your back on your family lay your burdens down and stand just one heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States?’

Sarah Palin’s answer may say many things about her but the fact that John McSame would not think twice about placing this burden on her and her family for the sake of an election says volumes about him.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue