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McCain Gaffe -- Iraq Was the First Major Conflict After 9/11. What about Afghanis...
There is one more John McCain gaffe that the media missed from the now famous CBS interview with Katie Couric.
This is the same interview in which McCain claimed the surge led to the Anbar Awakening, which is demonstrably false. But watch below for another gaffe when McCain says Iraq was the first major conflict after 9/11.
Was Afghanistan not major enough for him? It almost reminds you of when Don Rumsfeld was not impressed with invading Afghanistan because it did not provide a rich enough target environment. He needed something more major.
In all likelihood, this was a simple mental mistake for McCain, among a litany of others recently. But it does go toward state of mind. They never saw Afghanistan as a priority
There is one more John McCain gaffe that the media missed from the now famous CBS interview with Katie Couric. ... more -
Young Republicans worry about McCain's appeal
From cyberspace to college campuses, many young conservatives are worried that Sen. John McCain is not appealing to their generation.
At a town hall meeting in Ohio this month, a student told McCain that Republicans were a dying breed on his campus.
"I understand the challenge I have, and I understand that this election is really all about the people of your generation," McCain said.
Many young Republicans said Sen. Barack Obama -- the 46-year-old junior senator from Illinois -- is inspiring voters their age, but McCain -- the 71-year-old senator who has been in office since the early '80s -- is not.
Eric Pearlmutter, a member of the Young Republicans at the University of Southern California, said the roaring enthusiasm that follows Obama is missing among conservatives his age. From cyberspace to college campuses, many young conservatives are worried that Sen. John McCain is not appealing to their generation. ... more -
The Hubris Of Obama?
A few things have unsettled me these past couple of weeks about the Obama campaign. It is not the small adjustments to previously-held positions - FISA, the Second Amendment, Iraq. It's a sense that Obama's ample self-regard is lapsing into hubris. The signs of this are pretty trivial on the surface, but they are troubling nonetheless.
That simulated faux-presidential seal was both tacky, silly and presumptive - a small version of "Mission Accomplished" Obama could well do without. The decision to give his acceptance speech in a stadium, rather than the traditional convention hall is also an unnecessary over-reach. The night will be freighted enough with history; it needs no new drama to set it apart. And the drama of the first black man accepting the nomination - with Obama's rhetorical brilliance - will be more than enough for impact. Lastly, I was gob-smacked by the Obamas' decision to include their children in a soft-focus TV interview.
I can barely credit that Michelle Obama agreed to this and that Barack Obama went along with it - it's not what they would have done a few months ago. One great aspect of the Obama marriage has been the way in which they appear to have brought up their daughters as very regular girls, down-to-earth, normal and sane. Displaying them in this way was bad judgment and poor parenting. Fame is a toxin. Children deserve to be protected from it as much as they would from lead paint.
Any one of these misjudgments would be a trivial lapse - and we all make mistakes. It's the combination that concerns me - and the possibility that this campaign is becoming far too cocky for its own good.
A few things have unsettled me these past couple of weeks about the Obama campaign. It is not the small adjustments to previously-held... more -
Belief growing that reporters aret trying to help Obama win
The idea that reporters are trying to help Obama win in November has grown by five percentage points over the past month. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, taken just before the new controversy involving the New York Times erupted, found that 49% of voters believe most reporters will try to help the Democrat with their coverage, up from 44% a month ago.
Just 14% believe most reporters will try to help McCain win, little changed from 13% a month ago. Just one voter in four (24%) believes that most reporters will try to offer unbiased coverage.
The New York Times’ refusal to run an op-ed piece by John McCain challenging an article in the paper less than a week ago by Barack Obama is sure to further fuel the belief that much of the major media is biased in favor of the Democratic candidate.
The idea that reporters are trying to help Obama win in November has grown by five percentage points over the past month. The latest R... more -
Matt Gonzalez - Natl Latino Congreso- Ralph Nader's VP
Listen to how intelligent this man is, Nader Gonzalez have more integrity in a pinky finger than the rest of the candidates combined
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YouTube - Ron Paul Educates McCain
Who really understands foreign policy? Are the Republicans really going to pick McCain?
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Attack injures several near Obama's Jerusalem hotel
The driver of an excavator was shot and killed after he drove the construction vehicle over a number of cars near the Jerusalem hotel where Barack Obama is scheduled to stay Tuesday night, according to police.
The excavator used in the attack sits behind a car near the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Israeli medical sources said two people were wounded.
An eyewitness told CNN that he saw the machine overturn two cars near the King David Hotel in downtown Jerusalem, where the U.S. presidential candidate will be staying when he arrives in Israel.
The incident comes three weeks after a similar attack in Jerusalem, in which a Palestinian construction worker rammed a front-end loader into a string of vehicles, killing at least three people before he was shot and killed by Israeli police.
The driver of an excavator was shot and killed after he drove the construction vehicle over a number of cars near the Jerusalem hotel ... more -
FEMA CONCENTRATION CAMPS: Locations
"There over 800 prison camps in the United States, all fully operational and ready to receive prisoners. They are all staffed and even surrounded by full-time guards, but they are all empty. These camps are to be operated by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) should Martial Law need to be implemented in the United States and all it would take is a presidential signature on a proclamation and the attorney general's signature on a warrant to which a list of names is attached."
I know there are prison camps in every state. I have no idea if there are eight hundred? I think it might be interesting if some of us took the list for our area's and looked into this. Not close up, but just to confirm or refute this allegation. "There over 800 prison camps in the United States, all fully operational and ready to receive prisoners. They are all staffed and even... more -
Rice Told Embassies Not To Aid Candidates On Eve Of Obama Trip
On the eve of Democrat Barack Obama's overseas tour, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told employees at U.S. embassies to provide only minimal help to visiting presidential candidates. On the eve of Democrat Barack Obama's overseas tour, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told employees at U.S. embassies to provide o... more
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JibJab's Newest Cartoon
JibJab's first election satire since 2004, they bid farewell to Bush and give Obama and McCain a proper JibJab hazing! And, of course, who could forget about Hillary and Bill? This rip-roaring musical romp gives the election process the proper spanking it deserves! JibJab's first election satire since 2004, they bid farewell to Bush and give Obama and McCain a proper JibJab hazing! And, of course,... more
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McCain owns first foreign policy gaffe during Obama's Iraq trip
As Barack Obama began his trip to the Middle East and Europe, the media was already speculating about the possibility of a gaffe. Obama's travel "carries political risk," the New York Times reported, "particularly if Mr. Obama makes a mistake."
But the only foreign policy error made in the last few days came this morning on ABC's Good Morning America, when John McCain made ANOTHER geography gaffe while trying to criticize Obama's visit to Iraq. (Just last week, McCain repeatedly referred to Czechoslovakia, a country that hasn't existed since 1993.)
Asked by Diane Sawyer whether the "the situation in Afghanistan in precarious and urgent," McCain responded: "I think it's serious. . . . It's a serious situation, but there's a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do and I'm afraid it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border."
But as ABC's Rick Klein noted: "Iraq and Pakistan do not share a border. Afghanistan and Pakistan do."
As Barack Obama began his trip to the Middle East and Europe, the media was already speculating about the possibility of a gaffe. Obam... more -
Chavez Goes Weapons Shopping in Russia Amid Arms Race (Update2)
July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez heads to Moscow today to shop for air defense systems, submarines and other weaponry as Latin America's arms race quickens amid signs that his regional influence is waning.
Past Venezuelan arms purchases from Russia have strengthened ties with Moscow as its rivalry with the U.S. intensifies over President George W. Bush's plans for an Eastern Europe missile defense system and other issues. Chavez, 53, also plans to visit Belarus, a Russian ally that the U.S. considers a dictatorship.
Chavez ``regularly refers to us as an `empire,' opposes our initiatives in the Americas and seeks out our adversaries as friends and allies,'' Assistant U.S. Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon said July 17 in testimony to a congressional committee.
Chavez will order $2 billion worth of weapons, including Project 636 diesel subs, Mi-28 combat helicopters and airplanes made by Ilyushin Co., the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported May 12, without saying how it obtained the information. The Russian Interfax news service, citing an unnamed defense ministry official, said today Chavez may order $1 billion of weapons, including three Varshavyanka subs and up to 20 Tor-M1 air-defense systems.
`Some Shock'
``What Chavez likes to do is to shock, and this will create some shock in Washington,'' said Riordan Roett, a professor of Latin American studies at Johns Hopkins University.
Chavez, who plans to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev tomorrow, has bought more than $4.4 billion of Russian arms since 2003. He says the hardware, including jets and submarines, is needed to counter a military threat from the U.S. and its main regional ally, Colombia.
Russia last year announced plans to build two factories to make Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela.
Russia has used Venezuela to diversify its arms-selling business beyond China and India, said Dmitry Vasiliev, an analyst at the Center for the Analysis of Strategies & Technologies, a Moscow-based defense research center. Venezuela was Russia's third-biggest arms customer last year, he said.
Trade between the two countries surged to $1.13 billion in 2007 from $517 million the previous year, according to a statement published on the Venezuelan Information Ministry's Web site.
`Ideal Partner'
``Russia is trying to be good friends with Chavez because he is an ideal partner in arms trade,'' said Fyodor Lukyanov, an analyst at the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy in Moscow.
The Venezuelan president said this month he'll also discuss the creation of a joint development bank and an investment fund with Russia.
Latin American countries have gone on a military spending spree in recent years as their governments collect record income from commodities, including Venezuela's oil windfall. Regional arms spending jumped 55 percent over four years to $38.4 billion in 2007, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies
July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez heads to Moscow today to shop for air defense systems, submarines and other we... more -
Obama Raises $25 Million in one day
The AP reports that Barack Obama reversed a two-month downward trend by raising more and spending less. He took in $52 million in June, more than twice the nearly $21.5 million raised by John McCain. Obama had $72 million cash on hand to McCain's $27 million.
The Politico points out that Obama raised $25 million on the last day of June alone:
His one-day haul represents nearly half of his monthly total and more than Republican rival John McCain generated for the entire month. During the month, McCain did not have a single day in which he raised a million dollars.
The AP reports that Barack Obama reversed a two-month downward trend by raising more and spending less. He took in $52 million in June... more -
Socialist John McCain by the Southern Avenger
The Southern Avenger, annoyed more than usual.
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American Access To Health Care
This film features highlights from a congressional forum on HR676, the only piece of federal legislation that would ensure every American access to health care. Introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan), HR676 would establish a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that improves and expands the existing Medicare program. This unique single-payer system would guarantee that every American, regardless of income, employment status or race has access to the highest quality health care.
This fascinating primer features appearances by Rep. John Conyers, filmmaker Michael Moore, Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro of the California Nurses Association, legislators Dennis Kucinich, Maxine Waters and Pete Stark and renowned physicians Marcia Angell, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Claudia Fegan and David Himmelstein, founding director of Physicans for a National Health Program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAuwaKl3-nU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efq3ykIeYeQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE-H5kRm48g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxi7DnCH3zk
This film features highlights from a congressional forum on HR676, the only piece of federal legislation that would ensure every Ameri... more -
McCain Adviser Phil Gramm Resigns After 'Whiners' Remarks
Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm resigned Friday from his role as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's campaign co-chairman, hoping to quiet the uproar that followed his comments that the United States had become a "nation of whiners" whose constant complaints about the U.S. economy show they are in a "mental recession."
Gramm, a past presidential candidate, made the remarks more than a week ago. McCain immediately distanced himself from the comments, but they brought a steady stream of criticism just as McCain is trying to show he can help steer the country past its current financial troubles.
Gramm said in a statement late Friday that he is stepping down to "end this distraction."
"It is clear to me that Democrats want to attack me rather than debate Senator McCain on important economic issues facing the country," Gramm said. "That kind of distraction hurts not only Senator McCain's ability to present concrete programs to deal with the country's problems, it hurts the country. To end this distraction and get on with the real debate, I hereby step down as co-chair of the McCain campaign and join the growing number of rank-and-file McCain supporters."
Gramm made the comment to The Washington Times and later explained that he was talking about the nation's leaders not the American people. Democrats claimed at the time that the Gramm comments showed that McCain is out of touch with voters' concerns over high gas prices, the struggling housing industry and the shaky economy in general.
The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Gramm's departure will make little difference to McCain's economic policies.
"The question for John McCain isn't whether Phil Gramm will continue as chairman of his campaign, but whether he will continue to keep the economic plan that Gramm authored and that represents a continuation of the polices that have failed American families for the last eight years," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan. Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm resigned Friday from his role as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's campaign co-chairman, hoping to... more -
GOP Asks Net For Advice, Paulites Answer the Call ... and Answer, and Answer
When the Republican Party issued a clarion call last week for its grassroots supporters to submit ideas online to build the party's platform, Republican National Committee officials probably weren't expecting a concerted push for the dismantling of the Federal Reserve and a return to the gold standard.
But Ron Paul supporters have made themselves at home on the the GOP platform site, sounding many of the themes that turned the Texas congressman's doomed run for the Republican presidential nod into an internet cause célèbre. When the Republican Party issued a clarion call last week for its grassroots supporters to submit ideas online to build the party's pl... more -
McCain Press Aids Spar With Reporters (VIDEO)
Clearly not all reporters are enamored with John McCain's press operation.
Early Wednesday, the Fox affiliate in St. Louis posted video of an awkward, testy exchange between several reporters and McCain's senior press aides -- Brooke Buchanan, the national press secretary, and Nicolle Wallace, the former White House communications director.
"I think there was an attempt by somebody in your staff to take a look at the shot, and I have never, ever had anybody at any organization..." a peeved station staffer told Wallace before being interrupted.
"Really? You've never done anything at the White House?" she replied. "I was at the White House for seven years and we looked at every shot." The staffer pushed back, "Not at our shots," while his colleague asked Wallace, "Which White House?" She refused to answer, saying it didn't matter. He replied, "Oh yes it does!" Wallace told him he looked "agitated."
Later, another reporter asked the McCain aides for their names. Buchanan responded, "Why does that matter?" and asked sharply, "Do we have a problem here, because if -- we may want to reschedule for another day..."
A compelling look at the sausage-making behind presidential candidate interviews.
Update: Some more details on the reporters in the video, from a reader: "The Fox (KTVI) reporter in the blue shirt with his back to the camera is Charles Jaco. The NBC (KSDK) reporter sitting next to him is Mike Owens. The last person standing up asking for names is Mike O'Connell from CBS (KMOV)."
Clearly not all reporters are enamored with John McCain's press operation. ... more -
Very Few House GOP Donate to McCain
Few House Republicans have contributed to Sen. John McCain since he clinched the Republican nomination at the end of February.
McCain, Arizona’s senior senator, has had a far warmer reception in the upper chamber. At least 22 Senate colleagues have contributed to McCain’s campaign, including Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), an Independent who attends Democratic caucus meetings.
Only 21 House Republicans have given to McCain from their personal campaign accounts since he became the presumptive GOP nominee four and a half months ago, according to an analysis of House fundraising reports made public Wednesday.
In addition, eleven House Republicans who did not give from their personal campaign accounts this year contributed from their leadership political action committees (PACs), according to fundraising reports covering the election cycle through the end of May.
So while nearly half the Senate GOP conference has given to McCain, less than 20 percent of House Republicans have pitched in.
Several of the highest-ranking Republicans in the House have yet to give to McCain. Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.) have not given anything, according to the most recent fundraising reports.
“Congressman Blunt is focused on retaking the House so John McCain has the Republican majority he needs to lead our nation. To that end, he has been putting his fundraising dollars to use supporting incumbents and strong challengers,” said Blunt spokesman Nick Simpson.
Putnam is heading a Sportsmen for McCain group and is organizing an event for the Arizona senator, according to a source.
The lack of financial gifts raises questions about McCain’s relationship with members of the lower chamber. McCain has clashed throughout his career with House Republicans on issues ranging from immigration to campaign finance reform to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. A survey by The Hill in June found more than a dozen House Republicans who refused to endorse McCain, even though he will be the party’s standard-bearer this fall.
House Republicans say that McCain has done little to solicit their financial support, even though Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the expected Democratic nominee, has raised more than twice as much money this election cycle. Obama reported $10 million more in cash on hand at the end of May.
Aides to McCain’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Few House Republicans have contributed to Sen. John McCain since he clinched the Republican nomination at the end of February. ... more -
Officials spread Katrina lies in support of offshore oil drilling
Former Senator turned energy lobbyist Trent Lott (R-MS) falsely claimed, during a Tuesday MSNBC appearance in support of drilling for oil offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, that Hurricane Katrina didn't cause oil spills.
"We didn't have one drop of oil [spilled] when we had the biggest hurricane in recent history, Hurricane Katrina," Lott said on Tuesday. "I think that the American people," he added, "are saying 'Look, do whatever is necessary, do it all, and do it now.'"
Former Senator and lobbyist John Breaux, a Democrat hailing from the gulf state of Louisiana, said that opponents of offshore drilling should reconsider. "We've shown that for the last sixty years you can do it safely, you can develop all natural domestic resources here in the United States, and it can be done safely."
Oil spills, in fact, numbered over 100 in the hurricane's aftermath, plaguing New Orleans and nearby areas and also contaminating the Mississippi River. The Coast Guard, MSNBC itself reported in September of 2005, estimated that 7 million gallons of oil, between 44 separate facilities around southeastern Louisiana, had been spilled as a result of the storm.
Hurricane Ivan had caused spills out of offshore platforms in 2004, and while satellite photos were said by advocacy group SkyTruth to have revealed 7,000 square miles of oil slicks floating in the Gulf after Katrina, the Coast Guard's Capt. Frank Paskewich disputed it. "As for now, I am confident that we have no received any reports of significant oil spills offshore," he told Reuters.
On Monday, Nancy Pfotenhauer, energy lobbyist and senior energy adviser to Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, told MSNBC's David Schuster that "we withstood Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and we didn't spill a drop." In the past month, the same talking point has been spread by government officials such as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Senator McCain, and Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.
Former Senator turned energy lobbyist Trent Lott (R-MS) falsely claimed, during a Tuesday MSNBC appearance in support of drilling for ... more
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2008 Election
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2008 Election
