Author: idredit

Beyond reading the tea leaves, we’ll soon know the pick…at the earliest on Wednesday morning according to aides. The article states Obama has made the decision on his VP running mate but has not notified his choice.

From the NYT/IHT as reported yesterday in Open Thread

Very interesting.

Obama appears ready to announce running mate

WASHINGTON: Senator Barack Obama has all but settled on his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate rollout plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday morning, aides said.

Obama’s deliberations remain remarkably closely held. Aides said perhaps a half-dozen advisers were involved in the final discussions in an effort to enforce a command that Obama issued to staff members: that his decision not leak out until supporters are notified.

Obama had not notified his choice — or any of those not selected — of his decision as of late Monday, advisers said. Going into the final days, Obama was said to be focused mainly on three candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Joseph Biden Jr. of Delaware.

Some Democrats said they still hoped that he would choose Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, or Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, who has been under steady consideration by Obama’s campaign.

By all indications, Obama is likely to choose someone relatively safe and avoid taking a chance with a game-changing selection. A similar strategic choice now faces Obama’s Republican rival, Senator John McCain of Arizona, who has been under pressure from some Republicans to make a more daring choice.

Obama’s advisers said he all but reached his decision while on vacation in Hawaii. They said it was the end of what proved to be an unexpectedly intense process, condensed because he did not want to start actively vetting potential running mates before Clinton quit the race in June.

[.]

The team of advance workers and aides involved in planning the rollout — timed to galvanize Democratic voters as Obama heads to Denver next week for the party convention — have not been told who Obama will be selecting.

If all goes according to plan, the announcement will be made with text and e-mail messages to supporters early in the morning, in time to capture coverage on the morning news shows and take advantage of a full day’s news cycle.

Obama and his running mate will begin, perhaps that day, a visit to swing states. Plans call for them to be on the trail together for much of the time between the day of the announcement and the day Obama arrives in Denver, a week from Wednesday, but their most intense campaigning together will come after the convention.

[.]

Aides said the announcement would come at the earliest on Wednesday morning.

There are questions circulating whether or not John McCain was in a “Cone of Silence” during the Obama segment of the Pastor Rick Warren interview at Saddleback Church. Pastor Warren had assured viewers that McCain was out of the hearing loop..in a sound proof room and now is surprised to learn McCain was out of the building.

When NBC’s Andrea Mitchell revealed to Pastor Rick Warren on Meet The Press, that McCain was not in the “Cone of Silence” as promised, the McCain camp charged that NBC was biased.

Via Huffpost

NYT Backs Up NBC

The claim in question was made by Andrea Mitchell on yesterday’s broadcast of “Meet the Press,” while discussing McCain and Obama’s respective performance during the Saddlebeck Forum on Faith led by Pastor Rick Warren. The full quote is as follows:

MITCHELL: The Obama people must feel that he didn’t do quite as well as they might have wanted to in that context, because that — what they’re putting out privately is that McCain may not have been in the cone of silence and may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama…. He seemed so well-prepared

In a letter, reprinted by Mike Allen of Politico,- McCain protests NBC coverage – Davis stated that the claim was “completely unsubstantiated” and a “blatant falsehood.”

The McCain Letter to NBC:

August 17, 2008
Mr. Steve Capus
President, NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Steve:

We are extremely disappointed to see that the level of objectivity at NBC News has fallen so low that reporters are now giving voice to unsubstantiated, partisan claims in order to undercut John McCain.

Nowhere was this more evident than with NBC chief correspondent Andrea Mitchell’s comments on “Meet the Press” this morning. In analyzing last night’s presidential forum at Saddleback Church, Mitchell expressed the Obama campaign spin that John McCain could only have done so well last night because he “may not have been in the cone of silence and may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama.” Here are Andrea Mitchell’s comments in full:

Mitchell: “The Obama people must feel that he didn’t do quite as well as they might have wanted to in that context, because what they are putting out privately is that McCain may not have been in the cone of silence and may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama. He seemed so well-prepared.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/17/08)

Make no mistake: This is a serious charge. Andrea Mitchell is repeating, uncritically, a completely unsubstantiated Obama campaign claim that John McCain somehow cheated in last night’s forum at Saddleback Church. Instead of trying to substantiate this blatant falsehood in any way, Andrea Mitchell felt that she needed to repeat it on air to millions of “Meet the Press” viewers with no indication that 1.) There’s not one shred of evidence that it’s true; 2.) In his official correspondence to both campaigns, Pastor Rick Warren provided both candidates with information regarding the topic areas to be covered, which Barack Obama acknowledged during the forum when asked about Pastor Warren’s idea of an emergency plan for orphans and Obama said, “I cheated a little bit. I actually looked at this idea ahead of time, and I think it is a great idea;” 3.) John McCain actually requested that he and Barack Obama do the forum together on stage at the same time, making these kinds of after-the-fact complaints moot.

Indeed, instead of taking a critical journalistic approach to this spin, Andrea Mitchell did what has become a pattern for her of simply repeating Obama campaign talking points.

This is irresponsible journalism and sadly, indicative of the level of objectivity we have witnessed at NBC News this election cycle. Instead of examining the Obama campaign’s spin for truth before reporting it to more than 3 million NBC News viewers, Andrea Mitchell simply passed along Obama campaign conspiracy theories. The fact is that during Senator Obama’s segment at Saddleback last night, Senator McCain was in a motorcade to the event and then held in a green room with no broadcast feed. In the forum, John McCain clearly demonstrated to the American people that he is prepared to be our next President…..

From Huffpost: Seelye in the NYT corroborates Mitchell’s report

Despite Assurances, McCain Wasn’t in a Cone of Silence”

Senator John McCain was not in a “cone of silence” on Saturday night while his rival, Senator Barack Obama, was being interviewed at the Saddleback Church in California… The matter is of interest because Mr. McCain, who followed Mr. Obama’s hourlong appearance in the forum, was asked virtually the same questions as Mr. Obama.

Mr. McCain’s performance was well received, raising speculation among some viewers, especially supporters of Mr. Obama, that he was not as isolated during the Obama interview as Mr. Warren implied.

(snip)

Mr. Warren, the pastor of Saddleback, had assured the audience while he was interviewing Mr. Obama that “we have safely placed Senator McCain in a cone of silence” and that he could not hear the questions… Interviewed Sunday on CNN, Mr. Warren seemed surprised to learn that Mr. McCain was not in the building during the Obama interview.

(emphasis added)

Huffpost notes:

But even without Seelye, Mitchell was corroborated…by Davis. He wrote, “The fact is that during Senator Obama’s segment at Saddleback last night, Senator McCain was in a motorcade to the event and then held in a green room with no broadcast feed.” That means that he was not in the cone of silence during the Obama questioning, confirming Mitchell’s report.

(emphasis added)

The McCain camp would like to turn the question on the fact both candidates knew the generalities of the questions to be asked.  The claim is not that they knew the questions before appearing – Obama admitted to that.  

The point is McCain  was in a position to hear Obama’s answers…gaining an advantage to reposition himself outside of the rules of engagement.

Are we surprised?  These rethugs have offered proof once AGAIN that we may think it’s a fair fight, but….they’ve to cheat to win it.

Hey, personally, I’m waiting to read that Obama- when asked about the possible use of blackberries and text messaging – played nice; AGAIN and has defended McCain saying..:

‘..McCain did not know he was out of the building.’

Betcha.

What prompted this question? As I write this I’m tuned into VPR – Vermont Public Radio on a discussion about race and racial issues in this election. As most know, Vermont is a small rural white state with few African-Americans – so few that we (I’m bi-racial hail from the near abroad) can be counted on your hands, feet, toes and fingers. Yet Obama won the state in the Primaries, collected a money haul, last figure – if memory serves – of $400,000 to Clinton’s $47,000.

Obama is of bi-racial descent; a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya. He has been smeared by Lieberman and McCain as unpatriotic and foreign and, and, and, Afro-American.  Albeit Obama is intelligent enough to be promoted as the ‘One’  a “Moses’

What has Obama done to be so deserving of these smears and mockery?

OMG.  he’s black, he’s scary black. Has anyone noticed that in every McCain ad Obama is surrounded only by white women? Begs the question,… are there’s no Afro-American women in America or has McCain written off every non-white vote.

Why is Obama not considered a patriotic half-white American? Why is he being overlooked as half-white?

McCain-Lieberman and friends, Cokie Roberts, the uncomfortable Juan Williams – NPR’s resident dishonest critics, – all will deny they’re playing the race card, playing from the bottom of the sewer. We’re not fooled. Yes, Williams is helping out in playing the race card. We can smell it tens of thousands of miles away.

I’ve always resented the hyphenated label: Afro-American, Hispanic-American, Chinese-American.

Frankly, we’re compelled to conclude “American” is a category, a label reserved for only Whites. We could say this hyphenated land feels much like 1970-80s South Africa or 1950-1960s America. The “Whytes Only” mindset has not disappeared. The message, the odor of this campaign tells me if you’re not pure white in your DNA, you cannot aspire to run for the Presidency of the United States. …even if you discovered a cure for cancer and AIDS, No. You. Won’t. be. allowed.

“you’re inexperienced” or “you’re elitist,” or “you’re foreign” or you’re not American” ..these are the new code words. Or hey, “you’re over-qualified” for the job (the old code). Just saying,… it’s all sanitized racial hate.

I highly recommend to McCain- Lieberman, Cokie Roberts, Mark Penn and all tag along bigots to an essay by One Drop, at Too Sense

I take liberties.

To Those Who Claim Obama Is Not American..

…you obviously have no idea of what being “American” really means.

Let’s consider one of the central American mythic archetypes, that of the hero who comes from a modest background, strikes out on his (or her) own, “pulls himself up by his bootstraps” and somehow makes a name for himself. The “self made man” of American legend. Think of Abraham Lincoln, the frontier lawyer born in a log cabin, who later became President of the United States, quite possibly the greatest of all of the Presidents who succeeded George Washington; Thomas Edison, the home-schooled boy who grew up to become one of history’s most prolific inventors, as well as the founder of General Electric; John D. Rockefeller, the son of an itinerant traveling salesmen, who went on to found Standard Oil, ultimately becoming the richest man in history; or Cornelius Vanderbilt, who worked on ferries in and around New York as a boy, quitting school at age 11 to start his own ferry business, and gradually expanding into steamships and later railroads (his son, William Henry Vanderbilt, inherited nearly $100 million from him when he died in 1877).

Obama’s life story is entirely consistent with the “self made man” mythos. Here is a man who came from modest financial cicrumstances, raised by a single mother and maternal grandparents, who worked his way into some of the most prestigious universities in the World and went on to become a best-selling author; the fifth African-American United States Senator (the third to be popularly elected); and later the first African-American nominated by a major party to be President of the United States. Nothing given to him on a silver spoon, no prominent family name upon which to rely, no great inheritance with which to support himself. Individual effort, amazing results. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the very embodiment of the American Dream.

Those who claim that Obama is “Not at his center fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values” are speaking either from a position of extreme ignorance regarding the meaning of American identity, or they are speaking from a position of racial chauvinism (at best) or outright racial hostility. Of course, there is also a fair bit of nativist thinking in this response to Obama, spurred by his African father and by the years he spent in Indonesia. Even his upbringing in Hawaii is somehow described as being too “foreign” or “exotic”, notwithstanding the fact that Hawaii is, you know, part of America.

You cannot logically review Obama’s life story and conclude that he is un-American unless you restrict your definition of “American” to white people, or people with two American parents, or people who have never lived abroad…or, better yet, all three.

The man has played by the rules that are supposedly laid out before all Americans: work hard, study hard, apply yourself, and great things can happen. Even if you come from limited financial means, you can achieve.

[.]I am not suggesting that all who oppose Obama’s candidacy do so for racial reasons. You can certainly find a lot of political issues upon which to disagree with Obama, and it is perfectly valid to oppose him on those grounds. There is nothing wrong with considering Obama and deciding that he is too young, too inexperienced, to shoulder the awesome burdens of the Presidency. One could even decide that somehow Obama seems “too good to be true.” None of those rationales have anything to do with race, and I’m sure they form the basis for a lot of people’s decisions not to support Obama. It is vitally important to recognize that not everything is about race in this campaign.[.]

That being said, suggesting that Obama is not American, that he is somehow “foreign” or “other”, that argument is entirely about heritage, about race..Nothing else differentiates Obama in any substantive way from the Abraham Lincolns and Cornelius Vanderbilts of American history. He has come from the same small beginnings…[.]
The only basis to separate him from that august group is the fact that they were white, and he is biracial.

As a nation, we are supposed to be better than that. At least, in theory we are. But that theory is not self-executing. We have to work to make it true, we have to engage those who undermine it, stand against it. We cannot allow them to claim ownership of the meaning of being an “American”. We mustn’t cede to them the authority to determine who may or may not be American.

(highlights added)

So for Joe Lieberman, a person who, imho, displays dual loyalties – who puts Israel’s interest ahead of America’s – and for McCain to endorse Joe’s statement that:

Obama Has Not Always “Put The Country First” is hurtful and really, very offensive.  

The New York Times International Herald Tribune has obliged  to disseminate Lieberman’s attack. (HT: TPM)

Had this attack –“Not always putting the country first” been leveled at a Lieberman, a Cohen or Cantor, as the presumptive nominee, there would be howls of outrage. “That’s anti-semitism”…”that’s hate”

But no, we’re told to “relax and enjoy.”

Mockery is fun.

Joe Lieberman and John McCain owes ALL Americans a long apology.

Why?

McCain broke his promise to conduct a campaign with honor.

Guess it depends.

We’ve been itching to give Joe Lieberman the boot…have him ushered out of the Party.   We’re told “NO, not yet, we need his vote.”  We’ve watched, with some chagrin, as Joe openly campaigns for McCain.

Now wouldn’t this be lov-er-ly?  Give a holler to Senator Reid; should this report be correct, we won’t need an excuse.

Financial Times, UK (U.S. edition):
(Reg.req.)

Lieberman `on McCain short-list’

Joe Lieberman, the former Democratic vice-presidential nominee who has endorsed John McCain, is being vetted as a potential running mate for the Republican presidential hopeful, according to an adviser to Mr McCain’s campaign.

Mr Lieberman, who has campaigned for the Arizona senator, has long been considered an unconventional but plausible choice for Mr McCain

Although Democrats have rejected Mr McCain’s image as a maverick politician, Mr Lieberman’s support for the presumptive Republican nominee has, much to the chagrin of his former colleagues, helped to boost Mr McCain’s reputation as a bi-partisan legislator with friends on both sides of the aisle. Mr Lieberman, a staunch supporter of Israel, could also help Mr McCain win over Jewish voters.

“[McCain] loves Lieberman. And he is on the [short-]list because Lieberman has never embarrassed anyone, never misspoken. The first rule is, don’t take someone who costs you votes,” said one McCain adviser.

[.]

But not everyone would be enthusiastic about Mr Lieberman being added to the ticket.

[.]

“Conservatives would be pissed as hell – I think you would have a revolt, but sometimes John does what John wants to do,” the McCain adviser said.

Another McCain adviser said that it was unlikely that the Republican candidate would base his decision on “tactical considerations”.

“He can be pragmatic, but on the biggest decisions he tends to favour his instinct for the bigger picture,” the adviser said.

[.]

Mr Lieberman has left open the possibility that he would speak at the Republican National Convention, a move that would probably ensure that Democrats would strip him of his chairmanship of the committee on homeland security.

[.]

“Lieberman has never embarrassed anyone, never misspoken.”

No!!   Joe only distorts what was said and that’s cheating.

McCain needs Joe to hold his hands, whisper in his ear, tell him what to say or do.

I think this should be the ticket. Aside the visuals, Joe proves he’s a lousy campaigner – a turncoat.

Note to John McCain: This Rat, Lieber-sore-loser, is all yours.

The McCain camp stepped into this one.

Paris Hilton strikes with her own Ad to the “white hair old guy”

“”I’m a celebrity too.””…’Thanks for the endorsement old guy’

She has an energy policy and is off to pick her VP.

“I’m Paris Hilton and I approve this message”

Watch the Video

released via the General Assignment Editor.

Fascist?

Liar?

Are you irked by the McCain-Rovian right wing slander that masquerades as a serious campaign? The not so subtle racism? Yes, Rove is still around with Schmidt as his sous chef. They’re throwing more than just the kitchen sink…a heavy dose of subliminal.

Obama returned from his `world tour’ to a very negative reception – from his opponent, the media and Wall Street..The rest of the world loves Obama so we need to reject explode him…puncture his balloon.

McCain has mounted a dishonorable, slimy barrage. The racially tinged aside, Watch the video at the link:  McCain nows calls Obama a socialist – so – if Barack Obama is a Socialist, Is John McCain a Fascist?

Digby – “At this point I don’t care if Obama flips on every single issue, I will do everything I can to see this [McCain] jackass defeated.”

On ABCNews today, McCain defended his attacks (again). Who will call him out? Obama had better have more than just a plan.

The Carpetbagger Report: ‘In politics, lying is cheating’

[.]

McCain’s brief interview with ABC helps highlight all of his least honest tendencies.

“Those ads really were focused on two things. They were focused on the fact that Sen. Obama wants to raise taxes, and I’m opposed of it. And he opposes an energy policy which would work, including offshore drilling. So the message there is there’re stark differences between myself and Sen. Obama.”

[…]

“We’re not gonna allow racism to come into this campaign in any form,” McCain said. “And so I’m gonna respond if it comes up again.”

[…]

“Well, the fact is he still opposes offshore drilling,” McCain said. “He opposes nuclear power. He opposes most every measure, incentives to build a battery-driven car. So, I’m not surprised that he’s hedging on this issue. But the fact is he still opposes offshore drilling…. Sen. Obama is still opposed to a comprehensive energy plan,” McCain claimed. “It seems to me the only thing he wants us to do is inflate tires” to improve gas mileage.

[.]
As Digby put it, “I am really starting to hate this unctuous, double-talking creep.”

I mean, really. It’s tough to keep up, but just try to count the lies:

[.]

It’s mildly interesting that McCain gave his word to the nation that he would run a substantive, honest campaign, and then completely abandoned his promise when he saw some poll results he didn’t like. But it’s far more interesting that McCain’s campaign strategy is based on little more than a massive con job. I care that McCain is relentlessly negative, but I really care that he’s relentlessly dishonest.

Digby concluded,.”At this point I don’t care if Obama flips on every single issue, I will do everything I can to see this jackass defeated.”

I think that’s precisely the right attitude.

More on McCain’s dishonesty and on coastal drilling, when McCain changed positions the fossil fuel gang took a liking to his campaign.

What about our lazy conventional media – ABCNews, AP, Investors Business Daily, WSJ and other Financial News – all are touting McCain.  

The black guy doesn’t have a chance. Be very afraid.

Here’s Michael J. Boskin, writing in The Wall Street Journal:

Obamanomics Is a Recipe for Recession

What if I told you that a prominent global political figure in recent months has proposed: abrogating key features of his government’s contracts with energy companies; unilaterally renegotiating his country’s international economic treaties; dramatically raising marginal tax rates on the “rich” to levels not seen in his country in three decades (which would make them among the highest in the world); and changing his country’s social insurance system into explicit welfare by severing the link between taxes and benefits?

The first name that came to mind would probably not be Barack Obama, possibly our nation’s next president. Yet despite his obvious general intelligence, and uplifting and motivational eloquence, Sen. Obama reveals this startling economic illiteracy in his policy proposals and economic pronouncements. From the property rights and rule of (contract) law foundations of a successful market economy to the specifics of tax, spending, energy, regulatory and trade policy, if the proposals espoused by candidate Obama ever became law, the American economy would suffer a serious setback. [.]

The top 35% marginal income tax rate rises to 39.6%; adding the state income tax, the Medicare tax, the effect of the deduction phase-out and Mr. Obama’s new Social Security tax (of up to 12.4%) increases the total combined marginal tax rate on additional labor earnings (or small business income) from 44.6% to a whopping 62.8%. People respond to what they get to keep after tax, which the Obama plan reduces from 55.4 cents on the dollar to 37.2 cents — a reduction of one-third in the after-tax wage!

[.]

Mr. Boskin, professor of economics at Stanford University and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George H.W. Bush.

Nothing more to add except that Boskin is being taken seriously.

Obama’s economics will cause a recession, even a depression just like Obama is the cause of high gas prices.

Is the Boskin article a result of McCain golfing with poppy Bush?

Really, what does Mr. Boskin think we’re in… Happy Times?
Boskin writes on the peril of an Obama presidency to the market economy and overlooks the continuation of Benny and Hank’s (Federal Reserve and Treasury) bailouts of the big financial entities. Debts are socialized to the taxpayer.

Others in the financial news media have shed their credibility and are mockingly projecting an Obama presidency and what’s ahead as – if he is allowed to be elected  – Obamanation.

Say that really fast. See the picture?

On a favorite financial news broadcast yesterday, no link, I was stunned to hear the word Obamanation followed by laughter from intellectuals. Citing the Boskin article, one of the moderators called Obama a Marxist, his ties to Kenya; his mentors are Ayers, Davis and Linsky all radical terrorists and communists.  Obama’s economic plan is very scary:

“Obama supports a Universal National Service, free child care, free university, free universal health care and the UN’s  one (1%) percent Global Proverty Tax on Americans..he’ll tax the oil company to pay seniors.”

Let’s include Wal-Mart’s political intimidation too. No outrage here.

Sure will be an obamanation should he be elected.

Also these tactics and the subliminals – puncturing Obama’s balloon  

Oh you don’t believe in subliminal. Keep your tv plugged.

Here’s one take with equally interesting comments:

–Exploding Obama At The Subliminal Level.

I think we are really being played if — in analyzing “Celeb,” the McCain Obama-attack video — we go so far as unearth the racist sexual stereotypes but overlook the possible allusions to violence itself.

[.]

But then, watching the video without the sound, and looking at it slowly, bit-by-bit (lessening the “distraction” of the celebrity meme, and considering the subliminal allusions hitting the brain as fast as the scenery from a speeding train), the imagery starts to suggest other inferences.

Beginning with a sequence of flashes paired with isolated hands, followed immediately by a sequence (above) from what looks like the last Democratic Convention (where Obama made his first major jolt, but where the scene itself bears next-to-no direct connection to Obama having his picture taken), now all the “pop-pop-pop” and the violently-sensory “flash-flash-flash” seem indistinguishable from explosions.

[.]

Again, following the Rovian admonition to block out the words (removing and freeing up the fuller visual value of the imagery from the advertisement’s oral/textual envelope), I don’t even want to think what this looks like to me — except to say that, I wouldn’t count Hillary as Obama’s only political assailant with the instinct to turn off the electricity.

What’s at foot here is beyond an ordinary election campaign. These are not ordinary times. Race has raised it’s ugly. We expected it.

Mr. Uppity not only wants to rape your daughter but the country too.

Yep, the KKKs are hard at work.

Going forward, I’ll discount every pollster until the night of  November 4th. As of now, we can write off the rich, the Jewish vote, the white hard working poor and the Clintonista hold-outs.

FWIW, Steve Clemons flags The Nation’s Open Letter to Obama – with over 12,000 signatures and counting. Imho, an excellent letter – all issues, domestic and foreign policies are spot on. The DNC party platform guys and gals should look no further. They should just adopt this letter, their job done.

What do you think?

From The Washington Note

Katrina vanden Heuvel, Jane Hamsher, Juan Cole, Gore Vidal, Robert Greenwald, Matt Stoller and others headline a letter to be delivered to Barack Obama before the Democratic National Convention.

To some degree, the letter appeals to Obama to be Obama, the one we saw during the primary and not some faded or compromised version.

I am now signature 12,180 on this reasonable letter whose central points are:

    ~ Withdrawal from Iraq on a fixed timetable.

    ~ A response to the current economic crisis that reduces the gap between the rich and the rest of us through a more progressive financial and welfare system; public investment to create jobs and repair the country’s collapsing infrastructure; fair trade policies; restoration of the freedom to organize unions; and meaningful government enforcement of labor laws and regulation of industry.

    ~ Universal healthcare.

    ~ An environmental policy that transforms the economy by shifting billions of dollars from the consumption of fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, creating millions of green jobs.

    ~ An end to the regime of torture, abuse of civil liberties and unchecked executive power that has flourished in the Bush era.

    ~ A commitment to the rights of women, including the right to choose abortion and improved access to abortion and reproductive health services.

    ~ A commitment to improving conditions in urban communities and ending racial inequality, including disparities in education through reform of the No Child Left Behind Act and other measures.

    ~ An immigration system that treats humanely those attempting to enter the country and provides a path to citizenship for those already here.

    ~ Reform of the drug laws that incarcerate hundreds of thousands who need help, not jail.

    ~ Reform of the political process that reduces the influence of money and corporate lobbyists and amplifies the voices of ordinary people.

[.]

:::  :::

Full Text of Letter: Change We Can Believe In

“An Open Letter to Barack Obama

Since his historic victory in the Democratic primary, there have been signs that Obama is wavering on some of the core commitments that moved so many progressive voices, including at The Nation, to support him. Please join this open letter calling on Obama to stand firm so he can deliver the change he’s encouraged us to believe is possible.”

Dear Senator Obama,   

We write to congratulate you on the tremendous achievements of your campaign for the presidency of the United States.

Your candidacy has inspired a wave of political enthusiasm like nothing seen in this country for decades. In your speeches, you have sketched out a vision of a better future–in which the United States sheds its warlike stance around the globe and focuses on diplomacy abroad and greater equality and freedom for its citizens at home–that has thrilled voters across the political spectrum. Hundreds of thousands of young people have entered the political process for the first time, African–American voters have rallied behind you, and many of those alienated from politics-as-usual have been re-engaged.

You stand today at the head of a movement that believes deeply in the change you have claimed as the mantle of your campaign. The millions who attend your rallies, donate to your campaign and visit your website are a powerful testament to this new movement’s energy and passion.

This movement is vital for two reasons: First, it will help assure your victory against John McCain in November. The long night of greed and military adventurism under the Bush Administration, which a McCain administration would continue, cannot be brought to an end a day too soon. An enthusiastic corps of volunteers and organizers will ensure that voters turn out to close the book on the Bush era on election day. Second, having helped bring you the White House, the support of this movement will make possible the changes that have been the platform of your campaign. Only a grassroots base as broad and as energized as the one that is behind you can counteract the forces of money and established power that are a dead weight on those seeking real change in American politics.

We urge you, then, to listen to the voices of the people who can lift you to the presidency and beyond.

Since your historic victory in the primary, there have been troubling signs that you are moving away from the core commitments shared by many who have supported your campaign, toward a more cautious and centrist stance–including, most notably, your vote for the FISA legislation granting telecom companies immunity from prosecution for illegal wiretapping, which angered and dismayed so many of your supporters.

We recognize that compromise is necessary in any democracy. We understand that the pressures brought to bear on those seeking the highest office are intense. But retreating from the stands that have been the signature of your campaign will weaken the movement whose vigorous backing you need in order to win and then deliver the change you have promised.

Here are key positions you have embraced that we believe are essential to sustaining this movement:

§ Withdrawal from Iraq on a fixed timetable.

§ A response to the current economic crisis that reduces the gap between the rich and the rest of us through a more progressive financial and welfare system; public investment to create jobs and repair the country’s collapsing infrastructure; fair trade policies; restoration of the freedom to organize unions; and meaningful government enforcement of labor laws and regulation of industry.

§ Universal healthcare.

§ An environmental policy that transforms the economy by shifting billions of dollars from the consumption of fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, creating millions of green jobs.

§ An end to the regime of torture, abuse of civil liberties and unchecked executive power that has flourished in the Bush era.

§ A commitment to the rights of women, including the right to choose abortion and improved access to abortion and reproductive health services.

§ A commitment to improving conditions in urban communities and ending racial inequality, including disparities in education through reform of the No Child Left Behind Act and other measures.

§ An immigration system that treats humanely those attempting to enter the country and provides a path to citizenship for those already here.

§ Reform of the drug laws that incarcerate hundreds of thousands who need help, not jail.

§ Reform of the political process that reduces the influence of money and corporate lobbyists and amplifies the voices of ordinary people.

These are the changes we can believe in. In other areas–such as the use of residual forces and mercenary troops in Iraq, the escalation of the US military presence in Afghanistan, the resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the death penalty–your stated positions have consistently varied from the positions held by many of us, the “friends on the left” you addressed in recent remarks. If you win in November, we will work to support your stands when we agree with you and to challenge them when we don’t. We look forward to an ongoing and constructive dialogue with you when you are elected President.

Stand firm on the principles you have so compellingly articulated, and you may succeed in bringing this country the change you’ve encouraged us to believe is possible.

What do you think?

Feel like signing?

Link

They take care of their own:  

All that talk about the dubious place of McCain’s birth that may make him ineligible to run for president, remember that?  It’s been taken care of…. without a whisper, OTQT, this past April24, 30, 2008:

 S.Res.511 R IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

“Recognizing that John Sidney McCain, III, is a natural born citizen.” Sponsored by Mrs McCaskill, Mr. Leahy, Mr.Obama, Mr. Coburn, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Webb.

Bill 3 of 1000
There are 2 other versions of this bill.

Recognizing that John Sidney McCain, III, is a natural born citizen. (Agreed to by Senate)

SRES 511 ATS

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 511
Recognizing that John Sidney McCain , III, is a natural born citizen.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 10, 2008
Mrs. MCCASKILL (for herself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. OBAMA, Mr. COBURN, Mrs. CLINTON, and Mr. WEBB) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

April 24, 2008
Reported by Mr. LEAHY, without amendment

April 30, 2008
Considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION
Recognizing that John Sidney McCain , III, is a natural born citizen.

Whereas the Constitution of the United States requires that , to be eligible for the Office of the President, a person must be a `natural born Citizen’ of the United States;

Whereas the term `natural born Citizen’, as that term appears in Article II, Section 1, is not defined in the Constitution of the United States;

Whereas there is no evidence of the intention of the Framers or any Congress to limit the constitutional rights of children born to Americans serving in the military nor to prevent those children from serving as their country’s President; [.]

You’d think McCain would play nice? NO.

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The CBC comes to Obama’s aid saying The race card is dealt from the bottom of the barrel by the McCain camp.

McCain’s reversal on his opposition to offshore drilling brings in a gusher of oil money to the tune of $881,450.

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The inexperienced and naïve Arlen Specter requests to meet with Castro and Chavez

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In the New Protectorates of Iraq and Af/Pak:

Afghanistan: It’s not a good war

“Every war has a story line. World War I was “the war to end all wars.” World War II was “the war to defeat fascism.” Iraq was sold as a war to halt weapons of mass destruction; then to overthrow Saddam Hussein, then to build democracy. In the end it was a fabrication built on a falsehood and anchored in a fraud. But Afghanistan is the “good war,” aimed at “those who attacked us,” in the words of columnist Frank Rich. It is “the war of necessity,” asserts the New York Times, to roll back the “power of Al Qaeda and the Taliban.” – Conn Hallinan

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Afghanistan: the new surge – it’ll be the long war

Afghanistan spiralling back to days of Taliban, say charities

“Terror attacks spreading into areas that were previously thought safe. In a damning indictment of the international community’s effort to stabilise Afghanistan, more than 100 aid agencies claimed security is worse now than at any time in the past seven years.”

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Iraq, No More Money For You: U.S. auditor says funding for Iraqi rebuilding should cease

With burgeoning oil income and unspent money from previous budgets, the war-torn nation can meet its own needs, the special inspector general says.

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Pakistan is on a slow boil for invasion as its military denies CIA confrontation. Pakistan’s military has rejected a “malicious” report that a top CIA official confronted Islamabad over ties between the country’s intelligence service and militants.

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The Economy and attempts to mount a rescue-we’ll pay the bankers

Fed Extends Lending Programs as Threats Persist

A year after credit markets seized up, the Federal Reserve is still struggling with the crisis and expanding key lending programs that were designed as temporary measures to nurse the financial system back to health.

The central bank announced Wednesday that it is extending programs through January that allow investment banks to borrow from the Fed. The move is an effort to prevent a worsening in what the Fed described as “continued fragile circumstances in financial markets.”

Troubles in the financial world continue to take the Fed deeper into new territory in its effort to prevent a larger credit crunch. …

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MERRILL WOES COULD SPREAD

Writedowns could total $1-trillion.

NEW YORK – Merrill Lynch & Co.’s stunning fire sale of US$31-billion worth of risky home-loan assets for US22¢ on the dollar could burn other big banks by forcing them to take similar writedowns.

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What’s your catch?

McCain has become McWhiner and in recent weeks has been taking the low road, low blows. Obama struts confidence – described by some as presumptuous.

A distinct contrast between the two has emerged. Read on.

TPM: Big Picture

For all the seismic shifts that have taken place over the last two weeks, we need to recognize that McCain has now abandoned virtually everything he’s been campaigning on for the last year. There’s really no more eloquent confirmation of that reality than the fact that McCain now appears determined to base his campaign on charges that Obama is unpatriotic and despises American soldiers.

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CNN: Hagel says judgment more important than experience

“Each candidate has strengths and weaknesses, and experience does matter,” Hagel said. “But what matters more in my opinion is character and judgment. And judgment meaning who is it that you bring around, who is it that you listen to? Can you make the right decisions for the right reasons on behalf of your country and the world?”

Reed and Hagel also addressed a new ad from the McCain campaign. The ad’s script says that Obama “made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops.” It continues, “Seems the Pentagon wouldn’t allow him to bring cameras.” Both Hagel and Reed said the ad is inappropriate.

“It is factually distorted, and it is I hope not a sign of things to come, because there are two many important problems to engage at this point in baseless insinuations about patriotism and about American men and women in uniform,” said Reed.

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Hagel on CBS

McCain On “Thin Ground” With Recent Attacks

On CBS’ “Face The Nation,” Chuck Hagel responded to John McCain’s recent attacks on Barack Obama’s trip abroad and withdrawal plan: “John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives and when we start to get into, ‘You’re less patriotic than me. I’m more patriotic … “it’s just not responsible to be saying things like that.”

Hagel also said he doesn’t think McCain’s new ad bashing Obama for not visiting troops in Germany is “appropriate.”

Reminder: foreign policy is McCain’s perceived Ace.

McCain Denies He Used ‘The Word Timetable,’ Claims “We Were Greeted As Liberators’

For a stark contrast of the two candidates – a contrast of confidence and courage is reported in:

The Jerusalem Post interview with Obama

Two months ago in the Oval Office, President George W. Bush, coming to the end of a two-term presidency and presumably as expert on Israeli-Palestinian policy as he is ever going to be, was accompanied by a team of no fewer than five advisers and spokespeople during a 40-minute interview with this writer and three other Israeli journalists.

In March, on his whirlwind visit to Israel, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, one of whose primary strengths is said to be his intimate grasp of foreign affairs, chose to bring along Sen. Joe Lieberman to the interview our diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon and I conducted with him, looked to Lieberman several times for reassurance on his answers and seemed a little flummoxed by a question relating to the nuances of settlement construction.

On Wednesday evening, toward the end of his packed one-day visit here, Barack Obama, the Democratic senator who is leading the race for the White House and who lacks long years of foreign policy involvement, spoke to The Jerusalem Post with only a single aide in his King David Hotel room, and that aide’s sole contribution to the conversation was to suggest that the candidate and I switch seats so that our photographer would get better lighting for his pictures.

Several of Obama’s Middle East advisers – including former Clinton special envoy Dennis Ross and ex-ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer – were hovering in the vicinity. But Obama, who was making only his second visit to Israel, knew precisely what he wanted to say about the most intricate issues confronting and concerning Israel, and expressed himself clearly, even stridently on key subjects.[.]

(highlights added)

While McCain slings mud, or forgets what day is up, or gets a bit lost on domestic policy Obama pivots to the economy, prepping to govern.

Obama to Meet With Rubin, Volcker, Buffett on Economic Plans

 July 27 (Bloomberg) — Democrat Barack Obama said he is convening a meeting on the economy tomorrow that will include former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker and billionaire investor Warren Buffett as he pivots to the U.S. economy after a nine-day trip abroad.

The meeting in Washington will also include former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Anna Burger, secretary- treasurer of the Service Employees International Union, said David Axelrod, Obama’s chief strategist.

`Do Business With Me’

Obama expressed satisfaction with his foreign trip.

“I think voters can take a look at this trip and say to themselves that this guy can function effectively on the world stage,” Obama said.

He stopped in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and Europe, where he visited troops, conferred with military commanders and met with dozens of foreign leaders. The trip allowed Obama to make his case that he’s ready to be commander-in-chief as John McCain, 71, the presumptive Republican nominee, casts him as a neophyte on foreign affairs and national security.

“The reports of the heads of state that I met with were that they could do business with me and that obviously is what we wanted to make clear,” Obama said.

100 days to go…and Obama is maintaining a lead,  Is there time for McCain to shed his flip-flopping and turn this election from a rout?

Some of us have busy schedules and may have missed the catch of the week and these leftovers. “Tis was the week that was.”

The Campaign Trail

Senator John McCain, having goaded Obama to go visit Afghanistan, Iran… that he was too inexperienced to be CIC/POTUS.. was found complaining over all the media and heads of state attention showered on Obama:

 – “Hello, I’m over here…on the golf course with Poppy Bush – why aren’t you covering me?”  “Hello,  it’s the surge, No it’s the withdrawal…” No, I like al-Maliki’s timetable, not Obama’s”

Now Watch this Video: I agree with Obama’s time table…. ..I think It’s A Pretty Good Timetable.

So at week’s end, Josh Marshall notes McCain is left hanging on to a very thin branch, strategically speaking.

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Senator Barack Obama, reveling in overseas acclaim, is expected to send this Thank You Photo Album to McCain as he was greeted in:

Afghanistan by Karzai; in Iraq by al-Maliki who endorsed his withdrawal plan; in Jordan by King Abdullah II who drove him to his campaign plane on the tarmac;

in Israel by Olmert and Ehud Barak who mused.. hmmm he’s OK;

in Germany by Merkel, who said “he’s well-equipped physically, mentally and politically and  – a massage backrub? she replied, “I won’t resist”;

in France by Sarkozy who led him by the hand declaring, “he’s my pal” and finally

in London where he met PM Gordon Brown, Tory Leader Cameron and Tony Blair.

Obama talked real tough but his own foreign policy adviser, Brzezinski is not on board: Surge in Afghanistan is risky.

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Not to be outdone, the media  rushed to paint in the negatives with new code words. How presumptuous of Obama. He’s looking too presidential, “dancing in the end zone.” said McCain.

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The Dem VP stakes

Sen. Jack Reed takes himself off the VP List.  Ditto, John Edwards – we assume – since his photo made the infamous tabloid.

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And not to be outdone, the scary Fox goes over the top with loaded questions in a Poll: Do You Have A Neighbor Who Says Obama “Scares Them”?

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No Kidding Department

The Bushies Cabal: At the first Gitmo war crimes ‘trial’ it was revealed that U.S. let bin Laden’s top bodyguard go.

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ACLU obtains Key Memos Authorizing CIA Torture Methods– -(memos) showing they were free to do virtually anything in their questioning of suspected terrorists, including waterboarding.

Look to future war crimes trial of the biggies. Ya think?

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The Economic Pain continues

As the Congress rush to pass a meaningless bill to stem house foreclosures it is said to be more a rescue package for Fannie and Freddie.

That blank check will cost more billions -trillions – than anticipated as the IMF notes  U.S. house prices overvalued by up to 20 percent

On Friday after the markets closed, two more banks failed.
We’re said to be in the second inning of a 10 inning baseball game. How about some soccer or cricket?

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GM looks to sell the Hummer. Chrysler sheds leases and Ford lost $8.7 billion in Q2. All three are said in need of more than just a trauma unit.

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Head scratchers

Karl Rove, who flipped off his Congressional subpoena, managed to escape “a citizens arrest” as the four citizens who attempted to apprehend him were themselves arrested.

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The FDA announced they’ve found the cause of the salmonella outbreak.  It’s raw jalapenos, but only jalapenos from Mexico not those grown in the U.S. But jalapenos from Mexico are not labeled.

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A 73-year-old Dutch man is said to be an unwitting gardener.  He’s astonished to learn from police that the begonias he had lovingly tended on his doorstep concealed a secret marijuana plantation.

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What’s your catch?