various headlines
McCain's Mansions
Courtesy of the Brave New Films team, here we have a property-by-property breakdown of John McCain's many fancy domiciles, which provide ironic contrast to footage of the presumptive Republican nominee holding forth about how Americans with mortgage troubs can just scrimp 'n' save their way back to solvency!
Related Entries
- August 19, 2008 McCain's Warped Worldview
- August 19, 2008 Economy: 'The Worst Is to Come'
- August 18, 2008 McCain Not in Church's 'Cone of Silence' During Obama Q&A
- August 18, 2008 McCain Fundraiser Under Scrutiny for Ralph Reed Connection
- August 18, 2008 Cutting Classes to Cut Costs
McCain's Warped Worldview
The world according to John McCain is one in which America is triumphant at home and abroad thanks to the Bush legacy, rolling to victory internationally and mastering its domestic economic problems. If daily news would seem to deny such a rosy scenario, then that only shows skeptics lack the courage that sustained McCain as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
Related Entries
- August 20, 2008 McCain's Mansions
- August 19, 2008 Gorbachev: 'Russia Did Not Want This Crisis'
- August 19, 2008 Economy: 'The Worst Is to Come'
- August 19, 2008 Waking Up to the Multipolar World
- August 18, 2008 McCain in Charge
Economy: 'The Worst Is to Come'
Those words from the former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, who warns that the global economic malaise is only at its halfway point, if that. "The U.S. is not out of the woods," says Ken Rogoff.
Guardian:
Ken Rogoff, the former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, added to market jitters by warning that the worst of the crisis was yet to come.
"The US is not out of the woods. I think the financial crisis is at the halfway point, perhaps. I would even go further to say 'the worst is to come'," he told a financial conference in Singapore.
"We're not just going to see mid-sized banks go under in the next few months, we're going to see a whopper, we're going to see a big one—one of the big investment banks or big banks," Rogoff said.
Poll: For Many, America Still 'Isn't Ready'
Barack Obama has a problem: According to a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, one in six voters thinks he's just too black—for America, that is. It's the political equivalent of "I'm not racist, but my friend is" and, sadly, it may have something to do with the competitive nature of the campaign.
Los Angeles Times:
The poll ... illustrates some racial undercurrents that confront Obama as he strives to become the first African American president. Nine percent of voters say they would feel uncomfortable voting for a black candidate. Most voters say they know people who feel that way. About one in six say the country is not ready to elect a black president.
... For now, voters favor Obama on the economy, the issue they rank as most important. Also, independents, a crucial swing bloc, are leaning toward Obama. And Obama's supporters remain more enthusiastic than McCain's, a sign that the Democratic candidate may be able to turn out more voters.
It's all good
from The Jed Report by Jed LewisonThis chart is an updated version of the poll tracking chart that I've been posting from time to time over the past couple of weeks. It shows the rolling 2-week average of polls, by day. For perspective, it also shows the Bush-Kerry race in light red (Bush) and light blue (Kerry).
Data: pollster.com. Chart: jedreport.com.As you can see, since the primary ended, Barack Obama has enjoyed a durable -- though somewhat shrinking -- lead over John McCain. In short, the sky is not falling.
While it's true that John Kerry was polling slightly better than Obama at this point in 2004, remember that he'd already had his convention. And also note that McCain is behind where Bush was.
For all the talk of what a great month John McCain had, this chart shows that though he strengthened his position with his own base, he hasn't really hurt Barack Obama.
As with 2004, most undecided voters won't decide until after the conventions. I think that explains why the Obama campaign hasn't aired harsher ads on a national basis. Instead, they've focused on strengthening Obama's core image, and more importantly, building the ground game, as dday outlines in his outstanding diary over at Daily Kos.
McCain's "Outrageous" Exaggerations: Voted for earmarks he now rails against
from Crooks and Liars by SilentPatriotMy, my. FactCheck.org does what their name implies and finds that one of McCain's recently resurrected talking points, first featured in an aptly titled ad called "Outrageous," is filled with some rather dubious claims.
John McCain's ad, "Outrageous," which began running November 12, touts the Arizona senator's long-standing fight against pork-barrel spending. The ad includes three examples of projects that McCain deems unnecessary and claims that "one man" has "the guts to stand up to wasteful government spending."
But the three examples of spending highlighted in the ad – a "bridge to nowhere," a study of bear DNA and a museum dedicated to Woodstock – seem chosen more for their impact than for any direct involvement McCain had in attacking them. In fact, he voted in favor of the bill that included the bear study funding; he was absent for key votes on the Woodstock museum (including one on an amendment he co-sponsored); and he never specifically tried to eliminate the bridge earmark and missed some crucial votes on that one, as well.
John McCain exaggerating his record, hoping people won't notice because the establishment media won't report it? You don't say…
(h/t: HuffPo)
Video: The Truth Has God On Its Side
I am very proud of what I did at Halliburton. And the people of Halliburton are very proud of what they've done. --Dick Cheney 2000. Billions in no-bid contracts and massive corruption – of course they're proud.Obama Responds to McCain at VFW Meeting
from Pensito Review by Jon PonderYesterday, John McCain went before the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and lied about Barack Obama's record, saying that Obama voted to "legislate" failure by casting a single vote against troop funding because it did not contain a timetable, despite Obama's having voted for funding the occupation every other time. McCain continued:
"One of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can't disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism."
- Obama"This was back when supporting America's efforts in Iraq entailed serious political risk … It was a clarifying moment. It was a moment when political self-interest and the national interest parted ways."
Today, speaking before the same group, Obama responded:
"Yesterday, Senator McCain came before you," said Obama. "He is a man who has served this nation honorably, and he correctly stated that one of the chief criteria for the American people in this election is going to be who can exercise the best judgment as Commander in Chief. But instead of just offering policy answers, he turned to a typical laundry list of political attacks. He said that I have changed my position on Iraq when I have not. He said that I am for a path of "retreat and failure." And he declared, "Behind all of these claims and positions by Senator Obama lies the ambition to be president" — suggesting, as he has so many times, that I put personal ambition before my country. That is John McCain's prerogative. He can run that kind of campaign, and — frankly — that's how political campaigns have been run in recent years. But I believe the American people are better than that. I believe that this defining moment demands something more of us."
Aurora Man Arrested for Dragging Dog Behind Car
from Chicagoist by Margaret Lyons
Congratulations, David Solis—you've won today's "lower our opinion of humanity" prize. Solis, 25, has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly dragging a dog behind a moving car. The two-year-old pit bull, who police say was "suffering from obvious wounds to its feet," belongs to one of Solis's relatives.
The dog was just behind a 1993 Honda Civic CRX that had a dog leash attached to the rear window latch, the release said. Investigation showed that the dog had been dragged from the vehicle around an oval track that encircled the parking lot of the complex.
Now's as good a time as any to remind you that there are hundreds of adoptable dogs in Chicago, including Lucky, pictured. Lucky, a pit bull, is friendly, housebroken, and good with kids. "He likes to sit and lean next to you when he sleeps. He loves kisses and hugs and car rides." Don't we all? [WBBM]
Possible bad news for Lieberman
from Crooks and Liars by John AmatoThe Associated Press calls Democrats' odds of winning a 60-seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate a "realistic shot."
Democrats have solid chances of winning five seats, according to strategists in both parties and public polls, and realistic shots at picking off another three to five Republican senators. Republicans have only one good opportunity for replacing a Democrat, in Louisiana.
Let us pray…(h/t Billw)
The Secret Deal For Iraq's Oil
The Secret Deal For Iraq's Oil
By Jason Leopold | The Public RecordFour months before the United States invaded Iraq, the Department of Defense was secretly working with Vice President Dick Cheney's old company, Halliburton Corp., on a secret deal that would give the world's second largest oil services company total control over Iraq's oil fields, according to interviews with Halliburton's most senior executives.
Previously undisclosed Halliburton documents obtained by The Public Record confirm that controlling the world's second largest oil reserves was a top priority for the Bush administration. Additionally, the deal between the Department of Defense and Halliburton unit Kellogg, Brown & Root to operate Iraq's oil industry saved Halliburton from imminent bankruptcy.
McCain Fundraiser Under Scrutiny for Ralph Reed Connection
John McCain managed to pull in over $1.75 million for the GOP during an Atlanta fundraiser on Monday, but the event also attracted attention for its potential ties to erstwhile Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed. Barack Obama's camp, among others, is raising questions about Reed's connection to the event.
AP via Google News:
The downtown event was promoted by Ralph Reed, a former head of the Christian Coalition. McCain's campaign said the event was organized by the Republican National Committee—not Reed, who was linked to the Abramoff scandal that McCain investigated in the Senate.
McCain didn't raise the issue during his 22-minute appearance. Instead, he thanked donors to the Republicans' umbrella campaign fund.
"Everybody in this room could be someplace else," the Arizona senator told the crowd of several hundred. "Everybody in this room could be donating to some other cause or to their own well-being. But I want to thank you."
Reed was not seen inside the hotel ballroom; a McCain campaign spokeswoman said he did not attend. But Democrat Barack Obama's rival presidential campaign sought to make him an issue, asking how much Reed-linked money was raised or would be kept.
"Faced with the embarrassing prospect of holding a fundraiser with one of Jack Abramoff's closest associates, the McCain campaign scrambled today to scratch Ralph Reed from tonight's program, but voters deserve to know the answers to the real questions raised by Reed's involvement," Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
McCain Camp Defends Attack on NBC's Andrea Mitchell
from The Jed Report by Jed LewisonMcCain Deputy Communications Director Michael Goldfarb tries to explain why Rick Davis unloaded on a quote from NBC's Andrea Mitchell only hours after he approvingly cited it as part of an attack on Barack Obama. His defense:
I think my tone was neutral, but regardless, this campaign does not question the accuracy of Mitchell's reporting. We question whether it was appropriate to repeat this allegation unquestioningly as Mitchell did.
After all, Mitchell can accurately report that the Obama campaign is whining about their candidate's poor performance and yet still fail to uphold the basic standards of her profession. By repeating, uncritically, a completely unsubstantiated Obama campaign claim that John McCain somehow cheated in last night's forum, that's precisely what she did. And if Mitchell is simply in the business of parroting campaign spin, we'd be happy to share ours with her before next week's episode of Meet the Press.
Umm, where to begin. Let's start with the fact that the allegation that Mitchell reported is true and was in fact confirmed by Goldfarb himself.
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.
Point #1: As Goldfarb initially (and correctly) recognized, Mitchell's comment was supported her claim that "the Obama people must feel that he didn't do quite as well as they might have wanted to." It's hard to call that partisan bias.
Point #2: The allegation conveyed by Mitchell was that McCain "may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama." As Goldfarb and Davis have admitted, McCain was not in the cone of silence for the first half of the forum. There are any number of ways that he could have heard the questions, either audibly (satellite radio, cell phone, internet) or through textual means such as Blackberries.
The bottom-line: Goldfarb's explanation not only makes no sense, it digs the McCain campaign in even deeper.
Chico CA City Council Asked to Pass Resolution Regarding Impeaching Bush, Cheney
City Council asked to pass resolution regarding impeaching Bush, Cheney
A group of residents want the Chico City Council to back up their request to impeach the president and vice president.
The group, which informally calls itself the "Chico Impeach Team," is asking the council to pass a resolution urging Congress to "do its job" and begin the process to impeach President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, group project leader Marla Crites said.
While acknowledging the terms of both will end in January, Crites said she believed it was not too late for impeachment.
"I think they need to be held accountable whether they have one more day in office or two more years," Crites said. "I think we need to fight for justice or fairness ... Whoever wins the election can, unless we set things straight, can pick up wherever they left off and can continue the same behavior. And that to me is dangerous."
Suffocating Dead Zones Spread Across World's Oceans
Critically low oxygen levels now pose as great a threat to life in the world's oceans as overfishing and habitat loss, say experts.
With more than 400 oxygen-starved dead zones in global coastal waters, scientists are calling for such dead zones to be recognised as one of the world's great environmental problems
Man-made pollution is spreading a growing number of suffocating dead zones across the world's seas with disastrous consequences for marine life, scientists have warned.
&nbs
