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July 31, 2008

Speaking of Celebrities...

New Yorker, 2/2/02:

McCain comes from the military aristocracy-he's John Sidney McCain III, the son and grandson of admirals, third-generation Annapolis-but New York is outside that group's ambit, so he can think of a trip there as a country boy's sojourn in the big city. It added to the little-boy feeling that McCain takes an unconcealed pleasure in being fussed over, which he had been, and in mingling with celebrities, which he had done." [...]

"On the way, McCain reminisced about his evening in New York. 'Bette Midler was great last night,' he said. 'Tony Bennett was marvelous. Natalie Cole did that thing where she sings the duet with her father on a screen. Joel Grey sang "Yankee Doodle Dandy." I loved what Bette said about Rudy Giuliani.'"

Sen. Ted Stevens Saga Continues

Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) appeared in court to plead not guilty and asked that the trial be held before the November general election.

Prosecutors say the Alaska Republican accepted more than $250,000 in house renovations and gifts from contractors but didn't disclose them on Senate financial records.

Stevens' legal team asked the judge to move the trial to Alaska, where the senator has been a political patron since before statehood. Attorney Sullivan also asked that the trial date be speeded up to give Stevens his day in court before the Nov. 4 election.

The trial is scheduled for September 24.

Schwarzenegger to Slash 200k State Workers' Pay to $6.55 an Hour

In California, word broke last week that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is attempting to slash the pay of 200,000 state workers down to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to sign an executive order next week that will reduce pay for more than 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour to preserve cash in the midst of a month-long budget standoff, according to a draft copy of the order obtained by The Bee.

$6.55 an hour to pay the rent, keep the lights on, gas up their cars and feed their families. For some perspective, in college at the University of Arizona, I worked 40 hours a week on $7.85 and struggled to pay a modest rent along with all the bills, and I did not drive a car then, either. Gov. Schwarzenegger expects families to survive on $262 gross pay per week?

Democrats across the state are fighting this attempt to thrust the burden of the California budget onto the shoulders of 200,000 state workers with massive cuts.

Controller John Chiang, Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, and twenty-seven members of the California congressional delegation led by Rep. Hilda Solis are leading the fight to stop Arnold from shifting the budget burden onto 200,000 state workers.

John McCain's Dishonest Campaign

What is John McCain's idea of running a "new kind of campaign"? Tap former Bush/Cheney '04 staffers and proteges of Karl Rove to run a negative campaign reliant on fabricated charges, blatant distortions and dishonest attacks.

John McCain blew his three-month head start after the primaries and is now using desperate and dishonest attacks.

Exxon Mobil Posts Record Quarterly Profit in U.S. History

Exxon Mobil posted the largest quarterly profit in U.S. history, reports the Associated Press.

Lifted by record crude prices, Exxon Mobil says its second-quarter earnings rose nearly 14 percent to $11.68 billion, the biggest quarterly profit ever by any U.S. corporation.

The world's largest publicly traded oil company said Thursday its net income for the April-June period came to $2.22 a share, up from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, a year ago.

John McCain's approach to energy? Billions in tax cuts to companies like Exxon Mobil combined with offshore drilling that, by his own admission, would not provide any real relief at the pump. Maybe he's gunning for a 60 second standing ovation from oil executives?

July 30, 2008

DNC Web Video: 'Profits'

The only thing that makes oil executives cheer more than record profits? John McCain changing positions on offshore drilling. Watch:

July 29, 2008

Sen. Ted Stevens Indicted

Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), known in online circles for his description of how the internet works, was indicted on seven counts by the Department of Justice. New York Times:

Mr. Stevens, 84, was indicted on seven counts of failing to report income. The charges are related to renovations on his home and to gifts he has received. They arise from an investigation that has been under way for more than a year, in connection with the senator’s relationship with a businessman who oversaw the home-remodeling project. [...]

Prosecutors say Mr. Stevens, who referred to his home as “the chalet,” accepted goods and services worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, ranging from an outdoor grill to extensive home remodeling and architectural advice. Not only did Mr. Stevens fail to report the items on his Senate financial disclosure form, as required, but he took active steps to conceal the receipt of the goods and services, the indictment says.

Update: Sen. Stevens resigned from two committees.

DNC Web Video: 'Gusher'

Oil executives flooded John McCain's campaign with cash after his mid-June reversal on offshore drilling. The remarks, delivered in front of oil executives in Texas, received a boisterous applause.

Watch the video, "Gusher."

OFA/DNC Commit $20 Million to Mobilize Hispanic Voters

Obama for America and the DNC are set to unveil a $20 million effort to register and mobilize Hispanic voters. Washington Post:

DNC Chairman Howard Dean said the sum is unprecedented for a presidential campaign and represents a show of Democratic confidence that Latino voters could prove pivotal in states including New Mexico and Michigan. [...]

Targets will include Florida; Western states such as Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico; and Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, industrial battlegrounds with sizable Hispanic populations. The money will be spent on niche advertising and other outreach, along with mobilization efforts aimed at identifying, registering and turning out new Democratic voters.

Over the weekend, the campaign held a training session in Las Vegas to teach local organizers how to canvass Hispanic communities. A similar forum will be held soon in Florida, Dean said, and sessions in other states are in the planning stages.

These efforts do not bode well for John McCain. His team says "we've already been doing all that." Whatever it is they are doing, it is not working at all.

Although Republican rival John McCain represents Arizona, a state with a strong Hispanic presence, Dean cited a poll last week by the Pew Hispanic Center showing Obama's approval rating with registered Latino voters at 66 percent nationwide, compared with 23 percent for McCain.

July 28, 2008

DOJ Releases Report on Attorney Firings

In a report [PDF] released by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility, the political hirings and firings by Monica Goodling "violated both federal law and Department policy, and therefore committed misconduct, when she considered political or ideological affiliations in hiring decisions for candidates for career positions within the Department."

TPMmuckraker noted a few of the questions Goodling asked applicants:

Tell us about your political philosophy. There are different groups of conservatives, by way of example: Social Conservative, Fiscal Conservative, Law & Order Republican.

[W]hat is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him?

Aside from the President, give us an example of someone currently or recently in public service who you admire.

Why are you a Republican?

Goodling also refused to hire an applicant because he was married to a prominent local Democrat.

The candidate's wife was a prominent local Democrat elected official and vice-chairman of a local Democratic Party. She also ran several Democratic congressional campaigns. The candidate was at times a registered Independent and at other times a registered Democrat. Notwithstanding the candidate's outstanding qualifications and EOUSA senior management's desire to hire him, Goodling refused to approve the detail.

Republican family values!

Another One Bites the Dust

John McCain abandons position on affirmative action:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Sunday that he favors a proposed referendum in Arizona that would ban affirmative action, reversing a position he took a decade ago.

It's the latest example of McCain changing positions that had once put him at odds with conservative Republicans, including his new proposals to extend President Bush's tax cuts and expand offshore oil drilling.

In 1998, McCain described an anti-affirmative action effort in his home state as "divisive." On Sunday, McCain backed a proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution that would ban "preferential treatment" on the basis of "race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin."

Big Oil Floods McCain with Cash After Drilling Flip

John McCain's massive flip-flop on offshore drilling is paying dividends, according to the Washington Post:

Campaign contributions from oil industry executives to Sen. John McCain rose dramatically in the last half of June, after the senator from Arizona made a high-profile split with environmentalists and reversed his opposition to the federal ban on offshore drilling.

Oil and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million to McCain last month -- three-quarters of which came after his June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban -- compared with $116,000 in March, $283,000 in April and $208,000 in May.

Perhaps these are the same oil executives who told McCain that drilling was a great idea!

“My friends, we have to drill off shore. We have to do it. It’s out there and we can do it. And we can do that. The oil executives say within a couple of years we could be seeing results from it. So why not do it?”

July 25, 2008

The Friday Five

Every Friday we're highlighting five events happening around the country that we've found in PartyBuilder's Events system.

Here are 5 events happening around the country. If you don't see one in your neck of the woods, click here to search for one near you. Or better yet, create your own!

1. Holt County Cookout with Scott Kleeb (Inman, Nebraska)

The Holt County Democratic Party of Nebraska invites you to join U.S. Senate candidate Scott Kleeb for a cookout followed by a discussion on healthcare, energy, and the future of Nebraska.

2. Fish Fry in the Park (Biloxi, Mississippi)

Fresh fried catfish and Democratic politics will be served at the third annual "Fry in the Park". Join us August 2nd, 11-3 at Hiller Park Pavilion on Biloxi's beautiful back bay. Catfish plates will be 10 dollars in advance or 15 at the door, proceeds are going to open the fall presidential campaign office.

3. Soldotna, AK 'Progress Days' Parade and Civic Celebration (Soldotna, Alaska)

Annual Parade and Celebration featuring a Parade through down-town Soldotna, Alaska; a market, booths, food etc. The District-33/34 Alaska Democratic Party and local candidates will be on hand to register voters, campaign, etc.

4. Barack Obama Birthday Bash @ Grijalva HQ! (Tucson, Arizona)

Come celebrate our future President's birthday at Grijalva for Congress Headquarters. Food and drinks will be provided. We will be organizing our coordinated efforts for the fall to re-elect Congressman Grijalva and make Barack Obama our next President.

5. JDsForObama08 (Miami, Florida)

The mission of this grass roots effort is to contact by personal visits as many legal professionals, law students, Judges and legal organizations as possible to enlighten them to get more active in this Historic election.

CQ Swings House Races Towards Democrats

CQ Politics swings twelve of fourteen House races towards the Democrats:

CQ Politics today is changing the race ratings in 14 congressional districts in 10 states to reflect changing political circumstances that mean brighter prospects for the Democrats, who are expected to augment their 236-199 majority in the U.S. House in the November elections.

Twelve of the 14 race rating changes favor the Democrats, compared to two that favor Republicans, who are trying to limit their losses this year after suffering a net loss of 30 House seats in the 2006 election.

July 24, 2008

Video: Senator Barack Obama's Speech in Berlin

If you missed Senator Barack Obama's speech in front of 200,000 waving American flags, and chanting "Obama!" or want to watch it again -- check out this video!

McCain Slams Obama's Speech in Berlin, Forgets Canada

Last month, John McCain spoke in Ottawa, Canada, but this afternoon, he attacked Senator Barack Obama for delivering a speech in Berlin to 200,000 waving American flags and chanting "Obama!"

In his interview with NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, which will air on NBC's Nightly News tonight, McCain questions whether Obama should have given a speech in Berlin before becoming president.

"I would rather speak at a rally or a political gathering any place outside of the country after I am president of the United States," McCain told O'Donnell. "But that's a judgment that Sen. Obama and the American people will make."

However, on June 20, McCain himself gave a speech in Canada -- to the Economic Club of Canada -- in which he applauded NAFTA's successes. An implicit message behind that speech was that Obama had been critical of the trade accord. Also, McCain's trip to Canada was paid for by the campaign. [emphasis added]

McCain versus McCain Spokesman on Transition Team

While John McCain's press office was blasting Senator Obama's preparation for the possibility of a transition to an Obama administration, John McCain was defending the move.

BREWER: And I know the McCain campaign is also responding to the news that Barack Obama has already set up a presidential transition team, the team that would go from one president to the next. And McCain’s statement reads “Before they’ve even crossed the 50-yard line the Obama campaign already dancing in the end zone with a new White House transition team. The American people are more concerned with Barack Obama’s poor judgment and readiness to lead than his inaugural ball.” Is this a theme that the campaign is going to push, that Obama’s getting ahead of himself?

AIGNER: Well that was actually, the statement that you just read was from a spokesperson for the campaign. John McCain just sat down with NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell just an hour ago and she asked him about the transition team. And he said of course every campaign once you get to this stage, and you’re on the verge of securing your party’s nomination at the convention, you begin to think of how you transition to the presidency. McCain said that he, himself, was already of course working on policy and political proposals to they could hit the ground running. He’s spoken with his advisors about how exactly they would enact those proposals and enact the policies that are important to him. Although he said that on a specific staff level and on an organizational level, they might not be stepping up to the place where Obama’s stepping up. He said the American people will have to decide whether that’s presumptuous or not. [emphasis added]

John McCain says one thing, his campaign does another. Seems to be a pattern this election cycle.

First Major Conflict Since 9/11?

In the now infamous interview between CBS' Katie Couric and John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee apparently believes the war in Afghanistan, where the 9/11 attacks originated, is not a "major conflict."

Couric: Sen. Obama also told me, Sen. McCain, that the money spent on those additional troops, on the surge, might have been more effective had it gone to Afghanistan or even to a better energy policy in the United States. What's your response?

McCain: The fact is we had four years of failed policy. We were losing. We were losing the war in Iraq. The consequences of failure and defeat of the United States of America in the first major conflict since 9/11 would have had devastating impacts throughout the region and the world. [emphasis added]

According to John McCain, the war in Afghanistan doesn't count as a "major conflict." That explains why the Bush/McCain policies of ignoring Afghanistan and diverting resources to Iraq have led to the major problems we currently see there after nearly seven years of war.

Senator Barack Obama, however, advocated for a stronger American commitment to Afghanistan. Additionally, in his speech in front of nearly a quarter million Berliners today, Senator Obama called on Europe to commit more to the fight in Afghanistan, the true central front in the war on terror.

Update: Here's the video:

McCain's Cheesy Denial

Earlier this week, John McCain grossly misstated the timeline of the Anbar awakening as having taken place because of the surge, despite the fact that it started almost four months before the surge was even announced.

Reporters peppered John McCain with questions about his factually incorrect timeline in the cheese aisle of a Pennsylvania supermarket. McCain attempted to explain that up is down, the sky is green, and he did not jumble the timeline of events.

Watch Senator Barack Obama in Berlin Live

Arizona Turning Blue

In the New York Times, John McCain's home state of Arizona is not in his safe column.

But a variety of factors have made Mr. McCain’s chances in Arizona less assured than they ordinarily would seem, which his campaign has acknowledged.

The number of independent voters in Arizona has risen 12 percent since 2004, and those voters have helped send a Democrat to the governor’s mansion and given the party four of the state’s eight Congressional seats — including two in 2006, one in a historically Republican district.

At the same time, Arizona Democrats, like many of their counterparts around the country, have outpaced Republicans in voter registration, adding almost 20,000 voters to the rolls since March, compared with the Republican majority’s 8,600 new voters. The second-term Democratic governor, Janet Napolitano, remains wildly popular.

And Democrats are not going to cede the state to McCain, either:

“John McCain has striking vulnerabilities here,” said Emily DeRose, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party. “We are going to take him to the mat. We are not giving him a pass in Arizona.”

Senator Barack Obama to Deliver Speech in Berlin at 1pm EDT

Senator Barack Obama will deliver a speech in Berlin, Germany at the Siegessäule, or the Victory Column, in Tiergarten Park at 1pm Eastern.

In the meantime, check out these photos from Senator Obama's arrival in Berlin:

Jobless Claims Jumped

The fundamentals of our economy are strong, says John McCain. Reuters, however, has a different story:

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits jumped 34,000 last week, government data on Thursday showed, reflecting seasonal volatility typical at this time of year.

Initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits rose to a seasonally adjusted 406,000 in the week ended July 19, from a revised 372,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said. It was the highest reading since late March.

So stop your whining.

Top McCain Adviser Lobbied for 'Cash for Access' Payne's Companies

The parade of embarrassing John McCain advisers continues. This week? Top foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann is tied to the "cash for access" lobbyist, Stephen Payne. Houston Chronicle:

Over that week, more questions have been raised about the Houston lobbyist's professional and political activities. While the spotlight shined first on Payne's connections to President Bush, Vice President Cheney and other top administration officials -- and his attempt to raise cash for the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum -- attention has now shifted to the relationship between Payne and presumptive presidential nominee John McCain's top foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann.

Scheunemann lobbied in Washington on behalf of Payne's companies, Caspian Alliance, which works with Central Asian regimes on energy projects. (The London Times reported that Caspian Alliance was providing advice to the Kazakh state-owned oil and gas company, KazMunayGas.)

July 23, 2008

McCain Cancels Event Aboard Oil Rig Due to Weather

Think Progress:

In announcing his newfound support for offshore drilling, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) consistently touts the safety of offshore oil exploration. “[I]t’s safe enough these days that not even Hurricanes Katrina and Rita could cause significant spillage,” he said recently. To make his case, McCain was scheduled to helicopter tomorrow to an oil rig in the Gulf Coast.

But it seems even McCain is fearful of being caught on an offshore oil rig during rough weather.

The weather event that forced McCain to cancel his event is the category 2 storm, Hurricane Dolly that made landfall in South Texas this afternoon.

John McCain, however, is among the many Republicans who continues to push the false talking point that Hurricane Katrina, a category 5 storm, did not cause any oil spills in the Gulf Coast.

The truth?

As the Wonk Room has reported, the clear satellite evidence of major spills was borne out by final reports. In May 2006, the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) published their offshore damage assessment: “113 platforms totally destroyed, and 457 pipelines damaged, 101 of those major lines with 10″ or larger diameter.” [...]

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Caused 124 Offshore Spills For A Total Of 743,700 Gallons. 554,400 gallons were crude oil and condensate from platforms, rigs and pipelines, and 189,000 gallons were refined products from platforms and rigs. [MMS, 1/22/07]

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Caused Six Offshore Spills Of 42,000 Gallons Or Greater. The largest of these was 152,250 gallons, well over the 100,000 gallon threshhold considered a “major spill.” [MMS, 5/1/06]

Yet another case of the John McCain Campaign Playbook -- say and do anything to get elected.

A Visual Aid for John McCain

Below is a helpful visual aid for John McCain on the timeline of the Anbar awakening and the troop surge that followed several months later.

Self-Described Expert McCain Flubs Iraq Facts

MSNBC breaks down the McCain flub on the Anbar awakening.

And this is his supposed strong suit!

Fradulent Investors for McCain

Big-time donor to the GOP and John McCain is in a bit of trouble:

On the day Republican Sen. John McCain surged to victory in Florida's presidential primary, a group of supporters gathered at the elegant Tampa Club for a luncheon held by Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez.

Mingling with some of the state's business and political elite that January day was a Florida newcomer, an Oregon venture capitalist named Craig Berkman. Unbeknown to the guests, Berkman's life was crashing around him.

For two years, Berkman had been battling his investment partners after admitting that he had lent himself $5 million of their money without telling them. A civil fraud case against him was about to go to trial.

Berkman continued to raise money for McCain. He and his wife have donated $50,000 to Republican candidates and party committees this election cycle, including a $28,500 check to the Republican National Committee's Victory Fund on May 29 to support McCain's bid. Berkman's political generosity has angered his former investors, who prevailed in court but have not seen a penny of the $28 million in civil damages that a jury awarded them.

McCain Flubs on Iraq ... Again

In an interview with CBS' Katie Couric last night, John McCain claimed that the surge provided the necessary space for the Anbar awakening to occur, and aided the calming of tensions in the area. Couric asked John McCain to respond to Senator Barack Obama who argued that the security increased even without the surge:

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is as-- such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel McFarlane [phonetic] was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history. Thanks to General Petraeus, our leadership, and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. I mean, to deny that their sacrifice didn't make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think, does a great disservice to young men and women who are serving and have sacrificed.

But, as Ilan Goldenberg noted, the Anbar awakening began September 2006 -- several months before the surge was even announced the following January.

Reports the AP:

In March 2007, before the first of the additional troops began arriving in Iraq, Col. John W. Charlton, the American commander responsible for Ramadi, a city in Anbar province, said the newly friendly sheiks, combined with an aggressive counterinsurgency strategy and the presence of thousands of new Sunni police on the streets, had helped cut attacks in the city by half in recent months.

John McCain, the self-described foreign policy expert. Can you imagine how bad he would be on something he admits he doesn't know what he's talking about, say, the economy?

July 22, 2008

Women Hit Hard by Economic Downturn

According to statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor, the percentage of working women declined for the first time since the dawn of the women's movement, reported the New York Times.

Indeed, for the first time since the women’s movement came to life, an economic recovery has come and gone, and the percentage of women at work has fallen, not risen, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Each of the seven previous recoveries since 1960 ended with a greater percentage of women at work than when it began. [...]

After moving into virtually every occupation, women are being afflicted on a large scale by the same troubles as men: downturns, layoffs, outsourcing, stagnant wages or the discouraging prospect of an outright pay cut. And they are responding as men have, by dropping out or disappearing for a while.

If you like the Bush economy, hire John McCain. Senator Barack Obama, however, will lead the nation into a 21st century economy and stop rewarding companies that ship jobs overseas with tax credits. Instead, as President, Barack Obama will offer incentives for companies who stay. Read more about Senator Obama's plans for revitalizing the American economy and strengthening workers.

The Lobbyist Web They Weave

A top McCain advisor is connected to an embroiled Bush fundraiser:

A top foreign policy adviser to John McCain has lobbied the National Security Council, Congress and the State Department on behalf of Stephen Payne, the Texas businessman and longtime Republican fundraiser caught up in a controversy over whether he sought to sell access to the Bush White House.

According to records on file with Congress, McCain foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann lobbied the Senate and House on behalf of Payne's firm, Worldwide Strategic Partners Inc., in 2002.

Scheunemann also lobbied the National Security Council and the State Department regarding energy issues in the Caspian region in 2005 and 2006 on behalf of another Payne firm, Caspian Alliance Inc., according to the records.

Steve Forbes: Phil Gramm Will Still Advise McCain

So stop whining.

FORBES: Oh, I think in terms of advice Phil Gramm will be critical, which is good because on things like trade he is absolutely right. I think John McCain has a long friendship with Phil Gramm, so this was something, Phil Gramm said something that you’re not supposed to say these days, and he paid a price for it, but in terms of the relationship, I think it’s as strong as ever, and in the McCain administration, I think Phil Gramm’s advice will be taken to heart.

Panic

Republican Senate handlers inform their caucus to vote as needed to get re-elected this November:

Republican Senate leaders — terrified by the prospect of losing five or more seats in November — have freed their members to vote however they need to vote to get reelected, even if that means bucking the president or the party’s leadership.

On at least four votes over the past month — Medicare, housing, the GI Bill and the Farm Bill — Republican leaders haven’t even bothered whipping members to toe the party line or back President Bush’s veto threats. Instead, a GOP leadership aide says leaders have told vulnerable senators that it’s all right to “get well” with voters by siding with Democrats on anything but energy and national security.

It’s unusual for rank-and-file members to get a green light to blow off their party leaders. But these are unusual times for Republicans. They are genuinely worried they could get their clocks cleaned in November. The prevailing attitude: It is better to lose some big votes now than big races in November.

Help make sure that doesn't happen: volunteer in your area!

McCain's Psychology

There's an interesting piece today in the Politico, making several points, but mainly that McCain doesn't really stand for anything on economic issues. Ari Melber cites the repeated references by McCain that this is all just a psychological problem, and then makes the point that "when former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), McCain’s then-chief economic adviser, chastised Americans for whining about a “mental recession,” he was actually channeling McCain’s psychological view of our economic problems."

It's the central point that all of McCain's economic policies are derived from -- that we're really just in a "mental recession" and therefore don't need real solutions to our economic problems:

His tax cuts ignore middle-class workers — about 100 million households, including 37 million seniors, would get no relief. [...]

Then there’s that McCain penchant for scheduling economic help a few years down the road. (Although perhaps the psychological boost is instantaneous.) The only plank of McCain’s tax agenda that is not tailored for the superrich — boosting the exemption for dependents — would not even start until 2010. And it would not take full effect until 2016, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, which recently issued a 39-page report on both candidates’ tax plans.
[...]
McCain’s plan is so narrowly focused on the demands of elite activists, even conservative stalwarts are blanching. In a recent editorial, National Review shared its “worries” that McCain’s plan ditched middle-class Americans: “It offers very little in the way of direct benefits to Americans in the middle of the income scale.” And that’s from a magazine enthralled with tax cuts for the rich.

July 21, 2008

Evening Round-Up

• A good Senate race week in review.
• Bush knows about YouTube. McCain, however, clearly hasn't learned his lesson.
• Speaking of the tubes, Ted Stevens has a blog?

McCain Says He Knows What Iraqis Want More Than Iraqis Know

It was an odd reply by John McCain to a question this morning, which was in reference to the Iraqi government coming out in favor of a timeline:

Q: If the Iraqi government were to say, if you were president, ‘we want a timetable for troops being removed,’ would you agree to that?

McCAIN: I’ve been there too many times. I’ve met too many times with him. And I know what they want. They want it based on conditions. And of course they’d like to have us out. That’s what happens when you win wars.

He Must Have Missed The Memo

McCain's Iraq policy is out of touch:

It may not sway many voters, but on Friday, as Barack Obama embarked on an extended trip abroad intended in large part to relieve concerns about his commander in chief bona fides, the terms of debate on Iraq began a dramatic shift that appears to favor his candidacy. [...] Saturday, the shift continued when the German magazine Der Spiegel ran an interview with Maliki in which he called for U.S. troops to withdraw “as soon as possible, as far as we're concerned. U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.” [...] For the first time in the national security debate, Obama’s advisers believe that McCain has been placed on the defensive, since his reluctance to support a “time horizon” now differs not only with the position of his Democratic opponent but also with those of the White House and the Iraqi prime minister.

Nevada GOP Cancels State Convention Citing Lack of Interest

Citing a lack of enthusiasm, the Nevada Republican Party scrapped the state convention and will, instead, elect state delegates via private conference call.

The state party broke up its original convention in April when supporters of Ron Paul hijacked the proceedings and tried to elect delegates for their candidate to the national GOP convention in September. Party officials tried to reconvene on July 26, but they needed a quorum of 675 and received only 300 RSVPs, according to local reports.

More McCain Gaffes

ABC News:

And it was McCain who owns the first big gaffe of the trip -- appearing to confuse Iraq and Afghanistan.

Asked by ABC's Diane Sawyer Monday morning 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," said McCain, R-Ariz., said on "Good Morning America."

Iraq and Pakistan do not share a border. Afghanistan and Pakistan do.

Monday Morning Open Thread

We're still working on the comments. In the meantime, chat away in PartyBuilder.

July 18, 2008

Friday Five

Here are five of the events in PartyBuilder for the coming week. You can add your own event or find one near you.

1. Help the Houston Food Bank (Houston, TX) - CORPS will be working with the Houston Food Bank to help pack boxes with food that will be distributed to those in need. This is a great opportunity to help combat hunger in the Houston area, as well as assist an organization that does really terrific work for a variety of groups.
2. DuPage County Blue Fest (Willowbrook, IL) - On Saturday July 19th from 11am to 9pm come join us for the biggest Democratic event ever in DuPage County IL. We will have four great bands, tons of food, games and fun for the whole family. Part of the proceeds will go towards the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
3. NJ Laughing Liberally Lab (Morristown, NJ) - NJ Laughing Liberally Lab Saturday, July 19, 8pm Danny's Pub 56 speedwell Ave. Morristown. NJ $15 cover Kevin Driscoll hosts comics Michael Hayne (NY Times Laugh Lines), Harry Terjanian (Mtv), Mike Drucker (Huffington Post), Hillary Schwartz (XM Radio) and more
4. "Unify Your Love" Date Auction & Mixer for Obama! (Washington, DC) - Generation Obama presents.... "Unify Your Love" Date Auction & Mixer for Obama! (with 8-10pm Open Bar & DJ!) Co-Sponsors: DC For Obama, Alexandria Young Democrats 7-11pm Tuesday, July 22nd MCCXXIII
5. “Bring $8 and Say Goodbye to Eight Years of George Bush.” (Baltimore, MD) - On Saturday July 19, 2008, the Baltimore City Young Democrats will host a fundraiser BBQ themed âœBring $8 and Say Goodbye to Eight Years of George Bush.We would like to invite you to join us for the BBQ and request your support.

Electric Car "Vital?"

It sounds like McCain, once again, forgot his position on another issue:

"The key, integral, vital part of our ability to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil will be directly related to that sign over there," McCain told an invitation-only town hall meeting at the GM Technical Center in Warren, pointing to a sign for GM's first plug-in electric car, the Chevrolet Volt.

"I wish you every success, and I want to help in every way," he said.

Maybe McCain should start reading McCainpedia before heading out on the campaign trail... see this section about how McCain tried to kill the electric car.

Back From Belarus

McCain and Phil Gramm forgive and forget, and the Whiner In Chief is back in the game:

After Sen. John McCain publicly repudiated his close friend and adviser Phil Gramm's comments about a "nation of whiners" and a "mental recession," the two old political comrades patched up their relationship.

Gramm apologized to McCain for his remarks that gave Democrats an opening against the Republican presidential candidate and provided several days of ammunition for blogs, cable television and radio talk shows. McCain told Gramm not to worry about the expected pitfalls of a campaign surrogate. Gramm will continue as an adviser and surrogate.

Register for Change

Anybody reading this blog is probably registered to vote, but I bet there are quite a few people in your neighborhood who aren't. Yesterday Governor Dean kicked off a national grassroots voter registration drive starting in the South to show our dedication to building up all 50 states -- and Senator Obama's commitment to running a 50 state campaign. It kicked off in Crawford, TX before heading off to a rally in Austin where Dean addressed the Netroots Nation crowd of online activists.

Here's the video of Governor Dean's address to the crowd, in three parts:

We can win votes everywhere, but not if we don't show up.

Spinning Wheels

From the Washington Times, of all places:

From signature issues such as immigration and climate change to tax cuts, the presumed Republican presidential nominee sometimes just seems lost as to his own record and his stance on hot-button social issues.

After Mr. McCain said he opposed child adoptions to gay and lesbian couples, his campaign clarified that he wasn't making policy and would leave the issue to the states.

In the past week, the candidate was unable to say whether he thought health care plans that cover drugs to treat impotency also should cover contraceptives. Mr. McCain voted against such a proposal in 2005.

July 17, 2008

Rove: Bush "Put More Into Alternative Energy Research Than Any Administration in History"

Via Think Progress:

O’Reilly questioned Rove’s assertion, saying “maybe that’s true and maybe it isn’t,” and called Bush’s actions on energy “invisible.” O’Reilly was right to be skeptical. Since 1980, federal spending on energy research has declined, and since the mid-1990s, “R&D spending has been stagnant for renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

In 2006, Bush stated that “America is addicted to oil.” However, his 2006 budget called for “significant cuts in renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean air, and climate change related-programs.” In fact, Bush has continually slashed funding for renewables from the federal budget, while threatening to block legislation that would have funded renewable energy by transferring money from oil and gas industry tax breaks.

Wait, so I can't just believe what Karl Rove has to say? I'm shocked.

Literally Every Survey???

John McCain's latest wild claim is that he fills out "literally every survey" that various groups ask him to fill out about his issue positions. He made the remark yesterday at the NAACP convention when asked by a questioner if he ever intended to respond to their civil rights survey.

But is that true?

No. It isn't. There's a growing list. More straight-talk!

McCain Has Confused Even Himself On Iraq War Positions

From the NY Times:

Mr. Obama’s Republican rival, Senator John McCain, is no longer able to ignore the situation on the Afghan-Pakistan border, where Al Qaeda and the Taliban — the true threats to American security — are resurgent. But he has not matched Mr. Obama’s seriousness on Iraq. Mr. McCain is still tied in knots, largely adopting Mr. Bush’s blind defense of an unending conflict. [...] After arguing that no additional forces were needed, Mr. McCain reversed course on Tuesday and endorsed sending 15,000 more troops to Afghanistan. But he seemed confused about whether they would be American forces drawn from Iraq or an American-NATO mix, leaving us wondering how well formed his ideas are.

McCain's Abramoff Connection

The New York Times discovers an Abramoff connection among the "bundlers" raising money for John McCain's campaign -- "Juan Carlos Benitez, a lawyer and lobbyist whom Mr. Abramoff had championed for a Bush administration post." Benitez has raised between $50,000 to $100,000 for McCain, and the campaign doesn't appear willing to return any of the contributions:

According to a 2006 report of the House Committee on Government Reform, Mr. Abramoff had urged the appointment of Mr. Benitez as special counsel for immigration-related unfair employment practices. He was named to the position in 2001.

The committee’s report said Mr. Benitez’s job at the Justice Department “gave Benitez authority” to conduct investigations into unfair labor practices that were “issues of importance to Abramoff clients.”

"Utter Incoherence"

Ouch:

But as McCain tries to balance the tattered libertarianism of Reaganomics with the financial exigencies of the moment, he and his campaign have moved beyond inconsistency into utter incoherence. He vows to balance the budget while also cutting corporate taxes and making permanent the Bush tax cuts for the rich -- even though the rich and corporations made out like bandits during the Bush "prosperity," while everyone else's incomes stagnated. McCain squares this circle by vowing to cut entitlements, a move that would reduce, rather than enhance, consumer purchasing power at a time of economic downturn (or any other time, for that matter).

Whether Americans are even experiencing a downturn has been a matter of some dispute in the McCain camp, since former senator Phil Gramm, until last week one of McCain's chief surrogates on economic issues, deemed America a nation of "whiners" mistaking subjective insecurity over the economy for an objective economic fact.

July 16, 2008

Evening Open Thread

• McCain's latest hire? Really?
• Shock. Romney just makes stuff up.

Chat away...

More Obstruction

When the Bush administration leaked the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame, Bush said he would fire anybody involved. Didn't happen, of course. He also said he was conducting an investigation into the leak that never materialized. So right now, Congress is investigating. And, once again, the White House is obstructing:

We've seen a lot of assertions of executive privilege in the last few months -- from Karl Rove to Stephen Johnson -- but now Attorney General Michael Mukasey has requested executive privilege on behalf of President Bush.

Mukasey's letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) last night, pre-empted a vote this morning on contempt of Congress stemming from the White House's refusal to release FBI documents relating to the Valerie Plame leak scandal. The documents were subpoenaed by Committee on June 16.

Overriding Bush's Medicare veto

From Reuters:

Just hours after Bush vetoed the legislation, the Senate voted 70-26 to overturn him, following the House of Representatives, which voted 383-41 to override. The bill now becomes law. [...] Supporters of the legislation argued that the scheduled 11 percent pay cut for doctors would discourage many of them from taking on Medicare patients.

The bill would offset the cost to the government of restoring the doctors' pay by cutting payments to big insurers, such as UnitedHealth Group Inc and Aetna Inc, which have contracts with the Medicare program.

Picture of the Day

Ahh, memories...

Another Day, Another 3 Positions On Afghanistan

It’s kind of like the weather... if you want a different issue position from John McCain, just wait 10 minutes!

In an interview with reporters aboard his campaign bus, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) modified his assertion today that the U.S. could send three additional brigades to Afghanistan by drawing on troops that were leaving Iraq.

The presumptive GOP nominee, who made his initial remarks in a speech before an Albuquerque audience, told reporters just minutes after the event that he might call on NATO to supply part of the additional troops he hopes to send to the region.

McCain's Plan to Privatize Social Security

He's trying to finish what Bush started in early 2005, except he doesn't want you to know about it. So we're calling him out. We'll be working with state parties, shipping thousands "Hands Off My Social Security" signs (PDF) as part of a national strategy to make sure voters know about McCain's embrace of the Bush privatization scheme.

Here's a nice compilation of McCain's Social Security "disgrace." You won't see him talking so much about it any longer before November:

This is absolutely going to be an issue in this campaign -- despite McCain's best efforts.

Morning Open Thread

Chat away...

July 15, 2008

Evening Open Thread

• Czech That: John McCain defended Czechoslovakia, which dissolved in 1992, in New Mexico today -- the second time in as many days. [Huffington Post]
• Devil's in the Details, So We Won't Give You the Details: McCain campaign refuses to discuss the details on their plans for Social Security. Mark Kleiman writes:"'Too many specifics at this point polarize the debate' translates into English as 'If we told the retirees how completely we plan to shaft them, they might not vote for us.'" [Matthew Yglesias]

• Black is Back: Charlie Black returned to the campaign trail with McCain. [Hotline On Call]

McCain Flips on Afghanistan, Echoes Obama Position

Campaigning in New Mexico this afternoon, John McCain flipped on increasing American forces in Afghanistan:

Part way into his speech today about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and national security, Republican presidential contender John McCain said this:

"Our commanders on the ground in Afghanistan say that they need at least three additional brigades. Thanks to the success of the surge, these forces are becoming available, and our commanders in Afghanistan must get them."

A week ago, McCain's advisers said he would rely mostly on additional NATO troops and on Pakistan's military, not more U.S. forces, to bring more pressure to bear on Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Senator Barack Obama, with the judgment to lead, beat John McCain to it by about 18 months. Speaking to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2006, Senator Obama outlined his views on Iraq, and recommended increasing American forces in Afghanistan.

"We cannot compromise on the safety of our troops, and we should be willing to adjust to realities on the ground," he said.

He proposed redeploying troops to Northern Iraq and to other countries in the region. He recommended boosting troop strength in Afghanistan, "where our lack of focus and commitment of resources has led to an increasing deterioration of the security situation there."

"For only through this phase redeployment can we send a clear message to the Iraqi factions that the United States is not going to hold together this country indefinitely — that it will be up to them to form a viable government that can effectively run and secure Iraq," he said.

Update: Within a matter of minutes of his appearance in New Mexico, John McCain flipped on Afghanistan yet again.

In an interview with reporters aboard his campaign bus, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) modified his assertion today that the U.S. could send three additional brigades to Afghanistan by drawing on troops that were leaving Iraq.

The presumptive GOP nominee, who made his initial remarks in a speech before an Albuquerque audience, told reporters just minutes after the event that he might call on NATO to supply part of the additional troops he hopes to send to the region.

Third Bush Term

George Bush, March 13, 2006:

We have a comprehensive strategy for victory in Iraq -- a strategy I laid out in a series of speeches last year.

John McCain, July 15, 2008:

And if I'm elected President, I will turn around the war in Afghanistan, just as we have turned around the war in Iraq, with a comprehensive strategy for victory.

No Republican Seat is Safe

This election year, no Republican seat is safe, even in Idaho.

Bill Sali is defying the political odds by making Idaho's first-district congressional race competitive. That isn't good for Mr. Sali: He is the incumbent.

A 54-year-old Republican from Kuna, 18 miles from Boise, Mr. Sali represents one of the most heavily Republican electorates in the U.S. The district hasn't elected a Democrat to the House since 1992; in the 2004 presidential race, 69% of its votes went to George W. Bush. [...]

A month ago, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report said Mr. Sali was safe; now, Cook analyst David Wasserman says the race for his seat is contested. Conservative pundit Robert Novak recently said Republicans "need to worry" about the seat.

Afternoon Open Thread

Chat away...

Never Been More Dominant

Some headlines to reaffirm Phil Gramm's contention that "we've never been more dominant."

• "Wholesale inflation is worst in 27 years"
• "Dollar falls to record low versus the Euro"
• "Stock drop again amid fears about financials"

Morning Open Thread

Chat away...

July 14, 2008

Evening Open Thread

Chat away...

McCain versus McCain on the DREAM Act

John McCain spoke at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference this afternoon in San Diego. In the Q&A session following his prepared remarks, a young woman from the group One Dream 2009, asked John McCain, if he were president, to support the DREAM Act next year. McCain answered he would.

But that is not what John McCain told right-wing bloggers on an October 25, 2007 conference call. McCain emphasized that he has "said it a thousand times" that he "got the message" on immigration. However, don't take my word for it, ask conservative blogger Paul Mirengoff:

As for the Dream Act, McCain told us that he would have voted against cloture (i.e., in favor of preventing a vote) because he "got the message" this summer that Americans want the border secured before we "go on to the rest." McCain would deem parts of the border secure when the governor of the relevant state so certifies.

Since McCain is clearly on record as to how he would have voted on the Dream Act cloutre motion, and since his vote was not needed to prevent cloture, there seems to be no basis for criticizing his departure for Iowa prior to the vote.

How about the National Review's Jim Geraghty?

On the vote on the DREAM Act yesterday: I would have voted against it I have said a thousand times, I have heard the message from the American people. They want the border secured first and then they want – well, at least I want to go on to comprehensive reform.

We released this video showing the two sides of John McCain on the DREAM Act. More proof that John McCain's willingness to pander knows no bounds. He will say anything to anyone to get their support.

SHOCK! Czechoslovakia Energy Supplies Reduced to ZERO!

Maybe because it doesn't exist anymore.

TPM Election Central has the story:

At his press avail today, John McCain referenced current relations between Russia and, um, a non-existent country. From a transcript...

"I was concerned about a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several days. One was reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia. Apparently that is in reaction to the Czech's agreement with us concerning missile defense, and again some of the Russian now announcement they are now retargeting new targets, something they abandoned at the end of the Cold War, is also a concern."

Here's a roundup of his repeated mistakes on this point:

• 2008: On “Imus in the Morning," John McCain said he "would work closely with Czechoslovakia and Poland and other countries.”
• 2007: During a Republican debate, McCain said the "first thing he would do" is to "make sure that we have a missile defense system in place in Czechoslovakia and Poland," adding "I don’t care what his objections are to it.” Apparently he doesn't care if the objection is due to lack of existance.
• 1999: At an awards dinner, he thanked an ambassador from "Czechoslovakia."
• 1994: On CNN, McCain said: “I think there’s several things that should happen, foremost, in my view, is let’s move forward with the expansion of NATO into countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary...”
• 1994: On NPR: “Nations that would meet that criteria fairly easily would be Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and I don’t believe that the Russians should view that as a threat.”

Just how bad is it? So bad that George W. Bush, not exactly gaffe-free himself, mocked McCain for it. Bush told U.S. News & World Reports: “A guy gets up and quizzes me--it’s my fault for trying to answer--but John McCain says something about the ‘ambassador to Czechoslovakia.’ Well, I know there is no Czechoslovakia [there’s a Czech Republic and a Slovakia], but yet it didn’t make the nightly national news.”

More Fuzzy Math from McCain Campaign

RNC Victory Fund chair Carly Fiorina appeared on Meet the Press yesterday and said that John McCain would fully fund No Child Left Behind -- something he has consistently voted against since 2003.

Fiorina on Meet the Press:

I absolutely agree that one size does not fit all in the subject of education, and that is why John McCain supports choice and competition, giving parents the choice as to how to best educate their children. He believes that No Child Left Behind was an imperfect piece of legislation. Nevertheless, there are things about it that have worked. We need to learn the lessons, fix the problems, fully fund it, and continue to focus on the education of our children as well as the education and training of our displaced workers.

It would be interesting to know how John McCain plans on "fully funding" No Child Left Behind after his pledge to freeze federal spending.

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) recently outlined his plans to address an ailing economy, and proposed a yearlong moratorium on increases in discretionary federal spending, including education.

John McCain's vision for education would prove disastrous for American children, especially Latino students, as he will speak before the Hispanic advocacy group, National Council of La Raza (NCLR) today in San Diego.

Update: Somebody is missing the talking points:

In June, McCain adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin declared McCain was “fully supportive of the notion that we ought to fully fund” NCLB. However, on the same day, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that another adviser, Lisa Graham Keegan, “said McCain believes NCLB is adequately funded.”

Florida Voter Registrations Show Huge Swing to Democrats

Earlier this year, Florida Democrats surpassed Republicans in the number of registered Hispanics. In the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, state Democrats continue to increase their numbers by leaps and bounds:

The numbers are ominous for Republicans: Through May, Democratic voter registration in Broward County was up 6.7 percent. Republican registrations grew just 3 percent while independents rose 2.8 percent.

Democrats have posted even greater gains statewide, up 106,508 voters from January through May, compared with 16,686 for the Republicans.

"It's a huge swing," says Marian Johnson, political director for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. "I looked at that and said, 'Wow.'"

A Privatization By Any Other Name

The LA Times writes today about how John McCain plans to carry out the privatization policies that Bush attempted at the beginning of his second term -- and how Democrats and others plan to make sure voters know about it, despite his attempts to hide what he really thinks.

It's more than just his private accounts, since all that does is divert where money is currently going (away from retirees, creating a gap in funding the current system). As a result, the other part of his plan is to dramatically cut benefits that future retirees would receive. It's all particularly odd, as the LA Times points out, because he's "endorsing a new reliance on the stock market in the same week that the Dow Jones industrial average dipped to its lowest point in two years."

His response, so far, is to say he's never been for privatization. Too bad he's on YouTube calling for -- you gussed it -- "privatization."

But why?

McCain and his aides say the lack of specificity is intentional -- the result of lessons from 2005, when Bush tried to sell a skeptical public on private accounts.

In fact, according to WisPolitics.com, McCain is now saying that "he almost wishes he had never talked about private accounts." Not that he isn't in favor of them, but just that he wish he hadn't slipped by saying it's his intention if he gets elected.

Straight-talk!

McCain Budget Proposal "Not Credible"

The Washington Post ripped the McCain budget proposal in an editorial this morning:

SEN. JOHN McCain says that President McCain would balance the federal budget by 2013. The plan is not credible.

That pretty much sums it up, but if you want to see, in actual numbers, how fuzzy the McCain campaign math is, read the whole thing.

Barack Obama: My Plan for Iraq

Senator Barack Obama outlined his plan to end the war in Iraq in the pages of the New York Times:

In this campaign, there are honest differences over Iraq, and we should discuss them with the thoroughness they deserve. Unlike Senator McCain, I would make it absolutely clear that we seek no presence in Iraq similar to our permanent bases in South Korea, and would redeploy our troops out of Iraq and focus on the broader security challenges that we face. But for far too long, those responsible for the greatest strategic blunder in the recent history of American foreign policy have ignored useful debate in favor of making false charges about flip-flops and surrender.

It’s not going to work this time. It’s time to end this war.

Update: Senator Obama will be in Washington, D.C. to deliver a "major policy address" on Iraq and national security.

DNC Web Video: McCain and Gramm: It's All In Your Head

John McCain, who doesn't know what he is talking about when it comes to the economy, often pivoted to his "dear friend" and "respected economist," Phil Gramm. He even claimed there was "no one more respected on the issue of economics," and many called Gramm the "econ brain" for McCain.

Gramm told the Washington Times an interview published last week that the economy has "never been more dominant" and said we have become a "nation of whiners" constantly "whining and complaining." The McCain campaign may be quick to throw a top economic adviser under the bus but that does not hide the fact that John McCain offers four more years of George W. Bush on the economy.

We released this web video highlighting the shared belief of John McCain and Phil Gramm that these troubling economic times are "psychological" and a figment of your imagination.

Keep reading "DNC Web Video: McCain and Gramm: It's All In Your Head"

Morning, Ah, Er, Um, I Mean, Open Thread?

Here's a topic for your discussion this Monday morning:

Even Governor Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina) agrees that John McCain is a third Bush term on the economy. From CNN Late Edition with host, Wolf Blitzer on Sunday:

BLITZER: Are there any significant economic differences between what the Bush administration has put forward over these many years as opposed to now what John McCain supports?

SANFORD: Um, yeah. For instance, take, you know, take, for instance, the issue of -- I'm drawing a blank, and I hate it when I do that, particularly on television. Take, for instance the contrast on NAFTA. I mean, I think that the bigger issue is credibility in where one is coming from, are they consistent where they come from.

Huffington Post noted that Blitzer called out Gov. Sanford on his initial answer of NAFTA:

Sanford finally came up with an answer -- McCain has opposed earmarks while President Bush hasn't -- but Blitzer twisted the knife a bit further, following up on Sanford's initial mention of NAFTA. "He's a huge supporter of free trade, John McCain, the Bush administration supports free trade. I don't see a big difference."

Watch the video.

July 13, 2008

Sunday Open Thread

Chat away...

July 12, 2008

Saturday Open Thread

Chat away...

July 11, 2008

Evening Open Thread

• Phil Gramm's greatest hits.
• More conservatives defend Gramm's statement that we're "a Nation of Whiners."

Chat away...

Senator Reid on Whinergate

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) ripped McCain "econ brain" Phil Gramm over his disparaging comments about Americans feeling the economic woes of Bush/McCain policies.

"Gramm has a view of government which is that government is the enemy, not a friend," Reid said in an interview this afternoon with CongressionalVideo.com. "And, obviously from his comments, he now believes the American people are not his friend either, and he has a low view of the American people. Thinks they're a bunch of whiners."

In fact, Reid said, "every segment of our economy is in deep trouble. Deep trouble. We have the housing market, which is falling apart. We have gas prices which are astronomical, people can't even afford to drive to work in many instances."

Gramm stands by his comments (as did the McCain campaign initially), stating "every word I said was true."

Friday Five

Here are five of the events in PartyBuilder for the coming week. You can add your own event or find one near you.

1. Toledo Cheese Days Parade (Toledo, WA) - We're marching in the parade under the "umbrella" of unity. Any Democrat can join us. Express yourself with your umbrella or join us as we show our support for Democrats!
2. Maryland Democratic Unity Picnic (Catonsville, MD) - An event for Baltimore Area Democrats! Join YOUR Maryland Democratic Party and all 24 of our county central committees as we come together to kick of the 2008 general election campaign in the state of Maryland.
3. Champaign County Democratic Spaghetti Fundraiser (Urbana, OH) - The Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser will raise needed monies for local candidates. When : July 12th, 2008 Social Hour: 6 p.m. Dinner and Entertainment: 7 p.m.
4. Blue Monday (Surprise, AZ) - Get together to strengthen our Democratic community in the northwest valley and enjoy conversation, food and beverages while talking about the obstacles we need to overcome for VICTORY in 2008!
5. Blue State Tuesdays (Houston, TX) - Happy Hour from 5to10pm every Tuesday until election day at Beaver's Ice House on Sawyer at Decatur, right off Washington Ave, near downtown (beavershouston.com). Come and join your blue-leaning friends in a celebration of the political process..

McCain to Women on Equal Pay: Get Education and Training

Speaking at a town hall today in Wisconsin, John McCain told a crowd that he is "committed to equal pay for equal work." This is news because, as the McCain record shows, he hasn't been committed to that at all.

In April, he skipped the vote on the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which would have rectified the Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear “that made it much harder for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims.”

In fact, on that very same day, McCain said that if he had been in the Senate, he would have voted against it because the bill “opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems.” He also dismissed the importance of equal pay, saying that women simply need “education and training.“ [emphasis added]

Shorter McCain campaign to women: Get some education and training, and stop your whining.

Live Chat with Obama Policy Advisors on Women's Economic Security

Laurin Manning with Obama for America is hosting a discussion with policy advisors to Senator Obama on women's economic security. Head on over and talk economics with Campaign Deputy National Policy Director Danielle Gray, Domestic Policy Director Neera Tanden, and Economic Policy Advisor Brian Deese.

Doesn't Add Up

John McCain relies on fantasy budgeting in his economic plan:

Yet here's the fanciful proposition John McCain wants us to swallow: that he can extend the Bush tax cuts, pile other tax breaks and revenue reductions atop them - and still balance the federal budget in four years.

The deficit in the final budget of his first term would be around $440 billion if the Bush tax cuts are extended and the Alternative Minimum Tax is indexed for inflation, according to Congressional Budget Office figures. Add the extra $47 billion that the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates as the net cost of McCain's various tax-cut plans, and the deficit would be about $490 billion for that fiscal year.
[...]
"It's preposterous," says Jim Horney, director of federal fiscal policy for the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. As a round-number illustration of the difficulty, Horney notes that $400 billion would be more than 80 percent of the amount projected for fiscal year 2013 domestic discretionary spending.

A Nation of Whiners - Day 2

"I respect no one more in America on issue of economics than I do Phil Gramm." - John McCain

As noted yesterday, the immediate response by the McCain campaign was to rush to Phil Gramm's defense after he called America "a Nation of Whiners" for complaining about the economic downturn and how it's affecting our lives every day. Then, later in the day when it became clear this wasn't going away, McCain changed his tune, arguing instead that Gramm didn't "speak for him."

The problem, of course, was that at the moment he had been "speaking for him at a meeting of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board."

But more importantly, this isn't just any advisor, and this isn't just any issue. This is his top and most trusted economic advisor. And perhaps even more significantly, as one TPM reader put it, this is about the fundamental state of the US economy -- from which the economic policy proposals would presumably flow from. If there were no problems, and we're all just "a Nation of Whiners," then that'd completely change solutions that are necessary.

It's exactly that viewpoint which informs McCain's (incorrect) views that our problems are simply "psychological" -- that we're not really having difficulties, we just think we are. It's more than just McCain's view of the economic landscape; it's the reason he's not serious about addressing these issues.

Morning Open Thread

Chat away...

July 10, 2008

Evening Open Thread

Chat away...

Unless Gramm Is Running For President...

...then who could he possibly be speaking for?

McCain said at his hastily arranged press conference this afternoon that Gramm didn't speak for him.

But on the same day that he made that comment, Gramm happened to be, well, speaking for him at a meeting of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board.

McCain Camp Stood by "Nation of Whiners" Remark

"I'm not going to retract any of it. Every word I said was true." - Phil Gramm

After saying that Americans struggling every day to pay the bills, or living in communities with high unemployment, make up a "Nation of Whiners," McCain's first response wasn't to distance himself from the remarks like he's now trying to do. Nope, until the fallout surrounding these absurd comments became clear, his campaign was out there defending it as being 100% true.

Sam Stein reports:

But in an initial statement published by Politico and then, seemingly, removed from its site, a McCain campaign aide actually stood by Gramm's remarks, saying the interview as a whole was merely meant as a preview of the Senator's economic agenda.

"Mr. Gramm was simply saying that we are laying out the economic plan this week," the piece quoted an aide as saying. "The plan is comprehensive, providing immediate near-term relief for Americans hurting today as well as longer-term solutions to get our economy back on track, secure our energy future and deliver jobs, prosperity and opportunity for the next generation. We're laying out that plan this week with an emphasis on the critical importance of job creation, and it's been a great success so far."

And is McCain's top economic advisor apologizing for his remarks? Nope. Instead, he's saying that he's standing by them because it's true that we've simply got a Nation of Whiners and that this is simply a "mental recession." Every word, he says, was true.

Eventually, the McCain camp put out a pretty weak statement in response to the controversy over his campaign's remarks. Why so weak? Maybe because they realize that because McCain has made so many comments just like it, they know McCain can't credibly distance himself from Gramm's "Nation of Whiners" remark.

If You Like Bush's Economy...

Hire John McCain! And if you don't, McCain economic adviser Phil Gramm really wishes you would stop whining.

In the photo below, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D) speaks in Portsmouth, Ohio prior to the McCain Economic Forum.

(Photo: Ohio Democratic Party)

McCain Campaign: "A Nation of Whiners"

Last week:

Job-hunters faced a bleak start to summer, with employers shedding another 79,000 positions in June, according to ADP's monthly report.

Declines were much broader than previous months, as continued weakness in the housing and financial sectors bled into other areas. Even the services sector -- which had not posted a decline since November 2002 -- slashed 3,000 jobs over the course of the month.

The response of the McCain campaign? Here's what his top economic advisor thinks -- sentiments that McCain himself echoed repeatedly for months:

Former senator Phil Gramm, a top policy adviser of Sen. John McCain's, said the nation is in a "mental recession," not an actual one, and suggested the United States has "become a nation of whiners."

People losing jobs across the country, according to the McCain campaign, are whiners. That ought to go over well in communities being hurt due to unemployment.

McCain's "Mental" Rhetoric

Matt just wrote about the person who might be the most out-of-touch man in America -- Phil Gramm. He decried the "constant whining" of the American people and said, "You’ve heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession." But he's has some big competition for the title, coming from John McCain who has continued to use that same kind of rhetoric over the months.

A few examples of McCain echoing Gramm's "mental" rhetoric:

• April 2008: McCain: Economic Problems are "Psychological." "I'm very concerned about it, Neil. And obviously the way it's been going up is just terrible. But I think psychologically — and a lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological — the confidence, trust, the uncertainty about our economic future, ability to keep our own home. This might give them a little psychological boost."
• June 2008: McCain Says His Energy Plan Would Only Have A "Psychological Impact" On Americans. "Even though it may take some years, the fact that we are exploiting those reserves would have psychological impact that I think is beneficial."
• January 2008: A lot of this is psychological. "A lot of this is psychological. A lot of it's psychological. Because I agree the fundamentals of our economy is still strong."

McCain Adviser to Americans with Economic Woes: Quit Yer Whinin'!

Think Progress:

In an interview with the Washington Times today, former senator Phil Gramm, who is Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) “econ brain,” blamed the state of the economy on “the conviction of many Americans that economic conditions are the worst in two or three decades.” “You’ve heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession,” said Gramm.

Gramm decried the “constant whining” of the American people when it comes to the economy because he believes “we’ve never been more dominant.”

Not exactly "I feel your pain."

"Foreclosure Phil," as he is known, reportedly helped shape John McCain's "economic policy", specifically on the housing crisis. Comments like these show proof positive that Americans will not get any kind of relief from a McCain administration, just orders to stop their "constant whining."

Morning Open Thread

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July 9, 2008

Evening Open Thread

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He's Back!

Watch the Senate erupt into applause, and a standing ovation, as Sen. Kennedy makes his first appearance on the Senate floor since his recent diagnosis (via Think Progress).

Not Your Father's John Kennedy

Democrat Republican(?) John N. Kennedy is running for Attorney General State Treasurer U.S. Senate (again) to challenge Senator Mary Landrieu. Kennedy 'kicked off' his bid for the Senate at the airport Hilton in New Orleans and was joined by supporters.

Not exactly "Ich bin ein Berliner" star power...

(Hat tip: James L., Swing State Project; photo from Kennedy for Whatever)

When Will McCain Bring Them Home?

It's the question that our latest ad, as Greg Sargent at TPM Election Central points out, seeks to answer:

John McCain: Social Security "A Disgrace"

Here's the shocking (and revealing) quote, with video:

“Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that’s a disgrace. It’s an absolute disgrace, and it’s got to be fixed.”

There's so much wrong with this, it's hard to know where to even begin. The Carpetbagger has a good collection of thoughts on how radical McCain's statement really is. It's not some gaffe, either -- this is what he really thinks. McCain's solution, though he won't admit it anymore because it polls so poorly, is not only to "privatize" (his former word for it) Social Security, but to also dramatically cut benefits like President Bush unsuccessfully tried to do in early 2005.

What John McCain describes as a "disgrace" is, in fact, the very idea of how Social Security works. As the MoJo blog put it, “McCain is saying, again, that the problem with Social Security is that Social Security is Social Security, instead of something else.”

This isn't a fix; this is a radical proposal to privatize the entire system.

300 Economists Endorse This Blog Post

If you can't beat 'em, make them up? McCain economists not so keen on his plan:

On Monday, John McCain’s campaign released a statement signed by 300 economists who “enthusiastically support” his “Jobs for America” economic plan, providing a heavyweight testimonial to the presumptive Republican nominee’s “broad and powerful economic agenda.”

There’s just one problem. Upon closer inspection, it seems a good many of those economists don’t actually support the whole of McCain’s economic agenda. And at least one doesn’t even support McCain for president.

In interviews with more than a dozen of the signatories, Politico found that, far from embracing McCain’s economic plan, many were unfamiliar with—or downright opposed to—key details. While most of those contacted by Politico had warm feelings about McCain, many did not want to associate themselves too closely with his campaign and its policy prescriptions.

Democrats Expand Voter Registration Lead in Nevada to 5 Percent

Democratic voter registration ballooned to a five-point lead over Republicans in the state of Nevada.

The latest statewide voter registration numbers are in, and if you've been following this story in recent months, it's no surprise: Democrats again gained ground.

According to the secretary of state's office, 55,560 more Democrats than Republicans are on the active voter rolls in Nevada, as of the end of June. The gap widened from 50,020 in May and represents 5 percent of the 1,031,984 active voters.

These numbers represent a six-point swing in favor of Democrats from this time four years ago.

Kirsten Searer, deputy executive director of the Nevada Democratic Party, noted that at this point in the last presidential election cycle, June 2004, Republicans had a 1 percent edge in voter registration.

"That's a 6-point shift in just one presidential cycle," she said. "I think it's fair to say this is a trend at this point. It's very good news for Democrats up and down the ballot, from Assembly and Senate all the way to Congress."

(Hat tip: kos, DailyKos)

McCain Doesn't Want His Promises on Tape?

Yesterday I wrote about how the McCain campaign quickly retreated from his vow to balance the budget in his first term, which may have been the fastest recorded flip-flop in presidential campaign history.

On C-Span, Mike Allen (of the Politico) made an interesting observation -- that McCain made this pledge on paper, but wouldn't do it on camera during his speech in order to "get it both ways." He continued, suggesting that he gets to promise it, but since his unaffordable economic policies make this impossible, there's no videotape of him making the pledge that people can dig up later:

Morning Open Thread

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July 8, 2008

Evening Open Thread

• A lecture on work ethic from the most absent Senator?
• Waxman makes it clear that he's tired of the stonewalling.

Chat away...

McCain Campaign: Now We Won't Balance Budget in First Term

ABC News, July 7: "At a town hall meeting in Denver, McCain vows to balance the federal budget by 2013, which would be the end of his first term as president."

Bloomberg, July 7: "After the speech, [McCain's senior economic adviser] said: ``The senator has always pledged to balance the budget by the end of his second term.'' A McCain second term would end in 2017."

And let's not forget, this isn't the first time he has abandoned his budget promises. But it's probably the fastest flip-flop in the history of flip-flops. I guess he didn't like that pretty much everybody has recognized that his economic policies aren't to be taken particularly seriously, since he's failed to actually present any numbers and show how he plans on affording everything, including the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest.

Setting the Record Straight

This is what a real energy plan looks like:

Not just a bear hug of Bush's energy policies, which is what McCain offers.

UPDATE: More info on the Bush-McCain energy bear hug right here.

McCain and Social Security

He has no plan, anymore, that he's willing to publicly admit to. In the past, he called his plan "privatization," and it was the same plan as the incredibly unpopular Bush proposal which would dramatically reduce benefits and divert payroll taxes into private accounts.

So it's safe to assume he still thinks the same thing, and just like Bush, he's refusing to upfront with people about his proposals until after the election. It's then that we could expect the bamboozle to continue right where it left off in early 2005.

But right now, here's the entirety of their plan:

Aides said McCain would not support a tax increase to address the solvency of the program, but they did not give further details.

So they won't tell you about their massive benefit cuts. And they won't keep repeating the word privatization, despite using it before to describe the same proposal and knowing that's exactly what it is. But they'll hope they don't get called out on refusing to level with us about what he really believes.

McCain's Credit Card Budget

The reviews are in...

Experts agree that McCain's budget balancing rhetoric is just wishful thinking:

The package of spending and tax cuts proposed by Senator John McCain is unlikely to achieve his goal of balancing the federal budget by 2013, economists and fiscal experts said Monday.

“It would be very difficult to achieve in the best of circumstances, and even more difficult under the policies that Senator McCain has proposed,” said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan budget watchdog group.

McCain’s taxing proposals would only 'dig the hole deeper'

McCain also proposes a one-year freeze on the growth of non-defense government programs, which might cut the deficit by all of 2% to 3%. On defense, he says he would steer any peace dividend from concluding the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to deficit reduction. That amounts to a kind of imaginary lockbox for hypothetical savings. [...] By endorsing a continuation of the Bush tax cuts and adding others, McCain digs the hole deeper. Obama would roll back the Bush tax cuts for high-income earners, but he'd spend the revenue on new programs for health coverage, alternative fuels and more.

Maybe he should get his story straight.

Morning Open Thread

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July 7, 2008

Evening Open Thread

• A Republican Congressman pulls a McCain.
• CREW filing Bar complaints for politicizing the Justice Department.
• McCain campaign: we’ll keep Bush tax cuts if we don't reduce spending.

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John McCain's Economic Plan: Pure Imagination

John McCain released a thirteen-page economic plan [PDF] that is comprised of all the same economic policies he has already bandied about but wrapped with a new name and pretty cover. It is, however, missing the original slogan: "Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination."

The silly gas tax holiday -- which all the experts call a "gimmick", a "joke", and "pandering" -- conflicts with his stated support to boost funding for public transportation since gas taxes pay for -- wait for it -- public transportation, and infrastructure like roads and highways -- those things that public buses use. Even fellow Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) acknowledged that the gas tax holiday would "drive up the deficit."

Even McCain's own hand-picked economists his campaign touts as supporting his economic plan "reject 'two big chunks.'" Think Progress:

McCain campaign has released “a statement signed by over 300 professional economists” who support the senator’s economic plan. But as the Politico’s Avi Zenilman points out, the 300 conservative economists who endorse McCain’s plan still reject “two big chunks” of the senator’s proposal: “the gas tax holiday and his promise to balance the budget by 2013.”

McCain continues to claim that eliminating earmarks will help get the U.S. towards a balanced budget yet still cannot come up with specific cuts. John McCain claimed in the past that he would "veto every bill with earmarks," but when presented with the fact that American aid to Israel is labeled as an "earmark" by the Congressional Research Service, his campaign backed off the absolutist claim. In any event, when pressed about specific earmarks he would cut, John McCain came up blank.

And what kind of Bush/McCain economic plan would it be without billions in tax cuts for the rich that John McCain opposed before he supported it. When the McCain campaign is not blatantly distorting the tax plan offered by Senator Barack Obama, they distort their own and claim, like Bush did in 2000, that his cuts would benefit working Americans.

McCain says he will balance the budget by 2013 but how does he square that with his Iraq policy? John McCain claims we can stay in Iraq for decades in the mold of our garrisons in Germany and Korea (which he flip-flopped on). Yet, in John McCain's economic plan, he claims the "savings" from "victory" in Afghanistan and Iraq.

When it comes to getting the numbers to add up right, Josh Marshall paraphrases the McCain plan as "we'll get back to you on that."

Now, the general routine is the face of this kind of candidate announcement is that journalists and economists look at the numbers to see if they add up. In most cases, the exercises generates fairly unsatisfying contradictory opinions, with some experts saying one thing and other experts another.

But here's the thing. McCain doesn't have any numbers. None. Not vague numbers of fuzzy math. He just says he's going to do it. Any other candidate would get laughed off the stage with that kind of nonsense or more likely reporters just wouldn't agree to give them a write up. But this is all over the place.

Sing it one more time, John: "... come with me, then you'll be in a woooooorld of pure imagination..."

McCain's Defense of NAFTA: Cheap Flowers

Jobs first!

"I buy flowers a lot cheaper when they are grown in Colombia than when they are grown in South Carolina. It has never been my ambition for any child to grow up to work in a textile factory. I would much rather have them work in a BMW plant or high-tech factory or other kinds of employment for which we can provide the training and education."

Sick Workers Left Behind

McCain’s fend-for-yourself approach to healthcare leaves older, sicker workers behind:

To the degree that happens, the employer-based market will become less healthy as sicker, older workers stay with their employer-based coverage while more of the healthier workers move to the individual market.

"What you'll see happening is average cost in the employer-market will go up and average cost in the individual market will go down," Fronstin said. "You'll start to get into a cycle where people at the margin start to leave employer coverage for individual coverage. At some point, employers will start to ask: Why am I doing this if my workers don't value it anymore? If I don't need to do this to be competitive in the labor market, why should I do it?"

And he'd do little to ease Americans’ healthcare pains:

Why should insurers work to lower prices or health care use when they can shun high-cost people in the first place? And what incentive do insurers have to invest now in promoting better health and improving the system when others will benefit later?

Obama to Accept Nomination in Front of 75,000

Senator Barack Obama will accept the nomination of the Democratic Party on August 28 at INVESCO Field in front of 75,000 people. Tickets will be free and the event open to the public. Ten supporters who donate $5 or more will be flown to Denver with a friend to meet Senator Obama backstage and watch history unfold.

McCain: More of the Same Economic Policies

Keep digging, John McCain. Let's take a look at how his latest campaign promises are being described:

NYT: “Mr. McCain’s aides said, he will not offer any significant new economic programs or ideas.”

Politico: “McCain advisers admit that the document is a repackaging of previous policies, without dramatic new initiatives.”

So what are those same old ideas that have been touted before, most notably by President Bush? Well, first, he makes reference to "privatizing" (to use a term McCain used to describe it) Social Security and slashing benefits, since he's in favor of the same proposal that Bush floated in 2005 that was widely rejected by the American people.

He's also promising, once again, to balance the budget by by the end of his first term -- despite his numbers for all of his new spending not adding up. FactCheck.org and the Washington Post's Fact Checker has already taken him to task for his failure to put forward an honest economic plan. As the WaPo noted, he's still refusing to identify any cuts that he plans to make, which -- as they also note -- makes it hard to take his promises seriously.

And then there's his claim that he'll put American "jobs first." But as you can watch below, there's not a whole lot of truth to that, either:

Morning Open Thread

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July 3, 2008

Evening Open Thread

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More Jobs Lost

As Think Progress points out, this is the sixth straight month of job losses. The latest monthly jobs report, released this morning, shows payrolls falling another 62,000. And where is John McCain?

He's in Mexico promoting NAFTA.

A Flaw In The Plan

McCain’s health care proposals could result in a dramatic increase in taxes for many Americans:

Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., health-care plan would replace the existing tax exclusion for employer-sponsored coverage with a refundable tax credit for all Americans. The tax change is intended to create a more equitable system that provides everyone -- including those who do not receive their health coverage from their employer -- with the same tax advantage. And since it is refundable, it would provide a cash benefit to those who earn too little to pay federal income taxes.

But if the cost of health care continues to outpace inflation in the economy at large, McCain's health credit would morph into a tax hike for those who currently receive a tax exclusion for employer-sponsored coverage, according to a study released Wednesday by the liberal Center for American Progress.

Morning Open Thread

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July 2, 2008

Evening Open Thread

• The DLCC has a new website and blog. Check it out.
• TPM Muckraker: "House oversight committee Chairman Henry Waxman says the Bush Administration knew about the September 2007 deal that Texas-based Hunt Oil struck with Kurdish officials in Iraq."
• The "shake-up" even bigger than originally reported?
• Bring 'em on... five years later.

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DNC Releases Web Video: "Straight Talk on the Economy?"

Earlier today on Good Morning America, John McCain denied ever saying he did not know economics. To refresh memory of the McCain campaign, we released a new web video highlighting a number of occasions where John McCain openly admitted he doesn't know what he is talking about when it comes to the economy.

Isn't the internet great? One would think the McCain campaign would be aware that these video clips are readily available on the internet.

Shakeup in McCain Camp?

Many of you will remember the petition we circulated in May telling John McCain to fire lobbyists Rick Davis and Charlie Black. He still hasn't done that. However, it's being reported by the Politico that Rick Davis will no longer be running the day-to-day operation of the campaign:

Steve Schmidt is taking over the day-to-day operation of John McCain’s campaign, according to multiple campaign sources. [...] Schmidt, a bald and barrel-chested operative known for his aggressive brand of political combat, responded by exhorting campaign aides with a speech that one staffer likened to a locker room pep talk out of the football movie "Rudy." [...] One source familiar with the inner workings of McCain's campaign said that the move came after a sluggish ramp-up to the general and number of unforced errors had left the candidate, senior staff and elected officials unhappy with the state of the campaign.

Could be. Or it could be that he was feeling the heat, knowing that the American people didn't like that his campaign is being run at the highest levels by lobbyists. That still happens to be the case, however. The article also quotes Charlie Black (another top McCain lobbyist/aide): "Rick still has authority over all things. Steve works for Rick."

Read more about Rick Davis here. And here.

3rd Straight Record

People are reminded that we've had a failed policy for the last 7 years -- and therefore need a change -- every single time they head to the pump. For the third day in a row, we've seen record gas prices:

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose five-tenths of a cent overnight to $4.092, the daily survey showed Wednesday. That tops the previous day's record of $4.087 a gallon.

Gas prices are now about 3% higher than last month and 38.5% higher than year-ago levels.

John McCain: For Partisan Attacks on Foreign Soil Before He Was Against It

John McCain pledged not to engage in partisan attacks during his visit to Colombia yesterday.

While Sen. McCain slammed his Democratic rival repeatedly as a flip-flopper on trade policy aboard his flight from Indiana to Colombia, upon landing in Cartagena for the start of his 3-day Latin American swing McCain stayed true to his pledge to leave all politics at home — or at least on the plane.

“The only discussion I had concerning the presidential campaign was that I believe that that any partisanship ends at the waters’ edge. I do not speak about the presidential campaign,” McCain said [...]

However, three weeks ago, John McCain lobbed a partisan attack -- in Canada.

In a cross-border political attack, John McCain said Friday that Barack Obama's opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement is "nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls."

John McCain -- he was for partisan attacks on foreign soil before he was against it.

McCain Claims Never Said He Doesn't Understand Economics

But reality begs to differ.

The quotes, via Think Progress:

- “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” McCain said. “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.” [December 2007]

- Seeking to explain his shift on economic issues, McCain claimed: “I didn’t pay nearly the attention to those issues in the past. I was probably a ’supply-sider’ based on the fact that I really didn’t jump into the issue.” [January 2000]

He's been denying the existence of these repeated quotes for a while now. Remember this reply from the GOP debate? But obviously, he knows he said it repeatedly; even if he had forgotten, he's had the quotes read to him.

Morning Open Thread

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July 1, 2008

Evening Open Thread

• Here's a great, fun find by the Minnesota Independent. You'll not only want to check out their article about the Obama support in... Obama, Japan. But also, as they note, there's more at this photo album.
• Abramoff to cooperate "with a criminal probe in Guam."
• Heh.

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"The applause was polite, and that was about it."

Apparently John McCain was met with lots of opposition when he visited Ohio. You mean they don't like that he not only says jobs won't come back, but also opposed training for new ones?

Senator Obama Continues to Show Strength with Hispanics

Senator Barack Obama continues to show strong support from the Hispanic community across the country, according to the latest polls.

The latest numbers from Florida show Senator Obama holding a two-point lead over McCain, and maintaining a fourteen point lead in Florida's Hispanic community, 51 percent to 37 percent. [PDF with the cross-tabs available here.] Public Policy Polling found an eleven-point lead for Senator Obama with Hispanics in Virginia roughly two weeks ago. [PDF]

Nationally, Senator Obama holds significant leads in several polls in recent weeks. Gallup showed the presumptive Democratic nominee with a commanding lead on John McCain, 62 percent to 29 percent. In mid-June, the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found Senator Obama leading 62 percent to 28 percent. Last week, the Latino Decisions Poll found Hispanics backing Senator Obama over John McCain by 37 points, 60 percent to 23 percent.

Hispanics voters want change this November and know they won't get it from the candidate who walks in lockstep with George W. Bush.

McCain Fundraising Pitch Includes Photo with Bush

Dear John McCain,

Thanks for giving me a reason to post this photo of you and Mr. 23%. Appreciate it.

Best,
Matt Ortega

Norm Coleman's Sweet Deal

And CREW has filed an ethics complaint in response. From TPM Muckraker:

A National Journal reporter found that Coleman pays just $600 a month to live in the Capitol Hill townhouse that belongs to his longtime friend and Republican political operative Jeff Larson. And he's missed a couple months rent, too.

Apparently the scenario didn't pass the smell test with the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, who have filed just an ethics complaint.

Just who is this political operative? Well, his company "is a go-to shop for the Republicans nationwide for fund raising and providing 'robo-calls.'"

In fact, the firm was targeted by the attorney general in Indiana for violating that state's automated call laws. The firm is also linked to The DCI Group, a lobbying firm that came under scrutiny for its work in Myanmar and its ties to the John McCain campaign. They're known for "Astroturf" organizing as well as robo-calls.

Gallup: 68% "Concerned" About McCain's Similarities with Bush

According to new numbers released by Gallup, one of the most respected polling firms in the country, more than two-thirds of Americans are "concerned" that John McCain will continue the policies of George W. Bush. Nearly half of those polled were "very concerned."

Two-thirds of independents, a key swing group, stated they were "concerned" that John McCain was "too similar" to George Bush. Nearly half, 47 percent, of all independents said they were "very concerned."

And why wouldn't they be concerned? John McCain is in lockstep with George Bush on tax cuts for the rich, an open-ended presence in Iraq, recycled Bush's healthcare plan, privatizing Social Security, and with nearly 8 in 10 Americans saying they believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Webb: Bush ''Made A Real Bad Mistake'' On GI Bill

President Bush and John McCain teamed up to try to defeat the 21st Century GI Bill, which doubles college benefits for troops and veterans. In the end, it still passed, was signed into law yesterday, and now both are trying to take credit for the very bill that they worked so hard to defeat.

Jim Webb was on Countdown yesterday to discuss the bill:

On the attempt to block the bill:

I think George W. Bush made a real bad mistake in terms of our trying to show full respect for military service. I think he blew it.

Morning Open Thread

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