Posts Made By: Jim E. Gleason

This question is for both the Right and Left but 1st, both Dems and Repubs are responsible for the economic mess we`re in right now and:

The Obama campaign smears McCain with a very broad brush when they state that McCain is Bush III. I found a site that illuminated the significant differences McCain has with Bush. Don’t let anyone get away with the Bush III argument! (Thanks to the following post) Please add further examples.

1. Former President Clinton Senior Adviser And Hillary Clinton Campaign Strategist Sidney Blumenthal Calls The Third Term Bush Strategy “A Hard Sell.” “Sidney Blumenthal, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and strategist for Hillary Clinton’s Democratic presidential campaign, went ‘off message’ (his words) today with a warning to his party: Don’t run against GOP nominee John McCain by painting him as Bush III, because he’s not. Bucking the Democratic National Committee’s talking points that characterize a potential McCain administration as tantamount to a third Bush term, Blumenthal told our Liz Halloran that running on that strategy in the fall would be a mistake. ‘I understand people’s political reasons for doing that,’ he said. ‘I think it’s more helpful to describe [political opponents] as they are.’ Bottom line, Blumenthal calls the strategy ‘a mistake’ and adds: ‘The public doesn’t see [McCain] that way. That’s a hard sell.’” (Paul Bedard, “Clintonista Warns: McCain Isn’t Bush III,” U.S News & World Report’s “Washington Whispers” Blog, 5/20/08)

2. In 2004, John McCain Said That President Bush Was Not Being As “Straight” With The American People On Iraq As He Should Have Been. FOX NEWS’ WALLACE: “Senator, you made your reputation talking about straight talk. Is the president being straight with the American people? Is he leveling with them about just how tough the situation is in Iraq?” MCCAIN: “Perhaps not as straight as maybe we’d like to see. Although I’ve been with him when he has told audiences that this is a very tough struggle that we’re in and made them aware of the difficulties.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 9/19/04)

3. John McCain: Senator McCain has long been an opponent of ethanol mandates and subsidies believing the federal government handouts to ethanol producers ultimately results is less fuel efficiency and inflated fuel and food costs.

Senator McCain believes that ethanol is a product that would not exist if Congress hadn’t created an artificial market for it. Yet due to agricultural subsidies and ethanol producer subsidies, it is very big business, and tens of billions of dollars that have enriched a handful of corporate interests.

The American public has to pay a lot of money, not only in taxes, but at the pump to buy all these negative impacts to the national economy, the country’s energy supply, the environment, and public health. The total cost of ethanol to the consumer is about $3.00 per gallon. And the Highway Trust Fund is deprived of over $1 billion dollars per year to the ethanol producers.

Finally, Senator McCain believes ethanol subsidies have diverted corn toward biofuels and away from its use as food. Instead of subsidizing corn-based ethanol, we should allow the market to operate so that biofuels made from sources outside the food chain, such as from cellulose, reach commercial viability more quickly.

4. John McCain Voted Against The 2005 Energy Bill Backed By President Bush That Included Billions In Subsidies For The Energy Industry. “Democratic candidate Barack Obama criticized Republican John McCain on Tuesday for taking a page out of ‘the Cheney playbook’ on energy, overlooking his own support of oil-friendly policies that the unpopular vice president helped to craft. Obama voted for a 2005 energy bill backed by President Bush that included billions in subsidies for oil and natural gas production, a measure for which Vice President Dick Cheney played a major role. McCain opposed the bill, saying at the time that it included billions in unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry.” (Tom Raum, “Critical Of McClain, Obama Quiet On Own Energy Vote,” The Associated Press, 8/5/08)

John McCain Voted Against The 2005 Energy Bill. (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #152: Motion Agreed To 92-4: R 53-1; D 38-3; I 1-0, 6/23/05, McCain Voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #158: Passed 85-12: R 49-5; D 35-7; I 1-0, 6/28/05, McCain Voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #213: Adopted 74-26: R 49-6; D 25-19; I 0-1, 7/29/05, McCain Voted Nay)

5. John McCain Differs With President Bush On Drilling In ANWR. “Unlike Bush, however, McCain still opposes oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, but the senator wants to let other states allow oil exploration off their coasts.” (Foon Rhee, “McCain Calls For Lifting Ban On Offshore Drilling,” The Boston Globe, 6/18/08)

6. The Bush Administration Lobbied Against John McCain’s Amendment To Ban Torture And President Bush Promised To Veto The Bill With The Included Amendment. “The issue heated up again in January 2005. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales disclosed during his confirmation hearing that the administration believed that antitorture laws and treaties did not restrict interrogators at overseas prisons because the Constitution does not apply abroad. In response, Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, filed an amendment to a Defense Department bill explicitly saying that that the cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of detainees in US custody is illegal regardless of where they are held. McCain’s office did not return calls seeking comment yesterday. The White House tried hard to kill the McCain amendment. Cheney lobbied Congress to exempt the CIA from any interrogation limits, and Bush threatened to veto the bill, arguing that the executive branch has exclusive authority over war policy.” (Charlie Savage, “Bush Could Bypass New Torture Ban,” The Boston Globe, 1/4/06)

After Opposing John McCain’s Call For A Ban On Torture, The Bush Administration Finally Agreed To Ban Torture By U.S. Personnel. “After months of opposition, the White House agreed Thursday to Republican Sen. John McCain’s call to ban torture by U.S. personnel. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Virginia, and McCain, R-Arizona, met with President Bush to discuss the deal, which Warner said he expects to be finalized by the end of the day. After the meeting with President Bush, McCain said ‘this is a done deal.’” (”McCain, Bush Agree On Torture Ban,” CNN.com, www.cnn.com, 12/15/05)

However, President Bush Said That He Reserved The Right To Bypass The McCain Amendment. ” When President Bush last week signed the bill outlawing the torture of detainees, he quietly reserved the right to bypass the law under his powers as commander in chief.” (Charlie Savage, “Bush Could Bypass New Torture Ban,” The Boston Globe, 1/4/06)

7. John McCain Broke With President Bush On The 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Bill. “McCain has broken with President Bush and many GOP lawmakers on the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit bill, stem cell legislation and earmarks.” (Jackie Kucinich, “ANWR Split Gives GOP 2 Platforms,” The Hill, 7/22/08)

8. SHIELD LAW: John McCain Differs With President Bush On A Shield Law to Protect Journalists
By Supporting The Shield Law, McCain Is “Breaking Ranks With The Bush Administration.” “Breaking ranks with the Bush administration, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, Ariz., said he would support a law to protect journalists’ secret relationships with anonymous sources. ‘If the vote were held today, I would vote yes,’ McCain told the audience at the Associated Press’ annual meeting in Arlington, Va.” (Justin Rood, “McCain Lends ‘Narrow’ Support To Shield Law,” ABC News, 4/14/08)

9. John McCain Is In Favor Of Federal Funding Of Stem Cell Research Which President Bush Opposes. “President Bush vetoed a measure Wednesday that would have removed restrictions he placed on federal funding of stem cell research, setting up the issue as a flash point for the 2008 presidential race. … Among leading GOP contenders, only Sen. John McCain of Arizona favors federal funding for stem cell research.” (Ken Herman, “Bush Draws ‘Moral Line,’ Vetoes Stem Cell Bill,” Palm Beach Post, 6/21/07)

10. John McCain Said That He Disagreed With The President On Climate Change. MCCAIN: “So what`s an area of disagreement? Climate change. Climate change. I believe that climate change is real. I think we have to act. And I`ve said that for many, many years. I would just like to put the question this way to my fellow Americans. Suppose that we are wrong and there`s no such thing as climate change but we go ahead and adopt green technologies and we reduce greenhouse gas emissions? All we`ve done is give our kids a cleaner planet, OK? But suppose … Suppose we are right and do nothing. Suppose we just continue this endless debate and continue the increase of greenhouse gas emissions, and we hand these wonderful Americans a damaged planet? I think the answer to that is pretty obvious. And by the way, that question was posed first — I saw it — by former prime minister Tony Blair.” (MSNBC’s “Hardball,” 4/15/08)

All other differences between McCain and Bush can be found here:

http://hillbuzz.wordpress.com/ten-reasons-democrats-should-support-john-mccain/

http://hillbuzz.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/another-take-on-why-true-democrats-are-supporting-john-mccain/

Courtesy of the JSND, (Just Say No Deal}, Coalition, Various Lawyers, and Investigations:

I put the parts about FactCheck in bold...because it, and it`s offshoots, have been used a no. of times to defend and alledgedly debunk most neg. stories concerning BO!

From the start, I thought this was suspicious by itself...then, when FactCheck left out key neg. facts about BO`s church, while giving the church the old thumbs-up, this was just too much.

Btw, if BO has FactCheck in his hip pocket, who knows who and what else is in the tank for him also!...it makes it that much more difficult to be sure about anything written or reported about BO!

Introduction

In the past few days, we’ve published three articles separately that now appear to possibly be connected. Comments and feedback from readers got us thinking, then digging. We’ve been trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but we haven’t been able to do that yet, not completely. So the purpose of this post is to set forth a few observations and questions. We hope to turn this into a longer follow-on story.

In a nutshell, we believe that there are links worth investigating between the Barack Obama campaign, William Ayers, the Annenbergs, and ACORN.

The three stories that may be connected in ways that we initially did not realize, are:

Obama’s Caucus Fraud Trick: how the delegates were “won”.

The Annenberg Files: ACCESS BLOCKED!

Obama, ACORN, Citizen Services Inc: False FEC Filings; and


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Few Facts and Observations

First, keep in mind: Senator Obama was the first Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which was a Division, or Project, of the Annenberg Foundation.

William (Bill) Ayers, unrepentant Weather Underground terrorist and a friend of the Obamas, was instrumental in founding the Challenge, thanks to his ties to Mayor Richard Daley. The first Daley was also a pal of Thomas Ayers, Bill’s father, former CEO of ComEd (owned by Exelon).

[Incidentally, the current CEO of ComEd, Frank M. Clark, is a major money bundler for the Obama campaign.]

You’ll recall from Wednesday’s story that the Annenberg files have suddenly been locked down under mysterious circumstances, after a reporter was promised access.

Factcheck.org, used as a resource by so many who wish to “debunk” negative coverage of Obama, is also a Division, or Project, of the Annenberg Foundation.

You’ll recall that Factcheck was the second site to publish the now-suspect Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) reportedly received from the Obama campaign.

The Annenberg Foundation and family has an interesting history that we may examine in more detail.]

Second, keep in mind that ACORN has received payments of nearly a million dollars from the Barack Obama Campaign in 2008, as Nancy A reported on this blog Aug. 15. Apparently the payments were funneled through Citizens Services Inc., and may have been falsely reported to the FEC.

The Senator has been working with ACORN since his first days as a Community Organizer in Chicago:

“In 1992, Acorn Hired Mr. Obama To Run A Voter Registration Effort. He Later Became A Trainer For The Group, As Well As Its Lawyer In Election Law Cases.” (John Fund, Op-Ed, “Obama’s Liberal Shock Troops,” “The Wall Street Journal”, 7/12/08 )

and

“Representing ACORN, Obama And Other Attorneys Sued The State Of Illinois, Forcing It To Implement Federal “Motor Voter” Legislation That Makes It Easier For The Poor And Minorities To Register To Vote.” (”Some Cases Obama Worked On In His Career As An Attorney,” “The Associated Press”, 2/20/07). Hence again impartiality is not possible.

More Press Quotes on ACORN:

ACORN Used “In Your Face” Tactics Like Disrupting Hearings, Bursting Into City Council Meetings, And Protesting Mayor’s Homes. (Stanley Kurtz, Op-Ed, “Inside Obama’s Acorn,” “National Review”, 5/29/08 )

“ACORN Has Been Accused Of Voter Fraud In 13 StatesSince 2004 And Was Convicted Of Falsifying Signatures In A Voter Registration Drive Last July, Drawing A Fine Of $25,000 In Washington State.” (Editorial, “George Soros: The Man, The Mind And The Money Behind MoveOn,” “Investor’s Business Daily”, 9/21/07)

“ACORN Has Been Implicated In Similar Schemes In 14 Other States - Including Ohio, Where A Worker Traded Crack Cocaine For Fraudulent Registrations.” (Editorial, “Another ACORN Scandal,” “New York Post”, 7/13/08 )

[Notice that the first of these quotes is from the very man (Kurtz, from National Review) who has been denied access on flimsy, and possibly illegal grounds, to the Annenberg Files.]

[Meanwhile, keep in mind: ACORN has been a beneficiary of grants from the Chicago-based Woods Fund, which has a history of issuing controversial grants. Ayres and Obama served together on the Fund’s board (and are still listed). [Other grantees during their tenure included PLO employee Rashid Khalidi and the Obamas' church, Trinity United.]

Conclusions

Are you starting to see the potential connections and conflicts of interest? Here’s what we see:

1. Potential conflict of interest between Obama and anything funded by the Annenbergs, including Factcheck.org. [For starters, why were they one of only a small handful of media to get a copy of the COLB?]

2. Obvious conflict of interest between Obama and ACORN: He has been directly involved in funding ACORN, has worked for ACORN, and is now PAYING ACORN in exchange for assistance to his campaign.

3. What kind of assistance is ACORN providing the campaign? When we read about ACORN’s expertise in “voter fraud” and “in-your-face” tactics, it instantly reminded us of Obama’s caucus fraud tricks (see Wednesday’s story).

4. Is there a direct connection between the Annenberg Foundation and ACORN, or are they just three degrees of separation apart, with Ayres and Obama smack in the middle? We are curious about that. [Walter Annenberg, founder of the $500 million gift that funded the Annenberg Challenge, had deeply rooted Chicago ties that clearly intersect with some of the same ties to Thomas and William Ayres.]

We hope to continue this story…

Now this is the kind of leadership this country needs! 8) 8) 8)

An Excerpt,

"...Were the Democrat to insist on going forward with the debate and to continue to campaign as usual he'd walk right into McCain's trap, seeming to place politics above what many are portraying as a dire national crisis and validating the Arizona senator's slogan that it's he who puts "country first."

McCain's move is also designed to recast the financial debate as it relates to the presidential campaign. Since last week, the Republican and his top aides have sought to broaden the discussion beyond the details of just what went wrong and how to fix the system and make the political question one of who is the better leader in a time of great national challenge. With a Republican president in the White House presiding over the near-meltdown and voters favoring Obama on the economy, transforming the matter from one about policy to one about character and leadership is imperative..."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13853.html

Of course, the authors only got reaction from the Dems who just want to continue to play politics...claiming it`s all political...despite the fact the polls are still pretty much a tie!

And now we have BO saying that he thinks the debate over foreign policy should go on...during our 9/11 crisis in the economy...he goes on to say he thinks it`s actually more important so the voters will have more to base an important decision on in 40 days...WHAT A MORON!!!...there may not be an economy in 40 days...1st things 1st...we must solve this crisis asap or we might not have one a week from now!...there is absolutely no time to lose...and no time to accuse others of playing politics!

We need answers to this economic crises and someone who can bring both sides of the aisle together as McCain has done so often in the past...what we don`t need is a debate on foreign policy right now...which McCain would probably stomp BO`s ass in anyway!

Of course if BO insists, the McCain camp can always send Gov. Palin who would kick his ass too...he who said Iran poses little danger to the US...the same idiot who thinks up a solution to the Russian-Georgia crisis which could simply be vetoed by the Russians!...

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just keep in mind that McCain is willing to sacrifice stomping BO even worse in this foreign policy debate...which would surely move the polls in his favor! 8) 8) 8)

McCain gained 3 points since yesterday...So, don`t try to tell me that his going to Wash. to put country 1st isn`t the reason these polls are closing again!

McCain`s brilliant!

I wonder how many others he`ll take the lead in too.

"Zogby: McCain Takes the Lead

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The very latest poll numbers from John Zogby put John McCain squarely ahead of Barack Obama at 46 percent to 44 percent, respectively.


McCain moved from three percentage points behind Obama to two points ahead of the democratic candidate in less than a week. One possible reason for the boost — McCain’s decision to forego politics as usual to focus on the current financial meltdown. The polling was conducted after McCain’s announcement that he was suspending his campaign.


Independent voters played a key role in the latest figures: McCain now leads with independents by nine points, 43 percent to 34 percent."

Here`s some details of how it all unfolded...as usual, the Obama-loving MSM left out parts to prop up their candidate!

"Barack Obama, "Call me if you need me" : Tom Coburn "can you hear me now"
It's a Kwazy Life ^ | September 25, 2008 | Tom Lamb

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Coburn calls Obama, McCain; urges joint statement on bailout

"...Through his spokesman, Coburn, R-Muskogee, confirmed that he called Obama, an Illinois Democrat, and McCain, an Arizona Republican.

John Hart, Coburn's spokesman, said Coburn "reached out to both Senators McCain and Obama last night to urge them to lead and set aside politics in order to help solve this serious financial crisis.

"His goal was not necessarily to prescribe any course of action but to urge both senators to personally engage in the very difficult legislative negotiations unfolding in Congress. Decisions about how to proceed are up to the respective campaigns and secondary to Dr. Coburn’s concern that Congress may not be able to pass a bill without the personal involvement of both Senators McCain and Obama.”

What is funny about this situation, Obama tries to make it seem as if it was his idea to call McCain about the issue when it clearly wasn't. Even the Washington Post got into the act when it wrote in its article on the matter and left the fact out that Coburn also called McCain:

"...Later that evening, Obama received a phone message from Sen. Tom Coburn, a conservative Oklahoma Republican with whom he has worked previously on legislation. According to Obama, Coburn suggested that a joint statement outlining these shared principles might be helpful.

At 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Obama called McCain to run the idea by him, but the two did not talk.

About 2:30 p.m., Obama was leaving a rally at a minor league baseball stadium in Dunedin, Fla., when McCain returned his call. In a conversation that lasted about five minutes, Obama said the two discussed the joint statement idea and exchanged contact information so their aides could follow up."

One quote that Obama stated should be an eye-opener to those who are still deciding on Obama.

Here is the quote: "It is going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one thing at once."

My comment: So call me if you need me is dealing with more than one thing at once??? It sounds more like it's dealing with one thing at once--preparing for the debate.

True and it will be the president's job to put in priority the importance of those jobs and it is clear, imho, Obama put politics and the campaign above fixing a 700 billion dollar problem."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-.../2090016/posts

House Republicans have the leverage now. The Democratic leadership was maneuvered into backing a deeply unpopular plan. The Republican alternative seems much more attractive by comparison. The loyalty of House Democrats will be seriously tested, especially the Blue Dogs. Do I stick with Pelosi and risk getting kicked out of office, or do I join this bipartisan effort that isn't as toxic?


"WASHINGTON (AFP)--Republican White House hopeful Sen. John McCain denied Thursday there ever had been any deal in place between Congress and the White House on a $700-billion Wall Street bailout plan.

McCain said on ABC News after talks at the White House that also included his Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama that he still hoped to go to the scheduled presidential debate Friday night in Mississippi.

But his senior campaign adviser Steve Schmidt accused Obama of putting himself before his country, by continuing to run campaign ads while the high-stakes political drama over the economic crisis was playing out.

McCain said he knew going into the White House meeting called by President Bush that there was no deal, after having said Wednesday the debate should be canceled if a bailout wasn't secured.

"I knew going in, because I had been over on the House side with my House Republican colleagues, there never was a deal," McCain said. "But I do believe the meeting was important to move the process along."

Democrats accused McCain of unhelpful grandstanding and poisoning the process with presidential politics by putting his campaign on hold and returning to Washington, with a deal apparently almost in place.

But Schmidt said McCain was working to persuade enough lawmakers to support the package.

"The problem right now is that any rescue package has to pass by a majority vote," Schmidt told reporters outside McCain's campaign headquarters in Arlington, Va.

"There is not yet a majority of Democrats or Republicans who are willing to vote yes for anything," he said. "The votes at this hour do not yet exist."

Schmidt also accused Obama of buying up time vacated by McCain on TV networks for campaign advertisements, when the Republican made up his mind to pull down his ads Wednesday.

"It is an example once again of Sen. McCain putting his country first, while Senator Obama puts Senator Obama first," Schmidt said."

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080925\ACQDJON200809251939DOWJONESDJONLINE000948.htm&SourceCode=&mypage=newsheadlines&title=McCain%20Says%20There%20%27Never%20Was%20A%20Deal%27%20On%20Wall%20Street%20Bailout

Wow. I guess we all should just turn off the TV and start reading Arab News! 8O

Excerpts,

"...DEMOCRATS heaped scorn on John McCain’s shock decision on Wednesday to suspend his presidential campaign and return to Washington to tackle the nation’s financial crisis. The Republican nominee’s move was dismissed as a “stunt”, an act of desperation by a flailing candidate heading for inevitable defeat in November.

But as with the equally unexpected selection of Alaskan “hockey mom” Sarah Palin as Republican vice-presidential candidate, the Democrats’ denunciations betray a sense of unease, if not panicky fear. By jumping feet-first into the middle of Congressional negotiations on George W. Bush’s $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan, McCain, who counts impetuosity as a virtue, had pulled another fast one. Once again, his opponents didn’t see it coming. Whatever the longer-term verdict may be, for the moment at least the Democrats are suddenly on the back foot. Just when Barack Obama appeared to be establishing a clear national poll lead based on greater public confidence in his ability to manage the economy, McCain, the former fighter pilot, dive-bombed out of nowhere and blew the ground from under him. It was nothing less than an audacious bid to claim the mantle of national savior for himself. The maverick rides again..."

"...But Obama is in unexpected difficulty, too, following his opponent’s demarche. For a moment or two on Wednesday, he was left sitting at his “debate camp” headquarters in Florida, looking hesitant, sidelined, and off-the-pace. Bush’s subsequent invitation to him to join today’s White House bailout summit forced him to reverse his earlier refusal to follow McCain back to Washington.

Obama’s continuing insistence that today’s debate on foreign policy should go ahead on time looks problematic, too. He is doubtless right to say such weighty issues need discussing in a public forum. But borrowing, not Baghdad, is the focus for most Americans right now. Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be scary. But far scarier is the fact that General Motors has run out of credit and 592,000 jobs were lost in August alone.

In making his dramatic move, McCain has once again disrupted the national election narrative so carefully nurtured by the Democrats since Obama’s Iowa caucus victory. He did it at an earlier stage in the campaign, by shamelessly appropriating Obama’s theme of change and reform. He did it again by picking Palin as his running mate, a choice both preposterous and potent. Now he has dared to put himself forward as Americans’ economic champion. If the bailout is agreed and seen to work — a big “if” — McCain will claim the credit and possibly the election.

It quite takes one’s breath away. But then, so does this whole extraordinary campaign..."

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=114017&d=26&m=9&y=2008

Mike C. mentioned this in an earlier post.

This is regarding the statement by Obama in the debate where he said Kissinger would have the President meet with Ahmadinajad, etc.

Excerpt,

"...McCain points out — accurately — that Henry Kissinger has suggested diplomacy at the Secretary of State level, not presidential summitry with Iran.

Obama comes back with McCain's apparent hostility to the notion of a meeting with Spain.

McCain says:

"I’m not going to set the White House visitors schedule before I’m president of the United States," he says. "I don’t even have a seal yet..."

That last line was my favorite from the debate...McCain seem to joke around more than BO did.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/

The McCain Camp already has an ad out. 8O

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec3aC8ZJZTc

That was fast! 8)