Truth Squad, Assemble!!!

Today Senator McCain has put together what he calls his “truth squad.” His squad is made up of allies who will counter-attack anyone who challenges McCain’s military record. As mentioned below, a member of his squad is Colonel Bud Day, professional slanderer who was one of the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.” Bud Day’s defense of McCain was politicized and sharp:

“Things were very difficult for [McCain],he was horribly wounded in his extremities, and it was questionable if he would survive his experience. He set a high standard for himself because the Vietnamese tried to release him and he showed courage by refusing that to come about. We had an opportunity to watch a president in office, a Democrat who was extremely ineffective during those years. [McCain] learned an awful lot from that… General Clark spent a month in Vietnam, got badly wounded and was evacuated, that was his experience. I say let’s hold the two of them up and compare them.”

However, one should remember that this is the same man who slandered John Kerry by saying among other things that:

“My view is he basically will go down in history sometime as the Benedict Arnold of 1971.”

When confronted about the fact that he served as a partisan propogandist in the 2004 election, Day said:

The Swift Boat attacks were simply a revelation of the truth, the similarity does not exist here. What the Swift Boat campaign was about was to lay out John Kerry’s record. John Kerry has never produced any evidence to deny that. We are producing the evidence of these attacks right now to show that those remarks were completely inaccurate.”

Of course, someone who didn’t think “The Swift Boat attacks were simply a revelation of the truth” was John McCain as Senator Kerry points out:

“Colonel Day’s comments today only further highlight the McCain campaign’s disregard for a new kind of politics, John McCain condemned these kinds of attacks in 2004 when he called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ‘dishonest and dishonorable.’ Senator McCain should condemn these remarks and cut ties with the Colonel and anyone else connected to SBVT. Day’s comments only serve to disparage all those who served on swift boats in Vietnam.”

Another man who doesn’t think they were telling the truth is Steve Hayes, an early member of the group and good friend of the group’s founder. In an interview with the New York Times, Mr. Hayes said:

“The mantra was just ‘We want to set the record straight, it became clear to me that it was morphing from an organization to set the record straight into a highly political vendetta. They knew it was not the truth.”

The photo used was uploaded to Flickr by jim.greenhill who licensed it under a Creative Commons Attribution License and my use of the photo in no way indicates an endorsement of the article from jim.greenhill .

Clark Questions McCain’s Readyness

Yesterday on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer, General Wesley Clark attacked the idea that Senator McCain’s time in Vietnam would make him a better president:

“In the matters of national security policy making, it’s a matter of understanding risk, it’s a matter of gauging your opponents, and it’s a matter of being held accountable. John McCain’s never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war. He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee and he has traveled all over the world, but he hasn’t held executive responsibility, that large squadron in the Navy that he commanded – that wasn’t a wartime squadron.”

Bob Schieffer then pointed out that Obama hasn’t had any of those experiences, which prompted General Clark to say:

“Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,”

General Clark has said things to that effect before, but this time his statement attracted attention. Many Republican Senators reacted with outrage such as John Warner:

“I was utterly shocked, that he would in such a disrespectful way attack one of his fellow career military officers.”

and Bob Dole:

“Beyond comprehension … further erosion of our nation’s political discourse,”

Their outrage was shared by Airforce Colonel Bud Day who said that it was “A very indecent thing,” Of course, Colonel Day knows a lot about indecent things as he took part in the “Swift Boat” ads which slandered John Kerry in the 2004 election.

The candidates both took a higher road on the matter with Senator Obama saying at about the same time as Clark made his statements that Senator McCain:

“endured physical torment in service to our country … no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides.”

Earlier today, Obama’s spokesman Bill Burton said:

“Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain’s service, and of course he rejects yesterday’s statement by Sen. Clark.”

Senator McCain attempted to link Obama to the statement he had denounced by saying:

“If that’s the kind of campaign Sen. Obama and his surrogates and supporters want to engage in, I understand that. But it doesn’t reduce the price of gas by one penny. It doesn’t achieve our energy independence or make it come any closer. Doesn’t make any American stay in their home who’s at risk of losing it today. And it certainly doesn’t do anything to address the challenges Americans have in keeping their jobs, homes and supporting their families.”

What no one seems to want to point out is that Wesley Clark’s ultimate point is right. McCain’s time as a POW certainly shouldn’t be belittled, but saying that it doesn’t make him qualified doesn’t belittle it in the slightest. It simply makes the point that living through the horrors of torture doesn’t mean he’s going be a great President.

The question about whether or not it should be a part of the political discourse I can certainly see but, the only serious argument I can see against Clark’s point is that being a POW has given McCain greater judgment. However, the McCain campaign is choosing not to address it but rather disregard it.

Democratic Unity.

Today Senator Clinton made her debut as a surrogate for the Democratic nominee, Senator Obama. Their first stop was in the conveniently named Unity, N.H. The choreography consisted not only of cheesily choosing a town called Unity, but also Obama’s blue tie and Clinton’s blue pantsuit(semi-subtly suggesting Democratic unity.) When the speech started, Senator Clinton repeated her pledge to help Obama get elected:

“Unity is not only a beautiful place, it’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it? I know what we start here in this field of unity will end on the steps of the Capitol when Barack Obama takes the oath of office.”

Her praise continued and turned to attack the GOP:

“In the end, Senator McCain and President Bush are like two sides of the same coin, and it doesn’t amount to a whole lot of change, if you think we need a new course, a new agenda, then vote for Barack Obama and you will get the change that you need and deserve.”

Obama returned the favor by complimenting Senator Clinton individually:

“For 16 months, Sen. Clinton and I have shared the stage as rivals for the nomination, but today I could not be happier and more honored and more moved that we’re sharing this stage as allies to bring about the fundamental changes that this country so desperately needs,” Obama said. “Hillary and I may have started with separate goals in this campaign, but we made history together.”

And by complimenting both Clintons:

“We need them. We need them badly,” Obama said. “Not just my campaign, but the American people need their service and their vision and their wisdom in the months and years to come because that’s how we’re going to bring about unity in the Democratic Party. And that’s how we’re going to bring about unity in America.”

Unity was chosen not only becasue it’s name echoes the Obama campaign’s message, but also because the town awarded Senator Clinton and Senator Obama with 107 votes each back in the New Hampshire Primary.

Heroism In The Senate

As I outlined yesterday, most of the Democrats failed to fulfill their duty to defend the Constitution. I praised Senators Dodd and Feingold, who were the most public with their opposition to the FISA bill which gave the telecoms immunity for their violations of Americans’ civil rights. The vote has now taken place and now we know that Dodd and Feingold aren’t the only two who were the heroes of this story, though they were the main two. The Senators who defended your civil rights are:

Senator Joseph Biden(D-DE), Senator Barbara Boxer(D-CA), Senator Sherrod Brown(D-OH), Senator Maria Cantwell(D-WA), Senator Chris Dodd(D-CT), Senator Dick Durbin(D-IL), Senator Russ Feingold(D-WI), Senator Tom Harkin(D-IA), Senator John Kerry(D-MA), Senator Frank Lautenberg(D-NJ), Senator Patrick Leahy(D-VT), Senator Robert Menendez(D-NJ), Senator Bernie Sanders(D-VT), Senator Chuck Schumer(D-NY), and Senator Ron Wyden(D-OH.)

Now, you’ll notice that no Republicans defended your rights but the vast majority of Democrats joined them in failure. Senator Obama didn’t vote but said:

“My view on FISA has always been that the issue of the phone companies per se is not one that overrides the security interests of the American people.”

Senator McCain also didn’t vote.

Senator Dodd explained his disappointment with his colleagues’ failure:

“We’re closing the door, never to know why this happened, who ordered it, why did they avoid [the courts], what was behind their thinking, and that is a dangerous step for us.”

Senator Feingold explained his sorrow to The Young Turks’ radio show:

“It’s the latest chapter of running for cover when the Administration tries to intimidate Democrats on national security issues, it’s the most embarrassing failure of the Democrats I’ve seen since 2006, other than the failure to vote to end the Iraq war. These are the two real sad aspects of an otherwise pretty good record. It’s letting George Bush and Dick Cheney have their way even though they’re that unpopular and on their way out. It’s really incredible.”

So today the government has shown a willingness to take the 4th amendment and gave you the 2nd.

The photo used was uploaded to Flickr by reubenaingber who licensed it under a Creative Commons Attribution License and my use of the photo in no way indicates an endorsement of the article from reubenaingber.

Obama, McCain, and the Polls

Four Quinnipeac polls have found that Obama leads in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Colorado, Obama leads McCain 49% – 44% in general and 51% – 39% among independents. In Michigan, Obama leads McCain 48% – 42%, and 46% – 38 percent among independents. In Minnesota, Obama leads McCain 54% – 37% and 54% – 33% percent with independents. In Wisconsin, Obama leads McCain 52% – 39% percent and 50% – 37% percent with independents.

Obama is also close to McCain in one of the reddest of states, Georgia. McCain leads by 1%. Analysis of the numbers suggest that the main reasons Obama is close in Georgia are the state’s large African-American popluation, a high percentage of young voters, and a good amount of independents.

McCain is also struggling in his home state. An Arizona poll found that 38% of voters would support McCain and 28% would support Obama. McCain himself admitted that he could very well lose the state even though every Republican but one has won the state since 1952.

The photo used was uploaded to Flickr by diggersf who licensed it under a Creative Commons Attribution License and my use of the photo in no way indicates an endorsement of the article from diggersf .

Supreme Court Reverses D.C. Gun Ban

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Today the United States Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a right to own regardless of whether or not they have served in a “well regulated militia.” Justices Scalia, Roberts, Thomas, Alito, and Kennedy were in the majority. Scalia wrote the majority opinion and stated that “the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home,” violates the Constitution. He also wanted to make it clear that majority’s ruling doesn’t:

“cast doubt on long-standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.”

Breyer, Stephens, Ginsburg, and Souter dissented stating that they believe the majority doesn’t understand the 2nd amendment as shown by Breyer’s dissenting opinion:

“In my view, there simply is no untouchable constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to keep loaded handguns in the house in crime-ridden urban areas.”

The NRA has been motivated by the decision and will attempt to get gun ownership restrictions overturned in cities including San Francisco and Chicago. Chicago’s mayor, Richard Daley, said he believes a reversal of their gun ban will cause a spike in violence and force the city to hire more police. Dianne Feinstein, a resident of San Francisco, joined Daley in his concern saying:

“I believe the people of this great country will be less safe because of it,”

Obama’s Lead Is Growing

In two of the most recent polls, Senator Obama’s lead over Senator McCain has grown into double digits. In a Newsweek poll which came out last Friday, Senator Obama was shown to have a 15 point lead over his Republican competetor. Many media outlets such as MSNBC rejected the possibility and assumed that the Newsweek poll was simply an outlier with an inaccurate sample. However, that may not have been the case given a more recent poll which was reported by the Los Angeles Times. The new poll shows Obama with a 12 point lead over McCain when the repondents are asked to choose between Senators Obama and McCain. However, it shows that the Obama lead grows to 15 when third-party candidates like Bob Barr and Ralph Nader are factored in. We’re still 4 months away to the election, but it shows that the nation is sick of the GOP.

The photo used was uploaded to Flickr by cfishy who licensed it under a Creative Commons Attribution License and my use of the photo in no way indicates an endorsement of the article from cfishy.

“I Didn’t Really Love America Until I Was Deprived Of Her Company”

Those are the words of Senator John McCain. If one looks at them in a vacuum they are inspiring words about how he took his country for granted, but now appreciates everything it has given him. However, when one takes the comment out of the vacuum and looks at it within context it becomes hypocritical. Senator McCain’s campaign has attacked Michelle Obama over a statement she made in a speech in Milwaukee:

“For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback,”

That’s not all that different from the statement made by Senator McCain yet apparently Cindy McCain feels like she can attack Michelle over her comments and yet hasn’t ever questioned her husband’s patriotism. Personally, I think the whole “controversy” over whether or not the McCains or the Obamas are patriotic is a waste of time. The candidates should be discussing substantive issues rather than launching ad-hominem attacks whether they send their wives to do the dirty work or do it themselves. Hopefully the fact that McCain has said similar things will put this “controversy” to rest and will turn the campaign in a substantive direction until the next media generated distraction.

Democratic Disappointment

The two party system only works when the opposition party acts as the loyal opposition. A large part of the Democratic party is saying they will fail to do this on the impending FISA bill. One of the people who has failed on this matter is the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama. His failure however is a more nuanced one than that of many as he has said that he plans to fight to get telecom immunity removed from the bill. However, at the moment he’s not one of the heroes of this story. The heroes of this story would be the two Senators who are willing to fight to defend the bill of rights. Those are Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. They released a joint statement about the bill:

“This is a deeply flawed bill, which does nothing more than offer retroactive immunity by another name. We strongly urge our colleagues to reject this so-called ‘compromise’ legislation and oppose any efforts to consider this bill in its current form. We will oppose efforts to end debate on this bill as long as it provides retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies that may have participated in the President’s warrantless wiretapping program, and as long as it fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans. If the Senate does proceed to this legislation, our immediate response will be to offer an amendment that strips the retroactive immunity provision out of the bill. We hope our colleagues will join us in supporting Americans’ civil liberties by opposing retroactive immunity and rejecting this so-called ‘compromise’ legislation.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has that he will join Dodd and Feingold in opposing the bill, though he used far less powerful language:

“Unfortunately, the FISA compromise bill establishes a process where the likely outcome is immunity to the telecommunications carriers who participated in the President’s warrantless wiretapping program. Sen. Reid remains opposed to retroactive immunity, which undermines efforts to hold the Bush Administration accountable for violating the law. Thus, he will cosponsor the amendment offered by Senators Dodd and Feingold to strip out the immunity provision, and support their efforts to strip immunity on the floor. “

Senator Dodd has delivered his prepared remarks which can be found here and Senator Feingold reiterated his position today on Democracy Now!

As for Senator McCain, as has been outlined previously, he has been in favor of telecom immunity as long as they apologize for what they had done. However, Senator McCain has changed his position again and is now favor of unconditional immunity for the telecoms.

The photo used was uploaded to Flickr by marcn who licensed it under a Creative Commons Attribution License and my use of the photo in no way indicates an endorsement of the article from marcn.

McCain and the Draft

Last night Senator McCain was asked about the possibility of a draft to fight the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He responded by saying:

“I don’t know what would make a draft happen unless we were in an all-out World War III.”

Many are taking this as Senator McCain saying that he will not bring back the draft barring some unforeseen circumstance. However, to play devil’s advocate, Conservatives have thrown World War III around quite a bit recently. Back in 2006, CNN’s Larry King asked Senator McCain if he agreed with Newt Gingrich’s statement that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the beginnings of World War III. Senator McCain responded:

“I do to some extent. I think it’s important to recognize that we have terrorist organizations which — who are dangerous by themselves, are now being supported by radical Islamic governments, i.e., the Iranians, which makes them incredibly more dangerous because they are trained, equipped, motivated and assisted in every way by the Iranians.”

President Bush also brought up the specter of World War III in a press conference from 2007:

So I’ve told people that if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon. I take the threat of Iran with a nuclear weapon very seriously. And we’ll continue to work with all nations about the seriousness of this threat. Plus we’ll continue working the financial measures that we’re in the process of doing. In other words, I think — the whole strategy is, is that at some point in time, leaders or responsible folks inside of Iran may get tired of isolation and say, this isn’t worth it. And to me, it’s worth the effort to keep the pressure on this government.

Now, we’re not in “an all-out World War III” like Senator McCain says he would need to see before he would resurrect the draft but he may believe we’re closer to that than it would first appear.