Blog @ MoreWhat.com

crossposted at:
Maggie’s Notebook | Conservative Blog
Faultline USA
Conservative Thoughts

The ink is barely dry on Biden and Dodd dropping out of the 2008 race and you know that Senator John Kerry’s endorsement of Barack Obama was planned with the Senate candidate from Illinois. Is this a slick move to woo undecided voters, the 2008 version of the 2004 anointing of the Dems party elite and do Biden, Dodd and Kerry stand to profit politically and otherwise by winning cabinet posts if Obama would be successful?

Below are reports from Kerry’s 2004 cabinet plans and strategy as well as a post from Michelle Malkin on the topic. The only part of this campaign strategy that is compelling points to the possibility that the Democratic party elite is shunning Hillary Rodham Clinton and her former President husband Bill. When Katie Couric interviewed HRC this week to help her continue to market the tears thing and further the network’s desire for another Clinton White House she noted the house they were at as Hillary’s home in NY. With some reports suggesting Bill has tried to sabotage Hillary’s campaign and the living arrangements being what they are, how does anyone consider them married other than technically? Excuse the spontaneous thought please. Can’t help but wonder about these things and worse, why so many choose to ignore all of what is wrong with the Clinton clan.

One last note, that may explain why John Edwards is still in the race. He sold out to the Dems party elite by caving to their anointing of John Kerry in 04. So he may only be in it to get the nod for VP on HRC’s ticket if she would end up with the nomination. Any way you slice it, with the Dems you get the same old c__p. And they want you to believe they are change agents. Maybe quick change artists but not change agents.

It would appear the Dems party elite does not believe Clinton can be the GOP. It is also quite possible that the cold, calculating queen of cringe cannot be trusted to attend to party business. So the party is grooming the ‘naive and irresponsible’ other rookie Senator to do the party bidding.

Kerry Exploring Cabinet Options

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 22, 2004; Page A23

If he wins the White House, John F. Kerry will immediately confront a difficult, divisive and deeply personal decision: which close friend will he have to stiff for secretary of state?

Kerry, who would name a national security team a few weeks after the election, is said by campaign sources to be under a fair amount of pressure to pick Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) or Richard Holbrooke to help repair global alliances and attract new allies to assist in Iraq. Both men are seasoned diplomats, ambitious and close friends and political advisers to Kerry. And both clearly want the job.

Next: Kerry’s key Cabinet choices

By Peter Grier | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

But picking through advisers and matching them up with possible Cabinet roles reveals a lot about candidates themselves. A US administration is a joint effort, after all. Undecided voters might find it easier to make up their minds if they consider what personalities a challenger would install in office for the next four years.

A relative unknown to much of the voting public, Mr. Kerry might particularly benefit from helping this process along.

Michelle Malkin » John Kerry tries to make himself relevant; “Let …

I fear Kerry might be selected to fill a cabinet post if one of the Dims is elected. Hope I am wrong, but could you imagine him as SecDef or Homeland …

And who could forget Bill Richardson, his withdrawal and resume’ items in the Clinton cabinet. If you read the 911 Commission report that the Dems love to mention, you can relive the 911 mistakes of Bill and Hillary as well as Mr Richardson in failing to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Maybe Richardson gets his pick if either Obama or Clinton make it to the White House. Certainly buying off Vilsack earlier in the campaign ensures a post election job for him too. These people are more like job service than public service. So where are the change agents? Don’t kid yourself this is business as usual in Washington. But the Dems take it to a whole new level. And if you add Pelosi and Reid to the equation as well as Boxer and Feinstein and their money connections and Clinton’s criminal campaign contributors, this country could be in a world of hurt come 2009.

That’s what tops the most popular news stories at Google this a.m.  It really doesn’t matter if Clinton’s ‘moment’ turned the vote in NH or if yet another Britney story is absorbed by the mindless masses.  And certainly the porn story from a tech magazine is of little usefulness.  In terms of politics and judging from stories around the planet it appears no one learned anything from the discrepancy of the polls and the outcome in NH or how we choose leaders.

It might be wiser to allow some of the political contests play out minus all the predictions and forecasts.  Years ago a report suggested many voters, consciously or not, tend to vote for who they think will win.  It sounded as stupid then as it does now but is easy to believe.  No one wants to back a loser.  The fact that too many people do not vote, and that of those who do too many may select a candidate for the wrong reasons is compounded by the typical pattern we observe, participate in or ignore each election cycle.  And from this we pick leaders for this country as well as less significant elected offices.

Is it any wonder that Britney, sex, Clinton, sex and porn and, obviously sex lead the most popular stories at one search engine’s news rankings.  This of course is closely followed by an item about throwing kids from a bridge, Congress being engaged in baseball drug inquiries and fortunately a couple of stories that might matter.  And we’re going to pick a President this year.

May the best candidate win and please don’t say who you think that will be.  There is way too much of that going on right now.

fun headlines on the Clinton campaign…..

from WaPo’s The Trail…
By Anne E. Kornblut
MANCHESTER, N.H

Several outside allies — John Podesta, James Carville and Paul Begala, all of whom served as advisers to former president Bill Clinton — all were mentioned as possible additions to her team of strategists, but each denied that they were being brought in on Tuesday.

Senior Clinton advisers were hunkered down at her hotel in Concord. None of her top campaign officials has traveled with her on the road in recent days, leaving the candidate to largely crisscross the campaign trail with her daughter, Chelsea, and aide Huma Abedin by her side.

The un-fun part was the broadcast network media distancing themselves from the constant talk of an upset in NH and favoring Clinton over others in their candidate focus pieces on the evening news. But then no one ever said the media was unbiased. This blog is biased in that content unfavorable to Hillary Rodham Clinton and others will be posted since too often the main stream, well funded, media glosses over or completely omits any scrutiny of candidates like Clinton. And if they care to dispute that statement they are more than welcome to contact this blog to discuss the matter and any rebuttal will be published. But they won’t.

More fun Clinton headlines…..

Movement In The Clinton World
Atlantic Online - Jan 6, 2008
Reines joines the rarified ranks of such luminaries as Sidney Blumenthal and Huma Abedin and Karen Hicks. Reines is a favorite quotemeister of reporters but …

Gee Wally, there’s that name again, Huma Abedin. Wasn’t there some sort of tabloid story about candidate Clinton and her? If they won’t scrutinize the substantial and glaring hypocrisy and misdeeds of the Clinton Clan, maybe the media can produce a story about Clinton and Abedin for readers. The way the masses absorb stories about Lohan and Spears, etc., they could sell plenty of ads with it.

Huma Abedin
New York Observer, NY - Dec 18, 2007
And there was, of course, Huma Abedin! “The Wallflowers did four songs and they were amazing,” she told The Observer. read more »

Wow, there’s a story with the title of ‘Huma Abedin’ (popular girl).

Fearless fashionista
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY - Jan 3, 2008
Bosworth’s fellow fab femmes include Venus Williams and Hillary Clinton’s unflappable — and unbelievably stunning — aide Huma Abedin. …

Oops, no wonder there are so many stories about Huma Abedin. She was the search term after appearing in several results in Google News for the search term ‘clinton’.

Some of the other headlines in results for search term ‘clinton’ featured the Clinton campaign downplaying the Hillary Tears episode of the Clinton Soap Opera. Then there is one in which the title states that someone still won’t vote for Clinton. It gets better as the union endorsements in Nevada go to Obama.

Sorry Fox, this blog is sort of taking the liberty of posting this entire excerpt but at least the link is provided….

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Emotional Advantage?

Many political observers are saying that Hillary Clinton’s tear-up during a campaign event Monday may have helped to humanize her - and may have swayed New Hampshire voters — especially women — giving Clinton the votes she needed to beat Barack Obama.

But some skeptics question the spontaneity of the emotional moment. Take a look at an interview with the TV program “Access Hollywood” done Sunday — was this a subtle preview of things to come? Again that interview was done Sunday, and the emotional moment in the diner was Monday.

Reporters covering the campaign say to their knowledge — Hillary had never cried in public on the campaign trail before that Monday event — and had never talked about crying before that “Access Hollywood” interview Sunday.

Meanwhile the woman who asked the question that precipitated Senator Clinton’s tear-up says she believes the emotional response was sincere — but —she voted for Barack Obama anyway!

Not like it would take a great deal of convincing for most people to accept Tiny Tears Hillary was a fake like the rest of her campaign. It is too bad for the feminine gender that the first actual candidate for President from the same gender had to be Hillary Rodham Clinton. You could pick an example from many other women that would have been a compelling choice but they may not have been available or interested. It also may not reflect well on women that some of them should look so desperate for a woman President to accept HRC or her bogus attempt to convince the public she is human. It was as bogus as the excuse that trying to look like a man brings criticism of Clinton as well as looking like a woman. The reason that is bogus points to the real problem. It’s not whether HRC has masculine or feminine qualities. The absence of honesty and integrity would be the problem.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is strictly a political animal and not a very good one at that. Reflect on the baggage and the scandals. Especially the most relevant like the withheld First Lady docs and campaign irregularities like Norman Hsu or the dishwashers. As long as your at it, the planted questions in the audience and the inability to answer the driver’s license for illegals question in the debate. And again, her resume’ she claims to be 35 years of experience includes one failed health care initiative in her husband’s first term and 18 minor public laws most of which are sentimental like naming buildings, authorizing displays and the like. Ask her to name three things she has done, SPECIFICALLY, that qualify her to be President. She hasn’t named ONE yet. She uses vague terms or phrases like ‘worked on’ or ‘fought for’ when describing her accomplishments That is because she has none.

And if you look a little closer you will notice that Barack Obama and John Edwards have no accomplishments that qualify them for President either. Senator John Kerry was the last Dems nominee. Al Gore was before that. Two terms of Hillary’s husband and before that Jimmy Carter. What does this party have to offer?

The GOP has better liberal candidates, Rudy Giuliani or Mike Huckabee or John McCain. Of course a smarter voter would select either Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson.

Other good news while typing this post, ABC’s Nightline announced Bill Richardson intends to withdraw from the 2008 Presidential race tomorrow. And the final note of this post is that the DNC is still afraid of Mitt Romney. Why do you suppose so much attack flak was aimed at his campaign? And then he is further criticized for his campaign tactics when all his ads do is point ot the flaws of his rivals to counter their criticism of him. Funny how politics works.

P.S. Kathy at Conservative Thoughts has an impressive chart of candidates on the issues and a commentary that offers a prediction that this blog’s choice, Mitt Romney will likely face HRC in the general. And that is what scares the DNC. That Mitt Romney would face HRC in the general. You gotta love it.

The United States Wednesday imposed sanctions against a general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps for helping insurgents in Iraq. The U.S. Treasury Department action also targets three Iraqis living in Iran and Syria and a Syrian-based television station. VOA’s David Gollust reports from the State Department.The move by the Treasury Department underscores U.S. concern about Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and particularly its elite Quds Force, which administration officials believe has helped orchestrate insurgent attacks and sectarian violence in Iraq.

The most prominent target of the new financial sanctions is the Quds Force commanding officer, Brigadier-General Ahmad Foruzandeh, who a Treasury statement said has led “terrorist operations” against U.S.-led coalition forces and directed assassinations of prominent Iraqis.

Also named are two Iranian-based Iraqis - Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani and Ismail Hafiz al-Lami - said to be directing Shi’ite extremists in Iraq and a Syrian-based Iraqi, Mishan al-Jabouri, a former Iraqi parliamentarian who owns a Syrian television station that has openly backed the Iraqi insurgency.

The television station itself, Al-Zawra, is also being sanctioned and is accused by the Treasury Department of broadcasting coded messages to a Sunni terrorist group, the Islamic Army of Iraq.

The U.S. action freezes any bank accounts or other assets the TV station or the four individuals may have in the United States, and forbids Americans from doing business with them.

Administration officials concede Wednesday’s order will likely have little practical impact. But Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism Stuart Levey said the move brings to light “the lethal actions” of the sanction targets, and he urged the international community to join the United States in isolating them from the global economy.

The Bush administration imposed sanctions on the overall Quds Force last October in an effort to increase pressure on Tehran over both its activities in Iraq and its nuclear program.

In his Jerusalem news conference Wednesday, President Bush reiterated the administration’s determination to try to get Iran to change its behavior by diplomatic means including sanctions:

“I believe it’s incumbent upon the American president to solve problems diplomatically,” said President Bush. “And that’s exactly what we’re in the process of doing. I believe that pressure, economic pressure, financial sanctions, will cause the people inside of Iran to have to make a considered judgment about whether or not it makes sense for them to continue to enrich [uranium] or face world isolation. The country is paying an economic price for its intransigence and its unwillingness to tell the truth.”

The latest sanctions are being imposed under an executive order the president signed last July authorizing penalties against Iraqi insurgent groups and their supporters.

A U.S.-led effort to impose a third round of sanctions against Iran in the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program has stalled in the wake of a U.S. intelligence report last month that Tehran halted a covert nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Mr. Bush said in Jerusalem the National Intelligence Estimate does not mean the weapons program cannot easily be restarted, and that Iran will remain a threat unless the global community acts to prevent it from acquiring the material and know-how to build a weapon.
By David Gollust
State Department
09 January 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

Bedford, NH – Tonight, Governor Mitt Romney made a strong showing in the New Hampshire Primary. While the ballots are still being counted, tens of thousands of New Hampshire voters have cast their vote for Governor Romney’s message of conservative change in Washington. Elections are about the future and Governor Romney will continue to fight for building a better tomorrow. With the announcement of today’s results, Governor Romney made the following remarks to supporters and volunteers:

“Well, another silver. I’d rather have a gold, but I got another silver. There’ve been three races so far. I’ve gotten two silvers and one gold – thank you, Wyoming. But tonight, congratulations go to Senator John McCain for running a first-class race. Congratulations on the gold, Senator, great job.”

…

“This has been quite an experience for us, I’ll tell you. We thought we knew New Hampshire, but now we really know New Hampshire with almost 250 events that we’ve done across this state. We have learned why it is that New Hampshire is the first primary in the nation. There’s a reason for it. The people of this great state really get to know the candidates, ask them questions, learn about their heart and character. People of New Hampshire opened their hearts and their homes to us and for that we will always be grateful. Thank you so much, New Hampshire.

“You know, in all those events, as we’ve listened to so many people from across the state, we hear time and time again, a similar message and that is that people are frustrated. They’re concerned about the future of our country, particularly our leadership in Washington. They feel that Washington is broken, and they’ve heard time and again promises that haven’t been fulfilled by Washington.

“They’ve heard Washington say that they’re going to stop illegal immigration, but they haven’t.

“They’ve heard Washington say that they’re going to get us off our dependence on foreign oil, but they haven’t.

“They’ve heard Washington say they’re going to get people insured that don’t have health insurance, but they haven’t.

“They’ve heard Washington say they’re going to improve our schools and make them the best in the world, but they haven’t.

“They’ve heard Washington say that they’re going to protect our jobs and make sure that the jobs that we have are the best in the world, but they haven’t done that.
“They’ve heard Washington say that they’re going to balance the budget, but they haven’t done that.

“They have heard Washington say that they’re going to make life easier on the middle class and reduce the burdens on the middle class, but they haven’t. You finally got it, didn’t you?

“And I believe that it’s time to send somebody to Washington who will actually get the job done. Thanks, you guys. I don’t think it’s going to get done by Washington insiders that sending insiders back to Washington, just to change different chairs. That’s not going to get the job done. I think you have to have somebody from outside Washington who has proven that he can get the job done in one setting after another.

“And as you know, I had the privilege of working in the private sector for 25 years and helped, with a number of other people, to make businesses stronger. Not every time successful. I learned from the successes and the failures. And then went off to the Olympics and again, with a great team of people, helped make that successful. And then, in the position of Governor of Massachusetts, got the chance to make that state more successful. We did something no one thought would be possible, we did get health care on track for all of our citizens in our state, balanced the budget all four years, rebuilt our rainy day fund.

“I’ve been able to get the job done. And I don’t care who gets the credit, Republican or Democrat. I got no scores to settle. I don’t worry about who’s going to be the hero and who’s not going to be. I want to make sure that the America that this family inherits and your family inherits is an America that remains strong and the hope of the Earth.

“This is the greatest nation on Earth. This is the greatest nation on Earth, not just because of our beautiful landscape, but because of the American people and the heart and character of the American people and the things they believe. The fact that Americans believe in hard work. The fact that Americans love opportunity, and they love it above dependence on government. The fact that Americans are willing to make take risks for the future and sacrifice for their families. That we are a family oriented people. The fact that by and large Americans believe in God, and even those who don’t believe in God, believe in something bigger than themselves. The fact that Americans are patriotic. I will strengthen America, as your President, when I come back here next November.

“I will fight across this nation, on to Michigan and South Carolina and Florida and Nevada and states after that. I’ll fight to be back here in November in those states and in others. But I’ll also fight to make sure that we strengthen this great country by strengthening our families and our homes where our kids learn those American values by strengthening our economy. Look, if people wonder what direction America’s going to head if they choose a Democratic leader like Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, all they have to do is look at a state like Michigan, which has had Democratic leadership, where taxes have been going up and jobs have been going out, and where the industries are struggling. We want to make sure that we strengthen our economy, and finally where we strengthen our military to make sure we’re safe here and abroad. I will strengthen America. I will stand up for the values we believe in. I’ll make sure that America is, as it has always been, the hope of the Earth. Thank you so much. Thank you.”

The funniest thing about the New Hampshire primary was Bill Clinton whining about the media. With signature Clinton audacity, Bill had the stones to complain that the media has not provided the needed scrutiny of Barack Obama. Then Hillary Rodham Clinton tries the tears angle. And considering the many reports indicating a substantial number of voters did not make up their mind more than a few days or even hours before the polls opened, it is not unreasonable to think the polls were not wrong but that NH voters changed their minds in the hours before the vote.

If the polls were right on Obama leading by at least 5 points in NH after a victory in Iowa and he takes second place in NH behind by 3%, again, it is reasonable to conclude with the women’s numbers in NH that the ‘tiny tears’ or mix and match Barbie routine of HRC turned the vote for a narrow Clinton victory. And as for the slick Willie media scrutiny complaint, where are those First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton docs Bill?

The questions and scrutiny of Obama or any other candidate pale in comparison to the scrutiny required of the Clinton scandals, from Whitewater and Vince Foster through TravelGate, the impeachment of the former President, Lewinsky and Norman Hsu as well as the locked up First Lady documents . The Clinton transgressions are getting a walk in another Presidential election. But commenting earlier this month on this blog that Karl Rove was right and HIllary Rodham Clinton is the GOP’s easiest target in a general election gets a boost in NH this week.

With the possible exception of Biden and Dodd dropping out of the race, nothing has really been decided yet. On the Dems side it’s one for Obama and one for Clinton with Edwards edging 2nd in Iowa and third in NH. For the GOP it’s one for Huckabee, one for McCain and one for Romney. That’s right, Romney won the GOP caucus in WY. In the big picture NH may be a psychological and traditional statistical measure for candidates but WY’s 3 electoral votes are nearly as important as NH’s 4 at this point in the campaign. Besides the one quiet state victory for Romney is the 2nd place finish in Iowa and NH although it should be noted that fact alone makes the nomination a tougher objective.

What will make this even more interesting on the GOP side is if Romney takes Michigan, Thompson takes SC and Giuliani takes Florida with his big electoral state strategy. The funny part for the Dems is Clinton has to win Michigan since Obama and Edwards are not on the ballot with the controversy over moving up the date. It is fair to say that for this blog’s candidate, Mitt Romney, the Michigan primary is serious. Here’s a little review from USA Today on the Michigan story.

Next stop on primary schedule: Michigan
By Erin Kelly, Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — For the presidential candidates who survive New Hampshire, the next stop of the grueling primary season is Jan. 15 in Michigan.

The national committees of both parties are not happy with Michigan’s decision to move the voting date. While rules and regs are important it may illuminate a concern about how much control party politics has over elections that should be decided by citizens, one vote at a time. But then we all know that is not exactly how it works. For all the outrage expressed over questionable elections in other countries there appears to be little effective scrutiny over the way we do such business in this country. But that’s another story for another time.

Welcome to Blog @ MoreWhat.com’s Open Trackback

Secure the Borders Linkfest

This is an open trackback linkfest. It happens on Tuesday and Saturday. Each linkfest is open until the next one starts. Trackbacks will be on the frontpage in a post called MoreWhat Matters. The Secure the Borders theme is intended as a reminder to all for obvious reasons. If you have any suggestions, criticisms, questions or just feel the need to communicate, trackback or post it in the comments. If you want to be added to Z’ Blogroll, register and/or inquire to make arrangements. The Honor Roll is reserved for blogs viewed as special by this blog’s owner.
JIHAD stands for Jesus I Have A Deathwish.

This linkfest is dedicated to the guest worker who never left.There are plenty of illegal immigration posts on this blog.

If you’re here legally and behavin’ yo self, welcome aboard.
.
.

We suggest using the Linkfest Haven Deluxe Trackback pinger for ease of use and time savings to catch all the festive linking activities today. Or, if you have done this less than we have, the permalink for this Open Trackback is the title link and the trackback is located near the bottom of the permalink page for this post. Just poke around, you’ll find it.

links in the sidebar

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the prime ministers of Italy and Spain have suggested a region-wide policy of expelling illegal immigrants from their countries.Mr. Sarkozy, a strong advocate of immigration reform, spoke Tuesday at a wide-ranging news conference in Paris.

He told reporters that both Spain and Italy have in the past month suggested a joint expulsions policy, and said he welcomes the progress of his ideas in Europe.

The French leader also defended his recent decision to sign multi-billion-dollar trade and investment deals with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Separately, he said that his government will stop funding the English-language version of the state-owned 24-hour news channel, France 24. He said he is not prepared to support programming that is not voiced in French.

France 24 currently broadcasts in French, English and Arabic.

In defending his support for the trade and investment agreements with Libya, Mr. Sarkozy noted that the Libyan leader has scrapped his suspect nuclear program and released six foreign medical workers imprisoned in Libya since the late 1990s.

Mr. Sarkozy also defended his recent decision to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin after his “United Russia” party’s victory in widely criticized parliamentary elections last month. President Sarkozy said he could not justify criticizing Mr. Putin one day for suspect electoral practices, and then ask him for help to resolve the ongoing international dispute with Iran over its suspect nuclear program.
By VOA News
08 January 2008

Video of the Persian Gulf incident, provided by the Pentagon - Download (5.39MB)  
Video of the Persian Gulf incident, provided by the Pentagon  

The U.S. Defense Department has released video and sound of the incident Sunday in the Persian Gulf, when small boats believed to be from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard force menaced three U.S. Navy ships. VOA’s Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
The Pentagon video opens with a communicator on the bridge of the USS Hopper attempting to contact the Iranian boats when they are about three kilometers away.

“This is coalition warship. I am engaged in transit passage in accordance with international law.”

But the Iranian ships do not respond, and continue to approach the Hopper and two other U.S. Navy ships at high speed. There is another radio call from the navy, interrupted by a ship’s klaxon, sounded to warn the Iranians in case their radios are not working.

“Five unidentified small surface contacts, inbound [toward] coalition warships. [Klaxon sounds] You are approaching coalition warships. [Klaxon continues]”

One Iranian boat offers this ominous-sounding response.

“I am coming to you.”

As the video shows two of the small, blue Iranian motor boats running alongside the USS Ingraham at close range, and then circling behind it, the Hopper’s communicators continue to try to make contact, and warn the Iranians they may be fired on if they do not turn away.

“Your identity is not known. Your intentions are unclear. You are standing into danger and may be subject to defensive measures. Request you alter course immediately to remain clear.”

Then one of the Iranian boats broadcasts another threat.

“You will explode after two minutes.”

The voice says, “You will explode after two minutes.” It is about that time that the navy says two Iranian boats dropped white boxes into the water, but that can not be seen on the video. Officials say the navy ships’ responses were escalating toward possibly opening fire on one or more of the Iranian boats, when they suddenly turn away, after about half an hour of threatening maneuvers and radio calls.

An Iranian statement called the encounter “normal,” and said the Iranian crews were trying to identify the American ships.

Preparing to leave for his trip to the Middle East Tuesday, President Bush called the Iranian actions provocative and dangerous, and said the incident should not have happened. He said Iran continues to be a threat to the region.

Also speaking Tuesday, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle Eastern Affairs, Mark Kimmitt, said Sunday’s incident in the Gulf is evidence of what he called a “pretty aggressive, hegemonic” policy by Iran. He said Iran goes out of its way “to continue to be a destabilizing factor in Iraq.”

“I can think of many, many reasons why there has been a significant reduction in violence in Iraq,” said Mark Kimmitt. “In my personal list, I don’t see Iran on that list.”

Kimmitt told an audience at the Heritage Foundation, a research group, it is still not clear whether Iran has stopped providing high-powered explosives and other weapons to Iraqi insurgents.

“I wait to see the intelligence report that conclusively demonstrates that Iran is being helpful,” he said. “I have not yet seen that intelligence report.”

He says suggestions that Iran might have stopped the weapons flow to Iraq could be based more on hope than on facts.
By Al Pessin
Pentagon
08 January 2008

While it is easy to respect Senator John McCain for his service to country it is not so easy to respect his politics. While he staunchly supports the troops and that is admirable and understandable, his actions like the one referenced below from the 2004 Presidential campaigns raises some real questions. It is one thing to call for ‘civility in debate’ which he has done on a number of occasions but to express any kind of support for a Presidential candidate who supports surrender in Iraq and always has is not acceptable. Whereas McCain’s service during the Viet Nam War raises no questions, the same cannot be said of Senator John Kerry.

McCain Defends Kerry’s Record on National Security
Ariz. Senator Calls for More Civility in Debate

By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 19, 2004; Page A01

Republican Sen. John McCain yesterday defended Sen. John F. Kerry’s record on national security, undercutting the Bush-Cheney campaign’s latest attacks on the Democratic presidential challenger and frustrating conservatives hoping for a unified front against the Massachusetts senator.

“I do not believe that he is, quote, ‘weak on defense,’ ” McCain (Ariz.) said on NBC’s “Today” show.

Asked on the CBS “Early Show” whether he agreed with Vice President Cheney’s assertion that Kerry is a threat to national security, McCain said: “I don’t think that. I think that John Kerry is a good and decent man. . . . I think he has different points of view on different issues, and he will have to explain his voting record. But this kind of rhetoric, I think, is not helpful in educating and helping the American people make a choice.”

Although McCain restated his support of Bush’s reelection bid, Democrats welcomed his remarks

Some were surprised that McCain put up little resistance to the attacks from candidate George Bush during the 2000 Presidential primary. The article referenced below again mentions a perception about McCain that raises questions. His choices of what to angrily defend or support in his ‘maverick’ style may be more of an indication of what he is about. Defending Senator John Kerry as a rival Presidential candidate to your party’s choice and not defending yourself against an attack from then candidate George Bush simply don’t indicate intelligent choices. It is as if after getting bitch slapped by George Bush in the 2000 primary, McCain and his maverick reputation were silenced by party pressure or some other effective force. These are the troubling matters about Senator John McCain. Being publicly on board with President Bush and Senators Kyl and Kennedy last summer with the amnesty plan and skipping some votes in the process raise a question of his own defense that he does not support amnesty.

John McCain Comes In From the Cold

By Mark Leibovich
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 30, 2004; Page C01

NEW YORK, Aug. 29 — He turned 68 Sunday. He will be 72 on Election Day 2008, if anyone’s keeping track.

Anyway, McCain’s on his best behavior today. He is doing his best imitation of an on-message, on-the-reservation, smartly saluting Republican.

Asked about the bitter primary campaign against George W. Bush in 2000 — Also counterproductive would be any perception that he doesn’t support the president and that he secretly — or not — is rooting for his Senate friend, John Kerry.

For those who may still believe the so-called immigration reform bill from last summer was not amnesty, here is an explanation from Senator Sessions.
So under the AgJOBS portion that was adopted in committee without debate, agricultural workers who have worked 150 workdays–that is not a full day–over the last 2 years, less than half time, will receive a blue card, and that will allow them to live and work permanently in the United States. However, because current law defines an agricultural workday as 1 hour of work per day–that definition is reinstated in the bill on page 397–an alien who has worked for as little as 150 hours in agriculture over the last 2 years will qualify for a blue card.

Loophole No. 13: Once an illegal alien worker receives a blue card, the blue card never expires. Blue cards, the new category of cards given to aliens who are amnestied under the AgJOBS provision of this bill,

[Page: S4514] GPO’s PDF

never expire. The blue card holder can choose to pursue a green card, legal permanent resident status, by working for more hours in agriculture, but that is not a requirement to stay in the United States.

Page 399 specifically states:

An alien in blue card status shall be provided an employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate work permit, in the same manner as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
These are just a few of the items that raise questions of Senator John McCain’s performance and the wisdom of selecting him as a choice for President in 2008. That said, if he was the last man standing of the GOP candidates, this blog would support him fully as the choices on the left side are no choice at all. But it is strongly suggested you consider voting for Mitt Romney. As one person said in a TV interview from New Hampshire, he has a proven record of accomplishment, knows how to get things done, surrounds himself with the people needed to reach the objective and apart from criticism of position changes, understands what people want and knows how to deliver.

Romney was a Republican governor in a Democratic party state and was successful. McCain has been in Congress for a long time and may have trouble with his ‘maverick’ rep as President. Huckabee raises taxes and pays for illegals to go to college and only won Iowa based on religious right support. They were willing to abandon another candidate with equally religious values just because he follows a faith different from their’s. How’s that for American? Again, as stated many times before this blog supports Mitt Romney for President. Currently as of this writing the only thing to get excited about in the 2008 race is that HRC is dropping fast.

“What I’m asking voters to do is to look at each of us and contrast and compare our records, our plans, our experiences in order to get the facts that are relevant to making a decision,” Clinton says, adding, “There is a difference in how we approach problems, what we have done over the last years to solve problems. You know, if you want to know what I’ll do, look at what I’ve done.”

Clinton cites her work on health insurance programs for children and for members of the National Guard and reservists, as well as efforts to improve the adoption and foster care system, as examples of what she has done to improve the lives of voters.

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s sagging campaign needs no push from those who oppose her. She is destroying whatever chance she may have had all by herself. Rather than draw attention to her lack of any substantial accomplishments it may have been a good idea to skip opening her mouth on NPR this morning. Interesting how Clinton criticizes her lack of experience rivals as she ‘cites her work on’… work on exactly what? Vague references to an assortment of health related items that only serve to remind the electorate of her failed attempt at health care reform during her husband’s first term as President. Gotta hand it to slick Willie. Health care was the flagship issue of the first Clinton campaign. So he gives it to his First Lady wife to handle. Probably knowing it was a suicide mission. She takes it, gets her butt kicked and now in the middle of a Presidential campaign keeps reminding people of her failure. And all the while Bill keeps it off his resume’. Bill, you could have kissed her first.

Now when asked about her chances in the campaign, Senator ‘do nothing’ Hillary Rodham Clinton states that she is in the race through Super Tuesday. What happened to the opening mantra of her campaign that ‘we’re in it to win’? A little political reality setting in perhaps?

Gee Wally, if Ted Kennedy and the Democratic party elite chose to anoint Kerry after Iowa in 04, how come they haven’t anointed HRC for 08? Rove was right. Hillary winning the Dems nomination would be the easiest competition for the GOP in a general. Ya, Iowa was but one contest. Seems a bit unrealistic to expect HRC to win NH. But go ahead and nominate her anyway. Now that the inevitability factor has been snuffed. Nominate HRC.

It has been noted here more than once that Senator John McCain can be honored and respected for service to country. But that fact alone does not provide a pass on other topics related to a Presidential campaign. As the story title indicates below, McCain likes being known as a maverick. And he wants us to believe he never supported amnesty for illegals.

To be fair Senator McCain, if you were not for amnesty, kindly explain how your maverick tendencies allowed you to support the amnesty bill presented last summer in Congress? If you had admitted you supported amnesty but withdrew your support after feeling the anger of the majority of Americans on the subject, that would be acceptable. But claiming you never supported amnesty indicates either you refuse to admit the truth on this subject or you did not understand the blue card’s immediate and permanent legal status provided to recipients. That is a problem. It is a problem to offer amnesty and it it is a problem to convince the public that you somehow opposed amnesty based on the events of the summer of 2007.

McCain likes maverick moniker

January, 1, 2008
Dan Nowicki
The Arizona Republic

McCain tries to convince Republican voters that he has learned a lesson from the outcry over his recent collaboration with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., on the immigration bill. McCain now promises he will not pursue a temporary-worker program or other perceived benefits for illegal immigrants until the borders are secured.

Kennedy, McCain Immigration Bill Is Built on President Bush’s Proposal

By DANIELA GERSON
Staff Reporter of the Sun

Senators Kennedy and McCain joined forces yesterday to introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill that builds upon President Bush’s proposal for a guest worker program. The bill, which was also sponsored by Representatives Jim Kolbe, Jeff Flake, and Luis Gutierrez, includes new security measures, a guest worker program, and a path to legalization for the estimated 8 to 12 million illegal immigrants in America.

Bush revives immigration reform push / Switching priorities, he …

Bush revives immigration reform push Switching priorities, … McCain’s plan, co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, emphasizes a …

Agreement reached on Kyl-Kennedy immigration reform | Arizona …

Agreement reached on Kyl-Kennedy immigration reform …. I urge him though, along with Senator McCain and the rest of our delegation to just advocate the …

Michelle Malkin » Kill the Bill: Shamnesty showdown Update …

In order to pass the Bush-Kennedy amnesty, el Presidente tacked on a $4.4. …. Senate Immigration Reform Bill Takes Step Toward the Grave. …

FOXNews.com - Senate Blocks Final Vote on Immigration Reform Bill …

Senate Blocks Final Vote on Immigration Reform Bill, Senate leader Harry Reid … Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., aim to craft a compromise …

Trackposted to The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Mark My Words, 123beta, Right Truth, Adam’s Blog, DragonLady’s World, Big Dog’s Weblog, The Amboy Times, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Nuke’s, third world county, Faultline USA, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Pirate’s Cove, Global American Discourse, The Pink Flamingo, Celebrity Smack, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and Stageleft, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

ron paul
tdaxp
laure manaudou
noelia
advertlets
youtube
education
britney spears
iphone
crack para windows vista
tags
chua soi lek
bollywood
china
obama

This morning’s most popular list from T-rati provides some entertainment and some mystery as usual. Laure Manaudou has been up there a while. And (while) it has been a long standing debate as to what is fair in the world of celebrity, perhaps pursuing life choices that include the likelihood of celebrity are some kind of default acceptance of the downside of being famous, infamous or in some way well known to the public.

Noelia only received a cursory inspection through search engines from this blog and that was more than enough. Just another item that should be filed under ‘who cares’. Same with tdaxp and advertlets without the cursory inspection, not even a look.

And why not just go to youtube rather than enter it in a search? And the same goes for the word ‘education’. That Ron Paul is on the top of the list with Obama at the bottom is sort of funny with all the talk of Paul’s internet success and the fact that Obama just won the Iowa caucus for the Dems side.

This blogs disdain for the ‘i’ in iphone stands for idiot ranks as low a respect quotient as does the fact that Britney Spears is a regular on the list. Spears for the obvious reasons and while the iphone presents some interesting minor aspects, the state of communication is so far from the hitting the mark of intelligent, the iphone is just another reminder of that.

McDonough report - Download MP3 (482k) audio clip
Listen to McDonough report audio clip

The secretary general of the Arab League says he is heading for Beirut this week for talks on a new plan to end the Lebanese political crisis. VOA Middle East Correspondent Challiss McDonough has more from Cairo.

Arab League foreign ministers have approved a new proposal to end the political stalemate that has left Lebanon without a president for more than six weeks.

At a special session in Cairo, they endorsed the choice of army chief General Michel Suleiman as Lebanese president, and called for his immediate election.

The two feuding political factions in Lebanon have agreed that Michel should be the next president, but the parliamentary vote to elect him has been repeatedly delayed as factions continue fighting over other political issues, including the shape of the next government.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the league’s proposal to end the standoff is based on three points.

He said it calls for election of a president, agreement on a national unity government, and other measures including a new electoral law to be passed after the government is formed.

The plan says the national unity government should be structured so that no one faction can impose or block a decision. It also strengthens the powers of the president, giving him the role of settling contested cabinet decisions.

Secretary General Moussa said he would be going to Beirut in the next few days for talks on the proposal.

He said the Arab League will move seriously, and will not allow the matter to drag on from week to week, from delay to delay, or from tension to tension.

The plan has wide support among Arab states and was welcomed by a number of key factions in Lebanon.

Moussa said it is supported by Syria, which is a main backer of the Lebanese opposition.

In Beirut, the ruling March 14 coalition’s leader, Saad Hariri, said it gives Lebanon a new chance to elect a consensus president.

Lebanese media quoted the parliamentary speaker and key opposition figure Nabih Berri as also approving of the plan. But reports said the opposition group Hezbollah was responding more cautiously, and asking for clarification on some points.
By Challiss McDonough
Cairo, Egypt
06 January 2008

Buel report - Download MP3 (899k) audio clip
Listen to Buel report audio clip

Arizona Senator John McCain, according to the latest public opinion polls in New Hampshire, has surged to the top of the pack of Republican candidates seeking to win their party’s presidential nomination. McCain’s campaign nearly collapsed last year, but of all the Republican candidates, it appears he has momentum going into next Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel reports from a McCain rally in Derry, New Hampshire.

With Chuck Berry’s 1950’s rock and roll song Johnny B Goode blasting from speakers in a local opera house, Senator McCain arrives here in Derry with his campaign for the Republican nomination appearing to be on the rise at the right time.

But the tone quickly gets serious as the former Navy pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam tells the overflow crowd why he is running for the nation’s highest office.

“The reason why I am running is I think we are facing the transcendent challenge of radical Islamic extremism,” said John McCain. “My friends, you know very well we are in two wars.”

If McCain wins in New Hampshire it will be a remarkable comeback.

Last year the Senator’s campaign ran short on money and he was forced to lay off much of his staff.

McCain’s strong support for the U.S. troop surge in Iraq and a controversial immigration bill hurt him with some voters. However the continuing upheaval in the Republican field of candidates appears to have helped boost his once declining candidacy.

McCain tells audiences his war experiences make him uniquely qualified to be president.

“We are in two wars and General [David] Petraeus has said Iraq is the central front in the battle against Islamic extremism,” he said. “My friends it is and it is true. I believe there is very little doubt that we need someone who is experienced and has the knowledge, the experience and therefore the judgment to win this struggle.”

McCain frequently campaigns with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate.

Lieberman lost his state’s party primary in 2006 over his support for the Iraq war, but won re-election into the U.S. Senate as an independent.

Lieberman has endorsed McCain.

“By his example as president, he will inspire a new generation of service to our country, which will make us even better,” said Lieberman. “This is a man who believes in America. That is his motivation and he will always put American first.”

Recent polls show McCain has overtaken and now has a slight lead over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Romney had held the lead in New Hampshire for months, but appears to be weakened by a disappointing second place finish in the recent Iowa caucuses to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

New Hampshire voters like Elizabeth Merrill say they are leaning toward voting for McCain.

“I think in this day and age foreign policy is one of the top important things to have experience in and he absolutely has that,” said Elizabeth Merrill. “So I feel confident about him.”

McCain won the 2000 New Hampshire primary and became known as a blunt speaking maverick as he crossed the state in his campaign bus called the “Straight Talk Express.”

The Arizona senator has resurrected the bus for this year’s campaign and he is drawing large crowds at recent rallies.

Jay Stone is a registered Republican voter from Derry who likes McCain’s style.

“I think he has a lot of leadership skills,” said Jay Stone. “He is a strong leader. He is a straight shooter. I think he really tells it like it is.”

Dante Scala, a professor of political science at New Hampshire University, says voters here like McCain’s conservative credentials, but also his independent streak.

“So John McCain is on the rise,” said Dante Scala. “He can feel it. He has got the momentum. Certainly the national media want to be able to tell the McCain comeback story because it will be a whale of a tale.”

McCain is 71-years-old and, if elected, will be the oldest person to ever be sworn in as an American president.

For now he is campaigning with strength and enthusiasm hoping to repeat his 2000 win in the primary next Tuesday.
By Meredith Buel
Derry, New Hampshire
06 January 2008