Hella Kali


WELL LOOKIE HERE!!
July 30, 2008, 12:52 am
Filed under: Babble, Barack Obama, Bush, Cats, China, Economy, Fashion, Funny, Goals, Learning, Leo, Love, News, Olympics, PUMA, Patriot Act, Police Brutality, Politics, Racism, Sharing is Caring, Ted Kennedy, Today, War, World, bill clinton, feminism, fisa, hillary clinton, iran, iraq, john mccain, me, michelle obama, religion, tim russert | Tags:

Hey Guys, I have a New WordPress

Its Offered thru my webhosting acct with more features

So you can find me there

The Link is

www.augustcandi.com/blunt/

go head and re-add itto your links or feed

2 Comments


PUMA: HILLARY SAYS TO STOP WHINING
July 19, 2008, 2:19 pm
Filed under: Barack Obama, PUMA, Politics, Racism, bill clinton, feminism, hillary clinton | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Top Clinton Backers Tell Donors: Stop Whining

In a sign that senior Democratic officials remain deeply concerned that post-primary bitterness could imperil Barack Obama’s chances, two top Democratic officials have emailed a sharply-worded letter to major donors and other leading Dems confessing “fatigue and irritation” at those withholding full support from Obama and demanding that they get behind him “without conditions or demands.”

“I supported Hillary Clinton and am proud and pleased that I did,” reads the email, which was written by Donald Fowler, a former DNC chair and DNC member-at-large who was one of Hillary’s most prominent supporters. Alice Germond, the Secretary of the DNC, is also a signatory.

“But she lost,” continues the email, which was sent our way by a source. Barack Obama won. It’s over.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/19/top-clinton-backers-tell_n_113837.html

 

0 Comments


Some Real Important FACTS I want to Share with You
July 13, 2008, 3:41 am
Filed under: Barack Obama, Bush, Economy, Patriot Act, Politics, War, bill clinton, fisa, hillary clinton, iran, iraq, john mccain, michelle obama | Tags: , , , , , ,
I saw a blog today on the kos..it was a person saying that they withheld donations from Obama based on his FISA position. There was a NYT article about it..and that is just one of the many msm reports of the netroots withholding money. Alot of them are doing it as some form of small punishment but still intend on voting for Obama in nov. The argument is this though…its showing in his money and making it harder for him to fight mccain in this election season. So not only are the punishing him on a decision he has already made..but they are helping him to lose by presenting him as a candidate who is losing his support..to that big margin of those that are still undecided.
 
I saw some good comments to this blog…Ill start off with one I made in reply to some guy’s comment:
 
robertacker13: most people agree on FISA whether they say they care or dont care. the reason for all the caution and self-censorship from those who forgive obama on FISA is the fact that they know how the media will handle this situation and know that Obama gets a billion times more scrutiny than McCain ever will.
 
my response: Obama is scrutinized more then mccain no matter whats going on in the campaign. So the netroots doesnt cause that they just give the pundits something more to put in their 60 minutes/papers.Its sad cause mccain has fucked up so much and Obama needs to win. We are just as bad as the MSM by making it harder for Obama to win. There is still alot of undecideds…and if they see that the libs and conservs. arent favoring obama..or they see that Obamas very supporters, are now mad and turning from him…its a big influence on the choice they make come november.
 

Jennifer Claire: Umm, he did not vote to change the Constitution. He voted on a bill. A bad bill, but it was a bill. To change the Constitution, it would have had to have been an amendment.

A bad bill that gets signed into law is a lot easier to fix than a change to the Constitution. Please, can we stop with the hyperbole?

 

charlie mudcat: All of those on the left who are disappointed in Obama–let’s get real.  As you say, you’re going to vote for him over McCain.  As I’m sure you know, all of those donations you’re demanding back really can hurt his campaign to the extent that currently the RNC and McCain campaign ARE beating Obama in the money game.I think the point here is twofold: one, Obama is not going to please you on every single decision he makes.  That said, the reason he voted for the FISA bill, as he explained in his own blogpost, is that it is better than not having a bill at all.  You may disagree with that, but the man is a confirmed pragmatist.  

Two:  take note.  You were 100% bound to be disappointed in this man at some point.  Expectations for him have ranged from the Second Coming to JFK to Martin.  He is an extraordinary man, but a man nonetheless.  During Kennedy’s term, he was enormously liked and admired, but there was much criticism of him, much of it warranted.  The test will be in how he takes that criticism, whether you feel listened to in spite of your criticism and what principles are being compromised.  

I too, could not find a good reason for him to vote for the FISA bill, but I know enough about him at this point to believe his intent will become manifest before too long.

Finally, imagine that the Dems and Repubs are two school age brats on the playground.  They’ve been insulting and hitting each other over stupid shit, some justified, some not, for decades.  At some point, somebody has to not hit back.  This is what I believe Obama is doing.  We need to move forward, not back.  Our crises are too pressing at this point to funnel a whole bunch of energy on revenge.  

So, can we please grow up?  Let’s stop taking our marbles and going home.  We’re all better off with a bit of the shine off of Obama.  Truth is, we’re all going to need to be 100% engaged in an Obama presidency.  Our lack of engagement has gotten us to where we are now.

 

These comments made some good points…

1) its better to have a bad bill then no regulation

2) its better to have a bad bill thats easily fixed then an amendment to a law that takes away everything we have..which is harder to fix

3) and something I already knew…donate to the man..holding donations is helping give mccain the upperhand..in turn, helping obama lose

 

Here is one more comment I MADE: and its selfish of us to demand more OR no  more donations…when we never got more before?

This is the first president nominee to offer so much to our pleasing.

Even though I know our demands are IMPORTANT I feel like the people holding money from him are like spoiled children…

“I know your giving me everything, but I want more..and I want it before your president!”

and we arent the only ones
this man is defending himself againt mccain
this man is defending himself againt bush
this man is promoting himself againt far right
this man is defending himself againt black cmmty
this man is defending himself againt far left
this man is trying to woo HRC voters
this man is trying to look strong in the areas that the right would call him weak
this man is defending himself againt supporters views and comments via tv

Once he is elected we can hold him as accountable as ever, and he has agreed to listen to us..but until then we need to give the man a break! Give his ass some money!

1 Comment


DAMMIT..Tell Me The Truth!
July 3, 2008, 12:34 am
Filed under: Barack Obama, Bush, Economy, News, Patriot Act, Police Brutality, Politics, Racism, bill clinton, feminism, fisa, hillary clinton, iran, iraq, john mccain, michelle obama, religion | Tags: , , , ,

DAMMIT..Tell Me The Truth!

by StuHunter

Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 09:07:17 PM PDT

Over the weekend, Senator McCain said, “this election is about trust and trusting people’s word and, unfortunately, apparently on several items, Senator Obama’s word cannot be trusted.”

Ummmm..Johnny baby…are ya sitting down? Here’s a few of your own words that lead all of us to distrust you overwhelmingly, every day! You’re an embarrassment to yourself, McSame! This is the age of the “Internet(s)” and “the” Youtube using Bushian malaprops. We’ve got you on record, McFlip/Flop! Facts are just silly things that get in your way…ehhh, McSame?

Many, many, many thanks to one of my true media heroes and ever-present mentor..Keith Olbermann!

Gentlemen and Gentleladies…start your engines:

Signing of the GI Bill: Now enthusiastically for it… after it passed. Previously attacked the Webb Bill. Didn’t even bother to vote on it.
http://bravenewfilms.org/…

Campaign reform: On political reform, McCain last January opposed a grassroots lobbying bill he once supported.  In 2006, the “New York Sun” reported that his presidential ambitions led McCain to reverse his support of a campaign financial bill called McCain/Feingold.
http://www.nysun.com/…

Alien Minors Act/Immigration: Last October he said he would vote against the development, relief and education for Alien Miners Act that he co-sponsored, and then said he would vote against an immigration bill that he introduced.
http://www.youtube.com/…

Gay Marriage: In 2006, he said on “HARDBALL,” quote, I think that gay marriage should be allowed.  Then after the commercial break he added, I do not believe that gay marriages should be legal.  
http://www.youtube.com/…

Abortion: On abortion, 1999, publicly supporting Roe v. Wade, privately opposing it in a letter to the National Right to Life Committee.  In the 2000 debates, he would change the GOP platform to permit exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother.  May 2007, “flipped”, ABCNews.com reported.
http://abcnews.go.com/…

Nuclear Waste: No Storing Nuclear waste at Yucca mountain earlier..now flipped
http://www.lasvegassun.com/…

Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il: Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il not acceptable until President Bush did it last week.
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/…

Negotiating with Cuba/Castro: With Fidel Castro acceptable in 2000, not 2008.
http://vids.myspace.com/…

Negotiating with Hamas/Terrorists: …with terrorists appropriate when Colin Powell went to Syria and in 2006 when McCain said sooner or later we’ll talk to Hamas, but not appropriate now re: Obama’s willingness to use diplomacy.  
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/…

Pakistan: Unilateral action against suspected terrorists in Pakistan; “Confused leadership” when Obama suggested it, not when Bush did it.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/…
 
Warrantless Wire-taps: Six months ago, presidents had to obey the law, not anymore.
http://www.nytimes.com/…

Torture: Torture detainees, no way, except for the CIA.  Hold them indefinitely, wrong in 2003, the right move in 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/…

Iraq War: The Iraq war, the right course 2004, stay the course 2005. Today, McCain has always been a Rumsfeld critic.                          
http://thinkprogress.org/…

Tax Cuts: In 2001, he could not in good conscious support them.  Now he can.
http://www.youtube.com/…

Estate Tax: 2006, “I agree with President Roosevelt who created it”.  In 2008, “most unfair”.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/…

Privatizing Social Security: This month not for privatizing Social Security, never has been.  In 2004, he “didn’t see how benefits will last without it”.
http://www.youtube.com/…

Balanced Budget: In February, promised a balanced budget in four years by April, make that eight years.
http://www.perrspectives.com/…

Windfall Profits Tax: In May, glad to look at the windfall profits tax.  By June, that was Jimmy Carter’s big idea.
http://flipfloptracker.blogspot.com/…

Offshore Drilling: In 2000, no new off shore drilling.  Last month, it would take years to develop.  This month, very helpful in the short term.  
http://thinkprogress.org/…

Coyotes..Bush Big Time Fund Raisers: The Bush fund-raisers McCain called coyotes breaking the law in 2000.  By 2006, they were co-chairing McCain fund-raisers.
http://abcnews.go.com/…

“Agents of Intolerance”: Buddy Jerry Falwell…an “agent of intolerance in 2000″. Kissed Falwell’s ass in 2007… The Reverend Hagee and Parsley in, then out this year alone.
http://www.youtube.com/…

Martin Luther King Holiday: In 1983, opposed Martin Luther King Day.  Today, all for it.
http://www.boston.com/…

Confederate Flag: In 2000, defended South Carolina’s confederate flag as a symbol of heritage.  Two years later, McCain calling it, quote, an act of political cowardice not to say the flag should come down.  Quote, “everybody said, look out.  You can’t win in South Carolina if you say that.”
http://www.youtube.com/…

Evolution in Public Schools: In 2005, McCain said alternatives to evolution should be taught in school.  ”Evolving” the opposite position he had taken in 2000.
http://thinkprogress.org/…

Restoring the Everglades: On June 5, John McCain traveled to the Everglades to win over Floridians and environmentally-minded voters. There he proclaimed, “I am in favor of doing whatever’s necessary to save the Everglades.” Sadly, as ThinkProgress documented, McCain not only opposed $2 billion in funding for the restoration of the Everglades national park, he backed President Bush’s veto of the legislation in 2007. “I believe,” he said, “that we should be passing a bill that will authorize legitimate, needed projects without sacrificing fiscal responsibility.”
http://www.crooksandliars.com/…

Swiftboating: McCain’s sudden embrace of Swiftboating — which today is synonymous with a concerted effort to lie about an opponent’s history — is all the more deplorable because he has hired retired Col. George “Bud” Day, a proud member of the group that Swiftboated Kerry — and someone McCain once described as having “tunnel vision” — to lead what McCain is calling his “Truth Squad.”
http://digg.com/…

GITMO/Habeus Corpus:Despite John McCain’s outrage last week that the Supreme Court ordered Gitmo detainees know why they were being held, or released — Political Base has stumbled upon a McCain appearance on Meet the Press in 2005 where he argued they deserved trials, going so far as to say “if it means releasing some of them, you’ll have to release them.” Shameless.
http://www.politicalbase.com/…

Divestment from South Africa: During his June 2 speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), John McCain called for the international community to target Iran for the kind of worldwide sanctions regime applied to apartheid-era South Africa. Unfortunately, McCain’s lobbyist-advisers Charlie Black and Rick Davis each represented firms doing business with Tehran. Even more unfortunate, John McCain was frequently not among those offering “moral clarity and conviction” in backing “a divestment campaign against South Africa, helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid.”
http://thinkprogress.org/…

Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations: During a June 4th town hall meeting in Baton Rouge, John McCain answered a reporter’s question regarding Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the New Orleans levees by announcing:

“I’ve supported every investigation and ways of finding out what caused the tragedy. I’ve been here to New Orleans. I’ve met with people on the ground.”

As it turns out, not so much. McCain’s revisionist history neglects to mention that in 2005 and 2006 he twice voted against a commission to study the government’s response to Katrina. He also opposed three separate emergency funding measures providing relief to Katrina victims, including the extension of five months of Medicaid benefits. And as ThinkProgress pointed out, “until traveling there one month ago, McCain had made just one public tour of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina touched down in August 2005.”
http://thinkprogress.org/…

McCain On His Economic Abilities: “I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not.” “I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military and others. I am very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent.”

– Sen. John McCain, in an interview on ABC News, when asked why he “admitted that you’re not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy.”

However, NBC News compiles past McCain quotes in which he said “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should” or “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/…

UPDATES from KOSsacks:

Temperment and Temper: “My temper has often been both a matter of public speculation and personal concern,” he wrote in a 2002 memoir. “I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public’s.”  Not true and not under control, according to many of those on the “W”rong side of McCain’s famous temper.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…

2 Comments


Obama to Gen. Clark: I got your back!
July 1, 2008, 9:07 pm
Filed under: Barack Obama, Bush, Economy, News, Patriot Act, Politics, Ted Kennedy, bill clinton, feminism, fisa, hillary clinton, iran, iraq, john mccain, michelle obama, religion | Tags: , , ,

Obama to Gen. Clark: I got your back! (Updated xMany) Hotlist

by Bob Sackamento [Subscribe]

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 02:11:22 PM PDT

From The Page:

The Senator says his call Monday for supporters to avoid denigrating military service was not a reference to Wesley Clark’s comment about McCain. “I think in at least one publication it was reported that my comments yesterday about Senator McCain were in a response to General Clark. I think my staff will confirm that was in a draft of that speech that I had written two months ago.”

Also says Clark does not owe McCain an apology…McCain campaign accuses Obama of repudiating his own repudiation, and says, “Apparently Barack Obama now thinks that smear attacks on John McCain’s military service are fair game.”

http://thepage.time.com/…

Per The Page: “Obama: Clark does not need to apologize to Mccain.” More on not apologizing from 1st read (link at the end of this diary), hat tip Beachmom–

He did not answer the first part of the question directly and later Obama, who said he had not spoken with Clark, seemed to bristle when asked why he had not talked with him and whether he felt the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO owed McCain an apology, suggesting voters had more pressing matters on their minds.

“I guess my question is why, given all the vast numbers of things that we’ve got to work on, that that would be a top priority of mine?” he said.

Now that’s the Barack Obama I know and love!

 

 

My loose paraphrase of the video above: Obama rejects the swiftboat analogy and posits that Mccain is an asshat for crying about the General’s remarks. Then he gives his boilerplate “Senator Mccain is heroic blah blah.”

I think I’ll buy that second bumper sticker now. Someone tell Markos to drop his 2300 check in the mail :-)

Update: FYI, here’s the original diary on this topic: http://www.dailykos.com/…

Another update: (hat tip beachmom) The following is an additional Obama quote via MSNBC’s First Read-

“I guess my question is why, given all the vast numbers of things that we’ve got to work on, that that would be a top priority of mine?” he said. “I think that, you know, right now we’re here to talk about how we can make sure that kids in Zanesville and across Ohio get the kind of support that they need and communities that are impoverished can start to rebuild. I’m happy to have all sorts of conversations about how we deal with Iraq and what happens with Iran, but the fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show like Gen. Clark said something that was inartful about Sen. McCain I don’t think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night.”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/…

Video with the above quote below

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/1/17854/43360/137/544985

0 Comments


Kathleen Sebelius For VP Obama/Sebelius 08
July 1, 2008, 1:10 am
Filed under: Barack Obama, Bush, Politics, Ted Kennedy, bill clinton, feminism, fisa, hillary clinton, john mccain, michelle obama | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

0 Comments


Shut Up About FISA Already!
June 30, 2008, 3:43 am
Filed under: Barack Obama, Bush, Economy, Patriot Act, Police Brutality, Politics, Racism, War, bill clinton, feminism, fisa, hillary clinton, iran, iraq, john mccain, michelle obama, religion | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FISA was a law that has been in effect since 1978. It was revised in 2001. The law existed before it was violated.

Right now…we have 2 men running for president. Barack Obama and John McCain.

Now I have been seeing alot of bitching and moaning by my liberal brothers and sisters that claim to support Senator Barack Obama. I am going to address a few arguments that just dont make any sense to me.

1) “Senator Obama is sposed to be a liberal…he has lied to us”

Obama never called himself a liberal, he called himself a democrat. It was YOU who looked at his words and record and put him in that catagory, you thought he was just like you. Then you wanna have a hissy fit when he does something different then how you would do it, when he views something differently then how you view it. You wanna cry about your rights? There are soooo many other things that could fall under constitutional violations..and we abide by them. There are soooooo many things that are allowed in this country that VIOLATE the rights of people or groups of people, but we dont dwell on them..and we should.  The GOP has also used the word liberal to describe Senator Obama. He has not claimed to be liberal, he has claimed to be “bipartisan.”

Definition:

Bipartisanship is between two opposite groups (e.g. liberal and conservative) to agree and determine a plan of action on an urgent matter that is of great importance to their voters.

He has said this with his own mouth. “There isnt a liberal America and a Conservative America, there is a United States Of America”

So! With that said…Shut the fuck up already with this FISA shit..

The consitution allows the Ku Klux Klan to walk these streets and wear their robes..and walk the thin line of vocalizing their position and raping the rights of non-whites. Where is the petition to get rid of them?

And at this very second…THE CURRENT PRESIDENT is preparing us for another unneccessary war. Also, Barack Obama’s republican contender is also in agreement with President Bush. So while we are all over hre crying over something that can later be fixed..there are bigger things happening and it is up to us to make sure they dont carry out.

Now im not one to really spend too much time dwelling on conspiracy. I like to hear the facts OR any speculation that is supported by FACTS. Right now there is a law in place that if during an election, there is any threat to an attack on our country..or a war..the president can execute what is called martial law. He can postpone/cancel an election based on this “emergency.” Right now the president of the united states is in the process of CREATING such an emergency. He has also not denied that he will execute the martial law come January.

So while we are all over here spending any amount of time crying over shit that can be fixed later. Presented and changed at a later date with a more civil president. While we are typing our little fingers away, signing petitions and creating such a fuss that the NEWS is now watching us NOT support our candidate..there are worse, worser and worst things going on. We have already found out in the last month that the war in Iraq has been proven to be started for PERSONAL reasons of the president. We have been given 35 reasons of why our president should be impeached. We have already lost over 4000 soldier lives and 93,000 innocent civilian lives from this PERSONAL war. We have soldiers with PTSD committing suicide in larger numbers then those losing their lives in combat. We have soldiers with PTSD being discharged without treatment..from a PERSONAL war. RIGHT NOW, we have Myanmar refusing to get aid from us or military help to revive their land…because they fear of our govt’s intentions. They, along with many others, think that OUR COUNTRY just barges into other countries and tries to take over. Which is something that we did..for Bush’s PERSONAL reasons. Oil.

Anyways…point is this, we are in one war, starting another, losing our brothers, sisters, daughters, mothers, aunts; we are killing innocent children, women and men; we are ruining our countries reputation so that we will no longer be able to interact with other countries, our gas is reaching 5.00 a gallon, our ozone layer is creating climates that are killing off the lives of polar bears and plants…

And you want to waste your time..typing away all day online, crying over FISA and signing these little petitions that never seem to make a difference…

Oh and PUMA? They dont even deserve a paragraph of my time. Fuck PUMA. A bunch of self centered bitches. Take that how you want!

We need Obama in office ASAP. We need him badly. Even if Obama was running against a republican like Huckabee or Paul, this wouldnt be so urgent…but he isnt. He is running against a follower..someone that has changed his idea on vital issues because of who he is following the directions of. We cant let bush’s mini-me win this…So shut the fuck up about FISA and use all your little energy to getting this man elected instead of dividing the party with shit like FISA..thats about as bad as PUMA…

 

Oh yea..and fuck PUMA! and their bitchassness

2 Comments


Why NOT To Vote For McCain
June 28, 2008, 10:00 pm
Filed under: Barack Obama, Bush, Economy, Funny, News, Politics, Racism, bill clinton, feminism, hillary clinton, john mccain, michelle obama, religion | Tags: , , , , ,

Why NOT to vote for McCain

FLIP-FLOPS click here

GAFFE LIST click here

100+ reasons NOT to vote for McCain
(with sources cited )

*IRAQ & MILITARY AFFAIRS*

  • Skipped over a dozen votes on Iraq in the Senate. (source)
  • “Because I know that as successful as I believe we will be, and I believe that the success will be fairly easy, we will still lose some American young men or women.” (source)
  • “We’re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad. We may have to take out buildings, but we’re not going to have a bloodletting of trading American bodies for Iraqi bodies.” (source)
  • “But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” (source)
  • “But I believe, Katie, that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators.” (source)
  • “It’s clear that the end is very much in sight.” (source)
  • Was indirectly responsible for the deaths of 21 shopkeepers in Baghdad’s Shorja marketplace, after visiting and saying it was perfectly safe.(source)
  • “There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods today.” (source)
  • “General Petraeus goes out there [Iraq] almost everyday in an unarmored Humvee.” (source)
  • “I meant that there are neighborhoods that are safe in Iraq, and he does go out into Baghdad, and the fact is there has been significant progress…” (source)
  • “I’m not say that they [VIPs] could go without protection. The president goes around America with protection. So I certainly didn’t say that.” (source)
  • Unidentified Reporter: “[On 26 Mar] You said there are areas in Baghdad that you can walk around freely.” McCain: “Yeah, I just came from one.” (source)
  • McCain’s escort through Shorja was 100+ soldiers, sniper teams, 10 armored humvees, 3 blackhawk helicopters, 2 apache gunships, predator drone coverage; McCain was wearing a bulletproof vest and allowed to take off his helmet only when authorized. (source)
  • Says that Obama can’t understand Iraq since he hasn’t been there since 2006. (source)
  • Voted against extending troop deployment times in the USA to match deployment times in Iraq. (source)
  • Voted against repealing a capital gains tax cut which would have funded soldiers. (source)
  • Voted consistently from 2003-2007 against additional funding for Walter Reed Army Medical Center. (source 1, source 2, source 3)
  • Voted to table a bill that would have provided funding and equipment for Guard and Reserve units. (source)
  • Voted against additional funding for the mental health care of troops. (source)
  • Actively opposed the GI Bill that would increase education benefits to soldiers; was one of three senators who didn’t vote on it; one was in the hospital and one was at a funeral; he was campaigning. (source)
  • When asked if he had an idea of when troops would be coming home, said “No, but that’s not too important. What’s important is the casualties in Iraq. (source)


*ECONOMICS*

  • “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.” Denied saying this in a primary debate. (source)
  • “The issues of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.” (source)
  • Added Arthur Laffer and Phil Gramm to his campaign economics staff. (source 1, source 2)
  • “I don’t have the kind of expertise to know exactly whether he has cut interest rates sufficiently or not.” (source)
  • Debate question, are Americans better off than they were 8 years ago: “I think you could argue that Americans overall are better off, because we have had a pretty good prosperous time, with low unemployment and low inflation and a lot of good things have happened. A lot of jobs have been created.” (source)
  • Today Show, soon after, when asked the same question: “Oh no. No.” Bloomberg TV, same question: “In fact, I think Americans are not better off than they were eight years ago, when you look at what’s happened to middle-income Americans.” (source)
  • Says that he can save $100 billion by cutting earmarks; campaign later denies this claim. Has said saving $100B would not come from military; this would necessitate a 18.5% across the board cut in every other discretionary spending program, including education, veteran’s health, highways. (source)
  • Favors repealing the alternative minimums tax, 90% of the benefits going to six-figure families; this would cost $1.6 trillion over 10 years; claim of an average of $2000/family mostly weighted by highest earners.(source)
  • Says that Obama and Clinton want to create the largest tax increase since WW2; it would be the fifth-largest and is not even an increase, but merely allowing Bush’s cuts to expire. (source)
  • Opposed Bush’s tax cuts, then supported Bush’s tax cuts. (source)
  • Wants to cut capital gains taxes. (source)
  • Wants to remove federal gasoline taxes. (source)
  • Claimed that 401ks are taxed by the capital gains tax (they are not) and used this to further his point that “[Obama] obviously doesn’t understand the economy.” (source)
  • Claimed Obama wanted to double the capital gains tax; Obama said no more than double (which is what it was under Clinton) and probably much lower. (source)
  • Has 118 lobbyists working for his campaign. (source )
  • Has Phil Gramm as a chief economic advisor, even though he opposed cracking down on tax havens, like those used by bin Laden, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. (source )


*FOREIGN POLICY & COUNTER-TERRORISM*
STEWART: There was one comment– and this could have been taken out of context as well– you felt that Hamas endorsed Obama? Did they officially–
McCAIN: A spokesperson from Hamas said they wanted Senator Obama, but that’s– that’s –
STEWART: Do you feel bad you said that? Because that is– if you think about it–
McCAIN: A spokesperson said that, and I think –
STEWART: And you take Hamas at their word?
McCAIN: No, but it’s indicative of how some of our enemies view America. I guarantee you, they’re not going to endorse me.

  • Says talking to Hamas is naive; two years prior, in an interview with James Rubin of Sky News, said that negotiations with Hamas were inevitable, and the current (Bush) admin had to get used to that; in 2003 had said that even though Syria sponsored and harbored terrorists, it was worth talking to them. (source)
  • Was in favor of negotiations with Cuba; no longer is. (source)
  • Constantly confuses Shia and Sunni. (source)
  • “There’s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along.” (source)
  • “One of the things I would do if I were President would be to sit the Shiites and the Sunnis down and say, ‘Stop the bullshit.’” (source)
  • Says that Al Qaeda get training in Iran (source)
  • Insists that Ahmadinejad was the leader of Iran, not Khamenei, despite reality being what it is.(source)
  • Concerning Cheney: “I don’t know if I would want him as vice president. He and I have the same strengths. But to serve in other capacities? Hell, yeah.” (source)
  • McCain refuses to answer a question about whether or not he supports Bush’s abstinence-only policy in Africa; when asked if he supported condom distribution, was silent; when asked about his policy on sex ed in the USA, said “I think I support the president’s policy;” when asked if he thought contraceptives helped stop the spread of HIV, said “You’ve stumped me.” Asked an aide for his policy paper on the subject; couldn’t find it; finished by saying “I’ve never gotten into these issues before.” (source)
  • “We have had some success working with the Pakistanis in a low visible fashion. Should they be more helpful? Of course they should be. Should the Saudis be more helpful? Should the Jordanians be more helpful? Should the Egyptians? We are giving billions of dollars a year to the Egyptians, as you know, and they should be more helpful. Should the Mexicans be more helpful? Everybody should be more helpful.” (source)
  • Republican John McCain’s campaign accused Barack Obama of having a dangerous and naive Sept. 10 mind-set toward terrorism because the Democrat spoke approvingly of the successful prosecution and imprisonment of those responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. (source)
  • At a Town Hall meeting, was asked why we haven’t caught bin Laden yet; McCain got pissed, started rambling about the Diamondbacks and Yankees and Rudy Giuliani on a screen, said as President, Bin Laden would be caught (Guess this means Bin Laden is still safe for another few months) and people were laughing that McCain wasn’t answering the question.


*ETHICS*

  • Moved to Arizona for political reasons; the day after his predecessor announced his upcoming retirement, Cindy bought a house in the district. (source)
  • Was elected to congress in part due to his friendship with Darrow Tully, publisher of the AZ Republic, who gave him free editorial space; did not comment when Tully’s numerous war stories about himself (Tully) were revealed to be all lies.(source)
  • Was part of the Keating Five. (source)
  • Vigorously lobbied to have investigations of his friend Gov. Fife Symington halted; Symington was convicted of bank fraud, to which McCain said that Symington had been running the state well; when a different governor fell under similar circumstances, McCain went after him; when it was suggested that he showed preference to Symington that he didn’t show to Mecham, said “I really won’t answer that kind of insinuation… I do what’s best for the state. I do what’s best for the country.” (source)
  • Voted to convict Bill Clinton on impeachment charges. (source)
  • Chief Advisor of McCain’s campaign, Charlie Black, lobbied for numerous dictators in Asia and Africa; Black said he didn’t do anything wrong. (source 1, source 2)
  • Richard Davis is one of McCain’s friends, advisers, and campaign chairs; Davis was paid $395,000 to lobby on behalf of the telecom industry; McCain, as chairman of the Commerce Committee, supported a Cablevision bid despite a government report saying that it would lead to higher prices. (source)
  • Two campaign staffers forced to resign; they had lobbied on behalf of Myanmar’s repressive government in 2002. (source)
  • Cindy, after an AP article outed her, sells her investments in mutual funds that invested in the Sudanese government. (source)
  • Suggested that, as a new idea, like divestment from South Africa to fight apartheid, we should divest from Iran; a bipartisan bill presented by Obama and Brownback in 2007 said just that exact same thing; McCain voted against it; one of his main campaign advisers lobbies for an Iranian steel company; McCain opposed divestment from South Africa at the time. (source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4, source 5, source 6)
  • Used a picture of Gen. Petraeus in fundraising material (military members are not allowed to do this, and it was done without Petreaus’ knowledge or approval). (source)
  • Collects $58,000 per year from the government in disability. (source)
  • Refuses to return money taken from a fundraiser hosted by Clayton Williams, who said of rape, “As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.” (source)


*TORTURE & SURVEILLANCE*

  • Having been tortured for five years, joined the party that prolonged his torture and blasted Romney at a debate for supporting torture. (source)
  • Now McCain himself supports torture. (source)
  • Voted against legal definitions of torture. (source)
  • After the Supreme Court ruled that Guantanamo prisoners have some rights, “The United States Supreme Court yesterday rendered a decision which I think is one of the worst decisions in the history of this country,” McCain said. He went on to quote from Justice Roberts dissent in the case, rail against “unaccountable judges,” and say that the courts are about to be clogged with cases from detainees. Called it a case about “so-called, ‘Habeas Corpus,’ suits.” (source)
  • Says that Bush’s warrantless wiretaps are legal. (source)


*KATRINA*

  • Ate birthday cake with President Bush several hours after the levees at New Orleans broke; later, McCain blasted Bush’s tepid and slow response. (source)
  • Voted against the Katrina Commission (twice). (source)
  • Voted against extended Medicaid access for Katrina victims. (source)
  • Voted against extended unemployment assistance for Katrina victims. (source)


*ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT*

  • Said he supported a cap-and-trade system, but no mandatory caps. (source)
  • Supports clean coal. (source)
  • Wants to end the offshore drilling ban of 1981 (opponents include Republican Governors Schwarzenegger and Crist). (source)
  • Voted against Everglades restoration. (source)
  • Voted against closing a future market loophole that led to the Enron disasters in California; said the market needed less regulation, not more; the money saved from closing this loophole would have reduced medical and pharmaceutical copays for soldiers. (source)
  • Voted against the Clean Air Act. (Citation needed.)


*DOMESTIC ISSUES*

  • Voted against the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday; later said that he didn’t know much about MLK at the time, and that “I had not really been involved in the issue.” (source)
  • “Still,…McCain has yet to find his voice on domestic issues–his response to a question about crime among teen girls veered from a Little Rock mentoring program to Nicaraguan drug lords to se