P! Update: Transparency, Diplomacy, The New Cold War

Posted on May 28, 2008

Politico has the exclusive on former White House press secretary Scott McClellan’s tell-all book, What Happened: McClellan Whacks Bush, White House. (Ah, the ingratitude!)

At the Washington Independent, Arthur Allen examines the Bush Definition of Transparency: ‘To most of us, “transparent” means something you can see into… When brought up to describe toxics regulation, “transparent” might mean that the public could see the paper trail providing the scientific justification behind it. But the White House seems to have found another definition of “transparent.” It means a process that the White House can see into.’

The Women’s International Perspective notes that these days, Diplomacy is a Dirty Word. ‘In the heads of men like John McCain and George Bush international relations are bi-polar. It’s “us” and “them,” whether they are terrorists, aging communist societies, or Islamo-fascists. We’ll never talk to “them” until they surrender to “us.” Until then, we’ll keep on invading, killing, confining, blockading, and torturing.

Democracy Arsenal delves into McCain’s Disjointed Russian Policy: ‘Just two months ago in Los Angeles when he laid out his view of the world, he suggested tossing Russia out of the G8 – a needlessly provocative act that would essentially mark the start of a new Cold War in Europe…  Does he really think that he can alienate the Russians and at the same time get their cooperation on critical nuclear issues? Is he that divorced from reality?’ (Let’s just say he’s estranged from reality.)

The GOP Needs a Bath

Posted on May 27, 2008

Dear Senator McCain,

We have nothing against you personally, but you have been soiled by the company you keep: the warmongers and social conservatives who use fear to promote a backward agenda. The Republican Party has become entertainment that no one wants to watch, a song that voters can’t get out of their heads, an unreal reality program with all the nuance and depth of a 60s TV sitcom. But people aren’t laughing. They’re getting ready to change the channel. This will happen on November 4.

Yours Truly, The Majority of American Citizens

From inquiring minds at Buzzflash: “So once again, we ask: Which McCain are we getting?

McCain #1: I support right-wing pastors. I strongly believe in what they have to say. I could listen to them all day long. Oh, what I said in 2000 - political opportunism. Show I can rebel against the party.

McCain #2: I don’t agree with Falwell, Robertson, Hagee, Parsley, and the others. They make me sick. I’m sucking up to them for political opportunism, and because I really need to suck up to the base. Why don’t they think I’m not conservative enough?” 

Below is an example of GOP scare tactics (as noted on Pam’s House Blend). Be prepared to barf.

Top Opinions of the Week

Posted on May 24, 2008

Chuck Todd of MSNBC considers the fallout from a McCain-loss scenario: “McCain’s folks will argue that the presence of Huckabee prevented McCain from being given an opportunity to prove that he could woo social conservatives… This is what makes McCain’s running mate choice fascinating, because a running mate on a losing ticket might end up sharing the blame. He or she then might not be trusted to help lead the party in the future. Think about that, Mr. Romney and Mr. Huckabee as you both vie to be on that national ticket.”

 The New York Times editorial board weighs in on McCain’s sudden denouncement of unhinged pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley: “Mr. McCain has tried to argue that his recent embrace of these two extremists was different from Barack Obama’s 20-year pastoral relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright… but that does not lessen the hatefulness of the views espoused by the Rev. Hagee or the Rev. Parsley, nor does political expediency excuse Mr. McCain’s willingness to overlook those views until they became a political liability.”

Andrew Sullivan targets Hillary Clinton’s latest gaffe: “You only have to spend a few minutes talking with African-Americans about this campaign to discover that the fear that Obama could be assassinated is very much on their minds… To refer to the June assassination of Bobby Kennedy in the context of reasons to stay in this interminable race against Barack Obama is therefore catastrophically inappropriate. Coming after her pitch for white votes, it is reckless.”

Politico deconstructs the viscous e-mail attacks against Obama, saying that the anonymous smear campaign “represents the dark side of the Internet’s emerging dominance in American politics — a phenomenon that has driven Obama’s unparalleled grass-roots and financial campaigns. After harnessing the Web to great advantage, Obama is now struggling to beat back the viral threat from the same uncontrollable medium.”

P! Update: The McCain/Hagee Saga Continues

Posted on May 23, 2008

John McCain found nothing wrong with the endorsement of Reverend John Hagee who blamed Hurricane Katrina on gays and once called the Catholic Church “The Great Whore.” He stated repeatedly that he was proud of that endorsement. But finally, after three long months, the Republican Presidential nominee has begun to regret his evangelical pandering after “an audio recording surfaced in which the preacher said God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land.” Huffington Post has the complete story - and there’s more at the San Francisco Chronicle.

This is what happens when political candidates suck up to the Religious Right. McCain also took the opportunity on Thursday to distance himself from Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church. Mother Jones wrote about that dubious relationship back in March: McCain’s Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam.  

That lovely clucking noise you hear is the sound of chickens coming home to roost.

John McCain will live - for 100 Years!

Posted on May 13, 2008

We wondered how long it would be before the McCain camp dragged out his 96-year-old mother to illustrate the Republican candidate’s longevity genes. (Not very long, it seems. The GOP unleashed this mildly disturbing ad on Mother’s Day.) And what’s with the Walt Disney music in the background? I kept waiting for woodland creatures to appear and start cleaning the living room.

A Woman of Wealth

Posted on May 9, 2008

You remember in 2004 when the Republicans were outraged that John Kerry’s wife didn’t want to release her tax returns? Well, now that Cindy McCain has refused to do the same, the GOP doesn’t seem too concerned because, y’know, that’s private stuff.

Crooks and Liars has the story: “The McCains are extraordinarily wealthy — one might even be tempted to call them ‘elites’ — and Cindy McCain’s assets are estimated to be about $100 million, including a private jet, which her husband has been borrowing at a reduced rate. Given the other candidates’ disclosures, and McCain’s own alleged commitment to transparency, will we ever see Cindy McCain’s returns? She was asked on The Today Show this morning, and said, politely, ‘Never.’”

Never?

Media Matters nails the distinction: “In contrast with Cindy McCain, Heinz Kerry did release a part of her 2003 income tax return that showed ‘total income,’ which enabled The New York Times to analyze how she benefited from the Bush tax cuts. Such an analysis of how the McCains have benefited from the tax cuts - which Sen. McCain supports extending permanently - is not possible, based on the information his campaign has released on Cindy McCain’s income.”

Veracifier has the video:

© Copyright Neon Zipper • All rights reserved • Part of ChatEVO