Category: Election 2008

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Barack Obama recently responded to John McCain’s “Celeb” ad suggesting that Obama was too a huge celebrity but not ready to lead.

While I think the ad is effective in pointing out the hypocrisy of McCain calling him a celebrity, it’s still a character attack, and I think the old adage “two wrongs don’t make a right” applies here.

Meanwhile, John McCain isn’t backing down from the “he’s a celebrity” brand of ads.

For me, McCain’s insistence on keeping to the celebrity argument is the same as Barack Obama keeping on repeating the “100 years” statement.

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Well, one goal from yesterday’s entry is coming true.  Although it’s official purpose is as a test vehicle for Blog Talk Radio, to make sure my deck is shuffled in terms of the service, I will be using up to 15 minutes tonight to discuss Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East and Europe this week.  I want to test it as if a show were actually going on, so that’s what I’ll be doing.  If you want to listen to the show, go to this page at 11:30PM EDT (-5 GMT) and click the “Click to Listen” button at 11:30 to tune in!

My goal tonight is to merely test out the service, but if you feel you have something to voice, feel free to call in!  The listener call in number is (347) 945-5945.  However, it may cost money to use via a landline (the help is a little ambiguous on this).  However, they have a “Click to Talk” feature in the host’s profile (above link).  If you have a microphone, plug it in, click the button, and wait patiently!  Unfortunately, it’s only for IE6, which kind of blows, but what’re you going to do?

So, if you want to hear some political talk radio, perhaps albeit with a few “testing 1…2…3″‘s, tune in!

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Two parties have really caught my attention this year.  The first, the Libertarian Party, with Bob Barr, I’ve written about to some extent.  The second is the New American Independent Party and its candidate Frank McEnulty.

Tomorrow’s entry will provide more information about why I like his positions, but for the time being, check out his website!

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Maybe, but maybe not.

The Journal Inquirer reported today the Chris Dodd was asked to supply some information to the Obama VP search committee:

The former White House hopeful and Connecticut lawmaker indicated that he has been approached by the campaign. “There’s been some inquiries, yeah,” Dodd said. “They ask for a lot of stuff. I’ll leave it there.”

Certainly Obama’s campaign has to search far and wide, or at least appearing to be doing so.  Dodd isn’t as well known publically, but he is a force to be reckoned with in political circles.  In some respects, he’d be similar to Dick Cheney whereas he’s not a public face, but might be effective behind the scenes, if Obama were to use him in the same way.  Dodd’s contacts in the Senate and House and elsewhere in Washington would be useful to Obama, who’s been criticized for lack of experience.  Dodd also has a long history on the Senate Foreign Relation Committee, and is the chair of the banking committee, so these things would be of use as well.

On the other hand, picking Dodd presents some risks.  If the mortgage deal Dodd got gets legs, he would become a liability.  I think Obama’s committee knows this, and will bide their time, whilst researching him otherwise.  However, if the allegations turn out to be a dud, Dodd could be back in the running.

Also, Dodd is very much a Washington insider.  He’s been in the Senate since 1981, and was in the House before that since 1975.  Picking Dodd could further damage Obama’s “change” message.  On the other hand, Obama can hardly afford to not pick somebody that has some knowledge of how Washington works.  As Cheney was George’s Bush’s Washington insider, Dodd would help on that with Obama.  Then again, so would many so many others on the speculated list of picks.

In the end, Obama has to look in every corner he can for possible vice presidents, so looking into Dodd is not so surprising.  So many other people have been looked into as well, so Dodd may not even end up on the short list.  Time will tell.

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Libertarian Presidential nominee Bob Barr, the former Republican Congressman from Georgia, is getting a lot of flack from his former party for daring to run.  According to this New York Times article, party officials are trying to tell him, “Don’t do it, Bob!”:

“‘Well, gee, you might take votes from Senator McCain,'” Mr. Barr said this week, mimicking one of the complainers, as he sat sipping Coca-Cola in his plush corner office, 12 stories above Atlanta. “They all said, ‘Look, we understand why you’re doing this. We agree with why you’re doing it. But please don’t do it.'”

The argument seems to be that if Barr gets enough votes, particularly from Republicans, that John McCain’s chances of winning will be diminished that much.

Gee, you think?

Continue reading →

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Geeze, this guy is starting to have a lot of “problems,” isn’t he?  First it was “the Appalachain problem” and now it’s his “Muslim problem.”

For those hiding under pebbles, his campaign seems to be actively trying to dispel that age old rumor that Barack Obama is a sooper-sekret Muslim.  Anybody who’s actually paying attention knows by now that this is simply not true.  Anybody who’s been geeking out on election issues for the past 17 months (like me), knows that Obama made a speech some months ago that I argued would not seem out of place at a church that’s a member of the National Association of Evangelicals.

However, they seem to be a little paranoid about the issue.  The campaign seems to be doing anything they can to stop the Republicans from associating Obama with terrorists.  This would seem to include barring a couple of Muslim women wearing headscarfs from sitting behing Obama at one of his speeches.  Obama later personally apologized to the women, and I have read that they are content at his apology.  Obama’s campaigned also told Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison, a Muslim, that he shouldn’t make a speech promoting Obama at a mosque.

Whoever is handling Obama’s religious outreach ought to be fired, since they’re not doing outreach toward Muslims, and I think it’s important that they do so.  Just as important as reaching out to Christians or Jews.  Face it, Obama campaign.  Islam is still a major religion in this country, even if not the biggest.  You need their support, and ignoring them is just as dangerous as being perceived as a terrorist symphaphizer.

I can see why they’re doing it.  All those endorsements from Hamas and Iran certainly are not helping him.  Yet, I’d argue Obama can reach out to Muslims without being perceived as a friend of terrorists the world over.  I think he needs to meet with Muslim groups, and quickly.  Perhaps even call a religious summit, including leaders from various denominations from around the U.S.  Then, and this is important, he needs to make a speech about his support for Muslims.  Such a speech should also emphasize his Christian faith, and maybe a comparison to the strong faith of many Muslims around the U.S.  Finally, it should include his willingness to work with the Muslim community to root out terrorism.

The last part of such a speech would also show he’s continuing goal of dimplomacy over military action, while also showing committment to ridding the world of terrorism.

These things are important because the man who has been called a uniter is quickly losing this title.  I think quick and effective outrich to the Muslim community would help repair both rifts.

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As I noted a few articles ago, I’ve kinda been ignoring John McCain in favor of covering the end of the Democratic primaries.  But, with those over, and things somewhat quiet elsewhere, the time seems ripe to go back to him.

John McCain, who I’ve always respected and liked a lot more than some other Republican candidates, is frankly starting to disappoint me.  He’s been increasingly shedding his maverick image, at least on the issues of the Iraq war and detainee treatment.

The John McCain of old bucked the Bush administration on detainee treatment.  But, apparently not John McCain, Republican nominee.  He has this thing wrapped up, and he is pandering to the far right on these issues.  Of course, it’s not entirely surprising.  He was one of the cheerleaders of the Military Commissions Act.  He also has to look tough on terrorism toward the base.

Yet, I’d argue that he can still look tough without pandering to the far right.  He can still call for negotiations on our own tough terms (with which I’d agree), and even a presence in Iraq until the Iraqis can effectively take control of military operations themselves (which they are starting to do very well) without compromising his positions on detainee treatment.

I think it looks bad to Independents and conservative Democrats when a candidate who seemed to enshrine human rights for our detainees is seemingly backtracking on this by the day.  The same guy who says our military shouldn’t torture is willing to reserve this right for organizations like the CIA, which I think sends mixed messages to voters.

In short, John McCain needs to decide where he stands on these issues.  It’s important to his electoral future.  I’d argue for a return to his maverick positions.  It may anger some of the base and the far right, but McCain needs the widespread support if he wishes to win in November.

More to come on all the nominees, including John McCain.