Seems like good timing for a basic blog rant. It’s been a tough couple of weeks and I’m cranky. Keeping the discussion on matters of politics a little review of the current situation seems in order.
Obamanation remains fixated on their, ‘let’s take over everything’ agenda. The central flaw in their quest beyond public disapproval and even outrage is similar to that of a typical spendthrift. They believe there is still money in the bank if they still have checks.
It’s amazing really. Politicians in both parties have frequently if not continuously committed the same financial sins for which they accuse others. Yet they have no shame for their own misguided actions or for political rhetoric employed as unemployment engulfs our nation.
By our votes we bestow upon them a public trust complete with perks for royalty yet we shed that anchor over two hundred years ago. And with the possible exception of the founding fathers those in public office have a two century record of malfeasance in office. If they were not directly involved with corrupt government they were willing participants by the fact of their incompetent objection.
As noted here elsewhere, notable Republicans like Palin, Romney and Scott Brown support McCain for re-election. Yet it is clear McCain is not a conservative. Which casts doubt on the credentials of the aforementioned.
Mr. Romney, who was supported on this blog since 2008, provided a less than convincing excuse for his endorsement. If McCain’s years of service and experience qualify him as the best choice for American leadership what does that say about his support of shamnesty during the second Bush 43 term? And then there’s Lindsey Graham with similar problems. The GOP has not turned the page toward conservative principles. How will they do that with barely half a year to go before the 2010 elections?
Yes, they are fiercely opposing the current liberal push for a totally out of touch agenda. But what else are they going to do? They believe this strategy against the Obamanation will translate to victory in November. What’s new about that? Sound like politics as usual just as much as the Dems failure on every level since the 2006 midterms.
The GOP fell from grace and have not returned in any meaningful way. The libs are apparently willing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Worst of all, they have not drained the swamp. The culture of corruption is alive and well in Washington, DC and around the country in all levels of government.
The voters must drain the swamp in November 2010.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
editor’s note: The quality of this post has suffered as it is Friday and this month’s budget only allows for beer rather than top shelf single malt Scotch. Po’ Stanford. And no images were chosen for this post as none were available at the time of publication to fit the mood.
With some troubling news coming out of CPAC 2010 along with similar revelations about various ‘conservative’ philosophies and their proponents more reports suggest 2010 is still wide open.
The recent endorsement of John McCain by former running mate Sarah Palin was analyzed by some as the former Alaska governor being polite. But that argument fails given her unnecessary decision to ’stump’ and raise money for the veteran Senator from Arizona whose conservative values have always been in question. His maverick status being built more by a departure from conservative values than adherence to it.
With too many Republicans appearing more like their liberal counterparts in the Democratic party the wonder is how anyone can suggest a GOP majority after the 2010 elections. This blog features sidebar links for Palin and Romney. And past posts have called for support of both in past elections. For now those links and the supportive posts will remain. But the troubling trends being reported render all that subject to change.
What the hell are these people thinking? Enough noise was made by the public this year that even POLS with hearing impairments should have received the message. A return to basic common sense American values is long overdue and more necessary for survival than previously thought. If those connected to the GOP are as unresponsive as their political opposition from the other major party then one thing remains clear.
They are no better than those they criticize and have apparently improved upon the liberal trend of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
The community organizer who is friends with the domestic terrorist William Ayers, hate monger Jeremiah Wright and hires friends from the most corrupt political machine (Illinois) has the audacity of something other than hope to reference the founding fathers and call on the public to support his agenda that is anything but American.
Like mutually exclusive terms President Obama insults the meaning of this nation’s Independence Day when he tries to connect the principles of the founding with his socialist agenda. Those who have dismissed the idea that his agenda is socialist overlook nationalizing private industry, spending and government expansion with the intent of complete government control that will render this great country into nothing more than a banana republic.
Addressing our dependence on foreign energy by taxing all we use rather than a transition approach that draws on our own fossil fuel resources until alternatives become viable in a free market is counter to American ideals which rely on the innovation of a free people. Expecting the public to buy into a universal or socialized, government-run healthcare system rather than encouraging free market solutions also runs counter to American ideals. With these two examples only God may know what the Obama agenda has planned for education, immigration and the remainder of his ideas for transforming the United States into another socialist country like some in the EU and others in this hemisphere.
And then we have the impotent GOP. Based on the report below the Senator who lost an election to the community organizer was chosen to give the opposition party response to ObamaGov. While we can all debate whether or not it would have been wise to have a united response from the US regarding turmoil in Iran the larger issues of our own nation under the leadership of Barack Obama seems more to the point or at least an issue of primary importance. We can do little to help others if we cannot help ourselves and the GOP response appears to be a continuance of Republicans being lost in the wilderness.
Will someone please find a way to encourage this nation’s leaders to remove their collective heads from their collective hind quarters and return sensible government to a young nation which just observed its 233rd birthday.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Obama Calls on Americans to ‘Summon Spirit’ of Founding Fathers
By Kent Klein Washington 04 July 2009
Pres. Barack Obama
On U.S. Independence Day, President Barack Obama is calling on Americans to remember the spirit of the nation’s founders, and to embrace his domestic initiatives. Republican Senator John McCain, meanwhile, wants stronger U.S. language against Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters.
President Obama, in his weekly address, asks Americans to remember the sacrifices and achievements of the men who voted for independence 233 years ago.
“We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all; that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire; and that they would form, in the new world, what the old world had never known - a government of, by and for the people,” he said.
In July, 1776, the representatives of 13 British colonies in America, gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, voted to declare independence from Britain and formed a new nation. At the same time, colonists in hastily-organized and poorly-financed militias battled the British Army for several years, until London officially recognized U.S. independence.
Mr. Obama called on Americans to recall those patriots’ spirit and support his plans to reform the U.S. education, health care and energy policies.
“We are not a people who fear the future,” he said. “We are a people who make it. And on this July 4th, we need to summon that spirit once more. We need to summon the same spirit that inhabited Independence Hall 233 years ago today.”
The president is celebrating Independence Day with a traditional barbecue and fireworks on the White House lawn, with 1,200 military families invited to attend. He is also celebrating his daughter Malia’s eleventh birthday. Mr. Obama leaves late Sunday for a week-long trip to Russia, Italy and Ghana.
Sen. John McCain (file photo)
In the weekly Republican Party message, Senator John McCain of Arizona is also paying tribute to the nation’s founding fathers, who he says “stood up to a powerful oppressor and claimed their natural right to liberty.”
McCain is also invoking the patriots’ spirit as he calls on the Obama administration to speak out more forcefully in support of the anti-government protesters in Iran.
“They did not ask us to arm them or come to their assistance with anything other than public declarations of solidarity and public denunciations of the tyrants who oppress them. We have a moral obligation to do so,” he said.
Senator McCain is rejecting earlier White House claims that a more vocal response by Washington would have supported the Iranian government’s claims of U.S. interference.
“Do they really believe Iranians do not know why they are protesting, and who is oppressing them? Do they think Iranians whose votes were discarded, whose voices have been ignored, whose lives have been threatened by the regime they wish to be rid of, will think America has put them in that position?” he said.
U.S. Independence Day is traditionally celebrated with picnics, parades, concerts, fireworks displays, and readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Just a little reminder that there is much to yet worry about illegal immigration even with healthcare and all the other issues on the average American’s plate.
As early as June 8, 2009 a formal restart of the shamnesty movement will occur in the Obama White House. At least one report confirms what most of us already knew. Shamnesty will once again be the top issue in Washington later in 2009. But you had better get your opposition strategy activated long before then as it may only be a matter of 60 liberal votes along with any mindless RINOs that decides the issue if pressure is not applied starting now. 2010 is not far off and we all know politicians like only one thing better than getting elected. That is getting re-elected. And a vote for shamnesty is just one more reason to throw the bums out.
The Dream Act has been around for a while and like the shamnesty defeat in the summer of 2007 it has been shot down once. Together with yes votes on bailouts any member of Congress voting for shamnesty risks defeat in 2010 unless they are secure in a liberal saturated district willing to open all borders and ignore the rule of law.
All the Dream Act does is give illegals one more reason to violate the law and enter this country without lawfully engaging the process. Rather than offer an unnecessary carrot to break the law, Congress should encourage and assist the executive branch or law enforcement with the stick they need to eliminate illegal immigration. This is not a call to abolish immigration but illegal immigration. There is a big difference. But liberals for open borders and unregulated immigration prefer to label those opposed to illegal immigration as xenophobic. Yes, there is no shortage of liberal labels to muddy the water on issues.
So far it is no surprise that Arlen Specter, RINO extraordinaire and now GOP defector, will support whatever the Democrats propose. Other notable RINO looking Senators are Lugar, Lott and Wicker.
It will be tougher this time than the last to defeat shamnesty. But that is not reason for concern but increased effort and attitude.
This is all quite typical. Governor Blagojevich (indicted recently on 16 counts) is accused of trying to sell the then vacant seat of former Senator Barack Obama. Blago denied everything and said he would be cleared of any wrongdoing. Now Rep Jesse Jackson Jr is being investigated by the feds to determine if he offered cash to Blago for the seat. And a Congressional ethics panel (referred to below as ‘preliminary’) has been ’scrutinizing’ Jackson’s possible role in the Blago saga.
This must be just one more story no politician wants. First, no politician wants investigations by law enforcement or Congressional bodies focusing on politicians. It is sometimes messy and always raises public interest in cleaning up government as well as putting the media spotlight on anyone who gets ‘nabbed’. And it doesn’t matter what party they’re in because they all know both sides have crooks.
Second, in this case, President Obama does not want any more focus on corrupt Illinois politics since most of his crew hails from those origins. The Ted Stevens’ case and the new AG’s effort to throw out the verdict and remove all charges probably has more revelations to come. And it really does nothing for Stevens or the GOP.
The Congressional ethics panel probably felt compelled to move since there already was a federal investigation and they want to appear concerned. But will a preliminary Congressional ‘probe’ uncover anything? After prosecutorial misconduct in the Stevens’ case is it such a stretch to suspect members of Congress may try to influence the outcome of any inquiry?
This may fall in the same category as complaints about voter fraud, lobbyists or mafeasance by any party involved. Some noise is made and perhaps a scapegoat or two are offered as sacrificial lambs then it is on to business as usual in Washington. You didn’t really expect Obama to fix this stuff did you? And as long as we’re at it, what about self-proclaimed reformer and sometime ‘maverick’ John McCain? During the campaign in 2008 and before both candidates were claiming they would clean up Washington. Just like Speaker Pelosi claiming the last bogus ethics legislation would clean up the town.
Anyone looking to buy a bridge or swampland in Florida can contact the people mentioned above for more details. Until then some excerpts and links on the JJJ story are provided below for your reading pleasure.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Probe into why Blago expected campaign cash for JJJ appointment
Southtown Star -
By Natasha Korecki and Fran Spielman, Sun-Times News Group
Federal authorities have asked US Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) why former Gov. Rod Blagojevich believed he would get campaign cash in exchange for appointing Jackson to President Obama’s …
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.: Feds step up inquiry
Chicago Tribune -
By Jeff Coen and John Chase | Tribune reporters
Federal authorities have questioned a former chief of staff to ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other cooperating witnesses about an attempt by friends of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to raise funds for Blagojevich …
Ethics Panel Focuses On Rep. Jesse Jackson
Washington Post -
A congressional ethics panel is investigating Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) after allegations last year that some of his associates had discussed helping then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich with fundraising if Blagojevich agreed to appoint Jackson to the seat …
Jackson Jr. Says He’s Cooperating With Ethics Probe
Washington Post -
By Ben Pershing
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) acknowledged Wednesday that he is the subject of a preliminary ethics investigation into his relationship with indicted former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and his efforts to win appointment to the …
Jesse Jackson Jr.: ‘I have done nothing wrong’
Chicago Sun-Times -
BY NATASHA KORECKI
Federal Courts Reporter US Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., whose efforts to secure President Obama’s vacant US Senate seat are being scrutinized in a congressional inquiry, said today “I have done nothing wrong,” and is confident the matter
Jackson Again Denies Wrongdoing, Gets Vote of Support from Davis
Chicago Public Radio -
In a statement, Jackson says he’s eager to answer questions about his bid to land a Senate appointment from now-indicted former Governor Rod Blagojevich. But Congressman Danny Davis, a Chicago Democrat, says he doesn’t know what else Jackson has to say …
In January 2009 after President George W Bush’s last State of the Union Address reports on the event included the President’s statement that economic fundamentals were strong. He was criticized for this appraisal and accused of being out of touch.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign after the field was reduced to the two major party nominees Barack Obama attacked John McCain on his insistance the econommic fundamentals were strong.
John McCain said the economic fundamentals of the US were strong and Barack Obama pounced. President Bush made a similar statement in his last State of the Union speech and the President’s opposition pounced. This week President Obama states the fundamentals are strong and what happens? Nothing. A scan of news sources suggests most media outlets are saying Obama calls for a return to economic fundamentals. The whole world must be drunk.
Would you like to know who are the recipients of your hard earned tax dollars? Although the sites featured in this post are not new they may be new to you. It is not unusual for those seeking such information to simply contact someone in government or browse and search many government websites to pursue the data. We all know how much fun that can be, NOT. This topic was not the focus of the search which produced it. That is why it fits nicely into an occasional series of posts here called, MoreWhat Matters: Little Gems.
The search terms entered at Google were, ‘conservative organizations’ and the little helper app for the dialog box displayed like strings and the one selected was ‘conservative organizations in the united states’. The following was the seventh result.
Right off this summary can get your attention. If you were conducting this search and saw this snippet wouldn’t your curiosity allow you the freedom to follow the unexpected return? That led to the the following.
In light of the fact that this was before the 2008 Presidential campaign as well as the midterm elections of November 2006 it is almost amusing to see that McCain and Obama were co-sponsors on this bill. Perhaps it is one of those items that presents no political concerns to either politician and therefore offers an opportunity to look like they get along and work together to get things done. Not that this post is ignoring Coburn or Carper but the funny part is McCain and Obama. That link led to the following.
(google search terms ‘109th congress s.2590′)
Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
There are 4 versions of Bill Number S.2590 for the 109th Congress. 1 . Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Introduced in …
thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.2590: - 4k -
Which led to Thomas at the Library of Congress (used a lot here) and the information about Senate Bill 2590 from the 109th Congress. The next item is an excerpt from this URL.
There are 4 versions of Bill Number S.2590 for the 109th Congress
1 . Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Introduced in Senate)[S.2590.IS]
2 . Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Reported in Senate)[S.2590.RS]
3 . Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by Senate)[S.2590.ES]
4 . Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)[S.2590.ENR]
The bill numbers are highlighted and linked and if you follow the trail everything you ever wanted to know about a piece of legislation like this (well almost everything) is available. Most of you are probably aware of this but for those who are not after you use it a few times it doesn’t take as long and is really quite helpful. But the point is what happened to the site that gives you the scoop on who are recipients of your tax dollars?
Following the trail at Thomas leads to all congressional actions for the bill. The last action in this case was the bill being made public law. Since this info could not be expected to tell what the website was before anything happened another Google search was used. The terms were ‘omb federal award searchable database’. Which produced results of which the following was the third item.
FederalSpending.gov is still an active URL but you will probably receive a ’server not found’ or similar error. Fortunately, later in the reference above another link was provided which in turn leads to the destination sought. OMBwatch has a sort of sister site to the government one for comparison, etc., is called fedspending.org which has a link to www.usaspending.gov and is the website this whole post is about. A long journey to give you some information you may already have but also presented to demonstrate how little gems are found occasionally and the time expended in getting it to this form, the lowly blog post.
Actually, there is more to this post than the government spending database site. This blog author uses hundreds of government websites while preparing posts on public affairs, politics and related topics as well as others and has for some years now. Even before this blog and the rest of the site was started in 2006 extensive use of government websites was always a resource. Through both the Clinton and Bush terms and probably before then government websites while sometimes tedious were always useful and much information was available. Distilling it in to something useful was the task. Since Barack Obama became President (you know, Mr Transparency and Accountability) that condition appears to be changing. For example, OMB, the Office of Management and Budget is now part of the White House website which is in no way as useful as it was under the last two Presidents, one Republican and one Democrat.
This is not about the porkulus bill but still significant. Much has been said about candidate Obama’s promises and delivery of same as President. A recurring theme is recruiting lobbyists for his administration. William J Lynn is no exception. A registered lobbyist until July and Senior Vice President of Government Operations and Strategy for Raytheon he was nominated and confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Defense this week.
Lynn’s lame expression of how and when he would recuse himself from ‘banned’ actiivties, as if being there wasn’t one of them, is compounded by the fact that McCain opposed this nomination but voted for Lynn anyway. At least Grassley voted against the confirmation as did three others.
You could say it does not matter how Senators vote after the 1/2 majority is reached for it does not affect the outcome. But there is the nagging obstacle with that argument called principle. You could say casting a vote for other reasons is a political necessity or reality but the same problem exists regarding principle. Sort of ironic to be discussing principle when the President promised no lobbyists would not be allowed, then changed his mind on the specifics and then his former campaign opponent expresses concern on the topic but votes in favor of a lobbyist confirmation anyhow.
The only part of Washington politics and hope and change from Obama and others is Washington still works the same way and they hope you won’t notice they did not change anything as promised in this regard. However a change in this republic to socialism is a stronger possibility no matter how often anyone dismisses the claim.
The roll call vote is of course listed below.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 1st Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
Question: On the Nomination (Confirmation William J. Lynn, III, of Virginia, to the Deputy Secretary of Defense )
Vote Number:
62
Vote Date:
February 11, 2009, 05:02 PM
Required For Majority:
1/2
Vote Result:
Nomination Confirmed
Nomination Number:
PN65-11
Nomination Description:
William J. Lynn, III, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Defense
The discussion from just about everywhere continues as observers attempt to draw conclusions about the trashing of Sarah Palin. With no statistical sampling or professional polling data or anything substantial to provide guidance suffice it to say most comments lay blame on Senator McCain for those leveling insults her way. The most popular suspects are aides from the McCain/Palin campaign staff and John McCain himself. Maybe not for participating in the leak of insults but for appearing indifferent to the situation.
There are four videos presented here. One of Michell Malkin expressing her outrage at John McCain on Neil Cavuto’s show. One of O’Reilly and Greta van Susteren debating the relative merits of reports on the matter and a two part from YouTube offering McCain’s appearance on Leno November 11th. This is followed by a full text transcript of the Leno appearance by McCain.
The opinion on this blog has been and continues to be one of skepticism. No serious evidence has been witnessed by this blog’s author to allow a clear conclusion to be drawn showing guilt by McCain or his aides for all the bad press directed toward Sarah Palin. That is not to say it is or is not out there, just that it has not been seen from here.
Is the loss of adhering to conservative principles by the GOP or the loss of the 2008 Presidential election by the GOP ticket so painful that those who appear to have supported the Republican candidates for that office need to apply blame to someone for the current situation? It seems fair to say that whoever is trashing Sarah Palin is not a former or current supporter of her candidacy for Vice-President of the United States. If that includes members of the McCain/Palin campaign staff then someone was hired who should not have been. Where is the strong evidence supporting the notion that the campaign aides are responsible? Sadly, based on Michelle Malkin’s mention on Cavuto’s show of Carl Cameron and Newsweek as sources to explain some of this hours were spent searching for such information with no success. Of the content found related to the ‘trashing’ nothing was seen that confirms the accusation towards aides from McCain’s campaign staff. Even van Susteren refers to the reports as ‘gossip’ and would not have run with the story based on that whereas O’Reilly would have.
While some criticize McCain especially for not ‘denouncing’ aides for bashing Palin this blog believes his responses on Leno were reasonable. These things happen in campaigns, no one likes a sore loser, Palin and Obama inspired many and it’s time to move on. If anyone is expecting all the bad press directed at Sarah Palin to be withdrawn or labeled as lies by those who published or broadcasted them, they are living in a dream world. The best thing that can happen is to get back to the work of advancing the cause of conservative principles and politics in order to move this country forward in a practical and reasoned way. The ugliness of the last campaign must end. Let the ugliness of politics as usual in Washington begin anew. There will be no revolutionary changes in government if history is any indicator. Get a grip and help move the country forward. All this ranting and outrage is pointless. Coming from those on the right they are starting to sound like liberals with all the whining.
So, now for the videos and transcript and have a good view and a read. Feel free to point out where you think this post has errors or simply express your opinion. It appears to be time to focus on what is needed for the next round rather than obssess on past losses. If you look back at the primaries and what took place then and since the outcome was never really a surprise. Too many obstacles to overcome combined with a ship adrift in rough seas allowed a decision to accept any port in a storm. The harbor was not entirely friendly nor conducive to success. It is time to right the ship and head for open water not lament the damage caused or how it happened.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Michelle Malkin on McCain and the Palin attacks
O’Reilly, Van Susteren debate Fox report
McCain on Leno 11/1108 Parts 1 & 2
TRANSCRIPT: JOHN MCCAIN ON “THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO
“THE TONIGHT SHOW”
Jay Leno: As I said, today is Veterans Day. I cannot think of a better person to have as my first guest. Vietnam veteran, real American war hero, also just ran a hard-fought campaign against Barack Obama, now our President elect. Please welcome, in his first television interview,
Senator John McCain. (Applause.) Welcome back, sir.
Senator John McCain: Thank you, my friend. And thank you for having all these brave servicemen and women here. I’m honored to be with you. Thanks.
Jay Leno: It’s been a week since the election. How are you doing?
Senator John McCain: Well, I’ve been sleeping like a baby. (Laughter.) Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. (Laughter.)
Jay Leno: Well, how –
Senator John McCain: I gotta tell you one quick story about Arizona. As you know, the great state of Arizona I’ve had the honor to represent. And we have a problem in Arizona. It’s really kind of a sad thing, because Barry Goldwater from Arizona ran for President of the United States. Morris Udolf (sp.) from Arizona ran for President of the United States. Bruce Babbitt from Arizona ran for President of the 1 United States. I, twice. Arizona may be the only state in America where mothers don’t tell their children that some day they can grow up and be President of the United States. (Laughter.) I mean, that’s a sad story.
Jay Leno: How about your wife Cindy? How is she taking it? Because sometimes –
Senator John McCain: Yeah, it’s tough. It’s tougher always on the family members. But she’s doing fine. She’s doing very fine. Thanks for having her and Meghan on the show. Appreciate it.
Jay Leno: They were great guests.
Senator John McCain: Thank you. And I’m glad to be back for my 14th time. I’m happy to be on.
Jay Leno: The day after the election, it was so weird. I turn on the TV, and I see you coming out of your house or apartment. You get in your car, and you drive somewhere by yourself.
Senator John McCain: Yeah. To get a cup of coffee, yeah. I didn’t have a single accident.
Jay Leno: I mean –
Senator John McCain: Maybe one.
Jay Leno: What was that like to suddenly be surrounded — “He’s coming down the hall. Remove” — and then suddenly — I mean –
Senator John McCain: Well, secret service people, despite the idiot you talked about tonight, they’re wonderful people. They’re brave. They serve the country. They’re just really the best of America. But it is a bit confining, you know. So I’m able to –
Jay Leno: So what did you do that first day? Where were you driving when you –
Senator John McCain: Went down to get a cup of coffee. Cindy and I went down to get a cup of coffee and — not the newspaper. I knew what it was going to say. (Laughter.)
Jay Leno: And you went up to the mountains too?
Senator John McCain: Yeah, went up to our place near Sedona and had a very nice time.
Jay Leno: Now, which house is that? Number 12?
Senator John McCain: You know what? That’s — let’s see. 27.
Jay Leno: 27.
Senator John McCain: But we’re — you know, look, it’s a great honor. It’s a great privilege. It’s an incredible thing that I was able to do. And I saluted, as you know, and admire and respect the winner, Senator — President elect Barack Obama.
Jay Leno: Actually, to me, that was, I thought, a nice moment when you were talking somewhere. In the campaign when I saw ugly things going back and forth and a woman said, “Well, Barack Obama, he’s an Arab or a terrorist,” and you stopped and you said, “No, he’s a good man and he’s a family man.”
Senator John McCain: Yeah, a good and decent person.
Jay Leno: And I like that. I thought that was quite impressive.
Senator John McCain: Well, you’ve got to have a respectful campaign. And that doesn’t mean it isn’t tough. I mean, campaigns are tough, and they should be because you’re seeking the most important position in the world. But there’s a difference between being tough and being personal or angry. And look, America right now — I don’t have to tell you — I don’t have to tell anybody out here, especially those members of the military — that we’re in two wars. We’ve got housing problems. We’ve got economic crisis. We’ve got all these problems. Now it’s time for America to join together and support the man who was just elected President.
Jay Leno: Now, what do you think was the main reason you lost. I mean, it was close. You got –
Senator John McCain: I think personality.
Jay Leno: Personality fault? (Laughter.)
Senator John McCain: Maybe too many people saw me on the Jay Leno show.
Jay Leno: What would you — is there anything, looking back, you would have done differently? Seriously, is there anything you said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have said this”?
Senator John McCain: You know, one of the things — I do study history. And every book I’ve read about presidential campaigns is the person that one ran a perfectly flawless, beautifully machined, great campaign, and the person who lost, “Oh, my God, all screwed up.” I could tell you a lot of things that we may have made mistakes on. But Jack Kennedy, after the failure of the invasion of the Bay of Pigs, said, “Victory has a thousand fathers. Defeat has one more lonely orphan.” He didn’t use the word “orphan,” but we’re on television. So that’s the way it is. Look, I’m so happy to have had the friends, go to the places we went to, Gee’s Bend, Alabama, where Martin Luther King went before the March in Selma. And I met a group of African-American women who make quilts, singing. I’ll never forget so many of those wonderful experiences that I had that no other way I could have had — I could have had the experiences I had.
Jay Leno: When you sit with friends, you discuss it, it does seem like, as viewing this, knowing you, I would see sort of two McCains. Sometimes I would see one McCain, and then the times when you were being funny, like at the Al Smith dinner and “Saturday Night Live” and said, “Oh, that was” — I said, “Why can’t we get” — “where is that McCain?” That one didn’t seem to be quite as visible. Is it the pressure and the tension of –
Senator John McCain: I think these are tough times, and you have to — and campaigns are tough. I don’t, frankly, think that a lot of people wanted a standup comic. They wanted to know how we were going to address the issues. That’s why I didn’t worry about your write-in candidacy. (Laughter.) But, you know, you just do the best that you can. And again, it’s an incredible honor. You know, we’re not — I’m not denigrating my past, but I stood fifth from the bottom of my class at the Naval Academy. If my old Marine company officer were here today, he’d say, “In America, anything is possible.” (Laughter.)
Jay Leno: Look, we’ll take a break. When we come back, we’ll discuss Sarah Palin. We’ll be right back with Senator McCain. (Commercial break.) Welcome back. Talking with
Senator John McCain. Let’s talk about Governor Palin now. The polls show that she hurt you. I know you’re too much of a gentleman to probably answer this question, but did she? Do you think it hurt you at all?
Senator John McCain: No, look, Sarah Palin and her husband, who is an amazing guy, four-time champion –
Jay Leno: Snow machine.
Senator John McCain: Yeah, snow machine –
Jay Leno: I didn’t hear that. Was that mentioned?
Senator John McCain: One time the guy — with 250 miles to go, Todd broke his arm and finished the race. Look, I’m so proud of her. And I’m very grateful that she agreed to run with me. She inspired people. She still does. And look, I’m — I couldn’t be happier with Sarah Palin. And she’s going back to be a great governor, and I think she will play a big role in the future of this country.
Jay Leno: Did she ever get off message at one point?
Senator John McCain: Did you expect mavericks to stay on message? I’m sure that from — look, we did a lot of things together, a lot of these rallies. The people were very excited and inspired by her. And that’s what really mattered, I think. Look, she’s a great reformer. She took on the governor of her own party when she ran for governor.
Jay Leno: Gotcha.
Senator John McCain: She understands all the energy issues. There’s a $40 billion pipeline coming to bring natural gas to places like California. And so look, she’s a marvelous person.
Jay Leno: Now, these aides that were criticizing her — and I think everyone agrees there were Republican aides who were criticizing her. I know you wouldn’t go for that. I know you’re an old soldier. You don’t let people talk — but why?
Senator John McCain: One — these things happen in campaigns too. I think I have at least a thousand, quote, top advisors. “A top advisor said” — people I’ve never even heard of, much less a, quote, top advisor or a high-ranking Republican official. It’s — these things go on in campaigns, and you just –
Jay Leno: Why don’t we just move on.
Senator John McCain: I’m just very proud to have had Sarah Palin and her family, a wonderful family.
Jay Leno: I sort of guessed — when Barack Obama picked Joe Biden, I — it seemed to me he picked Joe Biden because Russia had just invaded Georgia and it seemed like, “Wow, I want to go with somebody with foreign experience. Biden’s got” — it seemed like he became a choice because of that. That’s just my guess. If this economic thing had happened a month earlier or prior to you choosing, would you might have gone with an economic person, maybe a Romney or somebody like that? Is there any chance — how much did the world events play in the decision?
Senator John McCain: The world events didn’t play a role. I just looked at people, and I saw all of the things that she had to offer. And all of them that we had to actually, quote, choose from or ask to serve with us were all good people. I like them all very much. It wasn’t an easy process. I just thought that — I really believe that Sarah Palin is amongst some, like Tim Pawlenty and Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, there’s a group of young Republican governors and — mainly governors, but also some in the Senate — that I think are the next generation of leadership of our party. And we’re probably going to — our party has a lot of work to do. We just got back from the woodshed.
Jay Leno: How about Joe Lieberman? Was he a close choice? Was that possible?
Senator John McCain: Joe is one of the finest, most wonderful men I’ve ever known in my life. I have never known a finer man than Joe Lieberman, and I believe I won the nomination because right before the New Hampshire primary — and I know I don’t expect a lot of you to remember all the details — he came out to supported me. It mattered. Independent voters voted with us. I love Joe Lieberman.
Jay Leno: That might cost him the chairmanship now. Is that –
Senator John McCain: I hope not, because Joe is a wonderful person. And we want people to stand up for –
Jay Leno: Can you do that? Can you lose your chairmanship in the Senate just because you picked what your party perceives as an –
Senator John McCain: It generally is not done. I don’t, obviously, know what — what’s going to happen. But I know that Joe Lieberman is one of the — and by the way, on national security issues, he’s really, really good.
Jay Leno: And he’s an independent now; right?
Senator John McCain: He’s a, quote, independent Democrat.
Jay Leno: Would you want him to be a, quote, independent Republican?
Senator John McCain: No, no.
Jay Leno: Try to get him over on the other side, kind of lure him over –
Senator John McCain: I’m honored to have –
Jay Leno: — get him some clothes, expensive clothes, maybe nice suit? (Laughter.)
Senator John McCain: Neiman Marcus?
Jay Leno: Neiman Marcus.
Senator John McCain: But yeah, I think that — I think that Joe is going to probably remain as what he is, an independent who stands up for what he believes in. We need more people like Joe Lieberman.
Jay Leno: I want to talk to some more. When we come back, I want to ask you about a couple of issues and if you think the outcome would have been different if those issues had been different. More with
Senator John McCain. (Commercial break.)
Jay Leno: Welcome back. Talking with
Senator John McCain. Let me ask you this: If the main issue had remained the Iraq War, do you think the outcome might have been different?
Senator John McCain: If frogs had wings — (Laughter.) Anyway, won’t finish that line. You know, I don’t know, Jay. If you get into this “might have been” or different scenarios — we fought, I thought, a good campaign. I’m honored by the friends we made. I’m honored to have had the opportunity. I know it sounds a little repetitious, but that’s what I’ll take with me. By the way, Senator Obama inspired millions of young people, and I think we inspired some people too. And that’s really what I think was important, that legacy.
Jay Leno: At what point did you feel like you’re up against almost a historical movement? It seemed almost bigger than either candidate. You know, when I watched Senator Obama give his speech and I saw people who had not been part of the process –
Senator John McCain: Never been — oh, yeah.
Jay Leno: — suddenly moving –
Senator John McCain: Especially a lot of young people too.
Jay Leno: A lot of young people. At what point did you realize, “Oh, this is kind of bigger than both of us”?
Senator John McCain: I never thought that, because I’m a fighter. We always — I knew I had a headwind. I can read the polls. They tried to keep them from me. “You don’t want to read that, Senator.” But no, I knew we had a real headwind.
Jay Leno: Do you feel the press kind of favored him? Did you see sort of –
Senator John McCain: Yeah, it’s all the press’s fault. (Laughter.)
Jay Leno: All the press’s fault.
Senator John McCain: No, no.
Jay Leno: Was there any hostility in the media? Like that Letterman fallout, was there any hostility there? (Laughter.)
Senator John McCain: You should have seen “The View.” (Laughter.)
Jay Leno: I saw “The View,” yeah.
Senator John McCain: No, but look, we’re big guys. We’re supposed to be able to take this kind of stuff, you know. You know, one thing I think Americans don’t want is a sore loser. And I’ve got a great — I get to go back to the United States Senate and work on a lot of issues and continue to serve. That’s been my life. That’s been my life.
Jay Leno: Joe the plumber, was that a gift for Republicans? Is that like you’re watching the other guy and you go, “Oh, there’s gold. The guy looks like Mr. Clean”?
Senator John McCain: I loved him. He’s a great guy. Joe Wurzelbacher. Great guy. Had the chance to get to know him a bit. He’s kind of the classic American trying to get ahead, trying to make it. A great guy, great guy. And honest to God — I’m not kidding you, because we took polls all the time — that guy went from zero to 70 percent name I.D. in 48 hours. Really. It was amazing. It was amazing. And he handled it incredibly well, incredibly well.
Jay Leno: Now, in 2012, you’ll be 76. Still a young man.
Senator John McCain: Yeah, here we go again. Ready to go again.
Jay Leno: Ready to go again? (Applause.)
Senator John McCain: I don’t — I wouldn’t think so, my friend. It’s been a great experience, and, you know, we’re going to have another generation of leaders come along, and I’ll hope that I can continue to contribute. That’s all.
Jay Leno: Any thoughts on Veterans Day today? I know this is one thing — you see, we had a lot of fun with you, but it’s always about age, maybe you’re cranky, but it was never about your patriotism or about your love of country because you are a true soldier and a true hero.
Senator John McCain: You’re very kind. (Applause.)
Jay Leno: Maybe you could — could you share with us something maybe you didn’t get a chance to share during the campaign.
Senator John McCain: Just about every day, but especially on Veterans Day, I think of a guy I was in prison with a long time ago. For a few years we were in Hanoi and prison camps in north Vietnam. They kept us in solitary confinement, two or three to a cell. They finally moved us into large cells, 20 or 25 prisoners in each cell. The guy that moved in with me was a guy named Mike Christian. Mike was from a small town near Selma, Alabama. Very poor family. Enlisted in the Navy at age 17. Later became an A6 bombardier navigator. Was shot down and captured. He loved this country. I moved in the same room with him. The uniform we wore in prison was blue, like, short-sleeved shirt, like, pajama trousers, and shoes — sandals that were cut out of automobile tires. I recommend them highly. One pair lasted me five and a half years. (Laughter.) Part of this change in treatment, they let us have some packages from home in which were small items — some of us — like a handkerchief or a scarf. He took his blue shirt, fashioned himself a bamboo needle, got a piece of white cloth, piece of red cloth, and sewed the American flag on the inside of his shirt. Every evening before we would have our bowl of soup, we would put his flag — his shirt on the wall of the cell and pledge our allegiance to the country. It was an important part of our day. One day the Vietnamese came, searched the cell, found his shirt, removed it, came back that night — and I’m telling it fast — opened the door of the cell, called for him to come out, closed the door of the cell, and beat him very badly for a couple hours. Then they threw him back into the cell. The cell in which we slept had a concrete slab, light bulbs in all four corners, naked light bulbs. We cleaned Mike up as well as we could. I went over to lie down on the concrete and go to sleep. And I happened to look over in the corner of the cell, and underneath the lightbulb, with a piece of white cloth and a piece of red cloth and his bamboo needle, was Mike, with his eyes almost shut from the beating that he had received, sewing another American flag. He wasn’t doing that for us. He was doing it for his country. He wasn’t doing it for himself. He was doing it for his country and our ability to pledge our allegiance to our flag and country. I’ll never forget Mike Christian. (Applause.)
Jay Leno:
Senator John McCain, thank you for being here. Thank you so much for your patriotism and your service to your country. I know you’ve got to go. Cindy is in the audience. There’s his lovely wife Cindy right there. John McCain, thank you, sir. (Applause.)
Online visits and what people search about candidates reveals voter interest. For instance Sarah Palin is present in searches by Obama supporters as well as McCain supporters. Although Obama has more cash to throw around and has a larger online presence McCain videos have been incredibly popular.
Sarah Palin has been incredibly popular yet the MSM plays down her role and often asks if she is a negative for McCain. Maybe the negative is more the questions being asked by the media rather than anyone’s opinion of her. McCain’s flare for being the underdog and his monster push in the last week’s of the campaign seem to be drawing more attention to him, increasing his popularity and raising questions in voter’s minds about Barack Obama that have been muted by the press.
If Obama is elected voters who supported or opposed him may find the job market leaving them nothing more than a claim of a thousand dollar tax refund from Obama but with no job. And the Obama campaign continues to paint McCain as four more years of President Bush. But it is funny that for all the criticism of Bush we haven’t been attacked since 9/11 under his watch and Biden strongly warned Obama would be tested by our enemies if elected. So within six months of an Obama election we could be attacked and losing our jobs. It is another problem with Obama that his campaign and assistance from the media hopes you won’t notice.
That Obama and the media play down his associations with Ayers, Rezko, Wright, Pfleger, Khalidi, Davis, ACORN and the organizing intimidation of Alinsky and other problems, there are no such questions or problems with John McCain. Something you may want to think about as you head to the polls.
And while critics like to throw mud at Sarah Palin and also suggest she is not ready or capable consider something else the media ignores. As the most popular governor in the country, Sarah Palin does what elected officials are supposed to do. She has successfully represented her constituents which happen to be the citizens of Alaska. She has successfully attended to their needs while also succeeding with marriage and family and supporting core American values. That same devotion, dedication and success would follow her to the Office of Vice-President of the United States.
McCain’s record speaks for itself. His adherence to duty, honor, country and pursuit of reform, prosperity and peace spells success for America along with his running mate Sarah Palin. The Obama/Biden ticket has no such resume’.
In this last remaining day before the conclusion of the 2008 Presidential election all posts here are provided to assist those still considering their choice and to reinforce those who have selected McCain/Palin for President and Vice-President. If you have fallen victim to the all out blitz maintained over this campaign season by the DNC, Obama and the main stream media all supporting Obama for President you owe it to yourself to at least review information provided by other sources to complete your candidate analysis if you are preparing to vote on November 4. If you are voting for McCain/Palin already, reviewing these posts will be helpful to you also. It can be useful when discussing the election with others to arrive at an informed decision.
Start with the excerpt and link below, then move to previous posts on the main page here and beyond. The video before this post as well as reports from liberals and registered Democrats voting for McCain/Palin are especially enlightening. The extreme significance of a Presidential election compels your due diligence. Carry on.
The liberals like to say conservatives don’t use the words ‘middle class’ as often as they do. Maybe that is because most conservatives, like most other groups ARE middle class. But what the liberals are not telling you is the middle class stands to lose the most if their candidate is elected President.
Regardless of how much Obama, Biden and co-conspirators Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and the DNC raid the bank accounts of the richest among us, the rich will survive. What about the middle class? What will you spend that $1000 Obama and Biden claim they will give you if your job goes away?
Here’s a report that will explain what might happen to your job with an Obama Administration. It offers reaction by two real life small business owners to Obama’s tax and health care proposals and how it would affect their employess and their businesses.
John McCain and Sarah Palin will not raise taxes and will concentrate on jobs and expanding the economy through investment and not tying the hands of small business which employs the majority of Americans. Vote McCain/Palin on November 4 and save your jobs and those of your
What the hell are these people thinking? Enough noise was made by the public this year that even POLS with hearing impairments should have received the message. A return to basic common sense American values is long overdue and more necessary for survival than previously thought. If those connected to the GOP are as unresponsive as their political opposition from the other major party then one thing remains clear.
The Dream Act has been around for a while and like the shamnesty defeat in the summer of 2007 it has been shot down once. Together with yes votes on bailouts any member of Congress voting for shamnesty risks defeat in 2010 unless they are secure in a liberal saturated district willing to open all borders and ignore the rule of law.
This is all quite typical. Governor Blagojevich (indicted recently on 16 counts) is accused of trying to sell the then vacant seat of former Senator Barack Obama. Blago denied everything and said he would be cleared of any wrongdoing. Now Rep Jesse Jackson Jr is being investigated by the feds to determine if he offered cash to Blago for the seat. And a Congressional ethics panel (referred to below as ‘preliminary’) has been ’scrutinizing’ Jackson’s possible role in the Blago saga.
The Congressional ethics panel probably felt compelled to move since there already was a federal investigation and they want to appear concerned. But will a preliminary Congressional ‘probe’ uncover anything? After prosecutorial misconduct in the Stevens’ case is it such a stretch to suspect members of Congress may try to influence the outcome of any inquiry?
In January 2009 after President George W Bush’s last State of the Union Address reports on the event included the President’s statement that economic fundamentals were strong. He was criticized for this appraisal and accused of being out of touch.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign after the field was reduced to the two major party nominees Barack Obama attacked John McCain on his insistance the econommic fundamentals were strong.
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) voiced opposition on Obama’s selection. 
The discussion from just about everywhere continues as observers attempt to draw conclusions about the trashing of Sarah Palin. With no statistical sampling or professional polling data or anything substantial to provide guidance suffice it to say most comments lay blame on Senator McCain for those leveling insults her way. The most popular suspects are aides from the McCain/Palin campaign staff and John McCain himself. Maybe not for participating in the leak of insults but for appearing indifferent to the situation.
Is the loss of adhering to conservative principles by the GOP or the loss of the 2008 Presidential election by the GOP ticket so painful that those who appear to have supported the Republican candidates for that office need to apply blame to someone for the current situation? It seems fair to say that whoever is trashing Sarah Palin is not a former or current supporter of her candidacy for Vice-President of the United States. If that includes members of the McCain/Palin campaign staff then someone was hired who should not have been. Where is the strong evidence supporting the notion that the campaign aides are responsible? Sadly, based on Michelle Malkin’s mention on Cavuto’s show of Carl Cameron and Newsweek as sources to explain some of this hours were spent searching for such information with no success. Of the content found related to the ‘trashing’ nothing was seen that confirms the accusation towards aides from McCain’s campaign staff. Even van Susteren refers to the reports as ‘gossip’ and would not have run with the story based on that whereas O’Reilly would have.
While some criticize McCain especially for not ‘denouncing’ aides for bashing Palin this blog believes his responses on Leno were reasonable. These things happen in campaigns, no one likes a sore loser, Palin and Obama inspired many and it’s time to move on. If anyone is expecting all the bad press directed at Sarah Palin to be withdrawn or labeled as lies by those who published or broadcasted them, they are living in a dream world. The best thing that can happen is to get back to the work of advancing the cause of conservative principles and politics in order to move this country forward in a practical and reasoned way. The ugliness of the last campaign must end. Let the ugliness of politics as usual in Washington begin anew. There will be no revolutionary changes in government if history is any indicator. Get a grip and help move the country forward. All this ranting and outrage is pointless. Coming from those on the right they are starting to sound like liberals with all the whining.
