This *seems* to suggest that success in Iraq is dependent on the American people agreeing with his viewpoint, which is the strangest thing.

As for things like ethno-sectarian violence, no one ever seems to mention that a good deal of the ethnic cleansing has already occurred, and that one in seven Iraqis is currently a refugee.

As far as political progress goes, can the guy give a concrete example, or is this just blather?

That last was rhetorical, I guess.

This is sort of Doctor Seuss, but the poor bastard doesn't even bother to rhyme.

Posted at April 8, 2008 1:42 PM in response to Lieberman: Hooray!

These are weird quotes, in that calling attention to "God" and "Providence" is hardly evidence against Deism. What else would you call a Creator if you were a Deist?

Posted at March 10, 2008 3:03 PM in response to Fallacy #1: The Founders Weren't Deists

Russert:

"Mr. Obama, you've received the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan . . . Farrakhan . . . Obama . . . Obama . . . Farrakhan . . . Farrabama . . . Obamakhan . . . would you like to comment the Farrakhan's endorsement of Obama?"

How hard Russert tried to show Senator Obama where the gutter was in "gutter religion."

That was particularly odious. What in the world was Russert's point?

Posted at February 26, 2008 10:41 PM in response to Inane Question Of The Night! And Hillary Says Obama Didn't Denounce Farrakhan Forcefully Enough...

Damn. Another differing set of degrees:

1) "I'm calling from office of one of our most powerful Republican Senators."
2) "I'm calling from the campaign bus of the Republican nominee for president."

It's a scene out of Bob Roberts.

Posted at February 22, 2008 8:43 PM in response to Top McCain Adviser Says He Does Much Of His Lobbying From Aboard Straight Talk Express!

Well, it's a matter of degree. There's a difference between a guy who says, "I'll just make a call to Flyboy for you," and a guy who says, "Hang on," and hands the phone to Flyboy himself.

No?

Posted at February 22, 2008 8:40 PM in response to Top McCain Adviser Says He Does Much Of His Lobbying From Aboard Straight Talk Express!

Here's the hypothetical call from Charles Black to a potential or continuing client:

Black: Good morning.

Client: Hi Chuck. Nice to hear from you. Whatcha doing?

Black: Just checking in from the campaign bus.

(Client's head explodes.)

Notwithstanding the cranium danger, this is a lobbyist making business calls from inside the campaign of the presumptive Republican nominee for president. Jesus H. Christ on a rubber crutch, how is this not a breach of ethics? Or at the very least a bus-sized hole in the facade of a man who claims complete independence from special interests?

Sure, maybe there's no connection in McCain's mind between a volunteer/lobbyist, but the connection exists in capital letters for the recipient of the phone call.

McCain should quit now. Just this is enough to flatten all eight wheels on the Straight Talk Express, the greasiness enough to peel the lettering right off the side.

Posted at February 22, 2008 7:36 PM in response to Top McCain Adviser Says He Does Much Of His Lobbying From Aboard Straight Talk Express!

One more thing: the letter McCain sent to the FCC contained "draft language" from Ms. Iseman and her clients. This is just the kind of lobbyists-in-bed-with-legislators that has plagued the Bush Administration on numerous occasions, and has cost the American people quite significantly. Not only did McCain send a highly inappropriate letter to the FCC, *he let the lobbyists write the thing.*

And I haven't even touched on the sex-for-favors aspect of this mess.

This whole thing stinks. Maybe not more than a lot of other things, but for a man who arrogantly touts his own high-mindedness, the word hypocrisy doesn't quite cover it.

Posted at February 22, 2008 2:03 AM in response to What Did McCain Actually Do for Iseman's Clients?

You neglect to mention McCain's letters to the FCC on behalf of Ms. Iseman's cause, letters that resulted in a rebuke from the FCC for inappropriate interference. That seems to be a pretty big issue, doesn't it? This is a specific instance in which McCain is tied to something that is precisely the inverse of his stated policy, along with his self-styled unimpeachable integrity. Isn't that exactly the issue at hand?

Not to mention his free flights, which he didn't disclose until after he was called to the carpet. Like the Keating affair, he championed legislation to curb such favors, but only *after* he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

These are favors from lobbyists resulting in favors for lobbyists. What part of this should result in a free pass?

Posted at February 22, 2008 1:49 AM in response to What Did McCain Actually Do for Iseman's Clients?