No More of the McSame!

So this is the kind of thing that George W. Bush inspires. John McCain must think that after Dubya, anyone would be an improvement. In fact, he is betting on it. I can’t say he is banking on it, because by his own admission, which is all too often glossed over in the mainstream media, McCain is ignorant on economic matters.

Oh yeah, give us more of that.

And the other area where McSame will be just like Bush is in showing up for work. Dubya has been the absentee president, spending more time on vacation than any Commander in Chief. Similarly, John McCain has missed 56% of the Senate votes since January, 2007. That is more than any other Senator (by a lot) with the exception of one senator (Tim Johnson) who is recovering from a brain hemorrhage.

McCain: Most absentee ‘08 Senator

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), missing another major vote on the Iraq war today in favor of presidential campaigning, has pulled far ahead of his 2008 rivals in at least one category: absenteeism.

McCain, who missed today’s vote while campaigning in South Carolina as part of another re-launch of his White House bid, has gone two straight weeks without casting a single vote on the chamber floor. He’s missed 18 straight votes.

Over the last month, the Senate has held 33 votes. McCain, the onetime frontrunner for the Republican nomination, has been on hand for just seven of those votes.

Full story here…

Just a cute little graphic I happened to come across. It also happens to be true.

This is no slam against the French; just another glimpse into the real John McCain.

John McCain has derided other being being inconsistent, or being “flip-floppers.”

It’s funny that John should decide to cast that stone, given the glass case surrounding his own positions.

Below is a terrific article originally posted at The Carpet Bagger Report. Steve Benen does a great job of capturing a multitude of flip flops by our would-be president. So much for the “Straight Talk Express.”

McCain’s record includes ’some inconsistencies’
Posted March 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm

I’m delighted the NYT noticed.

Senator John McCain likes to present himself as the candidate of the “Straight Talk Express” who does not pander to voters or change his positions with the political breeze. But the fine print of his record in the Senate indicates that he has been a lot less consistent on some of his signature issues than he has presented himself to be so far in his presidential campaign.

Mr. McCain, who derided his onetime Republican competitor Mitt Romney for his political mutability, has himself meandered over the years from position to position on some topics, particularly as he has tried to court the conservatives who have long distrusted him.

For its part, the McCain campaign told the Times that the senator “has evolved rather than switched positions in his 25-year career.” That’s a perfectly sensible spin — when a politician holds one position, and then, for apparently political reasons, decides to embrace the polar opposite position, it’s only natural for his or her aides to say the politician’s position has “evolved.”

But in McCain’s case, the spin is wholly unfulfilling. First, McCain sells himself as a pol who never sways with the wind, and whose willingness to be consistent in the face of pressure is proof of his character. Second, Republicans have spent the last four years or so making policy reversals the single most serious political crime in presidential politics. The dreaded “flip-flop” is, according to the GOP, the latest cardinal sin for someone seeking national office.

And if we’re playing by Republican rules, McCain’s “inconsistencies” should be a fairly serious problem.

With this in mind, for the first time in months, I thought now would be a good time to update the list of John McCain’s Biggest Flip-Flops. There have been some key additions since the last time I did this (in November).

* McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain if he were a “‘read my lips’ candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?” referring to George H.W. Bush’s 1988 pledge. “No new taxes,” McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, “I’m not making a ‘read my lips’ statement, in that I will not raise taxes.”

* McCain’s campaign unveiled a Social Security policy that the senator would implement if elected, which did not include a Bush-like privatization scheme. In March 2008, McCain denounced his own campaign’s policy.

* In February 2008, McCain abandoned his opposition to waterboarding.

* In November 2007, McCain reversed his previous position on a long-term presence for U.S. troops in Iraq, arguing that the “nature of the society in Iraq” and the “religious aspects” of the country make it inevitable that the United States “eventually withdraws.” Two months later, McCain reversed back, saying he’s prepared to leave U.S. troops in Iraq for 100 years.

* McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty’s behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it.

* McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants’ kids who graduate from high school. Now he’s against it.

* On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own legislation.

* In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving “feedback” on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he opposes his own measure.

* McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”

* McCain said he was the “greatest critic” of Rumsfeld’s failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as “a mission accomplished.” In March 2004, he said, “I’m confident we’re on the right course.” In December 2005, he said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.”

* McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.

* McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed.

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but then decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks.

* McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.

* On a related note, he said 2005 that he opposed the tax cuts because they were “too tilted to the wealthy.” By 2007, he denied ever having said this, and insisted he opposed the cuts because of increased government spending.

* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.

* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June 2007, he abandoned his own legislation.

* McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it.

* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.

* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

* McCain decided in 2000 that he didn’t want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he “would taint the image of the ‘Straight Talk Express.’” Kissinger is now the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York.

Now, it’s worth noting that there are worse qualities in a presidential candidate than changing one’s mind about a policy matter or two. McCain has been in Congress for decades; he’s bound to shift now and then on various controversies.

But therein lies the point — McCain was consistent on most of these issues, right up until he started running for president, at which point he conveniently abandoned practically every position he used to hold. The problem isn’t just the incessant flip-flops; it’s the shameless pandering and hollow convictions behind the incessant flip-flops.

An interesting piece on the fear-mongering of John McCain. Olbermann’s analysis? This was no slip of the tongue, but is a deliberate muddying of the water to play off of people’s fears. McCain would rather treat American voters as though they are dumb and can’t understand subtlety. While there is probably some truth to that the fact is, Mr. McSame, that those of us that are planning to keep you honest are not going to miss this type of double-speak. Most of us get the difference between Sunni and Shi’ia, and understand which side Iran would support. Frankly, the fact of the matter is that Iran really has very little to gain from increased instability in Iraq; they already stand to be the major beneficiaries of the American occupation, given that the Sunnis are now largely in control of Iraq. That’s right, our invasion ultimately strengthens their hand… and you want to stay longer.

I guess the flames of eternal war need some fanning.

Wait a minute, I thought foreign policy was this guy’s strength. Thank goodness his buddy Joe was there to bail him out.

McCain’s Militant Mixup
Posted on Mar 19, 2008

Presidential contender John McCain took a trip to the Middle East to showcase his foreign policy chops, so the opposition was particularly delighted that it was during such a demonstration that he committed this gaffe.

While attempting to explain Iran’s influence in neighboring Iraq, the would-be commander in chief repeatedly refers to Tehran’s support for al-Qaida. Iran is a Shiite country that has been accused of arming Shiite militants, and not the militantly Sunni al-Qaida.

Here are two great (and highly accurate) cartoons from journalist, writer and cartoonist Andrew Wahl, who has an excellent site at An Off The Wahl Perspective. It’s worth checking out. Andrew has graciously given me permission to post these here, and I will stay on the lookout for any other McCain cartoons that he produces.

Remember when John McCain went to Iraq and walked through an open air market bragging about how safe he was? Of course, he failed to mention that he had more security around him than most small nations have. Well, it’s amazing what a difference a year makes.

So, the McSurge is working, John?

One Year Later, Market Where McCain Strolled ‘Freely’ Is Controlled By Sadr, Too Unsafe For Americans To Visit»

On April 1, 2007, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) strolled through the open-air Shorja market in Baghdad in an effort to prove that Americans are “not getting the full picture” of what’s going on in Iraq. In a press conference after his Baghdad tour, McCain told a reporter that his visit to the market was proof that people could “walk freely” in parts of Baghdad.

What McCain failed to mention was that he was accompanied by “100 American soldiers, with three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships overhead.” He also appeared to be wearing a bulletproof vest during his visit.

Since that trip, McCain has claimed that the situation in Iraq has improved even more. A few months ago, McCain claimed that “we’ve succeeded militarily” in Iraq. Things, of course, are going so well, that he wants to keep U.S. troops there for at least 100 years.

McCain is now back in Iraq for a “surprise visit with Iraqi and American diplomatic and military leaders.” He is joined by fellow Iraq war defenders Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). But it’s unlikely they will be visiting the Shorja market again. Today, CNN reported that they tried to visit the Shorja market, but it was too unsafe and they were unable to go:

We got close to that marketplace today, Jim, but our own security advisers here in Iraq did not want us to go there. They didn’t believe it was safe for an American to be in that area. We were in a thriving marketplace nearby.

But when you show up, the local Iraqis, while it is clear security is better on the street — it is clear there are more markets open, just the traffic jams alone tell you that things are better on the streets of Baghdad — it’s also a very sensitive potential neighborhoods.

That one marketplace, as a matter of fact, you do see Iraqi police, you do see the Iraqi army, but in truth, that area is controlled by the radical cleric Moqtada al Sadr’s Mahdi army.

Civilian deaths per day in Iraq are up to 39 from a low of 20 last January, while at the same time, there has been “a sharp increase in attacks resulting in the deaths of U.S. soldiers.” Twelve Americans were killed last week over a period of four days, “bringing the overall U.S. military death toll since the start of the war near 4,000.”

The Associated Press recently interviewed Iraqis who “said they were not necessarily changing their daily routines,” but “the growing bloodshed was present in their minds, clouding what had until recently been a more hopeful time.”

Here is a great article from Politico.com from someone who voted for John McCain when he ran for president in 2000. Very enlightening for anyone who thinks that John McCain has not completely sold out on his principles.

Not the candidate he used to be
By: Cenk Uygur
Mar 12, 2008 08:30 PM EST

I voted for John McCain in 2000. If he had won the Republican primary, I definitely would have voted for him in the general election against Al Gore. The John McCain of 2000 was the Barack Obama of 2008 — a guy who gave you hope that politics could change and that someone with integrity could actually win.

But he didn’t win. And instead of McCain changing politics, politics changed him.

Now, that McCain of yesteryear is unrecognizable. He has taken nearly every position he abhorred and gotten in bed with every loathsome political figure he fought against. Where have you gone, John McCain? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

There are two different McCains: the John McCain of 2000 and the John McCain of 2008.

The John McCain of 2000 called the Christian right preachers, such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, the “agents of intolerance.” He was right. These people are complete charlatans — and McCain knows it. At least he did in 2000.

The John McCain of 2008 has kissed the ring of nearly every major Christian right preacher in the country, even Falwell. Falwell said the United States had the Sept. 11 attacks coming because we tolerate homosexuals, feminists and liberals. The John McCain of 2000 would have found that despicable. The John McCain of 2008 gave the commencement speech at Falwell’s Liberty University.

The John McCain of 2000 said this: “Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right.”

The John McCain of 2008 has pandered to those same exact folks. Can you imagine if Obama gave a speech at an event honoring Farrakhan?

And now, McCain says he is “very honored” to get the endorsement of the Rev. John Hagee, who has called the Catholic church the “Great Whore.” The John McCain of 2000 must be hanging his head in shame.

The John McCain of 2000 thought cutting taxes when you couldn’t pay for it was a terrible idea. In 2003, he thought it was an even worse idea to do that in the middle of a war. The John McCain of 2008 says he will make these same tax cuts permanent.

Is anyone paying attention? Who snatched the body of McCain? I hope it wasn’t the same person who snatched Dick Cheney’s body in 2000.

The Sell-Out Express chugs on. The top issue for McCain has been lobbying reform. That is, until 2008. The man who helped build the public financing apparatus in America is now rejecting public financing in the primaries. But it gets worse.

Full story here…

Please post a caption in the Comments section. Thanks!

Re-posted from ONE LITTLE VICTORY:

Destroy Islam.

That is the message of John McCain’s self-proclaimed spiritual guide Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio.

Wow. With spiritual advice like that, I don’t think he’ll even need a Secretary of Defense.

My own experience with Pentecostals has left me with a very negative impression of the institution, but this guy takes the cake. He has complete disdain for any views opposing his own, and spews hate towards civil libertarians (I guess he and I won’t get along at all), abortion rights advocates, gays, the entertainment industry and of course, Islam. He has stated that he wishes to provoke people into a “holy war”.

Now I know that John McCain feels that he has to win over the right-wing base, but does he really have to continue to curry favor with the nutjobs? So far it seems like McCain believes that his own political salvation is tied to those who believe that the Rapture is imminent and that we should be preparing for total war. Is this what American politics has devolved into?

Senator McCain, if you do not denounce and repudiate this crackpot, then I am left to draw no other conclusion than that you are a crackpot as well. The “maverick” John McCain is a myth, alongside “compassionate conservatism” and the idea that we can exchange our liberties for greater security.

McCain’s Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam
By David Corn
March 12, 2008
source: Mother Jones

Senator John McCain hailed as a spiritual adviser an Ohio megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a “war” against the “false religion” of Islam with the aim of destroying it.

On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, a supersize Pentecostal institution that features a 5,200-seat sanctuary, a television studio (where Parsley tapes a weekly show), and a 122,000-square-foot Ministry Activity Center. That day, a week before the Ohio primary, Parsley praised the Republican presidential front-runner as a “strong, true, consistent conservative.” The endorsement was important for McCain, who at the time was trying to put an end to the lingering challenge from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a favorite among Christian evangelicals. A politically influential figure in Ohio, Parsley could also play a key role in McCain’s effort to win this bellwether state in the general election. McCain, with Parsley by his side at the Cincinnati rally, called the evangelical minister a “spiritual guide.”

The leader of a 12,000-member congregation, Parsley has written several books outlining his fundamentalist religious outlook, including the 2005 Silent No More. In this work, Parsley decries the “spiritual desperation” of the United States, and he blasts away at the usual suspects: activist judges, civil libertarians who advocate the separation of church and state, the homosexual “culture” (”homosexuals are anything but happy and carefree”), the “abortion industry,” and the crass and profane entertainment industry. And Parsley targets another profound threat to the United States: the religion of Islam.

Full story here…

Here is a great little online tool that helps illustrate the difference between what John McCain says, and what John McCain actually does. This is produced by the AFL-CIO.

JOHN MCCAIN REVEALED

Hey, it’s only based on what the man says…

Re-posted here from One Little Victory:

I think that the only saving grace of John McCain being the Republican nominee for President is that his penchant for sticking his feet into his very large mouth will likely result in many “Moron of the Moment” opportunities over the next nine months. God help us if this jackass actually becomes President.

In the spirit of “Bomb, Bomb, Bomb…Bomb, Bomb, Iran” and “let’s stay in Iraq for the next hundred years,” McCain now shows us what he moonlights as… Death. This asshat actually wished that Fidel Castro meets a speedy death now that he has resigned as Cuba’s leader. “I hope he has the opportunity to meet Karl Marx very soon,” McCain told a town-hall style meeting of about 150 people. Never miss a chance to curry favor with the idiots among us, eh John?

Frankly, every President since Cuba’s revolution has been dead wrong on Castro and Cuba. This has far less to do with the government of Fidel Castro than it does the desire of politicians to kiss voter’s asses in south Florida. And the hysterical thing about it, as depicted in the cartoon below, is that the Cuban ex-dictator has to be laughing his ass off at the United States, and that is what really burns McCain. Castro’s reign spanned ten U.S. Presidents and demonstrated that the United States was completely incapable of acting like a mature neighbor.

Barack Obama is right in stating that we have to engage with our enemies as well as with our friends. And so it should have been with Cuba for all of these years. Funny how we could find it in our own interests to constructively engage with Apartheid in South Africa… hell we were able to constantly engage with the Soviet Union and even sat at the table with North Korea, but could manage to ignore a nation only ninety miles from our shores. The answer? Two-fold… money and pissed off voters. South Africa was worth engaging in because they were far more profitable to do business with than Cuba, and we didn’t have thousands of exiled South Africans living in Florida.

But I can’t help imagine what life would have been like if Bush Sr., Clinton or any of the presidents in the past twenty-five years had acted like a mature adult and engaged the Cuban leader. My guess is that by now we would have normalized relations, trade and open tourism with our Caribbean neighbor. The Cuban people are good, industrious people… their leadership has been a mixed bag. In some ways Cuba is prosperous and in others they it is more akin to a third world nation. And we have passed up the opportunity on countless occasions to be a good neighbor and contribute to the development of this nation (and thus win friends) because politicians don’t want to disenfranchise Cuban American voters.

What I would love to see, just once, is a politician stand up for what is right (and actually be right, Dubya) and explain thoughtfully to Americans why it is that we need to change our mindset. Al Gore has been able to largely do this with respect to the environment but he was robbed of the presidency, but he is the closest example I can find. Dubya thinks he is right on everything, but of course fails any test of being able to produce credible evidence or convince even a large minority of Americans that he is right.

Maybe that explains McCain. He has watched a nutjob like Bush rule for the past eight years and call us all idiots without any accountability whatsoever. I guess he thinks that it is his turn now.

Thus, John reclaims his rightful place as a Moron of the Moment recipient. And I’d bet anything that it won’t be for the last time.

Oh, and John… if I were you I’d be real careful about wishing death on someone else… Karma is a real bitch.

Here’s an older video I thought worthy of re-posting here.

According to John McCain, he acted completely appropriately in a dispute involving the FCC because as he noted there was no “formal opposition” to the matter.

Funny how the formal opposition begs to differ. Here is an article contesting McCain’s version of events.

Among other points made:

As reported originally in the New York Times, McCain wrote two letters late in 1999 to each of the five FCC commissioners demanding that they advise him by December 15 whether they had voted for or against Paxson’s petition. McCain continues to insist that his letter’s disclaimer that he was not calling for a particular outcome exonerates him of charges of interference. However, Steve Labaton of the New York Times plowed through 2,000 pages of McCain office correspondence and found that almost all of his letters included this “boilerplate” disclaimer. Moreover, in “the vast majority of these regulatory cases where McCain himself sent the letter, the interested parties had contributed to his presidential campaigns.”

As our attorney, Georgetown’s Angela Campbell, advised ABC News: “The timing of the letters was clearly in Paxson’s interest.” Paxson’s contract with all parties was due to expire December 31 and there were clear indications that Cornerstone would withdraw from the deal. The Commission still was undecided and had the option to refer the case for public hearing so that community sentiment could be measured. Short of outright denial, this was our wish. Miles acknowledged to the press at the time that had this happened, the deal would have been “dead in the water.”

Back then, after extensive interviews with DC lobbyists and FCC staff, the Boston Globe, New York Times, Washington Post and others concluded that McCain’s letters were “highly unusual,” “crossed a line” and “were widely interpreted to favor the complicated transfers.”

At the time, McCain’s staff said to the press that his intervention was appropriate because “there was no formal opposition.” Our opposition had been formal for years. Our board of directors included such community leaders as the president of the Pittsburgh City Council, a monsignor in the Pittsburgh Catholic Archdiocese and a state legislator (who sat on WQED’s board but could not abide the sellout). Our supporters included scores of unions with up to 150,000 members, more than forty public interest groups, hundreds of educators, clergy and other professionals and, thanks to Working Assets, up to 40,000 letters urging the FCC to deny the transfer of Pittsburgh’s public station to Cornerstone.

If you read the entire article, it is pretty clear that McCain’s version is little more than a McFantasy. Kind of like the idea that he would be a good president.

John McCain plans to run for president on the fears of the American people. Thus, the McCain campaign is gleeful that the Democrats are arguing with the now famous 3am ads which conjure images of an attack on America, and our fate hinging on electing the right tough guy to take on the terrorists.

Of course, John McCain believes he is the logical choice for the job.

So what do former military leaders say? Let’s hear from three of them: (source: Salon.com)

“I like McCain. I respect McCain. But I am a little worried by his knee-jerk response factor,” said retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, who was in charge of training the Iraqi military from 2003 to 2004 and is now campaigning for Clinton. “I think it is a little scary. I think this guy’s first reactions are not necessarily the best reactions. I believe that he acts on impulse.”

“I studied leadership for a long time during 32 years in the military,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, a one-time Republican who is supporting Obama. “It is all about character. Who can motivate willing followers? Who has the vision? Who can inspire people?” Gration asked. “I have tremendous respect for John McCain, but I would not follow him.”

“One of the things the senior military would like to see when they go visit the president is a kind of consistency, a kind of reliability,” explained retired Gen. Merrill McPeak, a former Republican, former chief of staff of the Air Force and former fighter pilot who flew 285 combat missions. McPeak said his perception is that Obama is “not that up when he is up and not that down when he is down. He is kind of a steady Eddie. This is a very important feature,” McPeak said. On the other hand, he said, “McCain has got a reputation for being a little volatile.” McPeak is campaigning for Obama.

Stephen Wayne, a political science professor at Georgetown who is studying the personalities of the presidential candidates, agrees McCain’s temperament is of real concern. “The anger is there,” Wayne said. If McCain is the one to answer the phone at 3 a.m., he said, “you worry about an initial emotive, less rational response.”

Well, there you have it. Military commanders prefer elected officials that are stable, and who do not act impulsively. McCain’s anger and temper tantrums are legendary in Washington, DC. Is his really the finger we need on the button?

Senator John McCain on Thursday tried to distance himself from the views of right-wing radical Pastor John Hagee, without distancing himself from Hagee’s endorsement and the voters it might bring.

But that wasn’t the real news. According to McCain, Washington, DC is apparently one of the levels of Hell. “It’s harder and harder trying to do the Lord’s work in the city of Satan,” McCain said of Washington.

Washington, DC is the city of Satan?

Is this the same Washington, DC that has seen phenomenal moments of American history such as the Civil Rights March and many, many others? Is this not the same Washington, DC that has witnessed the achievements of great Americans such as Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower? And Mr. Senator, if the city is the home of Satan, why would you possibly want to stay there for four more years?

Don’t worry, Senator, those of us concerned with your eternal soul will do our best to insure that you don’t have to suffer Washington, DC much longer. In the meantime, try not to sound so much like Mike Huckabee.

Here is a story that seems to be getting some legs. While John McCain points to his “leadership” in the Abramoff inquiry as proof of cracking down on corruption, it turns out his role in the matter only added to the corruption.

Point #1: McCain protected Alabama Governor Bob Riley, who is implicated as a target of influence peddling by Jack Abramoff, supporting earlier infomation showing Riley to be a willing target. McCain and his committee had access to the e-mail below, which validates these concerns, but McCain failed to include this in the group’s report and refused to allow this e-mail (from Abramoff to a former Abramoff aide who also happened to be a former Riler aide) to be made public. In fact, the Senate report failed to even cite Riley by name.

Point #2: Riley’s opponent, former Governor Don Siegelman was convicted for bribery and racketeering in what is now being openly described as a politically-motivated prosecution by the Department of Justice. How does this connect? Well, there is a White House connection to this not only in the Justice Department, but also in the person of Karl Rove, who asked a Republican operative to prove (for the purpose of the election) that Siegleman had been unfaithful to his wife. No evidence could be mustered however, apparently leading to Rove’s motivation for contacting the Department of Justice and the manufacturing of the bribery and racketeering charges. At present, 52 former state attorneys-general, both Republican and Democrat, have asked Congress to investigate Siegleman’s prosecution.

Here is a great overview of the current situation by MSNBC’s Dan Abrams:

So what we seem to have here is an example of political corruption by both the White House and the Department of Justice. C’mon, admit you’re surprised. But on top of that, Senator McSame then investigated isues related to this, was provided with credible evidence implicating Republican officials, and chose not to do anything about it.

More of the McSame, anyone?

Since this story promises to get hotter and does relate to the good and ethical Senator, we will bring back any breaking news.

Here is the memo:

Senator John McCain wants us to believe that he is a man of principle.

Show us, don’t tell us, Mr. McCain.

McCain is refusing to denounce an endorsement of his presidential bid by San Antonio Pastor John Hagee, a national televangelist. Hagee has publicly stated that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for the sins taking place in New Orleans (eluding to gays), that God wants us to attack Iran, that all Muslims wish to kill Christians, and has openly denounced the Catholic Church as “the Great Whore of Revelations:17.” (see video below)

Mr. McCain, if you truly had principle you would denounce any endorsement by this bigoted crackpot.

Or are you only concerned with gaining the votes brought in by his wacko followers?

Does America really need a leader that has the support and endorsement of a failed president? Do we need a continuation of failed economic policies? Failed military policies? Failed environmental policies? Failed social policies? Perhaps Senator McCain does not grasp that America is calling out for true change and true reform. And accepting the endorsement of this president, while strategically important to shore up the right wing of his own party, does not engender a sense of confidence that John McCain will be anything other than an extension of George W. Bush.

From the Associated Press:

McCain Wins Bush’s White House Embrace
By LIZ SIDOTI

WASHINGTON (AP) — John McCain got a White House embrace from President Bush on Wednesday, along with the party perks that go with sewing up the Republican nomination. The endorsement has baggage, though, reminding voters of the drawn-out Iraq war and the nation’s economic woes under an unpopular GOP president.

Bush, who defeated McCain in a bitter 2000 primary campaign before winning the presidency, said the Arizona senator’s “incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance” carried him to the nomination this time.

Those characteristics, Bush said, are what the nation needs in a president: “somebody that can handle the tough decisions, somebody who won’t flinch in the face of danger.”

The words held special resonance as the president who ordered the Iraq invasion five years ago stood outside the White House alongside one of the war’s most resolute supporters. Neither man mentioned Iraq, though Bush said McCain would be “sitting in there behind that desk making decisions on war and peace.”

Even that mention was coupled with Bush’s lighter statement that “I’m going to be in Crawford with my feet up.”

“I’m very honored and humbled,” McCain said as he accepted Bush’s endorsement.

Full story here…

Honored and humbled, Mr. McCain? If that’s the case, color us horrified.

What better way to kick off this site than to display an ad sponsored by the Campaign to Defend America…