John McCain is a Liar
Each and every ad debunked in this video was an ad approved by John McCain. After watching McCain and his spin machine lie to all of us, I’m just curious about what the word “honor” means to him. After all, he’s the one who said he’d run an “honorable campaign”. Last time I looked, the definition of ‘honorable’ didn’t include lies about everything from national security to legislative meaning and intent.
McCain has demonstrated his craven desire to wield power. Here is the choice for voters: Do you want yet another proven liar in office, or are you willing to take a chance on integrity this time around.
Since the press won’t call out the lies, I will. And so will these folks.
Will you?
Sphere: Related ContentOffshore Drilling: Summary of Talking Points
I wrote these yesterday for someone who was about to have a conversation with the #dontgo folks. Seems like they belong here, with the photos of untainted oceans too.
- The entire #dontgo movement is nothing more than political grandstanding, given that the absence of action (see this post for more details) unblocks offshore leases.
- There is no obligation on the part of the oil companies who hold drilling rights on these leases to: a) drill at all; and b) keep the oil drilled inside domestic markets. In fact, with a commodity such as oil, it’s far more likely that the oil would be sold on the open market.
- Even if the oil companies drill offshore and bring more oil out of the ground, it will have no impact on the prices at the pump, nor is there any guarantee of any impact for a minimum of five to ten years.
- Refinery output is the bottleneck. We are not able to process what we can drill at this time, and there are no plans on the table to build more refineries.
- Oil companies own patents to some of the best alternative fuel options, but are not doing anything with them. If they opt to drill offshore and exercise those grants, they should be forced to put the patents in the public domain.
- If they were truly committed to lower gas prices at the pump, there would be unanimous consent to close the Enron loophole which allows for unbridled price inflation because of unchecked speculation.
Feel free to add to the list in the comments.
Sphere: Related ContentSeth Swirsky Dishes Shit with Spin
In one of the most disingenous op-eds I’ve ever read, Seth Swirsky attempts to make the weak case that Democrats somehow have George Bush to thank for the rise of Barack Obama’s candidacy.
His logic, flawed from the start, goes like this: Because George Bush has made us feel safer, we in turn feel free to elect a ‘liberal’. Let’s unpack that, starting with this:
Americans simply will not elect a liberal when they feel fear. Since President Bush deserves the credit for our security (through the countless actions he’s initiated: tough FISA laws, winning in Iraq, taking on The Taliban in Afghanistan, etc.), he’s made the Obama candidacy palatable.
I am shocked – SHOCKED – that anyone would dare to claim in one sentence that we have won in Iraq, that having our email, internet use and telephone calls routed through the Central Government Tracking facility in Northern California, and completely destabilizing the Middle East would somehow cause us to feel safer.
I felt much safer the day after 9/11 than I do today.
Swirsky then goes on to try to tie Obama to Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Gee, under Bill Clinton we managed to have a country with a thriving economy and no significant wars, at least none where our military was so stretched that our own security on our own soil was at risk.
But, if the current, general atmosphere of everyday life remains as calm through November as it does today — and Senator Obama is elected — his first “thank you” note should be addressed to the man who currently resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
On this, I agree. But for exactly opposite reasons. George Bush and his bulldog Cheney highlight everything that is evil about the neocon approach to authoritarian government and its danger to democracy. Barack Obama represents a change and movement back to a government that does not subvert the constitution and fundamentals of democracy, respects the people of this country, and celebrates the diversity that comes from a country which has so much to offer its citizens.
The only value in Swirsky’s screed is to demonstrate how intellectually bankrupt and utterly corrupt neocon thinking has been and will continue to be.
Sphere: Related ContentLead, Senator Clinton.
As much as I don’t want to keep talking about Senator Clinton, I feel compelled to say something about this. There are so many things that Harriet Christian said that came straight out of the Clinton campaign that are just plain wrong…I don’t even know where to begin.
I would like to suggest to women who are supporters of Hillary Clinton that being associated with this sort of thinking does nothing to advance the cause for women to be recognized as equals in all areas of life, including politics. This woman doesn’t think the Supreme Court nominations are important. Is that because she thinks it’s only a Roe v. Wade issue? When she starts rattling off the campaign talking points, I can’t help but think that SHE’s the one who’s not thinking.
And the worst is when she says that 99.9% of the black folks voting for Obama are only doing it because he’s black, while at the same time clearly stating that her unwavering support for Clinton comes from the fact that she’s female! Of course, the contention about black voters’ motivations is patently false, just a similar assertion about women would be. It’s as racist and sexist as any other blanket statement made during this campaign.
The reason I’m posting it or even giving it the time of day is because this is an opportunity for Senator Clinton to lead, to command that respect she claimed she wanted on Tuesday night. Her campaign suspension is being very carefully orchestrated to keep a far distance from Barack Obama, despite her behind-the-scenes appearance of support via conference calls and the like. However, if she does not stand up and say out loud that the nomination was NOT stolen, that any of her supporters who choose to support John McCain are turning their backs on HER, then whatever she says and does will be empty and her scorched-earth strategy is set in motion.
She must say these things, not because she will convince Harriet Christian and those who think like Harriet Christian. She must say these things because it’s her DUTY to lead. That’s what being a President is about. LEADING. That means pushing ahead through disappointment to do the right thing because it’s the right thing.
People vote for candidates for all kinds of reasons, but the main one should be policy, not identity-based. Because Obama and Clinton were so close together policy-wise, any rejections should be considered to be an identity rejection first and foremost, particularly when rejecting Obama, who has demonstrated clearly that he is ready to lead, that he has run a clean, above-board campaign where he attacked no one, and where she spent months pulling him down by labeling him an elitist, out of touch, and inexperienced.
Leadership is needed, Senator Clinton. You need to step up and tell folks that things are said in campaigns like this. You need to appear on the same stage with him, and you need to do it with sincerity in your heart. Sooner is better than later. Thank you.
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