The Change He Promised

by Haydee Florez: Obama promises change. Consider man from history who promised change. Fifty five years ago (July 26th) a young "charismatic" lawyer along with 200 idealistic people, attacked by surprise a military barracks in the most eastern province of the island of Cuba. His objective (he said) to change the political situation and restore democracy and the Constitution of 1940.

Today there is a different constitution "the communist constitution" which has suppressed the individual rights of: freedom of speech, religion and movement, among others. That young lawyer has been in power since 1959. Still from his hospital bed, he is governing his people and the final result of that "promised change" to one of the most prosperous Latin American country in 1958, is that of a third world country whose citizens want to escape from the misery and oppression in which that charismatic "leader" has submerged the country.

The press felt in love with that man and avoid asking the important questions such as who his real friends were; he said whatever people wanted to hear but not the truth. Haven't we learned the lesson? Everybody knows the name of that charismatic young lawyer: Fidel Castro! Remember not all change is good -- Empty or false promises lead to lost freedoms -- Get the facts!

McCain Obama News Links

The Audacity of Ego - Boston Globe

Obama’s Prayerful Stagecraft – National Review Online

McCain Gains On Obama in Poll – ABC News

Why You Think Obama Is Dangerous – Canada Free Press

McCain Wins Rochester Again – Fosters Democrat

McCain campaign: Obama shortchanged injured troops - AP

John McCain: One Prisoner of War's Fresh Appraisal of U.S. in 1973 – US News and World Report

Why Obama snubbed the troops: no photo op allowed - Hot Air

Obama: I Have Become a Symbol - Washington Post

McCain Promotes Drilling for Oil Off the US Coast – USA Today

Women voters aren't warming to 'cool' Obama – Chicago Sun

Obama the Pop Star

Celeb

Update: McCain, Obama, New Hampshire and more

John Sununu: Let's Vote on Energy Solutions

Granite State Update - July 28, 2008

Video - Muslims: The New Protected Species - Calling Bloggers

Bush OKs execution of Army death row prisoner

Obama - The Greatest Story Ever Told ?

R-igg Weekly Update - Add a R-igg Widget to Your Website!

Obama's 48 Hour Evolution

New Age Barack Obama Is No Harry Truman

John McCain and the fire aboard the USS Forrestal

100 days

Do not vote for a Zero

Happy Hour Networking Event with Barry Goldwater, Jr.

GraniteGrok: Obama - Charity begins with taxes

OBAMA'S DEFICIT DENIAL

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: "Obamanomics Is A Recipe For Recession"

Urgent - Will you help this Marine Officer?

100 Days to Victory!

National Urban League Conference

New Age Barack Obama Is No Harry Truman

by Jeff Jacoby, The Patriot Post: Barack Obama had ample reason to recall the Berlin Airlift of 1948 during his dramatic speech in the German capital last week. The airlift was an early and critical success for the West in the Cold War, with clear relevance to our own time, the war in Iraq, and the free world’s conflict with radical Islam. But having reached back 60 years to that pivotal hour of American leadership, Obama proceeded to draw from it exactly the wrong lessons.

The Soviet Union had blockaded western Berlin on June 24, 1948, choking off access to the city by land and water and threatening 2.5 million people with starvation. Moscow was determined to force the United States and its allies out of Berlin. To capitulate to Soviet pressure, as Obama rightly noted, ‘would have allowed Communism to march across Europe.’ Yet many in the West advocated retreat, fearing that the only way to keep the city open was to use the atomic bomb—and launch World War III. For President Truman, retreat was unthinkable. ‘We stay in Berlin, period,’ he decreed. Overriding the doubts of senior advisers... Truman ordered the Armed Forces to begin supplying Berlin by air. Military planners initially thought that with a ‘very big operation,’ they might be able to get 700 tons of food to Berlin. Within weeks, the Air Force was flying in twice that amount every day, as well as supplies of coal. ... It would take nearly a year and more than 277,000 flights. But in the end it was the Soviets who backed down. On May 12, 1949, the blockade ended—a triumph of American prowess and perseverance, and a momentous vindication for Truman.

But not once in his Berlin speech did Obama acknowledge Truman’s fortitude, or even mention his name. Nor did he mention the US Air Force, or the 31 American pilots who died during the airlift. Indeed, Obama seemed to go out of his way not to say plainly that what saved Berlin in that dark time was America’s military might. Save for a solitary reference to ‘the first American plane,’ he never described one of the greatest American operations of the postwar period as an American operation at all. He spoke only of ‘the airlift,’ ‘the planes,’ ‘those pilots.’ Perhaps their American identity wasn’t something he cared to stress amid all his ‘people of the world’ salutations and talk of ‘global citizenship.’... Sixty years later, it is a very different kind of Democrat who is running for president. Obama may have wowed ‘em in Berlin, but he’s no Harry Truman.” [Full article: Missing From That Berlin Speech]

House members who signed petition to increase U.S. oil

ARRA News Service -Washington, July 25, 2008 - U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland has challenged all 435 members of the U.S. House to sign a petition that reads "I will vote to increase U.S. oil production to lower gas prices for Americans."

Below are the 192 members and counting who have signed:

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.) Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.) Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.) Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) Rep. Henry Brown (R-S.C.) Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.) Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) Rep. Mike Burgess (R-Texas) Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) Rep. Don Cazayoux (D-La.) Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) Rep. David Davis (R-Tenn.) Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) Rep. Thelma Drake (R-Va.) Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.) Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.) Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Ohio) Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) Rep. Tim Holden (D-Pa.) Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.) Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.)

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.) Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.) Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.) Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Texas) Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.) Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.) Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.) Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) Rep. Todd Platts (R-Pa.) Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) Rep. Jon Porter (R-Nev.) Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) Rep. George Radanovich (R-Calif.) Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R-Mont.) Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.) Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-Wash.) Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) Rep. Bill Sali (R-Idaho) Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) Rep. Jim Walsh (R-N.Y.) Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.) Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)

Members who said "No" to the petition:

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.) Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.) Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.) Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) Rep. Tim Johnson (R-Ill.)

Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas) Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.) Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.)

NOTE: If your member is not listed, his or her office has been contacted but has not responded.

100 Days Out

Senators McCain and Obama are back to within 3 points in Rasmussen's latest daily tracking poll, but even more interesting is the fact that Americans are more upbeat than they have been in 4 years about the War on Terror and the Iraqi Front.

But for McCain and other beleaguered Republicans, at least there was good news on the war front. Over half of Americans now believe the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror, the most upbeat assessment Rasmussen Reports has recorded in nearly four years.

I also note that Senator Obama is more trusted at or beyond the margin of error in 5 of the 14 top issues, healthcare, the environment, trade, ethics, and education. Senator McCain is more trusted on 5 issues as well, Iraq, national security, abortion, immigration, and taxes. They are in a statistical tie on the economy, energy, balancing the budget, and Social Security.

The VP sweepstakes is interesting. Mike Huckabee is the most popular choice for McCain followed by Joe Lieberman, yet most people think he will choose Mitt Romney who polls show may flip Michigan. Edwards and Clinton lead the public's view of who would be the best choice for Senator Obama. Governor Tom Kaine of Virginia could flip that state even though he only shows 21% in the national polls.

Conventional wisdom has not been too wise this year. These polling numbers reinforce a simple truth. You should go out and vote your conscience. Don't let people tell you the election is predetermined. The Congressional numbers show Republicans are gaining on most issues and Democrats have lost their lead on 3 out of the 10 big issues and lost ground on most of the others. The Generic ballot has closed for 5 week in a row and some of the Senate races have tightened up. The new generic number will be out Tuesday. Things could change but this is not shaping to be a wipe out for either party.

Obama: McCain 'Wildly Inappropriate' for Wounded Troop Criticism

From the AP McCain campaign: Obama shortchanged injured troops

Republican John McCain's campaign on Saturday sharply criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for canceling a visit to wounded troops in Germany, contending Obama chose foreign leaders and cheering Europeans over "injured American heroes."

Obama's campaign called the accusation "wildly inappropriate." His spokesman has claimed that the visit to a military hospital in Germany was scrapped after the Pentagon raised concerns about political activity on a military base. Earlier, though, the campaign had said Obama decided the visit might be seen as inappropriate politicking. However, the Pentagon said the senator was never told not to visit.

---

"Senator McCain knows full well that Senator Obama strongly supports and honors our troops, which is what makes this attack so disingenuous. This politicization of our soldiers is exactly what Senator Obama sought to avoid," Vietor said.

Obama was flying from London to Chicago on Saturday when the McCain campaign issued a statement from Joe Repya, a retired Army colonel who said Obama had broken a commitment to visit the wounded Americans.

"Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders," Repya said. "For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks."

If Senator Obama sought to avoid 'politicization' of his scheduled meeting with the troops, why not ditch the cameras and campaign staff and go visit the injured soldiers quietly under the radar? Apparently it is 'wildly inappropriate' and 'disingenuous' for Senator McCain to confront Senator Obama with facts. The facts remain, as they have from the begining, the Pentagon never told Senator Obama he couldn't visit the hospital simply that he could not campaign there. The facts are that Obama first said he didn't go because he thought it was 'inappropriate' to visit the troops on his campaign's dime. Then he blamed it on the Pentagon. So Senator Obama and his campaign can be express outrage at the McCain campaign if they'd like, but McCain isn't the one snubbed wounded American soldiers.

TPM Tries To Spin Obama Out of His Wounded Troop Snub Predicament

Talking Points Memo believes it has found an out for Senator Obama's snub of wounded soldiers in Germany...

A Pentagon spokesperson confirms to me that because of longstanding Department of Defense regulations, Pentagon officials told Obama aides that he couldn't visit the base with campaign staff. This left Obama with little choice but to cancel the trip, since the plan to visit with campaign aides had been in the works for weeks.

The Obama campaign yesterday announced that it had decided to cancel the visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, saying that it would be "inappropriate" to make such a visit as part of a campaign trip.

Couldn't he have said, 'You guys wait right here, and I'll be back in a little bit.' Is Senator Obama really incapable of going into an military hospital without an entourage? Why couldn't he simply go with his security detail and driver, and let his campaign staff work out at the Ritz Carlton gym? This reasoning may sound better than, 'Senator Obama doesn't do anything without a camera on him'; but if this statement is to be taken at face value then Senator Obama and his staff have just confessed to being logistically inept.

NY, NJ, PA: Volunteers Needed

"That loud bang we just heard was the beginning of the General Election."

URGENT BULLETIN TO NEW YORKERS, NEW JERSEYITES,

AND PENNSYLVANIANS!

Residents of PA that want to offer their support to John McCain should e-mail me at: TalkTop65@aol.com. Tell me where you live, and I'll put you in touch (as quickly as possible) with campaign organizers in your area.

As for those who live in the NYC/NJ area, the critical message to get across to Hillary Supporters (and they total in the millions) is that the DNC doesn't like them or respect them. They do, however, want their votes. The woman in WI (the Hillary Delegate) was duly elected and there was no reason for the DNC to dump her. There is at least one McCain delegate who appeared in a pro-Obama commercial. I haven't heard anybody saying he should be tossed under the bus.

Another urgent request: Anna Barone is now head of of New Yorkers for McCain. Any residents of NYC (or close neighbors) can sign up (with e-mail addresses) with Anna at: www.newyorkersformccain.comor e-mail her at: Anna.Barone@radioshack.com,

McCain intends to win Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey . . . states that went strongly for Sen. Clinton in the primaries but are being taken for granted by Barack H. Obama. That "loud bang" we all just heard was the beginning of the General Election.

Obams is too unqualified, too inexperienced, too untrustworthy, and too dangerous. Period.

McCain Reacts to Obama Troop Snub

McCain: "I know of no Pentagon regulation that would have prevented him from going their without the media and the press and all the associated people...

...If I had been told by the Pentagon that I couldn't visit those troops and I was there and wanted to be there I guarantee you there would have been a siesmic event, and so I think he had the opportunity to go without th media, and I'll let the facts speak for themsleves."

The Obama camp can still give no reason for cancelling the trip other that finding out that media and campaign staff would not be allowed in the hospital.

More Evidence Obama Snubbed Wounded Soldiers Due to No Media Coverage

There has still been no statement by either the Obama camaign or the Pentagon stating that Senator Obama was not allowed to visit the wounded soldiers in Germany. The only restriction was on campaign staff and cameras/press. As the LA Times points out in its article Military says it set rules for Obama hospital visit, Senator Obama and his Senate staff were not restricted, just campaign staff and campaign activities.

U.S. military authorities told advisors to Barack Obama this week that he could not bring press or campaign staff on a visit to wounded troops from Iraq and Afghanistan at a hospital in Germany, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday.

After advisors learned of the restriction, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee canceled his scheduled visit Friday to the military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in southern Germany.

This suggests one of four things.

1. Senator Obama didn't think the rules appied to him.
2. He and his campaign are seriously deficient in logistical planning.
3. Senator Obama was not interested in going if there were no cameras.
4. Working out in the Ritz Carlton gym was more important than visiting wounded soldiers.

Obama Searches for the Reason Why He Snubbed Wounded Soldiers

The Obama campaign still lacks a reason for not visiting wounded soldiers in Germany. They have decided to blame the Pentagon for their decision not to visit the military hospital. However, numerous sources confirm that Obama was never told that he could not visit the soldiers, just that bringing campaign staff and cameras was considered inappropriate. The Washington Post states that Obama knew about the rules.

"The senator's staff was informed of the limits on what the military can do with respect to a political campaign and how we could support a senator's visit to Landstuhl and, quite frankly, I expected them to have the visit," Whitman said.

Fox questions Robert Gibbs, a campaign spokesman, about whether they knew of these rules.

“Q: Did it not occur to anybody that this might be viewed as a political stop?

Gibbs: We had taken some of that into consideration, but we believed that it could be done in a way that would not create, it would not be created or seen as a campaign stop.”

However, the LA Times reports that Gibbs blamed the Pentagon not informing them of their restrictions until too late.

“Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs initially released a statement saying the senator had decided to cancel out of respect for the troops, because it would be inappropriate on "a trip funded by the campaign."

That statement said nothing about the Pentagon restriction. Gibbs later said it became apparent the Pentagon "would have tried to politicize this, and then others would try to politicize this."

The reasons for not visiting the troops have been universally weak. The desire not to use campagin funds to visit wounded soldiers smacks of an unbelievable level greed or cheapness. Blaming the Pentagon rings hollow since they never disallowed the trip. The only complaint that has a ring of truth to it is that the Obama campaign didn’t want to follow the rules of no cameras and limited staff. Why meet with service men and women who have sacraficed greatly for their country if Senator Obama can’t put on a show? Unfortunately, as MSNBC notes, the wounded soldiers were let down by Senator Obama’s decision to cancel,

Whatever the reason, Obama and the troops he would have visited have both missed a unique and historic opportunity. According to one Army lieutenant colonel, "Everyone was excited about Obama's visit. It's a shame."

Obama No Cameras Then No Troops

The Wall Street Journal Reports...

The Obama camp said they canceled the event after the Pentagon ruled it was a campaign event, and needed to be funded from the senator’s election kitty.

“Senator Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors perceived as a campaign event when his visit was to show his appreciation for our troops and decided instead not to go,” Obama advisor, retired Gen. Scott Gration, said in a statement.

How about visiting the troops without the media tagging along, then it wouldn't look like a campaign event. Senator Obama is spending $5 on advertising during the Olympics, but won't visit wounded soldiers on his campaign's dime? Apparently, it's more important for him to have the media take pictures of him at the Ritz Carlton gym lifting weights, than to take a moment leave the press behind and talk to the people who defend this country.

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NBC and Hot Air are now confirming that Obama did not visit the troops because press would not be allowed to also attend.
Why Obama snubbed the troops: no photo op allowed
MSNBC First Read

Russia Nuclear Bombers in Cuba

ARRA News Service - Who do You Want As the Next Commnder-in-Chief in the Oval Office handling the Russian threat? Brietbart reporting on the confirmation hearing of General Norton Schwartz, nominated to be the air force's chief of staff quoted General Schwartz response to the question, "what he would recommend if Russia were to base nuclear capable bombers in Cuba." The question was based on the a news report by Iszvestia on Monday which quoted "an unnamed senior Russian air force official in Moscow as saying that Russia may start regular flights by long-range bombers to Cuba in response to US plans to install a missile defense system in eastern Europe." General Schwartz said that Russia would cross "a red line for the United States of America" if it were to base nuclear capable bombers in Cuba." [Read - US general warns Russia on nuclear bombers in Cuba] For those too young to remember, Google "The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis" and learn about the event that brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of war.

Obama's Muddled Message to Israel

This is one reason many Jewish voters are not comfortable with an Obama presidency.

Obama Love

ARRA News Service - It's pretty obvious that the media has a bizarre fascination with Barack Obama. Some may even say it's a love affair. The following video arrangement of comments by the news commnetators has been arranged with music to help you throught being ill over their comments.

Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama

ARRA News Service - The National Black Republican Association called our attention today to the article in the Wall Street Journal by Shelby Steele addressing "Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama." The below excerpts will hopefully encourage you to read the whole article:

. . . not looking old so much as a bit lost within the new Obama aura -- it is clear that Jesse Jackson has come to a kind of dénouement. Some force that once buoyed him up now seems spent. Mr. Jackson was always a challenger. He confronted American institutions (especially wealthy corporations) with the shame of America's racist past and demanded redress. He could have taken up the mantle of the early Martin Luther King (he famously smeared himself with the great man's blood after King was shot), and argued for equality out of a faith in the imagination and drive of his own people. Instead -- and tragically -- he and the entire civil rights establishment pursued equality through the manipulation of white guilt. . . .

Mr. Obama's great political ingenuity was very simple: to trade moral leverage for gratitude. Give up moral leverage over whites, refuse to shame them with America's racist past, and the gratitude they show you will constitute a new form of black power. They will love you for the faith you show in them.

So it is not hard to see why Mr. Jackson might have experienced Mr. Obama's emergence as something of a stiletto in the heart. Mr. Obama is a white "race card" -- moral leverage that whites can use against the moral leverage black leaders have wielded against them for decades. He is the nullification of Jesse Jackson -- the anti-Jackson.

And Mr. Obama is so successful at winning gratitude from whites precisely because Mr. Jackson was so successful at inflaming and exploiting white guilt. Mr. Jackson must now see his own oblivion in the very features of Mr. Obama's face. Thus the on-camera threat of castration, followed by the little jab of his fist as if to deliver a stiletto of his own. . . . [Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama]

New attack ad on Obama

Hey everyone!

Virginia has a very large population of veterans, as well as a large active military population. Could the fact that Obama voted against troop funding hurt him in this very important demographic? After all, many say that John Kerry lost due to some Vietnam veterans campaigning against him. Watch the ad and be the judge.

McCain Up in Ohio According to Rasmussen

Good news from Ohio, McCain takes the lead this key swing state according to a Rasmussen poll.

John McCain has opened a modest lead over Barack Obama in the key swing state of Ohio. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the Buckeye State shows McCain attracting 46% of the vote while Obama earns 40%. Last month and the month before McCain held a insignificant one-point lead over Obama.

Seven percent (7%) of voters say they’d prefer a third party candidate over either McCain or Obama and another 7% remain undecided.

When “leaners” are included in the totals, McCain leads Obama 52% to 42%.

Obama Latest Gaffe - A Red Flag!

Bill Smith, Editor: Remember Dan Quayle and the alleged gaffe over misspelling the word potato which later proved to be an alternative correct spelling of the word. The news media hounded Quayle to the ground. Over the years the only conclusion I could find for the intensity of the main stream media is that Quayle was not a liberal. After suffering through the election losses of liberals Al Gore and John Kerry, the "main media" networks (the ones existeing before Fox) have identified their problem. They reported too much truth about their former liberal boys. This year they seem to be wearing 'duck tape" over their months and to have locked down their "keyboards" when it comes to reporting truth about stupid comments, errors or flop-flops made by Barack Obama. They are following the new liberal craze of speaking no ill of the Obamassiah.

Obama has continually tripped over his tongue in expressing facts and ideas and perfroming flip-flops on issues. Now, consider the latest Obama gaffe that will not be "jumped on" by the main stream media. They are not going to ridicule and insult Obama as they did Quayle. Even though the spelling potato had nothing to do with being president, it was reported and reported and reported. However, Obama's latest gaffe has everything to do with understanding the constitution and the presidency -- consider the gaffe!

H/T The Pink Flamingo for the following comments:

. . . well, it's just another day and another dumb to dumber remark.

"...Today on CBS's Face the Nation, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in Afghanistan, told the paparazzi-pursued correspondent Lara Logan that "the objective of this trip was to have substantive discussions with people like President Karzai or Prime Minister Maliki or President Sarkozy or others who I expect to be dealing with over the next eight to 10 years..."

Yes, you read this correctly. Barack Obama is planning on being in office for at least eight to ten years. Jack Tapper's blog picked up this latest Obamassiah gaffe. I would like to remind Pink Flamingo readers that Barack Obama was allegedly the editor of the Harvard Law Review. As such, he should be even remotely familiar with a little ditty called the Constitution of the United States of America.

Let's get this, he is an attorney, former head of the Harvard Law Review and is a sitting senator. He Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years and was a lecturer for four years for 12 years. We can conclude that the news media should have grasped that Obama should have known the fundamental fact that a President of the United States serves no more than eight (8) years. But after noting many of his other statements and proposal, one should ask if he plans to be around as "leader" more than eight (8) years.

To name just two proposals, Obama advocates the creation of a government funded and controlled Civilian National Security Forces equalling the US Military. Obama's Global Poverty Tax Bill has passed the House and Senate Committees and waiting for a vote in the Senate . The bill would subject the United States to UN provisions including banning “small arms and light weapons.” Obama has said he would disarm America with respect to our nuclear defense missiles and would stop actions for a protective missile defense shield. All these actions and many more should be flags to a "free press." Why aren't they red flags? As stated before, the liberal news media wants to elect a liberal president. The value of a "free press" like all of our other personal freedoms is does not appear to be their concern.

Pump

Hype - The Obama Effect

Movie Trailor for Hype - the Obama Effect

McCain Attacked by AFL-CIO in New Hampshire

Dear Friends,

In organizing for our McCain Town Hall Event In Rochester New Hampshire Tomorrow Morning we came across some dubious plans by the AFL-CIO.

The AFL-CIO is attempting to make their appearance at this event one of their largest and most loudly voiced in New England against John McCain. They plan on holding their Anti-McCain Rally in the Wakefield street parking lot tomorrow morning. They have even gone so far as to distribute emails and internal messages urging employees to take the day off so they can protest and access and disrupt the Town Hall Event.

That makes it all the more urgent that we have as big a presence as possible. We are meeting in front of the Rochester Opera House in Rochester at 9:00 am.

We will have some signs available but if you can bring your own signs, even hand made, that would be great.

Please let me know if you can make it. madirishmaninc@comcast.net and bmars90@comcast.net

The members of McCain Victory 08, McCain NOW and Let’s Get This Right will be meeting for breakfast tomorrow prior to the event. We will also be dealing with our own press and distributing additional information. We will also at that time OFFICIALLY ENDORSE Jeb Bradley and begin supporting him with all of our efforts and resources as well….just as we have John McCain and John Sununu and many other conservatives across the country.

Please call 617-763-6787 for more information or to confirm your attendance!!!

Best Regards,

Sheridan Folger and Brad Marston

Co-Founders Executive Directors

Executivedirector1@letsgetthisright.com
Executivedirector2@letsgetthisright.com
617-763-6787

Rochester Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, July 22nd Doors open at 10:30am Rochester Opera House 31 Wakefield St. Rochester, NH 03867 To RSVP for the event CLICK HERE You may also RSVP via email at newhampshire@johnmccain.com or by calling 603-782-4941 No confirmation nor reply from campaign staff is needed to attend the event. Click here for more information and a map to the event

"The ultimate determinant in the struggle
now going on for the world will not be
bombs and rockets but a test of wills and
ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve: the values
we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated."
-Ronald Reagan

Shared with the My Fellow McCain Victory 08 Bloggers at
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Obama’s “Hateful” Rhetoric

Gary Bauer: "In my weekly Human Events column, I examine more thoroughly Barack Obama’s accusation that enforcement of our immigration laws amounts to “terrorism” against certain communities. It’s a disgusting and demoralizing slander against the men and women who bravely risk their lives to enforce our laws.

But then again it’s par for the course for the party that has accused our military of being “cold-blooded killers,” of “terrorizing women and children” in Iraq and compared our guards at GITMO to Nazis. Sixties hippies called our police officers “pigs,” and Obama has excited the former radicals, like Bill “the Bomber” Ayers and other “Blame America First” nuts, like no candidate since ’68. I hope and pray that America’s “Silent Majority” will once again speak up loudly and clearly on Election Day, just like it did in 1968." [Gary Bauer's column: Will Obama’s 'Hateful Rhetoric' Draw Hispanic Voters?] [H/T ARRA News Service]

Poll Shows McCain Favored in Arkansas

ARRA News Service - Rasmussen Reports latest telephone survey in the Natural State finds John McCain leading Barack Obama 47% to 37%. When “leaners” are included, the GOP is ahead 52% to 39%. . . . Arkansas has cast its six Electoral College votes for Republican candidates in five out of the last seven Presidential elections. . . . McCain is backed by 91% of Republicans in Arkansas Obama earns support from 67% of Democrats. Among unaffiliated voters, McCain leads 67% to 16%.
There is a huge racial divide as well. McCain leads 55% to 27% among white voters in Arkansas, while Obama leads 93% to 2% among black voters. The Republican has a 52% to 33% advantage among men, but the two candidates are essentially even among women. . . . [Rasmussen Report: Arkansas: McCain Up by Ten]

Mitt Romney Responds to Attacks on John McCain's Military Record

Freedom From Taxes Day Has Arrived

ARRA News Service: As we face the shock of this day which used to come earlier in the year, let's review the facts related to the day in a post by Warner Todd Huston, Publius Forum: Yesterday was finally the end of the days this year when you were working to pay the government its exorbitant fees. That’s right, July 16 was Cost of Government Day for the average American. Grover Norquist . . . has once again crunched the numbers and determined how long it takes most of us to finally pay off our own personal bloated government debt and begin, at last, to make money for ourselves.

This year Americans have worked until today, July 16, to pay for the total costs of federal, state and local government. This is 197 days of the year consuming 53.9 percent of national income. Over the past 22 years, in only four years (1982, 1983, 1991 and 1992) did Cost of Government Day fall later in the year.

Its simply outrageous that it takes 197 days of a year to finally pay off our government obligations and utterly criminal that more than half our income is consumed by bloated, needless bureaucracy.

Federal spending will consume 83.7 days. State and local spending will consume 50.5 days effort. Federal regulations cost 4l.7 days and State regulations cost 20.9 days. The spending data is precise, the regulatory burdens are understated.

. . . Reagan was right. Lower taxes means pro-growth. Let’s hope the next president does not torpedo the relatively good economic times we’ve had these last 15 years in favor of higher, economy killing taxes. The burden on the taxpayer is far too much and regulation is stifling to us all. [More about Tax Freedom Day]

Obama Iraq Documentary

Obama Iraq

Speaker Pelosi Clueless! Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross Gets it!

Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: When it comes to addressing our national energy crisis, drilling for oil and protecting America and American interests, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representative is clueless. Even the liberal New York Times has taken notice.

On Friday, Carl Hulse in an NYT article title "Democrats Dig In as G.O.P. Presses for Oil Exploration in Protected Areas" depicts the logger-headiness of Pelosi. The article is long but worth reading. Some limited excerpts will reveal Pelosi's failure to comprehend our internal National crisis and her inept understanding of the role of the National Strategic Petroleum Reserves in a time of global crisis with existing threats against America and American interests:

House Democratic leaders took a hard line Thursday against opening up restricted areas to oil production as Republicans threatened to try to keep Congress in session this summer unless they got a vote on new drilling opportunities.

As the political and policy fight over gasoline prices escalated, the White House rejected a call by Democrats to release oil from the nation’s strategic reserves in an effort to lower prices by increasing supply. Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, said, “We’d like to see members think a little bit more long term and take advantage of the opportunity that we have to do drilling from our domestic sources.”

Even as some Democratic lawmakers called on Congress to open up restricted areas to drilling, . . . “This call for drilling in areas that are protected is a hoax,” Ms. Pelosi said. “It’s an absolute hoax on the part of the Republicans and this Bush administration.” . . . But with public anxiety growing over gasoline prices, some Democrats say their party has to move beyond encouraging exploration on tracts already owned by oil companies and open new, potentially productive areas to exploration. Leaders of a coalition of moderate and conservative

Democrats known as the Blue Dogs have stepped up their push for drilling both in the Arctic refuge and offshore, saying the oil royalties produced could pay for research into new energy technologies. “I propose that we drill in ANWR,” said Representative Mike Ross, Democrat of Arkansas, referring to the refuge. “We’ve already got a pipeline going to Alaska, the ANWR, that can handle two million barrels a day. We’re only putting one million in it. Let’s fill it up.”

But Ms. Pelosi, who considers energy legislation a personal priority, does not appear ready to shift her view, based on discussions in a private meeting with members of the leadership on Thursday. According to accounts from those present, Ms. Pelosi said that if Democrats relented on drilling, “then we might as well pack it up and go home.”

Ms. Pelosi instead forged ahead with the effort to encourage the White House to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, even listing the White House telephone number and e-mail address on a poster at a news conference to encourage consumers to join the appeal. She said the release of less than 10 percent of the 700 million barrels of oil in the reserve would influence the price at the pump “now, within 10 days, not within 10 years.” . . .

Pelosi continues to prove time and again that she is a masochistic politician who is heartless in her un-willingness to do anything and everything to help the American people while at the same time she insists on placing our National Security at risk. She welds her dictatorial control over house democrats and refuses to allow anything that might in any way give partisan credit also to the Republicans. She has helped lead the U.S Congress to its lowest approval rating ever.

Let's clarify the risk that Speaker Pelosi is willing to take even though it is not a solution to our petroleum resource needs. Lee S. Gliddon, Jr in Desert Conservative hits the nail on the head regarding Pelosi approach of releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve:

If you really think about Nancy Pelosi’s demands that we use our nation’s Emergency Reserve Oil Supply as a, ‘fix,’ you will see that she has no thoughts of the real ‘why’ this Emergency Reserve exits in the first place! Should Iran actually close the Straits of Hormus after were used the Emergency Reserves, then what? Nothing to be used and what would our military do? Nancy Pelosi has ideas but her ideas are going to destroy America!

Pelosis is clueless as Speaker of the House. And that is being nice. Because if she were not clueless, then she would be a traitor based on her past actions and comments while Speaker of the House. It is time for Speaker Pelosi to step down. If unwilling to step down, we can only hope there exists enough uncompromised Democrats like Rep. Mike Ross to lead in establishing a coalition of House Democrats to replace Pelosi. The United States needs a new Speaker who is a statesperson; a person more dedicated to the people than to liberal party pandering. America deserves and needs a better person speaking for the House to the public!

Minnesota '08

Chris Palko at The NextRight.com reports in The Big Ten Strategy: Minnesota of the chance Senator McCain has in turning this Blue state Red...

"By virtue of voting for native son Walter Mondale in 1984, Minnesota has the longest streak of voting Democratic in presidential elections. It last voted for a Republican in 1972, when George McGovern was too extreme for this historically liberal state. Despite this, Minnesota is not the Massachusetts of the Midwest. Instead, it is now what Illinois once was; a key Midwestern state dominated by a big city where the suburbs make the difference. In 2000, Bush got within two points of winning the state, assisted by a strong Nader vote (5.25%). Four years later, Bush was able to increase his percentage of the vote by two points. But with liberals wary of voting for Nader again, John Kerry was also able to increase the Democratic share of the vote by over three points. Bush fell 3.5 points short of victory.

In this election cycle, there are two wild cards associated with Minnesota. The first of which is the Republican National Convention being held in St. Paul. The GOP has held its last two conventions deep in the heart of Blue America, Philadelphia and New York. While the city of St. Paul is Democratic, there could be greater potential for a positive convention changing the mind of some locals. If you live in the Twin Cities, you will have a constant media drumbeat about the convention. This is a major form of political advertising, which could benefit Republicans."

For Full article - The Big Ten Strategy: Minnesota

Mac Is Back

I have been watching Senator McCain climb up this week in Rasmussen and Gallup tracking polls. I took my time pointing it out because it could have been a statistical fluke. Now it seems real especially when I look at the underlying numbers. Senator McCain is trusted on the economy and has pulled even on energy. The Democrats extreme position on energy is killing their Congressional numbers and is starting to weigh down Senator Obama.

The message is getting through. Drill here, drill now. Get serious about alternatives. Encourage innovation. Look at the excessive speculative bubble caused by the margin changes. We have to do it all.

Senator McCain is now tied in the most recent national polls and is within single digits in all of them. He shows the most upside potential in the choice of a running mate.

Furthermore, white evangelicals -- who typically make up a quarter or more of a winning Republican presidential coalition -- seem especially pessimistic. McCain is substantially ahead among these voters, but only 44% of white evangelicals said they were satisfied with their choices this election, compared with 72% at this time in 2004.

All of these trends suggest that McCain would be most helped by choosing a young running mate who would inspire evangelicals, but there is no obvious holder of that political résumé.

I would disagree. Can you say Mike Huckabee--Detroit Freepress? How about America's most popular governor, according to Rasmussen, Sarah Palin of Alaska who is a young, evangelical, and a woman who can appeal to working class voters?

Huckabee Touts McCain as 'Refreshingly Stubborn'

The Chicago Tribune article Huckabee sees 'refreshingly stubborn' nominee reports on Governor Huckabee's address to the Iowa Republican State Convention. He was there drumming up support for Senator McCain particularly with social conservatives. Huckabee explained why Senator is the best choice for president and touted him 'refreshingly stubborn.'

Republican Mike Huckabee believes that presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama will drive home social conservatives leery of John McCain, but McCain will add independent voters attracted by his "refreshingly stubborn" approach to politics.

Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor who won Iowa's leadoff Republican caucuses, was the keynote speaker at the Republican State Convention on Saturday. His mission was to shore up support for presumptive nominee McCain among influential social and religious conservatives. Those activists were key to Huckabee's win in the January caucuses, and he made the case that those conservatives face a clear choice in November.

"My job here today is to remind people that while, and particularly here in Iowa, John McCain may not have been their first choice, he's the best choice as they think about going in and voting in November," said Huckabee. "He wasn't my first choice either, but he's certainly my choice now."

Tony Snow Was One of A Kind

Former Press Secretary Tony Snow passed away, Saturday 12 July at 0200 Hrs. He was a man of character, principle, and intellect. He was a man who valued loyalty. There would be no worries about backstabbing books from him. He was the most dynamic Presidential spokesperson in recent memory. He was a patriot who put the Country first. He was a man who valued faith and family.

Sympathy and prayers go out to his family (especially wife Jill and the children), and his many friends. The country lost a true public servant.

Obama World: No Hablo Ingles is okay

ARRA News Service - After making its way through the conservative websites, Fox News reported today on Barrack Obama chastisement of the majority of Americans who want English to be the sole official language used by government agencies in the United States. These Americans do not object to others learning of a second non-English language as long as it is not mandated by the state. Americans are tired of "Press 1 for English." English is the language of international business, commerce, science, and technology. Other nations learn English, because English is the "universal" language in which things get done. As Bobby Eberle said, "Only in America (an English-speaking country) would left-wing Barack Obama tell Americans that their kids should learn Spanish."

William Gheen, ALIPAC: Obama comments are opposed by approximately 4 out of 5 Americans according to Rasmussen Report polling from last month, which shows 83% place a higher priority on encouraging immigrants to speak English as their primary language. Just 13% take the opposite view and say it is more important for Americans to learn other languages.

Americans are sick and tired of pressing 1 for English and being forced to pay for this liberal corporate social engineering experiment. Immigrants should ingratiate themselves and speak English because English is the language of the United States. The English language and the fact all Americans have shared a native tongue is an essential part of the equation that has made America such a successful nation. Obama is completely out of touch on immigration issues.

Bobby Eberle, GOPUSA: What an absolutely ridiculous speech. We need to make sure our kids can speak Spanish? Why? That is the question. Oh, and I have the answer. It's because the liberals are quite happy seeing millions of illegal aliens pour across our border and do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about it. Rather than solve the problem of illegal immigration by enforcing laws and securing our border (after all, if we did that, liberals would call us racists), the far left would rather Americans simply learn Spanish. That is their solution to the problem.

And it is definitely becoming more and more of a problem. Example... during these very nice summer months, my kids love to go . . . get sandwiches at Subway. Getting the sandwiches, however, has become more and more of an ordeal. In fact, the last time we went, it took forever simply because I couldn't understand the attendant, and the attendant couldn't understand me. I'll have a six-inch ham sandwich on wheat with lettuce and tomato... All I got was a blank stare. I repeated the order, with my daughter looking on. The lady finally grabbed the wheat bread and then selected turkey. No... I said ham. Now, this being a Subway restaurant in AMERICA, one would think that I could place my order in English. Wrong. This must be a Barack Obama Subway restaurant, and the only way to place an order is to do it in Spanish. Hmmm... I guess I should thank Obama for his speech. What he was trying to get across was the idea that we should teach our kids Spanish just so we can order a sandwich at an American restaurant. Thanks Obama for looking out for me!

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Election 2008, English, grassroots, illegal immigration, immigrants, Ingles, Learn Spanish, National Language, news, No Hablo Ingles, Politics, Spanish, Your Children, ARRA News Service

Free Speech of U.S. Representatives & Senators at Risk

Bill Smith, Editor: U.S. Senate sources identified today that the Democrat leadership is seeking and developing actions to restrict the free speech of U.S. Representatives and Senators with both the public and their constituents. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised the most “open and honest Congress” when Democrats took over Congress at the beginning of last year. However, a majority Democrats have continually demonstrated that they don’t intend to live up to that pledge. In addition, online sources, Soren Dayton and Ed Morrissey are reporting that Democrat-controlled rule-making bodies in the House and Senate are trying to restrict and regulate the use of members’ communications on the Internet.

Ed Morrissey reports on the schemes in both chambers, asking “Why do Congressional Democrats fear free speech?” In the Senate, Rules Committee Chair Diane Feinstein (D-CA) is proposing a rule that would require her panel to essentially become the Internet speech police for the Senate. It would be up to the Rules Committee to “sanction” which websites and forms of communication they deem appropriate for senators to use, and would then require their regulations to apply to any domain not ending in “senate.gov.”

Even worse, the committee is seeking to be able to regulate content since the rule would give it the authority to require the removal of any content it considers in violation of Senate rules.The upshot of this proposal is that senators’ ability to use websites such as YouTube, Facebook, and others to communicate with their constituents and the American public could be jeopardized and the content of those communications subject to approval. On top of that, the rules are vague enough to raise concerns over how they might apply to basic things like guest postings on blogs like RedState and Townhall. No such restrictions exist on any other form of communication like TV and radio interviews or op-eds in newspapers. What is it about free speech online that Democrats find so threatening?

Obama's Mile High Fantasy Flight

Dr. Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: My Opinion! Barack Obama's move to Mile High is an exercise in stagecraft and a smoke and mirror job for the American people.

First, it is an affront to the Hillary Clinton delegates who would have comprised half the room if Obama were to appear at the Pepsi Center.

It is a calculated move to force networks into the very real choice of only covering his speech on the final day - denying the American people a true look at what the Democrat's platform and policies are all about, and denying the American people a true look into the divided nature of the convention.

If Obama's choice results in the networks only covering one day, would they then feel obligated to curtail coverage of the GOP convention? If so, Obama's calculated move then denies the American people a fair look at John McCain.

This begs the question of the true nature of Obama's calculated decision. Is it because he wishes to keep voters in the dark over real issues and only provide them spectacle? Is it because he is afraid Hillary's supporters might not provide applause (or even boo) a speech in a room that wasn't guaranteed to be stacked with his zealous followers?

What do you think? Leave a Comment!

Media fails to report success in Iraq

Hello!

Whenever a state is a "battleground state," it is important for voters to have all of the accurate information so that they make a wise decision when it comes time to go to the polls.

I have been doing some research on what the GOP and Democrats say about Iraq. Democrats often ask for the GOP to provided proof that we are winning the war in Iraq. Friends, we are winning. However, if you get your news from ABC, CBS, or NBC, you wouldn't know that.

On July 1st, the AP reported that 15 of the 18 Iraqi benchmarks were "satisfactory." This is a sign of definite progress for the region. This past week NBC News was the only network that put the words "Iraq" and "progress" in the same sentence.

The news received barely a headline. The Washington Post shoved the story in the back. This is what ABC's George Sephanonpoulos had to say on the matter,

You may have noticed that this is the first week since the beginning of the Iraq war where the Pentagon released the names of no combat-related deaths in Iraq.

Don't you think that a story as big as this deserves bigger coverage?

Obama's Tax Plan Does Not Compute

The Morning Bell, The Heritage Foundation: According to the non-partisan Annenberg Political Fact Check , Sen. Barack Obama’s tax plan would increase gross tax receipts by $103.3 billion in 2011 alone. That number by itself would make it the largest single-year tax increase in American history since World War II, and measured as a percentage of gross national product, it would be the fifth-largest tax increase since 1943. Even with these record-breaking levels of taxing, Obama still would not be able to cover all of his promised increases in domestic spending. Commenting on Obama’s tax and spending plans, Clinton-era Office of Management and Budget official Idabel Sawhill tells the Los Angeles Times: “I don’t think it all adds up.”

The Obama campaign claims its economic plan calls for only an additional $130 billion a year in increased domestic spending. But according to Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Co.), who sponsored an amendment to this year’s budget resolution that included all 111 Obama campaign promises for new domestic spending, the price tag is closer to $300 billion per year and $1.4 trillion over five years. (Obama ended up voting against his own platform.) . . .

Obama claims that by ending the Iraq war he will save $90 billion a year. But that was before his recent evolution on the issue. Despite whatever promises he makes to his supporters on his campaign website, he recently told America’s Servicemen and Women in Military Times that he would “draw down in a deliberate fashion in consultation with the Iraqi government, at a pace that is determined in consultation with General Petraeus.” . . . Heritage scholar Stuart Butler adds: “You cannot justify a longer-term commitment to a program based on a one-time saving on the war in Iraq.”

Obama also claims he will save $80 billion a year by closing tax loopholes. But the non-partisan Tax Policy Center says it could not confirm the projected savings. What we do know is that Obama has promised not to lower our corporate tax rate, which is the second highest in the world. Instead of simplifying the tax code, Obama wants to further complicate it by creating a “Patriot Employer Act,” which would lead to new loopholes for companies with businesses overseas to exploit.

Even if Obama does manage to pay for his spending, there is little reason to believe it will help the economy. For example, he has also promised to spend $60 billion on infrastructure that he claims will create 2 million new jobs. But studies show that infrastructure spending creates very few jobs, and that those jobs it does create are offset by losses elsewhere in the economy due to decreased private consumption and investment . Instead, what our economy needs is increased energy production, reduced barriers to trade and a less punitive simpler tax code. . . . [Read More] [H/T ARAA News Service]

Voters Approval of Congress falls to 9%! Lowest Ever Rating!

ARRA News Service - Rasmussen Reports survey issued this morning shows voters giving the Democrat lead Congress with the lowest approval rating of any Congress in history.

Rasmussen Reports: The percentage of voters who give Congress good or excellent ratings has fallen to single digits for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history. This month, just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high in that dubious category. . . . Congress has not received higher than a 15% approval rating since the beginning of 2008. . . . [Read More on Survey]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leaders Harry Reid have achieved the most dismal record ever with their liberal agenda and failure to address critical National issues like rising gas prices, homeland security, and the mortgage scandles. Their efforts to prohibit American owned businesses from Drilling for Oil in our own country and their actions restricting electric power companies to the use higher cost natural gas verses using cheap available coal is driving energy costs and gas prices beyond acceptable levels for the American people. It has not gone unnoticed by the public that these leaders have supported trial lawyers over loyal Americans who obeyed the requests of the Federal government to protect America. The public notices the effort of the congressional leaders to promote the bailout of banks and mortgage companies who promoted bad lending practices while ignoring the homeowners who are losing their homes to these same institutions. If democrat senators and reprentatives are concerned about America and regaining the voters' confidence, they should immediately replace Reid and Pelosi as their leaders.

McCain supporters hopeful for New York

McCain supporters hopeful for New York published at Bizjournals.com relates that McCain has a shot in NY against Senator Obama...

Despite New York's political reputation as Democratic stronghold, the head of Sen. John McCain's Empire State presidential campaign team believes the Arizona Republican can win the state, including Upstate and Western New York.

Edward Cox, a partner in the New York law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler and son-in-law of former President Nixon, made that prediction during a meeting at Business First.

Cox was in Buffalo to take part in a fund raiser for Christoper Lee, who is running for the suburban Republican congressional seat currently held by Rep. Tom Reynolds, who is retiring, and to meet with McCain supporters as prelude to the candidate's scheduled July 21 day-long visit to the region.

Cox said when Sen. Barack Obama became the presumptive Democratic Party nominee in this year's presidential race, edging out U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, that changed the race's dynamics.

"New York is more in play now with Obama than it would have been with Mrs. Clinton," Cox said. "Obama is much more of a mystery (to Buffalo)."

Cox, who made several visits to Buffalo in the days leading up to this past winter's Super Tuesday presidential primary, said he deliberately stayed away until the Democratic primary battle between Clinton and Obama ended and the McCain camp knew who they would be facing in the general election.

No stranger to Republican Party politics, Cox had briefly started a run against Clinton in the 2006 senatorial race but ultimately dropped out in favor Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

One of the byproducts of his own campaign was that Cox learned from polls that New Yorkers, despite their liberal bent, are "economic conservatives." Cox said his polls found that more than 70 percent of all New York state voters viewed themselves in that vein and that plays well for McCain.

"Sen. McCain comes across as this guy who understands the problems," Cox said. "He loves the 'town hall' setting. Sen. McCain fits in well with Western New York and he would fit in very well in Cheektowaga."

McCain supporters hopeful for New York full article

Great News For McCain Folks Online

Hey Folks.... GREAT NEWS.

David Mastio of BlogNetNews

had created a new McCain Bloggers section at RightyBlogs

You can find the McCain Blogs HERE

The Join/Sign up page is HERE

You can Find The FEED URL HERE

You can check ratings/comments/posts it is very cool.

David has been a great help not only with this project but with our SlateCard project to support conservative candidates



Both BlogNetNews and RightyBlogs are full of cool features,feeds,widgets you can download and customize to your site or blog....from their great new elections08 feature, the whitehouse feature, the local feeds or national........I would highly recommend using them on your site!!
http://www.blognetnews.com/elections/
http://www.blognetnews.com/whitehouse08/
http://www.blognetnews.com/must-read%20conservatives/

Get this widget!

If you have any trouble or questions get in touch with David, he is a great guy and more then willing to help you out. They are always looking for ways to improve their service and be innovative...and they do a GREAT job of it!! THANKS DAVID.

If you could help us get the word out it would be greatly appreciated! We have a new New McCain sign up at RightyBlogs. Also you can grab a feed of this to replace any other feeds or multiple feeds you may have cluttering up. You can grab them nationally, locally whatever you like! Very cool.

Thanks to David Mastio of BlogNetNews / RightBlogs. David has been very helpful in working with us and they have a lot of great new features and things going on over there so if you can please be sure to include links etc to them.

Here is the link to our page at Righty Blogs (which we will update frequently)

McCain blogs is up here: http://www.rightyblogs.com/mccainblogs/

Here's the form to join:

http://www.rightyblogs.com/mccainblogs/join.php

Thanks for all your help folks…Keep It up!!!

Be sure to also support local conservatives in some of the most important races around by visiting

http://www.slatecard.com/slatecards/LetsGetThisRight

Slainte’

Mad

Let’s Get This Right!

--

Support John McCain Online!

http://johnmccain.com

http://mccainnow.com

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http://www.McCainVictory08.com

http://www.johnmccain2008.ning.com

http://madirishmaninc.blogspot.com/

The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.

Ronald Reagan

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