Will Media Report Concert Before Obama's Berlin Speech?
News busters.org
By Noel Sheppard

Remember back in May when media gushed and fawned over a huge crowd in Portland, Oregon -- supposedly gathered to hear the words of Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama -- but chose not to report the free concert given before his speech?

Well, it has been learned that before the presumptive Democrat nominee spoke to a crowd in Berlin Thursday, two popular German acts -- reggae artist Patrice and rock band Reamonn -- entertained the gathering audience.

Will media report this tonight, or just gush and fawn over the huge crowd again?
While you ponder, here's what was reported by Spiegel Online moments ago (h/t Hot Air and Gateway):

++ Pop Concert for Obama Fans ++
6:33 p.m.: The tens of thousands of Obama fans are being entertained as they await the senator. The reggae musician Patrice kicked things off, followed by the rock band Reamonn.

I'm sure this will be part of ALL media reports concerning this speech...not!

Jindal is a good candidate, but what happened to former Gov. Mark Schweiker of PA? He has the same qualifications as Tom Ridge, is popular in a Dem-leaning state, and can appeal to conservatives who might otherwise stay home and not vote for McCain.

If I were McCain, that's who I'd pick.

Jindal is a good candidate, but what happened to former PA Gov. Mark Schweiker (Tom Ridge's successor when he joined Bush's cabinet)? He has the same qualifications as Ridge, is very popular in a Democratic-leaning state (especially after the mine disaster), and can appeal to conservatives who might not like McCain and stay home in the election. And he has more experience than Jindal as governor.

If I were McCain, that's who I'd pick.

---------------------------------
Yeah.
We
.
Are
.
Younger
.
Than Old Farts like you, you will die soon, you are very stupid like the Idiot War Criminal Terrorist Fascist Killers you support.
.
We
.
Are
.
The Future, you Old Fart will die soon along with your Old Fart Killer War Criminals, we don't want your War Criminal Killing policies, we don't want your Intolerance and Hatred from your despicable religious Fraud leaders.
.
Who
.
Would
.
Jesus
.
Kill?

Why would a war hero hide his Military Records, Old Fart Adulterer Songbird McCorrupt?

Posted by: Why would a war hero hide his Military Records, Old Fart Adulterer Songbird McCorrupt? | July 22, 2008 7:10 PM

-------------------------------------------
Ah yes, another me generation spawn from the me generation of the sixties! They were so idealistic and noble, they knew better, they were going to change the world. The minute the draft was done away with the selfish bastards sold out every principle they ever had and now the are the corporate CEO's screwing the entire country over for a bloody buck.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!! McSame picks a brown man for VP! oh f*ck yes! whitey and brownie. yea. right. neo-cons will die in droves if that happens. Just fall over dead that a brown man is their VP. OMFG.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!! McSame picks a brown man for VP! oh f*ck yes! whitey and brownie. yea. right. neo-cons will die in droves if that happens. Just fall over dead that a brown man is their VP. OMFG.

With all the liberal Obamanistas here in ecstasy over their Fuehrer Barack Obama having a 2, 3, or 4 point lead over John McCain it'll be fun to watch them squirm when PRESIDENT John McCain gets sworn into office next February. Checking the Rasmussen Reports Daily tracking poll for July 23, 2004 (Rasmussen has always been the most acurate poll in the past) Hanoi John Kerry was leading GWB by 3 points (48 to 45), which is just about the same as Obama's supposed lead today. Since Barack Obama also has to overcome the Bradley Effect vote which Hanoi John didn't have to worry about, were the registered racist Democrat voters are not about to vote for any black candidate once in the privacy of the voting booth, Obama's toast in November.

Give the opposition over a month to concentrate their research and work up their strategy on your veep? Doesn't seem likely and even less wise.

Dangle it in front of the media like a cat toy? Beautiful!

Wait. A campaign aide told Novak they were likely to announce their VP pick AND "suggested I put it out" and he didn't suspect this was a setup.

If it was the truth, it wouldn't have had to have been a super secret leak to Bob Novak. It's not like this is a story about secret wiretapping or CIA missions into Cambodia.

Is Novak really that stupid or is he -- more likely IMHO -- just complicit in this giant performance art. ("Bob, you stand over here and pretend to be the honest columnist who feels used by a shady campaign operative.")

Re: BobII

What do you mean by saying:

"Biden thinks it was a good idea, fundamentally different from Obama who lead the Harvard Law Review."

You mean Obama who "led" the HLR? He was an editor there.

Re: Maureen Dowd

I do not understand why women can't make nasty, tasteless jokes as much as men do. I am a woman by the way.

Re: JAM4

We do not need any "Plan B": Nothing was broken!!

.
Republican Party's Plan B...........Nominate Dick Cheney for Vice President !!!!!!!!!!!!

GOP Tricks will trump Obama in November !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

Mccain will pick a VP when Cheney tells him whop they have picked out for him. It is a very important decision picking the next president oops! I mean VP.

SHIRL IS RIGHT: CALL OUT OBAMA ON THE CONSTITUTION

The poster shirl is correct; Obama is equivocating, and these extra-legal programs of "state-assisted personal destruction" are operating outside of the radar of relevant Congressional committees.

As I stated in my open letter to Chris, I believe Bill and Hillary Clinton were sending the rest of us a message about a reactionary movement inside and outside of government that even the power of the Presidency could not keep in check.

I have emailed key members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees with links to the articles about organized gang/community stalking, and the "mechanics" of state-assisted personal destruction, and how these programs appear to fit into a larger mosaic.

However, my communications are being disputed. I again ask any persons reading The Fix to please help me spread the word. It's Paul Revere time for the Constitution, and the erosion is well underway.

Only someone who has been targeted by this extra-legal, neo-fascist umbrella can understand the devastating impact this disregard for the right of due process is having on the lives, careers, financial security and physical well-being of untold thousands of American citizens, and their families.

I cannot do this alone, and powerful forces are actively thwarting my efforts. I post here because, apparently, they don't want to mess with the Washington Post -- but I have had problems emailing, visiting, and posting to other sites.

If this sounds overly dramatic, I assure you that it is not. Please help. Here are those links, which, if followed, will reveal my contact information (if those who don't want to see this subject investigated will refrain from further unconstitutional interference with my right to communicate). Thank you all, and Chris. The Fix plays a key role in understanding, and defending, the democratic process.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/vigilante-injustice-organized-gang-stalking-american-gestapo-are-they-doing-hi-tech-torture?

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/zap-have-you-been-targeted-directed-energy-weapon-victims-organized-gang-stalking-say-its-happening-usa-1

During the Clinton Presidency, the Washington Post noted an apology from John McCain about his following joke:

"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
Because her father is Janet Reno."

Regardless of opinions on personal lifestyles, U.S. Senator McCain apparently found it funny to mock lesbianism and a young woman's physical looks, especially in front of a Republican crowd. This is the same man that claims to champion pro-family values.

McCain's tasteless joke was reported in major newspapers, so was the vain attempt by his press secretary to initially deny that McCain had done anything wrong. Several major newspapers, kept the joke itself a secret. When McCain subsequently apologized to President Clinton, the Washington Post, noted the apology but said the joke "was too vicious to print."

When Maureen Dowd penned a column in the New York Times about the joke, she wrote that McCain "is so revered by the press that his disgusting jape was largely nudged under the rug."

Posted by: shirl | July 23, 2008 1:03 AM

THE CONSTITUTION DISCARDED:

Obama promised to filibuster FISA immunity.

He voted for Immunity, saying "what the hell, the idiots will vote for me anyway"

poor Sherry, stuck with Obama's 58 states, his 10 year term of presidency, and Israel being Israels best friend..
why sherry, aren't you motified by obama's mental slippage?
or is it that obama never knew anything about the American constitution?

Thank God that Sen John McCain will not be
naming a village idiot Obama Shill like
Chris for his Vice President,and so who says McCain can't do anything right?

Alas, the RNC have given McCain more ways to embarass himself and his political party....

He cant even describe when the "surge" had actually started and had AGAIN made a fool of himself on CBS News yesterday see www.jedreport.com/2008/07/video-of-the-mc.html....how sad, its as if the RNC WANT him to lose so that they can concentrate on the Senate elections instead.....

I hate to give anyone older than me advice(its insulting to talk down to the elderly) but if McCain wants to succeed and get the press to spend more time with him and his "Straight Talk Express" bus/airplane/loveseat.....he needs to get into the 21st century and here is how....

Cindy should buy him a "Bluetooth" ...(not the one you put in your mouth)... a "Blackberry"...an IPOD...and of course a GPS device...and maybe he'll finally get his facts straight....

Now for the heart of the matter at hand, for the VP...I dunno, it seems that whoever he picks has to be young, healthy, smart, good public speaker, a republican,....wait a minute....there is but no other choice but Bobby Jindal..

...but that will need to be for another time he's currently performing exorcisims at the RNC....Karl Rove has been invaded by George Carlin......

Hey Chris the big shot WAPO Obama Shill,so
you seem totally obessed with whoever that
Sen John McCain names for his Vice President these days,however Mr Drippy
Chris the Fizzle let me assure you right
now that it won't be you,Chris. So do go
back to shilling for Mullah Barack Obama
and keep hoping Barack Hussein Obama will
name your no talented worthless butt to
be the Official President Obama Press
Secretary yet you phony loser. Since even
old Charles the Kraut has more talent then an arrogant fraud like you Chris.

Who cares who that contemptible geezer picks?

McCain can't win on policy issues so he'll have to play the man instead of the ball, make ad hominem attacks and smear Obama's image- and that's going to take a lot of money for advertising, so Romney is going to get the nod because of his fundraising capabilities.

It's Romney's only shot. The conservative base would never want a Mormon, but this is Obama's election to win or lose.

If McCain had real character he'd be debating peace, prosperity, health care, education, and the environment. Instead he's crying like a little sissy about the media. And he's going to make this campaign silly season.

That's ok, John. Go down in the history books any way you want. But understand that we live in a different world, and the truth will come out. Character determines fate- how do you want to be remembered?

It doesn't matter who McShame chooses for Veep. McSame is clearly never going to be ready for Commander-in-chief. As some poster noted:

"It's about judgment, my friends....

"And I believe that the success will be fairly easy" and "There's no doubt in my mind that... we will be welcomed as liberators." [John McCain 3/24/03]

"There's not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shias. So I think they can probably get along." [John McCain 4/23/03]

"Look, we're going to send young men and women in harm's way and that's always a great danger, but I cannot believe that there is an Iraqi soldier who is going to be willing to die for Saddam Hussein, particularly since he will know that our objective is to remove Saddam Hussein from power."

[John McCain 9/15/02]

"But the fact is, I think we could go in with much smaller numbers than we had to do in the past. But any military man worth his salt is going to have to prepare for any contingency, but I don't believe it's going to be nearly the size and scope that it was in 1991." [John McCain 09/15/02]

"He's a patriot who has the best interests of his country at heart." ]John McCain on Ahmed Chalabi, 2002]

"Absolutely. Absolutely." [John McCain, asked by Chris Matthews, "you believe that the people of Iraq or at least a large number of them will treat us as liberators?" 03/12/03]

I think the victory will be rapid, within about three weeks. [John McCain, MSNBC, 1/28/03]

It's clear that the end is very much in sight. ... It won't be long. It, it'll be a fairly short period of time. [John McCain, ABC, 4/9/03]

We're either going to lose this thing or win this thing within the next several months. [Meet The Press, 11/12/06]

"Well, then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier?" [John McCain, responding to assertion by Fox News' Neil Cavuto that "many argue the conflict isn't over," [John McCain, 06/11/03]

"My friends, the war will be over soon, the war for all intents and purposes although the insurgency will go on for years and years and years." [John McCain, 02/25/08]

THE CONSTITUTION DISCARDED:
EXPOSE THE 'MECHANICS OF PERSONAL DESTRUCTION.' PEOPLE ARE BEING RUINED.

SCRIVENER'S NOTE: The following posting was published today on Chris Cillizza's Washington Post.com blog "The Fix" blog in response to his candid admission that the national media ran with leaks from the McCain campaign about an imminent announcement of his vice presidential pick, when in fact it was just a ploy to detract attention from Barack Obama's foreign trip.

Chris:

I applaud your candor -- your recognition that you and your colleagues are played daily like a cheap fiddle. The squeaky strain of the media manipulation minuet is a noisome waltz without end.

Chris, please listen carefully: There is a constitutional crisis in this country. This is the charge: The rule of law has broken down on the local level across the nation. Bands of well equipped private citizens, tacitly and materially supported by elements of the power structure at multiple levels, are bypassing the legal system. The charge is that this extra-legal militia is patrolling the streets, stalking and harassing, allegedly inflicting physical harm upon persons targeted by this extra-legal control mechanism, which denies them their constitutionally protected right of due process under the law.

Even uniformed police are reported to have been intimidated by this network of extra-legal control, using volunteer citizens as the "street muscle."

Victims say that in addition to being physically harassed, their property is being vandalized; their privacy is being invaded; their mail is intercepted, financial and billing statement altered, family finances decimated; and their physical well-being has been compromised, using hi-tech modes of physical punishment.

Victims charge that a network of bureaucratic programs appears to work in tandem with this extra-legal control mechanism.

THESE PROGRAMS MAY BE RESPONSIBLE IN PART FOR THE CRISIS IN THE MORTGAGE AND CREDIT MARKETS. Some of the agencies looking into those matters may have long-standing knowledge of these programs.

President Clinton often talked about "the politics of personal destruction." Hillary Clinton warned against the "vast right-wing conspiracy," a concern she reaffirmed, albeit in milder descriptive language, in her autobiography, "Living History."

The network of programs and policies that are allegedly circumventing the judicial system, violating constitutional rights and meting out vigilante justice, might collectively be termed the MECHANICS of personal destruction.

It's alleged to be happening all over, in virtually every city and town and county in the nation -- including right there in Washington and in bedrooms communities across the river.

It is the rule of the jungle supplanting the rule of law. And there is testimony that horrific, silent and potentially deadly microwave, laser and x-ray weapons -- "directed energy weapons" which are replacing traditional armaments -- are being used by rogue elements to slowly degrade the health and destroy the livelihoods of targeted persons.

I wonder aloud whether Bill and Hillary Clinton weren't trying to warn the rest of us about an evil that even the power of the presidency could not keep in check.

I know your beat is politics. Chris. But politics, and the entire electoral process, is being marginalized, relegated to little more than window dressing, as true power is stolen away by a neo-fascist element that has found a way to seize the true reins of power and authority. It is analogous to what John Dean called "a cancer" -- not just on the presidency, but on the entire body politic.

Amazing as it sounds, this powerful apparatus appears to exist under the radar of most elected members of Congress. Those who should know, perhaps they believe such activity, so-called "black ops," exists to target "terrorists," so-called enemies of the state. They naively refuse to believe that these programs, over time, appear to have morphed into a vast system of extra-legal vigilante control not unlike the East German Stasi, the KKK of the old South, the Gestapo of the Nazi Third Reich -- and that these programs effectively deny American citizens their constitutional rights.

This appears to be nothing less than neo-fascism under the guise of "national security" and "keeping America safe." And liberals and progressives, arguably disproportionately targeted by these programs, naively insist that "it can't happen here." Among the most complicit in this regard: the national mainstream media. Only the Libertarians seem to perceive the threat.

Whoever is elected the next president will inherit these programs. That person, if he learns of such programs, is likely to be told of their necessity and propriety -- that such an extra-legal control mechanism, using citizen vigilantes as street "muscle" and extra-legal programs targeting financial resources, can co-exist with democracy. In fact, this extra-legal control mechanism is destroying our democracy; much damage already has been done. Individuals and families are being slowly destroyed. Some call it a "silent holocaust" due to its clandestine nature and the use of silent, invisible directed energy technology.

I've written about this neo-fascist threat based on first-hand experience. I post this here because I know that the national media reads this blog. I do so at risk to my personal well-being. But I do so because there is a crisis in our nation; the boil must be lanced before the national body politic becomes fatally infected.

Here are the links to two articles I've written about this imminent danger to our constitutional democracy. I urge you and your colleagues to study this issue, do some research, and start asking some tough questions, starting with the Department of Homeland Security:

"Mr. Chertoff, are you aware that many Americans believe they have been the victims of so-called community or gang stalking, possibly perpetrated by persons equipped and trained by federally funded volunteer programs under your charge? Have you heard of such reports, and are you investigating to ensure that these programs and their resources are not being misused?

That would be a good place to start. I believe it goes much deeper; but the curative process must begin before more Americans are seriously damaged by this descent from the rule of law to the nihilist rule of the jungle.

A FINAL NOTE: My communications are subject to constant disruption. I would appreciate it if some of you would forward the links below to people you know at the ALCU.org, CCR.org, or any other group that could help. I can't do this alone; and I have put myself at some risk already.

IF YOU VALUE THE RULE OF LAW AND THE
RIGHT OF DUE PROCESS, PLEASE CLICK HERE:

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/vigilante-injustice-organized-gang-stalking-american-gestapo-are-they-doing-hi-tech-torture?

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/zap-have-you-been-targeted-directed-energy-weapon-victims-organized-gang-stalking-say-its-happening-usa-1

Just politics- he's not naming anyone this week. It is mid July and noone except us political geeks are even paying attention. It is a good tactic to get at least a little media coverage this week. He will anounce the week after Obama does, to kill Obama momentum- this should likely be the week before the Dem convention. The Republican convention was timed to quell momentum from the Dem convenetion- we will go into the first week of September with a lot less momentum than one would expect unless something dramatic happens.

Leon

Lets face it. McCain is still fighting the Viet Nam War.

And his POW "story" is getting "old' very fast, not to mention that much of it cannot be verified.

However, public documents show:
- He was not injured by his guards, but rather when he ejected from his plane-
- He tells various versions of his captivity, depending on the audience. Who knows which version, if any, is true?-
- Even Nancy Reagan, never of fan of McCain, once snickered, "John tells interesting stories."
- Two fellow prisoners claim he got "easier treatment" than most prisoners-
- He was last in his class at the Naval Academy-
- He was such a poor pilot, he crashed 5-planes-
- The fighter squadron he lead, was not in Viet Nam, but based in San Diego and consisted of "soon to be junked planes"
- He refuses to release his military records, unlike John Kerry, who did-
- He abandoned his first wife and married Cindy 6-months after he met her. That is why his children, from this first marriage refuse to campaign with him-
- McCain took payoffs from a local banker, and was sanctioned by the US Senate in the 1980s, barely escaping an indictment-
- His frequent verbal gaffes worry his staff about the debates- (They'll be happy if he does not drool)-
-Two GOP Senators have said they would be "scared" if he were President because of his "temper"

--If McCain were a tv channel he would be the "War Channel: All War, All the time".-

- Being a POW does not make McCain qualified to be president-

- There were two POW's from my home town-
- Neither milked their experience for a lifetime on the public payroll-

---McCain: The More You Know....The Less You Know.."

Folks, I hear that McCain is going to pick "DRUDGE" as his VP choice. I understand they plan to leak the story to the New York "Traitor" Times.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps "Appeasement One" and "Withdrawal Two" the only way to fly and meet world leaders.

If GOPs considers Jeff Bush, that is a mistake. By now you should know how much people have been brainwashed to hate President Bush by the liberal media. People who do not watch those media are not interested in the election.

Self-positioning is about energy and visualization--like imagination that Obama has been exploiting. He just hit the button accidentally with the support of the liberal media that hate President Bush.

Re: scrivener

Thanks for posting. Yes it is real and what is happening here in the US.

The straight talker has became a twisted deceiver. he planted this falsehood vp thing to steal coverage from Obama

Scott J, chill out man, what's wrong with you?? Keep cool and manage your PR team cool as well.

No offense, Fix, but given Bob Novak's history, why didn't you more critically examine the situation before hopping on board the snowballing media bonanza? I'm a regular reader and think you have a pretty reliable critical eye for this kind of stuff. Hope this gives you pause next time.

Yes I agree with AJ in IL. Bob Novak got used like a $2 ho'!

Even Chris of the Fix, was pushing the Piyush Jindal as a strong VEEP pick for this week. Give me a freakin' break! The McCain campaign has realized it can't win on the real issues that matter to Americans at this stage of the campaign so they are moving on to political trickery.

McCain is going to Louisiana to fuel speculation about Jindal being a VEEP pick knowing full well Jindal is at the bottom of the list, if he truly was on the VP list at all.

This whole McCain VEEP announcement was a scam from the beginning. I'm not a journalist or political junkie, but even I knew it was a scam to draw some attention away from Obama's international tour.

Chris, pardon my language, but Bob Novak got used like a $2 ho'! The McCain camp gave him intentional false information (sort of sounds like a Bush-type move) in which Novak used and reported on. In my eyes, Novak loss some more credibility because the McCain camp made him look like an old fool.

So Novak thinks it's "reprehensible, if true". On the contrary, I think maybe it's finally a bit of smart pro-active campaign activity by the McCain organization. It's about time.

"By the way, as long as we've been suspending the Constitution for the past seven and a half years, can we just hold the election tomorrow and elect a president who seems to care about the direction his country is heading in? As if I have to say it, I'm not talking about Bud Man here."

When Lamar Alexander was elected the governor of Tennessee, the state constitution didn't specify the exact day that power changes hands. He was sworn into office like three days earlier than normal in a defacto impeachment of the corrupt Ray Blanton.

Don't ask me why I know this.

Obama could get a jump on McCain by naming a Navy man as his VP. Rep (retired Vice Adm) Joe Sestak. Sestak has stong Dem creds, anti Iraq war, knows the military, strong on education and health care, and was a Clinton supporter.
GO JOE SESTAK

Wow. Some folks are waaaayyyy off their meds today, judging from the posts on this site. I mean, I've gotten used to seeing some wacky stuff, and a lot of the usual "My guy is a hero/saint/savior and your guy is a nazi/commie/neocon/liberal/idiot/old man/naive inexperienced child" blah blah -- it's like Windows Vista shipped with "political diatribe" macros or something.

But the stuff some folks have posted here today? Jeez. I thought the "X-Files" movie wasn't supposed to open for a few weeks.

Bad move! He doesn't have many rabbits in his hat!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Has McCain Been Fully Vetted? As Millions of New Voters Head to The Polls, There are Still Many Unanswered Questions About McCain's Salient Accomplishments, Motivation and Judgment

1) Warning -McCain is trying this week to bait the Obama campaign with some negative-lite ads in order to get tacit permission to go at Obama harshly and even more negatively. We know what this means: racialized ads, Wright visuals and speculation about his wife's comments. So, Barack might want to really examine what the best way is to respond here -it may not be with more negative ads. McCain has shown, by his refusal to dismiss the VP chatter, that he is willing to use rumor and innuendo to his advantage.

2) Suggestion -If Obama decides to go negative at McCain, he should answer with an ad highlighting all of McCain's disturbing (and continuing) gaffes: war-zone dynamics and economics in particular. McCain outright lies and we only get a blip of it in the media. What about his comments last year that it was safe to walk the streets of Iraq w/o armor (as he walks the streets with a private fleet of military escorts).

3) THE MEDIA REALLY NEEDS TO EXPLORE MCCAIN'S 8 TAXPAYER FUNDED CAMPAIGN TRIPS TO IRAQ. How many times has Bush or any other congressional figure been to Iraq? How many times did he go to Kuwait during Desert Storm? More than adding highly choreographed photo ops for his campaign, what did these trips accomplish for the American people that could not have been accomplished by talks with ground commanders and McCain showing up in the senate to do his job here at home. How much did these trips cost? What have McCain's accomplishments been in the senate over his 20 years there? How many times has McCain voted against women's rights? Civil Rights? Minimum wage increases?

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PHIL GRAMM RELATIONSHIP EXPLORED. Gramm has crafted McCain's economic policy and it is significant for the American people to know that this is the philosophy that will shape economics in a McCain administration. The American people deserve to know and explore the implications of a republican administration that wants to let them ride the economic crisis out with no relief for non-corporate entities. Why not do a month-long loop of Gramm's comments accompanied by visuals of Gramm and McCain, McCain's repeated endorsements of Gramm along with McCain's debate comments that he would rely on advice from Gramm et al.

How about hour long specials about republican economics and how a McCain-Gramm economic policy would leave the struggling middle class. The mental picture: rewind to March-April and replace Wright with Gramm. Which topic is more politically relevant? Someone's pastor or the person you have named to shape America's economic policy in a time of crisis. Isn't it troubling that McCain doesn't understand the economy after almost 30 years in Congress, Gramm and Kemp weren't there that long and they understand it. What kind of curve does McCain need?

Is McCain willing to pursue the Iraq war indefinitely -even if conditions there are bad -if it sinks the US economy and causes us to lose by default in Afghanistan? Is this a good strategy? Is this good judgment? Since we waged the war under false premises and had/have no clear objective, isn't "winning" an empty term? Can't success constantly be redefined to keep us at war and republicans in power?

What about McCain's flip-flops on overturning Roe, his own immigration bill etc. Given his comments on economics, birth control and geographical "strategery," McCain clearly is not in the prime of his career and he'll admittedly be relying on advisors to do the thinking for him -shouldn't the media be exploring this and his ability to pick credible people to handle America's concerns? Why not put McCain on the defensive while Barack gets to quietly communicate his message to the American people. TO BE SURE, THE MEDIA HAS NOT FULLY VETTED MCCAIN AND IT NEEDS TO DO SO.

What's Dan Quayle up to lately?

Posted by: Donny | July 22, 2008 9:13 PM

Hes a prefessere of englshe at potatoe universitye

It's just a clever use of gullible Novak as a campaign tool. Romney is pretty much set as Veep, but I doubt there will be any surprise announcement this week. Doesn't that just use up the impact of the Veep pick?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS ON THE STREETS: WHEN WILL THE MEDIA ADDRESS THE "MECHANICS OF PERSONAL DESTRUCTION"?

Chris:

I applaud your candor -- your recognition that you and your colleagues are played daily like a cheap fiddle. The squeaky strain of the media manipulation minuet is a noisome waltz without end.

Chris, please listen carefully: There is a constitutional crisis in this country. This is the charge: The rule of law has broken down on the local level across the nation. Bands of well equipped private citizens, tacitly and materially supported by elements of the power structure at multiple levels, are bypassing the legal system. The charge is that this extra-legal militia is patrolling the streets, stalking and harassing, allegedly inflicting physical harm upon persons targeted by this extra-legal control mechanism, which denies them their constitutionally protected right of due process under the law.

Even uniformed police are reported to have been intimidated and threatened by this network of vigilantes.

Victims say they that in addition to being physically harassed, their property is being vandalized; their privacy is being invaded; and their physical well-being has been compromised in heinous ways, using hi-tech modes of physical punishment.

Meanwhile, victims charge that a connected network of bureaucratic programs appears to work in tandem with this extra-legal control mechanism operating out on the streets.

President Clinton talked about "the politics of personal destruction." Hillary Clinton warned against the "vast right-wing conspiracy," a concern she reaffirmed, albeit in milder descriptive language, in her autobiography, "Living History."

The linked network of programs and policies that are allegedly circumventing the judicial system, violating constitutional rights and meting out vigilante justice, might collectively be termed "the MECHANICS of personal destruction."

It's alleged to be happening all over, in virtually every city and town and county in the nation -- including right there in Washington and in bedrooms communities across the river.

It is the rule of the jungle supplanting the rule of law. And there is testimony that horrific, silent and potentially deadly microwave, laser and x-ray weapons are being used by these rogue elements to slowly degrade the health and destroy the livlihoods of targeted persons.

I wonder aloud whether Bill and Hillary Clinton weren't trying to warn the rest of us about an evil that even the power of the presidency could not keep in check.

I know your beat is politics. Chris. But politics, and the entire electoral process, is being marginalized, relegated to little more than window dressing, as true power is stolen away by a neo-fascist element that has found a way to silently seize the reins of true power and authority. It is analogous to what John Dean called "a cancer" -- not just on the presidency, but on the entire body politic.

Amazing as it sounds, this powerful apparatus appears to exist under the radar of most elected members of Congress. Those who should know, perhaps they believe such activity, so-called "black ops," exist to target "terrorists," true enemies of the state. They naively refuse to believe that these programs, over time, appear to have morphed into a vast system of extra-legal vigilante control not unlike the East German Stasi, the KKK of the old South, the Gestapo of the Nazi Third Reich -- and that American citizens are denied their constitutional rights, and their right to the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, by these programs.

This appears to be nothing less than neo-fascism under the guise of "national security" and "keeping America safe." And liberals and progressives, arguably disproportionately targeted by these programs, naively insist that "it can't happen here." Among the most complicit in this regard: the national media, even the liberal-progressive blogs. (Indeed, it is the Libertarians who seem to be concerned the most.)

Whoever is elected the next president will inherit these programs. That person, if they learn of such programs, is likely to be convinced of their necessity and propriety -- that such an extra-legal control mechanism, using citizen vigilantes as its street "muscle," can co-exist with democracy. In fact, this extra-legal control mechanism is destroying our democracy; much damage already has been done.

I've written about this neo-fascist threat based on first-hand experience. I post this here because I know that the national media reads this blog. I do so at much risk to my personal well-being. But I do so because there is a crisis in our nation; the boil must be lanced before the national body politic becomes fatally infected.

Here are the links to two articles I've written about this imminent danger to our constitutional democracy. I urge you and your colleagues to study this issue, do some research, and start asking some tough questions, starting with the Department of Homeland Security:

"Mr. Chertoff, are you aware that many Americans believe they have been the victims of so-called community or gang stalking, possibly perpetrated by persons equipped and trained by federally funded volunteer programs under your charge? Have you heard of such reports, and are you investigating to ensure that these programs and their resources are not being misused?

That would be a good place to start. I believe it goes much deeper; but the curative process must begin before more Americans are seriously damaged by this descent from the rule of law to the nihilist rule of the jungle.

IF YOU VALUE THE RULE OF LAW AND THE
RIGHT OF DUE PROCESS, PLEASE CLICK HERE:

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/vigilante-injustice-organized-gang-stalking-american-gestapo-are-they-doing-hi-tech-torture?

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/zap-have-you-been-targeted-directed-energy-weapon-victims-organized-gang-stalking-say-its-happening-usa-1

Senator McCain is not going to announce a VP choice because he is going to drop out of the race at the GOP convention.
His campaign has been like a roller coaster ride and right now its on the way down and can't recover.
The neo-con's have a backup, possibly cheney with Jeb bush as VP. I don't think it will be Condi.
The conservatives might talk to Newt Gingrich or bring in Colin Powell but he probably wouldn't be the patsy he was for cheney/bush.
Either way I don't think Senator McCain will make it past convention!!

I understand that Beelzebub has been offered the job, but he wanted something in return.....a no bid contract.

What's Dan Quayle up to lately?

McCain can win if he can get Colin Powell as his VP

There is no possibility that McCain will name his VP right now. And, every possibility that Novak served his masters well by floating this story in the hopes of diverting attention from Obama right now.
My goodness, this is all getting so usual that practically everyone sees through it immediately.
However, if McCain DID name Romney right now it would be the kiss of death for both of them. By the time their convention came around the whole team would be so shop-worn that even Republicans wouldn't bother to tune in.
Since they are making one blunder after another, maybe they will do this. Oh how sweet that would be! Dead and done by September. October surprise? Wouldn't matter.

Vice Presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards was caught visiting his mistress and secret love child at 2:40 this morning in a Los Angeles hotel by the NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

John McCain's campaign is becoming desperate. In an all-or-nothing bid to lay it all completely on the line and go for broke, I predict that McCain's vice-presidential running mate will be...drum roll...George W. Bush!

If not George, Jeb. If not Jeb, Cheney. Can a guy be vice president for three terms or four terms so long as his pacemaker holds out?

I gotta cut this out. I'm scaring myself.

Moron Cons can vote for whoever they want, we won't judge you. God will! Don't tell us you love Jesus, He and we know you are all religious Frauds. You are enabling Mass Murderers, Serial Killers, Rapists and War Criminals, not us. You are equally guilty in all the Deaths of Americans as are the War Criminals you have placed as your leaders. You are guilty of Mass Murders, you Idiot Serial Killer Rapists. Be proud, you voted yourselves tickets to eternal Hell. Enjoy your stay.

Why would a war hero hide his Military Records, Old Fart Adulterer Songbird Traitor War Criminal McCorrupt?

What Would Jesus Kill?

You Little Jerks!

"God Bless Capitalism and a million dead Iraqis." Alas, so true. How many folks cared about the millions we killed and displaced in Vietnam? Just move on to the next story, the next war. The lack of seriousness among my fellow citizens has appalled me for over fifty years.

Here's the latest list of possible VP candidates, from a secret source inside the McCain campaign:

Condi Rice, Joe Lieberman, Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, Rudy Giuliani, Bob Dole, Hillary Clinton, Jack Kemp, Elizabeth Dole, Mike Huckabee, Dan Quayle, George H.W. Bush, Mitt Romney, Bob Kerrey, John Kerry, John Cornyn, Bobby Jindal, Colin Powell, John Kyl, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Larry Craig, Laura Bush, David Vitter, Barbara Bush, Ted Stevens, An Oil Company Executive to be Named Later, Neil Bush, Don Rumsfeld, and any of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

So far, no one's showed much interest.

W G A S ? ?

Nobody that's who.

.

Note to Manolete who blames it all on the liberal media ALLOWING IT. Dear, more real print journlists like myself lost their jobs last year than any year in the past thirty. Corporations have been buying dailies for thirty years to control your politics and consumer mannerisms. While Colon was fondling his tubes and lying his ass off to the UN his fatass son was deregulating the FCC Manolete if you had a frigging brain but nobody gave a flying dead Fallujah Baby what Baby Powell was doing to the FCC. NOW, they're concerned and trying to decapitate the Republican maggot running it the last six months. American corporations have made a tax free killing chemically bombing colored folks into a mush for billion dollar oil contracts for Bubba and his buds. Certainly, lots of mainstream journalist like Andrea Mitchell are just sycophants and Armstrong wrote for cash and Judy white gal hid the truth about Plame and they all covered their ass because the BADASS Republican OIl Wolf was going to bomb the wrong nation and control the second largest oil reserve on the planet and DAMN any American who stood in the way of our corporate sponsored bloodbath for Jesus and the American Way. God Bless Capitalism and a million dead Iraqis.

To further show up Obama's inexperience, McCain need to pick someone experienced for VP, like Bob Dole or Dan Quayle or Anne Coulter or Rush or Sean Hannity or Bill O'Riley or Harpo Marx.

And he needs to stop standing next to his hot young wife -- she makes him look so old and tired.

Obama's VP pick will not be John Edwards although he had been in the running.

Of course, wait for confirmation but ....

In the upcoming days, the MSM will be reporting on an out of wed lock child recently born and father-ed by Sen. Edwards. He was seen and confronted by the media at the Beverly Hills Hilton the other day while meeting with his mistress and mother of the child. Stay tuned.

Plays well for Sam Nunn or Chuck Haegle.

Correction to previous comment: father-in-law, no stepfather.

By the way, as long as we've been suspending the Constitution for the past seven and a half years, can we just hold the election tomorrow and elect a president who seems to care about the direction his country is heading in? As if I have to say it, I'm not talking about Bud Man here.

Trust me, DDAWD. I grew up in Arizona, and that dude who got his first and only civvie job as his stepfather's Budweiser flack ain't no Bob Dole. As much as I didn't care for his views, Senator Dole had a nice dry wit.

C'mon, McCain! Stir it up a bit, big guy!

Pick a woman as your VP!

"The candidate that best represents me is Alan Keyes ... and so it is for Keyes I will vote"

Hahaha, that's pretty sad and pathetic.

frankthebum.com has some great points made about mcCains choice for VP

It sounds like a good ploy on McCain's part ... to gain a little media attention. Speaking from a conservative Christian perspective, it make no difference to me who McCain picks for VP. Both McCain/Obama are unacceptable ... neither are pro-life, neither support a Federal Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as between one man and one women ... neither represent me.

The candidate that best represents me is Alan Keyes ... and so it is for Keyes I will vote and encourage others to do the same.

Alan Keyes for President 2008
www.RenewAmerica.US

America's Independent Party
www.SelfGovernment.US

McSame is no where NEAR announcing a VP. The desperate sole is trying to get ANY media attention he CAN.

Because McCain is running a losing campaign, it may be difficult to recruit a VP. Who would want to share in the blame for or be credited by McCain with the loss?

Moron Cons can vote for whoever they want, we won't judge you. God will! Don't tell us you love Jesus, He and we know you are all religious Frauds. You are enabling Mass Murderers, Serial Killers, Rapists and War Criminals, not us. You are equally guilty in all the Deaths of Americans as are the War Criminals you have placed as your leaders. You are guilty of Mass Murders, you Idiot Serial Killer Rapists. Be proud, you voted yourselves tickets to eternal Hell. Enjoy your stay.

Why would a war hero hide his Military Records, Old Fart Adulterer Songbird War Criminal McCorrupt?

Ha! After seven years of watching the Republicans attack Democrats and other Americans of all stripes, it's so rich and delicious to watch McCain get totally outmaneuvered in this campaign.

Each move he makes, speech he delivers, column he writes only enforces the stench of desperation emanating from his campaign. McCain is the GOP's John Kerry. It's just not their year.

"John McCain called his coke-snorting second wife a "c*nt" in public."

Ok, so this is just one of those things I've been assuming to be false. There isn't any evidence of this anecdote to be true, is there?

Mccain does not want to leave Iraq because ,according to him, it will degenerate in a civil war. So he prefers that our troops to be guardian of Iraq government rather than send help to our soldiers in Afghanistan fighting the perpetrators of 9/11.Shame on him and the ignorant media for not pointing this fact out.
7/22/2008 7:20:32 PM

"Bob Dole redux."

Yeah, it really does seem like 1996 all over again, doesn't it? Any attempt to generate gravitas is foiled by the age issue.

Except I think Dole is a lot funnier than McCain.

potter:
"Has anyone watched Obama's behavior towards his wife - classic patterns of someone who is abusive. Just shameful."

John McCain called his coke-snorting second wife a "c*nt" in public. Why don't you go buy a brain, you stupid robot.

feint, they got a white board with all the little things they can do to get some media coverage. They are methodically running veeps up the flag pole for us to dance around. The far Right has already taken over McGoo's campaign so bet anyone it will be a meateater.

Kiki/Deanne--Both of you miss the curve here. If you put down your talking points for a second, you might understand the way this election will be won or lost. National polls mean little--remember Hillary Clinton was "ahead" in national polls for months and months by wide margins and still lost. Obama's strength in key states put him over the top during the Democratic primaries, which is playing out now with the Electoral College. Right now, based on polling data over the past few months, Obama is highly favored to have 270+ electoral votes needed to secure the presidency. He has consistently led in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Iowa, and has been competitive in Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, New Hampshire, and Florida. That's all that matters. Obama is locking down the Midwest and expanding to non-traditional states like Alaska, Montana, North Carolina, and Georgia where he does WAY better than Kerry did or Clinton would ever have done.

I could care less if McCain is up 1 point, tied with Obama, or down 5 points. At the end of the day, Obama is leading by the electoral college barometer, and that determines American elections. People who compare national polling to that of Kerry, Dukakis, Carter, or whoever else haven't studied voting trends. We have a sharply polarized electorate that is much less "independent-minded" than in 1976 or 1980. A 35-40 point lead really is not going to happen for any candidate in 2008, and for all you PUMAs out there, Clinton would not have had some massive lead--so cut with the dramatics and stick with the hard numbers.

Standing side by side McDeath and Jindal would look like bread before and after - McCentury is the plump dough and Jindal is the shrunken crusty loaf.

As if McDumbo's campaign wasn't entertaining enough already...

Manolete -- shame on you and your racism. To quote Bob Dylan: I wouldn't want to be you on that fateful day.

Is this all the McCain campaign can do? Better they announce that McCain will be leaving the race and handing it over to a campaigner with a lick of sense. Oh, I forgot: they don't have anyone!

Bob Dole redux.

Bob Novak got pwned...by Grampa!

The liberal media is so stupid!
They allowed George Bush to lie to americans about the war in Iraq and did not have the reason to do their duty and responsibility to question his actions.

The liberal media is so stupid!
They are now allowing Barack Hussein to lie to americans about his lack of experience on issues that are critical for America and once again they are failing to do their duty and be responsible by ask the hard questions, so that americans get to know the true Barack Hussein.

The liberal media is so stupid!
They are responsible for the situation our country is in and they should all be held accountable for it.

The liberal media is so stupid!
They are more interested in the excitement of watching a monkey that can sing, dance and speak English well, than being responsible and doing their job.

Shame on you liberal media!

http://mccainsource.com/corruption?id=0005

Old Fart Adulterer McCorrupt's Senior Adviser, Charlie Black And Iraq

Beginning in 1999 and continuing throughout the years leading up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Charlie Black's lobbying firm represented Ahmed Chalabi and his Iraqi National Congress (INC), the most vocal Iraqi group calling for regime change [Los Angeles Times, 7/14/04]. Chalabi clearly had a lot to gain personally from a U.S. invasion. Living in exile from his homeland and viewed by many in Washington "as a possible successor to Saddam Hussein," regime change would allow him to return home and take a leadership role in rebuilding Iraq [BBC, 10/3/02]. Charlie Black's lobbying firm pushed Chalabi's interests in Washington and allowed him to gain access to the highest levels of government. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the fact that Chalabi was meeting in the Pentagon with high-level officials pushing for an invasion of Iraq nine days after 9/11 [New Yorker, 6/7/04]. It has since come to light that Chalabi helped engineer the claims that Saddam Hussein had W.M.D. and is very much responsible for helping bring about the U.S. war in Iraq. He has also been accused of passing American secrets to Iran.

Charlie Black and his lobbying firm had a lot to gain from their connection to Chalabi, too. In the early days of the Iraq war, Black and his firm were touting their connection to Chalabi and their experience dealing in Iraq [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/1/03]. Black clearly saw his work prior to the 2003 invasion as laying the groundwork for new business opportunities for him and his clients. In August 2003, just months after the invasion, Black said:

Due to our past representation of the INC, we know and have worked with a lot of people who will be in the provisional government. We have a number of clients who are interested in doing business in Iraq. [National Journal, 8/2/03]

Black even said he was 'strongly considering' opening an office in Baghdad [National Journal, 8/2/03]. Over the past five years, Black and his firm have used their prior experience working in Iraq to help their clients gain lucrative contracts, and the firm has used its experience to draw new clients.

Black and Chalabi both got what they wanted. For Chalabi, it was a chance at power. For Black, it was endless war in a country he had more experience dealing than anyone else, allowing him to profit while American soldiers died. Now, it's clear that a McCain presidency would be in Black's best interest, as an endless war in Iraq and future wars across the region will continue to bring in the big bucks for him and his clients.
Black's Firm Worked for Ahmed Chalabi and the INC

Black and BKSH Represented Iraqi National Congress. "BKSH & Associates, headed by longtime Republican insider Charles Black, represents Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress, his former exile group, in Washington." [Newsday, 10/5/03]

Black Touted Connections to Chalabi. "BKSH & Associates, the lobby firm run by GOP strategist Charlie Black, touts its connections to Ahmed Chalabi (until recently a Pentagon sweetheart), who formerly headed the exiled Iraqi National Congress and is currently on Iraq's governing council."[St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/1/03]

BKSH's Lobbying Gave Chalabi Inside Access to Bush Administration. Roll Call reported that Chalabi gets help from "BKSH & Associates, the Washington firm founded by Charles Black, a longtime ally of President Bush. Those contacts have paid off: At this year's state of the union address, Chalabi sat in the VIP Box with first lady Laura Bush. [Roll Call, 2/24/04]

BKSH Developed INC's Communications Strategy. BKSH "won a State Department contract to help develop a communications strategy for the Iraqi National Congress (INC) in the years before the war." BKSH had a lobbyist in Baghdad in 2003 "to help the INC build a communications operation in Iraq." [The Hill, 2/7/06]
Chalabi's Role Leading up to the War

Chalabi Helped Engineer WMD Claims and Pushed Bush Administration to Attack Iraq. Meeting at the Pentagon nine days after the 9/11 attacks, Chalabi urged the Defense Policy Board, which advised Secretary Rumsfeld, "to skip any intervention in Afghanistan, where the Taliban had harbored Al Qaeda, and to proceed immediately with targeting Iraq. A participant at the meeting, who asked not to be named, recalled that Chalabi made a compelling case that the Americans would have an easy victory there: 'He said there'd be no resistance, no guerilla warfare from the Baathists, and a quick matter of establishing a government.' Soon afterward, however, Chalabi began to clash with the Administration. Chalabi told me that he would have preferred to sell the war to the American people on philosophical grounds, as a fight against genocidal tyranny and in favor of bringing democracy to the Arab world, but that this approach was rejected by the Bush Administration. 'Look, our focus was on Saddam's crimes, moral crimes, genocide,' Chalabi said. 'We were not focused on W.M.D. The U.S. asked us. We didn't bring these people up; they asked us! They requested this help from us.'" [New Yorker, 6/7/04]

* Former BKSH Employee Helped Sell WMD Claims. Francis Brooke, who "worked with Mr. Chalabi since 1990 - first as a consultant paid by the CIA and most recently as a consultant for BKSH and Associates, a company run by Charlie Black, a Republican Party veterain," helped focus on WMDs in the case for war. "Francis Brooke said that nobody had ordered the I.N.C. to focus solely on W.M.D.s. 'I'm a smart man,' he said. 'I saw what they wanted, and I adapted my strategy.'" Brooke and "the I.N.C. was enlisted to promote the danger posed by Saddam's regime. Brooke said, 'I sent out an all-points bulletin to our network, saying, 'Look, guys, get me a terrorist, or someone who workers with terrorists. And, if you can get stuff on W.M.D., sent it!''" [New Yorker, 6/7/04; Sunday Telegraph, 6/6/04]

Chalabi Accused of Giving False Info to U.S. Leading up to War. "Well, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi is stirring controversy again. Once the favorite of the Bush administration, Chalabi is in the U.S. on a trip some see as an attempt to rebuild his reputation. Critics, including some lawmakers on Capitol Hill, vilify Chalabi for allegedly feeding false pre-war intelligence on Saddam Hussein's weapons." [CNN, 11/14/05]

Chalabi Helped Spur U.S. Invasion with False Information. Knight Ridder described Chalabi as "the former exile who helped spur the U.S.-led invasion by feeding false intelligence to Washington about Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction, and who returned to Iraq after Saddam's fall to craft himself into a political leader." [Knight Ridder, 1/14/06]
Chalabi's Shady Character

Chalabi Investigated for Passing American Secrets to Iran. The FBI invsestigated Chalabi, raiding his home and his office, "for allegedly passing classified information to Iran." According to CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "The FBI assistant director, John Miller, just put out a statement the other day saying they've interviewed a lot of people on the accusation that Ahmed Chalabi may have provided Iran with classified information about U.S. codes, code breaking equipment." [CNN, 11/14/05]

Chalabi Wanted for Fraud in Jordan. According to CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "He makes it clear he doesn't like the government of King Abdullah because he's wanted in Jordan for fraud. Supposedly, accused of stealing some $50 million over the year[s]." [CNN, 11/14/05]
Charlie Black: War Profiteer?

Black's Firm Involved "Pushing for the War." "BKSH had a special interest in Iraq. The firm was a key member of the coterie of talking heads, lobbyists, and politicians pushing for the war in Iraq that centered around Ahmed Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress (INC), the anti-Saddam exile group, which was itself a BKSH client." [Washington Monthly, 6/1/05]

* Black's Firm Compared to Operators in Gold Rush. "In the gold rush of 1849, they say, it was not the miners who got rich, but the operators who sold the picks and the shovels and the wagons and the denim. So it was in Iraq, with the likes of Peg Bartel, the INC, and BKSH." [Washington Monthly, 6/1/05]

Black's Comments Show he Saw Iraq as a Personal Money-Maker for him and his Clients. "Over the past four years, BKSH has been boosting the interests of the Iraqi National Congress, whose leader, Ahmed Chalabi, was a key anti-Saddam opponent and now sits on the newly formed Iraqi Governing Council." "'Due to our past representation of the INC,' says Black, 'we know and have worked with a lot of people who will be in the provisional government. We have a number of clients who are interested in doing business in Iraq.' Black adds that his firm is 'strongly considering' opening an office in Baghdad." [National Journal, 8/2/03]

* Black Planned to Set up Iraq's First Lobbying Firm. According to the New Yorker, "Another top Republican lobbyist in Washington, Charlie Black, told me that his firm, BKSH & Associates, has plans to help Iraqis set up their own affiliated public-relations and government-relations firm; the company would become perhaps the first lobbying shop in Baghdad. Black is excited by the opportunities in Iraq, but he, too, has complaints. 'The problem in Iraq so far is it's slow and very confusing for people to figure out how to do business there,' he said. 'One week you go to Baghdad, and they say the decisions are being made at the Pentagon. Then you go to the Pentagon, and they say the decisions are being made in Baghdad. Only Halliburton is making money now!' He laughed. 'Is there too much cronyism? I just wish I could find the cronies.'" [The New Yorker, 2/16/04]

Black's Firm had Leg Up Because of Work for INC. Newsday reported, "BKSH & Associates, headed by longtime Republican insider Charles Black, represents Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress, his former exile group, in Washington." Said one of lobbyists working for black: "What I think gives us a leg up, and I think we have a leg up, is the fact we have been working this issue for four-and-a-half years, and we know a lot of Iraqis that have been involved in the political process." [Newsday, 10/5/03]

Black's Clients Could Expect to be Well-Served in Seeking Iraq Contracts Because of Firm's History in Iraq. According to Energy Compass, "BKSH Associates is attracting similar interest. The company, which says its lobbyists include individuals who have worked for both Republican and Democratic administrations, has over the years promoted the interests of Ahmed Chalabi, head of the Iraqi National Congress (INC). Since Chalabi and other INC members are on the governing council, BKSH's clients can expect to be well-served. They include, among others, Fluor, which has bid for work in Iraq, as well as US telecoms and engineering firms." [Energy Compass, 10/16/03]

Black's Firm has Represented 8 of Top 60 Defense Contractors. Charlie Black's firm, BKSH, has lobbied for 8 (or roughly 13%) of the top 60 companies receiving DOD contracts during 2007, including the top DOD contractor (Lockheed Martin) and six of the top 16 contractors. BKSH has represented Lockheed Martin, ranked first with over $36 billion in FY 2006 defense revenue; United Technologies, ranked 10th with over $7 billion in contracts; Thales, ranked 11th with nearly $7 billion in contracts; General Electric, ranked 14th, with over $4.5 billion in defense contracts; Honeywell, ranked 15th with $4.4 billion in contracts; Rolls-Royce, ranked 16th with over $4 billion in contracts; Harris, ranked 38th with $1.5 billion in contracts; and NEC, ranked 59th with over $700 million in contracts. [Army Times, accessed 5/16/08; Senate Lobbyist Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* Lockheed Paid Black's Firm Over $625,000 Since 2002. Between 2002 and 2007, Lockheed Martin has paid Black's lobbying firm at least $627,500 for to lobby the Department of Defense, the CIA, the Office of Management and Budget, the House and the Senate. Black himself is listed as one of the lobbyists working on Lockheed's behalf for a portion of the firm's work. All of the lobbying done by the firm for Lockheed was on defense issues. [Analysis of Senate Lobbyist Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* United Technologies Paid Black's Firm $650,000 since 2003. Since the middle of 2003, United Technologies has paid Black's lobbying firm $650,000 to lobby on its behalf. Charlie Black is listed as having personally handled this client. [Analysis of Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* Thales Inc. Paid Black's Firm $935,000 Since 2000. Between 2000 and the middle of 2007, Thales Inc. paid Charlie Black's lobbying firm $935,000 to lobby on its behalf. The firm has charged the contractor higher fees since the beginning of the Iraq war. From 2000-2003, the firm charged an average of just over $120,000. Since then, the firm has charged an average of approximately $160,000 per year. [Analysis of Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* General Electric Paid Black's Firm Nearly $1 Million Between 1999 And 2008. Since 1999, General Electric and General Electric Capital Services have paid Charlie Black's lobbying firm between $940,000 and $980,000 to lobby on its behalf. [Analysis of Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* Honeywell Paid Black's Firm $140,000 Between 2000 And 2001. Between 2000 and 2001, Honeywell paid Black's lobbying firm $140,000 for its services. [Analysis of Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* Rolls-Royce Paid Black's Firm At least $240,000 from 1999-2001. Between 1999 and 2001, Rolls-Royce paid Black's lobbying firm between $240,000 and $250,000. [Analysis of Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* Harris Corp. Paid Black's Firm $40,000 In 2006. In 2006, Harris Corp. paid Charlie Black's lobbying firm $40,000 for lobbying services. [Analysis of Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

* NEC Paid Black's Firm $660,000 Between 2001 and 2005. Between 2001 and 2005, NEC USA, the U.S. branch of the Japanese defense contractor, paid Charlie Black's lobbying firm $660,000 to lobby Congress and the Department of Homeland Security. Charlie Black personally worked on the account. [Analysis of Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

Four Black Clients Got Lucrative Iraq Contracts. An analysis of the Center for Public Integrity's (CPI) list of Iraq contractors and of the Senate's Lobbyist Disclosure Database shows that four of BKSH's clients have received lucrative government contracts for Iraq reconstruction. According to CPI, BKSH client Fluor has received over $3.7 billion in Iraq contracts; Harris Corporation has received $165 million; General Electric has received an unknown amount; and new client Blackwater - the notorious security firm - has received over $21 million. [Center for Public Integrity, accessed 2/29/08; Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, accessed 2/29/08]

Black Helped Fluor Corporation Become Top Contractor. "Through his lobbying firm, BKSH & Associates (a division of the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller), Black represents Fluor Corporation, an engineering and construction firm that is one of the top contractors for post-war reconstruction in Iraq."

* Fluor Knowingly Over-Charged DOD And Dept. Of Energy. The American Prospect reported, "Last November, Fluor agreed to pay the government $12.5 million to settle a whistleblower suit alleging that the company had knowingly overbilled the Departments of Defense and Energy on contracts for tens of millions of dollars of illegal costs, including executive bonuses, land investments, construction and building improvements, luxury condos, fine art, a Mercedes driven by the company's president, and an antique Chippendale chair." [The American Prospect, 1/2006]

BKSH Lobbied For Firm That Handled Propaganda Articles In Iraqi Newspapers. The Hamilton Spectator reported, "The Lincoln Group, a previously little-known business intelligence company headed by a heretofore little known young Briton and Oxford graduate, Christian Bailey, now at the centre of controversy surrounding the Bush administration's covert propaganda war in Iraq. It was recently revealed that Bailey's company got the lion's share of a $100-million contract from Donald Rumsfeld's Department of Defense for buying space in Iraqi newspapers to place deliberately one-sided stories written by U.S. 'psy-ops' troops." Additionally, the Lincoln Group was paid $20 million to place misleading stories in Anbar providence about U.S. forces running up to Iraqi elections. "The Lincoln Group has Republican links. Its lobbyists include Charles Black, an adviser to Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr. and Marlin 'Buzz' Hefti, a former Pentagon director." [Hamilton Spectator, 1/7/06]

* Black's Firm Hired By "Psychological Warfare" Firm. Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter reported, "BKSH & Assoc. has been hired by the Lincoln Group. One of three firms selected last month by the U.S. Special Operations Command, to wage psychological warfare on behalf of the Pentagon in Iraq and other hot spots." [Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter, 7/27/05]

Wye Oak Technology Hired BKSH To help Contractor Get Contracts In Post-Invasion Iraq. Washington Monthly reported, "In April of 2003, after the United States invaded Iraq, Stoffel retained the lobbying powerhouse BKSH, the firm headed by the influential Republican lobbyist Charles Black, to provide 'assistance in defense contract procurement,' for Wye Oak." [Washington Monthly, 6/1/05]

* Wye Oak Was "Proudly And Openly In Iraq To Make A Fortune." According to Washington Monthly, Dale Sfoffel, the founder and head of Wye Oak Technologies, "was a self-professed man of action, who was proudly and openly in Iraq to make a fortune." [Washington Monthly, 6/1/05]

Blackwater Enlisted Black To Repair Reputation. The International Herald Tribune reported, "Blackwater Worldwide, its reputation in tatters and its lucrative government contracts in jeopardy, is mounting an aggressive legal, political and public relations counterstrike." The work was "landed by BKSH...led by Charles Black Jr." A "BKSH associate had worked briefly in Iraq and met several Blackwater personnel." [International Herald Tribune, 11/2/07]

Why would a war hero hide his Military Records, Old Fart Adulterer Songbird McCorrupt?

Obama has clearly stepped over the line.
His arrogance is even starting to exceed the expectations of his enemies.
On his journey through the Middle East he has sought to portry the trip as a prelude to his presidency and has sought to negotiate future events with the leaders of foreign countries and, in his discussions with these foreign leaders, has urged policies and troop movements that undermine the ability of his own government to act.
He has clearly stepped over the line.
Robert Kennedy opposed the war in Vietnam but he didn't travel to Southeast Asia and suggest solutions to the president of South Vietnam or to the political leader of any other country. FDR had electoral opponents during WW2 but none of them travelled to Europe and announced that they were the next president who would be making all the decisions in the future.
It's one thing to travel for the purpose of bolstering your non-existent foreign policy credentials but it is quite another to undermine the policies of the legally elected president of the United States.
It doesn't matter whether the president is George Bush, Bill Clinton, Abraham Lincoln or Obama himself. This is arrogant and naive behavior on the part of a would-be president.
The USA Today reported that Obama talked to CBS Sunday "as though his election and re-elecion were foregone conclusions".
"The Objective of this trip" said Obama on Face the Nation before he left, "was to have substantive discussions with (leaders)...who I expect to be dealing with over the next 8-10 years."
Put your car away folks, you won't have to vote after all!

"

LT has it right. All the MSM (including The Fix) is getting suckered by this clear ploy by the McC campaign to take the focus off of BHO's trip overseas. OF COURSE, McC is not going to announce his VP this week. Why would he blow that trump card so early? Please. His campaign may be a bit disorganized, but they certainly aren't that unaware of politics.

Plant a couple stories, have a meeting with a potential VP pick. Now the chattering class is all in a tizzy about McC picking a running mate. Shame on the MSM and Chris for being so GULLIBLE and NAIVE."

Posted by: mnteng | July 21, 2008 11:14 PM

Wow.

"The Media picked the President a long time ago."

They tried to, but once the voting actually started, she got the boot.

Old Adulterer Fart McCorrupt is too old, too corrupt, and too out of touch. Old Adulterer Fart McCorrupt has hundreds of Lobbyists running his campaign. It is a campaign for Big Business, Big Oil, Big Finance, Big Insurance, Big Pharma, Big Polluters, Big Auto, Big Military Industrial Complex and Foreign Governments. It is not a campaign for the American people.

Tons of Republicans, especially young Republicans such as myself, are going to vote for the New Reagan.

Obama is the New Reagan!!!
Obama is the New Reagan!!!
Obama is the New Reagan!!!

McCain reminds me of Hans Moleman from the Simpsons.

"There is no escape from the fortress of the Moles!"

John McCain has no sound judgment on national security affairs. McCain keeps in his camp Charlie Black, who sees another 9/11 only as a huge advantage for McCain. As long as McCain keeps Black in his camp and given the history of Republicans putting their politics and greed over the national security, McCain is a genuine national security threat. Black poses a genuine fear of plotting another 9/11 only to help McCain win in November.

McCain was not right about surge. He now claims that he was right about the surge, but if so, then why did he insist that the U.S. troops stay in Iraq for 100 years? McCain is simply a front man for America's corrupt and unpatriotic military-industrial complex that put their profit and power above the country. That is why McCain insisted a surge for the next century.

Obama was right that we need to pull out of Iraq in the next 16 months or so. Iraq is ready for the U.S. troop pullout within a similar timeframe. We cannot afford to stay there for the next 100 years just to enrich America's corrupt and unpatriotic military-industrial complex represented by McCain. McCain is a shame to his family and his U.S. admiral father and grandfather would not be proud of him for his betrayal of the country.

"I recognize he isn't as charismatic, but charisma is not a prerequisite for being president, however, I would hope that more than 2 years of senate experience would be."

Neither is, both help.

Yeah
.
We
.
Are
.
Younger
.
Than Old Farts like you, you will die soon, you are very stupid like the Idiot War Criminal Terrorist Fascist Killers you support.
.
We
.
Are
.
The Future, you Old Fart will die soon along with your Old Fart Killer War Criminals, we don't want your War Criminal Killing policies, we don't want your Intolerance and Hatred from your despicable religious Fraud leaders.
.
Who
.
Would
.
Jesus
.
Kill?

Why would a war hero hide his Military Records, Old Fart Adulterer Songbird McCorrupt?

McCain/Cheney

vs

Obama/Biden

Bobby Jindal for VP!

He'll be the only VP to have conducted an exorcism! That's right... Jindal wrote an article about his experience conducting an exorcism!

Here it is - but you can google it for yourself... Scroll down to "Beating A Demon" when you get to the page.

Jindal for VP! Woo Hoo!

http://www.dailykingfish.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=045417CBB4E30B1BA88D76734D06119F?diaryId=224

Obama as Bush Junior? LOL!!

They couldn't be farther apart, politically or intellectually.

Obama as Reagan? LOL!!

Obama didn't have to wear Depends in the Oval Office like Reagan did.

It may be that Obama does not have experience but he is smart enough to beat Hillary. Afterall he was a president of Harvard Law Review. He has run his campaign extremely well. McCain is baught by Republican Machine. He will not be able to do much good even if he has good interntions. The moment he started supporting war in Iraq he changed to be one of Bushe's cronies. War is not for good of America or Iraq, it is a legal way of transfering tax money to Halliburton and other contractors and for oil corporations.

Obama has clearly stepped over the line.
His arrogance is even starting to exceed the expectations of his enemies.
On his journey through the Middle East he has sought to portry the trip as a prelude to his presidency and has sought to negotiate future events with the leaders of foreign countries and, in his discussions with these foreign leaders, has urged policies and troop movements that undermine the ability of his own government to act.
He has clearly stepped over the line.
Robert Kennedy opposed the war in Vietnam but he didn't travel to Southeast Asia and suggest solutions to the president of South Vietnam or to the political leader of any other country. FDR had electoral opponents during WW2 but none of them travelled to Europe and announced that they were the next president who would be making all the decisions in the future.
It's one thing to travel for the purpose of bolstering your non-existent foreign policy credentials but it is quite another to undermine the policies of the legally elected president of the United States.
It doesn't matter whether the president is George Bush, Bill Clinton, Abraham Lincoln or Obama himself. This is arrogant and naive behavior on the part of a would-be president.
The USA Today reported that Obama talked to CBS Sunday "as though his election and re-elecion were foregone conclusions".
"The Objective of this trip" said Obama on Face the Nation before he left, "was to have substantive discussions with (leaders)...who I expect to be dealing with over the next 8-10 years."
Put your car away folks, you won't have to vote after all!

The Media picked the President a long time ago. This love fest for someone who has NO respect for women is simply disgusting. Has anyone watched Obama's behavior towards his wife - classic patterns of someone who is abusive. Just shameful.

You might be a redneck if...

...your handle takes more than a line to print.

McNasty, McLame, McShame, McBush, McAmnesty.

Don't forget McSame, McInsane, McChimp...

...and my new favorite...McClone.

These actually are quite witty, as they describe McLame's many flaws in a delightfully derogatory manner.

McLame is four more years of failed Chimpy policies. If he gets elected, America will go straight down the terlit.

I am so SICK of Obama aka BUSH JUNIOR!!! That's right - someone who has LESS experience than Bush and we all know how the past 8 years have turned out. At least Bush was governor of a State that bordered a foreign country. Even in Obama's new adds it touts he passed A and in A SINGLE law about foreign affairs - let's see, he got his name on the list of sponsors so he could say he played a major role in passing A single law. WOW!! Sorry Obama HUSSEIN - but casting your vote as Present won't cut it as President.

Obama is the New Reagan!!!
Obama is the New Reagan!!!
Obama is the New Reagan!!!

Posted by: Obama is the New Reagan!!! | July 22, 2008 6:48 PM

Ye Gods, no! Obama isn't even the new Goldwater. There isn't a fascist bone in the body of this wondeful young candidate.

Now I don't know where these newspapers and tv stations get their information or make it up but McCain is not making any progress whatsoever because more people than ever are losing their jobs, homes and are desperately struggling to survive in this country as a direct result of these republican policies. So only an insane person would think they are better off under these continuing republican let-business do whatever it wants, including pay no taxes, charge exhorbitant fees for everything, make as much money as possible anywhere in the world and let everyone suffer who can't pay -- that is their philosophy. He is merely saying that everything is fine doing what we have been doing and we really don't need to change a thing as it relates to corporate interests and desires in this country, including perpetual war in the world because his buddies make billions off of our tax dollars because everyday working people and the unemployed are the only one paying taxes these days. We subsidize corporate america and the rich in every way imaginable, including giving away federal land to virtually free to his developer friends, backers and republican-connected pals. MCCAIN IS AN OLD MAN THAT NEEDS TO JUST GO HOME AND REST WITH CINDY AND THE KIDS AND LEAVE RUNNING THIS COUNTRY TO SOMEONE WHO CAN ADDRESS ITS NEEDS FOR CHANGE.

Wow. Goering is dead -- who will fit his campaign?

...and YOU Mr. Fix, took the bait!?!

Novak is always being used by some NEO-CON to break the law (the treasonous outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson, for example) or otherwise slime decent Americans because he is so addled and easily manipulated.

But YOU at WAPO are taking his bait!

Shame on YOU!

I'm guessing he picks Dick Cheney.

Old Fart McStupid graduate