John McCain follows Bu$hCo's terrorism approach

St. John was in Alabama on Saturday using the same old tired fear and force approach that Dubyah does when it comes to "terrorism". Also, it it merely Islamic John? Indeed that's the majority yet there are terrorists of many persuasions. I'm looking forward to that "great debate" this fall. A short version of this post is that McCain's approach is simplistic and wrong. Here's his own campaign site's language:

Winning the War Against Islamic Extremists. Radical Islamic extremists are a relentless threat to America, its citizens, and the values we share. In the words of the al Qaeda leadership, Iraq is the central battleground of this war. We face a fork in the road. John McCain will pursue our opportunity for victory in Iraq, strengthen our hand in the larger war against Islamic extremists, and make our nation more secure. Democrats will fold our tents, embolden our enemies, throw the region into instability, and increase the risks faced on our home soil. To concede defeat now would strengthen al Qaeda, empower Iran and other hostile powers in the Middle East, unleash a full scale civil war in Iraq that could lead to genocide, and destabilize the entire region as neighboring powers come to the aid of their favored factions. John McCain is best prepared to lead and defend our nation and its global allies as Commander-in-Chief from day one. He has the experience and leadership to defeat our enemy and secure a broader peace.

St. John, about those "global allies" ... do we really have many left? You'll defeat "terrorism"? Isn't that a tactic Senator? What would Reza Aslan and other actual experts think of your simplistic and nearly singular militaristic views? So you'll try the old "they hate us for our values" approach Senator? Surely most that do in fact hate us feel this way for what we do rather than for what we think. "Fold our tents" is how you describe alternatives to "staying the course" and pouring more and more down this dry well that Dubyah drilled?

While John Edwards had the most complete vision I felt on dealing with violent extremists among the candidates, either Hillary or Obama will clean your clock this year with voters motivated by reason. And surely there's a few left ... and perhaps more coming back given how Bu$hCo and others of the merry band of conservatives have sold us so much BS in these last few years.

St. John's own campaign website had "Iraq" as an issue rather than "terrorism". What about Afghanistan John? Isn't this a global problem so would that require a global solution? Doesn't the Israeli/Palestinian conflict have something to do with this mess. He also has a "National Security" portion as well that seems to be all about force.

Hillary Clinton's campaign site isn't much better as she merely has "Ending the War in Iraq" yet digging about gets you a little less militarism and a more complete view of the many ways to deal with "terrorism". "Restoring America's Standing in the World" for instance offers up ideas of alliances, talking with enemies, education, etc. Obama refences the Iraq issue on his campaign site yet also has a nice section on Foreign Policy.

Bring it on St. John. Fear, fear, and more fear will only get you so far I hope. It worked for your buddy Bu$h in 2004 and your party surely likes to claim they can only lead the military and "keep us safe". This nation is gradually learning the truth. P/W

A tip of the tam to John Edwards

I'll leave the John Edwards bumper stickers on Raoul (my little green CRV) for a while longer. While he was never Russ Feingold or Al Gore, John Edwards was the pick of the litter in 2008. Populism with poise.

As for my vote, I'm still uncertain. I think I'll look for a good Congressional race in 2008 to keep me busy. We need better than what any of the moderates left can deliver but at least Bu$hCo and the serious "conservatives" will be out of power for at least a few years. I fear Congress and the White House will fail to move far enough toward Progressive solutions to our many problems yet hope springs eternal.

I'll let Meteor Blades on Kos explain some of what I think John Edwards' candidacy meant. "Frustrating, sometimes infuriating" truly applies on the media ignoring reformers like Edwards and Kucinich yet surely both being in the race was a positive. John Edwards' Pace University "terrorism speech" this past September remains as close to perfection on that issue as I've yet to study. His work on poverty will continue. Well done Senator. P/W

Updates on Iraq and Afghanistan War Costs

The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation has new figures out. The suggest $695.7 billion has been spent so far. The National Priorities Project is another related resource I'll share. Although I hate linking to anything from the damned AEI, they and Brookings have a neat tool to play with assumptions and then see how that changes the money on down the road. Then again, the true costs are human. Heck of a job Bu$hCo. P/W

Lincoln Chafee Scolds "Leaders" of Both Parties

Lincoln Chafee's new book Against the Tide: How a Compliant Congress Empowered a Reckless President has been added to my Amazon wish list although my Scottishness will likely have me try to just borrow rather than buy. Scott MacKay's reporting in the Providence Journal has the following from Senator Chafee:

... I find it surprising now, in 2008, how many Democrats are running for president after shirking their constitutional duty to check and balance this president. ... Being wrong about sending Americans to kill and be killed, maim and be maimed, is not like making a punctuation mistake in a highway bill. ...

They argue that the president duped them into war, but getting duped does not exactly recommend their leadership. Helping a rogue president start an unnecessary war should be a career-ending lapse of judgment. ...

... Instead of talking tough or meekly raising one’s hand to support the tough talk, it is far more muscular, I think, to find out what is really happening in the world and have a debate about what we really need to accomplish. ...

Amen! Linc's not going to be making any friends with the powers that be on the Democratic side of the aisle with this frank talk and writing. I've mentioned before that he's rich as Roosevelt but good for him in speaking truth to power. And shame on the centrists and opportunists that pass for "leaders". Finally, I noted in today's WaPo that Susan Eisenhower, channeling her gradfather Ike and surely part of the old "Establishment wing" of the GOP, is openly supporting Barack Obama.

If nothing else the 2008 cycle has the promise of change. Let's hope the media and voters and ... don't blow it. P/W

Will Bu$hCo's DOJ Put FOIA Requests Where Sun Don't Shine

Silly Congress, bills are for kids. Bu$hCo perhaps dared not to use a signing statement on Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) OPEN Government Act but rather took funds for the Office of Government Information Services and put them with the Department of Justice. Professor Eric Alterman brings us up to speed on the details. Reckon what Senator Cornyn thinks of his President's support now? It appears that both he and Senator Leahy aren't happy with Dubyah. Dr. Alterman also points us to Sunshine Week this March 16-22. Spread the word on this fine effort of The American Society of Newspaper Editors. P/W

Wall Street Showing Our Candidates Some Love

Although employees and others involved with Wall Street investment banks have every right to donate money to Presidential candidates, making sure the public knows of their financial support is part of good journalism. Greg Gordon of McClatchy reveals the numbers. Well done! Given the sub-prime meltdown and the rising frustrations with "Capitalists Gone Wild" I do expect the fatcats want favors owed. Looks like they are hedging their bets.

To examine how the Wall Street crowd shares the love with those in Congress would be something I'd love to see in some of the media. The information is out there but transferring it to the masses takes some work. And we know unfortunately many journalist and their corporate masters aren't inclined to follow that story. P/W

Is Ben Lodmell vs. Jo Bonner in AL-01 over already?

Ryan Dezember and Sean Reilly of the Mobile Press-Register report Lodmell charged with solicitation: Congressional candidate from Mobile is charged with soliciting a prostitute in Baldwin County. Dammit! I'd been sorta kinda following Ben Lodmell's efforts, mostly just to see if he could get any traction going against Jo Bonner down in Alabama's 1st Congressional District. I liked some of what he was writing/saying even if the race wouldn't likely become competitive. That Ben had some wealth of his own made him attractive as well given what it costs to run a campaign. If Ben was dumb and sorry enough to engaged in a solicitation then he's wasted what seemed like some promising talent. If in fact "the truth will come out" and this is "the politics of personal destruction" then maybe this could give him some leverage. P/W

The grassroots organizer gets some love

The American Prospect has Kelly Candaele and Peter Dreier's The Year of the Organizer and I give this one a huge thumbs up. As a grassroots guy, having worked in the trenches myself, I'm thrilled to see some recognition of the art and science of the work. The ground game isn't as sexy as some politics but there's nothing else that does what it can accomplish in that particular race and well beyond. I love the direct, gradual work and find it so authentic. We are indeed selling hope rather than soap.

And a tip of the tam to Barack Obama and his team for recognizing the void and filling it. Another tip is due Marshall Ganz. As Governor Dean's Fifty States Strategy attempts, building counts. So he's due a tip of the tam too. Oh hell, tips of the tam for everyone involved in the Progressive grassroots ... like Arshad Hassan and DFA's Training Academy. I surely learned from Arshad plus my friend and fellow PPC member Matt Blizek is likely doing much for our world now that he's on their staff.

Grassroots organizing is something we Progressives simply must do. Our team might not be able to fund folks like the fatcats but when we get into "a market" (to borrow a right wing term) with a fair fight then we win. P/W

Robert Reich explains why "Middle Class" is fed up

Robert Reich's recent piece in The Financial Times titled America's Middle Classes Are No Longer Coping was passed on via Truth Out. He hits one out of the park with:

The fact is, middle-class families have exhausted the coping mechanisms they have used for more than three decades to get by on median wages that are barely higher than they were in 1970, adjusted for inflation.

Exactly! Professor Reich is a gem. Hit the link to read of the three "coping mechanisms" and/or to learn if you and your spouse/partner are a DINS couple. If the bourgeoise are indeed at the end of their rope then perhaps true reforms can begin. P/W

Bu$hCo's DOE Secretary Spellings up on Goat Hill

Desiree Hunter of the AP via The Montgomery Advertiser reports Spellings in Alabama, announces plan for reading program increase yet a good portion of the article dealt with Margaret's attempts to save Bu$hCo's No Child Left Behind. "Critical and complimentary, but always candid", those that were invited to talk didn't question the foundations of NCLB. I wonder who all was invited? If public I'd have imagined surely at least one brave soul willing to come and fuss about plenty.

State Superintendent Joe Morton claimed these "professional people .... in education every day [spoke} straight from the heart ..." Did y'all sing Kumbaya up there on Goat Hill? He even said, "I think it gives (Spellings) some concrete, hands-on things that can be done to improve the law - not theory or philosophical things - but productive and constructive ...." Why not get into theory or philosophy Dr. Morton?

Here's a possible reason why ... These administrators, politicians, and business folks represents those in power. They are on top because the current system is working just fine for them. An educator that dares raise even mitigated hell about NCLB, or merely the obsession our nation has with "high stakes" testing done under the guise of "accountability", usually doesn't last long in the classroom. And they certainly don't make it up the food chain! At one point when I started taking classes in administration I bailed since I knew I couldn't stand playing the numbers games.

Another reason is perhaps that Dr. Morton is merely representative of an all too typical "number crunching bureaucrat" that hasn't been in the classroom for years. It could be that he and his don't understand that be able to demonstrate that you've force a kid to regurgitate one damned fact after another tells you squat about whether a kid has truly learned or can learn. Do he and his care if a kid has been taught how to think or marshall evidence or question authority or ...? And what about teaching a child to love learning? Can we ever measure that?

The whole report was essentially stenography for Bu$hCo and the education establishment. I might ask for too much yet a comment or two from a person and/or group questioning the whole accountability movement and certainly NCLB would have added much.

Also, language reported was "Spellings also announced President Bush's plans to ask Congress to raise funding for the nationwide Reading First program to at least $1 billion when he makes his budget request for fiscal year 2009 on Monday." Bu$hCo's cutting of other programs like art, mental health services, and forty plus other programs didn't deserve mention? I've previously raised hell about the Reading First program being made all the worse by Bu$hCo's typical cronyism and radicalism. The whole reading first model is questionable and the post referenced above has links to the Anniston Star and other sources. Again, nothing was mentioned of any negatives. P/W

Highlander of the Day ~ David Letterman

If I'm out of pocket later I'll be with Reza Aslan

If time and traffic allow I may try to get into Tacoma this evening to hear Reza Aslan at The University of Puget Sound. Details of his lecture are here. Looks promising. His No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam was well-received (reviews are here at Aslan's site although I suppose he'd not provide anything too negative) and if nothing else I'll try to track down a cope ... or perhaps even overcome my growing Scottish tendencies toward frugality and make a purchase. P/W

Madison County State Rep. Sue Schmitz Arrested

The feds have arrested Representative Sue Schmitz (D-Toney) in connection with the continuing Alabama's JuCo scandals. The four mail fraud and four just plain vanilla fraud counts to the indictment allege Ms. Schmitz failed to do much, if any, work on a $177,251 deal for "the Community Intensive Treatment for Youth Skills Training Consortium, or CITY program". If this is that outfit I guess they needed help with efforts "to coordinate community and external affairs for the CITY program". Brett Blackledge of the B'ham News had reported on Ms. Schmitz' questionable work way back in March. Note that she copied her responses when seemingly appropriately questioned to Dr. Paul Hubbert of AEA. Reckon why? P/W

Outlander of the Day ~ King George Bu$h

David Swanson's State of Union Came With a Signing Statement says all I need to say. Good grief! The Boston Globe's Charlie Savage continues covering Dubyah's frequent use of signing statements. Across the pond The Guardian noted the signing statements yet most U.S. papers ignored. Please note the portions of the legislation Bu$hCo had trouble with. Reckon why? This latest stunt by King George is surely due some ink and time on the tube. P/W

Senator Russ Feingold on FISA and Bu$hCo SOTU

This is how you explain things. Seems pretty simple to me and I think it would to even Joe and Jill Sixpack. Also, RDF's response to Bu$hCo's last SOTU (Amen on it being his last one!) is done in his typically terrific manner. If the Democratic Party would get serious they'd indeed rely on Russ Feingold for much more. P/W

Highlanders of the Day ~ David Sirota and ...

My dearest friend asked me to explain Progressive vs. Liberal as we did our evening phone call, the best part of pretty much my every day. I fumbled about some with a decent effort but then told her I'd get back to her with a concise explanation. I'll let David take this one. (As a bonus I like how he scolds Senator Obama on one issue from back in 2005! Much more to learn grasshopper.)

Truly I thought of David Sirota even while I was trying to form my thoughts earlier this evening. He's been a frequent Highlander here and I'm a better soul for reading his work. Naomi Klein might be at the top of my list these days however.

Dkosopedia's Progressive entry is here and Liberal is here. Either surely beats nasty "hole in the head" conservatism although at times I've even admitted being a "Propservralist" as a blend of Progressive, Populist, Conservative, Liberal, and finally Pragmatist. P/W

Oprah Scares Texas Wingnut Mike Sutton

I always enjoy seeing Mike Sutton's LTEs in my hometown Randolph Leader. This week he goes off on Oprah into what is bizarro, even for poor Mike, territory. Her wealth and influence can only be explained by the supernatural. She's a hybrid of an evil John the Baptist and Rasputin. "Common and unlearned" Oprah's "sorcery can bring down a nation". Mercy Mike, in August of 2006 it was the United Nations was the threat yet I thought that War and the True and Living God would deliver us. Make up your mind please.

Unlike this past fall when he went after Hillary as "Hugo Chavez in a pantsuit" this seems to be mostly Mike's "thinking". Perhaps he built off Armstrong Williams' work? Mike commented on Armstrong's piece at least. Please note that Armstrong found a home, with Ronald Reagan's favorite newspaper no less, after his payola reporting of Bu$hCo No Child Left Behind propaganda. The right takes care of their own don't they. P/W

John and Mitt Left Chasing GOP Voters and Money

America's Mayor is out and The Huckster finishes 4th. Multiple Choice Mitt gets another silver and St. John wins the Sunshine State. I'll need some time to dig about before I can start to guess what this all means but in the meantime DHinMI claims McCain Broke, Must Win Florida, Turns to Lobbyists to Bail Out His Campaign. I like the idea of Mittster making McCain raise and spend money. Let St. John get those K-Street dollars and then remind the voters come fall. The Prince of Darkness thinks Mittster needed Florida and that these two will be trading body blows over the next week. The Huckster will count on the Bubbas and Bible Thumpers as he needs Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee next week. P/W

Outlanders of the Decade ~ Citizens, Media, Congress, and Bu$hCo

Sheryl Gay Stulberg of the NYT reports in her Bush, Facing Troubles, Focuses on War and Taxes of the SOTU. I must celebrate that this is his last one and to read of "only" 357 days left in his administration gives me some pleasure. There's still lots he and his can ruin but the end of the Reign of Error is near. Consequences will remain but hope springs eternal. The following however caught my eye:

“We have faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens,” Mr. Bush said. “These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve answered that call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose.”

Huh? I really don't recall much vigorous debate Dubyah. Indeed, you (and the Clinton and Daddy Bu$h and ... administrations for that matter) had plenty of hard decisions to make as the Cold War wound down. Congress was in the hands of your GOP and the Big Mules for the most part, even during the years of The Clenis. Our media was becoming increasingly consolidated and profit driven. Less reporting and more infotainment became the rule. The Republican message machine worked like a charm. Centrist weenies all too often spoke for or attempted to lead the Democratic Party. Our average "citizen" continued to be distracted and overwhelmingly ignorant. "Bread and games" in the form of cheap consumer goods bought on borrowed money and then used to entertain were the dominant modes. So many of us became bourgeois in the period of seeming prosperity. Yet poverty made a strong comeback during your seven years. Heck of a job. As for your adventurism in Iraq ... there's plenty of blame to go around but it begins and ends with your neo-conservative cabal.

I could go on and on here. But the bottom line is that we all are going to be judged harshly by history. If some of us will pick our collective selves off the mat and then courageously push forward perhaps that will reduce the shame. P/W

Highlander of the Day ~ James Fields

Chauncey Sparks told us at Doc's Political Party that this Fields vs. Wayne Willingham election was an important race up in Alabama House Distict 12 in Cullman. And The Cullman Times echoes some for the same themes of race and beyond. James Fields is an African-American Democrat running in Cullman County. Cullman being a "Sundown Town" some years back remains infamous. And guess what? James Fields wins in a "landslide". Well played sir! And a tip of the tam to Cullman County. Things do look dark and dreary for the GOP's plans to gain seats up on Goat Hill. P/W