McCain is "aware of the internet"

The video below really makes me wonder about Republican John McCain. McCain, according to one of his staffers, is "aware of the internet." Wow! He is "aware of the internet." Senator McCain has been in the U.S. Senate for years. U.S. Senators carry a Blackberry, use computers, send/receive e-mails, send/receive faxes, use voice mail, etc., etc. Is McCain "aware" of this technology? Can he use them? Does he open his own e-mail? Seriously, how can person be a "maverick" if they can't even use the internet? There are many people in their 80's and 90's that are using computers and surfing the internet. Has McCain refused to accept training to use a computer? Does this reluctance to embrace technology show us a stubborn-headed old man who is unwilling to learn and explore modern innovations? I think so.

Taxes? The McCains Owe Back Taxes on One of their Homes????

I saw this story posted at HuffingtonPost. The story originated at Newsweek:

When you're poor, it can be hard to pay the bills. When you're rich, it's hard to keep track of all the bills that need paying. It's a lesson Cindy McCain learned the hard way when NEWSWEEK raised questions about an overdue property-tax bill on a La Jolla, Calif., property owned by a trust that she oversees. Mrs. McCain is a beer heiress with an estimated $100 million fortune and, along with her husband, she owns at least seven properties, including condos in California and Arizona.

San Diego County officials, it turns out, have been sending out tax notices on the La Jolla property, an oceanfront condo, for four years without receiving a response. County records show the bills, which were mailed to a Phoenix address associated with Mrs. McCain's trust, were returned by the post office. According to a McCain campaign aide, who requested anonymity when discussing a private matter, an elderly aunt of Mrs. McCain's lives in the condo, and the bank that manages the trust has not been receiving tax bills on the property. Shortly after NEWSWEEK inquired about the matter, the McCain aide e-mailed a receipt dated Friday, June 27, confirming payment by the trust to San Diego County in the amount of $6,744.42. County officials say the trust still owes an additional $1,742 for this year, an amount that is overdue and will go into default July 1......

How embarrassing! With all the homes going into foreclosure, John and Cindy McCain have gotten by with not paying their taxes for years. I also like that line------"...owns at least seven properties, including condos in California and Arizona...." You really have to feel bad for them. They have so much money and property that they can't keep track of them.

Code Words and Hypocrites

The Republicans have tried and will continue to try to destroy Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic presidential candidate. The failures of the current Republican administration and the elected Republican lapdogs who obeyed the party line and agenda, have put our country at risk. The GOP can't come up with any new plans or ideas because the old, rich, white men that run the party still think they are living in the 1800's. The Republicans won't actually use racist words, but we all know what they mean.

Here are some examples of the "code words" and hypocrites of the Gas and Oil Party (GOP):

* Grover Norquist said that Barack Obama is "...John Kerry with a tan...." (UPI)

* Karl Rove calls Sen. Obama "arrogant". (Huffington Post)

* Republican Senators Larry Craig and David Vitter are co-sponsors of a marriage amendment. (Pageoneq)

Let me just explain if you haven't figured it out. Norquist and Rove want to remind you that Obama is African-American. Norquist and Rove will repeat it again and again. However, what Norquist and Rove don't understand is that this country was built on the hopes and dreams of people of many races and families, not just rich white people like them. If Norquist and Rove want to discuss policy, they should do it. Otherwise, Americans will not stand for their dirty, racist attacks.

Update: McCain in Cincinnati

According to the Zanesvilletimesrecorder, John McCain spoke to a "....about 160 undecided Hamilton County voters and a handful of Xavier students...." The reality is that although the Cincinnati area has been a strong Republican stronghold in the past, it seems that only "....only 160 undecided..." could be found and were willing to sit and listen to a "....72 minute forum....." Oh, my. I can imagine how exciting that ".....72 minute forum...." was for the participants. Yawn...... What about that ".....handful of Xavier students..." that attended? This was McCain's attempt to go after the youth vote and his staff could only muster up that ".....handful of Xavier students...."

Desperate for Support?

The McCain campaign found 200 undecided young voters at Xavier University and forced them to listen to John McCain, according to WCPO. Do you realize how hard up McCain must be for support if he has to spend money and effort to speak to only 200 people? Are they that desperate?

Tell Me, Please!

> Why does Minnesota have 3 weird Republicans (Coleman, Brod, Bachman) that are sooooooo in love with right wing policies and the current Bush administration?

> Haven't the people in Minnesota noticed that Norm Coleman has received over $1,000,000 from lobbyists (see Open Secrets)?

> Why does John McCain address people as "my friends" when he gives a speech? I'm not his friend.

> Why is John McCain against equal pay for women?

> Why do the people of South Korea want restrictions on American beef imports? Why have there been massive protests in So. Korea against American beef? (See KBS.) Is there something we aren't being told here?

Polls Show Some Surprises

I saw this polling information posted at 411mania.com and thought it was very interesting. Here are some excerpts:

-In Indiana, SurveyUSA has Obama BEATING McCain 48% to 47%! This is a state that Bush won by 21% in 2004 and was considered one of the safest Republican states in the country not too long ago....

- In New Mexico, SurveyUSA has Obama ahead of McCain 49% to 46%. Just about every poll of New Mexico done in the past few months has shown Obama leading and the state looks pretty safe for Obama right now.....

-- And in Michigan, PPP has Obama leading McCain comfortably, 48% to 39%. As expected, Obama is starting to solidfy himself in Michigan as he spends more time there.....

Have solidly Republican states like Indiana given up on McCain?

In a fresh new poll by Bloomberg/LA Times, Obama has a good lead over McCain. Bloomberg:
Democrat Barack Obama has opened a 15-point lead in the presidential race, and most of the political trends -- voter enthusiasm, views of President George W. Bush, the Republicans, the economy and the direction of the country -- point to even greater trouble for rival John McCain.

Illinois Senator Obama, winning support from once skeptical women and Democrats, beats McCain 48 percent to 33 percent in a four-way race, a Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll shows. Independent candidates Bob Barr and Ralph Nader get 7 percent combined, with the remainder undecided.....

I'm glad that women are solidly supporting Obama. McCain, who does not support equal pay for women, wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Bill Press Gets It Right

I don't know if you've had the opportunity to listen to the Bill Press Show on the radio. Here in Columbus, Ohio, the Bill Press Show is carried 6am-9am on WVKO 1580 (just before the very popular Stephanie Miller Show). Bill Press has a list of 101 Reasons to Vote Against John McCain. Here was today's reason, #77:

#77: John McCain is more of a game show host than a candidate, offering up gimmick after gimmick. First it was the gas tax holiday, but now - he wants taxpayers to give $300 million to whoever develops the next new electric battery. Too bad the Japanese are already five years ahead of the US in developing the next generation battery.

Is John McCain just a little behind the times in knowing what is out there in automobile technology? Besides, where would we get the money to give $300 million away to someone? Would it come out of McCain's pocket?

Trouble?

>>It appears that lobbyist and McCain adviser, Charlie Black, has some explaining to do. ABC News has this:

ABC News' Bret Hovell, Teddy Davis, and James Gerber Report: McCain adviser Charlie Black expressed regret Monday for telling Fortune Magazine that a terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be "a big advantage" for the presumptive Republican nominee.

"Certainly it would be a big advantage to him," Black told Fortune Magazine....

Hmmmm. Is Charlie Black hoping and praying for a terrorist attack on U.S. soil? Is the McCain campaign hoping that Americans get killed to increase the chances of McCain's election? This is so sad and outrageous.

> There are some interesting prices at the supermarket. I saw ice cream at my nearby store listed at a little more that $13 for a half gallon. You must really need ice cream to pay that amount. That particular brand of ice cream was about half that price several months ago.

> Yesterday after church I saw two other Smart Cars just like mine along Olentangy River Road. Looks like more and more drivers are getting their cars delivered.

> With high prices in the grocery store, more people are shopping for food at the 99 cent stores. There is a blog devoted to cooking food found at the 99 cent stores. Check it out: http://the99centchef.blogspot.com/ and enjoy!

>>> Rest in peace, George Carlin. Thanks for the laughs.

War for Oil

Did the U.S. go to war in Iraq for oil?

NY Times:
.....Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP — the original partners in the Iraq Petroleum Company — along with Chevron and a number of smaller oil companies, are in talks with Iraq’s Oil Ministry for no-bid contracts to service Iraq’s largest fields, according to ministry officials, oil company officials and an American diplomat.....

.....The no-bid contracts are unusual for the industry, and the offers prevailed over others by more than 40 companies, including companies in Russia, China and India. The contracts, which would run for one to two years and are relatively small by industry standards, would nonetheless give the companies an advantage in bidding on future contracts in a country that many experts consider to be the best hope for a large-scale increase in oil production.

There was suspicion among many in the Arab world and among parts of the American public that the United States had gone to war in Iraq precisely to secure the oil wealth these contracts seek to extract. The Bush administration has said that the war was necessary to combat terrorism. It is not clear what role the United States played in awarding the contracts; there are still American advisers to Iraq’s Oil Ministry.....

As this was being announced, the Republicans, including old man John McCain, decided to push for off shore oil drilling. Was the GOP's big support of off shore oil drilling used to distract the public from the big oil contracts in Iraq? Were the Republicans trying to cover up the shenanigans of their best friends (and major contributors) the oil companies? Has this all been orchestrated by the White House and the Republicans to have McCain win the presidency and boost the campaigns of the GOPers?

No matter what we've been told, many Americans believe that the invasion of Iraq by the Bush administration had to do with oil, oil, oil.

Ohio GOP Having Difficulty

The Republicans seem unable to get a candidate to run against the Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General, Richard Cordray.
The Western Star:
First the big names dropped out, now even the unknowns are shying away from being the Republican nominee for attorney general.

Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett said Thursday, June 19, that the party may scrap plans to nominate a candidate at the state meeting this weekend and will likely take more time to line up someone to run against Democrat Richard Cordray.

The Ohio Republican Party lost two more potential candidates this week when Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost and former state solicitor Doug Cole took their names out of contention. Well known Republicans Mike DeWine, Rob Portman and Betty Montgomery have taken their names out of consideration....

Cordray is very popular, efficient, and known for his honesty and integrity. Why are Republicans unable to get a candidate? Do Republicans only want to run for office if they are guaranteed a win? Have recent changes by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner make it harder for Ohio Republicans to control the election process? Just asking.

Buzz Off, Cindy McCain

Cindy McCain is attacking Michelle Obama??? Mrs. Cindy McCain should not start a war of words against Mrs. Michelle Obama.

Cindy McCain gave 2 recipes as her own, but they had been published by someone else. Just do a Google search using the terms "Cindy McCain drugs" and you'll find hundreds of thousands of references about Mrs. McCain's rumored drug problems.

I watched Cindy McCain when she appeared on The View. She almost appeared life-like. Michelle Obama was on The View yesterday and she was engaging, intelligent, and very warm.

I sincerely hope that Cindy McCain's attack on Michelle Obama is not indicative of the way the McCain machine proposes to run their campaign.

Off Shore Drilling?

The McClatchy Washington Bureau has this:

President Bush proposed Wednesday to allow drilling off U.S. coastlines as part of a plan to boost oil supplies, but his plan is likely to go nowhere because of a reluctant Democratic-majority Congress, which fears environmental costs.

Even if U.S. coastal waters were opened to exploration, experts agree that it would take at least seven and probably 10 years before any benefits were apparent....

....Bush could have taken a bolder step by overturning a 10-year-old executive order that bans drilling off most U.S. shores. But he said he wouldn't do that because he wanted Congress to act first....

Have you noticed that the Republicans, now called the Gas and Oil Party (GOP), are willing to ruin our sea shores, our waterways, and our forests but they won't do anything to penalize their buddies in the gas and oil industry?

Even Gov. Charlie Crist, the Republican governor of Florida, has flip-flopped on drilling off the coast of Florida. Herald-Tribune:

Gov. Charlie Crist welcomed a new era of possible oil and gas drilling off Florida's coast in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, marking a significant reversal from his own position amid rising gas prices....

....Crist made his comments after Republican presidential candidate John McCain said he supported lifting the federal moratorium on offshore drilling and allow each state to make that decision. Crist has campaigned heavily with McCain amid rumors that the Florida governor could be a vice presidential candidate.

As recently as last week, Crist said he opposed drilling near Florida's coast. And his opposition was clear in a 2006 letter to the U.S. Interior Department while he was attorney general.....

Even though the Republicans are willing to drill anywhere and everywhere, they have not mentioned conservation or trying new technology to use less oil/gas. The Republicans just want to make sure that their buddies in oil and gas make even more money. While those oil/gas billionaires are enjoying their money and the protection of the entire Republican Party, the Republicans wait for the oil/gas gravy train of political contributions to fall into their campaign war chests.

There has to be a better way. Americans have always created new ways to do things. Our scientific discoveries have enriched the lives of people all over the world. The Republicans only know the same old tune and it is getting old. It is time to ask Americans to drive slower and a little less. Although our country's population makes up only 3% of the world's population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Rewarding offshore oil and gas contracts to those billionaires won't help us, it will only make them wealthier.

McCain

OMG!!! John McCain now cares about the environment!!!! Even though McCain has either skipped votes or voted against issues to protect the environment, McCain says he supports clean air and water. Here is what American Progress Action has about McCain's support of environmental issues:

McCain Receives "0" on League of Conservation Voters 2007 Scorecard. The League of Conservation Voters rates senators and representatives on the most critical environmental votes, with scores ranging from 100 – voting with the environment every time – to 0 for voting against the environment on every vote. Absences count as a vote against the environment since the legislator did not cast a vote for the environment. In 2007, Sen. McCain missed all 15 critical environmental votes in the Senate, so he received a "0." [LCV, 2/08]

McCain Opposes Three Fourths of Environmental Votes. Sen. McCain has a lifetime LCV score of 24 percent. Even if one excludes his 2007 missed votes, his lifetime score only rises to 26 percent. [LCV Scorecard, 2007, LCV Scorecard 2006]

McCain Accepted $291,658 from Big Oil in 2007. On average, senators voting for big oil tax breaks and against incentives for renewable energy and efficiency in 2007 received $195,973 in campaign donations from the oil industry during this decade....

Did you get that? McCain got $291,658 just in 2007 from Big Oil. Wow!

>>> Have you noticed that the McCain campaign is using some of the same words that the Bush-Cheney campaign used to attack Kerry in 2004? So not only has McCain aligned himself with Bush-Cheney policies, he is using the same attack words.

Fox News (June 17, 2008):

John McCain’s advisers accused Barack Obama Tuesday of suffering a ‘September 10th mindset’ for suggesting that the prosecutions of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers were the best approach for dealing with terror suspects....

NY Times (9/8/2004):

"It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice," Mr. Cheney told a crowd of 350 people in Des Moines, "because if we make the wrong choice then the danger is that we'll get hit again and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States."

He also said if Mr. Kerry was elected the nation risked lapsing to a "pre-9/11 mind-set'' where attacks are viewed as criminal acts, not part of a war against terrorism....

Can the McCain campaign come up with an original idea or do they just have to rely on the same Bush-Cheney policies and campaign rhetoric? Somewhere inside the McCain campaign, the Bush-Cheney campaign speeches and policy statements are being dusted off for use by McCain. How can McCain say he is an agent of change when he uses the same old Bush-Cheney vocabulary list?

Tuesday's Notes

If you are looking for something completely silly, you must watch an ad for Republican Sen. John Cornyn called "Big John" at http://senjohncornyn.blip.tv/#997209. Even though the Cornyn ad said he supported the troops, Cornyn voted against the new G.I. Bill. The Cornyn ad could be called a bunch of hooey.

>Raw Story has information about another John McCain "anger management" moment. I suggest that the press start doing their job and begin asking more tough questions of McCain.

>>> Looks like another Army official got the boot because he refused to give KBR a pass. NY Times:

The Army official who managed the Pentagon’s largest contract in Iraq says he was ousted from his job when he refused to approve paying more than $1 billion in questionable charges to KBR, the Houston-based company that has provided food, housing and other services to American troops.

The official, Charles M. Smith, was the senior civilian overseeing the multibillion-dollar contract with KBR during the first two years of the war. Speaking out for the first time, Mr. Smith said that he was forced from his job in 2004 after informing KBR officials that the Army would impose escalating financial penalties if they failed to improve their chaotic Iraqi operations.

Army auditors had determined that KBR lacked credible data or records for more than $1 billion in spending, so Mr. Smith refused to sign off on the payments to the company. “They had a gigantic amount of costs they couldn’t justify,” he said in an interview. “Ultimately, the money that was going to KBR was money being taken away from the troops, and I wasn’t going to do that.”

Why am I not surprised?

Keeping Tabs

It appears that many Greek Americans are not very happy with Republican presidential candidate, John McCain.
Greek News:

Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain failed the expectations of the Greek Orthodox faithful in the United after declining to answer a question on his refusal to cosign a letter to President Bush, on the religious freedom in Turkey and the protection of the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.....

While McCain was posing with Archbishop Demetrios, a reporter with a Greek-language media outlet fired a question at the senator, asking why he did not sign a letter a year and a half ago in which 73 other senators -- including Obama -- urged President George W. Bush to publicly support religious freedom for a Greek Orthodox minority living in Istanbul, Turkey.

McCain declined to answer directly, saying the matter was under discussion. "Obviously we are in favor of religious freedom all over the world, especially those places where it seems to be about to disappear," he said, before declining further questions....

McCain will get the photo op, but the real meat of the matter is that McCain has not supported an issue that is important to Greek Americans.

> Republicans Jean Schmidt (OH-2) and Steve Chabot (OH-1) are begging for campaign contributions and making up tall tales. Cincinnati Enquirer:

As political candidates often do, U.S. Reps. Jean Schmidt and Steve Chabot sent out fundraising letters recently, urging supporters to send them donations.

But these letters also attack their Democratic opponents in ways that seem to stretch the truth - with Schmidt accusing her opponent of participating in "grotesque medical experiments" and Chabot suggesting his opponent supports abortion, though he is anti-abortion.

Both Republicans said they stand by the letters, but political analysts say the harsh tone is a sign that Schmidt and Chabot know they are vulnerable....

According to Open Secrets, Schmidt has only $176,670 on hand. Ouch! For an incumbent, that is just plain poor. With the Republicans unable to fund their congressional candidates, will Schmidt even be able to fund a full campaign?

Chabot has just slightly over one million dollars in his campaign fund (see Open Secrets). However, Chabot's strong support of George W. Bush's policies may have made him unpopular among voters.

>Democratic Underground found a video of Sen. Obama helping out in Iowa. Sen. Obama helped fill some sandbags in flood ravaged Iowa. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARt-OJKKfQY

The View from North Carolina

We are spending a few days in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Although there are high gasoline prices, lots of people seem to remain in love with their large SUV’s and mammoth pick up trucks. There are quite a number of Buckeye fans here enjoying the heat.

While in North Carolina, I’ve seen several political campaign ads for Elizabeth Dole. Despite the fact that she has been ranked as one of the least effective U.S. Senators, you’d never know it by her commercials. Also, the camera never really shows a close up of Libby Dole. Is the candidate trying to hide her age?

Yesterday on CNN, Dick Armey, former Republican office holder, said that Sen. Obama was just giving speeches and “bs-ing” his way around the country. (Yes, Dick Armey said "bs-ing.") Shame on Armey and the Republicans. The GOP cannot and will not offer real answers/solutions, so they just attack Sen. Obama.

Meanwhile, old man McCain is giving “press announcements” about various topics and the press is giving him free publicity. McCain doesn’t have enough money to launch a full campaign and so he has to depend on the press to do his ads.

I finally saw one McCain bumper sticker. However, I have seen plenty of Obama stickers. In a state where so many citizens have ties to the military, you'd think that there would be many more McCain stickers. Perhaps even here, people are looking for new solutions and fresh perspectives.

Pay For Your Own Poll

A recent poll conducted on behalf of Mary Jo Kilroy, Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district, indicated that Kilroy had a substantial lead over Republican, Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist. However, according to PolitickerOH, Stivers' campaign manager wants Kilroy to release the entire poll.

Polls and surveys cost big, big money. The Stivers camp should pay for their own poll. Why should Kilroy give free information to her opponent???? That is ridiculous!

One thing I did hear about the poll was that when it was mentioned that Stivers was a former bank lobbyist, his approval rating went way down. I can understand that. In these difficult economic times, we don't need someone in Washington who feels sympathy for banks and bankers.

***** I saw this over at Democratic Underground and thought you'd appreciate it. It appears that Sen. John McCain wants ".....to deliver bottled hot water to dehydrated babies...."
See it on You Tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DqR7zis99I

The Power to Lead

Last night I watched two speeches. One speech was given by Republican candidate for president, Sen. John McCain. The second speech was given by Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic candidate for president.

First, McCain was introduced by Gov. Bobby Jindal. (Jindal is the Louisiana governor who favors teaching "intelligent design" in public schools. Seriously, he does.) McCain's speech was given in Louisiana, which is the site of the second biggest failure of the Bush administration. In my opinion, the Iraq War is the number one failure. While watching McCain speak, I recalled how he was sharing a birthday cake with President Bush at the same time that people were floating in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

McCain's speech was as about as exciting at staring at linoleum. He thought he was cool and making some points, but he only looked wooden, old, and dull. I bet there were at least a couple hundred of people in that auditorium to hear McCain repeat his version of the Bush agenda. According to what I heard on TV this morning, McCain used the word "change" 33 times. What delusional person thinks that John McCain represents change?

In contrast, the speech given by Sen. Barack Obama, was inspiring. You could see the emotions in the faces of the 17,000+ people in his enthusiastic audience. Obama's speech will be one that will be quoted and repeated for many years to come. Obama has the power to lead. His speech, which he wrote, let all Americans see that we have the ability to embrace a better America like the one our founding fathers (and mothers!) designed for us.

I'd give McCain a "C-" for his speech. Obama would definitely receive an "A+" for his.

What I've Learned

I've learned so much recently:

* People who own large SUVs are sad that the value of their vehicles have decreased by 10% and more. All I can say is, "I told you so."

* Dick Cheney disrespects people from West Virginia (even though he later apologized for his comment).

* Some people are ashamed that they've contributed money to the Bush-Cheney campaign. (We'll forgive you if you vote for Democrats.)

* Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district, Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, has not voiced his views on any issues. His website is so bland that a visitor cannot tell where he stands on any issues. (It was probably designed that way on purpose.) Is he for continuing the war in Iraq? Does he support privatizing social security like McCain? How does he plan to change our energy dependence on foreign oil? Does he favor a national health care plan? Does he support McCain's health insurance plan that would exclude people with pre-existing conditions? How has being a lobbyist helped him? If you compare Stivers' website with Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy's, you'll notice that Kilroy has published her views on important issues. Why won't Stivers state his views?

* Some Democrats who once supported Sen. Hillary Clinton have said they'd never vote for Sen. Obama for president. If Clinton supporters did vote for McCain, some predict that a woman's right to choose would be eliminated within one year by McCain stacking the Supreme Court. It is time for all Democrats to unite behind our candidate. Our nation needs all of us to make things better for ourselves and future generations. McCain would be just like having a third term for Bush-Cheney.

Real Dedication

This man had real dedication to his job and his invention (Enquirer):
Dr. Fredric J. Baur was so proud of having designed the container for Pringles potato crisps that he asked his family to bury him in one.

His children honored his request. Part of his remains was buried in a Pringles can - along with a regular urn containing the rest - in his grave at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Springfield Township.

Dr. Baur, a retired organic chemist and food storage technician who specialized in research and development and quality control for Procter & Gamble, died May 4 at Vitas Hospice. The College Hill resident was 89.....

I'll never look at a Pringles can the same way again.

(By the way, Dr. Baur had a master's degree and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.)