As reported in the Washington Post, the McCain campaign is encouraging supporters to spam a select group of blogs with ready-made talking points. And as Raging Red first noticed, Lincoln Walks at Midnight is the list of “selected blogs.”
What’s totally awesome is that for each pro-McCain comment you cut and paste leave, you earn reward points, redeemable for fabulous prizes at the McCain store. You can even win a ride on the Straight Talk Express! My friends.
Presumably if you earned enough reward points, you might even get to ride on his wife’s private jet, or spend the night in one of his 10 to 13 homes. As long as you promise to keep telling people that the other guy is an uppity, elite celebrity.
But what I really want is to be invited to the next barbecue McCain hosts for the press that’s supposed to cover him. It’s worked out well. Although if McCain would learn to throw a Halloween party as awesome as Alex Macia’s, there’d probably never be another critical word written about him again. My friends.
Even I was shocked to discover how genuinely awful McCain is at public speaking, or sounding like he knows what he’s talking about at all. And that, my friends, is because for the past 8 years, the media has not been reporting what McCain said, but rather what he meant to say.
I particularly like the moment about 40 seconds in.
But there’s still time for him to turn it around. He can always throw a bitchin’ Halloween party.
August 8, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Thanks, H.K.,
This is a great review of McCain’s opinions.
OWL
August 8, 2008 at 5:56 pm
>>>Even I was shocked to discover how genuinely awful McCain is at public speaking, or sounding like he knows what he’s talking about at all. And that, my friends, is because for the past 8 years, the media has not been reporting what McCain said, but rather what he meant to say.
Not to be confused with anything unscripted Obama tries to say: “Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.” But the media has its new Messiah, and no one will admit he’s an empty suit with no resume.
August 8, 2008 at 6:04 pm
i don’t know specifically why, perhaps it’s knowing what I know about McCain and his deftness with technology, but this ’spam in a can’ activity just smacks of coming from a campaign that really doesn’t understand how to operate teh 1nern3tz.
August 8, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I’d much rather be caught saying “uh uh uh,” then saying something totally false about Iran, only to have Joe Lieberman set me straight.
But McCain knows how to win wars! He said so.
August 8, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Just as I was prepared to spam those blogs as if my life depended upon it, I decided it would be wise to check out the merch being offered at the McCain store. As I sadly discovered, there is no McCain “thong and bra” lingerie set being offered. Bummer.
August 8, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Be sure to listen to both sides repeatedly use the phrase “you know.”
Hell, if I knew, I would neither ask nor listen.
It is all part of the ‘dumbing down’ of society, and both parties are guilty, of making citizens lazy, feeling entitled, and continually asking ‘what is in it for me.’
Listen closely, and the truth will always emerge, even when you are being lied to overtly.
August 8, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Damn! Obama got pwnd by “Anonymous”! ZAP!
August 8, 2008 at 10:08 pm
McCain said he knew how to win wars “the right way” – my question is, how do you win a war the wrong way? If the war was wrong from the start, what the hell is there ever to win and why continue a war that never should have started? My head is spinning! I saw a funny card with McCain saying he’s been tested – on the inside, “for cholesterol, prostate, blood pressure, poor hearing” – no thanks!
August 8, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I’m a fan of presidents knowing which countries exist, and which do not. Also of knowing who leads what country, that sounds like a big “red-button-style” mistake to me. *shakes head*
Scary stuff, scary stuff….
August 8, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Kevin Patrick, are you implying that we would “elect” (thank you, electronic voting!) a president who is mentally impaired? Are you old enough to have intellectually processed the Reagan years? Do you understand that he had Alzerheimer’s many years before they admitted it? Good God if there is one, what the HELL?
August 8, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Our voter participation rate suggets a no confidence vote has been the hands down majority for some time.
Organized, educated and talented WVU alum (like many of us) form or join groups with similar ideas to share strategies, learn from and compare notes so we can stop getting our teeth knocked out by the talk radio style dumbed down walmart logic of flash statements that fail to develop a rational arguement from the known facts, why it now matters and thus develop the probable solutions.
They call it solidarity for a reason.
August 8, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Amen, 1984 grad!
August 9, 2008 at 1:54 am
McCain’s stammering makes me look forward to the debates. He needs to improve significantly or he’s going to look very foolish in a side-by-side debate with Obama.
Of course, the chances that the press reports what McCain meant to say while criticizing Obama if he doesn’t sound like Lincoln at Gettysburg is a distinct possibility too.
August 9, 2008 at 3:43 am
It’s very telling that right now, the McCain camp is most concerned with how much taller Obama is. They can control that, if they’re both sitting down.
August 9, 2008 at 6:08 am
You know they’re not going to make this mistake again. Which means they’ve been developing the Slim-Line model.
The Obama campaign should fit him with some kind of radio frequency jammer, but I wouldn’t have Obama carrying what looks to be a pack of Newports.
August 9, 2008 at 8:46 am
The youtube clip, if edited down, is exactly what needs to be done by Obama campaign surrogates: take this mean cranky senile old man down. Either Barack Obama is Sugar Ray Robinson, a graceful but lethal “killer” (in the ring, that is), or he’s Jimmy Ellis, who should have been the champion of the world but, lacking a killer instinct, ended up as one of Ali’s sparring partners.
My greatest fear has been that Obama would end up allowing himself to be over-packaged by the party “pros” and in September will morph into a biracial Dukakis.
By the way, there’s a great column in the Guardian by Michael Moore titled–what else?–”How to blow it”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/09/michael.moore.us.elections.barack.obama
August 9, 2008 at 9:19 am
They’re Still There,
No, I was not: but since you bring it up, let me preface this with “I’m not a big Reagan fan, he talked the talk, but just didn’t walk the walk.” Life expectancy after Alzheimer’s diagnosis is only about 12 years. Reagan was president from 1981-1989. Thus he lived 23 years from the beginning of his presidency, and 15 years from the end; he died in 2004. It is unlikely, although not impossible, that he had Alzheimer’s while in the White House; but if he did, it would have expressed itself as word-finding trouble, and things of that nature.
I would also pick on McCain less for his age, and more on his ridiculous politics, because I do not think he’ll make a good president and for tangible reasons beyond “wow, he’s really old;” but hey that’s just me.
August 9, 2008 at 9:30 am
Anyone else already got Beatlemania nostalgia for the old “Yes, We Can” phase of the campaign?
All style, no substance? Who cares. It not only tapped into the zeitgiest the way Jagger-Richards did a hundred years ago with “Satisfaction” it helped shape and define it?
You better tap back into that when you give your speech in Denver, Barack. Go ahead. Be a rock star. It’s what you are. It’s what will keep your massive ground game and donor base working overtime in September and October.
(And as for those who like to claim Barack represents a triumph of style over substance, so freakin’ what? What’ve the Lee Atwaters and Karl Roves and now the Rove junior varsity been peddling for decades now? And furthermore, anyone who claims Obama is a man of little substance, I call bullshit. Read his two books. He’s not only someone of unusual intellect who understands his own history the way a literary memoirist does–it’s almost eerie how he can analyze himself with such clinical detachment, like an alien examining a curious but lower life form–he understands the philosophical thrust of the liberal-conservative debate over the course of American history, from the earliest days of the Republic to Reagan and beyond. Is he messianic? Hell, yes, he is. But not in the way the rightwing narrative of that would like to suggest [although, to the extent the rightwing "he's thinks he's a messiah" narrative illuminates some narcissism and arrogance, it's far from entirely wrong]. He think he represents a paradigm shift within liberalism/Democrat progressive politics comparable to the one that happened on the right and came to fruition under Reagan. That’s what he meant when he said Clinton’s wasn’t a transformational presidency while Reagan’s was.
August 9, 2008 at 9:47 am
Mellencamp Fan
Thanks for posting the Guardian article by Michael Moore. Both he and you are making excellent points.
August 9, 2008 at 9:54 am
If he picks the dullest white man in America–Bayh–as his running mate, then he’d better show some serious tactical daring in his fall campaign, because a Bayh choice means Obama’s handlers rule him more than his own heart and soul do now, and that his “brilliant campaign” will amount to little more than trying to pass himself off as an acceptably centrist Democrat to people who ain’t gonna vote for him anyway.
Hell, if he’s gonna pick a Midwestern Republican why pick a real Midwestern Republican, and one with substance and anti-Iraq foolishness bona fides, Hagel. Oh, right. Can’t do that. Hagel’s not pro-choice and the party “pros” and “insiders” (ie, Clintonistas) will mutiny.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the only bold, transformational veep choice Turn the Page Man can make now is…gulp…Hillary.
The Democratic Party’s presidential nominee hasn’t captured the majority of white male votes since the LBJ landslide 44 years ago. So, hell, why not just go for it?
August 9, 2008 at 9:59 am
I’m road-testing my next Guardian column–it’s gonna be a loving bitch-slap of Barack–here on HK today, folks. So, please, bear with me, I’m in full rant mode, and I’d welcome some additional ideas and critique of my rant from the HK crowd. Thanks 70s grad. Here’s a fine analysis of Obama’s thus-far inability to gain traction by the excellent Ewen MacAskill in The Guardian, “Democrats on edge as Obama’s high profile fails to deliver big poll lead”:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/09/barackobama.johnmccain
August 9, 2008 at 10:05 am
that should be, If he’s gonna pick a Midwestern Republican why NOT pick a real Midwestern Republican…
August 9, 2008 at 10:09 am
one other thing, it’s not “gain traction.” He’s done that and then some. It’s his thus-far inability to pull his snazzy-assed black Mustang GT out into the passing lane and spew exhaust all over McCain and that Harley he and Miss Cowchips don’t know how to drive (although, never underestimate your enemy, Steve Schmidt can drive that sumbitch. The two most brilliant campaign minds I’ve seen so far this summer belong to Schmidt and Paris Hilton [Obama should hire her comedy writer. Seriously. He should.])
August 9, 2008 at 10:26 am
OK, so what is that paradigm shift? Well, it was rather notably articulated (front page above the fold New York Times story) for the Democratic Party and practical-minded progressives in 2006 by my old buddy and fellow West Virginian, Michael Tomasky, the American political editor of The Guardian.
It was his “Common Good” essay when he was the editor of The American Prospect. It completed the philosophical circle Tomasky started drawing when he wrote the book, Left for Dead, which ought to be required reading for Mountain Party members. Both of’em.
Here’s the link to Tomasky’s piece from ‘06, which resulted in the national Democratic Party adopting “Common Good” as part of its rhetorical repertoire that year. As recently as ‘07, Obama was using “the common good” in some of his speeches:
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=11424
August 9, 2008 at 10:35 am
John McCain will put the national interest ahead of partisanship to build an America that is safer, freer and more prosperous than when he was elected.
When John McCain is President, the era of the permanent campaign will end. He will work with anyone who wants to get this country moving again and will listen to any idea intended to solve our problems, not make them worse.
August 9, 2008 at 10:48 am
MellencampFan: Thanks for the insightful comments. Practice connecting your dots anytime.
On the aging question – It’s not McCain’s age that is the problem – many (let’s assume President Magrath is one) stay extremely sharp. I hope you’ve all had the good fortune to experience this. I truly think McCain has cognitive issues. Once it is that obvious in public, it has been going on privately (and well-hidden by loved ones) for a long time. This lends itself perfectly to serious denial. Is the voting populace expected to enable this?
Or it could just be a geographical deficiency – McCain has taken the “WV as a foreign country” concept to global proportions. “W” goes to other countries and tells the leaders “the food at dinner was REAL good.” McCain may not even know where he is! I don’t mean to be cruel – but use your eyes and judge.
And the “Uh Uh” in speeches. Do people really think Lincoln (who none of us every really got to hear at Gettysburg) or other orators in pre-technology times never took their time or said “Uh uh?” Their debates and speeches were hours long. Check out the research and text of Lincoln at Cooper Union. Let’s not allow the real world to be taken over by media producers. Long speeches, real content – it seems to be too much for modern minds.
August 9, 2008 at 10:53 am
And the reason he should hire Paris Hilton’s comedy writer is because, “dog whistle” or not, the two McCain ads were fun. And if Barack had shown some lighthearted, good-natured levity and JFK wit in responding to them, he’d be owning McCain’s ass right now. Well, at least to the extent that his post-Berlin “bounce” probably wouldn’t have evaporated as instantly as it did. My guess is he’d at least be outside the margin of error in the tracking polls.
Another concern I have about Barack–and it’s only that he’s not the perfect candidate–is that he sometimes comes across as over serious (throwing a roundhouse right that don’t hit nothin’ but air) when he ought be dancin’ like a butterfly and stingin’ like a bee, ie, flick that mesmerizing left jab in their face (it’s called being self-effacing and funny; one of the great risks Obama and his supporters have in this campaign is the backlash that will come from damn near everyone if “that’s a loaded racial dog whistle attack” is the song that’s played over and over again from his Best Of compilation. The three songs I hear everyone, especially the young, young at heart and cool, smart Democrat women, calling lovely and warmly inviting these days are two by John Mayer (“Waiting on the world to change”, “Say” and…”Yes, We Can.”
Don’t buy it? It’s the zeistgiest, baby, and I defy anyone not to just adore this shit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ0z86LmXBM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPOBMzMTP4U
August 9, 2008 at 11:02 am
All and all it has been a good week for the news.
This McCain strategy is just part of the play book of modern politics. West Virginia Democrats also employ this tactic for similar purposes. As far as their plan on attacking the blogosphere related to Lincoln Walks at Midnight, it is proof of the legitimacy of citizen journalism and evidence the powers that be fear the truth so much. The safe money is we better learn some serious defense, or one can predict that “there goes the neighborhood”.
It is obvious they fear effective discussion of the problem, identifying the patterns of their actions and conflicts of interest.
And todays breaking news on McManchin and the open for business gang, the development office thought it was exempt from public disclosure that they are giving the coal liquifaction plan $200 milllion tax dollars. For 60 jobs. If this crap is such a viable industry, why do they deserve tax money while all of our infrastructure needs upgraded on top of the missing maintenance plan.
The turnpike fiasco this week also exposes the worthless fraud our so called homeland security measures have been.
And not to be out done by Uncle Jimmy, the state has lost 643 million dollars playing the stock market.
August 9, 2008 at 11:15 am
Got it: Title of column: Obama in the Summer: Slow Dancin’ in a Burnin’ Room?
Lawbot: that’s actually damn sound advice for the official, non-527-to-be, part of the McCain campaign. Paint him as the guy whose history is one of reaching across party lines (in fact, the RNC started doing this just this past week, with the ad that shows major Democrats praising McCain) because every semi-sentient voter in November is going to realize that, if Barack blows it, McCain will be dealing with possibly historic Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate.
August 9, 2008 at 11:24 am
They are probably attacking AP Reporter Messina’s blog site to get at the links like HK. Realistically if you read the news in WV this last week Messina wont even report that there is this Mountain Party Candidate on the ballot for Governor in West Virginia, and so he mimics the hostility the media always uses when they discuss third party candidates. I don’t think they are worried about any reporter specifically, they are more concerned with controlling what we think. Blogs, like an informal town hall allow us to think outside their restricted conflict of interest box. That ain’t freedom.
My bet is McCain and the whole ball of corrupt wax is melting and they fear we the people are catching on.
August 9, 2008 at 11:33 am
McCains tv infomercial on last nights news has him backing wind, McManchin just this week now says he is for a variety of energy alternatives, and he only stepped up to the environmental plate after the Mountain Party established it here on HK that it always was their platform.
It is about time the government started fearing the people who elect them again.
August 9, 2008 at 12:17 pm
wind energy in the Appalachian wind corridor is the New Coke of “alternative energy sources.” It’s fashionable, and mostly bullshit. It’s been studied by the Fed and found to be seriously lacking. Foes of wind in the Appalachian corridor say it’s just a taxpayer-subsidized giveaway to big corporate energy players (you get tax breaks for having renewable sources as part of your portfolio, no matter if they really contribute much of anything). The foes are mostly right. Plus, there’s the whole issue of condemning the pristine mountain tops of eastern (Mon National Forest area and nearby but outside the Mon) to aesthetic rape comparable to that of mountaintop removal in southern WV.
Everyone should know that a major industrial wind energy proposal is in the offing for the George Washington National Forest in Rockingham (Virginia, Harrisonburg vicinity) and eastern Hardy (WV) counties.
Rahall, so long as he has power, will keep this out of the Mon. My substantially uninformed take is that we need neo-Libertarian policy here.
If small-scale wind energy works for my household and my business, give me a tax break to pursue it, or solar. But if it doesn’t substantially address national energy needs in a consistent, reliable way, then I don’t want to sacrifice eastern WV/VA mountaintops to pretty soundbyte political bullshit.
Oh, I said neo-Libertarian: that means offering incentives rather than punitive strictures to influence personal and collective/corporate behavior. Oh, that’s a Regan-era approach. Oh, it’s a University of Chicago-centered concept. Oh, Obama was a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago. Oh, Cass Sunstein (and other 21st Century Democrats) from that school are major Obama policy influences.
This idea that the Alpha and Omega of Obama’s political thought/approach derives from some kind of Pelosi/Clinton Era Liberal bullshit is…bullshit.
The interesting thing about Obama is…if the carrot doesn’t work, my guess is he’s not in the least unwilling to use the Teddy Roosevelt stick.
August 9, 2008 at 12:48 pm
But then…the red national financial ink the Reagan Era ended the nation with and the off-the-charts red ink the “W” era is ending us with kinda ties your hands when you might want to use tax-break incentives to guide more enlightened national policies, doesn’t it?
Thanks, national Republicans.
You suck. But you are smart. You box the national Democrats (when they might actually have both a willing Congressional majority and a wise leader in the White House at the same time) into tax increases at a time when real change is an imperative and money’s needed.
Well, that just means your Rich Buddies’ll pay (and probably not pay What They Should).
Don’t believe me? Read Jim Webb’s “Fighting Back.” Jim Webb, the man who should have been Obama’s veep. Webb, a great American. A great Appalachian American.
A man who’ll kick right wing ass if they go too far this fall. Just a prediction. This is the brilliant loose cannon who’s a beautiful throwback. The kinda guy who’d challenge W., Cheney, McCain, or Romney or who the hell ever to a good, old-fashioned Hamilton-Burr duel.
Gawd, I love that guy. But we get what? Evan Bayh?
Good grief…
August 9, 2008 at 1:27 pm
John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan that will create millions of good American jobs, ensure our nation’s energy security, get the government’s budget and spending practices in order, and bring relief to American consumers. Read each of the sections below to learn how the McCain Economic Plan will help bring reform, prosperity and peace to America.
August 9, 2008 at 1:50 pm
you guys remind me why west virginia is one of thelast states with a donkey on it……..we have ABSOLUTELY no good candidate this election…it is really scary times……give the keys to the car to someone who doesnt know how to drive,or to someone who has forgotten how to drive…..i PROMISE you,that as it relates to health care (and i have mentioned before each of you wants “the BEST,Fastest and for FREE) you have NO good choice,and the wheels of our health care system WILL come off with these 2……………….i am just hoping one of them stops the war (which spends the money that could fix YOUR health care system) SOON!
August 9, 2008 at 2:01 pm
The Republican Party, intellectually, is a fossil, as Lawbot, McCain and The State Journal demonstrate.
What happens with the Democrats is going to be interesting.
Sometimes, I almost hope Obama loses.
Beyond being the titular head of the Democratic Party, at least for now, he represents a movement that transcends any political party. His donor base and grassroots movement scare the hell out of traditional Democratic Party “regulars.”
Trust me on this. They get a worried and bewildered look on their faces when this is mentioned.
In addition to his donor base and grassroots volunteer movement, which complements but very definitely exists totally outside of the regular Democratic Party there’s the fact that the nation’s changing demographics favor Barack.
For example, Virginia and North Carolina are in play this fall.
West Virginia ain’t.
It’s McCain’s to lose.
To me, that says something…
August 9, 2008 at 2:05 pm
WVUHSCEX? MellencampFan? Did you guys even bother reading the post before you started commenting, or what?
August 9, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Got some news.
Anne Barth is not attending the Democratic Party’s National Convention later this month in Denver.
To me, that says Anne believes that’s a week she’d otherwise lose to hell and Barack in her district.
I’m a Beatlemanic for Barack, and I love what’s Anne’s doing in the name of practicality, realism…and her campaign. (But mostly because I want Barack to have as big of a working majority as possible come next January.)
Problem for West Virginia, of course, that is the question of what really is coal’s part in any serious post-Inconvenient Truth energy policy.
Anne, like her counterpart, Shelley, is all about coal…
August 9, 2008 at 2:24 pm
rephrase: Problem for West Virginia, of course is the question of what really is coal’s part in any serious post-Inconvenient Truth energy policy.
Lawboat: who cares?
August 9, 2008 at 3:04 pm
lawbot………no,i figured you would enl;ighten me in 2 sentences or less…..go for it…………
August 9, 2008 at 3:18 pm
John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench.
Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat.
However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion – the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level. As John McCain has publicly noted, “At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level.”
August 9, 2008 at 3:22 pm
K Patrick: Reagan did have Alzheimers while in office. He would stop talking, at a loss for what to say and Nancy would whisper in his ear.
August 9, 2008 at 3:58 pm
For the humor-challenged here, please realize that lawbot is ironically cutting and pasting talking points from the McCain website.
August 9, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Thanks, HK. It was getting a bit sad.
Kathryn and I have been madlibbing his talking points all afternoon.
August 9, 2008 at 5:46 pm
As president, John McCain will nominate judges who understand that the role of the Court is to subvert the rights of the people by legislating from the bench. Critical to Constitutional balance is ensuring that, where state and local governments act to preserve the traditional family, the Courts must overstep their authority and thwart the Constitutional right of the people to decide this question.
August 9, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Anybody else notice that the Coke ad running during the Olympics celebrating, I don’t know, Olympic athletes, uses that song from the Intervention ads?
August 9, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I’m still awaiting the details of the Intervention Drinking Game.
August 9, 2008 at 9:10 pm
You know it needs ping pong balls available at any Morgantown convenience store.
August 9, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Details? Really? There was vomiting and crying. And that’s it.
Oh, except for the very end, when Jeff VanVonderen showed up and gave us a three month vacation at Hazelden. Naturally, Kathryn lived there before, so we knew all the ins and outs.
What happened to ol’ MellencampFan? Cougar get him?
August 9, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Irony’s a bitch.
Damn, I found myself seriously thinking about voting for Big Bad John. Then I got really violently drunk.
August 9, 2008 at 10:20 pm
That’s fair. God, though: He’s one old, dumb fuck.
August 9, 2008 at 11:16 pm
http://phoenixnewtimes.com/content/printVersion/848709
Check this one out.
August 9, 2008 at 11:34 pm
This is old, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZehDq3wtjA&feature=related
We win this fall, and it’s official. It’s okay to have fun, again. It was when Bill was Prez, to be fair to him.
As, really, we should. All I remember from the period, other than the health-care policy flameout and the Rise of Gingric, but also the Rise of Internet Start-Ups, is great music by new bands.
Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcmX5whWGw8&feature=related
And this:
August 10, 2008 at 8:05 am
Good piece by Paul Nyden in the Gazette-Mail, a review of two books which are critical examinations of the “real” McCain. Covers much of the same territory lined by Jolene:
http://wvgazette.com/Opinion/Op-EdCommentaries/200808090644
August 10, 2008 at 9:33 pm
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/9/2031/50843/957/565530
More to read.
August 10, 2008 at 10:33 pm
are there any books about Obama?……or is he too young and has no track record for these authors to destroy yet?……….
August 10, 2008 at 11:22 pm
If we can look at the big picture, we are in an area of the world where we can capture more than enough wind, solar, and hydro energy to be a very lucrative if not reasonable proposition and yet we promiscuously extract coal at top dollar and scoff at any potential jobs being created in a multiple of economic opportunity strategic shifts away from the same old same.
Look at history and decide if a change is needed. Our labor has always extracted our natural resources, utilizing our infrastructure, while destroying our environment and their profits never return to benefit this state.
Conservation has been missing from the national agenda for decades and suddenly, notice now how farts in the wind from both parties have appeared to have gone green. Talk about smoke being blown up our behinds.
No friend to the environment Manchin (at taxpayer expense) ran a series of commercials which starting about December 2007, promoting recycling with the mascots of Marshal and WVU as props. What is so funny, Manchin has never once supported a statewide recycling program.
McCain supports nuclear and yet pretends to favor wind energy.
If both parties have sold we the people out so completely, any alternative, even as a protest vote or simply as a joke vote is worth considering. Nothing could be more true of our political system today than how the opportuinty to vote for change is so important. Don’t let their porkchop media tell you any one vote doesn’t matter. One vote is all that has ever mattered. 50% of the poeple have not even been bothering to vote. If just half of them show up and vote different, we have real change in our life time.
If a third party vote is so wasted, then it is certainly a safe protest vote. If you are fed up with the same old problems and the same people profiting off the same failed solutions, then vote different. What do we have to lose except more of the same?
A failed state requires fresh blood, and no they may not get everything right either, but it will be a welcome change from the strange old mafia crews runing the show now.
August 11, 2008 at 11:21 am
This reminds me of Manchin – called – Blind Patriotism
http://www.counterpunch.org/alberts08092008.html
August 12, 2008 at 3:28 pm
It’s hard to believe that this man is being permitted to run for the presidency of the United States. It’s like putting a robot in office. But, then, who is behind this man McCain? No, I mean really who?
August 16, 2008 at 3:01 am
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August 17, 2008 at 11:26 am
Oh, Thanks! Really interesting. Big ups!