David Corn

David:

Your anti-Hillary bias causes you, once again, to miss the point.

The point is that Obama already undermined his credibility by reassuring Canada that his NAFTA remarks were just for show, and now, it his credibility is challenged on the topic of troop withdrawal. So Obama is not looking good.

Either Obama is not in control of his campaign, or he is insincere. Seeing as the press won't help us get to know Obama, we end up relying on Hillary. You may think this is "ugly," but you are actually in the position where you, personally, could have prevented it. In today's post, you could have rectified it without name-calling (e.g. "ugly"). Instead you chose to take the low road.

WIth Canadian conservative leader Harper denying that his govt. has anything to do with the leak and several members of his government being named as sources, it would seem that the Canadian government is aiding and abetting the Clinton campaign in the hopes that it will help the GOP if Clinton is the candidate in the general election rather than Obama.

If anyone is being dishonest in this incident, Canada is the biggest loser in the exchange as their lying has been well documented.

PCO is to investigate 'all known recipients' of NAFTAgate information

[…]

Canadian news reports last week cited a CTV source who said that Mr. Brodie approached a group of CTV reporters at the budget lockup in Ottawa on Feb. 26, and after some small talk, played down the NAFTA renegotiation discussions in the Democratic leadership race.

CP reported that Mr. Brodie told the CTV journalists that Sen. Clinton's campaign had said that the rhetoric about re-opening NAFTA wasn't serious and that it should be "taken with a grain of salt." The story was passed on to CTV's Washington bureau chief, Tom Clarke, who broke the NAFTA-gate story on Feb. 27.

*****

The misunderstanding comes from the false story getting more coverage.

The truth is always harder to sell.

Sen. Clinton's campaign had said that the rhetoric about re-opening NAFTA wasn't serious and that it should be "taken with a grain of salt."

Lying and misrepresenting facts is a very "low road" - eh?

Accusing your opponent of the things your camp does?

Perfectly acceptable - for sure!

Clinton’s 'Rule or Ruin' Strategy

[…]

Just before the Ohio primary last week that could have sunk Clinton’s campaign, a leaked Canadian internal diplomatic memo surfaced. It implied that an Obama economic adviser had secretly reassured Canada’s government that the Illinois senator would use tough campaign rhetoric about changing the North American Free Trade Agreement but if elected would do little to change NAFTA.

The Clinton campaign trumpeted this memo as evidence that Obama was as two-faced as other politicians, and this facilitated a Clinton victory in Ohio, where NAFTA is viewed as a threat to jobs.

Within days a Canadian government internal investigation tracing this leak confirmed two things:

(1) the memo was false because Obama’s adviser never quite said what the memo claimed, and

(2) the Clinton campaign also approached the Canadian government and gave the same confidential reassurances falsely ascribed to Obama.

The liberal mainstream media in the United States gave wide play to Clinton’s hypocritical and untrue charges against Obama, but it has given almost no coverage to this new evidence against Clinton.

On the conference call, Rubin had been doing to Power and Obama what the Bush campaign had done to him and Kerry. For many Democrats, that is the big problem of the Clinton campaign

Yea, I'm liking Hillary less and less.

Way to go Tina!

You've single handedly taken on Mr Corn and all the Cornnut Obama sympathizers with a polite factual argument that they end up on the defensive instead of the offense.You show the same toughness that Hillary has shown us against the male dominated weakness of the Obama campaign.

Bravo!

Rezko cash triple what Obama says

DONATIONS | $168,000 traced to indicted businessman, associates over the years

June 18, 2007
BY CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters/cfusco@suntimes.com

During his 12 years in politics, Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly three times more campaign cash from indicted businessman Tony Rezko and his associates than he has publicly acknowledged, the Chicago Sun-Times has found.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.

But seven months ago, Obama told the Sun-Times his "best estimate" was that Rezko raised "between $50,000 and $60,000" during Obama's political career.

Tony Rezko has long been a key backer of Sen. Barack Obama. Obama estimates donations from Rezko and his circle at $50,000 to $60,000.

But seven months ago, Obama told the Sun-Times his "best estimate" was that Rezko raised "between $50,000 and $60,000" during Obama's political career.

Obama, who wants to be the nation's next president, has been purging some of those donations -- giving charities more than $30,000 he got from Rezko and three of his business partners referenced in Rezko's federal indictments. All three attended a lavish fund-raiser Rezko hosted for Obama four years ago.

Obama, however, has kept $6,850 from others who also are referenced in Rezko's indictments. Obama also has hung on to contributions from doctors whom Rezko helped appoint to a state-government panel involved in some of Rezko's alleged fraud schemes.

"We've made our best effort to run the most ethical campaign possible in all ways and release donations when appropriate," Obama's press secretary, Bill Burton, said Friday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whoops, looks like Obama has hired the accountants at Enron!

It would be nice to see what accountants Clinton has used, but of course her tax returns have yet to surface.

It would be nice to see what accountants Clinton has used, but of course her tax returns have yet to surface.
~~~~~~~~~~

Since you brought it up~

Let's see we got the:

NAFTAGATE flip flop
Iraq withdrawl flip flop
Tax return flip flop
Rezco donation flip flop

The cess pool just keeps getting deeper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Obama Tax Attack Against Clinton
March 09, 2008 2:56 PM ABC Bolg

Obama's Tax Return(s)

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, released his 2006 tax returns last year.

This year his campaign has been hammering Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, for not doing the same, especially after she loaned her campaign $5 million.

"That’s been a policy I’ve maintained consistently," Obama said last month of releasing his tax returns. "I think the American people deserve to know, you know, where you get your income from."

Clinton has released past joint tax returns as First Lady and when her husband was running for president -- Obama's point seems to be that she hasn't released any returns as a presidential candidate.

But it's not as though all Obama's returns from his entire time as a US Senator are available. Will Obama release all of those returns or, next month, his 2007 tax returns?

That's unclear.

So when the Obama campaign says Clinton should release her returns, it just means for 2006?

Apparently so.

Way to go LBH!! In your comments to Tina, you just contributed to the tone and content on this blog in a positive way (even if it can be construed as partisan).

Soldier on, my brother! Rezko ain't much, but you gotta go with what you got.

More from the dysfunctional family. It just keeps getting better and better every day.
~~

Sharpton Threatens Democrats

Monday, March 10, 2008 10:31 AM

By: Newsmax Staff

Rev. Al Sharpton is threatening to sue the Democratic National Committee if it includes Florida’s primary results in the official tally of presidential delegates.

The civil rights activist is traveling to Florida to meet with residents who say they skipped the January primary because they thought their votes wouldn’t count.

Sharpton plans to have them sign affidavits saying they would be disenfranchised if the Florida delegation is seated at the party’s convention, according to a new release from Sharpton’s staff reported by the New York Sun.

David, the whole point is that the Obama campaign had been hammering Hillary for not specifying a date to begin withdrawal as opposed to Senator Obama who had done so. The Powers revelation is that his "withdrawal date" is purely fantasy-based and he knows it. This makes his attacks on Hillary for not setting a date both disingenuous and hypocritical.

BTW - y'all Obamaphiles still trying to spin the NAFTA flap, the comments which suggested a wink and nod from the Clinton campaign are purely hearsay. That hearsay could have easily been confused and inaccurate. In contrast, there does exist a memo from the Goolsbee meeting. This is real evidence. The fact that he claims it misrepresents what he said proves nothing. He apparently said SOMETHING that caused the Canadian trade representative to write what he wrote. In fact, I'm not even sure Goolsbee went so far as to say it misrepresented him, but rather that he never said what the Canadian official wrote. That doesn't mean that he didn't say words to that effect.

Just follow the money. Clinton is connected to the same lobbyists that McCain is. Bill Clinton took $10,000,000 in donations from the Saudis and the United Arab Emirites for his library.

The Clintons are pulling a Bush Co./Orwellian move calling Obama's tactics into question about comments made about her lack of filing tax returns, when it is she who is using Rovian tactics by publishing the picture of Obama in African garb and sending e-mails about his middle name/muslim connection.

It was Clinton who called the Canadian govt. about NAFTA and said her comments were purely political. The Canadians just admitted it. The Rezco connection is a non-issue. They are pulling the same tactics on Obama that the Bush pulled on them regarding Whitewhater. What hypocrites!

And you Cornnuts were complaining about the McCain non-affair.
~~~~

Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring

By DANNY HAKIM
Published: March 10, 2008

ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer has informed his most senior administration officials that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, an administration official said this morning.

Nathaniel Brooks for The New York Times
Governor Eliot Spitzer at a news conference in July 2007.

Mr. Spitzer, who was huddled with his top aides early this afternoon, had hours earlier abruptly canceled his scheduled public events for the day. He is set to make an announcement about 2:15 this afternoon at his Manhattan office.

Mr. Spitzer, a first-term Democrat who pledged to bring ethics reform and end the often seamy ways of Albany, is married with three children.

Just last week, federal prosecutors arrested four people in connection with an expensive prostitution operation. Administration officials would not say that this was the ring with which the governor had become involved.

House files lawsuit to enforce subpoenas against 2 White House officials

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House Judiciary Committee has filed suit to force former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten to provide information about the firing of U.S. attorneys.

The lawsuit filed in federal court Monday says Miers is not immune from the obligation to testify and both she and Bolten must identify all documents that are being withheld from Congress.

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers said, "We will not allow the administration to steamroll Congress."

Conyers says he is confident the federal courts will agree that the Bush administration's claims to be immune from congressional oversight are at odds with constitutional principles.

Rasmussen: Obama Ahead By 14 In Racially-Polarized Mississippi Primary

A Rasmussen poll released over the weekend gives Barack Obama a 14-point lead for tomorrow's Mississippi primary: Obama 53%, Clinton 39%.

The internals shows a racial divide typical of Southern Democratic primaries thus far. Obama leads by an overwhelming 80%-12% among black voters, while Hillary is ahead 69%-22% among whites.

"You show the same toughness that Hillary has shown us against the male dominated weakness of the Obama campaign."

Is Samantha Power a part of this male-dominated campaign? Hint - she's not a male.

The 'toughness' has nearly destroyed the career of the most principled and courageous woman working in foreign policy for the Democratic Party right now.

Perhaps if you took a little time-out from calling everyone else a 'Corn-nut' and Obamamaniac, you might actually want to read the work of this remarkable woman and consider whethe breaking her is a just a small price to pay for Clinton's victory.

"You show the same toughness that Hillary has shown us against the male dominated weakness of the Obama campaign."

Is Samantha Power a part of this male-dominated campaign? Hint - she's not a male.

The 'toughness' has nearly destroyed the career of the most principled and courageous woman working in foreign policy for the Democratic Party right now.

Perhaps if you took a little time-out from calling everyone else a 'Corn-nut' and Obamamaniac, you might actually want to read the work of this remarkable woman and consider whether breaking her is a just a small price to pay for Clinton's victory.

Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You

[…]

With all due respect, I’ve won twice as many states as Sen. Clinton. I’ve won more of the popular vote than Sen. Clinton. I have more delegates than Sen. Clinton. So, I don’t know how somebody who’s in second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who’s in first place. [Long applause.]...

But there’s a second point. This is an interesting point -- I want you guys to follow me on this. You know Pres. Bill Clinton, back in 1992, when he was being asked about his selection for vice president, he said, “The only criteria, the most important criteria for vice president, is that that person is ready, if I fell out in the first week, that he or she would be ready to be the commander-in-chief.” That was his criteria.

Now, they have been spending the last two, three weeks -- you remember that advertisement with the phone call, telling everybody, getting all the generals to say well we’re not sure he’s ready, “I’m ready on day one, he may not be ready yet.”

But I don’t understand. If I’m not ready, how is it that you think I should be such a great vice president? Do you understand that?

See, I was trying to explain to someone the “okey-doke.” Y’all know the okey-doke? It’s when someone’s trying to bamboozle you, when they’re trying to hoodwink you. They are trying to hoodwink you. You can’t say that he’s not ready on day one, unless he’s willing to be your vice president and then he’s ready on day one.

I want everybody to be absolutely clear — I’m not running for vice president, I’m running for president of the United States of America.

I’m running for president of the United States of America. I’m running to be commander-in-chief. And the reason I’m running to be commander-in-chief is because I believe that the most important thing when you answer that phone call at 3 in the morning is: What kind of judgment you have?

[…]

So I don’t want anybody here thinking that somehow, “Maybe I can get both.” Don’t think that way. You have to make a choice in this election. Are you gonna go along with the past, or are you gonna go towards the future? Are you gonna do the same old thing, or are you gonna try something new?

Is Samantha Power a part of this male-dominated campaign? Hint - she's not a male
~~~~

Dude, she had to resign in shame because the male dominated power players in the Obama campaign wouldn't stick up for her. This just goes to show that Obama is no match for Hillary.

Perhaps if you took a little time-out from calling everyone else a 'Corn-nut' and Obamamaniac, you might actually want to read the work of this remarkable woman and consider whether breaking her is a just a small price to pay for Clinton's victory.

~~~

Perhaps if Obama would have stood by her instead of throwing her out the window your point might be valid.

One of the differences between Obama and Clinton that Obama supporters keep telling me about is that he's more anti-war than she is. This story simply illustrates that he's perfectly happy with hanging on to those voters and not clarifying that in fact, just like on so many other issues, his positions are identical to Hillary's.

The Obama campaign wants to make the race about his supposed, but in fact non-existent anti-war record (Again, Senate voting record identical to Hillary's), and, of course, pure personality.

The reason I prefer Hillary is because she's more honest about her stands, has a clear record that I support, and prefers to run the race on issues.

Also, on the issues, I might be one of the few people who knew who Goolsbee was before the Canada/NAFTA flap. Goolsbee is far more economically centrist than most Democrats, more pro-business, and his rhetoric is warmed-over, updated DLC.

I just joined this board. Anyone here ever discuss the NYTimes article about Exelon and Obama's boasting in Iowa about how he passed a bill in the Senate requiring a nuclear power plant to publicly disclose it's contaminated water releases.... when, in fact, he did no such thing? The bill never passed, and the version he revised/resubmitted at the behest of the nuclear operator Exelon (a major contributor to his campaign) didn't require public disclosure at all!

Early Morning Jokes
by Tony Peyser

Karl Rove told Bill O'Reilly how noble it is that John McCain adopted a child from Bangladesh. For the record, this is the same Karl Rove who engineered a smear campaign for George W. Bush about McCain's "black baby" during the 2000 South Carolina primary. It's like O.J. praising his wife's family for pulling together after her murder.

The pendulum swung back Obama's way as he won the Democratic caucus in Wyoming. In related news, the mighty comeback wind recently beneath Clinton's wings has been temporarily downgraded to a gentle breeze.

President Bush vetoed legislation that would ban the CIA from using harsh interrogation methods such as waterboarding that he says produces positive results. He noted that after he had this torture tactic used on his dad, 41 stopped bugging him about completely messing up as president.

At a hearing, Countrywide Financial founder Angelo R. Mozilo defended unloading $141 million in options before the company collapsed. Rep. Thomas M. Davis -- the panel's senior Republican -- said, "Punishing individual corporate executives with public floggings like this may be a politically satisfying ritual, like an island tribe sacrificing a virgin to a grumbling volcano." The panel then discussed sacrificing Rep. Lindsay Graham to a volcano but it failed by two votes.

If Hillary and Bill keep bringing up an Obama-Clinton ticket, Barack should agree but surprise them and pick Roger.

Angry defense contractor supporters are vowing revenge against Republican presidential candidate John McCain over the Chicago-based company's loss of a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract to the parent company of European plane maker Airbus. Yet another sign that things with McCain aren't Boeing well.

Thousands of Afghans packed a sports stadium in the western Afghanistan city of Herat Saturday to protest the reprinting of the same Danish cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed that sparked rage in the Muslim world two years ago. Somewhat curiously, a roar of approval was heard when a speaker admitted being a huge fan of the "Cathy" cartoon strip.

Disgraced Olympic star Marion Jones started a 6-month jail sentence for lying about using performance-enhancing drugs and her role in a check-fraud scam. She's supposed to work in the prison laundry but is running so fast that no one can get close enough to tell her.

Obama is campaigning on the idea of "Change",

the right to change his mind after you for him!

Clinton aide: Obama unqualified for VP

After several days of Bill and Hillary Clinton floating the idea of a joint ticket with rival Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton chief spokesman Howard Wolfson declared Monday that Clinton does not consider Obama qualified to be vice president.

Still, Wolfson said Clinton would not “rule out” Obama as a potential vice president, in the event the Illinois senator is somehow able to prove he meets the test to be commander-in-chief in the five months between now and the August Democratic National Convention.

******

Seems a bit inconsistent.

Perhaps if Obama would have stood by her instead of throwing her out the window your point might be valid.

She actually resigned to get the story out of the headlines. If Obama had insisted in rejecting her resignation, would you have commended him? Or just used it as another point to attack him for not punishing the insult?

"Dude, she had to resign in shame because the male dominated power players in the Obama campaign wouldn't stick up for her."

I can't help but notice btw that the Clinton campaign has more than its fair share of dudes fresh out of the patriarchy. Try asking the women of Argentina how they did under the Generals' dictatorship that Mark Penn happily worked as a lobbyist for. Or the women of Iraq how they fared under the sanctions policy that James Rubin championed.

"This just goes to show that Obama is no match for Hillary."

If you mean that she can beat him hands down in a who-is-most-like-Richard-Nixon contest, then I think you're right.

Obama's Run Against McCain Begins Today

[…]

These two contests are really one contest. It is Senator Clinton who has spent the past week tying herself to John McCain as fast as McCain could tie himself to the purse and leading-strings of George W. Bush. They have thus simplified Obama's task. The most direct and appropriate way for Obama now to run against Hillary Clinton is to run against John McCain.

Treat McCain as the opponent, and Clinton, with all politeness, as the ghost on McCain's threshold. If she dares to follow Obama into opposition again, let her try; but here Obama is the one with the "lifetime of experience."

An open run against John McCain, starting now, will also be a referendum on the presidency of George W. Bush. Because, to repeat, McCain has pinned himself to Bush just as Clinton has pinned herself to McCain.

******

I think it is good advice. Hrc wants to pin herself to McSame - let the chips fall where they may.

She actually resigned to get the story out of the headlines. If Obama had insisted in rejecting her resignation, would you have commended him?

~~~~

Yes, would have shown he had some balls, but still has some explaining to do about her Iraq comment. I believe this is why she was forced to resign not the comment about Hillary being a monster,

Perhaps if Obama would have stood by her instead of throwing her out the window your point might be valid.

She actually resigned to get the story out of the headlines. If Obama had insisted in rejecting her resignation, would you have commended him? Or just used it as another point to attack him for not punishing the insult?

"Dude, she had to resign in shame because the male dominated power players in the Obama campaign wouldn't stick up for her."

I can't help but notice btw that the Clinton campaign has more than its fair share of pretty unpleasant dudes fresh out of the patriarchy. Try asking the women of Argentina how they did under the Generals' dictatorship that Mark Penn happily worked as a lobbyist for. Or the women of Iraq how they fared under the sanctions policy that James Rubin championed.

"This just goes to show that Obama is no match for Hillary."

If you mean that she can beat him hands down in a who-is-most-like-Richard-Nixon contest, then I think you're right. I don't actually want to see ruthlessness rewarded. And we don't need this stuff to beat the Republicans (see 2006 elections).

My compromise - Donna Edwards for president.
__________________________________________

"One of the differences between Obama and Clinton that Obama supporters keep telling me about is that he's more anti-war than she is."

He is. Actually the difference is clearer in their foreign policy teams. Obama's big name advisors, with few exceptions, thought the invasion of Iraq was a bad idea. Clinton's team consists of guys who were all for it and have learned few lessons except to keep quiet about their hawkishness.

While Obama has been inconsistent and over-cautious as an anti-war leader (I'm not uncritical of Obama...), Clinton was a staunch enthusiast for the US occupation of Iraq right up until it became clear it might cost her her presidential bid.

Well into 2005 - as Iraqi women were being slaughtered all around her - Senator Clinton was happy to parrot Bush talking points about progress in Iraq from the Green Zone in Baghdad.

Oops, changed the post a bit and then reposted, not knowing I'd already done so.

I'm not used to the new comment system, my bad...

If you mean that she can beat him hands down in a who-is-most-like-Richard-Nixon contest, then I think you're right.
~~~

Come on, running for President is hardball politics, if your guy isn't up to the task then he should accept the VP challenge.
~~~~

I can't help but notice btw that the Clinton campaign has more than its fair share of dudes fresh out of the patriarchy.
~~

Alex, I am not a Hillary supporter but do believe that if it comes to a Dem becoming Pres she would be the better choice.

Alex, I am not a Hillary supporter but do believe that if it comes to a Dem becoming Pres she would be the better choice.

~~

I was actually leaning towards Obama until the Rezco stuff came out. He almost had me sold on the I'm a different, honest, trustworthing new kind of politician when in fact he is just one of the good old boys from dirty Chicago politics.

"Alex, I am not a Hillary supporter but do believe that if it comes to a Dem becoming Pres she would be the better choice."

Well, we can respectfully disagree then, and look forward jointly to a Democratic victory over the Republicans in November with either nominee. The differences with the GOP are still the bigger than any of this stuff, lest we forget.

I have to refresh the page after I hit the submit to see my most recent post. The system is on the fritz a little.

MSNBC Cancels Tucker Carlson's Show

[…]

TVNewser is reporting that MSNBC will announce Monday that Tucker Carlson's TV show is being canceled:

*****

Now if there was a way to cancel MSNBC completely?

Oh yeah, it’s called the off button.

Soldier on, my brother! Rezko ain't much, but you gotta go with what you got.

~~~
All he's got to do is open up his fund raising books and this could easily go away. Unless he has something to hide, just like Enron did!

Looks like Spitzer likes the rough stuff~~
~~~

Spitzer Linked To Hooker Probe
New York governor identified as "Client-9" in FBI affidavit

MARCH 10--With the bombshell news today that New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has been implicated in a prostitution ring, the Democratic politician will now always be known as "Client-9," one of the johns described in a recently unsealed FBI affidavit detailing the operation of the Emperors Club, an international call girl ring. That document, an excerpt of which you'll find below, describes hooker interactions with ten johns, including one client who paid cash for a February 13 rendezvous at a Washington, D.C. hotel. The New York Times, which broke the Spitzer story, has identified the 48-year-old politician as Client-9. As described in the FBI document, Client-9 (clearly a repeat customer) apparently went to great lengths to arrange the illicit Washington encounter, choosing to mail money in advance to the ring, instead of using a credit card. Client-9, whose conversations were recorded by an FBI wiretap, would not do "traditional wire transferring," the affidavit quotes one Emperors Club employee remarking. Additionally, the affidavit notes that after her appointment with Client-9 ended, "Kristen" spoke with a Emperors Club booker, who said that she had been told that Client-9 "would ask you to do things that, like, you might not think were safe..." "Kristen" responded by saying, essentially, that she could handle guys like that.

Soldier on, my brother! Rezko ain't much, but you gotta go with what you got.
~~~

Oh ya, and show us his 07 tax return since running for Prez.

Sweet Jesus, another sign of the impending Apocalypse. I'm agreeing with a lot of what LBH is saying today.

1. If Spitzer is really telling the people around him that he's about to go down because of his "involvement" in a prostitution ring. He needs to seriously consider resigning or the state needs to start figuring out a way to replace him. A former prosecutor, a hard-nosed anti-crime dawg, he has no excuses. I know Vitter and his Diaper-momma engaged in the same thing; but that's not an excuse. I don't care about the guys caught in the DC madam scandal. Spitzer needs to go.

2. "Dude, she had to resign in shame because the male dominated power players in the Obama campaign wouldn't stick up for her."
Posted by: LBH | March 10, 2008 2:47 PM

I agree. I believe in the healing powers of a sincere apology. If all the weird race-bating comments and the muslim smears by the Clinton camp were followed by a sincere: "I messed up and I promise not to do it again" (and further swear to resign if "Ooops, I did it again....), I could live with folks not quitting or getting fired. We've had many a raw comment made on this blog followed by a sincere apology and gotten on with our lives. Doesn't make us all buds; but we get along just fine. We don't have to go all Chop Chop Square just because somebody said something out of line. This is politics for crying out loud. Cheney didn't curl up into a ball when he got called out for shooting a guy in the face and telling a Senator to go F*** himself. The Obama camp needs to suck it up, take their lumps and move on.

"Come on, running for President is hardball politics, if your guy isn't up to the task then he should accept the VP challenge.
Posted by: LBH | March 10, 2008 3:21 PM

Exactly! IF you can't take the heat, go jump in a lake, don't waste our time. I noted recently that Obama didn't have his Lee Atwater, didn't have his Roger Stone, I'd gladly do it for him. Somebody has to drag Grampa McBush into the wrestling pit and make him blubber for mercy.

4. "So when the Obama campaign says Clinton should release her returns, it just means for 2006?"
Posted by: LBH | March 10, 2008 1:38 PM

If they can be trusted to run our government, they should be made of the kind of stuff that doesn't cheat on tax returns. I don't cheat the IRS, I want to vote for somebody else who is just as honest and trustworthy. When do we get to see Grandpa McBush's returns?

Renzi no longer part of McCain campaign.

Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) told reporters that indicted Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) “is no longer taking part in his presidential campaign,” but refused to say whether the congressman had “officially stepped down as a campaign co-chair.”

*****

Flip Flop and a preemptive conditional flip waiting for the flop.

I can’t believe I once thought highly of McSame.

I hope Spitzer is not the first in a long line of criminals exposed by wiretaps.

If a democratic politician uses the phone or email to do anything short of charity I guess they should be busted for being stupid.

Someone should look into the particulars of this wiretapping operation and how it was started?

"Coincidence doesn't just happen"
~ Homer J Simpson

Someone should look into the particulars of this wiretapping operation and how it was started?
~~~
It was started due to illegal money wire transfers under an alias name which is illegal and the prostitutes work for an over seas company. Seems like the federal wire tap worked within it's limits of the law. The pathetic part is this guy went after people for doing this same kind of thing.

Deomcrat or Republican, this guy is a leach that ruined his wife and kids lives and deserves what he gave to criminals he prosecuted-no mercy!

Sweet Jesus, another sign of the impending Apocalypse. I'm agreeing with a lot of what LBH is saying today

~~~~
Ah shucks, I'm starting to feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

I know you guys don't want to Speak no Evil, Hear no Evil or see no Evil when it comes to Obama but this has a bad smell my friends.
~~~~

Obama consulted on health board appointees, trial told

By MIKE ROBINSON

CHICAGO - Sen. Barack Obama was among eight state officials and others consulted about who should be appointed to a state board that later became involved in what prosecutors describe as a fraud scheme, according to a memo discussed Monday at Antoin "Tony" Rezko's trial.

The June 2003 memo written by Matthew Pickering, an associate of former Democratic National Committee chairman David Wilhelm, did not indicate exactly what input Obama had in connection with appointing members to the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. It gave no indication Obama was involved in the alleged corruption that later engulfed the board.

Rezko, a Chicago businessman who was a prominent contributor to Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is on trial for, among other things, allegedly plotting with board member Stuart Levine to split a bribe from a contractor.

Prosecutors say Levine used his position on the health facilities planning board and a state pension board to pressure companies for payoffs. They say Rezko used political clout with Blagojevich to help Levine.

The memo by Wilhelm's associate was written to Susan Lichtenstein, who was on the stand at Rezko's trial for a second day Monday. She was general counsel to Blagojevich in June 2003.

"Commander In Chief" Obama To Appear With Former Top Military Officials

As the Clinton campaign continues to hammer Barack Obama on defense issues -- chief Clinton strategist Mark Penn tells the New Yorker that Obama is "not ready" to be commander in chief -- Obama will appear today with former secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force (two of whom served in Bill Clinton's administration).

Read the press release:

Washington, DC - Today, former service secretaries for each of the Armed Forces - Clifford Alexander, Jr. (US Army), Richard Danzig (US Navy), and F. Whitten Peters (US Air Force) - will host a press conference in Washington, DC to discuss why Obama has demonstrated the judgment and has the experience to be Commander In Chief.

WHAT: Press Conference with Top Military Advisors for the Obama Campaign

WHO: Former Service Secretaries for each of the Armed Forces

Secretary Clifford Alexander, Jr. (US Army - Carter Administration)

Secretary Richard Danzig (US Navy - Clinton Administration)

Secretary F. Whitten Peters (US Air Force - Clinton Administration)

WHO: Former Service Secretaries for each of the Armed Forces
~~

Hmm, wonder what ol Wesley Clark will have to say about these guys?

Secretary Clifford Alexander, Jr. (US Army - Carter Administration)
~~~~

Yikes, this guys still alive? Can't he find somone more current? I mean come on what experience do these guys have in the year 2008 to bring to the table?

Clinton's Up-Is-Down World

Throughout history, it’s been common for politicians to shade the truth when caught in a tight spot. But sometimes politicians push the limits, crossing the line into an Orwellian world where up is down, where bullies are victims, where people objecting to the lies are shouted down.

If that world seems familiar to Americans, it should. It is the world in which we’ve lived for the past seven or eight years under George W. Bush, as his clever operatives routinely turn truth inside out. Now, Hillary Clinton’s campaign is applying many of these same head-spinning tactics to win the Democratic presidential race.

As for Bush, remember how Iraq War critics were treated in 2002-03. Anyone who spoke up against the rush to invade – the likes of Al Gore, weapons inspector Scott Ritter and the Dixie Chicks – saw their loyalty, their motives and even their sanity questioned.

Seems like the same old, same old in the comments section. Looks like it's going to be an interesting run up to the election.

MNF. Not Monday Night Football. Monday Night Funnies. Roll 'em:

"Well, this is depressing. Oil is now over $100 a barrel. Experts say gas could reach $4 a gallon, yeah. I believe the experts are named Bush and Cheney."
--Jay Leno

"I don't think President Bush really understands the impact this has on the average American. Like, today, when they told him people would be paying $4 a gallon, he said, 'Why don't folks just buy half a gallon, and then with the money you save, you can buy the other half?'"
--Jay Leno

"Hillary Clinton criticized the media the other night during the debate for always asking her the first question. She feels they're picking on her because she always ask her the first question. I don't know, is that her biggest concern? The way the polls are going right now, she's very close to being asked her last question."
--Jay Leno

"Here's a story that was leaked to the press today. You know, Prince Harry, God bless him, serving his country. He's in Afghanistan on the front lines and he's been there before. Of course, it's been a huge secret. But he's been serving on the front lines in Afghanistan. Of course, President Bush was stunned when he heard this, and he said, 'His dad couldn't get him out of it?'"
--Jay Leno

"Today, very strange development for John McCain. Have you heard about this? ... The New York Times just reported that John McCain may be constitutionally barred from becoming president because he was born outside the United States in the Panama Canal Zone. When he heard this, McCain said, 'That's ridiculous. When I was born, there was no Panama Canal.'"
--Conan O'Brien

"During a press conference today, President Bush said the following. He said it's important we make the economy stronger so -- quote -- 'families can put money on their table.' Yes, then Bush said that Americans should deposit food in their bank accounts. It was a good speech. I liked it. It's hard to top what he actually said."
--Conan O'Brien

"Have you seen Ralph Nader? He looks like a guy that says we have proof we never went to the moon. Ralph looks like a shady horse track doctor. He looks like the guy who can't find his table after he goes to the salad bar."
--David Letterman

"John McCain, on the other hand. He looks like the guy that walks up to the mound to settle down a young pitcher. John McCain, looks like the guy who goes to the curb for the paper and locks himself outside of the house. John McCain looks like the guy who picks up his TV remote when the phone rings."
--David Letterman

"No, Obama and Hillary argued last night over which candidate the Republicans are most afraid of. Interesting. I don't want to take sides here, but I think it's pretty obvious which candidate Republicans are most afraid of, John McCain."
--Jay Leno

"Florida officials are still in a panic over yesterday's big power outage. You hear about that? A huge power outage. They were on the phone today with President Bush saying, 'We know it wasn't supposed to happen until Election Day. We don't what happened. It was premature.'"
--Jay Leno

"On the other side of the political fence, Senator Larry Craig of Idaho is in the news again. Not only has he not stepped down from his Senate seat after he plead guilty to disorderly conduct for playing footsie with an undercover police officer in an airport bathroom, but he's actually now looking for summer interns. He's looking for juniors and seniors in college from Idaho, have an interest in politics, and know how to keep their mouth shut. ... If you're interested, slip your resume under the third stall from the left in the men's room"
--Jimmy Kimmel

"No, he says he wants interns to work in his office that have a solid work ethic, a knowledge of politics, and look good dressed as a construction worker."
--Jay Leno

"...John McCain. Oh, I hate him so much! I've always hated him going all the way back to when Rush Limbaugh told me to hate him. Now McCain briefly won me over when he was attacked in the New York Times last week. I am irresistibly drawn to anything the New York Times attacks, which is how I got hooked on tainted beef."
--Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert: But the lovefest between me and McCain was short lived because of something that happened at his rally yesterday. Conservative Cincinnati radio host Bill Cunningham warmed up the crowd with a couple of tasteful zingers about Barack Obama. ...
McCain on screen: whatever suggestion was made that was in any way disparaging to the integrity, character, honesty of either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton was wrong, and I condemn it'.
Colbert: Senator, at long last, have you no balls? I don't know what to say here. Cunningham pointed out that your opponent's middle name was Hussein. Your next logical political move is to point out that his daughter's names are Uday and Qusay. Isn't that correct?"

Did I just see flan's name? Deja Vu. This blog is looking more and more like it used to. All we need is the other Benson kid, Robert Schwartz, James, Tuba Les, WTF, Ms. Saladin, and the guys who migrated here from the Huffington blog to come back. The Tims can come back and tell us how Bush never lies and is seriously mis-under-esti-rated. Chris can visist and drop a few well-placed F-bombs. And we can party like it's 1999.

Another funny via DKos. Those who want to vote for an Irishman can vote for O'Bama. Just in time for St. Pat's day. No Really, he's Irish.

As the final nail in the coffin for that tired old bit of horsecrap about how effective going negative was for Hillary Clinton. DKos has a rundown of the period that was called Hell Week for Barry O'Bama.

"A reader passed on a full list of all the super delegates who announced the last six days their endorsements:

Obama

1. DNC Carol Fowler (SC), 3-4-08
2. Mary Long (GA), 3-4-08
3. Roy LaVerne Brooks (TX), 3-4-08
4. Rhine McLin (OH), 3-5-08
5. DNC Jane Kidd (GA), 3-5-08
6. DNC Darlena Williams-Burnett (IL), 3-5-08
7. DNC Connie Thurman (IN), 3-6-08
8. Rep. Nick Rahall (WV), 3-6-08
9. DNC Teresa Benitez-Thompson (NV), 3-6-08
10. DNC Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker (CA), 3-7-08
11. Rep. Bill Foster (IL), 3-9-08
12. DNC Mary Jo Neville (OH), 3-9-08

Clinton

1. Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA), 3-6-08
2. DNC Mona Mohib (DC), 3-6-08
3. DNC Aleita Huguenin (CA), 3-7-08
4. DNC Mary Lou Winters (LA), 3-8-08

So that's an 8-delegate advantage for Obama.

As for the elections:

Obama / Clinton
OH --- 66 / 75
RI --- 8 / 13
VT --- 9 / 6
TX --- 99 / 94
WY --- 7 / 5

Total 189 / 193

That gives Obama a four-delegate victory since last Tuesday. Add the four delegate gain out of California after that state's vote was certified, and we're up to 8 delegates for Obama. Throw in the four delegates Clinton lost in California, and that's 12 delegates for Obama. Today we had DNC member and super delegate Everett Sanders of Mississippi endorsing Obama, so make that 13 delegates for Obama.

So officially, Obama has a 13-delegate advantage for the week even before Mississippi votes tomorrow. Throw in the unpledged delegate in Wyoming who will certainly be an Obama delegate, and unofficially, Obama notched a 14-delegate gain in this "week from hell" for him.

As that reader noted in his email to me:
In the bigger picture, HRC lead in super delegates stood at 97 one month ago today. Today her lead is only 32. HRC has gained 18 Super delegates in the past month while Senator Obama has gained 83. a month ago nearly 2 out of 3 declared super delegates were Clinton supporters now it is just over one half.

Update: And another +2 for Obama -- he gains Joyce Brayboy of North Carolina, and if Spitzer resigns, she loses his vote. The Lt. Gov. David Patterson is a Clinton person, but he already had a vote as a DNC member. He doesn't get two votes now. So a net loss for Clinton.

Oh, and speaking of Spitzer, Clinton has already scrubbed her website of any Spitzer mentions.

Hey, the blockquote tag works. Sweet!

So the question becomes, will the DNC do the right thing and pull Spitzer's Super status? Or will they let him vote for Clinton in an orange jumpsuit?

Time to clean up:

"All he's got to do is open up his fund raising books and this could easily go away."
Posted by: LBH March 10, 2008 4:45 PM

There's a website called open secrets. Look there, and you'll find everything you need to know about O'Bama's fundraising prowess. You can't expect us to do all the work for you. Sheesh. Conservatives. Lazy. Lazy. Lazy.

"Deomcrat (sic) or Republican, this guy is a leach that ruined his wife and kids lives and deserves what he gave to criminals he prosecuted-no mercy!"
Posted by: LBH March 10, 2008 7:21 PM

Why do you not have the same regard for McCain's first wife and the children she raised on her own, while he was at war? Why aren't you concerned about McCain repeatedly cheating on her, marrying a rich sugar-momma that financed his political career? I guess Capt is right, all you guys think "it's OK if You're a Republican." The Hypocrisy meter done blown a gasket in the GOP.

"Ah shucks, I'm starting to feel all warm and fuzzy inside!"
Posted by: LBH March 10, 2008 7:22 PM

I'm guessing it's the Koolaid enema. Hypocrisy is the issue. If you showed 1% of the righteous indignation towards Republicans that you show towards Democrats, folks wouldn't be calling you a douchebag. Here all the instances of the story of Republican Vitter's name mentioned on the CornBlog. Here's the story that Mr. Corn wrote about Vitter. Wouldn't take much work. Could you find the one where you ranted about how Vitter ruined his family's lives? Right.

When do we get to see Grandpa McBush's returns?
Posted by: Me March 10, 2008 4:56 PM

I'm still waiting for an answer. All of the relevant returns. I guess with Grandpa McBush we'll have to go all the way back to when the IRS used an abacus to calculate and verify taxes.

"I know you guys don't want to Speak no Evil, Hear no Evil or see no Evil when it comes to Obama but this has a bad smell my friends."
Posted by: LBH March 10, 2008 7:31 PM

Try not to read with your nose, the stories will make more sense that way. The story that you linked gives you all you need to know:

Headline: Obama consulted on health board appointees, trial told

relevant bit:
The June 2003 memo written by Matthew Pickering, an associate of former Democratic National Committee chairman David Wilhelm, did not indicate exactly what input Obama had in connection with appointing members to the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. It gave no indication Obama was involved in the alleged corruption that later engulfed the board.

Scream Rezko all you want. And keep linking discredited news stories from June of 2007. The desperation is telling. If this is the best that Grandpa McBush can throw up, he might as well surrender now.

"Yikes, this guys still alive? Can't he find somone more current? I mean come on what experience do these guys have in the year 2008 to bring to the table?"
Posted by: LBH March 10, 2008 7:58 PM

Oh, the irony... cause that's what most Americans say when you mention Gramps McBush. A little taste of the next batch of Funnies:

"John McCain apologized Tuesday after radio talk show host Bill Cunningham, who introduced McCain at a rally, repeatedly emphasized Barack's Obama's middle name, 'Hussein,' without once mentioning McCain's middle name, 'Methuselah.'"
--Seth Meyers

Second try on the link to the Vitter story on the old CornBlog.

THE CLINTON TAX RETURN SHUCK AND JIVE

Senator Clinton has consistently said that she will release her tax returns at some point, once she becomes the nominee, perhaps earlier, but not before tax time, and definitely not before a hotly contested primary, but possibly on or around April 15, and I assume before the primary, or even earlier, depending on how busy I am, and if Bill can get all of his receipts together, and that damn phone stops ringing at 3 AM, because I am committed to getting up everyday and working to fully disclose our tax situation to the American people, as far as I know…

Pressed, she (HRC) promises to release them ... at some point. "I'm a little busy right now," she says. Ben Smith Politico 2/26

“I will release my tax returns,” Clinton said during the debate. “I have consistently said I will do that once I become the nominee, or even earlier.” AP 2/27

But her campaign now says it won't happen until she has the Democratic presidential nomination in hand, and not before tax filing time comes in mid-April. AP 2/27

Pressed about the timing of releasing her tax returns, campaign aides were more reticent Wednesday, indicating that Clinton would not release the sensitive financial data during a hotly contested primary, but only at tax filing time. AP 2/27

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is poised to release her tax returns "on or around April 15," Clinton's communications director Howard Wolfson said. ABC News 3/02

Will you release your tax returns before the Pennsylvania primary? Well, we're going to do it in April, and I would assume that would be before [the primary]. Newsweek 3/9

*****

It’s kind of hard to believe there is nothing in the returns when they specifically point to the fact that they will not do so “before a hotly contested primary“ - why would that even matter?

Why would the 2000 through 2006 returns have to be held? WTF?

Dems Surge by 65,000 in Pa.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania Democrats have added more than 65,000 voters to their rolls since last fall, a reflection of the high level of interest in the contested race for the party's presidential nomination and the state's April 22 primary.

The number of Democrats increased 1.7 percent—from 3,883,378 in November to 3,948,775 as of March 4.

GOP enrollment grew by 0.1 percent, from 3,245,271 to 3,248,583, during the period.

The interim totals, drawn from a computerized statewide voter registry, were provided by state elections officials Monday. The Associated Press compared those numbers against the registration totals in last year's election, which featured races for judicial and municipal offices.

Campaign spokesmen for Democratic candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama both sought to share in the credit for the increases.

Sean Smith of Obama's campaign said supporters of the Illinois senator were working to recruit Republicans, independents and people not registered to vote for the Democratic Party even before the campaign became active in Pennsylvania last month. Last weekend, 1,200 volunteers canvassed shopping malls and went door to door to court more new registrants, he said.

"It's exactly the kind of shoe-leather work that our campaign has been known for," Smith said.

You're right time to clean up:

Why do you not have the same regard for McCain's first wife and the children she raised on her own, while he was at war?
Pande

~~~

Dude, that is not even close to a comparison. McCain and his first wife divorced. He's been married to Cindy for over 20 years, how long have you been married? I do not condone anyone who cheats on there spouse. If you actually knew what you were talking about then a better comparison would have been Vitter who I said should have resigned. Vitter however isn't facing the possibility of a 20 year jail sentence.

~~~~

There's a website called open secrets. Look there, and you'll find everything you need to know about O'Bama's fundraising prowess. You can't expect us to do all the work for you. Sheesh. Conservatives. Lazy. Lazy. Lazy.
Pande

Dude again let me clue you in. I am referring to his fund raising as a state legislator when he was taking money from Rezco. lazy? no ignorant!
~~~~

I'm guessing it's the Koolaid enema. Hypocrisy is the issue. If you showed 1% of the righteous indignation towards Republicans that you show towards Democrats, folks wouldn't be calling you a douchebag
Pande

I have, go back and read all of my posts that you've cut and pasted over the years and tell the truth.

~~~~
I'm still waiting for an answer. All of the relevant returns. I guess with Grandpa McBush we'll have to go all the way back to when the IRS used an abacus to calculate and verify taxes.
Pande

Who cares~ you should concentrate on getting your boy to live up to his promises.
~~~~
John McCain apologized
pande

Ya, he did apologize, which just goes to show he has more class than both your boy and Hillary combined. You should follow McCains lead and show some class yourself.

Dude,

I see why Capt thinks your such a funny little Cornnut~ all that BS coming from your mouth cracks me up too!

I kind of had the feeling yesterday that you would come out making excuses for your guy Spitzer today Pande.

Sad, very, very sad!