McCain's instinct is to always go to war. Is that what America wants, more wars?

While a tough guy can be reassuring, he's less reassuring when it's your child he's sending to die because "we're all Georgians."

At rare moments in history, a military response is essential and required, as it was in World War II, and as it was in Afghanistan in the wake of Sept. 11.

But more often, the choices offered by history are more complex, requiring judgment and wisdom. Choosing confrontation and war too quickly when other options are available can prove disastrous, as the example of Iraq should have taught us.

McCain’s instinct, demonstrated time and again and most recently now in Georgia, is to cast America as a global policeman. In the next few months, American voters have to ask themselves whether they share that vision and instinct.

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It's almost as if McCain never wants us to leave Iraq

Why is McCain so deathly afraid of actually ending a war? Read More......

McClellan to Obama: Don't investigate us

Let's all click our heels and repeat the mantra one more time: If we're nice to the Republicans, maybe they'll stop being so mean to us. Stockholm meet syndrome. Read More......

McCain does have more foreign policy experience than Obama - too bad it's mostly bad experience

Great commentary from the Star-Telegram:

There is little doubt about McCain’s lengthier foreign policy experience. But it is not at all apparent that his judgment is superior to Obama’s. Indeed, the record indicates that McCain’s own judgment is alarmingly bad....

McCain’s own prognostications on Iraq have repeatedly been off the mark....

There have been recent episodes in which McCain has missed even the most basic facts about foreign policy....

Despite McCain’s multiple trips to Iraq, he still manages to mangle facts on the ground....

McCain apparently is not even certain about Iraq’s geographic location....

Far worse than such embarrassing factual errors, though, have been his shockingly careless — and at times tasteless and insensitive — off-the-cuff comments on various topics....

At best, the senator has a warped sense of humor. But such gaffes also betray a disturbing lack of judgment.

Foreign policy is serious business, and America needs a president who carefully considers his comments rather than shoots from the hip. The world is always watching and listening, and such thoughtless remarks can do tremendous damage to America’s already tattered reputation.

McCain’s record shows clearly that he is a verbal loose cannon, and would be a clear and present danger in the Oval Office.

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McCain campaign AGAIN uses a Swift Boat Veteran as a campaign surrogate

McCain is again using Bud Day, a Swift Boat Veteran for Truth, as a campaign surrogate. Why is the McCain campaign using Swift Boaters at all? Why is the media not reporting this - how is this not big news? Imagine had Barack Obama used someone as vile as this as a surrogate - what would McCain and the media do? And why are the Democrats not launching an all out campaign to destroy McCain for having the gall to use a Swift Boater repeatedly as a campaign surrogate? Does McCain have to hand us opportunities like this on a platter, repeatedly, and then we still ignore them? Are we better understanding why people are increasingly frustrated, and feeling as if there is no real campaign to take on John McCain? Yes, at this point, the Dems themselves have to be careful with this particular story, since it involves John Mccain's "cross." But had we dealt with this the first time they used the Swift Boater, we wouldn't be discussing it today. There should have been a week long campaign to shut the guy down and embarrass the hell out of McCain. And if the Dems aren't sure how to do such a campaign, give a call - lots of us have done these, and they work, and we want to help. Read More......

Bill Clinton praises McCain because he just can't help himself

Truly idiotic of Clinton to do this. But there is a larger pattern here, form the Clinton's screwing Obama at the convention by forcing him to have a vote on Hillary's nomination, to Bill Clinton now praising John McCain. In their hearts, they still want McCain to win so that Hillary has another shot at the presidency in 2012. Wonder if Bill will be booed or heckled at the convention. Read More......

Great News: Rachel Maddow will have her own show on MSNBC

Excellent development:

Just in time for the closing rush of the presidential election, MSNBC is shaking up its prime-time programming lineup, removing the long-time host –- and one-time general manager of the network — Dan Abrams from his 9 p.m. program and replacing him with Rachel Maddow, who has emerged as a favored political commentator for the all-news cable channel.

The moves, which were confirmed by MSNBC executives Tuesday, are expected to be finalized by Wednesday, with Mr. Abrams’s last program on Thursday. After MSNBC’s extensive coverage of the two political conventions during the next two weeks, Ms. Maddow will begin her program on Sept. 8.

MSNBC is highlighting the date, 9/8/08, connecting it to the start of the Olympics on 8/8/08, as a way to signal what the network’s president, Phil Griffin, said “will be the final leg of the political race this year.” He added, “We making that Rachel’s debut.”

An hour of Olbermann, then an hour of Maddow. That's going to make watching MSNBC so much more fun.

Congrats to Rachel Maddow. Read More......

CNN's Jack Cafferty: Is McCain another Bush?

The McCain people aren't going to be happy about this. Cafferty eviscerates McCain. Talks about McCain's military record, his adultery, and more. McCain is going to blow a gasket - I'd love to see what private threats the campaign is making to CNN right about now...

It occurs to me that John McCain is as intellectually shallow as our current president. When asked what his Christian faith means to him, his answer was a one-liner. "It means I'm saved and forgiven." Great scholars have wrestled with the meaning of faith for centuries.....

One after another, McCain's answers were shallow, simplistic, and trite. He showed the same intellectual curiosity that George Bush has -- virtually none.

Where are John McCain's writings exploring the vexing moral issues of our time? Where are his position papers setting forth his careful consideration of foreign policy, the welfare state, education, America's moral responsibility in the world, etc., etc., etc.?

John McCain graduated 894th in a class of 899 at the Naval Academy at Annapolis. His father and grandfather were four star admirals in the Navy. Some have suggested that might have played a role in McCain being admitted. His academic record was awful. And it shows over and over again whenever McCain is called upon to think on his feet.

He no longer allows reporters unfettered access to him aboard the "Straight Talk Express" for a reason. He simply makes too many mistakes. Unless he's reciting talking points or reading from notes or a TelePrompTer, John McCain is lost. He can drop bon mots at a bowling alley or diner -- short glib responses that get a chuckle, but beyond that McCain gets in over his head very quickly.

I am sick and tired of the president of the United States embarrassing me. The world we live in is too complex to entrust it to someone else whose idea of intellectual curiosity and grasp of foreign policy issues is to tell us he can look into Vladimir Putin's eyes and see into his soul.

George Bush's record as a student, military man, businessman and leader of the free world is one of constant failure. And the part that troubles me most is he seems content with himself.

He will leave office with the country $10 trillion in debt, fighting two wars, our international reputation in shambles, our government cloaked in secrecy and suspicion that his entire presidency has been a litany of broken laws and promises, our citizens' faith in our own country ripped to shreds. Yet Bush goes bumbling along, grinning and spewing moronic one-liners, as though nobody understands what a colossal failure he has been.

I fear to the depth of my being that John McCain is just like him.

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John McCain's sadistic North Vietnamese homosexual captors

I'm not even sure what to do with this. But I agree with Gawker - where did McCain get the notion that his captors were gay if they never hit on him? Were there any openly gay North Vietnamese soldiers in 1970? I'm going to guess no. From Gawker(via Queerty)

Queerty tracked down what may be McCain's first personal account of his captivity and torture, for US News & World Report in May of 1973. They posted it online in January, but maybe it's because we're all so familiar with his tale at this point that no one noticed, until now, the bit where he says all his captors were homosexuals who got off on whipping him. No, that is not made up.

Now I don't hate them any more—not these particular guys. I hate and detest the leaders. Some guards would just come in and do their job. When they were told to beat you they would come in and do it. Some seemed to get a big bang out of it. A lot of them were homosexual, although never toward us. Some, who were pretty damned sadistic, seemed to get a big thrill out of the beatings.

Yes, ok. What?? How did POW McCain know they were gay if they weren't gay "toward him"? Were the homosexuals the ones who enjoyed the beatings or were the sadists a separate category? We have lots of unanswered questions here. Like—how come he mentions how gay the North Vietnamese were but leaves out that inspiring tale of the cross on the floor he mentioned last weekend?

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Our online chat with Cong. DeGette starts now. Join us.

The chat has started. Join us in the comments.

We'll be holding it in the comments. Anyone can join in and ask a question, and at the same time Joe and I will be asking some questions too.

Diana DeGette is the Democratic congresswoman from Denver. She's intimately involved with the planning details for the Democratic Convention, that starts next week, so feel free to ask her about all of that or anything else you like. More generally, the congresswoman has just published a new book, called "Sex, Science and Stem Cells: Inside the Right Wing Assault on Reason." As I know you folks share our concern about the right-wing take over of our country, and particularly their assault on science, I think we can have a good discussion. Here are a few interesting factoids from the book:

You May Know...
President Bush and the religious right and their Congressional allies oppose abortion funding.

But did you know?
They also oppose birth control, having tried to limit condom distribution and remove coverage from the federal employees’ health insurance plan which, ironically, covers Viagra.

You May Know...
President Bush opposes embryonic stem-cell research that may hold the key to treating many life-threatening diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes.

But did you know?
The federal government has actually given $10 million in grants to religious organizations such as Night light Christian Adoptions that put up embryos previously used in in vitro fertilization procedures for “adoption.” In 2006, there were some 133 so-called “snowflake babies” born from such programs—at a cost to taxpayers of almost $77,000 per child.

You May Know...
The federal government has committed $15 billion to international HIV/AIDS prevention.

But did you know?
The vast majority of these funds have been given to organizations that refuse to promote birth control as a part of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

You May Know...
Republican presidential candidate John McCain supports expanding embryonic stem-cell research.

But did you know?
On everything else, John McCain takes his cues directly from the religious right when it comes to science and sex education. He has voted: against birth control for federal employees; against funding medically accurate pregnancy prevention programs; against funding for the United Nations agency in charge of family planning.

I'll let you know when the congresswoman arrives. I'll do a brief intro in the comments, then Joe and I will jump in with questions - and feel to post your own in the comments. And actually feel free to post some now in advance if you like. Read More......

Ralph Reed did campaign for John McCain last night. Reed just did it on FOX instead of at the Atlanta fundraiser he co-hosted for McCain

Jack Abramoff's pal, Ralph Reed, invited his friends to join him at an event for John McCain last night in Atlanta:

A Message from Ralph Reed:

Senator John McCain will be coming to Atlanta on August 18 for a very special event at the Marriot Marquis downtown and I have agreed to serve as a member of the McCain Victory 2008 Team....

...I hope you will join me and Jo Anne at the August 18 event in support of Senator McCain in Atlanta. The outcome of this presidential election is going to determine the future direction of this country. Please join us as we work together to elect John McCain. Your participation is critical to success.

But, after a huge controversy erupted because of Reed's ties to Jack Abramoff, Reed didn't show up at the Atlanta event. Instead, Reed showed up on GOP-TV to campaign for McCain



So, Reed sent an email saying "join me" at the event, but then claims he never planned to be at the event. Sure. Either way, this is damaging for McCain.

Bottom line: Jack Abramoff's guy, Ralph Reed, is now a player in the McCain campaign. Read More......

Meet Henry Cejudo. American. Gold Medalist.

This is a great Olympics story:

Henry Cejudo called it the American dream.

The son of undocumented Mexican immigrants who had to work two jobs to keep food on the table, Cejudo gave the U.S. its first Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling in Beijing with a stunning win Tuesday over Japan's Tomohiro Matsunaga in the 55-kilogram (121 pounds) final.

"I'm living the American dream right now, man," Cejudo, wrapped in an American flag, said moments after his win. "The United States is the land of opportunity. It's the best country in the world and I'm just glad to represent it."

A joyful Cejudo, 21, broke into tears on the mat at the end of the match, then took a victory lap around the China Agricultural University Gymnasium.

"This is what I always wanted," he said. "The frustration was let out. The hard work and everything.

A story like this one makes most of us proud (and maybe, for the saps, a little teary-eyed). A story like this one makes the immigrant bashers seethe. The son of undocumented immigrants? Is this really an American medal? CNN's top immigrant basher, Lou Dobbs, will probably do a show on how Mexicans are stealing our medals. Read More......

AP's Nedra Pickler got something right: Lieberman is a prick

When is a typo not a typo? When it's accurate (click image below to see larger more readable version):



(hat tip, Mike Stark) Read More......

McCain may have inadvertently proven that he had the questions in advance

Ablog readers Kathy and Dennis write that McCain asked if they could get "back" to the Supreme Court issue when it hadn't come up yet. It had, however, for Obama. Either McCain was confused, or he had been told the Supreme Court was one of the questions and couldn't remember if it had come up yet. Here's the transcript:

WARREN: Let's deal with abortion. I, as a pastor, have to deal with this all the time, every different angle, every different pain, all of the decisions and all of that. Forty million abortions since Roe v. Wade. Some people, people who believe that life begins at conception, believe that's a holocaust for many people. What point is a baby entitled to human rights?

MCCAIN: At the moment of conception. (APPLAUSE). I have a 25- year pro-life record in the Congress, in the Senate. And as president of the United States, I will be a pro-life president. And this presidency will have pro-life policies. That's my commitment. That's my commitment to you.

WARREN: OK, we don't have to beleaguer on that one. Define marriage.

MCCAIN: A union -- a union between man and woman, between one man and one woman. That's my definition of marriage.

Could I -- are we going to get back to the importance of Supreme Court Justices or should I mention --

WARREN: We will get to that.

MCCAIN: OK. All right. OK.

WARREN: You're jumping ahead...

Yes he is. But the only way to jump ahead is to know what's ahead. Then again, John McCain was a POW, so how dare we suspect him of cheating. Oh that's right, he cheated on his wife. But I'm sure he wouldn't cheat on a debate question. Wife, sure. Debate question? For McCain, that would be immoral. Read More......

Join our online chat today at 3pm Eastern with Cong. Diana DeGette of Denver

We'll be discussing Degette's book, "Sex, Science and Stem Cells: Inside the right wing assault on reason." But you're also free to ask her about the convention - she's the host - about her former allegiance to Hillary and now to Obama, or anything else you like. More on her book here. We'll be having the chat with the congresswoman in the comments around 3pm Eastern. Read More......

Who wants to be a millionaire?

To John McCain, "rich" is when you make $5m a year or more.

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Tuesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

We've got 11 weeks -- 77 days -- til Election Day, November 4th.

No overnight text message from Team Obama about a veep. On the TODAY Show, Chuck Todd told us not to expect a v.p. pick from Obama until the end of the week. He also said the leading choice right now appears to be Joe Biden. The punditry is getting into frenzy mode about this. The NY Times claims Obama "has all but settled on his choice." Evan Bayh's chances have been undermined of late by revelations of his wife's business dealings -- Susan Bayh serves on seven corporate boards. (Thanks, Susan. You may have spared us all.)

Let's start threading the news. Read More......

Foreign airlines cutting flights to Los Angeles International Airport

Oil prices are making planes too expensive and less profitable, and the weak dollar is making Americans less willing to travel. And now its impacting the airlines and our airports. Another thing we can thank George Bush and John McCain for. Read More......