Today, the judge in the Kobe Bryant case apologized from the bench for the mistakes by his staff for posting the name of Kobe's victim on the court's website.
Big deal. The actions of the court, staff, and judge has prejudiced this case beyond belief and in violation of state law.
The only course that this judge should take is to dismiss the court staff responsible for the "mistakes" and to remove himself from the case.
Yes, it would take longer for the trial to start, but it is the only fair action that could be taken.
Full story-->My Way - News
Friday, July 30, 2004
And so it begins
The presidential campaign begins in earnest today as president Bush commented on his opponent.
Basically, the President told the facts about John Kerry's lackluster career in the Senate. Bush compared his "results" with Kerry-Edwards "promises."
All in all this was a good start.
Full article from Reuters-->Reuters News Article
Basically, the President told the facts about John Kerry's lackluster career in the Senate. Bush compared his "results" with Kerry-Edwards "promises."
All in all this was a good start.
Full article from Reuters-->Reuters News Article
Daschle ups 9-11 ante
Senator Tom Daschle, minority leader of the Senate, has announced that he wants a bill ready by September 1st that will adopt all of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
If anyone should know how Congress works it would be Daschle. Not only would he need to interrupt the 6 week vacation of the Congress, but also find a way to make the Senate move faster than a snail.
I wonder what the outgoing Senator from South Dakota will do if his buddy Ted Kennedy finds something he doesn't like in the bill and filibusters. Now that would be interesting.
By the way Tom Daschle is the poster boy for Senate Obstruction.
Full article-->Daschle ups 9-11 ante=The Hill.com=
If anyone should know how Congress works it would be Daschle. Not only would he need to interrupt the 6 week vacation of the Congress, but also find a way to make the Senate move faster than a snail.
I wonder what the outgoing Senator from South Dakota will do if his buddy Ted Kennedy finds something he doesn't like in the bill and filibusters. Now that would be interesting.
By the way Tom Daschle is the poster boy for Senate Obstruction.
Full article-->Daschle ups 9-11 ante=The Hill.com=
This week's Column by Ann Coulter
Here is the latest column from Ann Coulter
HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Democrats' New Slogan: No Teacher Left Behind by Ann Coulter
HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Democrats' New Slogan: No Teacher Left Behind by Ann Coulter
Tidbits - 7/30/04
I did not listen to John Kerry's speech last night. Apparently, I didn't need to. From what I have heard so far, it was okay, he read fast to get off by 11pm, and there wasn't anything new.
I thought this was supposed to be an important speech that would give Kerry a big bounce. So much for expectations from the Kerry campaign.
Here are some interesting items . . .
+Reaction to Kerry speech
Kerry's Speech Disappoints Liberal Newspapers -- 07/30/2004
BostonHerald.com - Herald Columnists: Here�s what he really said
+America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, told a press conference that he has not seen Michael moor's propaganda film and "I really don't need Michael Moore to tell me about September 11th."
Full story from Cybercast News service-->Giuliani Doesn't Need Moore to Tell Him About 9/11 -- 07/29/2004
+It appears that there is some confusion on the part of the Kerry campaign, Democrats in general, and NASA.
Earlier this week the Kerry campaign said that the release of pictures of the candidate in a protective suit were "dirty tricks" by NASA.
It now turns out that this was not true and the campaign asked NASA to "expedite" release of the photos for journalists.
Full story from WorldNetDaily-->WorldNetDaily: NASA: Kerry camp asked for 'bunny' photos
+Today's items from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online . . .
READER REACTION
Obviously, many Kerry Spot readers are on the right side of the spectrum, but not all. A selection of their take:
Leta: “Images & stagecraft matter, and if Kerry was trying to reassure the viewers of middle America that he would be a strong commander-in-chief, he should not have let Al Sharpton, Dennis Kucinich and Sheila Jackson-Lee occupy the camera space behind him on stage. Not real comforting.”
Josh: “Kerry hardly said a word about his 20 years in the Senate. The Republicans should be pounding on the theme that he's running away from his record.”
Smart Democratic source: Too much Vietnam. He projected a nice aura. I agree that the delivery is better than expected, but it’s rushed. The entrance was good. I think all the environmental talk was aimed at the Nader voters. Also looks like they’ve decided Cheney and his issues are the area they want to attack.
By the way, a number of readers that shocked me have written in to say, 'good job.' You have no idea how much those notes just make a guy's day, and make the disgusting bathrooms and the far-off hotel and getting magnetic-wanded 20 times a day worthwhile. Readers, thank you for reading.
THAT REFERENCE TO THE 9/11 COMMISSION
Kerry: "The 9-11 Commission has given us a path to follow, endorsed by Democrats, Republicans, and the 9-11 families. As president, I will not evade or equivocate; I will immediately implement the recommendations of that commission."
Bush team response: "President Bush is preparing executive orders and a speech detailing his initial plans for revamping the nation's intelligence services, administration officials said Wednesday. He is likely to begin his announcements within days, the officials said." (Mike Allen And Dan Eggen, "Bush May Move Soon On 9/11 Report," The Washington Post, 7/29/04)
KERRY WRAPUP
Overall, delivery was much, much stronger than I expected.
And yet, it relied a lot more than I ever imagined on some of the more hackneyed and worn-out claims of the Bush haters. The constant invocation of his Vietnam service is meant to contrast with Bush, whose Air National Guard service is some sort of revelatory character flaw. Huge swaths of this speech were about reclaiming patriotism for the Democratic party. Reclaiming the flag for the Democratic party. the tired claim that Bush chose to ignore our allies, as if Russia, France and Germany were ever going to invade one of their best customers.
This was a speech that probably set the MoveOn.org crowd on fire, and was probably pure catnip to the Air America listeners, the Michael Moore fans, the Bill Mahers, the Al Frankens, the Maureen Dowds. He spent a lot of time on how he wouldn’t mislead us into war - not much on how he would handle Iraq from here on out.
This speech had vision - the vision was that George W. Bush has been wrong about everything since he took office.
The delegates loved it. I’m sure this speech will jazz the base. But there wasn’t enough vision for how to manage a post 9/11 world, and way too much ‘I won’t do what Bush did.’ I know some political adviser probably told him he had to contrast himself with Bush, but I don’t think he did much to move beyond the identity he had before this speech: The Not Bush Candidate.
SECOND HALF THOUGHTS
Kerry: "Franklin Roosevelt never could have said: 'Go to John Kerry.com.'"
These are some of the lamest jokes in a long time.
Another observation: I’m sure that Shrum and the communications team encouraged Kerry to take on his critics head on, but a lot of this seems very defensive on part of the Democrats: We support the troops. We like the flag. We are patriotic, too. We aren't going to raise taxes. Don't believe that stuff you heard, take our word for it.
Best line: "I don’t see us as red states or blue states, I see us as red, white and blue."
“I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve.” And with that, he concedes 90 percent of the red states. He needed to show America he was comfortable with religion, and could talk about the topic the way Clinton did.
More -->The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later
I thought this was supposed to be an important speech that would give Kerry a big bounce. So much for expectations from the Kerry campaign.
Here are some interesting items . . .
+Reaction to Kerry speech
Kerry's Speech Disappoints Liberal Newspapers -- 07/30/2004
BostonHerald.com - Herald Columnists: Here�s what he really said
+America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, told a press conference that he has not seen Michael moor's propaganda film and "I really don't need Michael Moore to tell me about September 11th."
Full story from Cybercast News service-->Giuliani Doesn't Need Moore to Tell Him About 9/11 -- 07/29/2004
+It appears that there is some confusion on the part of the Kerry campaign, Democrats in general, and NASA.
Earlier this week the Kerry campaign said that the release of pictures of the candidate in a protective suit were "dirty tricks" by NASA.
It now turns out that this was not true and the campaign asked NASA to "expedite" release of the photos for journalists.
Full story from WorldNetDaily-->WorldNetDaily: NASA: Kerry camp asked for 'bunny' photos
+Today's items from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online . . .
READER REACTION
Obviously, many Kerry Spot readers are on the right side of the spectrum, but not all. A selection of their take:
Leta: “Images & stagecraft matter, and if Kerry was trying to reassure the viewers of middle America that he would be a strong commander-in-chief, he should not have let Al Sharpton, Dennis Kucinich and Sheila Jackson-Lee occupy the camera space behind him on stage. Not real comforting.”
Josh: “Kerry hardly said a word about his 20 years in the Senate. The Republicans should be pounding on the theme that he's running away from his record.”
Smart Democratic source: Too much Vietnam. He projected a nice aura. I agree that the delivery is better than expected, but it’s rushed. The entrance was good. I think all the environmental talk was aimed at the Nader voters. Also looks like they’ve decided Cheney and his issues are the area they want to attack.
By the way, a number of readers that shocked me have written in to say, 'good job.' You have no idea how much those notes just make a guy's day, and make the disgusting bathrooms and the far-off hotel and getting magnetic-wanded 20 times a day worthwhile. Readers, thank you for reading.
THAT REFERENCE TO THE 9/11 COMMISSION
Kerry: "The 9-11 Commission has given us a path to follow, endorsed by Democrats, Republicans, and the 9-11 families. As president, I will not evade or equivocate; I will immediately implement the recommendations of that commission."
Bush team response: "President Bush is preparing executive orders and a speech detailing his initial plans for revamping the nation's intelligence services, administration officials said Wednesday. He is likely to begin his announcements within days, the officials said." (Mike Allen And Dan Eggen, "Bush May Move Soon On 9/11 Report," The Washington Post, 7/29/04)
KERRY WRAPUP
Overall, delivery was much, much stronger than I expected.
And yet, it relied a lot more than I ever imagined on some of the more hackneyed and worn-out claims of the Bush haters. The constant invocation of his Vietnam service is meant to contrast with Bush, whose Air National Guard service is some sort of revelatory character flaw. Huge swaths of this speech were about reclaiming patriotism for the Democratic party. Reclaiming the flag for the Democratic party. the tired claim that Bush chose to ignore our allies, as if Russia, France and Germany were ever going to invade one of their best customers.
This was a speech that probably set the MoveOn.org crowd on fire, and was probably pure catnip to the Air America listeners, the Michael Moore fans, the Bill Mahers, the Al Frankens, the Maureen Dowds. He spent a lot of time on how he wouldn’t mislead us into war - not much on how he would handle Iraq from here on out.
This speech had vision - the vision was that George W. Bush has been wrong about everything since he took office.
The delegates loved it. I’m sure this speech will jazz the base. But there wasn’t enough vision for how to manage a post 9/11 world, and way too much ‘I won’t do what Bush did.’ I know some political adviser probably told him he had to contrast himself with Bush, but I don’t think he did much to move beyond the identity he had before this speech: The Not Bush Candidate.
SECOND HALF THOUGHTS
Kerry: "Franklin Roosevelt never could have said: 'Go to John Kerry.com.'"
These are some of the lamest jokes in a long time.
Another observation: I’m sure that Shrum and the communications team encouraged Kerry to take on his critics head on, but a lot of this seems very defensive on part of the Democrats: We support the troops. We like the flag. We are patriotic, too. We aren't going to raise taxes. Don't believe that stuff you heard, take our word for it.
Best line: "I don’t see us as red states or blue states, I see us as red, white and blue."
“I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve.” And with that, he concedes 90 percent of the red states. He needed to show America he was comfortable with religion, and could talk about the topic the way Clinton did.
More -->The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Not a surprise
Inclusion is good. By having an Islamic Imam give the benediction at the closing of the DNC Tuesday, the democrats showed how important inclusion of all religions is.
Unfortunately, for the democrats, they picked the wrong Imam. Imam Yahya Hendi has testified on several occasions FOR suspected terrorists and has backed al-Arian – head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in North America.
Who picks these guys or is it another demonstration of the democrats anti-America stance?
Moore from WorldNetDaily-->WorldNetDaily: Democrats' imam supported al-Arian
Unfortunately, for the democrats, they picked the wrong Imam. Imam Yahya Hendi has testified on several occasions FOR suspected terrorists and has backed al-Arian – head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in North America.
Who picks these guys or is it another demonstration of the democrats anti-America stance?
Moore from WorldNetDaily-->WorldNetDaily: Democrats' imam supported al-Arian
Moore to Florida
Michael Moore says that he will got to Florida, with his cameras, to monitor the Florida election in November.
Moore claims that, "they will not get away with it this time." Who Michael, the voters? The voters won't get away with choosing the candidate of their choice. It seems that no matter how many times you recount it, the outcome is always the same . . . GORE LOST!!!
Full article from WorldNetDaily (the publication that isn't afraid of Ann Coulter)-->WorldNetDaily: Michael Moore to monitor Florida vote
Moore claims that, "they will not get away with it this time." Who Michael, the voters? The voters won't get away with choosing the candidate of their choice. It seems that no matter how many times you recount it, the outcome is always the same . . . GORE LOST!!!
Full article from WorldNetDaily (the publication that isn't afraid of Ann Coulter)-->WorldNetDaily: Michael Moore to monitor Florida vote
Items From the Kerry Spot on National Review Online
There has been so much good stuff on the Kerry Spot in the last 24 hours that it deserved its own posting today.
REFUTING RUSSERT
Tim Russert said this morning on Today, "We've heard all week long how being with crewmates, being with Teresa, and being with his children, softens him and just makes him feel comfortable — tonight, he's all alone. And he has to say to the American people more than just George W. Bush should be replaced, he has to tell them why. He has to give them a rationale to vote for John Kerry — to vote for John Kerry the man who wants to be president and commander in chief."
Actually, we haven't heard about Kerry being comfortable with his crewmates, his children, and Teresa all week long. In fact, we've barely heard any John Kerry anecdotes or stories this week. Dean barely mentioned Kerry. Teresa talked about Teresa. Edwards talked about Edwards. Al Sharpton talked about riding the donkey. Clinton talked about how he didn't need his tax cut, and Obama talked about his life's journey.
As Ramesh sitting next to me just put it, "They talk about Kerry as if he is the embodiment of the platform."
As we were wondering over lunch, maybe there aren't any good John Kerry stories.
MURMURS OF GRUMBLING FROM THE GLOBE
The editorial page of the Boston Globe is reliably liberal — nothing wrong with that, just observing that they're not a usual voice of criticism of Kerry. But their editorial today suggests they're not really impressed with the rhetoric of this convention so far:
On a range of significant issues Democrats are not unified, and to pretend that they are, as the party platform does, risks sending the ticket out to the fall campaign with weapons of mush.
John Edwards did little to address that problem last night...
No one expects any party to highlight its divisions, but voters deserve a clear understanding of the candidate's policy initiatives. The party platform, prepared in close consultation with the Kerry campaign, does take some firm positions: supporting the creation of an intelligence czar, calling for the possibility of bilateral negotiations with North Korea, and proposing college tuition tax credits, for instance. But the platform is silent on many issues, saying nothing about the barrier being built by Israel, nothing about Chechnya or Burma, nothing about the economic embargo of Cuba that even President Clinton's trade representative called "lunacy" four years ago. As for Iraq: "People of good will disagree about whether America should have gone to war in Iraq," the platform says.
The platform refers to "global climate change" but not global warming, and there is no mention of the Kyoto Protocol. After all, some voters in coal-producing swing states such as Pennsylvania and West Virginia do not support Kyoto. In the 37-page platform, poverty is dealt with in a modest paragraph entitled: "Expanding the middle class."
It is possible to win a presidential election by avoiding specificity and harping on the opponent's weaknesses. George H. W. Bush did it in 1988. But this strategy is bad for the nation and also bad politics, because it gives the winner no mandate.
If the Boston Globe is criticizing Kerry it is a bad sign for his candidacy.
EDWARDS WRAPUP
Well, for my two cents, Edwards was good, but not great. When he was on his familiar and favorite topics, he was Clinton-level or Obama-level good, full of emotional detail, painting verbal pictures of the mother at the kitchen table. Hitting just the right emotional tones. Making you want to find the address of that poor suffering mother, knock on her door, and ask what you can do to help her out.
But on Edwards' less-favorite issues, Iraq, terrorism, foreign policy... he just wasn't at home with the material. Wasn't quite bad, but just wasn't as in command on those issues as he is on his rhetorical "home turf", so to speak. And he clearly was trying — "You cannot hide, and we will destroy you..." But Edwards doesn't project toughness. He projects tenacity, but not white-knuckle relentlessness.
The speech tells us much about how the Democratic party defines the war on terror: Spend more on homeland security. Sign more treaties. Boost veterans' benefits. Remember the handicapped veterans. Focus on improving health care for veterans. Vague promises to "get Syria and Iran to not stand in the way of a Democratic Iraq."
And one line on "we will get you."
I'm not sure this speech told us anything about John Edwards we didn't already know. On domestic stuff & empathy, he's one of the best. Outside of his comfort zone, he's not bad, but not all that effective, either.
STEPFORD CONVENTION
General consensus from a lot of media folk: There have been five things worth talking about so far.
1) Boy, wasn't Clinton good?
2) Boy, wasn't Obama good? (Will he be as widely popular after a few years of amassing a really liberal record in the Senate?)
3) This race would be more exciting if Teresa said "shove it" every day.
4) Ya see the RNC video?
5) Is this the Stepford Convention, or what?
There's a sense of boredom over most of the media. No one has uncovered the first draft of Gore's speech, and that's a shame from the perspective of the press, because if it were too "hot", people would have been buzzing about it. Dean? He seemed medicated. Teresa? Little that was memorable - the gist of the speech seemed to be that African dictatorships are bad.
If three of the loosest cannons in the Democratic Party couldn't get something surprising, interesting, or buzz-generating through the Kerry speech-vetting process, then no one will.
Ooh, Smeagol's on.
THIS SAYS IT ALL
A Kerry advisor, to Philip Gourevitch of The New Yorker in the July 26 issue, on why the Democratic senator voted against the $87 billion package to rebuild Iraq and fund the troops.
"Off the record he did it because of Howard Dean. On the record he has an elaborate explanation."
KERRY RESPONSE ON VIDEO
"This video is nothing but a stale old attack from the Bush-Cheney campaign, who can't for the life of them find anything positive to say," says spokesman Chad Clanton in a released statement.
From AP:
"There's no question that comments here or there, taken out of context and thrown together, are intended by Republicans to try to simplify or dumb down a crucial issue of war and peace into a simple yes-no question," said James Rubin, a senior foreign policy adviser to the Kerry campaign.
Rubin said Kerry always believed the way the United States went to war was the critical question giving inspections in Iraq a chance and building alliances first. "John Kerry showed he understood the complexities about going to war the right way," said Rubin.
Wow. Clanton's response is nothing but a stale old boilerplate statement from the Kerry campaign, who can't for the life of them made a coherent case as to why Kerry's rhetoric on how to deal with Saddam Hussein changed so suddenly and dramatically during the last several years. It's going to take more than a one-line dismissal to counter this argument from the RNC.
More good stuff here -->The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
REFUTING RUSSERT
Tim Russert said this morning on Today, "We've heard all week long how being with crewmates, being with Teresa, and being with his children, softens him and just makes him feel comfortable — tonight, he's all alone. And he has to say to the American people more than just George W. Bush should be replaced, he has to tell them why. He has to give them a rationale to vote for John Kerry — to vote for John Kerry the man who wants to be president and commander in chief."
Actually, we haven't heard about Kerry being comfortable with his crewmates, his children, and Teresa all week long. In fact, we've barely heard any John Kerry anecdotes or stories this week. Dean barely mentioned Kerry. Teresa talked about Teresa. Edwards talked about Edwards. Al Sharpton talked about riding the donkey. Clinton talked about how he didn't need his tax cut, and Obama talked about his life's journey.
As Ramesh sitting next to me just put it, "They talk about Kerry as if he is the embodiment of the platform."
As we were wondering over lunch, maybe there aren't any good John Kerry stories.
MURMURS OF GRUMBLING FROM THE GLOBE
The editorial page of the Boston Globe is reliably liberal — nothing wrong with that, just observing that they're not a usual voice of criticism of Kerry. But their editorial today suggests they're not really impressed with the rhetoric of this convention so far:
On a range of significant issues Democrats are not unified, and to pretend that they are, as the party platform does, risks sending the ticket out to the fall campaign with weapons of mush.
John Edwards did little to address that problem last night...
No one expects any party to highlight its divisions, but voters deserve a clear understanding of the candidate's policy initiatives. The party platform, prepared in close consultation with the Kerry campaign, does take some firm positions: supporting the creation of an intelligence czar, calling for the possibility of bilateral negotiations with North Korea, and proposing college tuition tax credits, for instance. But the platform is silent on many issues, saying nothing about the barrier being built by Israel, nothing about Chechnya or Burma, nothing about the economic embargo of Cuba that even President Clinton's trade representative called "lunacy" four years ago. As for Iraq: "People of good will disagree about whether America should have gone to war in Iraq," the platform says.
The platform refers to "global climate change" but not global warming, and there is no mention of the Kyoto Protocol. After all, some voters in coal-producing swing states such as Pennsylvania and West Virginia do not support Kyoto. In the 37-page platform, poverty is dealt with in a modest paragraph entitled: "Expanding the middle class."
It is possible to win a presidential election by avoiding specificity and harping on the opponent's weaknesses. George H. W. Bush did it in 1988. But this strategy is bad for the nation and also bad politics, because it gives the winner no mandate.
If the Boston Globe is criticizing Kerry it is a bad sign for his candidacy.
EDWARDS WRAPUP
Well, for my two cents, Edwards was good, but not great. When he was on his familiar and favorite topics, he was Clinton-level or Obama-level good, full of emotional detail, painting verbal pictures of the mother at the kitchen table. Hitting just the right emotional tones. Making you want to find the address of that poor suffering mother, knock on her door, and ask what you can do to help her out.
But on Edwards' less-favorite issues, Iraq, terrorism, foreign policy... he just wasn't at home with the material. Wasn't quite bad, but just wasn't as in command on those issues as he is on his rhetorical "home turf", so to speak. And he clearly was trying — "You cannot hide, and we will destroy you..." But Edwards doesn't project toughness. He projects tenacity, but not white-knuckle relentlessness.
The speech tells us much about how the Democratic party defines the war on terror: Spend more on homeland security. Sign more treaties. Boost veterans' benefits. Remember the handicapped veterans. Focus on improving health care for veterans. Vague promises to "get Syria and Iran to not stand in the way of a Democratic Iraq."
And one line on "we will get you."
I'm not sure this speech told us anything about John Edwards we didn't already know. On domestic stuff & empathy, he's one of the best. Outside of his comfort zone, he's not bad, but not all that effective, either.
STEPFORD CONVENTION
General consensus from a lot of media folk: There have been five things worth talking about so far.
1) Boy, wasn't Clinton good?
2) Boy, wasn't Obama good? (Will he be as widely popular after a few years of amassing a really liberal record in the Senate?)
3) This race would be more exciting if Teresa said "shove it" every day.
4) Ya see the RNC video?
5) Is this the Stepford Convention, or what?
There's a sense of boredom over most of the media. No one has uncovered the first draft of Gore's speech, and that's a shame from the perspective of the press, because if it were too "hot", people would have been buzzing about it. Dean? He seemed medicated. Teresa? Little that was memorable - the gist of the speech seemed to be that African dictatorships are bad.
If three of the loosest cannons in the Democratic Party couldn't get something surprising, interesting, or buzz-generating through the Kerry speech-vetting process, then no one will.
Ooh, Smeagol's on.
THIS SAYS IT ALL
A Kerry advisor, to Philip Gourevitch of The New Yorker in the July 26 issue, on why the Democratic senator voted against the $87 billion package to rebuild Iraq and fund the troops.
"Off the record he did it because of Howard Dean. On the record he has an elaborate explanation."
KERRY RESPONSE ON VIDEO
"This video is nothing but a stale old attack from the Bush-Cheney campaign, who can't for the life of them find anything positive to say," says spokesman Chad Clanton in a released statement.
From AP:
"There's no question that comments here or there, taken out of context and thrown together, are intended by Republicans to try to simplify or dumb down a crucial issue of war and peace into a simple yes-no question," said James Rubin, a senior foreign policy adviser to the Kerry campaign.
Rubin said Kerry always believed the way the United States went to war was the critical question giving inspections in Iraq a chance and building alliances first. "John Kerry showed he understood the complexities about going to war the right way," said Rubin.
Wow. Clanton's response is nothing but a stale old boilerplate statement from the Kerry campaign, who can't for the life of them made a coherent case as to why Kerry's rhetoric on how to deal with Saddam Hussein changed so suddenly and dramatically during the last several years. It's going to take more than a one-line dismissal to counter this argument from the RNC.
More good stuff here -->The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
Tidbits - 7/29/04
Here are today's interesting items.
+Apparently not all of John Kerry's crewmates feel that he is a hero or good guy. One of them called him a traitor. A little harsh, but everyone's opinion is important. There is also a new book called "Unfit For command" which details many of Kerry's faults.
Here's an article from Cybercast News Service (CNS) with more on veterans against Kerry-->'Hanoi John' Gets Unwelcome Reception From Veterans -- 07/29/2004
+Instead of resigning or explaining his lies to the American public, the 9/11 Commission, and a Senate committee, Joe Wilson continues to advise candidate Kerry on foreign affairs. This, again, demonstrates Kerry's lack of leadership and poor judgment.
More from CNS-->Joe Wilson Says Kerry Hasn't Asked Him to Resign -- 07/29/2004
+From Michelle Malkin in Human Events Online a column about 5 reasons to fear a democratic administration. I thought that there was only one, John Kerry.
Interesting reading -->HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Five Reasons to Fear a Democrat Administration by Michelle Malkin
More later including a separate posting for Kerry Spot items.
+Apparently not all of John Kerry's crewmates feel that he is a hero or good guy. One of them called him a traitor. A little harsh, but everyone's opinion is important. There is also a new book called "Unfit For command" which details many of Kerry's faults.
Here's an article from Cybercast News Service (CNS) with more on veterans against Kerry-->'Hanoi John' Gets Unwelcome Reception From Veterans -- 07/29/2004
+Instead of resigning or explaining his lies to the American public, the 9/11 Commission, and a Senate committee, Joe Wilson continues to advise candidate Kerry on foreign affairs. This, again, demonstrates Kerry's lack of leadership and poor judgment.
More from CNS-->Joe Wilson Says Kerry Hasn't Asked Him to Resign -- 07/29/2004
+From Michelle Malkin in Human Events Online a column about 5 reasons to fear a democratic administration. I thought that there was only one, John Kerry.
Interesting reading -->HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Five Reasons to Fear a Democrat Administration by Michelle Malkin
More later including a separate posting for Kerry Spot items.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Colorado Court Does It to Kobe's Victim, AGAIN!!
This is unbelievable. For the fourth time since the case has started the Eagle County Court under the direction of Judge Terry Ruckriegle has released information about the victim.
Today's "mistake" posted a document on the Court's website clear noted as "filed under seal." This means that it is NOT to be posted on the Court's website. Well, again, it was.
This judge needs to be removed from the case and charges brought against the court's employees for violating state laws and, probably, the Federal civil rights of Kobe's victim.
More info-->Another Technical Foul-Up In Kobe Case - July 28, 2004
Today's "mistake" posted a document on the Court's website clear noted as "filed under seal." This means that it is NOT to be posted on the Court's website. Well, again, it was.
This judge needs to be removed from the case and charges brought against the court's employees for violating state laws and, probably, the Federal civil rights of Kobe's victim.
More info-->Another Technical Foul-Up In Kobe Case - July 28, 2004
Let's go to the videotape
For the last few days there has been talk about a videotape that shows the French-looking senator from Massachusetts in an unfavorable light on several issue.
Weel, today that tape was released.
Courtesy of the Kerry Spot on National Review online, here is a transcript.
TALE OF A TAPE
Wednesday morning, the GOP fired one of the biggest guns in its counter-spin arsenal: a twelve-minute video of John Kerry's statements on Iraq and how to handle Saddam Hussein, contrasting his pro-war views of 1998 and 2003 with his antiwar views of 1991 and 2004.
While the charge that John Kerry is a flip-flopper is nothing new, rarely has the case been made so comprehensively, in such detail, relying almost entirely on the Democratic senator's own words.
There are quite a few Kerry quotes that have disappeared down the memory hole that are worth recollecting. Like his statement on Dec. 11, 2001, on The O'Reilly Factor (does it seem shocking now that Kerry once appeared on O'Reilly's show?): "I think we ought to put the heat on Saddam Hussein. I've said that for a number of years, Bill. I criticized the Clinton administration for backing off of the inspections when Ambassador Butler was giving us strong evidence that we needed to continue. I think we need to put the pressure on no matter what the evidence is about September 11."
Got that? Tougher stance than Clinton. Evidence about 9/11 is irrelevant.
Kerry on Larry King Live, several days later: "I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn't end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It's a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein."
Afghanistan's not enough. Continue the fight. Take Saddam Hussein.
Then this exchange with Chris Matthews on Feb. 5, 2002: Matthews asked, "Do you think that the problem we have with Iraq is real and it can be reduced to a diplomatic problem? Can we get this guy to accept inspections of those weapons of mass destruction potentially and get past a possible war with him?"
"Outside chance, Chris," Kerry responded. "Could it be done? The answer is yes. But he would view himself only as buying time and playing a game, in my judgment. Do we have to go through that process? The answer is yes. We're precisely doing that. And I think that's what Colin Powell did today."
There was no complaining then about a "rush to war." No warnings that Saddam Hussein's WMD programs might not be as advanced as the administration feared. No skepticism about the intelligence, no blood-for-oil, no conspiracy theories about Chalabi and Halliburton and neocons.
Finally, his speech to the Democratic Leadership Council's national convention on July 29, 2002: "I agree completely with this administration's goal of a regime change in Iraq."
What makes the video more than a collection of Kerry's rhetorical hits is its documentation of how outside events were influencing the Democratic senator's political positions. Specifically, as 2003 wore on, Howard Dean rocketed to the top of the Democratic-primary polls and garnered laudatory press coverage. And Kerry obviously, blatantly, started borrowing Dean's anti-war rhetoric.
By August 2003, Kerry was declaring on Meet the Press, "The fact is, in the resolution that we passed, we did not empower the president to do regime change."
By October, the struggling Kerry was insisting that the war he had said he "agreed completely with" was unnecessary. "But the president and his advisors did not do almost anything correctly in the walk-up to the war. They rushed to war. They were intent on going to war. They did not give legitimacy to the inspections. We could have still been doing inspections even today, George."
Remember, the previous February, Kerry had dismissed diplomatic negotiations for more inspections as Saddam's "buying time and playing a game."
Judging by the 100-percent certainty with which Kerry made both sets of comments, he doesn't seem to even acknowledge that they contradict each other. Both appear to accurately express his views at the moment he speaks them.
The point is that there isn't truth or untruth to Kerry's views. There is simply what is needed and what is not needed, and the True North of Kerry's rhetorical and policy compass is whatever he needs politically at that time.
George Clooney's character in Three Kings, a film about the first Gulf War, explains to three soldiers under his command that "the most important thing in life is necessity... As in people do what is most necessary to them at any given moment."
What does Kerry stand for? Whatever is most necessary to him at that particular moment. (Didn't we already no this?)
One could say that's not unique to Kerry, and may be a common trait among politicians. But what would this mean in a president? Periodically, Sen. Edward Kennedy or some other Democrat will make the stupendously illogical charge that George W. Bush made the call to go to war in Iraq in order to boost his poll numbers. But the political boost from a war, the rally-around-the-flag effect, is notoriously short lived. Winston Churchill won World War II and got tossed out on his tush by British voters almost the moment the war ended.
President Bush didn't decide to got to war to boost his poll numbers. In spite of the near-certainty that it would erode his high poll numbers after toppling the Taliban, Bush made the decision to go ahead.
What would John Kerry do in a similar situation? How dire would a threat have to be for him to risk his popularity on an unpopular war? Or would he put his faith in diplomacy with dictators and agreements with rogue states — "buying time and playing a game," as he once described it?
Before the voters can consider that question, Kerry's long and meandering views on Iraq have to be brought front and center before the millions of Americans who are not paying close attention to this race. Unfortunately, this video format doesn't lend itself well to the traditional methods.
It's way too long to condense into a 30- or 60-second ad. If it were shown during the GOP convention, it would be putting the spotlight on the challenger instead of the president, and much of the media would explode with fury at the "negative campaigning." Some political shows might spotlight it, but few would be willing to let it run for the entire eleven minutes. Maybe C-SPAN will show it. Perhaps it could serve as the entertainment for the Bush "House Parties."
Maybe talk radio could run the audio of the tape uninterrupted.
A GOP source says the idea of buying airtime on the networks, like H. Ross Perot did in 1992, has been tossed around. One way or another, this 11-minute tape will be coming to a place near you in the not-too-distant future.
Weel, today that tape was released.
Courtesy of the Kerry Spot on National Review online, here is a transcript.
TALE OF A TAPE
Wednesday morning, the GOP fired one of the biggest guns in its counter-spin arsenal: a twelve-minute video of John Kerry's statements on Iraq and how to handle Saddam Hussein, contrasting his pro-war views of 1998 and 2003 with his antiwar views of 1991 and 2004.
While the charge that John Kerry is a flip-flopper is nothing new, rarely has the case been made so comprehensively, in such detail, relying almost entirely on the Democratic senator's own words.
There are quite a few Kerry quotes that have disappeared down the memory hole that are worth recollecting. Like his statement on Dec. 11, 2001, on The O'Reilly Factor (does it seem shocking now that Kerry once appeared on O'Reilly's show?): "I think we ought to put the heat on Saddam Hussein. I've said that for a number of years, Bill. I criticized the Clinton administration for backing off of the inspections when Ambassador Butler was giving us strong evidence that we needed to continue. I think we need to put the pressure on no matter what the evidence is about September 11."
Got that? Tougher stance than Clinton. Evidence about 9/11 is irrelevant.
Kerry on Larry King Live, several days later: "I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn't end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It's a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein."
Afghanistan's not enough. Continue the fight. Take Saddam Hussein.
Then this exchange with Chris Matthews on Feb. 5, 2002: Matthews asked, "Do you think that the problem we have with Iraq is real and it can be reduced to a diplomatic problem? Can we get this guy to accept inspections of those weapons of mass destruction potentially and get past a possible war with him?"
"Outside chance, Chris," Kerry responded. "Could it be done? The answer is yes. But he would view himself only as buying time and playing a game, in my judgment. Do we have to go through that process? The answer is yes. We're precisely doing that. And I think that's what Colin Powell did today."
There was no complaining then about a "rush to war." No warnings that Saddam Hussein's WMD programs might not be as advanced as the administration feared. No skepticism about the intelligence, no blood-for-oil, no conspiracy theories about Chalabi and Halliburton and neocons.
Finally, his speech to the Democratic Leadership Council's national convention on July 29, 2002: "I agree completely with this administration's goal of a regime change in Iraq."
What makes the video more than a collection of Kerry's rhetorical hits is its documentation of how outside events were influencing the Democratic senator's political positions. Specifically, as 2003 wore on, Howard Dean rocketed to the top of the Democratic-primary polls and garnered laudatory press coverage. And Kerry obviously, blatantly, started borrowing Dean's anti-war rhetoric.
By August 2003, Kerry was declaring on Meet the Press, "The fact is, in the resolution that we passed, we did not empower the president to do regime change."
By October, the struggling Kerry was insisting that the war he had said he "agreed completely with" was unnecessary. "But the president and his advisors did not do almost anything correctly in the walk-up to the war. They rushed to war. They were intent on going to war. They did not give legitimacy to the inspections. We could have still been doing inspections even today, George."
Remember, the previous February, Kerry had dismissed diplomatic negotiations for more inspections as Saddam's "buying time and playing a game."
Judging by the 100-percent certainty with which Kerry made both sets of comments, he doesn't seem to even acknowledge that they contradict each other. Both appear to accurately express his views at the moment he speaks them.
The point is that there isn't truth or untruth to Kerry's views. There is simply what is needed and what is not needed, and the True North of Kerry's rhetorical and policy compass is whatever he needs politically at that time.
George Clooney's character in Three Kings, a film about the first Gulf War, explains to three soldiers under his command that "the most important thing in life is necessity... As in people do what is most necessary to them at any given moment."
What does Kerry stand for? Whatever is most necessary to him at that particular moment. (Didn't we already no this?)
One could say that's not unique to Kerry, and may be a common trait among politicians. But what would this mean in a president? Periodically, Sen. Edward Kennedy or some other Democrat will make the stupendously illogical charge that George W. Bush made the call to go to war in Iraq in order to boost his poll numbers. But the political boost from a war, the rally-around-the-flag effect, is notoriously short lived. Winston Churchill won World War II and got tossed out on his tush by British voters almost the moment the war ended.
President Bush didn't decide to got to war to boost his poll numbers. In spite of the near-certainty that it would erode his high poll numbers after toppling the Taliban, Bush made the decision to go ahead.
What would John Kerry do in a similar situation? How dire would a threat have to be for him to risk his popularity on an unpopular war? Or would he put his faith in diplomacy with dictators and agreements with rogue states — "buying time and playing a game," as he once described it?
Before the voters can consider that question, Kerry's long and meandering views on Iraq have to be brought front and center before the millions of Americans who are not paying close attention to this race. Unfortunately, this video format doesn't lend itself well to the traditional methods.
It's way too long to condense into a 30- or 60-second ad. If it were shown during the GOP convention, it would be putting the spotlight on the challenger instead of the president, and much of the media would explode with fury at the "negative campaigning." Some political shows might spotlight it, but few would be willing to let it run for the entire eleven minutes. Maybe C-SPAN will show it. Perhaps it could serve as the entertainment for the Bush "House Parties."
Maybe talk radio could run the audio of the tape uninterrupted.
A GOP source says the idea of buying airtime on the networks, like H. Ross Perot did in 1992, has been tossed around. One way or another, this 11-minute tape will be coming to a place near you in the not-too-distant future.
The New York Times Reports on Own Bias
The liberal bastion in journalism now admits its bias. Well, one editor, the ombudsman, for the paper wrote in a column in Sunday's NYT that, "if you think the paper plays it down the middle . . . you've been reading the wrong paper."
How long will this guy keep his job?
Full article from Human Events Online-->a href="http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=4638">HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: The New York Times Reports on Own Bias
How long will this guy keep his job?
Full article from Human Events Online-->a href="http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=4638">HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: The New York Times Reports on Own Bias
Moore Finds New Critic
Left wing ideologue Michael Moore has a new critic of his film, Fahrenheit 9/11.
That critic is a brother of Osama Bin Laden.
While he said he enjoyed the film, he noted that there were several inaccuracies that are "deceiving the public."
Full article-->My Way News
That critic is a brother of Osama Bin Laden.
While he said he enjoyed the film, he noted that there were several inaccuracies that are "deceiving the public."
Full article-->My Way News
Kerry a Star in Reenactment
A breaking and developing story from the Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com) reports that the footage of John Kerry in Vietnam is, at best, a recreation by Kerry himself during his tour of duty.
Many of Kerry's exploits were reenacted by the senator in preparation for his start in political life upon returning home.
One member of his crew notes that Kerry did not return home due to his three purple hearts, but because he had enough footage to use in future political endeavors.
All of this footage is included in the Speilberg inspired Kerry biopics for the DNC.
Updates -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
Many of Kerry's exploits were reenacted by the senator in preparation for his start in political life upon returning home.
One member of his crew notes that Kerry did not return home due to his three purple hearts, but because he had enough footage to use in future political endeavors.
All of this footage is included in the Speilberg inspired Kerry biopics for the DNC.
Updates -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
Moore Loses It
You would think that after recanting one of his lies in Fahrenheit 9/11 and being shown to be out of touch on the O'Reilly Factor that Michael Moore would be quiet and let the dust settle.
Not Moore, he continued his hate-filled anti-administration lie fest to a group of out-of-touch Democrats Tuesday.
While claiming that it is the Republicans who hate, his speech was filled with hateful commentary and repeated lies about the Bush Administration.
More from Byron York in National Review Online -->Byron York on Michael Moore & Democratic Convention on National Review Online
Not Moore, he continued his hate-filled anti-administration lie fest to a group of out-of-touch Democrats Tuesday.
While claiming that it is the Republicans who hate, his speech was filled with hateful commentary and repeated lies about the Bush Administration.
More from Byron York in National Review Online -->Byron York on Michael Moore & Democratic Convention on National Review Online
Tidbits - 7/28/04
Who won the "debate" between Michael Moore and Bill O'Reilly.
Hands down O'Reilly. O'Reilly asked questions that went unanswered while Moore continued to rant on one issue . . .WMD.
Moore showed himself to be out of touch on several issues and ignored facts that refuted his claims. It is time for Michael Moore to take the money and go away.
There was a star at the convention last night. It wasn't Ted Kennedy. It wasn't Teresa Heinz Kerry. It was a little known state senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. Obama is currently running unopposed for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retiring Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican. As a side note, the Illinois Republican Party is in such disarray that it is unable to find anyone willing to run.
While many call Obama a rising star in the democratic Party, he looks and sounds like true liberal. He says that there is just one United States of America, but he is part of a party that doesn't really believe that. Since I am not a resident of Illinois, I cannot (and probably) would not vote for him. It is good, however, that an African-American got a spot on the DNC roster. It is also a shame that Jesse Jackson supports him. That support will cost him a substantial number of votes and a tarnished reputation if he wins.
Now, here a some interesting items.
+It is now official . . the DNC is dull.
At least that's what Dan Rather says and you know that if Rather says it, it must be right. Oh wait, if Rather says it, it must be left.
From CBS News-->CBS News | Rather On Convention: Dullsville | July 27, 2004�22:52:33
+It appears that far-left filmmaker, Michael Moore, is recanting one of the many lies in his movie.
He now says that President Bush was not responsible for the flights of Saudi citizens out of the country following 9/11. This glaring lie was a major premise of the movie. In fact it was Moore buddy, Richard Clarke, that authorized the flights.
One lie down, so many Moore to go.
CNS article -->Michael Moore Backpedals on Key Premise of Documentary -- 07/28/2004
+A former mayor of Boston, Ray Flynn, is criticizing his own part for being out of touch with America. Well, at least, one democrat has it write.
Flynn says that the Democrats are ignoring core values both at the convention and in its platform.
CNS story-->Ex-Boston Dem Mayor Says Party 'Out of Touch' With American Values -- 07/28/2004
+Now for today's items from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online:
A POLL RESPONDENT REPORTS IN
The Kerry Spot's most important reader - commonly referred to as "Dad" - was one of the respondents to the most recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, the one that had surprisingly good numbers for the president.
The registered Republican, in South Carolina, reports that "some of the questions were leading the witness to favor Kerry and oppose W. I'll bet that's a surprise."
The ABC/Washington Post poll has a pretty good reputation. And this most recent one seems to have made a splash. The liberal magazine Mother Jones felt a need to tell Democrats not to panic.
This does not surprise me at all. If true, then this poll is really an indicator of things to come.
THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE CONVENTION LINE EVER
The Most Irresponsible Convention Line Ever, and I don't mean the long line for the lone non-port-a-john bathroom:
In the depths of the Depression, Franklin Roosevelt inspired the nation when he said, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' Today, we say the only thing we have to fear is four more years of George Bush." — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
Iran is building nuclear weapons, North Korea has nuclear weapons, al-Qaeda has dedicated itself to killing as many Americans as possible, France and Germany want to appease dictators, Abu Zarqawi and his band of thugs are abducting any foreigner they can get their hands on, and all Kennedy thinks we have to fear is George W. Bush?
Pleasant little alternate reality he lives in, isn't it?
UPGRADED FOR 2004
Barack Obama, profiled here, is Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford 2.0.
Ford gave the Democrats' keynote address in 2000. Back then, Brit Hume said, "I think anyone can get a sense why the Gore campaign chose him. Young, graceful, articulate. A good speaker, and the message, I think, more attuned to the other nights of this convention, rather than to this one."
U.S. News' Michael Barone: "I think we may be looking at a new political star."
And yet, while Ford hasn't disappeared, he hasn't quite risen to the heights some might have expected.
DYKE RAPID RESPONSE ON KENNEDY
Jim Dyke, RNC Spokesman: "Last Thursday we heard John Kerry assert that he will take responsibility for what is said at this convention, and tonight John Kerry's partner in the Senate and political mentor of 20 years attacked the President in a base and personal way without identifying one positive aspect of John Kerry's record or vision. This night exemplified the anger, pessimism and negativity of the Democratic Party."
More later
Hands down O'Reilly. O'Reilly asked questions that went unanswered while Moore continued to rant on one issue . . .WMD.
Moore showed himself to be out of touch on several issues and ignored facts that refuted his claims. It is time for Michael Moore to take the money and go away.
There was a star at the convention last night. It wasn't Ted Kennedy. It wasn't Teresa Heinz Kerry. It was a little known state senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. Obama is currently running unopposed for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retiring Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican. As a side note, the Illinois Republican Party is in such disarray that it is unable to find anyone willing to run.
While many call Obama a rising star in the democratic Party, he looks and sounds like true liberal. He says that there is just one United States of America, but he is part of a party that doesn't really believe that. Since I am not a resident of Illinois, I cannot (and probably) would not vote for him. It is good, however, that an African-American got a spot on the DNC roster. It is also a shame that Jesse Jackson supports him. That support will cost him a substantial number of votes and a tarnished reputation if he wins.
Now, here a some interesting items.
+It is now official . . the DNC is dull.
At least that's what Dan Rather says and you know that if Rather says it, it must be right. Oh wait, if Rather says it, it must be left.
From CBS News-->CBS News | Rather On Convention: Dullsville | July 27, 2004�22:52:33
+It appears that far-left filmmaker, Michael Moore, is recanting one of the many lies in his movie.
He now says that President Bush was not responsible for the flights of Saudi citizens out of the country following 9/11. This glaring lie was a major premise of the movie. In fact it was Moore buddy, Richard Clarke, that authorized the flights.
One lie down, so many Moore to go.
CNS article -->Michael Moore Backpedals on Key Premise of Documentary -- 07/28/2004
+A former mayor of Boston, Ray Flynn, is criticizing his own part for being out of touch with America. Well, at least, one democrat has it write.
Flynn says that the Democrats are ignoring core values both at the convention and in its platform.
CNS story-->Ex-Boston Dem Mayor Says Party 'Out of Touch' With American Values -- 07/28/2004
+Now for today's items from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online:
A POLL RESPONDENT REPORTS IN
The Kerry Spot's most important reader - commonly referred to as "Dad" - was one of the respondents to the most recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, the one that had surprisingly good numbers for the president.
The registered Republican, in South Carolina, reports that "some of the questions were leading the witness to favor Kerry and oppose W. I'll bet that's a surprise."
The ABC/Washington Post poll has a pretty good reputation. And this most recent one seems to have made a splash. The liberal magazine Mother Jones felt a need to tell Democrats not to panic.
This does not surprise me at all. If true, then this poll is really an indicator of things to come.
THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE CONVENTION LINE EVER
The Most Irresponsible Convention Line Ever, and I don't mean the long line for the lone non-port-a-john bathroom:
In the depths of the Depression, Franklin Roosevelt inspired the nation when he said, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' Today, we say the only thing we have to fear is four more years of George Bush." — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
Iran is building nuclear weapons, North Korea has nuclear weapons, al-Qaeda has dedicated itself to killing as many Americans as possible, France and Germany want to appease dictators, Abu Zarqawi and his band of thugs are abducting any foreigner they can get their hands on, and all Kennedy thinks we have to fear is George W. Bush?
Pleasant little alternate reality he lives in, isn't it?
UPGRADED FOR 2004
Barack Obama, profiled here, is Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford 2.0.
Ford gave the Democrats' keynote address in 2000. Back then, Brit Hume said, "I think anyone can get a sense why the Gore campaign chose him. Young, graceful, articulate. A good speaker, and the message, I think, more attuned to the other nights of this convention, rather than to this one."
U.S. News' Michael Barone: "I think we may be looking at a new political star."
And yet, while Ford hasn't disappeared, he hasn't quite risen to the heights some might have expected.
DYKE RAPID RESPONSE ON KENNEDY
Jim Dyke, RNC Spokesman: "Last Thursday we heard John Kerry assert that he will take responsibility for what is said at this convention, and tonight John Kerry's partner in the Senate and political mentor of 20 years attacked the President in a base and personal way without identifying one positive aspect of John Kerry's record or vision. This night exemplified the anger, pessimism and negativity of the Democratic Party."
More later
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Al Franken is a boob
Who is the most annoying, unfunny, and laughable democrat shill at the DNC?
Why it's that failed comedian turned activist Al Franken.
A column from the Boston Herald says it better than me. -->BostonHerald.com - Road to Boston Blog:
Why it's that failed comedian turned activist Al Franken.
A column from the Boston Herald says it better than me. -->BostonHerald.com - Road to Boston Blog:
Cheney Responds to Dems
At a campaign stop in Fort Pendleton California, Vice-President, Dick Cheney, responded to some of the criticism from last night Bush bashing from the featured speakers at the DNC.
The main message of his speech was that weakness invites terrorists and the use of strength deters it.
Article here -->My Way - News
The main message of his speech was that weakness invites terrorists and the use of strength deters it.
Article here -->My Way - News
Moore vs O'Reilly
Apparently Michael Moore finally had a showdown with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly.
Form the Drudge Report comes an "embargoed" transcript.
Moore is a real danger to America.
Transcript here -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
Form the Drudge Report comes an "embargoed" transcript.
Moore is a real danger to America.
Transcript here -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
Ratings freefall
The overnight ratings for the networks coverage on the DNC show that reruns are getting higher ratings then the Dems.
It will be interesting to monitor the ratings as the convention drags on. Ratings will be most important Thursday.
As for tonight's programming on the Big 4, it looks like the networks are reverting to normal programming.
THE BIG YAWN: NETWORKS IN RATINGS FREEFALL AT CONVENTION, OPENING NIGHT ALL-TIME LOW: ABCNEWS JENNINGS WITH 3.5 RATING/5 SHARE [DOWN FROM 4.5/8 IN 2000]; NBCNEWS BROKAW 3.3/5 [2000:4.8/9]; CBS DAN RATHER 3.2/5 [2000:3.8/7... TRAIL ALL OTHER PRIME-TIME MONDAY PROGRAMMING [CSI:MIAMI RERUN ON CBS PULLS 8.6 RATING/13 SHARE]...
DRUDGE REPORT 2004�:
It will be interesting to monitor the ratings as the convention drags on. Ratings will be most important Thursday.
As for tonight's programming on the Big 4, it looks like the networks are reverting to normal programming.
THE BIG YAWN: NETWORKS IN RATINGS FREEFALL AT CONVENTION, OPENING NIGHT ALL-TIME LOW: ABCNEWS JENNINGS WITH 3.5 RATING/5 SHARE [DOWN FROM 4.5/8 IN 2000]; NBCNEWS BROKAW 3.3/5 [2000:4.8/9]; CBS DAN RATHER 3.2/5 [2000:3.8/7... TRAIL ALL OTHER PRIME-TIME MONDAY PROGRAMMING [CSI:MIAMI RERUN ON CBS PULLS 8.6 RATING/13 SHARE]...
DRUDGE REPORT 2004�:
Michael Jackson Accused of Imprisoning Boy
While I would prefer that Michael Jackson just go away . . . prison or otherwise . . based on some newer evidence against Jackson, I am leaning toward prison.
Story from Yahoo and the AP-->Yahoo! News - Michael Jackson Accused of Imprisoning Boy
Story from Yahoo and the AP-->Yahoo! News - Michael Jackson Accused of Imprisoning Boy
USA Today Spins Coulter Flap
From Human Events Online a response from USA Today about rejecting and replacing Ann Coulter at the DNC.
USA Today says that the column submitted had problems with "tone", "words", "voice", etc. McPaper also claims that the decision to end the relationship was mutual.
Yeah right.
As I said yesterday, USA Today knew who they were getting when they approach Ms Coulter. Unless the editors have been living under rocks, they understood her point of view and her columns would be typical of her writings for years.
So, USA Today has reverted to its liberal roots and Ann Coulter will continue to be critical of anything approaching a liberal.
More from Human Events Online -->HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: USA Today Responds to Flap Over Coulter Column by Chris Field
USA Today says that the column submitted had problems with "tone", "words", "voice", etc. McPaper also claims that the decision to end the relationship was mutual.
Yeah right.
As I said yesterday, USA Today knew who they were getting when they approach Ms Coulter. Unless the editors have been living under rocks, they understood her point of view and her columns would be typical of her writings for years.
So, USA Today has reverted to its liberal roots and Ann Coulter will continue to be critical of anything approaching a liberal.
More from Human Events Online -->HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: USA Today Responds to Flap Over Coulter Column by Chris Field
Tidbits - 7/27/04
It appears that the Democrats tried to limit "Bush Bashing" as much as they could during Day 1 of the DNC. Did they succeed? Who knows.
The concern or problem is will the convention become too bland and unwatchable except for the most partisan of viewers? A whitewashed convention will not tell the true Democrat position nor help undecided voters understand the difference between Kerry and Bush.
Except for the consummate politician, Bill Clinton, there is unlikely to be any other speeches that will generate any excitement. While the Clintons claim they will help John Kerry become President, remember the Clintons did not support Kerry until it was apparent that their candidate, Wesley Clarke, had failed to generate any excitement in the democratic base.
It will be interesting.
Now here are some interesting items.
+A new poll from ABC News shows that Kerry is losing ground to President Bush on most issues when compared to a poll last month.
Article and full poll results-->ABCNEWS.com : Poll: Kerry Weakens on Issues, Attributes
+It appears that the "girlie men" in the California legislature have seen the light and agreed to a budget resolution proposed by the Governor.
Full story -->Las Vegas SUN: Schwarzenegger, Lawmakers Agree on Budget
+Here are today's items from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online.
REPORTERS FOCUS: RON REAGAN
At the GOP press conference today, reporters focused again and again on one question: Wasn't Ron Reagan's appearance at the Democratic Convention a major blow to Republicans?
RNC Chair Ed Gillespie said no. "I don't think anyone is surprised. This is consistent with the comments and views we have seen from him over the last couple of decades. I'm sure he’ll be very comfortable right there."
And then the reporters would ask again, and again, wasn't Gillespie shocked or surprised or upset or angry over Reagan's appearance? And the answers were the same.
Your friendly neighborhood Kerry Spot correspondent was tempted to continue the idiotic focus on that issue, asking Gillespie, “Ed, this is the first time in human history that a son has disagreed politically with his father, isn’t it? Doesn’t it come as an enormous shock, and all but obliterate the president’s chances for reelection, that the son of a former president would disagree with his father’s views?”
I believe that Ron Regan's appearance at the DNC is insignificant and an attempt to embarrass Republicans. It will not work.
RNC COUNTER-SPIN SESSION
Just got back from the Republican National Committee's morning briefing. A couple of highlights:
RNC Chair Ed Gillespie: “Last night we saw ,despite Senator Kerry’s promise to have a positive convention, a number of attacks on the President. Last night’s speakers had a better than 2 to 1 ratio of attacks to laudatory comments about Kerry’s agenda.”
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.: I heard President Carter’s speech last night. He is a good man. He evoked a vision of peace and cooperation, but I think there was a lack of understanding that the world changed on September 11. We saw how the Ayattollah Khomeni responded to peace and cooperation. America was not respected in the world, because of its lack of strength.”
“Michael Moore was in the presidential box, somebody who said ‘Americans are stupid.’ Is that the foreign policy that is going to come out of this convention?”
KERRY IN A SPACE SUIT
This picture is getting a lot of attention and snickers among the press. The words "Dukakis in a tank" keep getting repeated.
See it at the Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com).
More later.
The concern or problem is will the convention become too bland and unwatchable except for the most partisan of viewers? A whitewashed convention will not tell the true Democrat position nor help undecided voters understand the difference between Kerry and Bush.
Except for the consummate politician, Bill Clinton, there is unlikely to be any other speeches that will generate any excitement. While the Clintons claim they will help John Kerry become President, remember the Clintons did not support Kerry until it was apparent that their candidate, Wesley Clarke, had failed to generate any excitement in the democratic base.
It will be interesting.
Now here are some interesting items.
+A new poll from ABC News shows that Kerry is losing ground to President Bush on most issues when compared to a poll last month.
Article and full poll results-->ABCNEWS.com : Poll: Kerry Weakens on Issues, Attributes
+It appears that the "girlie men" in the California legislature have seen the light and agreed to a budget resolution proposed by the Governor.
Full story -->Las Vegas SUN: Schwarzenegger, Lawmakers Agree on Budget
+Here are today's items from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online.
REPORTERS FOCUS: RON REAGAN
At the GOP press conference today, reporters focused again and again on one question: Wasn't Ron Reagan's appearance at the Democratic Convention a major blow to Republicans?
RNC Chair Ed Gillespie said no. "I don't think anyone is surprised. This is consistent with the comments and views we have seen from him over the last couple of decades. I'm sure he’ll be very comfortable right there."
And then the reporters would ask again, and again, wasn't Gillespie shocked or surprised or upset or angry over Reagan's appearance? And the answers were the same.
Your friendly neighborhood Kerry Spot correspondent was tempted to continue the idiotic focus on that issue, asking Gillespie, “Ed, this is the first time in human history that a son has disagreed politically with his father, isn’t it? Doesn’t it come as an enormous shock, and all but obliterate the president’s chances for reelection, that the son of a former president would disagree with his father’s views?”
I believe that Ron Regan's appearance at the DNC is insignificant and an attempt to embarrass Republicans. It will not work.
RNC COUNTER-SPIN SESSION
Just got back from the Republican National Committee's morning briefing. A couple of highlights:
RNC Chair Ed Gillespie: “Last night we saw ,despite Senator Kerry’s promise to have a positive convention, a number of attacks on the President. Last night’s speakers had a better than 2 to 1 ratio of attacks to laudatory comments about Kerry’s agenda.”
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.: I heard President Carter’s speech last night. He is a good man. He evoked a vision of peace and cooperation, but I think there was a lack of understanding that the world changed on September 11. We saw how the Ayattollah Khomeni responded to peace and cooperation. America was not respected in the world, because of its lack of strength.”
“Michael Moore was in the presidential box, somebody who said ‘Americans are stupid.’ Is that the foreign policy that is going to come out of this convention?”
KERRY IN A SPACE SUIT
This picture is getting a lot of attention and snickers among the press. The words "Dukakis in a tank" keep getting repeated.
See it at the Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com).
More later.
Monday, July 26, 2004
USA Today nixes Coulter Column
Apparently USA Today has lost its nerve, again.
After being one of the only newspapers to tell the Sandy Berger story, USA Today has become quiet again. It hired conservative columnist, Ann Coulter, to write columns during the Democrat Convention. Basically, a breath of fresh-air in the stale liberal mantra coming from the fleet Center.
After seeing Ms Coulter's first column, USA Today said it wasn't "funny" enough and dropped the rest.
Funny. Ms Coulter is not known for being funny, but for being correct and criticizing liberals for what they are. This is almost as bad as the Washington Press Corps being mad at Don Imus for what he said at the Correspondents Dinner. What did he say? The truth mainly. And what did they expect?
Here's the column, courtesy of World Daily Net that USA Today was a afraid to publish -->WorldNetDaily: Put the speakers in a cage
After being one of the only newspapers to tell the Sandy Berger story, USA Today has become quiet again. It hired conservative columnist, Ann Coulter, to write columns during the Democrat Convention. Basically, a breath of fresh-air in the stale liberal mantra coming from the fleet Center.
After seeing Ms Coulter's first column, USA Today said it wasn't "funny" enough and dropped the rest.
Funny. Ms Coulter is not known for being funny, but for being correct and criticizing liberals for what they are. This is almost as bad as the Washington Press Corps being mad at Don Imus for what he said at the Correspondents Dinner. What did he say? The truth mainly. And what did they expect?
Here's the column, courtesy of World Daily Net that USA Today was a afraid to publish -->WorldNetDaily: Put the speakers in a cage
Bush's judge picks flare up again as hot election issue=The Hill.com=
It seems like the Republicans in the Senate are going to force the issue on judicial appointments.
How much of a campaign issue this will be will be a wait and see proposition. While it may only a small issue in the presidential campaign, it will loom large in senate races across the country. My guess is that it will be prominent in the South Dakota Senate race.
More from The Hill-->Bush's judge picks flare up again as hot election issue=The Hill.com=
How much of a campaign issue this will be will be a wait and see proposition. While it may only a small issue in the presidential campaign, it will loom large in senate races across the country. My guess is that it will be prominent in the South Dakota Senate race.
More from The Hill-->Bush's judge picks flare up again as hot election issue=The Hill.com=
How much Bush Bashing is Good?
"'We are not Michael Moore,' McAuliffe has told his top staffers, according to a well-placed source. 'Let's tell the voters what we stand for, not only what we stand against.'"
This statement is part of the "alleged" limitations that the Democrats want to put on Bush bashing at the convention. One problem is the Dems have given Michael Moore "free run" of the convention floor to do as he will.
More -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
This statement is part of the "alleged" limitations that the Democrats want to put on Bush bashing at the convention. One problem is the Dems have given Michael Moore "free run" of the convention floor to do as he will.
More -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
Clinton's Censored?
Clinton's censored, perhaps.
Word is that tensions between Bill and Hillary Clinton and the Kerry campaign continue apace, as the Kerry folks have asked to see the prepared remarks of both Clintons before they hit the theater in the round type stage on Monday.
'We're not so worried about the content, as much as we are worried about the length,' says a Kerry adviser at the Fleet Center Sunday afternoon. 'We were hearing that Hillary's introduction of the president was upwards of 15 minutes long. That's unacceptable. We just want this thing to go smoothly.'"
Frankly, I think the DNC and Kerry campaign should have stuck to their first plan . . . no Hillary.
The Clintons dislike John Kerry. Everyone should know this. The Clintons wanted Wesley Clarke as their candidate. Someone they could control. They want Kerry to lose so Hillary can run in '08.
Maybe the Kerry campaign should have insisted on Whoppi Goildberg's remarks and read them before she ever stepped on stage in New York.
More -->The American Spectator
Word is that tensions between Bill and Hillary Clinton and the Kerry campaign continue apace, as the Kerry folks have asked to see the prepared remarks of both Clintons before they hit the theater in the round type stage on Monday.
'We're not so worried about the content, as much as we are worried about the length,' says a Kerry adviser at the Fleet Center Sunday afternoon. 'We were hearing that Hillary's introduction of the president was upwards of 15 minutes long. That's unacceptable. We just want this thing to go smoothly.'"
Frankly, I think the DNC and Kerry campaign should have stuck to their first plan . . . no Hillary.
The Clintons dislike John Kerry. Everyone should know this. The Clintons wanted Wesley Clarke as their candidate. Someone they could control. They want Kerry to lose so Hillary can run in '08.
Maybe the Kerry campaign should have insisted on Whoppi Goildberg's remarks and read them before she ever stepped on stage in New York.
More -->The American Spectator
Bad Week for Kerry
One of the important things for a presidential candidate is to have an error free and controversy free week before the convention.
Senator Kerry did not. One of his advisors was pointed out as a liar, one advisor was caught stealing from the National Archives, and a third advisor and close friend had a meltdown on a conference call with reporters.
But, this is John Kerry. He surrounds himself with foolish people who's values are similar to Clinton's and most liberals.
Full article from the National Review Online -->Byron York on Democratic Convention 2004 on National Review Online
Senator Kerry did not. One of his advisors was pointed out as a liar, one advisor was caught stealing from the National Archives, and a third advisor and close friend had a meltdown on a conference call with reporters.
But, this is John Kerry. He surrounds himself with foolish people who's values are similar to Clinton's and most liberals.
Full article from the National Review Online -->Byron York on Democratic Convention 2004 on National Review Online
Tidbits - 7/26/04
Here are today's interesting items.
+Apparently Theresa Heinz Kerry can't take the heat.
After giving a speech on adding civility to the campaign, Ms Kerry tells a reporter to "shove it."
Ms Kerry if you do not like what reporters ask or say, then get off the campaign. This is just the beginning.
Developing story form the Drudge Report -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
+For many years the national conventions of all political parties have been little more than infomercials for the Presidential candidates. The last time I can remember anything interesting happening was in 1980 during the Republican Convention and it search for a vice presidential nominee.
Since then there have been no surprises with virtually everything decided during the primaries.
Now it appears that some of TV anchors want more time. Even Av Westing, head of ABC News, says it is unwarranted. Come on fellas, grow up.
Articles below . . .
The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > The News Media: Network Anchors Hold Fast to Their Dwindling 15 Minutes
DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2004�
+One of the up and coming Democrats is Iowa Governor, Tom Vislack. Well, maybe not anymore.
It appears that the governor's wife, Christie Vilsack, slam,med non-Midwesterners and other minorities for their accents and speaking habits.
Full article from the Boston Herald -->
+I guess since the media's airtime is limited, the need something to complain about. Now it's the restroom facilities at the Fleet Center.
Full story -->Yahoo! News - Media Upset With DNC Restroom Facilities
+From the Kerry Spot on National Review Online
THE REAL DEAL@BEANTOWN
The Democrats' mission for this year's convention can be found in two astounding numbers from the New York Times poll conducted in the middle of July: First, 29 percent of respondents said they did not know enough about John Kerry to have an opinion. Then, 39 percent said they had not heard enough about John Edwards to have an opinion.
It's nice for a challenger to have a lead that around the margin of error, as Kerry does, but when such a large segment of the potential voters don't know enough about you to have an opinion, that's a problem.
If you're reading National Review Online, or watching Fahrenheit 9/11, or listening to Rush or Air America, chances are you're one of the 60-70 percent who have an opinion on these guys. But that 30-40 percent is floating around out there, possibly voting this year, possibly not, blissfully ignoring the newspapers, news magazines, Internet, talk radio, network news, and cable news networks.
Kerry would prefer to enter the fall with a lead than in a tie, so he's got to begin attracting the attention of those tuned-out, disinterested voters and bringing them onto his bandwagon.
Which is why Kerry got the shaft when the networks' decided to minimally cover the conventions. The eight or so hours of coverage over four nights that each party got in 2000 has been dramatically scaled back, so NBC can show more contestants eating worms on and sitcom reruns. Political leaders don't get many chances to command the attention of almost all of the electorate, and until recently, the conventions were one of those rare chances. Now, the networks have decided to give Kerry & co. and Bush and co. a measly three hours over three nights each to make their case.
The minimal-coverage decision doesn't hurt the president quite as much, because after nearly four extraordinarily busy years (remember when some people thought he would be a "caretaker" president with modest goals?), the public pretty much knows what it thinks of him.
Besides, days after the president speaks in New York City for the GOP convention, it will be the third anniversary of 9/11, which is likely to put Bush back onto the national stage again. Those ceremonies, remembrances, memorial events (and yes, probably discussion of the likelihood of another attack) will put Bush front and center before that disengaged 30 to 40 percent, on a nonpartisan issue, where his with-us-or-against-us rhetoric is strongest.
So Kerry, more than anyone, needed those extra hours of prime-time coverage, particularly to have his surrogates talk about how great the Democratic candidate is. And while we political geeks may snicker at the policy-free stories of how surprisingly...human the nominee can be, the stories tend to work.
Think back to 2000, when Al Gore faced a similar challenge to Kerry — show the world he isn't a stiff, boring, droning, typical gray-suited politician, who had long ago had his traces of humor, likeability, and humanity assimilated into inside-the-Beltway Washington-speak.
Step one: One of Gore's three nominating speeches came from Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones, who made his college roommate sound like a wild and crazy fun guy. He said once neither of them could make it home for Thanksgiving, "so we made a fire in the venerable old fireplace in our room, wrapped a big turkey in a couple of rolls of tin foil, and roasted it right there in our dorm." Tipper Gore, he said, could testify that was "some of the most ambitious cooking Al has done since then." He talked about shooting pool, shooting at tin cans, and going "hunting through the woods with coon dogs in the middle of the night."
That speech certainly helped show a side of Gore no one had heard much about, and having it delivered in the Texas twang of the guy who chased Richard Kimble in The Fugitive didn't hurt.
Then there was, "The Kiss."
Thirdly, Gore embraced the Bob Shrum populist theme of, "I will fight for you against the powerful interests...." It was a fascinating break from the sunny optimism of Clinton. Still, Gore came out of Los Angeles with momentum, message, and poll numbers bouncing up.
Gore's experience in 2000 and Bob Dole's in 1996 suggest even the driest, least charismatic, and most dour candidates can have a successful convention. Only a major screw-up could cause any real heartburn for Democrats. Something like Ted Kennedy's criticism of George H.W. Bush in 1988, (near the pinnacle of Kennedy's wild drinking years) when his refrain was, "Where was George?"
The answer, from some wags at the GOP convention, was "at home, sober, in bed with his own wife."
But it's not like Ted Kennedy's giving a major address at this year's conv —
Oops.
More later including information about a video tape of Senator Kerry on Iraq that may be unfavorable to the candidate.
+Apparently Theresa Heinz Kerry can't take the heat.
After giving a speech on adding civility to the campaign, Ms Kerry tells a reporter to "shove it."
Ms Kerry if you do not like what reporters ask or say, then get off the campaign. This is just the beginning.
Developing story form the Drudge Report -->DRUDGE REPORT 2004�
+For many years the national conventions of all political parties have been little more than infomercials for the Presidential candidates. The last time I can remember anything interesting happening was in 1980 during the Republican Convention and it search for a vice presidential nominee.
Since then there have been no surprises with virtually everything decided during the primaries.
Now it appears that some of TV anchors want more time. Even Av Westing, head of ABC News, says it is unwarranted. Come on fellas, grow up.
Articles below . . .
The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > The News Media: Network Anchors Hold Fast to Their Dwindling 15 Minutes
DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2004�
+One of the up and coming Democrats is Iowa Governor, Tom Vislack. Well, maybe not anymore.
It appears that the governor's wife, Christie Vilsack, slam,med non-Midwesterners and other minorities for their accents and speaking habits.
Full article from the Boston Herald -->
+I guess since the media's airtime is limited, the need something to complain about. Now it's the restroom facilities at the Fleet Center.
Full story -->Yahoo! News - Media Upset With DNC Restroom Facilities
+From the Kerry Spot on National Review Online
THE REAL DEAL@BEANTOWN
The Democrats' mission for this year's convention can be found in two astounding numbers from the New York Times poll conducted in the middle of July: First, 29 percent of respondents said they did not know enough about John Kerry to have an opinion. Then, 39 percent said they had not heard enough about John Edwards to have an opinion.
It's nice for a challenger to have a lead that around the margin of error, as Kerry does, but when such a large segment of the potential voters don't know enough about you to have an opinion, that's a problem.
If you're reading National Review Online, or watching Fahrenheit 9/11, or listening to Rush or Air America, chances are you're one of the 60-70 percent who have an opinion on these guys. But that 30-40 percent is floating around out there, possibly voting this year, possibly not, blissfully ignoring the newspapers, news magazines, Internet, talk radio, network news, and cable news networks.
Kerry would prefer to enter the fall with a lead than in a tie, so he's got to begin attracting the attention of those tuned-out, disinterested voters and bringing them onto his bandwagon.
Which is why Kerry got the shaft when the networks' decided to minimally cover the conventions. The eight or so hours of coverage over four nights that each party got in 2000 has been dramatically scaled back, so NBC can show more contestants eating worms on and sitcom reruns. Political leaders don't get many chances to command the attention of almost all of the electorate, and until recently, the conventions were one of those rare chances. Now, the networks have decided to give Kerry & co. and Bush and co. a measly three hours over three nights each to make their case.
The minimal-coverage decision doesn't hurt the president quite as much, because after nearly four extraordinarily busy years (remember when some people thought he would be a "caretaker" president with modest goals?), the public pretty much knows what it thinks of him.
Besides, days after the president speaks in New York City for the GOP convention, it will be the third anniversary of 9/11, which is likely to put Bush back onto the national stage again. Those ceremonies, remembrances, memorial events (and yes, probably discussion of the likelihood of another attack) will put Bush front and center before that disengaged 30 to 40 percent, on a nonpartisan issue, where his with-us-or-against-us rhetoric is strongest.
So Kerry, more than anyone, needed those extra hours of prime-time coverage, particularly to have his surrogates talk about how great the Democratic candidate is. And while we political geeks may snicker at the policy-free stories of how surprisingly...human the nominee can be, the stories tend to work.
Think back to 2000, when Al Gore faced a similar challenge to Kerry — show the world he isn't a stiff, boring, droning, typical gray-suited politician, who had long ago had his traces of humor, likeability, and humanity assimilated into inside-the-Beltway Washington-speak.
Step one: One of Gore's three nominating speeches came from Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones, who made his college roommate sound like a wild and crazy fun guy. He said once neither of them could make it home for Thanksgiving, "so we made a fire in the venerable old fireplace in our room, wrapped a big turkey in a couple of rolls of tin foil, and roasted it right there in our dorm." Tipper Gore, he said, could testify that was "some of the most ambitious cooking Al has done since then." He talked about shooting pool, shooting at tin cans, and going "hunting through the woods with coon dogs in the middle of the night."
That speech certainly helped show a side of Gore no one had heard much about, and having it delivered in the Texas twang of the guy who chased Richard Kimble in The Fugitive didn't hurt.
Then there was, "The Kiss."
Thirdly, Gore embraced the Bob Shrum populist theme of, "I will fight for you against the powerful interests...." It was a fascinating break from the sunny optimism of Clinton. Still, Gore came out of Los Angeles with momentum, message, and poll numbers bouncing up.
Gore's experience in 2000 and Bob Dole's in 1996 suggest even the driest, least charismatic, and most dour candidates can have a successful convention. Only a major screw-up could cause any real heartburn for Democrats. Something like Ted Kennedy's criticism of George H.W. Bush in 1988, (near the pinnacle of Kennedy's wild drinking years) when his refrain was, "Where was George?"
The answer, from some wags at the GOP convention, was "at home, sober, in bed with his own wife."
But it's not like Ted Kennedy's giving a major address at this year's conv —
Oops.
More later including information about a video tape of Senator Kerry on Iraq that may be unfavorable to the candidate.
Unfinished Business
Late Friday, the judge in the Kobe Bryant Case did virtually the same thing to Kobe's victim that Kobe did.
In an unprecedented ruling, the judge in Eagle County Colorado will allow testimony and documentation on the sexual history of the victim. First, this is violation of the Colorado Rape Shield Law and second, it is just wrong.
It appears that this judge is enamored with Kobe's celebrity and has almost ensured the rapist will walk.
This is the third time in this case, and the trial hasn't started yet, that the court has failed to protect the victim as required by Colorado's Raped Shield Law.
In September, the Court released the name of the victim. A few weeks ago some low-level clerk posted the transcript of a hearing on the victim's sexual history on the court's website. The Court claims this was a mistake, but the low-level clerk still has her job. Now, the ruling on Friday makes it almost impossible for the prosecution to present appropriate evidence against the rapist, Kobe Bryant.
This will send a chill to other victims. It will result in fewer and fewer sexual assaults being reporter especially in cases involving celebrities. I guess quite a few professional athletes can breathe easier no thanks to the failure of a Colorado court.
Unfortunately, if I were Kobe's victim, I would withdraw from the case, change my name, and leave the state.
This is a shame.
In an unprecedented ruling, the judge in Eagle County Colorado will allow testimony and documentation on the sexual history of the victim. First, this is violation of the Colorado Rape Shield Law and second, it is just wrong.
It appears that this judge is enamored with Kobe's celebrity and has almost ensured the rapist will walk.
This is the third time in this case, and the trial hasn't started yet, that the court has failed to protect the victim as required by Colorado's Raped Shield Law.
In September, the Court released the name of the victim. A few weeks ago some low-level clerk posted the transcript of a hearing on the victim's sexual history on the court's website. The Court claims this was a mistake, but the low-level clerk still has her job. Now, the ruling on Friday makes it almost impossible for the prosecution to present appropriate evidence against the rapist, Kobe Bryant.
This will send a chill to other victims. It will result in fewer and fewer sexual assaults being reporter especially in cases involving celebrities. I guess quite a few professional athletes can breathe easier no thanks to the failure of a Colorado court.
Unfortunately, if I were Kobe's victim, I would withdraw from the case, change my name, and leave the state.
This is a shame.
Friday, July 23, 2004
More from the Kerry Spot
Apparently the French-looking senator from Massachusetts would have no problem spending your tax dollars, but has a problem when it comes to paying airport fees and taxes in Taxachusetts.
KERRY DUCKED AIRPORT FEES?
This is the kind of story that the Kerry campaign could do without:
...a caterer who bought food on the island for Kerry's campaign jet ducked one bill and haggled over another.
'Apparently they don't feel like he needs to pay fees to the airport,' [Nantucket airport manager Al] Peterson said. 'I gather the senator objects to that because his aide quoted him as saying that he already pays taxes on the island.'
Peterson is out $847 from the two visits Kerry has paid to the island since he became the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The first time, the person who arranges food service for Kerry's chartered Boeing 757 worked directly with a Nantucket caterer, bypassing the 25 percent handling fee typically paid to the airport. The food bill had come to $2,388, so Nantucket airport would have been paid $597.
The second time, after being reminded to go through the airport for catering, Scott Lalka, who coordinates food for Kerry's flights, said he would only pay $150 of the $400 bill he owed the airport.
According to Peterson, Lalka told him that he represented the Kerry campaign and the candidate did not feel he needed to pay the fees because he already pays taxes on Nantucket.
The airport has never had a problem with other passengers paying handling fees, Peterson said.
Attention, Kerry staffers: You're breaking fundraising records, and the candidate's wife is worth up to a billion. Pay the ferschtunkin' $847."
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online: "KERRY DUCKED AIRPORT FEES? [07/23 01:01 PM]
KERRY DUCKED AIRPORT FEES?
This is the kind of story that the Kerry campaign could do without:
...a caterer who bought food on the island for Kerry's campaign jet ducked one bill and haggled over another.
'Apparently they don't feel like he needs to pay fees to the airport,' [Nantucket airport manager Al] Peterson said. 'I gather the senator objects to that because his aide quoted him as saying that he already pays taxes on the island.'
Peterson is out $847 from the two visits Kerry has paid to the island since he became the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The first time, the person who arranges food service for Kerry's chartered Boeing 757 worked directly with a Nantucket caterer, bypassing the 25 percent handling fee typically paid to the airport. The food bill had come to $2,388, so Nantucket airport would have been paid $597.
The second time, after being reminded to go through the airport for catering, Scott Lalka, who coordinates food for Kerry's flights, said he would only pay $150 of the $400 bill he owed the airport.
According to Peterson, Lalka told him that he represented the Kerry campaign and the candidate did not feel he needed to pay the fees because he already pays taxes on Nantucket.
The airport has never had a problem with other passengers paying handling fees, Peterson said.
Attention, Kerry staffers: You're breaking fundraising records, and the candidate's wife is worth up to a billion. Pay the ferschtunkin' $847."
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online: "KERRY DUCKED AIRPORT FEES? [07/23 01:01 PM]
What will Bush Bashers do Now?
It appears that many of the statements and misstatements from Bush bashers will need to be silenced or retracted. Will they? No. Even if they read the 9/11 Commission Report, they will never admit that they lied or just made stuff up or misinterpreted or mis-reported (like the NY Times).
No, they will continue the hatred and bashing until the American voters say, "Enough." They will sat it with resounding voices on November 2.
Here's an article from Rich Lowry in National Review on the subject -->Rich Lowry on 9/11 Commission on National Review Online
No, they will continue the hatred and bashing until the American voters say, "Enough." They will sat it with resounding voices on November 2.
Here's an article from Rich Lowry in National Review on the subject -->Rich Lowry on 9/11 Commission on National Review Online
More Berger Intrigue
During a high level Clinton White House meeting it appears that National Security Advisor, Sandy Berger, had taken over for the president in regards to capturing Osama Bin Laden. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, Mr. Berger simply wrote "no" on a report from Richard Clarke on a plan to capture OBL.
Interestingly, this is one of the memos Berger sought to steal from the National Archives.
Full article from the New York Sun -->The Boldness of the President
Interestingly, this is one of the memos Berger sought to steal from the National Archives.
Full article from the New York Sun -->The Boldness of the President
Tidbits - 7/23/04
So far, I have heard very little negative comments about the 9/11 Commission unanimous report. With the exception of John Kerry and Richard Clarke, it has been very quiet. My guess is that the Sunday gabfests will be the time to say it was all Bush's fault. Wait and see.
Now, here are some interesting items.
+Apparently, Linda Ronstadt just can't stop herself. At a Thursday evening concert Ms Ronstadt again praised propagandist, Michel Moore. The audience reaction was virtually the same. Scores of concertgoers walked out.
Full article -->ContraCostaTimes.com | 07/23/2004 | Ronstadt gets audience walkout encore
+It appears that former President Bill Clinton was warned about terrorists in the United States, but ignored the warning. A memo written by Richard Clarke after the millennium Plot was uncovered, Clinton was warned about sleeper cells and other terrorist activity. By the way this is the document that was stolen from the National Archives by Sandy Berger.
Full article --<HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Clinton Was Warned: Terrorists in U.S.
+The following items are from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online.
KERRY ON PROTECTING AMERICAN INTERESTS
The Bush people seem pleased with this tidbit from today's Wall Street Journal poll:
"The poll also shows that voters remain wary of Mr. Kerry on national security, the issue looming over the contest as U.S. troops remain in Iraq, and post-Sept. 11 fears of new terrorist attacks at home haven't faded. Just 36% of those surveyed rate Mr. Kerry highly on "being strong in protecting American interests overseas," while 35% give him poor marks."
The full story is in the Wall street Journal, but a subscription is required.
KERRY ON ABORTION, CLEAR AS MUD
Kerry talked with Peter Jennings tonight about how he could support abortion under all circumstances, yet believe that life begins at conception:
JENNINGS: The senator has always supported a woman's right to have an abortion but also agrees with the central premise of the anti-abortion movement: that life begins at conception.
KERRY: My personal belief about what happens in the fertilization process as a human being is first formed and created, that's when life begins. Something begins to happen, a transformation, an evolution and within weeks you look and see the development of it, but that's not a person yet, and it's certainly not what somebody, in my judgment, ought to have the government of the United States intervening in.
JENNINGS: If you believe that life begins at conception, is even a first trimester not murder?
KERRY: No, because it's not a form of life that takes personhood in the terms that we have judged it to be in the past. Do I believe we should talk about alternatives to abortion? I think we should talk about adoption, we should talk about, I think it is responsible to talk about abstinence, but I also believe you should talk about proper education of people, sex education.
This. Is. Gobbledygook.
PRO-BUSH PIZZA PARLOR ACROSS FROM FLEET CENTER
This guy owns a pizza shop across from the Fleet Center, which should have been one of those businesses set to make a bundle during the Democratic convention, right? Well, it appears that security rules and barriers have gotten to be such a headache that staying open during the four days isn't worth it. So Mark F. Pasquale, one very brave pizza artisan, has put up a bold sign describing his feelings.
Hope the Democrats treat his sign of public protest with respect.
UPDATE: Drudge reports that, "On Friday, WRKO-AM's Peter Blute and Scott Allen Miller reported how Pasquale has been confronted by city inspectors who have threatened to fine him unless he takes the anti-Dem sign down!"
ONE MORE POLL, THIS ONE WITH BUSH UP
Tomorrow, a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll of 813 Registered Voters, taken from July 19 through 21, will show Bush with 44 percent, Kerry with 40 percent, and Nader with 2 percent.
UPDATE: The poll results are out, and the numbers are a little different: Bush-Cheney 47 percent, Kerry-Edwards 45 percent, Nader with 2 percent.
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later
Now, here are some interesting items.
+Apparently, Linda Ronstadt just can't stop herself. At a Thursday evening concert Ms Ronstadt again praised propagandist, Michel Moore. The audience reaction was virtually the same. Scores of concertgoers walked out.
Full article -->ContraCostaTimes.com | 07/23/2004 | Ronstadt gets audience walkout encore
+It appears that former President Bill Clinton was warned about terrorists in the United States, but ignored the warning. A memo written by Richard Clarke after the millennium Plot was uncovered, Clinton was warned about sleeper cells and other terrorist activity. By the way this is the document that was stolen from the National Archives by Sandy Berger.
Full article --<HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Clinton Was Warned: Terrorists in U.S.
+The following items are from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online.
KERRY ON PROTECTING AMERICAN INTERESTS
The Bush people seem pleased with this tidbit from today's Wall Street Journal poll:
"The poll also shows that voters remain wary of Mr. Kerry on national security, the issue looming over the contest as U.S. troops remain in Iraq, and post-Sept. 11 fears of new terrorist attacks at home haven't faded. Just 36% of those surveyed rate Mr. Kerry highly on "being strong in protecting American interests overseas," while 35% give him poor marks."
The full story is in the Wall street Journal, but a subscription is required.
KERRY ON ABORTION, CLEAR AS MUD
Kerry talked with Peter Jennings tonight about how he could support abortion under all circumstances, yet believe that life begins at conception:
JENNINGS: The senator has always supported a woman's right to have an abortion but also agrees with the central premise of the anti-abortion movement: that life begins at conception.
KERRY: My personal belief about what happens in the fertilization process as a human being is first formed and created, that's when life begins. Something begins to happen, a transformation, an evolution and within weeks you look and see the development of it, but that's not a person yet, and it's certainly not what somebody, in my judgment, ought to have the government of the United States intervening in.
JENNINGS: If you believe that life begins at conception, is even a first trimester not murder?
KERRY: No, because it's not a form of life that takes personhood in the terms that we have judged it to be in the past. Do I believe we should talk about alternatives to abortion? I think we should talk about adoption, we should talk about, I think it is responsible to talk about abstinence, but I also believe you should talk about proper education of people, sex education.
This. Is. Gobbledygook.
PRO-BUSH PIZZA PARLOR ACROSS FROM FLEET CENTER
This guy owns a pizza shop across from the Fleet Center, which should have been one of those businesses set to make a bundle during the Democratic convention, right? Well, it appears that security rules and barriers have gotten to be such a headache that staying open during the four days isn't worth it. So Mark F. Pasquale, one very brave pizza artisan, has put up a bold sign describing his feelings.
Hope the Democrats treat his sign of public protest with respect.
UPDATE: Drudge reports that, "On Friday, WRKO-AM's Peter Blute and Scott Allen Miller reported how Pasquale has been confronted by city inspectors who have threatened to fine him unless he takes the anti-Dem sign down!"
ONE MORE POLL, THIS ONE WITH BUSH UP
Tomorrow, a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll of 813 Registered Voters, taken from July 19 through 21, will show Bush with 44 percent, Kerry with 40 percent, and Nader with 2 percent.
UPDATE: The poll results are out, and the numbers are a little different: Bush-Cheney 47 percent, Kerry-Edwards 45 percent, Nader with 2 percent.
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later
Never Trust a Liberal Over 3 by Ann Coulter
Here is the latest column from Ann Coutler.
HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Never Trust a Liberal Over 3 by Ann Coulter
HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Never Trust a Liberal Over 3 by Ann Coulter
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Mugged by Viacom
A 9/11 Commissioner charges that CBS and its parent company, Viacom, "mugged" the 9/11 Commission by publishing Richard Clarke's book early, with criticism of Bill Clinton deleted, and had a "lovefest" on 60 Minutes for Clarke before his testimony before the Commission.
Sorry, Commissioner, but you should have known if it was to be on CBS it would be biased against anything near factual.
Article from the National Review OnLine-->Rich Lowry on 9/11 Commission on National Review Online
Sorry, Commissioner, but you should have known if it was to be on CBS it would be biased against anything near factual.
Article from the National Review OnLine-->Rich Lowry on 9/11 Commission on National Review Online
9/11 Commission Report
With a few exceptions, the commentary on the 9/11 Commission Report was relatively mild. I expected more negative additions from the liberals on this highly partisan commission. It really hasn't happened yet.
The one glaring exceptions comes from Senator John Kerry. His rhetoric was purely negative and just not helpful. He expected all recommendations to be set in place NOW. Does he not realize that the a very few legislative days left and he should know how slowly Congress works. He should know, but I guess when you are absent from work 70% of the time, you forget how your office works.
Several article below.
9/11 Commission Says 'No Single Individual' Was Responsible -- 07/22/2004
Revisiting the Horror: 'I Think We Are Going Down' -- 07/22/2004
KERRY 9/11 REPORT COMMENTS, LIVE-BLOGGED
Kerry on the 9/11 report: I will meet with Kean and Hamilton. Initial briefing says we have a massive agenda of reform, which is long overdue, by the way. I have called for major changes. I have called for task forcing specific efforts of our intelligence regarding terrorism, and proliferation.
This is not a time for bickering. not a time for politics.
If I am elected president and there has not been enough progress, then I will lead immediately an emergency summit of leading members of Congress and leaders of agencies and we will put together a rapid agenda to protect this country.
(quotes not precise, typed as Kerry was speaking)
The New York Times > Washington > 9/11 Panel Is Said to Sharply Fault Role of Congress
The one glaring exceptions comes from Senator John Kerry. His rhetoric was purely negative and just not helpful. He expected all recommendations to be set in place NOW. Does he not realize that the a very few legislative days left and he should know how slowly Congress works. He should know, but I guess when you are absent from work 70% of the time, you forget how your office works.
Several article below.
9/11 Commission Says 'No Single Individual' Was Responsible -- 07/22/2004
Revisiting the Horror: 'I Think We Are Going Down' -- 07/22/2004
KERRY 9/11 REPORT COMMENTS, LIVE-BLOGGED
Kerry on the 9/11 report: I will meet with Kean and Hamilton. Initial briefing says we have a massive agenda of reform, which is long overdue, by the way. I have called for major changes. I have called for task forcing specific efforts of our intelligence regarding terrorism, and proliferation.
This is not a time for bickering. not a time for politics.
If I am elected president and there has not been enough progress, then I will lead immediately an emergency summit of leading members of Congress and leaders of agencies and we will put together a rapid agenda to protect this country.
(quotes not precise, typed as Kerry was speaking)
The New York Times > Washington > 9/11 Panel Is Said to Sharply Fault Role of Congress
Tidbits - 7/22/04
Today's the day. Today the highly partisan 9/11 Commission will officially release its report.
I'm sure that most of the important stuff has been leaked and I'm sure the Commissioners Ben Viniste and Kerry (that's Bob) will have something negative to say further that wasn't included.
Updates throughout the day.
Now for some interesting morsels.
+Now here's something so typical it is funny.
A liberal group claims that the extension of the Bush tax cuts for two years will hurt the middle class and the economy.
So, let me understand this liberals, if I have more money to put back into the economy instead of sending it to you in congress to waste, it is harmful to me. Yeah right.
Full article -->Tax Cut Extension Would Hurt Middle Class, Liberal Group Claims -- 07/22/2004
+More on the Berger Investigation
apparently House Speak Dennis Hastert (R-IL) isn;t quite satisfied with the explanation by lawyers and spokespeople for former Clinton and Kerry advisor, Sandy Berger. He is calling for a Congressional investigation.
I wonder why the staff at the National Archives who claim they saw Berger take documents didn't stop him before leaving the building.
The full article which poses some interesting questions -->House Speaker Wonders, Was Berger Covering Up? -- 07/22/2004
More Berger related articles -->News-Leader.com | True Ozarks | Guards left Berger alone, sources say
Archives Staff Was Suspicious of Berger (washingtonpost.com)
Bush: Berger incident 'very serious' House committee will investigate
+It appears that Senator John Edwards is echoing statements made by John Kerry. In an interview on Larry King Live, Edwards said that world leaders want Bush to lose.
I'll ask the Senator from NC they same question everyone asked Kerry, Who are these leaders? Give us a list.
Here's more:
Sen. John Edwards said on CNN's LARRY KING LIVE last night:
"Just a few weeks ago...I was in Brussels at NATO meeting with a whole group of NATO ambassadors and hearing their perspective on this. I just believe that these countries around the world, whose cooperation and alliances we need, believe that in order for them to have a fresh start with America, we're going to need a new president to do that. Now, they're not going to want to say this very vocally, of course, but the reality is that in order for us to reestablish old relations and to establish new relationships, I believe we need a new president. ...
"They didn't say that directly. What they said was they're very frustrated with the way this administration has dealt with them. They believe that in this case our trans-Atlantic relationships are important, should be important to America, are important to them. They want to be treated with some level of respect.
"They understand, because I made it very clear, at the end of the day, the president of the United States is going to do what's in the best interest of the American people. But the vast majority of the time, our interests are aligned with the interests of our allies around the world."
+Today's items of note from the Kerry Spot on National Review OnLine.
THE STATE OF THE RACE IN A NUTSHELL
The RealClearPolitics guys get to the crux of the race at this stage: It's roughly 45-45-10 in most of the polls, and has been for a while. While some left-of-center commentators are gleefully comparing the Bush campaign to a "desperate" "wounded animal", the state of the race has gone from Bush having a major advantage to it now being a much closer context. As they put it,
"...many Republican lawmakers, operatives and activists are terrified. But they are terrified not because they think that President Bush is going to lose, but rather because over the last six months they have realized that it is now possible that President Bush might lose. That is a big difference."
Have those undecided ten percent completely given up on Bush? Probably not, otherwise they wouldn't be undecided. The other questions - how many of them will show up on Election Day? And how many live in swing states?
Kerry's done better than the average challenger, but anyone who tells you the race is over today probably deluded enough to carry his important papers in his socks.
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later.
I'm sure that most of the important stuff has been leaked and I'm sure the Commissioners Ben Viniste and Kerry (that's Bob) will have something negative to say further that wasn't included.
Updates throughout the day.
Now for some interesting morsels.
+Now here's something so typical it is funny.
A liberal group claims that the extension of the Bush tax cuts for two years will hurt the middle class and the economy.
So, let me understand this liberals, if I have more money to put back into the economy instead of sending it to you in congress to waste, it is harmful to me. Yeah right.
Full article -->Tax Cut Extension Would Hurt Middle Class, Liberal Group Claims -- 07/22/2004
+More on the Berger Investigation
apparently House Speak Dennis Hastert (R-IL) isn;t quite satisfied with the explanation by lawyers and spokespeople for former Clinton and Kerry advisor, Sandy Berger. He is calling for a Congressional investigation.
I wonder why the staff at the National Archives who claim they saw Berger take documents didn't stop him before leaving the building.
The full article which poses some interesting questions -->House Speaker Wonders, Was Berger Covering Up? -- 07/22/2004
More Berger related articles -->News-Leader.com | True Ozarks | Guards left Berger alone, sources say
Archives Staff Was Suspicious of Berger (washingtonpost.com)
Bush: Berger incident 'very serious' House committee will investigate
+It appears that Senator John Edwards is echoing statements made by John Kerry. In an interview on Larry King Live, Edwards said that world leaders want Bush to lose.
I'll ask the Senator from NC they same question everyone asked Kerry, Who are these leaders? Give us a list.
Here's more:
Sen. John Edwards said on CNN's LARRY KING LIVE last night:
"Just a few weeks ago...I was in Brussels at NATO meeting with a whole group of NATO ambassadors and hearing their perspective on this. I just believe that these countries around the world, whose cooperation and alliances we need, believe that in order for them to have a fresh start with America, we're going to need a new president to do that. Now, they're not going to want to say this very vocally, of course, but the reality is that in order for us to reestablish old relations and to establish new relationships, I believe we need a new president. ...
"They didn't say that directly. What they said was they're very frustrated with the way this administration has dealt with them. They believe that in this case our trans-Atlantic relationships are important, should be important to America, are important to them. They want to be treated with some level of respect.
"They understand, because I made it very clear, at the end of the day, the president of the United States is going to do what's in the best interest of the American people. But the vast majority of the time, our interests are aligned with the interests of our allies around the world."
+Today's items of note from the Kerry Spot on National Review OnLine.
THE STATE OF THE RACE IN A NUTSHELL
The RealClearPolitics guys get to the crux of the race at this stage: It's roughly 45-45-10 in most of the polls, and has been for a while. While some left-of-center commentators are gleefully comparing the Bush campaign to a "desperate" "wounded animal", the state of the race has gone from Bush having a major advantage to it now being a much closer context. As they put it,
"...many Republican lawmakers, operatives and activists are terrified. But they are terrified not because they think that President Bush is going to lose, but rather because over the last six months they have realized that it is now possible that President Bush might lose. That is a big difference."
Have those undecided ten percent completely given up on Bush? Probably not, otherwise they wouldn't be undecided. The other questions - how many of them will show up on Election Day? And how many live in swing states?
Kerry's done better than the average challenger, but anyone who tells you the race is over today probably deluded enough to carry his important papers in his socks.
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later.
Party in Beantown
From the Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com) comes a listing of the various parties, receptions, and general fun times for the Dems in Boston next week. From the looks of this list, you have to wonder when they will find time to have a convention.
While local Boston-area residents are bracing for total interruption of their daily lives to make way for the Democrat's convention next week, political highrollers are set to party with stars!
Finance Honored Guests will be treated to a week of exciting and informative events. Events include:
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Clambake at the Kennedy Compound
Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Leadership Council
(All guests depart from Four Seasons Hotel)
Please join Senator and Mrs. Edward M. Kennedy at their historic home in Hyannis for an afternoon clambake (this event is by invitation only).
Monday, July 26, 2004
DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe�s Welcome Party
Boston Harbor Hotel/Rowes Wharf 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Please join Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe for pre-gavel cocktails at the Boston harbor side as he welcomes Democrats to the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.
DNC Dessert Reception
The Massachusetts State House10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Come celebrate after the first day of events at the beautiful and historic halls of the Massachusetts State House.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Policy Briefing by President William Jefferson Clinton
The Wang Theater 270 Tremont Street 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Please join President Bill Clinton for a briefing and question and answer session on the key issues facing our country this election year.
Pool, Bowling and Cocktails with Ben Affleck
Jillian�s 145 Ipswich Street 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Come join Ben Affleck and shoot some pool and share cocktails at Jillian�s Sports Bar located minutes away f"
While local Boston-area residents are bracing for total interruption of their daily lives to make way for the Democrat's convention next week, political highrollers are set to party with stars!
Finance Honored Guests will be treated to a week of exciting and informative events. Events include:
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Clambake at the Kennedy Compound
Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Leadership Council
(All guests depart from Four Seasons Hotel)
Please join Senator and Mrs. Edward M. Kennedy at their historic home in Hyannis for an afternoon clambake (this event is by invitation only).
Monday, July 26, 2004
DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe�s Welcome Party
Boston Harbor Hotel/Rowes Wharf 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Please join Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe for pre-gavel cocktails at the Boston harbor side as he welcomes Democrats to the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.
DNC Dessert Reception
The Massachusetts State House10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Come celebrate after the first day of events at the beautiful and historic halls of the Massachusetts State House.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Policy Briefing by President William Jefferson Clinton
The Wang Theater 270 Tremont Street 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Please join President Bill Clinton for a briefing and question and answer session on the key issues facing our country this election year.
Pool, Bowling and Cocktails with Ben Affleck
Jillian�s 145 Ipswich Street 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Come join Ben Affleck and shoot some pool and share cocktails at Jillian�s Sports Bar located minutes away f"
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
9-11 panel wants shake up of Congress - (United Press International)
This is probably one of the more interesting leaks from the report of the 9/11 Commission.
The Commission is calling for a restucture of the way congress oversees the intelligence community. While a good idea, this is unlikely to happen. Congress hates people stomping on its turf. And This would be a big loss of turf.
Nice idea though.
Full article from the UPI in the Washington Times -->9-11 panel wants shake up of Congress - (United Press International)
The Commission is calling for a restucture of the way congress oversees the intelligence community. While a good idea, this is unlikely to happen. Congress hates people stomping on its turf. And This would be a big loss of turf.
Nice idea though.
Full article from the UPI in the Washington Times -->9-11 panel wants shake up of Congress - (United Press International)
Tidbits
All of today's tidbits come from the Kerry Spot on National Review OnLine.
IS FMA BEHIND RECENT SHIFT IN POLLS?
A Kerry Spot reader from the University of Oxford points out an interesting development. On July 14, the Rasmussen tracking polls showed the GOP doing badly in both the Bush/Kerry and GOP/Dem Congress polls: Bush trailed Kerry 45 to 48, and on the generic congressional preference question, Republicans trailed Democrats 37 to 45.
Think back to last week. Not a terribly dramatic one in the political world, correct? Yet as of July 20, Bush is up 47 to 45 (47 to 46 today) and the GOP was at 41 to 42 yesterday, 40 to 43 today.
What happened? Well, the Senate held its vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment.
"It's difficult to identify anything else that would account for the shift," the Oxford reader writes. "This suggests that 2004 is shaping up as a replay of 1988 Bush-Dukakis: the Massachusetts liberal led until the electorate realized how socially liberal he was; once this sank in, Bush took a strong lead that he never lost. The lesson for 2004 would be that the FMA is a vote-winner for Bush, and that the Kerry campaign has underestimated how out of touch it is with mainstream voters on the question of traditional marriage. Nobody seems to have noticed, but the vote on FMA may prove to be the turning point in this election."
We will need to see a lot more polls before concluding that this analysis is spot-on. For starters, this is a more socially liberal country than it was in 1988. But this may be one of those under-the-radar issues. I wonder if opposition to gay marriage is something some voters feel in their gut, but don't like admitting to a pollster on the phone.
KERRY 'DREADFULLY WEAK' RECORD ON MINORITY OUTREACH
Reuben Navarrette, a Dallas Morning News columnist, isn't impressed with Kerry's minority outreach efforts.
"The president may be too busy to speak to you now," Kerry told the members of the NAACP. "But I've got news for you. He's going to have plenty of time after Nov. 2."
That line was a big hit with the crowd, which howled its approval. Kerry has some nerve. He has a dreadfully weak track record of reaching out to minorities, and, while in the Senate, he has not been known for championing issues that matter to them. The presumptive Democratic nominee has also been criticized by people like Democratic activist Donna Brazile for not having enough people of color in the top spots of his campaign staff or putting forth specific proposals for nonwhites. (The Kerry campaign claims it has more minorities on board that it is given credit for, insisting that they make up 30 percent of the campaign staff.)
But the main problem with Kerry's pitch to minorities is that it lacks honesty. The president is no racial divider. He appointed nonwhites as top advisers and Cabinet officials, including Colin Powell, Alberto Gonzales, Condoleezza Rice, Rod Paige, Elaine Chao, Mel Martinez, and Alphonso Jackson. Bush ordered the Justice Department to put a stop to racial profiling by federal agents and criticized racist remarks by Sen. Trent Lott. And it is African Americans and Latinos who stand to benefit most from some of the administration's top domestic priorities, including the No Child Left Behind Act, the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, and recent attempts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to revamp Section 8 housing.
Meanwhile, Kerry is making his stand on television. The campaign recently purchased a block of television time to take its message to African Americans and Latinos. All that was missing was a message — one more inspiring than: "Vote for me. I'm not George Bush." And even then, the ad campaign flopped after black Democrats in Congress panned the ads as "lackluster."
Kerry needs to stop talking so much about what Bush is doing wrong, and start emphasizing what he has done right.
KATIE COURIC, AVOIDING THE HARD QUESTIONS
Argh. Perky Katie Couric had Sandy Berger Attorney Lanny Breuer on this morning, and she asked a few campaign-related questions:
COURIC: And finally, I know that Mr. Berger stepped down as an adviser to the Kerry campaign. Did he do so voluntary or was that a request made by the Kerry campaign itself?
BREUER: A hundred percent voluntary. Sandy Berger has always taken this matter seriously. He takes the national security of this country seriously.
COURIC: Did he think he would be hurtful to the Kerry campaign if he stayed on?
BREUER: He thought that this was going to be a bit of a media circus over the next few days. He didn't want there to be any distraction from the hard work of the 9/11 commission, the commission whose work he supports. And he didn't want any distraction to the campaign.
Way to toss some creampuff softballs, Katie. The more interesting questions: Is it true, as Kerry's people say, that they were not told about this FBI investigation until the AP story hit the wires? Why was President Clinton told, but not Senator Kerry? And if that is the case, why did your client let his party's nominee get blindsided by this?
What do you expect. Katie Couric has never asked a hardball question of anyone who is a liberal, democrat, or both.
AP JUMPS GUN WITH 2008 SPECULATION
The Kerry camp is probably wishing the AP had found a different headline for this story: "Dems seen favoring Hillary Clinton in '08."
So, the 2004 race has been written off, huh? Or is this really early support for a primary challenge against President Kerry?
+Finally, there has been some buzz about the possiblility that nuclear tipped missile have been found in Iraq near Tikrit. This is a developing story from Reuters. If more develops, it will be posted.
IS FMA BEHIND RECENT SHIFT IN POLLS?
A Kerry Spot reader from the University of Oxford points out an interesting development. On July 14, the Rasmussen tracking polls showed the GOP doing badly in both the Bush/Kerry and GOP/Dem Congress polls: Bush trailed Kerry 45 to 48, and on the generic congressional preference question, Republicans trailed Democrats 37 to 45.
Think back to last week. Not a terribly dramatic one in the political world, correct? Yet as of July 20, Bush is up 47 to 45 (47 to 46 today) and the GOP was at 41 to 42 yesterday, 40 to 43 today.
What happened? Well, the Senate held its vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment.
"It's difficult to identify anything else that would account for the shift," the Oxford reader writes. "This suggests that 2004 is shaping up as a replay of 1988 Bush-Dukakis: the Massachusetts liberal led until the electorate realized how socially liberal he was; once this sank in, Bush took a strong lead that he never lost. The lesson for 2004 would be that the FMA is a vote-winner for Bush, and that the Kerry campaign has underestimated how out of touch it is with mainstream voters on the question of traditional marriage. Nobody seems to have noticed, but the vote on FMA may prove to be the turning point in this election."
We will need to see a lot more polls before concluding that this analysis is spot-on. For starters, this is a more socially liberal country than it was in 1988. But this may be one of those under-the-radar issues. I wonder if opposition to gay marriage is something some voters feel in their gut, but don't like admitting to a pollster on the phone.
KERRY 'DREADFULLY WEAK' RECORD ON MINORITY OUTREACH
Reuben Navarrette, a Dallas Morning News columnist, isn't impressed with Kerry's minority outreach efforts.
"The president may be too busy to speak to you now," Kerry told the members of the NAACP. "But I've got news for you. He's going to have plenty of time after Nov. 2."
That line was a big hit with the crowd, which howled its approval. Kerry has some nerve. He has a dreadfully weak track record of reaching out to minorities, and, while in the Senate, he has not been known for championing issues that matter to them. The presumptive Democratic nominee has also been criticized by people like Democratic activist Donna Brazile for not having enough people of color in the top spots of his campaign staff or putting forth specific proposals for nonwhites. (The Kerry campaign claims it has more minorities on board that it is given credit for, insisting that they make up 30 percent of the campaign staff.)
But the main problem with Kerry's pitch to minorities is that it lacks honesty. The president is no racial divider. He appointed nonwhites as top advisers and Cabinet officials, including Colin Powell, Alberto Gonzales, Condoleezza Rice, Rod Paige, Elaine Chao, Mel Martinez, and Alphonso Jackson. Bush ordered the Justice Department to put a stop to racial profiling by federal agents and criticized racist remarks by Sen. Trent Lott. And it is African Americans and Latinos who stand to benefit most from some of the administration's top domestic priorities, including the No Child Left Behind Act, the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, and recent attempts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to revamp Section 8 housing.
Meanwhile, Kerry is making his stand on television. The campaign recently purchased a block of television time to take its message to African Americans and Latinos. All that was missing was a message — one more inspiring than: "Vote for me. I'm not George Bush." And even then, the ad campaign flopped after black Democrats in Congress panned the ads as "lackluster."
Kerry needs to stop talking so much about what Bush is doing wrong, and start emphasizing what he has done right.
KATIE COURIC, AVOIDING THE HARD QUESTIONS
Argh. Perky Katie Couric had Sandy Berger Attorney Lanny Breuer on this morning, and she asked a few campaign-related questions:
COURIC: And finally, I know that Mr. Berger stepped down as an adviser to the Kerry campaign. Did he do so voluntary or was that a request made by the Kerry campaign itself?
BREUER: A hundred percent voluntary. Sandy Berger has always taken this matter seriously. He takes the national security of this country seriously.
COURIC: Did he think he would be hurtful to the Kerry campaign if he stayed on?
BREUER: He thought that this was going to be a bit of a media circus over the next few days. He didn't want there to be any distraction from the hard work of the 9/11 commission, the commission whose work he supports. And he didn't want any distraction to the campaign.
Way to toss some creampuff softballs, Katie. The more interesting questions: Is it true, as Kerry's people say, that they were not told about this FBI investigation until the AP story hit the wires? Why was President Clinton told, but not Senator Kerry? And if that is the case, why did your client let his party's nominee get blindsided by this?
What do you expect. Katie Couric has never asked a hardball question of anyone who is a liberal, democrat, or both.
AP JUMPS GUN WITH 2008 SPECULATION
The Kerry camp is probably wishing the AP had found a different headline for this story: "Dems seen favoring Hillary Clinton in '08."
So, the 2004 race has been written off, huh? Or is this really early support for a primary challenge against President Kerry?
+Finally, there has been some buzz about the possiblility that nuclear tipped missile have been found in Iraq near Tikrit. This is a developing story from Reuters. If more develops, it will be posted.
Conservative Asks Kerry to Keep His Promise -- 07/21/2004
In his speech to the NAACP, John Kerry said that he would be willing to meet with just about everybody. Well, some conservative groups have taken up Kerry on his offer.
I doubt that any of these groups will hear from the senator or his staff. He will be too busy. Just like he was too busy to receive intelligence briefings.
Full article from the Cybercast News Service -->
Conservative Asks Kerry to Keep His Promise -- 07/21/2004
I doubt that any of these groups will hear from the senator or his staff. He will be too busy. Just like he was too busy to receive intelligence briefings.
Full article from the Cybercast News Service -->
Conservative Asks Kerry to Keep His Promise -- 07/21/2004
Celebrities declare own war -- on Bush
A nice article from USA Today about the possible backlash against celebrities who have declated war on President Bush.
Deep in the article there is an interesting comment from the campaign saying that celebrities, like Whoppi Goldberg, do not speak for them That's interesting because the night of Whoppi-bashing, the senator from Massachusetts said that the celebrities that performed were the "heart and soul" of America. Just another Kerry flip-flop.
Full article -->Celebrities declare own war -- on Bush
Deep in the article there is an interesting comment from the campaign saying that celebrities, like Whoppi Goldberg, do not speak for them That's interesting because the night of Whoppi-bashing, the senator from Massachusetts said that the celebrities that performed were the "heart and soul" of America. Just another Kerry flip-flop.
Full article -->Celebrities declare own war -- on Bush
Are the democrats Biting the Hand That Feeds Them?
One sentence buried deep in the democrat party platform says that big media could be a danger to democracy. What? Isn't big media the friend of the liberal democrats? Isn't the New York Times big media? Isn't the NYT the most liberally biased newspaper in the country? I guess if any one can stand to read the 41 page document, the media may be alarmed.
From The Hollywood Reporter -->News
From The Hollywood Reporter -->News
Clinton Laughs It Up
Apparently the former resident of the White House, Bill Clinton, thinks that the stealing of classified documents from the National Archives is funny. Of course, he would since he and Hillary were caught stealing items from the White House in 2001.
A Denver Post article details an interview with Clinton during his 4 year, coast to coast book tour. -->DenverPost.com - LOCAL NEWS
A Denver Post article details an interview with Clinton during his 4 year, coast to coast book tour. -->DenverPost.com - LOCAL NEWS
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
More Berger
The Sandy Berger story keeps getting bigger and bigger in some parts of the media.
The NY Times, LA Times, and the Washington Post have buried the story as one would expect from the liberal media. USA Today has given the story the play it should have.
Below is a story from US Newswire about Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert (R-IL) reaction to Bergergate. -->U.S. Newswire - Hastert Statement on Berger Allegations
The NY Times, LA Times, and the Washington Post have buried the story as one would expect from the liberal media. USA Today has given the story the play it should have.
Below is a story from US Newswire about Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert (R-IL) reaction to Bergergate. -->U.S. Newswire - Hastert Statement on Berger Allegations
Kerry the Moderate?
A feature article from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online. It needed it's own place on the blog.
Selling Kerry as a Moderate
The next move for Kerry's campaign is clear. With his southern running mate secured and left wing of the Democratic party satisfied by Michael Moore movies and comparisons of Jeb Bush to Osama bin Laden, it's time to tack to the center and show how 'moderate' he is.
Several columnists and bloggers have signed on for this mission. The problem is that Kerry doesn't have the record of a centrist.
Kevin Drum of The Washington Monthly dismisses the Senate rankings, suggesting that 'a longer look shows that Kerry is liberal, but hardly a Paul Wellstone liberal, and Edwards is smack in the middle of the Democratic pack.'
Nonsense, points out blogger and law professor Stephen Bainbridge. He pulls the Americans for Democratic Action's ratings, and finds Kerry has a lifetime rating of 92; Wellstone has a 99. Edwards has an 81. From 1990 to 2000, neither Kerry nor Wellstone had a rating lower than 90.
Back on June 25, the New York Times contended, 'Kerry's Campaign Theme Is Leaning Toward Center':
Like any nominee moving toward a general election, Mr. Kerry is increasingly reaching out to voters in the middle. He also increasingly talks about values. Attacking Mr. Bush's budget, Mr. Kerry said last week: 'Scripture tells you where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let me tell you where my heart is. My heart is with the working families, who built this country.'
But even as he moves his appeal to the center...
Wait, that's 'reaching to voters in the middle'? Only at the New York Times could a Democrat accuse a Republican of abandoning working families, a charge that voters have heard every election since FDR, and have the move described as 'moving his appeal to the center.'
Peter Canel"
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online: "SELLING KERRY THE MODERATE [07/20 08:34 AM]
Selling Kerry as a Moderate
The next move for Kerry's campaign is clear. With his southern running mate secured and left wing of the Democratic party satisfied by Michael Moore movies and comparisons of Jeb Bush to Osama bin Laden, it's time to tack to the center and show how 'moderate' he is.
Several columnists and bloggers have signed on for this mission. The problem is that Kerry doesn't have the record of a centrist.
Kevin Drum of The Washington Monthly dismisses the Senate rankings, suggesting that 'a longer look shows that Kerry is liberal, but hardly a Paul Wellstone liberal, and Edwards is smack in the middle of the Democratic pack.'
Nonsense, points out blogger and law professor Stephen Bainbridge. He pulls the Americans for Democratic Action's ratings, and finds Kerry has a lifetime rating of 92; Wellstone has a 99. Edwards has an 81. From 1990 to 2000, neither Kerry nor Wellstone had a rating lower than 90.
Back on June 25, the New York Times contended, 'Kerry's Campaign Theme Is Leaning Toward Center':
Like any nominee moving toward a general election, Mr. Kerry is increasingly reaching out to voters in the middle. He also increasingly talks about values. Attacking Mr. Bush's budget, Mr. Kerry said last week: 'Scripture tells you where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let me tell you where my heart is. My heart is with the working families, who built this country.'
But even as he moves his appeal to the center...
Wait, that's 'reaching to voters in the middle'? Only at the New York Times could a Democrat accuse a Republican of abandoning working families, a charge that voters have heard every election since FDR, and have the move described as 'moving his appeal to the center.'
Peter Canel"
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online: "SELLING KERRY THE MODERATE [07/20 08:34 AM]
Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos
Now this is something. Bush basher and former Clinton advisor, Sandy Berger, admits to taking documents that were in a secure room during preparations for the 9/11 Commission's probe.
Berger says that he "knowingly" took the documents which were handwritten notes he simply put in his jacket pocket and left the National Archives. He and his lawyer claim that it was just "sloppy."
No, Mr. Berger, it was not sloppy it was intentional and it is criminal. You cannot go around the country bashing the Bush Administartion for not giving documents and information when you, sir, stole documents from the National Archives.
Full article from the AP via Yahoo News -->Yahoo! News - AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos
Berger says that he "knowingly" took the documents which were handwritten notes he simply put in his jacket pocket and left the National Archives. He and his lawyer claim that it was just "sloppy."
No, Mr. Berger, it was not sloppy it was intentional and it is criminal. You cannot go around the country bashing the Bush Administartion for not giving documents and information when you, sir, stole documents from the National Archives.
Full article from the AP via Yahoo News -->Yahoo! News - AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos
Tidbits - 7/20/04
+Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive democrat candidate, has announced that he will accept Federal Election funds. This is contrary to statements made earlier in the campaign. Yes, it is another flip-flop.
Full article from Boston.com -->Boston.com / News / Politics / Money / Kerry set to disburse millions, get US funds
+The Kerry campaign has bashed the GOP platform. Well, of course, he has. What would anyone expect.
There is, however, one interesting part. Kerry claims that the Bush Administration "let Osama Bin Laden escape." What????? Did Kerry forget that his pal Bill Clinton let OBL escape twice when he failed to "pull the trigger" on him. Liberals do have short memories.
Full article from CNS -->Kerry Campaign Offers Scathing Version of GOP Platform -- 07/20/2004
+There are things the Democrats will say and won't saying during the convention next week. Republicans will be watching closely and ready to respond when they forget about Kerry's voting record and "position change."
Article from CNS -->Republicans Watching What Dems Say - and Don't Say -- 07/20/2004
+Book describes Kerry's failing in national defense. Just in case anyone could forget.
Article from Human Events -->HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Kerry's Radical Anti-Defense Record by Rowan Scarborough
+Tasty morsels from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online.
TERESA 'IMMIGRANT' LINE FALLS FLAT
These can't be the opening paragraphs to a New York Times article that the Kerry team hoped for:
The crowd was cheering wildly as John Kerry, John Edwards and their spouses danced around one another on the open-air stage at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Then Teresa Heinz Kerry took her turn at the microphone and said, "I am an immigrant, too," clearly making a bid for the many Hispanics in the audience.
This time the applause was lukewarm and there was some head-shaking; many Hispanic families have been in New Mexico for generations and some take a dim view of immigrants
KERRY, DNC TO COORDINATE SPENDING OF FUNDS
Back in 1996, campaign finance watchdogs said that the coordination between the Democratic National Committee and President Clinton's reelection campaign violated the spirit of campaign finance laws, if not the letter. (And more than a few charged that it violated the letter.) Well, apparently this is the Kerry campaign's strategy, and they're not shy about it.
John F. Kerry is poised to take federal campaign money once he is nominated for the presidency next week, according to top campaign finance advisers, a move that will allow him to disburse millions of dollars in leftover campaign cash to Democratic Party operations, effectively augmenting the $75 million he will receive in federal funds. Aides expect the Kerry campaign committee to end up with enough money to make sizable transfers to the Democratic National Committee, state Democratic committees, and possibly the committees working to elect a Democratic Congress. The aim would be to have the committees, especially those in battleground states, air television ads on Kerry's behalf this fall, and finance get-out-the-vote operations on Election Day.
Where are the campaign finance watchdogs? They seem oddly silent about this effort to work around the spending limits that are part of the deal for receiving federal campaign funds.
UPDATE: Another Globe article states, "The Democratic and Republican parties can each spend roughly $16 million in coordination with their presidential nominees." But the first article makes it sound like the DNC will have a lot more than $16 million in leftover Kerry cash coming its way. "The DNC has $63 million in the bank, and its chairman, Terry McAuliffe, has pledged to raise an additional $100 million to benefit Kerry through grass-roots organizing and independent television ads. Kerry is planning to pull his own advertising during the month of August."
Did you expect anything different?
HOW BERGER TIES INTO THE CAMPAIGN
Hugh Hewitt puts the bizarre behavior and possible criminal investigation of Kerry advisor and former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger into the context of the presidential campaign:
First question: Does John Kerry condone this? Berger is a senior advisor to Kerry, so watch if the Dems want this scandal to follow their already struggling nominee to Boston.
The biggest question of all: If you can't trust Democrats with classified documents, how can you trust them with the national security? Answer: You can't, not if you are prudent. The recklessness and fecklessness of the Clinton years on all sorts of matters of highest importance — from the al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, to getting duped by the North Koreans and worked by Arafat — came home to roost with a deadly vengeance on 9/11. Are we going to give the same crowd another run at the controls, for that's what a vote for the Kerry-Moore Democrats means?
This isn't just the possibly criminal action of one man, it is the conduct of the senior White House foreign policy official from the Clinton era, and the action of a confidant and advisor to John Kerry. Had Rice been the one caught tampering with the records of the Bush Adminsitration relating to terrorism, Rice would already have been forced by a baying press to resign, and Bush would be threatened with a Watergate-style meltdown. But it is a pro-Kerry media, so watch for Berger's attempted cover-up to get its own cover-up.
So far the Today Show appears to be attempting to insist this is no big deal, and the new change-of-subject-tactic is to complaing that the timing of the leak is suspicious. (Um, when would this have been good news for Berger and the Kerry campaign to come out? Last week? Next week? Late October?)
I am not sure the "it's no big deal" argument is going to work. If the document in question states, as some reported some time ago,
a warning about "a substantial al Qaeda network and affiliated foreign terrorist presence within the U.S., capable of supporting additional terrorist attacks here" and "seventeen months before the September 11 attacks, the review recommends disrupting the al Qaeda network and terrorist presence here using immigration violations, minor criminal infractions, and tougher visa and border controls", then Berger has been caught removing documents indicating he and his team dropped the ball on having any chance to stop the 9/11 plot in March 2000.
It just seems extremely implausible that the former National Security Advisor somehow "forgot" the rules about handling classified information, and just happened to "forget" those rules when handling a document that makes him look irresponsible on terror back in March 2000.
KERRY "NEEDS MORE THAN A CATCH PHRASE"
Derrick Z. Jackson is probably one of the Globe's most liberal columnists. He looks at the polling numbers and warns Kerry that "needs more than a catch phrase" at this convention and during this campaign.
There are several other issues that the Democrats have higher credibility on than the Republicans, such as health care and education. But in most polls, such issues currently are hovering around 10 percent in primary importance to voters. The Democratic optimist could take the Washington Post poll and say that the combined 29 percent of voters who say the economy is the most important, the 12 percent who say education is the most important, and the 12 percent who say health care is the most important adds up to 53 percent of voters, and victory. Indeed, the Times poll found that if the election were held today, Kerry would win 49 percent to 44 percent. The Post poll found a dead heat at 46 percent apiece.
But the stabilization in Bush's numbers, despite the continued chaos in Iraq and despite the fact that the economy remains a long way from replacing the jobs lost on his watch, is a warning to Kerry that undecided voters do not yet see a conclusive reason to vote for the challenger. The economy is currently not as bad in the minds of voters as it was during Reagan's or Clinton's runs for the White House.
More interesting topics can be found here -->The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later
Full article from Boston.com -->Boston.com / News / Politics / Money / Kerry set to disburse millions, get US funds
+The Kerry campaign has bashed the GOP platform. Well, of course, he has. What would anyone expect.
There is, however, one interesting part. Kerry claims that the Bush Administration "let Osama Bin Laden escape." What????? Did Kerry forget that his pal Bill Clinton let OBL escape twice when he failed to "pull the trigger" on him. Liberals do have short memories.
Full article from CNS -->Kerry Campaign Offers Scathing Version of GOP Platform -- 07/20/2004
+There are things the Democrats will say and won't saying during the convention next week. Republicans will be watching closely and ready to respond when they forget about Kerry's voting record and "position change."
Article from CNS -->Republicans Watching What Dems Say - and Don't Say -- 07/20/2004
+Book describes Kerry's failing in national defense. Just in case anyone could forget.
Article from Human Events -->HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Kerry's Radical Anti-Defense Record by Rowan Scarborough
+Tasty morsels from the Kerry Spot on National Review Online.
TERESA 'IMMIGRANT' LINE FALLS FLAT
These can't be the opening paragraphs to a New York Times article that the Kerry team hoped for:
The crowd was cheering wildly as John Kerry, John Edwards and their spouses danced around one another on the open-air stage at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Then Teresa Heinz Kerry took her turn at the microphone and said, "I am an immigrant, too," clearly making a bid for the many Hispanics in the audience.
This time the applause was lukewarm and there was some head-shaking; many Hispanic families have been in New Mexico for generations and some take a dim view of immigrants
KERRY, DNC TO COORDINATE SPENDING OF FUNDS
Back in 1996, campaign finance watchdogs said that the coordination between the Democratic National Committee and President Clinton's reelection campaign violated the spirit of campaign finance laws, if not the letter. (And more than a few charged that it violated the letter.) Well, apparently this is the Kerry campaign's strategy, and they're not shy about it.
John F. Kerry is poised to take federal campaign money once he is nominated for the presidency next week, according to top campaign finance advisers, a move that will allow him to disburse millions of dollars in leftover campaign cash to Democratic Party operations, effectively augmenting the $75 million he will receive in federal funds. Aides expect the Kerry campaign committee to end up with enough money to make sizable transfers to the Democratic National Committee, state Democratic committees, and possibly the committees working to elect a Democratic Congress. The aim would be to have the committees, especially those in battleground states, air television ads on Kerry's behalf this fall, and finance get-out-the-vote operations on Election Day.
Where are the campaign finance watchdogs? They seem oddly silent about this effort to work around the spending limits that are part of the deal for receiving federal campaign funds.
UPDATE: Another Globe article states, "The Democratic and Republican parties can each spend roughly $16 million in coordination with their presidential nominees." But the first article makes it sound like the DNC will have a lot more than $16 million in leftover Kerry cash coming its way. "The DNC has $63 million in the bank, and its chairman, Terry McAuliffe, has pledged to raise an additional $100 million to benefit Kerry through grass-roots organizing and independent television ads. Kerry is planning to pull his own advertising during the month of August."
Did you expect anything different?
HOW BERGER TIES INTO THE CAMPAIGN
Hugh Hewitt puts the bizarre behavior and possible criminal investigation of Kerry advisor and former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger into the context of the presidential campaign:
First question: Does John Kerry condone this? Berger is a senior advisor to Kerry, so watch if the Dems want this scandal to follow their already struggling nominee to Boston.
The biggest question of all: If you can't trust Democrats with classified documents, how can you trust them with the national security? Answer: You can't, not if you are prudent. The recklessness and fecklessness of the Clinton years on all sorts of matters of highest importance — from the al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, to getting duped by the North Koreans and worked by Arafat — came home to roost with a deadly vengeance on 9/11. Are we going to give the same crowd another run at the controls, for that's what a vote for the Kerry-Moore Democrats means?
This isn't just the possibly criminal action of one man, it is the conduct of the senior White House foreign policy official from the Clinton era, and the action of a confidant and advisor to John Kerry. Had Rice been the one caught tampering with the records of the Bush Adminsitration relating to terrorism, Rice would already have been forced by a baying press to resign, and Bush would be threatened with a Watergate-style meltdown. But it is a pro-Kerry media, so watch for Berger's attempted cover-up to get its own cover-up.
So far the Today Show appears to be attempting to insist this is no big deal, and the new change-of-subject-tactic is to complaing that the timing of the leak is suspicious. (Um, when would this have been good news for Berger and the Kerry campaign to come out? Last week? Next week? Late October?)
I am not sure the "it's no big deal" argument is going to work. If the document in question states, as some reported some time ago,
a warning about "a substantial al Qaeda network and affiliated foreign terrorist presence within the U.S., capable of supporting additional terrorist attacks here" and "seventeen months before the September 11 attacks, the review recommends disrupting the al Qaeda network and terrorist presence here using immigration violations, minor criminal infractions, and tougher visa and border controls", then Berger has been caught removing documents indicating he and his team dropped the ball on having any chance to stop the 9/11 plot in March 2000.
It just seems extremely implausible that the former National Security Advisor somehow "forgot" the rules about handling classified information, and just happened to "forget" those rules when handling a document that makes him look irresponsible on terror back in March 2000.
KERRY "NEEDS MORE THAN A CATCH PHRASE"
Derrick Z. Jackson is probably one of the Globe's most liberal columnists. He looks at the polling numbers and warns Kerry that "needs more than a catch phrase" at this convention and during this campaign.
There are several other issues that the Democrats have higher credibility on than the Republicans, such as health care and education. But in most polls, such issues currently are hovering around 10 percent in primary importance to voters. The Democratic optimist could take the Washington Post poll and say that the combined 29 percent of voters who say the economy is the most important, the 12 percent who say education is the most important, and the 12 percent who say health care is the most important adds up to 53 percent of voters, and victory. Indeed, the Times poll found that if the election were held today, Kerry would win 49 percent to 44 percent. The Post poll found a dead heat at 46 percent apiece.
But the stabilization in Bush's numbers, despite the continued chaos in Iraq and despite the fact that the economy remains a long way from replacing the jobs lost on his watch, is a warning to Kerry that undecided voters do not yet see a conclusive reason to vote for the challenger. The economy is currently not as bad in the minds of voters as it was during Reagan's or Clinton's runs for the White House.
More interesting topics can be found here -->The Kerry Spot on National Review Online
More later
Monday, July 19, 2004
One final note on Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart continually fails to take responsibility for her crime. She will not admit that she did anything wrong. It is someone else's fault. She continues to be arrogant and fails to understand that she did committed a crime.
Had Ms Stewart "come clean" with investigators she would have saved millions in lawyer fees, gotten her life back much quicker, and it would have been over. No, Ms Stewart wanted her day in court because she did nothing wrong and could prove it. Obviously, she was wrong.
I started to feel sympathy for Ms Stewart until I heard her compare herself to Nelson Mandella. Has she really dropped out of reality. Mandella went to prison for a cause. Ms Stewart is going to jail because she lied and her only cause is herself.
I am announcing a complete Martha boycott. If a company supports or sponsors anything Martha, I will not go to that store, watch that tv station, or report any further activities here.
Martha own up to what you did, pay your debt to society and move on.
Had Ms Stewart "come clean" with investigators she would have saved millions in lawyer fees, gotten her life back much quicker, and it would have been over. No, Ms Stewart wanted her day in court because she did nothing wrong and could prove it. Obviously, she was wrong.
I started to feel sympathy for Ms Stewart until I heard her compare herself to Nelson Mandella. Has she really dropped out of reality. Mandella went to prison for a cause. Ms Stewart is going to jail because she lied and her only cause is herself.
I am announcing a complete Martha boycott. If a company supports or sponsors anything Martha, I will not go to that store, watch that tv station, or report any further activities here.
Martha own up to what you did, pay your debt to society and move on.
Kerry Economics 101
I just love it when the French looking senator from Massachusetts continually expounds on how bad the economy is. The reality is the economy is growing at a very high rate.
From The Kerry Spot comes more with corrections.
KERRY ECONOMIC AGITPROP 101
Almost every Kerry press release includes some version of the following economic arguments. No matter how many times the Kerry Spot, the Bush campaign, or the media refutes the untrue claims, Kerry and his team just repeat them over, and over, and over again.
"Under George Bush, America has lost 1.8 million private-sector jobs."
Kerry ignores the fact that from 2000 to 2003, the economy experienced the dot-com, high-tech, and stock-market bubbles bursting; the terrorist attacks of September 11 and subsequent war on terror including the war in Iraq; and the discovery of corporate accounting scandals, years in the making, that undermined confidence in corporate America.
He also ignores the fact that the number of new people signing up for jobless benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in more than three years.
The Bush campaign cheerfully points out that since last August, more than 1.4 million new jobs have been created. The unemployment rate has fallen from 6.3 to 5.6 percent, below the average of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Job growth is widespread — employment over the last year was up in 44 of the 50 states, and the unemployment rate was down in 46 of the 50 states.
The Financial Times reported on July 12, "At the Harvard Business School between 91 per cent and 92 per cent of the graduating class had offers on graduation, and 83 per cent of them had accepted a job. At Massachusetts Institute of Technology more than 90 per cent of students had offers on graduation, up from 82 per cent last year. At MIT, campus recruiting by companies was up by 15 per cent and job postings — where companies advertise specific jobs on the school website — were between 30 per cent and 40 per cent higher than last year."
"New jobs that are being created are primarily in low-wage industries."
Balderdash. A new set of numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics actually shows solid growth in employment in relatively higher-paying occupations including construction workers, health-care professionals, business managers, and teachers, and virtually no growth at all in relatively lower-paying occupations including office clerks and assembly-line workers.
According to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, "Between June 2003 and June 2004, 71.4 percent of the net increase in employment was in three relatively well-paid occupational categories: management, professional and related occupations (23.1 percent); construction and extraction occupations (36.1 percent); and installation, maintenance and repair occupations (12.2) percent."
Real after-tax incomes are up by 11 percent since December 2000. The Bush campaign attributes the increase to the tax cuts and states that the growth by this measure is substantially better than following the last recession.
"At the same time families are making less, the costs of college tuition, health care and college have all soared."
Tuition: Wrong. From USA Today, 06/28: "What students pay on average for tuition at public universities has fallen by nearly one-third since 1998, thanks to new federal tax breaks and a massive increase in state and federal grants to most students and their families.
"Contrary to the widespread perception that tuition is soaring out of control, a USA TODAY analysis found that what students actually pay in tuition and fees — rather than the published tuition price — has declined for a vast majority of students attending four-year public universities. The newspaper concluded, "today's students have enjoyed the greatest improvement in college affordability since the GI bill provided benefits for returning World War II veterans."
Health Care: Conservatives may not love all of Bush's health-care proposals, but one can hardly accuse Bush of ignoring the issue. He's created the Medicare prescription drug benefit, new health savings accounts, added 600 new community-health centers, and allowed states more flexibility with Medicaid.
Increasing health-care costs may have something to do with advances in technology, research, pharmaceuticals. Apparently Kerry believes he can make the medical community keep making breakthroughs and advances without getting any additional money from patients to pay for them.
President Bush proposes reforming the court system to eliminate frivolous lawsuits, including those accusing medical malpractice. Think you will get serious reform of malpractice law under Vice President John Edwards?
College: You're getting redundant, Senator.
"Focusing on values like opportunity, responsibility and fairness, Kerry said at both events today that a Kerry-Edwards administration will fight for good paying jobs and an economy that lifts up middle-class families.
"'Let me tell you what values mean to me and John Edwards,' Kerry said. "Values mean creating opportunity and fighting for good paying jobs that let American families actually get ahead. It means building an America where the middle class is doing better, not being squeezed."
"Kerry and Edwards have a comprehensive plan to create 10 million new, better paying jobs."
Their goal of ten million new jobs over four years would slow the current rate of job growth by one third.
Anyone who reads a newspaper consistently — or the Kerry Spot — can see that Kerry hasn't changed his economic outlook, rhetoric, or prescriptions one iota from last year, or 2002. A challenger needs a bad economy to win, so no matter how well the economy does, Kerry insists it's doing poorly. All of the stock market growth, he contends, is an illusion. The hiring numbers? Lies! Homeownership rates are at record levels? It's a trick! Inflation is low? That's a sign of disaster! Up really means down! Black really means white! Who are you going to believe, Kerry's press releases, or your own lying eyes?
From The Kerry Spot comes more with corrections.
KERRY ECONOMIC AGITPROP 101
Almost every Kerry press release includes some version of the following economic arguments. No matter how many times the Kerry Spot, the Bush campaign, or the media refutes the untrue claims, Kerry and his team just repeat them over, and over, and over again.
"Under George Bush, America has lost 1.8 million private-sector jobs."
Kerry ignores the fact that from 2000 to 2003, the economy experienced the dot-com, high-tech, and stock-market bubbles bursting; the terrorist attacks of September 11 and subsequent war on terror including the war in Iraq; and the discovery of corporate accounting scandals, years in the making, that undermined confidence in corporate America.
He also ignores the fact that the number of new people signing up for jobless benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in more than three years.
The Bush campaign cheerfully points out that since last August, more than 1.4 million new jobs have been created. The unemployment rate has fallen from 6.3 to 5.6 percent, below the average of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Job growth is widespread — employment over the last year was up in 44 of the 50 states, and the unemployment rate was down in 46 of the 50 states.
The Financial Times reported on July 12, "At the Harvard Business School between 91 per cent and 92 per cent of the graduating class had offers on graduation, and 83 per cent of them had accepted a job. At Massachusetts Institute of Technology more than 90 per cent of students had offers on graduation, up from 82 per cent last year. At MIT, campus recruiting by companies was up by 15 per cent and job postings — where companies advertise specific jobs on the school website — were between 30 per cent and 40 per cent higher than last year."
"New jobs that are being created are primarily in low-wage industries."
Balderdash. A new set of numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics actually shows solid growth in employment in relatively higher-paying occupations including construction workers, health-care professionals, business managers, and teachers, and virtually no growth at all in relatively lower-paying occupations including office clerks and assembly-line workers.
According to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, "Between June 2003 and June 2004, 71.4 percent of the net increase in employment was in three relatively well-paid occupational categories: management, professional and related occupations (23.1 percent); construction and extraction occupations (36.1 percent); and installation, maintenance and repair occupations (12.2) percent."
Real after-tax incomes are up by 11 percent since December 2000. The Bush campaign attributes the increase to the tax cuts and states that the growth by this measure is substantially better than following the last recession.
"At the same time families are making less, the costs of college tuition, health care and college have all soared."
Tuition: Wrong. From USA Today, 06/28: "What students pay on average for tuition at public universities has fallen by nearly one-third since 1998, thanks to new federal tax breaks and a massive increase in state and federal grants to most students and their families.
"Contrary to the widespread perception that tuition is soaring out of control, a USA TODAY analysis found that what students actually pay in tuition and fees — rather than the published tuition price — has declined for a vast majority of students attending four-year public universities. The newspaper concluded, "today's students have enjoyed the greatest improvement in college affordability since the GI bill provided benefits for returning World War II veterans."
Health Care: Conservatives may not love all of Bush's health-care proposals, but one can hardly accuse Bush of ignoring the issue. He's created the Medicare prescription drug benefit, new health savings accounts, added 600 new community-health centers, and allowed states more flexibility with Medicaid.
Increasing health-care costs may have something to do with advances in technology, research, pharmaceuticals. Apparently Kerry believes he can make the medical community keep making breakthroughs and advances without getting any additional money from patients to pay for them.
President Bush proposes reforming the court system to eliminate frivolous lawsuits, including those accusing medical malpractice. Think you will get serious reform of malpractice law under Vice President John Edwards?
College: You're getting redundant, Senator.
"Focusing on values like opportunity, responsibility and fairness, Kerry said at both events today that a Kerry-Edwards administration will fight for good paying jobs and an economy that lifts up middle-class families.
"'Let me tell you what values mean to me and John Edwards,' Kerry said. "Values mean creating opportunity and fighting for good paying jobs that let American families actually get ahead. It means building an America where the middle class is doing better, not being squeezed."
"Kerry and Edwards have a comprehensive plan to create 10 million new, better paying jobs."
Their goal of ten million new jobs over four years would slow the current rate of job growth by one third.
Anyone who reads a newspaper consistently — or the Kerry Spot — can see that Kerry hasn't changed his economic outlook, rhetoric, or prescriptions one iota from last year, or 2002. A challenger needs a bad economy to win, so no matter how well the economy does, Kerry insists it's doing poorly. All of the stock market growth, he contends, is an illusion. The hiring numbers? Lies! Homeownership rates are at record levels? It's a trick! Inflation is low? That's a sign of disaster! Up really means down! Black really means white! Who are you going to believe, Kerry's press releases, or your own lying eyes?
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