The Blue State

Too little too late on Iran

In an e-mail recently sent by former Bush State Department Chief of Staff Lawrence Wilkerson to Steve Clemons of the Washington Note blog, he highlighted how his effort to engage Iran in order to solve the nuclear standoff years ago were rebuffed by the Bush war cabinet "cabal":

In fact, in a speech I gave on Iran recently, I stated bluntly that weneeded to open a strategic dialogue, we needed to send high-levelrepresentation to that dialogue, and only if and when that completelyfailed should we even be considering "other options".

I also outlined for my audience all the times -- some when we hadmaximum leverage -- that we refused such dialogue over the past fouryears. The default decision by the cabal -- after it had flummoxed thestatutory process -- was achieved: no talks with evil people,particularly those occupying prominent positions in "the axis".

It all goes back to the point I made in a recent column on this web site about how Bush gets fixated on a policy and never adjusts himself until it is too late.  We had chances between 2002 and 2004 to solve the Iran problem.  Bush decided against it because it violated his overall foreign policy doctrine of talking with members of the "axis of evil".  Now that it is too late, Bush is all of a sudden trying to start dialogue them.  Why does everything always have to be so backward?

Republican House candidate Kaloogian gives lame excuse for bogus Iraq photo

There is more buzz today about the bogus photograph of Iraq by Republican Congressional candidate Howard Kaloogian, which was uncovered by the Daily Kos blog.  Just in case you didn't hear about the story, here is a brief review.  Kaloogian, who is running to fill the House seat of recently jailed GOP Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, is furious about the way the media has been portraying Iraq.  So he used what he claimed was a photograph of Iraq -- which showed businesses thriving, huge billboards and people happily walking across the street -- as vindication that the media was completely wrong about Iraq.  However, the Daily Kos web site uncovered another photograph of the same street, except it was in Turkey, not Iraq.  Kaloogian's photo was a bogus one.

Today's Editor and Publisher web site discusses how Kaloogian is desperately trying to set the record straight:

Kaloogian admitted the photo was from Turkey butdenied he had anything personally to do with posting it on his site. Hereplaced that Turkey photo with a photo of what he said wasBaghdad--taken from a distant hill.

What ever happened to the so-called Republican ideal of taking personal responsibility for your own actions?  Again, I just think there's so much irony in the fact that Kaloogian is running for Randy "Duke" Cunningham's vacated seat.  I guess that seat is cursed with corruption, or something.

President Bush, inspiring Democrats one soul at a time

In a report by the Editor and Publisher web site, thanks to George W. Bush more Americans today call themselves Democrats than Republicans.

(Not to pour gas on the fire, but I can clearly say that George W. Bush inspired me during my senior year of high school to get involved in politics.  If it had not been for the recount scandal, Bush's failed economic policy, Bush's failed foreign policy, and all the other misdeeds by this Administration, I probably would have gone to college to become a sports writer.  Instead, with all that has been going on over the last five or six years, I chose political science and history.  So thanks George for inspiring me to become an actively involved Democrat!)

Democrats might provide the only legitimate incentive for Iraqis to get rolling

President Bush is stepping up the pressure on Iraqis to get their government into place and get the ball rolling:

"I want the Iraqi people to hear I've got great confidence in theircapacity to self-govern.  I also want the Iraqi people tohear — it's about time you get a unity government going...In other words, Americans understand you're newcomers to thepolitical arena. But pretty soon it's time to shut her down and getgoverning."

But when you think about it, there is this factor called "motivation" that comes into play.  Why should the Iraqis even care what Bush threatens, when just days ago the President said that U.S. forces will remain in Iraq no matter what until the end of his presidency?

In a nutshell, that is the number one problem with Bush's foreign policy.  He is too sure of himself sometimes that he becomes too entrenched in dilemmas with no way out.  For example, you can't threaten force against Iran when we're over-extended in Iraq and around the world.  You can't demand that China fix its currency when we have spent the last five years promoting economic policies that have decreased our geopolitical sphere of influence in East Asia.  And finally, you can't tell Iraq to hurry up in setting up their government when Iraqi politicians know that Bush's whole legacy revolves around the idea of supporting the new Iraqi government no matter what.

George W. Bush has given the Iraqis absolutely zero incentive to get their act together.  The only bodies that can legitimately hold the dysfunctional Iraqi government accountable are the House and Senate.  That is why we need Democrats to win back control this November.  The Iraqis know that many U.S. Democrats are serious about withdrawing troops.  If the Democrats get into power and provide a scare, the Iraqi political factions would have every reason to take them more seriously than the White House or the current GOP legislative majority.  Only then, when the threat of U.S. troop withdrawal is real, will Iraqi political factions get their act together.  Democratic majorities in both the Senate and the House might be the only way for victory in Iraq.

Video: Pat Buchanan calls New Republic a "Marxist magazine" during debate over immigration

Ever since he started working for MSNBC, Pat Buchanan has been the go-to-guy for Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough and the rest of the hosts on issues involving political strategy.  For the most part, he has done a decent job at preventing ideology from getting in the way.  But if you want to see Buchanan flip out, all you have to do is bring up the subject of immigration.

Late last night on MSNBC's Scarborough Country, Pat Buchanan and Peter Beinart of the New Republic online magazine went at it over immigration.  The debate was interesting, to say the least.  It was a weird situation, with two liberals defending President Bush on immigration, while three conservatives, including Buchanan, were bashing him.  I guess there's a first for everything!

Click to watch clip >>> (Windows Media Player)

PETER: "We can't stop illegal drugs from coming into this country, we can't stop illegal immigrants from coming into this country.  What we need to have is a rational program that recognizes -- what Pat Buchanan is saying is a total fantasy.  You listen to employer after employer after employer, and they say even doubling the wages Americans will not do these jobs.  And it is also an issue --"

PAT: "Let me talk about the security fence --"

PETER: "And lower prices is also an issue of social justice --"

PAT: "Peter, cut it out --"

PETER: "-- for Americans who shop at Walmart.  It's a total fantasy what Pat Buchanan's talking about."

PAT: "Peter, we don't need lectures from your little marxist magazine. (Laughter)  As for your security fence, I don't recommend it.  But look at what the Israelis did on their border --"

PETER: "Listen, we'll take our 'marxism' against your fascism any day."

PAT: "Security fence will stop it cold.  It did 14 miles from Imperial Beach all the way into the valley -- the so-called 'Buchanan fence' --"

LAWRENCE O'DONNELL: "It's a 2,000-mile border Pat!"

No wonder the other three couldn't get a word in.  Although I would lean towards Peter's perspective, he does have to admit that President Bush's plan is a bit weak on border security (manpower and the fence).  Other than that, I'd have to say that the way Bush is handling immigration reform surpasses the xenophobia coming from the Republican Congressional majority.

The Senate drops the ball on ethics reform

To use the words of Republican Senator John McCain, the ethics reform package that was just passed in the Senate by a vote of 90 to 8 was "weak" at best.  While the bill did ban physical gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers, it does allow room for all sorts of unethical behavior that many think should not be part of our political system:

The measure would not ban private travel, as some members haveurged. Nor would it rein in lawmakers' ability to fly on corporate jetsat heavily discounted rates, a practice that gives precious access tolobbyists, who often go along for the trip.

The measure wouldnot do away with earmarks, though it would make it more difficult forlawmakers to insert the pet projects quietly into bills at lobbyists'behest. And the Senate overwhelmingly rejected, 30 to 67, a move tocreate an independent ethics office to investigate accusations of abuse.

Sadly, the Senators are sending the message that they are too entrenched in a business-as-usual mentality in Washington.  In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger just a few months ago: "message received."

Legislative pay raise

(Courtesy of John Cole, Cagle Cartoons)

Video: Cheney insists he still loves job

Late Wednesday night at the Television and Radio Correspondents Dinner, Vice President Dick Cheney addressed the audience, doing his best to make light of the politically turbulent last few months:

Click to watch clip >>> (Windows Media Player)

DICK: "But you know I can always count on two special buddies: my dogs Jackson and Dave.  They've taught me to see the world in black and white."

If only Cheney's comedic performance was followed by Al Franken.  I'm sure he would have had a lot to say.

Kallogian caught red-handed

Now this is enough to make anyone want to yell at their computer screen.  Howard Kallogian, a GOP candidate in California running for U.S. Congress, used a picture that he claimed was of Baghdad -- which showed businesses flourishing and couples holding hands -- to vindicate the Republican myth that everything is going just great in Iraq right now.  Well, thanks to a similar photo found by the Daily Kos blog, it turns out that the Kallogian photo was of Turkey, not Iraq.  Oops!

Looks like another Republican got caught trying to distort the truth.

Franken and Coulter united for debate

A few days ago Ann Coulter and Al Franken squared off in what was an expectedly entertaining debate in Los Angeles.  According to the LA-Ist Blog, here were the details of one exchange:

COULTER: "It's weird being in Los Angeles with so many demonstrators around. It must be why I'm having trouble getting clean towels...I haven't seen so many riled up Mexicans since California hosted the World Cup."

Here was Franken a few moments later:

FRANKEN: "It's always nice to be around so many people who are so concerned withwhether or not I've had enough to eat. And, you know, I haven't seen somany riled up Mexicans since we invaded Mexico in 1846 when Polkbelieved Santa Anna had weapons of mass destruction."

To be honest, there was not much information about what took place during the debate because almost all press members were banned.  But I did manage to find photos of an individual that had backstage passes to the event (note: he didn't seem that fond of Al Franken.. i.e. the tongue face):