The Blue State

Bush, McCain and the faces of the fallen

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Blue Radar

As we post each morning, here are the political buzz stories headlining the newspapers and blogs before you head to work today:

• IRAQ McClatchy newspapers: The critical ceasefire in Iraq is appearing to unravel.
• IRAQ John McCain: "We're succeeding" in Iraq.  He added, "I don't care what anybody says. I've seen the facts on the ground."
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Hillary Clinton's campaign admits she misspoke when she said last week that she landed under sniper fire during her '96 Bosnia trip.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL) told a local newspaper he wouldn't be surprised if a brokered convention included Al Gore on the top of the ticket.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL In 2004, turnout on election day was 61% -- the highest since 1968.  Analysts are expecting an even higher turnout in 2008.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL During his one-day vacation in St. Thomas over the weekend, Barack Obama met with the Governor there.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Democrats nationwide (Rasmussen): Clinton - 46%, Obama - 44%.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Democrats nationwide (Gallup): Obama - 47%, Clinton - 46%.

More posts throughout the day.

Blue Nightowl Clips

As we post in the middle of each night, here are some of the top political clips making their rounds on the blogs at this hour:

1. Obama in West Virginia on the issue of gas prices.
2. McCain of Arabia.
3. Clinton's false claim about facing sniper fire in Bosnia.
4. Cheney sparks Iran war rumors.

More clips tomorrow.

4,000

Today in Iraq a roadside bomb killed four US troops, bringing the total of US military casualties to 4,000.  Here are some other war stats not worth smiling about:

• 4,308 coalition forces have lost their lives.
• 145 self-inflicted deaths.
• 29,395 wounded.
• At least 89,000 civilian deaths.

Worth fighting?  That's why we need a president who had the moral judgment to oppose this thing from the very beginning.

New ad slams McCain's role in Airbus deal

From OurFuture.org

John McCain's special interest relationship with Airbus is real, and it is costing many Americans their jobs.

Morning Blue Radar

As we post each morning, here are the political buzz stories headlining the newspapers and blogs before you head to work today:

• IRAQ North of Baghdad, a US air strike killed a number of pro-US Sunnis, straining relations in the fight against al Qaeda there.
• CULTURE Conservative commentator Pat Buchanan claims that Jesus would back the death penalty.
• OIL The OPEC chief sees oil remaining at between $80 and $110 for the rest of 2008.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL According to ABC News, "Obama netted more delegates in the Virgin Islands than Clinton did fromher "wins" in New Hampshire, Michigan, Nevada, Florida, New Mexico, andAmerican Samoa C-O-M-B-I-N-E-D."
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Democrats nationwide (Gallup): Obama - 48%, Clinton - 45%.

More posts throughout the day.

Blue Nightowl Clips

Here are some of the top political clips making their rounds on the blogs at this hour:

1. Obama in West Virginia on the price of energy.
2. McCain tells us to "please get a life" if we didn't like his bomb Iran joke.
3. "Toughest" ad, now airing in PA.
4. Bill Clinton: Hillary and McCain are the patriots.

More clips tomorrow.

What's Clinton still in this for?

Of course by now we've heard the big news: Bill Richardson endorsed Barack Obama.  On top of that, the Obama campaign has announced that they will be rolling out a series of endorsements over the next two weeks in order to grab some momentum heading into Pennsylvania and beyond.  Where will the other endorsements come from?  John Edwards?  Al Gore?  Jimmy Carter?

Either way, even a Clinton campaign official admits that the former First Lady has no chance of winning:

One important Clinton adviser estimated to Politico privately that shehas no more than a 10 percent chance of winning her race against BarackObama, an appraisal that was echoed by other operatives.

In other words: The notion of the Democratic contest being a dramatic cliffhanger is a game of make-believe.

Therefore, it's a MYTH to think that she will end up with either more delegates or more of the popular vote.  All she can do is hurt Barack Obama's chances of beating John McCain.  Maybe that is what Bill Clinton wants.  During a speech, the former president suggested that both Clinton and McCain are the pro-American candidates, and not Obama:

It'd be a great thing if we had an election where you had two peoplewho love this country, who were devoted to the interest of the countryand people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issuesinstead of all this other stuff which always seems to intrude on ourpolitics.

The Clinton's could care less if a Republican wins the White House -- just as long as a non-Clinton Democrat doesn't.  They'd be doing the same thing to John Edwards.

Hillary destroying Democratic Party's momentum

Heading into the big 2006 vote, Democrats were fired up.  On election night, we saw just how upset independent and dissatisfied Republicans were with the Administration, and how fired up the progressive base was.  Even in 2007, when Bush's numbers on Iraq went up, the vast majority of voters preferred Democrats to Republicans.  We knew it would take a massive foul-up for the Democratic nominee to blow it in 2008.

Today, we are on the verge of blowing it.  Hillary's 'kitchen sink' strategy hurt not only Obama's chances, but helped keep John McCain out of the line of fire.  This is what Hillary's strategy has done for the Democratic Party:

Gallup Poll

48% - John McCain
45% - Hillary Clinton

47% - John McCain
43% - Barack Obama

Thanks a lot, Hillary.

Absurdities from Bush's Iraq speech today

On how the occupation has gone in general:

"Operation Iraqi Freedom was a remarkable display of military effectiveness."

The weapons argument, yet again.  Bush still has not learned his lesson in that regard:

"Because we acted, Saddam's regime is no longer invading its neighbors orattacking them with chemical weapons and ballistic missiles."

On the surge's impact on the war against al Qaeda:

"The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around -- it hasopened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror."

Actually, last time I checked, Obama bin Laden is still free.  His terrorist organization was the one that attacked us on 9/11.  They were not as involved in Iraq as they are today as a result of this war.

Once again, Bush lumped Osama bin Laden in with the mission in Iraq:

"When Iraqi andAmerican forces finish the job, the effects will reverberate far beyondIraq's borders.  Osama bin Laden once said:  "When people see a stronghorse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse."  Bydefeating al Qaeda in Iraq, we will show the world that al Qaeda is theweak horse.  (Applause.)  We will show that men and women who love libertycan defeat the terrorists.  And we will show that the future of the MiddleEast does not belong to terror -- the future of the Middle East belongs tofreedom."

Enough is enough.  Just nine months and the Bush/Cheney regime will be out of office.  Don't celebrate too soon though.  There always is the possibility of an attack on Iran.