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A new robocall: Say 'no' to the lies.

A friend sent an email with the following observation:  "Napoleon, as a young officer, learned that when you combine artillery the impact is infinity greater than when you shoot one cannon at a time - - the same standard with character issues."
 
McCain supporters are often aghast at American's indifference to Obama's well-documented dishonesty. Napoleon's lesson combined with obfuscation by the news media may provide a better explanation than 'indifference.'
 
Although the propriety of many of Obama's stands is debatable, when confronted with controversy his first refuge is not to debate, but to lie. His diehard supporters, including those in the media, don't mind and the rest of us don't know.
 
The RNC/McCain Campaign should consider replacing their current Ayers robocall with the script below and cite to a website with a comprehensive, meticulously researched documentation of his lies and the media coverage. It's harsh, but provable :  

"What would our country look like if the news media covered up a President's lies, 
 attacked his critics and branded them as racists?
 

Barack Obama lied when he blamed Republicans for the economic crisis
    and the media covered for him.

He lied about cutting taxes for 95% of Americans
    and the media covered for him.

He lied about his position on abortion
    and the media covered for him.

He lied about his position on gun control
    and the media covered for him.

He lied about his relationship with Acorn, the voter fraud folks,
    and the media covered for him.

He lied about his relationship with terrorist Bill Ayers
    and the media covered for him.
 

When others tried to expose his lies the media attacked them and called them racists.

 What would our country look like if the news media covered up a President's lies, 
 attacked his critics and branded them as racists?
 

On election day, say 'no' to Obama's lies. 

Proof of our claims is at: www.liar.com (or somesuch site)"

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The McCain Campaign: In the Tank for Obama Too? Part 2

Edited: 10/12, 1315 PDT

(Note, from Part 1) My observation is not quite the same as a guy in a diner announcing that he could do a better job than the coach of the NFL team of his choice. I spent twenty years in the political arena, ran five successful campaigns of my own and participated in dozens of others from local offices to governor to US Senator. I do not take it lightly when I observe that someone is steering this campaign very badly.

For example, I would have little difficulty teaching a parrot some variation of the following debating rebuttals or attacks:

1)  Deregulation: So, Senator Obama, when you speak of "deregulation" causing the current crisis, what deregulation are you talking about? Since you've mentioned Sen. Gramm, I assume you mean the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, but only your Democrat cronies in Congress agree with you, even though your running mate, Joe Biden, voted for it. In fact the Senate passed the bill 90-8. Bill Clinton and his Secretary of the Treasury Bob Rubin agree that the Gramm Act had nothing to do with the crisis. So what are you talking about?

2)  Fannie and Freddie: It's really Economics 101 isn't it, Senator Obama? When you and your Democrat pals Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Harry Reid and a few spineless Republicans, decided to turn the already risky business of home mortgages into a social program by pushing for sub-prime mortgages, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac got in trouble. Then, after you all accepted $100s of  thousands in campaign contributions from them, you continued to block attempts by me, Elizabeth Dole, and other Republicans to regulate and audit them even after reports of their cooking the books surfaced. And, finally, they collapsed and ate at least $200 billion of the taxpayers' money. That's deregulation Democrat -style!

3)  Corporate "tax breaks": Senator Obama is constantly harping about my proposal to reduce corporate tax rates like that's a bad thing. "Senator McCain wants to reduce taxes for big corporations, some of whom are taking their business overseas and taking American jobs with them." Well, this is more Economics 101, Senator Obama. You are right about two things, big corporations create jobs and some of them are moving overseas, but you are dead wrong about my tax proposal. The U.S. has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world at 35%. Compare that to Ireland with a rate of 12.5%. In the last decade, or so, Ireland has gone from relative poverty to the second highest percapita income in the European Union because of the influx of new corporations. If you are running a corporation, do you want to do business and create jobs under a 35% tax rate, or a 12.5% tax rate. And folks, in case your thinking this is just about more corporate greed, pick up your phone and call, say, Ford, General Motors and G.E. and ask 'em how they're doing these days. You'll find they are struggling and jobs are being lost. A tax break can turn that around. Simple economics.

4)  Israel, Brzezinski, Samantha Power: I know Senator Obama claims to share my deep and long-standing commitment to Israel, but some of my friends here and in Israel are troubled by his selection of Zbigniew Brzezinski and Samantha Power as key foreign policy advisors. Brzezinski was, of course, Jimmy Carter's National Security Adviser, and his commitment to the safety of Israel and to the Jewish people has been questioned by Zionists here and in Israel. Ms. Powers should pose even more of a problem for Senator Obama. She has endorsed withdrawing military aid to Israel and - whether Israel is willing or unwilling - sending a [quote] "mammoth" military occupation force into Israel to force concessions to Palestine. Ms. Power has resigned from the campaign, not because of her radical views on Israel, but because she publicly called Hillary Clinton a "monster." My friends, I don't argue that these folks are not entitled to their opinions. I do argue that their opinions do not reflect the commitments of the people of this country to Israel and that this is another instance of Senator Obama claiming to reflect the values and views of mainstream America despite surrounding himself with people who clearly do not not reflect those values and views.

5)  Pakistan: We've been sparring around about Pakistan for a while now and I'm sure people realize that I have downplayed my position on excursions into that country. After conferring with friends in the military I've decided there is no reason not to clarify.  Senator Obama has confidently proclaimed that if we are aware of terrorist threats to our troops coming from Pakistan and Pakistan is unable or unwilling to deal with them we should take aggressive action within Pakistan with or without her permission. I don't believe there is a man or woman on earth who reveres our troops more than I do, but, frankly, I am appalled by this policy. Pakistan is not Afghanistan. She is a nation of 180 million people, including more than its share of radical Muslims. More importantly, Pakistan has had nuclear weapons since 1972 and has a fellow named Khan. Mr. Khan is believed to have assisted North Korea and Iran with their nuclear programs. He has 35 years of experience with nukes and is very likely someone who can build a suitcase nuclear device. Put simply, a prudent leader doesn't  poke a nuclear nation like Pakistan in the eye and doesn't state beforehand his intent to do so.

6)  Democrat takeover: One of the things that makes our nation great is checks and balances. As we look at the Democrat exploitation of, and opposition to regulation of, Fannie and Freddie, the campaign contributions, Fannie and Freddie's downfall, billions of dollars in earmarked expenditures without oversight, rampant lobbying and back-scratching, a phrase comes to mind: "systemic corruption." As a Senator, I've been able to make some inroads into that system. As President, I will take it apart and clean it thoroughly and I have just the right Vice President to help me do it. Sarah Palin is not part of this system and has fought corruption in her own State. Despite the relentless attempts to smear her, I know that the American people have seen that Sarah, who like all of us has her flaws, is also a tough women with no tolerance for systemic corruption and public servants who are betraying the taxpayers. This Democrat-controlled Congrerss is the least productive, least admired Congress in American history! You have a clear choice here. You can elect Barack Obama, who has never stood up to his party leaders or their practices since being elected to the Senate. You would have an Obama, Biden, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi coalition for business as usual. Or you can elect John McCain who has defied Presidents, including the current one, stood up to leaders of both parties, and joined with Republicans and Democrats to pursue the best interests of this nation and who will have an outsider with a backbone of steel to help shake things up.
 
Substance and issues, Dudes. You've got 'em. Why didn't you use 'em?
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The McCain Campaign: In the Tank for Obama Too? Part 1

It's been maddeningly obvious that the vast majority of the news media is shamelessly in the tank for Barack Obama. Unethical advocacy journalism posing as news coverage has not been the only serious and unexpected source of injury to Senator McCain's run for the presidency.

My observation is not quite the same as a guy in a diner announcing that he could do a better job than the coach of the NFL team of his choice. I spent twenty years in the political arena, ran five successful campaigns of my own and participated in dozens of others from local offices to governor to US Senator. I am stunned by the extent to which this campaign is being blown.

You have to wonder how high priced talent running a campaign for President against a guy who hangs around with radicals and criminals, is demonstrably unqualified for the job and has pandered to the worst congressional leaders in modern history can manage only two smart moves:  the "celebrity" ads and the selection of Sarah Palin as Senator McCain's running mate. These moves put McCain ahead in the polls and preceded a series of blunders that are simply beyond belief.
 
Peggy Noonan observed about Republican political strategists: "They make mistakes when they’re winning. They always start to think they’re the reason." In spades, Peggy!
 
First, came the sequestering of Governor Palin. This woman is meant to be seen! Second, was the use of the lightweight Tucker Bounds as her surrogate. The bottom line here is that the news media had no business expecting any Governor a couple of weeks into the campaign to be a foreign policy expert. They had no such expectations of Bush, Clinton or Carter. And the campaign had no business letting the Obama media get away with it.
 
The most devastating fiasco was the handling of the economic crisis. I'm not going to drag this out, because it is perhaps only the McCain staff that didn't get it. Here are excerpts from a suggested press release/policy statement I sent to an acquaintence who is a member of McCain's staff three weeks ago after McCain had called for the SEC Chair's resignation:
 ---------------------
SEN. McCAIN:  'It may be that the POTUS and Mr.Cox of the SEC are troubled by my suggestion that Mr. Cox be replaced. However, as a candidate for POTUS I am being asked by my countrymen what I would do. I would not, as the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, has done, simply say, "Nobody knows what to do" and think about taking a recess. If our economy were not "fundamentally sound" as I have said before, Senator Reid would be right. But he is not and we need to get back on track.

...  Folks who have been ineffective in anticipating or minimizing this mess are probably not the folks we need to get us out of it.

It is clear that the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the major factors in this crisis. Two years ago I cosponsored the FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2005. At that time, I warned of the risk posed to our economy by mismanagement of Fannie and Freddie and called for improved regulation. It didn't happen, in part, because those two giants had filled the campaign war chests of members of Congress, some of whom were responsible for their oversight.

If the news media were not busy trying to influence the outcome of this election, you would know that, and you would know who those members are. However, since Senator Obama has been, for the last three years, far and away the number one recipient of Freddie and Fannie money, to the tune of $126,000, the media has chosen not to list those contributions.

I have released the list today and I call for further reform of our campaign contribution laws to limit contributions from quasi-governmental entities Congress is charged to regulate.

Senator Dodd, Chair of the Banking Committee is the leading overall beneficiary of Fannie and Freddie generosity. It is time for congressional Democratic leaders to inquire of the Senator if, in light of that, he can take the tough steps necessary to reform them and why he has not done so before now.

In 2003, the Administration recommended what the NY Times called "the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago." It was opposed on party lines and didn't happen. At that time, Democratic Representative Barney Frank, now Chair of the House Financial Services Committee claimed, "These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis, the more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies...." It is time for congressional Democratic leaders to inquire of Representative Frank if, in light of that claim, he can take the tough steps necessary to reform them and why he has not done so before now.

If I were President, I would be making the same inquiries of members of my administration who were in a position to foresee or forestall these problems and didn't, including Mr. Cox: Can you take the tough steps necessary to bring about reform and why have you not done so before now?

If the answers from these folks in Congress and the Administration are not satisfactory, they should be replaced.

I would also call upon the Justice department to commence criminal investigations of individuals who have been in positions of public trust [or] who have made millions while driving these companies into virtual bankruptcy.

This is not about partisanship or casting blame, it is about finding ... who can get the job done. It is about reform.

Senator Reid admits Congress doesn't know what to do. The President evidently doesn't know what to do. Senator Obama's choice as his economic advisors of Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson, former CEOs of Fannie Mae, who are up to their necks in this debacle, and the Senator's acceptance of $126,000 from the companies with their collapse on the horizon, tells us that his judgment in the matter is compromised. Obviously, he doesn't know what to do.

So, finally, I will reiterate my call for an advisory commission of top economic experts and entrepreneurs to tackle the problem of getting our economy back on course, because the people of America deserve the best advice available about what to do.

Our country has had the strongest economy in the world for decades. It has had ups and downs and we are in one of those downs. I am confident that with the right people in the right places, free of the hunger for power and the influence of greed, we will move through this crisis as we have moved through others.'
----------------------------
 
The point is not that I have any special insight. The point is that I do not have any special insight and yet I, and hundreds of others who were posting on the internet could see that this or a similar course was necessary to protect McCain from losing momentum. Obama appeared to be bereft of good ideas at this point. Unfortunately, so was McCain's brain trust, and, they weren't listening.
 
In the tank? Unlikely, but what's the difference?
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ABC's Troopergate, Ignoring Obama's "French Connection"

Update 09/24/08 8:15 a.m. PDT: ABC Blotter has posted yet another troopergate article, "Critics Praise Lawyer Driving Controversial Palin Probe." Today, "crack investigator," Justin Rood, looks at the participants in the Alaska Personnel Board investigation requested by Palin -- the one Rood has decided is "controversial." Rood explores the history of the investigator hired by the personnel board and the board members looking for possible conflicts of interest and finds very little. Rood passes up yet another opportunity to disclose the Obama-French conflict of interest in the earlier Legislative Council investigation -- the one he has decided is not "controversial." (Edited, 9:35 a.m. PDT)
 
 
Original 09/23/08 2:00 p.m. PDT:
Despite having been singled out by the Drudge Report for unbalanced reporting ("Name appearances on ABCNEWS.COM 'Blotter from Brian Ross and Investigative Team', Palin 24; McCain 2; Biden 1, Obama 0."), the Brian Ross "Investigative Team" continues to attack Sarah Palin, and to smear her by omission.

Brian Ross' "crack investigators" including: Justin Rood, Emma Schwartz, Maddy Sauer, Megan Chuchmach, Rhonda Schwartz, Len Tepper and Anna Schecter have written at least six articles about the so-called "troopergate" investigation of Governor Palin in her home state. So far, they have been unwilling to confirm for the benefit of their readers/watchers that Alaska Senator Hollis French, a Democrat lawyer who is overseeing the investigation, has been actively campaigning for Barack Obama in Alaska, a fact that it is common knowledge among the political crowd in that great state. See, for example: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/emilybokar/gGxsmH

The team has been equally reluctant to disclose that French's' fellow Democrat, Senator Kim Elton, Chair of the Legislative Council and French's overseer, is also a supporter of and contributor to Obama's campaign. ABC Blotter's best effort at anything remotely resembling candor on this issue was on September 16th, in an article entitled, "Suit Filed to Stop Troopergate Probe into Gov. Sarah Palin." There they made the following observation: "French and Elston have publicly supported Obama, the suit notes." (Italics added.) Now, I'm not a member of a crack investigative team, but sitting right here in my den in the lower forty-eight I have been able to find considerably more evidence for that "Obama-French connection" than a bare allegation in a lawsuit.

Two members of my family and I have attempted relentlessly to post comments with links, some civil, some not so civil, disclosing the Obama-French connection. After a couple got through ABC Blotter has refused to post them in subsequent articles. We have also sent e-mails to ABC Blotter's information contribution site to no avail.  I suspect others have tried and given up since by now virtually all the commenters are Obama supporters who seem unaware that the presumption of innocence applies to Republicans as well as other citizens. Thus far, ABC Blotter is clearly unwilling to confirm the connection, although it is undeniable.

Ironically, crack investigator Megan Chuchmach, was quite emphatic that Alaska Representative John Coghill is a McCain supporter in her piece entitled, "McCain Ally in Alaska Criticizes Troopergate Investigation." Ross' team made certain that the political afiliation with McCain was disclosed while French's Obama connection was not, despite the fact that Coghill's criticism was focused on French's efforts to affect the presidential election. Coghill requested that French be replaced, but fellow Obama supported Elton declined.

Why is it important for ABC to conceal the Obama-French connection? Well, the most obvious explanation is that French has a clear political conflict of interest. Any upright lawyer, or for that matter any upright person, interested in avoiding the appearance of impropriety and who is affiliated with a Democrat campaign that claims to take the high road, would have disqualified himself the moment Palin became the Republican candidate for Vice President. French not only declined to do that, but he began a media campaign against Palin and McCain publically impugning her credibility, and stating, for example, to the New York Times, "She's being touted as an ethical reformer. This [investigation] could give her an ethical black eye." Who was doing the touting? The McCain campaign, of course. French has conceded that he "probably shouldn't have made those remarks." But why would a principled, objective investigator ever couch media comments in terms intended to discredit the claims of a political campaign? The answer: A principled, objective investigator wouldn't. However, a politically motivated investigator who knew the news media would run interference for him would do so with impunity.

If ABC discloses the Obama-French connection in the wake of his inappropriate and biased comments, it reflects badly on French, draws the integrity of his investigation into question and mitigates his attempt to benefit Obama by giving Palin an "ethical black eye," It also calls into question the Obama "high road," since manipulating an investigation for political gain is about as low as one can go. Ordinarily the possibility of that manipulation, in itself, would be news, but not in this campaign and not to ABC. It might, after all, be detrimental to Obama's campaign for President.

But that's not all! The continued hue and cry of the Palin-haters is, "She asked for this investigation, but now that it looks bad for her she's refusing to co-operate. She must have something to hide." And sure enough, on September 17th, crack investigators Emma Schwartz and Justin Rood trot out more fuel for this smear entitled, "Palin Calling for an End to Investigation She Requested." Never mind that anyone in her right mind confronted with French's political jibes to the press and his hand-picked investigator, an old crony from Anchorage, would have smelled a rat and challenged the fairness of the "investigation." As long as the Obama-French connection is not at the forefront, it permits French to use the investigation to the detriment of the McCain-Palin campaign. It also permits the Obama's supporters at ABC Blotter to milk the story day after day while casting new aspersions on Palin.

As for the investigation itself. It's a crock. The "issue" is allegedly whether Palin demoted her Department of Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan, because he wouldn't fire her former brother-in-law, trooper Mike Wooten. So what? Contrary to the impression given by the news media, including ABC, Monegan wasn't fired. He was offered another position that he declined. Monegan was a merit exempt employee who served at Palin's pleasure. Although she was under no obligation to do so, she has released a detailed statement explaining why she was not pleased with Monegan and documented it with e-mails.

Monegan told CNN and other news agencies that nobody actually asked him to fire Wooten, but he knew "in his heart of hearts" that Palin allowed "her personal feelings to get involved in her professional responsibilities." Meaning what exactly? That his "heart of hearts" knew what was in her "heart of hearts?" Is this the kind of evidence from which impartial investigations flow?

Monegan, like Wooten, has had his share of domestic difficulties. Allegations of violence or threats of violence have dogged both. In court documents filed during divorce proceedings his ex-wife accused Monegan of threatening to kill her, waving a gun at her and dislocating her shoulder. ABC apparently chose not to ask whether, as a result, he may have sympathized with Wooten in his "heart of hearts."

The accusation against Governor Palin is that she, members of her staff and her husband allegedly complained repeatedly to Monegan that Wooten was a discredit to the Department. Again, so what? In fact, the Palins' earlier complaints about Wooten had been sustained and he had been suspended. Governor Palin's husband is a private citizen who can do as he pleases and the Governor and her staff have a professional, not a personal, obligation to the public to see that state troopers are held to a high standard. If another serious problem were to arise surrounding Wooten's conduct, we can bet that the Governor's detractors, including those at ABC Blotter, would be quick to point out that he was her brother-in-law and that she once, eight years ago, wrote a letter of recommendation for him. Any takers? 

Although Palin's defenders are inclined to rehash Wooten's transgressions, the rehash adds nothing to a discussion of ABC Blotter's transgressions. It's a little late to expect full disclosure from ABC Blotter, but it's time for them to stop milking this story and for Brian Ross and his seven crack investigators to find something important to do. Perhaps Obama's connections to slumlords and the Daley machine or his monster contributions from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Lehman Brothers beckon.

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