Today’s Must Read: Hersh Article On Iran

At the moment, the economy may be the number one issue, however, it won’t be the only thing that gets attention for the rest of the summer.  At some point, the subject of Iran will take center stage for a while.  That said, Seymour Hersh has an excellent article in the New Yorker on the subject that is definitely worth a read.

I’ve excerpted some of the more interesting bits of information especially those that have a relation to election politics…

On the Democratic congress supporting the Bush administration’s decision to increase clandestine military operations against Iran:

In other words, some members of the Democratic leadership—Congress has been under Democratic control since the 2006 elections—were willing, in secret, to go along with the Administration in expanding covert activities directed at Iran, while the Party’s presumptive candidate for President, Barack Obama, has said that he favors direct talks and diplomacy.

Secretary gates discussing the consequences of a preemptive strike:

A Democratic senator told me that, late last year, in an off-the-record lunch meeting, Secretary of Defense Gates met with the Democratic caucus in the Senate. (Such meetings are held regularly.) Gates warned of the consequences if the Bush Administration staged a preëmptive strike on Iran, saying, as the senator recalled, “We’ll create generations of jihadists, and our grandchildren will be battling our enemies here in America.”

A commentary on how the Democrats in Congress are doing:

The Democratic leadership’s agreement to commit hundreds of millions of dollars for more secret operations in Iran was remarkable, given the general concerns of officials like Gates, Fallon, and many others. “The oversight process has not kept pace—it’s been coöpted” by the Administration, the person familiar with the contents of the Finding said. “The process is broken, and this is dangerous stuff we’re authorizing.”

And some closing thoughts on the subject:

There is another complication: American Presidential politics. Barack Obama has said that, if elected, he would begin talks with Iran with no “self-defeating” preconditions (although only after diplomatic groundwork had been laid). That position has been vigorously criticized by John McCain. The Washington Post recently quoted Randy Scheunemann, the McCain campaign’s national-security director, as stating that McCain supports the White House’s position, and that the program be suspended before talks begin. What Obama is proposing, Scheunemann said, “is unilateral cowboy summitry.”

Scheunemann, who is known as a neoconservative, is also the McCain campaign’s most important channel of communication with the White House. He is a friend of David Addington, Dick Cheney’s chief of staff. I have heard differing accounts of Scheunemann’s influence with McCain; though some close to the McCain campaign talk about him as a possible national-security adviser, others say he is someone who isn’t taken seriously while “telling Cheney and others what they want to hear,” as a senior McCain adviser put it.

Between McCain singing bomb Iran earlier in 2007 and Obama getting some criticism for his statements on negotiations, the topics discussed in Hersh’s article will become a factor at some point later in the election, one way or another.

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2008Central.net Presidential Election Podcast (06/29/08)

Today, we take a look back at this week in the election and also have an in-depth discussion about the Obama Campaign’s general election strategy.

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Feel free to email us questions/suggestions for our next podcast (you can also email an audio file of your question and we’ll include it in the podcast).

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McCain and Obama Statements on DC v. Heller

McCain:
Today’s decision is a landmark victory for Second Amendment freedom in the United States. For this first time in the history of our Republic, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms was and is an individual right as intended by our Founding Fathers. I applaud this decision as well as the overturning of the District of Columbia’s ban on handguns and limitations on the ability to use firearms for self-defense.

Unlike Senator Obama, who refused to join me in signing a bipartisan amicus brief, I was pleased to express my support and call for the ruling issued today. Today’s ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller makes clear that other municipalities like Chicago that have banned handguns have infringed on the constitutional rights of Americans. Unlike the elitist view that believes Americans cling to guns out of bitterness, today’s ruling recognizes that gun ownership is a fundamental right — sacred, just as the right to free speech and assembly.

This ruling does not mark the end of our struggle against those who seek to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens. We must always remain vigilant in defense of our freedoms. But today, the Supreme Court ended forever the specious argument that the Second Amendment did not confer an individual right to keep and bear arms.

Obama:
“I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures. The Supreme Court has now endorsed that view, and while it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe. Today’s ruling, the first clear statement on this issue in 127 years, will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country.

“As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen. I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals. Today’s decision reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe.”

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McCain and Obama Statements on North Korea Agreement

McCain:

U.S. Senator John McCain today issued the following statement regarding today’s North Korea announcement:

“The announcement today that North Korea has provided information concerning elements of its nuclear program is a modest step forward, as will be the destruction of the disabled cooling tower of Yongbyon. But it is only a step covering one part of North Korea’s nuclear activities. It is important to remember our goal has been the full, permanent and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. That must remain our goal. The Six Party agreement called for North Korea to make a full declaration of all its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs. Many questions remain about North Korea’s programs, including the disposition of plutonium at Yongbyon, the number and status of nuclear weapons, the nature of the highly-enriched uranium program, and the extent of proliferation activities in countries like Syria. I also want to make sure we fully account for the legitimate concerns of our South Korean and Japanes e allies as we move forward. I understand certain sanctions were lifted today, some may be lifted in 45 days, and others remain in place.

“As we review this declaration and attempt to verify North Korean claims, we must keep diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to meet all of its obligations under the Six Party agreement, including denuclearization. If we are unable to fully verify the declaration submitted today and if I am not satisfied with the verification mechanisms developed, I would not support the easing of sanctions on North Korea.”

Obama:
“This is a step forward, and there will be many more steps to take in the days ahead. Critical questions remain unanswered. We still have not verified the accuracy of the North Korean declaration. We must confirm the full extent of North Korea’s past plutonium production. We must also confirm its uranium enrichment activities, and get answers to disturbing questions about its proliferation activities with other countries, including Syria.

“The declaration has not yet been made available, so Congress has not had a chance to review it. Before weighing in on North Korea’s removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, Congress must take the next 45 days to examine the adequacy of the North Korean declaration and verification procedures. Sanctions are a critical part of our leverage to pressure North Korea to act. They should only be lifted based on North Korean performance. If the North Koreans do not meet their obligations, we should move quickly to re-impose sanctions that have been waived, and consider new restrictions going forward.

“We should continue to pursue the kind of direct and aggressive diplomacy with North Korea that can yield results. The objective must be clear: the complete and verifiable elimination of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, which only expanded while we refused to talk. As we move forward, we must not cede our leverage in these negotiations unless it is clear that North Korea is living up to its obligations.

“As President, I will work from the very beginning of my term in office to secure the American people and our interests in this vital region. We must work with diligence and determination with our friends and allies to end this dangerous threat, and to secure a lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.”

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2008Central.net Presidential Election Podcast (06/25/08)

Today, we discuss (1) McCain’s energy policy proposal to provide 30 billion for clean coal technologies over 15 years and its political implications; and, (2) Barack Obama’s moderating stance on FISA and the Supreme Court’s decision banning capital punishment for child rapists.

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Feel free to email us questions/suggestions for our next podcast (you can also email an audio file of your question and we’ll include it in the podcast).

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2008Central.net Presidential Election Podcast (06/24/08)

John and Angelo are back and will be recording podcasts several times a week now.  This podcast covers (1) Obama’s ‘get over it’ statement and (2) McCain staffer Charles Black’s comments to Fortune Magazine regarding who would benefit from a terrorist attack.

[Subscribe to 2008Central.net's Presidential Election Podcast]

Feel free to email us questions/suggestions for our next podcast (you can also email an audio file of your question and we’ll include it in the podcast).

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Mayor on McCain Conference Call Touts Visit to Castro

Going off message, former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco discussed his 2002 visit to Cuba and his meeting with Fidel Castro, saying it was “something he always wanted to do.”

He also said that Castro had drilled offshore. He tried to be making the point that “even Castro drills for oil offshore” but on a conference call mainly filled with Florida reporters, comparing the McCain policy to Castro (and distinguishing it from that of Senator Obama) seems to have been a rather brazen move.

It was indicated at the time that Greco spoke personally with Castro:

The meeting lasted five hours and 40 minutes. As the group sat in silence, Greco and Castro talked about life in their two countries as if they were old friends.

“There was a connection between Dick and Castro,” said the mayor’s wife, Dr. Linda McClintock-Greco, who also went on the trip.

Castro has a legendary ability to talk for hours. But the groups said he listened to Greco for nearly 40 minutes.

Castro, who spoke through an interpreter even though he is fluent in English, peppered the mayor with questions:

What is the size of Tampa? How many garbage collectors do you have? How are City Council members elected? What is the water supply? What are the housing costs? Why do so many tourists visit Orlando?

After about 21/2 hours, the conversation continued over a lunch of shrimp cocktail, chicken and yellow rice and vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

Castro spoke in a soft voice about obscure topics like Chilean wine and the yellow onions he prefers, which are grown in Tampa.

He also spoke about art, and urged the group to visit the Centro Asturiano that his government is renovating in Cuba. The building was the inspiration for the Centro Asturiano in Ybor City.

The meeting was cordial. Greco addressed the leader as “sir.”

He did not ask Castro about human rights violations or political prisoners.

This is especially true given that the McCain campaign has made it a point to criticize Obama for being willing to meet with Castro without any preconditions. Greco himself was widely criticized for his visit as well, including from one former Gov. Jeb Bush.

The trip is also notable for Tampa priest Laurence Higgins blessing Castro (pictured).

[We will have the audio up as soon as possible. There were some recording difficulties that have made the copy of the audio almost unlistenable.  My apologies.]

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The Worst Ad I’ve Ever Seen

OK, that’s a slight exaggeration. But it is mind numbingly bad. And I just had to sit through it watching Morning Joe.

John McCain has a strong interest in not limiting 527s. Democratic 527s may have a bunch of money, but they are famously incompetent in getting message across. The above ad is just unlikely to appeal to anyone that does not already share Moveon’s beliefs. Another example is the famous “Betray-us” ad that only gave conservatives a rallying point at a time when the Iraq war was really unpopular.

Moveon has absolutely no credibility outside of themselves. Perhaps some time they will learn to try to convince people. Guilt trips with babies will just get people to roll their eyes.

It says something that a parody of the ad is actually more effective in conveying a message than the ad itself.

h/t to Jason Zengerle

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More On McCain and Offshore Drilling: Once Called His New Position “Incredibly Arrogant”

I referred to this in an earlier post, but the particular problem is most pithily summarized by blogger Hilzoy (my emphasis):

John McCain:

“Tomorrow, I’ll call for lifting the federal moratorium for states that choose to permit exploration. I think that this, and perhaps providing additional incentives for states to permit exploration off their coasts, would be very helpful in the short term in resolving our energy crisis.”

The radical environmentalist Wall Street Journal:

“As politicians debate whether to open federal offshore waters to oil and natural-gas drilling, there is agreement on at least one point: It isn’t a short-term fix.

If the bans were lifted tomorrow, it would be at least seven years — and likely as long as a decade — before the first oil began to flow off the coasts of Florida, California and the eastern seaboard.”

Hilzoy also notes that the most optimistic projection is that this could lower gsa prices by eight cents a gallon a decade from now, and that projection is far from universal.

There’s another level of deception, though. Take this exchange from last week’s Fox News Sunday: Read more

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I’d Discuss This Article If I Were Allowed To

Powerful AP story on campaign finance and both candidates breaking promises they had made. Unfortunately, the AP policy on excerpting prevents me from discussing this. WTG, AP. Thanks a bunch.

In the meantime, I’d highly recommend listening to the conference calls Angelo has posted the last two days, specifically on the offshore drilling re: McCain and campaign finance re: Obama. Both candidates have pretty boldly manufactured issues for pure political gain. McCain’s trying to make an issue out of drilling and insinuating it will do something about energy prices (it won’t). And Obama’s numerous “justifications” for opting out of the public finance system were all squarely in front of him over the past year when he had no problem making promises. The decision today made sense; his promises over the past year did not then and look even more ridiculous now.

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It’s Official: Barack Obama Opts Out Of Public Financing System; Did He Break His Own Pledge?

[Updated July 19, 2008 at 12:35pm]

This morning, in an email to supporters, Barack Obama announced that he will be opting out of the public financing system for the general election (video).  The announcement has been widely expected for a few months now, so it wasn’t very much of a surprise.

Obama explained his decision, saying:

It’s not an easy decision, and especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections. But the public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken, and we face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system. John McCain’s campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. And we’ve already seen that he’s not going to stop the smears and attacks from his allies running so-called 527 groups, who will spend millions and millions of dollars in unlimited donations.

It’s completely fair for a candidate to contend that the problems with campaign finance system are so significant that it would be better not to participate in it.  However, there’s a bit more to this situation that raises some questions. Read more

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Don’t Look Now, But…

Barack Obama just bet his campaign that Bin Laden will not get caught before the election. And Drudge knows it.

I suppose I don’t need to remind anyone of the Saddam capture in 2004?

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2008 Election Weekly Roundup (June 9-13, 2008)

A roundup of 2008 election news for the week of June 9-13:

• Tim Russert suddenly passed away while at work on Friday (6/13/08).
• Tom Brokaw appropriately reminds viewers to be wary of “commentary disguised as reporting.”
• McCain’s ad-libs on the campaign trail are beginning to confound reporters; thus bringing attention to them.  Some examples are McCain’s “it’s a google” statement or his suggestion that in preparation for natural disasters “We should be able to deliver bottled hot water to dehydrated babies.”
• Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D) rules out the vice-presidency, saying: ”Absolutely not. If drafted I will not run, nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve. So, I don’t know how more crystal clear I can be.”
• Republicans supporting Obama (’Obamacans’) get a spot of attention this week.  A nice rundown of some of the prominent Obamacans can be found here.  And, this story will only continue to get fuel while some major players, like Colin Powell, mull the idea of supporting Obama.
• Jonathan Chait offers his analysis on the current state of the presidential race.  It’s worth a read.
• The Supreme Court extended habeus corpus rights to detainees at Guantanamo.  An excellent roundup of news/information about these decisions can be found here.  This kind of case, especially with its closeness, will continue to remind voters of the importance that this election has for the future direction of the Supreme Court.  John McCain has already called this decision one of the “worst in the history of this country.”
• McCain continues aggressively targeting Hillary supporters and independents.  Tomorrow, McCain will hold a virtual town hall tomorrow for Democratic and Independent voters.

Think there’s something missing? Please let us know (either by email or commenting).  Also, this roundup is not exhaustive and is likely to be supplemented as I digest the rest of news from this week.

 

 

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Weekend Briefing (April 27, 2008)

Here’s what’s news this weekend…

• Rush Limbaugh is raising hairs for his suggestion and later clarification about his call (or desire) for there to be riots at this year’s Democratic Convention similar to the riots in 1968.
• Hillary Clinton calls for a Lincoln-Douglas style debate between her and Barack Obama.  The debate would be 90 minutes, no moderators, just the two candidates in a free flowing one-on-one discussion.  The Obama Campaign quickly and flatly rejected the idea.
• Yesterday was the White House Correspondence Dinner.  You can watch President Bush’s speech here (it was pretty funny).
• On a blogger call, McCain portrays Obama as the candidate of Hamas, saying:
  

  I think it’s very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. So apparently has Danny Ortega and several others. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas’s worst nightmare….If senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgments accordingly.

  Joe Klein responds to McCain’s suggestion here.

• A look at some of HRC’s foreign policy stumbles coupled with the complaint that the press is underreporting an issue to support their narrative.  The press…underreport something?  *shock*

More to come, feel free to submit suggestions…

 

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FEC Report: John McCain (April Monthly 2008)

On April 20, 2008, John McCain’s campaign filed its April Monthly FEC Report. This report covers the period of Mar. 1 - 31, 2008. Here’s the breakdown:

Total Raised In March: $15,428,882
Money Spent In March: $11,845,764.05
Cash On Hand At End Of March: $11,579,713.65
—> For Primary: Approx $42,500,000
—> For General Election: $8,600,000
Debts Owed To Campaign: $77,259.74
Debts Owed By Campaign: $707,041.91

As noted earlier, Sen. McCain prepared his finances last month in anticipation of accepting public funds for the general election.  Indeed, the fundraising disparity between McCain and his Democratic counterparts would ordinarily be a much more significant issue for his campaign to deal with.  However, the protracted Democratic contest has mitigated this disparity, at least for now.  Eventually, this fundraising gap will catch up to him (but by that point, he will already be using RNC funds to help balance things out a bit).

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FEC Report: Barack Obama (April Monthly 2008)

On April 20, 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign filed its April Monthly FEC Report.  This report covers the period of Mar. 1 - 31, 2008.  Here’s the breakdown:

Total Raised In March: $42,832,120.65
Money Spent In March: $30,591,210.20
Cash On Hand At End Of March: $51,073,999.99
—> For Primary: Approx $42,500,000
—> For General Election: $8,600,000
Debts: $662,784.55

Like last month, Sen. Obama is in a very strong financial situation.

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FEC Report: Hillary Clinton (April Monthly 2008)

On April 20, 2008, Hillary Clinton’s campaign filed its April Monthly FEC Report.  This report covers the period of Mar. 1 - 31, 2008.  Here’s the breakdown:

Total Raised In March: $20,931,870.78
Money Spent In March: $22,372,765.27
Cash On Hand At End Of March: $31,712,197.67
—> For Primary: Approx $9,000,000
—> For General Election: Approx $22,000,000
Debts: $10,321,562.87

*It’s worth noting that this report does not include the $2.5 million that Sen. Clinton raised at the recently held fundraiser with Elton John.

Sen. Clinton is in a similar financial position to the one she was in last month; it’s actually slightly worse when the numbers are analyzed, since her campaign actually began the month in the red with almost a million dollars more owed than they had available in primary funds.  A big win in Pennsylvania would certainly help her short term financial outlook.  It’s also worth adding that Clinton raised approximately $15 million online during the month of March, which demonstrates an increase in ability to raise money online.

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McCain Definitely Taking Public Funds

John McCain’s FEC report indicates that he returned a bit over $3 million in cash during March.  Jonathan Martin reports:

McCain’s camp last month returned over $3 million in contributions they received for the general — money they can’t accept under the federal program — and moved over $600K to an account created to comply with the public financing.

This is unsurprising, but there was a brief period of speculation that he wouldn’t take funds; speculation can now end.

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