John Hagee: Lunatic, War Advocate, Con Man, McCain Supporter

Watch this if you want a sense of who John McCain EAGERLY accepts support from.


Rapture Ready: The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour from huffpost on Vimeo.

(Hat tip to Ryan for alerting me to this.)

Tim Russert's Double Standard for McCain

Tim Russert, who, as you know, I think is a complete idiot and a curse on the American political system, recently tried to tie Barack Obama to Louis Farrakhan, on the basis of nothing whatsoever. In a line of questions in the most recent Clinton-Obama debate that for all the world seemed like Massah Tim interrogating Uppity Negro Barack, Russert badgered Obama about Farrakhan's unsolicited "endorsement" (if that) of the Illinois Senator, and repeatedly tried to get Obama to use the language that Massah Tim insisted he needed to in rejecting Farrakhan. The whole display was disgusting, to say the least. Russert was deliberately trying to corner Obama and whip up a non-existent "issue" between Obama and American Jews.

However, John McCain has received the enthusiastic endorsement of one of the most militantly insane far-right religious lunatics in America, John Hagee. How demented and dangerous is Hagee? Glenn Greenwald is on it. Here are some highlights of Hagee's McCain acceptable views:

* All Muslims are programmed to kill and we can thus never negotiate with any of them. From an NPR interview Hagee gave to Terry Gross in 2006:

TG: If you use the Bible as the basis for policy, is there any room for compromise? And if you use the bible as the basis for policy, should Muslims use the Koran as the basis for their policy, and then again, what possible basis is there for compromise at that point?
JH: There is really no room for compromise between radical Islam --
TG: I'm not talking about radical Islam. I'm just talking about Islam in general.
JH: Well Islam in general -- those who live by the Koran have a scriptural mandate to kill Christians and Jews.

* God caused Hurricane Katrina to wipe out New Orleans because it had a gay pride parade the week before and was filled with sexual sin. From the same interview:

JH: All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.

The newspaper carried the story in our local area, that was not carried nationally, that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it would was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other gay pride parades.

So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the Day of Judgment, and I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.

* The End Times -- Rapture -- is imminent and the U.S. Government must do what it can to hasten it, which at minimum requires: (a) a war with Iran and (b) undying, absolute support for a unified Israel, including all Occupied Territories (hence, Joe Lieberman's love affair with them). From Christian Palestinian Daoud Kuttab in The New York Times (h/t PZ Meyers):

A small minority of evangelical Christians have entered the Middle East political arena with some of the most un-Christian statements I have ever heard. . . . [Rev.] Hagee, a popular televangelist who leads the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, ratcheted up his rhetoric this year with the publication of his book, "Jerusalem Countdown," in which he argues that a confrontation with Iran is a necessary precondition for Armageddon (which will mean the death of most Jews, in his eyes) and the Second Coming of Christ. In the best-selling book, Hagee insists that the United States must join Israel in a preemptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West.

Hagee believes that "the president's support for Israel fulfills a biblical injunction to protect the Jewish state," which "will play a pivotal role in the second coming." These views are not unrelated to Hagee's support for McCain. Quite the contrary; Hagee cited McCain's so-called "pro-Israel views," his belligerence towards Iran, and his social conservatism as reasons for the endorsement. And in critical contrast to Obama and Farrakhan, McCain actually seems to share some of Hagee's more twisted views, as evidenced by McCain's joyful singing about dropping bombs on Iran.

Pretty damned shocking, isn't it? Pretty damned horrifying, in my opinion. Now, here's the $64,000 question:

How many of you think that Timmy Boy is EVER going to ask his hero St. John McCain about Hagee's desperately vile opinions? Anyone who thinks Russert will hold McCain to the same standard that Timmy Boy applied to Uppity Negro Barack is a fool. The MSM is stacking the deck in favor of McCain. If we don't spread the alarm far and wide, we're going to regret it for the rest of our lives.

John McCain OWNS the Iraq War

He does so because he personally takes credit for the "success" of the "Surge" (escalation), which apparently is so "successful" that none of the U.S. forces can be withdrawn at any time in the near future. McCain has been, other than Bush and Cheney, the war's biggest booster, supporter, and cheerleader. He STILL thinks it was a good idea, even though NONE of the stated reasons for waging it turned out to be valid, and despite the fact that it has done tangible harm to our struggle against the terrorists in Afghanistan. He is of the bizarre opinion that the United States should declare a permanent presence in an Arab state, apparently without bothering to ask those Arabs if they even want an American presence in their country at all. By virtue of the fact that McCain thinks the war was such a good idea, let him share responsibility with Bush for the following:

Almost 4,000 dead Americans
About 30,000 wounded Americans
Countless thousands of soldiers and Marines with PTSD
Anywhere from 100,000 to perhaps 600,000 dead Iraqi civilians
Some 2,000,000 permanently displaced Iraqi civilians
Five hundred billion dollars spent on the war--so far
The colossal damage done to U.S. foreign policy interests
The presence of Al Qaeda in Iraq (since they weren't there before)


Remember, people, McCain has ASKED for this. So remember:

IT'S THE BUSH-McCAIN WAR NOW

Hear John McCain's Harshest Critic

And no, friends, it ain't The New York Times:

Georgie Boy Strike Again!

The ratio of our national debt to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product had been declining under Bill Clinton's intelligent, rational economic and fiscal policies. In 2001, the most recklessly irresponsible, incompetent administration in the last 150 years came to power. Look what happened next:

Yes, ALL of the progress made in reducing the national debt to GDP ratio has been undone in the last seven years. This quote from Angry Bear says it best. Referring to the progress Clinton made, he says:

Of course, George W. Bush wanted to change all that so he pushed for the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and signed the Prescription Drug Benefit and has engaged our nation in a costly war that has had the unfortunate side effects of reviving Al Qaeda and making Iran the dominant player in the Middle East. Not only is the debt to GDP ratio projected to pass where it was as of 1992, it is projected to pass where it was in 1996.

If Bush’s tax cuts are made permanent and if this Iraq War continues, what is to change this upward trajectory for the debt to GDP ratio? If John McCain thinks ending earmarks will be sufficient fiscal restraint, let me suggest that he does not even understand arithmetic.

Yes, folks, Bush screwed us all royally. And now his good friend John wants to keep screwing us every way from Sunday as well.

Don't say you weren't warned.

Soviet America

Former Governor Don Siegelman of Alabama was railroaded into prison by a corrupt Karl Rove. 60 Minutes did a report on it. Let's let Larisa Alexandrovna take it from here:

Now, let me tell you what has been going on. As 60 Minutes was putting its show together, the White House put pressure on CBS -- the parent company -- to kill the show. Over the last few days, as word got out that the 60 Minutes show would air tonight, Karl Rove's associates began planting defamatory stories about journalists working on this story (see example here) and attacking the whistle-blower who came forward, Dana Jill Simpson. If you recall, Ms. Simpson testified, under oath, to Congress about Karl Rove's involvement in politicizing the DOJ. What you may not know, however, is that her house mysteriously caught fire and she was run off the road in the weeks leading up to her testimony. [Emphasis added]

Damn, this crap is getting scary. If you're a progressive, this will piss you off. If you're any kind of American, it SHOULD piss you off. Make sure you look at the links if you think I'm exaggerating.

Just what in the HELL is going on in America? Why is the former Democratic governor of Alabama in prison? And why ISN'T Karl Rove?

Here, by the way, is the 60 Minutes Story. (There is a brief commercial message preceding it.)

Well, Let's See

1. He claims to be Mr. Anti-Lobbyist but he's involved with them up to his neck, and he has more lobbyist ties than Clinton and Obama combined.
2. He claims to stand on principle but he's kowtowed to the Radical Right on taxes and torture, and he's crawled to the Religious Right's leadership and basically kissed their asses.
3. He's embraced and endorsed the people who smeared him and his family in 2000 because his fanatical ambition trumps his family loyalty.
4. He lies constantly about points 1-3.
5. He jokes about bombing Iran.
6. He says he'll stay in Iraq for 100 years if necessary.
7. He has an explosive, unstable temper.
8. He will extend all of the Bush Administration's attacks on the Constitution and all of its disastrous economic policies.
9. He criticizes Bush for not vetoing bills that he (himself) voted for.
10. He promises a lot more war in the future.

But, other than that, McCain would make one hell of a president.

McCain Has FIFTY-NINE (Yes, 59) Lobbyists Raising Money for Him

Straight Talk Express? More like the Double Talk Express.

Obama's U.S. Senate Record

Also impressive. (Courtesy of Helenann on DKos.) I'd like to reprint the bulk of it here:

Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:

Two addressed foreign policy: Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125) Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).

Three addressed public health: Improve mine safety (2803) Increased breast cancer funding (597) Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).

Two addressed openness and accountability in government: Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488) Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)

Two addressed national security Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467) Amend the Patriot Act (2167)

One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).

Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:

25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115) Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133) Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768) Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151) Reduce green house gas emissions (1324) Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389) Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202) Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269) Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794) Alternative diesel standards (3554) Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623) Renewable diesel standards (1920) Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555) Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025) Alternative energy refueling system (2614) Climate change education (1389) Low income energy assistance (2405) Oil savings targets (339) Fuel economy reform (3694) Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617) Nuclear release notice (2348) Passenger rail investment (294) Energy relief for low income families (2405)

21 addressed Health Care Drug re-importation (334) Health information technology (1262, 1418) Discount drug prices (2347) Health care associated infections (2278) Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824) Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784) Emergency medical care and response (1873) Stem cell research (5) Medical Malpractice insurance (1525) Health centers renewal (901, 3771) Children’s health insurance (401) Home health care (2061) Medicare independent living (2103) Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823) Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569) Gynological cancers (1172) Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976) Paralysis research and care (1183)

20 addressed Public Health: Violence against women (1197) Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880) Viral influenza control (969) End homelessness (1518) Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790) Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625) Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024) Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066) Health impact assessments (1067, 2506) Healthy communities (1068) Combat methamphetamines (2071) Paid sick leave (910) Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818) Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132) Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)

14 address Consumer Protection/Labor Stop unfair labor practices (842) Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829) Internet freedom (2917) Credit card safety (2411) Media ownership (2332) Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484) Working family child assistance (218) Habeus Corpus Restoration (185) Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092) FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201) Working families flexibility (2419).

13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces: Improve Benefits (117) Suicide prevention (479) Needs of homeless veterans (1180) Homes for veterans (1084) GI Bill enhancement (43) Military job protection Dignity in care for wounded vets (713) Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084) Military children in public schools (2151) Military eye injury research and care (1999) Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271) Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885) Security of personal data of veterans (3592)

12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability Lobbying and ethics reform (230) Stop fraud (2280) Legislative transparency and accountability (525) Open government (2180, 2488) Restoring fiscal discipline (10) Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261) Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179) Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590) Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal contract (674) Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts (2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)

10 addressed Foreign Policy: Iraq war de-escalation (313) US policy for Iraq (433), Divestiture from Iran (1430) Sudan divestment authorization (831) Millennium Development Goals (2433) Multilateral debt relief (1320) Development bank reform (1129) Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).

9 address Voting/Elections Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453) Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737) Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975) Senate campaign disclosure parity (185) Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030) Election jamming prevention (4102) Campaign disclosure parity (223) Presidential funding (2412) Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)

11 addressed Education Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513) Establish teaching residency programs (1574) Increase early intervention services (2111) Middle school curriculum improvements (2227) Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428) Summer learning programs (116) TANF financial education promotion (924) Higher education (1642) Build capacity at community colleges (379) Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228) Support for teachers (2060).

6 addressed Hurrican Katrina Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319) Emergency relief (1637) Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647) Working family tax relief (2257) Fair wages for recovery workers (1749) Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)

5 addressed the Environment Drinking water security (218, 1426) Water resources development (728) Waste water treatment (1995) Combat illegal logging (1930) Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194) Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]

4 addressed Discrimination Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989) Domestic partnership benefits (2521) Unresolved civil rights crimes (535) Equality or two parent families (2286)

4 addressed Homeland Security Judicial review of FISA orders (2369) National emergency family locator (1630) Amend US Patriot Act (2167) Chemical security and safety (2486)

Like I said, impressive.

The Vile Hate Campaign That is Building Against Obama

The incomparable Glenn Greenwald strikes again, here, laying out the contours of the loathsome attacks on Barack Obama being cooked up by the vicious, hard-core radical right and being circulated through our mainstream media by the right wing's favorite lap dogs. A sample:

...in one of the most repulsive screeds in memory, courtesy of National Review's Lisa Schiffren, former Dan Quayle aide, the fact that Obama's parents are a mixed-race couple strongly suggests they were probably Communists, because who else, besides Communists, would marry outside of their own race? She cited an equally repellent article by AIM's Cliff Kinkaid, entitled Obama's Communist Mentor, which "reveals" that "through Frank Marshall Davis, Obama had an admitted relationship with someone who was publicly identified as a member of the Communist Party USA." ...

Most importantly of all, the guardians of our political discourse -- the Chris Matthews and Howie Kurtzs and Mark Halperins and The Politicos, all of whom dwell in Matt Drudge's kingdom -- traffic almost exclusively in puerile, vapid fixations with these types of petty conflicts and substance-free controversies. They're the decadent ringleaders of the freak show which dominates our political discourse and dictates the outcome of our elections. ...

It's vitally important to remember that our political life is suffuse with lowlifes and hatemongers like this. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter -- the heart and soul of the right-wing -- aren't going anywhere, nor are the media-connected, Swiftboat-spewing operatives who function in the shadows and the sewers. As Digby pointed out yesterday, the Right has already created a new, extremely well-funded organization -- overseen by the incomparably slimy and truth-free Ari Fleischer -- preparing to unleash exactly this sort of bile. As Digby said, the Democratic primary is exceedingly polite when compared to what is coming: "Just wait until you see what Ari Fleischer and his quarter of a billion have in store for us."

Just wait, indeed. If Obama is the Democratic nominee for president, all of us who love this country and are trying to save it from horrible policies of the Lunatic Right are going to have to be Obama's attack dogs. I'm fully ready to play such a role, and I hope you are, too. The Right and its friends are killing America; if we don't step in to rescue it, who will?

Obama's Illinois Senate Record

Click to enlarge

Impressive. (From the New York Times originally)

OK, I Give Up. I'm Switching My Endorsement to Neutral

I was mildly for Obama. Now, I'll just say that I'll support whomever everybody else ultimately decides on for the Democratic nomination. I think jettisoning John Edwards was a mistake. And our strongest conceivable candidate, Al Gore, chose not to make the race. This will, I think, turn out to be a tragedy.

I am pessimistic now. Seeing how deeply divided the Democrats are, how ugly the primary season has gotten, and how ludicrously many of the supporters of the two major candidates are behaving, I am discouraged. The Republican machine will be able to throw heavy ammunition at either Clinton and Obama, and I don't think the Democrats have learned how to fight back effectively. In Clinton, we have someone bitterly hated by almost half the population. In Obama we have someone who perhaps is trying to seize the brass ring prematurely, someone who needs more time at the national level.

I therefore believe that John McCain is the favorite to win the presidency, and that this will push America into irreversible foreign policy and economic disaster. At a time in our country's history when it is desperately necessary for us to remove the right-wingers from power, the Democrats, I believe, will again shoot themselves in the foot and come up short.

In other words, we're screwed. Have a nice day.

Ah, Sweet Love

John McCain: Moral Sell-Out

He went through unspeakable suffering when he was a prisoner of war. He felt the depths of the inhumanity of which our species is capable. If there is ANY man in America who should be working to stop our government from using torture on suspects, it is John McCain. So what did he do today? He voted to allow it.

This isn't the first time he's caved on this issue. (Read this; it will shock the hell out of you.) But it's a particularly craven sell-out, inasmuch as McCain is simply trying to curry favor among the knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who comprise the pro-torture "base" of the Republican Party, people who have no idea what this country is about and, moreover, don't give a damn. McCain wants to be a hero to these lowlifes. That's why he is betraying his own deepest principles.

Gee, John, maybe Ann Coulter will like you now.

A Cheney Play List from Lance

Man, that Cheney image is gonna give me a seizure!

BTW, check out Lance's bizarre, wonderful blog Pizza Teen here.

Never Forget. Ever.

If you want a third term for Bush, you know who will give it to you.

"That's an argument I want to have."

(Thanks, Geneve!)

The Myth of McCain the "Moderate" and "Independent"

John McCain is still called "maverick" and other such nonsense by much of the MSM, when in fact in many ways he's a reactionary, one of the most radical right wingers in the Senate. He's also a devoted Bush supporter. Arianna Huffington spells it out clearly here:

I hate to be the one to break up a love affair, especially with Valentine's Day just around the corner, but I can no longer stand idly by and watch the media and independent voters continue to throw themselves at the feet of John McCain.

The John McCain they fell in love with in 2000 -- the straight-shooting, let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may maverick - is no more. He's been replaced by a born-again Bushite willing to say or do anything to win the affection of his newfound object of desire, the radical right.

And we've got the money shot of his betrayal on tape: McCain singing the praises of Karl Rove, calling him "one of the smartest political minds in America," and saying, "I'd be glad to get his advice."...

What is it going to take for you guys to face reality? McCain verbally stroking Rove should be the equivalent of that great scene at the end of The Godfather where Diane Keaton's Kay watches in horror as Al Pacino transforms, in the kiss of a ring, from her loving husband Michael into the next Don Corleone. This ain't the same man you married.

Of course, McCain's embrace of Rove is just the latest proof that the new McCain bears no relation to the old.

The old John McCain once rightly called Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and like-minded religious bigots "agents of intolerance." The new John McCain now slavishly seeks their endorsement.

The old John McCain talked about trying to do something about global warming and encourage renewable energy. The new John McCain didn't show up for a vote last week on a bill that included tax incentives for clean energy, even though he was in DC. And then his staff misled environmentalists who called to protest by telling them that he had voted for it.

The old John McCain once stood tall as a fearless leader on immigration, co-sponsoring a humane, bipartisan reform bill with Ted Kennedy. The new John McCain, when asked during a recent GOP debate whether he would support his own proposal, replied: "No, I would not." In other words, he was for his core beliefs before he was against them.

So McCan has backed an amendment that would limit the right to habeas corpus, has endorsed an Arizona constitutional amendment that would not only ban gay marriage but deny benefits to unmarried couples of any kind (lest those pesky gay people find some kind of loophole), and has discovered a newfound support for teaching "intelligent design" in schools.

The old John McCain once tried to take the mantle of true conservatism away from George W. Bush. The new John McCain is now essentially running to give America a third Bush term - and, indeed, will even out-Bush Bush when it comes to staying the disastrous course we're on in Iraq.

I've said it before, I'll say it again (and again and again):

NO THIRD TERM FOR BUSH

NO TO MC CAIN!

Ann Coulter's Ranting Hatred, Part 792

The ultimate Republican really outdid herself at the latest conservative blood-fest, CPAC. Her vicious, ugly rhetoric was directed at John McCain, presumptive Republican nominee for president. If you can stand it, here's an excerpt:

"A serious case could be made to support Hillary Clinton," she declared, offering the analogy of Winston Churchill backing Stalin in the fight against Hitler in WWII. "I'm not equating Hillary Clinton to Stalin, and if I did I apologize to Stalin's decedents... I'm not comparing McCain to Hitler. Hitler had a coherent tax policy." Later, she added, "The only way I can promise that I won't vote for Hillary Clinton is if John McCain appoints her as his vice president."

Yes, Hillary is worse than Stalin, but not even she is as bad as McCain, who is evidently worse than Hitler.

As insane and beyond the pale as those remarks were, for me this was even worse:

As for former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani: He "enthusiastically supported torturing terrorists," she said to great applause. "McCain hysterically opposes dripping water down the terrorist's noses."

Yes, folks, in order to be a REAL conservative, you must now be actively PRO-TORTURE. Annie said so (to great applause, as it said). The only Republican candidate who actually knows what that kind of hell is really like is opposed to it, so therefore he's weak and unfit to lead the country. This is how deep and profound the evil and sickness of the Right in America has become. And the wild popularity of Coulter among the hard core Right is yet another indication of this evil and sickness. I mean, my God, how in the hell does this scum even dare to open her mouth about McCain being unwilling to fight terrorism? How does she DARE to question McCain's bona fides on torture? She's beyond perverse. I guess that's why all the little boys in Young Americans for Freedom love her so much.

Look, I'm working against McCain. But he's basically more decent and honorable than most other Republicans. He doesn't deserve the kind of batshit hatred he's getting from the Republican hard core types.

And if there were a just God, Coulter would be a little smoking pile of ashes right now.

An Obama Supporter Who Knows His Stuff

Impressive.

Mr. Straight-Shootin', Maverick Independent!

Update: 14.7 Million Democratic Votes Last Tuesday, Only 8.9 Million GOP

That works out to 62.3% Democratic, 37.7% Republican.

I like those numbers even better.

Oh, Willard. One More Thing

Now that your sons are no longer needed to help Dad's campaign, I'm sure you'll have them all sign up for the armed forces now so they can fight the terrorists (not like those Evil Libruls!). As one commenter on Salon put it, they could become The Fightin' Romneys!

I'll hold my breath to see if it happens.

Phony, Plastic Fraud Romney Drops Out

And says he's doing it to prevent a Democratic victory and a "surrender to terror".

Ah, that Willard. A lying, no-class gutter politician right to the end.

Good riddance to this assclown.

(By the way, Willard, sorry about that $35 million of your own money you spent to fall flat on both of your faces. Heh.)

On the Democratic Side, A Super Tuesday Tie

Obama and Clinton each got around 48% of the total popular vote tonight in the various Democratic primaries and caucuses. Clinton won decisively in California; Obama won more states in total. And as I've said before, I WILL GLADLY SUPPORT EITHER ONE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

But the bigger winner was the Democratic Party itself. More than 12,000,000 people voted in the Democratic primaries, by one estimate, and only about 8,000,000 in the Republican contests. That works out 60-40 in favor of the good guys. I'd gladly take that ratio on 4 November.

Now, the task will be to tarnish the media-bestowed halo on St. John McCain. I respect John McCain--but I'm going to do everything I can to prevent him from being president. He has embraced every single one of the disastrous Bush policies, even repudiating his own sensible rejection of Bush's tax cuts for the super rich. If you want perpetual war and economic disaster, McCain will be your man.

No third term for Bush--No to McCain!

The Republicans: The REJECTED Party

Reading Glenn Greenwald's column from yesterday alerted me to the new Washington Post-ABC poll, a survey which leads to an inescapable conclusion: The Republican Party has been utterly rejected by the vast majority of the American people. Key findings:

BUSH: Approve--33%, DISAPPROVE--65%. Strongly approve--21%, STRONGLY DISAPPROVE, 56%(!)

HOW BUSH IS HANDLING IRAQ: Approve--33%. DISAPPROVE--65%

HOW BUSH IS HANDLING THE ECONOMY: Approve 30%, DISAPPROVE 67%.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS: Approve--30%, DISAPPROVE--63%

CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS: Approve--39% DISAPPROVE--54% [Note: Many of the disapprovers have, in other surveys, tended to be Democrats who want Congress to STOP BUSH.)

HANDLING OF ISSUES: Every single one is a DEMOCRATIC advantage. The breakdown is as follows:

ECONOMY: 52-33

IMMIGRATION: 40-37

IRAQ: 48-34

BUDGET DEFICIT: 52-31

TAXES: 48-40

FIGHTING TERRORISM: 44-37

HEALTH CARE: 56-29

So Greenwald's question is my question, too:

WHY DOES THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP CAVE IN SO MUCH???

The George W. Bush Tax on Your Children and Your Grandchildren

Contemptuous of the American people and their needs right to the bitter end, Bush has submitted his last official budget. It calls for THREE TRILLION DOLLARS in spending. It calls for a $400 BILLION PLUS deficit (which is in itself a lie, since much of the deficit is cleaned up with financial smoke and mirrors.) It calls for a huge increase in the already insanely high defense budget. It calls for slashing aid to the sick. And, of course, it calls for making Bush's wildly irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy permanent. Digby lays it out bluntly:

In one sense, this is the work of a President who's basically gotten everything he wanted for seven years, trying to come up with a final act that's as audacious as humanly possible. In another, this is really all the conservative movement can come up with. They rely on a media and a populace that doesn't delve into the intricacies of the budget, and so they feel free to announce their spending priorities to the world. And this is what they are when everything has been stripped away. It's theft on the grandest scale, a massive reshuffling of wealth upwards, a kind of corporate Marxism where those who deserve it least get the most. There isn't anything new or groundbreaking here, just a naked grab for cash in the final year.

Now who in the hell, exactly, is going to pay the Chinese and Japanese back for all the money Georgie Boy is throwing around? You guessed it--your kids and your grandkids. Bush's so-called "tax cuts" are simply tax deferrals, a way of putting everything on the credit card. Never forget:

MORE THAN 40% OF THE ENTIRE NATIONAL DEBT ACCUMULATED SINCE GEORGE WASHINGTON HAS BEEN PILED UP UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH.

And EVERY Republican still in the running for president has promised to continue his suicidal fiscal policies. McCain, Romney, and Huckabee are committed to destroying this country's economy. Never forget that, either.

George W. Bush: the worst president in American history, a miserable failure on every level, a war criminal, and destroyer of America's economic future. No wonder he's a hero to the Republican "base".

A Statement from Barack Obama

Imagine a president who's an intelligent, thoughtful man who uses the English language beautifully. The mind reels. Imagine further a progressive president. The mind trembles in happy anticipation.

Obama for President

Dr. StrangeMcCain