Good Morning Christy…. McBush… are we surprised…. not here in AZ

Morning katymine — so many questions, so few answers ever obtained, eh?

McCain tries to minimize the fall out from Charlie Black’s role in his campaign by saying Black is an unpaid adviser.
Rather than being a good retort, that makes Black’s role rather darker. If McCain isnt paying him, then he is being paid by his clients.

Thanks for the post. It’s so great to have you write about McCain and maybe our candidates will follow suit and campaign against him.

Ah, yes, more disinfectant on the cockroaches of the cigarette industry. And this from the NY Times via the FDL News Box on cigarette company funded “research” into lung cancer.

Good Morning Christy
McCain’s bus is the Lobby Express

This works for us. It’s a clear example of how President McBush will differ from Senator McBush. As a GOP presidential nominee, it’s required the take a NO NEW TAXES pledge. Which rules out the tobacco tax. Bet he’ll be able to debate himself on Tobacco before the month is out.

Boxturtle (I think making McBush debate himself will be a fun campaign commercial)

The DNC has already started putting that series together on their website — they have a McCain versus McCain on Iraq video up now.

and if you haven’t watched it lately, now is a good time to revisit The Insider

Based on a true story about a CBS 60 Minutes-episode in 1994 on malpractices in the tobacco industry, that was not aired because CBS parent company Westinghouse objected. Pacino plays the 60 Minutes Producer.

the story hasn’t ended.

I was right, it is a fun commercial. Now we need to put something based on that together so that it will be a YouTube hit.

Boxturtle (Anything with Obamagirl dancing should work)

We were talking yesterday about how they needed to “jib jab” it up a bit. Maybe some catchy background music?

Christy, thanks for this post. I’m so sick of hearing about BO vs HRC. We should be focused on this insane dim wit the republics are putting up as their presidential candidate because they wont be happy until 90% of our country looks like one of those lil shanty towns in Africa.

You are most welcome. There is a lot of work to be done with McCain — especially given the fawning press coverage he’s gotten and will continue to get without substantial pushback…

Surprise, not. Is there any major issue McCain hasn’t flipped on? I can’t think of one.

Thinking his bus should be called the Flip-Flop Express.

Christy,

You are so smart and wonderful and of course right 99.999% of the time. But you are preaching to the choir here. The problem is the mindless bots in the MSM and throughout merika who need some edjamecating.

Do you think FDL is getting through to the ones who need to learn?

How exactly does senior campaign advisor Charlie Black divorce his tobacco lobbyist insider knowledge from his political advisor campaign guru self when he discusses political advantages of various strategies and fundraising opportunities, anyway?

Charlie does his lobbying over the phone from the back of the bus, and his campaign advising face to face from the front of the bus.

If I told you the names of a lot of the readers who don’t post comments, but who need to see this stuff, you would never believe me…but, yes. This does help somewhat.

There won’t be an end to BO vs HRC until there is a clear winner. In the mean time, there are other Democrats that could focus on McCain and the Republics. Harry and Nancy are strangely quiet.

Oooops — heated water for a cup of chai tea and then forgot it in the kitchen. Hate it when I do that…

Good Morning Christy and Firedogs -

but does avoid having to give any immediate, definite answers on where he stands…and why.

have been knee deep in this stuff since the Iseman story broke and anecdotally at least, there is definitely a pattern here . . .

if they even bother to ask him (and that’s a big if), at best they are going to get a terse and usually monosyllabic reply and then he storms off with zero follow up (unless he can’t - ie, the latest w/Bumiller on the plane)

when McCain-Feingold passed, this craven opportunist opened up The Reform Institute, and as you Christy have probably already reported, opened it up in Rick Davis’ lobbying office - not a peep of course, but in 05 when AP wrote an expose, he merely “resigned” from it’s board - I challenge any firedog to find a response from him on his resignation - good luck

the authors for this saturday’s Book Salon have come closer than anyone in explaining all of this - can not wait !

Christy,

I will accept your comment as fact and tip my hat to you and the amazing front pagers you have assembled at the Lake. This is a learning lab for civics for ANYONE. I love the place.

Thanks again as always!

When Arnold was trying to pass these initiatives in California, he went on a bus tour trying to convince everyone how good they were. Several civic organizations and dems central committees around the state organized people to be at every stop calling him on how terrible they would be for the state. It worked. Every single one of the the initiatives were defeated soundly.

If I told you the names of a lot of the readers who don’t post comments, but who need to see this stuff, you would never believe me…but, yes. This does help somewhat.

Christy, all it takes is one person reading this to become convinced themselves, convince another, then another, and another. I believe it helps.

I understand that I really do. I’m sick of the dems and the MSM tearing each other up while teflon john skates away. He is the WORST thing that could possibly happen to our country. It scares me that anyone could think he would be capable of running the country. Our economy is just about bust and what do the republics do, put up someone who admitedly doesn’t know jack about economics.

I hit the Reform Institute in a piece on Rick Davis about a month and a half ago, I think…would have to dig up the link to be certain. But yes, it was a lovely donation pass-through set-up for a while there until they got caught with their fingers in the money pie once it moved to Davis’ offices in the pre-gear-up-for-campaigning for the latest presidential run for McCain.

And the book salon on Saturday ought to be a doozy. As will the one on Sunday…

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Dec. 19, 2007 /PRNewswire/ — A Marin Institute report
unveiled today the political spending practices of alcohol corporations and
the return for the millions of dollars they invest in lobbying the California
legislature.
The report uncovers a consistent pattern of pro-industry legislative
efforts, such as authoring of bills and voting records favorable to Big
Alcohol by key recipients of industry money. The alcohol lobby spent roughly
$3 million in 2006 to sway legislators on bills affecting beer, wine, and
liquor sales.
“We are able to tie alcohol lobby money to key legislators, especially
those members who sit on the Senate and Assembly Committees on Government
Organization, the gatekeepers for alcohol legislation in the state,” said
Michele Simon, research and policy director for the Marin Institute.
In addition to millions of dollars in state political campaign donations,
the study found that legislators enjoyed various gifts courtesy of the alcohol
lobby, including Sacramento King basketball games with complimentary drinks,
concerts, and tickets to Sea World (owned by Anheuser-Busch).

you are right christy. i ve been reading these blogs for 4yrs before igot the courage to start leaving a comment. thank you so much.

And the book salon on Saturday ought to be a doozy. As will the one on Sunday…

Right now, my screen still shows last weekend’s two book salons in the box on the right.

The full list of upcoming book salons can be found by clicking the button at the top of the page, or right here.

Hi jugheadjack, pleased to meet ya

just noticing that myself and was about to mention that until you did Peter.

Wish I could join in on the Sunday salon—it looks to be a humdinger. But I have to be somewhere at 5. I don’t know how folks here keep up with full time jobs, events at the Lake, and still have time to read the books too!

Those who own the Republic Party (the Bush family, etc) don’t care if the economy goes bust. They’ll still be rich. They just want to not pay taxes unless those taxes flow back to them. It’s amazing that non-wealthy Republic voters think the rich ones are on their side and seem them as something other than a pool for hired help.

Good Morning Christy…. McBush… are we surprised…. not here in AZ

Ditto! Too disgusting for words!

So the Chimperor is actually going to throw out the first pitch? Hope he gets booed out of the place. But then again if it is a Bush event they would have to screen ALL the ticket holders to see if they are “with the program.” Isn’t that the way they always do it?

good morning christy! still have to go through links……dial-up ya know?

i don’t believe in ’sin’ taxes, if it’s legal, then it’s legal…..should be taxed the same as everything else.

but if there is going to be an escalation in the ’sin’ tax, again, then it should be on alchohol, a far more detrimental agent of destruction to people and their families.

i’m not anti-drinking, but if they’re going to pick one, seems to me this one would bring in more revenue, and punish the worse of the two ’sins’.

hmmmmmmm, does that mean the alchohol lobbyists have greater ’pull’? um, yep. it has grated my brain why noone ever says a thing about them and how entrenched they are in our culture.

mccain’s wife is ceo of a distributor, sports teams count on sponsorship, every sport–nascar would be non-existent a few years back without the bail-out of them, when tobacco dropped out.

tobacco sin tax-nope, don’t agree with it. if it’s a tax to pay for things that citizens need, then is should be on something more widely used. alchohol.

just for fun-
here’s charlie black’s political donations

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....st=charlie

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....st=charlie

i love this website!

well, as a dedicated smoker for the last 30 years or so, I obviously have mixed feelings (hey, it’s my last bad habit - a guy’s entitled to at least one, right?).

In my own defense (and I’ve told this one before), a coupla years ago, I got a new doctor. When she heard that I’ve smoked since pretty much forever, she sent me straight to the respiratory therapist. Long story short, had to blow into a machine a coupla times - therapist said “Shit. I hate it when this happens” - ’cause I blew 101% of what a normal, non-smoking guy my size and weight should have been able to blow….

no point, I guess - but I only got about an hour of sleep last night. Sorry.

a chance to boo him in public. I’d pay to do and see that.

thanks raven at 26!

yayah!

i was busy writing………

I think the campaigns are all missing one huge issue that is on virtually every voters mind. That is the price of gas.

Virtually every voter, whether they be urban/rural, black/white, young/old or left/right has to deal with this on a weekly basis. The middle class on down are really being stung by this.

I think a candidate that could get out in front of this gas issue could do themselves some good. This and NCAA basketball are what people are talking about. The rest, not so much.

this link is representative of the problem -

look how the author refers to him as “One Time Reformer” , um no, a myth, a chimera, mirage, your own vanity

and then of course . . .

“The senator declined to be interviewed.”

Cough, cough, hack, argh!!! rinse, repeat.

I think the campaigns are all missing one huge issue that is on virtually every voters mind. That is the price of gas.

I’ve already seen bumper stickers saying “When Bush took office, gas was $1.86/gal”

Boxturtle (And Bush threatened us with $2.00/gal if we voted for Gore)

Good morning, Christy. I feel like we are moving at warp speed. My list of concerns has grown and I’m going faster than my legs can catch up.

This morning on Washington Journal, a letter by Blue Texan sent to John Holt, Public Editor of the New York Times was presented by the host as an example of a letter received from the blogs. FireDogLake was front and center. John Holt said he didn’t read the letter. Didn’t make him look very good. He needs to catch up.

Please take note that the American Enterprise Institute is front and center on many policies. Today on C-SPAN they are discussing healthcare reform/health insurance. The past week they were featured as the authority on foreign policy and war planning. It’s the dominant ideology being presented. They are presently refuting any healthcare posed by “the Left/Liberals” (their language).

What changed your mind, Sen. McCain? The public deserves full answers, because that’s an abrupt shift from your past actions and words.

Conflict of interest used to be a major ethics principle. It reflected the trustworthiness of the individual. Now it is considered obsolete and irrelevant by Republicans and many Democrats. When McCain is asked a question, he gives a response. It amounts to a soundbite and stock response but it is accepted and the probe is dropped.

I would rather see probing questions than a question. Probing means you ask a question and further question the response until you get to the bottom of the issue or expose the person for his/her refusal to respond.

OT -

but I only got about an hour of sleep last night.

hope you are taking some of your most excellent advice? i know i will be *g*

The blogs are the best think tank we’ve got. Unfortunately the press and MSM hasn’t figured that out yet and I don’t think we are structured in a way that the idiot program schedulers can call up one phone number and get our best person to talk on behalf of a subject he/she knows best.

Imagine if we could do that and the press “got” it.

Remember Bob Dole’s stupid big tobacco pandering? That was part of what did him in. Bob Dole did not manage his tobacco whoring well atall. He sounded like a damn fool. Cigarettes in kids’ lunches! tsk tsk. /s

ummm - yeah - about that.

Left you one last one at the bottom of the late-late-nite thread…

(scurrying away, feeling a bit hypocritical)

BREAKING: McCain decides to run as a Democrat after all…

LOS ANGELES [AP] - John McCain is renewing his call for the United States to work more collegially with democratic nations and live up to its duties as a world leader.

“Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed,” the Republican said in prepared remarks a few days after returning from the Middle East and Europe. “We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies.”…

…”The United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone,” McCain said. Instead, the country must lead by attracting others to its cause, demonstrating the virtues of freedom and democracy, defending the rules of an international civilized society, and creating new international institutions to advance peace and freedom, he said…

wow - undeniable hell breaks out in Iraq and suddenly he’s a peacenik, color me surprised

well, that’s obviously an excellent McCain Moment - silly fucker (The United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone,) still thinks we have military power……

It’s because he has so much cred in international affairs and so much knowledge about what’s been going on of late.

Not.

The problem with gas prices, as an issue for Democrats, is that it is somewhat hypocritical in that oil is a finite resource, its extensive use is damaging to the environment, and we are dependent on foreign sources to satisfy our current needs. If it is a Democratic policy to reduce dependence on oil and develop alternative sources, it is hard to argue that we should develop some measure to lower the price and satisfy our dependency. Moreover, the sad fact seems to be that we really have no such influence on oil prices anyway.

I’m not arguing with what you say,and expect some expediency like release of the reserves to occur, but guessing at why presidential candidates might not want to push it.

Oh, and Think Progress has the goods on him here.

pff, NATO will the destroy the red triangle (China, Russia, Iran) /s

sometime we all need someone else to remind us to take care. just trying to return the favor.

Good morning Christy, great post as usual.

Well, it seems like we have one more McCain flip-flop to add to the list as he molds/morphs himself into the perfect gooper.

He’s gotta run to the left. His peeps have concluded that the far righties are gonna hate his ass anyway and that the bulk of his voting gains can only come from centrists/independents, lots of whom will be turned off by the stench coming from the intractable Clinton vs. Sheik bin al BaraBlackHusseinMadrassaOsamaBama cage match.

So, keep going into that shallowly alluring soft-voiced “my friends…” shctick. President McBu’ush.

lol, u sneaky clintonista.

IOKIYAR

Did Bu’ush’s glaring sophomoric inconsistencies ever stop him?

more flip flops from TP

You guys are going to want to check out the next post…

Sorry, Obamabot here.

Do we have a “Hugh’s List” for McSame?

This morning on Washington Journal, a letter by Blue Texan sent to John Holt

When was it published? Do you know the date?

Thanks.

Really? I always thought otherwise, funny, eh?

two of mccain’s financial fundraiser people–names from christy’s links above.

click on both for tom loeffler

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....r&st=

lowell ’bud’ paxson

this is the big list

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....rst=lowell

this one, just one donation, oxley from ohio

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....rst=lowell

and these, i misspelled his name, but hmmmm, seem to go with him, the dnc?

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....rst=lowell

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....rst=lowell

No, my evolution went Biden –> Edwards –> attracted to bin Obama, but caucused for Hillary (to make nice with wifey), and OK with either, to –> pissed at the HRC camp slimy hardball tactics to –> Obamabot (the Taylor Marsh epithet).

But, I see a President McBu’ush coming. Ugh.

What’s “Hugh’s List?”

A list of flip-flops sounds good.

Hugh’s List

enjoy.

kevinp at 67–’hugh’s list’ is a comprehensive list of all of the bush and co misdeeds against our constitution, etc…….

this is the last link i have for it–tried to test it, but tubes are waaaaaaaaaay slow for me today, so gave up.

here it is-hope it works. have a tummy mint ready.

http://www.netrootsmass.net/Hugh/Bush_list.html

I was for Pelosi ‘07

I still kinda think that a McCain term would be the death blow to the GOP.

and kevinp-
’hugh’s list’ is compiled and written by a commenter named hugh, here at firedoglake.

Thanks!

Wow 333 scandals! It seems like Bush has finally found his place in history!

Damn, except for the caucusing for Hillary and the understated term “pissed”, you summarized my whole philosphical journey in three lines. I was planning a book.

Blue Texan letter on WJ this morning: I don’t know the date of the letter but the subject was on the views of the NYT that influenced readers. The host was inquiring about the impact of blogs and did Holt take them seriously. He was luke warm in his response and admitted he was a print guy.

Clark Holt gave a general sky-is-blue response that there are some good things and some not so good things on blog sites. He was specific on blogs often being “mean spirited”. OK. I admit I am guilty of some of that but 99% of comments are not.

My wife was concerned that Obama was not as Ready for Prime Time as HRC, that our national problems are so severe (no argument there) that HRC, by virtue of her long experience dealing with the toxic DC long-knives political environment (not the same as her heroic experience flying C130 gunships into Bosnia, Gatling guns ablazing, btw), would be better able to hit the ground running.

I figured, WTF, go along to get along, in the bigger picture it ain’t gonna matter. So, I swallowed my concerns and caucused for Hill. Hey, it got me some extra bootie.

sorry dmac - the list is getting long and the page is getting too big - almost 1 MB now. i’ll see what can be done to make a version that easier for dial-up folks to use.

An example of my objection to HRC is her support of the anti-flag burning bill. In order to protect a piece of cloth she would torch the principles for which it stands. Is she so dum? Is she so cynical to overlook principle for political gain? We need leaders of character and judgement not politicians. It’s time for the second stringers to leave and the a-team to take the field.

We really gotta squelch the epidemic of flag-burning, at all costs.

“strike a compromise that would satisfy the industry and public-health advocates….”

Would that be a “Lucky Strike?”

It isn’t always direct influence that makes the difference.
There is no doubt in my own mind that those of us who learn something here take it to the water cooler, or the coffee shop, or to the caucus.

Influence is a subtle thing sometimes, other times it is raging. I can only speak for myself that my political issue fluency has climbed remarkably since I started lurking at The Lake, and it is a very good feeling to go forth onto the mean streets armed with the truth, and not just my opinion.

I used to try to cross-post some of this to the wingnut-o-sphere, but hit the moderator’s wall every time. Trying to reason with them is like arguing with the wrong end of an elephant.

All you get back is big piles of manure.

But out on the street, in the shops and bewtween friends, the knowledge information and attitude we pick up here at FDL is disseminated one argument at a time.

So never doubt the influence of a blog like this, the truth here is like cream floating to the top.

Should the FDA regulate tobacco products? A short list of reasons:

Tobacco products are consumed daily, by millions of Americans directly, by millions more indirectly.

Tobacco is an international industry whose production and sale in the United States generates billions in revenue.

Tobacco’s constituent substances include nicotine, a toxic and ravenously addictive drug.

Its lobbyists at the federal and state level are among the most ruthless and highly-paid, in a ruthless, highly-paid profession.

Tobacco use causes state and federal governments, private employers, health insurers, hospices, funeral associations and lawyers to incur billions in direct costs, billions in indirect costs, each year.

This bill’s sponsors should anticipate the scalpel the Roberts court will take to its legislation. His court just declared that FDA “approval” of a “medical device” forecloses a citizen’s right to sue for injuries caused by such a device, even if the danger was predictable but not reported to the FDA, even if the regulator doesn’t regulate or follow the effectiveness of its prior regulation. No matter how well the manufacturer manufactures.

Congress should use this legislation to override the Roberts court’s Stay Out of Court Free Card for an entire industry. It should include language protecting access to the courts for those harmed by tobacco’s addictive dangers, including private persons and governments. They should do it well. Because any protective language they legislate, the Roberts court will do its best to gut.