Comments on: Conventional wisdom watch: McCain edition

By: cinnamonape

cinnamonape — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:23:30 +0000

Oh…and I thought Merkel suggested that they didn’t want Obama to use the Brandenburg Gate because they didn’t want the government involved in US partisan politics? So now they (anonymously) are saying that Obama supporters are going to be disillusioned…bet they don’t say such things about McCain.

By: cinnamonape

cinnamonape — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:18:35 +0000

Yeah, I wrote up a little bit about this in “Late Night” a few days ago. The US division of UBS specifically reached out to over 20,000 wealthy Americans and recruited them to deposit an average of $100K in UBS Liechtenstein. A complex series of instructions, code words, phone numbers and bogus intermediate asset drops were used to evade the Federal anti-laundering reporting requirements. This is RICO Act territory.

Given the proximity of Gramm to the McCains (and other wealthy Republican contributors) it wouldn’t be surprising that Uncle Phil would be willing to let Cindy know about this clever way of reducing her tax burden…

Maybe that’s why she won’t reveal her tax records? Maybe it’ll reveal a few of those UBS methods (fake charitable organizations, business losses, and other general prarie-dog warrens that were used to funnel money to Liechtenstein.

BTW one of the techniques was to withdraw large amounts of cash for “personal use”…which might explain Cindy’s massive credit card usage.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:10:24 +0000

McCain and Lieberman wrote the legislation to create the 9/11 Commission from what I have read. The 9/11 Commission was a very flawed construct. I try to describe why this is the case in item 33 of my scandals list. And no I’m not a conspiracy theorist.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:56:22 +0000

Phil Gramm’s true reason for resigning from McCain’s campaign could lead to the scandal that ends up killing John McCain’s candidacy. If Cindy and or John McCain have monies deposited in the USB AG Liechtenstein Bank, it’s likely they’ll be investigated for tax evasion.

That list has some similar qualities to the DC Madam’s list, and she ended up dead. Didya notice how quietly that story died? I wonder how they can kill the USB tax cheat’s list story?

I sure hope the madam’s list was copied a few times and passed around.

By: libbyliberal

libbyliberal — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:35:39 +0000

Someone on NPR giving McCain prime credit for instigating the creation of the 911 Commission. When he was going after Bush he was stirring it up with the right people. Is that 9/11 credit deserved I wonder?

Just popping in here and I haven’t followed the thread down. I have liked Shields so much over the years on NH, but when Brooks joined for the dialogue especially … there was a defeatist/apologist kind of resignation with Shields I felt.

By: DrBong

DrBong — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:29:03 +0000

now don’t be going and gettin’ all reasonable on us… more than two choices? a schmorgasboard of sorts?

who’d a thunk?

6uoq.jp

By: wigwam

wigwam — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:22:09 +0000

Per Benny Morris:

Such a situation would confront Israeli leaders with two agonizing, dismal choices. One is to allow the Iranians to acquire the bomb and hope for the best — meaning a nuclear standoff, with the prospect of mutual assured destruction preventing the Iranians from actually using the weapon. The other would be to use the Iranian counterstrikes as an excuse to escalate and use the only means available that will actually destroy the Iranian nuclear project: Israel’s own nuclear arsenal.

The Israelis need to realize that nuclear proliferation is a two-way street.

There are of course, more than two options, e.g., a nonproliferation agreement that denuclearizes the entire region.

By: rwcole

rwcole — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:10:59 +0000

Obama said to be having “try outs” for veep candidates…

“OK- first we’re gonna shoot free throws- you’ll need to go at least 8 for 10 to stay in the running- then we’ll do one on one to 20- winner’s outs.”

By: Julia

Julia — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:10:03 +0000

oh, hey, do go look.

I bought the book for the kid, and she really enjoyed it (and so did I)

By: Hugh

Hugh — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:07:59 +0000

Idiots like Mark Shields the “liberal voice” on the NewsHour weekly round up with David Brooks likes McCain a lot. He like many bought the line McCain is a straightshooter and a maverick because it was a lot easier than thinking about it or examining the evidence for it.

There is a whole group of supposed liberals who picked up the label years ago (sort of like McCain got his) and have been conservatives ever since.