En artikel på Yahoo News förklarar fördelarna med att ha Romney som vice - bland annat säger analytikerna att han skulle kunna samla ihop kanske 60-miljoner dollar till McCains kampanj inom sextio dagar (Dvs 1 miljon om dagen) om han blev vice-president. Välbehövliga pengar för McCain. Romney verkar också vara den kandidat Republikanska gräsrötter helst vill se. Dock verkar McCain och Romney inte gå helt hem på ett personligt plan, varför frågan fortfarande förblir öppen. McCain ska dock förklara vem han utsett strax efter att Obama utsett sin.
Här är artikeln:
Romney tops McCain veep list
Mike Allen 30 minutes ago
Surprising many Republican insiders, Mitt Romney is at the top of the vice-presidential prospect list for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). But lack of personal chemistry could derail the pick.
“Romney as favorite” is the hot buzz in Republican circles, and top party advisers said the case is compelling.
Campaign insiders say McCain plans to name his running mate very shortly after Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) does, as part of what one campaign planner called a “bounce-mitigation strategy.”
The Democratic convention is in late August, a week ahead of the Republicans convention. That means McCain can size up the opposing ticket before locking in his own.
The McCain campaign declined to comment, saying McCain has made it clear they are not to discuss the matter.
One of the chief reasons the Massachusetts governor is looking so attractive is his ability to raise huge amounts of money quickly through his former business partners and from fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons.
McCain sources tell Politico that they believe Romney could raise $50 million in 60 days. One close Romney adviser said it could even be $60 million.
Romney’s other advantages, according to people involved in McCain’s screening process:
—Squeaky clean, and fully vetted by the national media.
—Has presidential looks and bearing, and immediately would be a strong campaign who could be trusted to stay on-message.
—Family’s Michigan roots would help in a swing state that went Democratic in 2004 and is.
But there’s one big problem: Despite the buddy-picture choreography of a McCain-Romney campaign swing, McCain remains far short of enamored of Romney.
And it’s not just the candidate. Some of McCain’s closest confidantes evidence little enthusiasm for Romney, feelings that owe in part to lingering bad blood from the GOP primary, a genuine skepticism that such a conventional pick could bolster the ticket in a grim year for the GOP and concerns about whether his Mormon faith could imperil McCain in Southern states that Obama hopes to put into play
McCain sources also say he’ll pick his vice presidential candidate based more on ability to govern than ability to help in the election.
So two other names are in the top tier:
—Rob Portman, a former congressman from Ohio, member of House leadership, U.S. Trade Ambassador and White House budget director.
—Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who would delight conservatives and is at the top of the list of the party’s prospects for the presidential race in 2012 or 2016. He was described to Politico by a McCain confidant as a possible “compromise” if the senator can’t stomach picking Romney.
Then there’s a second tier of candidates who are less likely, but possible: former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who dropped out of the top tier because of recent revelations about his lobbying; Florida Gov. Charlie Crist; Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who is one of McCain’s most energetic and successful fundraisers.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is frequently included in veep news stories but was not mentioned by McCain insiders. Their view is that his youth would accentuate, not mitigate, the age issue.
Especially if McCain is far behind later this summer, he could do something truly unorthodox like pick his strong supporter Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who was the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate back in 2000.
Party leaders don’t expect that. But McCain remains, after all, a maverick.
Politico’s Jonathan Martin contributed to this report.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080630/pl_politico/11435
måndag 30 juni 2008
Unga evangelikala röstar inte nödvändigtvis Republikanskt
Ett reportage av CNN som skildrar hur unga evangelikala inte nödvändigtvis röstar Republikanskt.
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/06/29/bolduan.young.evangelicals.update.cnn
Med tiden skulle det innebära att denna grupp inte längre kommer att vara en självskriven Republikansk väljarbas.
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/06/29/bolduan.young.evangelicals.update.cnn
Med tiden skulle det innebära att denna grupp inte längre kommer att vara en självskriven Republikansk väljarbas.
söndag 29 juni 2008
Irakanalys
En intressant analys över vad som gick fel i samband med USA:s Irakockupation efter att Saddam störtats, och som senare legat till grund för problemen som senare uppkom:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/washington/29army.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214746836-NIB17LsQQ0oFk6OAZ/nXHg
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/washington/29army.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214746836-NIB17LsQQ0oFk6OAZ/nXHg
Obama och Clinton vänner igen
Obama och Hillary Clinton har nu för första gången kampanjat tillsammans i en skola i staden Unity, New Hampshire. Här är en artikel och video om saken:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062700475.html?hpid=topnews
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062700475.html?hpid=topnews
McCain, Iraqi president say progress being made
McCain träffar den irakiske presidenten Jalal Talabani, som förklarar att amerikansk truppnärvaro kommer att behövas i Irak också fortsättningsvis. Det innebär i praktiken att förmodligen ingen president helt kommer att dra bort trupperna från Irak, inte ens Obama om han skulle bli vald. Men om McCain hanterar denna information vist, så kan det gynna honom.
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press WriterSat Jun 28, 2:40 PM ET
Appearing together in solidarity, Republican John McCain and Iraq's president said Saturday that the war-ravaged country is making significant but fragile progress.
The GOP presidential nominee-in-waiting expressed confidence about prospects for the two countries completing a complex agreement that would keep U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year-end. And, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said an American military presence still was needed.
"I, of, course am encouraged. We both agree that the progress has been significant but the progress is also fragile. And there's a lot of work that needs to be done," McCain said at the end of a private 45-minute meeting with Talabani.
Sitting next to the Arizona senator at a Washington hotel, Talabani nodded in agreement and said it was a pleasure and an honor to update an "old friend" about "this stage of success" in Iraq.
U.S. and Iraqi authorities are trying to meet a July target date for completing a security agreement. Talks bogged down over several key issues, which Iraqi lawmakers said violated the nation's sovereignty. Recently, however, Iraqi authorities said prospects for a deal had brightened after the Americans submitted new, unspecified proposals.
Talabani discussed the issue with President Bush on Wednesday.
McCain emphasized that the two countries will decide the role of U.S. forces together.
"I am confident that the two nations, as sovereign nations, will reach agreement in the best interest of the United States of America and the best interest of the government of Iraq," McCain said.
"We are winning in Iraq, and we will withdraw, but we will withdraw with victory and honor," McCain said.
Talabani, for his part, said his country has achieved "good successes and achievements" in training the Iraqi army and policy force.
But, he said: "We are still in need to have American military presence in Iraq, and it must be decided by both governments of the United States and Iraq how much they will remain there."
Talabani added: "In my personal opinion, we are in need to have some, at least some, military bases as a symbol for preventing others in interfering (with) internal affairs of Iraq.
Later, as he spoke to a Hispanic organization, McCain was interrupted four times by anti-war protesters, who screamed "we want a peace candidate" and "bring our troops home."
McCain also met with Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday, and was traveling to Kentucky for an evening fundraiser.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080628/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_iraq
2008-06-29
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press WriterSat Jun 28, 2:40 PM ET
Appearing together in solidarity, Republican John McCain and Iraq's president said Saturday that the war-ravaged country is making significant but fragile progress.
The GOP presidential nominee-in-waiting expressed confidence about prospects for the two countries completing a complex agreement that would keep U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year-end. And, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said an American military presence still was needed.
"I, of, course am encouraged. We both agree that the progress has been significant but the progress is also fragile. And there's a lot of work that needs to be done," McCain said at the end of a private 45-minute meeting with Talabani.
Sitting next to the Arizona senator at a Washington hotel, Talabani nodded in agreement and said it was a pleasure and an honor to update an "old friend" about "this stage of success" in Iraq.
U.S. and Iraqi authorities are trying to meet a July target date for completing a security agreement. Talks bogged down over several key issues, which Iraqi lawmakers said violated the nation's sovereignty. Recently, however, Iraqi authorities said prospects for a deal had brightened after the Americans submitted new, unspecified proposals.
Talabani discussed the issue with President Bush on Wednesday.
McCain emphasized that the two countries will decide the role of U.S. forces together.
"I am confident that the two nations, as sovereign nations, will reach agreement in the best interest of the United States of America and the best interest of the government of Iraq," McCain said.
"We are winning in Iraq, and we will withdraw, but we will withdraw with victory and honor," McCain said.
Talabani, for his part, said his country has achieved "good successes and achievements" in training the Iraqi army and policy force.
But, he said: "We are still in need to have American military presence in Iraq, and it must be decided by both governments of the United States and Iraq how much they will remain there."
Talabani added: "In my personal opinion, we are in need to have some, at least some, military bases as a symbol for preventing others in interfering (with) internal affairs of Iraq.
Later, as he spoke to a Hispanic organization, McCain was interrupted four times by anti-war protesters, who screamed "we want a peace candidate" and "bring our troops home."
McCain also met with Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday, and was traveling to Kentucky for an evening fundraiser.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080628/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_iraq
2008-06-29
lördag 28 juni 2008
Insändare om Jesusdebatten
Här är en insändare till allehanda media som jag skrivit angående debatten om homo-bilden av Jesus. Den refuserades dock, så därför publicerar jag den här istället.
Demokratins innebörd
I Ecce homo-debatten har jämförelser gjorts med Mohammedkarikatyrerna där man betonat att man måste respektera människors tro.
Respekt är förstås viktigt i det personliga mötet. I det offentliga rummet är dock respekten för den frihet som kännetecknar demokratiska samhällen viktigare än att inte såra människors politiska eller religiösa föreställningar.
Lars Näslund fick efter att ha yttrat sin åsikt om Jesusbilden utstå mycket kritik. Jag är själv kritisk till hans åsikt om selektiva bidrag; politiker kan givetvis inte få bestämma vilka utställningar som är värda kulturbidrag eller ej eftersom det skulle hämma den yttrandefrihet bidragssystemet skapades för att främja. Antingen har man ett kulturbidragssystem eller så har man det inte – däremot kan man inte ha det bara ibland, vid de tillfällen det passar politikerna i smaken. Det borde en Moderat förstå.
Däremot har Näslund visat att han, helt oavsett hur upprörd han än är(och det kan väl ingen undgått att se att han var), följer de demokratiska spelreglerna, bl a genom sitt uttalande om att man ”inte kan bomba dem [som står för utställningen] på samma sätt som muslimerna.”
Näslunds kritiker har främst reagerat på den sista delen av uttalandet, när kontentan däri var att Näslund förstår att man inte kan tvinga människor att tycka som han eller förbjuda utställningar som dessa; hädelselagar fanns på medeltiden och finns fortfarande i ociviliserade samhällen, men hör inte hemma i demokratier, eftersom demokratier inte ägnar sig åt att bli sårad å Guds vägnar.
Så var inte fallet med Mohammedkarikatyrerna som skapades i ljuset av att danska översättare inte ville ta sig an muslimska teman i rädsla för repressalier. För att se om det fanns fog för denna rädsla lät Jyllandsposten rita skämtteckningarna, med följden att tecknarna tvingades gå under jorden – och i en mordkomplott som nyligen avslöjades av dansk säkerhetspolis planerade två män att strypa en av tecknarna. Ett scenario som borde vara otänkbart i en demokrati. De flesta muslimer tog inte till våld men nästan alla som hördes var eniga om att även om man får, så bör man inte provocera – varefter det i princip blev omöjligt att säga något alls om islam utan att bli anmäld till JK – inte för hädelse – men för hets mot folkgrupp eller islamofobi: poängen var dock densamma – drev man gäck med Mohammed skulle man stoppas. Beklagas kan att homosexuella ofta intar samma slags för yttrandefriheten destruktiva förhållningssätt, i fråga om anmälningar mot predikanter som predikar att homosexualitet är synd. I demokratier ska misshagliga åsikter alltid bemötas med argument, aldrig förbjudas.
Lars Näslund må tycka att ecce- homoutställningen är hädisk, men han har gjort detta utan att mordhota, utan att bruka våld och t o m utan att åberopa någon ”modern hädelselag” som inkräktar på yttrandefriheten, trots att han tillhör en av de mest konservativt kristna och uppenbarligen blev mycket personligt sårad. Ett sådant beteende är hedervärt och ger honom rätten att själv hävda såväl att hädiska utställningar inte borde finansieras av staten, som att homosexualitet är en synd. Det är nämligen exakt så en demokrati ska fungera; människor ska inte likriktas att tycka samma sak, utan folk ska kunna ha diametralt motsatta åsikter utan att fördenskull mörda eller bruka våld mot sina meningsmotståndare. Att Näslund trots hans personliga känslor förstår detta, förtjänar respekt också från dem som inte delar hans uppfattningar om sakfrågorna, men som tror på det demokratiska samhällsbygget.
Ronie Berggren
Demokratins innebörd
I Ecce homo-debatten har jämförelser gjorts med Mohammedkarikatyrerna där man betonat att man måste respektera människors tro.
Respekt är förstås viktigt i det personliga mötet. I det offentliga rummet är dock respekten för den frihet som kännetecknar demokratiska samhällen viktigare än att inte såra människors politiska eller religiösa föreställningar.
Lars Näslund fick efter att ha yttrat sin åsikt om Jesusbilden utstå mycket kritik. Jag är själv kritisk till hans åsikt om selektiva bidrag; politiker kan givetvis inte få bestämma vilka utställningar som är värda kulturbidrag eller ej eftersom det skulle hämma den yttrandefrihet bidragssystemet skapades för att främja. Antingen har man ett kulturbidragssystem eller så har man det inte – däremot kan man inte ha det bara ibland, vid de tillfällen det passar politikerna i smaken. Det borde en Moderat förstå.
Däremot har Näslund visat att han, helt oavsett hur upprörd han än är(och det kan väl ingen undgått att se att han var), följer de demokratiska spelreglerna, bl a genom sitt uttalande om att man ”inte kan bomba dem [som står för utställningen] på samma sätt som muslimerna.”
Näslunds kritiker har främst reagerat på den sista delen av uttalandet, när kontentan däri var att Näslund förstår att man inte kan tvinga människor att tycka som han eller förbjuda utställningar som dessa; hädelselagar fanns på medeltiden och finns fortfarande i ociviliserade samhällen, men hör inte hemma i demokratier, eftersom demokratier inte ägnar sig åt att bli sårad å Guds vägnar.
Så var inte fallet med Mohammedkarikatyrerna som skapades i ljuset av att danska översättare inte ville ta sig an muslimska teman i rädsla för repressalier. För att se om det fanns fog för denna rädsla lät Jyllandsposten rita skämtteckningarna, med följden att tecknarna tvingades gå under jorden – och i en mordkomplott som nyligen avslöjades av dansk säkerhetspolis planerade två män att strypa en av tecknarna. Ett scenario som borde vara otänkbart i en demokrati. De flesta muslimer tog inte till våld men nästan alla som hördes var eniga om att även om man får, så bör man inte provocera – varefter det i princip blev omöjligt att säga något alls om islam utan att bli anmäld till JK – inte för hädelse – men för hets mot folkgrupp eller islamofobi: poängen var dock densamma – drev man gäck med Mohammed skulle man stoppas. Beklagas kan att homosexuella ofta intar samma slags för yttrandefriheten destruktiva förhållningssätt, i fråga om anmälningar mot predikanter som predikar att homosexualitet är synd. I demokratier ska misshagliga åsikter alltid bemötas med argument, aldrig förbjudas.
Lars Näslund må tycka att ecce- homoutställningen är hädisk, men han har gjort detta utan att mordhota, utan att bruka våld och t o m utan att åberopa någon ”modern hädelselag” som inkräktar på yttrandefriheten, trots att han tillhör en av de mest konservativt kristna och uppenbarligen blev mycket personligt sårad. Ett sådant beteende är hedervärt och ger honom rätten att själv hävda såväl att hädiska utställningar inte borde finansieras av staten, som att homosexualitet är en synd. Det är nämligen exakt så en demokrati ska fungera; människor ska inte likriktas att tycka samma sak, utan folk ska kunna ha diametralt motsatta åsikter utan att fördenskull mörda eller bruka våld mot sina meningsmotståndare. Att Näslund trots hans personliga känslor förstår detta, förtjänar respekt också från dem som inte delar hans uppfattningar om sakfrågorna, men som tror på det demokratiska samhällsbygget.
Ronie Berggren
torsdag 26 juni 2008
Obama uppfattas som divig
Obama har skaffat en logotype för sin kampanj som väldigt mycket liknar det amerikanska presidentsigillet - det som te x Bush alltid har bakom eller framför sig när han håller sina tal. Obama använde detta sigill (bild finns i artikeln nedan) vid ett tillfälle, men fick ganska snabbt kritik för att framstå som att han tar segern för given, varefter han snabbt plockade bort sigillet. Karl Rove drar dock en del slutsatser om Obamas beteende utifrån denna och andra incidenter. Här är analysen - där som sagt också en bild av Obamas kortlivade sigill återfinns:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121443823260805375.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121443823260805375.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
Supreme Court förtydligar the Second Amendment
USA:s högsta domstol fattade idag ett beslut med rösterna 5-4 där innebörden av det andra konstitutionstillägget förtydligades. Beslutet förklarar att konstitutionstillägget inte bara ger delstater rätt att ha en milis - vilket somliga som förespråkar en restrektiv vapenpolicy menar - utan tillägget innebär också, enligt domstolen, att det också innebär att varje individ har rätt att äga vapen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/washington/27scotuscnd.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Och här är en artikel som beskriver att denna lag inte kommer att innebära några större förändringar i största delen av landet, men att städer med förbud mot vapen, precis som Washington DC, som te x Chicago - kommer att få göra en hel del förändringar:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/washington/27guns.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214545975-gbfJ8fndf2NehiZTAyjSBw
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/washington/27scotuscnd.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Och här är en artikel som beskriver att denna lag inte kommer att innebära några större förändringar i största delen av landet, men att städer med förbud mot vapen, precis som Washington DC, som te x Chicago - kommer att få göra en hel del förändringar:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/washington/27guns.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214545975-gbfJ8fndf2NehiZTAyjSBw
Gallup-undersökning: jämnt mellan kandidaterna
Enligt en färsk Gallup-undersökning är det jämnt mellan McCain och Obama.
Bloggen börjar sacka efter...
Den här bloggen höll under primärvalet en väldigt hög kvalité med nästan dagliga såväl nyhetsrapporteringar som kommentarer till dessa - i nästan samma klass som de allra bästa svenska USA-bloggarna. Nu över sommaren har dock varken du eller jag rapporterat på samma dagliga sätt om mängder av oväsentliga detaljer som andra bloggare nämner, som kanske inte är så viktiga, men som likväl givetvis bör rapporteras i en blogg som vill följa presidentvalet närgånget. Hoppas vi kan bli mer aktiva framåt hösten igen.
Men den här bloggen har i alla fall lärt oss en hel del. Nästa blogg kan vi kanske göra allmänt tillgänglig och strukturera lite bättre. Gör vi det, så lär vi kunna blogga i full klass med de allra bästa svenska USA-bloggarna.
Men den här bloggen har i alla fall lärt oss en hel del. Nästa blogg kan vi kanske göra allmänt tillgänglig och strukturera lite bättre. Gör vi det, så lär vi kunna blogga i full klass med de allra bästa svenska USA-bloggarna.
Irakiska kristna mutar islamister
En artikel om hur irakiska kristna under en längre tid tvingats ta upp kollekter och ge till islamister för att dessa inte ska döda prästerna och hela församlingen. En verksamhet som pågått i flera år och som även finansierat en stor del av terroristverksamheten - något de kristna börjat tala öppet om först nu när våldet börjat lägga sig:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/world/middleeast/26christians.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/world/middleeast/26christians.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
onsdag 25 juni 2008
McCains fångvaktare från Vietnam ger honom sitt stöd
McCains vietnamesiske fångvaktare har du endorsat sin fd fånge och säger att han skulle rösta på honom om han själv var amerikan. McCain ljuger dock, säger fångvaktaren, när han påstår sig ha blivit torterad. Vietnameserna torterade inga fångar. Här är artikeln:
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/artikel_1399035.svd
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/artikel_1399035.svd
Was the Iraq war worth it?
En väldigt intressant artikel om huruvida Irakkriget var värt priset eller ej; artikeln framhåller en mängd positiva saker om kriget - som sett ur ett historiskt perspektiv kan visa sig vara fördelaktiga.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/was_iraq_worth_it.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/was_iraq_worth_it.html
tisdag 24 juni 2008
Bush administration to leave Iraq oil deals alone
Först nu, fem år efter kriget har oljan i landet på allvar börjat kunna komma till användning. Företag arbetar nu för att vinna oljekontrakt med Irak. Och det utan den amerikanska regeringens inblandning. Något som förstås knäcker tesen om att USA gick in i Irak bara för oljans skull. Amerikanska företag kommer säkert att skriva på kontrakt med Irak - men det har USA:s regering föga med att göra. Här en bra aritkel:
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press WriterTue Jun 24, 1:21 PM ET
The Bush administration indicated Tuesday that it had no plans to interfere with negotiations between Iraq and several Western oil giants to boost crude production in that country, despite concerns by some Democrats that the deal could inflame anti-U.S. sentiments.
"Iraq is a sovereign country, and it can make decisions based on how it feels that it wants to move forward in its development of its oil resources," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
"And if that means that our companies here in the United States can compete and win business, then that's for them and the Iraqis to decide," Perino added. "But I don't think the federal government of the United States needs to get involved."
The administration's position puts it at odds with Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who warn that the deals could fan the perception that U.S. involvement in Iraq was motivated by oil.
In a letter Monday, the senators asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to try to block the oil deals.
Until Baghdad agrees on how to divide the nation's oil revenues, the presence of Western companies — including U.S.-based Exxon Mobil — will heighten tensions among Iraq's feuding sectarian groups "at the same time that American service members are fighting night and day to reduce the levels of violence," they wrote.
"This is clearly a matter of national security, which we believe should trump any and all commercial interests," the senators added.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey said it was unlikely Rice would try to interfere.
"Since the United States has had no involvement in this, I'm not sure on what basis the United States could...block the Iraqi government from contracting in the way it sees fit," he said.
Likewise, Perino dismissed the senators' concerns as illogical.
"I'm curious as to why the Democrats seem to, on the one hand, want Iraq to take over more control of their own country, but on the other hand, want to continue to meddle in their business," she told reporters.
The Democrats responded that while Iraq may be sovereign, the U.S. is entitled to speak up because of the number of troops and dollars it has invested in the country's future.
"When it has been in our interest to try to get the Iraqi government to do something that this administration really wanted them to do, they do it," said Kerry.
The Iraq oil deals will likely be announced by the end of the month. The agreements, worth around $500 million each, are seen as a stopgap measure to begin ramping up oil production while Iraq's sectarian groups debate legislation that would divide the nation's oil revenues.
While modest in size, the contracts are expected to give the companies a significant bidding advantage over others in the future.
Last week, Iraq's oil ministry declined to name the companies set to receive the deals. The New York Times reported Thursday that Shell, BP, Exxon Mobil and Total were in the final stages of negotiations on the no-bid contracts.
Källa: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_on_go_pr_wh/iraq_oil_deals 2008-06-24
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press WriterTue Jun 24, 1:21 PM ET
The Bush administration indicated Tuesday that it had no plans to interfere with negotiations between Iraq and several Western oil giants to boost crude production in that country, despite concerns by some Democrats that the deal could inflame anti-U.S. sentiments.
"Iraq is a sovereign country, and it can make decisions based on how it feels that it wants to move forward in its development of its oil resources," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
"And if that means that our companies here in the United States can compete and win business, then that's for them and the Iraqis to decide," Perino added. "But I don't think the federal government of the United States needs to get involved."
The administration's position puts it at odds with Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who warn that the deals could fan the perception that U.S. involvement in Iraq was motivated by oil.
In a letter Monday, the senators asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to try to block the oil deals.
Until Baghdad agrees on how to divide the nation's oil revenues, the presence of Western companies — including U.S.-based Exxon Mobil — will heighten tensions among Iraq's feuding sectarian groups "at the same time that American service members are fighting night and day to reduce the levels of violence," they wrote.
"This is clearly a matter of national security, which we believe should trump any and all commercial interests," the senators added.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey said it was unlikely Rice would try to interfere.
"Since the United States has had no involvement in this, I'm not sure on what basis the United States could...block the Iraqi government from contracting in the way it sees fit," he said.
Likewise, Perino dismissed the senators' concerns as illogical.
"I'm curious as to why the Democrats seem to, on the one hand, want Iraq to take over more control of their own country, but on the other hand, want to continue to meddle in their business," she told reporters.
The Democrats responded that while Iraq may be sovereign, the U.S. is entitled to speak up because of the number of troops and dollars it has invested in the country's future.
"When it has been in our interest to try to get the Iraqi government to do something that this administration really wanted them to do, they do it," said Kerry.
The Iraq oil deals will likely be announced by the end of the month. The agreements, worth around $500 million each, are seen as a stopgap measure to begin ramping up oil production while Iraq's sectarian groups debate legislation that would divide the nation's oil revenues.
While modest in size, the contracts are expected to give the companies a significant bidding advantage over others in the future.
Last week, Iraq's oil ministry declined to name the companies set to receive the deals. The New York Times reported Thursday that Shell, BP, Exxon Mobil and Total were in the final stages of negotiations on the no-bid contracts.
Källa: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_on_go_pr_wh/iraq_oil_deals 2008-06-24
Cuban-amerikanerna och GOP
En artikel som tar upp lite varför cuban-amerikanerna föredrar Republikanerna framför Demokraterna. Ganska intressant, må jag säga:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11295.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11295.html
måndag 23 juni 2008
Obama och McCain besöker de översvämmade områdena i Iowa
Obama och McCain besöker de områden i Iowa som drabbats av den senaste tidens översvämmingar. Obama kritiserar dock McCain för att inte ha stött ett federalt "flood-prevention" förslag. ABCNews har artikeln:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=5218417
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=5218417
söndag 22 juni 2008
Artikel om Khalid Mohammed och CIA:s förhör
En väldigt intressant artikel om hjärnan bakom 11 septemberattacken, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, som den amerikanska underättelsetjänsten tog tillfånga 2002. Denne anses även vara den som låg bakom mordet på den judiske journalisten Daniel Pearl som halshöggs i Afghanistan. Här är en lång artikel om hur Khalid Sheik Mohammed togs tillfånga, hur han fördes till fängelser i Thailand och Polen och där förhördes - samt en del om vilka metoder CIA använder. Artikeln ger snarare en sympatisk och mycket förstående bild av CIA:s arbete, snarare än den bild som omänskliga inkvisitorer - som vanlig media oftast framställer dem som. Mycket läsvärt alltså:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/washington/22ksm.html?hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/washington/22ksm.html?hp
lördag 21 juni 2008
Ny opinionsmätning: Obama leder stort över McCain
I den senaste opinonsmätningen som gjorts efter att Hillary Clinton försonats med Obama leder nu Obama med hela 51 mot McCains 36%. Det är en rejäl ledning.
Källa: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080621/pl_nm/usa_politics_poll_dc
2008-06-21
Källa: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080621/pl_nm/usa_politics_poll_dc
2008-06-21
fredag 20 juni 2008
En bra artikel om dödandet i Haditha
2005 dog ett antal civila i en amerikansk räd - varefter ett antal amerikanska soldater blev utpekade som folkmördare. Den demokratiske Senatorn John Murtha försökte använda händelsen för att förklara vilken press soldaterna är utsatta för och menade också att dessa var skyldiga.
Nu har nästan alla helt friats - och här är en väldigt intressant artikel om saken - och om hur upprorsmakarna i Irak gärna vill framställa amerikanerna just som folkmördare. Artikeln berör också Vietnamkriget på ett väldigt intressant sätt:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDBkY2YzM2Q4YTBjODdkNzBhYWRhMTgzNjcxYzQ5NmY=
Nu har nästan alla helt friats - och här är en väldigt intressant artikel om saken - och om hur upprorsmakarna i Irak gärna vill framställa amerikanerna just som folkmördare. Artikeln berör också Vietnamkriget på ett väldigt intressant sätt:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDBkY2YzM2Q4YTBjODdkNzBhYWRhMTgzNjcxYzQ5NmY=
Israel appears to rehearse Iran attack: report
28 minutes ago
U.S. officials say Israel carried out a large military exercise this month that appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, The New York Times reported on Friday.
Citing unidentified American officials, the newspaper said more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in the first week of June.
It said the exercise appeared to be an effort to focus on long-range strikes and illustrates the seriousness with which Israel views Iran's nuclear program.
The newspaper said Israeli officials would not discuss the exercise.
A spokesman for the Israeli military would say only that the country's air force "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel," according to the Times.
A Pentagon official who the Times said was briefed on the exercise, said one goal was to practice flight tactics, aerial refueling and other details of a possible strike against Iran's nuclear installations and long-range conventional missiles.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a second goal was to send a clear message that Israel was prepared to act militarily if other efforts to stop Iran from producing bomb-grade uranium fail.
"They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know," the Pentagon official said, according to the Times. "There's a lot of signaling going on at different levels."
Several U.S. officials told the newspaper they did not believe Israel had decided to attack Iran or think such a strike was imminent.
The U.N. Security Council has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Iran for defying council demands that it suspend its uranium enrichment program, which could be used to make fuel for power plants or atomic weapons.
Iran has refused to buckle to the sanctions and has spurned previous offers of economic benefits to suspend its uranium enrichment, which it says is to produce fuel for electrical power plants rather than for nuclear weapons.
Iran said Thursday it was ready to negotiate over a new package of economic incentives put forward by major powers seeking to persuade Tehran to curb its nuclear work.
(Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Anthony Boadle)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080620/ts_nm/israel_iran_military_dc
2008-06-20
U.S. officials say Israel carried out a large military exercise this month that appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, The New York Times reported on Friday.
Citing unidentified American officials, the newspaper said more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in the first week of June.
It said the exercise appeared to be an effort to focus on long-range strikes and illustrates the seriousness with which Israel views Iran's nuclear program.
The newspaper said Israeli officials would not discuss the exercise.
A spokesman for the Israeli military would say only that the country's air force "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel," according to the Times.
A Pentagon official who the Times said was briefed on the exercise, said one goal was to practice flight tactics, aerial refueling and other details of a possible strike against Iran's nuclear installations and long-range conventional missiles.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a second goal was to send a clear message that Israel was prepared to act militarily if other efforts to stop Iran from producing bomb-grade uranium fail.
"They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know," the Pentagon official said, according to the Times. "There's a lot of signaling going on at different levels."
Several U.S. officials told the newspaper they did not believe Israel had decided to attack Iran or think such a strike was imminent.
The U.N. Security Council has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Iran for defying council demands that it suspend its uranium enrichment program, which could be used to make fuel for power plants or atomic weapons.
Iran has refused to buckle to the sanctions and has spurned previous offers of economic benefits to suspend its uranium enrichment, which it says is to produce fuel for electrical power plants rather than for nuclear weapons.
Iran said Thursday it was ready to negotiate over a new package of economic incentives put forward by major powers seeking to persuade Tehran to curb its nuclear work.
(Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Anthony Boadle)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080620/ts_nm/israel_iran_military_dc
2008-06-20
Analysis: Obama chose winning over his word
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press WriterThu Jun 19, 4:39 PM ET
Barack Obama chose winning over his word.
The Democrat once made a conditional agreement to accept taxpayer money from the public financing system, and accompanying spending limits, if his Republican opponent did, too.
No more.
The chance to financially swamp John McCain — and maneuver for an enormous general election advantage — proved too great an allure.
Obama, a record-shattering fundraiser, reversed course Thursday and decided to forgo some $85 million so he could raise unlimited amounts of money and spend as much as he wants.
"It's not an easy decision, and especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections," Obama said in announcing that despite his previous commitment, he would rely only on private donations because "the public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken."
And with that, the first-term Illinois senator tarnished his carefully honed image as a different kind of politician — one who means what he says and says what he means — while undercutting his call for "a new kind of politics."
McCain, for his part, painted the issue as a character test, saying: "This election is about a lot of things. It's also about trust. It's about keeping your word."
Not that the Arizona senator has much room to talk. He, too, has cast himself as a reformer who tells it like it is but his words and actions sometimes conflict with that identity.
Overall, the race between Obama and McCain amounts to an authenticity contest.
Voters are craving change from typical Washington ways and each candidate is claiming he offers a new brand of politics that transcends poisonous partisanship. Yet, each candidate, in what he says versus what he does, also is undermining his own promises not to become the politics of usual.
McCain, for instance, opposed President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. Now, as a White House hopeful in 2008, he supports them; he says doing otherwise would amount to a tax increase. He also long advocated an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants. Then, while in the GOP primary, he emphasized securing the borders first; he says he listened to the public outcry and a defeated Senate bill.
The Republican also rails against special interests, yet he has faced criticism for having former lobbyists at his campaign's helm. And, just this week, McCain assailed Obama for proposing a windfall profits tax on oil, despite saying last month he would consider the same proposal.
"McCain's a four-star flip-flopper," said Chris Kofinis, a Democratic operative who worked for John Edwards in the primary. "The John McCain of 2000 wouldn't vote for the John McCain of 2008."
True or not, Republicans were quick to pound Obama over his money announcement.
"'Change We Can Believe In' has been thrown overboard for 'Political Expediency I Can Win With,'" said Todd Harris, a Republican analyst and aide to former presidential candidate Fred Thompson in the primary. "Every time Obama's change rhetoric meets his actual change record it evaporates in a cloud of hypocrisy."
Last year, as Obama competed against fundraising behemoth Hillary Rodham Clinton and before his fundraising prowess was evident, Obama proposed that both major party general election nominees agree to stay in the public financing system.
In a November 2007 questionnaire, Obama answered "yes" when asked: "If you are nominated for president in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?" He added: "I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."
Then, Obama raised enormous sums — and he started backing away from that position.
McCain, however, had indicated he would go along with the proposal and, since clinching the GOP nomination, has been trying to hold Obama to his commitment. Obama "said he would stick to his word. He didn't," McCain complained Thursday, and then told reporters in Minnesota, "We will take public financing."
Obama made his announcement as McCain was in the Democrat's hometown of Chicago — where McCain had come to raise money.
Obama's decision also came one day before the candidates were required to report their May fundraising totals.
The move could be the death-knell for the post-Watergate federal financing system designed to lessen the large donors' influence and reduce corruption.
It certainly will give Obama an extraordinary advantage over McCain and Republicans who have struggled to match Democratic fundraising this election cycle. Within hours, Obama showed his financial might by rolling out a 60-second television ad in 18 states, including several that have been reliable GOP strongholds.
Obama made the money announcement in a video message to supporters — and sought to empower them to give more.
"You've fueled this campaign with donations of $5, $10, $20, whatever you can afford," Obama said in an appeal seeking donations from $25 to $2,300 and beyond.
"Let's build the first general election campaign that's truly funded by the American people," Obama said — ignoring the fact that the system he's opting out of is paid for by taxpayers who donate $3 to the fund when they file their tax returns.
Obama blamed his decision in part on McCain and "the smears and attacks from his allies running so-called 527 groups." But he failed to mention that the only outside groups running ads in earnest so far are those aligned with Obama — and running commercials against McCain.
So much for being a straight shooter.
_____
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080619/ap_on_el_pr/obama_money_analysis
2008-06-20
Barack Obama chose winning over his word.
The Democrat once made a conditional agreement to accept taxpayer money from the public financing system, and accompanying spending limits, if his Republican opponent did, too.
No more.
The chance to financially swamp John McCain — and maneuver for an enormous general election advantage — proved too great an allure.
Obama, a record-shattering fundraiser, reversed course Thursday and decided to forgo some $85 million so he could raise unlimited amounts of money and spend as much as he wants.
"It's not an easy decision, and especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections," Obama said in announcing that despite his previous commitment, he would rely only on private donations because "the public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken."
And with that, the first-term Illinois senator tarnished his carefully honed image as a different kind of politician — one who means what he says and says what he means — while undercutting his call for "a new kind of politics."
McCain, for his part, painted the issue as a character test, saying: "This election is about a lot of things. It's also about trust. It's about keeping your word."
Not that the Arizona senator has much room to talk. He, too, has cast himself as a reformer who tells it like it is but his words and actions sometimes conflict with that identity.
Overall, the race between Obama and McCain amounts to an authenticity contest.
Voters are craving change from typical Washington ways and each candidate is claiming he offers a new brand of politics that transcends poisonous partisanship. Yet, each candidate, in what he says versus what he does, also is undermining his own promises not to become the politics of usual.
McCain, for instance, opposed President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. Now, as a White House hopeful in 2008, he supports them; he says doing otherwise would amount to a tax increase. He also long advocated an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants. Then, while in the GOP primary, he emphasized securing the borders first; he says he listened to the public outcry and a defeated Senate bill.
The Republican also rails against special interests, yet he has faced criticism for having former lobbyists at his campaign's helm. And, just this week, McCain assailed Obama for proposing a windfall profits tax on oil, despite saying last month he would consider the same proposal.
"McCain's a four-star flip-flopper," said Chris Kofinis, a Democratic operative who worked for John Edwards in the primary. "The John McCain of 2000 wouldn't vote for the John McCain of 2008."
True or not, Republicans were quick to pound Obama over his money announcement.
"'Change We Can Believe In' has been thrown overboard for 'Political Expediency I Can Win With,'" said Todd Harris, a Republican analyst and aide to former presidential candidate Fred Thompson in the primary. "Every time Obama's change rhetoric meets his actual change record it evaporates in a cloud of hypocrisy."
Last year, as Obama competed against fundraising behemoth Hillary Rodham Clinton and before his fundraising prowess was evident, Obama proposed that both major party general election nominees agree to stay in the public financing system.
In a November 2007 questionnaire, Obama answered "yes" when asked: "If you are nominated for president in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?" He added: "I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."
Then, Obama raised enormous sums — and he started backing away from that position.
McCain, however, had indicated he would go along with the proposal and, since clinching the GOP nomination, has been trying to hold Obama to his commitment. Obama "said he would stick to his word. He didn't," McCain complained Thursday, and then told reporters in Minnesota, "We will take public financing."
Obama made his announcement as McCain was in the Democrat's hometown of Chicago — where McCain had come to raise money.
Obama's decision also came one day before the candidates were required to report their May fundraising totals.
The move could be the death-knell for the post-Watergate federal financing system designed to lessen the large donors' influence and reduce corruption.
It certainly will give Obama an extraordinary advantage over McCain and Republicans who have struggled to match Democratic fundraising this election cycle. Within hours, Obama showed his financial might by rolling out a 60-second television ad in 18 states, including several that have been reliable GOP strongholds.
Obama made the money announcement in a video message to supporters — and sought to empower them to give more.
"You've fueled this campaign with donations of $5, $10, $20, whatever you can afford," Obama said in an appeal seeking donations from $25 to $2,300 and beyond.
"Let's build the first general election campaign that's truly funded by the American people," Obama said — ignoring the fact that the system he's opting out of is paid for by taxpayers who donate $3 to the fund when they file their tax returns.
Obama blamed his decision in part on McCain and "the smears and attacks from his allies running so-called 527 groups." But he failed to mention that the only outside groups running ads in earnest so far are those aligned with Obama — and running commercials against McCain.
So much for being a straight shooter.
_____
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080619/ap_on_el_pr/obama_money_analysis
2008-06-20
torsdag 19 juni 2008
Obama säger nej till statliga kampanjmedel
Obama har nu officiellt tackat nej till de statliga kampanjmedel på 84 miljoner dollar i det allmänna valet i höst som varje kandidat är berättigad mot kravet att de heller inte får spendera mer än så i sin kampanj. Innan primärvalet var McCain och Obama de enda kandidater som lovade att om de blev sina partiers respektive kandidat, knyta sig till dessa statliga medel. Obama, som kammat hem oändliga summor pengar, och förväntas kunna uppbåda så mycket som otroliga 500 miljoner dollar inför höstens val, har nu sagt att han inte tänker använda de statliga medlen.
Med hjälp av de pengar han samlat in har han råd att föra en massiv kampanj i alla delstater, inklusive de Republikanska sådana. Att han ändrat sig möter dock kritik inte bara från McCain - utan även från andra håll. Här är en artikel om saken:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11202.html
Med hjälp av de pengar han samlat in har han råd att föra en massiv kampanj i alla delstater, inklusive de Republikanska sådana. Att han ändrat sig möter dock kritik inte bara från McCain - utan även från andra håll. Här är en artikel om saken:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11202.html
Bush diskuterar USA:s energibehov
Bush talar om det amerikanska energibehovet, dess framtid - och hans egna ambitioner:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080618.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080618.html
Förhandlingar om den Irakiska oljan
Nu har förhandlingar börjat äga rum om vilka företag som ska få borra irakisk olja. Däribland finns te x Exon mfl:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/world/middleeast/19iraq.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/world/middleeast/19iraq.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Demokraternas och Republikanernas och McCains förhållande till oljan
En intressant artikel om hur fler och fler amerikaner vill att man borrar olja inom USA - något som Demokraterna konsekvent motsatt sig - men som Republikanerna förespråkat. McCain har också motsatt sig det hela, men nu ändrat sig - vilket kan vara honom till gagn i valet. Obama motsätter sig att borra olja på nya områden inom USA.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/oil_lessons.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/oil_lessons.html
McCain calls for building 45 new nuclear reactors
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent2 hours, 10 minutes ago
Sen. John McCain called Wednesday for the construction of 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and pledged $2 billion a year in federal funds "to make clean coal a reality," measures designed to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
In a third straight day of campaigning devoted to the energy issue, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting also said the only time Democratic rival Barack Obama voted for a tax cut was for a "break for the oil companies."
McCain said the 104 nuclear reactors currently operating around the country produce about 20 percent of the nation's annual electricity needs.
"Every year, these reactors alone spare the atmosphere from the equivalent of nearly all auto emissions in America. Yet for all these benefits, we have not broken ground on a single nuclear plant in over thirty years," he said. "And our manufacturing base to even construct these plants is almost gone."
Even so, he said he would set the country on a course to build 45 new ones by 2030, with a longer-term goal of adding another 55 in the future.
"We will need to recover all the knowledge and skills that have been lost over three stagnant decades in a highly technical field," he conceded.
Later, at a news conference, McCain said he favors steps to reduce the time plant owners need to obtain the necessary permits. He suggested U.S. companies use common technology to shave the time in takes to bring a new nuclear facility on line. He also said a decision by President Carter three decades ago not to pursue fuel reprocessing technology should be reversed.
In an appearance before an audience at Missouri State University, McCain also said, "We will need to solve complex problems of moving and storing materials that will always need safeguarding."
Shortly after he spoke, a participant in a campaign-organized round-table discussion of energy, retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, said obtaining the necessary construction permits can take five years. "We should be able to cut that in half," added Jones, a former NATO commander who is now chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber Institute for 21st Century Energy. He also is on the board of Chevron.
Jones flew to Missouri aboard the campaign's chartered jet although, ironically, Democrats recently disclosed that his name has figured in Obama campaign discussions of potential Democratic vice presidential running mates.
McCain's motorcade drove by a few dozen sign-carrying demonstrators protesting the Iraq War. One audience member interrupted his remarks by standing and shouting that the Arizona senator had taken millions from the oil industry.
A dramatic spike in worldwide oil prices has pushed the cost of gasoline to $4 a gallon and more, and made energy a domestic political issue in a way it has not been since the days of the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s.
On Tuesday, McCain delivered a speech in Texas in which he made the case for a nationwide effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil, including additional drilling in U.S. coastal waters, and said he would begin laying out specific proposals in the coming days.
With his appearance in Missouri, he began making good on that promise.
The Republican presidential contender said Missouri gets about 85 percent of its electricity from coal, an abundant natural resource in the U.S.
"Perhaps no advancement in energy technology could mean more to America than the clean burning of coal and the capture and storage of carbon emissions," he said.
With the $2 billion in federal funds, he said, "We will build the demonstration plants, refine the techniques and equipment, and make clean coal a reality. This single achievement will open vast amounts of our oldest and most abundant resource. And it will deliver not only electricity but jobs to some of the areas hardest hit by our economic troubles."
It was the second straight day McCain has criticized Obama, the Illinois senator who will collect the Democratic presidential nomination this summer, a few days before McCain lays claim to the GOP nomination.
Obama has said McCain's support for additional offshore oil drilling is evidence that he would effectively give the country another term of the Bush presidency.
"I guess the senator has changed his position since voting for the 2005 Bush energy bill — a grab-bag of corporate handouts that I opposed," McCain said. "Come to think of it, that energy bill was the only time we've ever seen Senator Obama vote in favor of any tax break — and it was a tax break for the oil companies."
McCain opposed the 2005 measure and said at the time it was larded with billions in unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080619/ap_on_el_pr/mccain
Sen. John McCain called Wednesday for the construction of 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and pledged $2 billion a year in federal funds "to make clean coal a reality," measures designed to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
In a third straight day of campaigning devoted to the energy issue, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting also said the only time Democratic rival Barack Obama voted for a tax cut was for a "break for the oil companies."
McCain said the 104 nuclear reactors currently operating around the country produce about 20 percent of the nation's annual electricity needs.
"Every year, these reactors alone spare the atmosphere from the equivalent of nearly all auto emissions in America. Yet for all these benefits, we have not broken ground on a single nuclear plant in over thirty years," he said. "And our manufacturing base to even construct these plants is almost gone."
Even so, he said he would set the country on a course to build 45 new ones by 2030, with a longer-term goal of adding another 55 in the future.
"We will need to recover all the knowledge and skills that have been lost over three stagnant decades in a highly technical field," he conceded.
Later, at a news conference, McCain said he favors steps to reduce the time plant owners need to obtain the necessary permits. He suggested U.S. companies use common technology to shave the time in takes to bring a new nuclear facility on line. He also said a decision by President Carter three decades ago not to pursue fuel reprocessing technology should be reversed.
In an appearance before an audience at Missouri State University, McCain also said, "We will need to solve complex problems of moving and storing materials that will always need safeguarding."
Shortly after he spoke, a participant in a campaign-organized round-table discussion of energy, retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, said obtaining the necessary construction permits can take five years. "We should be able to cut that in half," added Jones, a former NATO commander who is now chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber Institute for 21st Century Energy. He also is on the board of Chevron.
Jones flew to Missouri aboard the campaign's chartered jet although, ironically, Democrats recently disclosed that his name has figured in Obama campaign discussions of potential Democratic vice presidential running mates.
McCain's motorcade drove by a few dozen sign-carrying demonstrators protesting the Iraq War. One audience member interrupted his remarks by standing and shouting that the Arizona senator had taken millions from the oil industry.
A dramatic spike in worldwide oil prices has pushed the cost of gasoline to $4 a gallon and more, and made energy a domestic political issue in a way it has not been since the days of the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s.
On Tuesday, McCain delivered a speech in Texas in which he made the case for a nationwide effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil, including additional drilling in U.S. coastal waters, and said he would begin laying out specific proposals in the coming days.
With his appearance in Missouri, he began making good on that promise.
The Republican presidential contender said Missouri gets about 85 percent of its electricity from coal, an abundant natural resource in the U.S.
"Perhaps no advancement in energy technology could mean more to America than the clean burning of coal and the capture and storage of carbon emissions," he said.
With the $2 billion in federal funds, he said, "We will build the demonstration plants, refine the techniques and equipment, and make clean coal a reality. This single achievement will open vast amounts of our oldest and most abundant resource. And it will deliver not only electricity but jobs to some of the areas hardest hit by our economic troubles."
It was the second straight day McCain has criticized Obama, the Illinois senator who will collect the Democratic presidential nomination this summer, a few days before McCain lays claim to the GOP nomination.
Obama has said McCain's support for additional offshore oil drilling is evidence that he would effectively give the country another term of the Bush presidency.
"I guess the senator has changed his position since voting for the 2005 Bush energy bill — a grab-bag of corporate handouts that I opposed," McCain said. "Come to think of it, that energy bill was the only time we've ever seen Senator Obama vote in favor of any tax break — and it was a tax break for the oil companies."
McCain opposed the 2005 measure and said at the time it was larded with billions in unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080619/ap_on_el_pr/mccain
tisdag 17 juni 2008
Bush made the world safer
I en tid av intensiv Bushkritik från alla håll, är här en artikel som förklarar att Bush gjort världen säkrare:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/17/georgebush.terrorism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/17/georgebush.terrorism
www.globalgovernancewatch.org/
En organisation som övervakar utvecklingen mot en global världsregering - en av de som medverkar i denna övervakning är tydligen USA:s av Bush promotade fd FN-ambassadör John Bolton :)
http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/
Här är ett tal av Bolton om ämnet:
http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.27885/pub_detail.asp
http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/
Här är ett tal av Bolton om ämnet:
http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.27885/pub_detail.asp
Stephen Mansfield: the Faith of Barack Obama
Den evangelikale konservative författaren Stephen Mansfield som skrev boken "The Faith of George W. Bush" arbetar nu på en bok vid namn "The Faith of Barack Obama", som kommer att ges ut i augusti 2008. En bok som analytiker tror kan hjälpa Obama att vinna också (vita)evangelikala röster.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11099.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11099.html
DN skriver smörja
Kinesisk tidning kritiserar Obama
Peking. Kinas statliga tidning Folkets dagblad skriver en ovanligt kritisk kommentar till presidentkandidaten Barack Obama.
Hittills har Kina inte gjort några officiella kommentarer om presidentvalet i USA, men i måndagens upplaga av kommunistpartiets språkrör Folkets dagblad kritiseras den demokratiske presidentkandidaten Obama. Bland annat uppges han sakna förmågan att överbrygga rasmotsättningar.
Därtill ifrågasätter tidningen ifall Obama verkligen kan skapa en förändring till det bättre.
För att ta itu med komplicerade frågor som Irak-kriget, ekonomin, utbildningen och sociala frågor räcker det inte med en "stark övertygelse", skriver tidningen, som antyder att republikanen John McCain skulle bli en bättre president.
Enligt bedömare har Kinas ledare traditionellt föredragit republikanska presidenter, bland annat för att de inte fokuserar lika mycket på mänskliga rättigheter.
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=794199
Yeah right. Dock måhända att Republikanerna inte kritiserar just Kina lika hårt som Demokraterna gör. Nancy Pelosi är en av USA:s främsta Kina-kritiker. Medan Bush däremot inte har några planer på att te x inte åka till OS i höst. Men att Republikanerna inte fokuserar lika mycket på mänskliga rättigheter - pyttsan.
Peking. Kinas statliga tidning Folkets dagblad skriver en ovanligt kritisk kommentar till presidentkandidaten Barack Obama.
Hittills har Kina inte gjort några officiella kommentarer om presidentvalet i USA, men i måndagens upplaga av kommunistpartiets språkrör Folkets dagblad kritiseras den demokratiske presidentkandidaten Obama. Bland annat uppges han sakna förmågan att överbrygga rasmotsättningar.
Därtill ifrågasätter tidningen ifall Obama verkligen kan skapa en förändring till det bättre.
För att ta itu med komplicerade frågor som Irak-kriget, ekonomin, utbildningen och sociala frågor räcker det inte med en "stark övertygelse", skriver tidningen, som antyder att republikanen John McCain skulle bli en bättre president.
Enligt bedömare har Kinas ledare traditionellt föredragit republikanska presidenter, bland annat för att de inte fokuserar lika mycket på mänskliga rättigheter.
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=794199
Yeah right. Dock måhända att Republikanerna inte kritiserar just Kina lika hårt som Demokraterna gör. Nancy Pelosi är en av USA:s främsta Kina-kritiker. Medan Bush däremot inte har några planer på att te x inte åka till OS i höst. Men att Republikanerna inte fokuserar lika mycket på mänskliga rättigheter - pyttsan.
Al Gore stöder Obama
Gore endorsade ingen under primärvalet - nu ger han dock, kanske inte helt oväntat, sin välsignelse till den Demokratiske kandidaten Obama:
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=794540
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=794540
måndag 16 juni 2008
fredag 13 juni 2008
Gadhafi om Obama
Gadhafi said on Wednesday that U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's expressed support for Israel stems from his fear that the Mossad would assassinate him, just as it did President John F. Kennedy.
"We suspect he may fear being killed by Israeli agents and meet the same fate as Kennedy when he promised to look into Israel's nuclear program," Gadhafi said. . . .
"We fear that Obama will feel that, because he is black with an inferiority complex, this will make him behave worse than the whites," Gadhafi told a rally at a former U.S. military base on the outskirts of the Libyan capital Tripoli.
"This will be a tragedy," Gadhafi said. "We tell him to be proud of himself as a black and feel that all Africa is behind him because if he sticks to this inferiority complex he will have a worse foreign policy than the whites had in the past."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121328847934668413.html?mod=Best+of+the+Web+Today
"We suspect he may fear being killed by Israeli agents and meet the same fate as Kennedy when he promised to look into Israel's nuclear program," Gadhafi said. . . .
"We fear that Obama will feel that, because he is black with an inferiority complex, this will make him behave worse than the whites," Gadhafi told a rally at a former U.S. military base on the outskirts of the Libyan capital Tripoli.
"This will be a tragedy," Gadhafi said. "We tell him to be proud of himself as a black and feel that all Africa is behind him because if he sticks to this inferiority complex he will have a worse foreign policy than the whites had in the past."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121328847934668413.html?mod=Best+of+the+Web+Today
torsdag 12 juni 2008
Lieberman som McCains vice?
Yahoo News har en intressant artikel om Joe Liebermans möjligheter att bli McCains vice - och dennes förmåga att möjligtvis kunna dra Hillary Clintons anhängare till sig, snarare än till Obama. Den stora faran med Lieberman som McCains vice är dock att många evangelikala kristna skulle betrakta ett sådant val med stor skepsis, då Lieberman är abortförespråkare, förespråkare av stamcellsforskning och i inrikespolitiska frågor delar Demokraternas syn i de flesta avseenden. Hans viktigaste fråga är dock utrikespolitiken och kriget mot terrorismen - en fråga som fått honom att bryta med sitt parti och stödja McCain framför Obama. Lieberman skulle förutom att kunna dra Hillary Clintons anhängare, också kunna förmå den judiska väljargruppen att närma sig Republikanerna, eftersom Lieberman själv är jude. Frågan är dock om McCain vågar främja sig från de evangelikala på ett sådant sätt? Personligen tycker jag att valet vore utmärkt, om de evangelikala och konservativa förstod att de måste stödja McCain - helt oavsett om han inte väljer en konservativ VP eller ej.
Här är i alla fall artikeln:
Lieberman's Abortion Stance May Preclude Spot on McCain Ticket
Hans NicholsWed Jun 11, 12:01 AM ET
June 11 (Bloomberg) -- John McCain might like to give Joseph Lieberman another shot at the vice presidency, this time as a Republican.
The two senators have grown close in this election year. They are joined at the hip on foreign policy, staking their political futures on support for the war in Iraq. They also share a reputation as mavericks, which, in Lieberman's case, forced him to quit the Democratic Party in 2006, after losing Connecticut's senatorial primary and running as an independent.
For his part, McCain, 71, has built his campaign around his appeal to independent voters. ``You can't win with Republican votes alone,'' said Mark Salter, a senior campaign adviser, who declined to handicap the likelihood of Lieberman on the ticket.
While picking Lieberman as his running mate would allow McCain to reaffirm his identity as a trans-partisan politician, it also would burn the social conservatives who have propelled every Republican victory since 1980 and who may bolt the party.
``If he picks a pro-choice candidate, it will suppress the base,'' said Richard Land, a leader of the 16-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, based in Nashville. McCain ``can't win without evangelical support.''
Senate Record
Evangelicals need look no further than Lieberman's Senate record -- which includes support for abortion rights, gun control, gay civil unions and stem-cell research -- to find reasons to reject him.
Lieberman, who was Democratic Vice President Al Gore's running mate in 2000, would be a ``calculated risk'' for McCain, said Dave Carney, a Republican strategist.
Many in McCain's party are skeptical the Arizona senator would forsake core party voters.
``I think Lieberman is an unlikely choice,'' said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. ``He is at such variance with a great many Republicans.''
Evangelicals, who have balked at accepting McCain, have pressed him to choose a running mate with what they consider impeccable credentials on social issues. For the most part, he has equivocated, leaving the door open to a Lieberman surprise.
Anti-Abortion
At a May 29 town hall meeting in Milwaukee, McCain was asked by a self-described evangelical activist if conservatives would be able to support his vice presidential choice. McCain responded ``I certainly hope so,'' and cited his record of opposing abortion.
``But I also think that we need to be a very large party, and I think we can have disagreements on specific issues,'' said McCain, who was courted by the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, to join him on a unity ticket.
Lieberman, 66, is showing a penchant for accommodation. He has gone further than McCain in signaling a willingness to embrace evangelical leaders. A devout Jew, Lieberman is scheduled to speak next month at a pro-Israel conference sponsored by the Reverend John Hagee. McCain rejected Hagee's endorsement in late May, after the disclosure that the Texas televangelist said the rise of Adolf Hitler was part of God's plan to help the Jews resettle in Palestine.
On the stump for McCain, Lieberman never mentions his positions on social issues or his mainstream Democratic views on the economy and the role of government. Instead, he sticks to praising his fellow senator's tough line on Iraq, foreign policy and terrorism.
Defense Secretary
These overtures, while appreciated, aren't sufficient, Land said. ``Lieberman would make a great secretary of defense, just not a vice president,'' he said.
For now, campaign aides said McCain treats his friend as a ``sounding board,'' and listens to him on national-security matters more than almost any other adviser.
``They see eye-to-eye on foreign policy,'' said Charlie Black, a senior campaign adviser. ``They don't talk about domestic policy much.'' Black declined to discuss who was being considered as a vice presidential contender.
The two senators have had plenty of time to bond. They travel together to an annual security conference in Munich, and have made many joint visits to Iraq and Israel.
New Hampshire
They also met up this winter in New Hampshire, where Lieberman endorsed the Republican candidate before McCain's victory in the state's January primary.
Since then, Lieberman has been present for high-level political and social gatherings at McCain's retreat in Sedona, Arizona. In March, he attended a meeting where McCain thanked a core group of supporters that included potential vice presidential nominees such as Governors Jon Huntsman of Utah and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. He also was a guest last month, when McCain met with another group of prominent Republican officeholders, including Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Governor and primary rival Mitt Romney.
The McCain campaign has tried to use Lieberman as an emissary to Democrats who supported New York Senator Hillary Clinton in the primaries. Lieberman has pushed the notion that Clinton loyalists will defect from the party.
The phones at McCain's campaign headquarters ``have been ringing with disaffected Democrats,'' Lieberman wrote in an e- mail earlier this month on behalf of a new group, Citizens for McCain. ``Many of these supporters are former supporters of Senator Clinton.''
``Friends, that's really what they are,'' said Salter. Lieberman understands ``the appeal of McCain the independent,'' he said. ``He encourages that side of John.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Hans Nichols in Washington at hnichols2@bloomberg.net
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080611/pl_bloomberg/ayx3pndtaty
Här är i alla fall artikeln:
Lieberman's Abortion Stance May Preclude Spot on McCain Ticket
Hans NicholsWed Jun 11, 12:01 AM ET
June 11 (Bloomberg) -- John McCain might like to give Joseph Lieberman another shot at the vice presidency, this time as a Republican.
The two senators have grown close in this election year. They are joined at the hip on foreign policy, staking their political futures on support for the war in Iraq. They also share a reputation as mavericks, which, in Lieberman's case, forced him to quit the Democratic Party in 2006, after losing Connecticut's senatorial primary and running as an independent.
For his part, McCain, 71, has built his campaign around his appeal to independent voters. ``You can't win with Republican votes alone,'' said Mark Salter, a senior campaign adviser, who declined to handicap the likelihood of Lieberman on the ticket.
While picking Lieberman as his running mate would allow McCain to reaffirm his identity as a trans-partisan politician, it also would burn the social conservatives who have propelled every Republican victory since 1980 and who may bolt the party.
``If he picks a pro-choice candidate, it will suppress the base,'' said Richard Land, a leader of the 16-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, based in Nashville. McCain ``can't win without evangelical support.''
Senate Record
Evangelicals need look no further than Lieberman's Senate record -- which includes support for abortion rights, gun control, gay civil unions and stem-cell research -- to find reasons to reject him.
Lieberman, who was Democratic Vice President Al Gore's running mate in 2000, would be a ``calculated risk'' for McCain, said Dave Carney, a Republican strategist.
Many in McCain's party are skeptical the Arizona senator would forsake core party voters.
``I think Lieberman is an unlikely choice,'' said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. ``He is at such variance with a great many Republicans.''
Evangelicals, who have balked at accepting McCain, have pressed him to choose a running mate with what they consider impeccable credentials on social issues. For the most part, he has equivocated, leaving the door open to a Lieberman surprise.
Anti-Abortion
At a May 29 town hall meeting in Milwaukee, McCain was asked by a self-described evangelical activist if conservatives would be able to support his vice presidential choice. McCain responded ``I certainly hope so,'' and cited his record of opposing abortion.
``But I also think that we need to be a very large party, and I think we can have disagreements on specific issues,'' said McCain, who was courted by the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, to join him on a unity ticket.
Lieberman, 66, is showing a penchant for accommodation. He has gone further than McCain in signaling a willingness to embrace evangelical leaders. A devout Jew, Lieberman is scheduled to speak next month at a pro-Israel conference sponsored by the Reverend John Hagee. McCain rejected Hagee's endorsement in late May, after the disclosure that the Texas televangelist said the rise of Adolf Hitler was part of God's plan to help the Jews resettle in Palestine.
On the stump for McCain, Lieberman never mentions his positions on social issues or his mainstream Democratic views on the economy and the role of government. Instead, he sticks to praising his fellow senator's tough line on Iraq, foreign policy and terrorism.
Defense Secretary
These overtures, while appreciated, aren't sufficient, Land said. ``Lieberman would make a great secretary of defense, just not a vice president,'' he said.
For now, campaign aides said McCain treats his friend as a ``sounding board,'' and listens to him on national-security matters more than almost any other adviser.
``They see eye-to-eye on foreign policy,'' said Charlie Black, a senior campaign adviser. ``They don't talk about domestic policy much.'' Black declined to discuss who was being considered as a vice presidential contender.
The two senators have had plenty of time to bond. They travel together to an annual security conference in Munich, and have made many joint visits to Iraq and Israel.
New Hampshire
They also met up this winter in New Hampshire, where Lieberman endorsed the Republican candidate before McCain's victory in the state's January primary.
Since then, Lieberman has been present for high-level political and social gatherings at McCain's retreat in Sedona, Arizona. In March, he attended a meeting where McCain thanked a core group of supporters that included potential vice presidential nominees such as Governors Jon Huntsman of Utah and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. He also was a guest last month, when McCain met with another group of prominent Republican officeholders, including Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Governor and primary rival Mitt Romney.
The McCain campaign has tried to use Lieberman as an emissary to Democrats who supported New York Senator Hillary Clinton in the primaries. Lieberman has pushed the notion that Clinton loyalists will defect from the party.
The phones at McCain's campaign headquarters ``have been ringing with disaffected Democrats,'' Lieberman wrote in an e- mail earlier this month on behalf of a new group, Citizens for McCain. ``Many of these supporters are former supporters of Senator Clinton.''
``Friends, that's really what they are,'' said Salter. Lieberman understands ``the appeal of McCain the independent,'' he said. ``He encourages that side of John.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Hans Nichols in Washington at hnichols2@bloomberg.net
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080611/pl_bloomberg/ayx3pndtaty
tisdag 10 juni 2008
Condi talar om det nationella säkerhetsläget
En artikel av Condolezza Rice om det nationella säkerhetsläget:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/rethinking_the_national_intere.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/rethinking_the_national_intere.html
måndag 9 juni 2008
Obama populär i världen
En artikel om Obamas popularitet utanför USA. Delvis kan tankarna kännas igen från 2004 när Kerry tveklöst var den kandidat som världen överlag höll tummarna för. Men i Obamas fall är det mer än så - nu tycks man också vara fascinerad av personen Obama. Till och med i länder som Frankrike:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/opinion/09cohen.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/opinion/09cohen.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Intervju med Mattias Gardell
Mattias Gardell talar om islamism och sin bok "Bin Laden i våra hjärtan"
http://www.ur.se/samtalmed/templates/ProgramPage.aspx?id=13310
http://www.ur.se/samtalmed/templates/ProgramPage.aspx?id=13310
Can McCain contain his temper while battling Obama and the press?
It’s not clear that John McCain can contain his temper while battling both Barack Obama and the press. skriver Jonathan Martin i denna artikel: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10919.html
Av alla Demokratiska dumskallar....
...så tar nog ändå John Kerry priset. Frågan är om jag inte föredragit Jeremiah Wright framför Kerry - den förste står åtminstone för något (korkat måhända, men likväl -något-). Ett citat från en artikel om McCain och Obama på Yahoo news:
Kaine and John Kerry, the Democrats' defeated nominee in 2004, said McCain would leave 47 million Americans without any health insurance and would offer instead a third term for the deeply unpopular president, George W. Bush.
"You know, he has a campaign filled with lobbyists ... some of whom were actually lobbying for the worst offenders of the predatory practices of the housing crisis. That's not reform," Massachusetts Senator Kerry said.
Källa: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080608/pl_afp/usvote
Nu låter den där retoriken förstås inte som John Kerrys egen; istället låter det ungefär som att han snott ett av Hillary Clintons anti-Obama tal under primärvalet och satt in ordet "McCain" istället. Men oavsett var han än må ha hittat ordet, så uttrycker de i alla fall hans nuvarande mening om saken. Och det för mig till poängen i mitt resonemang:
Anser verkligen John Kerry av alla, att han kan säga detta? John Kerry som 2004 ville ha McCain som running-mate. USA Today skrev 12 juni 2004:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. John McCain has rejected John Kerry's request to consider being his running mate, dashing Democrats' hopes for a bipartisan alliance with one of the nation's most popular politicians, officials close to the talks say.
och lite längre ner:
Officials close to Kerry have repeatedly reached out to McCain's advisers in hopes of persuading the senator to join the ticket. Kerry has talked to McCain about the job more than once, sources said....
A recent CBS News poll found that a hypothetical Kerry-McCain ticket had a 14-point advantage over Bush-Cheney among registered voters, 53% to 39%. That's a huge improvement over polls suggesting Kerry is tied with or slightly ahead of Bush in head-to-head matchups.
Kerry is giving serious consideration to Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas — all former primary rivals — as well as Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and others.
Källa: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-06-11-mccain-reject-kerry_x.htm
När McCain sade nej så valde Kerry Edwards till sin running-mate istället men fortsatte likväl under valdebatterna med president Bush med att upprepa frasen "my friend John McCain and I" ungefär som ett indiskt mantra, till dess han blev påminnd om att McCain stödde Bush. John Kerry har åter igen uppvisat sin mest karaktäristiska och enda konsekventa egenskap: flip-flopping.
Kaine and John Kerry, the Democrats' defeated nominee in 2004, said McCain would leave 47 million Americans without any health insurance and would offer instead a third term for the deeply unpopular president, George W. Bush.
"You know, he has a campaign filled with lobbyists ... some of whom were actually lobbying for the worst offenders of the predatory practices of the housing crisis. That's not reform," Massachusetts Senator Kerry said.
Källa: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080608/pl_afp/usvote
Nu låter den där retoriken förstås inte som John Kerrys egen; istället låter det ungefär som att han snott ett av Hillary Clintons anti-Obama tal under primärvalet och satt in ordet "McCain" istället. Men oavsett var han än må ha hittat ordet, så uttrycker de i alla fall hans nuvarande mening om saken. Och det för mig till poängen i mitt resonemang:
Anser verkligen John Kerry av alla, att han kan säga detta? John Kerry som 2004 ville ha McCain som running-mate. USA Today skrev 12 juni 2004:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. John McCain has rejected John Kerry's request to consider being his running mate, dashing Democrats' hopes for a bipartisan alliance with one of the nation's most popular politicians, officials close to the talks say.
och lite längre ner:
Officials close to Kerry have repeatedly reached out to McCain's advisers in hopes of persuading the senator to join the ticket. Kerry has talked to McCain about the job more than once, sources said....
A recent CBS News poll found that a hypothetical Kerry-McCain ticket had a 14-point advantage over Bush-Cheney among registered voters, 53% to 39%. That's a huge improvement over polls suggesting Kerry is tied with or slightly ahead of Bush in head-to-head matchups.
Kerry is giving serious consideration to Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas — all former primary rivals — as well as Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and others.
Källa: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-06-11-mccain-reject-kerry_x.htm
När McCain sade nej så valde Kerry Edwards till sin running-mate istället men fortsatte likväl under valdebatterna med president Bush med att upprepa frasen "my friend John McCain and I" ungefär som ett indiskt mantra, till dess han blev påminnd om att McCain stödde Bush. John Kerry har åter igen uppvisat sin mest karaktäristiska och enda konsekventa egenskap: flip-flopping.
söndag 8 juni 2008
Judar skeptiska mot Obama efter uttalande om Jerusalem
Obama talade häromdagen inför den judiska organisationen AIPAC och förklarade där till allas stora glädje att Jerusalem skulle vara Israels odelbara huvudstad. (Ett uttalande européer förmodligen skulle gnälla över om det nu inte vore för att det var Obama och inte Bush som sa så) - men efter kritik mot uttalandet från såväl arabiska ledare (som te x palestiniernas ledare) och även många som menat att Obama faktiskt går längre än de judiska ledarna själva, och ter sig lika kompromisslös som te x Menachim Begin - så försökte Obama förklara att vad han menade - men judiska grupper undrar därför om det innebär att han inte menade vad han sa.
Rent objektivt tyder det mesta på att Obama personligen vill att Jerusalem ska vara judarnas huvudstad (den slutsatsen drar Israelexperter som jobbat åt både George H W Bush och Clinton) - men hans tilltrasslande har likväl ställt till problem och gett McCain ammunition till att förklara att Obama faktiskt är alltför oerfaren när det gäller storpolitik.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/us/politics/07obama.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
Rent objektivt tyder det mesta på att Obama personligen vill att Jerusalem ska vara judarnas huvudstad (den slutsatsen drar Israelexperter som jobbat åt både George H W Bush och Clinton) - men hans tilltrasslande har likväl ställt till problem och gett McCain ammunition till att förklara att Obama faktiskt är alltför oerfaren när det gäller storpolitik.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/us/politics/07obama.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
lördag 7 juni 2008
Läsvärd bok
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-America-Anatomy-Exceptional-Nation/dp/158648561X/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product
Den borde jag köpa, när jag blivit något rikare ;)
Den borde jag köpa, när jag blivit något rikare ;)
Bush ringde Reinfeldt igår
Igår på nationaldagen ringde President Bush till statsminister Fredrik Reinfeldt och önskade en god nationaldag, samt tackade för Irakkonferensen som Reinfeldt stod värd för häromveckan.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080606-7.html
Här intervjuas Reinfeldt i Agenda några dagar innan Irakkonferensen äger rum. Han uppvisar dock ingen större entusiasm över Bush eller USA:
http://svt.se/svt/play/video.jsp?a=1155241
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080606-7.html
Här intervjuas Reinfeldt i Agenda några dagar innan Irakkonferensen äger rum. Han uppvisar dock ingen större entusiasm över Bush eller USA:
http://svt.se/svt/play/video.jsp?a=1155241
Hillarys endorsement i dess helhet
Här är Hillarys sista kampanjtal och hennes endorsande av Obama i dess helhet:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/hillary_clinton_endorses_barac.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/hillary_clinton_endorses_barac.html
Hillary endorsar nu tydligt Obama
Hillary Clinton som häromdagen var något tillbakadragen i sitt erkännande av Obama tycks nu accepterat såväl sitt eget öde som hans, och visade i sitt tal tidigare ikväll att hon nu fokuserar på en Demokratisk seger i höst och därför ger Barack Obama sitt fulla stöd och lovar att också arbeta för att denne ska bli president. NY Times skriver:
In a letter on her Web site, Mrs. Clinton expressed her support for Mr. Obama in this way: “Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you.
Mrs. Clinton continued, saying: I “extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.”
Läs resten av artikeln här: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/us/politics/07cnd-campaign.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1212858425-dB8YVeaP7sQet9o7pu7Bzg&oref=slogin
Samtidigt som Hillary nu gör det som väl egentligen var ganska väntat, och försöker återföra de Demokratiska fåren till fållan, tycks likväl somliga av hennes supportrar likväl inte stödja Obama.
Rosemary Storaska of Stafford, Virginia, volunteered for Clinton, following the campaign all over Pennsylvania. Citing what she sees as Obama's severe lack of experience, she said she will vote for John McCain.
"I worked on her campaign since Thanksgiving . . . that is the one place we won't follow her."
Dee Sawyers made sure she was first in line to see Clinton's speech Saturday.
"I think we'll look back at this race and see what was truly historic about it," she said.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5020581&page=1
Även om Hillary kommer att göra vad hon kan för att få sina supportrar att nu stödja Obama - så kommer väl förhoppningvis somliga att inte lyda henne, vilket kanske kan bana väg för McCain. Förmodligen kommer dock opinionssiffrorna om ett splittrat Demokratiskt parti sjunka allteftersom Hillary fortsätter predika å Obamas vägnar.
In a letter on her Web site, Mrs. Clinton expressed her support for Mr. Obama in this way: “Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you.
Mrs. Clinton continued, saying: I “extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.”
Läs resten av artikeln här: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/us/politics/07cnd-campaign.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1212858425-dB8YVeaP7sQet9o7pu7Bzg&oref=slogin
Samtidigt som Hillary nu gör det som väl egentligen var ganska väntat, och försöker återföra de Demokratiska fåren till fållan, tycks likväl somliga av hennes supportrar likväl inte stödja Obama.
Rosemary Storaska of Stafford, Virginia, volunteered for Clinton, following the campaign all over Pennsylvania. Citing what she sees as Obama's severe lack of experience, she said she will vote for John McCain.
"I worked on her campaign since Thanksgiving . . . that is the one place we won't follow her."
Dee Sawyers made sure she was first in line to see Clinton's speech Saturday.
"I think we'll look back at this race and see what was truly historic about it," she said.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5020581&page=1
Även om Hillary kommer att göra vad hon kan för att få sina supportrar att nu stödja Obama - så kommer väl förhoppningvis somliga att inte lyda henne, vilket kanske kan bana väg för McCain. Förmodligen kommer dock opinionssiffrorna om ett splittrat Demokratiskt parti sjunka allteftersom Hillary fortsätter predika å Obamas vägnar.
McCains retorikproblematik
Här Erik är länken till den där debatten mellan Romney och McCain som jag talade om - där McCain lägger orden i Romneys mun, och sen försöker argumentera utifrån vad han själv menar att Romney har sagt - trots att Romney tydligt förklarar att han aldrig sagt så som McCain menar att han sagt. Men det bryr sig inte McCain om. Om du scrollar ner ungefär 60% (ca 50 min in i videon) så hittar du att Moderatorn ställer en fråga till Romney om han sagt att han vill ha en "time-table" gällande trupperna i Irak. Och där börjar tjafset mellan de två.
McCain har visat tendenser på att göra likadant mot Obama - tex i hans vidhållande av att Obama vill förhandla med Iran - detta trots att Obama väldigt tydligt och konkret förklarat vad han menar och inte menar med en sådan handling - vilket tar udden av McCains argument. McCain tycks dock vara väldigt trög på att greppa när han bör lägga av med sina "motargument", vilket han också visar i denna debatt med Romney. Ta en titt:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/01/30/us/politics/20080130_DEBATE_GRAPHIC.html#video
Låt mig citera samtalet där Romney säger något ganska smart, något McCain inte kan bemöta vettigt:
McCain har talat om hur Romney talar om en time- table varpå Romney svarar:
Romney: Why don´t you use the whole quote Senator?
McCain: I´m using your whole quote where you said ---
Romney: Why do you insist on not using the actual quote?
McCain: The actual quote is, we don´t want them to lay in the weed until we leave. That is the actual quote, and I´m sure fact-checkers ---
Romney: What does that mean? What does that mean, we don´t want them ---
McCain: It means a timetable for until we leave.
Romney: Is it not fair to have the person, who´s being accused of having a position he doesn´t have, be the expert on what his position is? How is it that you´re the expert on my position, when my position has been very clear?
McCain: I´m the expert on this-- when you said, I won´t weigh in, "I´m a governor"
Romney: That´s a separate point.
--------------------
McCain drev alltså tesen om att Romney sagt att han vill ha en time-table i Irak alldeles för långt. Helt oavsett om Romney sagt så eller inte så framstod McCain som en burdus icke-lyssnade drummel, medan Romney framstod som skärpt. Och om McCain inte lyckas med den där taktiken mot Romney kommer han helt säkert inte att lyckas med samma taktik mot Obama. (Romney är dock skärpt, och hade förmodligen klarat av en debatt mot Obama väldigt bra)
McCain har visat tendenser på att göra likadant mot Obama - tex i hans vidhållande av att Obama vill förhandla med Iran - detta trots att Obama väldigt tydligt och konkret förklarat vad han menar och inte menar med en sådan handling - vilket tar udden av McCains argument. McCain tycks dock vara väldigt trög på att greppa när han bör lägga av med sina "motargument", vilket han också visar i denna debatt med Romney. Ta en titt:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/01/30/us/politics/20080130_DEBATE_GRAPHIC.html#video
Låt mig citera samtalet där Romney säger något ganska smart, något McCain inte kan bemöta vettigt:
McCain har talat om hur Romney talar om en time- table varpå Romney svarar:
Romney: Why don´t you use the whole quote Senator?
McCain: I´m using your whole quote where you said ---
Romney: Why do you insist on not using the actual quote?
McCain: The actual quote is, we don´t want them to lay in the weed until we leave. That is the actual quote, and I´m sure fact-checkers ---
Romney: What does that mean? What does that mean, we don´t want them ---
McCain: It means a timetable for until we leave.
Romney: Is it not fair to have the person, who´s being accused of having a position he doesn´t have, be the expert on what his position is? How is it that you´re the expert on my position, when my position has been very clear?
McCain: I´m the expert on this-- when you said, I won´t weigh in, "I´m a governor"
Romney: That´s a separate point.
--------------------
McCain drev alltså tesen om att Romney sagt att han vill ha en time-table i Irak alldeles för långt. Helt oavsett om Romney sagt så eller inte så framstod McCain som en burdus icke-lyssnade drummel, medan Romney framstod som skärpt. Och om McCain inte lyckas med den där taktiken mot Romney kommer han helt säkert inte att lyckas med samma taktik mot Obama. (Romney är dock skärpt, och hade förmodligen klarat av en debatt mot Obama väldigt bra)
Bush har kul på egen hand :)
Här har Bush lite kul på egen hand och dansar inför journalisterna i väntan på att den försenade John McCain ska dyka upp vid Vita Huset så att Bush kan endorsa honom :)
Kayne West som säger att Bush hatar svarta
Efter Katrina så sa hip hoparen Kayne West att Bush hatar svarta i live TV. TV bolaget bad sedan om ursäkt. Detta är komiskt, men ingen komedi:
Här är en till :)
Det var någon svensk vänsteridiot som sa någon gång att man i USA inte får prata illa om Bush. Yeah right.... hehe
Obama om tron
Ett väl kort klipp dock, så man får ingen bra övergripande förståelse för vad han pratar om. Men likväl.
fredag 6 juni 2008
Sammanfattning av Hillarys kampanj
New York Times har här en 10-minuters sammanfattning av Hillary Clintons nästan tvååriga presidentkampanj:
http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=b2a31849b578fd4dfbe9de0899ea145639a9a149
http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=b2a31849b578fd4dfbe9de0899ea145639a9a149
Judar och de kristna sionisterna
Här är en intressant artikel om den kristna sionismens framväxt, och dess förhållande i USA till judarna, som visserligen delar den kristna högerns stöd till Israel - men också är mycket skeptiska till den kristna högern och hellre röstar Demokratiskt. Här är artikeln som i viss mån redogör det hela:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Zionism/christianzionism.html
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Zionism/christianzionism.html
Is there a way John McCain can win the presidency without giving another speech?
McCain fumlade tydligen bort sig i ett av sina tal som hölls samtidigt som Obama höll det tal där han accepterade nomineringen. Många har slagits av skillnaderna i de två kandidaternas förmåga att tala - och i denna artikel frågar sig författaren: Is there a way John McCain can win the presidency without giving another speech?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10880.html
Här ges McCain några tips för hur han bäst skulle kunna stå på sig och förklarar att McCain bör hålla korta tal, eftersom han inte är någon bra talare - samt att fortsätta hålla sina "town hall meetings" (där han kommer igång som allar bäst) - han behöver inte försöka härma Obama med stora konsertlokaler, allt handlar likväl om kameror - det måste i synnerhet McCain komma ihåg:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10879.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10880.html
Här ges McCain några tips för hur han bäst skulle kunna stå på sig och förklarar att McCain bör hålla korta tal, eftersom han inte är någon bra talare - samt att fortsätta hålla sina "town hall meetings" (där han kommer igång som allar bäst) - han behöver inte försöka härma Obama med stora konsertlokaler, allt handlar likväl om kameror - det måste i synnerhet McCain komma ihåg:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10879.html
torsdag 5 juni 2008
Rapport och Bush och grunderna för Irakkriget
Senaten har släppt en rapport som säger att Bush överdrev kopplingarna mellan Saddam och Al Qaida innan kriget, men att han när det däremot gällde synen på Saddams massförstörelsevapen i stor utsträckning följde underrättelsetjänstens rapporter och den syn som då rådde:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/washington/05cnd-intel.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/washington/05cnd-intel.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
McCains Ess i rockärmen
John McCain har en fördel som hamnat något i skymundan, men som kan vara väl värd att plockas fram på ett taktiskt sätt senare i höst. 2004 ville Demokraternas dåvarande kandidat John Kerry - som i detta val endorsat Obama - att John McCain skulle bli dennes vice-presidentkandidat. Detta tackade McCain nej till, eftersom denne helt enkelt stödde Bush.
Under presidentvalsdebatterna mellan Bush och Kerry tycktes dock Kerry ha glömt bort detta och talade upprepade gånger om sin vänskap med John McCain, så till den grad att Bush vid ett tillfälle bemötte det hela med att säga: "My opponent keeps mentioning John McCain. John McCain supports ME for president". Varefter Kerry slutade prata om McCain.
På fyra år kan mycket hända - men det råder föga tvivel om att McCain var en väl aktad Republikan i det Demokratiska lägret. Så är nu inte längre fallet, men om Obama fortsätter knyta McCain till Bush, så skulle McCain påpassligt kunna påpeka i vilken grad Demokraterna aktivt försökt knyta honom till deras parti.
Under presidentvalsdebatterna mellan Bush och Kerry tycktes dock Kerry ha glömt bort detta och talade upprepade gånger om sin vänskap med John McCain, så till den grad att Bush vid ett tillfälle bemötte det hela med att säga: "My opponent keeps mentioning John McCain. John McCain supports ME for president". Varefter Kerry slutade prata om McCain.
På fyra år kan mycket hända - men det råder föga tvivel om att McCain var en väl aktad Republikan i det Demokratiska lägret. Så är nu inte längre fallet, men om Obama fortsätter knyta McCain till Bush, så skulle McCain påpassligt kunna påpeka i vilken grad Demokraterna aktivt försökt knyta honom till deras parti.
Hillarys tackbrev till sina supportrar
Email from Hillary to her supporters:
I wanted you to be one of the first to know: on Saturday, I will hold an event in Washington D.C. to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you.
On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.
I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party’s nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise.
When I decided to run for president, I knew exactly why I was getting into this race: to work hard every day for the millions of Americans who need a voice in the White House.
I made you -- and everyone who supported me -- a promise: to stand up for our shared values and to never back down. I’m going to keep that promise today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life.
I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise.
I know as I continue my lifelong work for a stronger America and a better world, I will turn to you for the support, the strength, and the commitment that you have shown me in the past 16 months. And I will always keep faith with the issues and causes that are important to you.
In the past few days, you have shown that support once again with hundreds of thousands of messages to the campaign, and again, I am touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness.
I can never possibly express my gratitude, so let me say simply, thank you.
Sincerely,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
I wanted you to be one of the first to know: on Saturday, I will hold an event in Washington D.C. to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you.
On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.
I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party’s nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise.
When I decided to run for president, I knew exactly why I was getting into this race: to work hard every day for the millions of Americans who need a voice in the White House.
I made you -- and everyone who supported me -- a promise: to stand up for our shared values and to never back down. I’m going to keep that promise today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life.
I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise.
I know as I continue my lifelong work for a stronger America and a better world, I will turn to you for the support, the strength, and the commitment that you have shown me in the past 16 months. And I will always keep faith with the issues and causes that are important to you.
In the past few days, you have shown that support once again with hundreds of thousands of messages to the campaign, and again, I am touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness.
I can never possibly express my gratitude, so let me say simply, thank you.
Sincerely,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
GOP fears Obama money machine
With Hillary Clinton’s campaign coming to an end this weekend, Barack Obama’s rise as the Democratic nominee brings serious bad news to a new group — John McCain’s finance team.
A review of campaign finance data offers not one ounce of good news and barely any hope for the McCain campaign’s ability to compete with Obama’s fundraising prowess.
To make matters worse, Obama’s campaign, which raised $272 million through April for the primary, now is reaching out to Clinton’s fundraisers, who raised another $200 million through April, in an effort to unite forces and bury the historically deep-pocketed Republicans.
“McCain has to make every dollar count in the general election and Obama will have money to burn,” said Evan Tracey, co-founder of Campaign Media Analysis Group.
The financial gap between the two presumed nominees was also on display during the primaries. Obama spent $75 million on television advertising; McCain spend $11 million, according to Tracey.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10868.html
A review of campaign finance data offers not one ounce of good news and barely any hope for the McCain campaign’s ability to compete with Obama’s fundraising prowess.
To make matters worse, Obama’s campaign, which raised $272 million through April for the primary, now is reaching out to Clinton’s fundraisers, who raised another $200 million through April, in an effort to unite forces and bury the historically deep-pocketed Republicans.
“McCain has to make every dollar count in the general election and Obama will have money to burn,” said Evan Tracey, co-founder of Campaign Media Analysis Group.
The financial gap between the two presumed nominees was also on display during the primaries. Obama spent $75 million on television advertising; McCain spend $11 million, according to Tracey.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10868.html
Hillary fogar sig i ledet
Hillary ska tydligen officellt avsluta sin kampanj på lördag och då formellt endorsa Obama - något hon inte gjorde igår, i väntan på fler alternativ. Demokrater har dock uppmanat henne att sluta upp bakom Obama och Hillary verkar ha insett att hon inte kommer att kunna vinna nomineringen i det nuvarande läget, och fogar sig således i ledet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Världen gläds över Obamas seger
Det som stör mig mest med Obama är att världen gillar honom. Det världen gillar, brukar generellt vara dåligt. Dock tror och hoppas jag att Obama missleder världen - något som hans syn på Israel ger förhoppning åt :)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=4995217&page=1
http://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=4995217&page=1
Obama försvarar Israel och bemöter kritik
Obama talar inför den judiska organisationen AIPAC. Här inleder han och säger att han är en sann vän till Israel:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4998083
Här försvarar han Israel och bemöter anklagelsen om att han vill förhandla med Iran:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4997695
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4998083
Här försvarar han Israel och bemöter anklagelsen om att han vill förhandla med Iran:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4997695
En annan reflektion
En sak Obama-kampanjen verkar vilja göra i sitt försök att bekämpa McCain är att knyta denne till Bush. Personligen tycker jag det är en dum retorik. Det dels därför att Obama då gör samma misstag som jag beskyllde McCain för att göra - pratar om sin motståndare istället för att prata om sig själv. Och dels därför att detta till att börja med inte är sant - vilket åtminstone vanliga medelamerikaner (medelväljare) förmodligen redan vet. Visst, McCain stödde och stöder Irakkriget - men i övrigt betraktas han av de flesta inte som Bushs arvtagare. En annan orsak till att en sådan retorik från Obamas håll inte är helt lyckad - är att McCain inom sitt eget parti mött mycket kritik för att han -inte- gått på Bushs linje. Den kritiken riktas från konservativt håll, som med Obamas kritik i åtanke mycket väl givetvis snabbt kan koppla ihop - och dra slutsatsen att McCain har oändligt mycket mer gemensamt med Bush (och än mer med de konservativa ur vilken krets Bush härrör) än Obama har - och därför komma underfund med att de i presidentvalet faktiskt stöder McCain (hur avlägset det sedan än må ha låtit i primärvalet).
Således borde Obama tala mindre om McCains koppling till Bush än han nu gör, jag tror att det kommer att ligga honom till last.
Bara ett tips. Ett tips jag dock inte ämnar förmedla till Obama.
Således borde Obama tala mindre om McCains koppling till Bush än han nu gör, jag tror att det kommer att ligga honom till last.
Bara ett tips. Ett tips jag dock inte ämnar förmedla till Obama.
onsdag 4 juni 2008
Inte lätt att vara gammal McCain...
Ett video-klipp postat i Demokraternas forum, med följdfrågan "vill vi verkligen se honom bli president?"
SVD: Obama och McCain i sakfrågor
Ekonomin:
Obama: Skattesänkningar för låg- och medelinkomsttagare. Vill upphäva Bushs skattelättnader för rika. Hårdare miljökrav i frihandelsavtal.
McCain: Skattesänkningar för låginkomsttagare. Mer jobb ska skapas genom ny energi- och sjukvårdspolitik. Ja till frihandel.
Klimatet:
Obama: Ja till ett tvingande system med utsläppshandel. Minskning av utsläppen med 80 procent av 1990 års nivå till år 2050.
McCain: Ja till ett tvingande system med utsläppshandel. Maningar om att USA ska ta klimathotet på stort allvar.
Irakkriget:
Obama: Var emot kriget från början. Vill sätta ett datum för att kalla hem trupperna.
McCain: Stödde kriget från början. Vill inte ha någon tidtabell för tillbakadragande. Vill förstärka försvaret.
Sjukvården:
Obama: Obligatorisk sjukförsäkring för barn. Vill på sikt att även vuxna ska omfattas av en sådan försäkring.
McCain: Vill öka tillgängligheten till sjukvård men är emot obligatoriska lösningar. Istället ska det bli lättare att köpa privata försäkringar.
Sociala frågor:
Obama: Ja till fri abort. Ja till dödsstraff i extrema fall. Ja till vapenkontroll. Homosexuellas rättigheter får avgöras av de olika delstaterna.
McCain: Nej till fri abort. Ja till dödsstraff. Nej till vapenkontroll. Homosexuellas rättigheter får avgöras av de olika delstaterna.
Källa: http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/artikel_1327471.svd
Obama: Skattesänkningar för låg- och medelinkomsttagare. Vill upphäva Bushs skattelättnader för rika. Hårdare miljökrav i frihandelsavtal.
McCain: Skattesänkningar för låginkomsttagare. Mer jobb ska skapas genom ny energi- och sjukvårdspolitik. Ja till frihandel.
Klimatet:
Obama: Ja till ett tvingande system med utsläppshandel. Minskning av utsläppen med 80 procent av 1990 års nivå till år 2050.
McCain: Ja till ett tvingande system med utsläppshandel. Maningar om att USA ska ta klimathotet på stort allvar.
Irakkriget:
Obama: Var emot kriget från början. Vill sätta ett datum för att kalla hem trupperna.
McCain: Stödde kriget från början. Vill inte ha någon tidtabell för tillbakadragande. Vill förstärka försvaret.
Sjukvården:
Obama: Obligatorisk sjukförsäkring för barn. Vill på sikt att även vuxna ska omfattas av en sådan försäkring.
McCain: Vill öka tillgängligheten till sjukvård men är emot obligatoriska lösningar. Istället ska det bli lättare att köpa privata försäkringar.
Sociala frågor:
Obama: Ja till fri abort. Ja till dödsstraff i extrema fall. Ja till vapenkontroll. Homosexuellas rättigheter får avgöras av de olika delstaterna.
McCain: Nej till fri abort. Ja till dödsstraff. Nej till vapenkontroll. Homosexuellas rättigheter får avgöras av de olika delstaterna.
Källa: http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/artikel_1327471.svd
Obama tar hem den Demokratiska nomineringen
Obama fick i går kväll de 2118 delgater han behövde för att kamma hem nomineringen som Demokraternas presidentkandidat. Skulle han bli president är han den förste svarte ledaren någonsin att leda en demokratisk västerländsk nation.
Hillary sa dock i sitt tal att hon ännu inte avslutat sin kampanj, och sa att hon inte skulle bestämma vad hon skulle göra än. Således endorsade hon inte alls Obama lika tydligt som man kanske skulle hoppats - exakt vad det innebär verkar inte ens Hillary veta just nu. Klart står dock att det är Obama som vunnit nomineringen, och det kan förmodligen inte ens familjen Clintons uppbådade krafter förändra.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/us/politics/04elect.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Hillary sa dock i sitt tal att hon ännu inte avslutat sin kampanj, och sa att hon inte skulle bestämma vad hon skulle göra än. Således endorsade hon inte alls Obama lika tydligt som man kanske skulle hoppats - exakt vad det innebär verkar inte ens Hillary veta just nu. Klart står dock att det är Obama som vunnit nomineringen, och det kan förmodligen inte ens familjen Clintons uppbådade krafter förändra.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/us/politics/04elect.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
tisdag 3 juni 2008
Hillary möjligt VP?
Yahoo News skriver:
Clinton says she's open to being Obama's VP
By BETH FOUHY and DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writers 15 minutes ago
Hillary Rodham Clinton told colleagues Tuesday she would consider joining Barack Obama as his running mate, and advisers said she was withholding a formal departure from the race partly to use her remaining leverage to press for a spot on the ticket.
On a conference call with other New York lawmakers, Clinton, a New York senator, said she was willing to become Obama's vice presidential nominee if it would help Democrats win the White House, according to a participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to speak for Clinton.
Clinton's remarks came in response to a question from Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who said she believed the best way for Obama to win key voting blocs, including Hispanics, would be for him to choose Clinton as his running mate.
"I am open to it," Clinton replied, if it would help the party's prospects in November.
Clinton also told colleagues the delegate math was not there for her to overtake Obama, but that she wanted to take time to determine how to leave the race in a way that would best help Democrats.
"I deserve some time to get this right," she said, even as the other lawmakers forcefully argued for her to press Obama to choose her as his running mate.
Joseph Crowley, a Queens Democrat who participated in the call, said her answer "left open the possibility that she would do anything that she can to contribute toward a Democratic victory in November. There was no hedging on that. Whatever she can do to contribute, she was willing to do."
Another person on the call, Rep. Jose Serrano of New York City, said her answer was "just what I was hoping to hear. ... Of course she was interested in being president, but she's just as interested in making sure Democrats get elected in November."
Rep. Charles Rangel, a devoted booster of Clinton who helped pave the way for her successful Senate campaign, said he spoke to her Tuesday and got much the same answer.
"She's run a great campaign and even though she'll be a great senator, she has a lot of followers that obviously Obama doesn't have, and clearly the numbers are against her and so I think they bring all parts of the Democratic Party together and then some," Rangel said.
Aides to the Illinois senator said he and Clinton had not spoken about the prospects of her joining the ticket.
Obama effectively sewed up the 2,118 delegates needed to win the nomination Tuesday, based on a tally of pledged delegates, superdelegates who have declared their preference, and another 18 superdelegates who have confirmed their intentions to The Associated Press. It also included five delegates Obama was guaranteed as long as he gained 15 percent of the vote in South Dakota and Montana later in the day.
Word of Clinton's vice presidential musings came as she prepared to deliver a televised address to supporters on the final night of the epic primary season. She was working out final details of the speech at her Chappaqua, N.Y., home with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, their daughter Chelsea, and close aides.
Earlier, on NBC's "Today Show," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said that once Obama gets the majority of convention delegates, "I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him and call him the nominee."
Clinton will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, two senior officials said, her campaign is over.
Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans.
The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care.
Universal health care, Clinton's signature issue as first lady in the 1990s, was a point of dispute between Obama and the New York senator during their epic nomination fight.
In a formal statement, the campaign made clear the limits of how far she would go in Tuesday night's speech. "Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination," the statement said.
Clinton field hands who worked in key battlegrounds said they were told to stand down, without pay, and await instructions. Speaking not for attribution because they didn't want to jeopardize their jobs searches, many said they were peddling resumes, returning to their hometowns or seeking out former employers.
Clinton officials have said they would not contest the seating of Michigan delegates at the convention in Denver this August. The campaign was angry this past weekend when a Democratic National Committee panel awarded Obama delegates it thought Clinton deserved.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_el_pr/clinton
Clinton says she's open to being Obama's VP
By BETH FOUHY and DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writers 15 minutes ago
Hillary Rodham Clinton told colleagues Tuesday she would consider joining Barack Obama as his running mate, and advisers said she was withholding a formal departure from the race partly to use her remaining leverage to press for a spot on the ticket.
On a conference call with other New York lawmakers, Clinton, a New York senator, said she was willing to become Obama's vice presidential nominee if it would help Democrats win the White House, according to a participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to speak for Clinton.
Clinton's remarks came in response to a question from Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who said she believed the best way for Obama to win key voting blocs, including Hispanics, would be for him to choose Clinton as his running mate.
"I am open to it," Clinton replied, if it would help the party's prospects in November.
Clinton also told colleagues the delegate math was not there for her to overtake Obama, but that she wanted to take time to determine how to leave the race in a way that would best help Democrats.
"I deserve some time to get this right," she said, even as the other lawmakers forcefully argued for her to press Obama to choose her as his running mate.
Joseph Crowley, a Queens Democrat who participated in the call, said her answer "left open the possibility that she would do anything that she can to contribute toward a Democratic victory in November. There was no hedging on that. Whatever she can do to contribute, she was willing to do."
Another person on the call, Rep. Jose Serrano of New York City, said her answer was "just what I was hoping to hear. ... Of course she was interested in being president, but she's just as interested in making sure Democrats get elected in November."
Rep. Charles Rangel, a devoted booster of Clinton who helped pave the way for her successful Senate campaign, said he spoke to her Tuesday and got much the same answer.
"She's run a great campaign and even though she'll be a great senator, she has a lot of followers that obviously Obama doesn't have, and clearly the numbers are against her and so I think they bring all parts of the Democratic Party together and then some," Rangel said.
Aides to the Illinois senator said he and Clinton had not spoken about the prospects of her joining the ticket.
Obama effectively sewed up the 2,118 delegates needed to win the nomination Tuesday, based on a tally of pledged delegates, superdelegates who have declared their preference, and another 18 superdelegates who have confirmed their intentions to The Associated Press. It also included five delegates Obama was guaranteed as long as he gained 15 percent of the vote in South Dakota and Montana later in the day.
Word of Clinton's vice presidential musings came as she prepared to deliver a televised address to supporters on the final night of the epic primary season. She was working out final details of the speech at her Chappaqua, N.Y., home with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, their daughter Chelsea, and close aides.
Earlier, on NBC's "Today Show," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said that once Obama gets the majority of convention delegates, "I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him and call him the nominee."
Clinton will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, two senior officials said, her campaign is over.
Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans.
The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care.
Universal health care, Clinton's signature issue as first lady in the 1990s, was a point of dispute between Obama and the New York senator during their epic nomination fight.
In a formal statement, the campaign made clear the limits of how far she would go in Tuesday night's speech. "Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination," the statement said.
Clinton field hands who worked in key battlegrounds said they were told to stand down, without pay, and await instructions. Speaking not for attribution because they didn't want to jeopardize their jobs searches, many said they were peddling resumes, returning to their hometowns or seeking out former employers.
Clinton officials have said they would not contest the seating of Michigan delegates at the convention in Denver this August. The campaign was angry this past weekend when a Democratic National Committee panel awarded Obama delegates it thought Clinton deserved.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_el_pr/clinton
Dansk dog i attentatet i Islamabad
Åtta personer dog när en självmordsbombare slog till mot Danmarks ambassad i Islamabad i dag. En dansk medborgare av pakistansk härkomst fanns bland dödsoffren. Statsminister Anders Fogh Rasmussen kallar dådet ett angrepp mot Danmark.
Läsa mer: SVD
Pakistan kan bli en stor oroshärd i framtiden. Tror du inte Dick? Erixon skrev idag att al-qaida nästan är besegread i Irak, men att liknande grupper växer sig starka i Pakistan eftersom europeisk eftergiftspolitik fått råda där.
Läsa mer: SVD
Pakistan kan bli en stor oroshärd i framtiden. Tror du inte Dick? Erixon skrev idag att al-qaida nästan är besegread i Irak, men att liknande grupper växer sig starka i Pakistan eftersom europeisk eftergiftspolitik fått råda där.
McCain bör tänka sig för
McCain har idag gått till angrepp på Obama i ett tal i Nashville för att denne vill förhandla med Iran. Tyvärr tror jag att McCain gör fel om han bygger sin kampanj på att angripa Obama för saker som Obama sagt. Vad McCain bör göra är istället att definiera sig själv och förklara vad han själv tror och tycker.
Detta dels för att repeterade angrepp på Obamas uttalanden bara kan tolkas som negativt kampanjande (han kan klaga på andra, men kan han förklara vad han själv står för) och dels för att Obama är en mästare på att bemöta sådan kritik. Hillary försökte under primärvalet att angripa Obama på alla sätt, genom att förklara att han var orutinerad, genom att angripa hans koppling till Wright, hans koppling till lobbyister, hans uttalande i Pennsylvania om folk som håller sig till religion och vapen et c - och Obama tog sig smidigt ur alla de fällorna. I debatterna mellan Hillary och Obama så framstod nästan uteslutande Obama som den mest kvicktänkte kandidaten (något som säger ganska mycket då Hillary knappast framstår som dum - tvätom så framstår hon som oändligt mer skärpt än den ex president hon är gift med). Så om Hillary inte klarar av att bemöta Obama med spontana svar i spontana debatter tror jag att McCain kommer att få än svårare att göra det. En av McCains svagheter är att jag inte tycker att han är speciellt bra på att spontant säga bra saker (Till skillnad från Bush som är mer rapp i käften än David Letterman och skulle kunna starta en egen talk show när han pratat klart i Vita Huset). Det bästa McCain gör spontant är förmodligen att brista ut i raseriutbrott, något som helt enkelt inte skulle passa i en presidentdebatt. Däremot är McCain duktig på att prata om saker som han kan, saker som ligger honom nära hjärtat och på hans planhalva. Istället för att därför prata om Obama bör han prata om sig själv, och om sin egen syn på Irak, ekonomin et c och sen i överlag beskriva vad som händer om man retirerar, utan att alltför personligt referera till Obama - den slutsatsen kommer folk att dra i alla fall, utan att McCain upplyser dem om saken.
Bara ett litet tips.
Detta dels för att repeterade angrepp på Obamas uttalanden bara kan tolkas som negativt kampanjande (han kan klaga på andra, men kan han förklara vad han själv står för) och dels för att Obama är en mästare på att bemöta sådan kritik. Hillary försökte under primärvalet att angripa Obama på alla sätt, genom att förklara att han var orutinerad, genom att angripa hans koppling till Wright, hans koppling till lobbyister, hans uttalande i Pennsylvania om folk som håller sig till religion och vapen et c - och Obama tog sig smidigt ur alla de fällorna. I debatterna mellan Hillary och Obama så framstod nästan uteslutande Obama som den mest kvicktänkte kandidaten (något som säger ganska mycket då Hillary knappast framstår som dum - tvätom så framstår hon som oändligt mer skärpt än den ex president hon är gift med). Så om Hillary inte klarar av att bemöta Obama med spontana svar i spontana debatter tror jag att McCain kommer att få än svårare att göra det. En av McCains svagheter är att jag inte tycker att han är speciellt bra på att spontant säga bra saker (Till skillnad från Bush som är mer rapp i käften än David Letterman och skulle kunna starta en egen talk show när han pratat klart i Vita Huset). Det bästa McCain gör spontant är förmodligen att brista ut i raseriutbrott, något som helt enkelt inte skulle passa i en presidentdebatt. Däremot är McCain duktig på att prata om saker som han kan, saker som ligger honom nära hjärtat och på hans planhalva. Istället för att därför prata om Obama bör han prata om sig själv, och om sin egen syn på Irak, ekonomin et c och sen i överlag beskriva vad som händer om man retirerar, utan att alltför personligt referera till Obama - den slutsatsen kommer folk att dra i alla fall, utan att McCain upplyser dem om saken.
Bara ett litet tips.
måndag 2 juni 2008
Monarki ska vara monarki eller inte alls
Bra inlägg om monarkien:
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Just nu har SVT sänt en dokumentär med den uppseendeväckande titeln Ers Kungliga Höghet Westling. Men trots att det pratas väldigt mycket, berör man inte kärnan: en monarki är bara en monarki om den uppför sig som en monarki.
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Just nu har SVT sänt en dokumentär med den uppseendeväckande titeln Ers Kungliga Höghet Westling. Men trots att det pratas väldigt mycket, berör man inte kärnan: en monarki är bara en monarki om den uppför sig som en monarki.
Det är helt absurt att en gymföretagare från Ockelbo ska kunna bli prins och statschefens gemål. Det river ju fullständigt ner de argument som finns med att ha en symbolisk statschef byggd på mystiken av tusenåriga traditioner.
I programmet säger flera av de intervjuade “experterna” att det vore fruktansvärt om inte kronprinsessan Victoria skulle kunna gifta sig med den hon är kär i. Det är ju tvärtom: om kronprinsessan vill bli statschef i en monarki får hon faktiskt följa de seder som gäller för en monarki — eller avsäga sig tronföljden.
Man kan inte vara “vanlig” svensk ena stunden, för att nästa stund njuta av exceptionella privilegier i statens namn. Man får faktiskt välja! Att plocka fördelarna från båda sidor, det vore att driva privilegierna inabsurdum.
Min första artikel någonsin, 1979, handlade om att införa republik. Men med tiden har jag sett att konstitutioner mår bra av att ha olika funktioner som följer olika tidsmandat i en demokratisk och pluralistisk stat. Det är viktigt med inslag av kontinuitet i konstitutionen. En annan fördel visades i programmet: hur kungarna i Danmark och Norge spelade en viktig sammanhållande och moralhöjande funktion under andra världskriget när länderna var ockuperade och i kris.
Vi såg efter tsunamin att också den svenske kungen kunde ge tröst och perspektiv, medan klåparna Göran Persson och Lars Danielsson mest gjorde folk än mer frustrerade.
Därför är jag inte längre emot en symbolisk monarki. Det viktiga är att grundlagarna inte har överhetens intresse för ögonen, utan fungerar som medborgarnas juridiska skydd mot statliga övergrepp. Här finns en hel del att göra i Sverige. Starka och grundlagsfästa medborgerliga rättigheter är mycket viktigare än att avskaffa den symboliska monarkin.
Men ska monarkin vara kvar, måste den följa sin uråldriga traditioner och vara avskiljd från vanligt folk. Kronprinsessan måste hitta en man med blått blod (så som det stod i Successionsordningen fram till 1979) eller åtminstone från utlandet. Om kungafamiljen börjar blandas upp med ”vanligt folk” är poängen med monarki överspelad och motivet blir starkt att istället rösta fram en cermoniell statschef. Om kungafamiljen sviker traditionerna och spelat bort de argument som finns kvar för en konstitutionell monarki, då ska den avskaffas.
Källa: Erixon
Post-Clinton Bill
Berättelsen om de amerikanska presidenternas fortsatta öden efter dess presidenttid tagit slut kan göras lång. Under George W. Bushs tid som president har det som mest rört sig om fem levande ex-presidenter - av dessa är det utan tvekan Bill Clinton som gjort mest väsen av sig. Här är en väldigt lång, men väldigt läsvärd artikel om Bill Clintons liv efter hans presidentskap. Tyvärr får man en ganska patetisk uppfattning av den fd presidenten - och även om jag inte kan förutspå framtiden har jag mycket, mycket svårt att tro att George W. Bush kommer att hantera sin post-presidenttid på samma sätt, måste man säga gnälligt patetiska vis.
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/07/clinton200807?currentPage=1
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/07/clinton200807?currentPage=1
Clinton vinner Puerto Rico
Artikel NY Times om Clintons överlägsna seger i Puerto Rico där hon vann i princip varje väljargrupp, inklusive unga, som annars nästan uteslutande röstat för Obama. Segern gör att hon med förnyad kraft kan argumentera för att superdelegaterna som ompröva sitt beslut. Man får säga vad man vill om Hillary, men hon är beslutsam - hon är förmodligen en betydligt mer prövad fighter än Obama är, och även om situationen ser mörk ut för Hillary bör hon inte anses som helt uträknad ännu.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/us/politics/02dems.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1212390139-7asD3QHJ3J1T52PuiKxgVA
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/us/politics/02dems.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1212390139-7asD3QHJ3J1T52PuiKxgVA
söndag 1 juni 2008
Mattias Gardell ljuger och snackar skit om Rice
Mattias Gardell dissar Rice- på ett sätt som får mig att förakta honom, helt oavsett att jag sen i stor utsträckning respekterar en hel del saker som han gjort i sin akademiska karriär. Men, när han gör så här, then "Thats enough", som Obama skulle ha sagt:
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/artikel_1308055.svd
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/artikel_1308055.svd
En väldigt intressant analys om Hillarys chanser
Lanny J. Davis, en fd rådgivare till Bill Clinton och nu en stark supporter till Hillary skriver en mycket intressant och granskande artikel om Hillarys position och chans att bli nominerad.
Dels sägs i artikeln att Hillary har betydligt större övertag i de delstater där Demokraterna måste vinna i höst, te x Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida:
The latest state-by-state battleground polls (published May 21-23) by other respected polling organizations verify Gallup's findings that Sen. Clinton is significantly stronger against Sen. McCain in the key states that a Democrat must win to gain the presidency. According to various poll data within the last 10 days:
- Pennsylvania: Sen. Clinton leads McCain 50%-39%; Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain are effectively tied.
- Ohio: Sen. Clinton leads Sen. McCain 48%-41%, Sen. Obama is down 44%-40%.
- Florida: Sen. Clinton leads Sen. McCain 47%-41%; Sen. McCain leads Sen. Obama 50%-40%. (Sen. Clinton has a net advantage of 16 points!)
- North Carolina: Despite a substantial primary victory, Sen. Obama is down 8% vs. Sen. McCain, (51%-43%), while Sen. Clinton leads by 6% (49%-43%).
- Nevada: Sen. Clinton up 5%, Sen. Obama down 6%.
Dels säger också artikeln att Hillary fortfarande har möjlighet att vinna majoritet i nationellt röstantal - om hon vinner stort i de kvarvarande delstaterna. Detta trots att hon inte fick som hon önskade när de gällde Michigans delegater.
Artikeln påpekar också att de "nya röster" som Obama drar - inte skulle dra rösterna på ett strategiskt sätt i höstens val, utan likväl ge McCain övertag i de flesta nyckelstater:
Even the theory that Sen. Obama can open up significant numbers of "red" states has not been borne out by recent polling. For example: in Virginia, which Sen. Obama won substantially in the Feb. 12 Democratic primary, he is currently down in at least one recent, respected poll by a significant 9% margin – one point greater than the 8% margin Sen. Clinton is behind Sen. McCain.
Kort sagt så anser denna artikel att Hillary är ett bättre kort i höst, än Obama är. Det allra bästa vore dock om de två slog sig ihop med någondera av dem som vice- och den andre som president. Det skulle i princip garantera en Demokratisk seger i höstens val.
Källa: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121219030144534313.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
Dels sägs i artikeln att Hillary har betydligt större övertag i de delstater där Demokraterna måste vinna i höst, te x Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida:
The latest state-by-state battleground polls (published May 21-23) by other respected polling organizations verify Gallup's findings that Sen. Clinton is significantly stronger against Sen. McCain in the key states that a Democrat must win to gain the presidency. According to various poll data within the last 10 days:
- Pennsylvania: Sen. Clinton leads McCain 50%-39%; Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain are effectively tied.
- Ohio: Sen. Clinton leads Sen. McCain 48%-41%, Sen. Obama is down 44%-40%.
- Florida: Sen. Clinton leads Sen. McCain 47%-41%; Sen. McCain leads Sen. Obama 50%-40%. (Sen. Clinton has a net advantage of 16 points!)
- North Carolina: Despite a substantial primary victory, Sen. Obama is down 8% vs. Sen. McCain, (51%-43%), while Sen. Clinton leads by 6% (49%-43%).
- Nevada: Sen. Clinton up 5%, Sen. Obama down 6%.
Dels säger också artikeln att Hillary fortfarande har möjlighet att vinna majoritet i nationellt röstantal - om hon vinner stort i de kvarvarande delstaterna. Detta trots att hon inte fick som hon önskade när de gällde Michigans delegater.
Artikeln påpekar också att de "nya röster" som Obama drar - inte skulle dra rösterna på ett strategiskt sätt i höstens val, utan likväl ge McCain övertag i de flesta nyckelstater:
Even the theory that Sen. Obama can open up significant numbers of "red" states has not been borne out by recent polling. For example: in Virginia, which Sen. Obama won substantially in the Feb. 12 Democratic primary, he is currently down in at least one recent, respected poll by a significant 9% margin – one point greater than the 8% margin Sen. Clinton is behind Sen. McCain.
Kort sagt så anser denna artikel att Hillary är ett bättre kort i höst, än Obama är. Det allra bästa vore dock om de två slog sig ihop med någondera av dem som vice- och den andre som president. Det skulle i princip garantera en Demokratisk seger i höstens val.
Källa: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121219030144534313.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
Obama quits Chicago church after long controversy
Obama har slutligen tagit det stora, men måhända nödvändiga, beslutet att lämna sin flock.
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ABERDEEN, S.D. - Barack Obama has resigned his 20 year membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks by his longtime pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and more recent fiery remarks at the church by another minister.
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ABERDEEN, S.D. - Barack Obama has resigned his 20 year membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks by his longtime pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and more recent fiery remarks at the church by another minister.
Obama campaign communications director Robert Gibbs said Obama had resigned from the church "over the last few days."
Campaign aides said they weren't immediately certain how the resignation took place, whether by letter or in some other fashion, and were trying to find out.
Messages left for a church spokeswoman in Chicago were not immediately returned Saturday afternoon.
The development came as Obama campaigned in South Dakota.
Obama said he disagreed with Wright but initially portrayed him as a family member he couldn't disown. The preacher had officiated at Obama's wedding and been his spiritual mentor for some 20 years.
But six weeks after Obama's well-received speech on race, Wright claimed at an appearance in Washington that the U.S. government was capable of planting AIDS in the black community, praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and suggested that Obama was acting like a politician by putting his pastor at arm's length while privately agreeing with him.
Obama denounced those Wright comments as "divisive and destructive."
Comments by Wright inflamed racial tensions and posed an unwanted problem for Obama, front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, as he seeks to wrap up the nomination.
More recently, racially charged remarks from the same pulpit by another pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, kept the controversy alive and proved the latest thorn in the side of Obama. Pfleger mocked Obama rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as a guest speaker at Obama's church.
Although Obama condemned comments by both Wright and Pfleger, the controversy has persisted.
For months, Obama has been hamstrung by the rhetoric of Wright, whose sermons blaming U.S. policies for the Sept. 11 attacks and calls of "God damn America" for its racism became fixtures on the Internet and cable news networks.
Initially, Obama said he disagreed with Wright but portrayed him as a family member he couldn't disown. The preacher had officiated at Obama's wedding and been his spiritual mentor for some 20 years.
But six weeks after Obama's well-received speech on race, Wright claimed at an appearance in Washington that the U.S. government was capable of planting AIDS in the black community, praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and suggested that Obama was acting like a politician by putting his pastor at arm's length while privately agreeing with him.
On Thursday, Obama was again forced to reject another man of the cloth, this time Pfleger, who made racially charged comments mocking Clinton in a guest sermon at Obama's church.
Obama made it clear he wasn't happy with the comments — in which Pfleger pretended he was Clinton crying over "a black man stealing my show" — and said he was "deeply disappointed in Father Pfleger's divisive, backward-looking rhetoric, which doesn't reflect the country I see or the desire of people across America to come together in common cause."
Pfleger, too, issued an apology, saying he was sorry if his comments offended Clinton or anyone else.
The timing of Obama's decision was clearly planned with an eye toward Washington and the calendar. The news broke late on a Saturday and while most of the political attention was focused on the Democratic National Committee's struggle to seat delegates from Florida and Michigan.
Republican John McCain also has had his woes with religious leaders.
Earlier this month, McCain rejected endorsements from two influential but controversial televangelists, saying there is no place for their incendiary criticisms of other faiths.
McCain spurned the months-old endorsement of Texas preacher John Hagee after an audio recording surfaced in which the preacher said God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land. McCain called the comment "crazy and unacceptable."
He later repudiated the support of Rod Parsley, an Ohio preacher who has sharply criticized Islam and called the religion inherently violent.
Källa: Yahoo!
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