Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2008 > July > 25 > Entry

VP picks, a classy lawyer, fried pies

By Jim Wooten | Friday, July 25, 2008, 07:59 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thinking Right’s weekend free-for-all. Pick a topic:

Nobody will let me have my first choice as vice president on the John McCain ticket. That’d be former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Or, probably, my second, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. His is a small state certain to vote Republican anyway. But I’ll settle for third: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a conservative who was sworn in and promptly called a special session to enact ethics legislation. Like Barack Obama, he’s too unseasoned to be president just now, but he’d season as VP.

  • Little-noticed changes that matter a great deal build the Sonny Perdue legacy. A prime example is the Georgia Technology Authority’s plan to contract with private-sector vendors to operate computer systems for 11 agencies. About 500 state workers will move to the private sector and about 200 jobs will be eliminated. Technology changes too quickly for government procurement. And, too, why hire the excess help needed for emergencies when the private sector can provide three or 300 when needed? Great move.

  • Don’t retire the odd-even watering police just yet. China deals with its Olympics-related traffic problems by ordering odd-even driving days. Why add road capacity when you can simply order drivers off the road?

  • When a public official, tasked with responsibility to reduce payroll by 2.5 percent, announces that 53 police and 27 fire vacancies won’t be filled, as Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin did, you gotta believe it’s a game. To be cut, too, are 20 public defender jobs and 13 in the solicitor’s office. When I’m asked to cut my budget by 2.5 percent, I propose not paying the water bill, the gas bill and parking the car I drive to work.

  • A nation cannot be safe from terrorism if its people think asking them a security-related question is an outrage, or worse, a reason to sue. This is what passes for a major revelation in today’s politically correct, touchy-feely world: From The Associated Press, this first paragraph: “The Justice Department’s former top criminal prosecutor says the government’s terror watch list has caused thousands of innocent Americans to be questioned, searched or otherwise hassled.” Goodness gracious. Can this nation survive in a world where people really are trying to kill us?

  • We really are becoming a nation where the elite in academia and the media are guerrillas determined to destroy corporations they don’t like —- tobacco, insurance, “predatory” lenders and oil, for example. An example is a report from Harvard researchers purporting to show that tobacco companies have “manipulated” menthol levels in cigarettes to keep customers. Imagine the crime of that. Any chance that manufacturers in any other industries might have “manipulated” other products —- say coffee or other beverages or the accessories in automobiles —- to keep customers? In this country we criminalize and demonize what we don’t like and employ unexamined buzzwords, like “smart-growth,” for things we do.

  • The state gets a single bid —- about $3 million less than it paid —- for a six-acre tract near Atlantic Station. What to do? Wait for full value. No commission required for this wealth-building advice.

  • Atlanta lawyer Randy Evans, friend and counselor to Newt Gingrich and a number of other high-profile political figures, is a class act. When the former Bush administration press secretary died, Evans created the Tony Snow Family Trust at the Wachovia bank in Bowie, Md., to help cover education and other expenses for Tony and Jill Snow’s three children. Donations can be made to: Center for Health Transformation, Attn: Tony Snow Family Trust, 1425 K Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005. At his death, Snow was working through the center on a cancer project with former Democratic VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro.

  • Blaming Southern foods and “metro Atlanta’s car-crazy culture” for obesity is the same as blaming guns for crime. The CDC finds the South to be the nation’s fattest region. People make choices. They are responsible. Not the fried chicken, gravy, fried pies or biscuits. How long will it be before some do-gooder suggests shutting down all-you-can-eat buffets?

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By Georgia Values

July 25, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

Why did the Draft Dodger Saxby Chambliss vote to cut spending on VA Hospitals??

Wounded Warriors, Empty Promises : July 25, 2008 The bad news about the Army’s treatment of wounded soldiers keeps coming. The generals keep apologizing and insisting that things are getting better, but they are not. The latest low moment for Army brass came on Tuesday in Washington, where a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing to examine the sorry state of the Army Medical Action Plan. That’s the plan to prevent the kind of systematic neglect and mistreatment exposed by The Washington Post last year at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

After a flurry of apologies, firings, investigations and reports, the Army resolved to streamline and improve case management for wounded soldiers. Under the plan, “warrior transition units” would swiftly deliver excellent care to troops so they could return to duty or be discharged into the veterans’ medical system. Each soldier would be assigned a team to look over his or her care: a physician, a nurse and a squad leader. It all sounded sensible and comprehensive.

It has not worked out so well. Staff members of the House subcommittee who visited numerous warrior transition units June 2007 to February found a significant gap between the Army leadership’s optimistic promises and reality.

Among other things, the Army failed to anticipate a flood of wounded soldiers. Some transition units have been overwhelmed and are thus severely understaffed. At Fort Hood, Tex., last month, staff members found 1,362 patients in a unit authorized for 649 — and more than 350 on a waiting list. Of the total, 311 were identified as being at high risk of drug overdose, suicide or other dangerous behavior. There were 38 nurse case managers when there should have been 74. Some soldiers have had to languish two months to a year before the Army decided what to do with them, far longer than the goal the Army set last year.

Under skeptical questioning during a hearing in February, Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, the Army surgeon general, told the subcommittee that “for all intents and purposes, we are entirely staffed at the point we need to be staffed.” He also said: “The Army’s unwavering commitment and a key element of our warrior ethos is that we never leave a soldier behind on the battlefield — or lost in a bureaucracy.”

That was thousands of wounded, neglected soldiers ago. There are now about 12,500 soldiers assigned to the warrior transition units — more than twice as many as a year ago. The number is expected to reach 20,000 by this time next year.

The nation’s responsibility to care for the wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan will extend for decades. After Tuesday’s hearing, we are left pondering the simple questions asked at the outset by Representative Susan Davis, the California Democrat who is chairwoman of the military personnel subcommittee: Why did the Army fail to adequately staff its warrior transition units? Why did it fail to predict the surge in demand? And why did it take visits from a Congressional subcommittee to prod the Army into recognizing and promising — yet again — to fix the problem?

By BoneHead

July 25, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

Since Obama thinks he is a “Citizen of the world” I guess he should pick a German, Spanish or French person for his VP spot. What an idiot we need an American that puts America first for president.

By john shipley

July 25, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

Do you suppose anyone will ever ask the question: “where in the hell is the “commander-in-chief” on the issue of the care of wounded veterans? Bush’s indifference to their plight is actionable and should be pursued…the name of the word is impeachment! The Number One job for the “commander-in-chief” is to see to the well-being of soldiers and veterans, especially those grievously wounded. Neither Bush nor Cheney should draw one penny of benefits until the 500,000 caseload of va cases are all resolved. John Shipley Albuquerque, NM

By jdawg

July 25, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

NO Sonny for VP. We are trying not to sell out to the Chinese here jim.

By Fruitless Objections

July 25, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Obama’s Tour d’ Parse is an elegant ballet indeed. The timing is perfect, coming in the summer doldrums, and invigorating advertising time on CNN, FOX and the networks. Obama certainly looks presidential. He sounds presidential. The risks are obvious. Hillary’s fatal mistake out of the gate was in acting like the presumptive nominee. Also, we dont trust foreigners. The more popular Obama seems to Germans and Iraqis, the more likely it is that we will vote the opposite way, just to be different from them. But no campaign tactic is without risk. McCain is not capable of aplomb like that. Obama stood tall and delivered. The criticism that he is inexperienced in international affairs is now forever blunted.

Obama must now stand in front of American foreclosures and food victims and deliver speeches about helping Americans in their time of need. He must now really talk to Americans about healthcare, education and the economy. Obama should hit us hard and hit us often. We’ll listen.

They should name the next Hurricane “Fannie Mae”, (Freddie Mac, if it’s a man’s name’s turn, dont they alternate between male and female, just to be fair, that’s how stupid we are, someone must have complained, probably a feminist bra burner, oh yeah, my bad, we cant call them “bras” anymore, but “anti-gravity safety harnesses”. )

Anyway, call the next hurricane Freddie Mac so that if the home gets washed away in the storm it wont matter because that home was going to be foreclosed on anyway. It’s a wash.

By Get Real

July 25, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

Yeah like Republicans such as George Bush put Americans first, Bonehead. That hilarious. How about a President that doesn’t put corporations first. I could go on and on about how Conservatives have put big business ahead first at thte expense of the middle class. Bear Stearns bailout, Enron, Fannie and Freddie. They all got ‘drunk’ remember. Well what has he done about it? Just allow the oil companies to drill for more domestic oil, so they can sell it on the world market. Because thats whats exactly gonna happen if oil production isn’t nationalized. More profits for his buddies and the price of oil still won’t go down. And McCain’s policies are more of the same; $300 Billion tax cuts to corporations, privatizing social security (now who would want to put their life savings in the hands of drunken wall st. traders), and healthcare ‘accounts’. It’s all big schemes to make big business more money. Haven’t they drained this country enough over the last 7 years, ya think?

Wooten’s posts are just more of the same. Move government departments to the private sector. The only problem is that there will be no oversight and companies are free to do what they want. Even in today’ old, tired post, he still took the time to talk more about Obama than McCain. I’m really starting to believe that Wooten isn’t really happy with the Republican candidate for President.

By george hussein washington

July 25, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

Save the ajcUrinal, Fire WoodenHead and ALL his pals…….

By Ray

July 25, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

McCain’s only good choice for VP is not on the short list. She is a concert pianist, a PHD, former National Security Advisor, present Secretary of State and a black female. And all she wants to be is the Commissioner of the National Football League. What a shame.

By @@

July 25, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

Get Real:

I just read Jim’s column, then scrolled down to post catching yours. Let me quote you…..

Even in today’ (I’m assuming you intended a possessive “today’s) old, tired post, he still took the time to talk more about Obama than McCain.

McCain was mentioned once.

Obama was mentioned once.

Now I’ve admitted to being mathematically challenged, but even I know that 1+1=2 much of your focus on a conservative Jim Wooten is obsessive.

2 much buddy. Too much whining.

By Carolyn Wilder

July 25, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Jim, You ask how long will it be before they shut down the all-you-can-eat buffets…..Well, I already read somewhere that somebody has already done it!!! And they have also proposed to outlaw drive thrus to conserve gas.

By Peter

July 25, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

’m really starting to believe that Wooten isn’t really happy with the Republican candidate for President.

Boy that may be a real right on comment….Thank you By Get Real !

Poor Tony Snow, a guy who has made how much money by working in Washington DC, and for the President, and he didn’t set up a saving program for his kids college fund?

Typical Republican thinking, spend the money, and don’t worry about savings………even for your family !

Here is another VERY Funny Comment………….

“Can this nation survive in a world where people really are trying to kill us?”

Hey Jim can we survive in a country where the leaders let the most deadly Terrorists go FREE ?

Jim where is Bin Laden ?

By Fruitless Objections

July 25, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

Obama’s Tour d’ Parse is an elegant ballet indeed. The timing is perfect, coming in the summer doldrums, and invigorating advertising time on CNN, FOX and the networks. Obama certainly looks presidential. He sounds presidential. The risks are obvious. Hillary’s fatal mistake out of the gate was in acting like the presumptive nominee. Also, we dont trust foreigners. The more popular Obama seems to Germans and Iraqis, the more likely it is that we will vote the opposite way, just to be different from them. But no campaign tactic is without risk.

McCain is not capable of aplomb like that. Obama stood tall and delivered. The criticism that he is inexperienced in international affairs is now forever blunted.

Obama must now stand in front of American foreclosures and food victims and deliver speeches about helping Americans in their time of need. He must now really talk to Americans about healthcare, education and the economy. Obama should hit us hard and hit us often. We’ll listen.

They should name the next Hurricane “Fannie Mae”, (Freddie Mac, if it’s a man’s name’s turn, dont they alternate between male and female, just to be fair, that’s how stupid we are, someone must have complained, probably a feminist bra burner, oh yeah, my bad, we cant call them “bras” anymore, but “anti-gravity safety harnesses”.)

Anyway, call the next hurricane Freddie Mac so that if the home gets washed away in the storm it wont matter because that home was going to be foreclosed on anyway. It’s a wash.

By fearless fosdik

July 25, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

TONY SNOW? TONY SNOW? TONY SNOW?

A “FAMILY TRUST FUND”!

Do you not think Mr. Wooten that Mr. Snow died a very wealthy man?

Do you not think that Mr. Snow lived in one of the most exclusive enclaves in Virginia?

Probably a vacation home somewhere to get away from it all!

Made millions of dollars during his career!

I’m sure his widow and children will never, ever have to worry about a dime in their life.

And, you actually applaud someone for setting up a TRUST FUND!

By Bosch

July 25, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

Some good topics this morning.

Two things:

1 - Not to speak ill of the dead, because despite being Bush’s voice box, Snow was entertaining at best while Press Secretary,

But,

A fund set up for the education of his kids? Really? You can’t tell me that Snow didn’t have the money to send his kids to school. That’s just a little on the “You’ve got to be kidding me” side.

2 - I agree with Jim about the fat issue. Luckovich had a cartoon a while back that summed up my opinion:

“Eat less fatso” I would have added, “and get off your fat a@@ and walk”

But that’s just me.

My mom has struggled with her weight for years, she’s been on every diet known to exist. So I have sympathy, but as I tell her, the ONLY way to lose weight is to burn off more than you take in.

3 - Jim appears to brush off that 200 jobs will be eliminated. Phil Gramm will call them losers and whiners as they stand in line for unemployment. And the 500 jobs going to private sector? Less benefits, if any at all, but hey, why should they be whining and complaining, they should be GRATEFUL that their employers give them a job, right?

I just read through some of the thread from Bookman after I signed off. The Corporal called me a “knucklehead” - how “Leave it to Beaver” of him.

And if RW makes his way over:

About Obama’s teleprompter - don’t worry, he’ll figure out how to use it by the debates.

And if Midori comes around today:

Dr. Depends! BWA!!!

By HDD3

July 25, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

why is Tony Snow’s kids any more deserving of donations for education vs the some low income guy who got killed this month by a drunk driver and had three kids? Tony Snow lived an upper middle class life and if he did not have life insurance to cover his family after his death then shame on him. It is very easy to setup some fund in the name of a high profile person and receive accolades.

By buck

July 25, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

i can’t believe the people of the USA would even consider a person named hussien for prez.

By Fruitless Objections

July 25, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Luckovich’s cartoon was funny today. “Ich been ein burnt-weiner”

I didn’t know how far out of the park Obama’s home run flew yesterday, until I saw FOX this morning referencing all things antichrist.

That’s all you’ve got? Obama’s the antichrist? Listen, spin-masters, I heard you get better reception if you straighten out paper clips and stick them through the tin foil cone hats you wear to hear the voices. (that’d be my advice to U)

There is a political risk that adheres to any campaign strategy. Obama’s Tour de Parse has the risk of Obama looking too presidential. Hillary’s fatal mistake out of the gate was acting like the presumptive nominee. Americans dont like that, nor is there much fertile ground that can be nutured from a standpoint of the fait accomplis. You cant go anywhere with it. You have to acknowlege your fantasy victory over and over and it all comes out wrong.

Obama needs to stand tall at the Dolly disaster and talk about healthcare, education and the economy to Americans.

Oh, we’ll listen. But the main thing is the knowledge most Americans accept: We tried Obama on as our prez, and we liked the way it fit. We liked the way we felt.

The time has come to pass the torch to a new generation…….

The Right is antichristing because they’re hoping to enflame the lunatic evangelical fringe into a jihad against Obama. The right has become al queda: they’ve become that which they most despised.

Number One Rule in Life: Never let yourself hate, because you will ultimately become that which you most despise.

Prediction based on #1 rule: Conservatism wont go down without an atrocity or two. The irony of home grown terrorism has the ring of truth.

By Bosch

July 25, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

I also agree with Mr. Wooten’s assessment of security inconveniences. Hey, they are a pain, but relatively easy to work through with a little patience - at least it’s not like the West Bank where there is a road block every few feet.

buck,

I felt the same way after Bush 41. Another Bush? But since his son has been let loose on this country, I actually like daddy Bush now. Weird, huh?

By Peter

July 25, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

HA HA HA………”By buck

July 25, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

i can’t believe the people of the USA would even consider a person named hussien for prez.”

Funny to hear this from a guy named after an animal……but hey rutting in the woods may be fun!

By Get Real

July 25, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

@@, to quote what was said as you may have been using too much math:

“Nobody will let me have my first choice as vice president on the John McCain ticket.”

“Like Barack Obama, he’s too unseasoned to be president just now, but he’d season as VP.”

The passage doesn’t discuss McCain at all, just his ticket. I’m sure you can deduce that.

By dirty harry

July 25, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Mark Sandford as V.P.? Why not Larry Craig?

Here’s a little clip of Sanford on the “LATE EDITION” trying to explain the difference between Bush and McCains economic plan…He Can’t..He draws a BLANK!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/13/mark-sanford-draws-a-blann112391.html

Only in South Carolina would they vote for this fool!

By SaveOurRepublic

July 25, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

jdawg @ 8:45 AM EDT - Well said! We have far too many Globalist corporations in bed with Red China (while flooding the U.S. market with 3rd rate, tainted goods & destroying the U.S. manufacturing base). We can rest assured the Neocons (like “McAmnasty” & Sonny) will keep that trend growing (…as will fellow Globalist puppet “Bacrock Obummer”). I’m sure “McAmnasty” will find a suitable fellow Neocon/RINO/Globalist pawn for his ticket.

Regarding the growing (Big) government “nanny state”, it’s all about taking away freedoms, individual choice & responsibility. The bureaucrats will always try to justify their attack on freedoms by stating some embellished “danger” or “issue” that is a “threat” to us lowly, underlings. Government that governs less is one that governs best!

http://www.jbs.org

By george hussein washington

July 25, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

George hears girls have finally learned that the lenth of their thumb is not equal to six inches….big break throught in math education….short men are still in mourning…

By Middle America

July 25, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

Jeb Bush? Really? I guess Wooten wants 4, 8, 12, 16 more years of the same hapless, war-mongering administration that we’ve come to know and love from W. Mark Sanford? Come on. The guy is dense and so is the McCain campaign. He was asked a simple question: how does McCain’s economic policy differ from Bush’s? I think I actually heard crickets while he looked dumbfounded and had no answer whatsoever. What campaign sends someone out to be interviewed on their behalf without talking points? Did they never anticipate having to differentiate themselves from Bush on the economy? If they think nothing should change (which is very likely given the lack of concern or grasp of the obvious shown by McCain’s economic advisor (Gramm)), then just say so, but to be tripped up by that question suggests they don’t think there are any differences, but they also know people don’t want more of the same.

By findog

July 25, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Dear Jim, Here is the real problem with Obama, but you cannot point it out without be labeled a racist: The New Yorker faced a different kind of hostility with its cover this week, which the Obama campaign criticized harshly. A campaign spokesman, Bill Burton, said in a statement that “most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive - and we agree.”

The conceited, elitist, snobs state that we must take offense and THEN they agree.

The only thing about the man I did like was his willingness to throw people, “under the bus” when necessary.

Even the last remaining people personally loyal to President Bush, as compared to the office and our country, agree probably his greatest fault is loyalty – or unwillingness to through incompetent nincompoops under the bus.

I want the best and brightest on my tax dollar’s payroll; if you want to give loyalists jobs find a think tank to park them at.

By hdd3

July 25, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

By buck

July 25, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

i can’t believe the people of the USA would even consider a person named hussien for prez

It is ignorant comments like this one that keeps the focus on non-issues. Obama was given his name prior to any of us knowing Sadam Hussien. It means nothing just like the Lapel pin issue, fist bump, Obama’s race etc. Lets keep the focus on Obama’s socialist agenda & pro-choice views. Unfortunately, the republican nominee is lame and will probably lose the election. Also, any person with half a brain realizes McCain has flipped flopped just as much as Obama which makes him unreliable. This country is going down and the GOP is at fault. When they had the white house and congress they squandered their chance to affect real change.

By RW-(the original)

July 25, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

If drilling opponents really have the better of this argument, why are they so worried about letting it come to a vote?

Good question.

Bosch,

Obambi keeps saying he would like to have some debate or another with McCain and he follows that with an anywhere, anytime declaration, but the problem is that McCain keeps accepting and The Dunce runs off somewhere else to make the same declaration. He probably doesn’t even know he’s saying it and his staff won’t take it out of the teleprompter.

By george hussein washington

July 25, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

all bushes are lying scum…only an idiot like woodenhead would support them…ah hope woodenheads 401K crashes, the urnial folds, and woody spends the rest of his days as one of mah plow animals….

By Georgia Values

July 25, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

Maliki Votes for Obama

By Charles Krauthammer Friday, July 25, 2008; Page A21

In a stunning upset, Barack Obama this week won the Iraq primary. When Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki not once but several times expressed support for a U.S. troop withdrawal on a timetable that accorded roughly with Obama’s 16-month proposal, he did more than legitimize the plan. He relieved Obama of a major political liability by blunting the charge that, in order to appease the MoveOn left, Obama was willing to jeopardize the astonishing success of the surge and risk losing a war that is finally being won.

Maliki’s endorsement left the McCain campaign and the Bush administration deeply discomfited. They underestimated Maliki’s sophistication and cunning.

What is Maliki thinking? Clearly, he believes that the Iraq war is won. Al-Qaeda is defeated, the Sunni insurgency is in abeyance, the Shiite extremists are scattered and marginalized. There will, of course, be some continued level of violence, recurring challenges to the authority of the central government and perhaps even mini-Tet Offensives by both Shiite and Sunni terrorists trying to demoralize U.S. and Iraqi public opinion in the run-up to their respective elections. But in Maliki’s view, the strategic threats to the unity of the state and to the viability of the new democratic government are over.

Maliki believes that his armed forces are strong enough to sustain the new Iraq with minimal U.S. help. He may be overconfident, as he has been repeatedly in estimating his army’s capacities, most recently in launching a somewhat premature attack on militias in Basra that ultimately required U.S. and British support to succeed. And he is certainly more confident of his own capacities than is Gen. David Petraeus.

Whether warranted or not, Maliki’s confidence allows him to set out a rapid timetable for U.S. withdrawal, albeit conditioned on continuing improvement in the security situation — a caveat Obama generally omits. But Maliki calculates that no U.S. president, whatever his campaign promises, would be insane enough to lose Iraq after all that has been gained and then be saddled with a newly chaotic Iraq that would poison his presidency.

So Maliki is looking ahead, beyond the withdrawal of major U.S. combat forces, and toward the next stage: the long-term relationship between America and Iraq.

With whom does he prefer to negotiate the status-of-forces agreement that will not be concluded during the Bush administration? Obama or McCain?

Obama, reflecting the mainstream Democratic view, simply wants to get out of Iraq as soon as possible. Two years ago, it was because the war was lost. Now, we are told, it is to save Afghanistan. The reasons change, but the conclusion is always the same. Out of Iraq. Banish the very memory. Leave as small and insignificant a residual force as possible. And no long-term bases.

McCain, like George Bush, envisions the United States seizing the fruits of victory from a bloody and costly war by establishing an extensive strategic relationship that would not only make the new Iraq a strong ally in the war on terror but would also provide the U.S. with the infrastructure and freedom of action to project American power regionally, as do U.S. forces in Germany, Japan and South Korea.

For example, we might want to retain an air base to deter Iran, protect regional allies and relieve our naval forces, which today carry much of the burden of protecting the Persian Gulf region, thus allowing redeployment elsewhere.

Any Iraqi leader would prefer a more pliant American negotiator because all countries — we’ve seen this in Germany, Japan and South Korea — want to maximize their own sovereign freedom of action while still retaining American protection.

It is no mystery who would be the more pliant U.S. negotiator. The Democrats have long been protesting the Bush administration’s hard bargaining for strategic assets in postwar Iraq. Maliki knows the Democrats are so sick of this war, so politically and psychologically committed to its liquidation, so intent on doing nothing to vindicate “Bush’s war,” that they simply want out with the least continued American involvement.

Which is why Maliki gave Obama that royal reception, complete with the embrace of his heretofore problematic withdrawal timetable.

Obama was likely to be president anyway. He is likelier now still. Moreover, he not only agrees with Maliki on minimizing the U.S. role in postwar Iraq. He now owes him. That’s why Maliki voted for Obama, casting the earliest and most ostentatious absentee ballot of this presidential election.

By george hussein washington

July 25, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

Charlie Kraut, Adolf’s grand nephew…..A blood relative….

By Peter

July 25, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Hey Jim……..this won’t happen………”How long will it be before some do-gooder suggests shutting down all-you-can-eat buffets?”

Poor Jim, not able to get a grip…….. worrying about silly issues, while writing we are a country who should be afraid……..

“Can this nation survive in a world where people really are trying to kill us?”

Where is Bin Laden Jim ? He is the one who attacked us REMEMBER ?

How could any Republican say …….. Republicans are the ones who will protect Americans from Terrorists, when BUSH has let Bin Laden Go FREE !

HA HA HA Jim…….. Bin Laden has been FREE because of Bush, and you are worried about American Security !

Hey Jim…….how long before BUSH finds Bin Laden?

By Mike Hussein Smith

July 25, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

Jim: a) If you could read and b) if he AJC was still in the businesss of publishing the news, then you would know that Jindal is too chicken to give up his brand new job and run for VP on what he knows would be a losing ticket. When folks learn he’s just another Southern good ol’ boy, he will sink like a rock.

By Bosch

July 25, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

RW,

When in the history of presidential elections have the two presumptive candidates debated before the conventions?

I think this is a non-issue, or a rather irrelevant one.

Maybe Obama’s simply demonstrating that McCain’s ultimatums (going to Iraq, debating, etc.) will not affect his campaigning schedule.

Or maybe it’s a p**ssing contest - they’re politicians, remember?

But like I said, he’ll get that teleprompter issue resolved in plenty of time before the actual debates and wipe the floor with McCain.

By Dusty

July 25, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Welcome back, Jim Wooten. We missed your fine up to date commentary. I like your good choice of VPs to go with the much decorated McCain. Jeb Bush would be my favorite as he is as reliable as his father and brother.

Southern food and obesity? Ah well. So Southerners cook so WELL that nobody can resist. Have you ever eaten a favorite New England dessert called Indian Pudding which has the distinct taste of sawdust? It is typical. I rest my case.

The appreciation of Tony Snow with a trust fund for his children may offset the mean remarks made by the “ugly” and envious lefty Americans.

Barack Obama! I’m already sick of the man. He revels in adulations and is very accomplished in achieving it. He can almost beat some of the rock stars. Washington is not the place for such an actor. Hollywood is more suitable.

People with small minds think that America is nothing but a picnic park that no terrorist would ever harm again. That is true as long as we PROTECT ourselves and security is HOMELAND DEFENSE. But the poor weaklings who won’t protect themselves actually believe we can say “boo” and “they aint listening to my phone calls” will scare away our enemies. Shakespeare must have known them. He wrote What fools ye mortals be!

By BoneHead

July 25, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Hey GetReal, isn’t it our dimacratic congress that just passes a 1 trillion dollar bail out for the mortgage industry? Your short term memory must be gone. It so funny how you can blame Bush for what the dimacrats do. Typical uneducated liberal thinking, this is exactly what Osama, I mean Obama is counting on. Any body that would vote for a dimacrat with 143 days experience has lost all conception of reality.

By BFKaJ

July 25, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. Jindal would be a good man. Phil Gramm is my first choice, as he knows how to handle the whiny leftists. Too bad Captain Queeg does not have those yarbles.

Think we can cure the leftists who would criminalize all sorts of economic behavior - abolish tuition subsidies. When they have to make their way in the real world, by providing something useful (i.e., other than psychology or history or mass communications) we’ll hear less whining. Because there will be fewer of them on the payrolls.

Better idea - have CDC hire all of the whiny academics, then shut down the misdirected agency. See if a couple of years in the real world educates them.

By bkacj racist surrender monkey Hussein Obama MERCILESSLY RIDICULED

July 25, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

From The Times

July 25, 2008

He ventured forth to bring light to the world The anointed one’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a miracle in action - and a blessing to all his faithful followers

Gerard Baker

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?”

In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.

And so it was, in the fullness of time, before the harvest month of the appointed year, the Child ventured forth - for the first time - to bring the light unto all the world.

He travelled fleet of foot and light of camel, with a small retinue that consisted only of his loyal disciples from the tribe of the Media. He ventured first to the land of the Hindu Kush, where the

Taleban had harboured the viper of al-Qaeda in their bosom, raining terror on all the world.

And the Child spake and the tribes of Nato immediately loosed the Caveats that had previously bound them. And in the great battle that ensued the forces of the light were triumphant. For as long as the Child stood with his arms raised aloft, the enemy suffered great blows and the threat of terror was no more.

From there he went forth to Mesopotamia where he was received by the great ruler al-Maliki, and al-Maliki spake unto him and blessed his Sixteen Month Troop Withdrawal Plan even as the imperial warrior Petraeus tried to destroy it.

And lo, in Mesopotamia, a miracle occurred. Even though the Great Surge of Armour that the evil Bush had ordered had been a terrible mistake, a waste of vital military resources and doomed to end in disaster, the Child’s very presence suddenly brought forth a great victory for the forces of the light.

And the Persians, who saw all this and were greatly fearful, longed to speak with the Child and saw that the Child was the bringer of peace. At the mention of his name they quickly laid aside their intrigues and beat their uranium swords into civil nuclear energy ploughshares.

From there the Child went up to the city of Jerusalem, and entered through the gate seated on an a*. The crowds of network anchors who had followed him from afar cheered “Hosanna” and waved great palm fronds and strewed them at his feet.

In Jerusalem and in surrounding Palestine, the Child spake to the Hebrews and the Arabs, as the Scripture had foretold. And in an instant, the lion lay down with the lamb, and the Israelites and Ishmaelites ended their long enmity and lived for ever after in peace.

As word spread throughout the land about the Child’s wondrous works, peoples from all over flocked to hear him; Hittites and Abbasids; Obamacons and McCainiacs; Cameroonians and Blairites.

And they told of strange and wondrous things that greeted the news of the Child’s journey. Around the world, global temperatures began to decline, and the ocean levels fell and the great warming was over.

The Great Prophet Algore of Nobel and Oscar, who many had believed was the anointed one, smiled and told his followers that the Child was the one generations had been waiting for.

And there were other wonderful signs. In the city of the Street at the Wall, spreads on interbank interest rates dropped like manna from Heaven and rates on credit default swaps fell to the ground as dead birds from the almond tree, and the people who had lived in foreclosure were able to borrow again.

Black gold gushed from the ground at prices well below $140 per barrel. In hospitals across the land the sick were cured even though they were uninsured. And all because the Child had pronounced it.

And this is the testimony of one who speaks the truth and bears witness to the truth so that you might believe. And he knows it is the truth for he saw it all on CNN and the BBC and in the pages of The New York Times.

Then the Child ventured forth from Israel and Palestine and stepped onto the shores of the Old Continent. In the land of Queen Angela of Merkel, vast multitudes gathered to hear his voice, and he preached to them at length.

But when he had finished speaking his disciples told him the crowd was hungry, for they had had nothing to eat all the hours they had waited for him.

And so the Child told his disciples to fetch some food but all they had was five loaves and a couple of frankfurters. So he took the bread and the frankfurters and blessed them and told his disciples to feed the multitudes. And when all had eaten their fill, the scraps filled twelve baskets.

Thence he travelled west to Mount Sarkozy. Even the beauteous Princess Carla of the tribe of the Bruni was struck by awe and she was great in love with the Child, but he was tempted not.

On the Seventh Day he walked across the Channel of the Angles to the ancient land of the hooligans. There he was welcomed with open arms by the once great prophet Blair and his successor, Gordon the Leper, and his successor, David the Golden One.

And suddenly, with the men appeared the archangel Gabriel and the whole host of the heavenly choir, ranks of cherubim and seraphim, all praising God and singing: “Yes, We Can.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

By @@

July 25, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Get Real! ‘Ya just bein’ “gnit-picky” now. It won’t keep the flies from swarmin’ round your open obsession.

I think Jim’s made it pretty clear who his first choice for the Republican’s nomination would have been. Why by golly, he’s said it more than once in his columns. The fact that he views McCain’s VP pick as important would so indicate.

With the exception of Dusty, I don’t think there’s a conservative on this board who would have picked McCain as the nominee. Even with his faults, he’s a better choice than the naive lamb, BaaaaaaRawk.

Mary had a little lamb

his fleece was white as snow

and everywhere that Mary went

the press was sure to flow

Welcome to Europe Mary

He ventured forth to bring light to the world

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

For those among you who are too naive to realize it, The Times Online article is making fun of Obamaniacs.

Now that’s the kind of respect that Americans were looking for? I’m embarrassed for America’s swooners.

By RW-(the original)

July 25, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Bosch,

I don’t know that the two candidates ever have, but in this case you have McCain asking for joint townhall discussions and Obambi loudly proclaiming he wants to debate anytime, anywhere, but never showing up.

Don’t blame me for pointing it out.

Bookman’s blog just opened back up. They took the vacation notice, flushed all the comments and started it over.

By Get Real

July 25, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

Come on Bonehead? Was it really $1 Trillion as you say? I think not. And half of that money went to Community Development Block Grants to spur development in needed communities, as well as funding for first time homebuyers, as well as those on the brink of falling into foreclosure. Everything can’t be blamed on Bush, but if his cronies hadn’t been so drunk with de-regulation would we even be in this situation? And you Republicans elected a one term governor TWICE, who ravaged education, never balanced a state budget, and was viewed widely in Texas as in utter failure. Don’t really have a leg to stand on in that argument.

By fat slobs

July 25, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

My god you people are fat…it’s the first thing you notice when you move to the south. Or back as in my case.

I love southern food, but when you eat a sausage and egg biscuit with hash browns for breakfast, chicken fried steak for lunch, and KFC for dinner…every day…you can see why you folks have such huge a*******es.

And you’re the same people that brag about running a cyclists off the road, or throw beer cans at me when I’m out running.

When is the last time any of you fat folks went further than a 100 yards using your feet?

Me? I”m 48 years old and so lean you can see the veins in my stomach…why? Because I put down the fork..

Fat, fat, fat, fat southerners..

By Bosch

July 25, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

RW,

I’m not blaming you for pointing it out, just remember, they are politicians, what do you expect?

By Mike Hussein Smith

July 25, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Hey, Bonehead, explain this: Reagan said he was a citizen of the world. So did Bush I. Ray, Condo (“I Feel Pretty”) Rice doesn’t have the attention span to be much of anything except NFL commisioner. That’s why back in August 2001, she didn’t want to read that report about bin Laden’s plans to fly hijacked planes into NYC buildings. The only thing she could play during her “promising” piano career was “The Minute Waltz.” Do you really think she earned her salary as national security adviser or secretary of state? Go ahead @@, make my day. Put Jeb on the McSame ballot.

By @@

July 25, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Oops! Mercilessly beaten to the punch.

Here’s another PROUD American’s opinion.

Europeans Mock Obama

By Get Real

July 25, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

@@, after the ‘choice’ you Republicans made the last two election cycles, why would any intelligent person take your word on who should be President to heart now? I mean look at the choices the Conservatives threw out this year. Romney, Huckabee, McCain, and a bunch of benchwarmers. Along with noun-verb- 9/11 Guiliani. I’m sorry but thats a lose-lose all the way around. And I read Wooten’s post pretty frequently and have never heard him write about wanting to see someone else as the Republican nominee.

By george hussein washington

July 25, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Fat Southern People: Smells like Biodiesel on the Hoof to me….

By @@

July 25, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

A deliberate mistake in today’s NY Times front page?

It looks like the NYTs wanted to protect Obama from his Hitleresque image.

Keep it mind, that this wasn’t the first time Germans have swooned.

By CommunistAJC

July 25, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Every single Obama Hussien cult follower needs to read this article. Its by a British writer, who can actually write an article, and he sums up the prophet Obama pretty well.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

By Ray

July 25, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

Media manipulation at it’s worst or best. The NY Times is the slug of all rags and the libs still worship at it’s feet. The AJC is not far behind. Except for Wooten, we would wallow in a sea of liberal diatribe. Photo manipulation to sell a candidate is fraud, plain and simple. And they call it freedom of the press. Maybe the editors of the Times get a funny feeling running up their legs, too, or maybe Obama really does remind them of a ninth grade relationship, probably with their right hand.
Wake up America. We are being duped faster than you can say “Change”.

By george hussein washington

July 25, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

yo commieajc…git a job you lazy bum….or we will assign you one….

By @@

July 25, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Put Jeb on the ballot

MHSmith:

Where did I say I agreed with Jim about Jeb Bush? I like Jeb Bush but the Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton dynastic era has ended. The unfortunate thing for your party is they ended it prematurely. I’m reading where Hillary, if the nominee, would be leading McCain by 20 pts. in the polls. Your nominee, for all his charm and empty rhetoric can’t get his polls bumped regardless of his lofty charades.

Get Real:

Lose-lose all the way around? Check out the poll numbers on your candidate that the media destroyed in their chosen pursuit of Obama. All indications are that the media is fixin’ to turn on Obama.

How dare HE limit access to they who would annoint him!

When ever I see Obama, I wanna tell him to go sit in the corner but then I realize he’s already placed HIMSELF there.

The one thing I’ve always said is that Obama has run an excellent campaign. It was naive and presumptuous of him to assume that the American voters wouldn’t see it for what it was. His campaign strategy has now begun to work against him.

By CommunistAJC

July 25, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

bkacj racist surrender monkey Hussein Obama, You beat me to it. Great job posting the article.

george hussein washington, You will assign me a job? Sorry but I don’t work at Mcdonalds like you do. Get back to cleaning up the toilets.

By @@

July 25, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Heyyyyyyy! I just noticed that the NYTs doctored photo post was made by none other than The Blogfather.

Could it be??????

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 25, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Merkel’s Office Praises Obama’s Speech Barack Obama’s speech yesterday in Berlin is being praised by the office of Germany’s conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel. Spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said the speech “underlined the fact that the challenges of the 21st century can only be tackled together, only in international cooperation — that corresponds with the German government’s position.”

Dem Chances In House Get Even Better CQ has changed their ratings on 14 House races, with only two rating changes in the GOP’s direction and the other 12 in favor of the Democrats. Furthermore, the two ratings changes for the Republicans are in seats they already hold, with the magazine declaring them to be safer than before — so the GOP hasn’t really made any true headway.

NBC’s Williams confirms that McCain camp made no offer to cover McCain’s trip abroad.

“The American public is not buying the arguments of President Bush and the oil industry that new drilling will lower gas prices,” with 63 percent saying increased drilling is “more likely to enrich oil companies than to lower gas prices.” A separate Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that voters trust Democrats over Republicans to deal with energy, 42 to 22 percent.

Right Wing Charges ‘Media Bias’ On Obama Trip Coverage Despite McCain’s Decision To Limit Press Overseas

McCain Seems To Be Forgetting Some Pretty Important Stuff

“The Justice Department in 2002 told the CIA that its interrogators would be safe from prosecution for violations of anti-torture laws if they believed ‘in good faith’ that harsh techniques used to break the will of prisoners, including waterboarding, would not cause ‘prolonged mental harm.

AIDS specialists are calling for a fundamental rethinking of HIV policy after a new report showed that infection with the virus was rising dramatically in the South even as it dropped everywhere else in the country.”

Updated X 2. Pentagon sabotaged Obama’s military hospital visit. Report sees McCain’s hand.

Key House Races Shift Towards the Democrats

A new study showing that the tobacco industry manipulated menthol levels in an effort to attract young children into smoking (by masking the harsh taste of smoke for first time smokers), and to increase the ADDICTIVE hold of nicotine on smokers, could delay a bill to give the Food and Drug Administration jurisdiction over cigarettes.

So much news so little time…..

By Be Serious

July 25, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Hey GET REAL..

“I could go on and on about how Conservatives have put big business ahead first at thte expense of the middle class. Bear Stearns bailout, Enron, Fannie and Freddie.”

-Have you ever thought about the 40% of Americans who own stocks and mutual funds that have stake in these companies? You yourself are probably better off because of the bail-out programs.

“McCain’s policies are more of the same; $300 Billion tax cuts to corporations”

-This is money that corporations use to create new jobs which in turn stimulates our economy.

“privatizing social security (now who would want to put their life savings in the hands of drunken wall st. traders)”

-I would rather have my money in the hands of someone who wants to make money than someone who wants to spend my money in order to buy votes (i.e., the fed)

“Move government departments to the private sector. The only problem is that there will be no oversight and companies are free to do what they want.”

-The ‘oversight’ you are referring to is not necessary when an entity is more worried about efficiency and making money than it is about buying votes by making promises we cannot afford.

Government is who needs the Oversight!

By GMAN

July 25, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

In Mr. Wooten’s mind, placing a clown, bowl, and spoon on a box of rat poison would be just fine! What a twisted mind you have Jim.

By kitty

July 25, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

The trust fund for Snow’s kids will help pay for the Grand Tour…didn’t you know that is absolute necessity for the GOP child…must have..really.

Talk about entitlement. Sigh! Some how I doubt I will be contributing.

By Fruitless Objections

July 25, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Encouraging economic data today. Kudlow, who is the staunchest bull I’ve ever seen ever, thinks the bottom was reached last two quarters.

By Get Rea;

July 25, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

@@, don’t you mean ‘whenever’ you see Obama? Hate to parse your words, but just returning the favor.

Be Serious, please be serious. All of these multi-national companies move their companies offshore, send manufacturing jobs overseas for cheap labor, and then get tax credits from our government. With over 400,00 jobs lost this year alone, how can you say they’re creating employment for workers here? You want to have someone try and make money off of your retirement funds, but since last November the stock market has been tanking; hovering around 11,000. Meanwhile those same people who may have lost some of YOUR money, are getting their losses back with YOUR money. I don’t see a winning argument when the stock market has been fluctuating so much the last decade.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 25, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

White House press secretary Tony Snow will step down from his position as early as next month, sources inside and outside the Bush administration told CNN on Friday….According to The Washington Post, Snow makes $168,000 as the White House spokesman

I suspect he got an increase at Fox

Mr. Snow at his WH job was making more money than 95% of American families.

maybe he didn’t handle his portfolio very well and really need help sending his kids to college….

By DOISMELLWHITEFEAR?

July 25, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

LMAO!!! I never, ever, ever, thought I’d see the day where so many hate filled white people would be stumbling over themselves to try and make it appear that a black man could not represent the interests of this country. RACISTS!! Just say it, he’s a Black man. That’s why you haters are hating. Never, Ever!! Let’s see, he voted against the War in Iraq. Because that was NOT where our fight was. We were looking for Bin Laden who killed 3,000 + of our countrymen. Remember? then it was WMD’s in Iraq, then it was they are training Al Quieda (no proof), then it was Sadaam Hussein who killed the Kurds, we need to give them a democracy, etc., and so on. Where was Mccain then to get some order? So if he voted no on the war, then would he not vote no on the surge, because we should have not BEEN in Iraq?? Oh that by the way DID NOT CAUSE THE ANBAR AWAKENING, as the misstepping Mccain would state it. By McCain going against the will of the people, not Sen. Obama, more brave soldiers went into battle and died. Now, McLame is wanting Obama to say he was sorry and that he was wrong. How so? He’s accused him of treason, genocide, being unpatriotic, elitist. And you fools are running right alongside of him in agreement. Mccain has no platform. He had a Finance advisor that ridiculed the plight of the American people. He has no Economic plan to think of (Phil Gramm??), where is he on healthcare? Educataion? NAFTA? That fat slob Limbaugh and his sidekick Hannity, as well as O’Reiley, and Lord knows how many others see Mccain as the answer or because he’s a political icon who performs well? What is the constant of all this?? They are all angry white men. They do not recognize the fact that the Country, and after the last week, the World wants a Change. A change of the guard. A change of the way WE are perceived. A change in DIPLOMACY (that’s the main issue, as there HAS BEEN NONE!!). A change from the world having to be like you zealots. You know you have this history of trying to make countries and people be like you and if not you bomb em’ (Carlin was right). Guess what, there are nations and cultures that ARE different beyond our shores. Hell, they are different in the WORLD and its the fault of our current President, and the fault of McCain and all those like McCain, to not foster a better relationship with the WORLD. We are perceived as warmongers and enemies. I defended this country based on freedom and maintaing the freedoms of this country and for its continued respect throughout the world, yet I am not free in the country I defended. Sen. Obama is running on a platform so basic and pure that it connected with a large part of Americans, yet here you punks are tearing it down. You want continued poverty. You want divisiveness, hate, racism, upheaval, despair, that’s how you survive. That’s how your pundits survive. WELL IT NO LONGER WORKS. Mccain has not brought any issues to the table that are worthy to be considered so now you fools are resorting to blatant RACISM!! What’s really funny is that the public is laughing at you fools. It’s pathetic. It’s childish. It’s sooooo Republican. So RACIST!! Wooten won’t have a column after this election. Rush and Hannity will be unemployed too (or fighting with their corporate offices for their huge salaries). And you haters will go loudly screaming into the night as those of us who beleive in unity, patriotism, truth, fairness, and thinking forward for this country will continue to march towards our “time horizon.” That horizon is not just an end to war, it is a better country for Americans and for the world. So, please, continue your hate fest. I’m a black man so you can call me all the names that you like. If Jesus, MLK, JFK, RFK, Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, Oprah, Shirley Chilsom, Colin Powell, Bill and Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Al Gore, and countless others could endure your hate, and Sen. Obama (The Next President of The United States) who embodies that hate you have, then call me all the things that you want too. Your racism is showing as you feel the wind on your necks. That would be the Winds of Change!!!

By findog

July 25, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

Dear Jim, As a third generation Floridian, back before air conditioning, I feel awful for what my state did to the rest of us.

If they had elected Jeb in 94 it would have been him and not W in 2000; of course, Gore would have known the even Lieberman could not have carried that state and he would have focused on his home state.

But spilt milk and all I think that more REAL debates, and not the joint press conferences we have now, would be best to educate the middle electorate that decides our elections.

By Miss Congeniality

July 25, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Sorry I haven’t been around in a while, on vacation…

I just have one question JBM? Most Lawyers have a degree in history, the same degree you deride. What was your major?

By Be Serious

July 25, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

DOISMELLWHITEFEAR?

It’s funny how no one was talking about race until you showed up.

It is equally funny that you cannot criticize a presidential candidate who is of a different race than you are.

With your mentality, you should not be able to say anything bad about John McCain if you are not white.

Check your racism at the door.

By Abomi Nation

July 25, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

From the AJC business section 7/24

Cobb Energy, a for-profit affiliate of Marietta-based electric co-op Cobb EMC, has lost millions but paid generous dividends and benefits to management, board members and other insiders, according to experts hired by customers suing the companies.

Cobb Energy paid out $5.1 million in dividends from 1998 through 2006 and lost $7.4 million in that period, according to the experts’ analyses, contained in affidavits filed in court Wednesday.

Jim is this your idea of privatization? Your very own Cobb County is home to one of the biggest rip-offs ever, yet you have not written one word about it. You keep hammering Atlanta but ignore the Cobb Energy/Cobb EMC fiasco. Don’t tell me! You have stock in Cobb Energy don’t you?

By Fruitless Objections

July 25, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Tony Snow did not deserve to die, no American does. I’m glad there are the checks and balances of our two party system. The right and the left. Obama may be our next president, but I dont want the right to go anywhere. I want them to scrutinize everything Obama says and does.

That’s what it means to be an American.

So, no, george hussein washington, your comment must be added to all of the right’s venomous vespers against Obama and flushed.

We need to unite as Americans. We have a country to save and a world to convince.

Obama 08: Insert America here.

McCain 08: Inert America here.

By Uncle Sam

July 25, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

what is America? it’s the land AND the people. if you truly care about America, you should also truly care about Americans. I am so tired of hearing conservatives blame ordinary Americans for these high gas prices and recession when it’s obvious all this has started at the top. blaming the victim is cowardly and dishonorable and also completely unpatriotic if you are doing it a fellow American. and American that very well could be an honorably discharged veteran. just like saying the rape victim had it coming, it’s just as wrong to blame ordinary Americans for the dishonesty and greed of banking institutions and the oil industry. once again, to truly care about America, you must also truly care about Americans, and not just the rich ones that are spinning all the lies to hide their crimes. we should not be supporting a feudal class system, it didn’t work before and it won’t work now. the only thing that trickles down from deceit, greed and a total lack of integrity is a big ol’ wheelbarrow full of crap!

By @@

July 25, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Get Real:

Be Serious, please be serious.

Okey Dokey……I never said anything about job losses.

With over 400,00 jobs lost this year alone, how can you say they’re creating employment for workers here?

Seriously……I never mentioned anything about ^^^ but since you brought it up.

One of Barack Obama’s first jobs was with some company that assisted U.S. corporations in operating their businesses from overseas. And that was when Chicago was in t