2008/12/03
Palin Intelligencer 2008 December 3
Palin is using her political capital to support Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia in a runoff election (McAffrey; Steinhauser; Tharpe & Sheinin).
Potential Book Deal
After her run for the vice presidency, the Alaska governor has caught the eye of publishers and literary agents and can potentially make millions for a book deal (Palin no loser).
Pro-Life Groups Encouraged by Palin Example
Pro-life legislators and groups have taken courage from the example of Governor Palin in her choosing to bear her son, Trig, who was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome before birth. An estimated 90 percent of such children are aborted (Wood).
Unusual
Palin is in demand in the media (Blood). A wrestling-entertainment organization has invited her to attend one of their events, promising to pay $50,000 to a charity of her choice if she makes an appearance. The offer included a chance for her to be an ostensible—maybe ex officio—member of a female wrestling team (Verzub).
OI Comment: I love America. Palin probably shouldn’t make a spectacle of herself in this manner. However, it might be fun to see elected officials settling lesser disputes in inflatable sumo suits. Its safer than the guns and swords our representatives used on each other in our nation’s early days.
Sources
Blood, M. R. (2008 Nov. 22). Oprah, Leno, Letterman: What’s Palin to do next? Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iQ6mzZ4_GHxu-nRBQzapi0zy4aKAD94K1N500, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
McAffrey, S. (2008 Dec. 2). Palin urges Ga. voters to back Chambliss in runoff. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHW-ZJ03DLcUGUM9z9p2nkbRAG-QD94Q92T00, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
Palin no loser with “$11m book deal.” (2008 Nov. 17). Canberra Times. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/world/world/general/palins-no-loser-with-11m-book-deal/1362216.aspx, accessed 2008 Nov. 19.
Steinhauser, P. (2008 Dec. 1). Palin makes a Peach State sweep for GOP senator. CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/01/palin.chambliss/, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
Tharpe, J., & Sheinin, A. G. (2008 Dec. 1). Runoff vote today will end fast, furious Senate campaign. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2008/12/01/palin_chambliss_runoff.html, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
Verzub, R. (2008 Nov. 24). Palin to participate in wrestling event. Cauldron. http://media.www.csucauldron.com/media/storage/paper516/news/2008/11/24/News/Palin.To.Participate.In.Wrestling.Event-3559907.shtml, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
Wood, E. (2008 Nov. 24). Palin encourages special needs families. Baptist Press. http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=29399, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
2008/10/30
McCain Intelligencer 2008 October 30
Palin attacked Obama for his stance on abortion, pointing out his opposition to born-alive protection laws in the Illinois Senate. Palin is opposed to abortion except when it threatens the life of the mother (Nephin).
Debates
Republicans thought McCain was great. They thought Obama sucked (Walsh).
Financial Market & Housing Crisis
McCain decried the prospect of rescuing financiers from their folly, but said the government intervention was necessary (“Barack Obama”). Instead of buying out the banks, he thinks half the money should be put into buying mortgages directly and renegotiating terms with the lenders (Pickler).
Obama’s Socialist Connections
Some in the Republican party have been disappointed that McCain has not made more of Obama’s long association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright (Bailey, Holmes & Shear).
Swing States: Virginia
McCain’s brother, Joe, may have alienated some in Northern Virginia when he referred to the region as “Communist country” (Ohlemacher).
Sources
Bailey, H. (2008 Oct. 18). Do the Wright thing. Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/164504, accessed 2008 Oct. 28.
Barack Obama. (2008 Sept. 30). Herald Sun. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24420898-663,00.html, accessed 2008 Oct. 28.
Holmes, S., & Shear, M. (2008 Oct. 11). McCain mum on former pastor. Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/10/AR2008101002897.html, accessed 2008 Oct. 28.
Nephin, D. (2008 Oct. 11). Palin criticizes Obama on abortion at Pa. rally. Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h21ZbzgPbTVRftcJPT5vkHkonY5QD93OGKAG0, accessed 2008 Oct. 28.
Ohlemacher, S. (2008 Oct. 5). McCain’s brother says N. Va. “Communist country.” Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hby_5Pku5ywmfC_rEtEV5BcYKR5gD93KFH4O0, accessed 2008 Oct. 28.
Pickler, N. (2008 Oct. 27). Fact Check: Obama charges against McCain debatable. Associate Press in Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102702374.html, accessed 2008 Oct. 30.
Walsh, K. (2008 Sept. 29). Barack Obama and John McCain spin debate performances. U.S. News & World Report. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/09/29/barack-obama-and-john-mccain-spin-debate-performances.html, accessed 2008 Oct. 28.
2008/09/26
McCain Intelligencer 2008 September 26
Supporters and opponents of embryonic stem cell research are concerned about McCain’s position. Opponents of the activity are concerned he may support it based on his voting record in the Senate. Proponents fear he may drop his support based on his selection of Palin and the strong plank to ban it in the Republican Party platform (Gaudiano).
Financial Markets
McCain said it was good that the government decided not to bail out Lehman Brothers and called for reform of disjointed federal financial regulation (Schroeder).
Fundraising
August has been the best month yet for McCain fundraising (Groppe).
Polls
A recent poll by the Siena Research Institute found that McCain is gaining in New York, but Obama still leads there (McCain gaining on Obama in New York). Another poll shows McCain leading in Ohio (Fargen). It’s a tie in Minnesota (Von Sternberg). For what its worth, he holds a lead among the Israeli Jewish population (Rosenfelder).
Social Security
McCain proposes to put place Social Security contributions into accounts that could be invested in the stock market. Obama calls the plan gambling (Acosta).
OI Comment: What McCain proposes is similar to what many people have now in their 401(k). Like other uninsured investments, this involves risk. It seems better to OI than Congress doing whatever it wants with the money with a shaky promise that it will pay the promised benefits somehow. It bears a strong resemblance to a Ponzi scheme; OI suspects it’s exactly that. Why not just drop the social security tax and let us do with the money as we will?
Sources
Acosta, J. (2008 Sept. 22). Obama: McCain wants to “gamble” with Social Security. CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/22/social.security.candidates/, accessed 2008 Sept. 26.
Fargen, J. (2008 Sept. 15). Suffolk poll shows McCain leading Obama in Ohio. Boston Herald. http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/view/2008_09_15_Suffolk_poll_shows_McCain_leading_Obama_in_Ohio/srvc=home&position=recent, accessed 2008 Sept. 16.
Gaudiano, N. (2008 Sept. 13). Advocates worry McCain support for embryonic research may waver. USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-12-stem-cells-mccain_N.htm, accessed 2008 Sept. 26.
Groppe, M. (2008 Sept. 22). August tops for McCain, Obama fundraising. Indianapolis Star. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/NEWS05/80922039, accessed 2008 Sept. 26.
McCain gaining on Obama in New York. (2008 Sept. 15). Buffalo Business First. http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/09/15/daily6.html, accessed 2008 Sept. 16.
Rosenfelder, S. (2008 Sept. 15). JPost.com readers favor McCain over Obama. Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221467181669&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull, accessed 2008 Sept. 16.
Schroeder, R. (2008 Sept. 15). Wall Street crisis spurs talk on campaign trail. Market Watch. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/mccain-obama-urge-reform-wall/story.aspx?guid=%7BEB116219-02C3-4C44-9C94-34BF5B366A4A%7D&dist=msr_1, accessed 2008 Sept. 16.
Von Sternberg, B. (2008 Sept. 15). Minnesota poll: Obama, McCain are dead even in state. Minneapolis Star-Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/28353589.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUoaK7D_V_eDc87DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU, accessed 2008 Sept. 26.
2008/08/25
Blogspeak 2008 August 25
2008 Democratic Convention Schedule, Aug 25-28 (You Decide 2008, 2008 August 20)
Obama’s European Tour
Reflections on Obama’s Tour (Communist Part USA, ’08 Elections, 2008 July 31)
Obama’s Position on Abortion
'The doctor continues to think that it's nonviable but there's, let's say, movement..' (National Review Online, The Campaign Spot, 2008 August 21)
Senator Hillary Clinton
FIRST THOUGHTS: ALL ABOUT HILLARY (MSNBC, FirstRead, 2008 August 21)
McCain hunts Clinton supporters (2008 Hopefuls, 2008 June 28)
What Not To Read Into: Pronoun Edition (2008 Central, 2008 August 19)
Vice-Presidential Speculation, Selection & Commentary
The Early Word: Running Mates, of All Sorts (New York Times, The Caucus, 2008 August 23)
What Not To Read Into: Pronoun Edition (2008 Central, 2008 August 19)
2008/07/07
McCain Intellegencer 2008 July 7
Senator Joseph Lieberman, former Democrat and now independent from Connecticut, supports McCain (Lieberman says McCain ready to lead). Jeffrey T. Kuhner made the case for McCain in his Washington Times column based on his stands on the war in Iraq and opposition to abortion.
Polls: People Think McCain is Old
The answer most volunteered when people were asked about McCain was “old” (Poll…).
The word the first comes to OI’s mind when seeing polls like this is “fruitless.”
Vice-Presidential Speculation
Possible running mates for McCain include Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and Sen. John Thune (McManus).
Resources
Kuhner, J. (2008 July 6). The case for McCain. Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/06/the-case-for-mccain-97682785/, accessed 2008 July 7.
Lieberman says McCain ready to lead. (2008 June 29). United Press International. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/29/Lieberman_says_McCain_ready_to_lead/UPI-94841214781601/, accessed 2008 June 30.
McManus, D. (2008 June 29). Obama and McCain search for running mates. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-veepstakes30-2008jun30,0,7191880.story, accessed 2008 June 30.
Poll: Old used most for McCain, change for Obama. (2008 July 7). Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPRCDqOiUhGhI2rO9u2DftwSikDQD91OUN100, accessed 2008 June 7.
2008/06/12
Major Candidate Comparison
Abortion
McCain
-Opposes with limited exceptions.
Obama
-Favors.
Energy
McCain
-Generally opposes subsidy and tax credit programs, seeing them mainly as favors to special interests
-Favors allowing market solutions to energy problems
-Favors development of nuclear power
--Called for construction of 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030
--Favors Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage plan
-Has supported allowing new offshore drilling for oil, but has not been consistent in this position
Obama
-Favors federal government investment in alternative fuels and energy technologies
--Has close ties to ethanol producers, particularly corn ethanol
-Proposes funding of alternative fuels programs
-Favors development of nuclear power contingent on development of safer ways to dispose of waste
--Opposes Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage plan
-Initally opposed offshore drilling for oil, but later made provisions for it in energy plan
Environment
McCain
-Air & Climate
--Long supported climate change measures
--Favors 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2050
--Supports nuclear power development as part of climate change response
--Favors incentives for development of hybrid and other low-emissions automobiles
Obama
-Air & Climate
--Favors 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2050
--Favors cap and trade proposals
--Favors incentives for development of hybrid and other low-emissions automobiles
Health Care
McCain
-Proposes tax credit for health care for individuals and families.
Obama
-Aims for universal coverage through employer supplemented programs providing benefits similar to those received by federal employees.
-Proposes a tax credit for small businesses for up to 50 percent of the premiums they pay on behalf of their employees.
Iran
McCain:
-Opposes direct talks.
-Supports sanctions.
Obama:
-Supports direct diplomatic contact; scaled back from early position of face-to-face talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Taxes
McCain
-Previously opposed Bush tax cuts, now proposes to make them permanent.
-Calls for 25 percent cut in corporate taxes.
-Calls for balanced federal budget.
Obama
-Calls for increased taxes for some, tax breaks for others.
Trade
McCain
-Free trade supporter.
-Supports free trade agreement with Colombia.
Obama
-Proposes to renegotiate NAFTA to include environmental and labor standards.
-Opposes proposed free trade agreement with Colombia,
War in Iraq
McCain:
-Supported war.
-Critical of Bush handling.
-Opposes troop withdrawal.
-Early proponent of surge.
-Anticipates long-term American presence in Iraq, eventually as peacekeepers.
Obama:
-Consistently opposed war.
-Opposed surge.
-Calls for withdrawal by end of 2009.
Resources
Bender, M. (2008 June 21). Crist risks gree, bipartisan monikers with drilling stance. Palm Beach Post. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/state/epaper/2008/06/21/m1a_oil_0622.html, accessed 2008 June 24.
Chozik, A. (2008 August 4). Obama offers support for offshore drilling. Wall Street Journal, p. A4. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121769917863707497.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_topbox, accessed 2008 August 5.
Fahys, J. (2008 Oct. 17). McCain and Obama’s environmental policy differences a matter of degree. Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_10710346, accessed 2008 Oct. 30.
Hertsgaard, M. (2008, June 8). Taking climate change seriously—finally. CBS News (The Nation). http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/06/opinion/main4160120.shtml, accessed June 9, 2008.
How do McCain and Obama match up? (2008, June 9). Dallas Morning News (Trail blazers blog). http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/06/how-do-mccain-and-obama-match.html, accessed June 9, 2008.
Nasaw, D. (2008 June 23). U.S. elections: McCain plugs in to electric cars. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/23/johnmccain.uselections2008, accessed 2008 June 24.
Nasaw, D. (2008 June 23). U.S. elections: Where McCain and Obama stand on environmental issues. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/23/johnmccain.barackobama, accessed 2008 June 24.
Power, S. (2008, June 9). In energy policy, McCain, Obama, differ on role of government. Wall Street Journal, p. A2. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121296676181055711.html?mod=googlenews_wsj, accessed June 9, 2008.
Rescue the trade deal. (2008 June 5). [Editorial]. Palm Beach Post. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/07/05/a10a_colombia_edit_0705.html, accessed 2008 June 7.
Rhee, F. (2008, June 23). Obama, McCain go after each other on energy. Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/obama_mccain_go.html, accessed 2008 June 24.
Rohter, L. (2008 June 23). Obama camp closely linked with ethanol. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/us/politics/23ethanol.html?_r=2&th=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&adxnnlx=1214215415-yB7fDlhMP0kFgLEGHZ7f8Q&oref=slogin, accessed 2008 June 24.
Rosetta, L. (2008 Oct. 18). Health care: Utahns see good, bad and risky in McCain and Obama plans. Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_10710537, accessed 2008 Oct. 30.
Roug, L. (2008 July 14). Obama proposes health care tax credits for small businesses. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-campaign14-2008jul14,0,7130939.story, accessed 2008 July 15.
Watt, N. (2008, June 9). Globalization needs America. America needs globalization. Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/09/economics.useconomy, accessed June 9, 2008.