Crazy Time Campaign Fun

What a circus dancing past America today. Obama states a truism (albeit poorly) and the hounds are howling for blood. The question is, will this election be any different than the recent ones where sound bite spinology wins the day, or are Americans willing to turn on their brains and ponder reality for a change. Desperation can be the mother of awakening minds, but is the American electorate desperate enough. Maybe, or maybe not, we shall see.

Obama's ramblings at the San Fran fundraiser are nothing new, at least the substance of what he was trying to say. Howard Dean made a similar remark in 2004, referencing the south's patronage to God, Gays (anti) and Guns before voting for their own economic self-interest. Thomas Frank wrote a book of precision on the subject a few years ago on the subject in "What's the Matter With Kansas".

So what's going to be America? Are you ready for the truth or more culture tribalism whilst your kids go hungry from the right wing pickpockets?

And for Obama. What are you prepared to do, now that you've uttered a taboo. I hope you take the argument to it's conclusion and force a decision by the electorate. If not, and you capitulate to the spin doctor hordes, you will surely lose this election.

.. the KKK is a christian group,

Friday Iraq Report

February 15, 2008
Friday: 33 Iraqis Killed, 21 Wounded

Updated at 11:15 p.m. EST, Feb. 15, 2008

At least 33 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 21 more were wounded during the latest violence. It is the weekly prayer day, and two suicide bombers took advantage of mosque worshippers to stage an attack in Tal Afar. No Coalition deaths were reported.

Two suicide bombers killed as many as four people and wounded 17 more during an attack on a mosque in Tal Afar. The first bomber threw a grenade on exiting worshippers then blew himself up. The second bomber was shot dead before he could reach his targets.

A U.S. air strike killed eight members of the same family in Hawija. Women and children were among the dead.

Thursday Iraq Report

February 14, 2008
Thursday: 31 Iraqis Killed, 40 Wounded

At least 31 people were killed or found dead and 40 more were wounded during the latest attacks, which included a serious bombing in Sadr City. No Coalition deaths were reported. Also, a British journalist held in Basra is said to be in good heath and awaiting release.

In Baghdad, five people were killed and 33 were wounded during a car bombing in the Sadr City suburb.

Nine people were shot dead in Ouja, the hometown of Saddam Hussein. Gunmen entered the home of a construction worker and killed his family, including his wife and children.

Flip-flopping Maverick Saint McCain

I use to have a modicum of respect for John McCain. There was an element of independence from him in a party that doesn't suffer well dissent in it's ranks. But that "Maverick" is no more. His transformation from so called maverick, to flip-flopping panderer to the amoral right, is sad to see. In the National Journal article I am linking to, McCain's pathetic effort to justify his vote against making waterboarding illegal for all government agencies is both enraging and so weak as to be laughable.
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McCain's vote against the bill seemed to contradict his public statements opposing torture generally and the practice of waterboarding in particular. McCain, who is trying to appeal to his party's conservative base, told reporters he believes his position is consistent.

"We always supported allowing the CIA to use extra measures. I believe that waterboarding is illegal and should be banned," he said.

"My position was very clear," he added. "We have said... that we would allow the CIA to use additional techniques that were not in violation of the anti-torture convention, that were not in violation of the Geneva Conventions and were not in violation of the Detainee Treatment Act."