Ralph Nader For President 2008

Good news for John McCain. Ralph Nader, who many loons still blame for President Bush's victory over Al Gore in 2000, seems ready to make another run for Prez. He'll be on "Meet The Press" Sunday to discuss his future plans:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ralph Nader could be poised for another third party presidential campaign.

The consumer advocate will appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday to announce whether he will launch another White House bid. Nader kicked off his 2004 presidential run on the show.

A spokesman for Nader did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Kevin Zeese, who was Nader's spokesman during the 2004 presidential race, but is no longer working for him, said Friday that Nader has been actively talking to "lots of people on all sorts of levels" about the possibility of making another run.

Zeese said he could only guess what Nader might do, but added: "Obviously, I don't think ("Meet the Press" host) Tim Russert would have him on for no reason."

Nader's agenda maybe even more insane than his brethren within the "progressive" Left, but when you consider all the hate thrown at him by libs in the last 8 years, you have to give the guy credit for having the balls to run again.

Greg Sargent Quote of the Day!

"Let's try a little experiment. Let's take the meat of the big New York Times story and substitute the words "Dem Presidential Hopeful" for "John McCain" [...] If these words had appeared on the front page of The New York Times, wouldn't we all be yelling and stamping our feet about "panty sniffing" and condemning the use of anonymous sources who suggest a possible affair that may or may not have happened and wasn't directly alleged by anyone?

That's a sincere question. Wouldn't we?"

- Leftwing blogger Greg Sargent on the NYSlimes smear job on John McCain

New York Times Smears John McCain

No proof. No evidence. No witnesses. No admission from either of the two principals, just complete and utter hearsay by "anonymous sources" in a desperate bid to substantiate a rumor that's now 8 years old. But what else should one expect from a leftist rag that's losing business while it continues to pose as a fair and balanced newspaper:

John McCain’s campaign lashed out Wednesday at a new report in The New York Times alluding to the Republican presidential candidate’s relationship with a female lobbyist.

The article, to be published in Thursday’s edition of the Times but released the day before on its Web site, revisits rumors spread during McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign and tries to wipe the sheen off the Arizona senator’s record as an anti-special interest crusader, McCain campaign communications director Jill Hazelbaker said

“It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit and run smear campaign,” said Jill Hazelbaker, the McCain campaign’s communications director. “John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the issues at stake in this election.”

The Times article notes that McCain wrote to government regulators on behalf of a client of the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, while he was chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. It also discusses how campaign aides kept the two apart during the 2000 election for fear they were giving the impression they were having an affair.

McCain, 71, and Iseman, 40, long ago denied ever having a romantic relationship, but the story argues that “his confidence in his own integrity has sometimes seemed to blind him to potentially embarrassing conflicts of interests.

Personal Attacks On Barack Won't Win It For Hillary

The emergence of Barack Obama as Democratic frontrunner has really raised the level of vitriol in the pro-Hillary camps. Those starving for Billary II have recently accused Obama of being everything from being a "sexist" to a "plagiarist", mocked his supporters reactions to his speeches, dismissed his primary victories as being minor and have even gone so far as to use standard GOP political stunts in questioning Michelle Obama's patriotism.

Nevermind that on policy upon policy there really little difference between Obama and Billary. Nevermind that Obama is appealing to a broad range of voters, even winning the white female vote last night in Wisconsin. Nevermind the many mistakes being made within the Billary campaign--everything from begging for more debates to not making their tax returns public to the hypocrisy of "pimp-gate" to the racial divisiveness shown by Slick Willie before the South Carolina primary back in January. But desperate times call for desperate measures and now with their backs to the wall, the Billary loyalists are beginning to show some of the same shameless tactics that their heroes are notoriously known for. Worst yet, they've made their attacks against Barack ruthless and personal. Any wonder why voters are sending the message of who they think is the real "candidate of change"? That's 9-0 and counting . . .

Ben & Jerry's Endorses Barack Obama

Barackomania extends to the food industry:

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The founders of Ben & Jerry's endorsed Barack Obama on Monday, and lent his Vermont campaign two "ObamaMobiles" that will tour the state and give away scoops of "Cherries for Change" ice cream.

"If there was ever a need for real change, and if there ever was a candidate to inspire us and make that happen, it's now," said Ben Cohen.

Added Jerry Greenfield: "Barack is showing that when you lead with your values and follow what you have inside that good things will happen."

Echoing Obama, Greenfield said he and Cohen succeeded when they opened their ice cream shop 30 years ago in Burlington by doing things differently, instead of copying the "tired ways" of doing business.

"What we saw is that when you want real change it's not a marketing slogan. You have to do things differently. And that is not going to be done by someone who's been involved in the system for years and years," Greenfield said. "It needs to come from inside and Barack Obama has it."

Now this is kinda tough for me because I absolutely love Ben & Jerry's ice cream, but nice guy that I am, I won't hold the founders endorsement of Barack against their product. Besides, considering all the loons living in Vermont, I wouldn't be surprised if almost all of its residents were supporting the most liberal senator in Congress for President.

Former President Bush Endorses John McCain

I was never really a fan of Bush I (way too out of touch on domestic issues), but as a former President, he deserves respect and his opinion matters:

In announcing his support for McCain, the former president said, “His character was forged in the crucible of war. His commitment to America is beyond any doubt. But most importantly, he has the right values and experience to guide our nation forward at this historic moment... Few men have sacrificed so much in the cause of human freedom."

After his remarks, former President Bush was asked about McCain’s critics within the party who have painted him not conservative enough. Saying Ronald Reagan had been criticized the same way by ultra-conservatives he said, “You know if you’ve been around the track you hear these criticisms and think they grossly unfair."

"He’s got a record that everybody can analyze in the Senate. A sound conservative record and yet he’s not above reaching out to the other side."

Politiks As Usual: In The News 2/18/08

Global Warming To Be Taught In Public Schools?

Nancy Reagan Hospitalized After Fall

Former Rivals Barack and John Edwards Meet Up In North Carolina

Woman Diagnosed As "Brain Dead" Walks And Talks After Awakening

John McCain Close To Picking Vice-President

Hillary Supporters Get Desperate; Label Barack "Sexist"

Same Gun Dealer Sold To Virginia Tech And N. Illinois Killers

Rush Limbaugh Finally Gets One Right

Thus Sayeth The King of the Wingnuts:

Radio talker Rush Limbaugh has been sharply critical of John McCain for being too liberal for conservatives’ taste, but Rush says any shift now by the Republican front-runner would be seen as “pandering.”

In an interview with Jay Carney of Time magazine, Limbaugh was asked if there is anything McCain could do to persuade Rush that he’s acceptable.

Rush responded: “I don't think he should even try. He's got to be who he is. I don't think he needs to reach out. His job is not to be acceptable to a single person. I'm not sitting here demanding that. I don't have that kind of sense of power or existence…

“I don't think Senator McCain ought to do anything but be who he is and let the chips fall. Because that's his strength. And if he starts doing anything that appears to be pandering to people, then he's going to lose, I think some — I don't know, respect — but some people are going to question it.

“Because he's never pandered. At least his image is that he's never pandered. He's a maverick. He's out there on his own and he's going to ride the trail wherever it takes him, in the direction he wants to go.”

This horse has long been beaten to death, but John McCain has already proven that he doesn't need more than 50% of the conservative vote to win this thing. His concentration should be on continuing to capitalize on his experience and reputation for "straight talk", not pandering to right-wing extremists, which would come off as desperate while making him look like a phony. Eventually some extremists will appeal to loyalty for their party and general common sense to vote for McCain anyway. But those foolishly thinking along the lines of Ann Coulter are votes McCain doesn't want or need. Partisans be damned, Senator McCain is a man who stands on principle while seeking bipartisan answers to our nation's problems. That said McCain's choice for VP will be of the utmost importance and choosing Mitt Romney would be a serious mistake both in strategy and character.