Obama takes Georgia. Post the links when you get ’em.
Archives for 2008
“We Do Torture”
Michael Hayden admits it, finally:
The director of the CIA said Tuesday the agency used waterboarding to interrogate three high level al-Qaeda detainees, including the suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Michael Hayden told the Senate intelligence panel that waterboarding was used to glean information from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri at a ‘critical time’ because of worries more attacks were planned against the United States.
That would make Bush a liar. But you already knew that.
What the Hell?
Is Howard Dean wearing on Hardball right now?
Was he waterboarded in that suit and then thrown in an industrial strength dryer?
Christ, Mark Penn looks good by comparison.
Whiny
The only word that can describe the Romney response to the WV loss:
“Unfortunately, this is what Senator McCain’s inside Washington ways look like: he cut a backroom deal with the tax-and-spend candidate he thought could best stop Governor Romney’s campaign of conservative change.
“Governor Romney had enough respect for the Republican voters of West Virginia to make an appeal to them about the future of the party based on issues. This is why he led on today’s first ballot. Sadly, Senator McCain cut a Washington backroom deal in a way that once again underscores his legacy of working against Republicans who are interested in championing conservative policies and rebuilding the party.”
Look, I am not the one who designed WV’s truly bizarre and byzantine convention system, but the rules are the rules. You need 50% to win, and they take multiple ballots until they have someone who crosses that thresh-hold. There was nothing “under-handed” about what happened, nothing sneaky or cheating, and it was all part of the rules of the game. In fact, when they thought Romney had one, many felt quite comfortable with the back-room deal aspect of it (read this thread for a positively hilarious anatomy of a meltdown, including Adam C praising Romney for being able to cut back room deals for a win).
Again, McCain and Huckabee did nothing sleazy. Claiming otherwise is absurd. Actually, Romney automatons, claiming otherwise is positively Clintonian and reminds me of her wanting to change the rules in Michigan and Florida after formerly agreeing to them.
Think about that for a minute.
I just can not stress enough how much the Romney wing of the GOP needs to be defeated.
WV Gives Romney the Middle Finger
Look, I am not proud that the Republican party in WV decided to support Huckabee, but I am sure tickled pink that we may be the first state to start the end of the Romney campaign:
Republican Mike Huckabee scored the first Super Tuesday victory, winning all 18 delegates at stake in West Virginia.
The former Arkansas governor won with the support of 52 percent of the state’s GOP convention delegates on the second round of balloting. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in second with 47 percent of the vote, and Sen. John McCain was backed by 1 percent of the delegates.
Romney was ahead in the first round of voting in Charleston but failed to get the majority needed to win.
A couple quick things:
1.) I have said it before, I will say it again, Mitt Romney is the Manchurian Candidate for the Oligarchy. The same folks who have backed the Bush disaster to this very day are pushing this guy down your throats. Check the poll numbers. I, for one, have had enough of the Bush years.
2.) It is not surprising that Huckabee has a broad base of support here- we are, sadly enough, a lot like Arkansas in many ways. Additionally, West Virginians love charismatic leaders. You might want to check out this post on a legend in West Virginia, A. James Manchin.
3.) I am in a list making mood today.
For Obama
I am not voting today, and things more than likely will be over by the time I get to vote (May sometime), but I thought I should at least note where I stand. I intend to vote for the unity pony.
I wish Dodd had been given more of a chance, but that just didn’t happen. Absent that, I am left with Clinton and Obama as my only realistic choices. Either one (and in the case of Clinton, this is truly depressing for me to state) will be a radical improvement from Bush, and either one will be better than the GOP candidate that is upchucked from the bowels of the “conservative” base. Both have very similar positions on many issues.
So why am I then choosing Obama? A number of reasons, starting with why I am not voting for Clinton, and don’t think you should, either:
1.) Over the past few weeks I have grown weary of the Clintons, and weary really is the right term. They are tiring to the bone. Everything is calculated, nothing is what it seems to be, and they are just too cynical for even me (despite my cardinal sin the past few years being a resounding lack of cynicism and skepticism). Every time I hear her name, every time I hear her voice, I think to myself- “God, I am so sick of the fucking Clintons.” It may be unfair to vote against Hillary because of the din created by her opposition, but I would be lying if I did not admit the role that has played in my decision making. I am just tired of the fuss, the noise, the animosity- I have no doubt the right wing will manage to make Obama public enemy #1 if he wins the nomination, but at least it will be something new. Everything with the Clintons is so recycled, so old, so tawdry. Yes, Hillary, I do need a change.
2.) There is nothing in the Clinton past that makes me believe they will end the war in Iraq, and additionally, I can see her engaging in military adventurism just to prove she is strong on defense.
3.) I don’t see her rolling back (at least willingly) the executive over-reaches of the past 8 years.
4.) I don’t trust her. I just don’t. Flame me all you want, but I think she has the capacity and willingness to be just as secretive as the Bush administration.
5.) I don’t like the company she keeps. Mark Penn, anyone?
Why then, choose Obama?
1.) I trust his judgement. He has been using this to great effect during the campaign, but it is true- on one of the most important foreign policy judgements of my lifetime, Obama was right. This war has been a disaster, should never have been launched, the junior Senator was right, Hillary was wrong, I was wrong.
2.) I like his wife. A lot. Tough, no nonsense, can relate, yet still charming and witty and beautiful. Another point towards Obama’s judgement. Hillary, on the other hand, chose Bill.
3.) I like the company he keeps- his list of national security/foreign policy advisors includes a group of clear-thinking, pragmatic folks.
4.) I like the impact he has on people. I am a cynical bastard, but I really have enjoyed the fact that he really does seem to inspire people. I have somehow been immune to his charms (and mocked them), but I am not oblivious to the impact he has had on others. That is a good thing.
5.) He is young, and from a new generation. It is time for new blood.
So there you have it. Some rational reasons, some irrational reasons, but all reasons nonetheless. I intend to support Obama for the nomination, and should he lose, I will hold my nose and vote for Hillary.
Primary Open Thread
Have at it.