Barack Versus Barack On Iraq

Yesterday Amir Taheri of the NY Post made news [and followed up] with the allegation that Barack Obama, during his fact-finding tour to Iraq in July, had interjected himself into negotiations with Iraq:

WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence.

According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.

"He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington," Zebari said in an interview.

Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops - and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its "state of weakness and political confusion."

The Obama campaign a baffling "denial" which some keen observers noted did not seem to deny much:

But Obama's national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi said Taheri's article bore "as much resemblance to the truth as a McCain campaign commercial."

In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a "Strategic Framework Agreement" governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office, she said.

In the face of resistance from Bush, the Democrat has long said that any such agreement must be reviewed by the US Congress as it would tie a future administration's hands on Iraq.

"Barack Obama has never urged a delay in negotiations, nor has he urged a delay in immediately beginning a responsible drawdown of our combat brigades," Morigi said.

Now, this could actually be meaningful if taken at face value.  The US has been negotiating two related agreements with Iraq: the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) replaced the UN mandate under which US forces would operate until Dec 31 2008, and covered such issues as aspirational time horizons and conditions-based withdrawals; the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) covered broader issues between the two countries (CNN, LA Times, C Rice).  (Unsurprisingly, Congress would like to have a role in this process.)

So if Obama could convincingly argue that he was asking the Iraqis to go slow on the Strategic Framework Agreement while moving full speed ahead on the Status of Forces Agreement, his rebuttal to the Taheri story would mean something.

But is such a claim plausible?  Well, it sets Obama against Obama - here is what we see at his website, with my emphasis:

The Status-of-Forces-Agreement

Obama believes any Status of Forces Agreement, or any strategic framework agreement, should be negotiated in the context of a broader commitment by the U.S. to begin withdrawing its troops and forswearing permanent bases. Obama also believes that any security accord must be subject to Congressional approval. It is unacceptable that the Iraqi government will present the agreement to the Iraqi parliament for approval—yet the Bush administration will not do the same with the U.S. Congress. The Bush administration must submit the agreement to Congress or allow the next administration to negotiate an agreement that has bipartisan support here at home and makes absolutely clear that the U.S. will not maintain permanent bases in Iraq.

The SOFA and SFA are both distinguished and mingled in this passage.  Is SOFA included in the "any" security accord which must be subject to US approval?  Presumably, since other evidence indicates Congress wants a role in this.  And since US troops levels and withdrawal timelines can be governed by SOFA (see anonymous Iraqi official here), doesn't it follow that Obama was comfortable having the next Administration negotiate it so as to avoid permanent bases?

And if Obama thinks the SOFA should only be negotiated in the context of a broader commitment to withdraw (presumably covered in the Framework) and is asking the Iraqis to go slow on the Framework, doesn't it follow that he is looking for them to slow down on the SOFA?

Beyond that, the press report of Obama's denial also jumbles SOFA and SFA - let's focus on this:

In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a "Strategic Framework Agreement" governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office, she said.

The future of US forces was certainly being discussed in the SOFA as well as the Strategic Framework, so this certainly creates an opportunity for misunderstanding, at a minimum.  Or maybe this is bum reporting.

If Obama simply read to an Iraqi official the words on his website then this reporting from Taheri would be reasonable, so I'll repeat it for emphasis:

According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.

"He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington," Zebari said in an interview.

Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops - and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its "state of weakness and political confusion."

At a minimum I think Obama has been caught reading his campaign literature to foreign negotiators, which may have led to confusion.

MORE:  Background on other SOFAs.  This is thought-provoking:

SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part
of a comprehensive security arrangement with a particular country. A SOFA itself does not constitute a security arrangement; rather, it establishes the rights and privileges of U.S. personnel present in a country in support of the larger security arrangement.

From that alone one might plausibly argue that the SOFA would normally cover the legal status of US forces and the Framework would cover strategic issues such as military bases, therefore clarifying Obama's blurry website.  However...

There has been considerable interest in possible future security agreements
between the United States and Iraq. The Administration has indicated that it intends to enter into two distinctive agreements. The first is a non-binding security agreement, and the second is a U.S.-Iraq SOFA. The SOFA may be unique from other SOFAs concluded by the United States in that it may contain authorization by the host government — the government of Iraq — for U.S. forces to engage in military operations within Iraq.

Permission to operate within Iraq was going to a part of this SOFA, and eventually aspirational timelines were included as well.  That blurs the line between status and strategy.

UPDATE:  This story is lifting off - a follow from Taheri, and I should have more.

Comments

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Trooper’gate brief update: GOP lawmakers file suit in Superior Court to halt French/Branchwater witch hunt

[PeterUK]

Rick ,
McCain has also got to stifle the "MacBush more of the same" line from the Obama campaign.

[M. Simon]

As I recall it, Carly herself was not so hot as a CEO.

HP is cutting 25K jobs.

[M. Simon]

Sara,

At AT "Motor Voter"

or "The Best Congress.." LUN - scroll down.

[Mike @ Naughte Relevant]

This kind of reminds me of when his advisors were meeting with Canadian officials and promising one thing privately about NAFTA and he was publicaly saying something else. Wasn't he bashing it privately and secretly one of his advosors privately telling the Canadians he was for it and not to worry?

Here is a piece from Slate on 3/4/2008 from Bonnie Goldstein:

http://www.slate.com/id/2185753/entry/0/

On Feb. 9 Austan Goolsbee, the senior economic adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, had a meeting with Georges Rioux, consul general for the Canadian government. The two men met in Chicago, where Rioux maintains a consular office for the states of Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin and where Goolsbee teaches economics at the University of Chicago. (Slate readers may also remember Goolsbee as a onetime "Dismal Science" columnist.) Afterward, Joseph DeMora, a consulate staff member, wrote an enthusiastic summary (see below and the following two pages) for Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson. In the memo, DeMora praised Goolsbee's "intellectual prowess … approachability, curiosity and youthful enthusiasm" and alerted Wilson that the Obama brain-truster "appeared genuinely … impressed by the magnitude" of the economic relationship between the United States and Canada (see below).

For the Canadians, a key point of concern was Obama's sharp criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement. DeMora wrote Wilson that in the Chicago meeting, Goolsbee "candidly acknowledged the protectionist sentiment that has emerged, particularly in the Midwest, during the primary campaign" but reassured Rioux that Obama's NAFTA-bashing "should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans." Three weeks later, Canada's CTV News reported that a "senior member" of Obama's campaign had phoned Wilson personally to advise him to "not be worried about what Obama says about NAFTA." The Obama campaign denied that story, which (if you believe DeMora's account) was only slightly off the mark, and declined to elaborate. On March 3 the Associated Press released the DeMora memo, which by then had circulated widely within the Canadian government. Asked once again to comment, Obama said his campaign provided Canada no such reassurance while Goolsbee maintained that DeMora "misinterpreted" his comments. For its part, the Chicago consulate smoothed things over with a statement saying, "there was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private." It looks like President Obama may owe one to our friendly neighbors to the north.

[M. Simon]

James A. Johnson - former Fannie Mae CEO and Obama Advisor

Just cost you billions in taxes

Franklin Raines – former Fannie Mae CEO and Obama Advisor

Just cost you billions in taxes

Barack Obama – If we can’t afford his advisors, how can we afford him?

DebinNC,

Just sent it to my Senate guy. So if you see it on the TV or www - you can tell your friends.

All,

This is better operation than we ever had against Kerry. Tighter. We are also lucky that we have more material to work with.

And the nutroots are loonier than could have been imagined.

[PeterUK]

Barrack Husein Obama - Taqqiya and kitman.

[Pofarmer]

There is no point in McCain not attacking Bush.

Yeah, I know, but it still pisses me off and reminds me why I really don't care for him. I just care for Barack Hussein MUCH less, and I just heart Sarah Palin. I'm votin for the hot chick.

[Pofarmer]

There is no point in McCain not attacking Bush.

I know, but it still pisses me off, and it reminds me why I really don't care for McCain. I'm voting for Sarah Palin. I hope she can shine.

[PeterUK]

What have Fannie May,Freddie Mac and Barrack Obama have in common?
None of them are real people.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Simon: Thanks, I've added an UPDATE link with a MUST READ tag.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

There is no point in McCain not attacking Bush.

Sorry, but if he keeps bashing Bush, he'll lose my vote, even with Palin on the ticket. I'll just stay home and the election be damned. I'm sick of the Blame Bush for everything.

[matt]

Sara;

Carly Fiorina was held in the lowest of regard by the HP rank & filers for her management style and the corporate results during her tenure. She basically took HP from the premier technology company they were to a simple reseller of products made by subcontractors. Just as important, the pipeline of new products dried up durinmg her time there.

The HP brand has less and less technology of their own in it every year. Fiorina was canned not only for the spying fiasco, but also for causing a revolt by the workforce. She should not be allowed to comment on business issues in my opinion.

[Rick Ballard]

Peter,

He has to do a little counter work on the McBush deal but that one appeals to the dimmer lefties like Tic. The Muddle is feeling great antipathy to everyone in DC. That's another reason the Palin pick was so good. She's the only one who is actually an outsider and not carrying DCstink.

I think she should be in the state of Washington for a spell. It's within reach and Rossi is running a very good campaign against the thief Gregoire. If Palin spent time there then mushmouth stumblebum would have to commit resources. Palin should be hitting the West - NM, NV, CO, WA and drift over to MO every once in a while. Let McCain tackle the rust belt and VA.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Wow! John Gibson just did a commentary piece on Fox. Called Obama one of the biggest piggies at the trough as far as money taken from the mortgage lobbyist coming in just after Dodd even though he has been in the Senate less than 4 years. McCain, OTOH, has taken a minuscule $20,000 over 20 years.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

PUK, check the "Why Indeed" thread.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Matt: Agree.

[Rick Ballard]

Sara,

I'll bet $100 that the sun has yet to rise on a day when George Bush gave a tinker's damn about what Captain Blowhard McCain says or thinks about him. It's just politics and Bush has never shown himself to be overly concerned about the thoughts and feelings of his lessers regarding actions which he has taken as President. McCain hasn't the standing to diminish Bush and when he attempts to do so he only diminishes himself. No matter the outcome of the election, come January we're going to have an arrogant fool in the WH.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Barack Obama, man of the people. $28,000 for dinner tonight in Beverly Hills. If you want to stick around and hear Babs Streisand sing, it is another $2500.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

OKay, folks, just off the toob. I hate to admit it, but I haven't the foggyist idea how to put together a video for YouTube. But I'll put out an emergency call for assistance.

[Extraneus]

"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were government-backed mortgage companies, run by Democrats. [Pan the buildings, logos, etc.]

The CEOs of these companies [pan their pictures, with captions of their company positions, and their positions in the Obama campaign] donated huge amounts of corporate money to Democrats like Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee Chris Dodd.

When John McCain supported strict regulations that would have prevented the current crisis [pan McCain at a congressional hearing], Democrats in Congress blocked those regulations, and allowed their friends to make bad loans to people who couldn't afford the houses they bought with the money.

Now the taxpayers are left with the bill. And the heads of these failed companies, after collecting hundreds of millions in salaries and bonuses [show their mansions], are advising Barack Obama on economic policy.

These are the facts. Barack Obama [show him with Johnson]. Not ready to lead."

I can say it in 30 seconds, with a pregnant pause are two.

[Pagar]

"McCain needs to jump all over this one right this minute."

That's my thoughts too. I don't think you're going to see any other scandal that so clearly has Democrats tied to it. If McCain has a spokesperson out there blaming Pres Bush, it needs to be stopped this very instant.

"I wouldn't go with lobbyists." I agree with that too, for the mortgage scandal. The lobbyist issue needs to be hit separately.I still can't believe that nobody cares that Howard Gutman worked so hard to get the SDS people out of jail (wonder who was paying his bills for that)and today is one of Obama's top bundlers as well as one of the top lobbyists in Washington.

Another place to find mortgage scandal related Democrats is by looking at Obama's bundlers. A large number of them come out of the mortgage industry

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Is Obama abandoning Virginia?

I just got an email from Barack Obama's campaign urging me to drive to Pennsylvania. The thing is... I live in Virginia. Virginia is supposed to be a swing state. They would rather have me knock on doors in Pennsylvania than Virginia? That sounds like they are abandoning Virginia.

[...]

Here's the email:

You're receiving this message for two reasons.

First, Election Day is seven weeks from today -- just 49 more days. That's not a lot of time.

Second, you live right next door to a state that is once again shaping up to be a crucial general election battleground -- Pennsylvania.

And Obama supporters from across the northeast are going to be crucial to putting us over the top in the Keystone State.

That's why we're organizing teams of supporters to come to Pennsylvania for Drive for Change weekend canvasses.

Sign up to join your fellow supporters and travel to Pennsylvania this weekend, or any weekend before the election.

John McCain has made it clear that he intends to continue George W. Bush's failed policies. Just yesterday, he repeated his belief that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong."

Hard-working families in Pennsylvania and across the country know differently. You know that it's getting harder to afford the price of gas and health care.

It shows how out of touch McCain is from what's going on in the lives of ordinary Americans.

That's why we're going to be counting on supporters like you to come to Pennsylvania to spread Barack's message of change.

Face-to-face contact with undecided voters is the single most effective way to grow this movement.

Sign up for a Drive for Change canvass this weekend and make a short trip to make a big difference:

http://my.barackobama.com/PAborder

We can't do this without you.

[Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet]

Sara:

I hate the Bush bashing like you do. (I think history will take care of our current President well, though.) But for the constituency he needs to win, he is very unpopular and it much too difficult to persuade them to the contrary or educate them in the last weeks of an general election campaign.

McCain simply must "go with the flow" on this issue. I suspect that W understands and has no objections to this tactic.

I would prefer if he emphasizes his differences with both Congressional delegations on key regulatory issues while he was in the Senate. I think that is consistent with both his reputation and his record.

Much as I am not in favor of central governmental regulation except when we are in dire circustances, panics must be avoided as much as possible, and (mostly)the dems have gotten away with murder in this area.

I think (and hope) McCain knows where the bodies are buried and can exploit that. When he names names, I suspect some of the names will include BHO and GoAlongToGetAlong Joe.

[M. Simon]

Sara,

Think like a warrior. Sometimes you have to send men to certain death to win a battle.

History will be kind to Bush. Besides if he is any kind of warrior he would gladly sacrifice his reputation (temporarily) to beat the Communist hordes.

Besides. Bush's stupid domestic policy almost cost us victory in the war (thank the Maker for Lieberman) - he ought to be willing to take one for the team to make amends.

[Quasiblogger]

DoT:

"I understand Firorian said Palin couldn't run a large corporation, then recovered by saying McCain couldn't either. Pasture time for this one."

Britt Hume just aired the unedited clip. Fiorina said Obama and Biden couldn't run a major corporation either, but courtesy of our old familiar friend Andrea Mitchell, they cut off the clip as soon as the name McCain left her lips! I was a really abrupt cut too.

"McCain needs to jump all over this one right this minute."

Especially since it looks like Obama has decided he can win on the economy.

[M. Simon]

No matter the outcome of the election, come January we're going to have an arrogant fool in the WH.

Yes. But he will be our arrogant fool.

[M. Simon]

Extraneus,

Cut it down to 25 actual, you need time for: "I'm John McCain and I approve...."

[Pofarmer]

and drift over to MO every once in a while

Get her within 100 miles and I'm there.

[M. Simon]

Jim R.,

That would be "Zero and what's his name"

[Pofarmer]

John McCain has made it clear that he intends to continue George W. Bush's failed policies. Just yesterday, he repeated his belief that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong."

Heaven forbid we'd continue with a fundamentally sound economy.

It's soup for you!!!!!

[Quasiblogger]

Rick:

"There is no point in McCain not attacking Bush.'

Beg to disagree because he only ends up with one less thing to use against Obama -- a double whammy when economics is a perceived McCain weakness already. He needs all the ammo he can get.

In addition, the Palin pick shifted the winds of change, and aside from any issues of propriety, I think McCain would be better off not even mentioning Bush again, unless he can't avoid it. Let Obama be the one who is always talking about the past when most of the country wants to be looking forward.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Fox reporting: Barclays is going to buy the Investment Banking section of Lehmans and it will save 9000 jobs.

[Sue]

Other than taxing us to death, what exactly is Obama's economic plan? Green energy? More government jobs?

[SWarren]

Gee, I had to go out for a few hours to take my elderly Aunt to dinner for her B-Day. I come back and you guys have an ad in the can. Great job!!

Maybe follow up with McCain's extended remarks on this Bill back in 2005.
I think it's the crowning touch!

FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2005

Senator John McCain:

"For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs--and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO's report this week does nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO's report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay.

I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.

I urge my colleagues to support swift action on this GSE reform legislation."

GovTrack.us. S. 190--109th Congress (2005): Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation) (accessed Sep 16, 2008)

The Bill was defeated.
Can anybody find out how Obama votedon this Bill, or if he likely skipped it?

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16&bill=s1...

[Extraneus]

you need time for: "I'm John McCain and I approve...."

Damn. :-)

[PeterUK]

"Other than taxing us to death, what exactly is Obama's economic plan? Green energy? More government jobs?"

Sharia.

[Quasiblogger]

Correction:

It sounds like Andrea Mitchell's crowd didn't cut the clip, Obama's campaign did the dirty work and put it out with a message somewhere.

[Jane]

Hello all..just returned to the disaster zone (Galveston County) my house is safe and sound-fence is down and pool is full full of debris but the power came back up 10 minutes ago and I immediately went here to catch up.

Glenda,

It's great that you are back, and greater that you have so little damage.

But Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were government-backed mortgage companies, run by Democrats.

That works.

[Jane]

I'm trying to watch hardball. Is Bill Richardson the dumbest plug on the planet.

#1 -What will Obama due to fix the economy:

Richardson: He will use his greatest strength, he is bipartisen.

#2. _ What's wrong with Obama, where is his passion?

Richardson: He has passion when he talks to big crowds and he is bipartisen.

With surrogates like that we should be running away with this. Perhaps we are.

[Rick Ballard]

JMH,

We probably disagree wrt to the intelligence of the pool of remaining undecided voters. My main point is that McCain has not made many errors to this point and I see no reason to second guess his tactical moves. I hope he uses Palin in the West but if he doesn't I won't fault the decision.

The race is now rust belt plus the states in the West I mentioned above. I don't think FL is in play at all. The true unquantifiable factor remaining is the level of voter fraud which ACORN will be able to accomplish by election day. The bit about the absentee ballots in Cuyahoga County was a somewhat disturbing.

[Ranger]

Well, I think we have a couple of adds here now. One is a direct attack ad, that doesn't mention McCain, so it can be run by a 527, and another which does mention McCain that he can run.

Here is mine (more the 527 type) reworked a little:

Barack Obama wants to blame Republicans for the mortgage crisis.

But Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were government-backed mortgage companies, run by Democrats. They pocketed hundres of millions of dollars for themselves using Enron style accounting while driving these companies into the ground by buying bad mortgages from other democrat run lenders like Countrywide.

Now Barack Obama is taking economic advice from these very same people who cause the problems at Fannie Mae and Countrywide in the first place.

That's not change, that's just buisness as usual in Washington.

[M. Simon]

Sara,

Re: Virginia. The ∅ folks at 538 have Virginia as in play.

If ∅ is pulling out troops from there for PA the 538 folks must have their numbers seriously screwed. And they have McCain ahead by 10 EVs.

I have a new one up on ∅'s money problems. LUN (scroll down) Look for more pull backs in the next few weeks. ∅'s grip on the greased pole is slipping.

I'm predicting 20 cities in flames post election. Esp if it is a blow out.

Serious denial at 538. They are still expecting the convention bounce to end. Typically bounces only last a week. They also believe that the evening numbers in party affiliation is an artifact and understates D strength which they assume is actually going the other way.

They are also expecting a reverse Bradly effect i.e. people for ∅ will not tell it to pollsters. And they are touting a KOS poll.

Teh crazy.

[SWarren]

See my post above.
McCain had the foresight to want regulation TWO YEARS AGO!!

...cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation.
If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.

I'm sure Obama probably voted against it.

[M. Simon]

Ranger,

I have no 527 contacts. Does any one?

Look forward to your Campaign ad.

[JM Hanes]

Shoot, I keep forgetting to switch back from my QBlog persona, which I only use at my own place.

[Sue]

SWarren,

So far, all I can tell you is it was a Charles Hagel bill with 3 co-sponsors, all republicans, including John McCain.

I don't think it ever got out of committee.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN00190:@@@X>Source

[Danube of Thought]

My guess would be that O voted against it as well; I think it was pretty much a party-line thing. But there are plenty of wizards here who can access that info...

[Sue]

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senate_Committee_on_Banking%2C_Housing%2C_and_Urban_Affairs#109th_Congress_.282005-2006.29>109th committee banking housing urban affairs

Obama never had to make that vote, it would seem.

[Extraneus]

Ranger, I'd recommend leaving out Countrywide. *We* know there's significance and incest there, but most people just scratch their heads over Fannie and Freddie. Those are the dastardly ones, most easily demonized.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Simon: I just read your latest in my feed reader. I was going to leave a comment, but I'll tell you here. Fox reported earlier that McCain raised $4 million last night in Florida. All of that will go to the RNC, I think.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

If two of Obama's financial advisers are former CEOs of Freddie?/Fannie?, I forget which one, why not stress that in an ad. That is something people can understand.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Pelosi has called for hearings.

[boris]

Script suggestion ...

They pocketed hundres of millions of dollars for themselves using Enron style accounting while driving these companies into the ground by buying bad mortgages from other democrat run lenders like Countrywide.

Like a replay of Enron they pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars for themselves and drove these companies into the ground by bankrolling risk happy lenders like Countrywide, which were also run by and for Democrats.

[JM Hanes]

Rick:

I agree about not second guessing McCain -- in fact, this may be one of the few times I've actually done so. I think the average voter is pretty sick of Bush - and everybody else. McCain has run a brilliant campaign since whats-his-name came on board, but it's still close enough that it could tip either way. I just don't see the percentage in slamming Bush when you could be slamming your opponent instead. I think Obama is losing traction on McBush all by himself, while McCain could get some by tying Obama to Washington. Most of it won't make nearly as much difference as the debates though, so it's probably a toss up.

I've seen a couple of Obama ads here, and apparently Joe Biden spoke in Charlotte this week. Obama was reportedly pulling his resources out of North Carolina a month or so ago, but I'm wondering if he doesn't think he still has a chance -- assuming he can get enough new voters registered. That $800,000 he plunked down for the ACORN crowd in Louisiana makes me think he may be funneling $$ to like minded groups elsewhere, but has gotten smarter about how he's doing it. I think it's a serious concern too.

[DebinNC]

The bill got out of the Banking Committee on a straight party-line vote - 11 Rep for v. 9 Dem against. If the MSM wasn't thoroughly in the tank, this would be a blockbuster.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Why bring Enron into it. No one understood that and, if anything, it makes you think Bush when you want them thinking Obama as the bad guy?

[Sue]

Debbie,

Where did you find that? Can you link it for me so I'll know where to look next time?

[Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet]

Here's the summary on that bill:

Sponsor: Sen. Charles Hagel [R-NE]hide cosponsors
Cosponsors [as of 2007-01-08]
Sen. Elizabeth Dole [R-NC]
Sen. John McCain [R-AZ]
Sen. John Sununu [R-NH]

Bill Text: Summary | Full Text
Status: Introduced Jan 26, 2005

This bill never became law. This bill was proposed in a previous session of Congress. Sessions of Congress last two years, and at the end of each session all proposed bills and resolutions that haven't passed are cleared from the books.

Last Action: Jul 28, 2005: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

[JM Hanes]

Glad to hear you're safe and sound glenda!

[DebinNC]

Sue, here's the link

[clarice]

If I knew how--I'd do an ad making fun of the fact that Brocko can't do anything without a teleprompter..Maybe a variation of the 3 a.m. crisis phone call shtick. Maybe even a wizard of oz thing with a goofball writing what comes out on the teleprompter.

I believe in simple.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

OOOOOOOh food fight between Cavuto and O'Reilly.

[clarice]

Survey USA:"In an election for President of the United States in Ohio today, 09/15/08, Republican John McCain defeats Barack Obama by 4 points, according to this SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WCMH-TV Columbus, WCPO-TV Cincinnati, WKYC-TV Cleveland, and WDIO-TV Dayton. Today, it’s McCain 49%, Obama 45%.McCain leads 5:4 in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo. Obama leads 5:4 in greater Cleveland. McCain leads by 16 points among whites; Obama leads by 82 points among blacks. 6 in 10 voters say the president should focus on the economy ahead of all other issues, and among that group, Obama leads 5:4. But the smaller... "

[clarice]

O'Reilly simply doesn't understand business and will not listen to people who do.

[Sue]

Well, the bottom line is McCain recognized the problem in 2005. Exactly what he feared has happened. If I was McCain, that would be an ad yesterday. Let the democrats, none of which co-sponsored the bill, argue the minutae.

[DebinNC]

I see a Gollum-esque BO in jammies stroking his telepromptor labeled "Tricksy" and crooning, "See you in the morning, my precious."

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Obama leads by 82 points among blacks.

Does this mean blacks there aren't going to vote 95% for Barack?

[Extraneus]

Good idea on the teleprompter simplicity, Clarice. That would have seven weeks of mileage, mostly all humor content, which has stung him most effectively.

"Barack Obama needs a teleprompter, even to talk to folks at a rodeo? Ready to lead?"

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Sue, send McCain camp. an email with the details and remind them of the bill.

[Ann]

I have been thinking of you glenda and it sure is good to hear you are fine.

Hurricane Ike winds hit Columbus on Sunday. We lost internet, cable and electric around 3:30. From 3pm to 9 pm we had winds up to at least 75 mph. Lost tops of 70 ft trees, alot of fence and my roses are all leaning on the ground. Brick house and roof all good.

Finally got electric back Monday night around 11 pm. Worst part except for being extremely scared was the cable/internet withdrawal I went through (I missed all of you). :)

[bad]

Ann

I'm so glad you and your family are okay. Brick house and roof as well. You were missed!!

[clarice]

Glad all's well, Ann.

[Sue]

Ann,

And here I was worrying about Ike and it missed me completely, except for a little wind and rain. Glad you didn't receive anymore damage than you did.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Figures... Obama's Immigration Bill Includes Funding For Leftist Groups to Organize Immigrant Communities

[Ann]

Is the Sarah Palin interview on Hannity tonight?

[Sue]

Ann,

He moved it to tomorrow night and Thursday night because of weather in Ohio.

[Ann]

Thanks everyone, I thought of you Sue and how worried I was for everyone in the south. Who would of thought we would get those high winds without a hint of a storm. It was beautiful Sunday until 3pm and we had NO weather warnings.

[DebinNC]

Did y'all hear what Kansas guv Sibelius said today? LUN

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius accused Republicans on Tuesday of injecting race into the presidential campaign, arguing that they are using "code language" to convince Midwesterners that Democrat Barack Obama is different from them.

"Have any of you noticed that Barack Obama is part African-American?" Sebelius asked with sarcasm. "(Republicans) are not going to go lightly into the darkness."

Sebelius was responding to a question from the audience at the Iowa City Public Library about the tenacity of Democrats and whether they would fight for victory as hard as Republicans in the closing weeks of the election. She did not elaborate on her comment.

This from the governor of Kansas, not Chris or Olbie. That's incredible to me.

[SWarren]

McCain's got some good zingers on the stump:

"Senator Obama is not interested in the politics of hope, he's interested in his political future and that's why he is hurling in insults and making up facts about his record."

"Today, he claimed that the Congressional stimulus package was his idea. That's news to those of us in Congress who supported it. Senator Obama didn't even show up to vote."

"He talks a tough game on the financial crisis, but the facts tell a different story. Senator Obama took more money from Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac than anyone but the chairman of the committee they answer to, and he put Fannie Mae's CEO, who helped create this problem in charge of finding his Vice President. That's not change, that's what's broken in Washington."

"He talked about siding with the people, siding with the people, just before he flew off to Hollywood for a fundraiser with Barbara Streisand and his celebrity friends."

[Danube of Thought]

I haven't watched O'Reilly in a long time, solely on account of his utterly invincible ignorance on matters of business and finance--especially when it comes to oil companies. Sheer populist nonsense, just plain economic baby-talk.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

There is that reluctance to use the simple word. "Inflates," how 'bout lies.

ABC NEWS: Obama Inflates Role in Creation of Stimulus Package:

In Golden, Colo., today, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took credit for the stimulus package that passed earlier this year.

"In January, I outlined a plan to help revive our faltering economy," Obama said, "which formed the basis for a bipartisan stimulus package that passed the Congress."

Is that true?

Democrats on Capitol Hill who support Obama say no.

Wanting Obama to win, however, none will say so on the record.

[Bill in AZ]

Sara: Pelosi has called for hearings.
I saw that too... Pelosi's phone must be overrun with "WTF" txt msgs. She doesn't think too far ahead does she, kinda like the Zero.

Glad you're OK Ann - wondered where you were.

[Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet]

It is gratifying to see that paragraph you emphasized in the McCain speech, SW. It gives me hope that the campaign "gets it".

I have to believe that they have hard hitting ads emphasizing this ready for playing in W. Pa. and Ohio as well as Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin immediately.

If not, too bad.

[Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet]

Oh, and Ann and Glenda and the rest of the gang in the way of Ike, glad to hear you were relatively unscathed and back in commission.

[Bill in AZ]

Jim:
I have to believe that they have hard hitting ads emphasizing this

McCain was waiting for someone to make their move so he could slip inside their loop. Pelosi just made the move - the call for hearings on Wall Street. OODA'd - again.

[DebinNC]

"During this period, Sen. Richard Shelby led a small group of legislators favoring reform, including fellow Republican Sens. John Sununu, Chuck Hagel and Elizabeth Dole. Meanwhile, Dodd -- who along with Democratic Sens. John Kerry, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were the top four recipients of Fannie and Freddie campaign contributions from 1988 to 2008 -- actively opposed such measures and further weakened existing regulation. ....

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said the following on Sept. 11, 2003: "We see entities that are fundamentally sound financially. . . . And even if there were a problem, the federal government doesn't bail them out."

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.), later that year: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

LUN Maybe someone could ask Biden if he disagreed with Obama and Carper.

[Jane]

In 2005 I recognized that Fannie Mae and Freddie Macs lending practices were leading this country to financial disaster. I voted to overhaul the system. Every democrat voted to keep it the way it was.

Since then, every major executive of FM and FM have become multi-millionaires at the expense of the taxpayers.

What are those men doing now? Each and every one of them is an economic advisor to Barack Obama.

~~~

I need a last line.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Oh this is too much. Marylanders got an email like the Virginians, only theirs wants Marylanders to go to :: drumroll :: Virginia.

Dan Riehl has the details:

Obama Not Leaving VA: His Campaign's Simply Dumb

[has-been]

In Vienna, Ohio, this afternoon, McCain said that Obama today "claimed that the Congressional stimulus package was his idea. That’s news to those of us in Congress who supported it. Senator Obama didn’t even show up to vote."

LUN

[bad]

I need a last line.

I'm John McCain, and I approve this message.

[Jane]

Perfect Bad! LOL

[Jane]

Kerry won his primary.

I'm bummed.

[Jane]

Hannity says we are bailing out AIG.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

$85 billion gov't loan to save AIG

[centralcal]

Ann - welcome back. Missed you.

No, the Hannity interview was postponed until Wednesday due to bad weather from the Hurricane (in your area?).

It will be broadcast Wed & Thurs.

[Extraneus]

I wonder what Thomas Sowell would say about the practice of gov't bailing out private companies. Let me guess...

[Jane]

YAY Ann, I'm so glad you are back - sorry about the roses.

[clarice]

Sorry about that, Jane.

[sbw]

MY version of the ad:

Democratic greed just made your housing less affordable… and raised your taxes, too. Obama blames everyone else… and wants you to trust him with more power.

Democrats high in Barak Obama's campaign ran the federal mortgage companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They bought high-risk loans from banks run by Obama campaign advisers. They gave political contributions to Obama and other Democrat leaders in Congress who blocked strict regulations John McCain proposed in 2005 to clean up the mess.

Now decent people have lost their homes, taxpayers are left with the bill, Obama's advisors pocketed millions in unearned bonuses, yet Obama claims he represents hope for change.

Barack Obama. Talk you can't afford to believe.

I'm John McCain and I approve of this message… but I don't approve of what the Democrats did.