My Plan to Get the Khalidi Tape Released

As you probably now know, the Los Angeles Times has refused to release a tape showing Obama speaking at an event praising former Yasser Arafat associate Rashid Khalidi at a 2003 going-away party.  Obviously the tape must show something because, according the the LA Times, it promised its source that it would not release the tape, despite the fact that the Times already reported about the event.  Why would it agree to suppress the tape if it reported accurately the details of the event? 

Playing the Race Card Again, And Again, And Again. . .

Seriously.  The use of the “race card” in this campaign is getting very old, very fast.  Obama has been using it against Republicans repeatedly over the last few months.  Back in June I did a post about this statement by Obama: “They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?”  He said this despite the fact that McCain has been outspoken against the use of race and ethnicity as an argument against Obama.  McCain has called upon the GOP to pull ads that used Obama’s associations with Rev. Wright to argue that Obama is racist.  In the months following this comment, Obama went on to make a number of other, similar comments, including this one:

Proposed Response to Bailout Failure

In light of the failure of the bailout bill to pass the House, McCain needs to come out forcefully on this issue.  He really needs to make this issue his – not just for his campaign but because his failure to act could be disastrous.  We already saw that the failure of the bailout caused the Dow to fall more than 700 points.  Clearly something most be done.  So I propose that McCain make the following statement:

What McCain Needs to do on the Debate and the Bailout

Today McCain announced that he would suspend campaigning so that he can work on the financial crisis bailout plan.  This move called  Harry Reid’s bluff after he made the following comment: “We need, now, the Republicans to start producing some votes for us. We need the Republican nominee for president to let us know where he stands and what we should do.”

My Suggestion for McCain’s New Ad

In light of the recent bailouts, failures and the revelation that Obama is one of the top recipients of lobbying money from Fannie/Freddie, McCain needs a hard-hitting ad.  Here’s my suggestion:

McCain’s Performance and the Media’s Silliness

I happen to think that McCain did quite well last night.  Obviously, I am biased since I am a supporter but I still think I’m right.  In general, it was very positive — this country is the best in the world, we can do anything we set our minds to, etc.  I think it is a great contrast to the tone of many of Obama’s speeches:  this country is on the wrong track, we are worse off now than ever, less safe than ever, etc.  McCain’s speech still conveyed that we have work to do but emphasized that there is no question we will be able to do it:  “it’s an ambitious plan, but Americans are ambitious by nature, and we’ve faced greater challenges. It’s time for us to show the world again how Americans lead.”  

So You Call Yourself a Feminist?

So McCain has picked a woman as his vice presidential nominee.  Shouldn’t that be a watershed event for women everywhere?  Well, of course not.  For women on the left, Palin’s pick means only one thing — McCain chose her solely because he wanted to try to win over the female vote, and especially the disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters.  “But not just any woman will do” they shout!  “How could McCain think that we are all so stupid that we will simply vote for him now that he chose a female as his vice presidental nominee?” they ask.  I am astonished by this reaction.  Isn’t it possible that McCain actually chose Palin because she was what he was looking for in a running mate?  Oh wait, that can’t be it.  He’s a Republican.  And Republicans are misoginistic and bigoted, right?

Vote from Abroad — But Not if You’re In the Military

The latest celebrity ad explains how people living abroad can and should vote in this election (see below).  Conspicuously absent is one of the largest populations of Americans living abroad — the military.  The ad encourages Democrats living abroad to . . . wait for it . . . vote Democrat (although we don’t learn that until the very end of the ad).  Military personnel and their families have historically voted overwhelmingly Republican while roughly 13% of enlisted and 9% of officers registered Democrat.  Simply stated, it wouldn’t help the Democrats’ cause if the military voted in record numbers.

My Prediction Was Right — Obama Changes His Position on Off-Shore Drilling

Once again Obama proves that he will bring the change we can all believe in.  And you heard it here.  I knew that he would change his position, I just wasn’t sure how he would justify the change.  Well, here it is:

Shifting from his previous opposition to expanded offshore drilling, the Illinois senator told a Florida newspaper he could get behind a compromise with Republicans and oil companies to prevent gridlock over energy…

“My interest is in making sure we’ve got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices,” Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post.

“If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage — I don’t want to be so rigid that we can’t get something done.”

Maybe he should try telling that to Nancy Pelosi and the other Democrats who decided to simply turn off the televisions, electricity and air conditioning to prevent the House from voting on offshore drilling before they took their vacation.  Hate to say “I told you so” but I did.

Obama Snubs the Troops Because it Offers No Photo Op

I am at a loss.  Obama was scheduled to meet with wounded soldiers stationed in Germany during his European tour but decided against it, saying it would have been “inappropriate” and “too political”.  Say what?  How on Earth can a meeting with wounded soldiers be considered “inappropriate” or “too political”?