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Daily Briefing: July 31, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Military, Misc, Politics.
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Thursday Morning Briefing:

This summer John McCain is traveling in style. He has worn a pair of $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes on every recent campaign stop — from a news conference with the Dalai Lama to a supermarket visit in Bethlehem, PA. The Calfskin loafers, with silver-tone “Gancini” buckles, are imported from Italy….READ MORE

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WASHINGTON — President Bush declared progress in the Iraq war Thursday, saying terrorists “are on the run” and a generally improved security environment should permit further U.S. troop reductions.

Standing on the Colonnade outside the Oval Office of the White House, Bush also announced that effective Thursday, the duration of troop tours in Iraq will be cut from 15 months to 12 months…..READ MORE

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WASHINGTON — An effort to urge Barack Obama to pick former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as his running mate is shutting down under the assumption she is not a contender for the No. 2 spot….READ MORE

If you’d like to know WHY the group is shutting down….read the following article:

CNN is reporting that Hillary will speak on the second night of the convention — the traditional keynote slot that launched Barack Obama’s national career last time around. “Tuesday night is Hillary night,” a Hillary supporter told CNN.

Fun historical fact: That night of the convention will be the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which guarantees the right of women to vote. In honor of both that history and her own historic candidacy…READ MORE

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Quinnipiac: Obama Ahead In Pennsylvania, Ohio And Florida
A new set of Quinnipiac polls has some very good news for Barack Obama, with him leading in all three of the largest swing states, albeit within the margins of error in two cases. The numbers: Obama ahead 49%-42% in Pennsylvania, ahead 46%-44% in Ohio — and ahead 46%-44% in Florida, which has been one of the toughest nuts to crack for Obama in a lot of polls–

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Fox New St. Louis reported Wednesday night that talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has expressed interest in buying the St. Louis Rams NFL Football team. The local Fox affiliate quoted Limbaugh as saying:

It’s a dream to own part or all of a National Football League team…READ MORE

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A NATIONAL ENQUIRER investigation has uncovered John Edwards’ mistress, Rielle Hunter – the mother of his “love child” – has been secretly receiv­ing $15,000 a month as part of an elaborate cover-up orchestrated by the former presidential contender.

The money is being funneled to Hunter by a wealthy colleague who was closely tied to the Edwards’ campaign. This same man is also shoveling cash to Edwards’ pal and former aide Andrew Young – who tried to take the heat off the ex-Senator by claiming he is the father of Rielle’s baby…READ MORE

Go Vote July 31, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Politics.
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Be sure to GO VOTE your Election 2008 preferences (see new tab or on the side bar)

McCain = Oil July 31, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Uncategorized.
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Senator John McCain sold out to big oil companies.

RAND Study July 30, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Foreign Policy, Military, Politics.
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Police and Intelligence, Rather Than The Military

I hate to brag but I’ve been advocating the following ideas for a couple of years now. I’m glad the experts finally agree. Hopefully, Senator McCain will read this study soon.

The McCain campaign has repeatedly attacked Barack Obama as weak on terror, accusing him of a “September 10th mind-set” and hitting him for favoring a law-enforcement approach to terrorists as “criminals,” rather than seeing the campaign against terror as a war.

But a study released today by a think-tank that does research for the Pentagon concludes that a law-enforcement approach, rather than a “war on terror” framing, is precisely what’s needed to effectively counter terrorism — a position that’s squarely at odds with that of the McCain campaign.

From a summary of the study by the Rand Corporation…

Current U.S. strategy against the terrorist group al Qaida has not been successful in significantly undermining the group’s capabilities, according to a new RAND Corporation study issued today…

In looking at how other terrorist groups have ended, the RAND study found that most terrorist groups end either because they join the political process, or because local police and intelligence efforts arrest or kill key members. Police and intelligence agencies, rather than the military, should be the tip of the spear against al Qaida in most of the world, and the United States should abandon the use of the phrase “war on terrorism,” researchers concluded.

Colbert-McCain July 30, 2008

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John McCain warns the media that Barack Obama is not the man he appears to be, because he appears to be president.

Colbert does it again!  I love this guy.  He can say something by not saying something so easily – if that makes any sense…LOL

Enjoy

Robots July 30, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Misc.
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Emotional Robots?

This is interesting.  Robots with emotions.

First there is Hexipod, what appears to look like a spider that reacts to a man moving around the room (it’s a video).

Further down there is Heart Robot.

Heart Robot has a beating heart, a breathing belly, and sensors that respond to movement, noise and touch.  Cuddle him, and he seems to soak up the affection. His limbs become limp, his eyelids lower, his breathing relaxes, and his heart beat slows down.  But give him a violent shake, or shout in his face, and he gets upset. (No video – too bad)

Be sure to scroll down the page to see him.  He’s kind of cute.

Toys July 29, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Domestic Policy.
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Democrats Accomplished Something Worthwhile Yesterday

Congressional negotiators agreed Monday to a ban on a family of toxins found in children’s products, handing a major victory to parents and health experts who have been clamoring for the government to remove harmful chemicals from toys.

The ban, which would take effect in six months, would have significant implications for U.S. consumers, whose homes are filled with hundreds of plastic products designed for children that may be causing dangerous health effects.

The rare action by Congress reflects a growing body of scientific research showing that children ingest the toxins by acts as simple as chewing on a rubber duck. Used for decades in plastic production, the chemicals are now thought to act as hormones and cause reproductive problems, especially in boys. (more…)

George W. Bush Movie July 29, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Politics.
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Here’s the trailer for “W.”, the upcoming Oliver Stone movie based on the life of President George W. Bush.

The movie is slate for release on October 17 — Be sure to watch it.


IRAQ July 28, 2008

Posted by Coonsey in Foreign Policy, Military, Politics.
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Bush, McCain, Obama and Petraeus All Have Arterial Motives

Gen. David Petraeus, the Iraq commander, said in an interview with McClatchy that the situation in Iraq is too volatile to “project out, and to then try to plant a flag on, a particular date.”

During a Friday interview on CNN’s “The Situation Room,” Republican candidate John McCain, who had opposed setting a timeline, appeared to shift ground. McCain said that 16 months “is a pretty good timetable” but must be based on conditions on the ground (Of course he’s denying that he said this now).

Meanwhile, the Bush administration has embraced “time horizons” as it negotiates with the Iraqi government a status of forces agreement over the future role of U.S. troops. Petraeus said any timetable must have “a heck of a lot more granularity than the kind of very short-hand statements that have been put out.”

We occasionally have commanders who have so many good weeks, (they think) it’s won. We’ve got this thing. Well we don’t. We’ve had so many good weeks. Right now, for example we’ve had two-and-a-half months of levels of violence not since March 2004,” he said from his office at Camp Victory.

Well that’s encouraging. It’s heartening. It’s very welcome. But let’s keep our powder dry. . . .Let’s not let our guard down. (more…)

McCain July 28, 2008

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Senator John McCain Has a Short Memory

Senator John McCain is attacking Senator Barack Obama for not visiting wounded troops on the ground while overseas.  The Pentagon asked Obama not to visit those troops (which Obama had ’scheduled to to for weeks’) with any of his campaign staff.  Senator Obama himself said he didn’t want to make any visit with those troops look political.

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who accompanied Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to Iraq, said Sunday that the presidential candidate could have been accused of using “soldiers as props” if he had gone ahead with a planned visit to a military hospital in Germany.

“I think it would be totally inappropriate for him, on a campaign trip, to go to a military hospital and use those soldiers as props,” Hagel said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“Certainly, he would have been criticized by the McCain people and the press — and probably should have been — if on a political trip in Europe — paid for by political fund, not the tax payers— to go essentially then and be accused of using our wounded men and women as props for his campaign.”’

I agree with Senator Hagel and Senator Obama on this issue.  Senator McCain forgets his ‘use’ of General Petraeus’s picture in his fundraising emails recently.  They didn’t go over well with the American people either.

Senator McCain had best be careful with his military/war/troop attacks against Senator Obama — lest he be caught in his own mistakes over the years.

For example:

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said,
“Generally speaking, the military tries very hard not to get involved in political campaigns,” he said. “Conducting a campaign speech for example on a military installation is not something that would be appropriate to do.”

Senator John McCain sure has a SHORT MEMORY:


McCain will start his “Service to America” tour after a western swing that included nine fundraising events. There are at least two next week.

Stops include Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va.; the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.; military bases in Florida and Mississippi; and his political base in Arizona. The son and grandson of admirals, McCain is also expected to discuss his service during the Vietnam War.

So, Senator McCain feels it’s ‘ok’ to visit military bases during a campaign stop?  Was he, unlike Senator Obama, using our troops for backdrops to his campaign photos?