Evan Bayh, Yet Another Democratic Presidential Hopeful

Evan Bayh, a Democratic Senator from Indiana, is considering a 2008 run for President.

WASHINGTON - Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a Democrat with a record of political success in a Republican-leaning state, intends to take the first official step toward a 2008 presidential campaign early next week, officials said Friday.

Bayh’s plans include creation of a presidential exploratory committee, as well as appearances Monday in Iowa and next weekend in New Hampshire, two early states on the campaign calendar.

Bayh would be the second Democrat to take a formal step toward a presidential campaign. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is already in the race. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are among numerous other potential rivals who are expected to decide within a few weeks whether to run.

Source: Bayh to take first step toward ’08 bid - Politics - MSNBC.com

Company Uses 9/11 Image In Advertisement

BenQ, a Taiwan based consumer electronics company, has an ad for an MP3 player on it's China site depicting a man standing in front of the ruins of the World Trade Center. While I doubt that they realized just how wrong it is to use such images in advertising in the United States, it's still disgusting.

You can view the flash site here, but remember that it's in Chinese.

Source: BenQ uses WTC & 9/11 imagery to sell devices - Engadget

Donald Rumsfeld: Defeat-o-crat

The New York Times (or according to the White House, Pravda) has released what it claims to be a classified memo sent out by Donald Rumsfeld just 2 days before his resignation.

Nov. 6, 2006

SUBJECT: Iraq — Illustrative New Courses of Action

The situation in Iraq has been evolving, and U.S. forces have adjusted, over time, from major combat operations to counterterrorism, to counterinsurgency, to dealing with death squads and sectarian violence. In my view it is time for a major adjustment. Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough. Following is a range of options:

ILLUSTRATIVE OPTIONS

Above the Line: (Many of these options could and, in a number of cases, should be done in combination with others)

¶Publicly announce a set of benchmarks agreed to by the Iraqi Government and the U.S. — political, economic and security goals — to chart a path ahead for the Iraqi government and Iraqi people (to get them moving) and for the U.S. public (to reassure them that progress can and is being made).

¶Significantly increase U.S. trainers and embeds, and transfer more U.S. equipment to Iraqi Security forces (ISF), to further accelerate their capabilities by refocusing the assignment of some significant portion of the U.S. troops currently in Iraq.

¶Initiate a reverse embeds program, like the Korean Katusas, by putting one or more Iraqi soldiers with every U.S. and possibly Coalition squad, to improve our units’ language capabilities and cultural awareness and to give the Iraqis experience and training with professional U.S. troops.

¶Aggressively beef up the Iraqi MOD and MOI, and other Iraqi ministries critical to the success of the ISF — the Iraqi Ministries of Finance, Planning, Health, Criminal Justice, Prisons, etc. — by reaching out to U.S. military retirees and Reserve/National Guard volunteers (i.e., give up on trying to get other USG Departments to do it.)

¶Conduct an accelerated draw-down of U.S. bases. We have already reduced from 110 to 55 bases. Plan to get down to 10 to 15 bases by April 2007, and to 5 bases by July 2007.

¶Retain high-end SOF capability and necessary support structure to target Al Qaeda, death squads, and Iranians in Iraq, while drawing down all other Coalition forces, except those necessary to provide certain key enablers for the ISF.

¶Initiate an approach where U.S. forces provide security only for those provinces or cities that openly request U.S. help and that actively cooperate, with the stipulation being that unless they cooperate fully, U.S. forces would leave their province.

¶Stop rewarding bad behavior, as was done in Fallujah when they pushed in reconstruction funds, and start rewarding good behavior. Put our reconstruction efforts in those parts of Iraq that are behaving, and invest and create havens of opportunity to reward them for their good behavior. As the old saying goes, “If you want more of something, reward it; if you want less of something, penalize it.” No more reconstruction assistance in areas where there is violence.

¶Position substantial U.S. forces near the Iranian and Syrian borders to reduce infiltration and, importantly, reduce Iranian influence on the Iraqi Government.

¶Withdraw U.S. forces from vulnerable positions — cities, patrolling, etc. — and move U.S. forces to a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) status, operating from within Iraq and Kuwait, to be available when Iraqi security forces need assistance.

¶Begin modest withdrawals of U.S. and Coalition forces (start “taking our hand off the bicycle seat”), so Iraqis know they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country.

¶Provide money to key political and religious leaders (as Saddam Hussein did), to get them to help us get through this difficult period.

¶Initiate a massive program for unemployed youth. It would have to be run by U.S. forces, since no other organization could do it.

¶Announce that whatever new approach the U.S. decides on, the U.S. is doing so on a trial basis. This will give us the ability to readjust and move to another course, if necessary, and therefore not “lose.”

¶Recast the U.S. military mission and the U.S. goals (how we talk about them) — go minimalist.

Below the Line (less attractive options):

¶Continue on the current path.

¶Move a large fraction of all U.S. Forces into Baghdad to attempt to control it.

¶Increase Brigade Combat Teams and U.S. forces in Iraq substantially.

¶Set a firm withdrawal date to leave. Declare that with Saddam gone and Iraq a sovereign nation, the Iraqi people can govern themselves. Tell Iran and Syria to stay out.

¶Assist in accelerating an aggressive federalism plan, moving towards three separate states — Sunni, Shia, and Kurd.

¶Try a Dayton-like process.

I guess stuff like this is why George hates having freedom of the press.

Source: Rumsfeld’s Memo of Options for Iraq War - New York Times

No Baker Bail-Out For Bush

If President Bush was expecting the Baker Commission to reaffirm his Iraq policies then he might be in fir a surprise. Sources close to the committee are reporting that the recommendations, expected around December 10th, will include a withdrawal of at least some US troops.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Iraq Study Group has decided to recommend the U.S. military transition from a combat to a support role in Iraq roughly over the next year, a source familiar with the panel's deliberations said.

The recommendation by the independent, bipartisan panel would be to pull U.S. fighting forces back to bases inside Iraq, and in the region, as the U.S. military sought to begin to withdraw from combat, the source said on Wednesday.

"The main thing is (the group is) calling for a transition from a combat role to a support role," said the source, who asked not to be named because the recommendations are not due to be released until December 6. "It's basically a redeployment."

Source: Iraq panel to recommend U.S. pull back from combat | Top News | Reuters.com

Tom Vilsack Becomes First Dem Candidate For President

Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack has become the first Democrat to openly vie for the presidency in 2008. The link below has a lot of information about the positive aspects that the Vilsack campaign has going for it (though they promise a post on the opposite end of the spectrum next week).

I'm still waiting on Al Gore to run though. After all, he's already shown that he can win an election.

The Case For Tom Vilsack - The Fix

Boehner Losses Press Secretary To Presidential Hopeful

House Majority Leader (while it lasts) John Boehner (R-OH) is going to have to find a new press secretary after his current one leaves to join Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in his bid for the presidency.

In related news Romney may forgo forming an exploratory committee in favor of an outright announcement of his candidacy sometime early next year.

Political Wire: Romney May Not Create Exploratory Committee

Bill Frist Bows Out Of 08 Run

Yet another Presidential hopeful, this time retiring Republican Senator Bill Frist, has announced that he won't make a bid for the presidency in 2008. Full statement below.

“My dad in his later years wanted to impart some wisdom to his grandchildren and great grandchildren he would never meet. One thing he wrote that has stuck with me- in fact been a clarion call to me - was “there is so much good to do in the world and so many ways to do it.”

“Politics is a noble occupation. Medicine is a noble profession. Service to others underlies both.

“The people of Tennessee elected me twice to the U. S. Senate, and I was humbled and honored by their support and every day I did my best to serve them with integrity and common sense.

“Twelve years ago, I pledged to the people of Tennessee that I would serve two terms in the Senate – to serve as a true citizen legislator – and then return home. I said I’d come to the Senate with 20 years experience in healing, spend 12 years serving in Washington, then go right back to Tennessee to live where I grew up. I’ve never deviated from that commitment. And I will do just that.

“In the Bible, God tells us for everything there is a season, and for me, for now, this season of being an elected official has come to a close. I do not intend to run for president in 2008.

“Karyn and I will take a sabbatical from public life. At this point a return to private life will allow me to return to my professional roots as a healer and to refocus my creative energies on innovative solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges Americans face.

“We have been blessed with the prayers and support of countless individuals around the country who have shared our vision of making America a better place. We thank you and pledge to represent these values in our daily lives and wherever our journey takes us next.

“I especially thank Karyn, who has honored me with her love every step along the way. And to our sons- Harrison, Jonathan and Bryan and our extended family: your support and love has sustained me both in and out of politics.

“That call from my father still rings true, so we will explore ways to continue to serve outside of politics. Politics for us was never an end-- it was a means-- a means to serve our country and humanity, to improve lives. And for that opportunity I am truly grateful.

“Karyn and I will seek the best opportunity to serve. I may eventually return to what I’ve done for most of my adult life, heal through medicine and health.

“In the short term, I will resume my regular medical mission trips as a doctor around the world to serve those in poverty, in famine, and in civil war. I will continue to be a strong voice to fix what is broken in our health care system and to address the issues of clean water and public health globally. We will stay actively engaged in policy issues affecting the lives of Americans.

“The time for Karyn and me to leave Washington has arrived and we do so with tremendous respect for the institution of the Senate and for my colleagues, for our government, for our President, for the genius of the American people, and for the enduring principles of freedom and liberty upon which our country has prospered.”

Source: Bill Frist, M.D. (I love how he plays up that M.D. but doesn't follow the rules when renewing his license.)

Christian Extremists Threaten Our Nations Values

This story underscores why I believe the religious right is just shy of a hate group. The current uproar from the group centers around the decision by newly elected Keith Ellison to be sworn in on the Koran rather than the Bible.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this nation originally settled by a group of people who wanted to be able to choose their religion. In fact, doesn't the Constitution grant people freedom of religion?

Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

Source: Townhall.com::America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on::By Dennis Prager

Tags: religion, controversy, freedom

NY Times Also Calls Iraq Conflicts Civil War

Like NBC, the New York Times has also decided to refer to the fighting in Iraq as a civil war. I'm not holding my breath waiting on Fox to jump on the bandwagon.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Over White House objections, The New York Times and other U.S. news outlets have adopted the term "civil war" for the fighting in Iraq, reflecting a growing consensus that sectarian violence has engulfed the country.

After NBC News' widely publicized decision on Monday to brand the conflict a civil war, several prominent newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, pointed to their use of the phrase.

Source: NY Times, others to call Iraq conflict "civil war" | Politics News | Reuters.com

Newt Gingrich Thinks Free Speech Is A Terrorist Threat

Longshot Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is getting a small dose of what I like to call "Macaca effect" today due to a speech he made the other day. At a dinner celebrating people who have stood up for the first amendment Gingrich remarked that free speech would have to follow a "different set of rules" to reduce the threat of terrorism.

I don't know about everyone else, but I'd rather be killed in a terrorist attack then fear persecution from my own government over something I said. As for Gingrich's presidential hopes, in the refined tongue of the Englishman, it's not bloody likely.

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire -- Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich yesterday said the country will be forced to reexamine freedom of speech to meet the threat of terrorism.
Gingrich, speaking at a Manchester awards banquet, said a "different set of rules" may be needed to reduce terrorists' ability to use the Internet and free speech to recruit and get out their message.

"We need to get ahead of the curve before we actually lose a city, which I think could happen in the next decade," said Gingrich, a Republican who helped engineer the GOP's takeover of Congress in 1994.

Gingrich spoke to about 400 state and local power brokers last night at the annual Nackey S. Loeb First Amendment award dinner, which fetes people and organizations that stand up for freedom of speech.

Source: CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker

Noe Must Repay Over $13 Million

MSNBC say's it best...

TOLEDO, Ohio - A former GOP fundraiser convicted of embezzling from a state investment in rare coins must repay the state of Ohio $13.7 million, a judge ruled Monday.

Tom Noe was sentenced last week to 18 years in prison for his role in a scandal that contributed to the Republican Party’s loss of the governor’s office.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Osowik said Noe must repay the $13.7 million the state says he stole along with the nearly $3 million cost of the investigation.

Source: Embezzler ordered to repay Ohio $13.7M - Politics - MSNBC.com

Stating The Obvious: NBC Now Says Iraq In A Civil War

NBC has parted ways with the White House and is now referring to the situation in Iraq as a civil war. Of course the Bush administration is still in denial over this. I wonder how long it will take for the rest of the news channels to follow NBC's lead?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NBC News on Monday branded the Iraq conflict a civil war -- a decision that put it at odds with the White House and that analysts said would increase public disillusionment with the U.S. troop presence there.

NBC, a major U.S. television network, said on "The Today Show" that the Iraqi government's inability to stop spiraling violence between rival factions fit its definition of civil war.

The Bush administration has for months declined to call the violence a civil war -- although the U.S. general overseeing the Iraq operation said in August that there was a risk of this -- and a White House official on Monday disputed NBC's assessment.

Source: NBC calls Iraq conflict civil war, at odds with White House | US News | Reuters.com

Insufficient Postage

The current lack of posts is due to two reasons. First, it's been an awful slow couple days due to the Thanksgiving holiday. As for the second reason, well, I'm going to be an uncle again. My sister is ready to give birth at anytime and I'm on the unofficial emergency phone list.