John McCain in 2004:

QUESTION: Let me give you a hypothetical, senator. What would or should we do if, in the post-June 30th period, a so-called sovereign Iraqi government asks us to leave, even if we are unhappy about the security situation there? I understand it’s a hypothetical, but it’s at least possible.

McCAIN: Well, if that scenario evolves, then I think it’s obvious that we would have to leave because— if it was an elected government of Iraq— and we’ve been asked to leave other places in the world. If it were an extremist government, then I think we would have other challenges, but I don’t see how we could stay when our whole emphasis and policy has been based on turning the Iraqi government over to the Iraqi people.

The elected head of state of sovereign Iraq said this to Der Spiegel this past weekend:

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki supports US presidential candidate Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months. When asked in and interview with SPIEGEL when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded “as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned.” He then continued: “US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.”

and

“So far the Americans have had trouble agreeing to a concrete timetable for withdrawal, because they feel it would appear tantamount to an admission of defeat,” Maliki told SPIEGEL. “But that isn’t the case at all. If we come to an agreement, it is not evidence of a defeat, but of a victory, of a severe blow we have inflicted on al-Qaida and the militias.”

The Bush Administration first blundered by promoting the Spiegel article to its press distribution list rather than an internal distribution list, and then sometime on Sunday, Maliki issued a “clarification” of his remarks, which was puzzlingly released through the US Central Command.

Oh, and did I mention that Maliki’s “clarification” came after the White House called him to tell him to “clarify”?

From the New York Times:

Mr. Maliki’s interview prompted immediate concern from the Bush administration, which called to seek clarification from Mr. Maliki’s office, American officials said.

Scott M. Stanzel, a White House spokesman with President Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., said that embassy officials explained to the Iraqis how the interview in Der Spiegel was being interpreted, given that it came just a day after the two governments announced an agreement over American troops.

“The Iraqis were not aware and wanted to correct it,” he said.

So, the Iraqis trotted out a guy to say that Spiegel screwed up the translation.

Diplomats from the United States Embassy in Baghdad spoke to Mr. Maliki’s advisers on Saturday, said an American official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss what he called diplomatic communications. After that, the government’s spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, issued a statement casting doubt on the magazine’s rendering of the interview.

The statement, which was distributed to media organizations by the American military early on Sunday, said Mr. Maliki’s words had been “misunderstood and mistranslated,” but it failed to cite specifics.

“Unfortunately, Der Spiegel was not accurate,” Mr. Dabbagh said Sunday by telephone. “I have the recording of the voice of Mr. Maliki. We even listened to the translation.”

But the interpreter worked for Maliki - not Spiegel, and the Times got a hold of the tape, and offers this direct translation from its original Arabic:

“Obama’s remarks that — if he takes office — in 16 months he would withdraw the forces, we think that this period could increase or decrease a little, but that it could be suitable to end the presence of the forces in Iraq.”

He continued: “Who wants to exit in a quicker way has a better assessment of the situation in Iraq.”

And all of this comes during a campaign where McCain and Bush have steadfastly refused to consider a timetable for American troops to leave Iraq, lest it be perceived as failure. The Republicans have been trying to apply the “cut & run” language they used against Kerry against Obama, but 2004 is different from 2008. So different, in fact, that the White House itself has had to acknowledge that some sort of pullout is going to happen, but they prefer to call it a “time horizon” or somesuch.

By talking pullout, Bush and Maliki have effectively removed one of the big rationales behind McCain’s candidacy.

(EDITS: Links added, corrections made)

When Republicans cry with indignation at mistreatment of John McCain, let us not forget 2004. Back then, the GOP brought new meaning to “honoring service” of a veteran and political civility. Kerry received three Purple Hearts serving in combat in Vietnam. That’s three more than Bush, Rove, and Cheney combined. This is how, in 2004, Bush’s supporters honored his service:

So, the civility bar has been set remarkably low, and so far the only thing that’s been questioned is whether getting shot down over Hanoi is a qualification for the Presidency. When Wes Clark made that observation, Bob Dole awoke from Bob Dole’s slumber. Bob Dole said this:

“The attack by General Wesley Clark on Senator John McCain’s war record and qualifications for the presidency is beyond comprehension. Clark’s absurd remarks signal further erosion in our nation’s political discourse. He should have stayed in bed Sunday morning.

It’s unfortunate that a former General who ran for the presidency on his own war record thinks it appropriate to attack a distinguished veteran and former prisoner-of-war in this way. Senator McCain’s entire life has been devoted to public service. His achievement and experience constitute unparalleled qualification for America’s highest office.”

This is what Bob Dole said in 2004 about John Kerry’s service:

And last week, former Sen. Bob Dole, the party’s 1996 presidential nominee, brought more attention to the allegations when he told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, “With three Purple Hearts, he never bled that I know of. And they’re all superficial wounds.”

In other words, Senator Dole, the erosion of our political discourse was helped along by the likes of you.

I happen to think that there is no set of qualifications for the Presidency. If there were, we could just us a headhunter and solicit resumes. So the question itself is a dumb one.

But gasps of righteous indignation from the crowd that wore purple-heart laden Band-Aids ring very hollow indeed.

HT The Humanist.

Some privileged scion of a Mississippi political family, Representative Chip Pickering (R) announced in August 2007 that he was not going to run for re-election. He wanted to spend more time with his family, he said. He’s all set to take a cush lobbying job when he leaves Congress at the end of the year.

Last week, he filed for divorce from his wife, with whom he has five children. I guess spending more time with the family is out of the question, now.

So, why do I bring this up? Why do I care about the personal life of an obscure and undistinguished Republican congressman?

Because he’s one of those self-righteous, moralistic imbeciles who believes that permitting gay marriage somehow harms the sanctity of the institution of marriage. He is against adoption by gay couples, because evidently a child being in an orphanage or some other institutional environment is healthier for that child than to be raised by a loving same-sex couple in a stable home. He does not think that other states should have to recognize same-sex marriages or unions performed in other states. While full faith & credit applies only to judgments, I wonder whether Mr. Pickering would have supported the rights of states not to recognize, e.g., interracial marriages back when some states were ok with them while others weren’t.

The hypocrisy, which is evident even to the most ignorant, is par for the course. There are so many politicians who proclaim their piety and traditionalism to the mountaintops. They quote from the Bible to support policies that oppress people who bother no one.

A gay marriage hurts no one. It doesn’t affect anyone else in the entire world. It will not bring a plague of locusts falling from the sky, and it won’t bring down the wrath of God, and it won’t make God cause terrorists to hijack planes and hurl them into buildings. A gay marriage won’t cause your heterosexual marriage to be cheapened. It won’t make your kids gay. It won’t hurt you in any way, shape, or form. A gay marriage doesn’t alter your political or religious beliefs any more than those beliefs alter the gay couple.

The fact that this self-righteous, pious defender of faith and family is getting divorced (I think the Bible has something to say about that, incidentally), is an actual, physical destruction of a family. It doesn’t get more direct than rending asunder a solemn oath and vow you take with your spouse and your God. It doesn’t get any worse than bringing a quiverfull of kids into the world, and then ripping the family in two.

When contacted about it, Pickering says it’s a painful, private matter and he doesn’t want to comment. No shit it’s painful. Ask your kids, Congressman. But for someone who so publicly assailed the private lives of people different from him, he should be ashamed.

If God will not be mocked, maybe it’s the hypocritical self-righteous Republican values-mongering divorcees who are doing the mocking.

Want to see the erosion of family values? Want to see the sancity and tradition of marriage be mocked and diminished? Look no further than Representative Chip Pickering.

After much ribbing about the non-existent and/or empty “views” section of his website, Republican candidate for Congress in the 26th district has finally gotten around to having some.

I am running for Congress to bring real change to Washington, D.C., restore accountability, get people to stop the partisan bickering and start solving the problems families are facing. This is what Western New Yorkers are demanding, and it is what they deserve.

By working together we can make these things happen, and we can get Washington working again for Western New York.

If we do that then we can help create jobs at home, lower taxes for hard working families, develop a real energy policy, and ensure access to affordable healthcare for all Western New Yorkers.

Washington working for Western New York. That’s a great idea. Um, what’s his predecessor been doing along those lines for the past 10 years? It’s all platitudes cribbed from some primer on how to run as a Republican but sounding like a Democrat. Republicans don’t give a shit about “affordable healthcare”. They’re far more concerned with taxation of the wealthiest 1%, not “hard working families”.

The most important thing for our families is having jobs not just for us, but for our children. Right now Western New York is facing the challenge of entering a 21st century economy and not having enough jobs for our children. Fortunately, Western New York is well equipped to face these challenges. We have a world-class workforce, excellent educational institutions and a work ethic second to none. What needs to happen is the government, in Washington and Albany, needs to get out of the way and let businesses do what they do best – create jobs. When I am elected, I will fight everyday for policies that increase the incentives for businesses to take risks, be entrepreneurial and ultimately create jobs.

How is Washington in the way, and would he do to get it out of said way? Taxes and spending, evidently - no surprise, coming from a Republican candidate. The problem is that the Republican party has put the Democrats to shame in terms of the growth of government and government spending at the federal level since George W. Bush came to office. Why are we to believe that Lee would not help perpetuate that state of affairs? Bush has grown government, kept taxes low to help the budget deficit balloon, engaged in nation-building adventures in the middle east and then shortchanged them when it got difficult.

Definitely Washington is broken. Definitely Albany is broken. What can Lee as a congressman do to fix Albany? Again - platitudes that sound phenomenal but have no meat to them.

Lee also says we need a “comprehensive energy policy”:

- Lessen our dependence on foreign oil by increasing American made energy through exploration;
- Promote new, clean, reliable sources of energy;
- Encourage conservation, and;
- Increase investment in research funding for alternative energy.

Respectively, how, what, how, and what? The call from McCain and Bush has been for drilling everywhere. Respectfully, that’s like putting a Band-Aid on an amputation site. Nice sentiment, but it would take literally years - if not a decade - before any such drilling would have any effect on the market. Furthermore, conservation is now in full effect, given the cost of fuel. Price is up, demand is way down. So, if all this is run by the market, why does lower demand equal ever-higher prices?

Again - demand for gasoline has been dropping, yet the price continues to rise. The idea that this is just market forces at work doesn’t fly. In 2008, it is high time that we develop and reach a consensus on a fuel for personal conveyances to replace petroleum. We’re using technology that’s over 100 years old.

Lee also believes that health care is an issue. The buzzword is “market-based”. Anything the Republicans recommend will be characterized as “market-based”, while they will criticize the Democrats’ plans as being “socialized medicine”. Meanwhile, all of the plans being suggested are market-based. No one is proposing socialized medicine.

While Mr. Lee complains that WNY is not getting its fair share of federal dollars, he also argues:

I will fight for a more transparent and fair system that will ensure real earmark reform. Any dollar being spent by the federal government should be done so in the light of day not behind closed doors. I want to change the way Washington does business by ensuring that we have an open system that holds our leaders accountable. Just like a CEO would want, Western New Yorkers deserve to know exactly how their money is being spent - that can only happen with a more transparent and accountable Washington.

How? What sort of transparency is he proposing? And which is it? More fair share, or fewer earmarks?

In other news, Chris Lee held a fundraiser last night. It was a swanky affair at the Marriott on Millersport. All of the Republican glitterati were in attendance, and Tom Reynolds introduced Lee to the crowd. Illuzzi was there enjoying the free food, making subtle threats, and writes:

I had the pleasure of attending what was truly an “All-Star” fundraising event last night kicking off NY 26 Congressional Candidate Chris Lee’s fundraising efforts.

Congressman Tom Reynolds declared the event to have set a new record for a first time candidate’s congressional fundraising event. Over 300 people in attendance!!! Early estimates are over $175,000 raised at the event.

That averages out to over $580 per person.

Lee is an unemployed child of wealth who inherited part of the sell-out of his father’s business. He’s pledged to spend $1 million of his own money on the race. Will he, like Chris Collins, forego his federal salary if elected? I recall Jack Davis making that pledge 2 years ago. Why should taxpayers cut a six-figure check with benefits and pension for a millionaire heir?

Kathy Konst’s bid for the Democratic nomination to run against Chris Lee to replace Tom “kiddie shield” Reynolds has ended as abruptly as it began. Instead, Konst will enter the race to replace Dale Volker, the cantankerous 30+ year State Senator from district 59 who spends a lot of time patting himself on the back when he’s not screaming at people.

Even more interesting than the Konst about-face is what’s behind it. Evidently, Rochester’s Tom Golisano has decided to form a 527 PAC to support candidates who will shake up the State Senate. From the Capitol News:

A source familiar with Golisano’s thinking said the former gubernatorial candidate plans to spend $1 million of his own money on behalf of each candidate he supports. This includes targeting several incumbents, including at least one who was not previously in danger. Golisano could also potentially involve himself in contested Assembly primaries.

The source said Golisano plans on supporting candidates who share his agenda of reforming Albany, reforming the state budget and promoting economic development upstate, particularly in the region around Buffalo which he calls home.

Candidates will mainly be Democrats, but Golisano will consider endorsing Republicans in the races. Candidates will need to be moderate, committed to Golisano’s agenda and not aligned with career politicians, according to the source.

Golisano’s political website, www.golisano.com, which has remained dormant since his announcement that he would not run for governor in 2006, was updated June 27 with a teaser to “Stay tuned for an important announcement coming soon.”

Golisano will be supporting Erie County Legislator Kathy Konst (D) in her bid to unseat State Sen. Dale Volker (R-Erie), former boxer Joe Mesi (D) in his primary bid to succeed retiring Sen. Mary Lou Rath (R-Erie) and former State Sen. Rick Dollinger (D-Monroe) in his bid to unseat Sen. Joe Robach (R-Monroe), though Golisano is unlikely to announce these specific candidates at his press conference next week.

Golisano’s decision whether to also back Assembly candidates hasn’t been finalized, but he has contemplated supporting Barbara Kavanaugh’s primary challenge against Sam Hoyt. There are also rumors that Golisano may recruit other business leaders who are not content with the state of Albany “leadership” who might be willing to put their money where their mouths are. People like Carl Paladino.

And there are larger issues as well from a party political perspective:

Golisano’s chief political advisor is former Erie County Democratic Chair Steve Pigeon, who is expected to play a major role in the new PAC. Some say Pigeon’s fingerprints can already be seen on the Konst and Mesi endorsements.

Konst is the most surprising move of the Golisano involvement, given her May announcement that she was seeking the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-Erie). Golisano offered his support if she switched to the Senate race in a meeting last week. Konst, who according to sources was floundering in her bid to secure petition signatures for her late start congressional bid and was circulating Senate petitions at the same time, began telling people over the weekend that she had made the change.

And every once in a while, in the middle of an interesting story about political maneuvering, you find a statement that’s hilarious in its stupidity:

According to former East Aurora Mayor Dave DiPietro (R), who is running a primary challenge to Volker, Konst’s husband, politically active attorney Harry Konst, told him last week that Golisano promised $1 million to support his wife’s Senate bid.

Harry Konst, who is managing his wife’s campaign, claimed he has not discussed the Senate bid with her and said he did not know who Golisano is.

Why Volker? Ask Paladino:

Palladino said he plans to do anything he can to support DiPietro in his bid and hopes to see him unseat Volker in the primary. He did not rule out assisting Konst in a general election, but noted he would prefer the Senate to remain Republican. Palladino said he opposes Volker’s support for what he defines as anti-business legislation and for being in Albany too long.

“I’ve thought of him as a friend,” Palladino said. “His shelf life is over. He thinks everything is fine in Albany. Albany is murdering upstate New York. Even Barack Obama would be a better alternative to Dale Volker. And that’s bad for me.”

It’s an interesting development that helps un-muddy NY-26, helps push along the effort to rid Albany of Dale Volker, and if nothing else expands options available to voters. The problem is that with Pigeon’s involvement, it loses a great deal of its political appeal. There’s no grassroots effort - any argument that this is a way to stick it to the party bosses is lost with him in the mix.

Also, I’ve been watching what DiPietro’s been doing, and I think he’s an excellent replacement for Volker. Not so much because I know a damn thing about him, except that East Aurora’s former mayor is being advised by Ostrowski, and he’s been endorsed by Primary Challenge. His campaign sent out a media advisory last week indicating that the Erie County Republican Committee, which is backing Volker, had sent some young goon to videotape DiPietro’s campaign announcement speech. But that person wasn’t taping the speech, but the crowd. Soon afterwards, people in the crowd began receiving threats - veiled and overt - about supporting a candidate who is running in a primary against another Republican.

Say one thing about the Democrats, we may bicker and argue and primary each other, but I’m not that aware of people threatening other people’s livelihoods if they do so.

Chris Lee has re-done his campaign website, and there remains no page for “views” or “platform”, so all the Republican snots who keep criticizing the democrats’ supposed lack of a platform might want to address that issue with their candidate.

If you go to the main page of Lee’s website, you’ll find that he will bring “real leadership, leading to real change”. The Republican candidate for NY-26 is the change agent? That’s novel. You’ll also find other platform planks, such as:

“Values, reform, and change that bring solutions”, juxtaposed with an image of an older woman with her daughter. This image.

“Putting the people of Western New York First”, juxtaposed with an image of a woman with construction workers. This image.

“Real solutions for our families and businesses”, juxtaposed with an image of a young family at play. This image.

“Making our future brighter for our children and grandchildren”, juxtaposed with an image of grandpa and granddaughter. This image.

Actually, although the “views” tab has been taken down, the page is still there. Going to it reveals that the tab’s gone because his “views” are still “coming soon.“. Not his platform. His “views”.

But he does have a “message”, which starts with this paragraph:

My name is Chris Lee, and I am here because Western New Yorkers are demanding real reform, real change, real leadership and real solutions. Right now Washington, D.C. and Albany are shortchanging us, and that needs to stop! For too long, we have heard about creating jobs, lowering taxes and eliminating needless regulation. Unfortunately, the results have not matched the rhetoric.

The incumbent has been there since 1999, and has endorsed Lee. If Washington has been shortchanging us, it’s no thanks to incumbent Republican congressman Thomas M. Reynolds - a man who was once very clout-laden in a body that until recently held a Republican majority during the pendency of a Republican presidential administration. I’d suggest that real change for the 26th would be to let a member of the other party have a go.

Barack Obama will follow in the footsteps of the above-pictured reckless and inexperienced men:

Here’s the truth: the Soviet Union had thousands of nuclear weapons, and Iran doesn’t have a single one. But when the world was on the brink of nuclear holocaust, Kennedy talked to Khrushchev and he got those missiles out of Cuba. Why shouldn’t we have the same courage and the confidence to talk to our enemies? That’s what strong countries do, that’s what strong presidents do, that’s what I’ll do when I’m president of the United States of America.

Wow. A grownup treating grownup issues in a grownup manner, and speaking to us grownups as if we were grownups. It sure beats the jingoistic grunting we’ve endured for the last 7 years.

McCain wants a debate about dealing with countries that are hostile to us? Bring it.

He’s actually up for re-election this year. How fantastic is that?

The Republican congressman from Staten Island got popped last week for DUI after leaving a bar, and he was bailed out by a woman who lived nearby. Turns out he had an ongoing affair with her, she had a 3-year old daughter by him, and his dad and uncle helped pay the bills for her.

On top of that, he’s a hypocritical and sanctimonious prick:

Fossella banded together last month with a group of lawmakers who demanded HBO apologize for what they called an “offensive anti-Catholic rant” by “Real Time” host Bill Maher. Fossella took HBO to task for “insulting the Pope, mocking the Catholic religion and Catholics.”

Yeah? What’s the Pope’s view on maintaining two families? On adultery? On kids out-of-wedlock? Jerkoff.

He’ll probably resign on Monday.

Will the reason be: I want to spend more time with my families?

Good riddance. Don’t be a moralizing asshole if you can’t back it up.

Looks like it’s tough recruiting Republicans to run for NY-26. Between that, Judge Tills, and Governor Spitzer it sure has been a very strange month here in New York.

First, Tom Reynolds announces he’s out.

George Maziarz? No, thanks. State Senate majority by a hair. And Grandkids.

Jim Hayes? No, thanks. Assembly.

Don Postles? Uh, Channel 4 is quite nice, thxbai.

Maybe Mike Cole or Jeff Bono would run.

Or maybe not.

BuffaloPundit has decided to take the day off from blogging and spend a little downtime getting ready for the holiday weekend. He asked me (BuffaloGeek) to keep you all entertained in his absence…Yesterday, WNYMedia.net was at the Tom Reynolds Resignation press conference and captured the following on video.

Reynolds announcing his resignation and detailing some of the reasons for his retirement from public service:

Reynolds answering questions regarding two scandals that have plagued him during the last two years:

I was struck by two things at the press conference; Reynolds’ incredible arrogance as it pertains to his “teflon” status as a Congressman and the lack of other Republicans by his side at such an important event. Expected candidate and NY State Sen. George Maziarz was in attendance as was Niagara County GOP Chairman Henry Wojtaszek. I was surprised to not see other local Repubs like Chris Collins, Jim Domagalski, or Mike Failenhofer in attendance. I think that says a lot about where Reynolds finds himself at this point in his career. I was also surprised to not see his litany of supporters in attendance…

Reynolds believes NY-26 will stay a Republican seat and he may have just injected enough chaos into the race to make that a reality. Maziarz will bring a sizable vote swing from Niagara County with him and the rural parts of the district are staunchly Republican. This makes Erie County and the Rochester area that much more important for the Democrats as they fight to take over the seat. Positioning Jon Powers as new blood and a candidate for change as opposed to a tenured member of the do-nothing state senate would seem to be enough to sway the voters, but this is Western New York…and the problem is never “our guy” in Albany, it’s the “other guys”, right?

The Tonawanda News has significantly more detail about Thursday’s battle over a variable minimum for Chris Collins’ County Attorney choice. First, we hear from someone familiar to me:

“This will send a bad message from this Legislature that, if you’re a woman, we’re hanging out a sign that says you need not apply. You won’t get a variable minimum,” Ranzenhofer said.

So someone in the tone-deaf Republican caucus decided that the gender discrimination angle was an awesome idea. Luckily, there are actual women in the leg:

Several female legislators rose to speak against the idea that gender was the reason they wouldn’t approve the salary. Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams, D-Buffalo, said gender couldn’t be an issue because Collins’ choice, Cheryl Green, has not yet been confirmed. Legislator Betty Jean Grant, D-Buffalo, said the comment was an offensive attempt to pit the Legislature’s women against one another.

“I’ve heard the race card played many times, but I’ve never heard the gender card being played, especially by a man,” Grant said.

Legislator Robert Reynolds, Jr., D-Hamburg, said that he believes the county could find someone, male or female, to take the job for the actual starting salary of $96,000.

Ms. Grant and Mr. Reynolds both make excellent points, I think.

Republicans, however, want to be sure that their patronage slots make as much as possible off the public teat.

Legislator Edward Rath III, R-Williamsville, argued that the raised salary, which was already approved in the 2008 budget, would allow Collins to draw out the best candidate. Rath made the argument that $124,000 was the rate already being paid to the previous county attorney, but Legislator Michele Iannello, D-Kenmore, pointed out that people entering a new position with the county don’t make the same amount as those who have earned raises over time.

Correct. And why not take Rath’s argument to its extreme; if you want the absolute best candidate, why not bump up the salary to $300,000? $500,000? I mean, country club dues don’t pay themselves.

What struck Iannello as odd was the way the salary raise was presented to legislators in committee, she said. “While we were in committee, we questioned the fact that if they had someone in mind, where was the resume,” Iannello said. “They told us at that time that they wanted to approve the variable minimum so they could offer the position. It’s disingenuous of them to come before us and ask for $124,000 knowing they had someone in mind and not allowing us to review their credentials in committee.”

Yes, what about that? Unless the person has been working in county government long enough to justify step increases, a new hire should start where the rules say she starts. Full stop.

I did find it pretty funny that the “glass ceiling angle wasn’t just Collins being silly. It was a Republican talking point.

Assembly minority leader (i.e., A Schenectady Republican in King Shelly’s Court) James Tedisco has a blog.

Perhaps it might provide a bit of insight into the sausage factory we have in Albany. But somehow, I doubt it.