Biden Says Obama Will Be Tested With A ‘Major International Crisis’

Barack Obama will need help in a crisis, says Joe Biden from Times Online UK...

Joe Biden, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, has told Americans to expect a “major international crisis” that will present an early test of a Barack Obama administration.

His comments were seized upon by the Republican campaign yesterday to raise fresh doubts about the prepared-ness of Mr Obama to be commander-in-chief.

Speaking at a fundraiser in Seattle on Sunday night, Mr Biden said: “Mark my words, it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here . . . we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.”

He cited Russia and the Middle East as possible places that may cause problems, as well as the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan – “crawling with al-Qaeda” – as being of particular concern.

Mr Obama would need help and support, Mr Biden suggested, “because it’s not gonna be apparent, initially, that we’re right.” He then spotted the media in the room, “I probably shouldn’t have said all this because it dawned on me that the press is here.”

Now why would anyone vote for Barack Obama when his own VP states that a vote for Obama is a vote for an international crisis? Why would anyone want to be a part of a ticket that one believes will lead the country to crisis? What an unbelievable statement. The only time a time camera falls on Senator Biden at this point is when he is trying to pull his foot out of his mouth. However, this is beyond a gaffe; this is disturbing. It appears Senator Biden sees Senator Obama as weak. It appears that Senator Biden, is not confident in Senator Obama's ability to handle a crisis, and it appears that Senator Biden would prefer a "major international crisis" that a Republican president.

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Biden Says Obama Will Be Tested With A ‘Major International Crisis’

Heeeere's Johnny...

Who can make both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama roll with laughter? ...John McCain at the Albert E. Smith Dinner.

Video picks up at 2:38

Oh please, please, please, let this be a sign that McCain will be McCain in the last three weeks of this election.

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Here's Johnny...

Volunteer for McCain Palin

It's coming down to the last weeks of the election. The best way to help the McCain/Palin ticket is to volunteer. Contact your local McCain Victory Office or make calls to battleground states from your home with the Online Phone Bank. This is the time that matters most. For Senator McCain to win the White House his campaign needs volunteers making phone calls and knocking on doors. Please take the time to make even just a few phone calls a day. From home or from a Victory Office please volunteer, and be a part of history.

Obama's Ties To Acorn

Obama's Ties to ACORN

Clinton Backer/Fundraiser Supports McCain

"Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter and member of the Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee, will endorse John McCain for president on Wednesday, her spokesman tells CNN.

The announcement will take place at a news conference on Capitol Hill, just blocks away from the DNC headquarters. Forester will “campaign and help him through the election,” the spokesman said of her plans to help the Republican presidential nominee.

Forester was a major donor for Clinton earning her the title as a Hillraiser for helping to raise at least $100,000 for the New York Democratic senator’s failed presidential bid."

From CNN Ticker

Orson Swindle McCain Roommate

Bill Clinton Endorsement of John McCain?

Sure sounds like an endorsement. Certainly not a reach to see McCain as Clinton approved.

Bill Clinton Endorses John McCain Sort of

Biden Obama's VP Pick

So Senator Biden is the pick; good choice. As mentioned in previous posts during the NH primaries Senator Biden and Senator McCain were the only two candidates to talk about Iraq in detail. They both deserve credit for that. Obviously this is why Biden was picked. Senator Obama needs some help on foreign policy, which he hope he can get from Biden. An interesting wrinkle to this pick is that Senator Biden has said numerous times that Senator Obama is not prepared / not qualified. In fact at his event in New Hampshire at the end of his talk he said (paraphrased), 'If you decide not to vote for me, I hope you choose some one with experience. These are difficult times and we need someone who knows what they're doing.'

I agree. His statement was a pretty clear hat tip to Senator Clinton, who once again got snubbed by the Obama camp by not being vetted, and apparently did not even receiving a courtesy phone call. However, the statement holds just as well for Obama v. McCain. McCain doesn't need a VP who will help him when tested on foreign policy. Don't believe me just listen to Senator Biden...

An Odd Similarity Between McCain Supporters and Hillary Supporters

This may seem like a reach, but there is a sort of odd similarity between McCain supporters and Hillary Supporters. Though it is a limited comparison, circumstances in the McCain campaign and in the Clinton campaign have created this odd similarity. The start of the comparison begins early last summer when Senator McCain supported immigration legislation. Senator McCain wasn't just challenged on the merits of his position, which would have been fully understandable, but he was trashed by many for his position. He was called a traitor (particularly insulting to a military man) and he even received death threats. For months after that everyone, except McCain supporters, thought he was toast; and in reality there was no way that he 'should' have won the nomination. Everything was stacked against him. Right wingers did not like him, the media hammered him for his stance on Iraq, and there were constant predictions about when he would drop out of the race.

Sound oddly familiar? While there definitely are diffrences; Clinton got hammered in the media, while the press had a serious case of puppy love for Senator Obama. Many either pushed for, or predicted, her withdrawal from the race prior to the end of the primary season, and Senator Clinton was subject to attacks that went well beyond the bounds of common decency. Thus the similarity in the two candidate's supporters. They've both been told their candidate is done, and they've often become very defensive of their candidate because of the unfairness of the attacks. Finally, we're down to the current day comparison, which resides primarily with a frustration with the media. This comes from what appears to be a blatant bias for Senator Obama. If Senator Obama's ever changing record, and questionable associations were reported on in the main stream media the race would likely look a lot different than it does today.

Clinton Supporters Making A Statement About Not Supporting Obama

Clinton supporters are making a statement that they are NOT going to unite behind Barack Obama. There are a variety of reasons why; Michigan and Florida, poor treatment of Senator Clinton by the media, disrespectful behavior by Obama supporters, or simply doubts about Senator Obama and his qualifications. For these, or other reasons, many Clinton supporters are actively campaigning for Senator McCain. The site Just Say No Deal lists over 125 sites, many newly started, that agree that they will not be voting Obama in November. Some like Savage Politics are even raising money for Senator McCain. Many are planning to donate to the McCain campaign on July 4th to show their committment. Here are just a few of the numerous sites committed to NOT unifying the Democratic Party.

clintondems.com
hireheels.com
hillarysupporters.com
clintons4mccain.com
riverdaughter
hillaryclintonforum.net
womenforfairpolitics.com
donedems.com
pumaparty.com
savagepolitics
hillarygrassrootscampaign.com
pumapac.org
millionwomenmarch.blogspot.com

Clinton Supporters Embracing A McCain Presidency

Seven Reason Clinton Supporters Should Back McCain

I saw a request the other day from a Clinton blogger for Obama supporters to make an argument for their candidate that did not include the reason, ‘he’s not McCain’. Therefore, I thought it might also be appropriate for a McCain supporter to put out the argument for Clinton supporters to back McCain without the argument, ‘He’s not Obama’. So here goes…

First, there’s a reason Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter had a meltdown when McCain wrapped up the Republican nomination. A McCain presidency threatens to take the teeth out of their brand of politics. These sorts of conservative commentators feed off the nastiest form of partisanship, and a leader that works with across the isle and doesn’t demonize the other party puts their careers at risk. McCain has been consistently respectful of fellow candiates and colleagues from both sides of the isle. McCain has a history of bipartisanship in the Senate, which has made many conservatives mad. You only have to look back to last year’s immigration debate to realize that he took a stand on an issue that almost tanked his campaign because he believed in it. Global warming, campaign finance reform, and anti-torture legislation are other areas that he worked with Democrats at significant political risk.

Second, McCain as president and head of the party would act as a moderating influence on the Republican party itself. If McCain is elected the party moves towards the center, if he isn’t elected the far right will retain the most influence within the party. This may not seem terribly important to a Democrat, but if you consider long-term objectives, dealing with a moderate Republican party will in the end result in more change than dealing with an extremely conservative Republican party. The reality of politics is that no party continuously holds power, and a shift in party theology benefits those in the middle and those on the left.

Third, you know what you get with Senator McCain. He went to Iowa and took a stand against ethanol subsidies; he went to Michigan and told people that jobs that had gone over-seas were not coming back. Pundits thought this was political suicide, but he stuck to his guns anyway. Certainly some people will disagree with him on these issues, but he is straightforward about where he stands.

Fourth, despite claims otherwise, Bush and McCain are not even close to being the same. McCain is experienced and very well educated. McCain was the only Republican to condemn the Swift Boat ads against Kerry, and the only Republican to call for Donald Rumsfeld’s ouster. There is no evidence that there are any Republican 527’s being formed in this election cycle, and McCain knows all too well about the dirty politicking of the Bush administration as he was one of its first to come into the cross-hairs of Karl Rove in South Carolina during the 2000 campaign.

Fifth, as Senator Clinton said, he passes the ‘commander-in-chief test’. His military and Senate experience make him one of the leading experts in foreign policy. Again some don’t agree with his positions, but he comes at them from a well-informed viewpoint. He understands the ramifications war, and the consequences of leaders actions. He is well studied in history, and if you attend one of his town halls you’ll find out that he answers questions about all subjects, but his aptitude regarding foreign policy is striking.

Sixth, no one is predicting that the Republicans will win back the house or Senate. The conventional wisdom is that they are likely to loose seats. Consequently, there is little risk that Republicans would control both branches of government. A McCain presidency would require bipartisanship and cooperation to achieve legislative goals.

Seventh, he walks the walk. Senator McCain supported the surge with the knowledge that doing so could put his son in harms way. Not only has he served, but also two of his sons serve one of who was active duty in Iraq. He sacrificed in his own service, and now he knows first hand the sacrifice of military families who have a loved one serving their country. He doesn’t talk about his son’s service publicly, but it is more evidence that his convictions are real.

I understand that for some he is too far away from their own political beliefs for them to actively support him. That’s completely understandable, and I appreciate the opportunity to make the pitch. However, I hope some Clinton supporters will recognize that while McCain is not their first choice he brings good things to the table and warrants careful consideration. In the long run there are many benefits to a McCain presidency.

Here are a few sites that may be of interest to Democrats, Independents, and moderates that support Senator McCain.

A long-time McCain supporter and Blue Dog Democrat at Blue and New.

McCain Independents and Democrats Social Network

Started by some Hillary supporters Democrats for McCain are crossing party lines to unite behind John McCain.

Don't be a Good Democrat is challenging Democrats not to support Senator Obama.

Independent Jim is another example of a long time McCain supporter who has been both a Democrat and a Republican.

Independent Dude

McCain Democrats Yahoo Group

McCainocrats - the new Reagan Democrats

Purple People Vote the parent site of McCain Indpendents providing commentary from the perspective of a New Hampshire Independent.

Bush Obama A Substantive Comparison

Obviously the Dems strategy this year is to link McCain to Bush, and use an unpopular presidency to drag down McCain's popularity. There is a certain amount of irony to this since Bush and McCain have been political rivals for quite some time; and that in 2000 McCain was targetted by Bush and Rove and particularly dirty and underhanded way. However, the stategy remains to connect these two in the eyes of the public.

However, a more substantive comparison would be Obama 2008 and Bush 2000. There is a similarity to their campaigns. 'A uniter and not a divider' is the 2000 version of, 'Yes we can'. They both ran on a platform of change, and the most glaring similarity is their utter lack of experience. Bush and Obama made claims that their inexperience made them outsiders capable of chaning 'business as usual' Washington. Bush didn't know who the president of Pakistan was, Obama guaranteed to meet with Ahmedinejad in the first year of his presidency without preconditions. Both statements made their campaigns and supporters wince and bite their nails. Their success despite their lack of substantive discussion of issues, was marketted as refreshing and new. The guy we'd have a beer with, shoot hoops with, but not neccessarily the guy we'd trust to do our taxes. Finally, both marketted experience as a negative. The Obama campaign tags Clinton and McCain as relects of a failed Washington just as Gore was tagged as a with the negatives that President Clinton carried. Conveniently skipping over the knowledge that is attained through experience. Consequently, these two excellent campaigners are rewarded for being totally unprepared to run the country.