Warning.....

This is quite racy, but I think it's hilarious. Proceed at your own risk.

McCain Announcing on Tuesday in SC?

There is an email being circulated among Republican activists in Charleston, SC claiming a "historic" announcement being made by Senator John McCain there on Tuesday. The email stops short of providing specifics on the announcement.

There are only a few things that John McCain could say that would be "major." Since he's unlikely to switch his position on Iraq or leave the Republican Party, odds are that he's making his entry into the Presidential race official.

He wouldn't be the first candidate to announce in Charleston. In 2003, John Kerry announced for President on an aircraft carrier in Charleston Harbor. McCain's presumed choice of location for an announcement is significant because in modern history, no Republican has won his party's nomination for President without winning the South Carolina Republican Primary.

The McCain folks are mum. So far, inquiries at his Senate office and the Straight Talk America Committee have been not been returned. I'll update you if I get further confirmation.

Devil Prays at SC Gov Inauguration

None other than Bob Jones III gave the closing prayer at the second inauguration of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. He's not exactly the devil, but he does come from a long line of right wing crazies.

Bob Jones University is a bastion of conservative, evangelical politics. In fact, those wishing to completely indoctrinate their children into a long life of closed-minded philosophies can enroll their children at a Bob Jones school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Then, they can go directly to the University and earn a Bachelor's degree in fascism. Not really, but they are nuts.

One of their most notable former students is the Reverend Fred Phelps, the idiot who protests the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq saying they deserved to die because America condones homosexuality. They also gave an honorary degree to John Ashcroft, the guy who loved to abuse our civil liberties when he was Attorney General of the U.S.

While Mark Sanford purports himself to be a "man of the people," his choice of Bob Jones III to deliver the closing prayer at his inaugural is a disgrace. He represents a small faction of people in South Carolina, a faction which discriminates against millions of Americans and twists the words of the Bible to fit their narrow definition of society. Shameful.

Here are some of his statements. Visit his Wikipedia page for more:

-Jones once "denounced Ronald Reagan as 'a traitor to God's people' for choosing as his vice president George H.W. Bush, whom Jones called "a devil." But some years later, he personally thanked the elder Bush for being a good president.
-Jones has referred to Catholicism as "the religion of the anti-Christ and a Satanic system" and called Mormonism and Catholicism "cults which call themselves Christian."
-Shortly after George W. Bush won reelection in 2004, Bob Jones III sent a congratulatory letter to the president declaring that he had "been given a mandate. ... Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ."

SC Dems to Hold First Debate

South Carolina Democrats will hold the first Presidential Debate of the 2008 cycle on April 26, 2007, according to The State newspaper in Columbia, SC. The debate will be held on the campus of South Carolina State University, alma mater to new House Majority Whip, Jim Clyburn.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said he was touched the debate will be held at his alma mater.

"I fully expect that the leading Democrats who are considering a run for the presidency, will not miss this opportunity to travel to Orangeburg and meet the terrific students, faculty and staff of S.C. State for this historic occasion," Clyburn said.

Last summer, the Democratic National Committee sought to expand the early primary field in order to reach out to African American voters as well as Hispanic voters. South Carolina was selected because of the prominence of African American voters in its Democratic Primary. South Carolina Democrats also held a First in the South Primary in 2004.

That the debate will take place at South Carolina State, a Historically Black College, underscores the importance that African Americans will play in the Southern Primary. Jim Clyburn's influence in Washington and in South Carolina will ensure the debate is widely attended by all would-be candidates.

As with the debate held by SC Dems in the 2004 cycle, this debate will bring much attention to the Palmetto State. I have no doubt that my fellow SC Democrats will make us all proud with a first class event to showcase the talent we will have heading into the 2008 Presidential election.

Hillary is In

Yesterday, one of the swearing in parties I attended was Hillary Clinton's. At that party, I pointed out Terry McAuliffe to one of my house guests from Michigan. Soon after, he stepped out of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to smoke a cigarette.

While engaged in his cancer-causing activity, he witnessed McAuliffe exit the building. While getting in a car, he commented to someone that they would "be seeing a lot more of him from now on."

From the next best thing to the horse's mouth. Hillary is running for President.

Update:
This assertion has now been confirmed by a source independent of sidewalk smokers, someone who actually works in the political arena and has first hand knowledge that Senator Clinton WILL indeed be running for President.

This is Pathetic!

Update:

It has been brought to my attention by The Raw Story that this may have been a fake email. Their efforts to identify the original source of the email, Dawn Grishim, has turned up nothing. Hastert's office has denied issuing any release implicating Jerry Weller or Phil English.

My apologies for not making more of an effort to authenticate this. The source from which I received it is very reliable, but has also been duped by some disingenuous trickster.

I thank The Raw Story for calling this to my attention.
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I will attempt to be rational here. But, I'm mad.

Speaker Hastert, in a final act as a constitutionally elected LEADER of the United States House of Representatives has established a "tip line" for House Pages. As I said in a much earlier post, the Ethics Committee under Republican Rule is (WAS) pathetic. Like I said earlier, the ethics committee report was largely a joke. Here is Hastert's statement.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Speaker Hastert Announces Page Program Tip Line Number

(Washington, D.C.) House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert today announced the official Page tip line number. Following is his statement:

“As the Speaker I take full responsibility for everything in the building. The buck stops here. The safety and security of the students in the Page program is imperative.

“That is why I directed the Clerk of the House to establish a hotline for reporting any information concerning Pages or the Page program. As of this morning, the Clerk of the House has activated the tip-line. It is for anyone with information regarding the Foley, English and Weller matters. This number can also be used to report any other concerns regarding the Page program.

“The Page program tip line is 866-348-0481.”

This is evidence that the Republicans sat on information that would have been further detrimental to them in the 2006 Election. There were rumors in October that Weller and English were involved in inappropriate relationships with Pages. This is the FIRST acknowledgement of their possible involvement in the larger Page scandal.

How odd that they would wait to issue this information? The only reason I can imagine is that they want the Main Stream Media to cover this rather than the Democratic takeover of Congress.

PATHETIC!

Cybersex Scandal: Pre-Foley

No breaking news here. Most of the Beltway Folks have read about this already. But for those of you outside of Washington, this is not only interesting, but it has HUGE implications for the online world.

The quick and dirty of it is that this fella, Robert Steinbuch, was engaged in a relationship with a fellow Capitol Hill Staffer. In fact, they both worked for outgoing OH Senator Mike DeWine. Unbeknownst to him, his girlfriend, Jessica Cutler, was keeping an online journal of their relationship. And a few others!

Ms. Cutler called him the "current favorite" and said he resembled George Clooney, liked spanking and disliked condoms.

I'll save the rest of the details for the actual article. The boring part is that they are going to court, after years of discovery. This will get really dirty and personal. I feel bad for both of them.

Can Bush Really Write an Op-Ed?

Maybe. But it probably takes him a long time. Perhaps that's why he refuses to be "rushed" into a decision on Iraq! Then again, maybe he's just incapable of living up to his self proclaimed title of "Decider."

Anyway, John Aravosis has an amusing post over at America Blog that is worth checking out. He does a great job breaking down the Bush op-ed that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. Those of us who enjoy seeing past the old, overused rhetoric will enjoy it!

Bush's Photo Op Snubbed by Ford Family

The children of late President Gerald Ford spent every hour of public viewing in the United States Capitol to greet tens of thousands of everyday Americans who came to pay tribute to their father. When President George W. Bush showed up, the Ford children were nowhere to be seen.

According to a Capitol Hill source, Bush is the only person to have the Rotunda cleared for his visit, bringing a screeching halt to the public's visit to the casket. Other former Presidents and political VIP's went to the front of the line, but nonetheless greeted fellow mourners while paying their condolences. Further, Bush reportedly spent only seven seconds at the casket and promptly left the building.

While the nation, including Democrats and Republicans alike, joins together in honoring the service and life of a former President, Dubya doesn't seem to get it. Instead, he seems to just be going through the motions.

In his New Year's message to America, wherein he offered scant comments on the passing of Ford, he launched into a defense of his failed Iraq Policy.

"Defeating terrorists and extremists is the challenge of our time, and we will answer history's call with confidence and fight for liberty without wavering," he said.

Perhaps that he is so politically tone deaf is the reason the Ford children decided not to welcome the President during his visit to the casket. I don't blame them one bit.

The McCain Doctrine

Newly minted Presidential candidate John Edwards today showed his political prowess and willingness to play hardball. In an interview on ABC's This Week, Edwards took on Republican frontrunner John McCain:

"I actually, myself, believe that this idea of surging troops, escalating the war -- what Senator McCain has been talking about -- what I would call now the McCain doctrine ... (is) dead wrong," said Edwards.

Some of the criticism that progressives have had with an Edwards candidacy is that he is "too soft." This direct challenge to McCain should help quell some of those concerns. That it is also couched in terms of ending the war in Iraq should also further his credibility with progressives.

This tactic should also show that Edwards is in this to win it. I'll be looking forward to how this will play out. So far, there's no comment from McCain.