McCain and Free Speech

While I have on several occasions posited that McCain is the frontrunner for the 2008 GOP nomination, his position on Free Speech and political contributions is close to untenable for me to support his candidacy. His comments the other day make this even worse.

For Shame.


http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/ captures it:
Mark Tapscott has a clip of John McCain's appearance on the Don Imus Show that demonstrates the truly frightening prospect of having the Senator from Arizona occupy the White House. McCain told Imus that he would trade the First Amendment for "clean government":
"He [Michael Graham] also mentioned my abridgement of First Amendment rights, i.e. talking about campaign finance reform....I know that money corrupts....I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected, that has become corrupt. If I had my choice, I’d rather have the clean government."

Welcome to Tony Snow

Can we now begin the full frontal assault on the left leaning press, and the flabby anti-American liberals, along with the useless Congressional Democrats?

Isn't it time we begin fighting to articulate our principles?

Cut the taxes and the spending, win the war, confirm the judges, build the wall, maye allow illegals to get in the back of the line if the pay taxes, a fine, learn english and have committed no crimes.

Cut ethe Gas Tax, Cut the Ethanol Tax

Why not cut the gas tax (49 cents per gallon) permanenetly?

Sen. Menendez says we should cut it temporarily. Why not cutit permanently?

Good first week for Bolten

I am pleased to say that I think John Bolten's first week was a good one. Making progress on upgrading the team and not losing any time. I am cautiously optomistic that the move of Portman from Trade Rep to OMB will be a good one, considering tha this backup in Trade is supposedly a real professional. Regardless of the status of WTO or other global trade talks, much more important are the specific bilateral talks with potential parterns such as South Korea, Malaysia, Panama, UAE and Ecuador.

It seems to me that Bolten is getting his ducks in a row so that the administration can within a couple weeks begin getting back on track with the political fights they need to have with the Democrats to highlight the choice that an election always is.

Good job, and keep it going John.

Confirm the judges, win the war, cut the taxes, reduce the spending, build the wall.

The Armenian Genocide documentary on PBS tonight

I watched it. Very sad. Not sad that there wer several Hollywood stars doing the commentary, that was actually quite impressive. What's sad is that that massacre was over 80 years ago, and the genocide perpetrated by Saddam was only ended 3 years ago...and the same Hollywood was against ending it.

http://www.twocatstv.com/armeniangenocide.php

The Armenian Genocide is narrated by Julianna Margulies and includes historical narrations by Ed Harris, Natalie Portman, Laura Linney and Orlando Bloom, among others.

Maybe someone should send some recent historical information to the above actors, so they could do a documentary on the hundreds of thousands of dead Kurds and Shiites in Iraq.

Blogging Malaise

Letter to my readers, and any administration readers especially.

I have had blogging malaise for a while...sorry....and I think its because I've gotten tired of standing up for the administration and its goals, when it seems like they don't want to fight the battles that need fighting. It seems as though John Bolten has recently been taking control of the clattering train, so I hope to be breaking out of my blogging funk soon.

I don't really have an opinion on the border thing, other than that laws should be enforced and borders should be guarded. I do think that some avenues should be opened to those who are here illegally, but only after everyone who is applying legally is accepted first. Put up a wall. Then make everyone legal. Take as long as you want, but they need to be identified, pay taxes and get legal. Deport the felons. On that point at least, fight the Dems. Its a perfect argument.

On Iran, its pretty clear to me that at some point in time, which I trust the administration to decipher, there is a circumstance, up with which we will not put. That is an attack on Israel, our interests, or development of a nuke. Seems to me like this circumstance is approaching very soon.

ON Taxes, extend the tax cuts, stop the spending growth. Simple stuff guys. Put in Dick Armey as Treasury Chief, and put him to work on a simplifying the tax system for 2007. I'd be shocked if any major wall st guy wants to give up his career for 2 1/2 years in Washington after a PITA confirmation battle, but I could be wrong. Start means-testing beneficiaries.

GET THE JUDGES CONFIRMED PLEASE. Nothing more needs to be said. There are over 55 Circuit and District vacancies, 6.3% of the total judiciary, 10% of all circuit judges. It is critical to fill these seats. Time is running out.

ON Iraq, the war's pretty much won. The Saddamists are dead, The Qaedaists are dead and leaving for Palestine to fight in that civil war (Oh didn't you hear about that one yet?). Sadr is in the process of getting weeded out. We have to wait till we have a stable government in place that does not include Sadr. After that, significant troops will probably start coming home. When's the parade?

ON Trade, sign the agreements and get the passed. This is how we keep American jobs = more free trade partners. Clinton passed NAFTA, which now accounts for 30% of our total intl. trade. This administration is on track to expand that to 43% and potentially 44% if all current negotiations are signed and passed by Congress. Thats pretty amazing. Almost a 50% increase in free bilateral trade that will be subject to zero trade barriers by our partners. Please leave Portman at Trade Rep, don't move him to OMB. He's effective where he is, and we need these agreements completed and cant lose momentum. This is very important !!!

I don't think the GOP will lose many seats in Congress - in the house, proably less than 10 - see Jay Cost at Real Clear Politics, in the Senate, probably around 2 losses, and if things turn around it might even be less. Thing is, We could have gained Senate seats if last year wasn't such a complete and total clusterfk. 4 Credible African American GOP candidates for Senate and Governor? (OH, PA, MD, MI) That's awesome, and game-changing.

Karl got kidney stones at precisely the wrong time. Sorry dude. That must have totally sucked. Andy pretty much took over, and things went all to hell. He was a great team player, but had no political vision. Harriet, Katrina and the rest is history.

Hope to be blogging again soon. Get the agenda moving John and Karl !!!