Archive for the '2008' Category

Vice President Condi?

From the Political Radar, an ABC News blog:

Dan Senor: Condoleezza Rice is Pursuing the VP Spot

“Condi Rice has been actively, actually in recent weeks, campaigning for this,” Senor said this morning on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”

According to Senor, Rice has been cozying up to the Republican elite.

Senor explained that Rice’s history in public office would make her a prime candidate, especially in light of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain’s emphasis on experience throughout his campaign.

I’ve never trusted McCain and I’m still leaning strongly toward voting for the Constitution Party this fall. As nice as Condi Rice is (with stellar taste in shoes), she’s made it clear that she is pro-abortion — not zealously, but “mildly” so nonetheless. McCain is already wishy-washy enough on issues that matter to social conservatives.

This would be the final nail in the McCain ‘08 coffin, as far as I’m concerned.

Here’s hoping it’s just rumors.

Cornell Republicans to Rally for McCain

I haven’t been a member of the Cornell Republicans since my freshman year, but I’m still on their email list as I tend to agree more with them than with the College Democrats.  That said, one of the key reasons I quit the CRs was because they were more Republican than they were conservative. I guess you can’t really hold that against them.

Anyway, big news!

*What: Show your support for McCAIN!*
*When: TOMORROW, Thursday, April 3rd: Noon-1pm *
*Where: Ho Plaza, Cornell University*
*Who: Everyone Welcome!*
* *
*Come show your support for John McCain by voicing your support at a rally
sponsored by the Cornell College Republicans and Tompkins County GOP. The
rally will be covered by all local papers, so it is imperative that we have
a good turnout.*
* *
*Additionally, representatives from the local and state GOP executive
committees and the McCain campaign will be in attendance so it will be a
great networking opportunity for those looking to get more involved!*
* *
*Anyone who wishes to speak at the rally is invited to do so, but you must
have a written copy of what you plan to say emailed to [xxxx@cornell.edu] by midnight tonight to be added to the speaker’s list. We encourage everyone to participate!*
* *
*If you’re not big on public speaking, come and waive a sign and sport a
sticker and show your support for the next president of the United States!*

Conservatively,

[Chairman of the Cornell Republicans]

But really, was “Conservatively” the best way to sign off on that announcement?

McCain finally tells the truth

From Orlando over at Fort Hard Knox:  McCain - “I’m a proud liberal, conservative Republican.” 

And who says it’s easy to live a lie?

UK Limits Olympian Free Speech

God forbid we offend those liberty-loving Chinese.

From FoxNews.com, UK Bars Olympic Athletes from Making Political Gestures at Beijing Games

LONDON  —  British Olympic athletes must sign a new clause in their contracts prohibiting politically sensitive remarks or gestures during the Beijing Games.

“The reality is, given the level of political scrutiny of the world’s media on these games and the way China will handle them, the BOA felt it was sensible and proper to flag that rule to our athletes,” British Olympic Association communications director Graham Mewson said Sunday.

The International Olympic Committee already has a rule that states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

In January, Belgian athletes were told they would be prohibited from raising human rights or other political issues at Olympic venues. Outside the sports venues and Olympic village, however, they will be free to speak their mind.

The BOA is making the change because China’s government is widely regarded as sensitive to criticism over issues such as its human rights record and Tibet, Mewson said.

British athletes have been required to sign the 32-page BOA contract for 20 years before competing in the Olympics, but this is the first time such a clause is being added.

Mewson said the clause will not bar British athletes from “honestly answering” questions they are asked during interviews at the Aug. 8-24 games about “politically sensitive issues.”

“An athlete who decides to lift up his team shirt to show a ‘Free Tibet’ one below it, that’s very different,” Mewson said.

Free speech takes a hit, China’s sensitive feelings remain intact.  Way to be, leaders of the Western world, way to be.

Thoughts on McCain and questions for his defenders

I’m swamped with course readings right now, but not too swamped to vent a little of my frustration in the form of disorganized thoughts.

1. For those of you so convinced McCain will nominate strict constructionist, Constitution respecting federal judges and SCOTUS justices, how do you explain the Gang of 14?

2. In light of McCain’s shamnesty plan to ignore / encourage illegal immigration, how do you argue that he is strongest on national security?

3. When preaching to the social conservatives that McCain is pro-life, how do you explain his support of scientifically stagnant stem cell research that kills embryos?

Answer those questions honestly and clearly without meaningless rhetoric about Reagan or the precious Republican Party or the evil Clintons and B. Hussein Obama or how you think Ann Coulter is a liar. Convince me.

Addendum:  Explain this too, please.

I hope I’m not being too demanding.

Bastion of Cornell Conservatism Endorses McCain

Oh, wait. Sorry, I was mixed up. The endorsement is actually from the Cornell Daily Sun, our notoriously liberal student-run paper.

McCain Best of GOP

Among the Republican field, John McCain is a rare breed of politician — a man who consults his conscience instead of the latest polls, a man who puts his country’s interests above his own, a man who tells voters the truth rather than what they want to hear. On the campaign trail, he distinguishes himself from rivals on both sides by refusing to pander to local special interests and to his party’s fringes. As Republican voters in 21 states go to the polls today, The Sun deems him the best of the field in the GOP primary.

McCain has centered his campaign on national security. And unlike his GOP rivals, the former POW boasts the military experience and foreign-policy expertise to back up his hawkish views. Yet McCain appreciates the importance of soft power — he spoke out passionately against the use of torture in interrogation, arguing that it would be shortsighted for America to sacrifice the moral high ground.

McCain has consistently demonstrated his willingness to work across the aisle. He refuses to indulge in the sort of partisan demonization that has poisoned our political atmosphere throughout the Bush-Clinton era. While his record is conservative (a lifetime 82 percent rating from the American Conservative Union), McCain tries to put his country before his party — a fact that explains his widespread appeal among independents. Long a lonely voice against corruption and pork-barrel spending in the Republican-controlled Congress, McCain promises to return his party to the principle of fiscal responsibility. He has also stayed ahead of the curve on the environment, for years warning skeptical Republicans of the reality and urgency of global warming.

McCain’s chief rival, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, has run a campaign of dissimulation, flip-flopping on the issues of abortion, gay rights, stem-cell research, gun control, tax cuts, global warming, immigration, campaign finance reform, and the war. His changes of heart might seem more sincere if they didn’t always break so conveniently in the direction of political expediency. As for foreign-policy experience, Romney’s is limited to having twice dined at an International House of Pancakes. Once again, Republicans have a choice between Senator McCain and a thoroughly unworthy governor. We hope they get it right this time.

Click here to read The Sun’s Democratic Endorsement

Wow… one quick question: When did the Sun start caring about the sincerity of pro-life politicians? Was this before or after they published opinion columns in favor of partial-birth abortion? Good to know they’re watching out for us pro-lifers. I wouldn’t want to be swindled by that faker Romney…

I can’t lie, I’m freaking nervous about this not-so Super Tuesday deal. If McCain wins… I know I won’t vote for Hillary, but I can’t promise I’ll vote for him either at this point.

I’ll sign off with some words of wisdom from Ann Coulter:

I’d rather deal with President Hillary than with President McCain. With Hillary, we’ll get the same ruinous liberal policies with none of the responsibility.

Also, McCain lies a lot, which is really more a specialty of the Democrats.