Liberal Democratic Politics, Discussion and Snark

So John McCain’s gas tax holiday turns out to be just another campaign retread. Not to mention a bad idea. What a loser.

You may have heard the Republican presidential nominee propose something similar before — 12 years ago when the GOP nominee’s name was Dole, not McCain.

Nice. Not only is he a bad candidate, but he likes to steal ideas from other losers in his party.

Cliff Schecter drops a gem in his interview with Bob Cesca on the Huffington Post:

With the Obama/Hillary Thrilla in Manila still going on, it seems many have dug in and are more content to bash the other one than McCain. Which is a problem, as he is a scary guy, and people need to know it.

And basically, that’s the deal. Let’s just forget about Hillary and Barack for a moment and focus on why John McCain is a clear threat to America. He’s pro torture, and he’s a giant flip-flopper.

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but has since decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. (Indeed, McCain has now hired Falwell’s debate coach.)

* McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.

* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.

* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation.

* McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist.

* McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands.

* McCain gave up on his signature policy issue, campaign-finance reform, and won’t back the same provision he sponsored just a couple of years ago.

* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.

* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

* And now he’s both for and against overturning Roe v. Wade.

Nice. Real nice.

From the Huffington Post:

“The dramatic reduction in violence has opened the way for a return to something approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi,” McCain said.

Really? Did you really say “something approaching normal”? I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say that we were going to be in Iraq for a bazillion years.

If you still need proof that John McCain is a subpar Presidential candidate, too old, then you are without hope.

David Kurtz at TPM is following the latest Rasmussen Poll:

Rasmussen is just out with its latest poll, showing Hillary’s lead in Pennsylvania is down to 5 points.

In the same poll a week ago, it was a 10-point spread.

Late Update: SurveyUSA also has new Pennsylvania poll out, showing Hillary with a still-healthy 12-point lead, although that, too, is down, from 19 points in the last poll.

Regardless of the breathless pundits, Hillary winning Pennsylvania is a foregone conclusion. As much of a hullabaloo as will be made, she’s not Rocky, and it’s not a comeback. What’s important is not whether she wins, but by how much. And by the looks of things, she’s getting closer and closer to the statistical margin of error (which is +/-4). Uh-oh!

Hillary Clinton needs to win landslide victories in all of the remaining primaries to even seem viable. Fortunately for Barack Obama, that appears to be slipping away. By the way, I can’t get enough of this headline: “Somebody forgot to tell Hillary Clinton the Democratic presidential race is over and Barack Obama won.” Priceless.

Darn that Hillary Clinton! It’s clear that based on this cherry-picked photo of her on washingtonpost.com that she is a very smug person and that she is refusing to drop out of the Democratic primaries to make things difficult and frustrating for people that hate her.

I’ve got to say, I’m not exactly a Hillary fan, but if she wants to play the Mike Huckabee role, I say go for it (by Mike Huckabee, I mean a Republican of course). Do it for the honor, the glory, and the punditry.

Senate Majority Leader Harry “Fightin’ Mormon” Reid says this will all be over with just a sprinkle of magical pixie dust and a few prayers:

“People should not lament what is going on,” Mr. Reid said. “This will be over long before the convention. Does it mean June 5 or two weeks from now? I don’t know, but this will all be just fine.”

Also, no one pay attention to the man behind the curtain. Move along now.

Not one to be relegated to irrelevancy, Ralph Nader has poked out his head and deigned to pen/blog a statement in support of Hillary (read: himself). Did anyone hear something that matters? It certainly isn’t this:

Senator Clinton:

Just read where Senator Patrick Leahy is calling on you to drop out of the Presidential race.

Believe me.

I know something about this.

Here’s my advice:

Don’t listen to people when they tell you not to run anymore.

That’s just political bigotry.

Listen to your own inner citizen First Amendment voice.

This is America.

Just like every other citizen, you have a right to run.

Whenever you like.

For as long as you like.

It’s up to you, Hillary.

Just tell them –

It’s democracy.

Get used to it.

Yours truly,

Ralph Nader

Note to Ralph: 2000 is on the phone, they’d like their Presidency back.

Note to Hillary: 2000 is on the phone with Ralph Nader, and 2008 is on the phone with Barack Obama so you’re going to have to wait in the lobby. Thanks.