Steve Wilson's Blog

October Surprises

Steve Wilson — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:46:01 EDT

In 1972, Henry Kissinger proclaimed "Peace was at hand" in Viet Nam. McGovern lost badly.

In 1980, Iran refused to release the hostages, helping Reagan beat Carter. Many still believe that Reagan had Bush Sr. cut a deal with Iran to delay the release.

In 1992, Casper Weinberger was indicted for Iran Contra, and Bill Clinton beat Bush Sr. Many accused independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsch of timing the indictment to help Clinton.

In 2000, Bush's old DWI was made public, helping Gore beat Bush (but Bush got the last laugh in his 5-4 ballot in the Supreme Court).

In 2004, the Al Jazeera video of Bin Laden helped Bush Jr. beat Kerry by raising the fear of another terrorist attack.

Now that October 2008 has come and gone, is there still time for a November Surprise? Could Obama have any skeletons in his closet that are yet to come out? Will Bin Laden try to mess with this election? Will Bush invade Iran before the election?

What do you think? I have been monitoring the Drudge report and the best he has is that Obama's aunt is living in the U.S. illegally and that Zogby's poll on Friday shows McCain ahead by 1 point.

Is General Petraeus naive and dangerous, also?

Steve Wilson — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:41:55 EDT

Part of the case McCain /Palin are making against Barack is that he is naive and dangerous when it comes to foreign policy. This case is based almost totally on Obama willingness to have talks with our enemies. But they also frequently attach themselves to General David Petraeus, who is given credit for the success of the 'surge' in Iraq. But what does Petraeus think?

"When the timing is right, we ought to go in there and have a good discussion with the Syrians," said a Defense Department official close to Petraeus. "It's a meaningful dialogue to have."
Petraeus would likely find a more receptive audience for his approach in an Obama administration, given Barack Obama's views on the need to engage America's enemies. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6148650&page=1

But George W. Bush has prevented Petraeus from going to Damascus for talks, and instead is trying to widen the Iraq war by authorizing the recent attack inside Syria.

Senator Stevens guilty on all 7 counts

Steve Wilson — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:04:39 EDT

just reported on MSNBC

Drudge and Fox News pushing Ayers connection

Steve Wilson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:07:04 EDT

Obama Reviews Ayers Book in Chicago Tribune Sunday, October 19, 2008
http://www.drudge.com/news/113836/obama-reviews-ayers-book-chicago-tribune#more

On December 21, 1997, Barack Obama wrote a short review of William Ayers' book A Kind and Just Parent: The Children of Juvenile Court, which had recently been published by Beacon Press. Here's a photo of how the review appeared in the Chicago Tribune:

Obama Praised 'Searing and Timely' Book by Ayers http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/20/obama-praised-searing-timely-book-ayers/

Barack Obama once gave a glowing endorsement of a book by former domestic terrorist William Ayers and was mentioned by name in the book itself.

If going to an Obama rally, take the bus or a cab

Steve Wilson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:51:10 EDT

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a rally in the Crown Center Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Police say tires slashed during NC Obama rallyhttp://www.wral.com/news/state/story/3771147/

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Authorities say someone slashed tires on at least 30 parked vehicles while their owners were attending a Barack Obama rally in a North Carolina coliseum.

But the local sheriff doesn't have a clue who did it.

Cumberland County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Smith said Monday afternoon there were no suspects, but the case still was being investigated.

This should serve as a notice to law enforcement that they better provide more security around campaign events because it is getting nasty.

New Ohio poll gives Obama a 9% lead

Steve Wilson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:28:53 EDT

Obama Leads by 9 in Ohio, McCain Edges in Missouri
1 hr 11 mins ago http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20081020/pl_usnw/obama_leads_by9_in_ohio__mccain_edges_in_missouri

BOSTON, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With just over two weeks left before the presidential election, voters in the key state of Ohio are giving the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden a 9-point lead (51 percent - 42 percent) over the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin, according to a poll released today by Suffolk University.

The latest NBC/Mason Dixon poll for Ohio showed McCain up by 1%.

Ohio Secretary of State wins in US Supreme Court

Steve Wilson — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:55:00 EDT

Ohio Democrats Win at Top U.S. Court in Voting Fight (Update1)
By Greg Stohr
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a5EBGhvepnG4&refer=home

Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court, siding with Democrats, freed Ohio officials from a lower court order that might have limited participation by new voters in next month's presidential election.
Today's ruling means Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, doesn't have to provide county election boards with lists of new registrants whose information doesn't match up with government databases. A federal trial judge had ordered Brunner to supply the lists by today.

The Repugs thought they could keep Ohioans from voting. Not this time!

U.S. to pull out of Iraq by 2011

Steve Wilson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:03:42 EDT

Obama's Iraq plans vindicated as US agrees to pull out by 2011
By Patrick Cockburn in Baghdad
Thursday, 16 October 2008 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obamas-iraq-plans-vindicated-as-us-agrees-to-pull-out-by-2011-962874.html

The agreement still needs to be approved by the council of Iraqi leaders, the cabinet and the Iraqi parliament. Mr Maliki saw the highly influential Shia religious leader, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, last week and was assured that he would not stand in the way of the pact if approved by parliament.

It looks like the contractors might be leaving sooner.

The US has given ground on crucial issues. On the legal immunity of American troops Mr Dabbagh said: "Inside their bases, they will be under American law. Iraqi judicial law will be implemented in case these forces commit a serious and deliberate felony outside their military bases and when off duty." Contractors, who have more men in Iraq than the US army, will no longer have immunity.

Let's hit the online polls

Steve Wilson — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:37:12 EDT

http://www.cnn.com/ http://abcnews.go.com/
http://www.foxnews.com/
http://www.cbsnews.com/
http://www.drudgereport.com/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

Texas Democrats, Don't Be Fooled

Steve Wilson — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:11:52 EDT

Democrats cry foul over suspicious e-mail
10/15/2008
By KELLEY SHANNON / Associated Press http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D93R2C780.html

An e-mail circulating throughout Texas and apparently targeting supporters of Democrat Barack Obama falsely warns voters that casting a straight-ticket Democratic ballot won't register a vote for Obama.

And thanks Boyd Richie for being on the job!

Attention All Democrats:
With early voting about to begin and the November 4th election day approaching, misleading voter information is being circulated to confuse Democratic voters and cancel out straight Democratic Party votes.
This is a crucial time for you to make your voices heard by voting the straight Democratic ticket. I urge you to carefully review the information below which outlines the correct procedure for voting a straight Democratic ticket:
When you mark "Straight Democratic" then cast your ballot, your vote will count for Barack Obama and all the Democratic candidates, including all congressional, state and local Democrats on the general election ballot.
NOTE: A separate vote for an individual candidate is required only in a special election (e.g., Senate District 17)
OR
If you do not wish to vote a straight party vote, you must mark each individual candidate for whom you wish to vote, and then cast your ballot.
BUT
DO NOT SELECT "STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC" AND THEN SELECT INDIVIDUAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES. THIS COULD CANCEL OUT YOUR VOTE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES!
Additionally, carefully read the review screen after marking your selection and before casting your ballot. If you have any questions at the polls, ask an election judge for assistance. Visit our Voter Information page for more information about deceptive voting information and review your rights as a Texas voter.
I am confident that together we can overcome deceptive GOP messaging and vote our Democratic candidates into office from the court house to the White House!

Your friend and fellow Democrat,
Boyd L. Richie
Chairman
Texas Democratic Party

Early voting starts in Texas on Monday!. I can't wait.

Look who McCain has been talking to

Steve Wilson — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:50:17 EDT

McCain talks economy with Hillary
By GLENN THRUSH | 10/15/08 2:18 PM EDT http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14599.html

This was no social call, even though Clinton likes McCain enough to keeps his photo on the wall of her Senate office. The GOP nominee had already chatted with Bill Clinton about the mortgage crisis and wanted to pick the senator’s brain about her new proposal to have the federal government buy up bad mortgages and renegotiate terms more favorable to homeowners on verge of default

How did Hillary respond?

Clinton responded coolly. “She didn’t engage him, she just said, ‘Thank you’ and heard him out.”

I've got to find a wingnut blog to post THIS on. LOL!

Will the Iraq War end on January 1, 2009?

Steve Wilson — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:08:36 EDT

Lacking an Accord On Troops, U.S. and Iraq Seek a Plan B
By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 14, 2008; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/13/AR2008101302846.html?hpid=topnews

U.S. officials do not dispute that the absence of an agreement would probably require an immediate end to combat operations and, at a minimum, confinement to bases on Jan. 1. Officials refused to discuss the sensitive issue on the record while negotiations are ongoing.

But it appears that Iraqi politics may keep Bush from getting his way.

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi said yesterday that an accord is unlikely before the end of the year, citing the number of parties that must sign off on the deal. "I'm not sure that the time we have left is enough for all of these organizations to study it, revise it and agree on the text," Hashimi told McClatchy Newspapers.
Frustrated over what they consider Iraqi intransigence, administration officials have said Iranian meddling is keeping Shiite leaders from accommodating U.S. bottom lines. The government-sanctioned Iranian media have charged repeatedly that Washington is trying to force Maliki to sell out Iraqi sovereignty. Radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, with a bloc of supporters in Iraq's parliament and a powerful militia currently under a cease-fire, has called for an immediate U.S. withdrawal.

We'll see.

Wow! I've never seen a poll like this!

Steve Wilson — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:50:11 EDT

http://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1076a2ElectionofOurDiscontent.pdf

90 percent of registered voters say the country is seriously off on the wrong track

McCain is on the wrong train and the wrong track.

At 23 percent, Bush's job approval rating has fallen below Nixon's lowest

McCain is trying to use the Bush/Rove playbook, but its not the same game this time.

Obama holds his largest lead yet, a remarkable 30-point margin, in better understanding the economic problems Americans are having, 58-28 percent. He leads McCain by about as much, 59-31 percent, in trust to help the middle class, and by 11 points on taxes, two prime points of contention in the last presidential debate.

We're leading on TAXES! McCain is screwed! God Bless America!

http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/story?id=6017487&page=1

Update x1 I'm a poll watcher from the eaarly '60s but I'm not this bad. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deanie-mills/a-poll-pushing-political_b_132923.html

I am a fan of this blogger who went from PB to HuffPo http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deanie-mills

Palin abuses power!

Steve Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:27:26 EDT

Is the report public yet? What did I just hear on MSNBC?

McCain's mortgage plan

Steve Wilson — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:17:53 EDT

McCain Adviser Offers Details on Mortgage Plan

By Michael Abramowitz

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/08/mccain_adviser_offers_details.html

In a conference call with reporters this morning, Holtz-Eakin offered a few more details of the so-called American Homeownership Resurgence Plan, unveiled at the Tuesday night debate, in which a homeowner having difficulty making payments or facing foreclosure would be eligible for an FHA-insured mortgage. He said that some of the money for the new program, which could cost $300 billion, could come from the new $700 billion authority granted the Treasury Secretary to buy distressed assets; he also said some of the funds could also come from existing authority in the Federal Housing Administration.

Sorry, not enough details, John. Does anybody believe that $300 billion is enough to cover all of the 'underwater' mortgages in the country? And why didn't he get this mandated in to the bailout bill?

One sure bet, the right-wing Republican base is livid about this.

"That One" is already a commercial success?

Steve Wilson — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:35:15 EDT

http://www.cafepress.com/darthstar/6055140

Buy in bulk!

Who won the second presidential debate in Nashville?

Steve Wilson — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:46:53 EDT

Fox News online poll is showing Obama 69% McLame 31%

Please vote!

http://elections.foxnews.com/

And vote in the other online polls!

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/stevewilson/CGL9

Let's hit the online polls

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:09:34 EDT

Who won the debate? Vote at CNN and post a comment providing a link to another poll.

http://www.cnn.com/

McCain says we went into Afghanistan why?

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:16:01 EDT

He didn't mention 9-11. He says that it was because we didn't stay there after the freedom fighters threw the Soviets out.

I think he watched Charlie Wilson's war too many times.

Hey snakelips, your man is toast!

How dirty will it get tonight?

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:23:19 EDT

The Debates Obama Team Ready for Mud By Anne E. Kornblut

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/07/obama_team_ready_for_mud.html

NASHVILLE -- Barack Obama's advisers are usually cautious about managing expectations -- never predicting a landslide, always downplaying how well their candidate will do in the debates. But with just a few hours until the second presidential debate here on Tuesday night, some of them let a little confidence slip.

Robert Gibbs, wandering the media filing tent, described McCain as "generally very cranky" these days. Then he asked: "Which John McCain are we going to get tonight? Are we going to get the guy who yells at the kids to get off his lawn?" Alternately, Gibbs said, a sunnier version of the Republican candidate could show.

But that was not the McCain he was most excited to talk about. "He looks angry and desperate, so I assume we'll get angry and desperate," Gibbs said, adding that if he wants to go negative -- presumably more difficult in the town hall setting, in front of several dozen undecided and soft-leaning voters -- Obama is ready to match him. "If people want to get down in the mud, we're prepared to get dirty," he said.