My Friends,
I am honored to announce that I have chosen Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as my choice for the Republican nominee for Vice President. As a father with three daughters, I can't express how proud I am to choose the first female Republican Vice-Presidential nominee.
Sarah Palin is a trailblazer and a reformer. As the first female governor of Alaska, she challenged a corrupt system and has been a tireless advocate for reform - passing a landmark bill on ethics reform. She has taken on the old politics in Alaska and reformed the state's energy industry. She rejects wasteful pork barrel spending. She's fearless - exactly the type of leader I want at my side and the type of leadership we will bring to Washington.
My friends, together Sarah Palin and I make the strongest presidential ticket and I know that she joins me in asking for your support as we head into our Convention week in Minnesota. We're shaking things up in this campaign - and Governor Palin and I are ready to bring real reform to Washington.
The polls indicate this will be a tight race as we head into the fall campaign against Senators Obama and Biden. I expect the polls to remain close all the way up to Election Day and that is why any help you can give today will go a long way to make history on November 4th.
You may already know that I have decided to accept federal matching funds for the final months of this campaign- keeping a campaign promise I made. But that means that August 31st marks the last day I can accept your primary contribution. Will you make an immediate donation of whatever you can give- whether it's $50 or $500 to ensure Governor Palin and I win in November?
You can be assured that as President and Vice President, Governor Palin and I will always put country before all else. We are ready to lead and I ask that you join our campaign today. Your support is deeply appreciated.
Sincerely, John McCain
P.S. I have chosen Governor Sarah Palin as my running mate and today we held a joint campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. I hope you'll visit my website to financially support our ticket as we head into next week's Republican Convention. Thank you.
Doug Kellett @idougradio
Doug Kellett
- Doug Kellett's Daily Blog
- I have more than 30 years of news/talk/sports hosting experience including management of stations in Nashville, Denver and Columbus(GA). I often can be heard in some of the largest markets in the US and great stations like KOA/Denver, 630 KHOW/Denver, 600 KCOL/Ft. Colllins, CO, WOAI/San Antonio, KTRH and KPRC/Houston, WLS/Chicago, KKDA/Pittsburgh, WLAC/Nashville, WBT/Charlotte, Fox News/Ft. Myers-Naples, FL, 106.3 WORD-FM/Greenville-Spartanburg, SC and many other stations.
Palin acknowledged use of Marijuana
Not sure whether this will matter or not. Just got this release from a pro-marijuana group who points out Gov. Palin has acknowledged use. Obama acknowledged in his book drug use in his early years so this may not matter. Bill Clinton was elected in 1992 when the issue of drug issue came out and there have always been rumors about President Bush and his early years....
McCain's VP Pick Acknowledged Marijuana UseReformers Urge McCain to Respect States' Rights
CONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications ............... 415-668-6403 or 202-215-4205
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Noting that his just-announced vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, has acknowledged having smoked marijuana, reform advocates today urged Sen. John McCain to respect states' rights to set their own marijuana policies if he is elected president.
On Aug. 6, 2006, the Anchorage Daily News reported, "Palin said she has smoked marijuana -- remember, it was legal under state law, she said, even if illegal under U.S. law -- but says she didn't like it and doesn't smoke it now.
"'I can't claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled.'" The paper quoted Palin as saying she opposed legalization of marijuana because of the "message" that would be sent to her children.
"Governor Palin is one of many millions of Americans who have used marijuana and gone on to live productive, wildly successful lives," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "That she used marijuana is no big deal, but what is a big deal is that she thinks that the 100 million Americans who have used marijuana, including herself, belong in jail. That wouldn't be good for her kids.
"Perhaps most importantly, Alaska is one of 12 states that allow the medical use of marijuana, and one in five Americans currently live in those states. The heavy hand of the federal government has trampled state authority and tried to interfere with the implementation of these state-level medical marijuana laws. The GOP ticket should embrace the time-honored Republican principle of local control by promising to end the federal government's war on sensible medical marijuana laws in both red and blue states."
Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have medical marijuana laws. New Mexico's is the latest, passed by the Legislature last year. Montana's medical marijuana law appeared on the November 2004 ballot, receiving 62 percent of the vote, exceeding George W. Bush's total of 59 percent.
With more than 25,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.
####
McCain's VP Pick Acknowledged Marijuana UseReformers Urge McCain to Respect States' Rights
CONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications ............... 415-668-6403 or 202-215-4205
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Noting that his just-announced vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, has acknowledged having smoked marijuana, reform advocates today urged Sen. John McCain to respect states' rights to set their own marijuana policies if he is elected president.
On Aug. 6, 2006, the Anchorage Daily News reported, "Palin said she has smoked marijuana -- remember, it was legal under state law, she said, even if illegal under U.S. law -- but says she didn't like it and doesn't smoke it now.
"'I can't claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled.'" The paper quoted Palin as saying she opposed legalization of marijuana because of the "message" that would be sent to her children.
"Governor Palin is one of many millions of Americans who have used marijuana and gone on to live productive, wildly successful lives," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "That she used marijuana is no big deal, but what is a big deal is that she thinks that the 100 million Americans who have used marijuana, including herself, belong in jail. That wouldn't be good for her kids.
"Perhaps most importantly, Alaska is one of 12 states that allow the medical use of marijuana, and one in five Americans currently live in those states. The heavy hand of the federal government has trampled state authority and tried to interfere with the implementation of these state-level medical marijuana laws. The GOP ticket should embrace the time-honored Republican principle of local control by promising to end the federal government's war on sensible medical marijuana laws in both red and blue states."
Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have medical marijuana laws. New Mexico's is the latest, passed by the Legislature last year. Montana's medical marijuana law appeared on the November 2004 ballot, receiving 62 percent of the vote, exceeding George W. Bush's total of 59 percent.
With more than 25,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.
####
John McCain and his VP
(I'll be on the Steve Gill show for a few minutes tomorrow to discuss my concerns with Steve who thinks this is a great pick. Steve's show is live M-Saturday from 9a-12noon ET and can be heard live at http://www.1510wlac.com/).
Well, I had little confidence in John McCain's decision making before now and he has reinforced that belief. The Media and republican pundit types are applauding McCain's decision to name Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential nominee. I, for one, am not applauding. Once again, McCain has squandered an opportunity to show good judgement and decision making. Otherwise, why pick an unknown female, not even one term governor, from a state with the population of a small U.S. city? Why pick someone with little experience and take away the best reason to vote for McCain over Obama in November? In an effort to live up to his "maverick" claims, McCain went against "conventional wisdom" for his pick. That he did indeed. However, elections are about strategy and issue positions. While Gov. Palin is right on most of the issues, she doesn't help with an electoral map strategy at all. Her state of Alaska with its few electoral votes are going republican this fall. She is a wild card and how will those in the heartland who were having problems voting for McCain any way view this? It would have been imminently better to have chosen someone that has the appearance as being the next President and provides you some advantage in the electoral map. Even Tom Ridge of Penn. who would have angered social conservatives would have been a better pick with the possibility of McCain carrying that state. Mitt Romney, with his religion an issue, would have been better with the possibility of bringing Michigan, a blue state, into the fold. Even the Governor of Minn. would have possible helped in turning that state red from blue.
While Governor Palin has been regarded as rising star in the republican party, her star needed to rise for a while longer before being chosen. I like what a republican friend of mine said on during an interview with me on a radio station recently: "..we are going to fall off the cliff with either McCain or Obama. We just slow down the process of getting to the cliff with McCain."
Well, I think we just sped up. A couple of guys on a Birmingham, AL station I was listening to this morning said "..get ready for President Obama. McCain just ceded the election to him..(with the pick of Palin).
Well, I'll try to calm down now...
Email reactions I'm getting:
Today....gotta agree with you.Only benefit to your side, which is obvious, is that some angry-Hillaryites, with the high likelihood of her succeeding a 72-yr-old guy, might put gender over policy and defect for good.Anyway, thanks for your honesty. She might be a good choice electorally, but it would be awfully hard to defend her on the basis of experience. Makes Obama look like he was born in the Capitol. ---Greg
****
"I agree with you on the inexperience part....otherwise, I'll just have to wait and see."-- Erik
*****
She is pretty, though. Hillary is an old battle axe in comparison. And watching the reaction of the crowd in Ohio, she's causing a lot excitement.
Hey, no one I really like is running. It's always been a choice for the lesser of two evils. Not since Ronald Reagan has there been a candidate that I loved.
Man, Sarah Palin is HOT! Vavavavoooom! LO--- Jim
***
"She's very attractive and could probably pose for playboy. Other than her looks I don't think the shebrings much to the table. I'm not too happy about it either. I may have to vote for Nader. Just Kidding!Take care Doug. Always good to hear from you." ---John
****
"The pick just passed the first step as Rush has approved."--Matt
***
"THAT WAS A TERRIBLE DECISION ON MCCAIN'S PART IN MY OPINION....BUT HELL ...WHAT DO I KNOW?"--- Stephen
****
"Sorry Doug! You know I think you're brilliant, but I have to agree with your buddy Matt on this one. I think Palin will do much to win this for McCain. She's fresh, she's bright, she's unafraid and has close to a 90% approval rate in Alaska. I can see her charisma spreading. She will capture much of the Hillary crowd as well as lots of union members. She is definitely not an elitest as most of the others are! You haven't been listening to MSNBC, have you? Just kidding. Of course you have, as I have, to get another perspective. Nausea makes my time watching MSNBC short-lived though." --- Mary
****
My buddy Matt Burke is trying to calm me down with this article:
An inspired choice
By Matt Burke
August 29, 2008
Today we awoke to the news that Senator McCain has selected Governor Sarah Palin as his nominee for the Vice Presidency. I was first intrigued by her after reading an article about her on Human Events, profiling possible Vice Presidential candidates. In that profile, she came across as a principled conservative who was a reformer that took on the “ethically challenged” members of the Alaskan Republican Party. Bill Kristol later extolled the virtues of a Palin nomination and has been a strong supporter ever since.
Before we begin, we should consider that all potential Republican Vice Presidential candidates had their strengths and weaknesses. While Romney would have given McCain an economic expert, he was only a one term Governor and his signature policy (healthcare) is now failing badly. Pawlenty appeared to be a nice guy with strong credentials, but a nice guy would have been run over by Senator Biden. Huckabee, Giuliani and Fred Thompson were never really considered.
During the selection process, one refrain consistently heard from the conservative base was that a pro-choice candidate would never be accepted. This ruled out Lieberman, Ridge and Giuliani.
With Sarah Palin, we have a mother of five, including a son who is about to go to Iraq. She recently gave birth to a child with Down’s syndrome (whom I am sure Barack Obama would support to partial birth abort. I can see that coming up in a debate). She labels herself as a pro-life feminist who supports drilling here and now, including in ANWAR. She is a solid conservative whom the Obama campaign never saw coming.
But most important is her identity. The Republican Party has unfairly been labeled as the old white man party. Sarah Palin brings a fresh breath of air into a stale party, one who is certainly not a Washington insider. As a woman, she will help us build the party as one of inclusion, especially after what happened to Hillary Clinton in the primaries and the feeling from a number of Democrats that she was slighted.
Barack Obama is currently running poorly with women voters, especially those over age 50. The only way he can win is to gain support from them. With the nomination of Sarah Palin, that job is much more difficult if not impossible. Many feel that
Finally, many feel that she is a wasted choice because Alaska was already going to vote Republican. First of all, the polls were tightening in Alaska, thanks to Senator Stevens indictment, and while three Electoral Votes may not appear to be much, we need to save as much as possible. Also, the last time a Vice Presidential candidate was important in carrying a state and ultimately winning the election was Lyndon Johnson in 1960.
Also, many point to the fact that she has not been a Governor for a long period of time before her selection. It is important to note that Teddy Roosevelt was the Governor of New York for one year before he was tabbed to be Vice President.
While the selection of Sarah Palin will not win a particular state, what she will do is help Senator McCain win the election. Well done!!
Well, I had little confidence in John McCain's decision making before now and he has reinforced that belief. The Media and republican pundit types are applauding McCain's decision to name Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential nominee. I, for one, am not applauding. Once again, McCain has squandered an opportunity to show good judgement and decision making. Otherwise, why pick an unknown female, not even one term governor, from a state with the population of a small U.S. city? Why pick someone with little experience and take away the best reason to vote for McCain over Obama in November? In an effort to live up to his "maverick" claims, McCain went against "conventional wisdom" for his pick. That he did indeed. However, elections are about strategy and issue positions. While Gov. Palin is right on most of the issues, she doesn't help with an electoral map strategy at all. Her state of Alaska with its few electoral votes are going republican this fall. She is a wild card and how will those in the heartland who were having problems voting for McCain any way view this? It would have been imminently better to have chosen someone that has the appearance as being the next President and provides you some advantage in the electoral map. Even Tom Ridge of Penn. who would have angered social conservatives would have been a better pick with the possibility of McCain carrying that state. Mitt Romney, with his religion an issue, would have been better with the possibility of bringing Michigan, a blue state, into the fold. Even the Governor of Minn. would have possible helped in turning that state red from blue.
While Governor Palin has been regarded as rising star in the republican party, her star needed to rise for a while longer before being chosen. I like what a republican friend of mine said on during an interview with me on a radio station recently: "..we are going to fall off the cliff with either McCain or Obama. We just slow down the process of getting to the cliff with McCain."
Well, I think we just sped up. A couple of guys on a Birmingham, AL station I was listening to this morning said "..get ready for President Obama. McCain just ceded the election to him..(with the pick of Palin).
Well, I'll try to calm down now...
Email reactions I'm getting:
Today....gotta agree with you.Only benefit to your side, which is obvious, is that some angry-Hillaryites, with the high likelihood of her succeeding a 72-yr-old guy, might put gender over policy and defect for good.Anyway, thanks for your honesty. She might be a good choice electorally, but it would be awfully hard to defend her on the basis of experience. Makes Obama look like he was born in the Capitol. ---Greg
****
"I agree with you on the inexperience part....otherwise, I'll just have to wait and see."-- Erik
*****
She is pretty, though. Hillary is an old battle axe in comparison. And watching the reaction of the crowd in Ohio, she's causing a lot excitement.
Hey, no one I really like is running. It's always been a choice for the lesser of two evils. Not since Ronald Reagan has there been a candidate that I loved.
Man, Sarah Palin is HOT! Vavavavoooom! LO--- Jim
***
"She's very attractive and could probably pose for playboy. Other than her looks I don't think the shebrings much to the table. I'm not too happy about it either. I may have to vote for Nader. Just Kidding!Take care Doug. Always good to hear from you." ---John
****
"The pick just passed the first step as Rush has approved."--Matt
***
"THAT WAS A TERRIBLE DECISION ON MCCAIN'S PART IN MY OPINION....BUT HELL ...WHAT DO I KNOW?"--- Stephen
****
"Sorry Doug! You know I think you're brilliant, but I have to agree with your buddy Matt on this one. I think Palin will do much to win this for McCain. She's fresh, she's bright, she's unafraid and has close to a 90% approval rate in Alaska. I can see her charisma spreading. She will capture much of the Hillary crowd as well as lots of union members. She is definitely not an elitest as most of the others are! You haven't been listening to MSNBC, have you? Just kidding. Of course you have, as I have, to get another perspective. Nausea makes my time watching MSNBC short-lived though." --- Mary
****
My buddy Matt Burke is trying to calm me down with this article:
An inspired choice
By Matt Burke
August 29, 2008
Today we awoke to the news that Senator McCain has selected Governor Sarah Palin as his nominee for the Vice Presidency. I was first intrigued by her after reading an article about her on Human Events, profiling possible Vice Presidential candidates. In that profile, she came across as a principled conservative who was a reformer that took on the “ethically challenged” members of the Alaskan Republican Party. Bill Kristol later extolled the virtues of a Palin nomination and has been a strong supporter ever since.
Before we begin, we should consider that all potential Republican Vice Presidential candidates had their strengths and weaknesses. While Romney would have given McCain an economic expert, he was only a one term Governor and his signature policy (healthcare) is now failing badly. Pawlenty appeared to be a nice guy with strong credentials, but a nice guy would have been run over by Senator Biden. Huckabee, Giuliani and Fred Thompson were never really considered.
During the selection process, one refrain consistently heard from the conservative base was that a pro-choice candidate would never be accepted. This ruled out Lieberman, Ridge and Giuliani.
With Sarah Palin, we have a mother of five, including a son who is about to go to Iraq. She recently gave birth to a child with Down’s syndrome (whom I am sure Barack Obama would support to partial birth abort. I can see that coming up in a debate). She labels herself as a pro-life feminist who supports drilling here and now, including in ANWAR. She is a solid conservative whom the Obama campaign never saw coming.
But most important is her identity. The Republican Party has unfairly been labeled as the old white man party. Sarah Palin brings a fresh breath of air into a stale party, one who is certainly not a Washington insider. As a woman, she will help us build the party as one of inclusion, especially after what happened to Hillary Clinton in the primaries and the feeling from a number of Democrats that she was slighted.
Barack Obama is currently running poorly with women voters, especially those over age 50. The only way he can win is to gain support from them. With the nomination of Sarah Palin, that job is much more difficult if not impossible. Many feel that
Finally, many feel that she is a wasted choice because Alaska was already going to vote Republican. First of all, the polls were tightening in Alaska, thanks to Senator Stevens indictment, and while three Electoral Votes may not appear to be much, we need to save as much as possible. Also, the last time a Vice Presidential candidate was important in carrying a state and ultimately winning the election was Lyndon Johnson in 1960.
Also, many point to the fact that she has not been a Governor for a long period of time before her selection. It is important to note that Teddy Roosevelt was the Governor of New York for one year before he was tabbed to be Vice President.
While the selection of Sarah Palin will not win a particular state, what she will do is help Senator McCain win the election. Well done!!
Tonight's agenda at the Democratic National Convention
(from the internet)
2008 Democrat National Convention
Schedule of Events
7:00 pm OPENING FLAG BURNING
7:15 pm PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE U.N.
7:20 pm Ted Kennedy PROPOSES A TOAST
7:25 pm NONRELIGIOUS PRAYER AND WORSHIP - Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton
7:45 pm CEREMONIAL TREE HUGGING - Darryl Hannah
7:55 pm Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
8:00 pm HOW I INVENTED THE INTERNET - Al Gore
8:15 pm GAY WEDDING PLANNING - Rosie O'Donnell
8:35 pm Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
8:40 pm OUR TROOPS ARE WAR CRIMINALS&nb sp;- John Kerry
9.00 pm MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SADDAM AND HIS SONS - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon
10:00 pm ANSWERING MACHINE ETIQUETTE - Alec Baldwin
11:00 pm Ted Kennedy& nbsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
11:05 pm COLLECTION FOR THE OSAMA BI N LADEN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FUND - Barbara Streisand
11:15 pm FREE THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS FROM GUANTANAMO BAY - Sean Penn
11:30 pm OVAL OFFICE AFFAIRS - William Jefferson Clinton
11:40pm HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY MARRIAGE-- John Edwards
11:45 pm Ted Kennedy PROPOSES A TOAST
11:50 pm HOW GEORGE BUSH BROUGHT DOWN THE WORLD TRADE TOWERS - Howard Dean
12:15 am TRUTH IN BROADCASTING AWARD&nb sp;- Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore
12:25 am Ted Kennedy& nbsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
12:30 am SATELLITE ADDRESS - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
12:45 am NOMINATION OF Barack Hussein Obama- Na ncy Pelosi
1:00 am Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST To Obama
1:30 am Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST To Hillary Clinton
1:35 am Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hillary home
2008 Democrat National Convention
Schedule of Events
7:00 pm OPENING FLAG BURNING
7:15 pm PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE U.N.
7:20 pm Ted Kennedy PROPOSES A TOAST
7:25 pm NONRELIGIOUS PRAYER AND WORSHIP - Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton
7:45 pm CEREMONIAL TREE HUGGING - Darryl Hannah
7:55 pm Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
8:00 pm HOW I INVENTED THE INTERNET - Al Gore
8:15 pm GAY WEDDING PLANNING - Rosie O'Donnell
8:35 pm Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
8:40 pm OUR TROOPS ARE WAR CRIMINALS&nb sp;- John Kerry
9.00 pm MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SADDAM AND HIS SONS - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon
10:00 pm ANSWERING MACHINE ETIQUETTE - Alec Baldwin
11:00 pm Ted Kennedy& nbsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
11:05 pm COLLECTION FOR THE OSAMA BI N LADEN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FUND - Barbara Streisand
11:15 pm FREE THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS FROM GUANTANAMO BAY - Sean Penn
11:30 pm OVAL OFFICE AFFAIRS - William Jefferson Clinton
11:40pm HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY MARRIAGE-- John Edwards
11:45 pm Ted Kennedy PROPOSES A TOAST
11:50 pm HOW GEORGE BUSH BROUGHT DOWN THE WORLD TRADE TOWERS - Howard Dean
12:15 am TRUTH IN BROADCASTING AWARD&nb sp;- Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore
12:25 am Ted Kennedy& nbsp; PROPOSES A TOAST
12:30 am SATELLITE ADDRESS - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
12:45 am NOMINATION OF Barack Hussein Obama- Na ncy Pelosi
1:00 am Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST To Obama
1:30 am Ted Kennedy&n bsp; PROPOSES A TOAST To Hillary Clinton
1:35 am Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hillary home
WBT/Charlotte today at 10AMET
Stories we are covering on today's special election show:
So, Joe Biden is Obama's choice for Vice-President. What does that tell us?
1. That Obama is weak in the area of foreign policy and he knows it. At a time that Russia is becoming more aggressive, U.S. troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan and Iran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons, having someone who knows about the world at large is essential. His "victory tour in Europe" didn't pay off like he thought it would with the American people. His numbers have gone down consistently since that trip.
2. Biden is better than Obama on foreign policy but not enough. He is an internationalist who
loves the United Nations.
So, Joe Biden is Obama's choice for Vice-President. What does that tell us?
1. That Obama is weak in the area of foreign policy and he knows it. At a time that Russia is becoming more aggressive, U.S. troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan and Iran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons, having someone who knows about the world at large is essential. His "victory tour in Europe" didn't pay off like he thought it would with the American people. His numbers have gone down consistently since that trip.
2. Biden is better than Obama on foreign policy but not enough. He is an internationalist who
loves the United Nations.
LIVE tonight at 6:05pm ET on WOAI/San Antonio
Filling in again for Joe Pags tonight on one of America's great radio stations--1200 WOAI. You can listen live at www.WOAI.com
The call-in line is 800-383-WOAI
The call-in line is 800-383-WOAI
Live this morning at 7AM ET on KNRS/Salt Lake City
Busy show this morning. We'll be talking with democratic strategist Brad Barnes about the current election map between Obama and McCain.
http://www.bannoncr.com/
Why is Obama tied in the daily tracking polls and slightly ahead in others? Shouldn't this be a democratic year? Brad will be on at 7:35AM ET. Economist and venture capitalist Bill Glynn will be on with me at 8:05 this morning.
www.billyg.net
I'll ask him about Barack Obama's idea of taxing the oil companies to give us all $1,000 to help pay for our energy costs. At 8:35 this morning, Nashville-based Talk Show Host and good friend Steve Gill will be on with me.
www.Gillreport.com
Steve has photos of a new house boat owned by Al Gore that is supposed to be totally green friendly. At 9:05ET, I'll be talking with former Air Force and Denfense Undersecretary Jed Babbin who is Editor of Human Events. We'll discuss the effort by House republicans in Congress.
www.Humanevents.com
Author of "The Last Patriot" Brad Thor will be on with me at 9:35ET to discuss his book and what we face with radical Islam.
http://www.bannoncr.com/
Why is Obama tied in the daily tracking polls and slightly ahead in others? Shouldn't this be a democratic year? Brad will be on at 7:35AM ET. Economist and venture capitalist Bill Glynn will be on with me at 8:05 this morning.
www.billyg.net
I'll ask him about Barack Obama's idea of taxing the oil companies to give us all $1,000 to help pay for our energy costs. At 8:35 this morning, Nashville-based Talk Show Host and good friend Steve Gill will be on with me.
www.Gillreport.com
Steve has photos of a new house boat owned by Al Gore that is supposed to be totally green friendly. At 9:05ET, I'll be talking with former Air Force and Denfense Undersecretary Jed Babbin who is Editor of Human Events. We'll discuss the effort by House republicans in Congress.
www.Humanevents.com
Author of "The Last Patriot" Brad Thor will be on with me at 9:35ET to discuss his book and what we face with radical Islam.
Tonight Live on WOAI/San Antonio at 6pm ET
You can listen live at http://www.woai.com/
Brad Thor, formerly of the Dept. of Homeland Security will be our guest at 8:05pm ET. He has a new book (his 7th) called "The Last Patriot." For more details click here:
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Patriot-Thriller-Brad-Thor/dp/141654383X
Brad Thor, formerly of the Dept. of Homeland Security will be our guest at 8:05pm ET. He has a new book (his 7th) called "The Last Patriot." For more details click here:
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Patriot-Thriller-Brad-Thor/dp/141654383X
How John McCain can win the election?
A good friend and political observer who worked on the McCain campaign in Georgia has written for my website how McCain can win the election. Matt currently works as a lawyer while being involved in Republican politics.
How Senator McCain Can Win in November
By Matt Burke
August 5, 2008
The dog days of summer are here, and in a few weeks, the conventions begin, first for the Democrats, and then by the Republicans. Much will be made in the coming days about Vice Presidential selections, however recent history shows that these selections have little effect on the overall result (see Cheney, Dick; Edwards, John; Lieberman, Joe; Gore, Al; Kemp, Jack). As such, I would prefer to offer unsolicited advice to the McCain campaign on how their candidate can win this November.
Much of the political punditry has opined that this election will be about Senator Obama. In this, they are partly right. Senator McCain will have to define Sen. Obama as an inexperienced and naïve liberal who cannot handle the complexities of the war on terror, and whose policies will spell economic doom for our country. But, Sen. McCain will also have to offer something for the voters, namely a reason why they should vote for him. If he fails to do so, expect an Obama victory.
It appears that the McCain campaign has already begun this approach with his regular reminders about his policy on energy, and Obama’s lack of a coherent energy plan. This needs to continue with other issues as well.
One issue that seems tailor made for a commercial is Obama’s stance on repealing the Patriot Act and requiring federal authorities to notify terrorist suspects within seven days that they were the targets of a search. I can see the commercial now; a group of terrorists are sitting around a table planning their next move when a letter arrives in the mailbox. It is from President Obama, and it states that this group is under surveillance from the FBI for suspected terrorist activities. The leader says “Thank you President Obama”, and the group scatters. The voice over states that Obama wants to let terrorists know that they are being watched, and only Senator McCain takes the threat against America seriously. Fade to the McCain for President logo.
The American people need to be made aware of Senator Obama’s position vis a vis the War on Terror. It is this issue that draws the sharpest contrast between the two candidates. Senator McCain wants to continue to take the fight to the terrorists because he feels it is in the nation’s best interest; Senator Obama wants to retreat because he thinks it is in the world’s best interest. Only one of these electorates will be voting for President.
Senator McCain has winning issues, from gun control, to handling the economy; all he needs to do is to articulate those issues. The best way to do this is to consistently show that he is a proud American, and to contrast that message with Obama’s apology to Europe.
However, he should take care not to try and imitate Senator Obama in articulating these issues. Sen. Obama is most effective speaking populist rhetoric from a teleprompter in front of large crowds of adoring fans. For a variety of reasons, this is not Sen. McCain’s strongest suit. He works best in smaller settings, with the audience close to him, taking unscripted questions from the audience. Obama comes across like a salesman, McCain like a retired military officer.
This is a winning approach. If you take a look at opinion surveys, military officers rate near the top of public opinion polls, while salesmen usually compete with lawyers to bring up the bottom.
This is why we have seen two consistent tracks in the national polls. We have seen Senator Obama’s numbers fluctuate, yet Senator McCain’s numbers only grow, they do not recede. With his more personal style, McCain makes you believe in him one audience member at a time and these voters stay loyal. Obama spreads himself thin over the entire crowd at once, and thin describes the thickness of his audience’s loyalty. Many Obama audience members in Berlin, who cheered during his speech, came away feeling disappointed. Their loyalty barely lasted as long as the speech. This is emblematic of his campaign.
The McCain campaign should resist the temptation to have the Senator speak in front of enormous crowds, emulating Obama, because it is not who McCain is. Having Sen. McCain act like a charismatic, platitude speaking populist would be as disingenuous as portraying Senator Obama as a war hero. It would not work. Keep it small, keep it personal, keep it American.
How Senator McCain Can Win in November
By Matt Burke
August 5, 2008
The dog days of summer are here, and in a few weeks, the conventions begin, first for the Democrats, and then by the Republicans. Much will be made in the coming days about Vice Presidential selections, however recent history shows that these selections have little effect on the overall result (see Cheney, Dick; Edwards, John; Lieberman, Joe; Gore, Al; Kemp, Jack). As such, I would prefer to offer unsolicited advice to the McCain campaign on how their candidate can win this November.
Much of the political punditry has opined that this election will be about Senator Obama. In this, they are partly right. Senator McCain will have to define Sen. Obama as an inexperienced and naïve liberal who cannot handle the complexities of the war on terror, and whose policies will spell economic doom for our country. But, Sen. McCain will also have to offer something for the voters, namely a reason why they should vote for him. If he fails to do so, expect an Obama victory.
It appears that the McCain campaign has already begun this approach with his regular reminders about his policy on energy, and Obama’s lack of a coherent energy plan. This needs to continue with other issues as well.
One issue that seems tailor made for a commercial is Obama’s stance on repealing the Patriot Act and requiring federal authorities to notify terrorist suspects within seven days that they were the targets of a search. I can see the commercial now; a group of terrorists are sitting around a table planning their next move when a letter arrives in the mailbox. It is from President Obama, and it states that this group is under surveillance from the FBI for suspected terrorist activities. The leader says “Thank you President Obama”, and the group scatters. The voice over states that Obama wants to let terrorists know that they are being watched, and only Senator McCain takes the threat against America seriously. Fade to the McCain for President logo.
The American people need to be made aware of Senator Obama’s position vis a vis the War on Terror. It is this issue that draws the sharpest contrast between the two candidates. Senator McCain wants to continue to take the fight to the terrorists because he feels it is in the nation’s best interest; Senator Obama wants to retreat because he thinks it is in the world’s best interest. Only one of these electorates will be voting for President.
Senator McCain has winning issues, from gun control, to handling the economy; all he needs to do is to articulate those issues. The best way to do this is to consistently show that he is a proud American, and to contrast that message with Obama’s apology to Europe.
However, he should take care not to try and imitate Senator Obama in articulating these issues. Sen. Obama is most effective speaking populist rhetoric from a teleprompter in front of large crowds of adoring fans. For a variety of reasons, this is not Sen. McCain’s strongest suit. He works best in smaller settings, with the audience close to him, taking unscripted questions from the audience. Obama comes across like a salesman, McCain like a retired military officer.
This is a winning approach. If you take a look at opinion surveys, military officers rate near the top of public opinion polls, while salesmen usually compete with lawyers to bring up the bottom.
This is why we have seen two consistent tracks in the national polls. We have seen Senator Obama’s numbers fluctuate, yet Senator McCain’s numbers only grow, they do not recede. With his more personal style, McCain makes you believe in him one audience member at a time and these voters stay loyal. Obama spreads himself thin over the entire crowd at once, and thin describes the thickness of his audience’s loyalty. Many Obama audience members in Berlin, who cheered during his speech, came away feeling disappointed. Their loyalty barely lasted as long as the speech. This is emblematic of his campaign.
The McCain campaign should resist the temptation to have the Senator speak in front of enormous crowds, emulating Obama, because it is not who McCain is. Having Sen. McCain act like a charismatic, platitude speaking populist would be as disingenuous as portraying Senator Obama as a war hero. It would not work. Keep it small, keep it personal, keep it American.
Links to stories to be discussed on KTRH at 10:05AMET
Busy schedule this week. I'm filling in for Joe Pags today on both KTRH/Houston(10am-12noonET) and WOAI/San Antonio(6-9pm ET).
You can listen live today at http://www.ktrh.com/ and http://www.woai.com/
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday:
7am-11am ET KNRS/Salt Lake City. http://www.knrs.com/
6pm-9pm ET WOAI/San Antonio http://www.woai.com/
Friday: KTRH/Houston (10am-12noonET) http://www.ktrh.com/
6-9pmET WOAI/San Antonio http://www.woai.com/
My article posted this morning at:
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/33687.html
House republicans are fighting back on gas prices...
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0808/House_Republicans_to_go_back_on_the_floor_Monday_to_talk_gas_prices.html
Chicago is #1, even over San Francisco, as the top nanny state location in U.S. Not surprising that Barack Obama calls the area his home.
http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/nanny_state_reason/2008/08/03/118662.html
Some are taking the opportunity to criticize Walmart again. This time because the company dared to let the employees know where it stands on the upcoming election. Why shouldn't a company explain to the employees how pending legislation could adversely affect the business? And especially that certain candidates support that legislation. For those of you that are upset about this, teachers unions and local governments do this all the time. They threaten employees that their jobs will be cut if some tax increase isn't supported. In many localities, the local government and school system are the largest employers and largest block of voters.
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/wal_mart_politics/2008/08/01/118288.html
You can listen live today at http://www.ktrh.com/ and http://www.woai.com/
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday:
7am-11am ET KNRS/Salt Lake City. http://www.knrs.com/
6pm-9pm ET WOAI/San Antonio http://www.woai.com/
Friday: KTRH/Houston (10am-12noonET) http://www.ktrh.com/
6-9pmET WOAI/San Antonio http://www.woai.com/
My article posted this morning at:
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/33687.html
House republicans are fighting back on gas prices...
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0808/House_Republicans_to_go_back_on_the_floor_Monday_to_talk_gas_prices.html
Chicago is #1, even over San Francisco, as the top nanny state location in U.S. Not surprising that Barack Obama calls the area his home.
http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/nanny_state_reason/2008/08/03/118662.html
Some are taking the opportunity to criticize Walmart again. This time because the company dared to let the employees know where it stands on the upcoming election. Why shouldn't a company explain to the employees how pending legislation could adversely affect the business? And especially that certain candidates support that legislation. For those of you that are upset about this, teachers unions and local governments do this all the time. They threaten employees that their jobs will be cut if some tax increase isn't supported. In many localities, the local government and school system are the largest employers and largest block of voters.
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/wal_mart_politics/2008/08/01/118288.html
My latest article: Politicians on Vacation?
(This will be posted at http://www.theconservativevoice.com/ and http://www.houseconservatives.com/)
Politicians on Vacation?
By Doug Kellett
With an unusual by-partisan move last week, members of congress from both parties urged a vote allowing drilling along the U.S. coastal area plus within our borders including in Alaska’s wildlife reserve. These politicians have heard loudly from a majority of citizens that drilling is an immediate answer to the problem of rising oil prices and the cost per gallon of gasoline.
While these members, including some democrats, are trying to move forward on this vital issue, the leadership in both the House and the Senate refused to set a vote and even called it quits and headed home.
So, while you and I continue to watch record costs for a barrel of oil and ever increasing gasoline prices, those who could make a difference decided to go on vacation. A democratic leadership controlled by a vast liberal environmental lobby closed its ears once again to the will of the American public. Hopefully, the public will respond when votes are counted this November.
It is striking that while some democrats are pleading with their leadership for a vote on oil drilling, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi refuse an open debate. Who are the obstructionists here? The primary step for less dependence of middle eastern oil is to obtain oil that exists here. Even those democrats who sided with republicans realize that China is drilling off the coast of Florida and restricting American companies to do so is ridiculous. However, not the leadership of Congress where all we hear is we need more windmill technology and alternative energy sources.
Just this week, the Democrat Presidential nominee Barack Obama suggested Americans should “inflate tires” to help with rising gas prices. That is the type of vision leading our Congress but hopefully will not be leading the nation come 2009.
Obama has further suggested we need higher taxes on the oil companies as if this would help reverse the direction of higher prices.
I can’t help but think I am watching one of those “rewind” segments on VH-1 or some music channel. We have gone back to the 70s where higher taxes and price controls are the answer. This type of vision from democratic politicians stymied the economy and expedited a decline in American industrial might to the point of near collapse. Only an actor-turned-Governor of California was able to correct it.
We are at the same crossroads today as in the late 1970s. Similar issues are at play including our dependence on oil that we get from mostly our enemies. The answer centers on freeing the oil companies and not punishing them. We should also free ourselves and not restrict from the American people the natural resources key to our standard of living and way of life.
Make no mistake about it, our standard of living and way of life is at stake in this coming election. Decisions over the next couple of years by those in elected-leadership will impact our economy and availability of energy supply. Consider this as you “inflate your tires” before you vote in November. Voting is our only course of action and we, unlike Congress, can’t afford to take a vacation.
Politicians on Vacation?
By Doug Kellett
With an unusual by-partisan move last week, members of congress from both parties urged a vote allowing drilling along the U.S. coastal area plus within our borders including in Alaska’s wildlife reserve. These politicians have heard loudly from a majority of citizens that drilling is an immediate answer to the problem of rising oil prices and the cost per gallon of gasoline.
While these members, including some democrats, are trying to move forward on this vital issue, the leadership in both the House and the Senate refused to set a vote and even called it quits and headed home.
So, while you and I continue to watch record costs for a barrel of oil and ever increasing gasoline prices, those who could make a difference decided to go on vacation. A democratic leadership controlled by a vast liberal environmental lobby closed its ears once again to the will of the American public. Hopefully, the public will respond when votes are counted this November.
It is striking that while some democrats are pleading with their leadership for a vote on oil drilling, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi refuse an open debate. Who are the obstructionists here? The primary step for less dependence of middle eastern oil is to obtain oil that exists here. Even those democrats who sided with republicans realize that China is drilling off the coast of Florida and restricting American companies to do so is ridiculous. However, not the leadership of Congress where all we hear is we need more windmill technology and alternative energy sources.
Just this week, the Democrat Presidential nominee Barack Obama suggested Americans should “inflate tires” to help with rising gas prices. That is the type of vision leading our Congress but hopefully will not be leading the nation come 2009.
Obama has further suggested we need higher taxes on the oil companies as if this would help reverse the direction of higher prices.
I can’t help but think I am watching one of those “rewind” segments on VH-1 or some music channel. We have gone back to the 70s where higher taxes and price controls are the answer. This type of vision from democratic politicians stymied the economy and expedited a decline in American industrial might to the point of near collapse. Only an actor-turned-Governor of California was able to correct it.
We are at the same crossroads today as in the late 1970s. Similar issues are at play including our dependence on oil that we get from mostly our enemies. The answer centers on freeing the oil companies and not punishing them. We should also free ourselves and not restrict from the American people the natural resources key to our standard of living and way of life.
Make no mistake about it, our standard of living and way of life is at stake in this coming election. Decisions over the next couple of years by those in elected-leadership will impact our economy and availability of energy supply. Consider this as you “inflate your tires” before you vote in November. Voting is our only course of action and we, unlike Congress, can’t afford to take a vacation.
WRCG--what is next?
The latest on this issue comes from Richard who runs his own blog in Columbus(GA). Isn't it typical that the "Leftist-Enquirer" is late on this story? http://columbusga.blogspot.com/
(Here's a picture from our old days at WRCG with Scott Miller. This is a broadcast from the Mall on a Crimestoppers day.)
It looks like the final nail is in the coffin of Archway Broadcasting in Columbus, Ga. Not that any one will shed a tear. According to our sources, the company has sold to Jim Martin, Len Page and Bo Bradley, who no doubt will begin the reconstruction effort needed on the once proud stations. WCGQ, WRCG, 99.3 and Boomer 95.3 hopefully will regain some of the prominence the stations once held under my boss for 14 years Chuck McClure Sr. and family. Watching the stations as a whole, and specifically WRCG, hit rock bottom was like visiting a wreck on the interstate. Some said to me "why care? You aren't there any more.” What they didn't understand was how serious many of us who worked at that facility were about the product. So many contributed to WRCG's stature as the voice of Columbus and the local meeting place of its citizens. I think it is fair to say that the station fell into hands of those who cared little or had any regard for its relevance. Whether this was by design or by oversight, the station suffered. The final blow came last April when Archway management, due mostly to financial reasons, felt compelled to cancel perhaps the city’s longest running radio program—Talkline. A show that I hosted for a ten year period in the 90s and was first aired on the station in the early 80s with host J. Edward Wilson.
The show’s mission was to inform the public and not be the propaganda tool of local government or the ruling class. The show was built on the idea of offering simple common sense. This was a mission and formula that proved successful. Martin and his management staff understand local radio and surely can get the radio cluster back on its feet. There are no better stations in the area with a better history than WRCG, WCGQ, Kissin'99.3 or Boomer 95.
It was a success that, quite frankly, some inside the building didn't truly realize what a remarkable accomplishment WRCG had become. For a mere 5,000 watt station-with a directional signal-- to be consistently rated in the top 3 and often the most listened too station during the peak times (M-F 6a-6p), required constant care. I think this was especially true since WRCG rarely shared in any promotion effort or dollars spent. Despite this shortcoming, the station flourished. This to the credit of the talented people who toiled over WRCG and they deserve special credit.
So, now a new chapter will soon be opened in the life of Columbus radio and, specifically, what will always be referred to as the McClure stations. A new chapter that hopefully will provide success for those who work there and have made 1353 13th avenue their home.
The show’s mission was to inform the public and not be the propaganda tool of local government or the ruling class. The show was built on the idea of offering simple common sense. This was a mission and formula that proved successful. Martin and his management staff understand local radio and surely can get the radio cluster back on its feet. There are no better stations in the area with a better history than WRCG, WCGQ, Kissin'99.3 or Boomer 95.
It was a success that, quite frankly, some inside the building didn't truly realize what a remarkable accomplishment WRCG had become. For a mere 5,000 watt station-with a directional signal-- to be consistently rated in the top 3 and often the most listened too station during the peak times (M-F 6a-6p), required constant care. I think this was especially true since WRCG rarely shared in any promotion effort or dollars spent. Despite this shortcoming, the station flourished. This to the credit of the talented people who toiled over WRCG and they deserve special credit.
So, now a new chapter will soon be opened in the life of Columbus radio and, specifically, what will always be referred to as the McClure stations. A new chapter that hopefully will provide success for those who work there and have made 1353 13th avenue their home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
