Republicans Abroad Korea

List of "Books banded by Palin" fake

Fake but not accurate:

On the list are the first four Harry Potter books, all published first from mid-1997 through 2000 [in the UK, and from 1998 through 2000 in the US, AFTER the censorship policy inquiries were made].

UPDATE: I see that Michelle Malkin spotted the fake list before I did, and she notes that it's being spread on the Obama Campaign site. The post is by Mark Brickman, who is described as "a member of Obama San Mateo/California 12th Congressional District, a grassroots organization that is dedicated to the election of Barack Obama."

2d UPDATE: The list has now been determined to be a complete hoax. The list has nothing to do with Palin; it is one that has been circulating for years, with exactly the same books and in exactly the same order. It is a list of important or great books that have been banned from libraries somewhere at some time.

After being up for most of the day, the Obama campaign page spreading the phony list has now been deleted. The reason I listed the background of the official Obama website blogger was because, if I had not listed his position, it would have looked like it was probably coming from the Obama campaign leadership, rather than just a low-level local Obama campaign worker who was nonetheless given a national Obama blog.

What lies will be made up next?

About that "Scholars question Palin credentials" article

Democrats are passing this article around and using it as ammo against Governor Palin:

John McCain was aiming to make history with his pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and historians say he succeeded.

Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.

It goes on to quote four supposedly disinterested academics about Palin's supposed lack of credentials.

It seemed like just the typical hatched job that we can expect from a media so in the tank for Obama.

However this piece was so blatantly and obviously biased that the AP felt shamed into adding this update:

UPDATE: After reading this article, the McCain campaign issued the following statement: "The authors quote four scholars attacking Gov. Palin's fitness for the office of vice president. Among them, David Kennedy is a maxed-out Obama donor, Joel Goldstein is also an Obama donor, and Doris Kearns Goodwin has donated exclusively to Democrats this cycle. Finally, Matthew Dallek is a former speech writer for Dick Gephardt. This is not a story about scholars questioning Gov. Palin's credentials so much as partisan Democrats who would find a reason to disqualify or discount any nominee put forward by Sen. McCain."

Unfortunately, they placed that update at the very end of the piece, so many people who read just the first part of the article will never know how biased it is.  Also, the update will not appear in the print versions of the article that have already run in local papers.

McCain supports KORUS FTA

This is old news but good news (Chosun Daily):

John McCain, the shoo-in candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, has expressed his support for the free trade agreement between Korea and the United States, calling Korea an ally of “profound strategic importance.” In a speech at the National Restaurant Association convention in Chicago on Monday, McCain vowed, “If I am elected president, this country will honor its international agreements, including NAFTA.”

He vowed not to “undo the gains of years in trade agreements now awaiting final approval,” such as FTAs with Colombia and Korea. McCain slammed Barack Obama, the likely candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination, for his take on the FTAs. “Senator Obama calls that agreement, too, ‘bad for American workers’ -- never mind the workers right here in Illinois who made the US$750 million in goods exported to Korea last year,” McCain said.

McCain said Obama seemed to be unaware of the importance of the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Korea, “an ally that deployed the third largest contingent of troops to Iraq, and has helped us in the rebuilding of Afghanistan as well.” He warned this “partnership in a dangerous part of the world could be harmed by casting aside our trade agreement with South Korea.” Obama has expressed opposition to the Korea-U.S. FTA unless the agreement on the automotive industry is renegotiated.

McCain is right on trade while Obama's protectionism will be bad for both countries and his rejection of the FTA would be an insult to an American ally.

Obama and crooked politics as usual

The Obama campaign is going to pump some of its millions into street money for corrupt political machines (Philadelphia Daily News):

REST ASSURED, Philadelphia. Come Election Day, there will be street money.

According to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, the local Democratic Party chairman, Sen. Barack Obama's general-election presidential campaign in Philadelphia will be run different from his primary operation, which relied more on volunteers than on Democratic ward leaders and did not provide street money on Election Day.

"We're not going to pay for votes or pay for turnout," Obama said before the Pennsylvania primary.

But Brady said that the campaign has promised street money to pump up turnout in November. And now that Obama is the official nominee, his campaign will team up with the city's Democratic ward leaders, who traditionally help get out votes.

Street money is euphemism for money used to buy votes and turnout.

This is not new politics.  This is the same old corruption that has dominated cities like Philadelphia and Chicago for decades.

An even race after the conventions is good news

From Dick Morris and Eileen McGann (via Real Clear Politics):

Two facts offer the GOP some comfort if the exchange of conventions yields comparable bounces and a deadlocked outcome.

First, the Republicans have a great deal of ammunition left to fire. They really have not unloaded their main attacks yet, settling for more limited hits on Obama's celebrity status. When they unload attack ads focusing on Obama's tax program and on his naivete, they are likely to score big.

Second, each time an Obama bounce dissipates, voters must get more and more inured to the experience. An immunity will develop that will make voters less and less susceptible to his charisma. In any event, the convention will be Obama's last opportunity to speak with his beloved teleprompter. After that, he's on his own!

McCain has pulled even with Obama in recent polls.  Each party traditionally gets a ten-point bounce in the polls after their conventions.  However, I have a gut feeling that many Americans will be turned off by Obama's stadium rally at the end of the Democrat's convention.

Bush wins

FOX News photo

It's all over except the inevitable litigation.

Thune beats Daschle

Good work in South Dakota:

"The nation spoke that we're on the right course, and we'll stay on that course and hopefully accelerate it," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. He said the results showed voter rejection of Democratic "obstructionism" in the Senate. He added that he expects the strengthened GOP majority will be called to confirm one or more nominees to the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice William Rehnquist (news - web sites) is ailing and other justices aging.

The Daschle-Thune race was the marquee event of the season, a battle that cost more than $26 million and played out for more than a year.

With votes counted in 99 percent of the precincts in South Dakota, Thune led Daschle by more than 8,000 votes in their sparsely settled state. It was the first time since 1952, when Barry Goldwater defeated Democratic Sen. Ernest McFarland in Arizona, that a party leader in the Senate has failed to win a new term.

A message from President Bush

Dear GOP,

I wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for your support. You've done the hard
work putting up the signs, making the phone calls, sending the emails, and writing the
letters. It comes down to today.

If you haven't voted already, please make sure you get to your voting location and vote today.

There is still time to help get your family and friends to the polls. Simply forward this
message to at least five people and encourage them to vote.

Four years ago, I made a pledge that if you elected me President, I would uphold
the honor and dignity of this office. With your help, today will be the beginning of four
more years.

Who will best lead the war on terror?

The letter below is from Bush/Cheney Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman:

Dear GOP,

Over the next few days, at the office, at your children's football or soccer games, and in your homes, people will be talking about last night's debate. Here are some important facts to keep in mind as you're talking with friends and neighbors about the exchange.

President Bush spoke clearly and from the heart last night about the path forward - toward victory and security - in the War on Terror. The President spoke candidly about the difficulties facing our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as these countries prepare for their first free elections. The terrorists will continue to fight these steps toward freedom because they fear the optimism and hope of democracy. They fear the prospects for their ideology of hate in a free and democratic Middle East.

President Bush detailed a path forward in the War on Terror - a plan that will ensure that America fights the enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan - not in America's cities.

John Kerry failed the one test he had to pass last night: he failed to close the credibility gap he has with the American people as his record of troubling contradiction and vacillation spiraled down to incoherence.

People have a clear choice between President Bush's clarity and strength to fight and win the War on Terror and John Kerry's attacks and reversals - born out of political calculation, not a vision for winning the War on Terror. People saw for themselves last night where John Kerry would lead our military, our allies and the world in the War on Terror - down a bumpy road paved with indecision, vacillation and cynicism. John Kerry has a record of wavering in the face of real challenges.

Truth and optimism are not competing ideals. The War on Terror is difficult - there will be good days and bad days, but the war is essential to our safety at home and victory is the only option.

Sincerely,

Ken Mehlman

Oversea voters getting noticed

USA Today had an article mentioning the work that both Republicans Abroad and Democrats Abroad are doing this year:

Voters overseas may be key to victory in swing states

The ultimate Bush-Kerry battleground for the presidency may be overseas, and both sides are geared up to mobilize the expatriate vote. An estimated 4 million to 10 million U.S. citizens live abroad. Those older than 18 are entitled to have their absentee votes counted in the state where they last lived, no matter how long ago that was. Polls suggest razor-thin margins in several battleground states, and votes coming in from abroad could make the difference.

Democrat John Kerry's sister Diana speaks several languages and has been using them in campaign swings through Europe. Sharon Manitta, spokeswoman for Democrats Abroad, said Kerry supporters have been active in overseas outreach efforts in Europe, Indonesia, Mexico and Iran. The group has a presence in 73 countries, up from 30 in 2000.

Republicans Abroad has chapters in 50 countries. It plans to run ads after Labor Day promoting President Bush's re-election. The ads are to run in newspapers that cater to Americans overseas. Marc Zell, chairman of the Israeli chapter of Republicans Abroad, said the group has about 150 volunteers registering potential Bush voters and plans to run pro-Bush ads in Israel's English-language newspapers.

A hundred and fifty volunteers? Not shabby.