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Political commentator and journalist Bob Novak left the University of Illinois in 1952 to become a full-time journalist after serving as a ...
Read more about Robert D. Novak.
Political commentator and journalist Bob Novak left the University of Illinois in 1952 to become a full-time journalist after serving as a ...
Read more about Robert D. Novak.
Gen. Clark's Attack
Robert D. Novak
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, whose stock as Sen.
Barack Obama's possible vice presidential running mate had been
rising, may have ruined his chances with his belittling attack on Sen.
John McCain's war record.
Clark, along with other Obama surrogates, followed the campaign's line of downgrading McCain's performance as a Vietnam War POW. But Clark was particularly insulting. ("I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.") He also got more attention by appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," while other surrogates addressed campaign gatherings.
A footnote: Clark had been considered the leading former military officer to compensate for Obama's lack of national security experience because his performance steadily improved during an unsuccessful campaign for the 2004 presidential nomination. Two retired Marine generals also mentioned for vice president, Anthony Zinni and James Jones, lack any political experience.
----
Romney Rising
Mitt Romney's surge toward the Republican vice presidential nomination was boosted at last month's Texas state party convention in Houston.
Romney, the predominant conservative choice to be Sen. John McCain's running mate, was pleasantly surprised to encounter a paid audience of about 3,500 for a Republican fundraising dinner. He received a standing ovation after delivering a conservative stemwinder.
A footnote: Vice presidential prospects for Bobby Jindal, the 37-year-old first-year governor of Louisiana, suffered when he vetoed a pay raise for state legislators after promising them he would sign it. However, conservative anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, who has boosted Jindal for the ticket, said the veto made him stronger.
----
GAS PRICE POLITICS
When Chairman David Obey announced before the Fourth of July break that he was shutting down his House Appropriations Committee's consideration of money bills, House Republican leaders felt they had the Democratic majority on the run over soaring gas prices.
The committee was considering the Labor-HHS appropriation when ranking Republican Jerry Lewis offered the Interior money bill as an amendment to force a vote on oil drilling. "As far as I'm concerned," Obey said as he adjourned the committee, charging Republican obstructionism, "they've had their shot."
Democrats do not want to vote on increased oil drilling, which gets a high rating from voters as a means of eventually reducing prices at the gas pump.
----
OBAMA'S GOP LOBBYIST
The Republican lobbyist who was solicited for contributions by Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign a month ago has received a second request for money from the Democratic presidential candidate, who has banned lobbyist money from supporting his candidacy. The second try was made after no response to the first attempt. As did the first solicitation, the second letter signed by Obama asked the veteran Republican donor and fundraiser for a contribution "to change the way business is done in Washington."
The lobbyist's only contributions to Democrats have been to two powerful committee chairmen -- John Dingell (Energy and Commerce) and Charlie Rangel (Ways and Means) -- in order to open their doors to his clients. The lobbyist figures that the Obama campaign lifted his name from Dingell and/or Rangel money lists.
----
"COBURN OMNIBUS"
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may trigger a parliamentary brawl in the Senate late in July if he goes through with his threat to bundle some 100 spending bills being blocked by Republican Sen. Tom Coburn into one "Coburn omnibus."
Coburn has held up the bills to stop the practice of passing legislation without amendments or debates. If Reid uses the same tactics on the combined bill, Coburn is threatening to tie up the Senate with parliamentary tactics. "I'd welcome the opportunity to spend weeks debating wasteful Washington spending and Congress' misplaced priorities," said Coburn.
How much Coburn can do depends on whether Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican colleagues support him to prevent Reid from getting 60 votes needed to close debate on the "Coburn omnibus."
========
To find out more about Robert D. Novak and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2008 Creators Syndicate Inc.
This news arrived on: 07/05/2008
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Posted Comments:
07-06-2008 23:09
Edward Ernspiker wrote:
Clark insults
Clark admits McCane was in the survice of his country, what has OBAMA'S service record shown--NOTHING... But cheep polition...ACLU laywer.
07-06-2008 10:48
hspoon wrote:
obama, clark and mccain
Posted Comments:
07-06-2008 10:38
hspoon wrote:
obama, clark and mccain (corrected and amended)
The Rovian tactic is alive and well regarding Gen Clark. Rove and his students in the Repub party, with the help of an arrogant, lazy, ignorant, intellectually dishonest media (especially the 24-7 cable shriekers), will turn a compliment into a smear, a truth into a racist slur, a lie into a profound truth and beauty into something grotesque.
I suggest that all pundits, journjalists and those who call themselves journalists read a tiny but pertinent old book by Ebenstein: TODAY'S ISMS. It can be found and read on-line.
The little book, readable in one sitting, exposes and explains the methods of propaganda by totalitatians, fascists, communists, monarchists, political extremists and opportunists, et al., via the use of fear, glittering generalities, outright lies, half truths and convoluted logic to purposefully confuse the media, the masses and the processes of politics and government. The late and apologetic Lee Atwater was a master of this Machiavellian art and his student, Karl Rove (with his cohorts at FOX, Glenn Beck [CNN], Rush Limbaugh, et al.), has carried it to another more shameful, disgusting and dangerous level.
The problem is that Obama plays into their hands with his seeming uncertainty and backing up on so many issues. Obama should have stood right with Gen Clark regarding the McCain statement. Obama had an opportunity to show strength, conviction and mental toughness in the face of the Rovians. Obama has "inartfully" backed down more than once, lately.
07-06-2008 10:38
hspoon wrote:
obama, clark and mccain (corrected and amended)
The Rovian tactic is alive and well regarding Gen Clark. Rove and his students in the Repub party, with the help of an arrogant, lazy, ignorant, intellectually dishonest media (especially the 24-7 cable shriekers), will turn a compliment into a smear, a truth into a racist slur, a lie into a profound truth and beauty into something grotesque.
I suggest that all pundits, journjalists and those who call themselves journalists read a tiny but pertinent old book by Ebenstein: TODAY'S ISMS. It can be found and read on-line.
The little book, readable in one sitting, exposes and explains the methods of propaganda by totalitatians, fascists, communists, monarchists, political extremists and opportunists, et al., via the use of fear, glittering generalities, outright lies, half truths and convoluted logic to purposefully confuse the media, the masses and the processes of politics and government. The late and apologetic Lee Atwater was a master of this Machiavellian art and his student, Karl Rove (with his cohorts at FOX, Glenn Beck [CNN], Rush Limbaugh, et al.), has carried it to another more shameful, disgusting and dangerous level.
The problem is that Obama plays into their hands with his seeming uncertainty and backing up on so many issues. Obama should have stood right with Gen Clark regarding the McCain statement. Obama had an opportunity to show strength, conviction and mental toughness in the face of the Rovians. Obama has "inartfully" backed down more than once, lately.
07-06-2008 10:38
hspoon wrote:
obama, clark and mccain
The Rovian tactic is alive and well regarding Gen Clark. Rove and his students in the Repub party, with the help of an arrogant, lazy, ignorant, intellectually dishonest media (especially the 24-7 cable shriekers), will turn a compliment into a smear, a truth into a racist slur, a lie into a profound truth and beauty into something grotesque.
I suggest that all pundits, journjalists and those who call themselves journalists read a tiny but pertinent old book by Ebenstein: TODAY'S ISMS. It can be found and read on-line.
The little book, readable in one sitting, exposes and explains the methods of propaganda by totalitatians, fascists, communists, monarchists, political extremists and opportunists, et al., via the use of fear, glittering generalities, outright lies, half truths and convoluted logic to purposefully confuse the media, the masses and the processes of politics and government. The late and apologetic Lee Atwater was a master of this Machiavellian art and his student, Karl Rove (plus his cohorts at FOX, Glenn Beck [CNN], Rush Limbaugh, et al.) has carried it to another shameful and dangerous level.
The problem is that Obama plays into their hands with his seeming uncertainties and backing up on so many issues. Obama should have stood right with Gen Clark regarding the McCain statement. Obama had an opportunity to show strength, conviction and mental toughness in the face of the Rovians. He has done this more than once, lately.
I suggest that all pundits, journjalists and those who call themselves journalists read a tiny but pertinent old book by Ebenstein: TODAY'S ISMS. It can be found and read on-line.
The little book, readable in one sitting, exposes and explains the methods of propaganda by totalitatians, fascists, communists, monarchists, political extremists and opportunists, et al., via the use of fear, glittering generalities, outright lies, half truths and convoluted logic to purposefully confuse the media, the masses and the processes of politics and government. The late and apologetic Lee Atwater was a master of this Machiavellian art and his student, Karl Rove (plus his cohorts at FOX, Glenn Beck [CNN], Rush Limbaugh, et al.) has carried it to another shameful and dangerous level.
The problem is that Obama plays into their hands with his seeming uncertainties and backing up on so many issues. Obama should have stood right with Gen Clark regarding the McCain statement. Obama had an opportunity to show strength, conviction and mental toughness in the face of the Rovians. He has done this more than once, lately.
07-05-2008 21:21
aaron ands, aka John Godon wrote:
Military expierence
General
General Clark has it.
General Clark has it.
07-05-2008 18:42
Julie wrote:
General Clark
I will triple what VLD wrote and double what Texas Katie wrote.
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