Fantasy Politics USA

Chuck Hagel appeared on ‘Face The Nation’ today and told host Bob Schieffer that he is not happy with The Grand Ole Party anymore. “I am not happy with the Republican Party today,” Hagel said. “It’s been hijacked by a group of single-minded almost isolationists, insulationists, power-projectors.” Hagel hasn’t decide when he will run, or even if he will run as a Republican or an Independent candidate. He told Schieffer that he thought Independents are good for the campaign. “What America will be looking at and wanting and demanding is honest, competent, accountable leadership,” he said. “We need some new, fresh, independent ideas to lead this country forward.” Hagel recently had lunch with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and mentioned the two as a possible ticket. “We didn’t make any deals, but I think Mayor Bloomberg is the kind of individual who should seriously think about this,” Hagel said. “He is the mayor of one of the greatest cities on earth. He makes that city work. That’s what America wants.” It would sure be a good way to add a bit of money to Hagel’s war chest. He told Schieffer, “It’s a great country to think about – a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation.” This is the strongest Independent team mentioned yet. Hagel is already known for breaking with Bush on his Iraq war policies, and he sees other Republicans doing it by this fall. “The President may find himself standing alone sometime this fall where Republicans will start to move away, and you’re starting to see trapdoors and exit signs already with a number of Republicans,” Hagel said. He said the 11 that went to speak with Bush this past week was just the tip of the iceberg. If Hagel runs as an Independent he could be the Republican’s version of Ralph Nader who has already promised to enter the race if Hillary gets the nomination. The nation is pleading for a change in the two party system, and they want another option besides the big political machines. We have some really strong third party candidates this time around with Chuck Hagel, Mike Bloomberg, Ron Paul, and Ralph Nader all showing interest. It’s going to be fun.
Alan Cosgrove

Barack Obama was on ‘This Week with George Stephanopoulos’ today, and talked about his ideas on the Iraq war, campaigning, and secret service protection. Obama said he believes there should be benchmarks in the Iraq war, but no timetables for withdrawal of troops. He also doesn’t believe we should just give the President a “blank check” on the Iraq war saying, “There’s got to be something that signals the president is changing course, and that there are consequences to the Iraqi government failing to meet some of the benchmarks that we’re talking about.” Obama won’t say when troops will leave Iraq, even under his Presidency, and he even leaves the door open for them to return to clean up the mess left behind. “I think we have some moral and humanitarian responsibilities to the Iraqi people,” said Obama. “And that has to be factored in. I can’t anticipate what Iraq will look like a year from now, because so much depends on how we carry out this phased redeployment and how effective we are when it comes to diplomacy.” Obama’s campaign team have adopted a low key approach to campaigning as their style. “What I don’t do when I’m campaigning is to try to press a lot of hot buttons and use a lot of cheap applause buttons, because I want people to get a sense of how I think about this process,” said Obama. “I think that one of the problems with political speeches is that we all know what folks want to hear. We know who the conventional, stereotypical enemies are on any given issue, and we have a tendency, I think, to play up to that. And I actually think that we’re in this moment in history right now where honesty, admitting complexity is a good thing.” Obama told Stephanopoulos he really didn’t want the Secret Service protection at first saying, “I’m not an entourage guy.” The Secret Service protection was given to him because of threats that many said were racially motivated, but Obama said race won’t be a factor in his race for 08. “What I’m confident about, though, as I travel around the country, is that people are decent at their core in America,” said Obama. “If I don’t win, it’s not going to be because of my race. It’s going to be because I didn’t project a vision of leadership that gave people confidence. It’s going to be because of something I didn’t do as opposed to because I’m African-American.” It is refreshing to hear a candidate talk like this, but can he survive against Hillary with this Mr. Nice Guy attitude? Honesty, and admitting complexity would be a big change from Bush’s lies, and simplicity of good v evil.
Alan Cosgrove

Sam Brownback was in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin talking to the Wisconsin Republican Party convention. He tried to use a football analogy, but he used the wrong quarterback when talking in Wisconsin. He was trying to tell the crowd about how to focus more on the families, and said, “This is fundamental blocking and tackling.” Brownback then said, “This is your line in football. If you don’t have a line, how many passes can Peyton Manning complete? Greatest quarterback, maybe, in NFL history.” Greatest Quarterback? Not in Wisconsin. Brownback realized what he said and buried his head for a moment. He tried to regroup and apologized, “That’s really bad,” he said. “That will go down in history. I apologize.” He went on to say that Packer’s Bart Starr was the greatest quarterback in history, but that didn’t settle the crowd. So, “Let’s take Favre then,” Brownback said. “The Packers are great. I’m sorry. How many passes does he complete without a line?” A few from the back yelled back at him, “All of them.” Realizing his goof he tried to move on, “I’m not sure how I recover from this,” Brownback said. “My point is we’ve got to rebuild the family. I’ll get off this.” I’m not sure what a football line has to do families. Maybe Brownback should just say what he means and quit playing word games and using silly analogies. Or, maybe he wants families to go out and play football together.
Alan Cosgrove

The New York Times is reporting that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has revived his old campaign web sight, www.mikebloomberg.com. Some feel this is a sign that Bloomberg is about to get into the 08 Presidential race as an independent. He touches on many issues on the new web sight, like gun control, education, poverty and the environment. According to Bloomberg, “This new Web site is the single place where people can go to find out what I’ve done not only in government, but in business and philanthropy as well.” He uses the new web sight to describe his first term as mayor, “While many wondered about New York’s future after the attacks of 9/11, Mayor Bloomberg brought a forward-looking agenda and optimistic spirit to his job and provided the leadership necessary to get New Yorkers through this uncertain time.” His spokesman says that Bloomberg is not running for President, but it looks like we might have a new “America’s Mayor” in the Presidential race.
Alan Cosgrove

Al Sharpton in a debate last Monday said, “As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don’t worry about that; that’s a temporary situation.” Sharpton said this during a debate with Christopher Hitchens at the New York Public Library. Hitchens is an atheist author. Mitt Romney went right after Sharpton for saying it. Romney says that Sharpton doesn’t believe that Mormons know God. Romney called the remarks “terribly misguided.” Romney was asked if he thought that Sharpton was a bigot. Romney aswered, “I don’t know Reverend Sharpton,” he said. “I doubt he is personally such a thing, but the comment was a comment which could be described as a bigoted comment.” Sharpton responded saying that the Romney campaign was involved in a “blatant effort to fabricate a controversy to help their lagging campaign.” Sharpton said that he was talking about Hitchens, and Hitchens was the one attacking the Mormon faith. Sharpton went on to say, “In no way did I attack Mormons or the Mormon Church when I responded that other believers, not atheists, would vote against Mr. Romney for purely political reasons.” Hey Sharpton, open mouth and insert foot.
Alan Cosgrove