Fantasy Politics USA

John Edwards has been coming under fire from Catholics for something two bloggers, that work for Edwards now, wrote on other blogs before. Amanda Marcotte who wrote for Shakespears Sister, and Melissa McEwan who wrote for Pandagon both started working on Edwards blog campaign. It was Edwards way to reach out to the left a bit. The Catholics are upset because of Melissa and Amanda’s views on homosexuality, abortion, and contraception. Sometimes the two would use curse words when they wrote about the Catholics too. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League asked the campaign to fire the two ladies calling them, “two anti-Catholic vulgar trash-talking bigots.” But then Donohue has a bit of a past himself, with equally as vulger things to say. It seems it’s OK for right wingers to say rude things about Catholics according to Donohue in this Media Matters article today. Edwards released a statement regarding the two ladies, and said, “I’ve talked to Amanda and Melissa; they have both assured me that it was never their intention to malign anyone’s faith, and I take them at their word.” Edwards also said he believes everyone deserves a “fair shake.”
Alan Cosgrove

Rudy Giuliani is moving up in the polls, and is even the front runner ahead of McCain in some polls, but with his past can he survive? Just before 9/11 Giuliani was considered a lame duck mayor with ratings around 40%. On May 12th at the Landmark Theatres’ Sunshine Cinema in New York City the film “Giuliani Time” will open and show a different, not so positive side of Giuliani. Here is a trailer from the film. Amy Goodman interviewed the creators of the film in January. And a good story that covers Giuliani the mayor in great detail is in AlterNet today. From the AlterNet article is a quote from Jimmy Breslin,

He was a nobody as a mayor and in one day he became a hero. This sudden career, this door opening to a room of gold, all started for Rudolph Giuliani when his indestructible bunker in World Trade Center building blew up. He had personally selected it, high in the sky, and with tons of diesel fuel to give emergency power.
And Giuliani walks on. He walks from his bunker, up Barclay Street and went on television. Went on and announced his heroism and then came back every hour or so until he became a star, a great figure, a national hero, the mayor who saved New York.
Most of this comes from these dazed Pekingese of the Press. … Giuliani was a hero with these news people. He did not pick up a piece of steel or help carry one of the injured off. [Jimmy Breslin, “He Molests the Dead,” New York Newsday, March 7, 2004]

Giuliani the hero, or is it really Giuliani the made for TV hero. There are even some that say his actions as mayor may have cost lives, and these blunders may be used against him during the campaign according to this story today in MSNBC. Rudy Giuliani was Time’s Man of The Year in 2001, and was called a hero, an icon of steadfastness in the midst of chaos. Can Giuliani maintain as an icon of steadfastness in face of such harsh attacks? Not likely, and then he will sink faster than The Dean Scream.
Alan Cosgrove

Rudy Giuliani has announced he is going to file a satement of candidacy with the FEC. Up to this point Rudy has been a bit unclear about intentions to run or not. But this is a sign he is getting serious. Giuliani was in his final months as New York City mayor when 9/11 happened. Within hours of the attack, the mayor was visiting the site. He was a former U.S. attorney, leading campaigns against organized crime and corruption. He spent two years as the Justice Department’s No. 3 official, overseeing all U.S. attorneys, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service. Giuliani is a Brooklyn native and was first elected New York’s mayor in 1993. He was known for battling crime using sometimes controversial methods while mayor. Giuliani dropped his bid for the U.S. Senate in 2000 while battling prostate cancer and a divorce. Some say he is to left on some social issues to get elected and he has been through two divorces. In other news John Edwards has said he will raise taxes on those that make over 200 thousand a year to help finance health care. His proposals on health care could cost up to 120 Billion a year, and would require the tax hikes. “You cannot have universal health care without a revenue stream,” according to Edwards. On Meet The Press Edwards said, “We ask employers to play a bigger role, which means they either have to have coverage, or they have to buy into what we’re calling health markets. We’re going to create health markets all across the country which will help provide some of these efficiencies. One of the choices, by the way, available in these health markets is the government plan. So people who like the idea of a single-payer insurer health plan, that is actually one of the alternatives that people can choose. They’ll be allowed to choose. We expand SCHIP; we expand Medicaid. The bottom line is we’re asking everybody to share in the responsibility of making health care work in this country. Employers, those who are in the medical insurance business, employees, the American people—everyone will have to contribute in order to make this work.” Obama’s campaign doesn’t have the typical feel of a campaign. During the DNC winter meetings he was the only candidate not to have walk on or walk off music. There also was no one around handing out bumper stickers, and posters. “Our campaign will never be the most rigid, structured, top-down, corporate-type campaign in this nomination battle,” said senior Obama adviser Robert Gibbs. “There are plenty of other people that can do ‘politics as usual’ far better than we can. But I hope we have a campaign whose support continues to expand even faster than you can put a fence around it.” Obama’s also doesn’t accept contributions from federal lobbyists or political action committees, which will make it hard to come up with as much money as Edwards or Hillary. According to recent polls Hillary is far ahead in Iowa and New Hampshire with Obama and Edwards in a dead heat second. Giuliani leads in Iowa, while McCain is ahead in New Hampshire. Gingrich and Romney are also pretty strong in both states. One last thing I saw today. In Roll Call it is reported that ex-Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.), the also ex-Secretary of State of Florida, the Bushite that stopped the hand count in Florida, was in Washington handing out business cards.
Alan Cosgrove

Ralph Nader told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer he will decide later about jumping in. Nader said he doesn’t like long campaigns, “but I’m committed to trying to give more voices and choices to the American people on the ballot. That means more third parties, independent candidates and to break up this two-party elected dictatorship that is becoming more and more like a dial for the same corporate dollars.” Wolf also asked him about being a spoiler, but how could he be a spoiler when Al Gore didn’t even carry his own state of Tennessee? And Nader said that Gore was a spoiler to him. Beside’s, if you ask Al Gore, he’ll tell you that he won that election. Nader was also asked about Hillary, and had this to say, “I don’t think she has the fortitude. Actually she’s really a panderer and a flatterer. As she goes around the country, you’ll see more of that.” Ralph Nader was also heard on Democracy Now today talking about his new book “Seventeen Traditions, ” and the documentary “An Unreasonable Man.” He may not be running, but he sure acts like a candidate, enough so that I am adding Ralph Nader to Fantasy Politics The Game. Welcome to the pack Ralph.
Alan Cosgrove

In Columbia, South Carolina today Rudy Giuliani told the press that “There’s a real good chance,” when asked if he was going to run in 08. Mitt Romney was in Baltimore, and in a speech before some conservative congressional Republicans he said that Hillary was timid when talking about Iran before the the American Israel Public Affairs Committee this past week. Romney was anrgy that Clinton would want to have dialouge with such countries like Iran and Syria. Romney said, “Someone who wants to engage Iran displays a troubling timidity toward a terrible threat of a nuclear Iran.” McCain has indicated he will run a tough campaign. In 2000 Bush had a few ads that McCain said distorted his record, so McCain hired three of the folks that helped make that commercial. In 2004 McCain said the Swiftboat ads against Kerry were “dishonest and dishonorable,” so he hired the firm that made those spots. McCain’s top advisor had expressed displeasure with the ads last fall that ran against Representative Harold E. Ford Jr., Democrat of Tennessee, that some have even called racist. McCain has that guy on his team too. Looks like McCain is assembling one of the best evil campaign teams out there.
Alan Cosgrove

Todays list of speakers before the DNC super delegates was, in order of appearance; Joseph Biden, Bill Richardson, Mike Gravel, and Tom Vilsack. Joe Biden opened it up with “So, how was your week?” Then Biden made reference to his “clean” remarks, which has gotten more airplay than it really deserves. Biden stated that “This Administration has dug us into a very deep hole:” and, “most of all, without a plan — any plan.” Biden then said he has a plan, he also said, “Mr.. President, the majority of Americans oppose you on Iraq. We are not emboldening the enemy. That’s the one mission you have accomplished.” Bill Richardson stated “I’m calling on all other candidates to agree to run only positive campaigns.” He also spoke about his long resume, a governor with a international experience. And like others wants us out of Iraq. Mike Gravel said that, “anyone who voted for the war… is not qualified to hold the office of the Presidency.” He also said, “And we all know, ‘vital interest’ is a code word for oil.” Gravel appears to be the Democratic candidate with a lot to say, or as some have called him, the real maverick in the race. Gravel was a thorn in Nixon’s side, and was influential in getting us out of Vietnam, and now wants to get us out of Iraq. Tom Vilsack said, “Sadly today so much of what takes place is motivated by fear.” “I am tired of a government that reminds me every day to be afraid and only talks about evil and never talks about promoting goodness.” He is tired of the politics of fear, and wants us out of Iraq now. He also spoke about all his experience as a state governor. That’s all from the big winter DNC meeting. Hope this helps.
Alan Cosgrove

Today was the first day of the Democratic DNC 2007 Winter meeting. This was an opportunity for the candidates to speak before about 400 DNC members, each of whom is a “super-delegate” with a vote at the national convention which will pick the party’s 2008 presidential candidate, and about 100 other Democratic activists. The super-delegates, a category that includes DNC members and elected officials such as Democratic governors, account for nearly 40 percent of the total number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Included in todays lineup in order of appearance; was Christopher Dodd, Barack Obama, Wesley Clark, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, and Hillary Clinton. Chistopher Dodd said he wouldn’t join GOP filibuster of Warner anti-surge resolution. He also said he is against torture, and would overturn Bush’s torture policy. Dodd said he would get our troops out of Iraq, and called the non binding resolutions “meaningless”. Barack Obama was the only candidate that didn’t have walk on music. He compared the whole campaign process as something like “American Idol” or “Surviver”. Obama said he was against the Iraq war since the beginning. He also said all the candidates should pledge to provide health care for everyone. Wesley Clark hasn’t even announced that he is in, but he is. Clark spoke about being a soldier, and how we should get out of the war in Iraq. He stressed strong leadership for America’s future. John Edwards told the crowd that “Silence is betrayal,” declaring that members of Congress should not “stand by quietly” as Bush dispatch more troops to Iraq. “We cannot be satisfied with passing nonbinding resolutions that we know this president will ignore,” according to Edwards. Dennis Kucinich stills has the same message he had 4 years ago, get out of the Iraq war. Hillary Clinton had hecklers for her speech. Code Pink, and Iraq Veterans against the war have been dogging her about her choice to vote for the war in 2002. She claims she understands their frustrations. Clinton said that had she been president in 2003, “I wouldn’t have started this war.”
It all had a common theme, war is bad, and Bush is bad. May the best one win.
Alan Cosgrove