rjcrane
Recent comments by this user
Senator McCain Isn't Funny, So Stop Encouraging Him
Barry Blitt Defends His New Yorker Cover Art Of Obama
Everyone needs to get a grip on reality here. This whole issue is nothing more than a media driven story. Does anyone really believe people who think Obama is a Muslim read The New Yorker? What person who reads The New Yorker or would even know where to find it in a bookstore would be fooled into thinking Obama is a Muslim? The people who could be fooled by this cover would never read this magazine and wouldn't even know how to find a copy.
And progressives should not be attacking one of their own who supports Obama over something like this. Maybe it was tasteless or maybe you didn't think it was all that funny or maybe you don't care for dark humor or irony like this, but lighten up and realize you are just being played to create an issue that doesn't exist. The only thing this controversy might produce is more magazine sales.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/16/2008 at 14:07:43
And progressives should not be attacking one of their own who supports Obama over something like this. Maybe it was tasteless or maybe you didn't think it was all that funny or maybe you don't care for dark humor or irony like this, but lighten up and realize you are just being played to create an issue that doesn't exist. The only thing this controversy might produce is more magazine sales.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/16/2008 at 14:07:43
Hagel To Join Obama On Iraq Trip
I have a feeling this trip will also be an audition for Veep if Hagel would at least join the ticket as an Independent and if not the Veep spot, certainly a high level cabinet position. One excellent reason Hagel should be considered for Veep is that the Dems don't have to give up any Senate seats or Governorships to get him. Yes, Hagel is a conservative on social issues but at least he isn't an ideologue or crazy like many others in his party. Hagel is well respected by every Dem in the Senate.
This trip will be a great boost for Obama. Kudos for being able to pull this off.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/11/2008 at 14:50:28
This trip will be a great boost for Obama. Kudos for being able to pull this off.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/11/2008 at 14:50:28
McCain Missed Iran Vote He Attacked Obama For Skipping
Hey folks! It's even much worse than this. Kyl-Lieberman was not an amendment. It was a non-binding resolution. So McCain doesn't even know the differences between various Senate procedures AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS!
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/11/2008 at 12:46:19
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/11/2008 at 12:46:19
Three Mistakes the Democrats Shouldn't Make Again
I absolutely agree with all of these assessments and that's why my website topplebush.com has always made an effort to educate voters about the opponent's past history and policy blunders. If you will visit http://www.topplebush.com/mccain.shtml we have a large and ever-expanding list of files you can download on both Cindy and John McCain in pdf format chock full of information that voters should hear about. We also have developed one flyer geared just to women voters on why they can't trust McCain. That one is in our flyer section for free download to print out and share in pdf format. In 2000 the Dems allowed the GOP to define Bush on their terms and the media did little to nothing to challenge it. Bush's past record and history of doing business should have been a serious issue with voters.
But the Dems can also link the economy to the failed war in in Iraq and higher gas prices at the pump. The Iraq war while it can stand at its own debacle, it also relates to a poorer economy here too. This linkage can easily be shown to voters. Really Obama doesn't need to pander to voters. All he needs to do is inform them.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/08/2008 at 12:57:30
But the Dems can also link the economy to the failed war in in Iraq and higher gas prices at the pump. The Iraq war while it can stand at its own debacle, it also relates to a poorer economy here too. This linkage can easily be shown to voters. Really Obama doesn't need to pander to voters. All he needs to do is inform them.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/08/2008 at 12:57:30
John McCain's Gambling Problem -- and Ours?
The more important issue here is whether or not McCain filed the appropriate tax forms to report any winnings and if not, than he is potentially a felon.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/08/2008 at 10:33:29
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/08/2008 at 10:33:29
The Obama FISA Quandary
What this piece fails to realize and acknowledge is that Obama is now the de facto head of the Democratic party and therefore it's key spokesperson. That's why his stance on FISA is key not only in what will happen to this bill in the Senate but also in how many other Dems will support it. If Obama signals he would support this FISA bill with telecom immunity in it, why shouldn't most Dem Senators do the same? And this is NOT the train any Dem should be riding on unless they are mostly concerned with covering their own asses. Also it's totally lame to tell voters that this bill is better than the Protect American Act so that's why it's okay to vote for it. This bill doesn't just grant the telecoms immunity from civil suits it also expands the power of the government to spy on Americans without any warrant or even probably cause.
I don't know what it will take before more Americans start worrying more about the terrorism being committed by their own government against them than we do about foreign jihadists. The expansion of FISA and this very bad bill is an example of us committing terrorism against our own self. Stop making excuses for bad policy.
And there was nothing in Obama's statement about prosecuting those who broke these laws either..yet there should have been.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/04/2008 at 12:07:43
I don't know what it will take before more Americans start worrying more about the terrorism being committed by their own government against them than we do about foreign jihadists. The expansion of FISA and this very bad bill is an example of us committing terrorism against our own self. Stop making excuses for bad policy.
And there was nothing in Obama's statement about prosecuting those who broke these laws either..yet there should have been.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/04/2008 at 12:07:43
Seven Things Barack Obama Should Do to Keep from Blowing It
Obama seems to be listening to too many handlers inside the Beltway instead of his own core beliefs and visions for how things "should" work. He is trying to please everyone now and will end up pleasing no one. I think it's a horrible miscalculation to believe a Democratic/progressive message and agenda can't be sold to anyone but those on the left. If I were running the Obama campaign I would be focusing primarily on GOP and Independent voters but instead of using the GOP playbook I would use my own. One thing I would do is make sure I sufficiently scared them enough about how a McCain presidency would most resemble the past 8 years and how much it will cost each and every household. I doubt most Americans have any idea that the Iraq war has already cost every household about $30,000 in borrowed money.
Dems lose because they haven't figured out yet how to make voters MORE AFRAID not to vote for them. And voters always need these reminders.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/03/2008 at 13:59:29
Dems lose because they haven't figured out yet how to make voters MORE AFRAID not to vote for them. And voters always need these reminders.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/03/2008 at 13:59:29
Defending Wes Clark
What's missing in all of these discussions about McCain's service to the country is what happened to him while he was there and how did this affect not only his judgment but his mental acuteness and/or mental/emotional stability? I really doubt anyone could have dealt with the same conditions as McCain and not suffered serious and long lasting mental problems requiring long term therapy. I have not heard anything about him receiving proper treatment for stress issues related to his service. Veterans are still suffering from the effects of having been in that war. We all know that McCain has a horrible temper. and enough of a hair trigger temper that even his fellow GOP Senators fear McCain having his finger on the bomb. There's something enough wrong with the man that reporters heard him call his wife Cindy a "cunt" who wears her makeup like a Trollop in their presence. It is my belief McCain is not very bright and has some serious emotional problems that aren't being discussed enough and/or is showing signs of serious senility. I remember how others covered up the same for Reagan. We must make sure this won't happen now with McCain. McCain's mental makeup is a real topic for discussion and I am almost certain his time in Vietnam plays a role in this.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/01/2008 at 14:02:06
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/01/2008 at 14:02:06
Understanding Obama's Recent Right Turn
Actually the correct messaging is really simple. It's this: If Barack Obama can't or won't defend the Constitution because it doesn't seem politically expedient to do so, why should we trust him on anything else or believe his message of being a candidate of change?
Glenn Greenwald wrote an excellent piece on this same subject claiming Progressives can win by standing true to their beliefs and he backed this up with examples of recent elections where this was the case. Even George Bush was able to convince enough voters in 2004 that at least they knew where he stood. It's when candidates start triangulating all over the place and voters don't know where they stand that signals to voters you are weak and it costs you an election. Strong people don't have to pander for votes. Instead they project an air of confidence in what they believe in that becomes contagious to anyone viewing or hearing them.
The only reason Obama's shifts may not create more fallout for Obama is because McCain is also doing the same or worse to make himself acceptable to conservatives and the religious right. A lot of smart people feel McCain would be doing much better if he hadn't been flip-flopping all over the place and acted more like the "maverick" of old...okay "really old."
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/30/2008 at 14:10:16
Glenn Greenwald wrote an excellent piece on this same subject claiming Progressives can win by standing true to their beliefs and he backed this up with examples of recent elections where this was the case. Even George Bush was able to convince enough voters in 2004 that at least they knew where he stood. It's when candidates start triangulating all over the place and voters don't know where they stand that signals to voters you are weak and it costs you an election. Strong people don't have to pander for votes. Instead they project an air of confidence in what they believe in that becomes contagious to anyone viewing or hearing them.
The only reason Obama's shifts may not create more fallout for Obama is because McCain is also doing the same or worse to make himself acceptable to conservatives and the religious right. A lot of smart people feel McCain would be doing much better if he hadn't been flip-flopping all over the place and acted more like the "maverick" of old...okay "really old."
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/30/2008 at 14:10:16
The Obama Problem
I disagree with this assessment and feel that progressives can sell their message to just about anyone except the 1/3 diehard Republicans. If this weren't the case, how did Sherrod Brown win in the Red state of Ohio? Why does Bernie Sanders, who calls himself a socialist no less easily win in Vermont? Does anyone really believe that Bernie Sanders is out of touch with most Americans? What about the late Paul Wellstone? Does anyone really believe his message wouldn't resonate almost anywhere? The problem isn't the progressive message. it's having candidates too afraid to be proud to wear that label and/or unable to articulate their message to others. My belief is that most of the country is really progressive and supportive of progressive Ideals and values. We just need the right candidate who can sell it and themselves and who can raise enough money to win an election.
RJ Crane,, topplebush.com posted 06/27/2008 at 15:47:33
RJ Crane,, topplebush.com posted 06/27/2008 at 15:47:33
Jason,
You make a very rationale and pragmatic assessment of where Progressives should stand regarding Obama's shifting positions and failure to stand up and protect the Constitution and donning a flag lapel pin that even McCain doesn't wear...etc. But in a more macro picture, what the hell is wrong with this country that someone like Russ Feingold can't get elected standing up for the principles that guide him and being someone who is proud to wear a "liberal" label and who wouldn't pander to the right to get himself elected? So what I would like to see are the principles of Dennis Kucinich or Russ Feingold wrapped in the body of someone who is also a formidable candidate who can move people with their speech making and put together an organization and raise enough money to win an election. Why do we always get half of what we need in these candidates and have to accept that because the GOP candidate is much worse?
I totally agree that progressives have to work hard to make sure we don't end up with more pandering candidates, weak Dems and Blue Dog Dems including many that are like this now holding office .
I guess I am not convinced you can keep playing the same game with these self serving politicians and ever get much further ahead in any reasonable amount of time. But I hope I am wrong.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/27/2008 at 15:36:01
You make a very rationale and pragmatic assessment of where Progressives should stand regarding Obama's shifting positions and failure to stand up and protect the Constitution and donning a flag lapel pin that even McCain doesn't wear...etc. But in a more macro picture, what the hell is wrong with this country that someone like Russ Feingold can't get elected standing up for the principles that guide him and being someone who is proud to wear a "liberal" label and who wouldn't pander to the right to get himself elected? So what I would like to see are the principles of Dennis Kucinich or Russ Feingold wrapped in the body of someone who is also a formidable candidate who can move people with their speech making and put together an organization and raise enough money to win an election. Why do we always get half of what we need in these candidates and have to accept that because the GOP candidate is much worse?
I totally agree that progressives have to work hard to make sure we don't end up with more pandering candidates, weak Dems and Blue Dog Dems including many that are like this now holding office .
I guess I am not convinced you can keep playing the same game with these self serving politicians and ever get much further ahead in any reasonable amount of time. But I hope I am wrong.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/27/2008 at 15:36:01
Dems: We Have To Let Lieberman Screw Us Over
If the Dems clean house of all of the weaklings that won't support the Constitution or even do anything to hold this corrupt administration accountable, we would need to remove most all of them. But this house cleaning business shouldn't be left to the Dems in congress. This is the voters duty that needs to be exercised with ruthless abandon and without regard to party either.
It's truly a sad day for me when Obama couldn't even stand up to the telecom industry on that FISA bill with the 15 Dems who did.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/26/2008 at 11:44:05
It's truly a sad day for me when Obama couldn't even stand up to the telecom industry on that FISA bill with the 15 Dems who did.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/26/2008 at 11:44:05
While I hope you are right I don't see any signs or indications of this happening. Harry Reid even stated he wouldn't do anything about Joe even if the Dems win more seats. Now he may have been saying this for valid reasons we won't know about but if that's the case Reid's word is about as worthless as his buddy Joe's. Don't be fooled when the Dems tell you they can't dump Joe now without losing their majority. The organizing rules of this Senate wouldn't do this to them. These rules were put in when Jeffords defected.
What this really reminds us of is how self serving most of these Dems really are. These are the same people who welcomed with open arms Lieberman back into the senate. They will bend over and allow Joe to screw them so my guess is that Joe has something on them they don't want revealed. There has to be something to this sick marriage we don't yet know about or can't see yet.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/26/2008 at 11:41:29
What this really reminds us of is how self serving most of these Dems really are. These are the same people who welcomed with open arms Lieberman back into the senate. They will bend over and allow Joe to screw them so my guess is that Joe has something on them they don't want revealed. There has to be something to this sick marriage we don't yet know about or can't see yet.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/26/2008 at 11:41:29
The 15 Dems Who Tried To Block Telecom Immunity
This list only tells me which Senators won't be getting anymore of my money or time working on their behalf and when the DSCC calls me for money I won't have any problem hanging up on them. It's disgusting how few Dems actually care about civil liberties, protecting them or holding this horrible administration accountable for their lawlessness. I also don't understand why Dems don't feel they can run as progressive populists ala Sherrod Brown in Ohio and win. What are they afraid of? Losing their lobbyist money?
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/26/2008 at 11:31:02
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/26/2008 at 11:31:02
Brave New Films Launches Dump Lieberman Campaign
NO, NO!! You don't need to wait until AFTER the election. That's just what the lame Dems try and sell everyone for why they aren't doing anything about Joe now. The organizing rules of this Senate would allow them to keep their majority if they dumped Joe under rules that were adopted when Jim Jeffords switched from a Republican to Independent to caucus with the Dems.
Joe needs to go now before he damages the Dems and makes them look more pathetic than they are now.
My website topplebush.com has also been actively involved for over a month now in urging our viewers to call their Dem Senators and tell them Lieberman needs to be stripped of both his seniority and committees and booted out of the Dem Caucus. I am delighted to see Brave New Films taking up this cause. So please go to their website to see the film and they also have a petition you can sign. I have already signed it and everyone should do this.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/25/2008 at 15:13:38
Joe needs to go now before he damages the Dems and makes them look more pathetic than they are now.
My website topplebush.com has also been actively involved for over a month now in urging our viewers to call their Dem Senators and tell them Lieberman needs to be stripped of both his seniority and committees and booted out of the Dem Caucus. I am delighted to see Brave New Films taking up this cause. So please go to their website to see the film and they also have a petition you can sign. I have already signed it and everyone should do this.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/25/2008 at 15:13:38
Obama Adviser On FISA: We'll Trust The Inspector General To Prevent Surveillance Abuses
I think before we twist ourselves into knots on this one and I am just as concerned about Obama's position on this very bad FISA bill as everyone else is, let's see how he votes on the Senate version of this bill that gets a vote. I suspect any attempts to strip telecom immunity out of this bill will fail because Bush has threatened to veto a bill like this and the Dems seem hellbent on bending over again so the GOP and Bush won't kick them in the ass for being weak on fighting terror.
So if Obama votes for this bill with telecom immunity in it and/or other onerous provisions that allow the government to easily spy on Americans or any President to violate the law again by claiming it was needed in the war on terror, than he isn't the candidate we all hoped he would be.
Let's be clear, The main problem with this bill is that it sort of exonerates all of the illegal administration spying that has already occurred while implying it won't happen again. I say to this: NOT BLOODY LIKELY!!
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/24/2008 at 15:21:52
So if Obama votes for this bill with telecom immunity in it and/or other onerous provisions that allow the government to easily spy on Americans or any President to violate the law again by claiming it was needed in the war on terror, than he isn't the candidate we all hoped he would be.
Let's be clear, The main problem with this bill is that it sort of exonerates all of the illegal administration spying that has already occurred while implying it won't happen again. I say to this: NOT BLOODY LIKELY!!
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/24/2008 at 15:21:52
McCain's Campaign Funding Hypocrisy: Why Are the Media Looking the Other Way?
It's too bad that when Sen. Biden had ample opportunity to lay out McCain's flip-flopping positions and violations of public financing during the primaries when he secured a bank loan on this past Sunday's Meet the Press, Biden failed to do so. Now don't take this as an attack on Biden because he has been a very good advocate for Obama but he fell short in defending Obama on this subject while allowing a pathetic Lindsey Graham to attack Obama for not accepting public financing.
So while the media bares a lot of blame for not taking on John McCain on this issue, if Obama's own surrogates aren't doing a much better job of this, that is even more troubling to me. Biden had to have known he would be asked lots of questions about this subject yet he really didn't make any effort to attack McCain for flip-flopping all over the place on public financing.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/24/2008 at 15:31:53
So while the media bares a lot of blame for not taking on John McCain on this issue, if Obama's own surrogates aren't doing a much better job of this, that is even more troubling to me. Biden had to have known he would be asked lots of questions about this subject yet he really didn't make any effort to attack McCain for flip-flopping all over the place on public financing.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/24/2008 at 15:31:53
Bush Gives Dems STDs
About the ONLY way we can change the Dem's spine is to let them know we aren't going to send them our money anymore. I have already called the DSCC and told them not to expect anymore donations from me if the Dems agree to this compromise FISA bill. Let them get their money from the Telecoms since that is who they are choosing to represent. We know it isn't us or the Constitution.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/20/2008 at 11:39:53
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/20/2008 at 11:39:53
I totally agree with these attacks on the spineless Dems and their poor leadership. I have been defining what's wrong with the Dems as evidenced by how they can't even deal with Joe Lieberman. If they had anything going on besides immediate political expediency, they would have ditched lying scum like Joe Lieberman a long time ago. They are only as good as the dogs they choose to lie down with and that isn't saying a whole lot.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/20/2008 at 11:36:43
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/20/2008 at 11:36:43
McCain: Not So Straight On Energy
You mean the same John McCain who only meekly objected to the Swiftboat attacks against you and couldn't get his good buddy George Bush to denounce this type of dirty deceptive campaigning? The same McCain who was campaigning hard to help reelect Bush? You mean the same John McCain who never lets inconvenient truths interfere with is own political ambitions? Oh, just please admit that you misjudged McCain all along just like you misjudged Bush when you voted to authorize the war in Iraq. These people didn't change. They are and have been the same lying uncurious opportunists they've always been even if on occasion they might do something different than what was expected from their party.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/18/2008 at 13:49:49
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/18/2008 at 13:49:49
As Good As It Gets for McCain
I totally agree with everything Uygar states in this piece and that's why I expect this campaign to be very nasty as McCain and the GOP run to their book of dirty tricks to try and win. Already we are hearing reports that they are going after Michelle Obama and going to try and try and ruin Obama's reputation. If this is true, Obama will need more than a lie debunking website to deal with them. He will also need to go on the attack himself. And if the GOP wants to attack Michelle that "should" mean McCain's wife Cindy and her psinkiller addiction problems and forging scripts to get these drugs becomes fair game. Also their illicit affair becomes fair game and him calling her a "C*NT becomes fair game. And so does her family history of bootlegging with both brothers being indicted for various crimes associated with the family beer distributing business. And we haven't heard the last word yet about McCain being part of the Keating Five. So I say to McCain and the GOP, if you want to sling some dirt: BRING IT ON!
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/13/2008 at 13:35:03
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/13/2008 at 13:35:03
McCain Stacks Fox News 'Town Hall' With Supporters
You are right to remind people of the circumstances surrounding McCain's cheating on his wife with current wife Cindy before he finally asked Carol, to everyone's surprise for a divorce. But it's really even much worse than this. Without Carol's family money, McCain's political career goes nowhere. And if it hadn't been for her family's bootlegging business [both brothers were indicted and convicted] she might not have had enough money to fund McCain's political ambitions.
Rj Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/13/2008 at 13:50:43
Rj Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/13/2008 at 13:50:43
Gen. Clark: McCain Is "Untested And Untried" On National Security
Certainly Wes Clark has many fine attributes so others would consider him VP fodder but not me. Here's why. He didn't have the right judgment to support Obama from the beginning and he allowed the Clintons to put him up in 2004 to counter Howard Dean's rise. Plus he's way too effete and elitist acting and looking. If Obama is going to pick a military man at least pick one who doesn't look and act like he never left the General's dining table and private gold course. Obama needs to pick a real mans-man..someone who looks like they could get some dirt under their fingernails and not bitch about it or need to order a grunt to get it out. Jim Webb would make a much better choice than Wes Clark. Also I would pick Joe Biden and Chris Dodd before Wes Clark.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/11/2008 at 13:49:04
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/11/2008 at 13:49:04
Obama's VP List: MSNBC Gathers Names
Please, please no military men for Veep. We need to be reducing our military and military expenses including eliminating many bases throughout the world and scaling back the whole military industrial complex to address internal needs and meet the challenges of conflicts that won't require large armies to control territory. We don't need a bigger military, we need a much smaller one.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/12/2008 at 14:43:20
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/12/2008 at 14:43:20
Since Edwards said he doesn't want the job and so did Strickland those names should not be on anyone's list. But one name that should however be on this list is Chuck Hagel if he would choose to run as an Independent. I would not pick him if he wouldn't do this. Here's why Hagel would make a lot of sense over many of these other names: 1. He's well respected by members of both parties. 2. He's sufficiently anti-war. 3. He brings military cred to Obama to counter any from McCain. 4. He has extensive foreign policy experience. 5. He doesn't remove an important Dem from either their Senate seat or Governorship. 6. He would be of great help in working across the aisle with GOP Senate members. 7. It would demonstrate to the country that Obama was serious in reaching out to the other side to push his agenda through for the benefit of the country and not primarily the Democratic party.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/12/2008 at 14:37:38
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/12/2008 at 14:37:38
McCain Acknowledges He May Lose Arizona
This shouldn't be surprising at all because McCain's dirty laundry has been airing in his home state for a while now. McCain has had a free ride in his home state because of seniority and ability to raise lots of money. But even Arizonians are fed up with him and his support for Bush's war and reckless fiscal policies. Home prices in AZ have been dropping like elsewhere. While AZ has trended Republican, this is changing. The state elected a Dem Governor and also has some good Dem House members. Also not sure the Hispanics are all that happy with his flip-flopping on the immigration issue. I would consider any state in play for the Dems in the coming election except for a few that are so red, they are painted in Bush's blood.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/11/2008 at 13:38:18
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/11/2008 at 13:38:18
Kathleen Sebelius, Completing The Obama Puzzle
It isn't that Sebelius shouldn't be considered for all of the reasons discussed here but if Obama were to pick her in order to get more support from white female voters, which is all this would be since Sebelius doesn't have any foreign policy experience that would be more of an asset to Obama's campaign, it will really anger all of the Clinton supporters. They would see Hillary getting shafted and not given the respect she was owed by the Obama campaign.
The best pick for Obama would be a strong outspoken white male who's more of a real man's man. Not a prissy-acting/looking male like Wes Clark and Evan Bayh,
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/10/2008 at 13:12:22
The best pick for Obama would be a strong outspoken white male who's more of a real man's man. Not a prissy-acting/looking male like Wes Clark and Evan Bayh,
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/10/2008 at 13:12:22
Angry White Women
This real issue is about women who only or primarily voted for Hillary because she was a woman and nothing much else. it is this group that concerns me and not the diehard Dems in any of the socio-economic groupings because I don't believe die hard Dems would vote against their own best interests and vote for McCain because they understand the issues at stake in this election. And of course Obama will make sure they do. The group that concerns me are the ignorant white women who won't vote on issues or would vote against their own best interests because they wrongly feel Hillary got slighted by the party, the media, and/or white males. These women don't care to understand the real reasons Hillary lost the nomination. Instead they want to blame everyone else besides the Clintons and their campaign. Some of these attitudes will be very hard to change and I am not sure how much time and money should be spent and/or wasted on these voters and for what purpose? So you can add some more ignorant voters to the Dem base? Personally I would prefer to see time and money spent reaching out to new more educated voters that care about real issues instead of wedge issues.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/09/2008 at 14:20:03
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/09/2008 at 14:20:03
Angry Clinton Supporters Start Rallying For McCain
Let's be very clear. This group of people while claiming to be Clinton supporters could be anyone including a front group of or by Republicans wanting to create havoc for the Dems. Most certainly this group are not real Democrats. If in fact this group are actual Hillary supporters what we know is this: 1. They are not sane, 2, They are not rational, 3, They only act on emotion, 4. They probably are racists, 5. They would probably not vote Dem in November even if Hillary were on the ballot because they aren't interested in issues. Anyone who was interested in issues would never equate Hillary's with McCain's. 6. They are undereducated - the politically correct term for "ignorant."
Let's not become distracted by these fringe groups and people with whom none of us could ever identify with.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/06/2008 at 12:54:00
Let's not become distracted by these fringe groups and people with whom none of us could ever identify with.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/06/2008 at 12:54:00
Hillary Clinton Running For The Vice Presidency
What a lot of folks who support Hillary have to realize is that she wouldn't have made a good President so why should she be considered for Veep? Let's look at her campaign for a moment and assume she was in charge and calling the shots because if she wasn't, my point has already been made. Let's list a few of her most obvious mistakes: 1. Voting for the Iraq War Res and not voting for the Levin Amendment. 2. Not admitting that these votes were mistakes early on and hyping and cheerleading for the war for several years. 3. Not devising a campaign strategy that was geared to compete in caucus states and thus loosing lots of delegates to Obama in these states. 4. Blowing and wasting hundreds of millions of dollars so that her campaign had money problems right after Iowa. 5. Bad choices of staff and advisors, etc. including Mark Penn. 6. Not listening to the good advice coming from Ickes. 6. Not having a strategy that went beyond Super Tuesday. 7. Causing bad blood among her staff in the way Patti Solis Doyle was terminated. 8. Overspending on luxury meals and hotel rooms. 9. Wasting money flying between her home in NY and the campaign trail. 10. Not being able to control Bill in the campaign and alienating black voters. 11. Believing that she could run as the candidate with the most experience when the country was looking for change.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/05/2008 at 14:40:29
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/05/2008 at 14:40:29
I am hoping that in the heat and aftermath of this long and bitterly contested primary contest, the Veep talk is only a gag reflex now for the media. What I believe will happen is that Obama will not make his intentions known for as long as he can hoping that blather of Hillary and her quest for this position will die down as the main focus shifts to the battle between him and McCain.
It would be in Obama's best interests to keep his Veep cards held closely to his chest for the last possible moment and hopefully after McCain announces his. What might make Hillary look good now as a choice to help in FL would be quickly neutralized if McCain picked Gov. Christ. Or if McCain picked a white male, Obama wouldn't be as compelled to pick a female. Or if McCain picked an Hispanic, Obama might want to pick Richardson.
There is absolutely no guarantee that Hillary brings you anything more than what he could get himself and/or in combo with others from her campaign. And she and Bill could certainly bring along too much baggage.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/05/2008 at 14:27:42
It would be in Obama's best interests to keep his Veep cards held closely to his chest for the last possible moment and hopefully after McCain announces his. What might make Hillary look good now as a choice to help in FL would be quickly neutralized if McCain picked Gov. Christ. Or if McCain picked a white male, Obama wouldn't be as compelled to pick a female. Or if McCain picked an Hispanic, Obama might want to pick Richardson.
There is absolutely no guarantee that Hillary brings you anything more than what he could get himself and/or in combo with others from her campaign. And she and Bill could certainly bring along too much baggage.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/05/2008 at 14:27:42
Obama In Heated Conversation With Lieberman
I hope you are right but I have my concerns because the Dems have shown no signs so far of being willing to deal with Joe and even Harry Reid said Joe could caucus with the party even if they didn't need him after November. So in truth both Reid and Lieberman need to go [Reid as majority leader but not out of the party] because Reid was responsible for helping Joe win back his seat.
I keep wondering how often and how much dirt Joe can throw on the Dems' faces while they continue to tolerate it? If I had been the majority leader, Joe would have been given his walking papers a long time ago and stripped of his seniority. What really isn't being discussed and I am not sure if this is even well known are the party rules that control what would happen if Joe were given the boot now. It well could be that the Dems are hiding their lack of courage with respect to Joe because the rules put in after Jeffords defected would allow them to keep their majority even if they dumped Joe now.
Topplebush.com has been asking our viewers for a while now to call their Dem Senators asking them to force leadership to strip Joe of his seniority and committees in the party. We need to let them know we are paying attention to Joe's behavior and won't tolerate it from him or them.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/05/2008 at 09:10:14
I keep wondering how often and how much dirt Joe can throw on the Dems' faces while they continue to tolerate it? If I had been the majority leader, Joe would have been given his walking papers a long time ago and stripped of his seniority. What really isn't being discussed and I am not sure if this is even well known are the party rules that control what would happen if Joe were given the boot now. It well could be that the Dems are hiding their lack of courage with respect to Joe because the rules put in after Jeffords defected would allow them to keep their majority even if they dumped Joe now.
Topplebush.com has been asking our viewers for a while now to call their Dem Senators asking them to force leadership to strip Joe of his seniority and committees in the party. We need to let them know we are paying attention to Joe's behavior and won't tolerate it from him or them.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/05/2008 at 09:10:14
I Am Not a Bargaining Chip, I Am a Democrat
It;'s also time for the Democrats to acknowledge the pathology of the Clintons and decide whether or not it's worthwhile allowing them to blackmail the party to serve their own interests.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/04/2008 at 13:50:53
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/04/2008 at 13:50:53
In case no one else has bothered to noticed, this contest since Pennsylvania has only been about the Clintons including raising money to pay off all of their debt. Why do you think her room last night was ONLY decorated in hillaryclinton.com banners and posters? And why do you think she had to mention her website more than once? And please everyone do yourself a big favor and go to her website and fill out the suggestion box and submit it to see what happens. In case you won't do this I will tell you what happens. You end up at a page for making a donation to her campaign. The Clintons are disgusting and sickening psychopaths. They are attempting to obtain money under false pretenses now from people they claim to be fighting for...many of whom don't have the kind of money to give to millionaires like the Clintons.
I ask her supporters if she cared about all of these other issues more than she does herself, why wasn't there one banner in the room last night that said: Health care for all!
Rj Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/04/2008 at 13:48:13
I ask her supporters if she cared about all of these other issues more than she does herself, why wasn't there one banner in the room last night that said: Health care for all!
Rj Crane, topplebush.com posted 06/04/2008 at 13:48:13
Sometimes Honor Is Wrong -- The Problem With John McCain
I would worry more about what type of psychiatric treatment McCain received after he returned from Vietnam and whether it was successful in alleviating the demons he must still carry around from being tortured and beaten for five years as a POW. Or did he not get any of this type of care which would even be much worse? We already know that McCain has serious personality issues that have manifested themselves in the past in excessive drinking, fighting, poor academic performances, womanizing, an ill temper towards others, and abandoning his first wife because she no longer suited his needs for a much younger and wealthy trophy wife, so loyalty to others isn't a virtue of McCain's either. He also is an extreme opportunist who will now say and do anything to get himself elected.
So while I am also concerned about the military mindset that does not translate well into most other fields and disciplines, I think McCain's problems extend well beyond that.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 15:53:24
So while I am also concerned about the military mindset that does not translate well into most other fields and disciplines, I think McCain's problems extend well beyond that.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 15:53:24
Clinton Rationale for Electability Doesn't Hold Water: History Proves the Ability to Win a State Primary Is Unrelated to General Election Success
The truth is there is no possible way for Hillary to win the election that doesn't permanently damage the Democratic party and Obama's chances of beating McCain unless Obama's campaign blows up, which isn't very likely considering how well it has been run so far. Good money would be bet that Hillary's campaign would implode first. The fact that the Clintons are just pushing another goalpost only shows the desperation in their campaign and it doesn't seem to matter if their rationalization for staying in is even false anymore than her story of landing in Bosnia was false. So why does anyone care about disproving the false assertions of the Clintons because once you slay one, another will soon pop up? The truth is there are probably a million more reasons the Clintons can cook up to stay in a race they can't win, if voters let them. THE ONLY reasons I can think of to keep Hillary in the race are it feeds more money to the media and the states holding primaries and it helps register more Democratic voters. But at some point soon the negatives are going to overcome any positives if they haven't already.
I say Hillary should exit stage left soon gracefully and start helping Obama prepare to beat McCain.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 16:04:09
I say Hillary should exit stage left soon gracefully and start helping Obama prepare to beat McCain.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 16:04:09
Not Until the Fat Lady Sings
My concern isn't so much that Hillary needs a fair chance to state her case to voters because that has already been the case. In fact if Obama had lost 11 contests in a row, he would have been history. The problem seems to be that no matter how far one stretches the definition of what giving her a fair chance is, the Clintons keep moving the goalposts. Also I would like to ask this: What fair chances are the Clinton giving to the Democrats to help them beat McCain in November? Is threatening a floor fight for delegates at the convention their way of winning fair and square no matter what happens to the party? If there isn't a nasty floor fight at the convention will Hillary's supporters still feel they got cheated?
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 11:28:31
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 11:28:31
Truth is the First Casualty. Logic is the Second. The Democratic Party is the Third.
I don't feel a longer primary is detrimental to the Dems yet either but it soon will reach that tipping point and it certainly can't continue with the candidates going after each other in a nasty divisive fashion either without negative repercussions in November. If the candidates go on for another month or so attacking John McCain and making their case as the best candidate to beat McCain, that would be a scenario I could put up with for a while longer and would justify Bill Clinton's comments calling on everyone to "chill out." But if the Clintons mean everyone should "Chill out" while they attack Obama and bring up Rev Wright to try and sway Super Delegates, I want the race over with now.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 11:20:39
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 11:20:39
Here's another detail that matters too: Clinton actually lost the TX primary getting 6 less pledged delegates out of that state than Obama. So why is the Clinton campaign and Dee Dee Meyers allowed to get away with claiming on news programs that Hillary won big in Texas. She didn't even win big in terms of overall votes in Texas. One of the main reasons Hillary is even still in this race is because the media is making more money from having the contest continue. Also the Dems may be registering more new voters to at least negate the damage from allowing the campaign to continue.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 11:14:39
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 04/02/2008 at 11:14:39
Joe Wilson Drinks the Napalm
I really loved this piece! Collis captured the essence of the Clintons and how they have turned everything to poison for all who drink from their cup. Getting back to Joe Wilson I want to interject another aspect to maybe explain why some people seem to be drinking the Clinton Kool Aid. I think the Clintons have something on these people they can either use against them or for them. We recently learned how the Clintons got some big money Democratic donors to "threaten" Pelosi into backing away from helping Obama by making statements about how the delegates should act. The Clintons could have easily promised Joe Wilson something for his support and/or threatened him with something if he didn't agree to help their campaign. The Wilsons always seemed like decent honorable people so it is disturbing to watch them smear Obama while doing the bidding of the Clintons.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/27/2008 at 14:36:46
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/27/2008 at 14:36:46
Clinton Owes Obama An Apology
This whole Rev Wright controversy is just so absurd and shows our madness in stretching political correctness to the point of absurdity to where anyone and everyone can be attacked for something they said during their entire life time no matter how long ago and in what context or even out of context. What no one is actually stating about Rev Wright was that he was speaking to people he knew and knew for a long time and felt he could speak frankly to them and say certain things a certain way to them. Any one of us could also say similar things to friends we know while we couldn't say the same to other people/friends we know. Considering the death and destruction our country has inflicted on the people of Iraq, who among us couldn't utter: G**D***M America!! if not to others at least to ourselves?
Frankly I am getting sick and tired of people being attacked for expressing unpopular viewpoints when those viewpoints have merit and are well expressed by people who have done some research. We saw the same phenom when Jimmy Carter's book attacked some of Israel's crimes against the Palestinians and when Mersheimer's book came out questioning US foreign policy with respect to Israel. We witnessed the same assault on people who wouldn't wear a flag lapel pin.
This madness needs to stop soon before we drown ourselves in it.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/27/2008 at 14:22:01
Frankly I am getting sick and tired of people being attacked for expressing unpopular viewpoints when those viewpoints have merit and are well expressed by people who have done some research. We saw the same phenom when Jimmy Carter's book attacked some of Israel's crimes against the Palestinians and when Mersheimer's book came out questioning US foreign policy with respect to Israel. We witnessed the same assault on people who wouldn't wear a flag lapel pin.
This madness needs to stop soon before we drown ourselves in it.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/27/2008 at 14:22:01
I wonder how many more primaries Hillary might have won had she and her campaign not stooped so low in attacking Obama not only alienating all of their prior good rapport among blacks but turning off new younger voters excited by the Obama campaign and now possibly alienating many Democrats who would have been happy to have her as a viable candidate just a few months ago? But instead of pushing forth a positive campaign on the issues, at the first sign of trouble her campaign tried to divide voters based on race and fear in order to win the next contests...and they didn't stiop when this backfired in South Carolina either. When subtly trying to ghettoize Obama backfired badly in S. Carolina, they turned instead to questioning his patriotism by elevating McCain at Obama's expense.
The only path Hillary may have left herself to save her reputation now is to unite the Dems behind Obama's campaign. If she can't or won't do this, my guess is she will face a hostile Senate when she returns. And it could already be too late.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/27/2008 at 14:03:52
The only path Hillary may have left herself to save her reputation now is to unite the Dems behind Obama's campaign. If she can't or won't do this, my guess is she will face a hostile Senate when she returns. And it could already be too late.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/27/2008 at 14:03:52
Time for Superdelegates to Ratify Obama's Insurmountable Pledged Delegate Lead and Settle the Democratic Nomination
The way this campaign is proceeding there is always going to be a new way for Hillary to claim she should be handed the nomination. The latest wrinkle being she has won the most electoral votes from states. Now even the pledged delegates seem to be in play. It is very disingenuous for Hillary supporters to claim Obama blocked revotes in MI and FL. That is not true in either state. Yes, his campaign expressed very valid reservations about the plans being considered but it was the state legislators who decided there was no good way that made sense for them to go along with another re-vote let alone pay for one or allow rich benefactors of Hillary's to pay for one.
The fact that the media allowed Hillary to claim she won in FL and MI was bad enough because no one campaigned in either state and barely anyone else's name was on the MI ballot. And the media continues to allow false Clinton asertions to be made by her spokespeople like Dee Dee Meyers who recently claimed that Hillary won big in TX when Obama actually won the most delegates from TX.
So I hope that the super delegates step in soon and put the Clinton campaign out of its misery.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/26/2008 at 15:18:54
The fact that the media allowed Hillary to claim she won in FL and MI was bad enough because no one campaigned in either state and barely anyone else's name was on the MI ballot. And the media continues to allow false Clinton asertions to be made by her spokespeople like Dee Dee Meyers who recently claimed that Hillary won big in TX when Obama actually won the most delegates from TX.
So I hope that the super delegates step in soon and put the Clinton campaign out of its misery.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/26/2008 at 15:18:54
Metanarratives and Hillary's Honesty Gap
The latest Hillary gaffe about avoiding sniper fire in Bosnia is much much worse than anything Al Gore correctly stated about his role in aiding the development of the internet. The Hillary comments are obviously false. Al Gore's statements were terribly distorted and mis-stated by the media including the so-called liberal media in order to paint Gore as a serial liar believing most Americans would buy this narrative instead of fact-checking the record of what Gore actually said.
In either case the point is well made that Hillary's deliberate inflating of her record will be used against her but whether this would prove fatal against an insane and senile McCain is not certain.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/25/2008 at 13:48:27
In either case the point is well made that Hillary's deliberate inflating of her record will be used against her but whether this would prove fatal against an insane and senile McCain is not certain.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/25/2008 at 13:48:27
4000 Killed in Iraq: A Harsh Reminder
And while we're at it, let's not forget that four millions Iraqis have been displaced from their homes and/or the country. The number of innocent iraqis who have been killed or seriously maimed has to be almost another one million or more. Then how many more Iraqis will continue to suffer from a lack of electricity, clean water and sewage problems and will be affected for a long time by the left over depleted uranium? All total with the 4,000 US soldiers who have been killed and about another 300,000+ who will seek medical attention, Bush's folly becomes one of the most horrific and unprovoked acts of violence against a group of people in recent world history. When Rev. Wright exploded with "Goddamn America" he was uttering the shame everyone in this country should feel at what our country has inflicted on another.
RJ Crane, topplebush.cmo posted 03/24/2008 at 13:37:34
RJ Crane, topplebush.cmo posted 03/24/2008 at 13:37:34
Meet The (White) Man Who Inspired Wright's Controversial Sermon
Yes, Osama bin Laden and his ilk have cost the United States about $3 trillion dollars and thousands of innocent lives that have been wasted while creating misery for millions innocent Iraqis. In other words, Bush walked right into a trap and took the rest of us and future generations of Americans and the country of Iraq right down with him. My American flag stopped waving when this horrible war started. And shame on Congress for not impeaching our own war criminals who lied us into the fiasco.
There is one thing we can all say that's positive about Rev. Wright even if we don't listen to his sermons nor attend his church nor agree with everything he says. At least he isn't willing to turn a blind eye to our country's many and serious fallings - our very own evil-doing here and abroad for lack of a better phrase. Rev. Wright is willing to put himself on the line to do our dirty work for us: To make us look at ourselves and our actions that shouldn't make us proud to be Americans. So our country really needs more Rev. Wrights and a lot less FOX NOISE.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com
posted 03/23/2008 at 09:49:28
There is one thing we can all say that's positive about Rev. Wright even if we don't listen to his sermons nor attend his church nor agree with everything he says. At least he isn't willing to turn a blind eye to our country's many and serious fallings - our very own evil-doing here and abroad for lack of a better phrase. Rev. Wright is willing to put himself on the line to do our dirty work for us: To make us look at ourselves and our actions that shouldn't make us proud to be Americans. So our country really needs more Rev. Wrights and a lot less FOX NOISE.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com
posted 03/23/2008 at 09:49:28
Reactions to a Tough Decision
I totally agree with this assessment. The only thing a continuation of the Hillary campaign will accomplish now is to make it more likely McCain will win the Presidency. For this reason and this reason alone if you care at all about what would happen to our country under a McCain presidency, you will abandon the Clinton Titanic now before you and the Democratic party go down with it. I really don't care anymore about their minor differences on policy issues either. Right now, with McCain having sewn up the nomination and out and about pretending to look presidential while making fund raising stops, we need to focus around the only candidate who will have the most elected delegates and contests won by the time the convention rolls around and that is Barack Obama. And in most polls he also leads Hillary and beats McCain by more points.
Now if you really don't care if McCain becomes the next President, stay with Hillary to the brutal bitter end.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/25/2008 at 15:20:30
Now if you really don't care if McCain becomes the next President, stay with Hillary to the brutal bitter end.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 03/25/2008 at 15:20:30
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Now getting back to my point: if anyone listens to McCain and/or reviews his history and record there doesn't seem to be a great deal of intelligence revealed. And that should worry us all.
RJ Crane, topplebush.com posted 07/18/2008 at 14:08:05