Before reading this, I want it understood, this is not the official position of www.letsgetthisright.com or anyone else, this is MY PERSONAL OPINION and does not represent my position as a staffer of www.letsgetthisright.com

American's need to stand up and tell John McCain to "Just Say No!"

If one reads just the title of the bill that was voted down yesterday it has absolutely nothing to do with the government’s attempted bail out to the tune of $700 Billion dollars. For those who are unaware here is the title of the "bailout bill"

BILL TITLE: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide earnings assistance and tax relief to members of the uniformed services, volunteer firefighters, and Peace Corps volunteers, and for other purposes 

(what the hell... how can anyone make heads or tails of that title referencing a bailout bill???)

No American should be in favor of this bail out - you don't fix a temporary problem within a capitalist economy with a permanent socialist solution. Hell, even 95 democrats agreed yesterday that the bailout is the WRONG solution.

This is one of those occasions where I DO NOT support the President’s position!

President Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Rahm Emanuel,  John Murtha, Charlie Rangel, and a host of other liberals are in favor of this ridiculous bill, the Republicans who supported it should be ashamed and do not represent true conservative values.

In my own personal opinion, if John McCain wants to have any hope of winning the White House and thereby help Sarah Palin as a potential future President, he should immediately separate his position from that of the President, Secretary Paulson, Senator Obama, as well as the Democrats and Republicans who support the bailout.

I like McCain, I like Palin and they are the ticket I am supporting, but the folks at the top of the campaign who are giving them advice need to hush, stop pushing a bad agenda, and listen to the voice of the American people on this one and let John McCain and Sarah Palin act accordingly.

Let us, "We The People" figure out how to get this right, by allowing us to participate in the general economy to fix it over time, the bailout bill is the equivalent of using morphine to cure a bad flu bug, the cure is not only the wrong prescription, it is more deadly than the illness itself.

John McCain needs to be the Maverick that many Americans like, respect and are comfortable voting for.

Senator John McCain should immediately come out and "Just Say No" to the bail out and suggest the following or something very similar to it;

1. Suspend the Mark-to-Market Rule - If short selling can be suspended on 799 stocks (an arbitrary number and a warning of the rule by bureaucrats which is coming under the Paulson plan), the mark-to-market rule can be suspended for six months and then replaced with a more accurate three year rolling average mark-to-market.

2. Repeal Sarbanes Oxley - It failed with Freddy Mac. It failed with Fannie Mae. It failed with Bear Stearns. It failed with Lehman Brothers. It failed with AIG. It is crippling our entrepreneurial economy. I spent three days this week in Silicon Valley. Everyone agreed Sarbanes-Oxley was crippling the economy. One firm told me they would bring more than 20 companies public in the next year if the law was repealed. Its Sarbanes-Oxley’s $3 million per startup annual accounting fee that is keeping these companies private.

3. Match our competitors in China and Singapore by going to a zero capital gains tax - Private capital will flood into Wall Street with zero capital gains and it will come at no cost to the taxpayer. Even if you believe in a static analytical model in which lower capital gains taxes mean lower revenues for the Treasury, a zero capital gains tax costs much less than the Paulson plan. And if you believe in a historic model (as I do), a zero capital gains tax would lead to a dramatic increase in federal revenue through a larger, more competitive and more prosperous economy.

4. Immediately pass an “all of the above” energy plan - that is designed to bring home $500 billion of the $700 billion a year we are sending overseas. With that much energy income the American economy would boom and government revenues would grow.

5. Immediately DEMAND investigations - of those responsible for directly influencing the current economic situation due to either direct action or inaction, be they captains of industry, lobbyists or politicians and as McCain would say "make them famous" and let the FBI, the Justice Dept. and the Federal Court systems follow up from there.

None of these suggestions are new, they are supported by Conservative politicians and business men like New Gingrich (who actually made those proposals on Sept. 21st - See Forbes Magazine and National Review Online from that date) and there are also plenty of "hip and trendy" socially left "pop culture icons" like Donald Trump who favor the concept of "Just Say No" as well.

There is NO REASON for John McCain to support a bailout bill that both George Bush and Barack Obama support and 83% to 86% of Americans on both sides DO NOT support!

John McCain MUST be on the RIGHT side of history on this bill, I say call and email the McCain campaign, and his Senate offices and tell them to tell John McCain to "Just Say No!" 

John McCain Campaign Office

(703) 418-2008 or http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/

Senatorial Offices

·         Phoenix Office:

5353 North 16th Street
Suite 105
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Main: 602-952-2410
Fax: 602-952-8702

·         Tempe Office:

4703 South Lakeshore Drive
Suite 1
Tempe, AZ 85282
Main: 480-897-6289
Fax: 480-897-8389

·         Tucson Office:

407 West Congress Street
Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85701
Main: 520-670-6334
Fax: 520-670-6637

·         Washington Office:

241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2235
Fax: 202-228-2862

Below is the result of the roll call vote from yesterday.

H R 3997 RECORDED VOTE 29-Sep-2008 2:07 PM       

BILL TITLE: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide earnings assistance and tax relief to members of the uniformed services, volunteer firefighters, and Peace Corps volunteers, and for other purposes

AYES Democrat 140

Republican 65    

NOES Democrat 95

Republican 133    

NOT VOTING Republican 1   (Shame on you Congressman Weller!)

TOTALS AYES 205 NOES 228      QUESTION: On Concurring in Senate Amendment With An Amendment

Ackerman D NY legislator Aye
Allen D ME legislator Aye
Andrews D NJ legislator Aye
Arcuri D NY legislator Aye
Baird D WA legislator Aye
Baldwin D WI legislator Aye
Bean D IL legislator Aye
Berman D CA legislator Aye
Berry D AR legislator Aye
Bishop (GA) D GA legislator Aye
Bishop (NY) D NY legislator Aye
Boren D OK legislator Aye
Boswell D IA legislator Aye
Boucher D VA legislator Aye
Boyd (FL) D FL legislator Aye
Brady (PA) D PA legislator Aye
Brown, Corrine D FL legislator Aye
Capps D CA legislator Aye
Capuano D MA legislator Aye
Cardoza D CA legislator Aye
Carnahan D MO legislator Aye
Clarke D NY legislator Aye
Clyburn D SC legislator Aye
Cohen D TN legislator Aye
Cooper D TN legislator Aye
Costa D CA legislator Aye
Cramer D AL legislator Aye
Crowley D NY legislator Aye
Davis (AL) D AL legislator Aye
Davis (CA) D CA legislator Aye
Davis (IL) D IL legislator Aye
DeGette D CO legislator Aye
DeLauro D CT legislator Aye
Dicks D WA legislator Aye
Dingell D MI legislator Aye
Donnelly D IN legislator Aye
Doyle D PA legislator Aye
Edwards (TX) D TX legislator Aye
Ellison D MN legislator Aye
Ellsworth D IN legislator Aye
Emanuel D IL legislator Aye
Engel D NY legislator Aye
Eshoo D CA legislator Aye
Etheridge D NC legislator Aye
Farr D CA legislator Aye
Fattah D PA legislator Aye
Foster D IL legislator Aye
Frank (MA) D MA legislator Aye
Gonzalez D TX legislator Aye
Gordon D TN legislator Aye
Gutierrez D IL legislator Aye
Hall (NY) D NY legislator Aye
Hare D IL legislator Aye
Harman D CA legislator Aye
Hastings (FL) D FL legislator Aye
Higgins D NY legislator Aye
Hinojosa D TX legislator Aye
Holt D NJ legislator Aye
Honda D CA legislator Aye
Hooley D OR legislator Aye
Hoyer D MD legislator Aye
Israel D NY legislator Aye
Johnson, E. B. D TX legislator Aye
Kanjorski D PA legislator Aye
Kennedy D RI legislator Aye
Kildee D MI legislator Aye
Kind D WI legislator Aye
Klein (FL) D FL legislator Aye
Langevin D RI legislator Aye
Larsen (WA) D WA legislator Aye
Larson (CT) D CT legislator Aye
Levin D MI legislator Aye
Loebsack D IA legislator Aye
Lofgren, Zoe D CA legislator Aye
Lowey D NY legislator Aye
Mahoney (FL) D FL legislator Aye
Maloney (NY) D NY legislator Aye
Markey D MA legislator Aye
Marshall D GA legislator Aye
Matsui D CA legislator Aye
McCarthy (NY) D NY legislator Aye
McCollum (MN) D MN legislator Aye
McDermott D WA legislator Aye
McGovern D MA legislator Aye
McNerney D CA legislator Aye
McNulty D NY legislator Aye
Meek (FL) D FL legislator Aye
Meeks (NY) D NY legislator Aye
Melancon D LA legislator Aye
Miller (NC) D NC legislator Aye
Miller, George D CA legislator Aye
Mollohan D WV legislator Aye
Moore (KS) D KS legislator Aye
Moore (WI) D WI legislator Aye
Moran (VA) D VA legislator Aye
Murphy (CT) D CT legislator Aye
Murphy, Patrick D PA legislator Aye
Murtha D PA legislator Aye
Nadler D NY legislator Aye
Neal (MA) D MA legislator Aye
Oberstar D MN legislator Aye
Obey D WI legislator Aye
Olver D MA legislator Aye
Pallone D NJ legislator Aye
Pelosi D CA speaker Aye
Perlmutter D CO legislator Aye
Pomeroy D ND legislator Aye
Price (NC) D NC legislator Aye
Rahall D WV legislator Aye
Rangel D NY legislator Aye
Reyes D TX legislator Aye
Richardson D CA legislator Aye
Ross D AR legislator Aye
Ruppersberger D MD legislator Aye
Ryan (OH) D OH legislator Aye
Sarbanes D MD legislator Aye
Schakowsky D IL legislator Aye
Schwartz D PA legislator Aye
Sestak D PA legislator Aye
Sires D NJ legislator Aye
Skelton D MO legislator Aye
Slaughter D NY legislator Aye
Smith (WA) D WA legislator Aye
Snyder D AR legislator Aye
Space D OH legislator Aye
Speier D CA legislator Aye
Spratt D SC legislator Aye
Tanner D TN legislator Aye
Tauscher D CA legislator Aye
Towns D NY legislator Aye
Tsongas D MA legislator Aye
Van Hollen D MD legislator Aye
Velazquez D NY legislator Aye
Wasserman Schultz D FL legislator Aye
Waters D CA legislator Aye
Watt D NC legislator Aye
Waxman D CA legislator Aye
Weiner D NY legislator Aye
Wexler D FL legislator Aye
Wilson (OH) D OH legislator Aye
Bachus R AL legislator Aye
Blunt R MO legislator Aye
Boehner R OH legislator Aye
Bonner R AL legislator Aye
Bono Mack R CA legislator Aye
Boozman R AR legislator Aye
Brady (TX) R TX legislator Aye
Brown (SC) R SC legislator Aye
Calvert R CA legislator Aye
Camp (MI) R MI legislator Aye
Campbell (CA) R CA legislator Aye
Cannon R UT legislator Aye
Cantor R VA legislator Aye
Castle R DE legislator Aye
Cole (OK) R OK legislator Aye
Crenshaw R FL legislator Aye
Cubin R WY legislator Aye
Davis, Tom R VA legislator Aye
Dreier R CA legislator Aye
Ehlers R MI legislator Aye
Emerson R MO legislator Aye
Everett R AL legislator Aye
Ferguson R NJ legislator Aye
Fossella R NY legislator Aye
Gilchrest R MD legislator Aye
Granger R TX legislator Aye
Herger R CA legislator Aye
Hobson R OH legislator Aye
Inglis (SC) R SC legislator Aye
King (NY) R NY legislator Aye
Kirk R IL legislator Aye
Kline (MN) R MN legislator Aye
LaHood R IL legislator Aye
Lewis (CA) R CA legislator Aye
Lewis (KY) R KY legislator Aye
Lungren, Daniel E. R CA legislator Aye
McCrery R LA legislator Aye
McHugh R NY legislator Aye
McKeon R CA legislator Aye
Miller, Gary R CA legislator Aye
Peterson (PA) R PA legislator Aye
Pickering R MS legislator Aye
Porter R NV legislator Aye
Pryce (OH) R OH legislator Aye
Putnam R FL legislator Aye
Radanovich R CA legislator Aye
Regula R OH legislator Aye
Reynolds R NY legislator Aye
Rogers (AL) R AL legislator Aye
Rogers (KY) R KY legislator Aye
Ryan (WI) R WI legislator Aye
Saxton R NJ legislator Aye
Sessions R TX legislator Aye
Shays R CT legislator Aye
Simpson R ID legislator Aye
Smith (TX) R TX legislator Aye
Souder R IN legislator Aye
Tancredo R CO legislator Aye
Upton R MI legislator Aye
Walden (OR) R OR legislator Aye
Walsh (NY) R NY legislator Aye
Weldon (FL) R FL legislator Aye
Wilson (NM) R NM legislator Aye
Wilson (SC) R SC legislator Aye
Wolf R VA legislator Aye
Abercrombie D HI legislator No
Altmire D PA legislator No
Baca D CA legislator No
Barrow D GA legislator No
Becerra D CA legislator No
Berkley D NV legislator No
Blumenauer D OR legislator No
Boyda (KS) D KS legislator No
Braley (IA) D IA legislator No
Butterfield D NC legislator No
Carney D PA legislator No
Carson D IN legislator No
Castor D FL legislator No
Cazayoux D LA legislator No
Chandler D KY legislator No
Childers D MS legislator No
Clay D MO legislator No
Cleaver D MO legislator No
Conyers D MI legislator No
Costello D IL legislator No
Courtney D CT legislator No
Cuellar D TX legislator No
Cummings D MD legislator No
Davis, Lincoln D TN legislator No
DeFazio D OR legislator No
Delahunt D MA legislator No
Doggett D TX legislator No
Edwards (MD) D MD legislator No
Filner D CA legislator No
Giffords D AZ legislator No
Gillibrand D NY legislator No
Green, Al D TX legislator No
Green, Gene D TX legislator No
Grijalva D AZ legislator No
Herseth Sandlin D SD legislator No
Hill D IN legislator No
Hinchey D NY legislator No
Hirono D HI legislator No
Hodes D NH legislator No
Holden D PA legislator No
Inslee D WA legislator No
Jackson (IL) D IL legislator No
Jackson-Lee (TX) D TX legislator No
Jefferson D LA legislator No
Johnson (GA) D GA legislator No
Kagen D WI legislator No
Kaptur D OH legislator No
Kilpatrick D MI legislator No
Kucinich D OH legislator No
Lampson D TX legislator No
Lee D CA legislator No
Lewis (GA) D GA legislator No
Lipinski D IL legislator No
Lynch D MA legislator No
Matheson D UT legislator No
McIntyre D NC legislator No
Michaud D ME legislator No
Mitchell D AZ legislator No
Napolitano D CA legislator No
Ortiz D TX legislator No
Pascrell D NJ legislator No
Pastor D AZ legislator No
Payne D NJ legislator No
Peterson (MN) D MN legislator No
Rodriguez D TX legislator No
Rothman D NJ legislator No
Roybal-Allard D CA legislator No
Rush D IL legislator No
Salazar D CO legislator No
Sanchez, Linda T. D CA legislator No
Sanchez, Loretta D CA legislator No
Schiff D CA legislator No
Scott (GA) D GA legislator No
Scott (VA) D VA legislator No
Serrano D NY legislator No
Shea-Porter D NH legislator No
Sherman D CA legislator No
Shuler D NC legislator No
Solis D CA legislator No
Stark D CA legislator No
Stupak D MI legislator No
Sutton D OH legislator No
Taylor D MS legislator No
Thompson (CA) D CA legislator No
Thompson (MS) D MS legislator No
Tierney D MA legislator No
Udall (CO) D CO legislator No
Udall (NM) D NM legislator No
Visclosky D IN legislator No
Walz (MN) D MN legislator No
Watson D CA legislator No
Welch (VT) D VT legislator No
Woolsey D CA legislator No
Wu D OR legislator No
Yarmuth D KY legislator No
Aderholt R AL legislator No
Akin R MO legislator No
Alexander R LA legislator No
Bachmann R MN legislator No
Barrett (SC) R SC legislator No
Bartlett (MD) R MD legislator No
Barton (TX) R TX legislator No
Biggert R IL legislator No
Bilbray R CA legislator No
Bilirakis R FL legislator No
Bishop (UT) R UT legislator No
Blackburn R TN legislator No
Boustany R LA legislator No
Broun (GA) R GA legislator No
Brown-Waite, Ginny R FL legislator No
Buchanan R FL legislator No
Burgess R TX legislator No
Burton (IN) R IN legislator No
Buyer R IN legislator No
Capito R WV legislator No
Carter R TX legislator No
Chabot R OH legislator No
Coble R NC legislator No
Conaway R TX legislator No
Culberson R TX legislator No
Davis (KY) R KY legislator No
Davis, David R TN legislator No
Deal (GA) R GA legislator No
Dent R PA legislator No
Diaz-Balart, L. R FL legislator No
Diaz-Balart, M. R FL legislator No
Doolittle R CA legislator No
Drake R VA legislator No
Duncan R TN legislator No
English (PA) R PA legislator No
Fallin R OK legislator No
Feeney R FL legislator No
Flake R AZ legislator No
Forbes R VA legislator No
Fortenberry R NE legislator No
Foxx R NC legislator No
Franks (AZ) R AZ legislator No
Frelinghuysen R NJ legislator No
Gallegly R CA legislator No
Garrett (NJ) R NJ legislator No
Gerlach R PA legislator No
Gingrey R GA legislator No
Gohmert R TX legislator No
Goode R VA legislator No
Goodlatte R VA legislator No
Graves R MO legislator No
Hall (TX) R TX legislator No
Hastings (WA) R WA legislator No
Hayes R NC legislator No
Heller R NV legislator No
Hensarling R TX legislator No
Hoekstra R MI legislator No
Hulshof R MO legislator No
Hunter R CA legislator No
Issa R CA legislator No
Johnson (IL) R IL legislator No
Johnson, Sam R TX legislator No
Jones (NC) R NC legislator No
Jordan R OH legislator No
Keller R FL legislator No
King (IA) R IA legislator No
Kingston R GA legislator No
Knollenberg R MI legislator No
Kuhl (NY) R NY legislator No
Lamborn R CO legislator No
Latham R IA legislator No
LaTourette R OH legislator No
Latta R OH legislator No
Linder R GA legislator No
LoBiondo R NJ legislator No
Lucas R OK legislator No
Mack R FL legislator No
Manzullo R IL legislator No
Marchant R TX legislator No
McCarthy (CA) R CA legislator No
McCaul (TX) R TX legislator No
McCotter R MI legislator No
McHenry R NC legislator No
McMorris Rodgers R WA legislator No
Mica R FL legislator No
Miller (FL) R FL legislator No
Miller (MI) R MI legislator No
Moran (KS) R KS legislator No
Murphy, Tim R PA legislator No
Musgrave R CO legislator No
Myrick R NC legislator No
Neugebauer R TX legislator No
Nunes R CA legislator No
Paul R TX legislator No
Pearce R NM legislator No
Pence R IN legislator No
Petri R WI legislator No
Pitts R PA legislator No
Platts R PA legislator No
Poe R TX legislator No
Price (GA) R GA legislator No
Ramstad R MN legislator No
Rehberg R MT legislator No
Reichert R WA legislator No
Renzi R AZ legislator No
Rogers (MI) R MI legislator No
Rohrabacher R CA legislator No
Ros-Lehtinen R FL legislator No
Roskam R IL legislator No
Royce R CA legislator No
Sali R ID legislator No
Scalise R LA legislator No
Schmidt R OH legislator No
Sensenbrenner R WI legislator No
Shadegg R AZ legislator No
Shimkus R IL legislator No
Shuster R PA legislator No
Smith (NE) R NE legislator No
Smith (NJ) R NJ legislator No
Stearns R FL legislator No
Sullivan R OK legislator No
Terry R NE legislator No
Thornberry R TX legislator No
Tiahrt R KS legislator No
Tiberi R OH legislator No
Turner R OH legislator No
Walberg R MI legislator No
Wamp R TN legislator No
Westmoreland R GA legislator No
Whitfield (KY) R KY legislator No
Wittman (VA) R VA legislator No
Young (AK) R AK legislator No
Young (FL) R FL legislator No
Weller R IL legislator Not Voting

During an interview with Chris Wallace of the Fox News Channel a self described senior advisor to the Obama campaign Robert Gibbs made what I think is a great point that provides Americans with a very clear distinction between the Obama campaign and the McCain campaign. Robert Gibbs said "This speech is extremely important because it’s your one chance to speak to tens of millions of people and speak in an unfiltered way about your character, your views and where you want to take the American people." After which Gibbs also said "we real excited that we opened up this convention to real Americans."

To me this comment suggest two things; first that Obama is somehow going to take America somewhere different instead of allowing the people to tell the government and the President which direction it wants to move in and what we want, like an American energy independence policy, secure borders, fewer taxes, no government waste, etc. It also reveals the one sided nature of Barack Obama because by Gibbs saying that the convention is being "opened up to real Americans" it makes it sound as if anyone who does not attend or agree with the Dali-Bama's speech is not a "real American."

The nuances may be subtle but they are real and it once more reveals the complete and utter arrogance of this candidate and his staff.

Barack Obama's "Fight The Smears" website has now taken down and removed the "proof" of his Certificate of Birth that was supposedly from Honolulu, Hawaii.

Why?

Perhaps it is because when people started asking questions on the left and not just on the right the story took on a life of its own. Now with the lawsuit filed by Philip J. Berg in Pennsylvania the campaign has no choice but to come up with clear evidentiary proof of his Jus Sanguinis "Right of blood" that proves once and for all that Barack Obama is a US Citizen.

At issue is whether or not his mother Ann Dunham gave birth to Obama in the US in Hawaii, or whether or not his mother had him in Indonesia, Kenya or on some island off the Canadian coastline near Seattle and if so, did she file the required paperwork with the nearest US consulates office to certify him as her son and as a US citizen as required by law.

As I said on my last Blog and on the radio program the stories that abound about his birth and even Obama himself does not provide clear answers about it in his book. Each side of his family provide a different version of the story as well.

Regardless, whether the rumors that exist are true or not, because of the lawsuit filed yesterday, his campaign now has no choice but to resolve the issue before is destroys his candidacy.

Just as curious is the exact reason why they would remove a document that they have had on his "Fight the Smears" website for months.

Originally published on www.barnhartblog.com

Since the start of the 2008 Presidential election cycle a cloud of controversy has existed on the Internet in regards to John McCain’s war record. Whispers about the subject were heard when McCain ran for the Republican nomination previously but when he lost the nomination to George Bush, nothing came of it.

Last Sunday while appearing on CBS’ Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer, former 2004 Presidential candidate and Hillary Clinton supporter turned Obama adviser; General Wesley Clark (Ret.) brought the subject into the spotlight by questioning whether or not military experience qualifies a person to be President.

Clark's comments tossed gasoline onto a subject that has remained dormant in the media for most of the year while Bloggers have debated it in a very heated manner.

Since John McCain is the target of the controversy I thought it best to outline the 4 schools of thought in regards to his military service and they are as follows;

1.   Many left leaning political analysts, pundits and Bloggers question the “fairness” of McCain's campaign using his military experience to validate his character and qualifications, especially since the two most likely Democrat nominees, Clinton and Obama, lacked any military experience.

2.   John McCain’s supporters contend that his military service, his time as a P.O.W., his medals and military leadership experience easily qualify him as a war hero and that McCain should use his military service to his full advantage during the campaign

.

4.   Finally, there are those on who acknowledge McCain’s service but say it in no way qualifies him to be Commander-in-Chief.

What follows is my personal commentary on the matter…

B)   John McCain has every right to discuss his military service in an open and honest fashion. His campaign should talk about it openly so voters get a much better sense of how his military service shaped his character

.

C)   I get “McCain is a traitor” emails every week from loud mouths on both sides; I receive them from Obama supporters who use it to excuse Obama’s Marxism, the former John Kerry supporters use it as “pay-back” for the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacking Kerry in 2004 for his controversial war record and testimony before congress in the 70’s, and then there are the far out conspiracy nuts who think the C.I.A. killed Kennedy in 1963 and have run a puppet government ever since.

The only people who have even the slightest reason to hold a grudge against McCain are those who were strong enough to endure an equal or greater amount of torture in the Hanoi Hilton but never signed a propaganda statement. Only God truly knows what those men went through, that said, those few who hold a grudge against McCain should make efforts to temper any comments with wisdom, humility and compassion. They need to remember that after McCain finally did break after four straight days of torture he resisted any further temptations despite efforts to the contrary. His stubborn resistance landed him in solitary confinement for two years

.

We have had 43 Presidents, 31 served in the military prior to being President; 30 were officers, 24 served in the US Army or a state militia, 6 were in the Navy, 1 was in the Air Force. Of the 31 Presidents with military experience only 1, Thomas Jefferson, served at a time when the US was not involved in a conflict of some kind. For those keeping score, even Franklin Roosevelt served this country in a civilian capacity as Secretary of the Navy during World War I, counting his service he would be number 32. Of the 11 remaining Presidents with no record of military service, historians generally agree that 6 of them represent administrations which either under-achieved on their stated goals, left office under a cloud of scandal or both

.

With that said, I concede that military service is not a prerequisite for President and it is not a predictor of success or failure, some Presidents with military experience are considered to be unsuccessful in achieving their full potential.

Democrats would likely point to the current Bush administration’s unfavorable ratings in regards to oil prices, the lack of economic stability, the money spent on Iraq, and the failure to find and kill Osama Bin Laden.

On the other hand Republicans would likely point to Jimmy Carter as an example of a woefully poor Democrat President because of his mishandling of the Iran hostage crisis, the dismantling of the military and his short sighted economic policies.

I believe there are three reasons why so many American Presidents have had military experience.

When Wesley Clark said on Sunday "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president" he not only discounted John McCain’s military service, he discounted his own military service, the service of millions of veterans, and he discounted the military service of 31 Presidents as if it has no value at all.

Originally published at www.barnhartblog.com

Practically everyone has said it at one time or another when they were a child in the midst of a confrontation; in the sandbox, at recess, or on the playground..."Nananana booboo, stick your head in doodoo, I'm rubber you're glue, anything you say bounces off me and sticks to you!"

Just today I received an email from yet another Democrat Massachusetts State Representative with a negative reaction to my Blog. Representative Benjamin Swan read my Blog about Obama arrogantly creating his own version of the Presidential seal for use on the campaign trail and then responded by calling me “small-minded.”

 

What I cannot figure out is if Massachusetts State Representative Benjamin Swan called me “small minded” because I think what Obama did was arrogant, because I am conservative, or because Massachusetts State Representative Benjamin Swan is trying to insinuate that my comments about Obama’s arrogance are racially motivated.

Last week Democrat Massachusetts State Representative Matthew Patrick responded by not only incorrectly stating that right wing conservatives have controlled the country for the last 30 years, but then bashed southern states by saying… “the southern states that lead in every negative category there is."

 

Here are some other great examples:

May 13, 2008 MSNBC commentator Ron Reagan Jr. is asked by Chris Matthews to provide his thoughts on Obama losing to Hillary Clinton in West Virginia, his response was “I think the better question to ask is what is wrong with West Virginians?”

 

Imagine that, an ultra-liberal attacking moderates and more conservative blue-dog Democrats for thinking and believing the way they want to instead of endorsing the candidate he thinks they should.

Chris Matthews is famous for saying that when he hears Barack Obama speak he "feels a thrill going up his leg"; what Chris Matthews doesn't realize is that when Barack Obama speaks conservatives feel something too; it's Barack "Tax-Man" Obama reaching into our pockets and we aren't exactly thrilled about it. That is why we don't support the man.

April 12, 2008 San Francisco, California Barack Obama made this statement about gun owners and Christians “You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them…And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

 

Many in the media have focused solely on the “guns and religion” portion of Barack Obama’s quote; however, when taken in total his comment suggests that  someone who has lost their job might take their frustration out on an immigrant by shooting them and then using their religious beliefs or economic situation  to justify it.

June 20, 2008 Jacksonville, Florida at a Democrat fundraiser Barack Obama himself plays the race card when he makes the following statements in reference to the kind of campaign Republicans were going to run against him. "We know what kind of campaign they're going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid. They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black? We know the strategy because they've already shown their cards. Ultimately I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn't moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us.”

Uh… yeah right… sure he is… by calling conservatives racists for disagreeing with his Marxist philosophy and politics Barack Obama isn’t providing “Change We Can Believe In” but he does represent change... “Change We Can’t Trust.”