McCain wants to make this election about judgment and trust. He has called into question Obama’s trustworthiness.  McCain claims that he will "keep his word" to Americans and declares himself a person we "can trust."

Of course this is more double talk by McCain, who reminds us every day about his similarities with George Bush.

Welcome back for more veep speculation! Last thread we considered the top military veteran candidates to be Obama's v.p. Averaging in those votes yielded the same top 14 average vote-getters overall as the thread before that, so we'll consider them again in today's poll.

I'm still alternating "break-out" polls with the top 14 average vote-getting candidates in these threads' polls, averaging in each day's votes as we go. I'm going to do the top possibilities experienced with foreign policy/national security issues and governors/former governors before cutting 14 names to narrow the field to just two tiers--that's if Obama hasn't decided by then, of course. I'll reset the averages then, too. So that would be three or four more threads away from today.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Johnny/Jane Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today we'll be polling the the top military veteran possibilities for Obama's v.p. This includes all candidates who served in uniform (service branch is indicated after names in poll), not including state chief executives, who are commanders-in-chief of their states' National Guards, but who will be considered separately.

I'm still alternating "break-out" polls with the top 14 average vote-getting candidates in these threads' polls, averaging in each day's votes as we go. I'm going to do the top possibilities experienced with foreign policy/national security issues and governors/former governors before cutting 14 names to narrow the field to just two tiers--that's if Obama hasn't decided by then, of course. I'll reset the averages then, too. So that would be four more threads away from today.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Jane/Johnny Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

After watching all of the MSM networks bash Gen. Clark's comment of McCain, I'm wondering what FOX News had said about John Kerry's military service during the 2004 election?

Ah the hypocrisy of the Republican and right spin machine.  After General Clark's comment and then Representative Jim Webb's interview on Countdown, they're up in arms, claiming that there's a smear attack against McCain's service record.  Oh good, freaking grief, where is the shovel?

First off, I had seen both the Clark and Webb interview and neither one had anything disparaging to say about McCain's service record, in fact, they lauded him as a hero.  Yet of course, they have to find something to spin against the Democratic party, and this one seems to be the one that may just draw the ire of the American citizens, right?  I'm still looking for my shovel because it's getting deep from the fake indignation.

Here's a question from someone who saw the antics from the Bush "surrogate" team in South Carolina in the 2000 Republican Primaries to the Republican spin machine wanting to spin this in McCain's favor...

The last two presidential election cycles have generated a lot of heat (and precious little light) on how past military service relates to this year's presidential prospects.

Controversial comments from prominent political figures and pundits regarding John McCain's military service and his qualifications as a presidential candidate continued, as McCain boarded his new "Straight Talk Express" private jet to campaign in the battleground states of Colombia and Mexico late Tuesday.

Welcome back for more veep speculation! Last thread we considered the top Western candidates to be Obama's v.p. Averaging in those votes yielded the same top 14 average vote-getters overall as the thread before that, so we'll consider them again in today's poll.

I'm still alternating "break-out" polls with polls of the the top 14 average vote-getting candidates from these threads, averaging in each day's votes as we go. I'm going to do the top military veterans, those experienced with foreign policy/national security issues, and governors/former governors before cutting 14 names to narrow the field to just two tiers--if Obama hasn't decided by then, of course. I'll reset the averages then, too.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Johnny/Jane Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

It was early 1996. I was 16 years old, very very impressionable. A sophomore in high school and my cumulative political exposure was my best friend at the time (whose father was a staunchly anti union conservative) and my Economics teacher who was, shockingly, a staunchly anti liberal conservative.

I am ashamed to admit, for the first time ever, that in early 1996 I supported Bob Dole because the only sources of information I had told me to.

...when I was a sheep.

Luckily there is a reason that 16 year olds don't vote. We'll continue this journey after the fold.

John McCain's campaign went looking today to gin up false outrage against Wes Clark's apt observation that being shot down is not a qualification for president. And who did they use to advance the idea that Clark used some kind of appalling slur?

Colonel Bud Day, a man who actually appeared in 2004's "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth" ads against John Kerry -- ads which McCain denounced at the time.

The Politico's Ben Smith asked the relevant question:

I asked Day whether how he'd compare the attacks he was saying McCain faces today -- from Wes Clark and other Democrats -- to the attacks on John Kerry's war record from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004.

"The Swift Boat 'attacks' were simply revelation of the truth," said Day, a former prisoner of war and Medal of Honor recipient who served i the Air Force. "The similarity does not exist here."

So let's review: John McCain wants to discredit the notion -- coming from a general who served in Vietnam -- that being shot down does not automatically qualify you for the presidency. For this, he trots out someone whose claim to fame is lying about a previous presidential candidate's Vietnam service, lies that McCain himself denounced just four years ago. And said surrogate uses the platform McCain has given him to affirm his previous attacks. That is some mavericky straight talk right there.

John Kerry responds:

"Colonel Day's comments today only further highlight the McCain campaign's disregard for a new kind of politics.  John McCain condemned these kinds of attacks in 2004 when he called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth 'dishonest and dishonorable.'  Senator McCain should condemn these remarks and cut ties with the Colonel and anyone else connected to SBVT.  Day's comments only serve to disparage all those who served on swift boats in Vietnam."

Let me tell you what happened today.  I can not believe this happened!

I just spoke with John McCain's office and I said that I was so upset about what John McCain did to another Vet today that I would not vote for him. I explained that I was a former Republican but that I cared about our Vets.  I didn't get the chance to tell his office that I even had voted for McCain in 2000.

Instead, you'll never believe what happened.

They told me that John McCain DEFENDED John Kerry today.  Not only that, but the male who spoke to me SHOUTED at me that John McCain defended John Kerry today like he did in 2004.

So I said, "Oh, I must have missed that report. Let me go listen again."

So I did.

Jump below the fold to see what happened next.

The NY Times has an article about how those who served on swift boats during the Vietnam War are now upset about how people view the term "swiftboat" now.

Swift boat veterans — especially those who had nothing to do with the group that attacked Senator John Kerry’s military record in the 2004 election — want their good name back, and the good names of the men not lucky enough to come home alive.

At first glance, a person is likely to say "yeah, I can understand that", except, read further along with me...

Boy am I not telling you any news here: Senator Obama, FISA, and telecom immunity present a series of interwoven issues that aren't easily sorted out. As I wrote this one for tonight, I was confident it would be "brief."

Silly me.

Especially after John Dean came back today with a rather startling report that even the Bush Administration concurs: there is no criminal immunity for anybody in the FISA bill.

Your problem (Senator Obama) is what happens even if this plays out according to plan next week:

1. You vote for the anti-immunity amendment.

2. The anti-immunity amendment fails.

3. You vote for the FISA legislation.

And:

4. The FISA legislation passes.

Oh, and, 5) Senator: The Republicans still run against you with the 'elections-for-dummies 'message: "Obama voted uh-uh... thing terror-stop."

Barack Obama is a very smart guy.  He knows what he is doing.  His shrewdness showed when he made one of his most important decisions after it became clear from The Math that he would clinch the nomination:  he made it plain that he would not tolerate John McCain's service to his country in the Navy to be disparaged.  He will never put up with it, and he's going to shut down anyone who tries.  Yet I am seeing rumblings of too many people thinking they're going to give to the Republicans what we got in 2004.  In short, they want revenge.  I am here to tell you to stand down on such desires.  As the old Chinese proverb warns,"He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves."  So cast aside the thought or suffer the consequences.

[ cross posted at MyDD w/perm ]

Every time the Democrats draw blood , John Mc Cains BBQ Picnic Pals in the Media  try to come to his rescue and start telling Democrats what is fair and not fair. However, when Democrats are attacked by Republicans , Mc Cains BBQ Picnic Pals in the Media always say it's fair game to attack Barack Obama and Democrats. Remember: It was fair to question John Kerrys Military record in 2004 wasn't it ?

The Republicans are throwing a fit and crying "Where's The New Politics ?" because Democrats are rightfully charging (via GENERAL Wes Clark) that Mc Cain does not have the qualifications to be CIC because he led no mission and never sent anyone to battle.It's true. And Mc Cains BBQ Picnic Pals are all fussy and "such as" , because we are ruining their only good story for John Mc Cain. "He deserves to win the White House because he's a War Hero." Well, this ain't a game with prizes!

When you hear the term "Swiftboat" what comes into your mind?

I already know your answer, but it isn't the meaning for those who served on nor any Navy Personal who served In-Country Vietnam.

Not to far back a small group of misguided Navy personal, who served aboard 'Swiftboats' in 'Nam, took that once proud name and used it for their political purposes and gains, with some others joining them, who not only never served on  swiftboats, and the extremely dangerous missions they were sent into, but some never served at all, in the Military nor In War/Occupations!

and that's exactly what we've been saying for years, so it's not exactly BREAKING NEWS

Follow me below the jump to see more of what they said...

• The U.S. government has officially removed Nelson Mandela from the terrorist watch list.

  "Today the United States moved closer at last to removing the great shame of dishonouring this great leader by including him on our government's terror watch list," said Senator John Kerry.

  The bill now heads to the White House, where it is expected to be signed by President George W. Bush in time for the anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner's 90th birthday on July 18.

• Billionaire T. Boone Pickens has backed away from a $1 million dollar offer he made to anybody who could disprove allegations made by the "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth" against John Kerry.  

  A group of Swift boat veterans sympathetic to Mr. Kerry sent Mr. Pickens a letter last week taking him up on the challenge. In 12 pages, plus a 42-page attachment of military records and other documents, they identified not just one but ten lies in the group’s campaign against Mr. Kerry. They offered to meet with him to provide Mr. Kerry’s journals and videotapes from Vietnam and a copy of his full military record certified by the Navy – a key demand of Mr. Pickens and veterans who believe Mr. Kerry lied about his service to win his military decorations.

  Mr. Pickens replied with a one-page letter, thanking the veterans for their research and their service, but politely saying there had been a misunderstanding. "Key aspects of my offer of $1 million have not been accurately reported," he wrote.

  He previously weasled out of this bet once before when John Kerry himself took Pickens up on the offer. I guess there are some things money can't buy. Like dignity. Or class. Or humility.

• Charles Blow of the NYT's has a humorous op-ed discussing McCain's age and the fact that he would be the oldest person ever elected -- should he win in November.  Blow makes a couple of terrific observations:

  It is confusing when you sardonically call Obama a "young man." That makes me ponder your age even more. After all, how old do you have to be to call a 46-year-old a young man? (Old enough to have to issue more than 1,100 pages of medical records to prove that you’re "fit," I guess. The "young man" issued a one-page statement.)

  Add to this joshing grandpa shtick the vast and immutable visual disparity between you and the cover boy, and you get two negatives that do not equal a positive. The camera loves him. You, not so much. It sucks the life out of you, and amplifies your awkward aesthetic — the wispy comb-over, the stilted grins, the blank expressions.

• What ever happened to the Wisconsin delegate who said that she'd vote for McCain over Obama? Looks like she won't be going to the convention after all.
• Tonight, NBC pays tribute to George Carlin by rebroadcasting the first SNL episode, which featured Carlin as the original guest-host.
• Errington Thomas, aka Kossack ecthompson interviewed me and Kagro about FISA. Today he talked with Glenn Greenwald. [mcjoan]