Barack Obama advocates engaging the Iranians diplomatically as a more useful strategy than saber-rattling and refusing to talk to them.  Obama is called an appeaser and (much) worse with great disdain by both the administration and the McCain camp for daring to even suggest it. This week, the US sent a diplomatic envoy to the Iran-Europe talks as "an observer" for the very first time.  Hmmm.  You say coincidence?

A recent UPI poll showed that half the country believes obama would be a good commander-in-chief, still trailing McCain by 24%.

72% of respondents said McCain, the likely Republican presidential candidate, would be good commander-in-chief of the military. By contrast, 48 percent said Obama, McCain's likely Democratic challenger, would be a good commander-in-chief

However, as terence I think correctly comments in the "Obama wins the presidency" diary, "times they are a changing".  And Obama is gaining credibility on the commander in chief and experience front at the same time McCain is being exposed for his poor judgment.

So what will happen next and what does it have to do with the drat Newt movement?  follow me on the flip..

(Cross-posted at Raising Kaine and Cobalt6)

...I was volunteering in Phase I of the Virginia Democratic Party's ground game.  I laugh at myself and think of it as "Webb 2.0" (heh), because my first protracted and sincere canvass efforts were for Jim Webb two years ago.

Today, I joined the ranks of the very early canvassers and it was absolutely fascinating.  Details over the fold.

Bad news for John McSame's campaign in the Buckeye State...an Ohio Court has ruled that Libertarian candidate Bob Barr must be included on the November ballot:

Ohio must include the Libertarian Party's nominees on its ballot in November, a federal court has ruled, complicating Sen. John McCain's effort to win conservative votes in a hotly contested state.

More after the jump...

What can I say, I like this guy. No, I'm not crazy, nor have I suddenly sold out to the gang at Swindlers' Inc (aka the current Republican Party).

I thought Kossacks might be interested in seeing just how out of touch some members of the Republican base have gotten.  It seems that they have barred their own congressional nominee in Oregon's Congressional District 1 -- a top-tier pickup target for them just 4 years ago -- from participating in party events because he is "too liberal".

Amazingly as GWB keeps moving closer to Obama's Iraq policy, finally the MSM takes notice and reports that in fact GWB has moved towards Obama's policy.  As Keith Olberman said,"Mr. President, if you would like to follow Obama's lead for foriegn policy over the next 6 1/2 months that is fine with us."

http://www.nytimes.com/...

My friends, only a mavericky maverick can maverick this country out of its mavericking problems. We need a mavericky maverick to make sure that us maverick Americans can maverick the world.

I tell you, I am such a maverick that I disagree with our maverick president 5 percent of the time, and -- on many days -- I disagree with myself. That just goes to show what a mavericky maverick I am.

If you're maverick enough to read on, it would please me to no mavericky end.

 Let's get some things straight right up front!

   

We Are the United States of America.
    We decide who does what, when!
    We are the wheels on the bus, and the engine, and the transmission!
    We The People!

  That being said, how many people on this forum want a New Congress, State Senate and House, and local government?

You know those people we VOTE for every 2 to 4 years, the ones that we pay the big bucks to. To do our bidding and represent our voice in matters that concern OUR Welfare and Security?

So Sue Me!

The great minds at the Republican National Committee are once again demonstrating their transcendent grasp of marketing, finance, and public relations.

In an action so preposterously witless as to scramble the common cranium, the GOP has sent a "cease and desist" letter to CafePress citing trademark infringement on the part of sellers using the term "GOP" or the elephant logo.

Brought to you by...
News Corpse, The Internet's Chronicle Of Media Decay.

Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies(POS) that they ran in Wisconsin's 8th Congressional district.  It shows Democratic incumbent leading Republican state Rep. John Gard 46%-42%.  This is significant since Republicans have often identified Kagen as a top target and a weak incumbent.  If he is leading 46%-42% in a Republican poll, I think he is in pretty good shape.  The poll also gives John McCain a 46%-41% lead in the district over Barack Obama.  http://www.postcrescent.com/...

                           

When we as American citizens are called upon to work for and support not only our chosen Party, but the candidate that our Party has selected for the General Election, then that is what we must do, to do other wise is to commit a serious wrong. The Constitution grants us certain rights and common sense requires that we should exercise those rights.

As our forefathers before us and the succeeding generations since have accepted the truth that all men/women are created equal; that by the very citizenship granted by this the Government of the United States of America, they must participate in the political system that these same forefathers had designed, to fail to do so will allow a government that will gather onto itself powers other than those granted by the governed.

After a week of flip flops and ommissions on the Iraq war, Afghanistan troop levels/planning and dueling Messages between McCain and chief surrogates, on whether Obama's overseas trip is a fact-finding mission, or a glorified campaign stop.  The McCain camp continues to flub. This time behind the scene. Also (in the 2nd half), McCain stumbles on the war again. The video is below.

According to Robert Novack (via Michael Barone), Politico)says John McCain has already privately patched up his relationship, and welcomed back controversial "mental midget" economist, Phil Gramm back into the McCain brood. Mr. Novack even provides quotes.

Neither Barone, or Novack, mentioned where, when this conversation took place. But if this is true (quotes are provided), its very troubling; though not suprising for McCain.

Once again, he's displaying weasel-like tendacies.

Here's the link from July 18:http://www.politico.com/playbook/

Also, Don't miss McCain's startling Afghan Gaffe video, and Phil Gramms sordid connection to Big Oil & the subprime mess below.

With increasing frequency John McCain is sending me requests for contributions (a consequence of an insurance-policy donation made to McCain in 2000).  Today the request included a crisp and well ironed $1 bill, presumably McCain's effort to motivate guilt giving along the lines of return address labels sent by a host of charities, from Amnesty International to the SPCA.  I pocketed the $1 bill and would like to share the pitch dated July 14.  McCain's stated goal for July is to raise $25 million.

"I want you to know that I don't take sending you this $1 bill lightly.  I understand there is a chance that you will not send the $1 bill back to me. But I'm willing to take that risk, because after all we've been through together in this historic campaign, I believe I can count on you.  Today I need you to send this $1 bill back to me along with $1,000 or $750 of your own to help our campaign take the next crucial steps in this pivotal presidential election........ The scope of Senator Obama's initial media buys sends a clear signal that he will be investing money in states no Democrat has won in years ... If we meet our financial goal of raising $25 million this month, we will stay right on track to have the funding we need to continue to implement our campaign plan and win."

$635 Raised!!!

Gabe's 2nd Birthday Obama Fundraiser Link

My son Gabe (Gabro) is 2 years old today. In the last two years, his mother and I have been blessed with the fact that he has been healthy, playful, social, and loving. For those who have had the chance to spend even a small amount of time with him, I think they can agree that those are just a few of his overall characteristics. We are also blessed to know that he loves NPR in the car, has his own "Daddy's lil Democrat" tshirt, has had "Lefty" the beanie baby donkey in his crib/bed since he was born, and understands the necessity to severely limit Fox News in the household he tends to spit up when watching it) :)

One aspect of this campaign that borders on the absurd is the obvious and desperate need some Obama supporters have to find someone to worship in their lives. They are all over DailyKos likewise on NY Times blogs, etc.. Individuals who will inordinately praise anything and everything Obama does or says. I’m waiting to see an article about Obama in his bathroom and the groupies waxing endless how Obama does whatever he does in the bathroom better than anyone else. In fact perfectly.

The Dog has been a proponent of gun control for most of his life. It is not that this was a family position that he sucked up with his mother’s milk, no that would have been a hell of a lot easier. No the Dog’s father, a dyed in the wool liberal, was a big advocate for gun ownership, just as his mother, was staunchly against. But as the Dog grew up he learned to shoot and hunt, learned the high level of damage that mishandled weapons caused and made up his own mind on the issue. Then 9/11, the "War on Terror" and real wars in Afghanistan and Iraq came along. The Dog is nothing if not a pragmatic political policy guy; it was very clear that talking any kind of gun regulation in those circumstances was a total loser politically.

Things have changed now. The recent decision by the Supreme Court affirming that the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is one devolves to the individual citizen give us an opportunity to make changes in our gun laws that not only heal the breach in the Democratic party on this issue, but will remake the gun ownership issue one that is a winner for Dems. How do we achieve this miraculous feat, follow the Dog below the fold and he will tell you.