Where Are We Going?

McCain’s New Communication Director Says the President Should Have Near-Dictatorial Powers – Michael Goldfarb, who was just named the Deputy Communications Director of the McCain campaign, said, “[The framers of the Constitution] sought an energetic executive with near dictatorial power in pursuing foreign policy and war. So no, the Constitution does not put Congress on an equal footing with the executive in matters of national security.” (Yeah, what could be more American than a dictatorship? – JLV)

McCain’s Lobbyist Co-Chair Hampered Tracking bin Laden’s Financials – McCain campaign Co-Chair Phil Gramm and his lobbying efforts have put him on the wrong side of the ongoing mortgage foreclosure crisis. Now, it appears Gramm’s association with the McCain’s campaign is doing far more harm that previously known. UBS, a bank for which Gramm lobbied, is now under investigation for alleged use of overseas tax havens to hide assets of its wealthy clients from U.S. authorities — while in office, Gramm also supported these tax havens after 9/11, which hampered the government’s ability to track Osama bin Laden’s financial network before 9/11.

Bush’s Confused Pep Talk – Among the anecdotes in “Wiser in Battle: A Soldier’s Story”, by General Ricardo Sanchez, is an portrait of President Bush after four contractors were killed in Fallujah in 2004, triggering a fierce U.S. response that was reportedly egged on by the president. During a videoconference with his national security team and generals, Sanchez writes, Bush launched into what he described as a “confused” pep talk:

“Kick ass!” he quotes the president as saying. “If somebody tries to stop the march to democracy, we will seek them out and kill them! We must be tougher than hell! This Vietnam stuff, this is not even close. It is a mind-set. We can’t send that message. It’s an excuse to prepare us for withdrawal. There is a series of moments and this is one of them. Our will is being tested, but we are resolute. We have a better way. Stay strong! Stay the course! Kill them! Be confident! Prevail! We are going to wipe them out! We are not blinking!”

A White House spokesman had no comment.

US Does Not Sign Cluster-Bomb Treaty – More than 100 countries reached agreement Wednesday to ban cluster bombs, controversial weapons that human rights groups deplore but that the United States, which did not join the ban, calls an integral, legitimate part of its arsenal.

Regards,

Jim