[MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS] Obama/Clinton/McCain/etc.

[Mike Miller]

McCain says "I will work hard to make sure Americans aren't deceived by an 
eloquent but empty call for change."  Sounds like he's on to Obama, but I 
think Obama can come through with plenty of substance but people mostly 
want inspiring rhetoric right now, so he's giving it to them.

Ted Kennedy compared Obama to his brothers, but Jack Kennedy was a US 
Representative at 29, US Senator at 36 and US President at 43.  Obama is 
46 and is now about 11 years behind where Jack Kennedy was when Kennedy 
entered the White House.

Bill Clinton said today that Hillary will get the nomination if she wins 
both Texas and Ohio, but he doesn't see how she can get the nomination if 
she doesn't win those states.  I think he is probably right, but I think 
she will not win both states.  We shall see.

Meanwhile, you probably heard about McCain's little problem, which started 
with this NY Times story:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html

    A female lobbyist had been turning up with [McCain] at fund-raisers,
    visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client's corporate jet.
    Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top
    advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself --
    instructing staff members to block the woman's access, privately
    warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people
    involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.

McCain emphatically denies this, so someone is lying (it's either the 
"people involved in the campaign," McCain or the reporters).  McCain 
claims that he and the woman were "friends":

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101410.html

    QUESTION: Senator, can you describe your relationship with Vicki
    Iseman?

    MCCAIN: Friends. Seen her on occasions, particularly at receptions and
    fund-raisers and appearances before the committee. I have many friends
    in Washington who represent various interests and those who don't, and
    I consider her a friend.

This sounds very serious to me.  It will be a cloud over his campaign for 
months if he ever overcomes it.  Reporters will be reviewing his votes on 
the commerce committee that may have helped the telecommunications 
companies she represented.

Funny story ... see below:  They are threatening to arrest Bush/Cheney if 
they go to Brattleboro, VT.  They probably won't be able to arrest them 
unless they are willing to have a gunfight with the secret service.  But 
that does raise a serious question that I don't know the answer to:  Can 
local law enforcement officials arrest secret service officers?  If they 
can do that, I think they can arrest the President.

Mike


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:16:48 -0600 (CST)
From: ImpeachBush.org <ImpeachBush at VoteToImpeach.org>
To: mbmiller at taxa.epi.umn.edu
Subject: Bush and Cheney Should Be Arrested: Vermont Rising Up

www.VoteToImpeach.org

Subscribe:
http://www.impeachbush.org/site/R?i=puHDYel099NH_Vps3Rh1FQ..

*********************

IMPEACHMENT CALL SPREADS TO LOCAL AND STATE LEGISLATURES
Vermont to vote on arresting Bush and Cheney

"Bush and Cheney: arrested for gross violations of international and U.S. 
law!" A new proposal in the township of Brattleboro, Vermont -- 
authorizing local law enforcement to arrest Bush and Cheney -- would make 
this headline a reality, should either of them step inside the town's 
jurisdiction. The Brattleboro proposal is to be voted on in the coming 
weeks at a town hall meeting. The proposal is up for discussion thanks to 
the hard work of community activists, who petitioned citywide to have the 
motion put to a vote. Fearful of the indictment, Bush and Cheney are 
mounting a counteroffensive. But in town after town in Vermont, the people 
have voted to support impeachment recognizing that Bush and Cheney have 
committed high crimes and misdemeanors.

The Brattleboro indictment of Bush and Cheney is reflective of the tide of 
opposition to the current administration. The people of this country are 
refusing to let Bush leave office without facing charges for his criminal 
deeds. Just yesterday, the New Hampshire State House held an impeachment 
hearing, which was flooded by activists and community members insisting 
that the state legislature take action. Hollywood actor Ed Asner wrote a 
letter for the hearing expressing his support for the resolution, which 
indicts Bush for "invading Iraq without just cause or provocation."

We are keeping the pressure on and "impeachment" has become a household 
word. We are mobilizing the impeachment movement for the anti-war actions 
on the 5th anniversary of the war. We are lobbying Congress. We are taking 
out impeachment advertisements. We are telling the courageous people of 
Brattleboro that they speak for millions more. We are telling the New 
Hampshire activists who filled the State House yesterday that people from 
the other 49 states stand with them.