I was thinking.....

You know that television commercial where this guy is at work and everything he touches turns to skittles? Why is it his clothes also don't turn to skittles and by that effect, wouldn't there be a rapid chain reaction which would ultimately cause the Earth itself to become a massive ball of skittles?

These are the questions that plague me.

Well I have to admit....

It has been great watching Hillary self destruct, even if it does probably mean that Barack (The-hack) Obama will be the next president. (On the little "The-hack" bit... I heard some right wing radio person say it today, and even though I probably wouldn't go as far to say that.... I thought it was amusing).

I started watching the debate tonight, but it is almost pointless at this particular juncture.

I don't have much to report, or rather I'm not feeling particularly inspired.

I have taxes to do... (yes, still)... I've been loathing doing them this year even more than usual because of some added things I need to include. I should get a decent return, so I should get on with it.

Really I am totally void of interesting thought right now. I'm kind of thirsty, and there is some Coke Zero with my name on it. I think I'm going to go now, I'm going to go and get myself a glass of the aspartame sweetened goodness, and then I'm going to plop down in front of the boob tube, watch the boobs debate, then watch Jericho, all while attempting to do my taxes. I'm pretty certain that last sentence should have been split up two or three ways however, right now I just don't care.

Enjoy Wednesday, we are almost half way to the weekend.

Checkmate?

For McCain, self-confidence on ethics has risk

McCain: Reports on lobbyist a "smear"

A sex scandal and an ethics scandal inovlving improper relationships with lobbyists all rolled into one.

My initial reaction after seeing MSNBC coverage was that this scenario spelled doom for McCain. After nosing around it seems that the story is 8 years old and nothing came of it the first time it surfaced. In other words, It is definitely the media beginning to turn the page on McCain now that he is the official GOP front runner. The story will probably divide the conservatives further if anything, and it in my opinion is a clever move by the left to provide a little more insurance for Barack Obama.

McCain can kiss his days of being a "Media Darling" goodbye.

Surprisingly Fox News is paying the story more lipservice than CNN. I suppose it just lends to the theory that the right disdains their own candidate.

My Long "Presidents day weekend"

In brief, it was a busy, yet enjoyable weekend.

John, Michelle, Kate and I went to R.F. O'Sullivans for supper followed by the Magnetic Fields concert on Friday. The show was the usual Magnetic Fields arrangement instead of the new sound that they exhibit on the "Distortion" album. Faster, rock songs were pared down to a more acoustic style. At one point during the show a heckler yelled out "Where's the F*cking Distortion?" and Stephen Merritt responded with a deadpan retort of "It's on sale right now at stores everywhere".

John, Michelle and I stayed out late at Bukowski's. The bar stayed open beyond the usual time for last call, which is the usual experience I've had there. At 2:30 am we took a taxi back to John's mother's place in Southie. Staying in Southie saved me $25 extra on cap fare back to Melrose, not to mention the work it can take directing some of the drivers who may be unfamiliar. Michelle made us all large turkey sandwiches on bulkie rolls which we devoured before ultimately turning in.

I had a lot to do back in Melrose since my parents were coming to stay Saturday and Sunday night with me. So... early Saturday morning I got up and probably left between 7:30 and 8:00 am while everyone was still asleep. I made my way up to Broadway and was going to catch the number 9 bus back to eliminate some walking but I missed it. I ended up just walking down Broadway which wasn't all that far of a hike anyway. The MBTA was running horribly on Saturday morning. I probably waited 20 minutes at Broadway for a train. At downtown crossing they diverted orange line commuters and had us stay on the red line another stop until Park St. where we took the green line to Haymarket. Apparently a short stretch of the Orange line was shut down. All of this probably added at least 40 minutes to what should have been a half hour commute or so from Broadway.

Having arrived at Oak Grove finally, it was brutally cold and I shuffled my feet as fast as my tired legs could take me. In my apartment, I collapsed and ultimately had to nap for a couple of hours. I thought I was going to have to do additional laundry for clean towels for my parents, but actually had two towels sitting in the cupboard.

My parents visit was good. Saturday night we just took it easy and I went out and got a chicken pot pie from Harrow's. On Sunday I took them for Indian buffet. Much to my surprise my father actually tried pretty much everything and didn't complain. He actually seemed to like the Tandori chicken, Samosa's and one of the curry based chicken dishes. I never would have guessed. The restaurant was in Central Square and we walked up to Harvard Square after eating. We walked around the campus, as well as into a few different shops. My Mom was trying to find a replacement Wedding Album for herself as her old one has fallen apart a little bit with age. Sunday night Kate, myself, and my parents went to the Texas Roadhouse for supper. My parents treated and everyone had a great meal. I ate three of their rolls which I like to rave about, in addition to my entire chicken and steak combo. Monday (Presidents Day) my parents and I went to over to the Burlington Mall where my Mother continued her shopping quest. She actually had some luck at a place called Crane & Co. Paper. For lunch we went to "Not Your Average Joe's" and indulged in some of their pizza. My parents left for Maine from here and I went to see Kate after doing a couple of errands. To end off my decadent weekend of mass consumption, Kate and I went to the Bangkok Bistro in Cleveland Circle. Kate had Chicken with Basil, and I, Tom Yum soup, brown rice, and chicken satay. I was going for a Thai tapas sort of theme.... I guess.

Anyway.....

This week will be a short one, so that is something to be thankful about.

In Honor of St. Valentine's Day

A Little Velvet Underground:

Courtesy of Youtube: The Gift




Waldo Jeffers had reached his limit. It was now Mid-August which meant he had been separated from Marsha for more than two months. Two months, and all he had to show was three dog-eared letters and two very expensive long-distance phone calls.

True, when school had ended and she'd returned to Wisconsin, and he toLocust, Pennsylvania, she had sworn to maintain a certain fidelity. She would date occasionally, but merely as amusement. She would remain faithful. But lately Waldo had begun to worry. He had trouble sleeping at night and when he did, he had horrible dreams. He lay awake at night, tossing and turning underneath his pleated quilt protector, tears welling in his eyes as he pictured Marsha, her sworn vows overcome by liquor and the smooth soothing of some neanderthal, finally submitting to the final caresses of sexual oblivion.

It was more than the human mind could bear. Visions of Marsha's faithlessness haunted him. Daytime fantasies of sexual abandon permeated his thoughts. And the thing was, they wouldn't understand how she really was. He, Waldo, alone understood this. He had intuitively grasped every nook and cranny of her psyche. He had made her smile. She needed him, and he wasn't there (Awww...).

The idea came to him on the Thursday before the Mummers' Parade was scheduled to appear. He'd just finished mowing and etching the Edelsons lawn for a dollar fifty and had checked the mailbox to see if there was at least a word from Marsha. There was nothing but a circular from the Amalgamated Aluminum Company of America inquiring into his awing needs. At least they cared enough to write. It was a New York company. You could go anywhere in the mails. Then it struck him. He didn't have enough money to go to Wisconsin in the accepted fashion,true, but why not mail himself? It was absurdly simple. He would ship himself parcel post, special delivery.

The next day Waldo went to the supermarket to purchase the necessary equipment. He bought masking tape, a staple gun and a medium sized cardboard box just right for a person of his build. He judged that with a minimum of jostling he could ride quite comfortably. A few airholes, some water, perhaps some midnight snacks, and it would probably be as good as going tourist.By Friday afternoon, Waldo was set. He was thoroughly packed and the post office had agreed to pick him up at three o'clock. He'd marked the package "Fragile", and as he sat curled up inside, resting on the foam rubber cushioning he'd thoughtfully included, he tried to picture the look of awe and happiness on Marshas face as she opened her door, saw the package, tipped the deliverer, and then opened it to see her Waldo finally there in person. She would kiss him, and then maybe they could see a movie. If he'd only thought of this before. Suddenly rough hands gripped his package and he felt himself borne up. He landed with a thud in a truck and was off.

Marsha Bronson had just finished setting her hair. It had been a very rough weekend. She had to remember not to drink like that. Bill had been nice aboutit though. After it was over he'd said he still respected her and, after all, it was certainly the way of nature, and even though, no he didn't love her, he did feel an affection for her. And after all, they were grown adults. Oh, what Bill could teach Waldo - but that seemed many years ago. Sheila Klein, her very, very best friend, walked in through the porch screen door and into the kitchen. "Oh gawd, it's absolutely maudlin outside." "Ach, I know what you mean, I feel all icky!" Marsha tightened the belt on her cotton robe with the silk outer edge. Sheila ran her finger over some salt grains on the kitchen table, licked her finger and made a face. "I'm supposed to be taking these salt pills, but," she wrinkled her nose, "they make me feel like throwing up." Marsha started to pat herself under the chin, an exercise she'd seen on television. "God, don't even talk about that." She got up from the table and went to the sink where she picked up a bottle of pink and blue vitamins. "Want one? Supposed to be better than steak," and then attempted to touch her knees. "I don't think I'll ever touch a daiquiri again." She gave up and sat down, this time nearer the small table that supported thetelephone. "Maybe Bill'll call," she said to Sheila's glance. Sheila nibbled on a cuticle. "After last night, I thought maybe you'd be through with him." "I know what you mean. My God, he was like an octopus. Hands all over the place." She gestured, raising her arms upwards in defense. "The thing is, after a while, you get tired of fighting with him, you know, and after all I didn't really do anything Friday and Saturday so I kind of owed it to him. You know what I mean." She started to scratch. Sheila was giggling with her hand over her mouth. "I'll tell you, I felt the same way, and even after a while," here she bent forward in a whisper, "I wanted to!" Now she was laughing very loudly.

It was at this point that Mr. Jameson of the Clarence Darrow Post Office rang the doorbell of the large stucco colored frame house. When Marsha Bronson opened the door, he helped her carry the package in. He had his yellow and his green slips of paper signed and left with a fifteen cent tip that Marsha had gotten out of her mother's small beige pocketbook in the den. "What do you think it is?" Sheila asked. Marsha stood with her arms folded behind her back. She stared at the brown cardboard carton that sat in the middle of the living room. "I dunno."Inside the package, Waldo quivered with excitement as he listened to the muffled voices. Sheila ran her fingernail over the masking tape that ran down the center of the carton. "Why don't you look at the return address and see who it's from?"

Waldo felt his heart beating. He could feel the vibrating footsteps. It would be soon.

Marsha walked around the carton and read the ink-scratched label.
"Ah, god, it's from Waldo!" "That schmuck!" said Sheila.
Waldo trembled with expectation.
"Well, you might as well open it," said Sheila.
Both of them tried to lift the staple flap. "Ah sst," said Marsha, groaning, "he must have nailed it shut."
They tugged on the flap again.
"My God, you need a power drill to get this thing open!" They pulled again. "You can't get a grip." They both stood still, breathing heavily.
"Why don't you get a scissor," said Sheila.

Marsha ran into the kitchen, but all she could find was a little sewing scissor. Then she remembered that her father kept a collection of tools in the basement. She ran downstairs, and when she came back up, she had a large sheet metal cutter in her hand. "This is the best I could find." She was very out of breath. "Here, you do it. I-I'm gonna die." She sank into a large fluffy couch and exhaled noisily. Sheila tried to make a slit between the masking tape and the end of the cardboard flap, but the blade was too big and there wasn't enough room. "God damn this thing!" she said feeling very exasperated. Then smiling,"I got an idea." "What?" said Marsha. "Just watch," said Sheila, touching her finger to her head.

Inside the package, Waldo was so transfixed with excitement that he could barely breathe. His skin felt prickly from the heat, and he could feel his heart beating in his throat. It would be soon. Sheila stood quite upright and walked around to the other side of the package. Then she sank down to her knees, grasped the cutter by both handles, took a deep breath, and plunged the long blade through the middle of the package, through the masking tape, through the cardboard, through the cushioning and (thud) right through the center of Waldo Jeffers head, which split slightly and caused little rhythmic arcs of red to pulsate gently in the morning sun.

Pretty long story....it seems so much shorter in the "song", although I suppose it is 8 minutes.

Tuesday, and it has already been a long week...

The snow is falling down at a good pace now as I sit here and try to piece together things to put into this post.

My week is really busy, a lot of errands, the start of physical therapy, the Magnetic Fields concert on Friday, and the parents on Saturday afternoon and into the rest of the weekend. I've been cleaning the apartment, or trying to, washing new bedding which I got for my parents, doing my physical therapy exercises, and yet there are still things that seem to fall behind the wayside.

In theory I should probably be working 10hr plus days this week, but it just isn't going to happen. The life outside of work has to take precedent sometime.

I can hear the nightly news people rambling on about the snow as though we are having a hurricane. The way the public works in Greater Boston has been this winter, in terms of transit tomorrow morning we may as well be. Luckily the subway hasn't seemed to be effected too much this year, which is perhaps a first since I've been here.

I enjoyed the return of Jericho tonight... cliff hanger ending as usual. Hopefully the 7 "extended" episodes will be highly rated so that it may continue. I read a review that called it the thinking man's "24". I never was drawn into 24 like I am Jericho. I suppose the thing that helped make 24 a smash is that it was very stylistically done. I think the filming in Jericho is more along the line of the traditional 1hr drama, in other words nothing spectacular. However I really get geeked out over the politics, conspiracy, and a whole theoretical and philosophical element that the show has. How do people act under these circumstances? It can lead to a lot of discussion.

Anyway... I have to go check on my laundry. I want to leave you with this BBC article on the surge which took no sides but explained the progress in Iraq with caveats included.

Iraq violence: monitoring the surge

Mid February Weekend update

Fairly lazy here this weekend....

For those who are local, how about those thunder & lightning snow storms?

I did get some new tires for the car, bought a new bedspread and sheets & blanket. The folks are visiting Saturday/Sunday and so I'm fixing up my room for them... so there's a lot of cleaning to do, dusting sorting stuff out... etc, etc.

The Democratic primaries are a constant source of amusement to me. With any luck it can and will stay evenly split between Hillary and Obama right up until the primary. Apparently Obama has pulled ahead in the polls in several states where Hillary was expected to win. Exciting stuff.

Kate and I booked our Frankfurt, Germany hotel for the eve of our return home on our trip. We have narrowed down our choices in Munich to a couple and might pull the trigger on one favorite which is a Sheraton located in the Olympic park. Apparently it is a 15 minute underground ride into the city center, not to mention the place is priced right and had good reviews.

I have my first physical therapy appointment for my shoulder tomorrow morning. It will be interesting because I have no idea what to expect. I'm going to pack a t-shirt for the therapy which hopefully will be sufficient. I have to be at Spaulding for 8:45 which I'm not particularly exited about. (Not a morning person)

Kate and I are looking forward to Friday night's Magnetic Fields concert with John & Michelle. I have to make a point of looking tomorrow night for a list of potential eateries and bars to visit in the Somerville area. There's a diner just outside of Davis that has a full bar which is a fall back, but there should be several other options. Kate mentioned a Mexican place that has been reviewed well, there's always PJ O'Sullivans outside of Porter's with its fantastic burgers, and there is a plethora of ethnic cuisine to choose from.

My mother claimed that she might be willing to try Indian food for lunch when she comes to Boston with dad. I'm sure she'll like it but I think dad will have to stick to the Jasmine Rice and the tandori chicken (spices don't agree with him). Of course we may just end up going to the Cheesecake factory, it wouldn't surprise me.

I still have no idea whether I have Presidents day off or not... I have to figure that out tomorrow. Sad eh?

Anyway, it is definitely time for bed.

Illegal Immigration

Misconceptions on who is most caught up in this debate:

Poll: Californians support citizenship for long-term illegal immigrants (4 out of 5!) From article: "It crosses party lines. This is not a divisive issue."

Graham Says Republicans Risk `Political Suicide' on Immigration From article: ``This is the defining moment for the Republican Party,'' Graham, of South Carolina, said on the ``Fox News Sunday'' program. With Hispanics the fastest-growing group in the U.S., Republicans ``will lose our majority'' if Congress passes harsh penalties for illegal immigrants and fails to create a way of addressing the estimated 11 million undocumented workers already in the U.S.,"-Lindsey Graham.

Exit Polls demonstrate significance (or insignificance) of the hard-line stance against illegal immigration: From Article: Mitt Romney was dominating the GOP's most conservative voters and people wanting a strong stance against illegal immigrants. FYI: States Romney won: Massachusetts, Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado and Utah on Super Tuesday. In the early voting contests, he won Nevada, Maine, Michigan and Wyoming. Note, not a border state (Mexican border) in the mix. States are predominantly white and/or rurally disadvantaged. Seems to suggest the further you get from the actual problem at the Mexican border.... support for more radical solutions to immigration increases. (Alaska, Maine, Wyoming, Minnesota...... I know I'm repeating.... it's just really funny that the people who are distanced from large Hispanic populations are the ones who are the angriest about illegal immigration. Massachusetts is Romney's home state, Michigan is Romney's birth state, and Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming all have large Mormon populations). (I'll honestly be surprised if McCain chooses Romney as VP, there isn't much in it for McCain, especially since they don't get along. I suspect it will be someone slightly off of the current radar.)

Poll: GOP Voters Want Immigration Solutions This Year; Broad Approach to Reform Preferred Leaders Selling Public Short with Hard-Line Approach In a poll conducted in June of 2006 found that Republican voters are more likely to support candidates who support immigration reform that combines border and workplace enforcement with a multi-step path to legalization for undocumented immigrants who learn English, pay fines, and taxes. Have sentiments changed since this poll was conducted? Perhaps, I wonder how much the AM radio political entertainment has influenced the GOP sentiment.

National Immigration Forum: The #s from polls show a conflicted, confused, and often contradictory public opinion.

• About 8-in-10 (79%) favor allowing illegal immigrants to register as "guest-workers."
• About 8-in-10 (78%) favor allowing illegal immigrants in the U.S. citizenship if they learn English, have a job and pay taxes.
• About 8-in-10 (82%) say the U.S. is not doing enough to keep "illegals," from entering the country.
• About 7-in-10 (71%) favor providing and enforcing penalties for employers convicted of hiring illegal immigrants.
• A majority (62%) favor stopping illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. "by whatever steps necessary."
• A minority (47%) support deporting all illegal immigrants.

Effects of Illegal Immigration on the Economy:

The following is a good paper that adequately addresses the pros and cons of illegal immigration. It is heavy on statistics to back up any statements made: http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/ImmigrationCSR26.pdf

The Real Problem with Immigration... and the Real Solution:
From Article: Typical illegal aliens come to America primarily for better jobs and in the process add value to the U.S. economy. However, they also take away value by weakening the legal and national security envi­ronment. When three out of every 100 people in America are undocumented (or, rather, docu­mented with forged and faked papers), there is a profound security problem. Even though they pose no direct security threat, the presence of millions of undocumented migrants distorts the law, distracts resources, and effectively creates a cover for terror­ists and criminals. In other words, the real problem presented by illegal immigration is security, not the supposed threat to the economy. Indeed, efforts to curtail the economic influx of migrants actually worsen the security dilemma by driving many migrant workers underground, thereby encouraging the culture of illegality. A non-citizen guest worker program is an essential component of securing the border, but only if it is the right program. (Found on The Heritage Foundation- Conservative Think Tank)

Cost of Illegal Immigration May Be Less Than Meets the Eye This article makes the case that the drop in wages of unskilled workers may not be due primarily to illegal immigrations as critics have stated.

Costs of Performing Deportation:

Estimate for Deporting Illegal Immigrants: $94 Billion Julie Myers, Chief of Immigrations and Customs enforcement: She emphasized that it was a “very rough” estimate, not taking into account the likely deterrent effects of a nationwide hunt for every illegal immigrant. Many may choose to return home on their own and avoid the average month-long stay in a holding cell.

$41 Billion Cost Projected To Remove Illegal Entrants Liberal think tank claims that it would cost $206 billion to $230 billion over five years, depending on how many of the immigrants leave voluntarily.

The price of deporting immigrants: Looking beyond financial costs (or anticipated financial costs). "First, forget the 1968 riots in Los Angeles, or the 1980 violence in Miami's Liberty City. You would be creating an underclass of alienated aliens like the Muslim youths that carried out the “French Intifada” in the suburbs of Paris in 2005 – only much worse. You would have 12 million second-class citizens – mostly Hispanics – who would not only be disenfranchised from mainstream society, but who would be legally barred from aspiring to join it. That would be a recipe for frustration, anger and rebellion."

Border Policy's Success Strains Resources Proper facilities to detain illegal immigrants upon an increased crack down do not exist. (Not to mention transit infrastructure).

Enough about the Immigration issue, In closing I wanted to return the focus to McCain who will likely be the nominee unless Huckabee some how manages to win the remaining states and gets Romney's delegates. (chances very low). Tim speculated in today's comments that Romney will be McCain's running mate. The reasoning is to secure his conservative base. The trouble with this logic is that you are assuming the conservative base is representative of a minority of the population, which has favors hard line immigration reform and the heavy influence of fundamentalist Christians. While this group may carry some weight in the GOP, they do not reflect the values of the American public.

To attest to this: High Enthusiasm Propels Democrats
The article claims that in nearly all of the primaries a significantly larger turn out appeared for the Democratic primary than the Republican. In some instances the numbers were almost twice as large as those associated with the Republican primary. Additionally, many states have an open primary which allows Independents to declare a party the day of the election (which is what I did). Independents played a large role in McCain winning the nomination. That being said the masses came out to support liberal and moderate views in large numbers.

I believe the large voter turnout has been due in part to two Democrat candidates who have gone the extra mile to get out the vote. Additionally people are more disenfranchised with their government than perhaps at any other time in my life. Citizens usually shrouded in their apathy and indifference are deciding to show up... and they are either independent, or they are liberal.

McCain probably would not have won the primary if the conservatives hadn't split their vote. Now that they have and McCain has become the unofficial GOP candidate he no longer needs the conservative base. Instead to win, McCain must appeal to independent minded voters, which happens to be what he's good at.

Rasmussen Reports: Election 2008: McCain vs. Clinton and Obama

"McCain does better than either Democrat with unaffiliated voters in the new survey, but especially when Clinton is his opponent. Against the former First Lady, he leads 52% to 31% with unaffiliateds."

I am the coveted voter... not the base.

Why I'm supporting McCain

At least for the time being...

I'm writing this primarily to address a string of comments on the last post between Tim Hayes and myself. I think the anti-McCain rhetoric is foolish and bad for the country and I plan to attempt to make a case for why I see things this way.

First off I need to address the "Keating Five". I have to be honest that this is something that I had not heard a lot about. I'm guessing I don't remember the Keating Five because I was "11" when the news about this scandal broke. I'm kind of surprised that Tim alludes to remembering it, because at that age I was busy playing in the sandbox still, or playing tag with the neighborhood kids. Perhaps your memory has been jogged recently by certain radio personalities.

Anyway I needed to read up and I came upon many links, most of which were amateur pages set up by far right bloggers and commentators. One of the most informative and detailed links was a series written about the rise of McCain by the "Arizona Republic". I'm providing a link to the chapter devoted to this fiasco: The Keating Five

After reading about the situation through this and several other sources important points are revealed:

• A fraudulent developer named Charles H Keating Jr had a long standing relationship with John McCain's in-laws.
  
• Keating had provided fundraising for McCain's campaign prior to a scandal involving government seizure of "Lincoln Savings and Loan", a freewheeling subsidiary of Keating's American Continental Corp.
  
• Immediately prior and during a federal audit Keating attempted to pressure McCain and 4 other senators into influencing regulators to back off.
  
• McCain was a freshman senator at the time, was reluctant to be involved but appeared to want to listen to his constituent's concerns. McCain supposedly did not make demands of regulators due to unease with the situation. Others within the group were documented as being more manipulative.
  
• It appears to be a case of "guilt by association". Keating definitely appears to have made a bid to buy the influence of McCain. While the freshman senator apparently listened to Keating's requests he appears to have balked when it came to following through, aside from his presence at two meetings.
  
• The most damning move by McCain was an attempt to angrily brush the scandal aside rather than be up front about it. Despite this display of his famous temper McCain eventually performed an about face cooperating with the questions of the media & even befriending them to demonstrate he had nothing to hide.
  
• From Wikipedia involving the Keating Five: After months of testimony revealed that all five senators acted improperly to differing degrees, the senators continually said they were following the status quo of campaign funding practices. In August 1991, the committee concluded that Cranston, DeConcini, and Riegle's conduct constituted substantial interference with the FHLBB's (Federal Home Loan Bank Board ) enforcement efforts and that they had done so at the behest of Charles Keating. The committee recommended censure for Cranston and criticized the other four for "questionable conduct." McCain survived the scandal with a blemish on his record which he has acknowledged as a poor call in judgment.
  
• On his Keating Five experience, McCain said: "The appearance of it was wrong. It's a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do."
  
• Perhaps fueled by his experience with the issue, McCain co-sponsored campaign finance reform the McCain–Feingold Act which has been championed as a bipartisan piece of legislation. Many hard-line GOP loyalists initially disapproved of the measure because it did not include trade Unions which tend to support Democrats. With revisions to correct this Bush signed the act. The McCain-Feingold Act has fallen under more scrutiny because of a loop hole allowing for 527 organizations to collect from soft money sources. For more info click the link above.
  
• This is an excellent example of the McCain "straight talk". Bush, and Clinton (both of them), as well as many other politicians have the luxury of having strategists and minions who allow them to avoid addressing, or just out right lie about involvement with various scandals. The involvement of John McCain with the Keating Five is a weak detriment when compared to the Enron debacle and the Whitewater and Chinagate fiascos.
  

OTHER ISSUES:
I recognize the dissent with his Immigration reform, however there was not many viable alternatives proposed by people in the legislative branch. In the early stages of this series of legislation the Republicans still controlled both congressional branches yet aside from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform proposed with the involvement of McCain there were no serious alternatives brought to vote. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 panned as amnesty by critics was shot down despite having the endorsement of the president. Mitt Romney, as we know has proposed deporting all illegal immigrants (apparently he'll have to find new maintenance workers for his home). This is a completely absurd proposition which would be next to impossible. We already have a law enforcement deficit in this country. To expect police forces to readjust to round up people who have lived here for as long as twenty years is unrealistic. We have no prison space, they are already overpopulated, and the monetary value attached to putting such a ridiculous plan into play would probably dwarf anything we'd spend on another foolish proposition called National Healthcare (which Romney also wants). Finally, we haven't been enforcing the laws for years, where do we get off as a Nation punishing the people who we have essentially welcomed (perhaps due to negligence and greed) for the past several decades? Now I do believe we should and need to start enforcing the laws and make people immigrate through the proper channels. I even believe there are ways to encourage recent immigrants to return home (such as forcing employers to get documentation). Lastly the border needs to employ top of the line technology to guard it, and where appropriate walls should probably be built. These alternatives to rounding everyone up.... are included in McCain's current revised immigration reform ideas. He has recognized that the country does not support his former plan as written and is willing to work towards a compromise.

If a Romney style plan is adopted it will result in ethnic and racial profiling. It will incite (and is already beginning to) anti-Hispanic sentiments which will hurt even the people who are legally here. This is a complex, multi-layered problem that is not as simple as going through every city with a squadron and putting people on trucks to the border. That would be a disaster, and that is NOT a country that I would enjoy being a part of. If that happens, regardless of the circumstances that led to it, how far is it from the actions took place in WWII? How far will it be from Andrew Jackson's rounding up of Native Americans? It would be an abomination, and for anyone to even suggest it, in my opinion they are ethically and morally depraved. To use hatred spawned by praying on the psyche of bitter blue collar Americans who's jobs have been shipped over seas (by business men like Romney ironically enough) to achieve power, is to take a page from certain history books that I don't find any pleasure in reading.

We should not punish people who were just trying to get a piece of the American dream when we were too preoccupied or selfish to conduct border patrol according to proper etiquette. Secure the border and cut off new illegal immigration like we should have been doing all along. Punish the people hiring illegal immigrants and the people who can't get jobs will go home.
Tim wrote: Why do people say things like "you're getting brainwashed by talk radio"-(moi) ... geez.

Well Tim, when you make a statement saying that Hillary Clinton and John McCain are like the same person, it is worthy of such a retort. Really if you believe that, I'm not certain I can convince you otherwise.

I have to admit, I don't think the country needs any tax cuts right now, not until some control can be brought to the ever expanding deficits. The stimulus package, if it ever passes, in my opinion in itself is over the top. The fact that people see it as necessary (even Democrats) really just goes to show what bad shape our country is in. Something has got to give... The country needs to both cut spending and get more revenue and it can't be done with the plans of any of the democrats, or Romney and Huckabee who generally talk govt. expansion almost as much as the democrats, (and in the same sentence claim they'll cut spending... fuzzy math?)

Difficult cuts need to be made and I think McCain just might be the only one out of the lot (with the exception of the extinct Thompson and the loon Paul) who will even attempt to do this.
Ironically, one of the organizations that have been hard on McCain gives him an 82.3% conservative voting record, which for some reason isn't conservative enough.

The problem for McCain is largely that the GOP base has become just as emotionally irrational as their enemies the democrats. Common sense is the enemy, instead taxes MUST be cut. All illegal immigrants must leave RIGHT NOW, (because apparently we need the lawn money) RELIGION MUST BE INCORPORATED INTO LAW...that one came out of nowhere.... I guess I'm going to have to blame society, I'm sure they are to blame.

This same party holds Reagan up as though he were an anti-liberal GOD but.......

Setting the Reagan presidential record straight

"They have forgotten that Reagan - facing spiraling deficits, sinking poll ratings and a hostile Congress - reluctantly signed legislation raising payroll, income and gasoline taxes, some of them among the largest in our history."

"Two of his Supreme Court appointments, Sandra Day O'Connor and Anthony Kennedy, were far more liberal than George W. Bush's selections, the diehard constructionists, John Roberts and Samuel Alito. "

"Reagan's 1986 comprehensive immigration bill turned out to be the most liberal amnesty for illegal aliens in our nation's history, and set the stage for the present problem of 12 million aliens here unlawfully."

"In other words, a great president like Ronald Reagan made mistakes. He sometimes reversed positions, played politics and baffled his conservative base - some of the very charges now leveled against Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson. When a candidate today says, "Reagan would have done this or that," he apparently has a poor memory of what Reagan - the often lonely, flesh-and-blood conservative in the 1980s - was forced to do to get elected, govern and be re-elected. While in office, he proved more often the pragmatic leader than the purist knight slaying ideological dragons on the campaign trail."

For more read the article with the link provided above.

Will McCain put in constructionist judges? Well I don't believe for a heartbeat that he'll try and nominate a crony like Harriet Miers.

The problem in the "constructionist judge" dilemma is that neither side believes that the other side’s appointees are constructionist. The hard right also believes that constructionist judges support their ideals on issues such as abortion, prayer in school, and flag burning, when if anything these issues would need serious Constitutional amendments or major social reform to become laws to be enforced. I think even John Roberts gets that, I can't speak for Alito.

On constructionist Judge Roberts:
"In his Senate testimony, Roberts acknowledged that, while sitting on the Appellate Court, he would have an obligation to respect precedents established by the Supreme Court, including the controversial decision invalidating many restrictions on the right to an abortion. He stated: "Roe v. Wade is the settled law of the land.... There is nothing in my personal views that would prevent me from fully and faithfully applying that precedent, as well as Casey." "

At the end of the day Tim, if you write in Barney Rubble, you will have helped elect Hillary Clinton (It appears she'll probably end up winning the nod). (AND THAT GOES FOR THE REST OF YOU TOO!!!!)

If Republicans are discouraged to show up... which it sounds like talk radio is doing, it will give further control to a group of power hungry Democrats with a Marxist intentions. Now I admit that some of these Democrats have very noble, good intentions, but in the end, it will ruin us.

Pulling the wool over our eyes....

Bush does an about face from the fiscal conservatism expressed in the State of the Union. To suggest that he didn't already know that his #s would vastly misrepresent the actual values is ludicrous. His speech was a bold lie. The first 3 Trillion dollar budget ever... that isn't conservative. It isn't even sane. And you know, it will end up being 3.5 trillion by the time the Democrats get through with it. No redemption for W. He is the worst president of my lifetime, and arguably the past 50 years. Why on earth people would want to elect a Hillary or a Romney after this, which will be more of the same, only worse.... IS BEYOND ME. The American dollar is on the verge of collapsing and they would have us add the largest bureaucracy in the history of our government, to an already dysfunctional system.

Bush sends Congress $3.1 trillion budget

"Bush projects that the deficits, which had been declining, will soar to near-record levels, hitting $410 billion this year and $407 billion in 2009."

Possibly one of the lousiest U.S. presidents of all time.

I used to think Carter was worse, but honestly he actually had ideas. Bush does nothing but make an already bad situation worse.

National Energy Program Fact Sheet on the President's Program. (Jimmy Carter)

Yep It was History alright......

Tried to text you John but my cell was being difficult... and I'm too mentally challenged to try and attempt to figure it out. I had a draft message all ready but the phone kept trying to call rather than just "Send the message". I hate my cell phone. Not up for fighting its evil ways I just gave up... Mom always said if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all. Anyway why add insult to injury? My heart was racing fast enough as it was, and I've gotta say honestly I'm sort of a fair weather fan of the Pats.... and additionally, I sort of expected this going in. The Pats have been "just squeaking by" for a while and it was bound to catch up eventually. The Manning brothers have made the case for good genetics. Who would have thought several months back that the Giants would be the team to take the Pat's down? Ahhh... honestly it isn't as brutal as the many past Red Sox defeats by the big apple... Guess Dolphins fans can celebrate 1972 again. (grumble...)

If this semi insignificant news wasn't bad enough I learned that Mitt Romney won the Maine Caucus... a liberal and "Independent Minded" state. BAD NEWS for McCain. However, my feelers tell me that the GOP kept the caucus sort of private from the masses, and it may be more of a representation of GOP establishment than what the Republicans of Maine wanted.

Because I really dislike Mitt:

From fact check:

With a nationwide wave of nominating contests looming next week, Republican presidential candidates held their last scheduled debate against the backdrop of Ronald Reagan’s retired Air Force One. But we found some of the candidates' facts just won’t fly.

• Romney complained that McCain used "the wrong data" about job creation to support his assertion that Massachusetts had ranked 47th among the 50 states while Romney was governor. Romney was wrong; McCain was correct.
  
• Romney said his hundreds of millions of dollars in "fee increases" merely caught up with years of inflation and weren’t tax increases in disguise. Independent budget experts contradict him on that.
  
• Romney said the over-budget costs of his Massachusetts health care plan were due to changes made by his successor. Authorities on the plan say that’s mostly untrue; costs went up because more people than expected signed up for state-subsidized insurance.
  
• Romney wrongly claimed McCain’s anti-global-warming bill would boost gasoline prices by up to 50 cents per gallon. Actually, the official estimate is 40 cents for most vehicles, and not until the year 2025.
  
• McCain and Romney traded oversimplified assertions regarding a "timetable" for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
  
• Huckabee cited a Heritage Foundation study to back up his assertion that rebates to taxpayers aren’t as good a way to stimulate the economy as the highway construction he favors. In fact, the study does disparage rebates but urges tax cuts instead, not increased spending.
  
• Ron Paul repeated his claim that defending the U.S. "empire" is costing "a trillion dollars a year." But the dubious figure includes costs such as the entire Veterans Affairs budget. Paul also claimed "nobody" is talking about cutting spending, even as his rivals did so 14 times during the same debate.

Romney Outspends All Opponents Combined in Ad Buys…

In the article: Republican Mitt Romney spent as much as all of his opponents combined - and almost four times as much as John McCain in Florida.

The article claims that 90% of the GOP ads were not negative, however I think this is an obvious bias towards Romney as I have not seen a single Romney ad which did not attack and distort the records of both McCain and Huckabee.

Tuesday is going to be a very scary day.