This debate over oil and energy policy disgusts me because both Obama and McCain are trying to force short term, knee jerk responses to a major policy challenge for the nation. I remember hearing John McCain once tell me that “Congress never makes good policy decisions in the heat of a crisis.
This video of a seemingly innocent taxi getting demolished by a tank in Iraq has awakened in me all of the reasons we must withdraw from that country. American soldiers are too distant from the fate of Iraqis and on a systems basis can’t ever act in their interests.
(UT Austin LBJ School Dean and potential Obama National Security Advisor candidate James Steinberg) There are four horses out front — way ahead of everyone else who might be considered.
Peter Rodman died of complications from leukemia on Saturday, August 2nd. I didn’t know he was ill, and over the last decade we weren’t close friends but were well acquainted. I think he disliked my foreign policy views and political direction quite a bit — but he was always a gentleman when we crossed paths.
Gung Ho Films Director Michael McDermott in Beijing just sent me these pics of his computer in Beijing. For the first, time he has been able to access Amnesty International and BBC Chinese over the net.
(photo credit: Michael McDermott) My friend Michael McDermott runs the largest foreign film production operation in Beijing, Gung Ho Films, and he sent me this photo that he took on August 1st in Beijing. I have to admit that the air ‘looks’ good — which may bode well for the Olympic Games.
My good friend James Fallows turns 59 today. Wish him a happy birthday. He’s done tons for this country.
Yesterday, Gallup’s daily tracking poll showed Obama and McCain even Steven at 44% to 44%. Intrade though has Obama inching away from McCain at 63% to McCain’s Intrade win probability of 36.9%. And here are some other polls.
John McCain just offered this video called “The One” spoofing the sometimes over the top evangelical-style sizzle of Obama’s oratory: Barack Obama isn’t taking it though and is firing back with a new website, “McCain’s Low Road Express” and his own new video on fabrications and false charges in McCain ads: — Steve Clemons