Clipmarks | tabsey's 'politics' clips

The next Vice President

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:00:33 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Whether she deserves it or not, Palin is making the US the laughing stock of the world. Personally, I am amazed that America is so bereft of people with leadership skills, that she got the nod. Much more to this story. Maybe she will be a model for the guards in the detention centres.

Clip Source: www.watoday.com.au

(Clockwise from top) US Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the campaign trail, the October 6 cover of The New Yorker, Tina Fey's protrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, and Gina Gershon as Palin.

Tags: this, isn't, politics

Presidential candidates' health plans offer divergent approaches to health system reform

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:37:02 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: I suppose policies are available at party web sites, but this is the first time during these elections that this Aussie has come across a policy being presented and explained. It appears to be a good article. Hope the facts were correct.

Clip Source: www.eurekalert.org

Candidates' plans differ on roles of employer coverage and individual market, number of uninsured, financial risk to Americans

October 2, 2008, New York, NY—A new report from The Commonwealth Fund examines key differences and areas of agreement in the health system reform proposals of presidential candidates Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama. In the report, The 2008 Presidential Candidates' Health Reform Proposals: Choices for America, the authors describe how both plans seek to expand health insurance, but Senator McCain would encourage individuals to select their own coverage through the individual insurance market while Senator Obama would strengthen employer coverage and public programs. As a result, the proposals differ in how many people would be covered, and the extent of financial protection for families against the cost of health care.

Tags: politics

GOP: Lose Your Home, Lose Your Vote

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:15:16 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Real "backs to the wall" stuff. Should cause all to vote GOP. But it fits with the laws and Republican policy.

Clip Source: www.thenation.com

Senator John McCain was a foot soldier in the deregulation revolution, which triggered the current banking crisis and the wave of foreclosures. In Michigan, his party wants to deny the right to vote to victims of the GOP's misguided economic policies and the sleazy banking practices they encouraged.

James Carabelli, chairman of the Republican Party of Macomb County outside Detroit, said, "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses," the Michigan Messenger.com reported September 10. Barack Obama's campaign and the Democratic Party quickly filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of three Michigan residents who lost their houses to foreclosure, to stop the Michigan GOP from carrying out what Democrats called an "ugly" and "horrific" plan. Michigan is a key swing state where a few thousand votes could determine who wins its seventeen Electoral College votes.

McCain, who owns ten houses, has long been a lackey of the banking industr

Tags: politics, is, dead

Coalition dismayed by poll numbers: Abbott

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:28:19 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Which means that the people believe that the Liberals were bloody awful.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Federal Opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott says there is dismay in the Coalition's ranks over consistent poor opinion poll results.

A Newspoll in today's Australian newspaper shows Labor maintaining a 12 per cent lead over the Coalition.

Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson's rating as preferred prime minister is at 16 per cent.

Mr Abbott told ABC NewsRadio the Opposition would like to be doing better in the polls.

"Obviously politicians do look at polls and we are dismayed when they're not as good as we'd like them to be," he said.

Tags: politics, happens, in, australia, too

McCain, complete and utter netwit

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:19:14 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: It took me a couple of years with books and a recovering brain to understand computers. He has had plenty of time if he had the interest. My motivation was the search for information and I'm loving it. McCain feels he will be needing information if he becomes president. But not now?

Clip Source: www.theage.com.au

JOHN McCain has admitted he never uses email and has to be shown websites, as he is only just learning to get online.

If elected, Senator McCain, who turns 72 this year, would be the oldest candidate to enter the White House.

And in facing Barack Obama, 25 years his junior and making the internet a key campaign tool, he is risking claims that he is stuck in the past.

The former US Navy pilot, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, did himself no favours when asked by The New York Times which websites he looked at, saying his aides did it for him.

"Brooke and Mark show me Drudge," he said, referring to the Drudge Report, a website that broke the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton story. "Obviously, everybody watches, for better or for worse, Drudge."

"I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon," he said.

Tags: computorial, politics

China 'is fuelling war in Darfur'

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:15:12 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Another country making a mockery of the UN. One wonders why they are not making a greater effort to reinvent the UN as an effective body. Greed, corruption?

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The BBC tracked down Chinese-built military trucks inside Darfur

The BBC has found the first evidence that China is currently helping Sudan's government militarily in Darfur.

The Panorama TV programme tracked down Chinese army lorries in the Sudanese province that came from a batch exported from China to Sudan in 2005.

The BBC was also told that China was training fighter pilots who fly Chinese A5 Fantan fighter jets in Darfur.

China's government has declined to comment on the BBC's findings, which contravene a UN arms embargo on Darfur.

The embargo requires foreign nations to take measures to ensure they do not militarily assist anyone in the conflict in Darfur, in which the UN estimates that about 300,000 people have died.

Panorama traced the first lorry by travelling deep into the remote deserts of West Darfur.

They found a Chinese Dong Feng army lorry in the hands of one of Darfur's rebel groups.

Plates on the first truck show it was imported after the embargo

Tags: politics, greed

McCain rejects comments from his economic adviser

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:56:31 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Guess Mr Gramm won't be in the job long. Still, he has been noticed by the GOP, as he is pushing their line, which McCain is trying to disassociate himself from.

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

BELLEVILLE, Michigan (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Thursday sharply rejected a top economic adviser's description of the United States as "a nation of whiners" who are in a mental recession.

Democratic White House rival Barack Obama pounced on the remarks and said they proved McCain was out of touch on the economy, a critical issue in November's presidential election.

McCain moved quickly to limit the political damage caused by the comments of adviser Phil Gramm, a former Texas senator who questioned the extent of the U.S. economic downturn in an interview with the Washington Times.

"Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I speak for me. So, I strongly disagree," McCain said. "America's in great difficulty and we are experiencing enormous economic challenges."

The Arizona senator responded sharply when asked if Gramm would have a key role in a potential McCain administration.

Tags: politics, permutations, pharynx

Granholm: McCain Not Good for Women

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:13:28 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Isn't McCain the type to consult, in this case women, and find out if they have any right to rights under the Republican policies.

Clip Source: www.truthout.org

Seeking to block an effort by John McCain to draw support from Hillary Clinton supporters, Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Saturday called for women to unify behind Barack Obama and attacked McCain's record on women's issues and the economy.

McCain's outreach to Clinton-backing women "is an effort to mask his effort on the issues important to the women who supported (Clinton)", said Granholm, who supported Clinton during her primary campaign against Obama.

Granholm spoke to reporters on a conference call organized by the Obama campaign.

McCain on Saturday was holding a "virtual town hall" teleconference with former Clinton supporters, other Democrats and independents, seeking to capitalize on divisions created by Democrats' long and at times bitter primary campaign. The McCain campaign released a list of more than two dozen Democrats and independents it said were supporting McCain.

Tags: politics

Italy defends move to patrol streets with soldiers

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:42:16 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: WTF is the American term, I believe. Where are the cops. Sorry, underpaid; they all have "second jobs" to go to.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

The Italian government has defended its decision to use soldiers to patrol cities in an effort to curb crime, rejecting criticism that it will "militarise" the streets.

"There is a strong call from citizens for better control of the streets, for improved safety," Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa told Sky Italia television.

"My hope is that particularly in the evening, in the cities, these troops can ensure greater safety."

The government announced on Friday that up to 2,500 soldiers, some of whom have served in Afghanistan and Kosovo, would be made available for a trial period of six months to bolster the police in difficult urban areas.

Silvio Berlusconi's new conservative government won an April election on a law-and-order ticket, and crime and public safety have stayed on top of the political agenda since Mr Berlusconi took office.

Tags: politics, mafia, style

McClellan Slams Bush, Rove, White House

Wed, 28 May 2008 09:03:21 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Those willing to look would have known all this, but it is still better than not seeing.

Clip Source: www.michaelmoore.com

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a surprisingly scathing memoir to be published next week that President Bush “veered terribly off course,” was not “open and forthright on Iraq,” and took a “permanent campaign approach” to governing at the expense of candor and competence.

Among the most explosive revelations in the 341-page book, titled “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception” (Public Affairs, $27.95):

• McClellan charges that Bush relied on “propaganda” to sell the war.

• He says the White House press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to the war.

• He admits that some of his own assertions from the briefing room podium turned out to be “badly misguided.”

Tags: politics, idiot

McCain Advisor Accuses Obama of Underhanded Reference to McCain's Age

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:58:37 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: This is better than Obama and Clintin pussy footing around each other. (Bet the nightly diary entries contain a bit of " I wish I'd said it." followed by invectives aimed at each other. In our society, people of that age are generally enjoying grand kids and dodging great grand kids. He is too old and his policies don't seem aimed at improving life for average Americans.

Clip Source: www.michaelmoore.com

ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: The McCain campaign lashed out at Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, for what it called an insulting dig at Sen. John McCain's age.

In an interview on CNN, Obama accused McCain of trying to "smear" him by saying that the Palestinian militant group Hamas favored his candidacy.

"And so for him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination," Obama said.

The McCain campaign said the "losing his bearings" comment was an underhanded reference to the fact that McCain is 71 years old.

Mark Salter, one of the advisers, said, "Obama's attack today: He used the words 'losing his bearings' intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue. This is typical of the Obama style of campaigning."

Tags: politics, have-a-go ya mug

Buswell admits sniffing staffer's seat

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:09:30 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: The Liberals set high standards?

Clip Source: www.theaustralian.news.com.au

WEST Australian Opposition leader Troy Buswell is refusing to resign despite breaking down and admitting to sniffing the chair of a female Liberal Party staffer.

Mr Buswell confirmed details of the woman's account of a 2005 incident at a press conference today in Mandurah, south of Perth.

The woman, who does not want to be named, said Mr Buswell started sniffing the chair she had been sitting on at his Parliament House office in December 2005.

The incident took place in front of other staff members.

She said he had done it to get a laugh.

“I was shocked and outraged and I told him,” the woman told The West Australian newspaper.

Mr Buswell said he had repeatedly refused to deny the allegations because he wanted to protect the woman involved.

But he broke down after he was asked about the effect of the reports on his wife and children.

Tears in his eyes, Mr Buswell said he needed a short break, turned his back and then asked his press secretary to bring him a glass of water.

Tags: politics

Dozens injured in Bangladesh protest against planned women's rights policy

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:24:37 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: It is a long way to the 21st century for religious extremists.

Clip Source: www.democraticunderground.com

DHAKA, Bangladesh — ...

Mokarram Hossain, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman, says .. protesters chanting anti-government slogans threw stones and bricks at police, who responded with tear gas and baton charges.

Last month, Bangladesh's interim government announced a new policy intended to give women equal property rights and better access to jobs and education.

The policy is not legally binding, but is meant to be used as a guideline for the next parliament to use in forming legislation. Parliamentary elections are expected at the end of this year.

Around 300 police were deployed around the mosque as more than 500 protesters from various Islamic groups took part in the protest, Hossain said ...

Tags: politics, religion

Many Israelis 'uncomfortable' with pastor who supports McCain

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:14:52 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: So the Jews run both parties? or are highly influential?

Clip Source: www.democraticunderground.com

When radical right-wing pastor John C. Hagee announced his support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain last February, McCain, who had sought the endorsement for more than a year, immediately said he was "very honored."

The Catholic League quickly accused Hagee of being a bigot, who has described the Catholic Church as a "false cult" and "the Great Whore of Revelation 17," and since then the McCain campaign has maintained its distance from Hagee.

Some Israelis, however, are disturbed by the doctrine of "pre-millenial dispensationalism," which holds that the rise of Israel will lead to the second coming of Christ and a final apocalyptic battle in which Jews must either accept Christianity or perish.

Tags: politics

Row flares over Rudd's Tibet comments

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:01:14 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Standing up to the Chinese. Fancy that.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Kevin Rudd has flown in to a diplomatic row in China, with the country's communist Government lodging an official complaint about his comments on Tibet.

China is angry over Mr Rudd's comments during a press conference with US President George W Bush earlier in his world tour, when he said it was clear that human rights abuses were being committed in Tibet.

He encouraged the Chinese Government to discuss the future of Tibet with the Dalai Lama, and promised to raise the matter in Beijing.

The Chinese Government has responded by making a verbal complaint to Australian diplomats in Canberra and in Beijing, where Mr Rudd arrived today on the final leg of his world tour.

A spokesman from the Department of Foreign Affairs says the Australian Government holds strong views on Tibet and stands by its comments.

Mr Rudd is due to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao tommorrow.

Tags: politics