Saturday, November 01, 2008

Iraq

The relative calm that has descended on Baghdad over the past year has helped keep Iraq mostly off center stage as an issue in the U.S. presidential race. But the violence is still at a level that would be intolerable in any other society.
Take the sniper of Mansour, who has killed at least six Iraqi soldiers in recent weeks in this upscale neighborhood, shooting from a distance across crowded shopping streets and a busy traffic circle.
The U.S. military says the sniper is operating as part of a sophisticated, highly trained team affiliated with Al Qaeda in Iraq, the down-but-not-yet-out terrorist group that stubbornly persists in its efforts to stage a comeback.

The above is from Liz Sly's "Iraq smolders even as it cools as voter issue" (Chicago Tribune) and Iraq fell off the radar sometime ago. Those who think they can pick it up after the election (I'm not speaking of the MSM) and be listened to have kidded themselves. They have no credibility. Maybe they can write another Hurricane Katrina column? Or maybe a "War coming on Iran!" feature? In Iraq, Corinne Reilly (McClatchy Newspapers) reports on Sumer FM, an Iraqi radio station which went on air in November 2004. In terms of violence . . .

Bombings?

Sahar Issa (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Barsa bombing (landmine) that claimed the life of 1 boy and left another wounded, and a Mosul roadside bombing that wounded two police officer while a Mosul car bombing wounded two more police officers and an Al Anbar Province bombing wounded two Iraqi soldiers.

Shootings?

Sahar Issa (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 2 Iraqi soldiers shot dead in Mosul.

Turning to the US presidential race, Francisco notes the following from Nader - Gonzalez:

Matt Gonzalez on NPR's Latino USA
Posted by The Nader Team on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 03:37:00 PM
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Listen to our Vice Presidential Candidate, Matt Gonzalez, on National Public Radio’s program, Latino USA, in a conversation with host Maria Hinojosa: [here]

Ralph Nader is the independent presidential candidate, Matt Gonzalez is his running mate. John McCain is the GOP presidential candidate and Sarah Palin is his running mate. Becky notes this from McCain - Palin :

JUST WORDS: Barack Obama And Business Taxes
ARLINGTON, VA -- This afternoon, Barack Obama told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that there was an argument for cutting business tax rates -- despite attacking the very same tax cuts earlier today. Once again, the American people are left with a tax plan that changes by the day and is little more than just words. Check out the facts below:
"By Barack Obama's own measure, Obama now supports billions in 'tax cuts for big oil companies' and corporations that are sending American jobs overseas. The truth: Barack Obama has a difficult time coming to terms with the devastating effects of his own economic plan, is learning as he goes and just isn't ready yet." -- Tucker Bounds, McCain-Palin 2008 spokesman
Today, Barack Obama Remained Open To Cutting The Business Tax RateBarack Obama: "And, In Fact, You Can Make An Argument For Lowering The Corporate Tax Rate." CNN'S WOLF BLITZER: "At a time of economic distress, is it wise to increase the corporate tax rate?" OBAMA: "We're not increasing the corporate tax rate." BLITZER: "I know, but there's some talk that you want to increase it, it's 35% right now. you talked about --" OBAMA: "Where is that talk coming from?" BLITZER: "I don't know, you tell me. You want to keep it at 35%?" OBAMA: "I have no plans for increasing the corporate tax rate. And, in fact, you can make an argument for lowering the corporate tax rate, but only if you, at the same time, close all the corporate loopholes. The problem we have right now, on paper we've got a high corporate tax rate; in actual terms, corporations aren't paying their fair share." (CNN's "Situation Roo m," 10/31/08)
Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehT82CXU3Bw

But Even Today, Barack Obama Decried These Very Same Business Tax Cuts
Just Today, Barack Obama Decried Giving Tax Cuts To American Businesses. OBAMA: "At a moment like this, the last thing we can afford is four more years of the tired, old theory that says we should give more to billionaires and big corporations and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else." (Barack Obama, Remarks, Des Moines, IA, 10/31/08)
Barack Obama: "It's Not Change When He Wants To Give $200 Billion To The Biggest Corporations Or $4 Billion To The Oil Companies." (CNN's "American Morning," 10/29/08)
Barack Obama Criticized John McCain For Proposing "Another Huge And Permanent Corporate Tax Cut." OBAMA: "Senator McCain used the crisis as an excuse to push a so-called stimulus plan that offered another huge and permanent corporate tax cut, including $4 billion to the big oil companies, but no immediate help for workers." (MSNBC's "Countdown," 9/16/08)
In Addition To Changing His Position On Business Tax Cuts, The Obama-Biden Campaign Has Changed Their Tax Plan Numerous Times In The Past Week
CHANGE #1 ($250,000): In July 2008, Barack Obama Said: "If You Make $250,000 A Year Or Less, We Will Not Raise Your Taxes. We Will Cut Your Taxes." (Barack Obama, Remarks, Powder Springs, GA, 7/8/08)
CHANGE #2 ($200,000): In New Obama Ad "Defining Moment" The Threshold For The Obama Tax Plan For Families Seeing A Tax Cut Is Lowered From $250,000 To $200,000. OBAMA AD: "The Obama Plan: Families Making Less Than $200,000 Get Tax Cut." (Obama Ad, "Defining Moment," 10/25/08)
CHANGE #3: In An Interview With A Scranton, PA, News Station, Joe Biden Said That Only Families Making Under $150,000 Would Get A Tax Cut. BIDEN: "Spreading the wealth was not--he was talking about is all of the tax breaks have gone to the very, very wealthy. For example you have right now, this year, under the old tax policy that was just -- that was put in by George Bush, people making an average 1.4 million a year, good people, decent people, patriotic -- they're going to get an $87 billion tax break. What we're saying is that $87 billion tax break doesn't need to go to people making an average of 1.4 million, it should go like it used to. It should go to middle class people -- people making under $150,000 a year." (Joe Biden, Interview With WNEP Scranton, 10/27/08)
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAEE1_IUycs

CHANGE #4: Obama-Biden Campaign Aides Said That Those Making Between $150,000 And $250,000 Will Actually Not See A Tax Increase Or A Tax Cut. "Biden aides say his comments were actually consistent with Obama's tax plan -- people under $150,000 get a cut, and people making up to $250,000 stay the same." (Mark Murray and Mike Memoli, "$150,000 Vs. $250,000," MSNBC's "First Read" Blog, http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com, Posted 10/28/08)
CHANGE #5: Obama Surrogate Governor Richardson Said Only Those Making Less Than $120,000 Would Get A Tax Cut. GOVERNOR RICHARDSON: "What Obama wants to do is he is basically looking at $120,000 and under among those that are in the middle class and there is a tax cut for those." (Governor Richardson, Interview On KOA-AM, 10/31/08)
Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G88ebXY2uaI

Cynthia McKinney is the Green Party presidential candidate, Rosa Clemente is her running mate. Kimberly Wilder (On The Wilder Side) is supporting that ticket (and the Green Party in other races as well) and she notes:

Board of Elections gives Spanish Speakers the WRONG DATE for Election!
I now heard this from two sources: A person from the League of Women Voters and this Long Island immigrant support organization.

By Patrick Young CARECEN October 31, 2008 2:44 PM
On Fridays I work at the Westchester Hispanic Coalition in White Plains. This afternoon Grace Heyman, the director of the Coalition, showed me a letter that had been received by one of the group's supporters. It was from the Board of Elections and it contained some disturbingly misleading information.

And Kimberly and Ian Wilder also offer "Vote Green Party On Tuesday!:"

November 1, 2008
This is an exciting time for us! The Green Party has never been as relevant
as it is today. As Congress offers trillion-dollar bailouts to Wall Street,
people living on Main Street struggle to stay in their homes and pay for
basic needs. Why is Congress bailing out corporations while the public
slides into economic insecurity? Because the industries that will benefit
from the bailout are some of the largest campaign contributors to political campaigns.
But never fear because you can VOTE GREEN on Tuesday and choose People Power over corporate power. Support Cynthia McKinney for President and
Rosa Clemente for Vice President; and, support other Green candidates
running in your community. Greens are running for office across the
country for 60 types of office. Check them out! To find out who’s
running in your community, click here.
Once elected, Greens will not betray the public interest for corporate
cash. We accept no corporate money because we believe corporate
influence is what’s wrong with politics.
If you believe healthcare is a right for all, not to be governed by the
profit motive of insurance companies, support the Green Party and
our campaign for Single Payer Healthcare.
If you believe offshore drilling furthers our national addiction to fossil
fuels; and want to see positive solutions like renewable energy, local food production, local businesses and better public transportation- Help
elect Greens who will make it a reality.
If you believe every vote must be counted, that higher education should
be available to everyone, that climate change is real, that the war on
drugs is racist, and that the privatization of public goods and services
is wrong and that we need to BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW stand
up and support the party that will stand up for you The Green Party.
If you want to see a clean, healthy future for our children, make sure
we have a strong Green Party today


The following community sites have updated since Friday morning:

Rebecca's Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude;
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Kat's Kat's Korner;
Mike's Mikey Likes It!;
Elaine's Like Maria Said Paz;
Wally's The Daily Jot;
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thomas friedman is a great man





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