When I first heard the audio of Barry’s speech on Rush Limbaugh’s show while driving from a staff meeting, I was floored. I wasn’t sure I heard it correctly. And, being so busy today, I had no chance to check till now.

Barry’s speech was a litany of consistent “we suck, we aren’t winning in Iraq, The Surge hasn’t worked, let’s vamoose. He also had a little blurb about it being our fault for fighting back that Islamic extremists want to kill the Infidel (”In the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, I warned that war would fan the flames of extremism in the Middle East, create new centers of terrorism, and tie us down in a costly and open-ended occupation.”) You can listen and watch some of it, but, check out at 1:10

What he said

But understand what the essential argument was about. Before the surge, I argued that the long-term solution in Iraq is political – the Iraqi government must reconcile its differences and take responsibility for its future. That holds true today. We have lost over a thousand American lives and spent hundreds of billions of dollars since the surge began, but Iraq’s leaders still haven’t made hard compromises or substantial investments in rebuilding their country. Our military is badly overstretched – a fact that has surely been noted in capitals around the world. And while we pay a heavy price in Iraq – and Americans pay record prices at the pump – Iraq’s government is sitting on a $79 billion dollar budget surplus from windfall oil profits.

Glad Mr. 57 States has a solid grasp on the number of American soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.

I’m tempted to pick apart the rest of the speech, including his idiotic windfall profits for the Iraqi’s stupidity, but, after that gaffe of epic proportions on the troops, just one more. Paragraph 12

This is a war that we have to win. And as Commander-in-Chief, I will have no greater priority than taking out these terrorists who threaten America, and finishing the job against the Taliban.

Barry does realize that the Taliban was not the group who attacked us, right? And that the Taliban is much less a threat to America then Saddam Hussein was, right? And that Al Qaeda is a separate group, right? And, while they gave shelter to Al Qaeda, they really had nothing to do with implementing 9/11, right? And that Al Qaeda is a worldwide group, right? Maybe Barry could pick someone who has more actual foreign policy and anti-terrorism experience and knowledge then himself. Someone like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears.

PS: Barry also had a little hissy fit

“I will let no one question my love of this country. I love America, so do you, and so does John McCain. When I look out at this audience, I see people of different political views. You are Democrats and Republicans and independents. But you all served together, and fought together, and bled together under the same proud flag. You did not serve a red America or a blue America -– you served the United States of America.”

Guess Free Speech is out under an Obamafuhrer reign.

Notice something wrong? That’s right. Now the DNCC has taken on the Nutroots/Barking Moonbat predilection for using upside down American flags. (via Hot Air from Weasel Zippers)

Some viewers contacted 9NEWS Saturday, questioning the design of the credentials to see Sen. Barack Obama accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

The viewers say with the stars and blue field in the lower left corner, it looks like an upside down American flag. Published flag etiquette states the stars should always be displayed in the upper left corner. An upside down flag represents an international symbol of extreme distress.

Matt Chandler with the Obama campaign says the flag is not upside down. He says it is a stylized flag designed to blend the stars on Senator Obama’s shirt with the flag blowing in the wind.

Natalie Wyeth with the Democratic National Convention Committee sent 9NEWS the following statement Saturday night:“The DNCC community credentials incorporate patriotic design elements. They do not depict an actual American flag. The DNCC has full and complete respect for the flag and all rules of display.”

Do they know what an American flag looks like, or, did they just think it was some interesting art?

Change you can hate America with. Hope it becomes something the Founders never envisioned. Kinda like the Chicago political machine Barry emulates.

You knew it had to happen. With McCain typically leading in most polls for the senior citizen vote, particularly white voters 65 and up (think Florida as a key swing state), Barry’s magic teleprompter told him to pander to seniors (which went over like a pink lead balloon with tax policy experts)

If you’re a senior citizen and make less than $50,000 a year, Barack Obama has a deal for you: the rest of your life free of federal income tax.

Sounds appealing, right? Maybe to many seniors. But tax policy experts in Washington are giving it bad reviews. They see it as another subsidy for senior citizens, who already get federal help through Social Security and Medicare and often have economic advantages over other demographic groups.

The Obama campaign says the idea would give tax cuts averaging $1,400 to 7 million seniors who are battling inflation with mostly fixed incomes. The campaign also says the plan would relieve millions of older people from having to file complicated tax returns.

“If you work hard and pay into the system, you’ve earned the right to a secure retirement,” says a description of the plan on the Obama campaign’s Web site. “But too many seniors aren’t getting that security, even though they’ve held up their end of the bargain. Lower- and middle-income seniors are struggling as their expenses on health and energy skyrocket while their incomes do not keep pace.”

In other words, too many seniors have not bought in to the messianic appeal of hope and change and presidential seals. They are still Herberts and have not joined in with the unity and oneness of Barry.

It comes down to seniors not having been born yesterday (groan), and mostly not falling for the rediculous and disasterous, not to mention ant-American, policies of Barack Obama. So, mega-pander time!

I caught this one myself through an email from a friend of mine in New Joisey (I’m originally from there, I’m allowed to write it that way. Exit 98), but, I think John Hawkins at Right Wing News puts it perfectly

Yesterday, the fine folks over at Americans for Prosperity alerted me to the fact that the election issue of all election issues has been dumped into the GOP’s lap.

You see, on October 1st, 2008, “the existing bans on Outer Continental Shelf drilling and oil shale leasing expire — unless Congress specifically votes to extend the bans.”

What will likely happen, according to AFP is that “Congressional leaders will likely try to sneak an extension into supposedly ‘must-pass’ last-minute spending legislation.”

Republicans, including most importantly, John McCain, should refuse to support ANY legislation that extends the drilling ban. That means they should speak out against it, they should vote against it, and George Bush should veto it if it comes across his desk.

John recommends calling all your GOP Congress critters, “call your favorite talk radio host and get them talking about this, write your favorite bloggers, and email your friends.” That is what I am going to do.

What will you do?

Meanwhile, Republicans revolt over Queen Nancy’s refusal to allow a vote on drilling. See Stop The ACLU and Michelle Malkin for all the details.

I wonder why something like this is not making news? I wonder why other US Congress and Senate members are not complaining, too

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision to prohibit Iraq from participating in the 2008 Olympic Games:

“This action by the IOC is dismaying and shallow, and it should be reversed at once. American soldiers – and the Iraqi citizens who have so bravely fought at their side – have given their lives to help Iraq join the community of free nations. It is an insult to them, and to the millions they gave their lives to liberate and defend, that the IOC is so wed to its arbitrary and selectively-enforced rules that it won’t allow Iraq to participate in the Olympic Games.

“The people of Iraq have endured a living hell because of the evil of Saddam Hussein and radical jihadists, and it’s sad that they now have to suffer this new indignity at the hands of rigid, inflexible international bureaucrats.

“I urge all Members of Congress, Democrat and Republican alike, to join me in calling on the IOC to immediately rescind its decision and allow the people of Iraq to participate in the 2008 Olympic Games.”

The issue is that the IOC banned Iraq from participating in the Olympics (which might actually be the best thing for the athletes health, mind you, due to the horrendous air quality in China) due to the claim of government interference. If that is the case, I wonder why most countries, including China, are not banned?

“We feel like this is an unjust attack on Iraq at a time when we need the world’s support,” said Maher al-Hilfi, 34, a Baghdad vegetable salesman and self-described sports fanatic who spent the day commiserating with fellow fans. “Sports is the only thing that brings unity to the Iraqis and brings us happiness — and now it has been taken away.”

Unfortunately, the world doesn’t seem to want to support Iraq, and the IOC apparently wants to idulge in a bit of bias. They sure didn’t seem to have a problem with Iraq participating when Saddam was in charge and doing his torture thing.

However, there are talks under way to reverse the decision. All while a smoggy haze covers Beijing just 11 days before the start of something very few really care to watch anymore, especially with all the restrictions, not to mention the inability to actually see the games live, and the certain restrictions by NBC of seeing highlights on any other channel.

While I certainly appreciate Reuters writing these two stories, I wonder why they did not get wider play in the Credentialed Media. First, from July 12th

Iraq’s combat troops will be almost fully formed by the middle of 2009, according to the senior U.S. Army officer who led the training of Iraqi security forces.

On to July 16

Iraq hopes to have security control of all its provinces by the year-end, the national security adviser said on Wednesday, underscoring the government’s growing confidence in its own forces.

I wonder if the paper of record could step up and tell us these kinds of things, along with the rest of the CM’s. They have done all they can to force a surrender in Iraq, along with their little helpers in the left-o-sphere and, oh yes, the treason lobby in Congress. Now that things are coming to fruition - and, remind me, which presidential candidate wants to just surrender, and which one has been pushing for a complete win? - most of the Credentialed Media has ignored Iraq.

Things continue to progress in Iraq, and you would think a story like this would be important news, but, sadly, none in the Credentialed Media bother to cover it

DIYALA, Iraq – Iraqi women graduated from a security training course at the Alabarrah

Police Station in the Diyala Province of Iraq to become members of the Daughters of Iraq July 13.

One-hundred-and-thirty women attended the course and 70 represented them at the graduation.

Several Iraqi children celebrated the occasion by joyfully belting out the Iraqi National Anthem to a crowd of women ready to assist with the protection of their nation.

“We have seen some courageous, strong women stand up and volunteer for this training to help defend their country,” said Lt. Col. Robert McAleer, commander, Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, as he addressed the crowd of graduates.

The Daughters of Iraq is a sister organization to the Sons of Iraq that seeks to employ more Iraqi women in roles that help provide and improve security for their nation.

Imagine this happening anywhere else in the Muslim world. Imagine this happening just a few short years ago. Imagine it happening under Saddam. No, wait, the women would instead have been targets for rape by Saddam’s goons.

Good thing Obama has always been for The Surge and winning in Iraq

Um, woops?

The percentage of voters who give Congress good or excellent ratings has fallen to single digits for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history. This month, just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high in that dubious category.

Last month, 11% of voters gave the legislature good or excellent ratings. Congress has not received higher than a 15% approval rating since the beginning of 2008.

Remind me who is running the show in the vaunted halls of Congress?

Meanwhile, the latest poll has President Bush at 30% approval.

Let’s jump in the way back machine with Mr. Peabody and Sherman

Among the dozens of documents in English were Iraqi reports written in the 1990’s and in 2002 for United Nations inspectors in charge of making sure Iraq abandoned its unconventional arms programs after the Persian Gulf war. Experts say that at the time, Mr. Hussein’s scientists were on the verge of building an atom bomb, as little as a year away.

At the time, it was reported that it was 1.8 metric tons of yellow cake, and 500 tons of non weapons grade uranium.

And today

The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear program - a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium - reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two-week airlift from Baghdad and a ship voyage crossing two oceans.

The removal of 550 metric tons of “yellowcake” - the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment - was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam’s nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions.

Wait, wait: I thought Saddam had no WMD? WTF?

protein wisdom: Now, before you dull, neocon chickenhawk dupes (whose gullibility encouraged smarter and more discriminating Dem congresspeople to set aside their concerns and their principles and vote us overwhelmingly into a fake war based on the lying lies of lying liars who lied) get to feeling all vindicatey, please note that yellowcake itself — even 550 metric tons of the stuff — is not, without further enrichment, capable of causing anything more than a panic. And Saddam was far too busy writing romance novels and terrorizing Kurds and Marsh Arabs to even dream about further enriching the stuff.

Pandagon (which still has the racist header) says it don’t mean nothing. Why can’t liberals just lose gracefully?

Don Surber: AP: President Bush was right about Saddam Hussein’s pursuit of nuclear weaponry.

Q and O: ….has been safely removed from Iraq - you know, the stuff he supposedly didn’t have and had no interest in acquiring?

Neptunus Lex: Rubbish, of course. Meaningless trivia masquerading as “news”, and only of value to the poor, undereducated and easily led. Who are even now clinging to their religion and guns. Bitterly. Because as everyone who is anyone now knows, there had never been any risk of anything whatsoever untoward coming out of Iraq. Never had been. Saddam only flew kites - secular kites - on workdays, enjoyed spending his evenings puttering about the kitchen and cuddled with puppies on weekends.

Has anyone else noticed that Obama’s campaign seems to resemble the “machine that goes ping” joke from Monty Python’s meaning of life (Stacy is groaning with yet another MP reference ) Ah, I see you have the machine that goes ping. This is my favorite. You see we lease it back from the company we sold it to and that way it comes under the monthly current budget and not the capital account. In other words, Obama’s stances are all a game, and you never really know where he stands. There’s another quote that stands out, but, I’ll wait to the end

(The Politico) When former Sen. John Edwards dropped out of the presidential race, the progressive Netroots took their affections to Barack Obama, defending him against attack from Hillary Rodham Clinton and others.

But with his support of a government surveillance bill that offers retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies — a bill that he vowed last year to filibuster — the honeymoon has ended.

Disappointed over his position on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the online activists feel jilted and betrayed and have taken to questioning his progressive credentials. One prominent blogger, Atrios, has even given him the moniker “Wanker of the Day.”

So, what is his position today?

At a presser today, Obama weighed in again on the FISA cave, and suffice it to say that what he said won’t make opponents any less unhappy about Obama’s position than they were already.

Asked specifically why he’s supporting the current FISA bill when he’d promised months ago to support a filibuster of an earlier version of the bill, Obama suggested flat out that “national security” overrides the question of telecom immunity…

“The bill has changed. So I don’t think the security threats have changed, I think the security threats are similar. My view on FISA has always been that the issue of the phone companies per se is not one that overrides the security interests of the American people.”

Which is sure to make the Nutroots even less happy, as national security is way, way down there on the list of what is important to progressives.

But, wait, he has also kinda thrown some red meat to the Nutroots that he will do away with that provision regarding telecom immunity if he is elected president. But, will that make Progressives happy or sad? Because what you would have would be Obama being an “imperial president” who is “unconstitutionally increasing the power of the Executive,” which they have stated the hate (at least when Bush is president.)

I guess we will have to wait for Obama’s next postion. He didn’t even bother voting during the cloture vote. In the sake of fairness, neither did McCain. However, McCain hasn’t been bloviating about it, and his base is not unhinged about it, either.

Firedoglake: Regular readers of FDL and EmptyWheelwill know that this is security theater and that there is no reason to believe that gutting the 4th amendment will make Americans safer, even if Obama is willing to ignore his oath to uphold the Constitution. This is a sad day, especially for those of us who believed Obama when he said he would support a filibuster against retroactive immunity.

Shakesville: Thanks for standing together and not doing a damn thing to stop the FISA “compromise.” This unity stuff is totally awesome, and I for one can’t wait to see what the Democratic Party caves on next.

The Poor Man Institute:

The Moderate Voice and First Draftare looking at Obama as if he was just the same old politician, and back him for it. Hope! Change!

Crooks and Liars: Obama has fallen on the wrong side of the debate.

Kos Kidz Konglomerate: Not that telco amnesty and national security really have anything to do with each other, or that this FISA bill actually does make us safer. It’s disturbing, to say the least, to see that Senator Obama has adopted the talking points of Steny Hoyer and the right on the issue.

If you want unhinged, dive into the comments sections at the progressive sites. The posts themselves tend to show disappointment. If Obama keeps this kind of stuff up, you can expect them to degenerate to unhinged.

Oh, the other MP quote: Grim Reaper: Shut up, you American. You Americans, all you do is talk, and talk, and say “let me tell you something” and “I just wanna say.”

Perfect for Obama!