McCain & Palin at MEMA

Conventions are fun partisan parties, but when it somes to serious business, McCain puts country first. ClarionLedger.com is reporting: McCain, Palin briefed on Gustav preparations

The GOP’s likely presidential nominee John McCain and running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spent just shy of two hours in Rankin County today.

Gov. Haley Barbour invited McCain, McCain’s wife, Cindy, and Palin to tour Mississippi Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center. The three were briefed on the preparations for Hurricane Gustav.

At the EOC, the group participated in a conference call with the National Weather Service and President Bush.

During a press conference after the briefing, McCain said some of the programs for the Republican National Convention would be changed because of the approaching storm.

The Republican Party plans to announce the schedule changes this afternoon.

McCain Chooses Palin

Senator John McCain has chosen Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate. She has a track record of challenging the establishment and bringing reform to government. A young mother of five, she is a former mayor and a supporter of expanded domestic drilling for our energy security.

Biden's role in Pickering ordeal

There have been stories and columns sharing connections of Senator Joe Biden (D-Del) to Mississippi. Now that he has been selected to run for Vice-President on the Democratic ticket, it is a good time to revisit his role in the confirmation battles over Mississippi Judge Charles Pickering. My column this week in the Neshoba Democrat discusses Biden's role as recounted in Pickering's two books. Here are some excerpts of the column:

Pickering needed a Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote to send his nomination (with a positive, neutral, or even negative recommendation) to the full Senate. Later, Pickering needed Democrats to stand against unprecedented filibusters, even if they ultimately voted against him. Both times, Biden made overtures he would help Pickering; both times, Biden folded under political pressure.

A number of Mississippians were close to Biden, his staff, and his brother Jim. Former Governor William Winter and other supporters planned a trip to visit Biden in Washington DC to discuss the Pickering nomination. Biden sent word the trip was unnecessary. Pickering thought this a positive development, until the next shoe dropped: the Democratic offer of an unacceptable deal.

Judge Pickering's son, Congressman Chip Pickering, was in a redistricting fight which combined his district with that of Congressman Ronnie Shows. How the district was drawn would determine advantage in the election between the incumbents. Word came that Biden's vote could come more easily, if Chip would not oppose the Democrats' redistricting plan, and would guarantee Pickering's replacement on the federal district bench would be black.

Judge Pickering scoffed at the deal, "We quit child sacrifice a long time ago." He wrote, "There was no consideration of Chip caving on redistricting. There was no opposition to an African American as my replacement. I believe the Mississippi federal bench needs more diversity....There was a willingness for this to happen, but unwillingness to do a 'quid pro quo'."

Publically and privately, Biden did not believe Pickering a bad nomination. He rejected racial criticisms of Pickering as well as denying accusations of inequitable sentencing. In private, he told supporters he thought Pickering a good judge who deserved a vote. Biden even approached Senator Trent Lott and told him while he could not vote to confirm Pickering, he would vote to end a filibuster. Biden later confirmed this with the press.

When Republicans regained control of the Senate, Bush re-nominated Pickering, and his nomination went to the full Senate. Biden crawfished again.

Biden bent to political pressure rather than doing what he thought was right. He chose party over principle. In the grand scheme, Pickering's nomination was a minor battle. But in the character of Joe Biden, we see a failure to exhibit the courage necessary to honor a commitment to do the right thing.

You can read the full column here: Biden's role in Pickering ordeal

PUMA

There are a lot of Democrats in Denver who believe it is more important to have a good president than it is to have a Democratic President. We put America first; party second. And so there is an organization, Party Unity My Ass.In this time of global uncertainity, we need someone with experience and competence. I am voting for McCain. Other Democrats, might not vote rather than vote for someone with little experience into the most important elected job in the country.

Consider what Ann Price Mills has to say.

"I was elected to come here as a delegate for Clinton. I will vote for Clinton. But you ask me about my personal vote in November? Obama has two months. I won't for McCain. But he has to get me there. Experience speaks to me. I ask people all the time. Would you take someone straight out of Harvard, even if they had the education, and put them as the CEO of the company?...But for the first time since I was 18, I may be faced with something I don't want to have to deal with. I have never not voted...but for the first time...Experience counts, I don't care what anybody tells you. And his resume is just (sigh)." - Ann Price Mills, Clinton Delegate to the DNC

Hillary Clinton is doing what she should as a leader in the Democratic Party. But I'm going to have to go with Bill on this one.

Bill Clinton appeared to undermine Sen. Barack Obama again Tuesday.

The former president, speaking in Denver, posed a hypothetical question in which he seemed to suggest that that the Democratic Party was making a mistake in choosing Obama as its presidential nominee.

He said: "Suppose for example you're a voter. And you've got candidate X and candidate Y. Candidate X agrees with you on everything, but you don't think that person can deliver on anything. Candidate Y disagrees with you on half the issues, but you believe that on the other half, the candidate will be able to deliver. For whom would you vote?"

Then, perhaps mindful of how his off-the-cuff remarks might be taken, Clinton added after a pause: "This has nothing to do with what's going on now."

The comments are unlikely to be taken as an innocent mistake by those Democrats who continue to be angry with the former president for, they say, not supporting the Illinois senator wholeheartedly, if not implicitly undercutting him.

The controversial comments came just hours before Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), the former first lady and principal rival to Obama, was due to speak from the convention podium.

I believe Mississippi Democrats have a lot in common with our West Virginia cousins.

West Virginia's registered Democrats, like their cousins in western Pennsylvania and eastern and southern Ohio, are having a hard time fitting anywhere within Barack Obama's vision of the Democratic party. "Obama and his message just do not gel with me," said Mark Lamp as he climbed into his utility truck. Lamp, 47, from neighboring Weirton, is a registered Democrat who voted for Clinton in the May primary. "My first problem with him is taxes, the second is experience," he explained.

"I vote leadership. That is why I voted for Hillary and why I will vote McCain."

Once thought to be a battleground state, all indications are that West Virginia is off Obama's campaign map. Turn on the television today and you won't find any Obama ads running, and he has no trips to the state planned in the immediate future. (Sources within the campaign say they are keeping their eye on the state.)

West Virginia is still home to the Jacksonian Democrats, those descendants of Scots-Irish immigrants who vote God, country, and guns, and have a stronger than average distrust of government. They are white, lower middle-class union members who work hard, play by the rules, have faith in God and a hefty dose of patriotism.

But from the southern coalfields to the northern panhandle (which is really southwestern Pennsylvania, and Catholic Democrat country) you are entering the land that the national Democratic party forgot.

Clinton on McCain, Obama

Clinton Supporters: Its OK to vote for McCain

Obama Passes on Clinton


Former Clinton Delegate Chooses McCain

Citizens for McCain

Mississippi Democrats who put principle before party, and who know John McCain will be a better, more experienced President than Senator Obama, click here to join Citizens for McCain.

Rasmussen Poll - Mississippi: McCain 54% to Obama 41%

McCain has increased his lead over Obama in Mississippi, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll of voters.

McCain now leads his Democratic opponent by 13 points 54% to 41%. That’s a couple of points more for McCain than he enjoyed in July. Counting “leaners,” McCain leads 56% to 43%, also a bit better than last month for the Republican hopeful. McCain is now viewed favorably by 63%, Obama by 44%. The Republican leads 84% to 13% among white voters, while African-Americans favor the Democrat by a 97% to 2% margin. McCain is viewed favorably by 88% of white voters and 18% of black voters. For Obama, the numbers are reversed. He gets favorable reviews from 92% of black voters and only 18% of white voters.

Biden on Obama

Biden on Obama's Experience

“Right now I don’t believe he is (ready). The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the- job training. I stand by the statement.” - Joe Biden on Barack Obama

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Biden on Obama's...hygiene?

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." - Joe Biden on Barack Obama

Obama's pay grade

In Reasonably Right this week I wrote about Obama and McCain at Rev. Rick Warren's Saddleback Church forum. Here are some excerpts:

Warren asked Obama, "At what point does a baby get human rights in your view?"

Obama responded, "Well, I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade."

Obama tried to be cute; he tried to say those decisions are best left to God. But Warren was not asking Obama to proclaim, as God's representative on earth, the point at which babies get human rights. He was just asking Obama his view, his opinion.

All of God's decisions are above Obama's pay grade: murder is wrong; rape is wrong; helping your neighbor is good; feeding the hungry is good. Those are God's decisions, based on His perfect nature. Still, Obama can have an opinion about those actions.

Maybe Obama hasn't made up his mind. Obama is young man, lacking the experience to develop a consistent record of achievement.

Warren asked McCain the same question and McCain responded without hesitation, "At the moment of conception. I have a 25-year pro-life record in the Congress, in the Senate. And as President of the United States, I will be a pro-life president and this presidency will have pro-life policies. That's my commitment, that's my commitment to you."

When you choose someone for President of the United States, you are voting for leadership. Leaders are not always right and they don't always have all the information. But leaders have a quality in their character that empowers them with the courage to make a decision. Obama demonstrated that leadership is above his pay grade.

You can read the full column in the Neshoba Democrat here: PERRY/Obama's pay grade

A Call for National Volunteers

The John McCain 2008 Presidential Campaign is looking for full-time volunteers for positions available immediately in its regional offices located throughout the nation. These positions provide an opportunity to participate in the McCain for President Campaign. Positions are unpaid and participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation and housing.

Participants will work with staff on various projects essential to the campaign and play a significant role in Senator McCain's campaign. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter (with availability) to John Gossett, Deputy Director of Volunteers at Volunteer3@JohnMcCain.com.

McCain in 5-point national lead over Obama

A Reuters/Zogby poll released today shows a 5 point lead by John McCain over Barack Obama: Mccain 46 to Obama 41. Read the story here.

McCain at the Fair

In two commentaries for the Fair Times, the newspaper of the Neshoba County Fair, I wrote about John McCain's enthusiastic support there.

First in this piece about the speeches by Senator Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove. (Read the full article here: Wednesday's main event: Wicker v. Musgrove)

The most energetic and authentic cheers of Wicker's speech came when he said he was supporting John McCain for President. Wicker said Obama was supporting and helping to elect Musgrove and that John Kerry supports Musgrove. Wicker said that people may wonder where Musgrove stands but "you won't have to wonder with Roger Wicker."

Next in this piece on Governor Haley Barbour's speech. (Read the full article here: Barbour speaks on Musgrove, McCain, Medicaid)

Barbour moved from Musgrove to other national politics. "I wish John McCain were here" he said to thunderous applause. McCain must be the most popular politician not at the Neshoba County Fair. Every speaker who invoked his name received a louder and more energetic response than to anything else. A new Rasmussen Reports poll released yesterday says McCain "has nearly doubled his lead over Barack Obama in Mississippi" and "now leads his Democratic opponent by 11 points 52% to 41%, after maintaining a 6-point lead for the previous two months."

Barbour continued, "Frankly I wish Senator Obama were here, too, because I believe the more people learn about Obama's record, the better McCain is going to do." Barbour praised Obama as a great performer saying, "He could sell Chevrolets to a Ford dealer." Barbour said Obama and his liberal Democrat colleagues have said no to drilling off-shore; no to drilling in ANWR; no to drilling on federal land in the Rockies; no to more refineries; no to more nuclear plants; no to increased domestic oil production and "out of that series of No's, Obama created the slogan, 'Yes, we can.'" Barbour later referred to the presumptive Democratic nominee as "Nobama."

The only name to rival the applause of John McCain at the Fair was when State Auditor Stacey Pickering invoked the name of his uncle Judge Charles Pickering, Sr. as an example of the type of good judges Roger Wicker would fight for in the Senate.