King of the Pork, John Murtha, has screwed us all big-time. You thought the “Bridge to Nowhere” was bad? Well, it seems the portly representative from Penensylvania has an airport named after him, so insigificant that CNN joked that it had recently been carpeted. So what’s the problem?

The John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport is not really all that small, it is mostly just very remote. As Jonathan Karl observed, any huge plane can land there. In fact, it’s actually quite impressive with its restaurant, lounges, and state of the art facilities and equipment. What it doesn’t have is traffic.

Most of the time the airport is deserted. It has a hangar, but no planes. It has an 8 million dollar radar system that no one uses. Compared to other hyper-high-stressed air traffic controllers, this one has almost nothing to do.

Nevertheless, Murtha had earmarked over the years close to a whopping 200 million of our tax dollars dollars for this airport used by almost nobody. Whereas an average of 20 people fly in and out of the airport in a day, Murtha has just requested and received an additional $800,000 in stimulus money to repave an alternate runway. (The regular ones are rarely being used as it is.)

If you really want to see red, watch a news clip describing this outrage.

This story (and others like it) are beyond depressing. Our tax dollars–stimulus package funds in particular–are supposed to help Americans who are having trouble feeding their families and staying in their homes. This legislator, and others I am afraid, don’t seem to give a damn about them.

Anywho – I ask about their heads exploding because of the following articles (h/t/ to lavender liberal for the Huffington and Aravosis pieces).

First up is none other than Arianna Huffington, who wrote this back on January 16, 2006: Dems Pick Kaine for State of Union Response; What the Hell Are They Thinking? The title alone says it all, doesn’t it? Let me give you some tidbits from Ms. Huffington:

So the Democrats have chosen Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to deliver the party’s response to President Bush’s State of the Union speech. Chalk up another one for the What the Hell Are They Thinking? file.

Can’t disagree with her there – and that was BEFORE he and Obama became BFFs!!! Here’s the other good part:

Don’t ask me why, but I actually watched Kaine’s inaugural address on C-SPAN, and I was stunned to hear him dare compare the cause of Virginians like Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson to our cause in Iraq: “They stood here at a time, just as today, when Virginians serving freedom’s cause sacrificed their lives so that democracy could prevail over tyranny.”

Iraq as a war to ensure that democracy can prevail over tyranny is George Bush’s talking point. God help us if it’s also the talking point of the man the Democrats have chosen to respond to him after the State of the Union.

And during Kaine’s run for Governor, he adopted another Bush talking point — that it would send “a horrible message” to “cut and run” in Iraq. Could that be any further from Murtha’s message that Iraq has become a civil war — a civil war being inflamed by our continuing presence?

Maybe you are thinking — at least those of you who have a life and missed his inaugural speech on C-SPAN — that Kaine is a charismatic speaker who will really wow the American people. Well, he ain’t. In fact, he scored so low on the scintillating speaker meter, that today’s Note suggests Democrats make it a priority to get the Guv a speech tutor before the State of the Union.

That’s right, all of you Obots who acted like Hillary alone was responsible for the Iraq war, and based your entire vote on that, despite Obama’s non-record, and surrounding himself with people who voted for the war. Yep, KAINE is a big ol’ Iraq war guy who sounds like Bush, and now he is the CHAIR OF THE DNC!!!!! Wheeee! (Oh, and at this writing, the ONLY thing HuffPo had on this was an AP article by Obama’s sychophant, Nedra Pickler.)

The next one, from January 30, 2006, was John Aravosis on “Homophobe To Give Democratic Response To The State of the Union.” Oh, this is good. Yessirree. Here’s Aravosis on Kaine and gay marriage:

On the unlikely chance that you thought there was any value left in the Democratic party after today, we have a homophobe giving the Democratic response to the State of the Union tomorrow…

It’s one thing for the governor to be worried about being “for” gay marriage in Virginia, the state that brought us miscegenation laws. It’s quite another for the governor to not understand the difference between gay marriage and an amendment that rips away all legal protections from gay couples, gay employees, and their children.

The new breed of Democrat can’t handle the concept of nuance. They can’t handle the concept of some things being difficult to oppose, and other things being easy. Yes, gay marriage is a tough issue. But ripping away the rights of every gay person and their children in the commonwealth should be a no-brainer. You can explain why that’s a bad thing, even to the people of Virginia, if you have half a spine.

Oh, don’t you just love when the chickens come home to roost? I know I do…

Hmmm – I wonder what they are saying over at Daily Kos, that bastion of “All Things Obama”?? Oh, this is good. Poster gladkov has a piece entitled, “Tim Kaine: A Big Step Backwards as DNC Chair?” Just hold the phone – is this person questioning the wisdom of The ONE??? S/he better be careful – you know what happens to people who write posts with which the Orange does not agree – you get No Quarter! Oh, and booted outta there. Perhaps the first paragraph was intended to mollify Daily Kos readers:

I was very disappointed to hear Howard Dean was stepping down but he served his term, went on to new things. I respect him for that. I am a bit non-plussed about the choice of Tim Kaine, however, as DNC Chair.

Dean. Blech. Major sexist pig.

But is is the following where I think gladkov is pushing the boundaries:

Crooks and Liars gives a good run-down of some of the issues:

http://crooksandliars.com/…

Ugh. After Howard Dean, could we pick a more disappointing choice for DNC head? After all, what the spinally deficient Dems need is a more milquetoasty, against stem cell research, pro-life, anti-gay chairman whose actions speak directly to his callousness towards those less fortunate directing the candidates and elections to help retain the Democratic majority, doncha know?

Here’s a little newsflash for you, crooksandliars – “WE” didn’t pick Kaine. Obama did. But why quibble?? Gladkov continues:

Let’s start with the gay marriage/civil unions thing. Now for weeks, many have told us GLBT to shut up about Warren. It’s just a prayer, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s about Obama’s real policy. Ok, so who does Obama put in charge of the DNC: http://sicsempertyrannis.blogspot.com…

Only Kaine, a civil rights lawyer, has spoken in favor of granting certain rights to gay couples in long-term relationships. He said he supports the right of gay people in long-term relationships to enjoy the “civil benefits” available to married couples.

“I have never said I supported gay civil unions, gay marriages,” Kaine told the AP last Friday. “I do believe that people shouldn’t be kicked out of their jobs or discriminated against because of who they are.”

How kind of Mr. Kaine. He thinks I should not be kicked out of my house!
But, um, what about gay marriage or, failing that, civil unions:

“Marriage between a man and a woman is the building block of the family and a keystone of our civil society. It has been so for centuries in societies around the world. I cannot agree with a court decision suddenly declaring that marriage must now be redefined to include unions between people of the same gender.

“Virginia defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and I strongly support that law. Regardless of the court ruling today in another state, I am confident that there is nothing in the Virginia or federal constitutions that would require Virginia to alter its longstanding policy about marriage.”

The Democrat also insisted that he opposes gay marriage and gay civil unions but supports contractual rights for gay and lesbian Virginians.

So, um, for all who said we should wait and see what Obama actually DOES instead of relying on that silly symbolism of Rick Warren, what about a DNC Chair who opposes even civil unions, who will be reinforcing this in his policy arguments? Think we have a right to be outraged now?

No, many of us were already outraged at Obama’s treatment of the GLBT community. A long damn time ago. Glad you could catch up, though. Sorry you’re all upset now. Maybe you should have looked a little closer to the other homophobes in Obama’s life. I could say, “Better late than never,” but now we are stuck with Obama and his anti-gay minions, so thanks tons for that.

I guess watching their heads explode as they realize that Obama really isn’t so great is one small consolation. Not enough, but it’s something, right? I’m sure there are more examples of the sheer hypocrisy that has become the hallmark of the Obamanation. Feel free to share! I imagine over the next four years, there will be more than we ever could have thought possible…

Just one more recap: Obama has chosen the DNC chair a man who is anti-choice, anti-gay, and pro-Iraq war. Gee – he’s just everything the rest of us thought he was…

First, I want to address those supposed internal poll numbers that have McCain ahead in PA, MI, NJ and closing in on CA. I have not been able to verify those numbers. They could be true, they might not be. I said back during the primaries that a Pampers nomination would put PA, MI, and NJ in play. Since we know that the pollsters have not been releasing accurate numbers, as their models are weighted heavily to Pampers, with interviewees being mostly Democrats, I think it is safe to say that this race is tied, and will be decided by the undecided voters, which have been breaking for McCain, and will continue to do so. Why? Because if you haven’t made the commitment to Pampers by now you are nervous enough about his fraudulent fascist ass that you are going to hold your nose and vote for McCain; at least he is a known quantity. Internals cannot always be trusted either.

In NC internal numbers had Clinton within 5 points and shaving a point each day off Pampers lead; she lost by 15, but we know now that was due to double counted ballots, and other methods of fraud. Numbers can be given to motivate workers, volunteers, and voters. I think the best strategy is to not put faith in numbers and work your asses off in the next 24 hours to defeat Pampers. Keep making calls. Keep canvassing, get out the vote, and go vote yourselves. The Pampers fraud machine is in full force so we need every vote for McCain to count (we can deal with the “what should have been” with Hillary later). DO NOT ALLOW ANY POLL NUMBERS MAKE YOU FEEL THIS IS OVER.

And lay off the conscientious abstainers. They have made their decision based on their ethics. Respect it. If, in the privacy of the voting booth they have a change of heart, they will do that without being cajoled by us (my entire immediate family is voting for Pampers, guess how that feels?). Now, on to Pennsylvania.

I believe that John McCain is going to win the 21 electoral votes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Tuesday. In 2004 Bush lost the state by 144,248 votes (see the above map of the 2004 result). The cities of Philadelphia, Allentown, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Erie went to Kerry, while the entire rest of the state voted for the Shrub. Pampers will no doubt take Philadelphia. But McCain doesn’t need Philadelphia to win. He needs, and he’s going to get, Allegheny County.

In 2004 Kerry won Allegheny, and outlying counties, by slim margins:
Allegheny: 96,987

Beaver: 2,230
Washington: 552
Fayette: 4,075
That’s 103,844 votes. Leaving a margin of 40,044 votes in the 2004 totals.

There is one reason and one reason only that Kerry took these counties: Tereza Heinz-Kerry. Knowing this, Obama tried to trot her out in the run-up to the Pennsylvania primary. Her lack of enthusiasm for the candidate was pretty obvious. Obama has no such connection. In fact, the one thing he had going for him in the area, John Murtha, decided to pick the scab off the bitter/cling incident by calling his constituents racists, and then rednecks. Personally I think Murtha fell on a grenade, potentially ending his political career to prevent Obama from getting into the White House. Between that, Joe the Plumber, Bittergate, the Hillary/PUMA effect and Obama’s ever shrinking tax break income threshold (it used to be $250,000…now his ads say $200,000….his VP says $150,000….Bill Richardson says $120,000….we know it’s really around $42-50,000…middle class, get ready for the mugging) chances are McCain is going to win all four of those counties.

Another Kerry stronghold was Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Margins were not that wide there either.
Lackawanna County (Scranton is County Seat): 14,807
Luzerne County: 4,620

I believe that it is the PUMA effect that will have the greatest impact in drawing Democrats away from Obama. Forget Biden’s connection to Scranton. He hasn’t had any there in decades. No one is seeing his appearance there as a homecoming. It’s a hey I used to be from here vote for me kind of feeling. When Democrats for McCain and Harriet Christian are leading PUMAs on major canvassing safaris, reminding everyone what Obama and the DNC did to Hillary, the candidate they still love, what Obama said about them, etc. I see both counties in play big time. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication up there!

Joe the Plumber will also pull in votes in Allentown, and Erie. We hear time and time again that working class voters are “values voters,” meaning that they vote with the candidate whom they feel represents their beliefs, even if they are voting against their economic interests. In 2008 the McCain/Palin ticket not only speaks to them more, especially with a woman who comes directly from the working class, but will better serve their economic interests by not taxing them into the poor house, or taxing their employers into laying them off (and with those ever lowering tax thresholds that is exactly what is going to happen).

The simple fact of the matter is that if McCain’s internals didn’t have him in striking distance he and Palin wouldn’t be wasting their time. And if Camp Pampers didn’t think the same thing he and Biden wouldn’t be there either.

One final factor working for McCain: Pampers fatigue. Pennsylvania was the state that shocked the nation when polls came out saying they were sick and tired of hearing Pampers’ voice and seeing his face everywhere. They felt that way during the primaries. I can only guess how they feel now. I would imagine there are a lot of people in PA doing what I do…turning down the volume on the TV, changing the channel, or throwing random objects. No one overkills like Pampers whose motto must be, “Too much of me is never enough.” Pampers, I’ve got news for you; too little of you is too much of you. PA is also the state where Pampers told Ed Rendell, “We don’t need the people, we just need the checks.”

Don’t be surprised if it’s going to be Pennsylmania for McCain tomorrow. Sorry Pampers, you need the people, not just the checks.

[More of Shtuey Van Shtuey's superb writing can be found here]

The McCain health-care insurance tax credit may well be one of the most misunderstood proposals of this presidential election. Barack Obama has been ruthless in his attacks. But the tax credit is highly progressive and will provide a powerful incentive for people to purchase health insurance. These features under normal circumstances should endear Democrats to the proposal.

Mr. Carroll served as deputy assistant secretary for tax analysis at the U.S. Treasury. He is now vice president for economic policy at the Tax Foundation, and an executive-in-residence with American University’s School of Public Affairs:

[McCain] would replace the current income tax exclusion for employer-sponsored health insurance with a refundable tax credit — $5,000 for those who purchase family coverage and $2,500 for individual coverage. Mr. McCain would also reform insurance markets to stem the growth in health insurance premiums.

Further, the rather liberal Tax Policy Center stated the McCain proposals will result in a “net tax benefit” of more than $1,200 for an average tax payer. A recent Lewin Group study estimated savings upwards of $1,400 per family, almost three times the savings a family would get under the Obama plan.

What many may not realize is that the federal government already “spends” roughly $300 billion to $400 billion through the tax code to encourage people to pay for their health care through employer-sponsored health insurance. This subsidy takes the form of the exclusion for employer-sponsored health insurance from both income and payroll taxes.

Still, some 45 million Americans are uninsured; and the growth in health-care spending continues to outpace the growth in incomes and the economy, which portends further increases in the number of uninsured. The employer-based system itself is eroding. Voters should be wondering whether there is a better approach than this subsidy.

Consider the current exclusion. Its value rises with how much someone spends on health care, and how much of this spending is funneled through employer-sponsored health-care coverage. This creates an incentive for people to purchase policies with low deductibles, or which cover routine spending. These policies look a lot less like insurance and more like prefunded spending accounts purchased through employers and managed by insurance companies. Consider homeowners and auto insurance policies. Do these cover routine spending on cleaning the gutters or tuning up a car?

The subsidy encourages people to buy bigger policies that cover more, and leads to greater health-care spending. Moreover, lower deductibles and coverage of routine spending dulls consumers’ sensitivity to price. Reducing the tax bias should result in insurance that is more focused on catastrophic coverage and less on routine spending.

By replacing the income tax exclusion with a fixed, refundable credit, the McCain proposal reduces the tax bias for large insurance policies. Because the credit is for a fixed amount, regardless of how much you spend on health care, it helps break the link between the existing tax subsidy and how much is spent on health care. This improves incentives in the health-care market by reducing the bias that has contributed to such a high level of health-care spending.

Moreover, the credit provides a powerful incentive for people to purchase insurance. The two tax provisions — the new credit and the repeal of the income tax exclusion — on net provide a substantial tax cut of $1.4 trillion over 10 years. Not only do most Americans receive a tax cut under the McCain proposal, but the tax cut is directed toward low and moderate income taxpayers.

Consumer Reports also offers this description:

Senator McCain, would create a deregulated national insurance market, expand individual coverage, and rely on competition to drive costs down. People with serious health problems could join government-subsidized high-risk pools like those that many states run today.

Both candidates agree on a few issues: both want to speed up adoption of electronic record-keeping systems; they also agree on the need for safety and transparency, speeding up the introduction of generic drugs, making it easier to buy drugs from overseas and on coordination of care for those seeing a variety of specialists.

Otherwise, Senator McCain and Senator Obama have radically different health care proposals, which offer “dramatic reforms for people not on Medicare.” Consumer Reports also offered a review of both:

CR analyzed what could happen to five American households under McCain and under Obama. ‘The cases aren’t statistically representative but do highlight the stark contrasts between the plans.’ The review is pretty well balanced and McCain’s plan seems to closely edge out Obama’s in their scenarios.

Mr. Carroll’s article also includes a chart depicting a family of four which is ‘assumed to purchase a $14,000 health insurance policy.’ The picture is striking in that it contradicts Obama’s public comments about McCain’s proposal:

[The] McCain tax credit for the purchase of health insurance exceeds the value of the current exclusion for all income levels shown. Indeed, it generally provides more resources to purchase health insurance than the existing exclusion. The total subsidy for health care would rise from about $3.6 trillion over 10 years today to roughly $5 trillion under his proposal.

Some of the nation’s top economists in the Treasury Dept.’s Office of Analysis and The Lewin Group, a respected private health-care research outfit, estimated that the McCain credit would increase the number of new insureds by as much as 15 to 21 million people.

It is true that many may no longer get their insurance through their employer, but they will be given the resources to purchase insurance on their own.

Will the insurance that is purchased be a generous plan with first dollar coverage or low deductibles? It is much more likely to be a plan with higher deductibles that is more focused on providing true insurance against catastrophic losses rather than a more generous plan that includes a lot of prepayment for routine and predictable medical expenses. But this is precisely one of the objectives of the policy: to reduce the current tax bias that encourages people to funnel routine health expenses through insurance policies.

Mr. Carroll also address the implications of this proposal on the future of entitlement programs and notes ‘this is perhaps the most important aspect of the proposal.’

There is an enormous unfunded liability associated with … Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. If left unchecked, the growth in these programs will nearly double the size of the federal government by 2040, consuming roughly 40% of the nation’s output rather than the 20% today. While the growth in Social Security is largely the result of demographics, the growth in Medicare and Medicaid is also driven by the rapid growth in health-care spending. This is where a proposal like Sen. McCain’s can be so important.

The elimination of the income-tax exclusion should reduce private health-care spending; to the extent this reduces the cost of health care, it should also put downward pressure on the growth of Medicare and Medicaid costs. Thus, by removing the tax bias for more generous health coverage, the McCain health credit also has the potential to provide important dividends to the entitlement problem down the road.

Certainly, Social Security and Medicare are programs that need to be addressed (and protected) sooner rather than later. It is interesting to note that Mr. Carroll feels Senator McCain has a better inroad into solving that problem.

It seems to me that Barack isn’t sure how to get out of Iraq. His statement “we’ll get out as carefully as we went in carelessly” isn’t substantive.   Additionally he has taken a position that leads me to think he can’t get us out.  Barack plans to leave in place those contracts that went to Bush’s cronies without the need to bid. (Bush made a big deal out of prohibiting international interests from gaining any financial stake in Iraq’s possible success and instead “rewarded” his friends with those no-bid contracts that have cost taxpayers, or China, whichever you prefer, so much of our wealth.)

Barack also intends to keep private armies protecting those contractors. It will be impossible for any real diplomacy to take place while we occupy Iraq, either with troops or with contractors.

No nation wants to risk the lives of their own citizens for a war that enriches Bush’s friends.  Hillary’s plan is substantive and she’ll do it, whether or not she’s called a loser, whether or not the violence goes up while we’re leaving, and she won’t reoccupy the country under any circumstance.  She understands that this war is a disaster and she’d not willing to risk one more American or Iraqi life to `give’ Iraq’s so-called freely elected government any more chances.  It’s over, when she’s elected we’ll get out of there.

She has been clear and consistent on the question of exiting Iraq. Today she released an even clearer statement on her exit plans and her plans to repair our military and help our veterans of war.  (below)

So, Senator Obama, are you too busy campaigning to explain why you want Bush’s contracts enforced, why you plan to protect them with private armies, how you expect diplomacy to work if we’re occupying with contractors, and why you think the Iraqi government would compromise if you’re elected president?  

___________________________

Hillary Clinton: Ready to End the War in Iraq – April 18, 2008 press release

Today, in Radnor, Pennsylvania , Hillary Clinton was joined by Congressman and retired vice admiral Joe Sestak as she outlined her plan to end the war responsibly. Five years after the start of the war, we have come to a crossroads.

The war has sapped our military and economic strength, damaged U.S. national security, taken the lives of almost 4,000 brave young men and women in uniform, and placed a lasting toll on the tens of thousands of wounded, many with invisible injuries like Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Bush-Cheney-McCain strategy is to continue this failed policy.

We need to end this war and bring our troops home swiftly, responsibly, and safely. We need to press the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country. We need to rebuild our alliances and enlist the international community in securing stability in Iraq and the region.

 We need a Commander-in-Chief who is both committed to ending this war and who has the strength, experience, and leadership to do it the right way. Hillary Clinton is that candidate. As President, she will:   I. Start Bringing Our Troops Home   Bring Our Troops Home. As President, one of Hillary’s first official actions will be to convene the Joint Chiefs of Staff, her Secretary of Defense, and her National Security Council and direct them to draw up a a clear, comprehensive plan to bring home our troops, swiftly and responsibly, beginning within 60 days.

Under Hillary’s plan the United States will retain counterterrorism forces in Iraq and the region to fight al Qaeda and will not permit terrorists to have a safe haven in Iraq from which to attack the United States , its allies, or its interests.  Reduce Strains on Our Troops.

The war is placing tremendous strain on our armed forces, courting strategic risks posed by a force that is stretched to the breaking point.

As President, Hillary will also adopt the proposals of Rep. John Murtha that, for every month they spend in the field, soldiers will be guaranteed one month here at home. Our Marines will have a similar standard appropriate for their service. The Army’s policy goals and practice until the Iraq war were to have at least twice as much time at home for active duty soldiers as in the field and at least four times as much time at home as in the field for National Guard and Reserve.

As President, Hillary will reestablish these as long-term goals for our armed forces.   Remove Armed Private Military Contractors in Iraq . As U.S. troops begin to withdraw, we should not be leaving unaccountable, often irresponsible private military contractors to carry arms and engage in combat-oriented missions and security functions. Hillary has co-sponsored the Stop Security Outsourcing Act, which seeks to end this practice.

As President, Hillary will work toward a ban on armed private military contractors providing security for diplomatic personnel.  Stop Wasting Money on No-Bid Contracts. Spending on federal contracts has been the fastest-growing part of the discretionary budget over the past six years, yet has received little attention.

Under this Administration, the number of no-bid contracts has more than doubled, and between 2000 and 2006, spending on these contracts has increased 121 percent to $103 billion, representing more than half of federal procurement spending. During this time, companies like Halliburton have enjoyed record profits, thanks to a 700 percent increase in taxpayer funds awarded to them.

A recent Congressional report identified a wide range of contracts, running into the hundreds of billions of dollars, where federal auditors found massive overcharges, wasteful spending, and poor oversight. Hillary has proposed a measure that would create a new “point of order” against any spending bill in Fiscal 2009 that does not explicitly require a federal agency’s compliance with competitive contracting rules.

As President, Hillary will work to ensure that this becomes law and that we stop wasting money on no-bid contracts.   II. Secure Stability in Iraq As We Bring Our Troops Home   Greater political and economic stability means safer conditions for our departing troops and a smoother disengagement from our military’s missions across Iraq .

In order to foster stability as U.S. troops begin to redeploy, Hillary will focus on political reconciliation inside Iraq and holding the Iraqi government accountable for political and economic progress. She will:  Call on the United Nations to Play a Greater Role in Addressing Domestic Strife in Iraq . As President, Hillary will press the United Nations to play a greater role in bringing about national accommodation in Iraq , as it did with positive results in Bosnia , East Timor , and elsewhere.

The UN has already provided valuable technical assistance to Iraq , and is far more likely to be viewed as a neutral, honest broker than the United States – especially when it acts on behalf of a broad coalition of concerned states and the international community. The new UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has indicated he is willing to play a key role in assisting the Iraqis, and Hillary will ensure that the UN envoy in Iraq has the necessary authority by obtaining the Security Council’s explicit endorsement of a strengthened UN mandate to promote reconciliation.  Pursue an Integrated Strategy to Bring Stability to Iraq .

The surge has emphasized a bottom-up strategy that has reduced violence in the short term but, in the absence of an effective national strategy, risks deepening sectarian and intrasectarian divisions within Iraq in the long run. For example, the United States has established and armed local security elements – the Awakening in Anbar, for example, and other “Concerned Local Citizens” elsewhere – without getting the Iraqi government to live up to its agreement to integrate significant numbers of these local militias and “volunteers” into provincial police forces or the national Army. As President, Hillary will pursue a strategy that seeks to empower local leaders, but she will prioritize national accommodation, which is essential to stability.

She will do this by using U.S. and international influence and assistance as leverage to press the Iraqis to reach agreement on key issues, including provincial elections, the hydrocarbon law, and on the overall nature of federalism.  Appoint a Special Counsel to Make Reconstruction Funds Accountable. As Iraq ‘s oil production increases, the potential revenue accumulated from oil production should increasingly fund Iraq ‘s reconstruction, instead of U.S. taxpayer money.

Since 2006, Iraq has earned more than $80 billion from oil, and that figure is growing rapidly. Nevertheless, since the beginning of the war, the U.S. has provided roughly the same amount of money as the Iraqi government to rebuild the country (the United States has appropriated roughly $47 billion; the government of Iraq $50 billion).

Even as we send billions to Iraq while they earn billions in oil revenues, there are increasing reports that the Iraqi government is not spending its budget allocated for reconstruction. The Comptroller General of the U.S. testified that the capital expenditure rate for the central ministries in Iraq was only 7% as of November 2007. Hillary is committed to ensuring that Iraqi oil revenue is dedicated to reconstruction funding – and that the money is actually spent, so that Iraqi citizens receive basic services, such as electricity and clean drinking water, which are currently lacking for so many.

As President, Hillary will appoint a special counsel to investigate where Iraq ‘s oil profits are going and how reconstruction funds are being spent – or not spent. She will ensure that reconstruction funds are spent wisely before providing the Iraqi government with more.  Combat the Black Market in Oil to Dry Up Funds for the Insurgency. Corruption and stolen oil sold on the black market constitute a critical funding source for the insurgency.

As President, Hillary will boost joint U.S.-Iraqi efforts to combat corruption and protect the oil supply. She will direct her Secretary of Defense to plan a nationwide U.S.-Iraqi crackdown on oil black marketers, ensuring that U.S. and Iraqi personnel have the resources and manpower necessary.

This effort will be designed to disrupt lines of funding for the insurgency, to increase stability, and to reduce attacks on our troops during the withdrawal. Hillary will direct the U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to conduct regular reports on corruption in the oil industry. She will be prepared to withhold portions of aid if the Iraqi government does not show meaningful results in its anti-corruption efforts.

Finally, Hillary will double the funding for oil pipeline exclusion zones, which prevent illegal tapping and attacks on pipelines; and she will also provide resources to stop cross-border smuggling of black market oil.   III. A New Regional Diplomatic Initiative   Enlist the International Community to Stabilize the Region. Our allies and friends in the region all have a stake in a stable Iraq . Until now, in part because of the way the Bush Administration has behaved, they have gotten a free pass. No longer.

As President, Hillary will have a unique opportunity to reach out to our allies and partners in the region and press them to take greater responsibility for what happens in Iraq . She will hold a major regional stabilization conference early in her Presidency. This group will be composed of key allies, other global powers, and all of the states bordering Iraq , including Iran and Syria . The mission of this group will be to develop and implement a strategy to create a stable Iraq . In advance of that meeting, Hillary will confer with our treaty allies as well as our friends in the region to coordinate policy before gathering with the larger group of nations. One of her first international meetings as President will be with these leaders, including Saudi Arabia , the Gulf States , Jordan , and Egypt , as well as our European allies in order to push for greater responsible action towards Iraq , including more assistance. This will send a strong signal of our country’s determination – as we draw down our forces – to ensure that the rest of the world plays its part in stabilizing Iraq . Hillary will then convene a regional stabilization group composed of key allies, other global powers, and all of the states bordering Iraq .

The mission of this group will be to develop and implement a strategy to create a stable Iraq .  Provide for Refugees. As our forces redeploy out of Iraq , Hillary will also organize a major international effort under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to address the needs of Iraqi refugees. The UN will also play a role, helping to deal with the resettlement of refugees and others displaced from their homes, a number which now exceeds four million. With the price of oil at record levels, the government of Iraq now has considerable financial resources available.

As President, Hillary will also press the UN to establish a mechanism by which some of those Iraqi funds could be used to feed, clothe, shelter, and otherwise provide for these millions of refugees. Addressing the upheaval caused by this displacement will facilitate a smoother exit and a less risky end to the war.   IV. A Champion for Veterans   When our troops come home, we must make sure they receive the care and respect that they deserve.

When Hillary is President, she will make sure that every member of our armed forces will receive a fair shot at the American Dream when their service is over. She will ensure that every veteran in America will have health care. She will work so that every veteran receives the benefits they have earned and the assistance they need – right from the start. And she will make sure no soldier ever loses a bonus because he or she has been injured in service.

As President, Hillary will:  Enact a GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. Hillary will enact a GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century that will resurrect the spirit of the original 1944 GI Bill and offer service members, veterans and their families with expanded education, housing and entrepreneurial benefits. Her plan will guarantee equal access for all components of the Armed Forces — Active, Guard and Reserve — that have deployed overseas in support of a combat operation since September 11 or served two years of active duty since September 11. She will fund undergraduate education for service members, as well as education for specialized trade or technical training, and certification and licensing programs. She will make GI educational benefits transferable within families. She will expand the VA Home Loan Guaranty program to allow veterans to use low-interest, no-fee loans to purchase, build or improve a home valued up to $625,000. She will establish a Veterans Microloan Program to provide veterans with no-collateral, low-interest microloans of up to $100,000 for entrepreneurial ventures.  Provide Affordable and Quality Health Care for All Veterans.

As President, Hillary will ensure that all of the 1.8 million uninsured veterans in this country have access to quality, affordable health care. She will restore the Clinton-era policy that opened the VA’s excellent and cost-effective health care system to all veterans who seek to enroll. She will make a long-term commitment to the VA system to ensure it is adequately funded and has the capacity to avoid backlogs and to handle greater enrollments. And she will provide coverage through the American Health Choices Plan to all veterans who choose not to use the VA system.  Ensure All Veterans Receive the Benefits They Have Earned and the Assistance They Need — Right from the Start. As President, Hillary will commit to getting a fair, accurate, and timely decision for every veteran filing a disability claim.

She will increase the number of qualified VA evaluators to reduce the backlog of claims. She will provide fast-track training for new claims specialists and expand the Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program to smooth the transition from service to discharge for all those who serve our country.  

Pretty cool eh?

The campaign put out a press release on this and it includes the text of the video…

NEW VIDEO: Rep. John Murtha On The Trail With Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania

Tells Supporters Pennsylvania is Hillary Country!

The Clinton campaign today released a new video of Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha on the trail with Hillary Clinton in the Keystone State. In the video, Murtha expresses his belief that Hillary is the only candidate who can responsibly end the war in Iraq and restore fiscal responsibility to our government.

Watch the new video here

Following is the script for the video:

Let me tell you something. I’ve served with seven Presidents. I am convinced that we’re in probably one of the worst situations that I’ve seen in the 35 years I’ve been in Congress. We need a person with experience, a person that understands the policy.

When the Clinton administration left, there was a $250 billion surplus. Now, there’s almost a $3 trillion deficit.

The military has been so depleted by this war. We’re spending $343 million dollars a day to build roads in Iraq and we’re not spending money on the projects that are so important.

And who can solve that problem – Hillary!

Finally, a person that listens to the people, listens and works with people, and can get the country together and reunite us, restore our credibility, restore our military, and put us back in a fiscal policy worth the United States history.

The next President of the United States – Hillary Clinton!

This is Hillary country. She’s had a tremendous reception here in Fayette County – she’s going to get that kind of reception all over Pennsylvania. There is no individual that can do this more effectively than Hillary Clinton and I support her wholeheartedly.

Now I live in Maryland and our primary’s come and gone.  But there are still ways in which our group of supporters (some 1,000+ strong in our county alone) can help in the upcoming primaries.  Philadelphia’s just a couple hours north of here and towns like Lancaster are just over the border.  So our steering committee is organizing weekend trips and day trips into the Granite State to help with the efforts up there.

I’ say this not to brag about how hard Hillary’s supporters in our area are working (they are) but to let you all know that there are ways to get involved in this campaign.  If you can get the time off work or school and are willing and able to head out to the sates with upcoming primaries then please consider going to Hillary’s website and signing up to TRAVEL FOR HILLARY

Friends of mine have traveled to Iowa, New Hampshire, Texas and Ohio and to a person they’ve said it’s one of the best things they’ve ever done.  A couple of friends went to a small town in Eastern Ohio and the said there were treated like rock stars by the hotel staff once they learned why they were in town. Hillary has some serious fans amoong the workin’ folks in that town! Another went to New Hampshire with his homemade banners and ended up with his picture in newspapers all around the state (the banners are really cool!)  I can’t do much traveling now with two small children to look after, but I made the trip to Philly every weekend 20 years ago for 2 & a half months and had – a – blast!  We phone banked, knocked on doors, helped with visability… the whole nine yards.  So if you’ve never done this I would highly recommend it folks – you won’t soon forget the people you meet or the work you do.

Can’t get away for a day or three to help in PA, OR, IN or NC?  No problem.  You can still help Hillary by going to her website, signing up and logging on to MAKE PHONE CALLS  No need to schlep down to a campaign office no-siree-bob… you can phone bank from the comfort of your own living room.  Just put the kids to bed, put on your comfies, put your feet up on the coffee table with your laptop on your (cough cough) lap, and get to work.  You call into an 800# so it won’t cost you a dime and the program is easy as can be to use.

Lastly… (and you had to know I would eventually get to this) the ads she needs to run in PA and beyond won’t pay for thenselves my friends so if you can’t get to PA or the other states with upcoming primaries, and you don’t have time to make calls then PLEASE consider sending Hillary some love.

DONATE NOW!

Here’s one of her latest ads to hit the airwaves in PA, just to give you an idea as to where your contributions are going…

I don’t always ask folks to pony up but if it’s been a while then please – look at your budget and see if you can spare a fiver for a woman who’s working 24/7 to make sure our next president is ready to hit the ground running on day one next year.

The stakes are too high in this election – we need to let her know we’ve got her back.  Thanks! ;o)

U.S. Rep. John Murtha today announced his endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

“I’ve known Senator Clinton for 15 years,” the Johnstown Democrat said in a statement released by his campaign committee.

“I know that she continually reaches out for opinions and ideas, not just from our nation’s leaders, but from all Americans.”

Murtha is one of the most powerful Democrats in the House.

But his backing carries added importance this year because he also is a “superdelegate” – an official who is free to support any candidate at the party’s national convention in August.