QC Examiner

For 20 years, Barack Obama was more than happy to listen to the hateful, racist screeds of Rev. Wright.

But unfortunately, since his church is making his poll numbers drop, Obama has dropkicked Jesus through the goalposts of life and resigned from the Church of the Holy Bigots.

But hey Jesus, it’s nothing personal, it’s just politics.

From the Galesburg Register-Mail.

Spokeswoman Connie Wessels, on behalf of the American Heart Association, “lobbied with others toward instituting the FIT Kids Act. Wessels also met with the staff Rep. Phil Hare, (D-Cheeseburger). The congressman serves on the committee that will consider some of these important pieces of Legislation.”

I’m not one to criticize, but wouldn’t lobbying Phil Hare for “FIT Kids” be the same as lobbying Ted Kennedy for “SOBER Kids”?

Just askin’.

I’d like to say I’m shocked, but I’m not really. Even though both Barack Obama and John McCain pledged to run “different” campaigns, we are confronted with the fact that both campaigns are running “old” politics campaigns.

McCain marks the days since Obama has been to Iraq; Obama says McCain won’t admit mistakes just like GWB, even though Obama never admits mistakes either, he just blames his staff, etc. etc.

This sort of parsing by both sides won’t do us voters any good. Instead of parsing your opponent, tell us your vision of the future, tell us why you have the ability to secure that vision.

John McCain and Barack Obama—don’t make us hate politicians more than we already do.

As everyone knows by now, there was another moonbat eruption at Obama’s church. This time from a white Catholic priest who mocked Hillary Clinton for her emotions and for being a white elitist, among other things. As the video shows, the good Father Pfleger’s routine would have not been out of place in a comedy club done by Rosie O’Donnell, but to see this over-the-top “hate whitey” stuff in a church is beyond disturbing—to say nothing of the parishoners who jumped to their feet, whooping and hollaring at the good Father’s clowning.

But still, I’m a tolerant person, and if some people want to worship in a place that promotes racism, it’s none of my business.

My problem is that the good Father Pfleger got earmarks from Obama when he was IL Senator to the tune of over $225,000. I haven’t checked, but it is possible that the entire country is paying for Pfleger’s clownishness with Obama’s federal earmarks. How many of you really want you tax dollars spent on racists like Fr. Pfleger, who is well known in Chicago and to Obama as being frothing moonbat?

Go to the link for the whole unhinged story of Fr. Pfleger’s wackiness.

Normally the left becomes unhinged about mixing church and state—-remember all the frothing about the coming “theocracy” of the George Bush administration? But still, if the left considers the rantings of liberal preachers like Rev. Wright and Fr. Pfleger to not violate the sacred church/state separation, they’ve got some serious ’splain’ to do.

From a New York Times editorial:

There are several kinds of Washington memoirs: “I Reveal the Honest Truth,” a kiss-up-and-tell designed to settle scores (nod to honesty optional). “I Was There at the Start,” designed to make the author appear to be the linchpin of history. And, most tedious: “I Knew It Was a Terrible Mistake, but I Didn’t Mention It Until I Got a Book Contract.”

Some controversy is brewing about our specially selected congressman’s taxpayer funded earmarks—–this time in Monmouth.

In an op-ed by Marvin Hawk, a member of the Warren County Board of Trustees,he expresses anger that a $410,000 earmark for renovation of a county building was apparently done in secret and without the knowledge of many of the Trustees.

There appears to be some debate as to whether this county building should be renovated at all, rather than sold or torn down and a new one story facility built instead.

Here’s the money quote:

“It amazes me that as a County Board member I should find out about this grant application through the newspaper. Committee meetings were last week and no mention was made of this request for federal funding. When and who applied for this grant specifically for the Annex? Will $410,000 cover the complete renovation for this old building? This $410,000 request is part of Congressman Phil Hare’s ‘wish list’ of 109 projects at a cost of approximately 319 million dollars for his district!”

As they say—follow the money. This “grant” was evidently worked out in secret between Hare and some unknown benefactor(s)—the County Board was never consulted. Cui bono?

I’ll give the last word to Mr. Hawk:

“When first elected to the Warren County Board, I assumed this would be an experience in democratic government at the local county government level. After three and one-half years experience, it would seem to me it’s just another example of power politics.”

In the comments of this post some commenters and I were speculating about why the CEO and VP of the ILQC Chamber of Commerce had hosted a fundraiser for Phil Hare, three weeks prior, especially in light of the fact that Hare has no serious opponent in ‘08.

Something I saw today in the QCTimes may have solved that little mystery.

The article says that 1.5 million of Hare’s massive earmarks was to fund a feasibility study for an East Rock River bridge between unincorporated RICO near the Moline-East Moline-Silvis border and Henry County.

My commenters were wondering why pro-business Chamber of Commerce types were sucking up to an anti-business Big Labor hack like Hare.

Looks like it could be pay for play—Hare gets some “free” earmarked money for the feasibility study and the grateful ILQC C of C pays him back with a fundraiser.

There are several other fundraisers scheduled for Hare—-it should be interesting to see if there is a connection between the fundraisers and the fundraisee.

David Brooks has been thinking about running mate choices for Obama and McCain.

Here’s how he sees Obama’s situation:

“[Obama] will find himself surrounded by highly partisan Democratic politicians, committee chairmen and interest groups thrilled to finally seize power…These entrenched Democrats are more experienced than Obama. They know how to play the game better. The effect of their efforts will be to turn [Obama's] into a Potemkin administration filled with great speeches but without great accomplishments or influence over legislation.”

And McCain’s:

“If John McCain is elected, he’ll face a political culture threatening to split at the seams. In defeat, Democrats will be enraged at everything and everybody. The Republican Party will still be exhausted and divided.”

Brooks suggests that Obama needs a VP who knows the ways of Washington and how to build “transpartisan coalitions”. Brooks suggests Sam Nunn and Tom Daschle—-ZZZzzzz.

For McCain’s VP, Brooks suggests someone who radiates calm, who can provide structure and organization, enjoys working with budgets and can make things work. He suggests Rob Portman and Tim Pawlenty—-Zzzzzzz.

For Obama, why not someone like Dan Rostenkowski—he certainly knew how to work the system in DC!

For McCain, either Timothy Leary or the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi would bring the radiating calm Brooks says McCain so desperately needs.

Hmmmmm, is Mr. Rogers still around?

It’s always freaky when I find myself in agreement with left-wing liberal, but Paul Lukasiak has some ideas about why The Chosen One hasn’t pulled ahead of both Hillary and McCain.

Here’s Lukasiak:

Ever since the media declared that Barack Obama was “inevitable” after February 19th…rank and file Democratic voters have been sending a message. Rather than rally ’round the “inevitable nominee” that message has been a consistent, loud, and clear message to the Democratic Party –DO NOT WANT.

In nearly every demographic category since February 19, Clinton percentage of the vote has risen, while Obama’s has fallen.

Once voters realized that Obama would be the nominee, his support within most demographic categories declined, and declined significantly in most cases.

Obama’s support declined:

among men 2%
among women 1.2%
among whites 4.8%
among Hispanic/Latinos 3.2%
among white men 6.7%
among white women 3.6%

Go to the link and read the whole thing for more commentary and lots of charts and graphs.
What does it mean when the “inevitable” Democrat candidate continues to lose voters and the “losing’ candidate continues to win?

Beats the heck out of me, but it sure doesn’t look good for Obama.

From James Joyner:

It’s not inconceivable that the November elections return the White House to Democratic hands, increase the party’s House majority, and even provides a filibuster-proof margin in the Senate. But it’s a lead pipe cinch that they’ll screw it up, become the corrupt, power-at-all-costs goons that they now accuse their opponents of being, and piss off enough of the country that they’ll be thrown out on their butts. Not because they’re bad people who hate America but because that’s what people in power do.