No More Incumbents Blog

A friend of mine sent me a viral email tonight and I normally do not review those types of things here, but I think with the excess prevalence of religion attempting to influence politics, it might actually fit.

If you have any doubts about the religious problem in politics just view the preceding article talking about how people and campaigns are in an uproar about Barack Obama and Hillary dressed in Muslim and foreign clothing.

So anyway the email provides an image of the new dollar coin.  It has a nice story about a person that goes to the post office, gets change back in the form of the new dollar coin.  The person that receives the change is ‘in the know’ and asks to exchange the $1 coin for a $1 bill because the new coins do not have the words “in god we trust” on them.

Now, I am not a christian.  I was raised as a christian but I gave up the religion a long time ago.  That said, I seem to recall that christianity has a bit of a problem with both idolatry(Moses) and with money(Jesus).

If you ask what would Jesus do?

The Bible and other books indicate that he would go into a bank and throw a fit. 

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, - King James Bible

He’d probably get arrested today, and under the Bush Administration he’d probably be shipped to a secret prison under the suspicion of being a terrorist.

You would think given the lessons and teachings of christianity that christians would actually embrace the removal of the phrase of a dollar that has grown into an idol of its own.

But instead they would trash the value of the dollar by refusing to accept it without the magic words, that by the way were not endorsed by god or anything, on money.  Would Moses have considered the golden calf as an OK symbol if someone had simply stamped in Ancient Hebrew the words “in god we trust’ on the stomach of the statue?  I kind of doubt it.

So anyway, I find this to be rather a silly issue, but unfortunately when religion meets the road with politics, things that should be silly and inconsequential get blown up out of proportion.  (both figuratively and literally)

On the Lighter side here is a link to the blog Channel Fever which has a video with Dick Cheney on a Silver Dollar with the words “In Greed we Trust” at the bottom of the coin.  Much more fitting.

Funny Stuff!

The picture below features Barack Obama LOOKING Presidential.  He is dressed in the garb of a Somali leader in 2006.

I say again, he does look Presidential.  He’s going out to meet leaders from other countries and learn their culture, making connections and as the military would put it, winning the hearts and minds.

Apparently Barack Obama or his campaign did not realize that this picture features their candidate looking Presidential.  They attacked the Clinton campaign for leaking the photo to a number of websites over the weekend.

Barack Makes mistakes and Gets Caught in Trap

If the Clinton’s or whomever did it, leaked the photo on purpose, then it was a trap, and Barack Obama didn’t have the leadership or insight to sense the quagmire of the trap, avoid the trap and even use the trap to his own advantage.  Instead like George Bush looking for the Holy Grail of Mass Terrorism Destruction, Barack Obama tripped the trap and was ensnared.

the Obama campaign charged that Clinton aides had leaked the photo - taken during a 2006 trip to Africa - the Clinton campaign manager, Maggie Williams, tried to turn the matter back at the Obama team, even though her camp has not denied any role in distributing the photo.

“If Barack Obama’s campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed,” Williams said in a statement. “Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.” 

Photo of Obama in African garb emerges as Clinton renews attacks - International Herald Tribune

What Barack Would Have Done with More Leadership Experience

If Barack was more of a leader, he would have included that photo on his own website from day one.  He could have held it up as an excellent example of how he as a leader could go out to the world and heal wounds like in Somalia a land that has been severely troubled for a long time and a land that the Clinton Administration could not repair as they entered into a quagmire of their own back in 1993.

I was part of that military campaign.

Instead, Barack Obama seems to have tried to play the ‘I’m Not a Muslim Card’.  That is a trap in and of itself.  Like George Bush before him, Obama seems to think that the religion of a President is important.  He thinks that being a Christian is a prerequisite to be President.  He thinks that the taint of another religion outside of Christianity, would hamper his efforts to become the new POTUS.

What does it say about a person when they do not stand up for the good things that they have done?

Instead of showing some leadership by defending his accidental leadership in Somalia, Barack Obama has tried to rely on the crutch of do not attack me for the way I dress or the company I keep.  He could have taken the high road and probably picked up a couple points in Ohio and more importantly showed the country and the world how a real US leader could act, but apparently Barack Obama did not recognize good leadership qualities even when he was the person exhibiting them.  If he cannot figure out what good leadership is, then maybe he would not make a good Presidential leader.  I’m not saying he is devoid of leadership potential and that he should go become a shop steward some where manufacturing cabinet knobs in Illinois, but he might need a little ‘Testing‘ of his leadership so that he will be able to recognize important leadership qualities and what they can really achieve without having to be told by a campaign manager, David Plouffe.

David Plouffe on the release of the photo of Barack Obama featured above

“On the very day that Senator Clinton is giving a speech about restoring respect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we’ve seen from either party in this election. This is part of a disturbing pattern that led her county chairs to resign in Iowa, her campaign chairman to resign in New Hampshire, and it’s exactly the kind of divisive politics that turns away Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in the world.”

Maybe Mr. Plouffe needs to take a refresher course on diversity, diplomacy, and leadership.

Update - This Story is blowing up even more

OK, so it is a slow news day and the presidential candidates are fighting over clothing and pictures of themselves wearing clothing.  They would rather fight about anything besides the issues since they are basically the same poor candidate.

Here’s the latest, now Hillary is being attacked  . . . . for looking Presidential too.

She went out to visit and tour the world, and happened to put on a head scarf.  Scandalous.

Image from the Bill Clinton Presidential Library

Then there is Bill dressed up like Obi Wan Kenobi

Since I originally published the article above there are now almost 500 articles online about this topic.  Here are some of the most recent people to jump on the band wagon.

  John McCain took a torpedo across the bow from the New York Times this evening.  They released an article that they have been sitting on since December just before the Iowa primary.

The story talks about allegations that John McCain may have had an inappropriate relationship with Vicki Iseman, a lobbyist 30 years his junior when she was in her early thirties and he in his 60’s, during or just before the 2000 Presidential campaign.  McCain staffers reportedly had to hold an intervention to keep the Senator away from the woman and vice versa.

The two associates, who said they had become disillusioned with the senator, spoke independently of each other and provided details that were corroborated by others.

For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk - New York Times

The threat of a sex scandal for the likely Republican Candidate for President is only half as problematic as the potential that he provided favors to the lobbyist, her firm or her telecommunications clients, who were lobbying McCain and the committee he chairs.

Senator McCain ran into trouble as one of the members of the Keating 5, a group of politicians that received benefits in exchange for influence from John Keating during the Savings and Loan scandal.  Like a smoker that quits or a former sinner that finds Jesus and becomes sanctimonious, John McCain was often viewed by his Senatorial colleagues as sanctimonious as he attempted to reform campaign finance.

The allegations that John McCain may have essentially fallen off the wagon in regards to influence peddling becomes very damaging for his image and his campaign.  It essentially boils down to a question of trust.  The more the story is pushed, voters will ask themselves if they can trust John McCain.

The McCain campaign has apparently been fighting this story since December 20th.  The Drudge Report initially exposed the potential story back then. 

As the story develops, it is certain that is will get thoroughly vetted by those with pure intentions, by those with a motive to do the Senator harm and everyone in between.

Some Potential Paths for the Development of this Story

Here are some possible outcomes of this story and they illustrate how this could be very important

1. John McCain will be mired down attempting to deny a negative
2. The Republican base will be further turned off by the potential of a hypocrite and sex scandal - They will not turn out to vote in November
3. The Republican base could view this as an attack by the liberal media and finally start to rally behind John McCain
4. This will open many doors about McCain’s Keating 5 past that he would prefer left shut
5. More revelations could follow - many pundits are expecting something more from the NYTimes, they will either have to put up more, or shut up with an apology
6. Huckabee could find his miracle if this turns out to have real substance and McCain resigns from the race
7. Romney could try to sweep in and claim McCain’s delegates at the convention
8. This could further fracture the Republican party and cement the potential of a 3rd candidate run for office.

There are a lot of other possibilities on this but its just the first public night after the breaking of this story.  Regardless, this entire situation could have been avoided if Senator McCain had left office as a Senator sooner and moved on to something else. 

He should have said no more incumbents!

Vicki Iseman’s Official Biography

News Articles that broke within 12 hours of New York Times Article about John McCain and Vicki Iseman

Report on McCain’s relationship with lobbyist angers campaign CNN - 3 hours ago By Dana Bash (CNN) — Sen. John McCain’s advisers are denying assertions The New York Times published that McCain once had a close relationship with a …

The Long Run For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk New York Times, United States - 8 hours ago Senator John McCain with senators Fred Thompson, Russell Feingold and Paul Wellstone, who were part of an effort to pass a campaign finance reform bill in …

McCain slams report on female lobbyist as ‘gutter politics’ AFP - 4 hours ago WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican White House hopeful John McCain has lashed out at The New York Times for playing “gutter politics” after it reported on his …

Was John McCain Getting “Lobbied” By A Woman Thirty Years His Junior? Radar Online, NY - 11 hours ago This evening the New York Times posted a 3000 word takedown of Senator John McCain’s ethics—and a possibly inappropriate relationship with a female …

Other News on John McCain an Vicki Iseman

John McCain Accused Of Sexual Affair With Lobbyist Vicki Iseman
Vicki Iseman: Times Story’s Motives, Timing Questioned
Vicki Iseman Is John McCain?s Lobbyist
Vicki Iseman And Cindy McCain: Twins? Separated At Birth?
Vicki Iseman Is John McCain?s Lobbyist
John McCain Romantically Linked to Vicki Iseman
Vicki Iseman
Vicki Iseman Is John McCain?s Lobbyist
Vicki Iseman: Times Story’s Motives, Timing Questioned
McCain’s Bimbo Eruption?
Vicki Iseman And Cindy McCain: Twins? Separated At Birth?
McCain says love affair claims are a ’smear campaign’ - Times Online
Vicki Iseman, John McCain: 2008 Presidential Candidate Scandals - Blogger News Network
Home > The News > Nico Pitney and Sam Stein > Who Is Vicki Iseman … - Huffington Post
John McCain denies affair with lobbyist - NEWS.com.au
MSNBC: 45 Minutes on McCain, ‘Eerily Similar’ to Clinton-Lewinsky - NewsBusters
Did McCain’s Lobbyist Girlfriend Betray Him For Bush? - Wonkette (satire)
Today on the Presidential Campaign Trail - The Associated Press
NY Times Report Links McCain To Lobbyist - KPHO Phoenix
One Hit Wonder - Slate
Clinton scrambles to catch up after two more Obama wins, - Hindu

Vicki Iseman - Additional Postings, mentions and information

Vicki Iseman: ZoomInfo Business People Information
Lars Iselid ? Dave Isenberg : ZoomInfo Business People Information
Vicki Iseman, Alcalde & Fay | Leadership Directories, Inc.
Alcalde & Fay Government and Public Affairs Consultants - Meet the …
Alcalde & Fay Government and Public Affairs Consultants - Meet the …
YouTube - Matt Iseman as the Goto Guy on Clean House
CADCA & Drug-Free Kids Campaign - 2007 Awards Dinner
IUP Magazine: Fall, 2002, Contents
Hispanic PR Wire - HISPANIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION COMMENTS ON …
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Births
Vicki Iseman’s Bio Pulled From Web - Politics on The Huffington Post
Vicki Iseman - Mahalo
Vicki Iseman And Cindy McCain: Twins? Separated At Birth? - Politics on The Huffington Post
Vicki Iseman is John McCain’s Affair? ” Right Pundits
National Ledger - Vicki Iseman and John McCain: Sex Scandal or Smear?
John McCain And Vicki Iseman And The Affair - Oliver Willis
Blogger News Network / John McCain, Vicki Iseman: Who Is Vicki Iseman?
Digg - John McCain Romantically Linked to Vicki Iseman (photo)
Vicki Iseman John McCain — affair?! what!??!
Oliver Willis

Yesterday, it was extremely upsetting to learn that the Senate had voted to send Americans Civil Liberties down the river at the request of the President.  We cannot just blame Republicans and President George W Bush for all of the terrible fiascos of the last 8 years.  Yes, they definitely are responsible for some of the worst items, but the Democrats have been terrible as well as evidenced by the Democrat Controlled Senate Passage of the FISA bill yesterday. 

Democrats in 2006 were given the assignment to uphold the Constitution, and fix some of the things broken by Republicans.  Instead Democrats in the Senate have proved to be almost the same as the Republicans in the Senate and that includes McCain, Clinton and Obama.

So anyway, after my rant and plea yesterday, I thought I would offer up a little humor to enable all of us to catch a breath, recharge our batteries and then renew our efforts to get the House to stop this travesty.

Feel Better?  Have a smile on your face at least?

OK now go contact your Congress Person!