Senator Lieberman's Endorsement of McCain

Indpendent Endorsement

It's not often that there is an actual Independent in Congress to actually give an endorsement. However, the one Independent in the Senate, Senator Joe Lieberman has decided to endorse Senator John McCain.

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ARLINGTON, VA -- This morning in New Hampshire, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) endorsed John McCain for President of the United States. Senator Lieberman issued the following statement on his endorsement:

"I have come to New Hampshire this morning to ask Republican and Independent voters to support John McCain in the first-in-the-nation primary on January 8.

"I know that it is unusual for someone who is not a Republican to endorse a Republican candidate for President. And if this were an ordinary time and an ordinary election, I probably would not be here today. But this is no ordinary time -- and this is no ordinary election -- and John McCain is no ordinary candidate.

"In this critical election, no one should let party lines be a barrier to choosing the person we believe is best qualified to lead our nation forward. The problems that confront us are too great, the threats we face too real, and the opportunities we have too exciting for us to play partisan politics with the Presidency.

"We desperately need our next President to break through the reflexive partisanship that is poisoning our politics and stopping us from getting things done. We need a President who can reunite our country, restore faith in our government, and rebuild confidence in America's future.

"My friend John McCain is that candidate, and that is why I am so proud to be standing by his side today.

"I have worked closely with John for many years on many issues -- from stopping genocide in the Balkans to combating global warming to creating the 9/11 Commission and enacting its recommendations into law. I have seen John, time and again, rise above the negativism and smallness of our politics to get things done for this country we love so much. I have watched him, time and again, work across party lines to make our country safer and stronger.

"John McCain has proven that we can trust him to do what is right for our country, not only when it is easy, but when it is hard; to do what is necessary, not only when it is popular, but when it is not; and to tell us the truth, not only when it is easy to hear, but when it is not.

"As President, John McCain will bring America together again. He will inspire a new American unity and a new American patriotism. He will push all of us to work together to solve our biggest problems, and defeat our most dangerous enemies.

"Throughout our history, succeeding generations of brave Americans have risked their lives for the cause of freedom -- which is America's cause. Throughout his career, from the ranks of the military to halls of the Congress, John McCain has made freedom's cause his own. He learned the ideals of patriotism and service from his father, he taught them to his sons, and he will hold those ideals high as an inspiration for all Americans.

"When it comes to keeping America safe in this time of war, John has proven that he has the experience, the strength, and the character, to be our commander-in-chief from day one. I have traveled the world with John, so I can tell you how much he is liked and admired by leaders across the globe. He will be a President our friends will respect and our enemies will fear, and a President who will lead our nation on the world stage with purpose and principle.

"When others were silent, and it was thought politically unpopular, John had the courage and common sense to sound the alarm about the mistakes we were making in Iraq and to call for more troops and a new strategy there. And when others waivered, when others wanted to retreat from the field of battle, John had the courage and the common sense to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge in Iraq, where we are at last winning.

"You may not agree with John McCain on every issue, but you can always count on him to be honest with you about where he stands, you can always count on him to stand for what he believes is right for our country -- regardless of pressure from politicians or vested interests. And you can count on him to be restless in pursuit of progress. In that sense, John McCain is the real change candidate in this race for the Presidency.

"There are many fine people running for President. Many of them are good friends of mine. But I have concluded -- and I hope you will, as well -- that John McCain is the candidate who can best reunite our country and lead us to victory in the war against Islamist terrorism.

"The nomination for President remains wide open, so on January 8th, New Hampshire's voters can -- and I hope will -- make history and send John McCain from the Granite State to victory.

"Thank you."

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Found at http://nh4mccain.blogspot.com/2007/12/senator-lieberman-endorses-senator.html

Mitt Romney Satire - Meet The Press

The Great Immigration Freak Out

Immigration is a frustrating issue because in many respects it’s a government created problem. For years border security has been inadequately funded and illegal employment of undocumented workers been ignored. The problem has grown to an extent that one doesn’t have to live in a border state to realize the impact of illegal immigration. Illegal immigration taxes public resources, it creates an underclass of people that work for minimal wages yet are not directly tied to the community and don’t pay taxes. There are a myriad of problems that stem from illegal immigration and unsecured borders. However, instead of a rational well thought out debate about the issue many people’s reaction to this problem has been to freak out. I can’t think of another political issue that has caused such hysteria. Discussions of illegal immigration rarely tackle the issue in a realistic way. Instead media sources like talk radio bate people into hysteria without offering real solutions. People talk about the country being invaded, about the U.S. loosing its sovereignty, and then inflame the issue further with an ever-present racist undertone.

Concrete plans seem to be few and far between. No one likes the idea that illegal immigrants be rewarded for breaking the law, yet rounding up 12 million illegals seems unrealistic. Many want a wall, but ignore the fact that often people simply over-stay their visas. Cracking down on employers that hire illegal immigrants is generally accepted as a good idea, but it’s not being done in a significant way. Little is done about this problem, the anger builds, and serious solutions have been abandoned.

The Republican presidential candidates are a perfect example of how logic is being abandoned for emotion. Tough talk abounds about how the candidates will stop illegal immigration. Yet there are three major problems with this tough talk. First, these campaign trail conversions to hard-core positions on immigration are obnoxious. Representative Tancredo, accurately noted at the last debate that everyone was trying to, ‘Out Tancredo Tancredo’. None of the top tier candidates have taken a hard-nosed position on immigration in the past, and now they’re pandering and fanning the flames of an already highly emotional issue. Most have supported some version of comprehensive immigration reform and only changed their minds when they realized that it wasn’t politically convenient to stick to their guns. The second major problem with the ‘tough on immigration’ stance is that it hasn’t been accompanied with practical solutions. We are twenty years too late for simple solutions. Ironically, the reason the candidates never took a hard-core approach before is that these solutions aren’t workable. It’s not that the candidates are too liberal, or don’t care about American citizens, as some people in the media like to say, it’s simply that this issue is more complicated than ‘build a wall’ or ‘send them home’ style solutions. The third problem with the tough talk style solutions is that they don’t address what is politically possible. These solutions have to pass the House, Senate, and then be signed by the President. That’s not an easy process, and frankly with a Democrat controlled Congress there is zero percent chance of an enforcement only bill being passed. It’s unfortunate that people aren’t looking for real solutions because this is a serious problems that needs to be dealt with, and the more emotional and reactionary people are, the less likely this issue will be addressed in a serious manner.

Stand Up Against Torture

I can't adequately describe in words how misguided and wrong I think Republicans are to not stand up against torture. I can't understand how a party that portrays itself as morally superior can be uncertain about the morality of torture. Fortunately, there are some conservatives that recognize torture as both inneffective and wrong...

Why Is Global Warming and Energy Independence a Political Issue?

Maybe I'm biased because I love the outdoors, but I don't understand the arguments against protecting the environment and becoming energy independent. I understand that people will have different opinions about how to address the issue, but ignoring it seems rediculous. While I think the arguments that climate change doesn't exist are weak, even if that is ones belief there are still plenty of good reasons for protecting the environment and becoming energy independent. Lets start with energy independence. As a country we are injecting huge sums of money into the most volatile regions of the world because of our dependence on foreign oil. Becoming energy independent may not solve our foreign policy problems, but it would certainly make them less complicated. Second, there is no 'do over' on this issue. If we don't take care of the planet now we have the potential to create a situation that is irreversible. This seems to be the quintessential issue where one should err the side of caution. Future generations won't complain if their air and water is too clean, or that forests and other wild areas have been preserved.

The Democrats have accepted that this is a serious issue, but the Republicans have lagged behind. Senator McCain and Governor Huckabee are the only two Republican candidates to seriously address this issue. Governor Huckabee makes a compelling argument that as stewards of this earth we have a responsibility to address environmental issues. Senator McCain has been a leader on climate change and has promoted the idea of a cap and trade policy that reduces carbon emmisions through business incentives, thus keeping the economy strong and protecting the environment simultaneously. Hopefully Republicans will catch up with Senator McCain and Governor Huckabee and realize that this doesn't need to be an issue of politics, this can be a win win situation if addressed by both sides in a serious manner.