McSame

Over at My Three Cents, Clammyc has begun to refer to McCain as "McSame", and has this to say about the Senator from Arizona:

He is just the latest cog in the republican party corporate money war upward distribution of wealth machine and he must be stopped. He must continuously be exposed for the sham that he is. He must be exposed for the neoconservatives and lobbyists he surrounds himself with and the religious extremists who he panders to. His comments about not knowing much about the economy, about staying in Iraq for 100 years, for “bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran”.

It is indeed important that we stop "McSame." The best way to do that is relentlessly point out how he would bring more of the same horrific nonsense we've endured for over seven years. The corporate media won't do this for us-- it has to be a grassroots effort. I'm glad to see how many bloggers are beginning to put "McSame" under the microscope. In particular, his statements on Iraq are truly scary. Our country needs, and deserves, a leader who is not wedded to the same special interests and failed policies that define the Cheney/Bush regime.

So. gentle readers, fret not over the tussle between Senators Clinton and Obama-- the constructive thing to do now is expose the many flaws of Senator "McSame." Here's a case where doing the right thing is fun and easy!

Clinton stays alive in Pennsylvania

While I'd agree, with many other progressive bloggers, that it would be nice if Barack Obama had the nomination neatly sewn up, such is not the case. Yet I am not inclined to worry a lot about the continued slugfest between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. This country is so fed up with Republicans it's not even funny. We should be confident that minor bumps and bruises on the Democratic side won't hurt us in the long run. Indeed, the nomination could be decided in a poker game at the convention and I'd still like our chances.

Developments at Fraudex

There's been some action in Indiana. The Judge presiding over the multi-district class-action litigation against FraudEx Ground, and Home Delivery, recently issued a ruling in South Bend Indiana. He certified the class action status for many of the states, such as Rhode Island and Florida. In a few states, such as Massachusetts, Judge Miller held that the relevant state law required that drivers' claims be heard on an individual basis. The wheels of justice move slowly, but from the drivers' point of view those wheels are moving in the right direction. You can examine the 160+ page ruling at FedexWatch.com.

McCain silliness

John McCain's proposal for a summer "holiday" from federal gasoline taxes is an example of Washington politics at its worst. Aside from enlarging the federal budget deficit, such a move would have little impact on the national economy. While purporting to help average consumers, this "holiday" would simply take big oil companies off the hook for their obscene profits.

This proposal shouldn't obscure the fact that McCain continues to push for throwing billions down the drain in Iraq. These billions will continue to be spent until Congress grows a spine and turns off the money spigot. We can dream, can't we!

Easter Egg Roll

This was too funny to resist!

Mark Penn, Sen. Hillary Clinton's chief strategist and longtime confidant stepped down from the presidential campaign late Sunday night.
His resignation came after a politically embarrassing week during which it was reported that he met with Colombia's Ambassador to the U.S. to discuss passage of a bilateral free-trade agreement -- a pact Clinton opposes.
Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the campaign who will now coordinate Clinton's "strategic message" told the Huffington Post that Penn offered up his resignation to the Senator on Sunday and that she accepted. Penn's firm, however, will continue to be involved in the campaign's polling. [Read the whole story here in the Huffington Post]

The fact that Mark Penn is stepping down from a leadership position in Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign is a good thing. Yet it doesn't lessen my disappointment that Senator Clinton gave so much power to a big-bucks, anti-union lobbyist in the first place! We'll see if this move actually sways anyone on the fence to support Senator Clinton. I suspect most people, who were unhappy with Mark Penn, will still continue to support Senator Obama. Some people already behind Senator Clinton may be glad of the change, if only because it ends a messy distraction.

Speaking of messy this final phase of the primaries is painful to watch. While I'd be happy to see Senator Clinton simply surrender and get behind Senator Obama, she probably won't. She has every right to keep fighting but I wish she'd jump on the Barack bandwagon... sigh...