Obama's Foreign Tour: McCain gets what he asks for and doesn't want it?

There’s nothing all that subtle about the McCain campaign. The twisting and turning talking points are clearly comprehensible if not always very consistent. Much more pretzel shape straining positions from Team McCain and the currently slim lead enjoyed by the Obama Campaign in Nevada could widen.

McCain decided early on to make a campaign talking point of his greater experience, i.e. more passport stamps, with the situation in Iraq – after all, he’d been there with his side kick Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the highly publicized trip to the market complete with a full security contingent. McCain announced that there were neighborhoods we could all walk through safely – with a 100 soldier escort, 3 Blackhawks, and 2 Apache Gunships. [TP]

Then the McCain campaign took the argument one step further – McCain and Obama should travel together to visit Iraq. The Republican National Committee even posted an “Obama Clock” on its website counting how long it had been since the Illinois Senator had visited the country.

** “A McCain-Obama Trip to Iraq?” May 26, 2008
“On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of McCain’s closest friends, suggested on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the two travel to Iraq together. Asked about the idea today, McCain said sure.“Sure it would be fine. I go back every few months because things are changing in Iraq,” he told the Associated Press in an interview.” [WSJ]

** “McCain proposes trip to Iraq with Obama” May 27, 2008
"I go back every few months because things are changing in Iraq," he said. McCain questioned whether Obama has ever been briefed by Petraeus. "I would also seize that opportunity to educate Senator Obama along the way." [CBS2]

** “John McCain wants Barack Obama to visit Iraq with him” May 27, 2008
“Republican John McCain on Monday sharply criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for not having been to Iraq since 2006, and said they should visit the war zone together.” [WCBS]

** “Obama’s last Iraq visit clocked by GOP” May 28, 2008
“The Republicans are steadily trying to increase the pressure on Sen. Barack Obama to visit Iraq. They (GOP) now have a clock up on the RNC site to keep count on how many days it's been since the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination's one and only visit to Iraq.”

** “Obama, McCain and Vets for Freedom” June 3, 2008
“This kicked off a week of back and forth between the McCain and the Obama campaigns on Obama and Iraq. It was a slam dunk for McCain. The RNC began and “Obama clock” counting the days since the senator had been to Iraq. In addition, McCain hit a home run with this comment, “Why is it that Senator Obama wants to sit down with the President of Iran, but hasn’t yet sat down with General Petraeus -- the leader of our troops in Iraq?” [Human Events]

** “Barack Obama answers John McCain’s call to visit Baghdad” June 16, 2008
Earlier in Arlington, Va., McCain noted that Obama "now is closing in on his 900th day since he visited Iraq" in 2005. The Republican National Committee, which has been running an Obama clock on its Web site, said at 6 p.m. yesterday that it had been 890 days, 17 hours, 59 minutes and 32 seconds since Obama went to Baghdad. McCain urged Obama to meet with Gen. David Petraeus on his Iraq trip to learn that "we are on the path to victory." [NYDN]

** “McCain Camp dismisses Obama’s plan to visit Iraq” June 16, 2008
“The McCain campaign -- which has said they want Barack Obama to visit Iraq -- is already reacting dismissively to today's news that he will indeed be going to Iraq and Afghanistan some time this summer. "I think first it's a very good thing that Barack Obama has decided that he will visit the reality on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan," top McCain adviser Carly Fiorina said on a conference call with reporters. "And hopefully he will be moved by the facts on the ground. He will have to acknowledge that the surge is working, and perhaps this will cause him to change his position." [TPMEC]

** “Obama gets help from Iraq’s Prime Minister” July 10, 2008
“Meanwhile, Maliki's insistence on this score (timetable for withdrawal) makes life a lot easier for Obama. McCain pressured him into planning a trip to Iraq this summer—he hadn't been there for two years—so he can see the place up close before making judgments about its future.” [Slate]

The Republican National Committee’s Obama Clock is still running on the RNC site. However, the chimes have a new tone. Now, the RNC is asserting that Obama’s trip is meaningless because he will be merely confirming previously held positions, [RNC] which, of course, is nothing like announcing that it’s perfectly safe to walk through Baghdad neighborhoods in search of sunglasses and souvenir prayer rugs with the escort, the helicopters, and the gunships.

The second RNC line of attack comes in the form of a video “The Obama Iraq Documentary: Whatever the Politics Demand,” which tries mightily to find inconsistencies in Senator Obama’s statements, but is frankly thin on substance and thick on illogical interpolations and parsing.

There are two possibilities for a McCain/RNC attack: (1) Should Senator Obama maintain his position then the initial RNC attack alleging the trip will serve only to confirm Senator Obama’s previously held positions is the one more likely to be continued. (2) Should Senator Obama adjust his position the immediate cry will be a resurrection of the 2004 “flip flop” garden variety GOP attack. The GOP tried this after Senator Obama’s statements in Montana, only to have two press conferences confirm that his position hadn’t changed. It gave the political press something to cover for a full day, but did little to advance the McCain line du jour.

What remains is the whine. The McCain campaign fell over itself saying the major network coverage of Senator Obama’s foreign visits is “no big deal,” while complaining about increased coverage of Senator Obama’s trip by all three major networks. [IHT]

Since the Obama Trip to Iraq Clock is expiring – the RNC will have to fall back on its “Time since the Town Hall meetings were requested.” That particular timepiece seems to be ticking silently and without much discernible impact.

Quick Clips: Lonely Hearts Edition

** It cost Mack Associates, Inc. $1 million for the hiring of 58 undocumented workers in its McDonald’s franchise fast food shops in Nevada. The company pled guilty to conspiracy and inducing an alien’s unlawful residence charges in a Las Vegas federal court. [AFP] Luther Mack, Jr. CEO, is shown as a member of the Boyd Gaming Board of Directors. He also serves on the Wells Fargo Bank of Nevada Community Board. [Zinfo]

** For the Nevada Governor “It’s all about being happy.” [KTVN] At least until the next hearing in his divorce case, scheduled for August 21^st. [KXNT] The Gleaner describes the Governor’s “Charm Offensive,” while one might wonder if the reverse phrasing might be true and there is such a thing as “offensive charm?” The whimpering can be found in full at KOLO.

** Everybody jumps on the Obama bandwagon to put more forces from Iraq into Afghanistan? Admiral Mike Mullen [ABC] would likely recommending withdrawing more U.S. forces from Iraq. Secretary of Defense Gates says he wants to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan sooner rather than later. [AFP] “Pentagon ponders Afghanistan troop boost.” [CBS]

** The Appeaser-in-Chief is sending the third highest ranking member of the State Department to a meeting with the last remaining member of the Axis of Evil and “Iran and U.S. signaling chance of deal.” [WaPo] “In policy reversal, US envoy to meet Iran’s nuclear negotiator” [AFP] This from the President who said, “Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.” [WHPR]

** “Senate report examines role of banks in tax evasion” [NYT] UBS, and LGT helped wealthy individuals evade American taxes. Yes, UBS is the bank that McCain economic adviser Phil Gramm joined in October 2002 as an executive; frankly Gramm doesn’t seem to have done UBS much good either. [Slate]

** Nag, Nag, Nag: A reminder that The Gleaner and The Minx could use some assistance financing their trips to the Democratic National Convention. Really – imagine what delightful reading we’ll get from their dispatches. We just have to get them there.

Quick Clips: Shoot Out Tuesday

** The Nevada Water War heats up today in the “Snake Valley Shoot-out” during which State Engineer Tracy Taylor will be called upon to decide if the Southern Nevada Water Authority can drain Snake Valley. [LV Sun]

** The results of an OSHA investigation into the deaths of two workers at the Orleans last year hasn’t yet been released, but this excerpt indicates some highly questionable coziness between Nevada OSHA and the Boyd Gaming Group: “…a former federal OSHA official said a draft of the findings calls into question the use of state resources to provide training and consultation services to Boyd Gaming Corp., owner of the Orleans and one of the state’s largest employers.” [LV Sun]

** The Nevada Republican candidates are apparently as eager to try slapping the “Flip Flop” label on any and all Democrats as they were in 2004. Incumbent Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV3) is trying to assert that his opponent State Senator Dina Titus (D-LV) is a flopper because she is supporting the concept of offshore oil drilling subject to state approval. [LVRJ]

Porter may not know that he has already been the recipient of one Sunday Deck Bass in September 2006 for his outstanding performance on the House Floor, where he voted in favor of a $1500 bonus for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan – then got button-holed by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and immediately changed his vote. [DB] Porter earned a nomination for his performance during a junket with power industry promoters [DB], and he was a second runner up for his support of the President’s veto of the Military Appropriations bill. [DB] Titus, on the other hand has not accumulated any such critters in her creel, and her stance on the drilling issue is insufficiently spun to even get her a nomination.

** GOP Presidential candidate Senator John Sidney McCain III (R-Absent) will quietly drop into another exclusive Nevada location for donations on July 29 for a luncheon at the Incline Village home of software developer Bob Davidson. The noon VIP reception is open to those who raise or contribute $33,100; attending the luncheon 30 minutes later will cost $1,000, or $2300 for a photo op with McCain. The Las Vegas Review Journal article also provides a glimpse at the funding strategy the McCain camp is using. “The maximum amount an individual can contribute to a presidential candidate under federal law is $2,300. However, the invitation states that money raised at the Tahoe event will be split between McCain's campaign and several other Republican Party committees.” Translation: The other GOP committees will be free to run anti-Obama ads, and McCain will whine softly, as he has done before, [Atl] [Reuters] that he objects to them, but can’t do anything about them because they are independent of his campaign.

** Erin Neff looks at Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons’ all-too-cute-tax-deal in Elko County, compares the Governor’s actions to NRS 281A.400(2) and finds the Governor coming up short. “A public officer or employee shall not use his position in government to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions or advantages for himself, any business entity in which he has a significant pecuniary interest, or any person to whom he has a commitment in a private capacity to the interests of that person.” NRS 281A.480 lists the penalties for violations, including impeachment and fines.

** The Huffington Post provides a transcript of Senator Barack Obama’s speech today on Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator McCain offers the usual “I know how to win wars,” (an example to support this contention would be helpful?) and “Obama has it backwards,” i.e. the Bush line – “Iraq is the central front on the war on terror.”

Overnight Express: Whining Edition

Term limit amendments were all the rage in the 1990’s and Nevada adopted limits in its 1994 and 1996 elections. Now the Nevada Supreme Court is hearing a case that pits counsel for the State Legislature against the Secretary of State about the implementation of the limitations. A decision should be made quickly; Nevada has a primary election on August 12^th. [KLAS] Inside Nevada Politics provides more detail.

The story of Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons’ rural tax bill has leaked over the border. The San Diego Union Tribune has picked up the story.

The McCain Campaign has come out with another new (old) theme: “Obama would swap Iraq War loss for election win.” [AFP] “Sadr’s Militia may live to fight again” [IndpUK] Senator Obama’s campaign is emphasizing the need to deploy more forces to Afghanistan. “Deadly Taliban attack on U.S. bases raises concerns” [LAT]

The Bush Administration still can’t seem to get alleged terrorist prosecutions right: “Detainee’s lawyers make claim on sleep deprivation.” [NYT]
“Lawyers want detainees to testify in terror trial” [WaPo]
“Judge allows testimony by Guantanamo detainees” [LAT]
“Bin Laden driver want 9/11 braintrust as defense witness” [MiamiHrld]
Some problems in Great Britain too: “In ’06 bomb plot, a question of imminence: testimony shows little evidence of immediate attack or links to Al Qaeda” [NYT]

Take it to the Bank? “IndyMac reopens, halts foreclosures on its loans” [WSJ]
“Plenty of blame to go around for Fannie, Freddie” [WSJ]
“Scramble led to rescue plan on mortgages” [NYT]
“Washington Mutual’s decline wipes out most of TPG’s investment” [Blmbrg]
“Washington Mutual plans more layoffs” [EBBT]
“Regional banks take it on the chin as fallout spreads” [WSJ]
“Citigroup: Appointments with red ink” [NYT]
“Economic crisis called worst since 70s” [Reuters]

More whining: “GM’s Wagoner may cut salaried jobs, update cash strategy today” [Blmbrg] “GM: Up to 305 layoffs possible when Powertrain Flint North stops building V-6 engine in August” [TFJ]
“Panasonic, Lifeline Armor announce layoffs” [KnxvlSntnl]
“Sun Microsystems announces 29 Dallas layoffs” [DBJ]
“Hard times a boon to repo men” [MiamiHrld]
“Jobless rate for youths is increasing: competition fierce for low skill summer positions” [WaPo]

South of the Border, (where McCain didn’t go):
“Haiti’s Toto Constant goes on trial in NYC” [CWN]
“Unusual mortgage fraud case: founder of Haitian death squad is defendant in a mortgage fraud case that opened yesterday” [NYS]
“Guatemala prosecutor shot dead” [BBC] “Gunmen kill prosecutor probing Salvador murder case” [Reuters] “Guatemala joins Petrocaribe” [PrLtn]
“Pacific Rim (gold) suspends further drilling in El Salvador until mining permit granted; local staffing reduced” [CNN] “Communities hit by floods in El Salvador” [Reuters]

Energy Alternatives: “3 solar plants for FPL weighed: Public Service Commission to take up solar energy proposal” [MiamiHrld] “Canada: Ontario to protect forest” [NYT]

Coffee and the Papers: Soup to Nuts

** Term limits for public offices are very popular, except with the people who have to accept them. The Nevada Supreme Court is hearing arguments today concerning the constitutionality of the state’s limitations. The Secretary of State is questioning the eligibility of local and county officials, however the decision may end up affecting members of the state Assembly and Senate as well. [LVRJ]

A contrarian view: Term limits make all manner of superficially good sense. Theoretically the imposition of a limit prevents the accumulation of power in uncontested offices, and thereby protects democracy. As with many things in life, the theoretical often doesn’t take into consideration the practical ramifications. (1) Ultimately, term limitations are un-democratic; the voters aren’t allowed to determine when or if State Senator X will be retired from office – the term limit kicks in. (2) Ambivalence becomes a factor when local voters support term limits in general, but think that Assemblyman Y is doing a fine job for them and should be continued in office. (3) Given that power in the state legislature is often based on voter representation (large urban vs. small rural representatives) and seniority, term limits have the effect of transferring influence and authority to urban representatives often at the expense of rural members of the legislature. There are commentators who have a tendency to sneer at rural representatives as backwater buffoons, but the fact remains that since “one man one vote” changed Nevada legislative power structures, seniority is the only avenue along which a rural representative and his or her district achieves any kind of influence. (4) Term limits more severely constrict the participation of those in office having the longest constitutional terms. An Assemblyman, governed by 12 year term limits, may serve in more sessions than a state Senator. Legislative limitations, to be scrupulously fair, ought not to be based on time served.

** What goes around, comes around, and the budget slashing taken by mental health services during previous budget crises (and never fully re-funded) still haunts Nevada’s capacity to deal with a “critical lack of mental health resources” in rural Nevada. [RGJ] The case can also be made that the deficit isn’t confined to the rural side of the ledger.

** Jim Rogers (Rogers Holdings) calls the Bush Administration plan for Fannie and Freddie an “unmitigated disaster.” [Blmbrg]

** Militants “breached” a U.S. base in Afghanistan, killing nine U.S. soldiers. [BBC]
“Obama shifts focus from Iraq, eyes more troops for Afghanistan” [Blmbrg]
“Is Iraq serious about a U.S. withdrawal timetable?” [Reuters]

** “Surging food imports outpace inspection: safety concerns rise as FDA looks at Mexico as a source of salmonella tainted tomatoes.” [Phil Inq] Memory Lane: “Bush Administration’s Un-inspection System III” [DB] “Bush Administration Food Un-inspection: A night in the Senate Dining Room” [DB] “Tastes like chicken could be fish…” [DB]

** President Bush will lift the executive ban on off shore oil drilling this afternoon, and call on Congress to do likewise with the legislative one. [Reuters] The ban has been in place since 1990, signed by none other than President George H.W. Bush. [NYT]

** “Population boom will pressure forests: reports” [Reuters] As world population surges from 6 to 9 billion persons, there will be an “unprecedented and unsustainable demand on the world’s remaining forests.”

Overnight Express: Quick Edition

** There’s one subject on which the entire Nevada congressional contingent can agree – the need to promote tourism. So, score another one for Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) who’s holding the one, and possibly only, bill Nevada members of the 110^th Congress all want, a measure creating a public-private corporation to promote the American tourism industry. Both Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV3) and Rep. Berkley (R-NV1) have signed on, as have Senators Reid and Ensign. [LV Sun] We can only hope they dump the proposed slogan?

** High school chums and cousins attempt to dig the Nevada Governor out of his self inflicted political quagmire. [LVRJ]

** And, then there’s Assemblyman John Carpenter (R-Cimarron Station) saying the statute concerning agriculture use tax breaks, à la the Governor’s Lamoille property, should be tightened up. [NV Appeal]

** Nothing like greasing the outstretched palms? “Money, was anything said about money? [WaPo] …As in securing promises of cash in exchange for access to Bush Administration officials, documented by the Times (UK). The Houston lobbyist who once raised more than $300,000 for Bush’s campaigns in 2000 and 2004 is now being called a “bit player” by the White House. But, then, the White House said Bush didn’t really know Jack (Abramoff) either?

** CNN must be having a tough time finding people willing to make fools of themselves denying human contributions to global warming – CNN News on Sunday evening featured former Rush Limbaugh ‘reporter and producer’ Marc Morano as the spokesperson for the Deniers. Morano is perhaps best remembered as the reporter for Cybercast News Service who was among the first to write about the Swift Boat Veterans, and who questioned the Purple Heart awards earned by Rep. John Murtha. Morano is now the communications director for Senate Republicans on the Environment and Public Works Committee, working for Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the ranking member.

** Not a wonderful life? Analysts aren’t predicting anything like the Savings & Loan debacle of not so long ago, but the New York Times reports several are predicting more small and regional bank failures, as “lagging indicators” of the nation’s current financial mess. “How bank failures happen and what they mean” [USAT] “The Fannie Mae Scandal: A History” [WSJ]
“Treasury, Fed take bold steps to back Freddie and Fannie” [Reuters]

** Lockheed’s CEO calls the Tanker contract bidding brouhaha “not a trade issue as much as an acquisition issue.” [Reuters] “EADS takes aim at U.S. defense business” [BusWk] “Tanker contract protest sounds familiar in Tri-Cities” [TCHerld]

** MessO’Potamia: “US pleased, worried, by newfound Iraqi confidence” [NwsWk] “Iraq improves, but what’s the plan?” [USAT] “U.S. Iraq scale down negotiations over forces, long term agreement will fall to next president” [WaPo] “Iraqi election law still incomplete” [LAT] “What journalists should be asking about the no-bid Iraqi oil deals” [Salon]

** Politics as usual: “Defections rattle GOP” [Roll Call sub req] Medicare is the first major crack in the Republican ranks, as “loyal colleagues defected in the face of political headwinds.” “Medicare bill nearly law but lobbies stay focused” [The Hill] “Bush likely to lose on Medicare” [The Hill]
“Gramm’s role reduced” [WaPo]

** Mine safety: “State (Utah) gets first coal mine safety director” [SLTrib] “Mine operators appeal citations, thwarting MSHA safety efforts” (June 17^th) [SLTrib]

** Post Katrina: “New Orleans to begin citing residents of FEMA trailers” [USAT]

Coffee and the Papers: National We Shot a Bear Week?

** There’s no calendar in the house designating this “WE shot a bear!” week, but it surely must be. First, Nevada’s Governor Jim Gibbons issues a statement saying how pleased he is that the Legislature bailed him out saying, “the agreement lawmakers reached was very similar to my recommendations.” [KTVN] Perhaps this was because the “lawmakers” had already hammered out most of the package before the Governor made up his mind about what to do?

** No sooner does this executive message come forth than the President of the United States issues this message on the signing of the New G.I. Bill: “I want to thank House and Senate leadership and leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. I am particularly grateful to Congressmen Boehner, Hoyer, Obey, and Lewis. And I want to thank members who worked hard for the GI Bill expansion -- especially Senators Webb and Warner, Graham, Burr, and McCain.” [WHPR] Uh, it’s already been remarked upon that Senators Graham, Burr, and McCain were opposed to the New G.I. Bill. [NYT] And, what happened to Senator Hagel, who helped draft the bill?

** If Senator John McCain would like voters to believe that he has the credentials to be the President of the United States it would be very helpful if his campaign staff was a bit more careful about vetting associates. Last month five people left the McCain camp because of lobbying ties. [HuffPo] Also during the merry month of May McCain staffers told the press that the controversial endorsements from Reverend John Hagee and Patriot Pastor Rod Parsley resulted from poor vetting. [TP] [ABC] June begins with the McCain campaign launching its Truth Squad, and who shows up on the roster? Col. Bud Day, who still claims, “The Swift Boat attacks were simply a revelation of the truth,” has been welcomed as a member of the newly established McCain “Truth Squad.” [TP] [HuffPo]

** Better yet, McCain who once said of the Swift Boat ads: “In an interview with the Associated Press, McCain called the ad "dishonest and dishonorable." Asked if the White House was behind it, McCain said: "I hope not, but I don't know. But I think the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad." [WaPo August 6, 2004] Of the top twenty contributors to the Swift Boat group, 9 donors and members of their families have donated $69,100 to the McCain campaign. Bob Perry and his wife have each donated $4,400. Sam Fox and his family have donated $11,000. [USAT]

** People might be more impressed with Senator McCain’s foreign policy credentials if he were to stop confusing nations, sects, and issues. During a March visit to the Middle East he confused Sunnis and Shiites. [WSJ] On April 8^th he confused Al Qaeda with a Shiite sect. [TP] All in all, the candidate managed to make the same mistake five times in five months. [Dem.Org] Further evidence that the Senator is geographically challenged came on June 30^th when the GOP presidential candidate confused Somalia with Sudan. [TP] It’s tempting to suggest a trip to “Google Earth,” but the candidate has already admitted he’s “computer illiterate.” [HuffPo]

** The New York Times has picked up on the story of Senator John Ensign’s (R-NV) blockage of the housing bill, “The bill was expected to pass, but the vote was derailed by petty politics. Senator John Ensign, Republican of Nevada, for example, demanded that the Senate add a multibillion dollar package of tax breaks for renewable energy.” […] “This sort of delay achieves political ends, like denying Democrats the chance to campaign on the accomplishment during the recess, but it’s exceedingly poor policy.”

** If one reads the ‘presser’ in the New Jersey Blog from Congressman Jon Porter concerning the "Fostering Connections to Success Act of 2008" a person might get the idea that Rep. Porter (R-NV3) originated the measure? (H.R. 6307) There were 27 co-sponsors of the bill, including Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV1). The bill passed on a voice vote, June 24^th and is now in the Senate Finance Committee.

** A court says the Bush Administration cannot rely on evidence comparable to “Twas brillig, and the slithey toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe,” when seeking to keep detainees at Guantanamo. [WaPo] The Administration must therefore find another ‘vorpal sword’ to take in hand against the frumious Bandersnatch? Actually, the poem in question was "The Hunting of the Snark," as in, what I tell you three times is true...

** MessO’Potamia: “Wounded Iraqi forces say they’ve been abandoned” [NYT] “After deaths, U.S. inspects electric work done in Iraq” [NYT] “Iraq opens oil fields to global bidding” [WaPo] “RAND releases delayed Iraq History” [NYT] “Factbox: Security developments in Iraq” [Reuters] “Iraq: 10 American casualties identified” [LAT]
“Many killed in Iraq bomb attacks” [BBC]
“Pentagon announces new deployments to Iraq” [Army Times]
“Wartime contracting commission members named” [GovExec]

“June is deadliest month for troops in Afghanistan war” [LAT]
“Civilians killed in Afghanistan” [BBC]
“Factbox: Security developments in Afghanistan” [Reuters]

** “Oil trades above $140 on concern Iran may face military attacks” [Bloomberg]
“White House mum on alleged covert ops in Iran” [AFP]
“U.S. supports PKK linked separatists against Iran, report” [Hurriyet]
“Iran exiles back armed opposition” [BBC]
“Iran Contra’s Lost Chapter” [Common Dreams]

** How can we expect the Department of Energy to keep the Yucca Mountain site safe when they’re having demonstrable problems with Hanford? GAO Report “DoE lacks critical information needed to assess its tank management strategy at Hanford.” Another GAO release isn’t going to make people feel much safer either, “NRC’s oversight of fire protection at U.S. commercial nuclear reactor units could be strengthened.” This GAO report doesn’t make a person feel all warm and fuzzy either: “Homeland Security – First responders’ ability to detect and model hazardous releases in urban areas is significantly limited.”

** “The GOP’s December Surprise? Is the GOP cooking the books to avoid recession till after election day?” [MJ]
“UBS clients may ‘come clean’ to IRS in U.S. tax evasion probe” [Bloomberg]
“UBS introduces new governance rules, board members depart” [MrktWtch]
“Florida sues Countrywide over mortgages” [Reuters]
“Mortgage insurers slump again, defaults stayed high in May” [MrktWtch]
“Chrysler shows $300 million loss through April, plant to close” [Bloomberg]
“Global profit warnings could be next shoe to drop” [Reuters]
“Expanding Medicaid a less costly way to cover more low income uninsured than expanding private insurance” [CBPP]

** Remember the Big Easy? “New HUD chief says New Orleans public housing is back on track” [NOLA] “HOPE worldwide mobilizes 1,300 students to help rebuild New Orleans on July 4^th” [Earth Times]

Overnight Express News Round Up

** Good news for those caught in the Nevada real estate bust: “Approval is near for bill to help U.S. homeowners,” [NYT] The bad news: President Bush is re-iterating his veto threat because of the $4 billion included for communities to buy and rehabilitate vacant properties.

** The state of Illinois is suing Countrywide Financial for “defrauding borrowers by selling costly and defective loans that quickly went into foreclosure.” [NYT]

** “Stuck auction rate debt buyers grasp for answers: UBS, others failed to offer prospectuses or warn of brewing woes” [BostGlb]
“Fed vacancies pose challenge for Bernanke” [WSJ]

** The Bush Administration must be reeling from the recent spate of GAO reports. First, we discover that the Surge has been of questionable value. [GAO] Then, that there is inadequate accounting for CERP funds in Iraq. [GAO] Now, we discover that the Administration has spent more than $2 billion in aid to Pakistan without proof that the government has used the money for the intended purposes. [WaPo] [GAO.1] [GAO.2]
“Pakistan govt files appeal against Sharif election ban: official” [AFP]
“Abducted Pakistani men found dead” [BBC]

** “Pentagon contractor was suspect: company accused of fraud had been flagged by State Department” [WaPo]
“Army flayed over 21 year old’s $298 million arms deal” [McClatchy]
“Major, wife plead guilty in Iraq bribery case” [Army Times]
“The Pentagon’s Billion Dollar Babies” [Mother Jones]

** “Bush, Talabani to meet on Iraq security” [Reuters]
“U.S. allied Iraqi politician kills 2 U.S. troops, wounds 4” [McClatchy]
“Blast kills 11, including 4 Americans in Sadr City building” [McClatchy]
“Iraq bomb kills 3 soldiers, interpreter” [Reuters]
“Two U.S. soldiers killed in ambush near Baghdad” [LAT]
“He Should Never Have Gone to Iraq: more borderline troops are being sent to the front, sometimes with tragic results” [Newswk]
“EU countries move to stop flood of Iraqi refugees” [Der Spiegel]

** “Syria planned to supply Iran with nuclear fuel, Israel says: strategic expert says idea was to share plutonium, speculation grows over possible attack” [Guardian UK]
“Iran: European sanctions condemned” [NYT]

** The way the Administration avoided accepting the fact that the EPA concluded greenhouse gases are actually pollutants was to refuse to open the e-mail document sent to the White House. [NYT] Would they have opened it if the e-mail came from the adopted nephew of an African dictator?
“Carbon credit schemes fall 30% short of projections, report claims” [Guardian UK]
“Santa Barbara fumes over McCain’s drilling plans” [LAT]
“Toxic fears for Senegal recyclers” [BBC]

** Top engineers are avoiding the military. [NYT]
“In Latin America, some leaders reject U.S. drug war.”[Reuters]
“Groups to warn panel about economic effect of seizing laptops” [NextGov]

** “McCain adviser may have struck a nerve” [WaPo]
“Charlie Black and the Terror Card” [WaPo]
“Aide who said terror attack would benefit McCain faces calls to quit” [IndepUK]

** Post Katrina – “Contractor faces new fraud claims: homeowners say work left undone” [NOLA]
“Hurricane Center says better forecasts could cost millions” [USAT]

** “Your Papers Please!” – “Citizens sue after detentions, immigration raids” [USAT] “Major immigration law firm under federal scrutiny” [USAT]

** “Mugabe defiant despite pressure” [Guardian UK]
“Fear grows in Zanu-PF as officials interrogate top MDC man over amnesty deals, lawyer says” [Guardian UK]
“Zimbabwe opposition leader asks for peace force” [IHT]
“Mbeki not invited to Zimbabwe meeting” [M&G,SA]
“Zuma: Zimbabwe is out of control” [M&G, SA]
“Defiant Mugage refuses to bow to world pressure” [IntlBusTimes]
“U.S. to ignore Zimbabwe poll result” [BBC]

** “Haitian president nominates new prime minister” [VOA]
“Rights groups launch groundbreaking report on right to water in Haiti” [CD]
“Rights group assails U.S. for withholding aid to Haiti, citing political motives” [NYT]

Quick Clips - Morning Coffee Edition

Battles, battles everywhere – Nevada political fights, budget battles, competing versions of what’s happening in Iraq – and not an end in sight:

** Erin Neff writes an interesting piece for the Las Vegas Review Journal about Senator John Sidney McCain III’s short list of possible campaign heads for Nevada, and a person could infer that the process of elimination left the McCain camp without much choice in the matter.

** The Las Vegas Gleaner and NV Mojo both link to the New Yorker article about Las Vegas gazillionaire Sheldon “Freedom’s Watch” Adelson. The Gleaner provides a quick summary.

** Sunbelt Communications’ scion is openly calling for the resignation of the Nation’s Worst Governor. [Las Vegas Sun]

** Why would anyone in Nevada care about a bid for the ID Systems division of Digimarc Corporation? Perhaps because Safran S.A. is a foreign defense titan that’s looking to purchase the company that makes Nevada driver’s licenses? [LVRJ] [CNN] “Europe's largest defense electronics company is joining Safran SA (SAF FP) and three other aerospace and defense-equipment makers to provide maintenance and services for military aircraft.” [Bloomberg]

** The GAO cites little improvement in the ability of Iraqi security forces to operate independently of U.S. forces in Iraq; the Pentagon says the measurement should be based on Iraq troops ready to “take the lead.” [WaPo] Perhaps it’s time to recall what the Surge was supposed to do in the first place, including: (1) reform of the Iraqi cabinet; (2) act on reconciliation initiatives, oil law, de-baathification, and provincial elections, give coalition and ISF authority to pursue all extremists; (3) support from all Iraqi leaders for reconciliation; (4) a moderate coalition emerging as a strong base of support for a unity government.

The President announced his Surge saying: “To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq's provinces by November. To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the country's economy, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all Iraqis. To show that it is committed to delivering a better life, the Iraqi government will spend $10 billion of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs. To empower local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year. And to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation's political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws, and establish a fair process for considering amendments to Iraq's constitution.” [WHPR]

What’s the score?

On the oil revenue sharing legislation – the process has been log-jammed since February 2007, in the mean time the Kurds have signed about 20 production agreements, all considered “illegal” by the Iraqi Oil Ministry. In spite of contracts signed by the Baghdad government with Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, and BP, there is no final agreement on oil revenue sharing legislation.

According to the GAO Report, only a “framework” has been agreed to concerning the oil revenue sharing legislation. No substantive agreements have been reached in regard to restructuring the Ministry of Oil, or revenue sharing, and no legislation has been drafted related to the Iraq National Oil Company.

On Iraqi provincial elections – disagreements over voting in Kirkuk have some members of the Iraqi parliament calling for a delay of the scheduled October 1 elections. [Reuters] Some Sadrists have announced a boycott of the proposed October balloting. [AFP] Previous efforts to iron out election process differences were vetoed last March. [CNN]

On de-baathification – the de-baathification law publicized by the Bush Administration as a sign of progress when it was passed last January has yet to be implemented, and the Iraqi government still has not appointed the seven member commission that was supposed to replace the “de-baathification committee.” [Reuters]

On amendments to the Iraqi Constitution – No legislation has yet been drafted concerning militia disarmament and demobilization. [GAO] Since September 2007 “the constitutional review process has made little progress. The Iraqi Constitutional Review Committee recommended draft amendments in May 2007 but these have not moved forward. Kurdish leaders have blocked the review since March 2008 because of unresolved issues in Kirkuk.

Score: 0-5

** The GAO released a second report on June 23, 2008 that questions whether there is adequate supervision and oversight of the CERP program run by the Department of Defense. The program is supposed to allow local commanders to fund humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. The report observes that there are no performance metrics for the program and commanders “sometimes develop their own indicators” or use anecdotal evidence to “assess the impact” of the spending. 97% of the projects cost less than $500,000 and there is limited knowledge concerning this spending; officials admit that they do not review these smaller expenditures unless a problem is directly brought to their attention.

** It’s not over yet: “Case-Shiller Composite 20 price index off 17.8% from peak” [Calculated Risk] Quick translation: Four years of home value gains have been wiped out. “The biggest declines were seen in Las Vegas, Miami and Phoenix, with prices falling by 25% or more in the past year. Prices in 10 cities have fallen by more than 10%.” See also: Selected Cities.

Coffee and the Papers

Whatever would we do without Senator John Ensign’s (R-NV) aphotic non sequiturs and jabberwocky pronouncements? “Energy is actually a huge opportunity for Republicans," said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who chairs the Senate Republicans' re-election campaign. "Energy has the opportunity to change the climate if it's done right." [SFC] Huh?

The Las Vegas Sun continues its series on Las Vegas and the Water Wars: “Not this water: in a bid to save his family’s livelihood after Las Vegas laid the groundwork for a water pipeline that could reduce his land to dust, a White Pine County rancher joins forces with Utah.

NV Governor Jim Gibbons ‘buddy’ Warren Trepp now finds himself at loggerheads with a billionaire businesswoman – charges and countercharges continue to fly! [RGJ]* Which may have the wrong identifications for its photos.

More squawking chickenhawks – William Kristol wants a war with Iran [TP] John Bolton wants a war with Iran [TP] ElBaradei says an attack “would transform the Middle East region in to a ball of fire.” [SMH] Admiral Michael Mullen doesn’t seem to think an attack is such a good idea either, and suggests diplomatic engagement. [TP]

The Splurge: “Iraq’s provincial elections could be delayed – MPs” [TPM-Reuters] “Reporters say networks put wars on back burner” [HuffPo-NYT]
“U.S. network falters in Mid East mission” [WaPo] “Alhurra: Part One” [ProP]
“From Afghanistan, NATO shells militants in Pakistan” [NYT]
“Afghanistan grows more dangerous for foreigners” [SFC]

Bush-Cheney-McCain version of supporting the troops: When the Bush Administration decided to cut back on Medicare payments, did anyone stop to think that payments for military related TRICARE services, which are tied to the Medicare regulations, might be cut back as well? [McClatchy]
“VA Secretary: Care of women vets will improve” [Army Times]
“Some spec ops skills being lost, official says,” [Army Times]

“After lawsuit, Medicare to ease drug benefit enrollment for poor” [The Hill]
“Agency sees theft risk for ID card in Medicare” [NYT]

Uncivil liberties and Urban Legends: “New report demolishes “Gitmo 30” talking point used by Scalia and McCain” [Perrs] Full report here in PDF format.
“Panel tees off on Justice grant official’s golf outings” [GovExec]
“DoJ grantees getting by with help from their friends” [ProP]

“McCain under Democratic fire for Air Force fiasco” [Reuters] “Northrop Grumman spent $3.3 million to lobby in 1Q” [Forbes] “A big win for Boeing, a big loss for EADS” [Der Spiegel]

“The Real McCain” [Guardian UK] Highly recommended!

Infrastructure? “Call for change ignored, levees remain patchy” [NYT]
“The Flood This Time” [StLPD]
“How President Bush’s policies leveled New Orleans” [TPR]
“Failed levees unleash pain and misery on farm towns in Midwest” [NYDN]
“(State) Senate vote fails to OK Road Home legislation” [NOLA]

This hemisphere: “EU ends diplomatic sanctions on Cuba” [Der Spiegel]
“IMF OKs extra funding for Haiti amid food shock” [Reuters]
“Haiti: Jean-Juste charges thrown out” [PFP]

“Canadian mining firms want lakes for toxic waste dumps” [CBC] [UPI] [GP-CA]
“McCain’s nuclear power policy identical to Bush Administration” [TPR]

Not a bad idea? “Fuel costs may force some kids to walk: Montgomery (MD) weighs altering school bus rules” [WaPo] Is “weighs” the operative word?
“We can’t just drill our way out of this” [NYND]
“Memory of 1969 disaster colors current oil drilling debate” [McClatchy]
“Where offshore drilling goes, beaches suffer” [StPT]
“Offshore oil drilling: fighting words in California?” [SJMN]
“IOC pipeline cracks, oil spills in plenty” [TimesIndia]
“Magellan Midstream Partners to pay $5.3 million for petroleum spills” [KCStr]
“Pembina handled leak well, but damage is done” [CalgaryHer]
“Experts: look to others for oil drilling advice” [NWF-DN]

Nevada news at Blue Sage Views

Please Make It Stop?

Please, surely someone in northern Nevada – southern Nevada – anywhere in the country has an actual family recipe he or she would be willing to send to the McCain Campaign HQ to use as their very own. The McCain Campaign has done it again: They’ve sent a Hershey’s Oatmeal Butterscotch cookie recipe to Parents Magazine. [TP] First, the Food Network, and now the Hershey’s company – what’s next Betty Crocker, the Pillsbury Dough Boy? That “low level staffer” didn’t get the first memo? [Links to Eisenhower Fudge, Dole Pecan Roll cookies, Reagan Coconut Macaroons, Goldwater Chili, and Clinton Chocolate Chip Cookies in earlier post.]

Scott Bloch, head of the Office of Special Counsel, who was supposed to be investigating information passed along by whistleblowers, “ginned up a bogus investigation of the Bush White House in order to shield himself from investigations.” [TPM] The con artist scammed the cons?

Mr. Environmentalist? “McCain wants to lift ban on offshore drilling” [SFC] This should go over well with those beach front property owners in Florida?
“House Republicans vow push on oil drilling” [Reuters]
“Democrats try Use it or Lose it Oil argument” “House and Senate Democrats are complaining that U.S. oil companies are not drilling on 68 million acres of leased federal land and waters.” [CQPol]
“Energy industry campaigns against proposed rules” [DenBJ]
“Lawsuit threatened over Roan Plateau leases” [DenBJ]

“Chairman Waxman requests investigation in criminal fraud cases in Iraq” [The Gavel]
“Waxman estimates 7,000 contractor fraud cases linked to Iraq war” [Fed Times]
“Baghdad defense officials hail Iran-Iraq security pact” [FARS]
“Iraq takes a turn toward Tehran” [Asia Times]
Smintheus provides a thorough narrative of “The collapse of SOFA.”

The