Week In Review

This Week In Republican Values:

• The Republican Senator from Idaho who was arrested soliciting sex in an airport bathroom, Larry Craig, and the prostitute loving Louisiana Senator, David Vitter are sponsoring an amendment to "Protect" the Sanctity Of Marriage.
• Nevada Republican Governor caught embracing ex-Playboy Bunny... Hey at least she wasn't a prostitute!
• McCain jokes about "beating his wife."
• Republican icon, Grover Norquist, refers to Obama as "John Kerry with a tan."
• McCain VP shortlister, LA Gov. Bobby Jindal signs legislation that would punish sex offenders with castration. He also signed legislation to make creationism part of the science curriculum, and threw in a legislative pay raise while he was at it. Did I mention he performed an exercism??
• Republicans congressional candidate losing ground after local paper reports he drove his ex-girlfriend to the clinic and paid for her abortion... then never talked to her again.

Other stuff CivilMass should have blogged about this week:

• John McCain doesn't campaign on weekends. I can't imagine this will last very long.
• Progressives bloggers bicker over Obama's position on FISA.
• During "Unity Week" Barack and Michelle donated the maximum amount to the Clinton Campaign.
• McCain flip-flops, and now wants to increase offshore drilling.
• Obama hopes to redraw the electoral map, and several new polls show it's possible- if not likly. Election inspection has a great breakdown .
• Part of a huge investigation into the politicization of the Department of Justice was realesed. They found that, "Senior department officials used political affiliation to weed out candidates for coveted appointments." The DOJ rejected essays "filled with leftist commentary and buzz words like 'environmental justice' and 'social justice.'" and used the internet "to determine if [applicants] were "anarchists" or "leftists."

Conspiracy Theorist Get Some Ammo

Via Think Progress-

John McCain's chief strategist, Charlie Black, told Fortune Magazine that another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would “Certainly.. be a big advantage.." to the McCain campaign.

This is not a gaffe, these people really believe this. And it's sickening.

Newsweek Shows Obama Bump

The latest Newsweek Poll shows Obama with a 15-point lead over McCain. 51-36

Susan G at Kos points out:

"Obviously, it's still waaay early in the game, but the article points out that Obama is "running much stronger" than either Al Gore or John Kerry were at this point in the process."

Exciting New Journal Coming Out

My friend John McMillian is editing an exciting new journal focused on taking a fresh look at 60's politics and culture.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2008

Routledge announces:

The Sixties: A Journal of History, Politics and Culture
A newer generation of scholarship grapples with the legacy of the 1960s

Across the globe, no era in the twentieth century has been as celebrated, contested, and scrutinized as the 1960s. And as we are frequently reminded – in a seemingly endless parade of books, articles, films, television programs and special editions of magazines – that decade continues to illuminate our present era. Now, forty years after the many of the main events of 1960s, Routledge is delighted to announce the publication of a new journal that is devoted to grappling with that era’s complicated legacy.

The Sixties is edited by Jeremy Varon (Drew University), Michael S. Foley (CUNY) and John McMillian (Harvard University), and is supported by a distinguished international Editorial Board.

“The Sixties is the first scholarly journal devoted to the study of a single decade,” remarked McMillian. “In the last decade or so, a huge amount of writing has been devoted to understanding that remarkable era; now this journal will become a premiere outlet for the sharpest, most exciting work in the field.”

Varon added that although The Sixties is an academic journal, it is geared toward a broader audience than just scholars. “All across the world, people remain fascinated by the 1960s,” he said. “So we’re creating a journal that will be interesting to baby boomers, sixties-veterans, and contemporary activists as well as writers and teachers.”

“From the very beginning, we’ve always said we want a journal that is intellectually serious, but which also reflects the spirit and passion of the times,” said Foley. “We’re excited to build a rich and diverse community around The Sixties.”

Notes:

For further information, please contact: jeremy@sixtiesjournal.com, michael@sixtiesjournal.com, john@sixtiesjournal.com, and visit www.informaworld.com/thesixties.

Free online access to The Sixties is available to members of the press. Contact mark.robinson@tandf.co.uk for more details.

The Sixties will be published twice a year in print and online (Print ISSN: 1754-1328; Online ISSN: 1754-1336). Volume 1 Issue 1 is available online now.

Routledge is part of the Taylor & Francis Group and is the imprint for all its journals and books in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Worth The Read

My friend Tim McCarthy is back to blogging after a brief hiatus. If you are into history, politics or LGBT issues be sure to pay him a visit at The Tim Zone.

Bush's Third Term

As much as McCain would like to distance himself from the failed policies of an increasingly unpopular president and his party, The New York Times has found that McCain has pledged to continue President Bush's policies on the following key issues:

• Abortion and judges
• Education
• Iran and Syria
• Immigration
• Iraq
• Guantanamo detainees
• Health care
• Medicare
• Social Security
• Same-sex marriage
• Civil unions
• Taxes
• Trade
• Wiretapping, and
• Executive power

How do those "Democrats" threatening to vote for McCain justify extending these failed policies?

Obama Up In Critical Ohio

PPP has a new poll out today that shows Obama leading McCain 50-39 in Ohio.

Having spent quite some time working in Ohio politics, these numbers surprise me. Then again, Dems have been doing considerably better in Ohio since I left in 2005. (I hope there is no correlation there!)

This poll may be an outlier, but it should be noted that PPP nailed the numbers in the Ohio Dem Primary. Regardless, things look promising for Obama.

On Sale Now!

At the Texas Republicans State Convention.

Re-Invest In National Service

For the last 8 years President Bush has paid patriotic lip service to national service while cutting programs and squandering Americans desire to serve domestically following 9/11.

Many Americans have the desire and willingness to serve domestically, they simply need a strong leader to pave the way. A leader like President Roosevelt who created the National Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. A leader with the vision of President Kennedy who created the Peace Corps, or Johnson who created Volunteers in Service to America. Once again America needs a President that is willing to invest in national service and the future of our communities.

In the last 4 years the federal agency that funds AmeriCorps, the Corporation for National and Community Service, has seen its budget slashed by over $105 million dollars. President Bush has continually signed off on legislation that has reduced the number of full-time AmeriCorps members at a time when our communities need it the most. There are now more Americans applying to serve than positions are available.

AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor some of the 14 million school age kids that have no supervised place to go after school. They help care for the 56 million people that lack access to healthcare. They clean our rivers and streams to ensure Americans have safe drinking water. They protect our forests from devastating fires. They provide much needed relief to those directly affected by natural disasters, and they organize volunteers to do the same.

Senator Obama has been an outspoken proponent of national service, and has outlined an extensive plan to increase opportunities to serve domestically. His plan entails tripling the number of AmeriCorps members, and doubling the Peace Corps. Senator Obama has also proposed the most innovative program of any candidate with what he calls the “Green Job Corps.” Green Job Corps would create an energy-focused jobs program to provide disadvantaged youth with service opportunities addressing energy use while getting practical experience in a fast growing career field.

Not only has Senator Obama crafted sound national service policy, he has also shown an ability to energize youth like few other politicians past or present. Obama has the vision and Kennedy-esk charisma required to re-invest in America’s long history of national service.

A Smart Campaign

Obama's camp has made some very smart strategic moves since becoming the presumptive nominee. Here are the headlines:

• Obama Taking Over Democratic National Committee Partly To Avoid Kerry's Fate
• Obama Camp Unveils "Fight The Smears" Web Site
• Obama Will Staff Every State
• Obama backs Lieberman against the wall (literally)
• Obama goes after McCain's economic policy

The polls show that he is solidifying the party, lets hope he continues to do so. Keep up the good work, Sen. Obama!