BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Senator John McCain is preparing to enjoy a weekend at Hidden Valley Ranch, scrutinizing three possible running mates, Mitt Romney, Charlie Crist, and Bobby Jindal.  Others are expected the join the group, including Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina and Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay.

On a positive note or two, McCain has been declared free of skin cancer and given a clean bill of health.  This was one of the concerns that many had brought up, especially in light of the fact that McCain if elected, would be the oldest elected President.  Hopefully, that is not an honor he will experience.

McCain has had five skin cancers, including a growth that was removed in February of this year, but there is no sign any of the cancers have recurred.

Still, each incidence of cancer increases the likelihood he will have a new tumor, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said.

But his doctor on Friday said he is currently in “excellent health and displays extraordinary energy.”

“While it is impossible to predict any person’s future health, today I can find no medical reason or problems that would preclude Sen. McCain from fulfilling all the duties and obligations of president of the United States,” said Dr. John D. Eckstein, an internal medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic.

And, McCain realized that while the strong right wing ultra-conservatives… the Karl Rove masses… have been the supporters of many of the latest successful Republican candidates, the times are changing and these fundamentalists have lost their power to shoe him into the White House.  The truth is McCain doesn’t have the appeal to get that ark afloat, having compromised on issues more than is acceptable to the ultra-conservative masses.  Along with that realization, McCain has denounced the endorsement of Reverend John Hagee, the lunatic that spreads hate in the name of religion. 

 A Texas pastor and televangelist says his life’s work has been “mischaracterized and attacked” in the media storm over his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

McCain on Thursday rejected the Rev. John Hagee’s endorsement after an audio recording surfaced in which the preacher said God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land.

At a news conference Friday, Hagee said parting with McCain is “best for both of us and the country.” He went on to say he in no way condones the Holocaust or “that monster Adolf Hitler.”

Hagee said, “I have worked tirelessly to eliminate the sin of anti-Semitism from the Christian world and to ensure the survival of the state of Israel.”

Perhaps, it’s time that all of us came to the conclusion that the preachers who have been named in the political scene this year on both sides of the election process are on the fringe.  Maybe it’s time to put them back in the pulpit and stop giving them political air time.  It would be insane for anyone to believe that John McCain believes what John Hagee espouses any more than one should believe that Barack Obama believes in the hate that Jeremiah Wright spoke.  Both preachers probably started out with a truth, but as with so many things in life, embellishment and emotion have seemingly pushed them to the edge of sanity.

Hillary Clinton is campaigning on.  At this late stage in the game, with only three primaries left, she should continue to the finish line.  On the other hand, it has been rumored that husband Bill is trying to get Hillary a second seed position on the Democratic ticket for fall.  From all reports, everyone in the Clinton campaign is beginning to speak what they may have seen and felt for a few weeks.  It’s over and it’s time for the lady in the pants suit to sing. 

Apparantly, Hillary put her foot in her mouth once this week.  It’s a weak and uncalled for argument, but…

 Sen. Hillary Clinton referred Friday to the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968 Democratic campaign as a reason she should continue to campaign despite increasingly long odds.

Barack Obama is courting Cuban Americans in Florida, appealing more to the younger voters than the older ones.  Older Cubans who have sought refuge in America still maintain a hard line against the Castro regime, be it Fidel or Raoul.  Obama told a crowd that he would work for freedom for Cubans, but there is doubt in the mind of the older generation.  It’s true that Obama has his work cut out for him with the Cuban community.  Some aren’t quite ready to try diplomacy.

Sen. Barack Obama called today for “direct diplomacy, with friend and foe alike,” saying he would meet with Cuba’s Communist leaders in hopes of advancing democracy on the island.

In a luncheon speech to the most powerful Cuban exile group in the country, the Illinois Democrat vying for his party’s presidential nomination also said he would immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances.

Additionally, it seems that according to many reports, Obama has set the wheels in motion to begin looking for a vice presidential running mate.  There is still the dream among some that he will select Hillary Clinton, but it looks more and more doubtful.  She may have carried the fight a little too far to back up for the second seat.

Well, it’s not over until it’s over.