William K. Wolfrum Chronicles

You know, there was a time not long ago when red-blooded Americans were the ones that profited when the U.S. unleashed holy hell against a nation that had something it wanted. Ah, those were the days.

Iraq signs $3B oil deal with China

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Iraq has signed its first major oil deal with a foreign company since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, a spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry said Saturday.

It was the first time in more than 35 years that Iraq has allowed foreign oil companies to do business inside its borders.

The contract with the China National Petroleum Corporation could be worth up to $3 billion. It would allow the CNPC to develop an oil field in southern Iraq’s Wasit province for about 20 years, said Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad.

It’s almost like the U.S. killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and displaced millions of Iraqis for nothing.

–WKW

In a dramatic example of just how toxic Republicans are to the economy, the Dow Jones tumbled 170 points on the news that John McCain picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

The losses nearly completely wiped out the Dow’s impressive gain of 212 points due to Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

With the Republican National Convention beginning on Monday, worried investors are prepared for the worst.

–WKW

From The National Review:

I’m hearing that a delegate to the GOP Convention Committee on Rules will introduce an amendment at today’s meeting that would instruct caucus states to provide for some way for soldiers to vote. As it stands, military members deployed abroad have no way to participate in caucuses, and a coalition of veterans’ groups has been trying to change that. I’ll be at the meeting, and I’ll update you as soon as I hear anything.

So how hard is it to actually make sure that Veterans have a way to participate in caucuses? For the GOP - led by John McCain - harder than you’d think:

The amendment passed, but not before delegates from Texas, Louisiana and other caucus states led an effort to render it non-binding. I’ve posted the amendment below, with the original language in strikethrough, so you can see what they did:

Any process authorized or implemented by a state party for selecting delegates and alternate delegates or for binding the presidential preference of such delegates shall may use every means practicable, in the sole discretion of the state party, to allow encourage active military personnel the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

Clearly, this language changes the rule to something more like a recommendation …

But hey, Republicans are the party of defense, right. I’m not kidding.

–WKW

While I still maintain a level of pessimism over what will happen in November, for the reasons detailed, I felt that Barack Obama came off as Presidential in his speech at the Democratic National Convention. I attempted to view November through a lens of Realpolitik, and looking at Obama’s coronation last night through those same lenses, I believe Obama did very, very well for himself and the Democratic Party.

But I believe the “sure, he’s going to save the world but how will he do it and pay for it” meme being rapidly passed around through the media and through Obama’s opponents and undecideds is already and will continue to be overplayed. And while skepticism over a politician’s campaign promises is natural and necessary, should Obama be elected he would need to take a four-year nap in order to fail to deliver as spectacularly as the sitting President.

In his acceptance speech at the 2000 Republican National Convention, Bush promised that:

- He would give massive tax relief for all (how did you spend your $300?)

- He would fix Social Security while not touching it.

- He would ban late-term abortions.

- He would “protect the natural world around us.”

- He would shore up the Medicare system and “make prescription drugs available and affordable for every senior who needs them.”

- He would reduce world nuclear stockpiles.

- He would deploy a robust national anti-intercontinental ballistic missile defense shield.

- He would give American workers security and independence that no politician can ever take away.

- He would hold those who spend your tax dollars accountable.

- He would “renew the promise of America’s public schools.”

- He would give the military need better equipment, better training and better pay and respect them.

- That when he used the military “the cause must be just, the goal must be clear, and the victory must be overwhelming.”

- He would “change the tone of Washington to one of civility and respect.”

Bush - who entered the 2000 election with a resume that is quite a bit like Obama’s but with several failed attempts to be a businessman - ran under the umbrella that “times of plenty like times of crises are tests of American character.” Few in the mainstream media were concerned with how he would accomplish these things. Few questioned if he was competent or experienced enough to accomplish his vast agenda.

A national convention is not a time for a candidate for President to keep his hopes and aspirations grounded. It is a time for soaring rhetoric and hope. And that’s what Barack Obama delivered. And in doing so, he outlined his plans in far more detail than either Bush or Bill Clinton before him.

While his promises were oft-times grandiose, I have no doubt whatsoever that a President Obama would attempt to deliver on them with far more intellectual honesty than President Bush. And history should show us that how John McCain would deliver on the campaign promises he makes next week at the Republican National Convention.

–WKW

Barack Obama just finished rocking the house. And regardless of one’s beliefs of his platform, experience, and past stances on issues that progressives truly find important, there should be no doubt that Barack Obama delivered on the biggest night of his life. It was an inspiring, intelligent and soaring performance.

Tonight, Barack Obama made history just by walking on the stage and accepting the Democratic nomination. Time and circumstance will tell if he will make more history in less than 70 days. But tonight, he was just superb.

–WKW

It is with regret that we announce that due to a severe case of ennui, Afonso will not be live-blogging tonight’s speech by Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention. We apologize for the last-minute change of schedule.

–WKW

Focus on the Family’s prayers that “rain of biblical proportions” would wash away Barack Obama’s speech tonight at Invesco Field in Denver have been rejected, said a spokesperson for God.

–WKW

Update: Sarah Palin, eh? I must admit I didn’t see that coming. May I just say, however, as someone who lived in Alaska, I’m quite curious about how smart it is to have an Alaskan politician involved at the national level.)

Karl Rove has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to be John McCain’s running mate, Fox News has confirmed.

Rove, who spends his time as a Fox News pundit when not orchestrating the McCain campaign, gave Pawlenty a glowing review on Fox News, and Fox News has spent a great deal of time talking up Pawlenty.

“The first thing you go for when picking a vice-president is do no harm,” said Rove, confirming that McCain will do as he’s told him and pick the hyper-conservative.

Reached for comment, McCain grumbled and said “read my book,” as per instructions from Rove.

More on this as it develops.

–WKW

Well, this is an odd report if I ever saw one:

Early this week, however, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton unleashed a bombshell strategy that promises to not just shake up the 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign but also the entire United States economy.

Barack Obama has signed a long-term contract with Tiger Woods Design to design golf courses around the globe.

“This was the next logical step for Sen. Obama,” said Burton. “We saw exactly how much money Dubai was paying Tiger Woods to design a golf course, and we knew that with Sen. Obama’s international popularity this was something we needed to do.”

While the announcement that Obama will simultaneously design golf courses while continuing to campaign for the presidency - and continue afterward either as the President or Senator - will likely be met with skepticism, Burton pointed out all the positives.

“The numbers being tossed around for Sen. Obama to create his own signature golf courses are mind-boggling,” said Burton. “And every cent he earns will be used to offset the national debt, as well as create a national healthcare system.”

As I said, strange. Of course, it could just be coming from a bad golf web site desperately looking for some attention.

;)

–WKW

Reading through the nearly 300 comments of the “Important Announcement” post at Shakesville, and viewing comments elsewhere regarding said post, one word has come up repeatedly - spite.

While going to a definition is trite and usually of little value, I find it interesting that the definition of spite, according to Merriam-Webster is “Petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart.”

Because at a dedicated progressive and feminist blog where numerous voices and perspectives are presented, I find the accusation that individuals that have not leaped aboard the Barack Obama bandwagon are doing so out of spite to be spiteful in their own way.

The United States of America is 232 year old. And in those 232 years, this great experiment in democracy has become thus - you have one choice for President. I understand the primary season is supposed to be a time to vet out the best candidate for your party, but many struggle to view it as little more than a choice of packaging. The present has been bought for us. Our choice is in how it will be wrapped. And this goes for both the Republican and Democratic parties, which are currently the only viable parties U.S. citizens been allowed. Basically, the United States is the loss of one major party away from being a one-party system. I fail to see the democracy in such a system.

The voice of voters has been quelled, and yet there is outright anger shown to any who dare defy or even question a rigged system.

What is spite? Spite is John Aravosis at Americablog viewing Hillary Clinton’s performance at the Democratic National Convention and - after literally years of belittling the Senator from New York - writing exactly one post about her. And that post is dedicated to showing Clinton’s name on a Hooter’s sign in Colorado. That is petty ill will or hatred.

Spite is Nora Ephron being unable to stop herself from calling Clinton supporters narcissistic and clumping them all together as if they were one monolithic group that marched together lockstep with no concern whatsoever for their nation.

Spite is Stephen Kaus seeing Hillary Clinton’s speech and viewing it as a reason for an all-out assault on her and her supporters.

Spite is sricki at MyDD unleashing a torrent of ad-hominens - in a post that is an apparent attempt to show some type of understanding - and finishing with “If you don’t know whether you can vote for him, I would recommend sitting back silently, watching and reading, or contacting people privately.”

Spite is seeing Democrats being lavished by AT&T for their help in allowing them to walk away unscathed after violating the law and the privacy of so many Americans. And then having said Democrats refuse to comment about the cozy relationship.

Nonetheless, I completely understand the opinion that every last effort must be made to defeat John McCain and the Republicans. But I also understand the level of frustration many have in a Democratic Party that has shown little interest in holding Republicans accountable, or were plainly complicit in their actions the past eight years.

And I also understand those who believe that the system is so utterly broken that they refuse to take part in political parades that are little more than a front for corporate interests.

I even understand the opinions of the dwindling number of old-school conservatives that believe in fiscal responsibility, accountability and personal liberty. Conservatives that have been left in the lurch after the GOP radically rebuilt as a party that despised civil liberties, embraced theocracy and fascism and has its platform written for it by its corporate sponsors.

I understand all of the above because I believe American citizens need to desperately hold on to any choice they currently have, for they just don’t have many choices any longer outside of which brand to buy.

In the end, I believe in every individual’s right to choose in an era where choice is being taken from us all at a frightening rate. And I view the tactic of demeaning and demonizing those that refuse to fall in line with the current unnatural order of things as the ultimate act of cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. And of this we desperately need a respite.

–WKW