Real John McCain quote is eerily similar to Fake "The Onion" quote

Fake Onion story matches real story later in the day?

It was bound to happen sooner or later right? By now you've heard of Obama withdrawing "US Combat Troops" from Iraq. John McCain felt this was a good time to praise George W. Bush. Why? I have no idea but for some reason he thought it was a good idea. He sent out this tweet:

Last American combat troops leave Iraq. I think President George W. Bush deserves some credit for victory.

Apparently John McCain was living in an alternate universe during the Bush Presidency. Does he not remember that it was because of lies that the Bush administration told the American people that those soldiers ended up in Iraq in the first place? Does he not remember that Dubya ignorantly claimed victory years ago?

That's another blog post for another time but what makes that McCain quote even funnier is a fake McCain quote that appeared in The Onion earlier today:

"President Obama deserves zero praise for this borderline accomplishment," Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) told reporters. "After all, if it weren't for President Bush ordering the initial invasion of Iraq and making it his central foreign policy initiative, we wouldn't be here right now awkwardly celebrating the muddled outcome of whatever the hell it is we've been doing over there for the past seven years."

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Howard Dean chimes in on the Mosque

Howard Dean chimed in on the Mosque non-issue today. Unfortunately his stance on the issue is extremely stupid and makes no sense. Appearing on WABC Radio he said "...there's no point in starting off trying to do something good if it will meet with an enormous resistance." Is that  really your stand Governor Dean? Given that logic why don't you also release a statement against womens voting rights since some men were resisting that? By the way today is the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. How about slavery? There were loads of people resisting when the slave trade ended.



Now I should add that this could be great editing work by Breitbart but unfortunately a Google Search on the topic isn't looking too good for Howard Dean's defense.
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Once in a lifetime: 103-year-old WWII vet meets President Obama - JSOnline

This week Barack Obama met with a 103 year old WWII veteran James Edwards.

The meeting was setup after a lengthy effort from a friend of Mr. Edwards named Beatrice Hicks who went to great lengths to try and secure a meeting for him with the President. She called the offices of Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold and got nowhere. A call to Representative Gwen Moore didn't yield much at the start as well until a "friend with union clout" got the attention of Rep. Moore.

The meeting was the "Photo of the Day" on the White House Website courtesy of White House photographer Pete Souza.

What a great story. Speaking as someone who's been fortunate enough to be at multiple Barack Obama events in New Jersey, I have to say there really is a buzz around the building when he takes center stage. At the very first Obama event I attended I met an African-American woman who was probably in her 60s. It was was fascinating to speak to someone who lived through the Civil Rights era and has lived to see Barack Obama become President. That is multiplied ten fold when you factor in James Edwards' age. In over a century of living he has surely seen the worst of American history.

Jim Stingl from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who by his own admission didn't try helping the the woman wrote a great piece on it. Make sure you check it out. 

Link: Once in a lifetime: 103-year-old WWII vet meets President Obama - JSOnline

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Famed home run hitter Bobby Thomson dead at 86 - ESPN

If you follow baseball (and most likely even if you don't) you've heard of the "Shot Heard 'Round the World". Bobby Thomson, who hit that famous home run for the New York Giants has passed away at the age of 86. If you haven't seen the clip of the home run you can find it here as Ernie Harwell talks about it and the radio call from Russ Hodges.

Link: Famed home run hitter Bobby Thomson dead at 86 - ESPN

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ESPN's Tim Kurkjian is no longer collecting boxscores

I'm a big fan of Tim Kurkjian's work on ESPN. Little quirks like this make him that much better. Apaprently he had a hobby of collecting MLB box scores. He did this for every single game, every single day starting in 1990. That streak has now come to an end.

Read the full article: A sad goodbye to newspaper box scores - ESPN

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Iftar at the White House

As I mentioned earlier today, Barack Obama hosted an Iftar at the White House tonight.

The guest list for the event included Diplomats from Muslim countries, Muslim leaders from around the country and Muslims from many walks of life among others. Rep. Andre Carson (D-Indiana) was at the event but the other Muslim Congressman, Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) was not present. I suggested earlier in the evening that it might have had something to do with his recent comments regarding Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. The Congressman took offense to that comment. Late tonight I received a series of messages from him via twitter. The gist of it was that he's in California with Speaker Pelosi. The tweets read as follows:

I am with Speaker Pelosi at her Annual Issues conference.

Very irresponsible rumor. Very unbecoming of a Muslim or any person of integrity to spread such a baseless rumor. Please stop 

Tell anyone who cares to know that there is no conflict with the WH and I. I am with the Speaker in Napa, CA.

The intentions of my comments earlier were obviously not to take a shot at Rep. Ellison. I've liked his work for the most part. I like his stance on issues. We definitely need more Muslims not only in Congress but in politics in general. That being said, his absence from the event at the White House tonight was very odd. Anyone who follows politics even remotely would connect it to his comments about Robert Gibbs. It has nothing to do with me being a good or bad Muslim. This "Issues Conference" is probably a private retreat of Democratic Congressmen but a quick Google search didn't turn up anything linking the Congressman to California. There was no statement made by his office either. There wasn't a Press Release, an update on his blog or a message on his twitter account. There are only 2 Muslim Congressmen, if one wasn't making it to the Iftar you'd figure they'd mention it somewhere right? Hopefully all is fine between him and the White House (I'll take him at his word) but his reaction tonight disappointed not only me but others I spoke to.

I should mention that Rep. Ellison has said since that he does not want Robert Gibbs dismissed.

I would have liked to see Rep. Ellison in attendance since he too has been a very vocal supporter of the Mosque in Lower Manhattan.

I mentioned to a few people earlier today that the events seemed much more low key this year (coincidence that it is an election year?). Last year we saw a video statement marking the start of Ramadan but this year the White House only released a written statement. The President did throw people like me a bone though by coming through with the strongest worded support to date of the so called "Ground Zero Mosque" by the administration. It is a shame that it was part of a Friday evening news dump.

You can watch Obama's remarks here.

Good work from the President here. It is a balancing act that he has to follow but the remarks do still come off as genuine.

Here is the guest list for the Iftar. I asked earlier but will ask again, what do I have to do to be on the guest list next year?
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Expected Attendees at the White House Iftar Dinner | The White House

Expected Attendees at the White House Iftar Dinner | The White House

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 13, 2010

Expected Attendees at the White House Iftar Dinner

This evening, the President will continue a White House tradition of hosting an Iftar celebrating Ramadan in the State Dining Room. This is the second Iftar hosted by the President. The Iftar is the meal that breaks the day of fasting, when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.

Below is a list of some of the expected attendees at tonight’s White House dinner celebrating Ramadan:

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

The Honorable Andre Carson, United States Representative (Indiana 7th)
The Honorable John Conyers, United States Representative (Michigan 14th)
The Honorable Rush Holt, United States Representative (New Jersey 12th)

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Ms. Saleha Abedin
Mr. Ahmed Ahmed
Dr. Akbar Ahmed, American University
Mrs. Anila Ali, Council of Pakistan American Affairs
Mr. Bill Aossey, Midamar Corporation
Mrs. Fatema Bayat
Mr. Salam Al Marayati, Muslim Public Affairs Council
Rev. Chloe Breyer, Interfaith Center of New York
Mr. Hasan Chandoo, Oppenheimer & Co.
Ms. Sarah Darwish
Dr. Mahmoud Eboo, Aga Khan Council of the United States
Mr. Walter Edwards, Harlem Business Council
Mrs. Sana Fadel
Mr. Imad Hussain
Mr. Hassan Jaber, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services
Mr. Muhammad U. Khan
Ms. Saaliha Khan
Imam Mohamed Hag Magid, All Dulles Area Muslim Society
Mrs. Shahnaz Masumi
Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Islamic Society of North America
Mr. Farooq Mitha
Ms. Dalia Mogahed, Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies
Mr. Mohamedraza Moledina
Mrs. Shabnum Moledina
Mrs. Laila Muhammad
Ms. Naheed Qureshi, Muslim Advocates
Mrs. Ranae Quraishi, Muslim Public Service Network
Ms. Intisar Rabb, Boston College
Dr. Jane Ramsey, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Ms. Nadia Roumani, American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute
Mrs. Sally Steenland, Center for American Progress
Ms. Sadaf Syed
Mr. Mustafa Tameez
Mr. Ibrahim Vajzovic, United Bosnian Association
Mrs. Sara Najjar Wilson, Arab American anti-Discrimination Committee

ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS

The Honorable Dan Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy
The Honorable Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Ms. Huma Abedin, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of State
Mr. Mustafa Javed Ali, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mr. Arif Alikhan, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development, Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Mazen Basrawi, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Department of Justice
Technical Sergeant Sabrina Marie Bullock-Labaran, U.S. Air Force
Sergeant Major Agha Jalil Durrani, U.S. Army
Ms. Rehana Hakeem, Department of State
Chaplain Abdullah Hulwe, U.S. Army
Mr. Rashad Hussain, U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference
Mr. Adnan Kifayat, Department of Treasury
Ms. Sehreen Noor Ali, Department of State
Ms. Farah Pandith, Special Representative to Muslim Communities, Department of State
Ms. Hannah Rosenthal, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Department of State
Mr. Irfan Saeed, Department of Homeland Security
Lt. Commander Abuhena Saifulislam, U.S. Marine Corps
Mr. Osman Shinaishin, National Science Foundation
Mr. Kareem Shora, Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Shaarik Zafar, National Counter Terrorism Center

DIPLOMATIC CORPS

Mrs. Shamim Jawad, Spouse, Embassy of Afghanistan
His Excellency Yashar Aliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan
His Excellency Akramul Qader, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
His Excellency Roble Olhaye, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti
His Excellency Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
His Excellency Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See
Her Excellency Meera Shankar, Ambassador of India
His Excellency Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida’ie, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq
His Excellency Erlan A. Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan
His Excellency Avni Spahiu, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo
His Excellency Ali Suleiman Aujali, Ambassador of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
His Excellency Aziz Mekour, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco
Her Excellency Hunaina Sultan Ahmed Al Mughairy, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman
His Excellency Ali Bin Fahad Faleh Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar
His Excellency Adel A.M. Al-Jubeir, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia
His Excellency Husain Haqqani, Ambassador of Pakistan
His Excellency Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation
His Excellency Habib Mansour, Ambassador of Tunisia
His Excellency Ilhomjon Tuychievich Nematov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan
His Excellency Abdulwahab A. Al Hajjri, Ambassador of the Republic Yemen
His Excellency Ufuk Gokcen, Ambassador and Permanent Observer, Organization of the Islamic Conference
The Honorable Deitan Mish, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the Republic Albania
The Honorable Ali Alaoui, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
The Honorable Tesfaye Yilma Sabo, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Ethiopia
The Honorable Salman Al Farisi, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the Republic of Indonesia
The Honorable Walid Rahman J. Al Hadid, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Honorable Noraini Hamid, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Malaysia
The Honorable Bello Ringim, Economic Minister, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Honorable Suleyman Gokce, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the Republic of Turkey
The Honorable Dominick Chilcott, British Chargé d'Affaires at Interim

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Statement by the President on Pakistan's Independence Day | The White House

Statement by the President on Pakistan's Independence Day | The White House

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 13, 2010

Statement by the President on Pakistan's Independence Day

On behalf of the people of the United States of America, I send my congratulations and sincere best wishes to all who will celebrate the 63rd anniversary of Pakistan’s independence. Here at home, I am proud of the many contributions Pakistani Americans have made to our nation and will continue to make in the years to come. Pakistan’s Independence Day is a useful time to reflect on the friendships Pakistan has in the world and the expressions of true friendship that come in a time of need.

This Independence Day anniversary also comes at a time of great challenge for the people of Pakistan as they bravely respond to widespread and unprecedented flooding. In line with the deepening partnership between our two nations, I have directed my administration to continue to work closely with the Government of Pakistan and provide assistance in their response to this crisis. We have rushed financial assistance, life saving and life sustaining relief supplies, helicopters, rescue boats, and disaster management experts to assist the Pakistani authorities. The people of America stand with the people of Pakistan through this difficult time and will continue to urge the international community to increase their support and assistance. We will remain committed to helping Pakistan and will work side by side with you and the international community toward a recovery that brings back the dynamic vitality of your nation.

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