Democratic Campaign Chatter 6-15-2008

Happy Fathers Day!

"If It's Sunday, It's Meet the Press" - was made a household phrase by the late Tim Russert. One of the great aspects of media is his many poignant interviews will be forever available for view. Here is a good read by Politico.com entitled "Sundays after Russert".

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) to push new energy bill. More legislation to come thankfully expanding public transport and promoting telecommuting of federal employees. The later, I have been proposing for some time. There also needs to be tax credits offered to private employers who allow their employees to telecommute for part of their work week. This is a move in the right direction but the country needs much more, starting with a new Energy Czar with the full support of the President and congress. Read more here.

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Senator Obama begins smaller town hall type of meetings with the voters - One of the tags Senator Clinton would tattoo Obama with is that all he can do is give a good speech. Perhaps because of that and the pressure from Senator McCain to hold town hall debates, Obama is now meeting with small groups of voters. The New York Times has a good read entitled "Obama Goes One on One, Battling 'Just a Speechmaker' Label".

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Plans for Obama to make a worldwide trip focusing on his foreign policy in August seems like a great idea and it couldn't come soon enough. Events in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq continue to beg the question - what is the current George W. Bush administration's foreign policy for this region?

Afghanistan continues to be the forgotten war and the Taliban have returned. Just recently, 100 Taliban were freed from an Afghan prison by insurgents. The President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzi travels infrequently and when he does he is accompanied with U.S. military protection. Troubled by this increased Taliban activity, he issued a warning to Pakistan where Taliban are rumored to have camps along their mountainous border. Read more here.

Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to sort out their government after Parliamentary elections resulted in loss of supporters of President Pervez Musharraf. Former Prime minister Nawaz Sharif continues to call for Musharraf to step down and for the reinstatement of former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and head of the PPP, remains quiet and not in full agreement with Nawaz Sharif on the next steps to take. The Sharif and the PPP formed a shaky alliance after the Parliamentary elections. Read more here.

Over in Iraq, Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki rejects U.S. proposals for an ongoing political and military presence. While Mogotada al-Sadr, an anti-American Shiite cleric calls for renewed offensive against U.S. military presence. Read more here.

The above clearly illustrates it is time for a change in U.S. foreign policy.