"Tomorrow, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will come to New York -- to the heart of what he calls the Great Satan -- and speak freely in this, a country whose demise he has called for. Ahmadinejad may choose his words carefully, but underneath all of the rhetoric is an agenda that threatens all who seek a safer and freer world. We gather here today to highlight the Iranian dictator's intentions and to call for action to thwart him." -- Governor Sarah Palin

"Palin on Ahmadinejad: 'He Must Be Stopped'"

Governor Sarah Palin

New York Sun

September 22, 2008

Governor Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president, was scheduled to speak today at a rally in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza to protest the appearance here of President Ahmadinejad of Iran. Her appearance was canceled by rally organizers who sought a nonpolitical event. Following are the remarks Mrs. Palin would have given:

I am honored to be with you and with leaders from across this great country -- leaders from different faiths and political parties united in a single voice of outrage.

Tomorrow, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will come to New York -- to the heart of what he calls the Great Satan -- and speak freely in this, a country whose demise he has called for.

Ahmadinejad may choose his words carefully, but underneath all of the rhetoric is an agenda that threatens all who seek a safer and freer world. We gather here today to highlight the Iranian dictator's intentions and to call for action to thwart him.

He must be stopped.

The world must awake to the threat this man poses to all of us. Ahmadinejad denies that the Holocaust ever took place. He dreams of being an agent in a "Final Solution" -- the elimination of the Jewish people. He has called Israel a "stinking corpse" that is "on its way to annihilation." Such talk cannot be dismissed as the ravings of a madman -- not when Iran just this summer tested long-range Shahab-3 missiles capable of striking Tel Aviv, not when the Iranian nuclear program is nearing completion, and not when Iran sponsors terrorists that threaten and kill innocent people around the world.

The Iranian government wants nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran is running at least 3,800 centrifuges and that its uranium enrichment capacity is rapidly improving. According to news reports, U.S. intelligence agencies believe the Iranians may have enough nuclear material to produce a bomb within a year.

The world has condemned these activities. The United Nations Security Council has demanded that Iran suspend its illegal nuclear enrichment activities. It has levied three rounds of sanctions. How has Ahmadinejad responded? With the declaration that the "Iranian nation would not retreat one iota" from its nuclear program.

So, what should we do about this growing threat? First, we must succeed in Iraq. If we fail there, it will jeopardize the democracy the Iraqis have worked so hard to build, and empower the extremists in neighboring Iran. Iran has armed and trained terrorists who have killed our soldiers in Iraq, and it is Iran that would benefit from an American defeat in Iraq.

If we retreat without leaving a stable Iraq, Iran's nuclear ambitions will be bolstered. If Iran acquires nuclear weapons -- they could share them tomorrow with the terrorists they finance, arm, and train today. Iranian nuclear weapons would set off a dangerous regional nuclear arms race that would make all of us less safe.

But Iran is not only a regional threat; it threatens the entire world. It is the no. 1 state sponsor of terrorism. It sponsors the world's most vicious terrorist groups, Hamas and Hezbollah. Together, Iran and its terrorists are responsible for the deaths of Americans in Lebanon in the 1980s, in Saudi Arabia in the 1990s, and in Iraq today. They have murdered Iraqis, Lebanese, Palestinians, and other Muslims who have resisted Iran's desire to dominate the region. They have persecuted countless people simply because they are Jewish.

Iran is responsible for attacks not only on Israelis, but on Jews living as far away as Argentina. Anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial are part of Iran's official ideology and murder is part of its official policy. Not even Iranian citizens are safe from their government's threat to those who want to live, work, and worship in peace. Politically-motivated abductions, torture, death by stoning, flogging, and amputations are just some of its state-sanctioned punishments.

It is said that the measure of a country is the treatment of its most vulnerable citizens. By that standard, the Iranian government is both oppressive and barbaric. Under Ahmadinejad's rule, Iranian women are some of the most vulnerable citizens.

If an Iranian woman shows too much hair in public, she risks being beaten or killed.

If she walks down a public street in clothing that violates the state dress code, she could be arrested.

But in the face of this harsh regime, the Iranian women have shown courage. Despite threats to their lives and their families, Iranian women have sought better treatment through the "One Million Signatures Campaign Demanding Changes to Discriminatory Laws." The authorities have reacted with predictable barbarism. Last year, women's rights activist Delaram Ali was sentenced to 20 lashes and 10 months in prison for committing the crime of "propaganda against the system." After international protests, the judiciary reduced her sentence to "only" 10 lashes and 36 months in prison and then temporarily suspended her sentence. She still faces the threat of imprisonment.

Earlier this year, Senator Clinton said that "Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is in the forefront of that" effort. Senator Clinton argued that part of our response must include stronger sanctions, including the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization. John McCain and I could not agree more.

Senator Clinton understands the nature of this threat and what we must do to confront it. This is an issue that should unite all Americans. Iran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Period. And in a single voice, we must be loud enough for the whole world to hear: Stop Iran!

Only by working together, across national, religious, and political differences, can we alter this regime's dangerous behavior. Iran has many vulnerabilities, including a regime weakened by sanctions and a population eager to embrace opportunities with the West. We must increase economic pressure to change Iran's behavior.

Tomorrow, Ahmadinejad will come to New York. On our soil, he will exercise the right of freedom of speech -- a right he denies his own people. He will share his hateful agenda with the world. Our task is to focus the world on what can be done to stop him.

We must rally the world to press for truly tough sanctions at the U.N. or with our allies if Iran's allies continue to block action in the U.N. We must start with restrictions on Iran's refined petroleum imports.

We must reduce our dependency on foreign oil to weaken Iran's economic influence.

We must target the regime's assets abroad; bank accounts, investments, and trading partners.

President Ahmadinejad should be held accountable for inciting genocide, a crime under international law.

We must sanction Iran's Central Bank and the Revolutionary Guard Corps -- which no one should doubt is a terrorist organization.

Together, we can stop Iran's nuclear program.

Senator McCain has made a solemn commitment that I strongly endorse: Never again will we risk another Holocaust. And this is not a wish, a request, or a plea to Israel's enemies. This is a promise that the United States and Israel will honor, against any enemy who cares to test us. It is John McCain's promise and it is my promise.

Thank you.

Read The Op-Ed

TRENTON - In response to published reports that powerful political leaders in Trenton secretly channeled $2.25 million in special grants to Rutgers University’s football and athletics program over the past four years, Assemblyman Richard Merkt today said the revelation merely underscores the ongoing problem with lack of fiscal accountability in the state’s capital.

“If you will recall, the Governor publicly declared government accountability the cornerstone of his administration, yet the last several years have witnessed nothing but a sickening series of insider deals and policy schemes cooked up in the backroom,” said Merkt, a member of the Assembly Higher Education and Appropriations Committees.

Merkt cited, by way of examples, the Governor’s original secret proposal to raise state highway tolls 800 percent, his belated revelation that he has no alternate plan to fund transportation, save relying on the Turnpike Authority to hike tolls, and his court battles to keep hidden emails he exchanged with embattled union leader Carla Katz in the midst of contract negotiations with the union.“As each day passes, New Jersey becomes more unaffordable for our residents,” commented Merkt, R-Morris.

“The Governor, Senate President Codey, and Assembly Speaker Roberts all claim they feel the taxpayers’ pain, but then we discover they secretly funneled millions of dollars to the football program at Rutgers. Where, for heaven’s sake, are their priorities? And is there really any doubt why New Jersey is in such serious financial straits?”

Noting that the academic budget at Rutgers has been slashed, causing higher tuition, staff lay-offs, canceled courses and elimination of minor sports programs, Merkt exclaimed, “This is a classic Trenton political insider deal – absolutely ‘business as usual!’ After all the grand promises to make state government ‘accountable,’ nothing at all has really changed, nor will it ever change while this crew remains at the controls.”

The Star Ledger reported Sunday that “unidentified” lawmakers tacked $500,000 onto the State budget each year for the past fours years without public input or scrutiny. The funds were included in budgets signed by then-Governor Richard Codey, D-Essex, and Governor Corzine. In the article, Codey claimed he not only knew about the budget earmarks, but also fully supported them.

He is quoted as saying, “As long as the football team does well, it’s a great investment....”Noting that Rutgers’s football team is off to a disappointing 0-3 start, Merkt described Codey’s remarks as both ‘cavalier and distressing,’ particularly after an audit earlier this year already showed Rutgers’s athletic department had dabbled in ‘off-the books’ spending practices.“In the midst of New Jersey’s chronic budget crisis, it is hard to fathom how anyone could justify secretly giving millions of state dollars to a Rutgers athletic program already awash in growing revenues,” declared Merkt.

“No wonder the guys running Trenton sought to hide these little hand-outs. They knew the grants couldn’t possibly have withstood the light of day, so they took the easy way out and did them in the dark. So much for ‘Hold me accountable!’”

TRENTON - Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today said that Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed private economic summit need not look far to find answers as to why New Jersey’s economy is on shaky footing, pointing to Corzine and the Democrats’ own record on economic issues.“If Governor Corzine wants to be honest about the state’s economic problems, he will begin by taking a long hard look in the mirror,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic.
“Governor Corzine and his Democrat colleagues have increased taxes and regulation turning New Jersey into one of the least business friendly states in the nation. This has cost our state job and economic growth opportunities that would have benefited all of our citizens.”

It was reported this morning that Corzine will convene a closed-door economic summit in Newark this afternoon with a members of the business community and economic experts to look at the state’s economy and to create a plan for action.DeCroce noted that in the past seven years Democrats have increased spending by over $11 billion. To fund that massive government expansion Corzine and his Democrat allies have hiked 101 taxes totaling more than $6 billion, including increased corporate taxes, income taxes and the sales taxes.
“The best way to spur economic growth would be by lowering the state’s onerous tax burden, which can only be done if Trenton is willing to cut spending,” DeCroce said. “If Governor Corzine is willing to work in a bipartisan manner to address this problem, we can provide him with an existing plan that will get the ball rolling in the right direction.”

DeCroce pointed to the Republican “Common Sense Plan for an Affordable New Jersey.” That proposal would eliminate $1.32 billion in wasteful or unnecessary spending and to use those savings to restore property tax relief, municipal aid, and to finance the state’s transportation needs without gas tax or toll hikes. The plan also calls for boosting state economic development efforts and streamlining the management of those programs.“Our state economy is sputtering and middle class families are suffering,” DeCroce said.

“It is time for Governor Corzine to admit the mistakes of the past and begin working cooperatively toward solutions for our state’s future.”

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12), Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-11), and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-12) announced Monday that they will sponsor legislation which will prevent school superintendents, assistant superintendents and business administrators from being reimbursed for tuition from unaccredited institutions and forbid pay raises based on degrees from such institutions.

“I am pleased to work together to eradicate the practice of awarding raises and tuition reimbursement to officials who have obtained their degrees from diploma mills”, said Angelini. “We want our academic leadership to exemplify the pursuit of excellence, not set an example of how to cut corners.”

Angelini, Casagrande and O’Scanlon will sponsor the Assembly version; Beck will sponsor the Senate version.

The legislation was inspired by the revelation that Freehold Regional High School District superintendent James Wasser and two assistant superintendents in the district had attended Breyer State University , an institution unaccredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. An investigation by the New Jersey Department of Education ruled that there was no law preventing the district from paying the administrators tuition and salary increases, since their contracts did not forbid it. The Council on Higher Education, in a separate investigation issued a cease and desist letter on August 21 st demanding that Wasser refrain from using the title “Dr.” or the letters EdD after his name.

O’Scanlon said closing the loophole was the inspiration for the legislation. “As the law stands now, you’re not allowed to use the title “Doctor” before your name if you get a degree from an unaccredited institution, but you can get a raise based on it. That makes absolutely zero sense, so we’re sponsoring this legislation to bring the two laws into line with each other.”

Casagrande called the legislation a good first step and added that the legislators would look to work with legislative leaders to broaden the ban to all public employees.

Casagrande added, “This is not an attack on distance learning institutions. Indeed, there are many reputable places to earn an online degree, such as Thomas Edison State College here in New Jersey or the University of Phoenix . For many teachers and administrators with families and busy lives, distance learning can be a great alternative to a traditional bricks and mortar education which has more rigid time requirements. What we’re objecting to is people who want to take a shortcut and go to a so-called “diploma mill” to get a raise without actually doing any significant advanced learning. The schools shouldn’t be paying for that and employees shouldn’t get raises for that.”

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver the following remarks as prepared for delivery in Green Bay, WI, today at 8:00 a.m. CT (9:00 a.m. ET):

Thank you all very much. It's a great pleasure to be introduced by Governor Sarah Palin -- and I can't wait to introduce her to Washington.

If Governor Palin and I are elected in 46 days, we are not going to waste a moment in changing the way Washington does business. And we're going to start where the need for reform is greatest. In short order, we are going to put an end to the reckless conduct, corruption, and unbridled greed that have caused a crisis on Wall Street.

Here and all across our country, people are wondering what exactly is happening on Wall Street. And with good reason, they want to know how their government will meet the crisis. Clear answers are hard to come by in Washington.

As Senator Obama's leader in Congress memorably put it the other day -- and I quote -- "no one knows what to do." Perhaps given that reaction, it shouldn't surprise us that the Congressional leaders of this do-nothing Congress also said that they weren't going to take action until after the election, claiming that it wasn't their fault. I am hopeful that last night's discussions are a sign they have changed their mind and will take action soon. But any action should be designed to keep people in their homes and safe guard the life savings of all Americans by protecting our financial system.

There are certainly plenty of places to point fingers, and it may be hard to pinpoint the original event that set it all in motion. But let me give you an educated guess. The financial crisis we're living through today started with the corruption and manipulation of our home mortgage system. At the center of the problem were the lobbyists, politicians, and bureaucrats who succeeded in persuading Congress and the administration to ignore the festering problems at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

These quasi-public corporations lead our housing system down a path where quick profit was placed before sound finance. They institutionalized a system that rewarded forcing mortgages on people who couldn't afford them, while turning around and selling those bad mortgages to the banks that are now going bankrupt. Using money and influence, they prevented reforms that would have curbed their power and limited their ability to damage our economy. And now, as ever, the American taxpayers are left to pay the price for Washington's failure.

Two years ago, I called for reform of this corruption at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Congress did nothing. The Administration did nothing. Senator Obama did nothing, and actually profited from this system of abuse and scandal. While Fannie and Freddie were working to keep Congress away from their house of cards, Senator Obama was taking their money. He got more, in fact, than any other member of Congress, except for the Democratic chairmen of the committee that oversees them. And while Fannie Mae was betraying the public trust, somehow its former CEO had managed to gain my opponent's trust to the point that Senator Obama actually put him in charge of his vice presidential search.

This CEO, Mr. Johnson, walked off with tens of millions of dollars in salary and bonuses for services rendered to Fannie Mae, even after authorities discovered accounting improprieties that padded his compensation. Another CEO for Fannie Mae, Mr. Raines, has been advising Senator Obama on housing policy. This even after Fannie Mae was found to have committed quote "extensive financial fraud" under his leadership. Like Mr. Johnson, Mr. Raines walked away with tens of millions of dollars.

Senator Obama may be taking their advice and he may be taking their money, but in a McCain-Palin administration, there will be no seat for these people at the policy-making table. They won't even get past the front gate at the White House.

My friends, this is the problem with Washington. People like Senator Obama have been too busy gaming the system and haven't ever done a thing to actually challenge the system.

We've heard a lot of words from Senator Obama over the course of this campaign. But maybe just this once he could spare us the lectures, and admit to his own poor judgment in contributing to these problems. The crisis on Wall Street started in the Washington culture of lobbying and influence peddling, and he was square in the middle of it.

The financial services industry -- and there are many honest and honorable people who work in it -- plays a vital role in our economy. Mutual fund companies help Americans save for retirement. Banks and lending companies provide the mortgages that help us buy our homes. Investment firms supply the seed money that helps entrepreneurs create tomorrow's jobs. Insurance companies protect us against unknown risks.

Yet as the financial crisis continues and bailouts and bankruptcies mount, it's clear financial firms have lost the trust of the American people. That trust cannot be regained unless we adopt some fundamental reforms. Government has a clear responsibility to act and to defend the public interest. That is exactly what I intend to do.

First, to deal with the immediate crisis, I will lead in the creation of the Mortgage and Financial Institutions trust -- the MFI. The underlying principle of the MFI or any approach considered by Congress should be to keep people in their homes and safe guard the life savings of all Americans by protecting our financial system and capital markets. This trust will work with the private sector and regulators to identify institutions that are weak and fix them before they become insolvent. The MFI is an early intervention program to help financial institutions avoid bankruptcy, expensive bailouts and damage to their customers. This will get the Treasury and other financial regulatory authorities in a proactive position instead of reacting in a crisis mode to one situation after another.

The MFI will restore investor and market confidence, build sound financial institutions, assist troubled institutions and protect our financial system while minimizing taxpayer exposure. This is an important step, but it is not enough. I will also take the additional actions needed to make sure a crisis like this is never allowed to build and break over the American people again.

Second, I will propose and sign into law reforms to prevent financial firms from concealing their bad practices. An inexcusable lack of financial transparency allowed Wall Street firms to engage in reckless behavior that padded their profits and fattened executive bonuses when times were good, but now imperil the financial security of millions of Americans when their bets turned sour.
So much of the damage to our economy could have been avoided if these practices had been exposed to the light of day. Americans have a right to know when their jobs, pensions, IRAs, investments, and our whole economy are being put at risk by the recklessness of Wall Street. And under my reforms for the financial sector, that fundamental right will be protected.

Third, we need regulatory clarity. The lack of transparency in our financial markets went unnoticed by the regulatory agencies scattered throughout Washington charged with protecting the common good. We've got the SEC, the FDIC, the CFTC, the SIPC, the OCC, the Fed. At best, this confusing assortment of regulators and institutions was egregiously lax in carrying out their responsibilities. At worst, they engaged in the old Washington game of guarding their bureaucratic turf, instead of safeguarding the public interest and protecting investors.

Many in the financial services industry also either forgot or neglected their duty to act ethically and honorably. This shortcoming was aided and abetted by the creation of financial instruments that allowed lenders to escape any responsibility for the risk of their loans. In the past, lenders had to pay a price if they made a bad loan. Today, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac worked with Wall Street to bundle together all these dicey subprime loans and then pushed them off on investors who didn't have the tools of transparency needed to assess or even understand the risk.

The current system promotes confusion, encourages bureaucratic infighting and creates incentives for financial firms to cut corners. We need to enhance regulatory clarity by holding the same financial activity to one regulatory standard. We don't need a dozen federal agencies doing the job badly -- we need the best federal agencies to do the job right.

Fourth, we must ensure that consumers and investors are protected. Our regulatory system must protect consumers and investors by punishing individuals who engage in fraud, break contracts, or lie to customers -- like the predatory lenders who know you can't afford an adjustable rate mortgage, but mislead you into signing one. These actions are criminal and the people who commit them should be behind bars. And corporate governance rules will be reformed so that shareholders have a clear say in determining the pay of CEOs and other senior executives. On my watch, the consequences for corporate abuse will not be more enrichment, but more likely an indictment.

Fifth, in cases where failing companies seek taxpayer bailouts, the Treasury Department will follow consistent policies in deciding whether to guarantee loans. It must have well developed remedies for a financial crisis. With billions of dollars in public money at stake, it will not do to keep making it up as we go along.

Finally, the Federal Reserve should get back to its core business of responsibly managing our money supply and inflation. It needs to get out of the business of bailouts. The Fed needs to return to protecting the purchasing power of the dollar. A strong dollar will reduce energy and food prices. It will stimulate sustainable economic growth and get this economy moving again.
All of these measures will calm and help us to avoid future panics and disasters in the financial markets. But to get through this tough time for America, and to come out stronger, we need a strategy of economic growth. And the massive new tax burden that my opponent plans for the American economy is exactly the wrong answer. His tax increase -- along with the enormous new federal programs he proposes -- are the surest way to turn a recession into a depression. In every respect, the Obama tax hikes would make things even worse for the working people of this country.

I have proposed, and will sign into law, an economic recovery plan for working Americans that is directed to the middle class. It will grow this economy, create millions of jobs and bring opportunity back to Americans. You will get a tax policy that creates family prosperity and allows you to save for the future. I will not raise your taxes on income or investments. And we will simplify the tax code so people can understand it and do their tax returns themselves.

I will give every family a $5,000 credit to buy their own health insurance policy and let them chose their own doctor. This will make insurance affordable to every American.
I will double the child exemption from $3,500 to $7,000 to help families pay for the rising cost of living.

Under my plan, a married couple with two children making $35,000 will get $5,000 to pay for health insurance and additional medical expenses. This family would get another $1,050 from my child exemption. That adds up to over $6,000. That is a lot more than what any hardworking middle class family, gets under the Obama plan.

Business taxes will be cut from the second highest in the world at 35 percent to 25 percent. Tax incentives will spur investment in new plants and equipment. Research and development incentives will keep companies on the cutting edge of their industries. Healthcare costs will diminish. Companies will stop sending jobs overseas to low-cost, low-tax countries and start creating jobs here in America.

I will expand markets for our goods and services. A one in five of all jobs in this country are linked to world trade. In five states alone Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Colorado over 5 million jobs depend on trade. My economic recovery plan will create millions of jobs in America instead of driving them overseas.

I will adopt an "all of the above" energy policy which expands our use of oil, natural gas, clean coal and nuclear facilities. We will embark on a national mission to build an alternative energy base, creating millions of new jobs. We will create the most diversified energy economy in the world. And, I will return to the American economy the $700 billion dollars we send overseas every year to buy oil.

My opponent offers a very different economic future. He has continuously shifted his position on taxes. At the beginning of this campaign he promised to raise taxes on your savings and investments. He said he won't raise taxes for most people but he has voted 94 times in his short Senate career for tax increases and against tax cuts. He said he would only tax the rich, but he voted this year to raise taxes on those making just $42,000. Senator Obama has simply not given Americans good reason to trust him with your tax dollars.

My opponent is against lowering taxes on businesses which are the second highest in the world. He will impose mandated health insurance on businesses that would cost up to $12,000 per employee. He opposes free trade. He also wants to take away the fundamental right of workers to have a secret ballot when voting to be part of a union.

Now is not the time for these destructive policies that will cripple business growth, destroy jobs and hurt the middle class. Now is the time to take action to address this crisis and take action to put our economy back on a path of growth.

Even though Democratic leaders say they don't know what to do, I believe the deep problems afflicting our financial system won't be solved by one political party. There is only one candidate in this race who has a record of reaching across the aisle to work out the bipartisan solutions needed to move our country forward in times of crisis -- and I will bring that same spirit of bipartisan cooperation to the White House. It took members of both parties to get America into this mess, and it will take all of us, working together, to lead the way out.

Thank you.

The Mercer County Republican Committee will officially open it new headquarters at 941 Whitehorse Avenue in Hamilton on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 12:00 Noon.
"The new headquarters will be more than just a place where the county chairman can hang his hat in Mercer County," said Chairman Wesley" It will be a campaign headquarters for countywide candidates and a resource for other candidates running in Mercer County as well. "

The Republican Party needs and now has a permanent campaign and party headquarters in Mercer County where the hard work of campaigning - doing mailings, making phone calls and organize campaign activities can go on, and, because it is permanent, we can begin to plan and organize that effort well in advance of each election.

"Not only will this new headquarters help this year's candidates win in November, it will also be there after this year's election to help organize campaigns for next year's as well. And, it is the another step forward in building the kind of grass roots organization needed to elect a Republican County executive in 2011."

The grand opening of the new Mercer County Republican Committee Headquarters will be from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Refreshments will be served. Republicans and friends of the Republican Party are invited to attend. Those planning to attend are requested to RSVP to 609-275-1007.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter and member of the Democratic National Committee's Platform Committee, will endorse John McCain for president on Wednesday, her spokesman tells CNN.

The announcement will take place at a news conference on Capitol Hill, just blocks away from the DNC headquarters. Forester will "campaign and help him throughout the election," the spokesman said of her plans to help the Republican presidential nominee.

Forester was a major donor for Clinton earning her the title as a Hillraiser for helping to raise at least $100,000 for the New York Democratic senator's failed presidential bid.

In an interview with CNN this summer , Forester did not hide her distaste for eventual Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. "This is a hard decision for me personally because frankly I don't like him," she said of Obama in an interview with CNN's Joe Johns. "I feel like he is an elitist. I feel like he has not given me reason to trust him."

Forester is the CEO of EL Rothschild, a holding company with businesses around the world. She is married to international banker Sir Evelyn de Rothschild. Forester is a member of the DNC's Democrats Abroad chapter and splits her time living in London and New York.

ARLINGTON, Va. - U.S. Senator John McCain delivered the following remarks as prepared for delivery in Tampa, Fla., today:

If Governor Palin and I are elected in 49 days, we are not going to waste a moment in changing the way Washington does business. And we're going to start where the need for reform is greatest. In short order, we are going put an end to the reckless conduct, corruption, and unbridled greed that have caused a crisis on Wall Street.

The working people of this state and this nation are the most innovative, the hardest working, the best skilled, most productive, most competitive in the world. This foundation of our economy, the American worker, is strong but it has been put at risk by the greed and mismanagement of Wall Street and Washington. The top of our economy is broken. We have seen self interest, greed, irresponsibility and corruption undermine the hard work of the American people. It is time to set things right, and I promise to get the job done as your president.

Americans put a lot of trust in the bankers and brokerage firms of Wall Street. They depend on the financial service sector to protect their savings, IRA's, 401k's, and pension accounts. But many leaders in finance have proven unworthy of that trust. Government has a clear responsibility to act in defense of the public interests, and that is exactly what I intend to do. We are going to make sure that American's accounts are protected. I pledge that FDIC and SPIC will have all the support they need to fully back the savings of the American people.

Too many people on Wall Street have been recklessly wagering instead of making the sound investments we expected of them. And when their companies collapse, only the CEO's seem to escape the consequences. While employees, shareholders, and other victims are left with nothing but trouble and debt, the people who helped cause the collapse make off with tens of millions in severance packages. I have spoken out against the excess of corporate executives, and I can assure you that if I am president, we're not going to tolerate that anymore. In my administration, we're going to hold people on Wall Street responsible. And we're going to enact and enforce reforms to make sure that these outrages never happen in the first place.

Too many people on Wall Street have forgotten or disregarded the basic rules of sound finance. In an endless quest for easy money, they dreamed up investment schemes that they themselves don't even understand. With their derivatives, credit default swaps, and mortgage backed securities they tried to make their own rules. But they could only avoid the basic rules of economics for so long. Now, as their schemes unravel in bankruptcies and collapse, it's once again the public who is left to bear the costs. And I promise you that on my watch, we are never going to let these kinds of abuses go uncorrected or unpunished.

Too many practices on Wall Street have been kept hidden from public view, to buy time and postpone the inevitable reckoning. Bad investments were made even worse, and risks allowed to multiply, by keeping them off the books. Derivatives, mortgage backed securities, and other complicated instruments often disguised foolish investments and were sold to insurance companies, pension funds, mutual funds, banks and individuals. When the housing markets collapsed and the value of these securities went way down, our banks couldn't pay their debts. We saw Bear Stearns collapse, followed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. More recently Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, and a troubled Merrill Lynch was sold to Bank of America in order to survive. And now we have other banks and insurance companies at risk.

So much of the loss and damage to our economy could have been avoided if these practices had been exposed to the light of day. People have a right to know when their jobs, pensions, investments, and our whole economy are being put at risked by the recklessness of Wall Street. And under my reforms for the financial sector, that fundamental right will be protected.

Too many firms on Wall Street have been able to count on casual oversight by regulatory agencies in Washington. And there are so many of those regulators that the responsibility for oversight is scattered, unfocussed and ineffective. Among others, we've got the SEC, the CFTC, the FDIC, the SPIC and the OCC. But for all their big and impressive sounding names, the fact is they haven't been doing their job right, or else we wouldn't have these massive problems on Wall Street. At their worse, they've been caught up in Washington turf wars instead of working together to protect investors and the public interests. And we don't need a dozen federal agencies doing the job badly -- we need the best federal agencies to do the job right.

Under my reforms, the American people will be protected by comprehensive regulations that will apply the rules and enforce them to the full. There will be constant access to the books and accounts of our banks and other financial institutions. By law, it will reduce the debt and risk that any bank can take on. And above all, I promise reforms to prevent the kind of wild speculation that can put our markets at risk, and has already inflicted such enormous damage across our economy.

Two years ago, I warned the administration and the Congress that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac needed to be fixed, and it turns out the problem was even bigger. They waited too long and now we have a housing crisis, three bailouts with taxpayers' money, and a financial crisis. As for the Congress, members in both parties must accept a share of the responsibility. Some members seemed to measure the financial health of banks and lenders by the size of their political contributions, instead of the extent of their debt. They listened to the lobbyists, instead of to the accountants. I can promise you the days of dealing and special favors will soon be over, and in a McCain-Palin administration the public interest will always come first.

Honest people on Wall Street -- and there are many -- will have a friend in the White House when I am president. The financial services industry plays a vital and honorable role in our economy, and I will seek reforms to help them to serve their shareholders and employees. But when any Wall Street operator abuses the trust of the public, then they will face the consequences, and they will have a fight on their hands with the president of the United States.
I will fight to reform Wall Street and to protect the savings and pensions of the American people. I will make sure that Washington works for your interests, and not the special interests. I will fight to make it easier for small business owners everywhere to grow and hire. I will fight to make sure you can afford a home loan or a student loan or a small business loan. I will fight to make sure we create more jobs here at home and prosperity for all Americans.

John McCain has backed off his "pig" charge, but he did get the necessary mileage out of the fracas. The public was temporarily diverted from contrasting McCain and Obama's prescription for the economy. Like Bush, McCain believes that the economic "fundamentals are sound."

Like Bush, McCain believes that the best medicine for the economy is lower taxes, an unregulated Wall Street, and a Security Exchange Commission that doesn't meddle. Follow the links below describing McCain's economic platform, and you'll find no mention of reform of the finance industry. Only today, September 15, the day of the Big Meltdown, did McCain jump on the bandwagon to overhaul the financial sector. Mr. McCain's top economic advisor and personal friend of decades, Phil Gramm, has always advocated a hands-off approach to regulation.

Just last year, Mr. McCain spoke in disapproval of government meddling in the banking business. Mr. Obama, however, has long advocated that the Feds step in and bring some control to the free-for-all that has led the failures of some of the most storied names in banking and lending. Mr. Obama has long advocated economic reform of the finance industry, a stronger SEC and stricter oversight of Wall Street trading.

When Americans finally get around to comparing Democratic and Republican plans for reforming the economy, it will not be a happy day for John McCain. I'm sure he wishes we could all get back to Palin pig debate.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/mccain_this_morning_the_fundam.php
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/15/chris-matthews-battles-na_n_126657.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/us/politics/16record.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdX1csHuXbUFJ6REp97MjBsJouHAD932F24O0
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080701_Dave_Davies__A_few_minutes_with_McCain.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/15/mccain-fundamentals-of-th_n_126445.html
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/07/foreclosure-phil.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120451614688707083-email.html
http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/John_McCain.htm
http://economistmom.com/2008/09/mccain-palin-economic-platform-bush-policy-extended-with-lipstick/
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4510097.ece
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091700449.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27text-obama.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080915/pl_nm/usa_politics_dc
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2000
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Barack_Obama.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Budget_+_Economy.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Tax_Reform.htm

ARLINGTON, Va. - With today's Wall Street Journal report that pro-Obama Democrats have "airdropped a mini-army of 30 lawyers, investigators and opposition researchers into Anchorage" to dig for dirt on our vice presidential nominee, the McCain-Palin campaign today launched the Palin Truth Squad to counter recent attacks on Governor Sarah Palin, her family, her friends and her record of accomplishment. The Palin Truth Squad will set the record straight against Internet and liberal smears of Governor Palin.

"We're proud of Governor Palin's leadership in Alaska and record of taking on entrenched special interests and the good old boys network," said former Governor Jane Swift. "Governor Palin's commitment to reform is well-known but there are those who would seek to distort that record with vile rumors and smears against her, her husband, her children and her friends. We will not allow those on the left and in the media to smear a woman who has always served her constituents with honor. We know the truth and are committed to ensuring it as well."

In the event of false attacks, rumors and smears against Governor Palin, the Palin Truth Squad will issue alerts and statements to voters and the media to set the record straight. Additionally, the Truth Squad will be available to respond to inquiries from the media.

National Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:

· Former Governor Jane Swift (R-MA)·
Governor Linda Lingle (R-HI)·
Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, (R-AK)·
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN)·
Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)·
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)·
Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA)·
Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK)·
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC)·
Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX)·
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)·
Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI)·
Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-FL)·
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)·
Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM)·
Jo Ann Davidson, RNC Co-Chair· Rosario Marin
Former U.S. Treasurer· Meg Stapleton
Former Aide To Governor Palin· Kristan Cole, Lifelong Friend Of Governor Palin

State Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:

· Former Lt. Governor Jane Norton (CO)·
State Representative Amy Stephens (CO)·
State Board of Education Member Peggy Littleton (CO)·
State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff (FL)·
County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez (FL)·
Former Iowa Senate President And Former U.S. Ambassador To The Eastern Caribbean, Mary Kramer (IA)·
State Representative Jackie Walorski (IN)·
State Representative Laura Brod (MN)·
Former GOP State Party Chairwoman And Former State Rep. Barb Sykora (MN)·
Jayne Millerick, Former NH GOP Chair (NH)·
State Senator Jennifer Beck, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)·
Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, Honorary Vice Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)·
Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)· DA Dona Ana County Susana Martinez (NM)·
Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Bono-Hunt (NV)·
State Senator Barbara Cegavske (NV)·
State Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert (NV)·
Sue Lowden, Nevada GOP Chair (NV)·
Kay Ayres, OH GOP Vice Chair (OH)·
Betty Montgomery, Ohio Women For McCain-Palin Chair (OH)·
Mary Taylor, Ohio Auditor Of State (OH)·
Margie Hughes, Clackamas County Chair Of Women For McCain-Palin (OR)·
Linda Neace, West Linn Small Business Owner For McCain-Palin (OR)·
Deanna Smith, Women For McCain-Palin Chairwoman (OR)·
Renee Amoore, PA GOP Deputy Chair (PA)·
Joyce Haas, PA GOP Vice Chair (PA)·
State Senator Lisa Baker (PA)·
Diana Irey, Washington County Commissioner (PA)·
Christine Toretti, RNC National Committeewoman and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Co-Chair (PA)·
Kim Ward, Westmoreland County Commissioner and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Regional Chair (PA)·
Former First Lady Susan Allen (VA)·
Lori Ann Miller, Young Republican Federation Of VA Chairman (VA)·
Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow (WI)·
Peggy Oban Boze, McCain-Palin Chairwomen For King County (WA)·
Susan McCaw, Former Ambassador To Austria (WA)·
Della Newman, Former Ambassador To New Zealand (WA)

ARLINGTON, Va. - Today, McCain-Palin 2008 released its latest web ad, entitled "Lipstick." The ad highlights Barack Obama's "lipstick" comments yesterday in Virginia. While he may not be ready to lead, Barack Obama is ready to smear.

VIEW THE AD HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZd_Y_D-RaA

Script For "Lipstick" (WEB :35)

CHYRON: Sarah Palin On: Sarah Palin

GOVERNOR PALIN: Do you know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull: lipstick.

CHYRON: Barack Obama On: Sarah Palin

BARACK OBAMA: Well, you know, you can, you know you can...put...uh...lipstick on a pig...it's still a pig.

CHYRON: Katie Couric On: The Election

CBS' KATIE COURIC: One of the great lessons of that campaign is the continued and accepted role of sexism in American life.

CHYRON: Ready To Lead? No

Ready To Smear? Yes

AD FACTS: Script For "Lipstick" (WEB :35)

CHYRON: Sarah Palin On: Sarah Palin GOVERNOR PALIN: Do you know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull: lipstick.

· Governor Palin: "Do you know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull: lipstick." (Governor Sarah Palin, Remarks, St. Paul, Minnesota, 9/3/08)

But the race is tight, as both campaigns consolidate support

UTICA, N.Y. - Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin left St. Paul, Minnesota, with a smallish bounce overall and some energy in key demographic groups, as the race for the presidency enters a key stage and voters begin to tune in to the contest, the latest Zogby Interactive poll finds.

The McCain/Palin ticket wins 49.7% support, compared to 45.9% backing for the Obama/Biden ticket, this latest online survey shows. Another 4.4% either favored someone else or were unsure.

The Ticket Horserace

9-5/6
8-29/30

McCain-Palin
49.7%
47.1%

Obama-Biden
45.9%
44.6%

Others/Not sure
4.4%
8.3%

In the two-way contest in which just McCain and Obama were mentioned in the question, the result was slightly different, with McCain leading, 48.8% to 45.7%.

One-on-One Horserace
9-5/6

McCain
48.8%

Obama
45.7%

Others/Not sure
5.5%

In a Zogby Interactive survey conducted last weekend, just after the McCain announcement that Palin would join his ticket, McCain Palin won 47.1% support, while Obama/Biden won 44.6% support.

The interactive survey of 2,312 likely voters nationwide was conducted Sept. 5-6, 2008, and carries a margin of error of +/- 2.1 percentage points.

Pollster John Zogby: "Clearly, Palin is helping the McCain ticket. She has high favorability numbers, and has unified the Republican Party. The striking thing here in this poll is that McCain has pulled ahead among Catholics by double-digits. On the other hand, Palin is not helping with likely voting women who are not aligned with either political party. The undecided independent women voters decreased this week from 15% to 7%, but those women went to Obama. Palin is also helping among men, conservatives, notably with suburban and rural voters, and with frequent Wal-Mart shoppers, who tend to be "values" voters who like a good value for their money."

McCain's favorability rating increased from 50% favorable last week to 57% favorable now, a significant jump that indicates the GOP convention was a success. Among independent voters, 61% now have a favorable impression of him, compared to just 49% who said the same a week ago.

Nearly half - 49% - said they had a favorable opinion of Barack Obama, while 50% they had a negative impression of him. Among independent voters, 47% gave him favorable marks, compared to 46% who said the same thing last week.

Among the vice presidential candidates, 54% said they now hold a favorable view of Palin, while 42% hold an unfavorable view. While 49% have a favorable opinion of Joe Biden, 47% hold an unfavorable view of him.

Just one week ago, 23% told Zogby that they did not know enough about Palin to make a judgment about whether they held a favorable or unfavorable view of her - but this most recent survey shows just 4% were unfamiliar with her - another indication that likely voters paid attention to the GOP convention this week, which won the highest television viewership numbers ever earned by an American political convention.ightly different, with McCain leading, 48.8% to 45.7%.

By Warren Cole Smith
EP News - Family Research Council Tony Perkins said, "It's obviously an outstanding choice. Very smart. Very strategic. Those who might have voted for Obama only because they wanted to be a part of something historic can now vote for the Republicans for the same reason."

Richard Viguerie, the conservative icon who has been brutally critical of McCain, was even more effusive, "She's perfect."

Setting aside the doctrine of original sin for a moment, religious conservatives do think the selection of Sarah Palin as the vice presidential candidate is pretty near perfect. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission, was not the only person to observe that she was "straight out of veep central casting." She's active in an evangelical church. She has five children, including one with Down's Syndrome that she chose to give birth to even though she knew the child would be a Down's baby. And, of course, she's a woman.

Even Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, who made national headlines when he said he could not support McCain "under any circumstances" admitted that this was a circumstance that he did not think was possible. Sources close to Dobson told EP News that in a private meeting on the afternoon of the Palin announcement he said he would reconsider his position on McCain.

Dobson called Palin "a genuine reformer. A deeply committed Christian." On a special Focus Action radio broadcast, Dobson said Palin has helped change his mind on McCain. "If I went into the polling booth today, I would pull the lever for John McCain," he said. Dobson applauded the Republican Party's strong platform plank against destructive embryonic stem-cell research, which uses much stronger language than in years past.

The broadcast also featured Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, Kelly Shackelford and Tom Minnery, who expressed unanimous support for McCain and Palin. "I don't remember this kind of electric moment since I went to the inauguration of Ronald Reagan," Dobson said.

Gary Bauer was already one of McCain's most enthusiastic supporters, so it is no surprise that he called the selection a "grand slam home run" that is "guaranteed to energize values voters." It apparently did just that. Senior officials at the Republican National Committee said that in the hours after the Palin announcement, more than $3-million was donated on-line to the McCain campaign.

To the Editor:

Watching Sarah Palin speak at the RNC convention the other night made me realize how wrong she is for our country.

Palin did a great job of distorting facts and delivering mean-spirited zingers. She was condescending and dismissive of the real work Barack Obama did helping real people on the South Side of Chicago. She proved that she is ready to uphold the long Republican tradition of lying about Democratic tax cuts—even though Obama's plan would give Americans a bigger break than McCain's.

Her speech - written by one of President Bush's speechwriters - didn't tell us the truth about Sarah Palin's extremist positions. And the more that people know her far-right views, the less they will support her.

Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task." (Associated Press, September 3, 2008).She's even admitted she hasn't thought about the war much - just last year she was quoted saying, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." (ThinkProgress, Aug. 30, 2008 ).

Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union - to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its 'inspiring convention.'" (ThinkProgress , Sept. 4, 2008).

Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn't made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact. (Associated Press, Sept. 3, 2008).

Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being manmade." (Associated Press, Sept. 3, 2008 )

Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. (ThinkProgress , Sept. 4, 2008)

Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She's said she will only support abstinence-only approaches. (ThinkProgress , Sept. 4, 2008)

As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the public library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them - shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time , "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving 'full support' to the mayor." (Time, Sept. 2, 2008)

She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." (ThinkProgress , Sept. 4, 2008)

Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. (ThinkProgress , September 4, 2008 ) In a September 1 press statement addressing their teen daughter's pregnancy, Sarah Palin and her husband Todd stated, "We're proud of Bristol 's decision to have her baby." This is hypocritical coming from someone who opposes the rights of other expecting mothers to make their own decisions.

The plain fact of the matter is that Sarah Palin's extremist positions DO qualify her for a national leadership role - in Afghanistan, as vice president of the Taliban.

David DeLuca
Manchester, N.J.

WOODBRIDGE - U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today issued the following statements regarding Governor Sarah Palin's acceptance of the vice presidential nomination, making her only the second woman in American history to run on a major party ticket.

Former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman: "Tonight's speech was historic and showed the qualities that have made Sarah Palin such a popular, effective governor. She is a tough fighter who has balanced a budget and made the difficult decisions of the kind we need to reform Washington. As the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin is the only candidate in this race who has been tested as an executive. With her years of service for the people of Alaska, Governor Palin brings an 'outside the beltway' approach to problem solving, the sort of perspective we need."

Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose: " Sarah Palin is a reformer. She took on the corrupt party bosses in her state and threw them out of power. As a mayor, she cut property taxes. As Governor, she provided tax relief to the people of her state. These issues -- reforming broken government, cutting property taxes, and providing tax relief -- are the issues that New Jersey's voters care about, and Sarah Palin has a strong record on each of them.

"Sarah Palin isn't a fancy politician. She lives her life the way most Americans do. Near to their values. Understanding who they are and what they experience day by day. She will win over large numbers of work-a-day Democrats, Republicans and Independents who are looking for a neighbor who will speak with them on the level."

Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan: "Governor Palin tonight showed the world that she is the perfect addition to John McCain's ticket. Like John McCain, Sarah Palin is a maverick who will buck politics as usual to get things done. She compliments John McCain's message of reform. While Barack Obama prefers to play it safe, voting 'present' on tough issues and rarely breaking with the Democratic Party, America tonight learned that Sarah Palin is a tough executive who can bring people together to accomplish the people's business."

Senator Jennifer Beck, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women for McCain: "As Governor Palin outlined in tonight's historic speech, she has what it takes to stand up to entrenched interests. She will put the government back on the side of the people, and she has the record to prove it. Unlike Barack Obama, Governor Palin has actually crafted budgets and vetoed nearly $500 million in spending. Unlike Barack Obama, who requested nearly $1 billion in pork, Governor Palin joined John McCain in reforming this broken system and end the abuses of wasteful earmark spending.

"Barack Obama may talk about fiscal responsibility but he is not shy about his plans to raise taxes on income, capital gains, and Social Security. While Barack Obama has been campaigning, Governor Palin has been busy cutting taxes. This is a record that will appeal to voters in New Jersey, the state that leads the nation in taxation."

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A conservative political watch dog group says that Republican leaders are upset that hurricane Gustav coverage is overshadowing the Republican National Convention this week.

“The Republicans are looking at a situation where their convention is receiving dramatically less coverage due to the storm, and they privately express anger with the unfortunate timing and the diminished publicity,” says Mark Dice, founder of The Resistance , an independent conservative political watchdog organization.

“While it would be quite heartless and political suicide to voice such feelings publicly, it’s what a lot of Republicans are feeling,” he says.

Mark adds that the reason President Bush and Dick Cheney canceled their appearances at the convention has nothing to do with them being busy directing disaster relief, but that McCain is trying to distance himself from the Bush administration for political reasons and is using disaster relief as the perfect excuse to cancel the appearances.

“Bush has become a burden for McCain, and since the Obama campaign is saying that a McCain win in November would be four more years of Bush, the two are keeping their distance from each other,” says Dice.

“The fact that McCain is considering canceling his acceptance speech from the convention center, and instead do it via satellite from the Gulf coast is shameful. It’s just a pathetic attempt for him to pretend to be presidential.”