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“Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Reverend Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well,” McCain said in a statement to CNN Thursday."

... The attacks on Pastor John Hagee are nothing more than an attempt at character assassination.  Of course, it makes sense that the Left would want to find a way to seek revenge or a "pay back" for the Rev. Wright scandal (though if they really wanted to do that, they'd go after Hillary Clinton's pastor).  It's also an attempt to win back Jewish voters to the Democratic Party -- especially since Obama has his own problems in this area (as I write this, Obama is delivering a speech about Israel).

While we cannot control the Left's attempts to mischaracterize Hagee and McCain, we can expect John McCain to display more toughness than this. 

For an explanation on this, read:  McCain's Campaign to Appease The Left.

Continuing the energy talk from yesterday, check out these numbers. I wish I could take credit for this, but this piece was sent to my office this morning by the Office of the Republican Whip, Roy Blunt. This piece shows the differences between what Republicans would do to rein in gas prices on behalf of American energy consumers and what Democrats WILL NOT DO. The difference is becoming clearer and more pronounced by the day.

(Here are some details about the origin of the stats to compile this piece. Retail gasoline prices are the result of literally hundreds of factors, including crude oil supply, global demand, refinery capacity, regulation, taxes, weather, the value of the dollar, etc. Therefore it is impossible to say with certainty what one individual action will do to the overall price.  However, based on what we know about the impact of crude oil supply and prices it is possible to develop some potential ranges of impact on gasoline prices for certain policy changes. For example, using the methodology employed by Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats that suspending shipments into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (between 40-77,000 barrels of oil a day) would reduce gas prices by at least 5 cents, bringing ANWR online (at least one million barrels of oil a day) could impact gasoline prices by between 70 cents and $1.60.)

"It's possible an Obama presidency will be so effective at communicating and conducting its foreign policy that few will ever want to trust Republicans with the military again. But broadly speaking, the set of problems that each party has relative ownership over has remained constant for the better part of a century, and that means there are times when the party seems relevant, and times when it doesn't. My hunch is these will be out years for the Republicans, but not because they're waiting for new ideas. Rather, it'll be because they're waiting for the reemergence of old problems."

This is an interesting theory, inasmuch as it essentially argues that both political parties are needed -- at different times -- to correct the other party (and to solve the full-spectrum of "problems" a nation faces.)  Moreover, Klein seems to graciously concede that conservatives are, in fact, better equipped to solve some problems (though not the ones Americans currently care about).

This also makes me think of Newt Gingrich, who went so far as to name his organization, "American Solutions."  This essay, I think, could have just as easily have been written by Gingrich, which is interesting, in and of itself.

... While there's certainly an element of truth in Klein's essay, I'm not completely sold.  I would argue this has more to do with voter's perceptions and elections than about actual problem solving and leadership.  But it's interesting, nonetheless. 

By the way, Andrew Sullivan does a good job explaining how the very premise betray's conservatism:

"For conservatism to copy liberalism by always seeking 'solutions' to problems and convincing 'the right coalitions' of people to look to government for the satisfaction of their needs would be a mistake in my view." 

The Democratic majority has routinely rejected every proposed tax reduction on Americans and they have steadfastly stuck to their insistence on repealing every tax reduction passed during this century. That will raise taxes on every single American who currently pays taxes and add some new ones to the tax rolls.

But there is one group that apparently is deserving of a tax cut, according to the majority. Contingent fee trial lawyers. Yep, you heard me correctly. Buried in a recent tax increase bill (which I opposed and the president will likely veto) was a special tax break for trail lawyers paid under a contingent fee. It would allow them to deduct their expenses on a contingent fee case whenever they incur them rather than wait, as current law requires, until the case is concluded. This bill contained mainly tax increases on lots of other businesses. This was one of the few tax cuts in the bill.

Maybe this is to aid the struggling trial lawyer industry? After all, they are the engine of our economy aren't they? They employ so many people? Yeah right.

Is there any question what special interests rule the roost now?

On Sunday at a stop in Oregon, Sen. Obama was dismissive of the threats posed by Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and Syria. That's the same Iran whose Quds Force is arming and training insurgents and illegal militias in Iraq to kill American soldiers; that is supporting Hezbollah and Hamas in violent attacks on Lebanon and Israel; and that is racing to develop a nuclear weapon while threatening the "annihilation" of Israel.

Look.  Especially for those who feel inexperienced or inadequate when dealing with foreign policy, it's tempting to seek to downplay the world's threats in order to be able to redirect one's attention to domestic matters, where politicians can feel more of a sense of control -- or can make promises that voters figure the president has at least some chance of delivering.

But everyone knows where that got us during the Clinton Administration.  Holidays from history, where foreign threats are ignored, dismissed, or minimized can carry a heavy, lethal cost when the bill comes due.  We learned that on 9/11.

That isn't fear-mongering.  It's common sense.  And as much as we wish that the world were safe and stable enough that we could simply devote ourselves to the many pressing issues at home, that's simply  not the case.  The last thing we need is a president who doesn't realize it.

A group called America’s Survival released two “blockbuster” reports they say show Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama’s Communist connections”Thursday.

 The reports explore Obama’s relationships during his Hawaiian childhood-upbringing and later in life in Chicago as a community organizer. “Communist networks were in existence in the same two places that would provide the backdrop for Obama’s upbringing and political career,” Herbert Romerstein, a former investigator for the House Committee on Un-American Activities, writes.

OLBERMANN: I cannot imagine that kind of evil knee-jerk reflex. I feel very sorry for those that have shown it. It seems to me these right-wingers have inadvertently shown their true colors, their instinctive hatred for, and contempt for those self-sacrificing Americans who have been needlessly placed in harm's way and the politicians they support.

They hear criticism of our nation's collective conduct in Iraq, and they immediately assume it's the fault of the soldiers. In the wake of an insult that exists only in their minds and never in my words or in my heart, there remains I think only one question to ask: Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin, why do you hate our troops?

... Florida: Clinton tops McCain 48 - 41 percent; McCain leads Obama 45 - 41 percent;

.... Ohio: Clinton beats McCain 48 - 41 percent; McCain tops Obama 44 - 40 percent;

... Pennsylvania: Clinton tops McCain 50 - 37 percent; Obama leads McCain 46 - 40 percent