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Name: Matthew Avitabile
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Hillary for State: A Smart and Wise Move

Posted by Matthew Avitabile on Sunday, November 30, 2008 8:10:41 PM


If the reports are true, President-Elect Obama has pulled off a very wise and shrewd move by placing Hillary Clinton in the State Department.

Originally posted on Jumping in Pools.

Smart because:
* Hillary has a fairly good knowledge of world affairs and has traveled extensively.
* Hillary was a part of her husband's presidency and was there when important foreign policy decisions were made.
* Hillary has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and has built knowledge on American forces deployed overseas.
* Hillary is hawkish on foreign affairs.

Shrewd because:
* Hillary is removed as the de facto leader of the Democrats in the Senate.
* Hillary is no longer an elected official.
* When Hillary will be mentioned, she will be a subordinate to Obama.
* If Obama fires Hillary for any reason, he can blame it on "incompetence" and ruin her reputation.
* Hillary will not have a hand in ground-breaking legislation.
* Hillary will not be able to push her signature issue, health care.
* Obama will appear to be reaching out.

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George W. Bush: Bipartisan to the End

Posted by Matthew Avitabile on Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:58:36 PM
George W. Bush has been called a lot of things. But one of the things that he hasn't been called often is bipartisan. Funny, you think? But if you look at his record, he actually has been very good on this point.

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* Bush worked with Democrats to push through Texas education reform.
* Bush worked with Democrats on a Democratic plan to push through U.S. educational reform.
* Bush partnered with Democrats to fight the Taliban and al Qaeda.
* Bush partnered with Democrats to pass the Iraq War resolution. The Senate version of the bill was introduced by a Democrat and in both Chambers of Congress, Democrats flocked to the bill.
* The military under the Bush Administration exposed the abuses at Abu Gharaib.
* Bush has been one of the most pro-environmental Presidents in our history. He has set aside massive acreage for conservation, including the largest tract in American history. ANWR was not drilled in (unfortunately) and Bush was willing to work with Dems to help our environment.
* Bush attempted to work with Dems for Social Security reform.
* Bush helped in the process of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission.
* Bush established a bipartisan foreign policy regarding Iran and Syria.
* Bush has worked overtime to ensure a good transition to Obama's administration. This despite the talk of Bush remaining in power through an emergency declaration.

George W. Bush is treated like a clown and a charlatan today. When history looks back on what he's done and the things that he has had to put up with, he will be given a kinder review.
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John McCain's Legacy

Posted by Matthew Avitabile on Saturday, November 29, 2008 9:49:05 PM
Originally posted at Jumping in Pools.


It may be a bit early to write about what we're all going to think of John McCain, but I think that I have a bit of the picture.

McCain will be remembered as the one Republican that many Democrats said that they'd vote for. Some did (Joe C.) and far more decided that party actually did matter more than policy or character.

McCain was remembered as the guy sunk by Karl Rove's tactics. However, for some reason folks in the media decried his attacks on Barack Obama as the same as Rove's, even though McCain's were factually based.

McCain not only believed in the righteousness of the Iraq War, but was willing to allow two of his sons to join the military. This, and McCain himself visited eight times, building a solid relationship with Nouri al-Maliki and the Iraqi government. Many times McCain said that he would rather win a war than a political campaign. By touting the successful surge strategy, the Iraq war is won. If the war was on the front pages, foreign policy would have been a bigger issue, and Obama's inexperience and naiveté would have shown even brighter. Instead, McCain put the country first, and pioneered the strategy that is saving lives.

McCain was everything people said they wanted in a President. He was affable, grouchy when he needed to be, bipartisan, a war hero, and experienced. He stood up to his own party when he needed to and foreign tyrants when others wouldn't.

John McCain is a hero that comes along once a generation. He will be remembered as such.

But we wanted Change at any cost.

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The United States Stands with India

Posted by Matthew Avitabile on Saturday, November 29, 2008 9:47:00 PM
Originally posted at Jumping in Pools.

Disgusting acts of terror shook the great city of Mumbai, known once as Bombay. At least 78 are dead in the carnage and more deaths may come. In this time of national tragedy, we cannot look at political borders or boundaries; there should be little distinction between the United States and our ally India. We are all members of the same international community, and we must stand together for justice.

Seven years ago, India was one of the first nations on Earth to offer support and assistance to the United States after September 11th. The United States should do the same. Although I cannot speak for the higher-ups in my country, I offer my condolences to India. But no matter what, terrorists will never be able to take away from India's greatness, terrorists will never shake India's morals, and India will never back down from terrorists.

God bless you, India. We stand with you.



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RIP, Franken's Election Hopes

Posted by Matthew Avitabile on Saturday, November 29, 2008 9:41:44 PM
It appears that Al Franken's hopes of becoming the next Senator from Minnesota are falling dramatically. Despite the fact that the vote count was moving his way, Franken's deficit has grown as the recount continues.

Originally posted at Jumping in Pools.

And now it appears that Franken's last ditch efforts to add votes into the wider pool has failed. Without more ballots to count, and the recount at 88%, the chances of a legitimate Franken comeback appear slim.

Still, the Democrats are calling foul, even though it appeared that earlier, votes were just "appearing" for Franken:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., termed the Canvassing Board's decision "cause for great concern" and called on Minnesota officials to "ensure that no voter is disenfranchised."

So hopefully Norm Coleman can sleep a little easier.
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