John McCain

August 13, 2008 -- On the campaign trail, John McCain likes to brag about chairing the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that investigated criminal lobbyist Jack Abramoff's role in the Republican culture of corruption. But that is not stopping John McCain from raising campaign cash with one of Abramoff's closest business partners: scandal plagued conservative activist Ralph Reed. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Reed has "agreed to serve as a member of the McCain Victory 2008 Team" and will host a fundraiser for his campaign on Monday, August 18.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- As he visits Michigan today, John McCain finds himself at a particularly low point in his candidacy. In a year when the country is looking for change, McCain has embraced the failed policies of George W. Bush and same old politics as Karl Rove, leaving him struggling to win Americans' support -- even within his own party.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- OREGON CITY, OR -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced Oregon's Grassroots Leadership Team. This team of local Oregon leaders will help organize and manage the campaign's grassroots efforts, including the "get out the vote" turnout operation, in each county and city across the state of Oregon.

Each of Oregon's 36 counties will have a designated chairman at the local level to serve as the point of contact for local volunteers and supporters, and to help communicate John McCain's message of country first, national security, stronger economy and government reform.    » read more »

Troubling Alcohol Use Found Among Young Veterans; New Study Finds Disturbing Risk of Binge Drinking Among Servicemembers

August 13, 2008 -- NEW YORK - Yesterday, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released a study on alcohol abuse among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. According to the study, combat exposure significantly increases servicemembers' risk of heavy drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems. Young servicemembers are at the highest risk of developing these problems following their deployments. JAMA also found, "Those born after 1980 were at 6.72 increased odds of new-onset binge drinking."    » read more »

White House -- 12 August 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush wants Congress to allow more offshore oil drilling. High energy prices are a big part of this year's presidential campaign. President Bush says a lot of Americans are wondering why their government is not doing something about the supply of crude oil.

Following a meeting with business leaders, Mr. Bush said opposition Democrats in Congress are to blame for blocking efforts to expand domestic offshore drilling that has been restricted since the early 1980s.    » read more »

13 August 2008 -- U.S. and Iraqi officials say car bomb attacks have killed at least four people and wounded at least 28 in northern Iraq.

Police say a bomb exploded in a parked car in the town of Qayara, south of Mosul Wednesday, killing two civilians. At least nine people were wounded in the blast.

Elsewhere, police say a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives near a convoy carrying Abdul-Karim Ali Nsaif, the mayor of the town of al-Multaqa, near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Officials say the bomb wounded the mayor and at least three of his bodyguards.

Police say another suicide car bomber struck an Iraqi army patrol in Mosul, killing an Iraqi soldier and a civilian and wounding at least 15 people.    » read more »

12 August 2008 -- Iraqi officials have imposed a curfew in the capital of eastern Diyala province after a suicide bomber killed at least two people and wounded at least seven others Tuesday.

U.S. and Iraqi officials say the blast occurred near a convoy carrying the Diyala governor Raad Rasheed and an Iraqi army commander in the provincial capital, Baquba. The two were unharmed in the attack.

The U.S. military says the bomber, dressed as a woman, was attempting to approach the convoy when soldiers identified him as a threat and opened fire, causing the explosives to detonate.

Iraqi and U.S. forces recently launched an offensive in Diyala to crack down on insurgents. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is offering amnesty to militants who surrender.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson has directed that flags on state government buildings across New York be flown at half-staff on Friday, August 15, 2008, in honor of New York City resident Sergeant Jose Ulloa, who died August 9, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq.

Sergeant Ulloa was a member of the 515th Transportation Company, 28th Transportation Battalion, based in Mannheim, Germany.

“It is with deep regret that we acknowledge and mourn the death of Sergeant Ulloa,” said Governor Paterson. “On behalf of all New Yorkers I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and fellow soldiers of Sergeant Ulloa. His sacrifice to our country will never be forgotten.”    » read more »

8/11/2008 -- Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has ordered that the National flag and State flag be flown at half-staff on Wednesday morning, August 13th until sundown Thursday, August 14th to honor the memory of U.S. Army Private Timothy Hutton, who died in Iraq in August 4th, 2008, while in service to his country.

Source: Montana Governor

Governor asks Kansans to honor fallen soldier from Leavenworth

August 12, 2008 -- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has directed flags to be flown at half-staff throughout Kansas from sunup to sundown on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 in honor of Spc. William Joseph Mulvihill, Leavenworth, who was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, who was killed in Afghanistan on Friday, August 1st.

“Specialist Mulvihill dedicated himself to serving and protecting our country. A decorated solider, he served with honor and valor. His family, friends and fellow soldiers are in our thoughts and prayers as we remember his sacrifice.”    » read more »

Honoring Illinois' Fallen

August 13, 2008 -- The Illinois Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor Blagojevich's Office to fly the flags at State occupied buildings at half-staff on behalf of:

Cpl. Adam T. McKiski
United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Cherry Valley

Please lower the United States flags and the State flags at all buildings occupied by your agency's personnel from:

Sunrise, Saturday, August 16, 2008 until
Sunset, Monday, August 18, 2008

Source: Illinois Governor

August 12, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Statement from Jason Furman, Obama Campaign Economic Policy Director, on the new trade deficit numbers:

"While Senator McCain may believe that the small reduction in the trade deficit represents great progress in an economy he thinks is doing just fine, Barack Obama believes that America can do better than a $693 billion trade deficit over the last year.

"Barns for Obama": Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)

We cannot afford another four years of the massive trade deficits we've had under President Bush - trade deficits that Senator McCain's economic policies would only make worse.    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- As John McCain continues his "Job-Killing John" tour in Pennsylvania today, it's clearer than ever how out of touch he is with working Americans. McCain is insulated from the economic struggles of most Americans.

As Americans face the consequences of seven months of job losses and spiraling energy costs, John McCain, who owns seven houses, has said that there has "been great progress economically." Perhaps it's not surprising then that John McCain is so out of touch with the struggles facing Americans today that he actually has said that the nation's economic problems are merely "psychological" and why he is calling for more of the same failed Bush policies and politics that have already cost thousands of Americans their jobs.    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- The Democratic National Committee today launched the first web ad of the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign. The ad, called "Exxon John," highlights McCain's promise of more giveaways for his new friends in Big Oil. Released on the same day activists across the country are participating in an Exxon-McCain '08 National Day of Action, "Exxon John" is a parody of the "Big John" video released earlier this year by Republican Senator John Cornyn.    » read more »

Exxon-McCain '08

August 11, 2008 -- Activists across the country will take part in a National Day of Action to protest the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign on Tuesday, August 12. Tomorrow's events are the cornerstone of a week of grassroots activism in as many as 18 states aimed at highlighting Exxon John's promise of four more years of gimmicks and giveaways that line Big Oil's pockets but do nothing to help Americans deal with skyrocketing energy costs.    » read more »