Swifties aren't gone, they've just changed candidates
Over the last three years, the group of organized, well-financed liars ironically named the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,” have come to be synonymous with vicious smears and mendacity. Most honorable people, who have any decency at all, look back at the group’s bogus attacks with disgust and disappointment. These clowns smeared a war hero to help a couple of draft-dodgers, and the Republican Party cheered them on.
That, of course, was nearly four years ago. Can we leave this malicious moment in the past? Actually, no. Chris Hayes has a tremendous piece in the new issue of The Nation noting that the Swift Boat Liars’ financiers aren’t just lingering, they’re as active as ever.
Research by The Nation into Federal Election Commission records of the group’s top twenty donors reveals that they’ve been remarkably active in this cycle, contributing and bundling nearly $200,000 to presidential candidates. This does not bode well. During the last presidential campaign, the wealthy backers of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth — now rebranded as Swift Vets and POWs for Truth — didn’t do their real dirty work until the general election, where as a tax-exempt 527 group they operated outside the restraints of direct campaign contributions. We may wish we were done with the Swift Boaters, but they aren’t done with us.
In 2004 the top twenty donors all gave (with one exception) at least $50,000 to the group. The top three — Houston home builder Bob Perry, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens and billionaire drugstore impresario and investor Harold Simmons — gave a combined $9.5 million ($4.45 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively). Calculating the influence of these and the slightly less wealthy Swift Boat donors during this cycle is a touch more complicated than simply adding up their contributions. Each one exerts far more influence as a bundler, given the federal restrictions on individual giving, which limit donors to a maximum of $4,600 per cycle. So The Nation looked not only at the contributions of the donors themselves but also at those of their family members and employees.
In 2004, Swifties were closely tied to the Bush administration, particularly Karl Rove. Care to guess who these guys are rallying behind now? John McCain.
It Figures ... McCain lost his soul (if there ever was such a thing) back when he went down to KISS FALWELS Jewels. Sorry john, once you suck one ,.... that's what you are.
My Two cents
all these guys are buying are tax audits in 2009.
How about the FEC shutdown? Now 527s are unlimited.
And why is NOBODY talking about the fact that Barack Obama is helping to block the FEC opening back up. Whatever his reasons it is a conflict of interest -- he should have stepped down!
Due in part to Obama's actions, John Edwards campaign is being denied the money it was promised and earned!
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005015.php#more
Where Barack Obama is on a committee that is essentially denying John Edward's campaign funds... How's that for a message of 'hope'? Sounds like dirty Chicago-style politics to me.
Gosh, wonder if we'll hear Obama crowing about how he only eats cash from the telecoms and corporations like Hillary, and points to the scary independent 527s that support John? I bet we do.
Sorry if this sounds negative. It IS negative. The system is broken.
Harold Simmons, drugstore impresario.........which drugstore would that be? Don't want to be going shopping there.
You mean 100 years, 1000 years, 1 million years in Iraq? That John McCain? He is so over and so are they.
when pigs(repugs) wollo in shit and mud, they get dirty and stink.
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 3:
GOSH, YOU act just like a bottom feeder, swiftboater....care to discard the slime you are wearing?
dadams @ 7:
Swarm isn't a bottom feeder.... he's paying attention. You go,dude. I look forward to your posts Swarmof.
The 'Swift Boat' South Carolina republican contingent is reportedly planning a 'push poll' telephone campaign, for the primary campaign, featuring the question,
'How do you feel about the revelation that Obama's wife, 'Michelle', is actually a caucasian Al Qaeda agent in black-face, who, together with her mulatto children, was hired to pose as the family of Barack Hussein Obama, the leader of a US-based Islamofascist 'sleeper cell', and make him palatable to the gullible american public as a viable presidential candidate?'
No information as to the follow-up questions/statements has yet been obtained.
dadams @ 7:
Look I know we all see a lot of unsubstantiated ramblings against... whoever.
Click the link. Then tell me, why Obama should get to deny the Edwards campaign the money it earned when they are competitors?
Isn't that a fundamental contradiction to democracy? I would hope even Obama supporters would be with me on this one.
Hey, if I'm wrong -- I'll admit it (done it before here). Show me where I'm wrong in this, please. It'll be a relief. But so far... this shows extremely poor judgement by Barack to me.
Classic case of Stockholm Syndrome.
The Swiftboaters spent so much time digging up dirt on McCain for bush that they actually started to like the guy.
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 3:
Obama's hold is because of Hans von Spakovsky's nomination to the FEC. John Edwards can borrow campaign funds that will eventually be paid by the FEC when they have enough members.
Meanwhile, you can continue to blow it out of your ass.
I thought the one person who would DEPLORE torture....went wishy washey,that still stuns me.
Saint Augustine @ 12:
So Obama is forcing Edwards to borrow money -- which WILL become a problem over time. By your own words.
Spakovsky may be an ass, but that is a clear-cut CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I mean come on, isn't that the kind of thing we are trying to FIX here? Admittedly I find it especially irksome because the guy that is doing this keeps talking about "hope for change". Yeah, right.
New boss, same as the old boss. Love that you're angry at the messenger, BTW.
The 'Slow Canoe' program, the Dems answer to the 'Swift Boaters' is preparing a TV spot, featuring John McCain riding a falling Nuclear bomb, ala 'Dr. Strangelove', targeted toward the Iraq/Iran border, with the voice-over, 'Vote for Cowboy John, he'll solve the Mideast Problem, right now, and you won't have to put up with his bullshit for a full four years'.
(This is a preliminary script concept, it needs some work, it's liable to attract a lot of voters to McCain, which is contra-indicated. The Dems just aren't as effective at the 'Swift Boat' stuff as the opposition)
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 3:
And people say Obama has no experience. Sounds like some damn fine politicking to me!
If Obama isn't careful, and keeps jackin' with Edwards, he's gonna be spending his whole $100M war chest hiring Starr and Bennett to defend himself from the flurry of subpoenas he'll be up to his ass in.
I would like to think that the Dems have figured out that only way to deal with Swifties is to ATTACK back, quickly and effectively, and to expose them (i.e. Pickens, Perry, Simmons) for what they really are.
I would like to think that but I have a feeling it will be the progessive blogs that do that work for the hapless Dems.
i would like to think by now Americans are on to their BS, and it would be a death warrant for anyones campaign who gained their endorsement.
I think after what they did to Kerry and anyone else in their path....people have wised up..ALOT has happened since 2004.....there is NO lipstick to put on this pig....none.
The bush administration paid these clowns 14 billion dollars to attack John Kerry in 2004. They have already begun smearing Obama by saying he went to a Madrassa and practiced terrorist actions. Feeble minded yahoos will believe anything these clowns say.
When McCain said: 'Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran'....corperate america all agreed..'This is our man'.
So Obama should okay another Bush appointee so Edwards will get money from the FEC. The appointee would have influence over the elections. That influence could determin whether the Repugs steal another election. I'm on Obama's side with this one. My 1st choice is still Edwards.
The more fear they try to peddle, the more Obama's high-road approach will paint them into the Bush/Cheney/fearmonger corner. It will be ugly, though from both the swiftboaters and the spawn of Rove. If you can turn a man's military service and medals of heroism (Kerry) or POW experience (McCain) against him, there is no telling how low they can go.
Maybe a big difference this time will be that the candidate who is “swift boated” will actually defend him/herself. Unlike Kerry who didn’t even fight for the votes he won in Ohio let alone fight back against the swift boaters. Fuck him.
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 3:
Are you suggesting Obama VOTE on something...I mean, other than 'present'?
I think Obama should learn to recuse himself in conflicts of interest, instead of gladly benefiting from them. That's pretty basic stuff; he doesn't have to appoint the neocon. Hell, I think it should be a law that you have to give up your Senate or House seat to run for president, too, but we aren't going to see that. You can make too much money the way things are by just not showing up for votes and campaigning on Uncle Sam's dime.
But anything just so the Republicans don't win? Is it really necessary to give up basic ethics so readily? Dirty stuff is OK as long is it's "our team"? Good God I hope not.
But 527s aren't as bad as the abuse of them (though personally I'd prefer everyone on public financing and no 527s).
For example, the Dems had more money in 527s in 2004 and WAY more money in 2006. Does that make all Democrats swiftboaters? The service union, ACT, moveon.org, Gay and Lesbian groups... all bad? I know it's the Nation and all, but they could have mentioned that.
Bundling... Ugh. What a mess. I hoped that the 2006 congress might deal with some of this before the election (a dreamer, I know).
Got to watch them all, Republicans and Democrats. There is just too much money involved period. After seeing the effectiveness of the MSM freeze-out of Edwards (notice the race is still billed as Obama vs Hillary -- they already had the graphics made), your government is slipping away from any semblance of control by you. No matter who you vote for, that should worry you.
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 14:
Hans von Spokovsky's described as a "vote suppression guru" in your link. Russ Feingold is standing with Obama in this stalemate. That's good enough for me. I think the Edwards situation is a secondary effect, not the primary purpose of Obama's position. Has the Edwards campaign complained about Obama's role in this?
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 14:
Actually, I was wrong, Obama objects to Hans, but it is Mitch McConnell who won't allow an up and down vote on indivual candidates. http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005015.php#more
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 14:
There was a Joe Pine on the radio years ago that had a message for people like you: Stick a postage stamp on your nose and mail yourself to a forrest fire.
Saint Augustine @ 30:
Hey, I think swarm has a point. It's open to debate. Conflict of interest. Chill out Saint.
Remember when McCain suddenly came out for Bush in '04, and it seemed really surprising, given what Rove and Co. did to him in 2000.
Now we know what the trade was. Bush is backing McCain. That means he's the Republican nominee.
And the crazyChristians are getting this dog and pony show in the primaries with Huckabee as contender to set them up to vote for McCain. Hell, they might even make the Huckster V.P. and then have him die of a coronary right before the 2012 election so McCain can nominate Jeb Bush.
e!-e!-e!-e! (Bernard Herman's brilliant theme from "Psycho".)
Saint Augustine @ 30:
Hmm... entertaining image. :)
But if you don't understand the need to recuse yourself from a decision or position of influence that is unethical, from that alternatives of the decision itself... I guess I can't help there.
But heres a question... if Obama DID recuse himself from the committee like he should have, would Hans (who is quite evil) be nominated then? NO. That's a false choice. I'm just trying to point out how very low our expectations are of honesty in government. Some will say, "it doesn't matter then". OK, not much I can say to convince you then.
What says Edwards campaign? I have no idea. I'm not a campaigner, just a guy. Probably nothing. I'm sure advisors and polls say not to, or Edwards probably has had conflicts of interest too that will be pointed to. Still doesn't make it right as I see it.
I just think we should stop giving ANY slack to these yahoos. Starting right damn now. (and I don't mind the knee-jerk responses, my post does read kinda negative.)
craig @ 32:
Nice Hermann ref! I like the score when Janet Liegh is driving towards doom at the Bates Motel (which BTW Onterio Oregon has one of it's own....who would stay there?)
Swift Boat Liars pick the candidate they think they can most easily manipulate. They saw how McCain crumbled and groveled after the whispering campaign. It was a no-brainer for them to choose Craven McCain and the Pandering Express. I was wondering why the dead man walking was still around after all this time.
McCain is like the Labrador dog candidate, "Oh, pleeeze, I'll do anything to be president, please, please, oh, pleeeeze, can I be president??? *pants heavily*."
Miss Roberta Perry is at it again ! This guy is a swish if I ever saw one !
I'm a Barack supporter, but will be supporting the dem nominee if not Barack. With all of the disgusting Hillary-bashing around here, the swift boat liars seemingly don't need to put up much effort, we're slinging the mud for them.
They are alive and well and thriving in Dallas Texas. All Dallas media is owned and operated by the evangelical movement. Our alternative newspaper is run by a lady named Bible Girl who prayed away her gayness.
This is why I'm an independant. The dems get a leader and then turn around and thrash him or her. Can't we all just get along. Rodney King
like i said the last two elections were rigged , miricales of diebold , the voteing list purges continue , every state thats crucial to winning 08 has been fixed, the same pricks with thier dirty tricks swiftboat and rove rat bastards are on the job, the 08 elections in the bag, and as one rat prick cia bastard said its in the bag you can take it to the bank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some here are starting to sound like a Bush appointee:
"With Hillary having the highest initial negatives of any politician in recent history, who could have possibly foreseen that people don't like her?!"
:roll:
Wait, these guys are behind JOHN MCCAIN now?
Don't they know that he has a colored baby from a woman who was NOT HIS WIFE?
Of course they know that, they're the ones who put that one out originally!
Sheesh. McCain is such a crack whore.
Jack Jett @ 38:
How come you can pray away your gayness, and you get to run a newspaper? I tried to pray away my fatness, and all I got was a Pontiac. Something's wrong with this country.
Obama wil have to sell himself quickly and educate Americans who are not familiar with him real soon before the smear begins.
The most susceptible people to fall for the Swifites are the ignorant. If the Swifties get to the ignorant first... then blah.
By the way, I don't want Edwards. Him and Kerry had no balls when the Swifites attacked.........
Hillary has more balls to defend herself from attacks than Edwards and Kerry ever had.
congress has time for steroid investigations but not for public financing of campaigns
It's already started happening. Lou Dobbs, after stating that McCain had a "absolutely triumphant showing" in Iowa, while having a discussion with James McIntyre, Sr. Pentagon Correspondent with CNN, asked if he will carry New Hampshire like he did in 2000? This was right after saying how dangerous it was for democrats to try to change policy with regards to Iraq, because as we all now, the new strategy is working.
>>> There was a Joe Pine on the radio years ago...
Ah, the Sweet Days of early talk. I had a favored epithet/put-down: "The previous Caller, who fancies himself a pint-sized Joe Pine..."
Obviously, some of the Swift Boat Liars minions are here on C&L trying to sow dissension on the left.
Now that Obama has the lead, the Texas slime machine has trained its guns on him flinging half truths and out and out lies to try to bring him down.
I don't argue with fools or filth, so don't bother to shriek that I must "prove" my allegations or "disprove" your dreck. Crawl back to the swamp called Texas politics where you belong.
Yes, and the question is whether Obama's team is capable of taking them on. High-minded thinking about "bringing people together" is not going to carry much weight with these velociraptors.
sue the bastards for defamation of character...............after all........they ARE full of shit.I wonder if the candidates being attacked could get a restraining order forcing them to cease and desist.Drag these assholes through the courts.
Swifties aren't gone even now. The media has swiftboated John Edwards. you know, the guy who came in second. Who? This country is stupid.
I agree that Democrats need to be prepared for the slime campaign of that desparate, cornered cobra, the Republikkk Party. The ONLY way to fight back is to prepare the lies, innuendo, and smear to use on any of the cryptofascists from the right. I am thrilled to be here in SC and fully prepared to use what the Rove crowd used on Old John McCain back in 2000, and with relish. If you think the public has "wised up" you are a fool. Smear works. If you think the public will filter out the lies this time, well "wishing in one hand and shitting in the other, see which one fills up first." As to those whining about smearing our own on this site, STFU. Hillary deserves to be dragged over the coals because she is a triangulating, war enabling, neocon suck-up, and I'll be goddamned before I let up on her.
Last night on Now, David Brancaccio took a close look at Republican smear machines, specifically S. Carolina's Republican thugs who are prodigies of Lee Atwater. I was appalled at the level of juvenile, sophomoric, almost infantile tactics and attitudes these low lifes displayed. They act like a bunch of rotten children, and the Republicans continue to support them. No wonder our country is in deep trouble.
WHICH is why Mccain's changed so much in the past few years, he was promised the dumb shit's electioneering team if he would back the fucker up, now he actually thinks it will deliver him a victory. It's a shame, regardless of party line, he seemed to have integrity once upon a time, but gave up on it.
Who doesn't know?
Abarts, Obama only voted "present" less than 3% of the time, so that cheap shot doesn't work.
Dadams and Swarm: How could you or anyone who is reading about the FEC shutdown think that democrats are responsible for its affect on Edwards? Republicans like Mitch McConnell, who blocked up-and-down votes for vote-suppressor Hans von Spakovsky and other FEC nominees are the REAL culprits here. They wanted the four FEC nominees to be voted on together (2 Dems, 2 Republicans including Spakovsky) as opposed to separately so that Congress can reject von Spakovsky.
Why single out Obama and not Russ Feingold for allegedly holding back FEC money for Edwards? You don't make any sense and you're obviously misreading the issue here: partisan politics getting in the way of democracy in action, at least temporarily (until the FEC resumes its duties). But don't cry for Edwards, he'll be just fine (moneywise).
At least with the new name for their organization, they now have it half-right: Swift Vets and POWs (Pack of Wolves)for Truth. Of course, the only truth wolves know is to pick their victims' bones clean.
The Swift Boaters are above the law much like President Bush & his cronies.
Has anyone else noticed, you never see the 'Swift-boaters', Rove, and DickHead together?
Looks as if democrats are turning into swifties about their own democratic candidates. There is no longer a need for the republicans swift-boater and Rove to attack our candidates with BS we are doing it ourselves. Democrats are no longer debating the issues; like the withdrawn from Iraq, not attacking Iran, stopping the illegal spying on Americans, torture, bring our manufacturing and jobs back home from overseas and stop and reverse the daily assault on our constitution and democracy.
Sounds like tabloid propaganda and BS about some actor's private life.
No wonder democracy and the democratic party is taking a back seat to corporate and republican owned and controlled U. S. A.
I would seriosly question any info coming from a private source. They seem to pick on those they do not like. Nothing is fair but when your messing with someones character lacing it with hearsay is destructive and is punishable as libel or slander. If proved to be false. I would like to see these folks on television as whole groups and not just an unfair sampling of their best. Get a better idea of who they are. Allowing me to know if they are trustworthy with this type of clout.
I knew McCain was an unprincipled, power-at-any-cost slut, but....damn.
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