A tangled Web at the RNC

Chrism — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:36:31 GMT

I want to know what legislation John McCain passed his first two years in office.

A tangled Web at the RNC

mark smith — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:43:15 GMT

uh what is this article doing in the tech and science section on the web page? Is the editor asleep or just trying to push his/her bias?

A tangled Web at the RNC

Tom S. — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:47:24 GMT

Chrism,

The difference, of course, is that John McCain didn't think he was qualified to run for President after the first two years. Maybe if Obama had waited 15 years or so, he'd have a meatier resume to offer.

Tom

A tangled Web at the RNC

Robert - Phoenix Arizona — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:48:05 GMT

I guess if you want to know about McCain's first 2 years you'll have to do some research because he's actually been in office longer than that.

A tangled Web at the RNC

audrey fisher — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:05:20 GMT

Has anyone found a way to download the 2008 GOP party platform? I have tried www.gop.com/platform site but it will not download. FYI: The democratic platform is an easy search and download (without commercials). As a concerned citizen who does not want all the rhetoric, I plan to make my decision on the platform instead. Thanks

A tangled Web at the RNC

Will Femia — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:19:24 GMT

Audrey, I'll take your question at face value because I'm a fan of source documents. You want this.
http://platform.gop.com/2008Platform.pdf

A tangled Web at the RNC

chris, Alabama — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:30:41 GMT

Did anyone read about the transperancy bill? Yes Obama was involved in it, but so was John McCain. from the link......The bill was introduced by Senator Tom Coburn, for himself and Senators Barack Obama, Tom Carper and John McCain on April 6, 2006.[3] After a "secret hold" was revealed and removed, it was passed unanimously in the Senate on September 7, 2006 and by the House on September 13, 2006. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on September 26, 2006.[4] ......

A tangled Web at the RNC

Beckwolf, Johnson City, TN — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:32:03 GMT

"I should point out that Fiorina is not wrong for describing the bill as a promise from John McCain. Not only is this a bipartisan project, but McCain's name is mentioned prominently in the paperwork:"

That would make sense, since the preliminary idea was forced through by McCain and THEN supported by Obama, not the other way around.

"Has anyone found a way to download the 2008 GOP party platform? I have tried www.gop.com/platform site but it will not download."

Yeah, should be an easy google, I downloaded it easily with maybe fifteen seconds of searching (and also free from commercials). The site you mentioned also worked immediately for me without any problems, so I'd need more details to try and figure out what's wrong with yours. Had my family all try the download as well, as all say it was a very easy search and download.

Will already offered you the .pdf, so I won't bother posting it, but that was going to be my next action as well. Anyway, hope his link helps.

A tangled Web at the RNC

Kelly in Denver — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:19:02 GMT

Thanks Will, it's nice to see some journalism and research go into a story. We don't see that very often in the MSM.

A tangled Web at the RNC

Bob From PA — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:30:35 GMT

As I understand it Obama, all told is responsible for over 1100 pieces of legislation

A tangled Web at the RNC

Mr. Unite Us — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:58:13 GMT

Just one of the changes Obama has made while in the U.S. Senate.

Senate Passes Coburn-Obama Bill to Create Internet Database of ...
Sep 8, 2006 ... WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) today hailed the Senate's passage of the "Federal Funding ...
obama.senate.gov/press/060908-senate_passes_c/ - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

Obama, Coburn Introduce Bill Requiring Public Disclosure of All ...
Apr 7, 2006 ... WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) today announced the introduction of legislation that would ...
obama.senate.gov/press/060407-coburn_introduc/ - 8k - Cached - Similar pages
More results from obama.senate.gov »

A tangled Web at the RNC

John Doe's Brother-in-Law, Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:00:27 GMT

You are kidding Will, right? No one remembered the quote (paraphrased here, I am too lazy to actually look it up) "Oh, What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." from an epic poem by Sir Walter Scott (usually mis-attributed to William Shakespeare)? No one knew that? Yikes.

A tangled Web at the RNC

Jeff Pitzen, Charlotte, NC — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:23:15 GMT

Hmmm... seems like if it weren't for more senior Senate members Obama's name wouldn't even be onthis one.. and it's really not. He was a co-sponsor, along with ... wait for it... John McCain

The bill was introduced by Senator Tom Coburn, for himself and Senators Barack Obama, Tom Carper and John McCain on April 6, 2006.[3] After a "secret hold" was revealed and removed, it was passed unanimously in the Senate on September 7, 2006 and by the House on September 13, 2006. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on September 26, 2006.[4]

On June 3, 2008, Senator Obama, along with Senators Carper, Coburn and McCain, introduced follow-up legislation: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008.[5]

A tangled Web at the RNC

Jeff, Seattle — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:55:25 GMT

Mark- Uh, I think it's in Tech/Science because it's a bill involving Tech/Science. And, should pointing out a fact about a bipartisan bill that's being partially misrepresented at the RNC be considered "bias"? I guess it depends on your own bias..

A tangled Web at the RNC

Tom McCullough, Campbell, CA — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:03:27 GMT

Apparently, the difference between authoring and co-sponsoring a bill is missed in this discussion. There were 46 other co-sponsors. Obama didn't author the bill Coburn did, nor was it a "significant piece of legislation." I don't think this legislation meets anyone's test of Obama's ability to significant law. Ironically, once the issue of Obama's legislative track record came to light, he introduced a follow-on bill in June 2008...can we say "reactive?"

A tangled Web at the RNC

Michael Kent Oh — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:09:45 GMT

Its so nice of McCain to promise to obey the law that Obama pushed through and he himself supported...

A tangled Web at the RNC

Will — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:31:23 GMT

John Doe's brother in law, I actually meant the "no sleep 'till" headline on the mext entry, but thanks for getting this one too. :)

To folks raising the point that McCain and Obama are equal cosponsors of Coburn's bill, that's what I thought at first as well but it's clear from all of the coverage at the time (and this was before Obama was running for president) that it was refered to as the "Coburn-Obama transparency bill." I suspect there are Senate rules or traditions that govern why both Coburn and Obama didn't submit the bill together just as there must be a reason why the other senators were named separately from the other cosponsors.

Much of the coverage of the introduction of the bill names both Coburn and Obama as doing the introducing. It's odd to see that when President Bush signed the bill he left out McCain in his note of thanks. " I want to thank the bill sponsors, Tom Coburn from Oklahoma, Tom Carper from Delaware, and Barack Obama from Illinois. "
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html

In Coburn's own press release he shares top billing with Obama and lists the better known cosponsors, including McCain, at the bottom.
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=LatestNews.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=8dcb8c35-802a-23ad-4d37-9c8ea9c43460

Tom, the follow-up bill doesn't look like much more than a statement that the previous bill is worth maintaining and adding a few improvements. Given the range of topics Obama could have tried to exploit (and maybe did for all I know) I wouldn't guess this was one of them. Then again, it's interesting to see how the matter was handled by transparency advocates who were hopeful that the fact that both candidates support government transparency might actually mean we'll have a transparent government:
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/blogs/entry/5072/50

A tangled Web at the RNC

Rodger Padgett, Freehold NJ — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:06:43 GMT

Will,

There is certainly "transparency" of most (if not all) of those non-"black" contracts. By their very nature (and I'll bet if we read the legislation front to back) "black" programs are at a higher level than "TOP SECRET." In other words, we don't know what we don't know. (And probably never will.)

A tangled Web at the RNC

Will Femia — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:58:15 GMT

Bob from PA, I'm not sure where that number would come from unless maybe he was really active in the state legislature or something. Or else you'd need to have a REALLY loose definition of "responsible." If you go to the Thomas database and browse for Obama's name in the "by sponsor" list you get 129 results.
http://thomas.loc.gov/

A tangled Web at the RNC

Chrism, BUCKEYE AZ — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:46:14 GMT

"I guess if you want to know about McCain's first 2 years you'll have to do some research because he's actually been in office longer than that."

Really? I had no idea!

My point is that, if you think passing legislation in congress makes one a better candidate for president, then I guess you can have that discussion. Historically I think it shows to be totally irrelevant.

But if the argument is that he hasn't "done anything" since he's been in office, then yes you need compare his first two years against the average first two years of congresspersons, and especially against McCain. When you have something like a Secret hold, or a bill dead in subcommittee, it's near impossible for rookies to get anything done in Congress. That's why change takes so long, because the fresh blood doesn't get much of chance to do more than talk.

A tangled Web at the RNC

chris, Alabama — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:27:27 GMT

what really gets me is that we are all worried about who sponsored this or that!! I wish people could just work together, instead of pointing fingers and not supporting a bill because a Dem. or Rep. authored it!!I believe the president should be the one with the most votes and VP second place person. No tickets, no picking VP's, Obama wins, MCcain is the VP, or vice versa!!We might actually get something done then!!! anyone agree?

A tangled Web at the RNC

JA, Germantown, MD — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:10:09 GMT

Will,
You said it yourself: "Something bothers me about the accusation that Barack Obama has no significant legislation in the Senate to his credit." Operative term here is "significant," of which your one example isn't.

A tangled Web at the RNC

Max, central PA — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:37:10 GMT

1100 pieces of legislation? And on the seventh day, he rested!

A tangled Web at the RNC

Ken, Kalamazoo, MI — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:47:15 GMT

Thanks for showing us your politics. Now when every I read your blog it will be tainted by you supporting Oboma. Thats just great!

A tangled Web at the RNC

KM — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:59:32 GMT

Will I used to like you until you became a politician.

A tangled Web at the RNC

Delvos, Kuwait City, Kuwait — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:54:42 GMT

"No Veep til..."

"No Sleep 'til Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys

Have that on my Zune... (starts searching playlist)

A tangled Web at the RNC

kevjohn — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:14:44 GMT

The link provided in the story doesn't work too well. This one should: http://www.usaspending.gov/