The Miracle Man:The Presidency of John McCain

[NyQuil]

JUNE 14th 2008
CLINTON AND OBAMA APPEAR TOGETHER IN RALLY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SINCE OBAMA ENDED HIS CAMPAIGN
NBC. COM

Senator Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton appear together in Manchester New Hampshire today in a rally in which Obama officially endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee for president Senator Hillary Clinton.

In the rally Clinton thanked and congratulated Senator Obama in his run and his message that has inspired many Americans across the country and that they must unite together and defeat John McCain the GOP come November.

“McCain and the Republicans want to pull us into yesterday while we are moving forward together!”
Clinton echoing her campaign slogan “Foward Together

JUNE 16th 2008
POSSIBLE TROOP SURGE IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN COMING
CNN .COM

The White House has announced a possible 10,000 troop surge in Iraq and Afghanistan come July after NATO request.

President Bush said that this is in response as things heat up in the Helmand province and that additional troops are needed in Iraq for “precaution and urgency.”

JUNE 19th 2008
FIRST GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ADS FOR CANDIDATES HIT AIRWAVES NATIONWIDE
CNN.COM

John McCain and Hillary Clinton have launched nationwide campaign ads as the general election race starts. In one ad by the Clinton campaign which attacks McCain for flip flopping on the Bush Tax Cuts and the economy under the Bush administration while the McCain campaign has air campaign ads nationwide blasting Senator Clinton for her flip flops against the Iraq War.

The RNC and DNC are stepping up also in campaign ads for key senate and house races such in Kentucky and Michigan.

 

[NyQuil]

JUNE 23rd 2008
CNN .COM
BOTH CAMPAIGNS TO START VICE PRESIDENT VETTING

John McCain and Hillary Clinton are starting to take a look a possible Vice Presidental candidates

The announcements won’t probably be till a week towards the convention however both campaigns want a head start.

Names that have popped up in the Democratic conversation are Evan Bayh,Tim Kaine,Tom Vilsack and Bill Richardson while with the Republicans Tim Pawlenty,Mitt Romney,Paul Ryan and Olympia Snowe.

But we shall see what the pick is come that time.

JUNE 25th 2008
JOHN MCCAIN APPEARS ON LATE NIGHT WITH LETTERMAN SHOWS A DIFFERENT SIDE
CNN. COM

John McCain appeared on CBS’s Late Night with David Letterman in which he talked about his campaign, his relationship with his opponent Hillary Clinton,His time in the Senate and making his pitch to voters.

“I don’t mean to brag but there is no one more better to prepared for president in times like these and I am glad the supporters of my party thought so but I am hoping that undecided voters see for who I am and vote for that come November.”

 

[Abradolf Lincler]

You lost me when you had the Packers beat the Giants. For shame!!

 

[NyQuil]

You lost me when you had the Packers beat the Giants. For shame!!

I couldn’t pass up a Brady vs Favre Super Bowl!

 

[NyQuil]

JUNE 27th 2008
MCCAIN AND CLINTON REVEAL TAX PLANS
CNN .COM

The campaigns of John McCain and Hillary Clinton officially released their tax reform plans as the unemployed rate keeps going up.

Hillary Clinton in a speech in Ohio says that 97% Americans will release a tax cut while the top 3% will receive tax hikes and says no one making under 250,00 dollars will receive a tax hike and that the majority of the middle class will receive extra 1,000 dollars in their paycheck. She also plans to end most of the things in both the 2001 and 2003 Bush Tax Cuts.

Meanwhile McCain who revealed in a rally in Pennsylvania wants to make the middle class tax cuts in the Bush tax cuts and lower the corporate tax rate to 35% to 25% and wants to suspend the taxes on unemployment benefits and social security. In the same speech he called out claims by his Democratic opponents about him cutting social security and said that he will do his best to protect social security.

McCain also wants to suspend many gas taxes as the price of gas soars through this sluggish economy.

JUNE 30th 2008
CNN .COM
MCCAIN CUTS CLINTON’s POLLING LEAD TO 6%.

Senator Hillary Clinton lead has dropped to only 6% in the newest CNN as John McCain bumps up to 42% while Clinton drops to 48%.

McCain still lags Clinton on key issues but draws close to Clinton on issues such as foreign policy and energy.

McCain still faces the problem according to voters of being too close to President Bush however.

JULY 1st 2008
CNN. COM
JUNE JOBS REPORTS UNEMPLOYMENT REACHES 8.8 PERCENT HIGHEST IN 22 YEARS

Unemployment has reached the highest since 1986 according to the jobs report for June 2008 released today as 62,000 jobs were lost as signs of a massive recession show.

U.S. stock market falling to a 20% drop off its highs, commodity-related stocks soared as oil traded above $140/barrel for the first time and steel prices rose above $1,000 per ton.

Congress has been promising another round of stimulus packages to stop it from getting worse.

 

[NyQuil]

ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS NEWS IN JUNE 2008 Part 1
JUNE 16th 2008
ESPN. COM
LAKERS WIN 15TH CHAMPIONSHIP AND KOBE WINS RING NUMBER 4 LAKERS BEAT CAVS IN 6 GAMES.

The Larry O Brien trophy finally returns to LA as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in 6 games to win the 2008 NBA Finals.

Kobe Bryant was named MVP after a monster game 6 performance that prevented the Cavs from coming back.

As for the Cavaliers and LeBron? 3rd time may be a charm.

JUNE 20th 2008
MOVING DAY:THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS TO MOVE TO HAMILTON
TSN .COM

Big news in the world of hockey as the Nashville Predators after months of speculation will relocate to Hamilton.

A deal was struck between Jim Balsillie and the city of Nashville after a failed attempt last year to relocate the Predators from Nashville to Hamilton.

The team’s name will stay the Predators for now but a name change will be talked about in a year or 2.

The team will play in the Copps Coliseum for now as the city plans a new arena for the future.

Many Nashville residents do hope however that one day Nashville will once again have a NHL team.

JUNE 26th 2008
NBA DRAFT RECAP
ESPN .COM

What a night at the Garden as we recap and review the 2008 NBA Draft

It was high hopes as the home team New York Knicks had the first pick in which they took OJ Mayo from USC with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft giving them the star shooter they needed with a big cheer from the crowd.

The Seattle SuperSonics had the second overall pick and took the number 1 player on ESPN. com’s board then Memphis point guard Derrick Rose.

The Memphis Grizzlies took UCLA big man Kevin Love with the 3rd pick

The Miami Heat took Kevin Love’s UCLA teammate Russell Westbrook with the 4th pick

As for the Chicago Bulls they took with the 5th pick Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley


More notable picks in the first round were
Charlotte Bobcats-Brook Lopez from Stanford
Sacramento Kings-Robin Lopez from Stanford
Toronto Raptors-Roy Hilbert from Georgetown
Cleveland Cavaliers-JaVe McGee from NC State
San Antonio Spurs-Serge Ibaka from L'Hospitalet in Spain
Los Angeles Lakers-Nikola Peković from Partizan Serbia

Notable Second Round picks were
Los Angeles Clippers-Mario Chambers from Kansas
Milwaukee Bucks-DeAndre Jordan from Texas A&M
New York Knicks-Patrick Ewing Jr from Georgetown
Toronto Raptors-Goran Dragić from Union Olimpija in Slovenia
Orlando Magic-Darnell Jackson from Kansas
Boston Celtics-Joe Crawford from Kentucky

 

[NyQuil]

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR JUNE 2008 PART 2
JUNE 6th 2008
RECAPPING THE 2008 MLB DRAFT
MLB .COM

As we start our 2008 MLB Draft recap let’s take a look at some notable picks in the first 2 rounds

The Tampa Bay Rays took Eric Hosmer a 1st baseman from American Heritage School in Florida with the first overall pick a solid addiction as he was seen as the best power hitting bat in the draft.

The Baltimore Orioles made the first ever surprising pick by taking Florida State catcher Buster Posey with the 4th pick overall which was surpring given that took a catcher in Matt Wieters with the 5th overall pick last year but maybe the Orioles are looking at Posey as a potential designated hitter in their future lineup.

The Chicago White Sox took their possible Jim Thome replacement in Justin Smoak from South Carolina who has quite the glove a scout told us.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got a steal with pitcher Aaron Crow from Wake Forest. He could come in and help dealing with a pitching rotation full of veterans.

In the late part of the first round the New York Yankees another team with a veteran rotation found their possible Mike Mussina replacement with Lance Lynn from Ole Miss.

The World Series runner ups the Colorado Rockies took of the best HS pitchers on the board in Gerrit Cole from Orange Lutheran in Los Angeles California.

Other notable picks from the draft and the first round

Mets-Jake Odorizzi
Cardinals-Wade Miley

2nd Round
Orioles-Brad Hand
Dodgers-Charlie Blackman

3rd Round
Brewers-Craig Kimbrel

4th Round
Mariners-Dee Gordon
Cubs-Jason Kipnis

11th Round
Blue Jays-Nathan Eovaldi

19th Round
Marlins-Kyle Long

JUNE 28th 2008
BARRY BONDS JOINS THE 3,000 HIT CLUB
MLB. COM

Barry Bonds tonight hit his 3,000 career hit and became the 22nd member of the 3,000 hit club after hitting a RBI double in the 5th inning the lone run in the Twins lost to the Brewers.

As the soon to be 43 year old Bonds keeps padding his stats for the Hall of Fame despite the PED controversy.

The Twins DH leads the AL in walks and on base percentage still and it seems like his career won’t be done yet.

Bonds reached 2,000 RBIs earlier this year and is his 30+ home runs away from 800 career home runs.

 

[NyQuil]

JULY 2ND 2008
STARS COMING OUT FOR BOTH CLINTON AND MCCAIN
CNN .COM

Stars from both of the political spectrum are are coming in support of both Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

Recently George Clooney held a Hollywood fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in which stars like Stephen Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O Donnell and Angelina Jolie attended plus stars like Martin Sheen and John Travolta are starting in internet ads for Hillary Clinton

McCain’s side had quite a share of star power too. Tom Selleck appeared in a rally in a Ohio for him calling John McCain “A true American hero” and “No one better to be President now” while comedian Adam Sandler said on the Tonight Show that he supports John McCain

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also has pledged his support for John McCain along with another actor turned GOP politician Fred Thompson.

Sport stats like Cadence Parker,Alex Rodriguez and Tim Duncan have came out in support of Hillary Clinton while stars like Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson and Albert Pujols have shown support for John McCain.

Don’t be surprised to see some star power at both the RNC and DNC this fall.

JULY 4TH 2008
MCCAIN AND CLINTON TO APPEAR ON A MTV ELECTION TOWN HALL FOR MILLENNIAL VOTERS
FOX NEWS .COM

The campaigns of John McCain and Hillary Clinton have agree to do a Town Hall in MTV for millennial voters part of their GOTV campaign.

Clinton leads McCain among millennial voters but not in the same margin as Obama did.

JULY 7th 2008
CNN.COM
JOHN MCCAIN:I AM NOT GEORGE BUSH

In a interview on Meet the Press John McCain called out his critics that compare him to the unpopular George W Bush and that he differs quite a bit.

Despite the same party McCain says that the ideals and platform being put down are different than the current administration.

 

[NyQuil]

JULY 9TH 2008
MCCAIN STARTS POPULIST LIKE APPROACH TO CAMPAIGN
FOX NEWS .COM

John McCain appeared in Nevada today revealing his populist plan to take on Wall Street.

McCain said his administration in the first 100 days will try Wall Street reform as the economic crisis worsen. McCain also criticized President Bush on his actions on Wall Street but mostly was critical of Hillary Clinton.

McCain called her the “Wall Street” candidate and that he is the candidate that they fear the most.

Clinton herself hit back with a response during a speech fundraising for Democratic Senate candidates that McCain “Doesn’t know what he is talking about.”

JULY 11th 2008
CNN. COM
MCCAIN AND CLINTON BOTH REVEAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGES BUT BOTH DIFFER
CNN .COM

John McCain and Hillary Clinton have laid down their plans for economic stimulus packages to help deal with a upcoming economic recession

Clinton wants a deal that will provide $30 billion for an emergency housing crisis, $25 billion dollars to help low income families with things such as water and heating bills, $10 billion dollars to help extend unemployment insurance and $5 billion dollars for alternative energy services.

McCain’s plan is more conservative with more of the money going into tax cuts such as repealing or suspending most the current gas taxes and suspending most taxes on unemployment insurance.

McCain does plan to $600-$1,200 rebate checks for more than 100 million Americans,” and invest $44 billion in help for the elderly ,disabled and veterans.

McCain will also allow expensing of equipment and technology investments and establish a permanent research and development tax credit.

Both campaigns plan to invest billions of dollars in Medicare.Medicaid and Social Security and both have pledge not to cut anything from those programs.

 

[KaiserWilhelm]

You should have McCain re-evaluate his potential VP picks. Maybe he could bring in Elizabeth Dole since she has the woman factor without being as alienating to social conservatives as Snowe might be. I assume Hillary picks Bayh.

 

[NyQuil]

You should have McCain re-evaluate his potential VP picks. Maybe he could bring in Elizabeth Dole since she has the woman factor without being as alienating to social conservatives as Snowe might be. I assume Hillary picks Bayh.

Hah! Forgot about Elizabeth Dole she probably will be considered!

 

[NyQuil]

JULY 14th 2008
CLINTON lead widens but only by 1%
CNN .COM

A new CNN poll shows Hillary Clinton up 51% to John McCain’s 42 only gaining one point from last month’s gap.

Clinton leads in every group however her lead with millennials and seniors have been widely gapped by McCain.

Clinton still holds a 10 point lead with millennials but that is 10 points less than Barack Obama’s lead while John McCain is only down 3% by seniors.

While Clinton leads McCain on enthusiasm better than John Kerry did in 2004 it is not in the numbers that Barack Obama had while McCain is a bit lower than George W Bush’s in 2004.

Clinton still hangs on to leading on most majorly categories expect for trustworthiness and leadership.

Both campaigns are hitting some key spots that help Bush her elected twice. Clinton and McCain are both heavily campaigning in Florida,West Virgina,Virginia, Nevada Ohio,New Mexico and Colorado, While McCain has been rallying in a state that hasn’t got Republican since 1988 in Pennsylvania while Clinton has been Georgia and Tennessee 2 states that haven’t gone Democratic since her husband won them in 1992 and 1996.

JULY 17th 2008
CNN .COM
OFFICAL VICE PRESIDENTIAL SHORTLISTS RELEASED WITH MCCAIN AND CLINTON CAMPAIGN.

A 5 person running mate list for both campaigns was officially released today as inch closers to both parties conventions.

Senator Hillary Clinton’s list includes
Indiana Senator Evan Bayh
Virgina Governor Tim Kaine
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack
Former Illinois Senator and New Zealand Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun

As for Senator John McCain
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole
Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin

JULY 20th 2008
CNN.COM
PRESIDENTAL AND VICE PRESIDENTAL DEBATES SET

The commission on Presidental Debates have officially announced the 2020 schedule

Debate 1 will take place September 26th 2008 at the University of Hofstra in Hempstead, New York

The lone Vice Presidential Debate will take place at the University of Mississippi in Oxford Mississippi

Debate number 2 will take place at Belmont University in Belmont Tennessee

Debate number 3 and the final debate will take place at the Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio.

 

[NyQuil]

Serious questions for you guys should I skip to the VP picks and convention when it comes to the political events or should I keep going with July and August?

 

[KaiserWilhelm]

I would keep going, but that’s JMO

 

[Intergallactic]

Yeah keep it going

 

[NyQuil]

JULY 2008 POLLING
GALLUP-McCain +1
CNN-Clinton 9+
FOX NEWS-Clinton 5+
WAPO-Clinton 8+
ABC-Clinton 7+
Monmouth-Clinton 4+
NBC-Clinton 3+

SENATE AND HOUSE POLLING
Gallup-Democrats 5+
CNN-Democrats 10+
WAPO-Democrats 7+
ABC-Democrats 6+
Monmouth-Democrats 5+
NBC-Democrats 4+

JULY 28th 2008
CLINTON CAMPAIGN HIRES DAVID AKELROD AS GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN LEADER.
CNN. COM

In order to boost Democratic support Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign has hired former John Edwards and Obama campaign workers David Akelrod as the newest head campaign leader for the campaign.

In a response to McCain naming Steve Schmidt as the campaign chair Clinton has selected the man who helped Senator Obama become a star in the political world and hopes that we be able to help out with Clinton’s campaign with what he did for Obama’s.

 

[NyQuil]

JULY 2008 IN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PART 2

2008 major NBA Free Agent signings

Elton Brand-Signs with the 76ers
Baron Davis-Signs with the Clippers
Jermaine O’Neal-Signs with the Cavaliers
Monta Ellis-Signs with the Celtics
Ben Gordon-Resigns with the Bulls
Gilbert Arenas-Signs with the Knicks
Emeka Okafor-Signs with the Pistons
Corey Maggette- Resigns with the Clippers
Stephon Marbury-Signs with the Nuggets


JULY 6TH 2008
ESPN.COM
NBA OPEN TO EXPANSION IN A COUPLE YEARS

Following the failed attempts to relocate the Seattle SuperSonics several cities are attempting to launch a NBA expansion committee that hopes to bring 2 new NBA teams by 2011.

Oklahoma City has already been rumored to fight for expansion while Richmond,Louisville,Las Vegas and Baltimore have been in the mix too.

It will be a wild fight that is too be sure!

JULY 8th 2008
RECAPING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 2008 MLB SEASON.
ESPN.COM

As the All Star break gets underway we take a look at some key things that happened in the first half of the season.

1.Barry Bonds still has it.

Barry Bonds might be on a new team but the almost 43 year old has been still putting eye popping numbers.

In the first half he has a .289/.401./497 stat line with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs plus 72 walks and the league leader in walks and on base percentage with the Minnesota Twins.

2.Are the Rays for real?

The Tampa Bay Rays have been the most surprising team in the first half. The team already has 7 walk off wins in the first half and looks like there will be more in the 2nd half.

Rookie Evan Longoria is looking like he is having of the best seasons for a rookie in recent history and could be the teams first ever superstar in their history.

3.Whats wrong with the Giants?

It was bound to happen but San Francisco looks awful ever since the departure of Bonds they haven’t been the same. The worst ERA in the league and most of their team are veterans past their glory days. The shining spot on the team however is Tim Lincecum and honestly despite what’s been happening it wouldn’t surprise be if he wins the NL Cy Young this year!

4.Will the Red Sox repeat?
Despite the trade rumors of Manny Ramirez they can still defend the championship without him with the emergence of JD Drew finally and the bright star of Dustin Pedroia who looks like he will he one of the best 2nd baseman in the game for years to come.

Won’t say if they will repeat but yes the road to the Fall Classic surely still goes through Fenway!

5.2nd half predictions?

Well many of our ESPN staff agree with that the Red Sox will repeat the AL Pennant and that there will be a new team in the NL carrying that pennant.

Also we think Chipper Jones will fall very short of .400 batting average but we do think it will be enough to bring a 2nd MVP of his into his hardware.

 

[Chocolate Raines]

Hopefully BMore gets that expansion spot!

 

[NyQuil]

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS IN JULY 2008
PART 2

JULY 14th 2008
EW .COM
MICKEY MANTLE BIOPIC STARTING HEATH LEDGER ANNOUNCED

At the Dark Knight premiere in New York City it was revealed that Heath Ledger will be playing legendary baseball player Mickey Mantle in a biographical film about his life named “The Mick”

It will be Ledger’s first film since his rehab stay and that filming will start in the fall and will be the final time that the old Yankee Stadium will be used before its demolition in January 2009.

JULY 17th 2008
NBC NEWS.COM
LED ZEPPELIN REUNION TOUR HITS AMERICA MAKES SURPRISE APPEARANCE ON THE TONIGHT SHOW

After 2 months of touring in Europe the Led Zeppelin reunion tour has hit America and it’s first stop? The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as the band with the surviving original members and Jason Bonham as a musical guest with them playing Black Dog and Misty Mountain Hop surprising the crowd and audience.

The band is set officially kick off their North American leg of the tour in the US Canada and Mexico this weekend at Madison Square Garden.

JULY 29th 2008
ESPN.COM
ARENA FOOTBALL A SUCCESS? POSSIBLE NFL ALTERNATIVE?

Just after the San Jose SaberCats ended up repeating as champions of the Arena Football League is it time for Arena Football League to make the next step?

Commissioner David Baker thinks so. Almost stepping out of his commissioner role the day after the championship game. Baker sees a opportunity for the league and wants to expand it.

“We got well known people as owners as teams and we got a potential dynasty going on. I will say yeah when people miss football in the spring and summer then they will be coming to us and I think is what is differs from and make us successful is that we aren’t some NFL copycat league we got our own style of football!”

We shall see in the future.

 

[NyQuil]

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS PART 3 OF JULY 2008

JULY 31st 2008
WHAT A WEEK RECAPPING THE 2008 MLB TRADE DEADLINE
ESPN. COM
The 2008 MLB trade deadline has come and gone and it was quite the wild ride as team push for players as they go for that World Series push as here are some notable deals that went through.

The Reds traded Ken Griffey Jr to the Cubs for a minor league prospect to be named later and veteran pitcher Jon Lieber

The Reds also traded Adam Dunn to the New York Mets for a Reds prospect and veteran reliever David Weathers.

The Cleveland Indians traded CC Sabathia to the Florida Marlins for catcher Matt Treanor, pitcher Rickey Scott Olsen and a player to be named later.

(OOC:The trade for Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers happens as it did in our actual timeline)

The Atlanta Braves traded Mark Teixeira to the White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar

The Oakland As traded Rich Harden to the Houston Astros for Miguel Tejada and minor league prospect Jose Altuve.

Shockingly Ivan Rodriguez is going to stay with the Detroit Tigers but there is a possibly he could be a free agent in 2009.