From The Barak Obama camp:  

Pincas –

A few hours ago John McCain, the same man who just months ago promised to run a “respectful campaign,” said he is “proud” of his latest attack ad.

That’s the one attacking your enthusiasm, comparing me to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, and making false claims about my energy plan.

Now, we’re facing some serious challenges in this country — our economy is struggling, energy costs are skyrocketing, and families don’t have health care.

Given the seriousness of these issues, you’d think we’d be having a serious debate. But instead, John McCain is running an expensive, negative campaign against us. Each day brings a desperate new set of attacks.

And they’re not just attacking me. They’re attacking you.

They’re mocking the desire of millions of Americans to step up and take ownership of the political process.

They’re trying to convince you that your enthusiasm won’t amount to anything — that the people you persuade, the phone calls you make, the donations you give, the doors you knock on are all an illusion. They believe that in this election the same old smears and negative attacks will prevail again.

McCain’s campaign ads tell us what we shouldn’t like about Obama. Why not tell us what to like about McCain?

He could elaborate on his oil drilling ideas. However, they sound just like Bush’s, and under close scrutiny, it’s clear they won’t ease our energy woes.

He could emphasize his Iraq ideas, but they sound just like Mr. Bush’s, or just like Obama’s, depending on the day of the week.

He could emphasize his plans to fix the economy, but then we might uncover his deep connections to the unsavory Phil Gramm, aka, “Foreclosure Phil,” chief architect of the sub-prime debacle. Hmm. Maybe he’d better just stick to bashing Obama.

RE: Phil Gramm, see: http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/…

RE: oil drilling, see:
 http://forums.houmatoday.com/eve/forums/…

 http://www.politicususa.com/en/Bush-ANWR…

 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story…

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_o…

 http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/…

 http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/06…

 http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_envir…

 http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/30/news/eco…

 http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2…

 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archive…

 http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/07…

 http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/407…

 http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/arc…

 http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press2…

From The John McCain camp:

Dear Pincas,

We are less than 100 days out from the election and I’m in a tight race with my opponent. Connecting with fellow supporters on the ground is one of the most important things you can do to help ensure victory in November. We are two weeks away from my campaign’s first McCain Nation national event day, and I’m asking you to take part in it.

Sign up now to host an event on the evening of August 14th and invite your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to attend. If you’d like, you can make your event open to the public so other McCain Supporters in your area can ask to attend.

If you host an event on this day, my staff will send you a host package with special materials for you and your guests. You will also have an exclusive opportunity to be on a conference call and get a strategic briefing and ask questions to one of my top advisors. And while I’d love to be there to talk to you as well, I’m going to send someone even better – my wife Cindy.

Using the Republican Platform Committee Web site we’ve received an incredible response with over 10,000 platform suggestions in just over two weeks’ time. From all across the country we have heard calls for a smaller, more accountable government, a stronger, well funded defense, and a focus on the rights of each individual.

The 2008 Platform Committee will convene at the end of this month and all of your submissions and comments will be compiled and reviewed. Before the committee meets we want to hear more from you in the form of video submissions. The Committee is putting out a call to all of you who already have weighed in, as well as anyone yet to voice their ideas. Record your video on YouTube, and then submit it as an idea on the Platform Web site.

Your videos will be considered by the Platform Committee along with the other comments, and will be played for review as the Platform is written.

Record a video today and tell us your ideas for the 2008 Platform. We look forward to hearing (and seeing) you.

From:      beru at quebectel.com
Subject: The Surge Worked
Date: July 30, 2008

OK, John, you win. The surge worked. Yesterday’s 48 Iraqi deaths by suicide bomber were regarded as noteworthy, whereas a year ago, such a total would’ve been considered a regular day at the ranch.

Deaths are down, violence is down. America has proven that it can bring its military might to bear on a nation, and after three years, thousands of deaths and hundreds of billions of dollars, that nation can simmer indefinitely in neutral stalemate.

I cry uncle, Mr. McCain, you got me to say it. The surge worked.