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There are, of course, a whole lot of truly baffling things about the Birther movement and its theories. But perhaps one of the most puzzling is this unanswered question: If President Obama really were born in Kenya, why didn't the McCain or Clinton campaigns dig up the evidence and publicize it? Why has that task fallen to the ragtag crew that is the Birthers, led now by Orly Taitz, a dentist/lawyer/real estate agent who got her law degree online and is regularly admonished for having little, if any, idea how to properly file her court papers? Turns out there's an...

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who helped vote down U.S. ratification of a nuclear test ban treaty ten years ago, said he would now consider supporting it. McCain told The Associated Press that he could support the treaty, a priority of former presidential rival President Barack Obama, if concerns are addressed before another vote.

The Senate on Thursday voted to scuttle money for a second engine powering the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, handing President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates a second victory on Pentagon priorities. In a voice vote, the Senate struck $438.9 million in funding from the 2010 defense authorization bill for the second engine, which is produced by General Electric and Rolls-Royce. Senators specifically approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) that bars spending on an alternative engine until the Defense secretary certifies that such a program would reduce the fighter program’s costs, improve the planes’ readiness and...

KENILWORTH—Five-term North Shore Rep. Mark Kirk formally announced his bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate today, billing himself as an independent who wants to lead others who are “not afraid to stand alone” against the corruption that has infiltrated Illinois politics. Standing in front of his late father’s north suburban home, Kirk said his record as a moderate on social issues shows he is “not an ideologue or party partisan.” . . . . . Kirk listed as endorsers Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who heads the Republican National Senatorial Committee, as well as GOP Sens. Mitch...

(snip) "I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Walter Cronkite, one of the most influential newsmen of our time," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "I will never forget our memorable visit together to Hanoi on the 10th anniversary of the fall of Saigon."(snip)

(snip) McCain said the presence of the Guard will not only help prevent the violence in Mexico from spilling across the border, but will also take some pressure off of the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs. "When the bad guys see Americans in uniform, it has an effect on them, no doubt about it," McCain said. "But also there is work that Guard personnel could do to relieve the burden from Border Patrol and Customs." That being said, McCain added that cooperation with Mexico on border issues will continue to be important. As part of his trip to Yuma, McCain...

(snip) Arizona: John McCain's presidential campaign ended in defeat, but it had enough leftover cash to help McCain boost his campaign coffers as he seeks a fifth term in 2010. McCain raised $1.6 million in the second quarter, of which $900,000 came from his 2008 presidential campaign account. McCain also took in $166,000 from McCain Leadership Fund, a joint fundraising committee that shares its proceeds between McCain's campaign committee and his leadership PAC, Country First PAC. (snip)

Over the past year, Meghan McCain has made rounds proclaiming her support for positions that aren't exactly like other Republicans. She has spent a significant amount of time criticizing the tactics of other Republicans, including Ann Coulter and Karl Rove. Additionally, McCain has been rallying against anti-gay marriage Republicans – including the man that became the symbol of her father's presidential campaign. In an interview with Out Magazine, McCain said, "Joe the Plumber -- you can quote me -- is a dumb*** . He should stick to plumbing," in response to Joe the Plumber's comment that he "wouldn't' t have...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain said Thursday the United States must recover from the "moral failures" of human rights abuses and called for Americans to stand on the "right side" of history as a leader of the free world. "I believe American leadership in opposition to human rights abuses, not silence, is the truest expression of our national character," McCain said in a speech to the Junior State of America, a civics education organization for high school students. "The United States since its founding has embraced a set of moral duties, among which I believe is the obligation to...

Sen. John McCain once reveled in his stance as a maverick of the Republican Party on climate change. Now, as the Senate prepares a new bill, the party's 2008 presidential nominee has people wondering whose side he's on. McCain opened the year critical of President Obama's plan to pay for middle-class tax cuts with global warming legislation. He called the House-passed bill a "1,400-page monstrosity," pointing out special giveaways to reluctant lawmakers and provisions that threaten to spark an international trade war. While McCain has built a reputation as a critic of government excess, his complaints about the Democrat-led effort...

I am 58 years old and a lifelong Republican. I am writing this letter on behalf of myself and countless other Republicans who feel the same way I do. I am that good person who is tired of sitting back and doing nothing to change our government for the better. I am calling on Sen. John McCain not to run again for the Senate from Arizona. He has served that state as a progressive Republican for a very long time and for the most part, I believe, honorably. There are two problems with that statement — one, that he is...

The political action committee associated with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, SarahPAC, reported strong support from small donors in its mid-year report. SarahPAC reported $733,000 in total receipts through June 30, of which $420,000 was “unitemized” or from donors who contributed $200 or less. . . . . . Only two candidates received contributions from SarahPAC through June 30: Palin’s former running mate, John McCain, received $5,000; and Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski received $5,000.

anyone who is talking smack about Senator Lindsey Graham is going to have a problem with me as well, that man is family to me.about 7 hours ago from web

Here’s a quick quiz: Who said the following? "A cap-and-trade policy will send a signal that will be heard and welcomed all across the American economy, and the highest rewards will go to those who make the smartest, safest, most responsible choices." President Obama? Henry Waxman? Nancy Pelosi? Actually, that was candidate John McCain, way back in May of 2008. Which is all the more interesting given former running mate Sarah Palin’s anti-cap-and-trade op-ed in today’s Washington Post. In her opinion piece, Palin berated Obama for creating a job-kiling “cap-and-tax dead end,” despite having run on a ticket that mostly...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has passed an online milestone. The former Obama rival now has more than a million followers on the microblogging and social networking site Twitter. In a statement announcing the achievement, McCain said he was "both honored and humbled" to have amassed such a following. "It has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my long political career – not too bad for an old guy," McCain added.

In the aftermath of the November election, President Obama and Republican foe John McCain pledged to work together for the good of the country. At the moment, the issue that is bringing them together is the F-22 fighter -- more specifically, how to cut the program. As the Globe reported on Sunday, Democrats, including some from New England, are fighting the president, trying to preserve the F-22 program to save local jobs. Today, McCain sought to eliminate $1.75 billion in the proposed 2010 defense budget for more of the fighter jets, the Associated Press reports.

Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl split as the U.S. Senate approved a measure Friday that would allow consumers to buy prescription drugs from foreign markets. McCain voted for the measure, which passed 55 to 36. Kyl voted against it, saying he is concerned about safety and oversight issues. The Senate plan needs to be reconciled with a similar drug importation plan from the U.S. House of Representatives. . . . . . The Bush administration had opposed drug imports, but the new Obama administration has been more open to the idea.

(snip) "No. I fought against waterboarding," the Arizona Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "I have spoken out as forcibly as possible everywhere against what went on. It harms our image so much around the world when photographs come out. We all know bad things were done. We all know the operators were under orders to do so… I agree with the president of the United States it's time to move on, and not look back." (snip)

Here is video of Sen. John McCain today on Meet the Press discussing what it is going to take for the United States to prevail in Afghanistan. He clearly believes it will take more troops, and he warned the Obama Administration not to try and use the "Rumsfeld Strategy" from Iraq in Afghanistan. McCain was referring to the failed strategy to subdue Iraq without adequate forces that was used prior to the Surge Strategy long advocated by McCain. McCain said U.S. Commanders on the ground have indicated we need more troops to do the job in Afghanistan. . . ....