Pickens Still Not Paying Up on Swift Boat Offer

Back in November T. Boone Pickens offered $1 million to anyone who could dispute the claims of the Swift Boat Liars who he helped finance during the 2004 election. Kerry took him up on the offer, but Pickens reneged. Last week a group of veterans who served with Kerry again sent Pickens information debunking the claims of the Swift Boat Liars to claim the $1 million.

A group of Swift boat veterans sympathetic to Mr. Kerry sent Mr. Pickens a letter last week taking him up on the challenge. In 12 pages, plus a 42-page attachment of military records and other documents, they identified not just one but ten lies in the group’s campaign against Mr. Kerry. They offered to meet with him to provide Mr. Kerry’s journals and videotapes from Vietnam and a copy of his full military record certified by the Navy – a key demand of Mr. Pickens and veterans who believe Mr. Kerry lied about his service to win his military decorations.

Pickens has reniged once again.

Midwest Independents Want Obama, But Without Clinton on the Ticket

A Quinnipiac poll of swing states, primarily in the midwest, shows that Obama has is receiving strong support among independents, and that adding Hillary Clinton to the ticket would not  be helpful. For example Obama has a twelve point lead among independents in Colorado, with a five point lead statewide. “ By 10 points, more voters say having Hillary Rodham Clinton on the ticket would make it less likely they would vote for Obama.”

Here in Michigan Obama leads by six points and has an eight point lead among independents. Even though Clinton technically won in the state’s primary (thanks to being the only major candidate on the ballot), “by a two-to-one margin they oppose his choosing Hillary Rodham Clinton as his running mate.”

In Minnesota Obama leads  by twenty-one points among independents. “ By 16 points, independents would rather he not pick Hillary Rodham Clinton as his vice presidential running mate, though they’re closely divided over whether that would make them likelier or less likely to back the Democratic ticket.”