Lobbyist Controlled (*Update, **Update, ***Update)

As Josh Marshall has been saying for days, John McCain's top foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann netted a $200,000 contract with the country of Georgia the same day a McCain phone call was placed to the Georgian president. Now finally a media establishment machine has picked up on it.

Marshall also notes Scheunemann's firm has made at least $800,000 lobbying for the country of Georgia.

On the surface most people might not catch what this all means. For one it clearly highlights the fact that John McCain's Campaign is run by lobbyists even though he insists he's above being influenced by lobbyists. Secondly, it makes clear as day McCain's foreign policy is bound, literally and figuratively, by a very flawed policy that lends foreign countries to believe we will have their back if they are attacked, which we obviously don't. Foreign policy based on foreign lobbyist money is no way to run a country and that is exactly how McCain would act as president.

*Update:

I understand President Bush is a do-nothing lame duck. In fact that's probably an understatement. But why would John McCain be on the phone every day with the President of Georgia, a country currently at war with Russia? When Obama went on his whirlwind tour through the Middle East and Europe, Republicans said he was overstepping his bounds a little. But John McCain talks every day with a foreign head of state, that doesn't make much sense. When Nancy Pelosi met with Syrian leaders the GOP said it was treasonous for her to do so. However, John McCain can do whatever he wants in regards to setting American foreign policy. Not only is his leading foreign policy adviser a paid lobbyist to the Georgian government, McCain is himself talking foreign policy with heads of state. Where is the media at in this? Oh that's right, they're so in love with Obama they aren't reporting McCain's and the GOP's flat contradictions-- yeah right.

**Update:

TREASON!! McCain just said he was going to send a delegation to Georgia. Could we all imagine for a moment if Barack Obama was doing that. Or if Nancy Pelosi was. The MSM and the right wing war lovers would be all over it. But for a Republican it's a free ride.

***Update:

Meanwhile, after his return from his luxurious time in China watching the Olympics, Bush is going to go on a two week vacation. Our president is by all means and purposes AWOL and getting ready to go on another two week vacation while a nuclear power invades one of our strongest allies in Bush's Coalition of the Willing. On top of that, the soon-to-be Republican nominee is sending his own delegation to war-torn Georgia. Does anyone else see something wrong with this? Why is the president not more engaged? And why is someone who's not the president, and hopefully never will be, running the country?