No more kumbaya.

Accountability please.

And

ZED

Sorry to go OT but the Senate passed the Stimulus bill 81-16…

Actually, I think what is doing it for Oama is his excellent ground game. His campaign does really good GOTV. They even had campaign spnosred election monitoring the NYS.

You would have thought they would have conceded Hillary’s home state, but nope, they put serious resources into pulling the vote and protecting that vote wonce it got to the polls.

Hillary, not so much.

I think Obama’s money is a result of support, people buying into his campaign. It is not cause, it is effect. That also happens to be a positive reinforcement loop.

I like the change aspect of his campaign. I like the aspirational appeal. I do not like the unity component. As the last thread covered so well, there needs to be some accountability. And that aspect involves a little ugliness.

The message of change must not change. That would be way too meta.

I like the change aspect of his campaign. I like the aspirational appeal. I do not like the unity component

If you were his speechwriter, how would you deliver the aspirational “change” message while still conveying the accountability message? Do you think that could be done?

Yeah – Unity – like when he leaves out “Gay or Straight, or Transgendered” in his “Not Black or White” rhetoric at MOST of his campaign stops.

Nicely done, Mr. Needlenose.

PS: how is that jacket? Still a favorite with the ladies?

I just gave him $500.

If Clinton does manage to overcome Obama’s lead in ready cash, it’ll be because she found an effective way to undermine the superficiality of Barack’s platitude-laden ads and speeches.

Hillary isn’t only fighting the Obama campaign, she is also fighting most of the media.

To even try to attack Obama as superficial compared to the Clintons requires a reboot. I saw Senator Clinton this morning trying to explain “her” $5mm loan to her campaign. HRC has never earned $10mm in pre tax dollars in her life as far as I know. She has had one safe job after the next, never worried about a paycheck at her end. Even the beginning and the end at the Rose Law firm played off political nexus as opposed to lawyering ability. It takes a hell of an effort to legitimately acquire $5mm in post tax dollars.

So here we are with the Clintons seemingly financing their re-election off Bill’s speeches to corporate pay out’s over the last years. MSM did not even raise the issue of the “joint” net worth of the Clintons. As much as I dislike and disrespect Romney, running Bain Capital is not risk adverse and HRC has always had the safety of her various “positions”. But her supposed ability to have accumulated $5mm in post tax dollars?

Whattyamean?
Obama has lots of change.

Wow, “It’s raining “Concern Trolls“… Did Paul Shaffer write that tune, to?

Actually, I think what is doing it for Oama is his excellent ground game. His campaign does really good GOTV.

If I’d felt like writing a longer post, I would have mentioned this — from an organizational standpoint, his campaign is spectacular. The candidate is very charismatic, but the way they’ve been able to translate that into field work and turnout will be the stuff of textbooks.

I cannot think of a way that both messages could possibly be conveyed without sounding, seeming contradictory. He’ll clean up, though. And he’ll do it making the point that the accountability is a point of pride for ALL AMERICANS. How much accountability does anyone think we’ll see from his esteemed opponent? We have a history of example on THAT one!

Hey Jacqrat,

I agree, but I still think that will bring out Right-sing foot soldiers to vote not FOR McCain, but against Obama.

Sad, but still true. And it won’t help if a Dem loses in November and says “But I was right”.

I think Obama’s money is a result of support, people buying into his campaign. It is not cause, it is effect. That also happens to be a positive reinforcement loop.

This is something I nearly wrote about, too — it’s a valid counterargument. But it seems to me that Howard Dean was able to tap into a similar passion without having to be so vague.

Not to mention a large portion of AMERICANS!

Yesterday I was speaking to one of my Mormon friends in the Phoenix area. He said that he was disappointed in Romney’s showing on Super Tuesday. When asked about the general election, whether he would support McCain, he wasn’t excited about the prospect. Then he added “My wife said that if it is between McCain and Obama, she would vote for Obama.”

I think Obama has positioned himself very well to win in November.

Last time I checked, Hillary had more AMERICANS voting for her on Super Tuesday than did Obama.

you know what?

if clinton takes on edwards and promises vice president status, she can use his platform to get the votes and money she needs to win

but then again, the same thing is true for obama

I am very nervous though, of all years for us to conduct an experiment to find out if america will vote for a women or a black man, I would not this to be the year

we are taking quite the gamble

Hey, don’t get me wrong. I want to see the end of GOP rule as much as you.

I guess I’m not clear on what comment you’re responding to, SteveA…

Oh my goodness. I admit to being old fashioned and perhaps, some might say conservative. When choosing between Hillary and Obama I look at the record of each candidate (starting with Iraq) and their pronouncements and the company they keep and from where they derive their campaign financing.

Maybe explaining change in terms of making Washington work for the American People? In terms of rolling back the Monarchical Preznitcy? In terms of applying the Rule of Law to everyone, no matter how high their office or (offshore) bank balance? Unity in terms of “let’s get this mess cleaned up” by not sweeping it under the carpet?

That’s the kind of change and unity I could get behind, but it doesn’t make for feel-good music videos or nifty soundbites or Kumbaya moments.

HELP! I’m still really uncomfortable with the idea of another Clinton Administration or two, but taking Senatorial capitulation all the way to the WH isn’t going to work for me, either.

FunnyD

That’s not the story here in Colorado.

Ah, nevermind, Steve. I get it now. You think he is right to leave out “teh Gay” when talking to Americans…

Sigh.

AND PS: I do know the difference between “TOO” and “TO”- Typo’d it after the Paul Shaffer comment – should have been TOO…

I think you have to cut the guy some slack. His first goal is to inspire people to get involved. He has. They have given money, time and showed up to vote. Good on him.

Policy wonks will not get elected. Too dull and uninspiring. Even if a candidate has lots of great ideas, he needs to inspire more than present ideaas to win. That’s the reality.

Now that he seems to have the media’s attention in a serious way… and his “followers” in their belief in change… he has to start moving into message… specific message without losing the passion he has inspired in his supporters. They want change from Bush, I want change… 90% of America wants change. I trust he will get some good people to implement that change and I expect to hear more and more specifics as time moves on.

Money is the measure of how he is gathering support and not so much in the total, but in that it is coming in small donations.

He’s not perfect, has crap in is past, as most of them do, but I am willing to see what he does not that he is neck and neck with Hill.

HELP! I’m still really uncomfortable with the idea of another Clinton Administration or two, but taking Senatorial capitulation all the way to the WH isn’t going to work for me, either.

You just expressed my own feelings onthe subject much better than I could have

As always, an excellent Thurs. afternoon posting, Swopa. A drive by here, but my take on potential problems w/the BO phenomenon also includes the voicing by both Obama & Mrs. Obama that if they don’t get the nom, they’ll pick up their ball & jacks & go home.

What was that about unity again…
Party unity will be the penultimate truth in Dems winning the WH this fall.
Ultimate, of course, is showing up St. John for what he has actually become in the era of BushCo- nothing but another enabler.

Cutting through all the crap: vote Democratic next November. The alternative come next January to a Democratic president moving into the White House, just could possibly prove to be horrendous and rather dreadful. We need to sooner or later unite. Don’t you think.

The rupukes are going down the house and senate drain and regardless of whose da guy in the big house he won’t be able to veto the legislation they send up.

The congress is where it’s at this time and we need a strong veto proof, fillbuster proof majority in both houses. And GOOD dems too. please

McCain as pres will have no choice then to sign the bills… if he gets lucky and wins and lives til inauguration.

*blush*
That means a lot coming from you, LHP!

FunnyD

PS: (for SanderO) I’m not buying the idea that being charismatic and a policy wonk are mutually exclusive. Or that being superficial on policy to keep the charisma bright and the nerd label at bay is a good idea. It’s going to be a tight race from here on out. It’s time to see some nuts and bolts. I have had way too much of the “reality” of this administration: TRUST US…but all the proof is TOP SECRET.

OKKiddo cuts through the crap, as per usual ;-)

You & Lahoma always get to the meat of it. You guys rule…

I don’t think that’s weak at all. If it’s so weak, why has he pummeled the Clinton machine so savagely?

The Clintons didn’t think that message was weak in 1992, when they used it. You didn’t hear a lot of that “experience trumps vison” s#it from them in ‘92. When, exactly, did Hillary decide that experience was the key criteria? Does she think that people who gambled on the governor of Arkansas over the experienced incumbent president in 1992 were chumps? Did she vote for Bill in 1992, or GHW Bush?

No more kumbaya.

Accountability please.

Well, I agree about the Accountability, but I’m a member of the kumbaya generation. Yes, Obama’s hot at money raising. And yes, his ground game is good. But if he didn’t have a good message for people to rally around, his ground game would fall flat and he wouldn’t be able to raise any Do Re Mi.

The hope thing is important. I give you as authorities not only I Corinthians 13, but Paolo Freire’s Pedagogy of Hope. Freire, as you know or should know, is famous for the gritty realism of his Pedagogy of the Oppressed. But he knows that the Revolution will never succeed without Hope, and that people need to identify the right things to hope for. Obama is doing that.

I am seeing more indications today that many of the biggest sins of the Bush-Cheney regime began as small sins under Bill Clinton, with the full knowledge and compliance of Nancy Pelosi and other senior Democratic leaders. All the more reason why we need a clean start.

Bob in HI

kmdala @ #8 February 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am:

Jane, I normally agree with you on most things but you are wrong on this one. I work in a voter registration office in Alabama and can tell you that even though Obama won Ala in the primary no way will he win in Nov.
The voter turn out here was about 33% of the total of our voters and he won because the black voters turned out but the white and other voters did not. But they will in Nov and he will lose and lose badly if he is the democratic canidate (sic). He will not carry a single southern state if he is the canidate (sic). So no matter how much the news hypes him he will lose the general election.
No canidate (sic) can win a presidental elections without some southern states.
Hillary is playing to her strengths and will win the presidental election if she can be the democratic canidate.
She is a great debater and will do well and she is using fox for her cause and our cause not fox’s.

If kmdala is right, while Axelrod, et al, are patting themselves on the back and cooing over how smart and high-minded they are, McCain is shoring up his Southern Strategy, and the Rethugs have made or are making the necessary moves to be able consolidate their torn up party and win in Nov. Obama and his campaign are diddling while “Tara” burns. Our chances to win in Nov. may go up in that smoke! Once again, will Dems manage to grasp failure from the jaws of victory? What do we want more, our ideology or the WH?

I continue to maintain that Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama is a winning ticket. Of course there are possible serious egos to consider. In which case we could just hand the election to big bad ill tempered, and unsuited to be president Bush sycophant, John McCain.

LHP or Christy or any of you attorneys, maybe you could give me your take on my questions, since this is the third and last time I’ll ask this or bring this up here:

Isn’t it essentially unconstitutional to basically negate the fourth amendment as they’re intending to do with the FISA revision? If it is, why haven’t any of the Senators brought that up, and also, if it is, what would it take to get the Supreme Court to say so once they pass it? If a new administration appoints an AG with guts, could the new AG press a case to throw out the FISA fix on the basis that it negated Article Four of the Bill of Rights without the correct procedures to amend the constitution, ie., a two thirds vote in all the States like we went through with the ERA? What am I missing here?

I beg to differ D… people were fooled by the bush marketing nonsense without policy and all silly phrases like compassionate conservatism.

Obi is no dumbi and he will have to deliver policy. His strategy if that what it was has defied all odds and all the pundits and so the spotlight is on and he is not going to have to begin to deliver some steak with the sizzle.

And he, I think, he will. Just a hunch.

The alternative come next January to a Democratic president moving into the White House, just could possibly prove to be horrendous and rather dreadful.

707! OKK meets British Phlegm? Who knew that would be good comic relief?

FunnyD

“If you were his speechwriter, how would you deliver the aspirational “change” message while still conveying the accountability message? Do you think that could be done?”

I think they go together rather well, since accountability has been conspicuously lacking, even with Democrats in “control” of Congress. And, BTW, I see no reason to restrict accountability to Republican incumbents. Justice should be blind. It is part of the accountability thing that needs to change.

Bob in HI

Whoever ends up nominated, I’d like to seem them choose Jim Webb as VP…that would really counter McCain.

She wrote a couple of successful books.

Together they ARE a winning ticket.

Can we just take one moment to reflect on how cool it is that FINALLY being black or being a woman is seen as a positive in a candidate?

“see them”….

Check AGAIN…they are pretty even…..

“No more kumbaya.

Accountability please.”

With all due respect, what makes you think you are more likely to get accountability from Clinton than from Obama? She wants to re-hire Bush Cabinet official Colin Powell as a goodwill ambassador. She floated that dreadful trial balloon about sending Bill Bush’s pa abroad. I see no evidence whatsoever that she will hold anyone from this administration accountable for anything.

I’m picturing Hillary holding her couch over her head and shaking it hoping for change to fall out.

Bill and Bush’s pa, I mean.

Me too!

What, exactly, would John McCain do that Hillary wouldn’t?

What, exactly, would John McCain do that Hillary wouldn’t?

why, he would bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb iran

I think it would be pretty easy.

“We need accountability. We’ve had 7 years under this no account George W Bush. We’ve had 7 years of his no accountability policy.

Before that we had Bill Clinton who didn’t hold his predecessor accountable for crimes under his watch.

I’m not afraid to be held accountable…yadda yadda.”

Apparently Hillary has raised about $6 million in the last 24 hours.

The average person is contributing to Obama’s campaign I would suspect. Hillary doesn’t have the average person supporting her, however, so it appears she needs new friends. LOL Isn’t it hard to make new friends as one gets older?

I read today that Mr. Inspiration refused to be photographed with the mayor of San Francisco because of Gavin’s support for gay marriage. Combine that with McClurkin and his dropping the “gay” from his unity speech, and I’d almost think he wasn’t too fond of us. Oh well, he’s still perfect and wonderful and everybody hates Hillary.

I read that earlier. Is the number reflecting before or after the $5 million was put in? I guess we’ll have to wait until the financial report comes out of her campaign. ;-)

I don’t hate Hillary. I just think she’d be a dreadful president, and she’s not that great a presidential candidate.

Do ANY of you think that Hillary would expose or release info about the Chimpy administrations war crimes if she was elected?
Curious what you all think!

Chriss, Both Obama and Clinton have given speeches in support of gay rights.

My understanding is she put the $5 million in last month.

gailonfong, the Clintons would have to release their info first and I don’t think they will do that.

I have been going back and forth in my mind for quite a few days and have finally decided. I will support Hillary – I am disgusted with all this hate Hillary stuff. And I don’t think Obama, despite his charm and his speech making, is nearly as progressive as I would like him to be. Too many signs otherwise.

I think there would be a lot of pressure to do so.

I was at a dinner with the Dean of the Medical school here in Florida and he said he had 3 meetings with Obama in the past, and worked with him on LGBT/HIV issues, he said Obama was smart had great ideas and followed thru on his promises. So as a gay man I am convinced Obama will be great on LGBT issues.

The Southern Strategy doesn’t work if ONLY the south votes for a candidate. That well is pretty empty.

-G

As a very frustrated, froze my arse in NH Deaniac, I hear you on the specifics. But let’s remember what happened to him. Though I don’t actually think it was too much specificity that buried Dean (I happen to believe that the Dean organization wasn’t there and that’s what killed him in Iowa).

Obama has a very similar approach to Dean tapping into disillusionment through a *positive* message, creating a movement and getting followers to buy in and own the effort. He’s been much more effective in translating that aura into effective action (community organizing background perhaps?)

I think part of creating the positive aura is not making it too specific. A broader set of people can then identify with you and not have cognitive dissonance problems. Except of course for the rabble here and elsewhere on the blogs for deep content.

The last two speeches I heard from Obama–his speech of this tuesday evening and at Ebenezer Church in Atlanta on MLK day. I didn’t view either as platitude-laden. I thought they were both superb.

His ability to articulate and communicate is one of the things that sets Obama apart from Clinton. And it is an ability that is sorely needed in the president’s office. If much of the utility of that office is the “power of the pulpit”, then Obama is ideally suited.

With all due respect, what makes you think you are more likely to get accountability from Clinton than from Obama?

Who said anyting about geting it from Clinton?

I was talking about Obama’s message.

Clinton would actually have a special problem going after the rethugs b/c it would be spun as payback for Ken Starr.

My biggest problem with Obama is that I don’t think he would be able to get a grip on the governing mechanism. I think the Administration would run amok under him. And then there’s his well meaning intervention in Keyna in favor of his cousin. I just don’t trust him.

I agree and I still have no idea what he plans to DO – all I’ve heard is hope, change and bi-partisanship.

Kobe recently added Webb to the ever growing list of famous people he has inappropriately jumped on.

As Marcy warned at the time, “Watch out, Kobe, we think he’s armed…”

I am very nervous though, of all years for us to conduct an experiment to find out if america will vote for a women or a black man, I would not this to be the year

Right – let’s wait for another year when we have a black man and a woman fighting for the nomination.

Now that would be novel, common sense jeesh who knew

Re: money raising, it might be interesting to see which candidates, on both sides, depend more on corporate donations, as opposed to relatively small donations from citizen-supporters. I’d like to think that Obama would not top that list, but frankly don’t know.

Yes. ;0)

L. and okk

You trust bush more?

Look the pres doesn’t have to do much as long as he surrounds him or herself with smart people who know how to act and think. Obi is smart enough to do that. I wouldn’t worry about him running amok. That’s silly.

It’s about the people you bring on board as much as anything else. Though granted, having the gal/guy at the top a person who knows the nitty gritty is very helpful.

I’ve always heard that one reason Carter was not a particularly successful president was that he was a bit of a control freak and that slowed a lot of the machinery down. Great ideas, but follow through suffers.

how much was that worth?

Hello.

L.

Don’t stop asking I think that is an important question to ask in light of the FISA bill. I would like to have a definitive answer on the same question… How can congress legislate in violation of the 4th amendment?? Or in fact any part of the of the constitution???

No

Ken Starr was the Clintons fault and problem. Albeit, Ken Starr is a flake.

OMG that is funny. Did Kobe lick him? Dog’s always know about people…

Whoever ends up nominated, I’d like to seem them choose Jim Webb as VP…that would really counter McCain.

I so agree.

Personally, I prefer the former Constitutional Law professor to the former corporate lawyer.

I need to know that “Unity” does not promote accepting all of the scary Repubs appointed but now “career fed employees” – especially in Justice, Homeland Security and Pentagon. I want the next Dem administration to be prepared to be able to fight to the death to get rid of these ideologically-scary people working in our govt.

I agree

That’s a bit of a stretch. I think you would agree that Starr’s predecessor, Mr. Fisk, who found nothing to investigate, was their “fault and problem” also?

You appear to be a Progressive. Full of common sense. ;0)

Laughing with eyes rolling around in his head..common sense you say?

Think Goldwater was scary? Check out John Chucky McCain.

If Bill Clinton and his lawyer had not protested too much and if Clinton had told the truth and resigned, then we would all have been better off.

there are fights we can fight, at the right time, we can’t fight all the right fights all the time, we don’t have the resources

this election, we have got to get into office, the country cannot afford another 4 or 8 years of republicans handing our country over to the wealthy

if we win this election and do what needs to be done, it will surely be a snap for any next battle to be fought

this election, we need to win

I support anybody we run, however I wish neither of these two were our choice

I wish we had a corporate fighter not corporate enablers running for the office of president

kiddo’s a scream. I get to deal with him everyday. ;0)

Lahoma

Hello, Lahoma & Kiddo.

Back to work now :)

And Obama 7.4 Million

“LOL Isn’t it hard to make new friends as one gets older?”

Boy, you Obama supporters are trying real hard to piss-off the 50+ crowd, aren’t you? You probably mean this facetiously, but it is an underlying strain in many pro-Obama comments… just roll over and die old woman, and don’t try to keep up on funds. You loan yourself $5 mill, we raise more than that in one day. Get out of the way as we heal the lepers and walk on water!

I was an Edwards supporter and after his departure, I had to decide which candidate I could support. I don’t pretend to speak for anyone but myself and for me, a grad student studying ‘textual economics’ in travel literature, it’s the words, the sentence structure, the meaning. When he speaks, he uses the words, ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ quite a bit. Yes, he uses it in his speeches but he also uses it when he speaks off the cuff. Is it attributable to his community organization roots? Could be. I don’t know but when I hear those words, I feel personally invested. I feel the sense of urgency because it isn’t about him, it’s about us and what we can do together. That is what fuels me and maybe that is what fuels others. Issue wise, there are some things that I don’t agree with but the main ones are there.
I guess when I read or hear how his message is weak, I respectfully disagree and find think it ironic that they would say words like, ‘us’, ‘we’, ‘our’, ‘us’ are weak. Far from that, they are powerful for their personal meaning and their inherent meaning of unity. After seven years of division and divisive discourse, I’m just ready for something new.

“Clinton would actually have a special problem going after the rethugs b/c it would be spun as payback for Ken Starr.”

Good point!
She might have other reasons, as well.

Bob in HI

And I helped. :)

I’m worried that the Dem nominee will look like a winner all the way to November and then Diebold will crown McCain or Bushco won’t leave. The whole McCain thingy stinks.

I’m worried that the Dem nominee will look like a winner all the way to November and then Diebold will crown McCain or Bushco won’t leave. The whole McCain thingy stinks.

I’m worried that McCain beats Clinton even if the vote machinery is flawless.

To put it quite simply, the reason that Obama has momentum is that the voters feel that his promises of change are more likely than Hillary’s promises of change. Some feel this wholeheartedly, and some feel it incrementally, but this has been the sense of it. My feelings fall somewhere in between, having backed Dodd and then Edwards previously. Furthermore, a future doublecross by Hillary as president would not come as a surprise, as it would be somewhat expected, where one orchestrated by Obama would be a direct shot to his persona and strength. Clinton also seems more likely to continue part or all of the current imperial nature of the presidency and dominate Congress, where Obama seems less likely to do so. Guess that’s it in a nutshell. No offense intended.

P.S. I would support HRC completely if nominated, but I know many who wouldn’t. Can the converse be said of Hillary’s base when Obama is nominated? Thankfully and gratefully this is not the case.

Final thought: Much was made of the value of Howard Dean’s idea of the 50-state strategy both during his candidacy in 2004 and presently in his tenure as party chairman. I think there is great wisdom in it. Which candidate has been following a 50-state strategy and which has not? I think everyone knows the answer.

I don’t see how. 70% of the country, at least, wants us out of Iraq. He wants a permanent presence there and more wars, including with Iran — I don’t see why he’s the nominee…both parties hate him. He’s old and ill too.

“I continue to maintain that Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama is a winning ticket.”

I favor Clinton/Obama. They complement each other in terms of support demographics, and eight years of experience would do him good. Besides, if McCain picks Huckabee, they could be a formidable team because they, also, strangely complement each other.

I filed my taxes online and I received this today:

Because Congress was late this tax year passing some legislation related to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), the IRS has let us know it expects a delay in processing some tax returns and refunds, including returns affected by the AMT and returns for people claiming the Hope and Lifetime Learning and the Home Energy credits.

If you are in this situation, you will be receiving your refund later this year.

Oh my goodness. I admit to being old fashioned and perhaps, some might say conservative. When choosing between Hillary and Obama I look at the record of each candidate (starting with Iraq) and their pronouncements and the company they keep and from where they derive their campaign financing.
reply

I think Kiddo is correct. And my concern with Obama is that he has not been throughly vetted by the repubs, and Clinton, for the most part has. Come the general election, the repubs are going to splat that Illinois trouble (connections with the guy (don’t remember his name) on the housing deal) and what ever else is out there. Most of Clinton’s previous questionable actions have been vetted by the repubs, so it will be much easier to defend. And with the media fully on the repubs side (or almost), this could be a very dangerous time for Obama if his is our candidate.

I am not saying this to discourage anyone from their candidate, but getting a democratic president is absolute top priority, and all angles need to be viewed as completely as possible. This is a very very serious presidential race.

Shhhhhhh…they don’t have any money…the country is..bankrupt…shhhhh

That was my first and only thought LS. Egads. By the time I get my return, we’ll all be dealing in euros.

The Repukes will wage a whisper campaign based on lies…they don’t vet, they just make stuff up.

Why?

The man is too scared to actually say what he will do should McCain/HuckaBee fail to mop the floor with him.

Hillary at least is not afraid…afraid to articulate in simple words what she intends to do…afraid of what The ReThugs might say about him…afraid to tell PumpKinHaid where to put it.

What sort of passion for the Constitution does this guy have if he’s afraid to vote down or even vote at all on matters bearing on it when he gets the chance.

The dollar is about to get dumped for Euros as I understand it…

But it isn’t like this is his first public office, he was a Illinois state senator. I’m no expert, but I have heard that politics in those parts are not very nice.

Obama’s run for president alone, shows that he is a very brave man. He is careful, because he has to be.

From Reuters:

NEW YORK (Reuters) – In the latest example that the U.S. dollar just ain’t what it used to be, some shops in New York City have begun accepting euros and other foreign currency as payment for merchandise.

“We had decided that money is money and we’ll take it and just do the exchange whenever we can with our bank,” Robert Chu, owner of East Village Wines, told Reuters television.

The increasingly weak U.S. dollar, once considered the king among currencies, has brought waves of European tourists to New York with money to burn and looking to take advantage of hugely favorable exchange rates.

“We didn’t realize we would take so much in and there were that many people traveling or having euros to bring in. But some days, you’d be surprised at how many euros you get,” Chu said.

BTW, that reuters is from yesterday under the title “Euros Accepted” signs pop up in New York City.

Well I see that we’ve dropped any pretense of non-partisanship with regards to the Clinton/Obama question.

Obama’s message of change.

So what major changes has Obama made in the past that would lead you to believe he truly would make changes as president?

It may not be his first political office since he was in the Illinois Senate. However, he ran for a seat in the US House of Representatives and lost. Somehwere in here comes his shining speech at the DNC Convention.
Then he decided to run for the Senate and it ended up his opponent was removed because of a sex scandal with his wife and the republicans had to bring in Alan Keyes from out of state. Now if you don’t know who Alan Keyes is, then think of that republican debate with the guy suddenly appearing at the end of the stage and sounding like he was from another planet. Obama was touted as winning by the highest margin of 70% to 29%. I want to know why it wasn’t 99-1 or 100-0. He appears in the Senate and within 2 years he has decided Washington is broken and he is going to be President.
I would like to know what he is going to do to change anything and how he thinks he can accomplish that, whatever it is.

We don’t need someone who is a good orator, although after bush it will be nice to have someone who can speak. We need someone who can and will solve the very serious issues this country is facing.

Oh please – Hillary never met an issue she couldn’t study to death until someone else took the lead.

ATTENTION HILLARY SUPPORTERS ! SPECIAL NOTICE:

Due to the under-handed tactics and inner-party polarization of Hillary Clinton, millions of Obama supporters WILL NOT support her should she become the nominee. This, in part, is due to the fact that many feel that she is already trying to cheat her way to the nomination by claiming victory in Michigan and Florida. Hillary Clinton has totally alienated even her own party members. This is sad….but true. She will not win the Presidency without full Democratic support. Your continued support for Clinton is actually a vote for McCain. Sorry…..these are just the facts! The really sad thing is….we used to like the Clintons !

One new slick Clinton tactic is the request for weekly debates. The Clintons know that when Obama spends time in a state….they get to know him and he does well. So if they can disrupt his campaign schedule they’d feel successful. And if he refuses….they’ll act like he’s in hiding from the debates. THE TRICKS NEVER END !!!!!! BUT IT’S ALL IN VAIN…..she’ll never win the presidency without Dem support…..WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From what I understand, Obama is even more cautious and deliberative.

I’m an Obama supporter? No I’m not. The only money I’ve given is to Dennis Kucinich. The End. I’m voting for Kucinich this Sunday here in Maine and my 2nd vote is going uncommitted.

I was being facetious about saying that it’s tough for someone Hillary’s age to make friends…meaning….to get money from average Americans, Hillary is going to have to work hard at it. But if you thought I meant she is really having a hard time making friends in her personal social life, well, I don’t know what to tell you. Lighten up maybe?

ATTENTION OBAMA SUPPORTERS! SPECIAL NOTICE:

I’m not a Hillary supporter and I won’t be intimidated by your juvenile blackmail, so I doubt any Hillary supporters will be either. But thank you for reinforcing my opinion of Obama supporters as a bunch of WATBs in love with their own purity.

The democratic nominee will definitely WIN this november. Let’s not worry so damn much about which one it will be, and let’s start forcing them to triangulate to the left a little for a change (you know, back to the center). Let’s look at who and what are best for democracy, America and the world instead of these shallow, STUPID personality cults.

I don’t care what real or imagined “dirty tricks” you think the Clintonistas are up to (but the one you offered is pretty fucking lame), if your man can’t handle them without his supporters threatening to stay home or join the CT for Lieberman party, then he needs to get out now. Cuz anything the Clintons can do, the right wing noise machine WILL do, times 1000. And he will be a Bambi in the headlights.

Obama is sorely inexperienced in DC. Are you one of those naifs that think the Republicans are tripping on bipartisan rohypenol with you, and that he won’t end up being as hated as her by the right wing? Maybe you should chill out and try to see how well he handles himself and the “dirty tricks.” It might give you a good indication of what he’d be like as a preznit. I like Hillary only slightly more than Obama, but I have to say she has handled herself a million times better than he has. When he was a baby and wouldn’t shake her hand, she put on her gracious face and said her hand was still extended in friendship, blah blah blah. She didn’t confirm or deny that he was rude or that she felt slighted, she just smiled and was gracious and made him look like a shithead by contrast. I’m sure it was totally calculated, but it was still masterful. She is ready for the shitstorm ahead. Obama gives every indication that he will be as pouty and petulant as Bush or Lieberman when he can no longer work his magic with his BS spiel.

Actually, cambridge1246 has it completely and utterly wrong on Obama’s path to the Senate when s/he says that his opponent was derailed by a marital scandal.

In fact, Obama’s opponent in both the Democratic primary and the general election were derailed, and eventually withdrew, because of allegations that were revealed from divorce filings.

The numbers don’t support your premise.

Hillary has the “average person” support.

Obama’s support pulls from upper classes.

BRAVO!!!!!!!

If Obama’s supporters are mouthing off that they’ll stay home, then Obama’s message of “unity” is total bunk.

As far as I’m concerned , they can just STAY home.

And THEY can accept personal responsibility for President McCain.

Buncha titty babies. Grow up.

“I just gave him $500.”

Great, now maybe he can afford some specifics. ;-) lol jk

Obama vs Clinton
Flowery, poetic rhetoric vs specific solutions to real problems
Stuttering before answering vs detailed answers at the ready
Criticizing the past vs proposals for the future
“Her voters will vote for me, my voters might not vote for her”. vs “We will all come together as Democrats.”
8,630,272 votes vs 8,914,026 votes.*
*All primaries and caucuses through Feb. 5.
George H W Bush vs Bill Clinton
George W Bush vs Al Gore
George W Bush vs John Kerry

I’m ready for another smart, informed, and prepared President. I’ve had enough of flowery rhetoric, searching for answers, criticizing the past instead of building for the future, and the ‘I, me, mine’ outlook/lookout of so many people.

Grow up America…we need to get serious for the country and for the world. If we don’t stop this “my way or the highway” attitude so many Americans seem to have acquired since Bill Clinton was President then our nation and our world are in serious peril.

The results of the next 8 primaries should be very sobering. The future is building on the past. May the candidate with the most pledged and legal delegates win. :)

I beg to differ.

I find the outreach to “all of us” impressive and hopeful. It’s one of the strongest aspects of the Obama campaign to me.

I do not see Obama reaching out to George W. and taking on all of George W’s ideas. Instead, I see Obama taking an issue — like nuclear nonproliferation, say — looking for anyone on the ‘other side’ who has a reasonable interest in finding a better solution than what we’ve got — and then negotiating a solution that moves us and them towards a better place. In Illinois, I just read, Obama got the state legislature to demand that all police videotape arrests and ‘confessions’ to protect defendants; he worked for a long time to get conservatives and police to sign on, and got a unanimous bill with most of the conditions he wanted; he did not sell out, he got action.

For those who worry that ‘hope, change and unity’ is a BS giveaway… take the time to look again. Maybe you’ll agree with me that there is positive, meaningful reality there. That all the Bush “blue sky” rhetoric has made us mistrust “blue sky” words when they really do mean something. What a shame.

“meaning….to get money from average Americans, Hillary is going to have to work hard at it.”

I fail entirely to see how this ties in with Hillary’s age. Is she too old “to work hard at it”? Or is she too old to be attractive enough for average Americans to give her money, perhaps because your “average American” is enamored with youth? And no, I did not view your comment as having anything to do with her personal life; just with her perceived age. Incidentally, isn’t Kucinich out of the race?

Wow this site is quite one sided regarding the whole Hillary and Barack race. Oh well, everyone has their favorites. You want to know what I think is Hillary’s biggest problem?

—-> THIS:

Aaron Tonken, former Hollywood fund-raiser, current federal penitentiary inmate in California.In 2000 he hosted a fund-raiser that took in more than $1 million for Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaign.onken originally drew interest from the FBI for failing to report some donations from the event to the FEC. Although he was never charged for election-law violations, in 2003 he pleaded guilty to stealing from charities, including, according to an ABC News report, the Betty Ford clinic. He is currently serving a five-year sentence for mail and wire fraud.The self-described con man got his start in Hollywood as Zsa Zsa Gabor’s dog keeper. He sold stories about her to tabloids and snuck tourists into her dilapidated, dog feces-ridden mansion while she was out of town.

That is just one, of about 15 that we could go over. But being as though we are all Democrats we should probably not rip our candidates to shreds b/c one is going to have to run in the general election.

To paraphrase George Lakoff, the quality of leadership is an issue. The ability to unite the country is an issue. Trust is an issue. Moral judgment is an issue. Adherence to democratic ideals — rather than political positioning, triangulation, and incrementalism — is an issue. Inspiration, a call to a higher purpose, and a transcendence of interest-based politics are issues. Change and unity and the smarts to make it happen for the right reasons- not bad.

well said, swopa

obama’s manipulation

of voter ignorance – and of voter hope for a better future

really bothers me.

he’s not leading;

he’s exploiting the emotions of millions of supporters.

Thanks to the media bias and younger generation(who do not really look past the feel good speeches and good looks), Sen. Obama has gotten away without having to provide any details about what he means by “Change” and what he would do for universal health care. If he is the nominee, he would not be able to get by with his current approach and fight the republican machine. Even as it is he looks significantly inexperienced compared to John McCain. Obama’s performance on one-on-one debate with Hillary showed that he really can not argue on issues. His mantra about Iraq will not do him any good against McCain as it does with Hillary because McCain is proud of his stance and all of the republican applaud his hawkish position.

I think that it is time that saner democrats wake up and seriously look at Obama’s positions on issues and make sure that he good enough to win gainst Mccain. Finally, Obama reminds me of the Robert Redford character in the movie “The Candidate” where he gets elected on slogans “there has got be a better way” and “better way with McKay”. When he gets in his first question to his aide was “what do I do now?”.

Dem in Utah

If you honestly think that the economy is solid right now, that we’re winning the war in Iraq/against terrorism, and that the position of the U.S.A. abroad is strong, then vote for the GOP candidate in November.

If you honestly think that our economy is unstable, that we’re losing in Iraq/against terrorism, and that the position of the U.S.A. abroad is weak, then vote for the Democrat in November.

That is all.