obama in lansing, michigan, august 4, 2008
Lansing, Michigan Pictures
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Is Obama Underachieving?
In an article in today's Los Angeles Times, I examine the widespread notion that Barack Obama has been 'underachieving', especially relative to the performance of a Generic Democrat.
My conclusion is that this characterization is a bit misleading. The apparent underperformance of Obama can partially be explained by structural factors, most notably the fact that the Democrats have a wider, more diverse coalition than the Republicans. It is therefore more difficult for any one Democratic nominee to please all his party's constituents.
But also, Obama has heretofore been unable to brand John McCain as a Generic Republican, as McCain is regarded by much of the electorate as a moderate. In terms of their distance from the median voter, then, Obama v. McCain is a much fairer fight than would be indicated by their respective party affiliations: continue
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obama's full speech in lansing, michigan
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Obama backs some drilling, tapping oil stockpile
Barack Obama put forward a broad energy plan Monday designed to end U.S. reliance on imported oil within 10 years and shore up his standing amid a tightening White House race and high-anxiety over gas prices.
Obama's proposal, though, includes two significant reversals of positions he has taken in the past: He had steadfastly fought the idea of limited new offshore drilling and was against tapping the nation's emergency oil stockpile to relieve pump prices that have stubbornly hovered around $4 a gallon.
In a speech in Michigan, the Democratic presidential nominee in waiting also endorsed long-term work on hybrid cars and renewable energy sources.
"Breaking our oil addiction is one of the greatest challenges our generation will ever face," the Illinois Democrat told a supportive audience as he embarked on a week to focus on energy issues. "It will take nothing less than a complete transformation of our economy," he said. continue
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pocket, tv ad
low road express, tv ad
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McCain’s Oil Co. Donors
Senator John McCain received a burst of donations in June from oil company employees after he came out in favor of offshore drilling, according to a report released last week by Campaign Money Watch, a watchdog organization.
But the largest collective response from a single company, the report noted, came from the Hess Corporation. Together, Hess employees or their relatives poured out more than $300,000 to Mr. McCain’s joint fund-raising committee with the Republican National Committee in June, according to campaign finance records.
On Monday, after the web site, Talking Points Memo, listed the names of the Hess contributors, scrutiny fell on a couple, Alice Rocchio, who is identified in campaign finance records as an office manager at Hess, and her husband, Pasquale, who is listed as a foreman at Amtrak.
They each gave a whopping $28,500 to Mr. McCain and the Republican National Committee.
Ms. Rocchio said in a telephone interview that she had made the contribution on her own and no one at the company had reimbursed her for it but declined to explain further. continue
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and........
Michelle Obama describes duty as mother-in-chief...........
Kennedy Tapes Video for Democratic Convention.....
Republican in Oregon endorses Obama.......
McCain waiting on Obama for his VP Pick...................
McCain: The Return of Folksy Racism.................
Nevada Voters May Be Key in November................
Late Morning Break, here.................
The New Glass Ceiling........
and Bob Herbert on Morning Joe, your take.....
FINALLY A MUST VIEW VIDEO, A BLAST FROM THE PAST TO THE PRESENT....h/t kos...
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